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The Behrend Beacon
Painful past gives
Oborski closer
relationship with God
by Eileen Jensen
staff writer
Have you or someone you know, become closer
to God through painful circumstances? After eating
a lunch consisting of soup and rolls, students and
faculty gathered in the Smith Chapel Living Room
to hear inspirational words from the second Soup
for the Soul speaker, Lynn Oborski, SGA Financial
Supervisor. She spoke of her experiences of painful
circumstances that have brought her, as well as
people in her life, closer to God.
Oborski began with telling a story of traveling to
Oregon with her husband. They were driving
through Wisconsin when they both began to sing
"God Bless America." after singing the words and
walking through the Red Wood forest, Oborski
realized, "The presence of God was there." She said,
"My faith is a very important part of my life."
Though driving through Wisconsin wasn't a
painful experience, she spoke of how adventurous
people and risk takers are the inspirations in her
life. Oborski turns to God when pain finds way into
her heart.
Oborski read the following passage from the Bible.
It's from the book of Job, Chapter 19. She stated,
"...I know that my redeemer lives and in the end,
he will stand on the earth...l myself will see him
with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my
heart yearns within me!. Job is the "poster child"
for painful circumstances in our lives. Not only did
he look to God, but his story allows everyone to
find God through difficult times."
Oborski's next inspiration in her life was stating a
selection from a novel, based on true motivational
experiences. Joni Eareckson Tada was involved in
a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic in a
wheelchair, unable to use her hands. Though she
was faced with a difficult, painful circumstance,
Tada was able to see God in her life. From one of
Tada's books, Oborski stated, "When life is rosy,
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we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with
imitating Him and quoting Him and speaking of
Him. But only in suffering will we know Jesus."
Oborski told of people in her life that she
personally knew went through tough times and
painful circumstances. The people in her life have
"pursued God through it all."
"Asking why isn't the issue" said Oborski when
talking about her experiences in talking to God.
"God wants us to ask why. He wants us to press
into him" she said. Through talking to God and
turning to Him through painful circumstances, you
tend to find compassionate people in your life.
Talking about her own life, Oborski mentioned that
God "transformed her life."
She said, "we learn things about God in suffering
that we can't learn any other way." She frequently
found herself praying to God and asking "why."
Oborski believes she had "a personal revival" in
the 7 months that she was experiencing a truly
painful circumstance in her life.
"In this world we will have trouble. Go to God
and ask why, complain to Him." After stating that
God listens to everyone, even in times of trouble
and pain, everyone that attended the Soup for the
Soul luncheon realized that people take things for
granted and we are lucky to be who are. Looking
towards God for help and for answers allows
everyone to look at the good as well as the bad in
their life.
"In the times we ask why, we are with Him." Open
yourself up to God, ask why and realize that through
painful circumstances we become closer to God and
learn more about ourselves along the way.
The Soup for the Soul session ended with
reflection and discussion based upon a passage from
Job, Chapter 41, "I have heard of You by hearing
of the ear, but now my eyes see You." Take time
each day to reflect on the good and bad experiences
you've had in your life, because through painful
circumstances you may find yourself closer to God
than ever before.
BEAVER HILL
GARNER COURT
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Friday, October 24, 2003
Streeter named
ECAC President
by Dana Vaccaro
staff writer
Brian Streeter, Penn State Behrend's athletic
director, has been named President of the Eastern
College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in 2004-05.
ECAC was founded 65 years ago and has
emerged as the nationwide leader in service. The
ECAC managed 113 championships in 35 men's
and women's sports for over 125,000 student
athletes becoming the largest single conference
under the NCAA. The Conference has 317 member
institutions in Divisions I, II and 111 in many
locations from Maine to North Carolina.
Streeter has been involved with the ECAC since
1983. He is currently in his seventh year as
Behrend's director of athletics. Along with being
a director of athletics, Streeter is a member of the
ECAC Board of Directors and serves as chair of
the ECAC Championships Committee. Streeter
also serves as chair of the ECAC Men's South
Soccer Committee, Men's South Basketball
Committee and he is part of the selection committee
for the Women's South Volleyball Committee.
