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The Behrend Beacon
WEEKEND WEATHER
SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY
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Snow Likely
High: 35 °
Low: 22°
BEHREND BRIEFS
Research and Economic Center to be built
Construction of the new $3O million Research and Economic Development Center
(REDC) at Penn State Erie is expected to begin this summer. When completed in
early 2005. the 160,000-square-foot center will strategically support education,
research, and technology transfer activities designed to strengthen the economy of
northwestern Pennsylvania. "This is a truly transformative facility, one that is al
most 20 years in the making," said Jack Burke, interim provost and dean. "It ranks
among the biggest state capital investments in Erie County history, and it will be
the largest of our 51 campus buildings."
Teens prefer discussions with Mom
When it comes to talks about serious subjects such as taking drugs, U.S. teens
apparently believe that mother knows best, a Penn State expert says. "Seventy
percent of the adolescents in my study stated that they were more comfortable
discussing important topics with their mothers," notes Michelle Miller-Day, assis
tant professor of communication arts and sciences. "This contrasted with 12 per
cent of the respondents who favored talking with their fathers."
Miller-Day published her findings recently in the Journal of Adolescent Re
search. Her study was based on a survey of African-American and white teen
agers ranging in age from 11 to 17. Given that adolescents may choose to talk with
mothers rather than anyone else about risky issues and that they feel closer to their
mothers, mothers may be logical targets for drug education and intervention pro
grams, the researcher says.
For the full story by Paul Blaum, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2003/
teenmomsdrugtalk.html
E-Lion grade reporting system a success
In keeping with the goal of becoming a more student-centered University, Penn
State has gone high-tech with its grade reporting system for faculty. Although
students have been able to get their grades through eLion for a few years now,
those grades were input using older, slower technology, and students had to wait
until at least the first week in January to find out their fall semester grades. Now,
faculty can use eLion to enter their grades directly online from anywhere in the
world, and students are able to access them in real-time. For the full story, check
the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_2oo3/Jan3o/elion.html 3
Nominations sought for various awards
To celebrate the many accomplishments of women across the University, the
Commission for Women (CFW) is seeking to recognize women who have achieved
and excelled at Penn State and in their communities. Women selected for the award
will be honored at the CFW's annual banquet on March 24 at The Penn Stater
Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus.
All nominations should be submitted to Karen Hackett, Achieving Women of
Penn State Nominations, 230 Computer Building, University Park, PA 16802. For
more information, contact Karen Hackett at kmh@psu.edu. For a nomination form,
contact the Commission office at (814) 865-1683 or visit the CFW Web site at:
http://www.lions.psu.edu/cfw/ and click on the "Achieving Women" link. Sub
missions are due no later than Feb. 14.
Penn State’s Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity
each year presents two awards to faculty, staff, students, and technical-service
workers across the University who strive to make Penn State a better place in
which to live and work. The Outstanding Service Award is presented to an indi
vidual within the University community who has shown outstanding service re
garding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender concerns. The Ally Recognition
Award goes to an individual who is identified as an ally of the lesbian, gay, bi
sexual, and transgender community and has shown outstanding service regarding
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns.
The deadline for both nominations is March 7. More information is on line on
the Commission's Web site at http://www.lions.psu.edu/clgbte or by requesting a
form from the Commission's office in 311 Grange Building or by calling 814-863-
7696.
Penn State supports students in militaiy
As the United States mobilizes thousands of troops for possible military action
in Iraq, the effects are hitting home among dozens of Penn State students, faculty
and staff who serve their country as part of the National Guard or armed forces
reserves. Since August 2002, nearly 80 members of the University community
have been called to active duty, and the number heeding the call of service to their
nation will likely rise in the coming weeks.
"Penn State will continue to support those whose studies and work need to be
abruptly put on hold in order to serve their country," said President Graham B.
Spanier.
POLICE AND SAFETY
In regards to an incident that happened on Jan. 21, a
citation was issued to an individual who threw a campus ticket
on the ground and left.
1/24/03
A complainant reported that several items were taken from his
room this past weekend.
1/27/03 16:00
An information report was filed on an individual charged with
a violation of Act 64.
