rock magazine spring 2004

S L I P P E R Y R O C K U N I V E R S I T YM A G A Z I N E

About this IssueThe national spotlight is shining on Slippery Rock University more and more frequently. This issue of The RockMagazine presents several of the most recent examples.

On the CoverFred “Mister” Rogers was awarded an honorary doctorate by SRU in 1982. This year, our students and facultyperformed a world premiere of a tribute on the anniversary weekend of his death.

The Rock MagazineSlippery Rock University publishes The Rock Magazine to keep alumni and others informed about its activities and programs and to encourage support for the University. Members of the Slippery Rock UniversityAlumni Association receive an additional section of the magazine, The Rock Insider, which contains news and feature articles about alumni and association activities. University Public Relations, 201 Old Main, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. Editor’s e-mail is: [email protected]

CreditsDesign: Vance Wright Adams and Associates Inc.Photography: Visual Perceptions, Inc., ADM Photography, University Public Relations, Liz EllisThe Rock Magazine is a National Admissions Marketing merit award winner

Slippery Rock UniversityofPennsylvania Spring 2004

A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

Council of Trustees

Robert Marcus, Chairperson Dennis E. Murray, Vice ChairpersonMr. Kenneth B. BlairRichard ChristoferMartha KingRex MartinOrvan B. PetersonArlene QuinlanRobert S. TaylorJohn ThornburghSuzanne VessellaJoshua YoungJudy G. Hample, Ex-Officio

Interim President

Robert M. Smith

Administration

William F. WilliamsInterim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Charles T. CurryVice President for Finance andAdministrative Affairs

Robert J. WatsonVice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Robert J. Mollenhauer Vice President for University Advancement

Ross C. FeltzDirector, Public Relations

Jane Fulton, Dean, College of Health, Environment and Sciences

Bruce RussellDean, College of Business, Information and Social Sciences

C. Jay HertzogDean, College of Education

William J. McKinneyDean, College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts

James KushnerDean, Lifelong Learning

Board of Governors of thePennsylvania State Systemof Higher Education

Charles A. GomulkaR. Benjamin WileyVice Chair

C. R. “Chuck” PennoniVice Chair

Matthew E. BakerJohn M. BrinjacMarie A. Conley LammandoThe Honorable Jeffrey W. CoyPaul S. DlugoleckiRegina M. DonatoDaniel P. ElbyDavid P. HolveckVincent J. HughesKim E. LyttleChristine J. OlsonVicki L. PhillipsGovernor Edward RendellThe Honorable James J. RhoadesDavid M. SankoJohn K. Thornburgh

Chancellor, Pennsylvania StateSystem of Higher Education

Judy G. Hample

1 A View from The Rock

2 Fred Rogers ‘A World Premiere Tribute’.

7 The Joy of Performing Stays Forever

8 MeetNeighbor Aber, ‘67

9 Raising the “Barre” for Students and Fans Alike:

SRU Plans New Performing Arts Center

11 Major Hoop-la: Status as National Hub for Helping People with Disabilities

14 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service

14 Are You an Insider?

31 News from The Rock

34 Rock Scoops

35 College of Business, Information and Social Sciences

36 College of Education

37 College of Health, Environment and Science

38 College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts

39 Advancement: Capital Campaign News

43 Athletics

Vision Statement

Slippery Rock University will excel as a caring community

of lifelong learners connecting with the world.

www.SRU.edu

www.SRU.edu 1

The last four years atSlippery Rock Universityhave been busy as wedeveloped new programs,reorganized our structures,and made preparationsfor launching boldgroundbreaking projectsthat would position theuniversity for the future.

You will find throughout this issue thatour labors are being noticed on state,regional, and national stages. Our goal toenhance the national visibility of ouracademic programs has taken a major stepforward in the last several months.

Our university was approved for achapter in the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi,the oldest national university-wide honorsociety. We will hold our first installationof members in the fall.

Our music students and facultyperformed a world premiere tribute toMister Rogers and were heard throughoutthe country on National Public Radio’sAll Things Considered.

One of our dance majors has beenselected to perform her originalchoreography at the Kennedy Center forthe Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Students, faculty and staff cametogether from a variety of disciplines to

host the National Women’s WheelchairBasketball Championships and tryouts forthe 2004 Paralympics to be held inAthens.

School of Business students qualified forthe national finals for the AmericanExpress financial planning competitioninvolving six areas of personal financeplanning.

And, one of our students, Kim Smith,an exercise science major from Girard,made a successful appearance on “ThePrice is Right” television game show,proving that Slippery Rock students canbe financially practical in other ways.

Gigantic leapsTo be the institution Slippery Rock

University wants to be in the 21st

Century, all of us (students, faculty,administration, alumni, staff, and friends)must be willing to think more boldly, takegreater risks, and act more resolutely. Forstudents, that usually depends on havingsupportive faculty and staff to encourageand nurture them. For faculty, it dependson knowing the administration willsupport them. For administrators, itdepends on finding the resources tosupport entrepreneurial ventures.

Each of us performs a key role in thedrama that is being staged as yourUniversity grows to provide leadership invarious national venues. For example, weadded the words “performing arts” to thename of one of our colleges only fouryears ago. Today, our students and facultyare recognized on stage in ways that haverarely carried the Slippery Rock name.Now, we are seeking our own stagebefitting the quality of the students wenow attract (See page 10).

VIEW FROM THE ROCK

Also in the national spotlight:

U.S. Congresswoman Melissa Hart joined Interim President Smith on an inspection of

he new Regional Learning Alliance facility under construction for its August opening. This

SRU-developed concept will serve as a model for bringing together in one place a region’s

educational providers to form an “educational mall” to serve the workforce development

and training needs of both employers and students.

Employers will benefit by having a one-stop access to custom-tailored workforce training

and development programs offered by proven educational providers best suited to their needs.

The Regional Learning Alliance will provide convenience in satisfying training and workforce

development needs, saving employers time and money.

For more information, visit: www.RegionalLearningAlliance.com

Our Adapted Physical Activity Programalso is young, but we are already recognizedas a premier program. Philanthropy isserving as the foundation for this program,as you will read on later pages.

We also have grand plans for a majorleap forward in residential living andenhancing the overall spatial environmenton campus. (See page 31).

Your supportTo stay on the national stage, where the

competition is most intense, we mustincrease our ability to attract major giftsand demonstrate unprecedented supportfor our aspirations. We have to act like webelong at the top.

Frequently, prospects for largerdonations want to know how well ouralumni support their University. Lastyear, 15 percent of our alumni donated toSlippery Rock University. Our goal is toraise that percentage to 20. If you havenot responded to your annual fundrequest, please consider doing so.

I can promise you without reservation,that the students and faculty you readabout regularly in the Rock Magazine areworthy of your support andencouragement. Their accomplishmentswill always make you proud of yourassociation with The Rock.

Sincerely,

Robert M. SmithInterim President

2 The Rock Spring 2004

H a u n t i n g ly B e a u t i f u l

A world

premiere

tribute for

a great

neighbor

Fred RogersSRU Honorary

Doctor of Humane Letters, 1982

`tz|vtÄAAA`tz|vtÄAAA

Mister Rogers with Neighbor Aber(SRU ‘67) and Mayor Maggie

very special three days for the Slippery RockUniversity community and those who sup-ported and appreciated the performances.

Bigger than envisionedAs the buzz started on campus inSeptember, most thought this would besimply a very nice opportunity for SRUstudents to perform in a noteworthyevent. But as time went by, it soon becameapparent that music faculty, administratorsand students had a huge, attention-get-ting project that they had yet to fullywrap their arms around.

Musicians found the compositionchallenging. Vocalists learned tosing in Latin. Orchestraconductor/instructor Warren Davidsontook the seat as concertmaster whileSmith directed both the choir andorchestra ensemble. Composer Mayernikjoined them for one rehearsal each week.Through the months of work, no onereally had a complete idea of how theentire composition would, or should,sound.

Meanwhile, Smith was also makingarrangements for various aspects of stagingthe performance. That soon became sodaunting that a team was formed thatincluded Dr. Maribeth Knaub, chair ofthe music department; Dr. Bill McKinney,dean of the College of Humanities, Fineand Performing Arts; BarbaraFrankenburg, music department secretary;the University Public RelationsDepartment, Kathy Jack, executiveassistant in the Office of Advancement;and Interim President Smith.

There was publicity to achieve,programs and tickets to produce, bustransportation to arrange, a reception toorganize, and meals for the performers toarrange. The Roman Catholic Diocese ofPittsburgh had to be communicated withand Family Communications, Inc.,which owns rights to the Mister Rogersproperties, had to be consulted. It wasgrowing into a major event.

The momentum intensifiesWhen composer Mayernik was quoted inNewsweek, and WQED-FM expressedinterest in recording the performance,“We suspected we might have somethingvery unusual on our hands,” said RossFeltz, director of public relations.

As Feb. 29 came closer, St. Justinparishioners went into high gear handlingticket requests, arranging for additionalparking and baking amazing cookies foran elaborate reception after the perform-ance. They wanted to be sure their guestswere treated the way Fred Rogers mighthave done.

They knew it was special

when Neighbor Aber andMayor Maggie stepped tothe microphone. The two,

well-known residents of Mister Rogers’ cityof Westwood were greeted with “whoops,”cheers and applause from the members ofthe SRU choir and orchestra ensemble.

While it was a break in the final rehearsalfor a world premiere—serious stuff for theseperformers, it provided the first, solid con-nection to the friendly, wise man to whomthey would soon pay tribute. You see, manyof these college students were recallingchildhood memories of being transported tothat magical place called “Mister Rogers’Neighborhood,” where they routinely metup with wonderful, patient characters whohelped them grow and understand.

“The biggest thing for me was seeingMayor Maggie and Neighbor Aber,”recalled Leigh Simonton, a sophomoremusic therapy/education major and tubaplayer from Pittsburgh. “I wanted to askthem who their childhood heroes were.They were mine.” Her words spoke thethoughts of many of the performers.

The rehearsal was the prelude to twonights of powerful, hauntingly beautifulmusic experienced by nearly 1,300 peopleand replayed in part on National PublicRadio.

A student’s visionThe path to the national spotlight beganwith a conversation last summer betweenMike Sypien, a senior music educationmajor from Pittsburgh, and 21-year-oldLuke Mayernik, the music director at his-toric St. Justin Church on Pittsburgh’s Mt.Washington.

St. Justin parishioner Maggie Stewart(Mayor Maggie) had suggested to Mayernikthat he compose a tribute to Fred Rogers,who had died on Feb. 27, 2003. After somepersuasion, Mayernik decided to composeIn Memoriam: A Requiem for Fred Rogers,and was now at the point of contemplatingwho could perform the challenging work.

Sypien, an enterprising sort who is afounding member of SRU’s popular men’sbarbershop quartet, suggested that TheRock’s choir and orchestra would be a nat-ural. “I wasn’t sure if SRU would even bewilling to take on the project, but I startedmaking phone calls to get the ball rolling,”he recalled.

Sypien began with first-year musicinstructor and choir director Kevin Smith,who was quick to identify with the project.“I grew up with Mister Rogers, too,” saidSmith.

And from those conversations, maybedreams, came the first steps leading to a

Arriving by bus, the students hadlittle idea of the powerfulperformance to come.

Composer Luke Mayernik(right) has his picturetaken with Joe Negri forthe Pittsburgh Tribune’sFanfare section.

Memories of a world premiere.

Faculty member Warren Davidson servedas concertmaster. Sarah Lipner, a musiceducation major from Pittsburgh, joinedhim in the violin section.

Diane Zupi, a freshman music educationand therapy major from Aliquippa askedRock grad Neighbor Aber to sign hermusic as Mark Rodgers, a freshman musiceducation major from Butler looks on.

www.SRU.edu 3


That weekend being the first anniver-sary of Mr. Rogers’s death, bothPittsburgh newspapers published pages oftribute, with major sections devoted to thepremiere of Mayernik’s composition.

Premiere dayChoir and musicians arrived by bus

and vans for the 2 o’clock rehearsal, nowfive hours before the performance.Mayernik took his position at the piano inthe center of the performers. The choiraccustomed themselves to the risers, onwhich they would stand for about 90minutes straight during the performance.And, concertmaster Davidson led thetuning of the instruments.

After three of the 11-movements,Stewart and Aber took the microphone.The realization that this was special wentthrough the students like a wave of mem-ories might ripple through the mind’s eyeat the thought of a loved one now gone.