Along with Streeter's involvement in the ECAC
he has been part of the AMCC and the NCAA. He
has served a two-year term as the commissioner of
the AMCC and participated in many AMCC
subcommittees. He also serves on the NCAA
Women's Soccer Committee,
the NCAA Mid-Atlantic
Selection Committee for
Women's Softball and the
NCAA Men's Water Polo
Committee. Streeter also is
involved with the American
Red Cross and a part of local
Board of Directors for the
American Red Cross
Before becoming an athletic
director at Penn State
Behrend, Streeter was an
assistant athletic director and
head coach of men's
basketball at Hobart College
for 16 years.
Streeter has many
accomplishments over the
years. He is a five-time winner
of the Schoenfeld Regional
Sportsmanship Award given
by the College Basketball
Officials Association. In
1995, he earned top honors for
the same award nationwide.
Streeter was named the
Geneva, N.Y., American Red
Cross Volunteer of the Year in
AST sisters march
for a safe
by Erika Jarvis
feature page editor
October is national domestic violence awareness
month and not only have the ladies of Alpha Sigma
Tau worked hard on campus to spread the word,
they also participated in the Safe Net march.
The sth annual march was held Sunday , and was
one of the largest to date. With over 400 people
marching from French Street to State Street to Perry
Square and back, the reason was not for money but
to solely raise awareness.
Erin Dillaman, a sister of AST and an intern for
Safe Net, said that this march was the headlining
even for the organization.
"The main goal of the even was to raise awareness
to the people in Erie about domestic abuse. In
Pennsylvania alone a woman or child dies from
domestic abuse. We're just out there to get the word
out and save lives," said Dillaman.
While Safe Net is not AST's main philanthropy,
they became more involved after participating in
Safe Net's Take Back The Night. They were seen
earlier this month outside of Bruno's decorating tee
shirts to spread the word about domestic violence.
This march was just another way the sisters wanted
to help out.
"The march was so successful! Mayor Filippi was
our keynote speaker and he announced that Safe Net
would be receiving a $15,000 grant to further the
campaign," Dillaman said.
After the walk there was a memorial service for
victims of domestic violence, along with a speak
out for anyone to voice their opinions on the topic.
ourtney Straub & Justin Curry, News Editors
1993 and was one of the two ECAC Jostens
Administrators of the Year in 2001.
"He became a big part of it (ECAC) by serving
on all of the committees," Roz Fornari said of
Streeter becoming President of ECAC. "He
understands how it works. It makes him very
qualified," continued Fornari.
Streeter feels the biggest challenge he has with
the ECAC is to have better communication as
an organization to our members. "You get out
of the organization what you put into the
organization. With the ECAC, I try to put in
every minute," said Streeter.
Dave Cooper, track and cross country coach
believes it is a well-deserved honor for Brian.
Cooper also feels that it is an honor for Penn
State Behrend and thinks it will put Penn State
Behrend out there in the spotlight.
"I take it as an honor in a sense to be given
the opportunity to serve ECAC as their president
elect," said Streeter. "This means your own
colleagues that you're working with feel that you
can give leadership to the organization and help
the organization," he continued.
Streeter is excited about the chance to be
president of the ECAC and said, "it's about Penn
State. It's a great opportunity to put Penn State
Behrend out in front of the ECAC, so members
of the institution know who we are."
tomorrow
"The memorial service and speak out was so
touching. We have all been a victim of domestic
violence some point in time may it be physical or
emotional. It was just amazing to hear what others
had to say," said Dillaman.
Safe Net, which was started 25 years ago as a
hospitality house to shelter battered women and
children, has expanded a shelter, counseling, legal
advocacy and educational organization. Now with
the grant the organization can help out more people
and better their facilities.
Dillaman, who got her internship through the
Career Development Center had to take a class over
the summer for 50 hours to train correctly to work
for Safe Net.
"They take everything so seriously, I need to be
prepared on the off chance I get asked a question
about violence. We need to be prepared to correctly
help out victims of abuse," said Dillaman.
Safe Net also has a hotline number that one can
call if they ever need a question answered or help
in a violent situation. Anyone can call, women,
children and even men.
"It sounds funny, but men are even victims of
abuse. Men tend to suffer from emotional abuse
because women can manipulate men easily," said
Dillaman.
With a hotline for crisis situations, interventions
for teenagers and a number of shelters with their
locations kept secret, Safe Net houses up to 30
women and children for up to 30 days in each house.
" My sisters and I are just out there to educate.
Abuse knows no sex, gender or age," Dillaman said.