After teetering on the brink of the .500 mark for almost the entire season, the men’s basketball team had a shot on Thursday night to end their year on a high note by defending home court against a tough Penn State York squad.

In a tough year for the Hazleton team, every game was a battle and they headed into each contest thinking it was theirs to win. However, the game plan didn’t always go as intended and the squad often found themselves holding the short end of the stick.

Despite the setbacks and the hard- ships, the team persevered entering the playoffs with high energy and looking at each team as a target to defeat.

A victory could have kept the door open. A loss could have slammed it shut.

The Hazleton team, sporting an 11-11 record, has had a habit of either blowing teams out or losing tightly contested match-ups and unfortunately for them, the game against York was the latter.

York, who was having a great season with a 16-6 record overall, took the game by a score of 93-83 and put a damper on Hazleton’s playoff push. Hazleton slipped to a game under .500 to end its year but a 9-7 conference record overall could be enough to get them into the postseason.

Hazleton finished second in its conference behind 16-8 Worthington Scranton and didn’t do nearly as bad as Wilkes-Barre or Penn College who finished their years off 7-17 and 4-20 respectively. The loss to York may not spell the end for the Hazleton squad, but they cannot al- low it to be a sign of things to come if playoff dreams become reality.

When the Penn State University Athletic Conference begins tomorrow with Hazleton at York at 7 p.m., the Hazleton men’s team needs to take things to a new level or face the possibility of heading home empty-handed for the season.

More woman are abused on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year, is one of the biggest rumors still being spread across the United States. The biggest question is exactly how a rumor such as this began to circulate?

According to the Equal Justice Foundation, during a press conference held in 1993, current California state senator, Sheila Kuehl stated that 40 percent more women will be battered than usual on Super Bowl Sunday. Although she had no proof to back up her bold claim, Kuehl’s statement still gets repeated and passed on today.

No matter how many rumors circulate about the topic, domestic violence is very much an issue across the globe. Whether it is subtle or extreme, any type of physical, verbal, sexual, or emotional abusive in an intimate or romantic relationship is considered domestic violence.

One in every three woman worldwide experiences domestic violence.

Many people do not realize this ongoing pattern of abuse can occur between two men, two women, older couples, or younger couples.

No matter what race or gender anyone can be a victim of domestic violence.

So how do you know if you’re a victim of domestic violence?

Recognize the warning signs. If your significant other constantly puts you down, expresses explosive anger toward you, or harms you physically or verbally these can be a signs of domestic violence. Keeping you away from your friends and family is also among the many warning signs of domestic violence.

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship don’t be afraid to speak up and get help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline here on the Hazleton campus is available at (800) 799-7233, for anyone experiencing or knows someone who is suffering in or from an abusive relationship.

Major: 
Business                      

YR: 
Freshman

What do you like to do for fun?
“I like to play volleyball, sing, play the guitar, and eat!”

What is something you want other people to know about you?
“I’m bilingual, I speak Spanish, and I’m the choir director at Saint Gabriel Catholic Church.”

Do you like to travel? Where have you traveled to?
“Yes, I love to travel! I’ve been to Spain and the Dominican Republic. This spring I’m going to Brazil and if I could go anywhere else I would go to Puerto Rico.”

If you knew you would die tomorrow what will you be doing today?
“I would ask God to forgive me for my sins and I would spend the day with my friends and family.”

The cafeteria was buzzing before the benefit date auction even began. Last Monday night was either going to be a big success or a big flop, and luckily for THON and Lion Ambassador president Justin Abraham, more than $1,000 was raised by the Hazleton campus.

“This was unbelievable. I literally was expecting $5 bids at max, $10. The first bid got up to $60 and I was like, ‘All right, this is gonna be a good night,’” Abraham said. “The $350 bid was truly unbelievable, nothing could ever top that. All in all, better than my expectations could have ever imagined.”

The highlight of the night was when Julie Martin, 21, stood on the stage and watched wide-eyed as two men entered a bidding war for her. High bidder would win a Valentine’s Day date with the blonde-haired beauty. The audience’s cheers grew in intensity each time the dollar amount increased and when it hit the $350 mark, people were on their feet and the crowd went wild.

“I’m shocked,” Martin said, when announcer Jack Gibbons stuck a microphone in her face and asked for her reaction. Gibbons was charged with introducing the women being auctioned while Megan McNeill introduced the men.

The people weren’t on their feet only because of the high bidding war. The packed house also had nothing to do with students clamoring to try the cafeteria’s daily special. Students were genuinely curious to see how this date auction would play out. The number of people who showed up definitely surprised Abraham. It was standing room only and then some. Students were outside looking in.

“I was expecting a maximum turnout. I expected filled tables but we had standing room only, we had people in the other room and again, I’m just in awe of how this event turned out,” Abraham said.

Abraham and the crowd were clearly in awe when the $350 bid was announced. However, for the man who paid it all in cash, Paul Buck, 26, it wasn’t about the money or a romantic evening with an attractive woman. To the military veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan and South Korea respectively, the auction was all about supporting a good cause even though he admits that things got a little heated.

“It was pretty intense. I kind of felt like my masculinity was attacked a little bit. At the same time, I thought she was a gorgeous looking woman and I was like ‘You know what? It’s going towards a good cause,’” Buck said. “So no matter what, the money isn’t really that important to me. In the long scheme of things if they find a cure for cancer or something, well that’s all that matters.”

A pact between friends saw that Buck contributed a little more to the good cause by buying roommate Corey Charles who bought him back in return. Having a friend buy you was a safeguard employed by some of the students being bid on to ensure that no egos were bruised, though some, like Gabiela Herrera were genuinely interested in playing the field.

“I was curious to see if anyone was going to buy me and for how much. I actually thought I wasn’t going to go past $20 and it surprised me I was the second highest girl,” Herrera said.

Pulling in $110 did make Herrera the second highest overall and she along with the other people who pulled in respectable amounts have Maya Hamah to thank for raising the bar. After the tentative opening two bid sessions, it was Hamah who broke things open by taking control of the microphone and the auction and made sure she went for a pretty penny.

The men didn’t do too shabby either. Kurt Schaarschidt strip teased his way to $85 and the women goaded Nicholas Corrales and Chirag Chirag to remove their clothing. Fun was had on both sides in an overall entertaining and profitable night.

Due to the overwhelming success of the event, there is a good chance the auction be back next year. Abraham is confident this isn’t the last time the Hazleton campus has seen of it.

“This date auction event absolutely killed it. This is the first time in 10 years and there’s no doubt in my mind this is only the start of what is to come.”