1/28/03 06:15
Rain/Snow
Possible
High: 38°
Low: 25°
CLASSIFIED
Snow/Rain
Likely
High: 38°
Low:2B °
Friday, January3l, 2003
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Behrend student Ryan McCarthy uses the balmy 2-degree temperature as an excuse to work on his tan. For the slightly saner
among the Behrend population, take heart - temperatures this weekend arc expected to reach nearly 40 degrees.
Behrend to build $l2 million
residence hall
by Erinn Hansen
calendar page editor
Students at Penn State Behrend
are getting excited about a new
residence hall that will
accomodate 150 students.
“There are currently 1,500 stu
dents living on campus,” said
Randy Geering, Director of Hous
ing and Food Services. “This new
facility will increase that number
to about 1,650 students when it is
finished.”
The structure will be designed by
Noelker and Hull Associates, who
also designed the Smith Chapel at
Behrend along with Cedar Hall, a
residence hall at Penn State
Altoona. The constructor of this
project is to be determined.
The new building will be named
Senat Hall, which will follow
Behrend’s tradition of naming their
residence halls after ships, cap
tains, or schooners who partici
pated in the Battle of Lake Erie, in
the War of 1812.
“The new building will be named
after George Senat, who was the
master schooner of The Porcupine,
a ship that was used to defeat the
British in 1813,” said Geering.
Senat Hall will be an “L” shaped
building to the west of Perry, and
towards the Carriage House. It will
then turn and be to the south of
Reed, on the hill where the stairs
are now
The structure will be three sto
ries high with five levels. “There
really was no spot for five floors,”
said Geering. “The hill is a chal
lenge and needs to be as accessible
as possible, and this is a way to do
An architect’s sketch of Senat Hall, a $12.5 million project that will begin as early as this summer.
FOCAL POINT
The plan is to build entrances on
three levels to accommodate this
challenge, which will provide an ac
cessible route between Reed and the
Million-Dollar Staircase.
Senat Hall will include bedroom
suites that will house two students,
with three other rooms in that area,
the same way that the Porcupine, Ti
gress, and Tiffany suites are set up.
Plans also include lounges and study
spaces, a resident coordinator apart
ment, and a central laundry facility.
This attractive addition to
Behrend will be co-ed, and mainly
for freshmen. Also, students will be
grouped according to major, like
Almy and Ohio Hall. Senat will also
have special programs, such as LIFE
House, which stands for Living in a
Substance Free Environment. Stu
dents in LIFE House choose not to
become involved with drugs and/or
alcohol.
“This house is not going to be
where one side is male and the other
side is female,” said Geering. “We
are trying to enhance academic and
social integration, and are putting
majors together because habits tend
to coincide.”
The Board of Trustees approved
final plans for Senat Hall earlier this
month, and bids go out in March.
How the bidding process works is:
the architect makes up the plans and
presents them to a contractor who
will look them over, decide on the
cost, and then bid on it. Behrend will
then decide on which bid to accept
and get a notice (permission) to pro
ceed with the plan.
“The total cost is not set as of right
now, but it is expected to be around
Erin McCarty, News Editor
behrcoliS @ aol.com
PHOTO BY JEFF HANKEY / BEHREND BEACON
$12.5 million, which will also in
clude renovations to existing Perry
Hall,” said Geering.
Currently, male-dominated Perry
Hall houses about 200 students,
mostly underclassmen, in two-bed
rooms. It is one of Behrend’s eight
residence halls, aside from the njne
student apartment buildings. Reno
vations will include replacing the
existing roof with a tiered roof, new
wiring, new cosmetics, new ceiling
tiles, new mechanics, and reworked
bathrooms. The lounge area will be
renovated and will include new win
dows, new lighting, and a new ceil
ing. Finally, the locks on the doors
will be removed, and students will
have to swipe their Student ID in or
der to get into both Perry and Senat
Hall. These renovations will provide
more housing, as well as provide an
exciting addition to the housing ar
eas of the campus.
Construction of Senat Hall and the
renovations of Perry Hall is ex
pected to begin this May after stu
dents leave for summer, and will
still be in progress when school re
sumes in August.
Students will still have access to
the Million-Dollar Staircase, but
will have to cut through Perry and
down the hill to get to Reed.
This project is expected to be
completed in August of 2004 and
will make Behrend look bigger and
better.
“This project is a beautiful tran
sition from academics to housing,”
said Geering. “Behrend had worked
together to create better access to
student housing with this project,
and'we are looking forward to start-
ing it.”
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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO