Senator Courtney Lee was elected as the Speaker for the Senate. “I really want us as a whole to worry about what our constituents need,” Lee explained. “I want to hear what you [the Senate] have to say because that’s what I feel the Speaker should be.”

James Garrity, Alex Merida, and Baylee Childress were elected to the Board of Cooperative Activities for 2012-2013 year.

President Cheryl J. Norton was in attendance for the meeting, thanking the new board for taking on the leadership and responsibility of the position. “Together, I know we can all make a difference,” Norton said. It was Norton’s first time attending an SGA meeting and she said she was happy to have selected this one to attend. She thanked the previous members for their support of her and encouraged those graduating to return to Slippery Rock.

In addition to the leadership transition, SGA attended to many regular business items. The Student Government Association passed a motion to purchase a sign for the SGA Pavilion for up to $1,800 this Monday. The motion was tabled at the last meeting because when purchasing an item costing over $500, SGA requires three bids from outside producers. SGA President Dave Wolfe explained that the bid presented had already been put out by the University and was the lowest offer. The money will come out of the budgetary reserves. “It’s just a nice touch to add to get it recognized as the SGA Pavilion.” Wolfe added.

Rental cars from “Hertz” car rental were approved to be brought to campus starting in the fall.

“It’s very similar to a zip car,” SRSGA Business Manager Cathy George explained, adding that there would be no membership fee for students.

Future SGA President Robert Clements said he felt it would be a “great service for students.”  The idea is that the cars could be used for any students needs or could be utilized by a club or organization if needed.

Students wishing to rent out the car would need to pay either an hourly fee or a half or full day charge. George explained that the cars would be signed out by signing up online and the costs would cover “the gas, the car, the insurance, everything.” The car rental service will be provided at no cost to the Student Government Association for a trial period.

SOAR, the Knitting and Crocheting Club, and the Chess Club were all new organizations approved by SGA.

SOAR stands for Students for Outdoor Activities and Recreation, an organization seeking to bring together all of the outdoor and recreational activities together and hold social events and activities for all students at the ski lodge and on-campus.

The Knitting and Crocheting Club will be an organization for people to who knit and crochet or wish to learn to do so to have the opportunity to grow and develop their skills.

The Chess Club was described by Ben Zeiger, founder of Chess Club, as a club about “playing chess” Zeiger wants to put Slippery Rock on the chess playing map. The group is open to anyone who wants to learn to play chess. The group also plans to look into “laser chess.”

The first SGA meeting of the fall semester will be Monday, August 26 at 8:45 p.m. in the theater of the Robert M. Smith Student Center.

The service will allow students to rent cars hourly or daily by reserving them online.

According to Ben Motyl, outgoing Vice President of Financial Affairs, a contract with Hertz hasn’t yet been finalized.

“We are approved for a one-year contract as a trial run,” Motyl said. “The only condition is that there cannot be any extra fees charged to SGA by Hertz.”

Motyl said the projected cost for students will be $8.50 an hour or $68 a day.

“Students will be able to sign up for time slots online,” Motyl said.

A question many students have is how insurance will be affected, and the minimum age required to rent the cars. At standard car rental agencies, the minimum age is 25.

“The minimum age to rent the cars is 18 with Hertz on Demand,” Motyl said. “Hertz is the insurer on the cars, so the student’s personal insurance isn’t liable for anything. The student would only pay $250 maximum if he/she were in an accident.”

According to the Hertz on Demand 24/7 Website, Hertz On Demand 24/7 is the convenience of renting a car by the hour or day. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – with fuel and insurance included.

Drivers can create a profile online or download the iPhone app and receive a vehicle access device by mail or pick one up at the local Hertz location, in Grove City.

Students will also be able to enjoy 24/7 access to two different vehicles on campus by making a reservation online or on a mobile device.

The vehicles, most likely to be mini-vans or SUVs will be parked at the Smith Student Center.

Motyl isn’t concerned with students abusing the cars, and thinks they will be an asset to campus organizations for travel.

“I think it could be a possibility [of student’s abusing the vehicles], but I don’t think that  will happen because they have to pay hourly fee,” Motyl said.

Organizations can still be reimbursed via the Board of Cooperative activities for up to 45 cents a mile if it is in their budget.