From that point on, the rehearsal wasvery serious as student performers, led by their faculty and supported by fourprofessional soloists and along with fiveprofessional musicians, methodically andlovingly, perfected the remainingmovements.

Just when some of them might havebeen thinking that it’s not often studentsrehearse in the presence of heroes, inwalked another famous neighbor: JoeNegri—known to children as HandymanNegri and to many adults as a renown jazzguitarist.

The audience began to arrive an hourbefore the downbeat of Smith’s baton. Theperformers donned their formal attire andtamed their butterflies.

The evening began with an added noteof excitement as Ted Sohier of WQED-FM informed the audience that the perform-ance was being recorded and would be consid-ered for a special segment on NationalPublic Radio’s “All Things Considered” tobe broadcast the next day or day after.

Mayor Maggie and Neighbor Aberstepped to the piano with Mayernik.

“Parishioners and neighbors of St.Justin’s, I presume?”

“Correct, as usual Mayor Maggie,” thechoir responded.

The audience, 800 strong, was nowofficially in the “Neighborhood.” WithMayernik accompanying, Stewart andAber sang two songs of tribute written byMayernik. Now, it was time.

The RequiemAs choir, orchestra and soloists began theIntroit and Kyrie, the audience soon filledwith a reverent awe as the movementopened with a fervent, yet peaceful pleafor eternal rest and perpetual light to shineon both the departed and those who mourn.

The mezzo-soprano soloist took over the prayerand prayed for mercy. The choir then eventuallytook this plea for mercy as its own prayer andthe intensity increased.

The seriousness of this work and the com-plexity of the task before these student per-formers was readily apparent as choir andorchestra presented the next two movements:Rex tremendae and Credo.

Movement IV, Intercession, used a capella choirand modulating percussion to set the tone andserve as backdrop for prayers read by Stewartand Aber – prayers that spoke to the gentle,loving nature of Fred Rogers.

“Help us to listen – not only to the words othersspeak, but to their hearts. Let us listen by hearing,empathizing, understanding, caring, helping,relating, loving. Teach us to really hear whatothers are saying. Help us to temper our ownopinions and prejudices.”

“We pray for the most innocent of the world.Protect your children—the young and the old—all those who cannot protect themselves.”

“For those who, like Fred Rogers, have touchedour lives so deeply and in so many ways. Thosewho have looked and listened…those who havehelped us grow—on the inside as well as the out-side…for those here with us and those who havegone ahead. In silence, now, we ask for your bless-ings.” And, it was silent. Really silent.

…Choir, orchestra and soloists resumed with a

triumphant setting of the Sanctus, anotherprayer for peace (Pie Jesu), and the Agnus Dei.

Meditation gave the audience time for reflec-tion while listening to the melodic tones of jazzguitar as only played by Joe Negri, who foundadded meaning in his own reflection of howhis father had lent his bricklayer’s hands to thebuilding of St. Justin, the neighborhoodchurch that meant much to young Joe.

The Requiem’s final three movements: Luxaertna, a prayer for spiritual light and guidance;The Sign of Peace; and In manus tuas, com-mendo spiritum meum brought the premiere toreverent and peaceful conclusion.

Composer Mayernik, emotionally spent, eyesaflood, sat at the piano – head in his hands.Wonderfully grateful.

As was the audience, which quickly arosewith a sustained ovation.

“It was awesome,” said one.Here! Here!

When composer

Mayernik was quoted in

Newsweek,

and WQED-FM expressed

interest in recording

the performance,

“we suspected we might

have something

very unusual

on our hands,” said

Ross Feltz, director of

public relations.

Complete program notes for The Requiem are

available at http://www.sru.edu/pages/8883.asp

Guest Performers:

Maggie Stewart

Charles Aber

Joe Negri

Daphne Alderson, soloist

Dr. Colleen Gray Newbert, SRU faculty, soloist

Rashard Allen, soloist

Warren Davidson, SRU faculty, concert master

Joseph Bishkoff, cellist

World PremiereIIE v e n M o r e M a g i c a l

Asecond performance

was scheduled for SuccupTheater at Butler County

Community College,because SRU’s Miller Auditorium wasalready fully scheduled.

Again, WQED’s Ted Sohier stepped tothe microphone. This time, though, to tellthe audience there would be a slight delay.“We’re waiting for one of the musicianswho has been delayed with a flat tire,” hesaid. A key musician.

Then, some magic Audience conversation stopped when

Mayor Maggie and Neighbor Aber walkedon stage. “We thought you might havesome questions for us,” the mayor said.Kind of like opening a neighborhoodmeeting.

It was a magical time for the audience,especially the younger ones, as a MisterRogers’-style conversation took place.Soon,Joe Negri quietly moved onto the stage andsuggested singing some “neighborhood”songs. The audience joined performers in singing It’s a Beautiful Day in theNeighborhood, Tree, Tree, Tree, and It’s You I like (sung to a young boy in the audience).

Mayor Maggie and Neighbor Aber answeraudience questions to fill time whileawaiting one of the musicians.

First-year faculty member Kevin Smith con-ducts a world premiere on a national stage.

Historic St. Justin Church was filled in tribute to our special neighbor.

www.SRU.edu 5

Congratulations to all!


At the urging of the choir backstage,Mike Sypien and his fellow barbershopperssang a rousing rendition of “I’m Sitting OnTop of The World.”

What great impromptu entertainment. The delayed musician arrived. Another

audience listened in quiet tribute as SlipperyRock University students and faculty intro-duced more people to the incredible talentof SRU students as they fondly rememberedFred Rogers. His list of awards takes pages.In the early part of that magnificent listingis his honorary degree from Slippery RockState College, 1982.

The requiem afterglow promises to boostSRU’s already-strong music department,which is nationally accredited and offersmajors in music, music performance (voiceor instrument), music education and musictherapy. All requiem proceeds fund newmusic scholarships.

Three Visionaries: (l-r) SRU student MikeSypien, “Mayor” Maggie Stewart, and com-poser Luke Mayernik.

Responding to backstage encouragement from fellow choirmembers, barbershop quartet singers (l-r) music educations majorsMike Sypien, Jeff Frankentstein, a junior from Moon; Kit Keiper, asenior from Beaver Falls; and Mark Erickson, a senior from NewWilmington entertained to an enthusiastic audience response.

“Handyman” Joe Negri

Audience

conversation stopped

when Mayor Maggie

and Neighbor Aber

walked on stage.

“We thought you might

have some questions for

us,” the mayor said.

“It was a magicalevening, for me andeveryone else, includingthe audience.”

Andrea McClellanYork–Clarinet, SymphonyOrchestra; music therapy, music performance majors

www.SRU.edu 7

Anyone who performs knows the rush itbrings, the satisfaction of touching hearts

and minds. SRU students won’t soonlose the feeling of exultation they share

through involvement with such amemorable event, “In Memoriam:

A Requiem for Fred Rogers.” The experience helped them grow as

musicians and individuals.

“It was an honor to per-form in the memory ofMister Rogers. You couldfeel the love in the roomand how much he did forchildren. I felt like I wasreally part of somethingthat went national, and itall started at Slippery RockUniversity. The music washauntingly beautiful.”

Megan ZulaufNew Castle–Alto, Concert ChoirMusic therapy major

“When I came here, I had no idea thatSlippery Rock University would be a part ofsomething that went across the country. It wasa really invigorating experience. The music andthe feeling from the audience were unbelievable.”

Adam KatzPittsburgh–Viola, Symphony Orchestra,music education major

“Mister Rogers was mychildhood hero. It wasan amazing experience– people in the audi-ence would just startcrying. Certain partsgave me goose bumps,because it was just sobeautiful.”

Bill DuffyLittlestown–Percussion,Symphony Orchestra;music education major

“It didn’t really hit meuntil Sunday, when wewere at the church forrehearsal and I sawMayor Maggie andNeighbor Aber. Just to seeMayor Maggie standing there crying, seeing what the music meant to her, itput the whole thing into perspective. You could seewhat he meant to people.”

Meredith MillstoneBridgeport, West. Va.–Alto,Concert Choir, musiceducation major

“I watched MisterRogers when I was little.When I saw the formercast members MayorMaggie and NeighborAber (in the perfor-mance), it made it somuch more special. Itwas exciting to sing theworld premiere.”

Michelle DiIanniKennedy Township–Alto, Concert Choirmusic education major

“We had been working on the music since thepast September. When we performed it, it wasthe first time it really came alive. I watchedMister Rogers growing up. His show intro-duced me to a lot of music, so it was reallywonderful to work with Mayor Maggie andNeighbor Aber.”

Ashley RichardsEllwood City–Alto, Concert Choir,music education/voice major

“When I saw Mayor Maggie crying, youcould tell how much he meant to her as aperson. It was very exciting, and our conduc-tor was really into it. He was pushing to getthe most out of us.”

Mark EricksonNew Wilmington– Baritone, Concert Choir,music major

“The biggest thingfor me was seeingMayor Maggie andNeighbor Aber. Iwanted to ask themwho their childhoodheroes were. Theywere mine.”

Leigh SimontonRoss Township–Tuba,Symphony Orchestramusic therapy/educationmajor


Meet NeighborAber,‘67�

Reaching The NationIt has been said that there is no morebeautiful sound in the world than that of awell-trained human voice. The choir andorchestra ensemble performed Requiemfor Fred Rogers with such emotion andskill, listeners in other parts of the countrywho heard excerpts on NPR Radio weremoved to quickly send e-mails askingabout a recording.

Here are just a few examples.

Columbus, Ohio Gayle Karafil“Wow, I was on my way to vote when Iheard the piece on NPR, and it knocked mysocks off. I'm going to go ahead and giveyou my address and phone number, soyou can let me know as soon as the CD isavailable.”

Lubbock, TexasWes Naron“I am wanting to buy one desperately. Iheard the program on NPR. I have neverbeen so moved by the little that I heard.What a work of art! Fred Rogers’ spiritseemed to shine through. As aPresbyterian, Fred Rogers was more thanjust a children's icon. He was an exampleof grace. You seem to have captured thevery essence of that.”

Springfield, Mo.Sarah Dewey“I just heard NPR’s All Things Considered.The music and performance from SlipperyRock University's choir and orchestra werestunning. I was wondering if it is possibleto purchase an audio tape and/or videotape of the concert?”

PhiladelphiaKathleen Caughie“I will send my check for a CD version ofthe requiem. My sons, now 24 and 26,loved Mister Rogers. I so respected him forhis upbeat and morally grounded messageto all. Although so sadly missed, I willremember him as a kind soul whoembraced everyone.”

For news about media coverage of therequiem, see Rock Scoops, page 34.

To order a recording, cut this off and mailwith payment to:

Slippery Rock UniversityOffice of the DeanCollege of Humanities, Fine andPerforming Arts1 Morrow WaySlippery Rock, Pa. 16057

(Checks payable to: Slippery Rock University)Please send:

____ copies of CD @$10 each

____ copies of VHS @ $15 each

____ copies of DVD @ $20 each

Total $_______

Mail to:

Name: __________________________________

Address_________________________________

City________________State_____ Zip________

Order forms also available at:

http://www.sru.edu/pages/8883.asp

All proceeds benefit music scholarship at SRU

Like many Slippery Rock success stories, Chuck Aber, ’67, points to a faculty member whonurtured his career start. The late George Bentel, then SRU choir director, not only encouragedAber to audition for the musical Bells Are Ringing, he even sent another student to Aber’s roomto fetch him for the tryout. “Mr. Bentel all but pushed me out on the stage,” Aber laughinglyrecalls, “and I am eternally grateful.”

The stage that Aber originally had in mind when he arrived at Slippery Rock was made ofgrass. “I was a quarterback and I thought I could play at Slippery Rock,” Aber recalled. “ Besides,I thought it would be cool to go from Moon High School to Slippery Rock. I loved the names.”

Below the surface, though, was an interest in being a performer. “I had never really said that toanyone. I had played trombone in grade school, but couldn’t be in the high school band and playfootball at the same time. I chose football. But, I liked music, so I joined the high school choir.In retrospect, that influenced everything that was to come”

At The Rock, Aber banged up his knee as a freshman and wasn’t playing as much football ashe hoped. He did, however, win a letter primarily as holder for kicks in his junior year.

As might happen in a Mister Rogers’ script, Aber was standing in line for lunch when anotherstudent (Carey McGiffen) heard him speaking and said he ought to try out for chorus. Aber and hisroommate, Bob DeHaas, now retired from teaching in Mt. Lebanon, became part of Bentel’s choir.

