SAB Kicks Off Homecoming With Crafting For A Cause

To kick off homecoming, PFW’s Student Activities Board held an event to warm hearts and bodies: Blankets and Bracelets.

The event was held on Feb. 6 and students gathered to tie blankets for charity and make friendship bracelets for themselves. A variety of snacks were offered and a mix of background music and movies kept energies up.

“We just wanted something kind of cozy and fun for homecoming week,” said Elizabeth Lassiter, SAB Chair. “You know, everyone’s starting to come back from break so we wanted to do a kind of event where people could kind of destress and do something for a good cause.”

That cause is the Rescue Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to “provid[ing]…a home for the homeless, food for the hungry and hope for their future,” according to their mission statement.

“Especially with it being really really cold… we want to make sure we take care of our Fort Wayne community and try to lend a helping hand,” said Sydney Coyne, fellow SAB Chair.

There was a mild sense of surprise among the attendees that they were donating blankets made rather than the students keeping them, but students were given a PFW branded blanket to take home in exchange.

“I did not [know the blankets would be donated] but I’m not upset,” said PFW transfer student Kailani Johnson. “I love giving back to the community, especially because it was at no cost of my own except time.”

Kailani Johnson (Left) and friend Lilly Buchanan (Right) show off their finished blanket

That seemed to be the general opinion among the students. The line to enter wrapped around the corner before the event officially began and students continued to filter in throughout the night. The SAB hosts were pleased with the turnout, especially considering PFW’s large commuter population.

“To see so many students come out for an event after 5 p.m. is really really nice,” Lassiter said.

Lassiter has had her college experience improved by campus events and joined the SAB to spread the positive impact. 

“To be able to be one of the people that helps people get out of their dorm, get out of their house and do something fun, it’s actually really fulfilling.” 

And for Johnson, it was her first time attending a PFW event and it left a good impression.

“The vibes are good, it’s been a good time.”

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PFW Men’s Basketball Loses Against Oakland University

The Mastodons lost a close battle against the Golden Grizzlies last night. The final score was 71-63.  

The Mastodons were led by guard Rasheed Bello, who ended the night with 15 points shooting 7-10 from the field.  

PFW was down 10 points at half-time, and guard Anthony Roberts closed the half with a three-point buzzer beater. He finished with seven points and five rebounds.

In the second half, the Golden Grizzlies extended their lead to 13 points. The Mastodons then went on a 21-2 over seven minutes, allowing the Golden Grizzlies only four shot attempts.  

After the run, the Mastodons were up by four, but Oakland gained the lead back 62-60 with a minute left in the game. Their guard Jack Gohlke hit a 3-point dagger with 38 seconds left, making the score 65-60.  

PFW falls to 16-10 and Oakland University improves to 17-10. The Mastodons are back in action Saturday Feb. 17 against the Detroit Mercy at 1 p.m. The game can be watched at Calihan Hall in Detroit, Michigan, or on ESPN+.

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Men’s Basketball Team Beats IUPUI

By Janiah Moore

Purdue Fort Wayne’s basketball team won Saturday, Feb. 10. The final score was 92-65.

The Mastodons were led by Jalen Jackson, who ended the night with a career-high 24 points, shooting 10-14 from the field and four rebounds.

The game started off close until the Mastodons ended the half on a 25-8 run. Quinton Morris-Robertson hit a three-pointer to end the half. He finished with 14 points, 12 of which came from three-pointers and eight assists.

Anthony Roberts contributed to this run with six points, ending with 13 points. The Mastodons led by 20 points at the half.

The Mastodons led for the remainder of the game. They finished shooting 60.3% and limited the Jaguars to 45.3%. PFW had four players who scored double digits, including Eric Mulder, who shot a perfect 7-7 from the field giving him 15 points.

The Mastodons improve to 16-9 and the Jaguars drop to 6-20. PFW hosts Oakland University at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum tomorrow, Feb. 14.

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Men’s Basketball Team Falls Short Against Cleveland State Viking

By Janiah Moore

Purdue Fort Wayne lost a tough battle against Cleveland State on Wednesday Feb. 7. The final score was 75-72.

Guard Rasheed Bello lead the Mastodons in scoring with 22 points, with 8-14 shooting from the field, and Jalen Jackson scored 21 points, with 8-12 shooting from the field and 7 rebounds. Quinton Morton-Robertson shot 3-5 from three, ending the night with nine points.

The Mastodons led most of the first half of the game and led by seven points at halftime.

With 10:52 left in the game, the Mastodons gained a nine-point lead matching their largest of the night.

After a timeout, the Vikings got back into the game trading the lead with PFW. With 4:17 left, the game was tied 66-66.

After the Vikings Drew Lowder’s free throws, Cleveland State led by four points, but it was cut to one after Morton-Robertson’s made three-pointer with five seconds left in the game.

Cleveland State made another pair of free throws, making the lead three points over the Mastodons.

Bello attempted to tie the game with a three-pointer, but was off denying overtime.

PFW falls to 15-7 and Cleveland State improves to 15-10. The Mastodons take on IUPUI (6-19) this Saturday Feb. 10 at noon at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The game can also be watched on ESPN+.

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Purdue Fort Wayne Men’s Basketball Team Loses Against Milwaukee

By Janiah Moore

Purdue Fort Wayne’s men’s basketball team falls short to Milwaukee Thursday night Feb. 1. The final score was Mastodon’s 65 to the Panthers 68.

Mastodon’s guard Jalen Jackson lead scoring with 17 points shooting 6-16 from the field. Rasheed Bello had 13 points and 6 assists. Quinton Morton-Robertson hit three 3 pointers, giving him 12 points for the night.

After trailing by 11, the Mastodon’s cut the score to 38-32 at the half.

With a tip-in from Johnathan DeJurnett, the Mastodon’s took the lead back 55-54 with 9:11 left in the game. Jackson scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half.

The game went down to the wire with the Mastodon’s up by one with 1:08 left, but the Panthers Faizon Fields hit two free throws to give them the lead with 1.3 seconds left.

PFW falls to 14-8 and Milwaukee improves to 11-11. The Mastodon’s host Youngstown State Penguins on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. ET at the Gates Sports Center.

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Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon’s Host the Milwaukee Panthers

By Janiah Moore

Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon’s host the Milwaukee Panthers tonight at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Tip-off is set at 7:00 pm ET and can also be watched on ESPN+.

The Mastodon’s (14-7) are coming into this game after losing four of their last five games. They snapped this losing streak as they defeated Northern Kentucky 63-58. Mastodon’s guard Jalen Jackson lead the way with 17 points with 7-10 shooting from the field.

The last time these two teams met was Feb. 23 last year. The Panthers (10-11) defeated the Mastodon’s 96-94 on their home court. The Mastodon’s are looking forward to this Horizon League rematch.

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Some Foam Fun in the Sun!

Lindsay Burke

Fall 2023

Fort Wayne, Ind – Purdue University Fort Wayne student housing held their annual welcome back events this week, starting with the notorious “Foam at the Disco” party on Wednesday evening. 

The student housing organization has been impactful in welcoming the university’s students, near and far. This social gathering has provided students and staff with the opportunity to socialize and create yearlong relationships. 

Journalism student, Emily Coverstone spoke highly of the event. “It’s a great way for students of any academic level to get to know one another and create friendships,” she said. “Classes can be tough sometimes, so it’s a great way to take a break from classes and just have fun.”

Marc Wanzer, another attendee of this year’s party, said that it was a fun opportunity to participate in events he hasn’t attended before in his three years as a PFW student. 

“I loved just walking around and seeing everything that was going on and being offered,” Wanzer said. “The same goes for the other events. It could be a mini horse in front of Helmke or free subs and shirts out in the Science Mall.” 

Developing a positive experience for students, especially those incoming, is vital to their success. According to Megan Lester, events such as this are an opportunity to learn just how involved the PFW faculty wants to be with the students. 

“They offer so many events and activities throughout the year to keep us from becoming too stressed,” Lester said. “And they also want to make sure that not only is college a fantastic learning experience but also a fun experience.”

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Picnic Attracts Enthusiastic Crowd During Campus Kickoff Week

Ireland Miller and Janiah Moore

On Tuesday, Aug. 29, students gathered at the Science Mall, right at the heart of the campus, to network and grab some free food and giveaways. It was hard to not engage in that event since it was impossible to not pass it while walking to class.

Dean of the College of Science, Ronald Friedman surrounded by fellow colleagues at the College of Science booth.
Dean of the College of Science, Ronald Friedman surrounded by fellow colleagues at the College of Science booth.

“The goal of the Don’s College Picnic is to create, foster, and build pride for the university in general and colleges, like the College of Science, in particular,” said the Dean of the College of Science, Ronald Friedman.

The event served mainly as an information hub for those wanting to learn about the different colleges, degrees, and possible career opportunities found throughout campus.

There were 16 booths found at the picnic, such as the Career Development Center, Dormer School of Business, The College of Liberal Arts, the School of Education, and the Student Activities Board, among others, allowing students to connect and network with their fellow classmates and PFW staff. 

Students lined up early to check in for the anticipated event, with about 500 students attending within the first hour and a half of the picnic, according to Dean of the School of Education, Isabel Nuñez.

PFW has organized at least ten “Welcome Back to School” events between Aug. 22 and Aug. 31. The University also has hosted events for both high school students and future students, Nuñez said. 

Members of the Student Activities Board pose for a picture as another student signs up for the board.

PFW senior Brittany May heard about the picnic from the Student Activities Board (SAB) Instagram.

“I try to hit up all PFW events on campus for the fun and free giveaways,” said May.

There were free sandwiches from Firehouse Subs and Subway, and giveaways for items like notepads, pens, lunchboxes, and umbrellas. Students also could get a free T-Shirt from the College of Liberal Arts. 

“They had shirts, pins, and bottle holders that they were giving away,” said Emily Tyler, a PFW Psychology student. “I grabbed one of each.”

According to Tyler, everyone at the booths were so approachable and nice.

