Rachel Logan, Copy Editor
April 12, 2017

After a recent temporary suspension of Kappa Zeta, Pitt-Johnstown is home to only one social sorority out to four social fraternities.

Finance and Administration Vice President Amy Buxbaum, also a Campus Title IX coordinator, said that there is no violation of equal opportunity for men and women.

“(Pitt-Johnstown) does not organize these groups or recruit for them. We simply provide equal opportunities for both sororities and fraternities to organize on campus.

“This is different than varsity athletics programs, which we actively organize and direct, which are subject to Title IX.”

A memorandum from the federal Department of Education, dated May 3, 1989, noted the difference between social Greek life and professional, service or honorary Greek life. Title IX, the memo says, applies to service and honorary organization in that they may not exclude members based on gender.

“Under Title IX and the implementing regulation, the membership practices of social fraternities and sororities are specifically excluded from coverage if the active membership consists primarily of students in attendance at institutes of higher education, and the fraternity or sorority is exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code.”

Pitt-Johnstown administrators thus do not guarantee the presence of equal Greek life opportunities on campus. Student Affairs Vice President Shawn Brooks said such matters stay on the student level, unless things go awry.

According to Brooks, there have been as many as four social sororities on campus in recent years, but two have been suspended for possible hazing, and one has been removed by its national sponsor.

Brooks said that those looking to organize a social fraternity or sorority on campus could connect with the national organization they wish as a sponsor, then petition the Pan-Helenic council.
“It’s a separate process for recognition. It doesn’t rise to the administrative level. Our role is very limited unless things go absolutely haywire.”

Currently, the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta is eligible to return to campus if they wish to recolonize, a process that takes about half a year, Brooks said.

Greek Affairs Director Shaun Hemphill did not respond to attempts to contact him.

The president of the remaining sorority on campus, Phi Sigma Sigma, declined comment.

READ MORE: Only 1 sorority is left

Eden Cohen, Contributing Writer
March 27, 2017

Approximately 35 people attended a presidential debate March 20 in Blackington Hall. The debate was among candidates for student government president and vice president.

Candidates ran in four tickets: sophomore Julia Adams with freshman Jamie Poepoe, sophomore John Kopsick with sophomore Gretchen Shepard and sophomore Sam Miller with junior Sarah Francowic. Junior Joe Evanko also is running with junior Brady Willis.

The debate began with Adams and Poepoe’s opening statement, in which Adams declared their withdrawal from the race and joined the audience.

In Kopsick’s opening statement, he said he and Shepard would make the student government more trustworthy.

Miller outlined a three-point plan in his statement: to support sports, partner with Greek life and amend the budgeting process.

In his opener, Evanko promised an easy transition between presidents facilitated by the most student government experience.

Kopsick said the president acts as the student body’s face. Miller said the president is to decide the government’s direction. Evanko said the president’s role is to expect more of senators.

“The president should be holding our senators to a higher standard,” Evanko said.

Each candidate said they felt their ticket was qualified to lead.

Kopsick emphasized his fraternal leadership through Kappa Delta Rho and the interfraternal council. These positions already connect him to students who bring him ideas, he said.

Miller’s student government experience comes from being parliamentarian and co-chair on an ad hoc committee. He said also he has leadership experience from being a resident assistant, a tour guide and officer in three student organizations.

Evanko said he has three years of association experience and has served as treasurer and Allocations Committee co-chair. He is also a tutor and student instructor, which he said equips him with the public speaking skills needed to run meetings. His relationships with key administrators is also valuable, he said.

For reaching agreements with administrators, Miller emphasized pragmatic compromise. Evanko said senators should continue to raise concerns to administrators after being denied but seek eventual compromise.

To increase senator and executive board involvement in the student government, Evanko proposed assigning more titles to increase accountability. He also mentioned impeachment and requesting resignations, as well as the vice president setting weekly committee agendas.

Miller said a controlled meeting lies with a stern parliamentarian, and he has the experience to appoint an apt one.

The most pressing campus issue, Kopsick said, is food complaints. Since he is close to Sodexo General Manager Kevin Dicey, he said he can bandage communications between students and employees.

Evanko agreed that involvement is the largest issue, and proposed making the association’s existing executive board representatives into Greek and Programming Board liaisons.