Bentel also propelled Aber on to other venues. “I remember singing one of my first solos at aButler restaurant and wondering if I’d remember the next line as I had to sing it. I was scared todeath! But, Mr. Bentel continued to cajole and encourage me.”

Aber has the distinction of being one of the first liberal arts majors from The Rock, graduatingwith an anthropology major and sociology minor. “But, when I realized how close I was to alsoearning a music major, I went back an extra year and earned that and an English minor, too.”

Not too long after leaving Slippery Rock, Aber became acquainted with Don Brocket, thewell-known Pittsburgh entertainer who would become Chef Brocket on Mister Rogers’Neighborhood. “Many Pittsburgh-area performers owe their start to Don,” Aber explained. “Hewrote and produced shows for local venues and we did many corporate shows for special events.”

In the mid-70s, Aber was performing in Kurt Weil — From Berlin to Broadway with JoeNegri and Betty “Lady” Aberlin. “Fred came out to see his friends, and that’s when we met,”Aber recalls. “I had performed previously with Maggie Stewart, and now became acquainted withFred and his friends.”

Eventually, Aber became the voice of Neighborhood puppet H.J.Elephant III, and by the early80’s, Mayor Maggie and Neighbor Aber were regulars — until that last taping, December, 1999.

Aber stays busy with various projects and enjoys time with his nieces Courtney and Casey;their mother is his sister, Janice Benard, also an SRU graduate.

“Fred was very pleased to receive an honorary doctorate from Slippery Rock,” Aber says. “Heknew my connection to SRU and took time to pick up one of the rocks the bookstore sold andbring it back for me. It’s a gift I treasure to this day. He was surely special. The requiem was aterrific project. I was so very proud to be a part of it, especially as a Slippery Rock graduate.”

www.sru.edu 9

The American College DanceFestival invited threechoreographers out of 40adjudicated at the Northeastregional festival, including SRU’sFrancie Lloyd (above), toperform at the Kennedy Centerfor the Performing Arts in June.Lloyd’s provocative dance “Ladyof the Lake” includes a completesubmersion in a tank of water.Pittsburgh audiences have seenher in The Attack Theater’s “ThisAin’t the Nutcracker.” She plansa career in New York City.

RAISING THE“BARre” FOR STUDENTSAND FANSALIKE: SRU PLANSNEW PERFORMING ARTSCENTER This one's a tie for distinction. The musicdepartment scores a national hit with its Fred Rogers’ requiem.Dance places a student at the Kennedy Center for the PerformingArts. Theater produces a “don’t miss” show “Beirut” that captivatesthe American College Theater Festival.

SRU performing arts students in every area produce as entertain-ing a combination of high art and high camp as you will encounter.What they need – what the next generation needs – is a new performing arts center to match the talent level and keep SRU

competitive.In March, Interim President Smith briefed the University

trustees on plans for a new student union/performing arts com-plex, the Crossroads Building. It would be built adjacent to

Morrow Field House (see map and related story on page 31).Said Smith, “We are pursuing a new functional

student union combined with a performingarts complex to be at the ‘crossroads’

of the campus as a signaturestatement about the

special relation-ship betweenstudent life andacademicachievement.”

The artsworld is asmall worldand wordtravelsquickly

continued on page 10


about the different venues on the touringcircuit. If facilities are new and beautifuland the city has nice accommodations,then soon everyone in the industry knowsabout them. Also, unfortunately, thereverse is true.

Philanthropy the keyThe project depends on

the support of our mostimportant asset -- you, ouraudience -- even in recenttimes of economic and polit-ical turmoil. Music, theater

and dance bring entertainment, enrich-ment, diversity and new insights into life.Your support shows how much you valuethe fine arts.

“For our students to truly grow as pro-fessionals, as artists, we need state-of-the artperformance spaces,” Dr. WilliamMcKinney, dean of the College ofHumanities, Fine and Performing Arts,said. “We have the programs, because ofthe quality of our faculty.”

Dancer: arts complex would ‘takeus to the next level’

The talent is clearly in place, too.Francie Lloyd, a senior dance major, wasrecently selected to perform her solochoreography at the Kennedy Center aspart of the American College DanceFestival’s June 1-3 gala.

Out of 40 works from 25 universities,the adjudicators chose Lloyd's choreogra-phy as one of 11 dances to appear on theregional gala. Out of the 11 works at thegala, Lloyd's was one of three chosen tomove forward to the Kennedy Center. Inaddition, she was nominated to competefor Dance Magazine's OutstandingStudent Choreographer Award, which car-ries a cash prize of $1,000.

“The dance program is the reason Icame here,” Lloyd said. “A performing artscenter would be a better environment tolearn in. That’s not to say you can’t be

creative in the facilities we do have. But itwould heighten our program. It wouldtake us to the next level.”

Since 1999, the dance department hasgrown from 35 to 100 dance majors with50 dance minors, and has recentlyexpanded its faculty with the addition ofMelissa Teodoro, a native of Columbiawith a specialty in dance ethnography.

“All aspects of the dance departmentare first rate, with the exception of thefacilities,” said Nora Ambrosio, depart-ment chair. “A program of this high artis-tic caliber needs an appropriate, modernfacility that will allow the program to con-tinue to grow and flourish.”

The goal: an ‘incrediblereputation as a theater school’

In the past 10 years, the AmericanCollege Theater Festival has selected threeSRU plays for regional presentation -- asignificant accomplishment consideringthat festival representatives evaluate 400plays a year. They select three to five ayear for presentation.

“At Slippery Rock, we have reputationfor doing good theater,” seniortheater/political science major EvanEndress said. “If we get a new facility, wecould have a reputation as an incredibletheater school, as opposed to be a theaterprogram that does good theater.”

Miller Auditorium, more than 40 yearsold, makes it difficult to cover all aspectsof theater education, Dr. GordonPhetteplace, department chair, said.

Plays cannot include fly scenerybecause Miller is not high enough,although the department distinguishesitself by offering playwriting and one-on-one instruction from faculty. Miller lacksworkshop studios and acoustic rooms forrehearsals, as well.

“When I have to do an audition mono-logue rehearsal, trying to get professionalwork, I go to Spotts World CultureBuilding and I move desks,” Endress said.

Competing for the best students“It is well known that excellent facilitiesare a large factor for prospective studentsto consider when choosing a college,” Dr.Maribeth Knaub, music department chair,said. “The facilities can make or breaktheir decision. Therefore, a new perform-ing arts center would greatly enhance ourability to attract more students and moreimportantly, a higher caliber of student.

“We desperately need a new perfor-mance hall with wonderful acoustics,ample back-stage space, changeable perform-ing areas, and one that is architecturallydesigned specifically for the arts,” sheadded. “If the arts are to be a signaturearea for our University, then let us do all wecan to make this project become a reality.”

In the past 10 years, the American CollegeTheater Festival has selected three SRU playsfor regional presentation, a huge accomplish-ment because festival representatives evalu-ate 400 plays a year and select three to five.Recent campus productions included ”Hair“(upper left), “Dancing at Laghnasa” and“Twelfth Night“ (bottom right).

www.SRU.edu 11

Wheelchair Basketball Association tobring the tournament to Slippery Rock“because of its reputation for offering avariety of academic programs for peoplewith disabilities,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted in a centerpiece story withfour pictures.

Pittsburgh area athletes – including

Rock freshman Diana Helt and graduateNorah Schneider – played for the SteelCity Starz. Physical therapy students gavemassages to sore players, and athletictraining students provided valuable med-ical aid as well.

Out-of-town players – from California,Florida, Texas, Alabama and Illinois –raved about the facilities and hospitality.

“It was great, I think women’snationals should be there everyyear,” Tomara Moss of the OrlandoIce said. “There were more thanenough courts, people to massagethe players after the game — unbe-lievable the way it was puttogether. You have my vote forSlippery Rock in 2005.”

Providing equalopportunities

The NationalOrganization onDisability reportsthat 40 percent ofpeople with seriousdisabilities are notat all involved intheir communities,which is almosttwice the percentage for people withoutdisabilities.

Not so at The Rock. The AdaptedPhysical Activity Program provides equalopportunities to people with disabilitiesthrough a variety of classes, sport and ser-vice projects. Programs include equinefacilitated therapy, quad rugby, swimmingand wheelchair basketball. Community

members also participate in classes such as“Sport and Disability,” “AdaptedAquatics,” “Biomechanics of SpecialPopulations” and “Adapted andTherapeutic Exercise.”

The first program of its kind inPennsylvania, students prepare for careersby working with independent adults, chil-

Competitions showcase AdaptedPhysical Activity Program

Wheelchair basketball athletes are notjust talented—they are spectacular.Sparked by aggressive, elusive and remark-able (there aren’t enough adjectives) play,they are a bonafide phenomenon.

And just when the National WheelchairBasketball Association needed a go-tovenue to propel the sport to greaterprominence, an experienced playerdelivered: Slippery Rock University.

The University’s national reputation forhelping people with disabilities madeheadlines this spring when SRU hostedthe 30th National Women’s WheelchairBasketball Association Tournament andAthens 2004 Paralympic Trials.

Arizona-based Sports ‘N SpokesMagazine, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazetteand Butler Eagle covered the tournament,which brought 125 players from around

the country to campus fordown-to-the buzzer

excitement. John Sikora,

coach of thePittsburgh-basedSteel City Starz,petitioned theNational

An outstanding reputation for helping people with disabilities made SRU a natural choice for hosting

the 30th National Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Association Tournament in March. More than 100

players from Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Texas, Alabama and Illinois competed. Arizona-based

Sports ‘N Spokes Magazine covered the tournament, as did the local media. About 250 students and

community volunteers provided a valuable assist. Out-of-town players raved about the hospitality –

“unbelievable the way it was put together,” said a Florida player. SRU will host the tournament again

in 2005, in the Robert N. Aebersold Student Recreation Center.

Major Hoop-la:SRU’s status as national hub for helping people with disabilities enhancedby hosting wheelchair basketball tourney, Athens 2004 Paralympic trials

those constituents who value people withdisabilities at other institutions.”

Major donors, including theChristopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation,have lent support. Most recently, Texasphilanthropist Ethel Carruth donated$250,000 to construct Storm HarborEquestrian Center to boost therapeutichorseback riding. Through the efforts andsupport of U.S. Rep. Phil English, the

Centers for Disease Control contributed$161,000 to open the Center onDisability and Health.

Other exciting milestones

• Special Olympics International hasenlisted SRU to be one of 10 schools inthe country to implement its SpecialOlympics university curriculum. The

Rock is going to startcertifying and train-ing coaches and

referees for itscompetitions.

• TheKennedy

SpaceCenter inFlorida

selectedexercise science/

adapted physical activitystudent Chris Rebholz for a 12-weekinternship at its fitness center in CapeCanaveral. He was one of two students inthe nation selected.

dren, those with mild retardation, cerebralpalsy and people with profound disabili-ties. Graduates of the 24-credit minor findemployment with school districts, com-munity recreational facilities, residentialtreatment facilities and fitness centers.

“I see us as a real flagship, as developinginto a national hub for adapted physicalactivity because of all the componentswe’re bringing together here,” said Dr.

Susan Hannam, chair of the departmentof exercise and rehabilitative sciences.

“We have the wholepackage. We have theadapted physical activityexpertise, plus an exer-

cise science background.We have athletic trainers

who are accustomed to work-ing at events such as the

Special Olympics. I don’tknow if you have all

• The National Adapted Physical ActivityCouncil adopted a ProfessionalAdvocacy and Leadership plan puttogether by SRU’s student chapter.

• The Christopher Reeve ParalysisFoundation has contributed $46,235toward scholarships for students withspinal cord injury who enroll in theadapted program.

Meeting a mounting needA recent USA Today article warned that

obesity will overtake tobacco as the num-ber one preventable killer among youngpeople.

“People are overweight; they are gettingdiabetes at a younger age, and people withdisabilities are at a higher risk of develop-ing secondary health conditions,” said Dr.Robert Arnhold, coordinator of AdaptedPhysical Activity Program.

“That’s where the Center on Disabilityand Health comes in,” he added. “That’sour main focus, assisting people to bemore active.”


www.SRU.edu 13

The flagship Adapted Physical Activity Program

teaches students to develop and manage exercise

programs for people with disabilities. The first

program of its kind in Pennsylvania and

nationally respected, students take classes in

adapted aquatics, equine facilitated therapy,

sport and disability and biomechanics of special

populations. They find employment with school

districts, community recreation facilities and

health and fitness clubs.

