J a a i g an in c n i na u t t o l ph - 2 6 , 0 00 M e n us C r o s s r o a ds Volume 17 2007 Mansfield University O ff the beaten path... Chapel, Funeral Crematory & Monuments, PC 662-8888 24 HOUR ON CALL • FAX 6624146 1'866'234'7271 • www.buckheitfcandcrematory.com 637 S. Main St., Mansfield, PA Jacquelyn A. Sackett Buckheit, Sup./Owner • On-site parking for over 100 vehicles Kathleen Otruba Andrews ¥ £m Notary Public Wilstdn Full Agent T. Tags Boat Registrations Fax & Messenger Service ill ¥ Rte. 15 (Bus.) 570-662-3624 763 S. Main St. .570-662-3835 Fax Mansfield, PA 16933 ill ¥ w a/i J zoue k ¥ 130 South Main Street L u c i a 's N e e d le A r ts Mansfield, PA Specializing in Counted Thread, Cross Stitch and Embroidery ill 570-662-2000 ill ¥ ¥ An amazing selection of charts, threads, fabric, beads, buttons, and charms. See our complete inventory of over 13.000 items on our secure web site. www.wilstonfuneralhome.com www.flyingneedle.com Formerly Scureman Funeral Home ill 1-888-662-7024 1948 Main St. Mansfield, PA 16933-9700 Table of Contents Letter from the editor: Experience the Wilds 4 By Paul Otruba Let's just get this out of the way first: creating a magazine is hard "Encroachment?" 6 work. By Michelle Landis Fortunately, we were blessed with a handful of great talents Mansfield Celebrates Night Football 8 coming together to put together this year's edition of Crossroads By Paul Otruba magazine. The title of tliis publication is "Off the Beaten Path." Dr. Lewis I. Rathgeber 10 I"d like to think that this describes the writers, editors and pub By Paul Otruba Pride, Power, and Portable Privies 12 lishers of this magazine as well. By Dan Ryan First, let's start with Paul Otruba. Paul is now here near your 'Dasvedanya' 14 typical student. He's a lifelong resident of Mansfield w ho came By Andrew Ostroski back to take classes. Paul graduates this spring, at the same cere Sociologist off the beaten path 16 mony as his son. He has a great wealth of knowledge of the area, By Dan Mason and has no problem sharing it with anyone who wants to lend an Overheard at MU 18 ear. By Brittany Serafini Kate Keough is a junior who splits her time betw een Mansfield The Battle for Dreamland 19 and her hometown of Owego. New York. Her article on non-tra By Michelle Landis An Odyssey of the Mind 20 ditional students is eye-opening, and is especially well done since By Paul Otruba she herself is somewhat of a non-traditional student. It's a great The Lady and Her Menus 22 piece that brings an interesting subject to a better light. By Andrew Ostroski Moving on. we find Michelle Landis. She's a communications Back to School 26 senior, with hopes of being a television reporter. Her keen insight Bv Katie Keough as a woman entering the world of sports talk was the basis for her Think the Hills of Mansfield Are Tough? 31 story "Encroachment," and her creative imagination spaw ned the By Toby Motyka short story "The Battle for Dreamland." Be sure to watch for her A Timeline of Mansfield University and borough 29 on a television near you. Assembled by Paul Otruba Brittany Serafini was the advertising editor for Crossroads, and she performed at her post quite well. She kept track of all of the advertising which you see in this magazine, handled all the cheques, and also found the time to write "Overheard at MU", a lighthearted piece about odd statements that were, hence the title, overheard at MU. It's a must-read. Talking to Toby Motyka. you might get the sense you're talk ing to a famous sportscaster. One day, that may be the case. However, this time he stuck strictly to Mansfield life, and handi cap-accessibility on campus. His story is a great account of what it's like to have a physical disability and attend Mansfield Univer sity. 13 Wellsboro St. Dan Ryan's story on outhouse racing is an informative piece 662-7226 on one of Sullivan County's favorite yearly events. You really have to read the article to believe it. He was also the main de MU Students and Professors signer for the cover, and I happen to think he did a great job. 10% off Of course, no college class is complete without someone in charge. That "someone" for us was Mr. Dan Mason. Without him... well... let's not think about that. Thanks to Mason for all of his hard work and guidance throughout this project. His story WA CITIZENS 81 NORTHERN BANK on Dr. Madigan's trip to China isn't that bad, either. Everyone Your Bank for a Lifetime at Crossroads appreciates his guidance, as well as his quick (and • Free Checking • OnLine Banking sometimes quite dry) wit. We all sincerely hope that you enjoy this magazine. Remem • Convenient Drive-Thru ATM ber, as you walk through life, don't be afraid to, every now and then, get off the beaten path. yy Mansfield Office e „ 1085 Main Street -Andrew Ostroski C ommunity 0Banking. 