After reserving a Hertz On Demand car, the access card or key fob will arrive within 5-7 days after creating a profile online or by using our iPhone app. Once a profile has been completed, the driver will receive a confirmation email notifying you that your vehicle access device is on its way and can expect its arrival by mail within 5-7 days.

Drivers may also visit a participating Hertz 24/7 location to pick up an access card or key fob in-store.

Overall, Motyl is in favor of the service coming to campus.

“I think it is a good service, and a very affordable option for students and organizations alike,” Motyl said.

According to an article written by Jim Parsons from WTAE news, Slippery Rock University is one of the universities which has made the most revenue from their meal plans. It stated that the university has made almost $4.5 million since 2008 through rebates, profit-sharing and other incentives.

Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Constance Foley explained that there are a few reasons why meal plans are required for all students who live on campus.

“Financially, we can’t run the programs we want to run without requiring students to have a meal plan,” Foley explained.

Foley said that the other main reason why meal plans are required for on campus students is because it helps students transition from transition from high school to college.

“When they come to college, they don’t have to worry about themselves,” Foley explained. “They can focus on their academics.”

Another reason why meal plans are required according to Foley is that there are very few facilities in the residence halls for students to be able to cook.

Foley explained the contract with AVI in greater detail. She stated that every year AVI is given the same amount of money that they got last year plus about 3 percent because of the consumer price index. Because the university has to pay AVI an additional 3 percent, the cost of meal plans for students increases by 3 percent every year.

Every once in a while, the university decides to completely change the types of meal plans offered. For example, when the new restraunts in Wiesnfluh and the Robert M. Smith Student center opened, more meal plans were developed with additional flex dollars.

Another notable part of the contract with AVI is that they give 25 free meal plans to the universities administrators in the form of meal cards. According to Foley, this is a common practice with all but 2 schools in the PASSHE system having similar incentives.

Foley states that there are many reasons why these meal cards are beneficial to the university. She states that it is supposed to create a sense of community by allowing students to eat with the administrators. It also allows the administrators to see what AVI is doing, and it allows them to give direct feedback about the service.

President Cheyrl J. Norton stated that she has only used her meal card three times this year, so she is looking into what else could be done with the cards.

“I’ve looked into what are sister institutions have done,” Norton said. “Some of them have taken these meal cards and given them as part of need based grants to students who need additional support. So were looking into if we could do that, because I think that would be a great idea.”

Rocket Photo Editor Alex Mowrey received 17 regional and national individual prizes including two First Place National awards and one National Finalist award from the Society of Professional Journalists and two nationwide awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Overall, Rocket staffers and contributors received 29 individual awards in the categories of writing, design, photography and multimedia production.

“The unprecedented recognition of the work done by The Rocket editors and contributors this year is a testament to their hard work and commitment to collegiate journalism,” said Rocket Adviser and Associate Professor Mark Zeltner.

Following is a list of awards won by The Rocket in 2012-13:

Society for Collegiate Journalists

Newspaper Overall Excellence (weekly or less): Honorable Mention: The Rocket

Companion Newspaper Website: Third Place: theonlinerocket.com

Front Page Design: Second Place: “3-2-12” by Courtney Nickle

Editorial Page Design: First Place: “3-23-12” by Courtney Nickle

News Page Design: Second Place: “Presidential Campaign” by Will DeShong

Photo Essay: First Place: “Year in Sports” by Alex Mowrey

News Stories: Second Place: “Student jumps out window to evade fire” by Jon Janasik

Editorials: First Place: Will DeShong

Continuing News Coverage: Third Place: “APSCUF prepares for strike authorization vote” by Jon Janasik,

Sports News: Second Place: “One & Done” by Madeline Williams

Sports Feature: Honorable Mention: “Junior Twirler” by Tim Durr

News Photography: Honorable Mention: “Humans vs. Zombies” by Alex Mowrey

Feature Photography Third Place: “Getting Inked” by Alex Mowrey

Editorial Cartoons: First Place: Emily Schubert

Graphic Illustration: Second Place: “New weapons policy” by Emily Schubert

Multimedia Sports Story: Second Place: “Frame by frame victory” by Alex Mowrey

Photo Slideshow: Second Place: “Mac Miller Concert” by Alex Mowrey

Third Place: “SRU vs. Univ. of Michigan” by Alex Mowrey

Society of Professional Journalists: Nationwide

Breaking News Photography (Medium): First Place: “A Son Remembered” by Alex Mowrey

Sports Photography (Medium) First Place: “The Catch” by Alex Mowrey

Feature Photography (Medium) Nationwide Finalist: “Country Must Be Country Wide” by Alex Mowrey

Society of Professional Journalists: Region 4

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (Medium) First Place:  The Rocket

Breaking News Photography (Medium) First Place: “A Son Remembered” by Alex Mowrey

Feature Photography (Medium) First Place: “Country Must Be Country Wide” by Alex Mowrey

Sports Photography (Medium) First Place: “The Catch” by Alex Mowrey

American Scholastic Press Association

Most Outstanding University Newspaper for 2012-13

First Place with Special Merit Award: The Rocket

Pennsylvania News Media Association: Keystones

Review Honorable Mention: “Sum 41’s Anniversary Tour” by Will DeShong

Feature Photo First Place: “Finally Famous” by Alex Mowrey

News Photo Honorable Mention: “A son remembered”  Alex Mowrey

Photo Story Second Place: “A year in Rock athletics” by Alex Mowrey

Website Honorable Mention:  theonlinerocket.com by James Intile

Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Single feature photograph Second Place: “Finally Famous” by Alex Mowrey

Photo layout: Two or more pages Certificate of Merit “Rock around the world” by Alex Mowrey and Lexi Kovski

May 2 – There was a report of harassing phone calls. The case was forwarded to judicial.

May 2 – There was a report of vehicle damage at East Lake. The case is under investigation.

May 2 – There was a report of physical assault at Building B. The incident is being handled by the Slippery Rock Borough Police Department.

May 3 – Jared Bonaminio, 19, and Tyler Painter, 19, were issued with underage citations when an officer observed an individual urinating by at the water tower.

May 4 – There was a reported brush fire at the Ski Lodge. It was extinguished by officers and the fire department also responded.

May 4 – A reported alcohol violation at Building A. The incident was referred to student conduct.

May 5 – A reported traffic incident occurred in the Smith Commuter Lot. A vehicle struck a light pole and no injuries occurred.

May 5 – There was a reported theft of a musical instrument at Swope Music Hall. The case is under investigation.

May 5 – Pennsylvania State Police requested assistance on a fight call. The Pennsylvania State Police are handling the issue and the individual is in custody.

May 5 – Jessica Frosztega, 22, was cited for public drunkenness after an alcohol violation was reported at the Abersold Recreation Center.

May 5 – Benjamin Hogg, 22, was cited for reckless endangerment of another person, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness after a report of an individual displaying a handgun at the East Lake Lot. The firearm was confiscated and the individual was taken into custody.

May 7 – There was a report of vehicle damage at the Police Station. The case is under investigation.

May 7 – There was a reported theft of a wallet at Bailey Library. The case is under investigation.

The new Sheetz, which will sit at the corner North/ South Main Street (SR 0208/SR 0173), and New Castle Street/Franklin Street (SR 0108), will encompass approximately 6,900 square feet, with a lot encompassing a total of 89,000 square feet. Because this is an already busy traffic area, the Slippery Rock Borough teamed up with David E. Wooster and Associates, Inc., to perform a transportation impact study to determine how much the Sheetz would impact traffic in that area.

Slippery Rock Borough Plans Examiner and Building Official, Robert Koch, explained the main reason why Slippery Rock decided to perform the study.

“The borough wanted to perform the study to try to reduce the accident rate in the area, and make things safer,” Koch said. “The traffic volume in the area will become lot greater than it is now.”

A scooping meeting was held on May 26, 2011, to discuss the traffic study. Attendees included representatives of the PennDOT District 10-0, the Slippery Rock Borough, Sheetz Inc., and Wooster Inc.

The study initially focused on car crashes in the area. The study pinpointed on the intersections of North/South Main Street and New Castle Street/Franklin Street, Franklin Street and School Drive, North Main Street and East/West Water Street, and East/West Water Street and School Drive/Private Drive. Out of the four intersections examined, the most accidents, a total of six, which occurred between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 10, 2010, happened at the North/South Main Street and New Castle Street/Franklin Street intersection, the exact location of the new Sheetz.

To reduce the risk of accidents in the area, there will no longer be any parking in the street, where parking is currently available. Even though parking will be removed along the street, sidewalks will still remain and new sidewalks around the perimeter of the Sheetz will be constructed so the area is safe for pedestrians.

