Steel City Slam League Keeps Poetry Alive

By Sarah Steighner

EAST LIBERTY, Pa. –The Pittsburgh Poetry Collective is at the forefront of the Pittsburgh poetry scene, offering opportunities for self-expression and the arts to thrive in the community.

Danielle Ramsay (center) wins the Steel City Slam Poetry night at the Capri Pizzeria & Bar on March 10, 2015 (Photo By Lori Beth Jones)

Penn State New Kensington Welcomes Jazz Exhibit

By Sarah Steighner

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – An intimate crowd of approximately 20 people gathered to view the photography jazz exhibit of Kenan Foley, Nelson Harrison, and Ronald Jones during a reception held at Penn State New Kensington on Feb. 7.

Local jazz musicians entertain guests during the jazz photography exhibit and reception at Penn State New Kensington on Feb. 7. (Photo by Sarah Steighner)

Pro-Life Activists March for the Unborn

By Sarah Steighner

WASHINGTON D.C. – Gregorian chants, prayers, and enthusiastic pro-life mantras could be heard ringing throughout the streets of Washington from the National Mall to Capitol Hill for the  annual March for Life. The 42nd anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade court ruling prompted hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists to rally in protest of abortion.

Pro-life activist marching to Capitol Hill at the 2015 March for Life. (Photo by Sarah Steighner)

President Obama’s State of the Union Address

By Eric Bennardo
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — While President Barack Obama discussed many different issues in his Jan. 20, 2015 State of the Union Address to Congress, three specific issues stood out to me the most. These issues included: the economic statistics mentioned in his introduction, comments on ISIS, and his thoughts on education and new job creation.

President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address on Jan. 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

From Stage to the Screen: “Into the Woods”

By Ryan McLaughlin

“The cow as white as milk. The cape as red as blood. The hair as yellow as corn. The slipper as pure as gold.” These are the central items that bring all of the characters together in “Into the Woods” (Dec. 2014), a musical that has been adapted by Disney from the book by James Lapine and directed by Rob Marshall with screenplay by Stephen Sondheim.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Productions

Service-Learning Added to Business Communication Class

By Ryan McLaughlin

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – Service. Learning. Team. Project. Four words that can make any college student cringe. However, any student taking Business and Professional Communication with Dr. Wood this semester, will experience these new additions to the course.

Dr. Jennifer Wood addressing her Business and Professional Communication class.(Photo by Ryan McLaughlin)

Penn State New Kensington Chooses Dance Representatives for THON Weekend

By Sarah Steighner

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – The hard work and enthusiasm of Brooke Churma and Alex Pedder has led to them being the chosen dancers to represent Penn State New Kensington’s THON chapter for the annual THON weekend at University Park.

Brooke Churma and Alex Pedder pose with the Nittany Lion as they generate enthusiasm for the upcoming THON weekend. (Photo by Lauren Blum)

Pirates Fans Excited About Start of 2014 Season

By Sarah Steighner

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Pittsburgh Pirates opening day on March 31 filled PNC Park with sunshine and excitement. The North Shore was a sea of black and yellow as Pirate fans staked out tailgating spots and made their way inside the stadium for the 1:05 p.m. game against the Chicago Cubs.

Each slap on the back or high-five exchanged between fans gave the impression that opening day was one big Pirate family reunion. Only at this reunion, beer will cost you an easy eight dollars.

PNC Park (Photo by Sarah Steighner)

Life at the Nittany Highland Apartments

By Sarah Steighner

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. –  Entertaining. Insightful. Eventful. Convenient. Unpredictable. These are a few words that residents at the Nittany Highland apartments use to describe their college living experience.

67 residents live at the apartments, located on Myers Drive, right across from the Penn State New Kensington campus. Most residents are students at the school. Some said they take advantage of the opportunity to not have to commute from surrounding areas, while others are out-of-state or international students.

Previously under the management of Nancy Johasky, the Nittany Highland apartments are now under the administration of Arbors Management. When asked about her experience working with the new management, Residential Assistant (RA), Krista Murray stated that “It’s a growing experience on both ends.”

Falling for Satirical Articles

By Sarah Steighner

It is often easier and more entertaining to scroll through your news feed on your favorite social media site to get your news rather than actually read the New York Times. The wide range of articles reposted and re-tweeted offer a quick way to find out what your friends find interesting and newsworthy. While it is always in the back of a journalist or editor’s mind to fact check all information they come across for validity, this might not be a practice that the average social media junkie participates in.

With the ever increasing rise of internet popularity and online journalism, it might be wise to treat articles with skepticism until you recognize the site that published something as either credible or satirical.

Satirical sites often have humorous articles that play on irony and sarcasm to amuse the reader or poke fun at an issue or person. While not all satirical articles are meant to trick the reader, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.