570-662-1111 Member FDIC www.cnbankpa.com | Experience the Wilds A 3000-acre donation of forested lands in the Fallbrook area of the Armenia Mountains in Tioga County, Pennsylvania is in the northeast section of the Pennsylvania Wilds, the headwaters of just minutes from the Tioga River, a tributary of the Susquehanna River. Governor Edward G. Rendell said, 'Adding this important Mansfield University piece of Pennsylvania's great outdoors to the Tioga State Forest will mean future generations will be able to enjoy it." Local environmental groups, such as the Tioga River Water by Paul Otruba shed Reclamation Projects Inc., the Upper Susquehanna River- keeper and Boy Scout Sea Scout Ship 2001 have invested over 10,000 hours in environmental work in this area. These orga nizations see this land transfer to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as recreational land use opportunity to open the Fallbrook Tioga River valley and the Landrus - Babb Creek section of the Pennsylvania wilds to picnicking, sight seeing and potentially adding a hundred miles of trails for recreational use that will link the Pine Creek, Hills Creek State Park, Mid-State trail and the Tioga Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes. Currently the 20,000 acres of the Tioga State Forest includes the Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area, The Black Ash Swamp Natural Area, the Reynolds Spring Natural Area, the Asaph Wild Area and now the Fallbrook - Landrus area. Mansfield University is just 10 miles from one of the most extensive wilds areas on the east coast of the United States with access to thousands of miles of trails that tie into the Appalachian Trail. Imagine the awesome natural wonder of the two million acres of the public lands of the Pennsylvania Wilds in your back yard - 2,067 wild trout streams, 1,100 miles of designated trails, 99 boat-launch sites, 1,800 campsites. Opportunities abound to State and federal lands surround Tioga, Hammond, Hill's Creek photograph elk, bear, bobcat, turkey, deer, eagles and raccoon and Cowenesque Lakes to the north of Mansfield. Hill's Creek with hundreds of species of plants, animals, fish and reptiles to Lake is seven miles from the campus, and Tioga Lake is just three study. The potential for economic gain for local tourism, for miles away. State record fish have been caught in both lakes. hands on education in the sciences, and the opportunity for rec reation for students, parents and faculty at Mansfield University are just minutes away. Fallbrook and Landrus, ghost towns now, were the home to thousands during the reign of coal mining in Tioga County. This area of long abandoned railroad beds invites exploration through the falls at Fallbrook, the switchbacks at Dublin, and the battle ship shaped rocks of Landrus. Mansfield University is a gateway for exploration to this "off the beaten path" area for the pathfinder armed with a compass, map and spirit of adventure. WGSTS AUTO SALES, L AMERICAN CAR CARE CENTER 133S1 Route 6 • Mansfield, PA 16933 Bus: (570) 724-1066 • Fax: (570 ) 723-1975 Cell: (570) 439-2237 • [email protected] www.westsautosales.com _ _ „ . . , _ _ _ _ « ". —^ STEVE WORDEN ~N - Sales, Service, Owner "Huck and Jim-style" river rafting becomes high adventure us ing recycled barrels and a little creativity to fashion a vessel.The Susquehanna Watershed contains tens of thousands of miles of streams, lakes and rivers waiting to be explored by the willing. 4 Balloonists like to take advantage of the updrafts at dawn. The Pennsylvania Wilds, where the Susquehanns River meets the Chemung Subbasin of the Susquehanna, is one of the wildest parts of the state. The Endless Mountains form ridges from Liberty to Wellsboro. Hikers can run across bobcat and bear, fox and deer, turkeies and bald eagles. Panthers used to inhabit this area, and locals might try to convince an outsider they still do. Free Checking 24-Hour A TM Access 15 South Main St., Mansfield F I R ST 570-662-2121 C I T I Z E NS www.firstcitizensbank.com 800-326-9486 NATIONAL BANK Your Success Is Our Mission' dic 8 Mcmbcr F Mansfield Blossburg Ulysses Cicncscc Sayrc Wellsboro Troy Canlon Gillell Wellsboru W:is Market Mansfield Wal-Mart StatcLine LcRaysvillc "Rwanda Wcllsvillc 5 "Encroachment?" Why is it so hard to break into the "man's world" of sports talk, and what can women do about it? by Michelle Landis To many, sports form a language, culture all I could make out was that the Steelers love it. Others get offended and act macho, and passion of their own. To those who were losing and the other team had appar telling me how wrong I am, or how stupid are foreigners in the world of sports and ently made a touchdown. My brother was the team is that I enjoy watching. It gets on 'sports talk,' this culture can be confusing, getting in a horrible mood, so I went to my nerves but I just laugh and enjoy the and sometimes even intimidating. Both kitchen to sit