Junior attendee Paige Cullinan said she appreciated how each candidate brought up a different point. She agreed that both campus involvement and food were pressing, but she said she personally identified with the food issue because she has a food allergy.

On how to use the log cabin, Miller said to continue its current use but to advertise it more.

“One thing we really focus on is using (student government) as a tool and resource for clubs,” he said.

Kopsick echoed the need for advertisement and suggested a musicians’ practice space or a Greek Life venue.

Sophomore attendee Patrick Troy said this topic interested him most, since he had never considered it.

“It’s something I’ve never really thought about, and I like Sam (Miller)’s emphasis on advertisement,” he said.

Current association president Kyle Maguire asked candidates how they would handle a student petition to censor the media.

The media serves students, Kopsick said, so its members should write what students want to see.
Miller called for compromise before action. Although the petition is representative, he said, the media is also comprised of students. Francowic said her experience as a newspaper editor and senator lets her understand both sides, but that censorship is unconstitutional and always looks bad. However, she said there is always room for compromise.

Evanko agreed that censorship is unacceptable, but that media’s funding should not come from the student activities fee. Seeking another funding source should appease both sides, he said.

In his closing statement, Kopsick said he and Shepard would make the association more active, honest and dependable.

“We will make a more trustworthy (student government),” Kopsick said.

Miller closed by reiterating his ticket’s experience with programming, the newspaper and campus employment. They have an honest and rule-abiding association record, he said. He and his running mate also are willing to admit their flaws and be more forward, he said.

Evanko said campus life should thrive, sports attendance should increase and the association should partner with Greek organizations. He said he and Willis are the most experienced, dependable and reliable candidates.

Compared with last year’s debate, Troy said, this year’s was more interesting due to diverse platforms and more plentiful candidates.

Cullinan said this debate made it harder to choose a candidate because they all had prepared and professional answers. Current president Kyle Maguire has done a wonderful job, she said, and he will be hard to replace by any candidate.

“This is going to be a tough race, but I wish them all the best of luck,” Cullinan said.

The presidential election is to be held March 27 and 28 through campusservices at upj.pitt.edu.

READ MORE: Student leaders argue for support

Tyler McNulty and Peijia Zhang
March 22, 2017
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With the school year coming to an end, student government members are in search of a new president and vice president.

Nominees are student Sen. Julia Adams with Sen. Jamie Poepoe, Parliamentarian Sam Miller with Sen. Sarah Francowic and Sen. John Kospick with Sen. Gretchen Sheppard.

Treasurer Joe Evanko is also running for president with Sen. Brady Willis.

Evanko and Willis have been on student government for six years combined, and both have been executive board members for two years each.

“I’m the most experienced candidate (running for president),” Evanko said.

His running mate, Willis, said the president and vice president have to be committed to the students.
Evanko said the two showed their commitment in the three years they have been on student government by the hard work they have done.

As chairmen of the student government’s Allocations Committee, they allocated $1 million from the student activity fee.

“It’s the logical next step for us (to be president and vice president),” Evanko said.

If elected president, Evanko said one of his main focuses would be expanding Greek life.

“We only have one (sorority) and four (fraternities), so I plan to work with administration to try to get  another sorority on campus,” he said.

Adams said her main goal as president would be student representation.

“We want to show them (student government members) do a lot more than just allocate money to clubs, and we’re not out to get anyone,” Adams said.

Adams and Poepoe are the youngest candidates running for president and vice president.

“I think it shows just how much we care (about students) since I’m only a sophomore and (Poepoe) is only a freshman,” Adams said.

Adams also said if they win this election, they could rerun the following year to complete more activities they started.

“We would have more time to resolve issues,” she said.

Kopsick, a Kappa Delta Rho brother and an Interfraternity Council member said a big goal he wants to achieve if elected is that he wants to have campus Greek life more coordinated.
“Greek life has been dwindling on this campus.”

Kopsick said another goal he wants to achieve, if he were elected as president, is to have more campus events, one event being a Pitt dance marathon.

“We are hoping that we can have our own (campus) dance marathon.

“Another thing we (would) try to bring back to campus is spring concert,” Shepard said.
Shepard said she wants to have a mental-awareness week on campus.

While this is the first time Adams, Evanko and Kopsick are running for president, Miller had a failed attempt last year. Miller said his campaign was primarily to get his name out.

