No Looking Back

In my final installment of senior profiles,one students story stuck out in my mind for the sheer courage she had pertaining to her future plans.

Kristin Fulwylie, a 22 year old Public Relations major from Pittsburgh, PA has a master plan that many students strive for but are scared to make the transition. Not Kristen.

"I'm really excited about what's ahead of me" she says, with a brilliant smile.

"I'm concerned about getting a job or finding the perfect job, but not worried".

What's ahead of her is a graduate program in Public Relations at the Utopian-like school of Full Sail University, an innovative school for creative types specializing in exciting programs ranging from Entertainment Business to Game Design.

Another Slippery Rock Alum, Sade Battle, is a close friend of Kristin and a recent graduate of the university. Kristin credits Sade with "encouraging" her to come and visit the school located in Orlando, Florida.


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"I love it. I'm excited. I'm ready for a change of scenery"

She credits not having immediate family in the area as a factor in finding it easy to move so far away from her childhood home.

Like the others seniors I did profiles on I asked Kristin why she didn't graduate in the traditional 4 year window.

" I took less credits each semester. I was on academic probation my freshman year so after that I took less credits so I could focus more on my studies. I raised my QPA"

She said as a freshmen she looked at upperclassmen like Jewelle Motley as examples for getting involved on campus in which Kristin was a Vice President on the University Programming Board. She champions getting involved to freshmen and underclassmen.



She says she learned many different things at Slippery Rock primarily taking what she learned in her classes such as Publication Production and PR Writing implementing them into her extracurricular activities.

Graduation can be a bittersweet time for many and Kristin claims she is not exempt from feeling some sadness.

" I definitely do have sadness in my heart. This was my life."



Kristin recalls her fellow classmates she came in with in the fall of 2006 and has fond memories.

"Our class has seen alot of good and bad but we all changed for the better."

"Only half of us made it but the one who made it, MADE IT" she exclaimed with glee.

Kristin has indeed MADE it.

End of the Race. Start of the Marathon

For many graduating seniors each day closer to graduation is a day closer to freedom. Freedom from the monotony of assignments, papers, and professors. This is exciting to some while being a frightening time for others.

One such senior is Kameron Branson, a Business Management major from Pittsburgh, PA.

"I am scared." he says quietly.

"While in school I always knew the next thing I was doing was the next semester." he pauses.

"Now that I am graduating there is no telling what direction my life will go in."

Being my second profile of a graduating senior this seem to be a continuinig theme. The uncertainty of the future and what it has to offer.

Noticing that some seniors have faced obstacles turning the once average four year stay into a 4.5-5 year stay I asked Kameron what was his.

" I declared my minor of Marketing in the second semester of my junior year." he says without a hint of regret.

"I didn't want to rush and plus I think the extra semester helped me out with getting prepared"

It seems like the extra semester has paid off for Kameron regarding his opportunities post-graduation. He has many opportunities lined up.



Branson credits his professional readiness to being in leadership positions such as President of Black Action Society and working with an array of different people.



Overall Kameron seems ready to face the world after graduation but one fear lingered in the back of his mind.

"For some reason in my college career it seems like nothing goes the way it’s supposed to go. I was, and still am, nervous about something going wrong causing me not to graduate. A missed credit, a fee I didn’t pay. Anything that could go wrong. It’s because of this fear, I have been very alert."

Being alert is a good thing.

Light At the End of the Tunnel.

As the semester approaches the end it is a bittersweet time for many seniors that are approaching their graduation. Many are equally excited and scared to start their post graduation life.

This fall graduation will have the remnants of transfer students,non-traditional students ,and students from the freshmen class of 2006.

One such student, Obianuju Anyaogu, is eager to start her ascent in to the professional world.

Known to many on campus as Uju,carries her self with a professionalism that isn't often seen for a student of her age. She credits this with her ability to multi-task.

"Right now I'm currently enrolled in 21 credit hours, work part time at Sheetz, and am the president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc." said Anyaogu.

but this last semester hasn't been with out some problems.

"I have experienced severe financial hardships this semester due to some personal and family expenses but it has been my richest semester as far as building lasting relationships and learning important lessons".

Uju will be receiving her BSBA in Management and is planning on starting her own business.

"My future aspirations are to open a Beauty Salon either in the suburbs or overseas (Jamaica or Africa)" Uju said.
With her first goal accomplished her next plans are, attaining her Beautician license and lastly a Entrepreneurial Certification or an MBA.

Many students worry about finding employment upon graduation something. Uju is one step ahead of the competition.

"I currently have a job oppotunity as an Insurance Sales Person at American Income Life in Pittsburgh."

"It's a fully commission paid job but I am confident I will be a good employee allowing me to find financial stability."

Even a wonderful opportunity such as this doesn't come without it's share of problems.

"Unfortunately, my employment status with this company is dependent on whether or not I attain my driver's license and purchase a car by the time I am scheduled to work." She continues.

"I planned on driving my mother's car, but because she is behind on her payments, the car had to be refinanced by my older sister. This arrangement was necessary to save the car from being seized, and also to replace my sister's car which has broken down. She lives in Virginia."

Uju doesn't seem to be worried about what many might see as a bleek situation.

"I will still be ok, I won't worry about situations I can't control" she says.

Uju speaks with a glimmering optimism that many graduates seem to have today. They have dreams and aspirations but they know that the road along the way may be rough.

All they can do is be hopeful.

He Took His Talents to Slippery Rock...

In the arena of college basketball, it’s widely understood that when a player decides to give up on the game that they love, rarely do they ever come back and if they do never with same heart and tenacity.

This cannot be said of Maron Brown.



The 6’5 forward from Salisbury, MD known to him as “The Shore” , has been invigorating Slippery Rock fans with a fever for winning upon his arrival in 2008 from junior college, Cecil College, in North East, MD.
Brown however is no stranger to hard work and overcoming adversity.

“Childhood wasn’t normal for me. Both my parents worked and it forced me and my brothers to do everything on our own”, Brown said.

“Made me learn a lot of wrongs and right” he explained.

A wrong of his we discuss, was his decision to drop out of school after his freshmen year at Cecil, where he averaged 15.1 pts and 7.5/rebs per game.

“I quit, I couldn’t take it”, Brown said with a regretful yet humble tone.

“The dumbest thing you can do is mess up your opportunity” he said…

“Makes you think about what you could be doing”.

Ironically it was his one year at Cecil that he says he learned the most from a coach.

“Bill Lewit, basically taught me about the game while teaching me about life”, Brown said retrospectively gazing.

It was also childhood friend and fellow Cecil teammate, Kyle Camper, who influenced his decision to move on to Slippery Rock after a four year hiatus.

“Coach Jareem Dowling brought me, Kyle, and Nell here that year”

Denell “Nell” Stephens and Kyle Camper, have gone on to play basketball overseas Germany and Luxemburg, respectfully.



Many including Brown’s present Head Coach, Kevin Reynolds, believe that he has potential and determination to play overseas.



“He has the statistics, the key thing now is that we need another big season”, Reynolds explained calmly.

Maron mirrors the same sentiments.






“I feel as though I’m good enough. It really depends on this season…” he said. With a grin he said, if I had a season like I did last year I’ll be over.”

Maron spoke of the difficulty in finding time out of his schedule for free time.
“No free days for me”, he laughed.
But when Brown isn’t hooping he’s hitting wheelies on his beloved dirt bike and motorcycle.



Overall, Maron seems to be grateful for a second chance at the game he loves and is very optimistic toward his future.
“I want to come back to college and get my Master‘s degree in either Social Work or Criminology”, he said.
“More than likely I’ll move down south, find a good job, and live a good life… and be comfortable”
I’ll make a toast to that.

AM SLAM Poetry: A force to be reckoned with!

November 4, 2010 -Thursday afternoon I profiled one of Slippery Rock’s newest and most promising student clubs :AM SLAM Poetry club. Being a member of the group as well I was introduced to the group from having a poetry class with it’s creators, Molly Kuhn and Adam T. Wagerman. Their meetings are usually held on Thursdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm in Room 201 in Eisenberg. The meeting is often started with small discussions about upcoming projects ,then followed by impromptu poetry readings and group poetry exercises. The group is new so the number of group members waiver between 5 and 15 per week.


The group originally got it’s name from the first letters of the first names of the creators of the group, Adam and Molly. They then decided to have the letter represents Aesthetic Melodies or Awakening Mavericks…depends on who you ask, what day it is, or how creative you can be with the letters A&M.



This particular meeting was blessed with the poetry of Ariel Wall, Lacy Tarr, Adam T. Wagerman, Shasheena Carroll, Molly Kuhn and none other than Grits Capone better known as Corey Carrington. The atmosphere is very loving and the characters that frequent the club are some of the most interesting and diverse people that graced the hallowed halls of this fine institution.





During the meeting Shasheena Carroll discussed possibly starting an AM SLAM radio show on WSRU 88.1 because the interest and need for creativity on the radio is at an all time high. Adam and Molly seemed interested in the venture and the other members were excited to have such an opportunity in the groups infancy.

The groups founders, Adam and Molly,talked about their motivations for starting the group, their goals, and how to get in touch with them.







Overall I believe that the group is headed in the right direction and has a lot to offer the Slippery Rock community in the coming future.

SRU Homecoming 2010...The never ending cycle of madness

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First Job Fair of the Year