Sikira Scheetz, daughter of Pittsburgh physician

LaDonna Fuge, made it to the top of the

climbing wall in the Robert N. Aebersold Student

Recreation Center during a sports clinic for

children with visual disabilities. Charity Whorl, a

special education/adapted physical activity

student, helped her. Sikira was “ecstatic” to

participate, her mother said. “To get the chance

to have that kind of body awareness and see

about getting physical activity, which is a benefit

to overall health, is a godsend. It’s important to

do it in a safe environment.”

The adapted program organized a sports clinic

for children with visual disabilities this spring.

Using campus gyms, participants worked on

their moves with dance instructor Thom Cobb.

They scaled a climbing wall, had lunch together

and played goalball (above), a sport in which

athletes use their hearing to prevent a rubber

ball from making it into a net.

Meanwhile, adapted students say theylove the program because it provides expe-rience.

“All of the classes I have taken in theadapted minor have offered me hands-onexperiences,” Charity Whorl said. “Ienjoy working with the people anddirectly applying what I learn from theinstructors to my first-handexperiences. There are many opportuni-ties to work with adapted populationsthrough the program. Most recently, Ivolunteered at the National Women’sWheelchair Basketball AssociationTournament and at the SportsVision Clinicfor children with visual disabilities.”

Work embraces virtues championed by“Mister Rogers”

Fred Rogers helped people all hislife, encouraging people to be theirbest. The cardigan-wearing MisterRogers–inspiration for a major SRUorchestra and choir concert inMarch–once told a reporter, “Thewhole idea is to present as much loveas you possibly can to a person whomight feel that he or she needs it.”

The Adapted Physical ActivityProgram embodies those ideas,through empowering people withdisabilities to become more fit andlead healthy lives.

What a great neighborhood.

ARE YOU AN INSIDER? >>>


Pride in SRU and pride in working together were apparent Jan 19 atthe University’s first-ever Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service.

In writing of the project, Interim President Smith noted, “Iwitnessed a vision of SRU yesterday that was one of my most excitingexperiences since I’ve been here. The concept of the ‘Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr., Day of Service’ developed by Robert Clay, DaNineFleming and their committee can’t be described any less than ‘This isSlippery Rock University.’” Fleming is director of the Office ofIntercultural Programs, with Clay as assistant.

“Not only was this a day of recognition of diversity, reconciliationand celebration of individual triumph, but it was a day of commitment to service and a

communion of community. Every aspect of theday articulated through action the core values ofwhat this institution purports to be. More than 90students completed a day of community serviceand five campus leaders were presented theUniversity’s first Civil Leadership Awards.” Recipients were Dr. BerniceBrown, associate professor of elementary education and early childhood,Dr. Catherine Massey, assistant professor of psychology, Jeff Milliner, acommunication major from Aliquippa and president of SRU’s Student

Government Association, Dr. Renay Scales, assistant vice president of human resources and diversity, and SandraStevenson, assistant director of diversity and employee training.

The president called for additional support for next year’s programnoting, “The event expresses by action what the University means to itsstudents, the community and to each other.” He said the event should bea day when our surrounding communities find a place they can come tojoin in education and inspiration.

Clay explains, “We wanted to honorDr. King and the values he stood for.We could think of no better way tocall attention to his leadership than tooffer community service to others.Our goal was to make the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr., Day of Service a day ‘on’ not a day ‘off.’”

SRU’s Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service Proves Rousing Success; Foundation for Future

Photos by Liz Ellis

ARE YOU AN INSIDER? >>>If the next page of this magazine is the front cover of The Rock Insider, you are a member of the AlumniAssociation, or you have been chosen at random to preview a copy of The Rock Insider. If the next page ispage 31, you're missing out on class notes, information about Alumni Reunion Weekend, Upcoming Events,Rock Alumni Around the Globe, and other alumni news. The Rock Insider is the official alumni publicationof the Slippery Rock University Alumni Association and is sent exclusively to members of the Association.To start getting your copy of The Rock Insider, call 1-800-GET-ROCK or e-mail us at [email protected].

N E W S F R O M

DRS Architects is developing the masterplan for construction, scheduled forimplementation over the next nine years.

Four new residents halls would occupyland behind Founders Hall. Eventually, SRUwould demolish Founders and renovateDodds, Rhoads, Bard and North halls.

Tearing down Patterson and Harnerwould make room for a universityunion/performing arts center adjacent toMorrow Field House. Smith envisions thenew building becoming the center ofcampus, linking classroom buildings to thehistoric section of campus. Othercomponents:

$83 million building planpresented to UniversitytrusteesDiscussions began this spring on an $83million building plan when administratorspresented the proposal to the Universitytrustees. Components include four newresidence halls with suite-style bedroomsand a new university union/performing artscenter (Crossroads Building).

“We will have to continue an aggressiveplan of transformation if we are to meetthe needs of the students we want to attractto SRU,” Interim President Smith said.

www.SRU.edu 31

• An education building would likelyoccupy the Miller site after completionof the performing arts complex.

• Construction of an intramural sportscomplex at Branchton and Harmonyroads, near the Slippery Rock Townshipbuilding. It would include baseball andsoccer fields, a sand volleyball lot andjogging trail.

Campus projects to be completed thissummer include a new pedestrian corridorthrough a highly used area of campus thatwill make it “one of the most appealingsections of campus,” Smith said.

Magenta buildings show where new residence halls and a university union/performing arts center (Crossroads Building) will be built under a long-range plan. The gray building marksthe new Science and Technology Building, scheduled for construction this year.

SITE OF NEW SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGY BUILDING

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN

MARCH 2004

DRS ARCHITECTS / PITTSBURGH, PA / 15222412.391.4850 www.drsarchitects.com

Interim President Smithreceives national student-retention awardFor his commitment to the success of first-year students, Interim President Smith hasbeen named one of 10 Outstanding First-YearStudent Advocates in the nation by theUniversity of South Carolina’s NationalResource Center for the First-Year Experienceand Students in Transition and HoughtonMifflin Publishing Co.

The award, in its 15th year, honorsoutstanding work on behalf of first-yearcollege students. Recipients were chosenfrom 235 nominations.(http://www.sc.edu/fye/centerinitiative/advocates/currentyear/index.html)

The center noted that Smith has been astaunch advocate for first-year students andthat his tireless work has decreased attritionand helped SRU turn eight years ofenrollment decline into four consecutive yearsof enrollment increase – even though theuniversity’s own consultant in 1999 predictedcontinued drops because of poordemographics. Smith arrived in 1999. Sincethen, enrollment has increased from 6,803 to7,830.

“Dr. Smith’s leadership in publiclyrecognizing the value and significance of theseefforts continually sets priorities for newinitiatives and efforts at Slippery Rock,” thecenter said on its Web site.


Students to benefit fromhealth center studyThe American College Health Associationhas awarded Slippery Rock University’sMcLachlan Student Health Center one oftwo national needs assessment grants whichare being used to conduct a review of thecenter’s operation related to building andstrengthening capacity to prevent infectionand outline other important healthproblems among youth.

The grant is part of ACHA’s BuildingHealthy Campus Communities Project, acooperative agreement between theorganization and the Division ofAdolescent and School Health of theCenters for Disease Control andPrevention.

“Once the process, which is alreadyunder way with focus groups and staffinterviews is completed, we will have moretools to work with students in providinginformation about HIV infection as well asother sexually transmitted infections andunintended pregnancies,” said LindaBeatty, health center director. “I see this asan opportunity for myself and our staff toexpand our knowledge and to learn newways of transmitting information tostudents.”

‘Center on Disability andHealth’ advances nationalreputation for adaptedphysical activityBuilding on its national reputation foradapted physical activity, the Universitywill use a $161,000 federal grant to openthe “Center on Disability and Health.” Theresource center will help people withdisabilities develop healthy lifestylesthrough education and daily workouts.

“A hot topic today is obesity, and peoplewith disabilities are even more vulnerable,leading to secondary conditions such asdiabetes and heart disease,” Dr. RobertArnhold, professor of exercise andrehabilitative science and centercoordinator, says. “If we get people healthyand active now, we’ll reduce a lot ofsecondary health conditions, and we’ll saveon healthcare costs.”

The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention provided the grant workingwith U.S. Rep. Phil English, of Erie. Theon-campus outreach center will open laterthis year.

The center targets those with disabilitiesand their families. It will provide parentand teacher training, printed materials,professional contacts and exercise programssix days a week.

N E W S F R O M

The McLachlan Student Health Center in Rhoads Hall promotes an optimal level of wellness. The professional staffevaluates each student’s health within the context of an individual’s circumstances, family, community and culture. Oneservice: hepatitis vaccines from Nurse Patti Bintrim (right).

Agreement with YSUopens opportunities forengineering studentsCurrent and potential Slippery RockUniversity students interested in studyingengineering now have additional choicesfollowing the signing of an articulationagreement with Youngstown StateUniversity’s Rayen College School ofEngineering and Technology.

The agreement signed by YSU PresidentDavid C. Sweet and Interim PresidentSmith creates a “3+2 program” that allowsundergraduate students to spend their firstthree years studying at SRU, includingwork in physics, before being admitted toYSU to complete their engineering studies.

Up to a dozen students are initiallyexpected to open the program.

Automated Call Center toboost donations A new “Automated Call Center” increasesefficiency in contacting alumni and friendsand provides opportunities for increasingawareness of on-campus programs andprojects.

The center allows student workers tocontact alumni for gifts more efficiently bypre-dialing the calls and providing thestudent caller with information aboutalumni, such as where they work. The datahelps personalize calls.

Maltby Center houses the eight-stationcenter, headed by George F. McDowell,assistant director for UniversityAdvancement.

“Last year, SRU alumni and friends gave$1.12 million for University programsthrough the Annual Fund,” McDowellsaid. “These are gifts helping providescholarships for students, programenhancements and library resources beyondthe standard state legislative funding.”

Alumni and friends may call 1-800-GET-ROCK to reach the AlumniAssociation, or 1-888 SRU-6389 forAdvancement Services Office, or they candownload www.srufnd.org.

Returning alumni will notice 30 new banners onCampus Loop and Kiester Road, all of them promotingRock Pride. There are three different banners. TheRock Rowdies fan club placed its lion logo on one.Another features an “S” and represents athletics. Thethird says “Slippery Rock University.”

Senior ‘pops the question’at graduation rehearsal During winter graduation rehearsal, seniorNathan Pfeiffer surprised his girlfriendAmanda Nesbit by proposing in front ofhundreds of other students, who shouted,“Yes, Yes, Yes.”

Pfeiffer took the stage under the guise ofdelivering remarks to fellow graduates. Heasked his girlfriend to join him, droppedto one knee and presented a ring, a whitegold princess cut with sapphires.

Nesbit said “yes,” sealed with a kiss.Students cheered.

“I like big moments toremember events,” Pfeiffertold the Butler Eagle.

Pfeiffer and Nesbit havebeen a couple since theirsenior year at Plum HighSchool. Both majored inelementary education.Both graduated inDecember. Both work asinstructional aids for thePenn Hills School District.

School of Business studentsqualify for nationalAmerican Express finalsThe three-student American ExpressPlanning Invitational Team qualified for thenational finals to be held at the company'sMinneapolis headquarters April 21-24. Rockfinalists were Jesse Cline of Somerset, JimKuminkoski of Prospect and Joe Yamrozikof Pittsburgh.

Thirty-one schools from across the U.S.competed by preparing a comprehensivefinancial plan integrating six areas ofpersonal finance planning: investmentplanning, insurance planning, tax planning,retirement planning, employee benefits andestate planning. Finalists were selected basedon accuracy of calculations, definitions anduse of financial planning concepts, strategies,creativity and appearance.

Communication students impress NewYork Communication Association

Public relations majors Andrea Romo (seated,far right) and Jeffrey Milliner (seated at middle)so impressed leaders of the New York StateCommunication Association during a researchconference that members appointed them toleadership positions in the New York association.Members appointed Romo director of advertisingand public relations, selecting her over faculty andgraduate students at other universities. Milliner wasappointed student representative. With them (seated)is SRU's Dr. James Laux, associate professor ofcommunication, and student Jacquie Ward. Standingare students Charla Vogel and Autumn Kenrick.Students presented research at the conference.

www.SRU.edu 33

sru ROCKSCOOPS

a s u m m a r y o f n e w s r e p o r t s

a b o u t t h e u n i v e r s i t y

‘IN MEMORIAM: A REQUIEM FOR FREDROGERS’ GRABS NATIONAL HEADLINESPublicity for the world premiere of “In Memoriam:A Requiem for Fred Rogers” reached across thenation. The Associated Press, Houston Chronicle,USA Today, New York Times as well as localnewspapers and television stations posted storiesabout the requiems honoring the late Fred Rogers.

