Ways Seniors are preparing for last weeks at SRU Part 3: Last Week and Graduation

So here we are the last week of the semester and for many seniors, the last week at Slippery Rock University. These graduating seniors will now embark on the final transition of their time here at SRU which is graduation. For many it’s an exciting time as well as an emotional time as they realize their run here at SRU is coming to an end. One of these seniors who will have this experience is Jasmine Cleveland.

Jasmine is a Public-Relations communication major who has expressed her excitement about the prospect of graduating from Slippery Rock, but she also has taken the time to look back at what she’s accomplished. She currently works at Eat N Park and back home she works as a server. During her senior year, Jasmine explained about her experiences of interviewing with the dance department and interviewing for “The Rocket.” She also was a representative of career services for Girls Talk 2 of WSRU-TV. She also was a host for the soul café of UPB. “I can say that each accomplishment was a good experience within itself,” Cleveland said.

Jasmine explains her plans for the week of graduation.

For now, Cleveland is thrilled about preparing for her last week at Slippery Rock. She explained that during her last week, she will be attending the OMD graduation for minority students. She also plans to spend as much as possible with friends and family and celebrate her accomplishments with those she loves.

Before graduation comes around Jasmine, like any other graduating seniors, have to endure the world of finals week. Jasmine explained how tough preparing for finals can be, knowing it’s the last time you’ll take them. “Due to the fact I’m taking 18 credits is very stressful, Jasmine said. At the same time it motivates me to know I only have a week left at SRU.”

Jasmine gives her take on what she'll be expecting on Graduation day.

Come Saturday, Jasmine and her fellow seniors will then experience the joys of Graduation Day. This will give seniors the opportunity to reflect on what they’ve done, people who may have had a significant influence on them during their time here, and the many friends they’ve made over the years. It’s a thrilling time for any graduating senior as they can celebrate their achievements, while also preparing for the next phase in their life. “Graduation Day is going to be very emotional, and I already know I will be crying,” Jasmine said.

After graduation, Jasmine plans on taking trips to both Delaware and Jamaica during the summer. After that, she plans to work for a year and then go the grad school to get her masters degree in broadcasting.

Ways seniors are preparing for last weeks at SRU Part 2: Finals Week

Well it’s that time of year at Slippery Rock University, its finals week. For most students, this is a week that many don’t look forward too. It’s a pressure pack week of studying, papers, projects, all-nighters and much more. It’s especially an intense week for graduating seniors as they prepare to take their last set of finals ever at Slippery Rock. Jayme Kromer is one of those graduating seniors who will embark on finals week for the last time and is looking forward to the challenge.

Jayme Kromer is a marketing major at SRU with a minor in communication. During her senior year, she decided to choose marketing as her major and says it was one of the best choices she’s made during her time here. Jayme has said that finals week is something she never really enjoys looking forward too. However, she explains that she will approach finals week the same as she’s done any other semester. “I plan to do nothing different, Kromer said. Just studying hard and pacing myself this week with lots of coffee and note cards.”

Jayme explains how she will be preparing for finals week for the last time.

There are some graduating seniors who still feel the pressure of preparing for finals week. Knowing it’s the last finals week can be exciting, but also can be nerve-racking. Jayme said she has finals in classes such as Communication Law, Business policy, sales management, and is contributing on a final group project in her social media class. Jayme explained how challenging some of these classes have been during the semester, but says it’s been an interesting learning experience. She also explained how much pressure there will be preparing for this upcoming finals week as well as the risks involved if you don’t do well on them. “There is pressure for finals as a senior because if you don’t’ well on a final, you risk failing a class and not graduating and that can create even more pressure in the long run,” Kromer said.

Jayme gives her insight of the stress finals can bring, especially as a graduating senior.

As for the future, Jayme explained that once she’s finished studying for finals, she plans on spending her final days at Slippery Rock looking back and spending a lot of time with friends she’s made here at SRU over the years. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a career in either sales or marketing. She’s hopeful to get a job in marketing possibly with a sports team in Pittsburgh.

Well stay tuned for the third and final installment of this story as we take a look at a senior perspective of spending the finals days at Slippery Rock University, and the anticipation of Graduation Day.   

Ways seniors are preparing for last weeks at SRU Part 1: Senior Presentations

Well here we are the final weeks of the semester, and for many students their final weeks at Slippery Rock University. There are many experiences and preparations these seniors will endure between now and graduation. One of those preparations will be senior presentations, and one of the seniors who went through that process is Patrick Reddick.

Here's Senior Patrick Reddick as finishes up his self-asses​sment paper for his senior presentati​on.

Patrick is a Communication-Emerging Technology major, and he has had many different experiences, especially during his senior year at Slippery Rock. Patrick has worked for the Butler BlueSox for last three years beginning his work there as a statistician. "I learned a lot at Slippery Rock to help me now become their Media Coordinator, Reddick said. I am in charge of the website, photography, videos, and game day program."

Here's Patrick looking over his material as he gets ready for his presentati​on.

One of the biggest experiences seniors will have to go through is doing senior presentations. Seniors who graduate will have to take Senior seminar to help them prepare for the presentation at the end of the semester. Once the presentation nears, many seniors like Patrick, will have to create a website to present to groups of people who work in the field of communication. Seniors will also have to write a self-assessment paper explaining who they are, and what accomplishments and experiences they've had while at Slippery Rock, and their potential future plans. Patrick explained how much of a stressful process it is preparing for senior presentations, because you want everything to go as well as possible. "It has been different because the focus has been reflecting on my own experiences rather than researching a topic, Reddick said. It was challenging to display work I have completed over the past four years in just 15 minutes."

Once Patrick finished presenting his presentation, he was glad to be done, but also felt it was an interesting experience. He explained the process of doing the presentation was a bit of journey, because of all the requirements needed and despite it being stressful; it ultimately was great way for people to have an understanding of who he is as a person, and what he has done during his time here at SRU.



As for the future, Patrick plans to finish out his last weeks by focusing on finals week and doing whatever possible to complete his final projects on a strong note. The week leading up to graduation will give Patrick a chance to reflect back and enjoy his final days as graduation approaches. After graduation, Patrick plans to spend another summer with the BlueSox and hopes to gain a full-time position with them.

Stay tuned for part 2 of the story as we'll look at another senior perspective, this time about how they'll prepare to take their last set of finals before graduating.

SRU trackman Hunter Williams

Well it's that time of year when the Slippery Rock University track season is already in full stride. There are many key athletes on the team that make their contributions and their name known for everyone to see. One person in particular is freshman runner Hunter Williams. Even as a freshman, Williams has made his presence known this season as he continues to make an immediate impact for the track team and only hopes to get even better during the remainder of his college years. One of the biggest things Hunter would have to experience is what it's like doing high school and college track and ways in which the transition would help prepare him.

Hunter Willimas gives insight of what events he competes in and his experiences running track at SRU.

Hunter Williams was born in Denton, Texas and lived in Sanger, Texas during his childhood. He first became interested in track when his 6th grade principle, who was the coach for the summer track club, asked him if he wanted to be a part of the team. At first he couldn't do it, but Hunter would eventually begin running track by the 7th grade. Also while growing up, he would excel in other sports besides track. He spent thirteen years playing baseball, eight years playing football, and five years playing basketball. Even though he had his opportunities to play these other sports, Hunter decided that track was the sport he wanted to concentrate on the most. Williams moved to Zelienpole, Pennsylvania in 2008 and would attend Seneca Valley High School where he would excel even more in track.

In high school, Williams competed in the 400-meter-dash, 4X400 relay, 200-meter-dash, 4X100 relay, and the long jump. He was the WPIAL champion in 400-meter-dash and 4X400 relay. He would break the school record in the 400-meter-dash and helped his team break the school record in the 4X400 relay. He also placed third in the 4X400 relay and finished seventh in the 400m dash at the PIAA State meet, which would make Williams the first male track athlete to win more than one state medal.