Along with the removal of parking, both School Drive, between Legion Street and Franklin Street and Legion Drive, along North Main Street will be vacated due to the size of the lot of the Sheetz. The total roadway area to be vacated is approximately 7,900 square feet.

Due to the predicted increase of traffic volume in the area, the design of the Sheetz lot was heavily taken into consideration. The parking lot will include three different full access driveways. One of the driveways is proposed to be let out onto Franklin Street, at the current location of School Drive. Another full access driveway will be located along North Main Street, north of it’s intersection with Franklin Street. A right-in, right-out driveway is also proposed to be located along North Main Street.

One issue that may occur while entering the right-in driveway, is the location of the fueling stations. Because they are located towards the front of the lot, this may cause traffic to become backed up, holding up traffic on North Main Street.

Even though a traffic backup could be a possibility, the eight fueling stations were placed at the front of the lot specifically for easy maneuverability by costumers that are driving a vehicle. The Sheetz convince store will sit at the rear end of the lot. This placement will allow for those who chose to walk to the Sheetz, to avoid any pedestrian, vehicle conflicts.

Ryan Bauder, the assistant manager at the current Sheetz, said that the news Sheetz will be a lot more convent for drivers.

“I don’t think the location of the new Sheetz will cause any traffic problems whatsoever,” Bauder said. “The location is more convenient, and the parking lot will be much easier to drive through because it will be pretty big.”

The study also focused on the annual traffic growth rate in the area, and how that could increase the traffic around the new Sheetz. The traffic growth rate in the area is approximately 1.58 percent per year, showing that the traffic volume around the location of the Sheetz may increase, due to a growth in annual traffic in the area.

Not only did the study focus on the traffic in the area for the new Sheetz, it also focused on the traffic around the current Sheetz, located at the corner of North Main Street and East/West Cooper Street. This helped predict how busy the traffic around the new Sheetz would be, based on the store and gas station itself, and not just the location. The current Sheetz, sits on a much smaller lot, with a smaller convenience store, and only four fueling stations. Due to the size of the lot, there isn’t much room for vehicles to maneuver around, and there is limited parking. Even though the new Sheetz may be located at a more congested area, a lot of the issues within the lot will be avoided, due to it’s size.

Slippery Rock University student, Matt Pleso, believes that the new Sheetz won’t cause any major traffic problems due to it’s location.

“I think that it won’t cause any more traffic problems than what the current Sheetz causes with backing up traffic and with it’s tiny parking lot,” Pleso said. “I think it will really be a nice thing to have in town.”

During the month of April, The Rocket held interviews for the new staff of the 2013 fall semester. The Rocket was looking for new ideas and fresh faces and minds to keep up with the prestigious reputation of the award winning school paper.

Will DeShong is the exiting editor in chief of The Rocket. DeShong is a senior Journalism major who plans to attend graduate school at Point Park University of Pittsburgh after graduating from Slippery Rock. He is optimistic that the new staff will be able to continue to find success next year.

“I think the new Rocket staff will find great success in the upcoming year. Each of the retuning staff members are very talented what they do, and I have confidence that the new faces will be able to fill in nicely,” DeShong said.

DeShong is also confident that the new staff will bring a mix of skill to the paper.

“There is a perfect mix of returning faces that know the positions and of new staff members that will bring new ideas into the mix,” DeShong said.

With the exploding rise in social media, The Rocket has to keep up with the trends in order to keep weekly readers. The Rocket has already incorporated an online paper, Facebook, and Twitter into news sources for Slippery Rock, but as technology is becoming a true mass medium, the demand for something new is always happening.

Catie Clark, a junior public relations major, is the new editor-in-chief of the paper. Her plans for the paper focus heavily on increasing the online presence of the Rocket.

“We’re really looking to amp social media and break away from the weekly news cycle,” Clark said.

The Rocket is really looking to start letting readers know about news the second it happens as opposed to finding out in the paper on Friday.

Two new staff positions were created with the sole focus of increasing social media and web presence.

“The Web/Social Media Editor position will certainly help keep the Rocket engaged throughout the week,” DeShong said. “And the Multimedia reporter will certainly put a bigger emphasis on web-only content.”

Clark made it quite clear that The Rocket has won 34 awards this year and they are really looking to keeping that recognition while adapting to new trends.

“We are hoping to continue our legacy next year, and improve by becoming more social media savvy. Our new positions will help with that.”