with my grandma; at least I game." men and women engage in conversations could understand Bingo and physical ther Rachel, who developed her passion for centered on sports. These conversations apy." sports from her mother and the other wom can leave the neophyte sports enthusiast Although her story is lighthearted and en in her family, says that some of her lady in a daze. For those who have little or no comical, Kay says she often finds herself friends don't understand sports and tend to interest in sports or who are entering this in that daze while her brother shouts at "doze off when she enters into the world new world for the first time, there is hope. little people inside the television. She says of sports talk with them. She does know a Many veterans of 'sports talk' will guide she would like to know more about foot few female fans who are like her and "can the new student who enters their culture ball, but her brother rolls his eyes when go off about sports like men." for the first time. she asks questions about the game. "How Rachel has some advice for women Mansfield University sophomore Kay is it he can know all the terms and stats who want to 'go off about sports like men:' Barrett is interested in sports and has of football and organize his own fantasy "Ask questions!!" a particular passion for tennis but says football teams, but he can't remember my "I was surprised how much I learned by she does not have a great knowledge of birthday?" Kay said. She's not alone in her asking questions. It helps to pay attention the culture and often feels overwhelmed frustrations. to the commentaries and the game itself. around tennis vets. Kay feels that sports Mansfield student Rachel Boyll be Things fall into place quickly that way," talk is mainly a 'guy thing,' but she would lieves guys want sports to be strictly 'guy Rachel said. "I am thinking of getting into like to be able to take part in this culture as talk.' However, she says there is hope for fantasy football with no clue as to how to well. the lady entering the world of sports. "If do it. My guy friends have been answer Kay shares this story: "Last year I went you really pay attention, it's not hard to ing all my questions and even asking me over to my brother Mike's house for my understand what's going on in the world to join their leagues!" nephew's birthday. The living room was of sports," Rachel said. Greg Reedy, photography editor for the packed with all my guy relatives. I was Rachel says that sometimes guys are Ridgway Record in Ridgway Pennsylva squeezed between my brother and his shocked when they discover her passion nia, agrees that sports talk is mainly guy brother-in-law while they watched a Pitts for sports. "Is dropping to one knee and talk. He says that, since most of the sports burgh Steelers football game. They were proposing considered treating me differ talk hosts are male and the majority of loud and kept jumping up and shouting at ently? I've had that response as well as their audiences tend to be male, they use the TV and each other. I had no idea what the opposite," Rachel said. "Sometimes guy talk on their shows. was going on. 'Line back?' 'Tailback?' guys will be excited to know I love sports. He says it is important for those enter Who knows? After twenty minutes of one They'll answer any questions I have and ing into the world of sports and sports talk team running and another team running, seem shocked at what I know. I think they for the first time to be knowledgeable. 6 "If you can show guys you know your stuff, you will have a players" of sports and be able to contribute to a conversation. better chance of getting accepted into their world," Greg said. Danita Fox is the women's swim team coach at Mansfield Uni "If you get into sports and start showing you haven't done your versity. Growing up with five brothers and a father who was a homework about what you're talking about, people won't take fonner college football player helped fuel her passion for sports. you as seriously." She refers to her own communication style as "cut 'n-dried" and Greg says that although he rarely runs into a woman who is finds her communication with men is different from her commu knowledgeable about sports, his interest is perked when he finds nication with women. one who can speak the language. He says that it is easier to talk to Coach Fox was "one of the guys" growing up, which, she says, someone when he can find common ground. For many guys, in "was not always a good thing." A large part of this could be at- cluding Greg, this common ground includes ^ tributed to a communication style ("cut n' the world of sports. "If you can show dried") that lends itself to sports talk. Fox Do men who have little knowledge of the says that communicating with her female guys that you know language also suffer in the world of sports? athletes and other women has