“I felt (students) were behind my vision, but they weren’t behind my inexperience. I was also going against an incumbent president; I had the odds stacked against me,” Miller said.

Miller said he has a three-part plan for his presidency.

First is to be more connected with students; second, to reinvigorate Greek life; and third, to adjust the budgeting process to meet clubs’ needs.

One of the ways to accomplish this is for student government to advertise all sporting events; university varsity and club sports.

“Our student section is usually empty, and I think we can help change that,” Miller said.

According to Miller, housing forgiveness would allow fraternities or sororities to have empty rooms in their houses.

Miller said he also plans to adjust the budgeting process to fit all clubs needs.
“Every club is different,” he said.

In addition to his policies, Miller and his running mate, Francowic, each have been  executive board members and committee chairs.

Francowic said she and Miller are motivated to get the student body more academically and socially involved in campus affairs.
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“We want to take students concerns seriously and do something about it,” Francowic said.
Student government president elections are to be held March 27 and 28 on the Campus Services website.

READ MORE: Student candidates detail platforms

Are you interested in keeping up with Kappa Zeta at UPJ?  Check out their instagram posts! 

In an attempt to increase fraternity pledges, Student Affairs Vice President Shawn Brooks is working with fraternity leaders.

Interfraternal Council president and Kappa Delta Rho member Zak Muto said two representatives from each fraternity get together weekly to discuss events and activities, and he then meets with Brooks.

One proposed change is moving from an open party system to a closed party system.

“My challenge for frats was, if you think you exist to party and you provide people with a party, and then they get to leave your house after the party, why would they ever join your organization?” said Brooks.

When fraternities host open parties, they allow anyone to enter.

Alternatively, when fraternities host closed parties, a list is created and given to Pitt-Johnstown officials naming all students expected to be inside the fraternity house.

If individuals are found inside the house who are not on the list, the fraternity gets in trouble.
Another proposed change is adding Greek-life-specific tutors for upper-level classes that do not have tutors.

“Higher-level-class tutoring will provide experiences (to fraternity members) that they couldn’t stumble into on their own,” said Brooks.

Sigma Tau Gamma President Gary Swope said that the changes are for the best.
“Personally, I think closed parties are going to help recruitment because, if we just let anyone who’s able to come in come in during an open party, they won’t really get to know us.
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“I think that tutors will be a good thing because grades are really important to me and that’s something we really look for when we recruit new guys – guys that really want to do well instead of partying and being reckless,” said Swope.

“Everyone (at Delta Sigma Chi) is very excited to see the changes these new ideas will bring to Greek life,” said Delta Sigma Chi brother and Interfraternal Council representative Ryan Daly.
Kappa Delta Rho members also are excited to see the new changes.

“I think it’s a good thing; it’s going to promote Greek life on campus a little bit more,” said Muto.
“The whole reason I joined Greek life is to help me build myself as a person and build myself professionally.

“With this whole program, I feel that you have to be more outgoing; you have to make your presence more well-known. It’s just another way to get our name out there and grow Greek life as a whole. I feel like this is going to help us get there,” said Muto.

Former fraternity members Alex Scanga and Steven Stotz said they fear the potential repercussions of these changes and feel that these changes are another way the school is attempting to police fraternities.
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“I disagree that closed parties will help enrollment. Open parties pique interest more than closed parties,” said Scanga.

READ MORE: Closed parties in plan to up Greek numbers

Bobby Scott, Copy Editor
March 30, 2016
​
When it comes to clubs and other extracurricular activities in college, some students may think it is only beneficial to partake in activities that relate to their majors. That, however, is not always the case, especially at Pitt-Johnstown.

Several students have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by clubs or activities outside of their majors.

Not only does it help build a solid resume, but it can also potentially diversify a students’ area of expertise.

Junior Jesse Ritter majors in both biochemistry and biology, but is also involved in the business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, as well as the social fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. He is also involved in the university’s biological honor society, Tri-Beta, and the chemical society.

In Alpha Kappa Psi, Ritter holds the social media chairman title, which puts him in charge of the chapter’s Twitter and Facebook page.

“One of the major (problems) that young adults (have) entering the workforce or applying to a professional or graduate school is lacking knowledge outside of their own majors,” he said.

