SRU Percussion Ensemble gives a striking performance

Justin Vorp (left) and Stevie Pachesky (right) open the concert with Sossa-Bala

Slippery Rock University Department of Music presented the Percussion Ensemble concert on Thursday night, November 5th, 2015. The concert consisted of many different percussion arrangements for almost anyone to enjoy and included twelve students performing in the show. 

The show opened with two pieces by Emmanuel Sejourne which included marimbas and conga drums and lighters. The opening song, Sossa-Balla, started with one performer, then adding two, and soon there were eight performers showcasing different sounds from the marimbas and congas. 

The second song opening the show was done with lighters. Four freshman, holding two lighters each, created sounds along with a visual show by memorizing a stunning light show pattern. The room was completely dark and the only light visible was from the lighters in their hands.  

Another unique performance was "The Gilded Cage" which was played by four drummers striking break drums from cars and trucks. This piece was very loud and energetic versus some of the other performances in the show. The four drummers also used sounds from their drumsticks hitting and tapping each other, combined with symbols and tom toms. 

After performing a more formal, classical first half of the show, the performers came back for a second performance for the night, playing steel pan instruments. This half of the show was more lively and upbeat, creating a fun way to end the concert.

Sarah Sabota rocking out on the steel drums in the second half of the percussion concert

The opening song for the second half of the concert was Radiohead’s “Creep” which was a unique, steel pan performance, giving a spin off of the original rock tune. Another unique piece added to the second half was Afro Blue, in which SRU student Jamison Lopochonksy directed himself, putting his own twist on the song.

The Percussion Ensemble concert showcased a diverse sound for any music lover to enjoy, adding authentic elements that created new vibrations and tones for the audience to tune into to. 

International Students at SRU

The international students here at Slippery Rock University discusses the many cultural and social differences between their home countries and what they've experienced here in America. Students from Ireland, Australia, Brazil, China and Sir Lanka all came together to educate SRU students about their culture. Here's a few links that show what all went down at the International Students Panel.

Celebrities and performers at SRU since Spring 2014

Kalin and Myles performing at the SRUPB Fall 

Concert in December 2014.

In Spring semester 2014, I transferred here to SRU from Washington College. My first experience here was getting to meet Carly Aquilino and Chris Distefano from MTV's Girl Code/ Guy Code. Even before I came to SRU, there have been many comedians and singers and actors that have come to campus to share their story to SRU students. Here, I focused on the time that I started here at SRU, beginning in Spring 2014 until now in Fall 2015. There have been a wide variety of talent and inspirations that have visited the college and many students are unaware of these names that have stepped foot on campus for us to see and hear from. Here are the several different celebrities and performers that have been invited to SRU since Spring 2014.

SRU wins Reserve High Point team at the Seton Hill IHSA show

SRU English Equestrian team placed 2nd overall, winning Reserve High Point Team at the Seton Hill University IHSA show on October 11th, 2015.

Seton Hill University hosted the Zone 2 Region 5 IHSA show on October 11th, 2015. Schools from all over Western Pennsylvania and some parts of West Virginia came together to compete at Bloomfield Stables, Seton Hill Equestrian Team's facility. SRU had 11 riders compete and ended up placing 2nd overall against schools such as WVU, UPitt, CalU, St. Vincent, and Edinboro. Next weekend, SRU will be traveling over to West Virginia to compete at WVU's IHSA show against the rest of the schools in the region. 

Hurling and bunnies in the quad

Have you ever heard of the sport Hurling? Here's a few videos of Slippery Rock students from Ireland who play the sport and explain a little bit about the game.

Cormac and Caroline practice Hurling together in the quad.

Julie Kelly talks about the rules and how the game is played. Super helpful for those of you who have never heard of the sport (like me).

Caroline and Cormac continue to play while I creepily film them like a stalker. No big deal.

Julie also talks about what type of uniforms the athletes wear in the game and the differences between Hurling and Gaelic football which is a similar sport.

Cormac talks about how people are raised into the sport and how it's part of Irish culture to play the sport. It's almost like if your parents were to make you play soccer or t-ball when you were in elementary school.

And of course, we have students playing with a pet rabbit in the quad. You know, because that happens everyday...

SRU's Equestrian team kicks off the season with first team practice

The Slippery Rock Equestrian team started off with several new showing members practicing to prepare for hosting the first horse show of the 2015-2016 IHSA season. The team has over 15 riders and has an addition of new freshman ready to compete with the rest of the girls. Rock equestrian practices every week during the season and travels around Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to compete against 13 other schools in the region. The first practice of the season was busy with lots of new members and it was also their first time being instructed by the team's coach, Amy Keefer. The team will continue to practice leading up to the first show of the season in October and will continue showing all semester long. 