National Public Radio broadcast an eight-minute segment featuring music and an interviewwith composer Luke Mayernik. PittsburghCatholic, which circulates throughout theCatholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, also publicizedthe requiem, and the Pittsburgh Tribune Reviewpublished a front-page picture of SRU freshmanEllen Gross, who played chimes.

Nearly 1,300 people attended the twoperformances by SRU’s Concert Choir andSymphony Orchestra, at St. Justin Church inMount Washington and Butler CountyCommunity College.

Former “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” castmembers Chuck Aber (Neighbor Aber), MaggieStewart (Mayor Maggie) and Joe Negri(Handyman Negri) participated.

FRESHMAN APPEARS ON ‘PRICE IS RIGHT’Kim Smith, a freshman sprinter on the SlipperyRock University women’s track and field team,appeared on “The Price Is Right” television gameshow in March. She won two chairs, a washer anddryer, $1,000 and an outdoor shed.

Smith, a native of Girard, was in Californiawith her teammates to compete in a pair ofcompetitions. She was selected from the studioaudience in attendance at the show’s taping, SRUhead track and field coach John Papa said.

“The Price Is Right,” now in its 31st season, isthe longest running game show in televisionhistory. The March 1, 2004, show was the6,000th in the show’s history; the first show airedon Sept. 1972. The show is hosted and directedby Bob Barker, the winner of 12 Daytime Emmyawards.

NEW CASTLE NEWS PROFILES SRUPROFESSOR ABBASS ALKHAFAJIAfter the American military captured SaddamHussein, the New Castle News published a front-page story about SRU professor and Iraqi nativeDr. Abbass Alkhafaji, who shared his observationsabout Iraq after visiting The United Arab Emirates.

The business professor told the News, “I’mhoping to see a free and democratic Iraq wherethere are free elections…so we can build amodern country.”

FOSSILS ILLUMINATE BOTANTICAL LEGACY,PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIESThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Butler Eaglepublished stories about 70 new fossils on campus,bequeathed in his will by Louis Souzer, a formerSRU biology major. Souzer and his wife Anncollected the fossils on their Mercer County farmover many years.

The newspapers quoted SRU biology ProfessorDr. Thomas Gaither, who taught Souzer.

Gaither estimated the fossils’ age at 320million years and said biology and geologystudents will use them for research and classwork.

BUTLER EAGLE OUTLINES BUILDING PLANSThe Butler Eagle ran a two-day packageoverviewing SRU’s $83-million building plans,including new residence halls and the possibilityof a new student union/performing arts center.

Interim President Smith told reporter KrisMiller initial plans call for four residence halls inthe area behind Founders Hall, with the eventualdemolition of Patterson, Founders and Harnerhalls.

DRS Architects has developed a comprehensivehousing study to cover the next nine years.

MEDIA COVER NATIONAL WHEELCHAIRBASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENTSports and Spokes, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette andthe Butler Eagle sent a photographer and writer tocampus in March to cover the 30th NationalWomen’s Wheelchair Basketball AssociationTournament, held in the Robert N. AebersoldStudent Recreation Center.

The tournament shed light on SRU’s nationalreputation for helping people with disabilities.Eleven teams competed. Local coverage focusedon the Steel City Starz, which includes SRUstudent Diana Helt and SRU graduate NorahSchneider. Players from other states loved SRU’saccommodations.

“The facilities were top of the line, and thespace and service were excellent,” said JoycePrakke, a player for the Orlando Ice. “It was oneof the best tournaments we have been to.”

PG PROFILES ART PROFESSOR DICK WUKICHThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette profiled art ProfessorDick Wukich and the Potters for Peaceorganization after Wukich spent 11 days in Iraq.

The group’s mission was finding clean waterfor those without it in Iraq. Wukich examined theclay and filler with which Iraqi potters work. Hebrought home a small amount of the clay andsome native bricks.

“Eleven thousand children die every day frombad water,” Wukich told the PG.

The Associated Press picked up an abbreviatedversion of the story for its wires.

SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT LEADERRECEIVES NATIONAL AWARDOrganic farmer Ron Gargasz, co-founder of theRobert A. Macoskey Center for SustainableSystems Education and Research, received thisyear’s Western Pennsylvania EnvironmentalAward. The New Castle News profiled Gargasz,and columnist Mitchel Olszak wrote a columnthat started on the front page.

Gargasz donated the $1,000 prize to theMacoskey Center.

Gargasz, still an adjunct professor, taught atSRU from 1990 to 1994. He was formerPresident Jimmy Carter’s conservation director.


www.SRU.edu 35

College of BUSINESS • INFORMATION • SOCIAL SCIENCESSchool of Business; including programs in management, marketing, accounting, finance and economics. Departments of Communication, Computer Science, Government and Public Affairs, Military Science, Sociology/Anthropology/Social Work; Center for Government Contracting Assistance

SRU professor finds:communication is keyin Africa University or SRUFor Dr. Barbara Blackstone, associatecommunication professor, few teachingexperiences have been so difficult, or paid sogreat a reward as spending five months inAfrica at Zimbabwe’s Africa University.

Blackstone, who first visited Africa in the1980s, spent August-December as a visitingprofessor and says despite all of theproblems — 300 percent inflation, largescale, abject poverty, political unrest anddisease — “I’d go back in a minute.”

The 1,500-student, undergraduate andmaster’s degree-granting university is UnitedMethodist Church supported. Its Web siteoffering is similar to SRU’s, includingphotos, an on-line application form, a lookat internship programs, and points out“campus buildings are red brick structureswith tiled roofs in harmony with thesurroundings.” African University studentscome from 25 countries on the continent.Many see education as a way out of poverty,explains Blackstone.

At AU, Blackstone taught some 200-plusstudents in “Communication Skills” classes,similar to a combination of SRU’s “ResearchWriting” and “Public Speaking” courses.

“After breaking students of the unrelentinghabit of quoting others without attribution,the course went very well. Mid-term papersfound only one student failing properattribution, and many explored topicssimilar to my SRU students. The finalassignment called for a ‘problem-solvingspeech’ and research paper. Their topicsincluded saving the soil, the trees, thewildlife, and the tourist industry. Othersexamined the ‘girl-child’s rights across

Africa,’ prospects for an African Unionsimilar to the European Union,consequences of AIDS, preservation of adiminishing free press, and Zimbabwe’sreturn to an agricultural-based economicfoundation.”

She says the papers were excellent and thework focused. “However, I really enjoyedthe earlier assignment calling for an‘informative speech’ where the topics rangedfrom ‘How to Hunt the Wild Pig andWarthog,’ ‘Secret Societies’ Rituals[witchcraft] in Malawi’ to ‘Africa’s ThreeAddictions: Children to TV; Students to theInternet; and Adults to Cell Phones.’ ”

The visit was not all teaching: Blackstonefound herself learning too, as she visitedwith students and rode daily with felloweducators to the campus from nearbyMutare, Zimbabwe’s third largest city with apopulation of 160,000. “The country is runby President Robert Mugabe, a dictator.While he helped bring about peacefollowing 15 years of war, many of hispolicies are failing – especially agricultureand the economic situation is worsening.While I was there the price of sugar, amajor Zimbabwe crop, increased 300percent due to export controls; tuitionincreased equally. Zimbabwe must exportsugar to secure hard currency to buy oil andfood. The salary level is low: One teachingassistant was promised 1,000 Zim-dollarsper hour — after taxes she would work twohours to purchase a Coke.”

“Drought, the spread of AIDS, govern-mental oppression, including newspapers,are additional daily problems,” saysBlackstone, adding, “However, thededication of students and their interest inlearning made the hardships worth the trip.The experience was fascinating. My SRUstudents will hear about the visitthroughout spring – and coming semesters.”

Dr. Blackstone joined the SRUcommunication department in 1970.

Shadow Day for computerscience studentsLori Jashinski, manager of softwaredevelopment at Cranberry’s McKesson Inc.,(second from left) joined three of eight

SRU students, including (from left,) MattBeilstein of Slippery Rock, Greg Barker ofMcKeesport and Brian Decima ofPittsburgh at the company offices wherestudents shadowed company officials forthe day as part of a computer sciencedepartment program. Managers atMcKesson provided job-specific examplesof job requirements related to design,software analysis, implementation, testing,deployment and maintenance of companyproducts. Students toured the company’stesting facility in Thornhill and wereshown products, including a robot forautomated dispensation of medications inhospitals. Vice President of SoftwareDevelopment Phil Spano offered a one-hour session on the skill sets, qualities andknowledge needed for a successful career inthe software industry. Other SRU studentsshadowed officials at Highmark and thePirates baseball club.

School of Business studentsqualify for Am-Ex NationalsThe three-member SRU’s School ofBusiness American Express PlanningInvitational team have qualified for thenational finals to be held at the company’sMinneapolis headquarters.

The finalists are: Jesse Cline ofSomerset, Jim Kuminkoski of Prospect andJoe Yamrozik of Pittsburgh.

Thirty-one schools from across the U.S.competed in Phase 1 by preparing acomprehensive financial plan integratingthe six areas of personal finance planning –investment planning, insurance planning,tax planning, retirement planning,employee benefits and estate planning –from a case profile presented by AE. Eightteams will compete in the finals, wherethey will update their plan.

College of EDUCATIONDepartments of Counseling/Educational Psychology, Elementary Education/Early Childhood, Physical Education/Sport Management, Secondary Education/Foundations of Education, and Special Education

A Name as Good as GoldNO QUESTION, THE PUBLIC VIEWS SRU ASA PREMIER UNIVERSITY FOR TEACHERPREPARATION, EVEN THOSE FROMTHOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY

When SRU College of Education Dean Dr.Jay Hertzog recently visited his collegedaughter Stephanie in Los Angeles, hefound out just how well word of his collegehas been dispatched.

He provides details of the story withrelish:

“One of my hobbies is collecting oldmagazines, especially those with clippingsrelated to the Kennedy assassinations, sowhen I spotted ‘Book Castle’s MovieWorld,’ a 30-year business touting a largecollection of movie memorabilia, oldnewspapers, and back-issue magazines, Ihad to go in.”

After locating several “must-have” items,Hertzog joined the checkout line. A youngman ahead of him asked the cashier, “Isthere a student discount?,” and was politelytold, “No.” With a bit of humor, the deanasked, “Is there a faculty discount?” towhich the clerk responded, “Where are youa faculty member?”

Thinking few in California would knowthe name “Slippery Rock University,” heresponded, “A small university inPennsylvania.”

The clerk pressed, “No, really, where?” When Hertzog replied, “Slippery Rock

University,” a smile filled the clerk’s face:“Yes, they have a fine teacher’s educationprogram.”

The education dean has retained an ear-to-ear smile ever since.

‘Permanent Record’ takes onnew meaning for educationmajors through TaskStreamThe meaning of “permanent record” ischanging dramatically for SRU educationmajors with the College of Education’sadoption of new on-line assessment systemthat is helping future teachers track theirsuccess from the first day of class throughtheir student teacher experiences.

Dr. Judy Werner, associate professor ofelementary education/early childhood,brought the “TaskStream” software to theattention of the dean who then supportedher and Dr. Suzanne Rose, assistantprofessor of elementary education/earlychildhood, for a fall semester pilotprogram. The system is being consideredfor collegewide adoption.

“This software offers students learningtools to help them both prepare for theirclassroom duties and better understand theimportance of meeting SRU, state andnational teaching standards required oftoday’s teachers,” says Rose, who beganusing the Web-based system in her“Teaching Elementary Reading” course lastAugust.

“This software allows educators todevelop lesson plans and collaborate withcolleagues. It also allows faculty to manageand distribute course materials, reviewstudent work and track student progress online,” she explains, noting, if the program isadopted across the college, every studenttaking education courses at SRU will bepart of the tracking system. “Using thesystem, students create Web portfolioswhich eventually become a permanentrecord of their skills and professionaldevelopment all held in a central, organizedlocation.”

“Students will develop a Web page thatcan be made available to potentialemployers. The student’s portfolios will alsobe available for review by others who havepermission to access the information onTaskStream,” says Werner.

The biggest advantage Rose sees in thenew program for faculty and teachereducation majors alike is that it provides away to keep everyone involved abreast of


assessment standards, including thoserequired for National Council for theAccreditation of Teacher Educationaccreditation, which, Rose points out isrequired by the Pennsylvania State Systemof Higher Education as a way of showingthe system’s teacher education programsare viable. SRU was the first teachereducation program in Pennsylvania to earnfive-year NCATE accreditation under itsnew guidelines which stress accountability.