“A major component of medicine that is often overlooked is its application in business, so I joined Alpha Kappa Psi in order to gain another prospective outside of my usual studies, as well as to become an overall better-rounded person.”

Ritter said he is applying for medical school for 2017. He is also the current vice president and elected president of Tri-Beta for next semester.

“The people and faculty that I interact with are completely different,” he said.

“Biochemistry is a small group of students that you see every day (both in class and in Tri-Beta and the chemical society). Being in a business fraternity allows me to interact with students and faculty with completely different experiences.

“It greatly expands my ability to effectively relate and communicate with people outside of the hardcore science world.”

Junior Santana Lardo is also a biology major, but her extracurricular activities include being a member of the Black Action Society, Student Government Association and Outdoors Club, along with pledging to the coed national service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and the university’s judicial board.
Lardo said, while her activities don’t necessarily involve her major, they assist her in developing as a person.

“The clubs (I am involved in) have helped me grow in all aspects,” she said.

“I came to college as a shy girl, but those clubs have really helped me come out of my shell and gave me a lot of opportunities.”

Lardo plans to apply to dental school after her time at Pitt-Johnstown, which is something she has known she wanted to do since high school.

“I know that it will stand out when applying to dental school,” Lardo said.

“(My activities) have also opened my eyes to the world, and being involved in these clubs makes me want to continue to be involved in the community after I graduate.”

Accounting major Matt Christina is not only a part of the Pitt-Johnstown Baja Team, but also the campus development chairman in the Student Government Association.

The Baja Team is made up of students, mostly mechanical engineering majors, who participate in the building and racing of an off-road baja vehicle. An off-road baja vehicle is similar to that of a dune buggy.

“I thought it would interest me,” Christina said.

“I always had a passion for working with my hands and learning new skills, so I thought I would really enjoy it.”

Christina was originally an engineering major, but switched when his boss at work suggested that he look into accounting.

While the team focuses more on engineering, it also has elements of accounting.

“(The team) does a cost report sales presentation and a yearly student government budget, so I definitely think it helps on the business end,” he said.

Christina plans to graduate in December.

READ MORE: Students involved in diverse activities

Peijia Zhang, News Editor
March 23, 2016
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Pitt-Johnstown fraternities’ members are working to make the fraternities more desirable for students to join, according to Student Affairs Vice President Shawn Brooks.

He said he suggested that fraternity brothers rethink the way they conduct social events in order to make them more exclusive and by invitation only.

Brooks said he meets with interfraternity council members during their meetings, and the last time they met was prior to spring break.

Party guidelines were a main topic discussed at their last meeting, according to Brooks.

He suggested that they hold more closed parties instead of having all parties open to all students and provide brothers with connections to the fraternities’ alumni, and internship as well as job opportunities.

Delta Sigma Chi President David Urbassik, a senior accounting major, said there is a concern about students’ lack of interest in Greek life on campus in general.

Urbassik said he knew that there were about 30 brothers in his fraternity at one point in the ’80s, but there are only about 15 active brothers now.

“And it’s really confusing why people are not interested in Greek life any more,” he said.

He said a possible reason for the lack of interest is that some of the activities they do are unseen by many students.

He said there is a misconception among some students that all the brothers do is party.

“We help out. We do community service. We try to make the school a better place for everybody,” Urbassik said.

He said the brothers meet every week to discuss plans for the coming weekend and make sure they keep up with service hours.

Having been in Delta Sigma Chi for two and a half years, Urbassik said he was the fraternity’s social chair last year, and he is also the vice president of the interfraternity council this year.

He said the council has biweekly meetings, during which they share house news and any campus-related information.

There are two brothers from each active fraternity on campus constituting the eight-members council, according to Urbassik.

Besides Delta Sigma Chi, the other three active fraternities are Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Tau Gamma and Delta Chi, according to Pitt-Johnstown’s website.

Brooks said the fraternities should provide the brothers with a value-added experience because, at the end of the day, how their time is  spent outside of their classes should help them get employed.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Brools said, referring to connecting with alumni network.
“I think that the sense of belonging is important.”

Emily Colella, Contributing Writer
October 1, 2014
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Pitt-Johnstown is the largest of the five Pitt campuses with 655 acres. Only a fraction of that is developed, and the Pitt-Johnstown campus has many acres of wooded land.