Coach Amy Keefer (right) and Captain of the team, Kate Campbell (left) watch teammate Jessica jump Cisco in the biggest group lesson of the day.

Amy Keefer showing the group the exercise they're going to do next.

Minnie Davis (left) helps teammate Bre Gigler (right) adjust her stirrup length before mounting. 

The rest of the team watches the Advanced Walk, Trot, Canter group lesson. 

Emily Ellis (right) helps Kelly Rothrock (left) fix Zippy's polo wraps.

Amy Keefer (right) demonstrates to rider Kylie Gilmore (left) how to do an exercise called "marching."

Amy Keefer (right) and Emily Ellis (center) watch teammate Kylie Gilmore warming up in the lesson.

Bre Gigler untacks Annie after a successful first lesson back with the team.

Kylie Gilmore adjusts Smooch's halter before taking her outside for a bath.

Kelly Rothrock (center) and Emilie Dumach (right) hose down Zippy after their ride together. 

To stay a virgin or naw?

Pros and cons to remaining a virgin until married. 

Photo from vodkacranburryclooney.com

"When you become 40 and still a virgin, you'll be issued a medal from the government (I think my grandfather has one from Franklin Roosevelt...) and they will make a movie out of your life."

Virgin. Just let that sink in for a minute.

What's wrong with remaining a virgin? It's your life, it's your choice. You shouldn't have to feel pressured to do something you're not comfortable with. 

What about if you're not a virgin and you have sex on the regular? Again, it's your choice, do as you please. Or who you please, pun intended. 

So if you're curious to know what's alright about remaining a virgin until you're married and what's alright with just getting it done and over with before marriage, there's a few facts here you need to know. 

From the pro virgin side:

1. You're safe from STD's.

2. You're safe from becoming pregnant or getting someone pregnant.

3. You don't have to feel ashamed of who you've done the nasty with because, guess what, you didn't have sex!

From the "just do it" side:

1. You're experienced! No awkward encounters in bed or having to confess being a virgin since you're not one!

2. People are more desirable of non virgins, depends on the person however. 

3. You'll have a better idea of what your partner is like in bed before putting a ring on it. 

Let's go further into detail on these points. 

Now there's many reasons behind a person's choice to remain a virgin. It could be because of their religious beliefs or maybe they have no self confidence and are just uncomfortable. Trust plays a pretty big role as well, some people just don't have any trust in others. It's said, according to Business Insider, that "the longer you wait to have sex, the less likely you are to actually do it."

There's plenty of consequences that come with having sex. For example, you could get STD's in which there are over 65 million Americans that have an STD that can't be cured. And not only that but each year, there's 20 million cases added to that, in which the infected people range from age 15 to 24. It's true! Read about all the STD facts here. 

Pregnancy is another consequence that comes along with having sex. According to The Shriver Report, about 50% of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. That's around 3 million women in America that experience accidental pregnancy. Don't want to accidentally make a baby? Simple, either use protection, or don't have sex. But even with using a condom for protection, there's a 2% chance it'll lead to failure. There's different reasons that lead to unplanned pregnancies and here's an article that could help you understand why. 

As opposed to the idea of staying a virgin until marriage, some people actually regret saving it until their wedding night. Too many high expectations are built up when you're saving it until after you say your vows. Some people experienced it as not being what they expected it to be like, not as fun, not as enjoyable. Maybe even both partners couldn't figure out what they were doing in bed and it just ended up being an awkward mess. A brave soul decided to confess her personal story of what she went through after losing her virginity on her wedding night. Read about it here to get a true perspective of this topic. 

But in the end, everything you do in life comes with consequences. Whether you have sex or not, there's going to be consequences. Remain a virgin and you're looked at as a prude or undesirable or it's a turn off to some people. Or you can be confident in yourself as a virgin and be looked as someone with a good head on their shoulders, someone who respects themselves and doesn't settle for less than you deserve. For the non virgins, you're viewed as dirty or someone who "gets around" or someone who's insecure and needs to have sex to feel wanted or liked. Or you can be a non virgin that's looked at as someone who has put themselves out there for someone else because they felt loved or is in love or has been married to the same person for several years. No matter what the situation is, there's going to be view points and actual facts that go with those choices, good or bad or even both. 

At the end of the day, it's your body, your choice, your life and your desire to do as you please. Don't feel pressured to give up something that you're not ready to. Don't feel guilty for doing something you did do. Everything you do is followed by some kind of reaction or feeling in the end. Just be watchful of yourself and do what you want, not what society makes you think you do want or should be doing. Check out this video on virginity and sexual confidence if you'd like to hear more advice. 

Well that got a little mushy at the end there, but I hope you see what I'm trying to say. There's a lot of facts on both sides of the situation, and from these facts, they're there to help you figure out what's the best decision for yourself. 

Just be who you are and be comfortable with yourself and your decisions and you're golden!