taught her Gregory Orr, photography editor for your stuff, you will "women want more words to feel good and Mansfield University's student newspaper, appreciated." says that he has encountered obstacles of his have a better chance "I don't speak much about sports with own due to his lack of detailed sports knowl my friends because they don't enjoy the top of getting accepted edge. He says being a male surrounded by ic," Fox said. Despite this, Fox mentioned sports culture was a little awkward. "It was into their world." that she doesn't find much of a difference almost as if I grew up on a different planet," speaking with men as opposed to women Gregory said. within college athletics about sports. -Greg Reedy Gregory's interest and knowledge of The key for those entering the world sports has grown as a result of being in a of sports for the first time with a feminine college environment in which sports are important. style of communication (emotional, "needing more words," etc.), There are other men, like Mansfield student Richard Schmid, is to remember that patience is important. Sports enthusiasts are who have little interest in sports and don't care to learn more. "I passionate about their obsession, but the basics of the games are have passive knowledge of sports. I understand the games for the fairly 'cut n' dried.' Start simple, learn as much as you can, ask most part and have favorite teams," Schmid said. "I don't bother questions and don't be overwhelmed by details. It takes time. to follow most sports, because they bore me most of the time." Coach Fox offers her own tidbit to the 'sports talk' neophyte: Guys like Richard are rare. Greg Reedy says he assumes guys "Be humble around the veterans, and keep it balanced and fun." will "have a solid, global knowledge of rules, history, teams and Greg agrees that humility is an important thing for the sports newbie. "It can be obvious if someone opens their mouth and says something that either is untrue or just doesn't make any sense," Greg said. "If someone is caught in this situation, the best thing to do is try and follow along with the conversation, picking up 9Uu little points about the sport. Sometimes blending into the crowd up. is better than making sticking out for the wrong reasons." " 9 • k % • - & So remember, sports neophytes, be humble, pay attention, do ANIMAL your homework, ask questions and, most importantly, have fun. HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION Leonard Kreger, DVM Phone: 570-724-3841 Fax: 570-724-7037 email: [email protected] 12393 Route 6, WeUsboro, PA 16901 COOPERS SPORTING GOODS 15 West Wellsboro St ttssssaar mm m Mansfield, PA 16933 1I mM —• rayBf lJ |Jk l JJBU\f c A. m {% A m 5 m WWW 9 Fax (570) 513-0629 (570) 662-3429 M A R K E TS fjr^£ Timothy Payne VOIR HOMETOWN PfflUJD SUPERMARKET MU Alumnus Main St. Mansfield 662-2185 www.grecosmarkets.com 7 Mansfield celebrates the birth of night football and the Fabu lous 1890s every fall by Paul Otruba Mansfield celebrates The Fabulous 1890s every year with a festival on the last week end in September. The Fabulous 1890s weekend starts with a motorless parade through Mansfield. Horses draw wagons, bands march and re- enactors show off their costumes, but mo torized vehicles are not allowed. Mansfield University and the Greater Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce jointly sponsor the event. It started in 1992 on the centennial of the first football game in history played under electric lights. Mansfield Seminary (now Mansfield University) and Wyoming Seminary met in Smythe Park during the Great Mans field Fair on September 28, 1892. Some twenty thousand people came to the fair. Only a portion of them stayed for the game in 1892. The reenactment of the game, on the other hand, is one of the highlights of the modern festival. The teams are co-ed. Students, staff and faculty make up both teams. By today's standards, the game was sav age, resembling more of a backyard pick up game than an organized event. Players linked arms and plowed down the field, knocking down opposing players and pro tecting the ball carrier. Defensive men had to hurl themselves into the "flying wedge" or try to crash through the flanks to stop the advance. The re-enactment ends early, as did that first night when the electric light was mowed down during a play and the game was called because no one could see to play. For those fans who last that long, the Fabulous 18902 Weekend ends with fire works. The Mansfield Seminary reenactors had to practice to get the flying wedge just right and to make sure no one got hurt. 8 Balloonists bring their hot air balloons to Smythe Park. Some offer rides to the public. Others just want to show off their colorful bags of hot air. Balloonists not only eschew the beaten path, they don't even respect flight paths. The can be counted on to wander over the