Trails wind through the woods on campus for students to enjoy, but it is unclear who is responsible for the trails upkeep.

Student Government Association  members are making an effort to take care of campus trails. With participation from outdoor club members, fraternity and sorority members, and residence assistants, associaton members are planning a Greek Life Trail Clean-up Day.

Aside from keeping the trails clean, the event’s purpose is to help freshmen get to know the greeks and get started gaining community-service experience, according to association member Nick Digorgio.

All students are being encouraged to participate.

“ I believe Greek life has a tendency to retain a poor image on this campus,” sophomore Digiorgio said

“In hopes of shining light on the important things they contribute, I hope incoming freshman will observe and appreciate their positive attitudes and hard work towards improving their home, Pitt-Johnstown,” he said.

Digorgio is association parlimentarian and Campus Development Comittee chairman. Committee members are in charge of the cleanup day organization.

The day is to take place at 1:00 p.m. on Oct 19. The cleaning should be finished at 5 p.m., when a dinner for participants is to take place at the gazebo near the Student Union.

While student government members have been taking an active role in trail maintenance, other organizations members have been planning to take action.

Also, the Environmental Sustainability Club keeps UPJ green in a variety of ways.

“We are a club that focuses on bringing better recycling and greener initiatives to campus,” said Emma Gyurisin, club president.

She confirmed that her club’s members are in the planning stages of a similar trail cleanup.

READ MORE: Trail cleanups are getting organized

Overall Well-Being 

Graduates who participated in fraternities or sororities are slightly more likely to be thriving in all five critical elements of well-being – purpose, social, financial, physical and community – than are graduates who did not participate in fraternities or sororities.

Workplace Engagement

National results show that 43% of college graduates who were members of a fraternity or sorority are engaged in the workplace, compared to 38% of college graduates were not members of a fraternity or sorority.

Support

The support that graduates recall receiving from their institution as students is also important well into their post-graduate careers. 16% of graduates who participated in fraternities or sororities and who say they had a professor who cared about them as a person, one who made them excited about learning, and had a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their dreams are emotionally attached, compared with 13% of graduates who did not participate in fraternities or sororities.

Experiential Learning

Similarly, graduates with fraternity or sorority affiliation and membership in college were more likely to have taken advantage of experiential learning opportunities while in college (11%) than graduates who were not members of fraternities or sororities (5%).

Alumni Attachment

Alumni who participated in fraternities or sororities exhibit higher emotional attachment to their school. 22% of those who were in sororities or fraternities are attached, compared with 17% who were not members of sororities or fraternities.

RED MORE: Gallup Research

April 18, 2014

Pitt-Johnstown, being a relatively small community, can offer many experiences most communities can share. Although sometimes there is not overwhelming enthusiasm for such experiences, they can be what holds us together.

The lack of interest in the Student Government Association for this coming year is disheartening. Everyone who ran got their position. There was no opposition and no need to conduct elections for the president, vice president and senators.

Being that Student Government is the only place that administrators can go to get organized student feedback, it is important that the student body be well represented.

It might be time to think about downsizing the organization or at least have a better advertising strategy for candidates.

With students placed in spots without some friendly competition, the student body might get stuck with representatives, rather than electing representatives they want.

The new student leaders also will enjoy no electory mandate from other students to be their Representatives.

Students electing their representatives after some attempt to discuss issues is a tradition we should not let go lightly.

As the year starts to wind down, there are more events to attend that have been a traditions at Pitt-Johnstown.

About two weeks ago, campus Greek organizations held annual Greek Week events. This tradition brings together students from Greek organizations who usually stick to their own fraternity or sorority.

Last week was our annual Mr. UPJ competition, which raised money for diabetes while entertaining those who attended.

It’s events like these that bring our community together, sharing experiences that help define our community.

This past year our hockey team along with wrestling and volleyball teams have been doing well, which has ignited some pride in students, staff and faculty.

That spirit is what makes these years at Pitt-Johnstown memorable. We can’t slack off now. We all need to keep planning and attending events for us to do together as a community.

The fun part of college is sharing experiences with your peers. In order to keep these experiences coming, we have to stay involved and keep our enthusiasm.

READ MORE: Traditions define communities