“Students are overwhelminglysupportive of this high-tech system,” saysRose, pointing out she thinks students –and faculty — will become even moresupportive as they reach their senior yearand have all of the necessary materialseasily accessible and in a central locationon the Internet to show their progress andskill development to potential employers.

The system allows education majors tosubmit work for review and evaluation on-line and allows on-line grading andfeedback by faculty. A major advantage ofthis feature is that the program can thenaggregate the data for the candidateassessments, thereby providing useful datafor program evaluation and accreditationreports. The TaskStream system will alsoallow teacher candidates to gather both“before” and “after” data from their K-12students to show their teaching successes— or to learn from their mistakes.

Rose says the program aids in buildinglessons, mentoring, curriculum andcomputer literacy while focusing on theall-important standards that allow SRU’steacher education programs to remain atthe forefront of a rock solid education.

Organizers have completed two years ofplanning and program development andhope to start construction this summer sostudents will be able to have their horsesboarding for the fall semester, Fulton said.Undergraduate and graduate students willuse the site.

College leads by examplewith stop-smoking campaignThe College of Health, Environment andScience is doing its utmost to help students“kick butt.” The college joined aPennsylvania Department of Healthprogram that offers $1,000 renewablescholarships for students who join thestate’s “Students Working Against Tobacco”campaign for 2004-2005. Students planseveral stop-smoking activities on campusduring the school year.

The college also posted a $300 awardfor developing the best campaign logo,said SRU’s Dr. Jane Fulton, college deanand coordinator of SRU’s StudentsWorking Against Tobacco efforts. Part ofthe college’s mission is promoting healthylifestyles.

www.SRU.edu 37

College of HEALTH • ENVIRONMENT • SCIENCESchool of Physical Therapy; Departments of Allied Health, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences, Geography, Geology and the Environment, Mathematics, Nursing, Parks and Recreation, Environmental Education, and Psychology; the Robert A. Macoskey Centerfor Sustainable Systems Education and Research; the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education

Rare fossils provide picture ofarea’s botanical legacy, manynew learning opportunitiesA Slippery Rock University graduatebequeathed a “rare and unique” collectionof fossils to the University, providingoutstanding opportunities for students toexamine the plant life and geology ofwestern Pennsylvania as it existed 320million years ago.

The late Louis Souzer, a 1977 biologygraduate, and his wife Ann collected the 70fossils on their property in Mercer County.Louis Souzer died in 2003.

The fossilized Carboniferous plants arein “particularly good shape,” says SRU’s Dr.Thomas Gaither, a biology professor whoremembers Souzer as a student. He says thecache is rare because the pliable nature ofsand seldom preserves non-woody plants.

Typically, fossils form after a rapid burialof plant or animal life in layers of mud thatover millions of years harden to stone.

“How they were preserved is a scientificstudy in itself,” says Dr. Tamra Schiappa,assistant professor of geography, geologyand environment. “It’s a very rare andunique collection.”

$250,000 gift to fund StormHarbor Equestrian CenterPhilanthropist Mrs. Ethel Carruth ofHouston, Texas, has continued her supportof Slippery Rock University by giving$250,000 to develop the 20-acre StormHarbor Equestrian Center on campus,providing a merge point for studies inequine therapy, biology, agriculture, greenbuilding design, farming and environment.

The center will occupy land on theRobert A. Macoskey Center forSustainable Systems Education andResearch, near N. Kerr ThompsonStadium. Plans include stables and anindoor riding arena to advance SRU’sflagship Adapted Physical ActivityProgram, which includes equine facilitatedtherapy. Students learn to use horses indeveloping therapeutic recreation programsfor children and adults with disabilities.

SRU equestrian team members willboard their horses at the center as well.

“This is a huge development forSlippery Rock University,” Dr. JaneFulton, dean of the College of Health,Environment and Science said. “Theequestrian center honors our rural heritage,and it gives more credibility and visibilityto our adapted physical activity minor,which is the largest in the country with 70students.”

One of the fossilized plants, Calamites, is similar to the modernhorsetail that still grows in the area.

Biology Professor Dr. Thomas Gaither handles some of the 70 fossilsa former student, the late Louis Souzer, bequeathed to SRU in hiswill to enhance biology and geology studies.

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After philanthropist Mrs. Ethel Carruth gave $250,000 to constructStorm Harbor Equestrian Center at SRU, College of Health,Environment and Science Dean Dr. Jane Fulton (above right)brought two horses to campus for a celebration luncheon. The horsesbelong to Nancy Banner, SRU's equestrian instructor. They havebeen specially trained to work with persons with disabilities and areso gentle a girl rode bareback at the picnic. Carruth's daughter,retired SRU faculty. Carolyn Carruth Rizza (above left), attendedthe luncheon.

College of HUMANITIES • FINE AND PERFORMING ARTSDepartments of Art, Dance, English, History, Modern Languages and Cultures, Music, Philosophy, Theater, and Women’s Studies

‘Tackling Jim Crow:Racial Segregation inProfessional Football’HISTORY PROFESSOR ALAN LEVY TACKLES

IMPORTANT SPORTS TOPIC

While most sports fans know the story ofJackie Robinson and the integration ofMajor League Baseball, few know thesequence of events leading to the 1946integration of professional football.Slippery Rock University history ProfessorDr. Alan Levy is helping to change thatwith his latest book “Tackling Jim Crow:Racial Segregation in ProfessionalFootball.”

The 172-page work, available atbookstores and online, offers an in-depthstudy of the segregation and integration offootball and of the surrounding culture andpolitics.

Levy, a member of the SRU faculty since1985, conducted most of his research at theLibrary of Congress. His book includesphotographs of some of the early African-American pro-football players, obtainedthrough the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton,Ohio.

“Baseball and football were integrated atmuch the same time. The social impact ofbaseball’s integration was much moreprofound than football’s,” Levy explains.

“In the 1940s, football did not have nearlythe fan interest it has today.”

The more established sport during thesegregation era, baseball had a fully formedset of African-American leagues. Levy’sbook details how some people tried todevelop such organizations in football butwere unsuccessful.

In the 1940s, racial barriers began tocrumble. Levy details how “World War IIpresented the obvious point that the nationwas fighting to end the evils of racism ascarried out by Hitler, and, for at least someAmericans, the maintaining of racialsegregation at home was too obvious andembarrassing a contradiction.”

The Cleveland Browns of the old All-America Football Conference and the LosAngeles Rams of the NFL initially brokethe racial barriers in 1946. The WashingtonRedskins, Levy notes, was the last tointegrate in 1962. The 1969 Kansas CityChiefs were the first to have a 50-50 racialmix.

SRU theater professor writescomic, psychological thrillerPLAY STAGED IN FIVE PERFORMANCES AT

MILLER AUDITORIUM

Dr. David Skeele joined the SRU theaterfaculty to teach theater courses and directplays. He recently added the responsibilityof writing a black comic, contemporarypsychological thriller students presented infive Miller Auditorium performances.

Titled “Double Bulldog,” the two-actwork tells of Denny Davis, played by EvanEndres of Ligonier, who dreams of beingpresident of his neighborhood Christianmilitia. When the dream comes true, thereis a dark turn as his charismatic, second-in-command Boyd Painter, played by MarcEpstein of Beaver Falls, raises the stakes,proposing to assassinate a MarilynManson-style shock-rock band he believesis corrupting American values. Davissuffers an attack of conscience, leading to asuspenseful struggle for control of thegroup.

Holy Cow! SRU art studentsselected to decorate100-pound bovine for‘Harrisburg Cow Parade’Most art students start with a blankcanvas, but two SRU art majors – JenniferClugsten and Nicole Fiedler — startedtheir latest project with a life-size blankcow as part of the world-recognized “CowParade” project.

Unusual, but true. The 100-pound,fiberglass cow will be part of an outdoor,public art exhibition coming toPennsylvania’s capital city Harrisburg laterthis year under the auspices of theWhitaker Center for Science and Arts,which launched the parade as a fund-raising event. The Whitaker serves as thecenter for scientific, artistic, cultural andeducational activities in the Harrisburgregion. Major businesses, industries andindividuals throughout the capital regionare sponsoring cows.

Similar, “Cow Parades” have been held in15 cities around the world, including NewYork, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, London,Zurich and Sydney. Additional displays areplanned this year for Dublin, New Zealand,Atlanta, Brussels and England.

The SRU art students say their winningdesign, which earned them a $500scholarship from M&T Bank, also madeuse of their photography talents as well astheir artistic interests. Their design calledfor covering the cow with various black-and-white photographs of cows.

Art students Jennifer Clugsten (left) and Nicole Fiedler designedthis fiberglass cow for “Cow Parade Harrisburg 2004,” a fund-raising event in the capital region..


THE CAMPAIGN FOR SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY ROCKS ON!SHIRING FUND WILL HELP

EDUCATION MAJORS

Family and friends of MarkA. Shiring have established theMark A. Shiring TeacherEducation Fund at SlipperyRock University. Studentsmajoring in elementary,secondary or special educationwithin the College of Educationwill benefit from the fund.

The fund will help studentswho need financial assistancefor special travel opportunities,conferences and out-of-classprojects that enrich theirpreparation for the teachingprofession.

The fund is establishedin memory of Mr. Shiring,professor emeritus ofcurriculum and instruction. Heserved Slippery Rock Universitystudents 27 years from 1960 to1987 following his teachingtenure in the Butler Area SchoolDistrict.

Additional tax deductiblegifts may be directed to theMark A. Shiring TeacherEducation Fund at SlipperyRock University.

In addition, the corporatecommunity has provided a totalof $4.5 million or 30 percent ofthe campaign total. And some6 percent of the total, $882,459,was gifted by foundations andother organizations.

The Campaign for SlipperyRock University has threefeatured objectives:

• $17 million for portions ofcapital projects, including anew Science and TechnologyBuilding, Performing ArtsCenter, Regional LearningAlliance in Pittsburgh’s NorthHills, and a crossroadsbuilding that will providecomputer labs, study areas andstudent service facilities. Giftswill also fund enhancements toexisting buildings, includingMcKay Education Building.

• $8 million for scholarshipendowment to enable SlipperyRock University to recruitacademically deservingstudents and to offer a collegeeducation to those studentswho might not otherwise beable to afford it.

• $8 million for academicexcellence, including anHonors College, new andenhanced academic programs,and technology upgrades.

here, but is caught at SlipperyRock.’ Slippery Rock Universitystudents are, indeed, fortunatethat so many of our constituentsrealize charitable gifts add themargin of excellence for theireducational opportunities.”

The Campaign for SlipperyRock University began as aneffort to generate $11 millionduring a five-year period. Thegoal of the campaign wasincreased to $33 million within10-years due to the overwhelmingresponse that surpassed the $11million goal in the first 18months. To date, $14,913,744has been contributed andcommitted.

Individuals have accounted formore than $9 million,representing 64 percent of thetotal realized to date. Friends ofSlippery Rock University havegifted and committed nearly$5.7 million – 38 percent ofcurrent total. Gifts andcommitments from alumni totalnearly $3.9 million or 26 percentof the total.

CAMPAIGN STIMULATES A

CULTURE OF GIVING

Those with a sincere willingnessto add value to the academicenterprise at Slippery RockUniversity, certainly areexhibiting the culture of givingthat exists within its constituents.

Energized through TheCampaign for Slippery RockUniversity, a 10-year effort togenerate $33 million, charitablegifts received annually havesurpassed the $3 million levelduring three of the last fouryears. Contributions during thosefour years total $12,551,910, andmarks the most significant periodof generosity by constituents inthe University’s 115-year history.

“This tremendous display ofsupport confirms that generosityis one of the fabrics woven intothe culture of Slippery RockUniversity,” said InterimPresident Smith. “Many of theindividuals who have beenleaders in crafting our culturehave stated that ‘giving issomething that is not taught

www.SRU.edu 39

THE CAMPAIGN FOR SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITYGOAL: $33 MILLION

FRIENDS $ 5,669,317 38.00%CORPORATIONS $ 4,495,297 30.15%ALUMNI $ 3,866,670 25.93%FOUNDATIONS $ 658,539 4.42%ORGANIZATIONS $ 223,921 1.50%

TOTALS $14,913,744 100%(45.19% OF GOAL)


CAMPUS SADDENED BY DEATH

OF ETHEL CARRUTH

“The entire Slippery RockUniversity community is deeplysaddened to learn of the deathof its longtime friend,benefactors and moving forceon campus, Mrs. Ethel Carruth.We will all miss her leadership,dedication and enthusiasm forSlippery Rock University,” saidInterim President Smith onlearning of Mrs. Carruth’sApril 17 death.