mountains, each following his or her own muse. Norma Brunges was one of the dance hall girls who serve drinks in the saloon on the midway. Strolling banjo pickers, pluckers and strummers add to the flavor of the 1890s. The midway has lots of games and live entertainment, all designed to trans port the visitor a century into the past. Pies are judged. Ducks race. Pugilists punch. Crafts and food are displayed. Professor Marvel hawks his tawdry wares. Kids play soccer. Old folks play Bingo. Middle-aged men barbecue chicken and daredevils set off fireworks. A visionary president brought Mansfield State Teacher's College into the modern era of education by Paul Otruba Dr. Lewis W. Rathgeber was President of Mansfield State Teach er's College, later Mansfield State College, from 1957 to 1963. He was a 5' 11". 250 lb. dynamic whirlwind of energy and change who worked most weekends and many 18 hour days to turn his vision of what Mansfield State Teacher's College could be into reality. His efforts transformed the 685 student teachers college into a 3000-smdent liberal arts college by 1969 with the comple tion of his planning program. Dr. Rathgeber's private papers indicate that his introduction of high academic standards, academic freedom, a racially het erogeneous student body, an end to bigotry and prejudice in the classroom and an attempt at ending corrupt political patronage's influence at the college resulted in opposition to him personally. According to the Board of Directors" minutes, this enlightened intellectual stimulation was not received well by disgruntled ex- faculty nor by the local Republican elite and eventually led to his resignation after six years. There are still people in Mansfield who remember when Dr. Lewis Because of Rathgeber's higher academic standards, a larger W. Rathgeber was president. He was a controversial figure who percentage of graduates continued on to graduate school. The fac gets a lot of the credit or bears a lot of the blame for the Mansfield ulty grew from 67 to 104. The number of faculty holding doctor University of today. ates increased by 70 percent. The library collection increased to lege presidents in the United States at the time. He earned his 28.000 volumes. B.S. in education at Lock Haven State Teacher's College, and his Dr. Rathbeber was a leader in developing regional coopera MA. and PH.D. of History from the University of Pittsburgh. tion among area colleges. He was a trustee of the of the College He had been principal at Port Allegheny High School, a con Center of the Finger Lakes which included Elmira College, Al tact officer for the Veterans Administration, and the assistant to fred University, Hobart College. William Smith College, Corning the Dean of Men and a history lecturer at the University of Pitts Community College. Ithaca College. Keuka College and Mans burgh before his tenure as President of Mansfield State Teacher's field State College. College. He served as the educational advisor to the chief chemi Mansfield State College had not built any new dormitories cal officer for the US Department of Army Chemical Corps. He since 1890. Rathbeber proposed building six. His building plan also served as the director of the Bureau of Private Schools and included the renovation of Retanand Belknap as classroom build Veteran Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Public In ings. He proposed new athletic fields, new underground electric struction. and heating systems, new heating boilers, a new water supply Rathbeber was active in the Pennsylvania Historical society dam. field houses, a new gym. a music education center, a dining and the fraternity Phi Alpha Theta. He served on the executive hall, an infirmary, and a student union. board of the General Sullivan Council of the Boy Scouts of He also oversaw construction of the Alumni Hall which housed America and the Tioga County Cancer society. He was a member the library. He had the Hut built, paid for the reconstruction or of the American Legion, the Masons, the Moose Lodge, the Elks, renovation of all 24 buildings on campus, increased the acreage the Lion's Club, and Kiwanis. of the campus and increased parking space. Through his extensive list of activities and organizations. Rat- The state legislature desired the removal of North Hall, but geber is may have been the best educated, most rounded and most Dr. Rathgeber's extensive development plans prohibited the de highly qualified president Mansfield University had up to that molition until a time when a preservation movement was able to time. save the building. If Mansfield State College had not expanded, it Rathgeber was described by the trustees as a person of high may have been closed in one of the state's later budget tightening movements. Rathgeber, Continued on Rathgeber, at 35 and a bachelor, was one of the youngest col- Page 11, Second column 10