“It was very easy to walk right up and engage in a conversation while learning things about my college that I didn’t know, even going into my senior year of college.”

For Nursing student Paige Cavanaugh, the food was the favorite part of the event. 

The food and giveaway ticket every student was handed once checking in.

“With this hot weather, the only thing that really keeps me focused is the next meal I’m going to eat,” Cavanaugh said. “It definitely helps balance the knowledge that is gained during these sorts of things.”

The Don’s College Picnic is a considerable way for students to meet staff and faculty helping at the booths. It also builds connections and associations with their colleges as well. 

“For example, a psychology or biology major cannot help but realize those departments are part of the College of Science when they visit our table,” Dean Friedman said. 

To stay informed on what happens around campus this semester, visit the Purdue University Fort Wayne website and check out the upcoming events calendar. 

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Purdue Fort Wayne’s Fall 2023 Connections Fair

Dezaray Clawson

On Aug. 31, over 90 student organizations set up shop on the Science Mall to recruit new participants and share their messages at the Purdue Fort Wayne Campus Connections Fair. Students looking to join clubs and find their place on campus lined up throughout the area to look around.

The Purdue Fort Wayne Connections Fair is an event held at the beginning of every semester as an opportunity for students to connect with local on and off campus organizations. This year, students could check in and receive a Purdue Fort Wayne tote bag to start before travelling to each table, many of which offered candy or other trinkets and toys.

One of the organizations holding a booth was the Photography Club, who are dedicated to the education and appreciation of photography.

“We are a group of creative people looking to find other creative people to appreciate the art of photography,” said club president Madison Foreman.

Like many other clubs found throughout campus, the Connections Fair is considered to be one of the best sources for sign-ups. The Photography Club ended the day with a total of 90 students registering to join.

“It’s great way to meet so many new people,” said Foreman. “We welcome people of all ability levels, so we’re an option for anyone attending.”

Not all groups attending were student organizations. Some other groups came out for a chance to make connections with the students. One group present was the Northeast Indiana chapter of the National Organization for Women.

“We’re here today to find potential new members but also to help young people register to vote,” said Chapter President Keiran O’Dowd.

NOW is “an intersectional, multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women’s rights”, and the organization can be found on Facebook. Students who stopped by their booth had the opportunity to sign up and join the chapter, register to vote, or check if their voting district had changed.

“A lot of people aren’t aware the lines are redrawn every 10 years,” O’Dowd said. “Just because you voted back in 2020, doesn’t mean you’re currently registered if your district changed.”

The Connections Fair doesn’t just benefit groups, it also allows new and returning students to find their new passion and meet others with similar interests.

One of the students in attendance was Sophia Cheng, a freshman engineering student who just moved to Fort Wayne from California. For Cheng, it was a chance for her to meet like-minded individuals and find some new friends.

“So far I only know a few people from my classes and my roommate,” she said. “I’m hoping to join a club and meet some new people.”

One of Cheng’s favorite booths to stop by was the Q Center, one of her reasonings was because they were offering various stickers as well as pronoun pins.

 As for clubs to join, she ended up finding a couple that worked for her.

“I joined the Asian American club and the Table Top RPG club,” Cheng said. “I loved seeing all the clubs in one place and hearing about what each one does.”

For those who were unsure if whether the Connections Fair would be worthy of their time, Cheng recommended coming in the future.

“It’s an amazing way to find clubs that you haven’t heard of yet.”

If you missed this semester’s Connections Fair, you can find a full list of student organizations on PFW’s website.

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Soccer in the Fort: Fort Wayne FC Season Preview

By Gavin Greer

Fort Wayne FC‘s third season kicks off at their new home, the Bishop D’Arcy Stadium on May 13. Fort Wayne FC looks to continue to grow in 2023 after rapidly improving since their first season in 2021.

Fort Wayne FC is a soccer club located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that was founded in 2019 by a group of local business men and former soccer players. The owners founded this club to bring a stepping stone for young and talented players to Fort Wayne.

The club is coached by Mike Avery who also serves as the team’s sporting director. The club is made up of young local talent and young international players who are working on their game for their future soccer careers. 

The teams first year saw their season end with a record of 1-8-5. Their second season ended with a record of 9-3-2. With more experience playing in the USL League Two, the team will hope to reach the playoffs after falling one game short last year.

The team has announced that many of their players are returning for another season. This includes Tom Abrahamsson, Beto Anaya, Alex “Frenchy” Frank and homegrown Reid Sproat amongst others.

FWFC have also added international, college level and high school level players to their roster for the upcoming season.

This includes French midfeilder Tavio D’Almeida from Cadriff City, AJ Cousins from Villanova and Namik Mehic who is a sophomore at Northrop High School. Mehic joined the team after a greta performance at open tryouts.

In 2023 FWFC will continue their sponsorship with Puma and will have new home and away kits.

The club will play their season at their new home, the Bishop D’Arcy Stadium. This move came after FWFC and the University of Saint Francis agreed to a partnership.

FWFC has an interesting history, you can learn more about it here.

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