Mrs. Carruth, 81, mother toDr. Carolyn Carruth Rizza, andmother-in-law to Dr. Paul Rizza,both professors emeritus atSRU, died in Houston, Texas.

Honorary chair of TheCampaign for Slippery RockUniversity, a 10-year effort togenerate $33 million in privategifts, Mrs. Carruth served as aleader in the on-goingcampaign by helping launch itwith a $2.5 million gift to helprestore a campus landmark. Thebuilding is now know as Pauland Carolyn Carruth RizzaHall, in honor of her daughterand son-in-law who served SRUduring a combined total of 52years. Mrs. Carruth’s gift is thelargest ever received by SRU.

“A very generous benefactor,Mrs. Carruth did not attendSlippery Rock University, butthrough Carolyn and Paul’slong tenure, saw the need andthe potential of our studentsand agreed to graciously lendher support. During her lastvisit to campus, Mrs. Carruthenthusiastically visited withstudents, faculty and staff andbeamed with pride at knowingshe was both helping build our

reputation and helping students,”Smith added.

In addition, Mrs. Carruth inFebruary gifted $250,000 forthe creation of what has beennamed the Storm HarborEquestrian Center. The facility,that will be built on a 20-acresite on the east side of campus,will allow students to learnabout and to implementequine-facilitated therapywithin the adapted physicalactivity and therapeuticrecreation program.

SRU trustees enthusiasticallyexpressed their gratitude forMrs. Carruth’s latest gift bynaming the equestrian centerfor Carolyn’s award-winningshow horse.

“Mrs. Carruth’s kindness andgenerosity will forever impactSlippery Rock University. Herleadership in philanthropy hashelped establish a culture ofgiving at the University thatwould not have been possiblewithout her. Mrs. Carruth’sgreatness was her kindness andher compassion. The Universityhas lost a great friend. Shewill be missed, and we extendour deepest sympathy toher family,” said RobertMollenhauer, vice presidentfor university advancement.

“Mrs Carruth’s gift of theequestrian center will have animpact on the lives of so manyfor years to come,” said Dr.Jane Fulton, dean of theCollege of Health, Environmentand Science, “We willremember her with greatfondness.” The center will behoused in Fulton’s college.

In announcing her $2.5million commitment to SRU,Mrs. Carruth said, “My prayerfor the University is that theLord will continue to guide,direct, and bless Slippery RockUniversity, and that all of theyoung people who pass throughhere will acquire a love oflearning, love of their fellowman, and love for all of earth’screatures. We also hope thatthey will be led to give back tothe University, theircommunity, and the world outof the bounty they havereceived.”

Those words are engraved ona bronze plaque that ispermanently displayed in theportico of the main entrance toCarruth Rizza Hall.

Mrs. Carruth was awardedthe Eberly Medal forPhilanthropy by thePennsylvania State System ofHigher Education in honor ofher significant generosity toSRU. Also, Mrs. Carruth andher family endowed the RalphEmerson Greasley MemorialScholarship at SRU in honor ofher father.

Mrs. Carruth’s late husband,Allen H. “Buddy” Carruth, wasa managing partner for theJohn L. Wortham InsuranceCo. One of his mentors wasGus Wortham, who foundedthe Wortham Foundation, oneof the largest philanthropicfoundations in the country. Afountain in Carruth Rizza Hallserves as a permanent memorialto Mr. Carruth.

Ethel Carruth1922 – 2004

COEN FOUNDATION CREATES

SCHOLARSHIP

The long-time efforts of aWashington Countybusinessman and his wife tohelp young people obtain aneducation has reached studentsattending Slippery RockUniversity.

The Charles S. and MaryCoen Family Foundation gifted$50,000 to establish theCharles S. and Mary CoenScholarship that will supportthe educational objectives ofstudents with a major in one ofthe nine academic departmentswithin the College of Health,Environment, and Science.

Charles S. Coen, founder ofCoen Oil Co., established the

foundation Jan. 10, 1959. Buteven before that, he helpedyoung people out of his ownpocket, according to his sonCharles R. Coen. “Although hewas a great businessman, Daddid not have the opportunity toattend college,” he said. “It wassomething he always valuedvery highly and wanted to helpas many young people aspossible get a collegeeducation.”

Charles S. Coen died in1983, his wife, Mary, died in1982.

LIFE-ESTATE WILL ENDOW YARGER

SCHOLARSHIP

James “Flash” Yarger, best-known in the local area, with hislate wife, Linda, as formerowners of Ye Olde CameraShoppe in downtown SlipperyRock and as a longtime contractphotographer for UniversityPublic Relations and the Officeof Sports Information, has givenback to the University byproviding for the Flash andLinda C. Yarger EndowedScholarship for geoscience andmusic majors.

In 2000, the Yargersestablished an annualscholarship that continues to

support deserving studentsmajoring in geoscience.

Yarger, a 1970 graduate wholives in Durham, N.C., issupporting The Campaign forSlippery Rock Universitythrough a life-estate plan thatenabled him to gift his

$130,000 townhouse to theSlippery Rock UniversityFoundation, Inc. The life-estateplan allows him to live in thetownhouse for life. Followingsettlement of his estate, thefoundation will sell thetownhouse and fund the YargerEndowed Scholarship with thesale proceeds.

“While other benefactors havefunded gifts to the campaignwith real estate, Mr. Yarger isthe first to make a gift of hishome and receive the immediatetax benefits provided by a life-estate plan,” explains George F.McDowell, director of the SRUAnnual Fund. “We appreciate

AUTOMATED CALLS BOOST

PHILANTHROPIC, PROGRAM SUPPORT

Slippery Rock University hasfurther expanded its use oftechnology by implementing anAutomated Call Center thatincreases efficiency incontacting alumni and friendsand provides opportunities forincreasing awareness of on-campus programs and projects.

Lead by George F. McDowell,director of the SRU AnnualFund, the eight-station ACC islocated in Maltby Center andallows students or staff tocontact alumni making use ofautomated dialing. The high-tech system links callers withdata about the individuals beingcontacted to help personalizethe call.

“This new system openedJan. 26 and allows us to speedup our fundraising and tele-fundraising,” explainsMcDowell. The Annual Fund is

a yearly program that contactsSRU alumni with requests forphilanthropic support tospecific priority programs andprojects.

“Last year, alumni and friendsgave $1.12 million forUniversity programs throughthe fund. These gifts helpprovide scholarships forstudents, program

enhancements and libraryresources beyond the standardstate legislative funding. They

allow the University to bedistinctive in its academicofferings,” McDowell explains.

The call center allowsstudents to contact alumni forgifts more efficiently by pre-dialing the calls and providingthe student caller with a screenof information about the personbeing contacted. “We can try tosteer a graduate’s gift to theirspecific area of interest,” saysMcDowell, explaining, “We canask a biology graduate for a

Calling Center

contribution to a newmicroscope fund, or a computerscience graduate for a gift tothe new Science andTechnology Building.” Thesystem reshuffles calls resultingin busy signals or that areunanswered or picked up byhome answering machines.

Students who traditionallymake the gift solicitation callsfrom campus also updatealumni about other campusevents, including upcomingcultural and athletic events,McDowell says, adding theACC will be used by the SRUAlumni Association in seekingnew and renewed membershipsas well as calls to regionalalumni about major upcomingcampus events, homecomingand alumni weekend. It alsowill be used to provideinformation to prospectivestudents and their families.

www.sru.edu 41

James “Flash” Yarger

their previous contributions aswell as this latest gift. Clearly,this consistent supportdemonstrates Mr. Yarger has notforgotten his Slippery Rockroots.”

Yarger says he acknowledgedthe advantages of the life-estateplan and wanted some way heand his wife, who also attendedclasses at SRU, would beremembered. “The purpose ofthe gift is to help someone elseobtain the Slippery RockUniversity experience that bothLinda and I shared,” explainsYarger, adding that his wife waspart of all business undertakings.

Scholarship has providedthousands of dollars in supportof Grove City County Marketemployees and their familiespursuing an education atSlippery Rock University. Theculture of giving at SlipperyRock University was initiated bycaring individuals Dave andVicki.”

The Grove City CountyMarket Endowed Scholarshipwill provide financial assistanceto students matriculating toSRU from Grove City, Mercerand Slippery Rock schooldistricts who demonstratededication and perseverance intheir academic work. It will beavailable to first-year studentsregardless of their academic

GROVE CITY COUNTY MARKETSCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED

Dave and Vicki Knopp,owners of Grove City CountyMarket, a well-recognized,community-oriented grocery,have endowed the Grove CityCounty Market Scholarshipwith a gift of $25,000 to TheCampaign for Slippery RockUniversity. It is the secondscholarship established by thecouple to help area studentsattend SRU.

“Slippery Rock University isindeed fortunate and proud tocount Dave and Vicki Knoppamong its friends andbenefactors, said InterimPresident Smith. “Already theDavid and Victoria Knopp

SCHOLARSHIPS IS FOCUS FORCORAOPOLIS WOLVES CLUB

They have different careerpursuits. They range in agefrom 20s to their 80s. Some livein town, while others maketheir homes in suburban areas.Some are college graduates, andothers entered the workforceimmediately after high schoolgraduation.

But the 28 members of theWolves Club of Coraopolis areunited by their goal to make acollege education possible forstudents. This organizationbelieves strongly in theacademic mission of Slippery

Rock University and hasestablished an endowedscholarship program through itsgifts totaling $70,000.

The Coraopolis group is partof the National Association of

Wolves that is comprised of 14dens within four districtsthroughout westernPennsylvania and eastern Ohio.“Pro Bono Publica,” a Latinphrase meaning “for the goodof the public,” guides theirefforts. The act of giving andoffering help to those in need isthe character of the mainobjective of the organization.

The Wolves Club ofCoraopolis ScholarshipProgram at Slippery RockUniversity is available tostudents matriculating fromCornell, Montour, Moon and

Our Lady of the Sacred Hearthigh schools. Each award has avalue of $10,000 and isprovided annually in $2,500increments.

Established in 1954, theCoraopolis Wolves Club hasawarded more than $410,000in scholarships to talented anddeserving students. DavidScappe serves as president,Mario Lacenere as vicepresident, Tom Lattanzio,secretary, and Dick Wolfe,treasurer. Ross Pisano serves asscholarship chairman and as anational director.

major beginning in the fall.The endowed scholarship is

further evidence of Grove CityCounty Market’s communityspirit. With more than 85percent of undergraduates in


Dave and Vicki Knopp

need of financial aid to attendthe University, scholarshipsupport provided by alumniand friends is critical.

“Vicki and I are pleased topermanently endow thisscholarship to encourage theacademic initiatives of areastudents,” said Dave Knopp, amember of the Slippery RockUniversity Foundation, Inc.,board of directors. “This Julywill mark the 20th year theGrove City County Market hasserved the area. “We areremodeling the store forcustomer convenience, and wewill continue to find ways tobetter serve area residents,” saidKnopp.

David Scappe, president andRoss Pisano, scholarship chairman

ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS BENEFITS

FROM STRACKA SCHOLARSHIP GIFTS

A $50,000 commitment froma 1980 alumnus has endowed anacademic scholarship and anathletic scholarship.

The Jim Stracka Scholarshipin Computer Science and theChip Shearer BaseballScholarship have been endowedby Jim Stracka, chief executiveofficer of W5 Technologies, Inc.,

of Spring, Texas. Stracka is also amember of the President’sAdvisory Council at SlipperyRock University.

Beginning in the 2004academic year, rising seniors whoare full-time students majoringin computer science will benefitfrom the $1,000 annual awardsbased on academic achievement.

Stracka was one of the firstcomputer science degreegraduates from SRU. “I

continue to have great respectfor my mentor Dr. SharadJoshi,” he said. Dr. Joshicurrently serves as chair of thecomputer science department.Stracka added, “AttendingSlippery Rock was an impulsivedecision for me, but it was agreat experience.”

Half of Stracka’s gift will alsoendow The Chip ShearerBaseball Scholarship that wasestablished on an annual basis by

Shearer’s family in 1980 inmemory of Richard “Chip”Shearer, one of Stracka’s closefriends who was killed in anautomobile accident whilereturning to SRU at the startof his second year.

