Same book, new chapter

Volume 96, no.26 Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief I’ve been the Collegio editor-in-chief for about 15 months now, and my tenure is near an end. It’s a bittersweet feeling to leave this position. This will be my last issue as the head of the paper. I’m not graduating yet, so I’ll still be around in a lesser capacity. If anyone enjoyed my writing, don’t be disappointed. I’ll still be here for another semester. In all honesty, it will probably make me write more. Without having the weight of the Collegio on my shoulders I’ll have more time to do what I enjoy the most: write. The past 15 months have seen some of big changes for…

Surviving Boston Marathon

Former PSU student reflects on racing during the marathon bomb attack Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief Scott Cichon was still on a high from running his fastest marathon ever on the event’s most prominent stage. He was just getting off the phone with KOAM-TV when tragedy struck. He had just walked back into his hotel room where his parents were watching a local Boston channel’s live coverage of the marathon when the explosions hit and chaos began. “My first thought was that it was an act of terror, but we were hoping that it was just some kind of accidental electric or gas explosion,” Cichon said. “Then you wonder about the motive or if it was…

Lower turnout looming

SGA election has drawn feweer han 600 students Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief Student Government Association election balloting has been open for a week. As of 11:22 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 564 students, or a mere 8.3 percent of the student body, have voted. Polls remain open until 4 p.m. Friday, April 12, so there is still time to vote. This year’s total so far is more than 300 fewer than in 2012, when 925 students voted, or 12.7 percent of campus. This year’s election is different than last year’s in many ways, though. This is a hotly contested race: A candidate debate was held, banners are spread all over campus, and candidates spoke at the…

Phishing for Zimbra

Hackers try to control campus emails Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief On Tuesday, April 2, PSU’s faculty and staff email system, Zimbra, came under attack. The platform was hit by an unknown source, so it could be added to a spammer’s “army of zombies,” according to Tim Pearson, assistant director of information services. Hackers tried to gain access to university email addresses because its designation as a trusted site and its “.edu” designation makes it reputable. This allows emails sent from a compromised account to get through most filters that email providers use. Hackers desire these trusted addresses because it’s easy to take advantage of people with them. “These false e-mail messages are designed to coax…

Making degrees matter

Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief Pittsburg State University has maintained its accreditation since 1915. Accreditation means that the courses students complete and the degrees they receive mean something, and are recognized by those outside the university. Earlier this month, PSU was reassessed to maintain that status. “For us to operate as an institution of higher education, accreditation is a basic requirement,” said Steve Scott, university president. “In other words, this accreditation is a very, very big deal. So, the stakes of the visit were very high.” The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC) is responsible for reviewing PSU, and determining if the university meets all the requirements to remain an accredited institution. A…

Humble beginnings

Whetzels, Albright recognized for contributions Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief As part of the Apple Day celebration, Pittsburg State honored three people with the Ralf J. Thomas Distinguished Service Award for their contributions to the university. Catherine Albright and Alan and Roberta Whetzel received the award at the Apple Day Convocation on March 7 in McCray Hall. “They were all so humble… so humble to be recognized,” said Johnna Schremmer, director of alumni and constituent relations. “We’re very glad to be able to recognize them. They wouldn’t ask for the recognition, but we’re very fortunate we can do it for them.” The Whetzels were honored for more than 60 years of involvement with PSU. Most recently,…

Unexpected vacation

Behind the scenes: snow day edition Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief PSU President Steve Scott’s alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. By 5 a.m., he was on campus with a team of officials, poised to make the call that would give students their second snow day in a week. Scott has the final say on whether students get the day off, and according to university policy, that decision must be made by 5:30 a.m. Preparation for the decision began Monday afternoon with a meeting of the Executive Policy Group, which is charged with deciding the university’s response to any kind of crisis. Tom Amershek, director of building trades and landscape maintenance, was present at this…

Survey Says: SGA ignored student opinions

Jay Benedict | editor in chief The Collegio offers students a voice. We ask and encourage students to contribute to the opinion section of this newspaper. We’re huge fans of the First Amendment and try to present both sides of issues while representing the views of students on this campus. PSU has had much to debate about lately. Most recently, it was the Heads vs. Feds marijuana legalization event and dialogue that ended in the Student Government Association’s vote to not support conceal and carry on campus.  SGA allowed students to weigh in through an online survey, but in the end, disregarded the results. During the three days the poll was open, 918 students voiced…

Can you dig it?

Donors and administrators break ground on Center of the Arts Jay Benedict | editor in chief If all goes according to plan, the incoming class of 2014 will be the first students in nearly 40 years to use a large performance hall at Pittsburg State. Construction began weeks ago on Pitt State’s Center for the Arts, but ground was officially broken Friday, Feb. 1. Weather permitting and complication-free, the complex should be completed by Aug. 1, 2014. Lance Garrett, project manager with Crossland Construction, which is the general contractor for the center, says everything is on schedule and it hopes to have the structure fully enclosed by Thanksgiving 2013. Garrett has experience with large projects….

Pitt wide Pub Crawl

Jay Benedict | editor-in-chief Pittsburg’s nightlife landscape offers bar-goers anything from upscale cocktails to shots from a dildo. While newcomers to the scene, like Danny Bell’s Wild West, are trying to make names for themselves, mainstays like McCarthy’s and Mooreman’s do their best to welcome old fans and accommodate the younger college crowds. The last year has also seen a lot of change. Student favorites, The Jungle and Fat Daddy’s closed their doors recently and the 5th Street Bar and Grill changed hands in the last month. Others, like Chatter’s and Faces Saloon, are getting facelifts to keep their atmosphere fresh. The newly-instituted Gus Bus makes it easier to safely journey from home to the…