Kaitlyne Krinock, Contributing Writer
February 22, 2012 
Filed under Features

Those involved in Pitt-Johnstown Greek organizations balance their time between fun and studying; making sure to meet their minimum grade-point-averages requirement.

Pitt-Johnstown sophomore Natalie Kinderman, a Kappa Zeta sorority member said that being Greek motivates her to have a higher GPA.

“Being involved in a sorority helps me prioritize and utilize my time. If any sister is having trouble with school, we all try to motivate each other by going to the library and having study groups,” said Kinderman.

Pitt-Johnstown’s Greek system comprises five fraternities and four sororities governed by the Interfraternity Council for (fraternities) and the Panhellenic Council (sororities).

National requirements for Greek members’ academic standing are higher than Pitt-Johnstown’s.

Each organization’s officers monitor GPAs; however, Shaun Hemphill, the Student Life assistant director, works with all Pitt-Johnstown Greek organizations.

“We are all working collectively to strengthen the community both academically and servicewise and hold each other accountable,” said Hemphill.

At Pitt-Johnstown, Greek organizations are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 but the organizations’ national levels require the minimum GPA to be 2.25.

Each Greek organization’s officers have their own ways of making sure that individually, and as a whole, they maintain good academic standing.

Pitt–Johnstown senior Mike Dishong, a Delta Chi member and Interfraternity Council president, said the partying reputation for Greeks has been reduced somewhat.

“Things are a lot better compared to back in the day. Now we limit drinking to only on the weekends,” said Dishong.

Making sure studying is done during the week is how most members manage to keep their GPA above minimum requirements.

Pitt-Johnstown senior Lauren Hendricks, a Phi Sigma Sigma sorority member, said it is important to remember why people attend college and said time-management is important.

“Relieving stress is a major factor in keeping good grades, but you have to know the time to do it. My sorority taught me how to use my time wisely so I can have fun but get good grades, too,” said Hendricks.

Pitt-Johnstown’s sorority with the highest cumulative GPA is Kappa Zeta, with 3.04. The fraternity with the highest cumulative GPA is Delta Chi, with 2.8.

The importance of individuals’ GPAs is stressed before joining any Greek organization. To become a member of sorority or fraternity, Pitt-Johnstown requires each individual to have a GPA of at least 2.25.

- See more at: http://www.upj-advocate.com/features/2012/02/22/academic-standards-not-a-problem-for-greeks-2/#sthash.X3IPEAP6.dpuf

Ryan Brown, Managing Editor
January 31, 2012 
Filed under News

In a Student Senate presidential-campaign season developing earlier than its predecessors, Senator Christian Woo announced his candidacy this week as incumbent president Cliff Maloney considered a second term.

Woo, a second-year senator serving as parliamentarian, said he and running mate Alexis Prusick hope to recover a sense of pride and involvement among Pitt-Johnstown students.

“I want to see more participation. I want a sense of excitement,” Prusick said. “It’s gonna be a challenge.”

Still in its formative stage, the campaign does not yet have a series of policy points for voters to rally around, Woo said. The candidates said they intend to form a more concrete platform after consulting students.

“Our campaign is gonna be a lot of meeting people,” Woo said. “Everyone wants to see a change.”

In a Woo presidency, he said, senate executives would carry on the current practice of student-administrator meetings, allowing officers to take recommendations directly to University President Jem Spectar.

“It’s all a matter of persistence,” he said. “We’ll go to them as frequently as we possibly can.”

There are no recurring senate debates for students to pick sides on, Woo said – senators have been involved in universally supported programs like residential Wi-Fi and parking-lot expansion – so low turnout could be a problem once again

To ensure a solid voting bloc, Woo and Prusick said they will likely target an old senate standby: the Greek community, of which both are members.

“We’re going to play to our strengths,” said Woo, a Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity member, “and get as many of our brothers and our sisters as we can to vote for us.”

Prusick serves as president of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.

While Woo said that his campaigning will go beyond the Greek community, it represents a continuation of a Pitt-Johnstown political tradition. A Sigma Tau Gamma member has served as senate president three of the past four academic years.

Before that, a member served as vice president. Last year, Sigma Tau Gamma member Mike Cerveris ran unsuccessfully against Maloney.

Woo trained under now-graduated senator and Sigma Tau Gamma member Dave Komoroski, and cited former presidents Jeff Burtner and Jake Shirk – also members – as political models.

The candidates said their experience would be their best asset for voters to judge: Woo held a series of executive positions in his fraternity, including public-relations officer. Prusick oversees the senate’s Recreation and Publicity Committee.

Incumbent President Cliff Maloney has not yet announced a second-term campaign, saying he’s more interested in day-to-day senate business until the March candidacy deadline approaches.

“There’s still plenty of time,” he said. “I’m thinking about it – it’s just not on top of my plate right now.”

Maloney illustrated  several alternative scenarios, should he choose not to run: his vice president, Marcus McGuire, could seek a higher post; or Woo could win unopposed, appointing Maloney to an advisory role.

“I would kinda be his right-hand man,” he said.

Despite an unclear campaign situation, Maloney spoke in a candidate’s terms, describing recent achievements and upcoming senate goals in detail.

He hailed the senate’s success in pushing for student Wi-Fi.

“I asked, they ordered, we had it in,” he said and promised to secure access for the remainder of campus.

Maloney said a plan to recycle unused student-activities money is in progress as well.

“There’s a lot that could happen,” he said, noting that more senators may announce candidacies before March.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few more coming in.”

- See more at: http://www.upj-advocate.com/news/2012/01/31/woo-wants-win-maloney-mulls/#sthash.UAMnF3Bt.dpuf