The Shearer BaseballScholarship will providefinancial assistance togenerations of deserving student-athletes participating on TheRock baseball team.

www.SRU.edu 43

THE ROCK’S 14 ATHLETIC PROGRAMS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

The following 14 Rock intercollegiate sports teams achieved cumulative grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher during fall semester 2003:

Sport S-A GPA 4.0 3.5-3.99

Women’s tennis 9 3.333 1 3Women’s track and field * 43 3.257 6 8Women’s field hockey 18 3.244 2 6Men’s tennis 8 3.236 1 2Women’s volleyball 17 3.218 1 5Women’s cross country 17 3.216 2 2Women’s softball 23 3.166 2 6Men’s cross country 12 3.088 2 2Women’s basketball 17 3.083 3 2Men’s track and field * 40 3.005 5 7Men’s wrestling ** 19 3.000 1 4Women’s water polo *** 14 3.000 2 0

STUDENT-ATHLETE TOTALS:Women’s sports 202 3.126 22 38Men’s sports 271 2.761 12 33TOTAL 473 2.935 34 71

STUDENT BODY:Women 3.069Men 2.750Overall 2.928

* Indoor and outdoor teams combined** Rounded up from actual average of 2.986*** Rounded up from actual average of 2.959

S-A = number of student-athletes on that athletic teamGPA = Cumulative grade-point average during fall semester 20034.0 = Student-athletes who attained perfect 4.0 GPA during semester3.5-3.99 = Student-athletes who attained GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 during semester

Student-athletes excel inclassroom

Members of Rock athletic teamspersonified the scholar-athlete ethic lastfall by attaining grade-point averages thatcompare favorably to the University’sstudent body as a whole.

During the fall semester of 2003, 14 ofThe Rock’s 23 intercollegiate varsityathletic teams attained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, whichtranslates to a “B” average.

As a group, Rock student-athletesachieved a cumulative GPA of 2.935 on a4.0 scale. Female student-athletes recordeda 3.126 GPA, while male student-athleteshad a group GPA of 2.761.

SRU’s student body as a whole attaineda 2.928 GPA during the fall semester;female students attained a 3.069 GPA andmale students attained a 2.750.

The Rock women’s tennis team, thereigning Pennsylvania State AthleticConference and NCAA Division II EastRegional champions, had a team GPA of3.333 to lead the student-athlete group.

SRU’s women’s track and field team,also the reigning PSAC champions,attained a 3.257 GPA, followed bywomen’s field hockey at 3.244; men’stennis at 3.236; women’s volleyball at3.218 and women’s cross country at 3.216.

Approximately 25 percent of The Rock’s473 intercollegiate student-athletesattained GPA’s of 3.5 or higher during thefall semester, with 7 percent holding aperfect 4.0, and just less than 50 percentof the student-athletes had GPA’s of 3.0 orhigher.

Slippery Rock University currently hasthe third highest number of intercollegiatevarsity sports among NCAA Division IIinstitutions in the nation, behind onlyCalifornia-Davis – which has 25 sportsand will move to Division I status in2004-05 – and Mercyhurst (24 sports).

Meghan McGrath

Osborne named as Assistant toAthletic Director

CARRIE OSBORNE, an SRU assistantwomen’s basketball coach since 1996, wasnamed in December as an Assistant to theAthletic Director at The Rock.

Her primary responsibilities will be inthe area of athletic fund-raising. She willalso continue to coordinate the AthleticAcademic Advisement program, a role shehas filled for the past three years, as well asoversee the SRU Camps and Conferencesoperation.

Osborne is a 1995 graduate ofDuquesne University in Pittsburgh with abachelor’s degree in Psychology andCriminal Justice. She received a master’sdegree in Sport Management from SRUand was named as an OutstandingGraduate Student in 2001.

She joins an athletic administration staffheaded by Director of Athletics PaulLueken that also includes AssociateDirector of Athletics Dr. Robertha Abneyand Assistant to the A.D. Jeff Michaels.

Ricks earns Football GazetteAll-America honor

Rock football standout BILL RICKS

was named to honorable mentionAll-America honors

by Don Hansen’sFootball Gazette.

A seniorcenter from

Connellsville,Ricks received

the honor shortlyafter being named to

first-team All-Northeast Regional honorsby the Football Gazette. He was alsonamed to Daktronics all-region first-teamhonors in voting by the region’s sportsinformation directors and first-team All-PSAC-Western Division honors by theconference’s coaches.

Arsenault, McGrath named tofirst-team All-America honors

SARAH ARSENAULT and MEGHAN MCGRATH,the mainstays of The Rock’s first-everPennsylvania State Athletic Conferencechampionship team last fall, earned first-team All-America honors from theNational Soccer Coaches Association ofAmerica (NSCAA).

The duo are the first two players in the11-year history of Rock women’s soccer tobe named to the top honor and are thethird and fourth players in the program’shistory to earn All-America status.MAUREEN ENNIS was a second-teamselection in 2001 as a midfielder andSONYA MAHER was a third-team selection asa midfielder in 1999.

Prior being named to All-Americahonors this fall, Arsenault was named asthe Pennsylvania State AthleticConference “Athlete of the Year” andearned both first-team All-NortheastRegion and All-PSAC honors for thethird successive season. She also set theSRU career and single-season goals scoredand points records last fall.

McGrath, prior to earning All-Americaand all-region honors, was named as thePSAC “Rookie of the Year” and earnedfirst-team All-PSAC honors.

Rock head coach Noreen Herlihy, thePSAC “Coach of the Year” this fall, addedthe NSCAA Northeast Region “Coach ofthe Year” honor to her collection.

The honors came in the wake of themost successful season in Rock women’ssoccer history. In addition to winning theprogram’s inaugural PSAC regular-seasonand playoff championships, the 2003Rock squad compiled a best-ever 15-3-2won-lost record and earned the secondNCAA regional tournament berth inthree seasons.

Sarah Arsenault Carrie Osborne Amber McFeely Stacey Green


McFeely, Green reachmilestones

Rock women’s basketball standoutsAMBER MCFEELY and STACEY GREEN reachedsignificant milestones in the final game ofthe 2003-04 season.

McFeely, a sophomore point guard fromGrove City, had 11 assists in the win atLock Haven to finish the season with 180assists. That total established a new schoolrecord; the old mark of 177 was set in1981-82 by SRU Athletic Hall of FamerKathy Lisman Wood.

Green, in the process of scoring 27points at Lock Haven, became the 13thplayer in Rock women’s basketball historyto score 1,000 or more career points. Shehas now scored 1,020 points in her firstthree collegiate seasons, which ranks as the12th highest total in SRU history.

Green ranks fourth in careerrebounding with 714 and needs only 27to take over third place (Lori Robinson-Nuzzo, 1993-98). The Rock’s all-timeleading rebounder is Kory Fielitz Malkuswith 961.

Ferrone honored by Fox ChapelSchools

Former Rock men’s soccer standoutGERRY FERRONE will be inducted into theFox Chapel Area Schools Hall of Fame onJune 13, 2004.

Ferrone played at The Rock from 1964-67 under SRU and NAIA Hall of Famecoach Jim Egli. He currently ranks fifth incareer scoring at The Rock with 93 pointson 41 goals and 11 assists.

He ranks fifth in career goals, seventh insingle-season goals (15 in 1966) and 16thin single-season points (30 in 1966).

www.SRU.edu 45

2004 ROCK FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 BLOOMSBURG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 p.m.Sept. 2 at Youngstown State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7:30 p.m.Sept. 11 at Shepherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 p.m.Sept. 18 FAIRMONT STATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 p.m.Sept. 25 at Lock Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 p.m.Oct. 2 at California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 p.m.Oct. 9 INDIANA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 p.m.Oct. 16 at Millersville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 p.m.Oct. 23 EDINBORO (Homecoming) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 p.m.Oct. 30 at Shippensburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 p.m.Nov. 6 CLARION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 p.m.

Approximately 30 members of The Rock’s state championship football teams from the early 1970s returned to campuslast fall for a reunion. SRU won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships in 1972, 1973 and 1974under head coach Bob DiSpirito. Coach “D” was present for the reunion, as were former assistant coaches Paul “Bear”Bruno, Stan Kendziorski and Rod Oberlin. (Photo by Ross Feltz)

1970’S FOOTBALL TEAM REUNION1970’S FOOTBALL TEAM REUNION

2004 football scheduleannounced

The Rock’s 2004 football season willkickoff with a Friday night home gameon August 27 against BloomsburgUniversity, SRU officials announced.

The game will be played “under thelights” starting at 7 p.m. on BobDiSpirito Field at N. Kerr ThompsonStadium and will be the culminatingevent of the University’s “Move In Day”activities.

Fall Semester 2004 classes will start atSRU the following Monday, Aug. 29.

The opening game against Bloomsburgwill be one of five home contests playedby The Rock in 2004, and one of threethat will be played under the lights.

The Rock will entertain non-conference rival Fairmont State (W. Va.)in a 6 p.m. game on Sept. 18 andPennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division archrival Indiana U. ofPa. in another 6 p.m. contest on Oct. 9.

The Rock will also play three nightroad games: Sept. 2 at NCAA DivisionI-AA foe Youngstown State, Sept. 25 atPSAC-West rival Lock Haven and Oct. 2at conference foe California.

SRU’s 2004 Homecoming Game willbe played Oct. 23 against conference foeEdinboro with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Thefinal Rock home game will be a Nov. 6game against PSAC-West rival Clarion,with kickoff set for 1 p.m.

In addition to Youngstown State andLock Haven, The Rock will travel toShepherd (W. Va.) for a non-conferencegame and to Shippensburg for PSAC-West contests. Both of those games willkickoff at 1 p.m.

SRU Hall of Fame Class of2004 selected

The Class of 2004 will be inductedinto the SRU Athletic Hall of Fameduring ceremonies in the Multi PurposeRoom of the SRU University Union onApril 17.

The newest additions to the Hall ofFame are BILL BEATTY (basketball, Class of1956), JOE DANIELS (football and

gymnastics, Class of 1964), KORY FIELITZ

MALKUS (women’s basketball and track,Class of 1994), VIRGINIA KELLY GRINDLE

(women’s sports, Class of 1960), EDWARD

J. OLKOWSKI (basketball and baseball, Classof 1953), DR. JOHN A. SAMSA (basketball,Class of 1983) and the late MARK SEYBERT

(Class of 1979).

Don’t forget Homecoming 2004, “Rock to Eighties,” October 22-23

For details, got to www.sru.edu

Schedule Of EventsSchedule Of Events

10 a.m. Registration/Silent Auction Begins, Alumni House, Runs All Day

11 a.m. “A Parent’s Guide to Searching and Financing Your Child’s Education Seminar,” North Hall

Noon Women’s Athletic Golf Scramble, Pine Grove Golf Course, Grove City

5:30 p.m. Alumni Reunion BBQ, Picnic Pavilion

6 p.m. Golden Grad Class of 1954 Cocktail Hour, Grove City Country Club

7 p.m. Golden Grad Class of 1954 Dinner, Grove City Country Club

8 p.m. Musicians’ Concert Band, Miller Auditorium

9:30 p.m. Wine & Cheese Reception and Main Street “Pub Tour” – See the new Ginger Hill Pub and North Country Brewery

Featuring the Classes of 1979 and 1954Featuring the Classes of 1979 and 1954Saturday, June 19Saturday, June 196:30 a.m. Sunrise Walk, Lower Campus

8 a.m. Registration/Continental Breakfast, Alumni House

9:30 a.m. SRU History Lesson, Old School House/Campus Tours

10 a.m. Rock Wall Climbing Lessons, ARC

Noon Reunion Luncheon/Silent Auction Winners Announced/Class Recognitions/ President’s Address

2 p.m. Class Pictures

2:30 p.m. Classes of ‘79 and ‘54 Meetings

2:30 p.m. Classes of ‘80 and ‘55 Meetings

Miscellaneous Information:

Staying in Rock Apts.?—Make sure you bring towels, toiletries and snacks. Linens provided.

Reunion Luncheon—Please indicate if you are attending the luncheon on your registration. Must have lunch ticket.

Auction Donations—Please feel free to donate any item to our Silent Auction. Crafts, memorabilia and household items welcome.

Homecoming:Homecoming:

ALUMNI REUNION WEEKENDALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND

Friday, June 18Friday, June 18

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1 Morrow WaySlippery Rock, PA 16057-1326

rock solid educationwww.sru.edu

rock magazine spring 2004

Documents

rock insider

college of educationwilliam

liz ellisthe rock magazine

university public relations

university advancementross

mollenhauer vice president

watsonvice president

curryvice president