Hunter competing in the 200-meter-dash of the Dave Labor Invitational

Williams came to Slippery Rock in 2011and joined the track team in his freshman year. He currently competes in events such as the 400m and 200m dash, and he's apart of the 4X100m and 4X400m relay teams. Williams explained what the transition was like running between high school and college. He said, "The transition has not been too bad. The training has gotten more rigorous and has lasted a lot longer than it did in high school." He mentioned that here at Slippery Rock, training started within the first three weeks of the first semester, while in high school he didn't start training until December. Williams would go on to say, "The level of competition is much higher than in high school, which has pushed me to get better." Hunter also talked about how tough it was at first being able to balance between school and track in college compared to high school, and how it took time to gain everything under control. He further explained some of the differences and similarities he's had at Slippery Rock compared to high school. He explained, "I've done quite a few different workouts then I did in high school, but I already have done similar workouts because my high school coach got some workouts from the Slippery Rock track coaches."

Here's a video of Hunter competing in the 400-meter-dash of the Dave Labor Invitational.

Williams also gave his insight of what it's been running at Slippery Rock and has said that he's adjusted well at Slippery Rock in his freshman year. He said "A big part of me being able to adjust so well is because of my teammates, they are like my second family." As far as the future goes, Williams said that he will continue to run track in college and plans to get a degree in Geology and a minor in Geographical Information Technologies. Once graduating college, he hopes to do something in natural gas and oil.

Joe Burns gives his insight of who Hunter Williams is as a person and teammate.

Ways Sexual Violence Effects Body Image

On Thursday afternoon, Slippery Rock students and others gathered at the University Union to listen to a lecture regarding sexual assault awareness. Psychology professor Dr. Jennifer Sanftner explained a number of ways in which people, mostly women, dislike their body image once they are sexually assaulted. It was described that when men are sexually assaulted, they are more likely to display their frustration out on the other people. When women are sexually assaulted, they are more likely to harm themselves, for example they may cut themselves on numerous occasions. Also when sexually assaulted, most women believe that it's their fault the act took place, and some are face with trauma possibly long-term as well as the shame regarding their body image.


Dr. Jennifer Sanftner here at the conclusion of her lecture.

In the lecture, one of the main points Dr. Sanftner explained involved the term self-objectification. Self-objectification deals with numerous aspects such as those who are raped deal with feeling a sense of guilt and feel as though it's their wrongdoing. The impact of sexual abuse can lead to a disconnection with others. Dr. Sanftner said "It's a never a woman's fault when being abused." Also mentioned was that women who are sexually assaulted have chronicle checking of their body image and deal with the constant struggle of determining whether or not their body is acceptable to society. There's also the risk of anxiety involved as women are more prone to this issue and with the more anxiety they are faced with, the more women are going to go down the path of eating disorders.

Another key topic involved in the lecture was that of disorder eating.


Dr. Sanftner explains the impact of disorder eating  for those who are abused.

According to Dr. Sanftner, women usually are in situations when they don't know how much they should eat and that could lead to disconnection. Also when they're abused, women may either have eating disorders such anorexia and bulimia or some may just gain weight. Others may take on excessive exercising, which could become a very dangerous outcome for the body.

Assistant Director of the Women's Center Karla Foster looks on during the lecture.

There was also the discussion of sexual assaults that occur on college campuses. It was mentioned that one in four women are sexually assaulted on a college campus, while men are assaulted one in thirty-three times. Karla Foster, assistant director of the Women's Center, explained during the lecture that about fifteen sexual assault incidents occur per semester at Slippery Rock University alone.



Karla Foster gives detail of what happens when sexual assaults occur on campus.

Towers and Campus Heights slideshow

This slideshow displays the Towers and Campus Heights apartments. This is where I live, and I thought it would be interesting to show what type of environment Towers and Campus Heights is and why it's a great place. The slideshow shows what type of apartment buildings there are, and what kinds of activities people like to do around the apartments, especially in the surprising warm weather we've had in the past week. Brenda Martin, the Towers and Campus Heights manager gives a voice-over of the history of the place, why students enjoy living here and changes that will be made in the future to make the apartments even better.

Food Places around the Slippery Rock campus

View Food Places around the Slippery Rock campus in a larger map