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THE BEHREND BEAcoN
Friday, April 1, 2005
Henderson, Soni take SGA election
By Sarah Weber
copy editor
Mike Taylor, SGA elections chair,
announced yesterday that Alex
Henderson and Deepti Soni won the
SGA presidential and vice presidential
election after polls closed at 5 p.m.
A record 813 students voted in the
election. Henderson and Soni received
483 votes. The other candidates, Justin
Curry and Cayla Javor received 330
votes. The third ticket of Zack Mentz
and Seth Laird withdrew from the elec
tion late last week and were removed
from the ballot.
About 500 more students voted in
this year's election then in the 2004
election.
Henderson and Soni agreed that this
year's impressive turnout can be attrib
uted to the amount of campaigning by
the original three parties.
"Both other candidates did an
extraordinary job of advertising and
getting people to vote," said
Henderson.
Soni added the fact that there were
three candidates who had very different
platforms improved student interest and
campaign support.
Henderson said that there were sever
al items that would receive his immedi
ate attention when he takes office at the
end of the semester.
"We will continue the push to keep
tuition down. We are also going to
work hard to get book titles and ISBN
numbers to keep book prices reason
able," said Henderson. He also said
that, within, SGA he and Soni will work
on reqtructortng- tli.c9.oivlttees and
reinstating the diversity committee.
"I really want to thank all of the stu
dents for getting active, my friends, the
clubs and the administration," said
Soni. "I'd also like to thank the other
candidates."
Inside
Yogurt bacteria, STUDENT
LIFE, Page 8
Senior class gift update, NEWS,
Page 3
Intramural triathlon, SPORTS,
Page 9
Contents
News 1-3
Editorial 4
Humor 6
Student Life 7-8
Sports 9-10
Contact Us
Newsroom:
898-6488
Fax:
898-6019
E-mail:
Behrendßeacon@aol.com
Our offices are located down
stairs in the Reed Union
Building.
Mentz, Laird bow out gracefully
SGA presidential candidate resigns in face of disqualification
The SGA Presidential election was turned upside-down March 25 when presi
dential candidate Zack Mentz and his running mate, Seth Laird, resigned from the
race.
Mentz currently serves as senator and was looking to upset current SGA Vice-
President Justin Curry and Chair Pro-tempore Alexander Henderson. The
Mentz/Laird campaign received much grassroots support that created what hope
ful students considered to be a formidable challenger.
The resignation was shocking to students involved in the campaign, with
aggressive, accusatory letters being sent to administrators. Signs saying "Let Zack
Run" were also put up and subsequently torn down. Mentz said that though he is
taking the resignation in stride, he does feel bad for the students who supported
him.
"I would come in and someone would hand me a stack of buttons they made,"
said Mentz. "I felt bad for them because of all the work they put in."
The Mentz/Laird ticket turned in their resignation after an undisclosed policy
violation would have forced their disqualification. The violation, which was dis
covered by Director of Student Affairs and SGA Adviser Ken Miller, was uncov
ered on the same day Mentz and Laird turned in their resignation.
SGA President Scott Soltis, SGA Election Committee Chair Mike Taylor, Mentz
and Laird were involved in the meeting that resulted in the resignation of two can
didates. Mentz described the meeting as "cordial."
Paperwork and petitions for potential candidates were due March 4, the Friday
before Spring Break. Soltis said in an e-mail interview that the Election
Committee does an initial review of the candidates, followed by Miller's full
review. Because Miller was attending to family matters, the discrepancy was not
uncovered until March 25.
Mentz, however, admits both he and Laird knew about the discrepancy before
the paperwork was turned in. He said he didn't think it would be a problem.
The Making of a Candidate
Mentz came to Behrend from Penn State Mont Alto knowing he wanted to be
involved with SGA. He read the SGA constitution over the summer and when he
finally did get to campus, ran successfully for an open senate position.
During his campaign for senate, Mentz used some signs with which Soltis dis
agreed. The conversation that ensued showed Soltis exactly what kind of SGA
member Mentz would be.
"He and I talked for probably an hour and it was then that I realized the passion
that he had," said Soltis. "For every explanation I had fot him, he had a counter
question and we probably could have gone on all night, but all in all it was a good
experience for both of us."
ABC annual fashion show approaches
By Naomi Herr
and Lauren Beauseigneur
staff writers
The Association of Black Collegians
(ABC) will soon be hosting their annu
al Fashion Show in McGarvey
Commons on April 7, at 7 p.m. This is
the longest running program on cam
pus.
Planning this event takes a lot of time
and work. This is Pam Sumah's, presi
dent of the ABC, second year putting
on the show. Sumah stated that they
usually start planning around the fall
semester.
"You have to secure a date for this
A Penn State Erie Student Publication
Erie Mayor Rick Filippi speaks to the POLSC 408 State and Local Government class about consolidation. Currently, Erie is
seeking a consolidation with seven surrounding townships including Wesleyville, Lawrence Park, Millcreek and Fairview to
increase the Erie tax base and spur the city's stagnant economy.
By Daniel J. Stasiewski
editor in chief
event, write out the proposal for fund
ing, secure the models [which usually
comes toward the end], get them walk
ing correctly and get in contact with
stores well in advance in case their con
tract states they can't take part in it,"
said Sumah.
The funding for the fashion show is
provided by the SGA or the SAF.
Companies that provide the clothes
include Buckle, Wilson's Leather,
David's Bridal, Value City and TJ
Maxx. Three to four outfits will be bor
rowed from Wilson's Leather, along
with $2,000 worth of merchandise from
David's Bridal and $9OO from Buckle.
All models have to sign contracts
stating that they are liable for any dam
age to the clothes. Some models even
Filippi on ca
"I would come in and someone would hand me a stack of but
tons they made. I felt bad for them because of all the work they
--Zack Mentz
put in."
Senator Mentz eventually went on to be a member of the SGA Budget,
Constitutional Review and Public Relations Committees. He is also a member of
close to a dozen campus clubs. As the campaign began, Mentz and Laird became
"affiliated" with numerous other clubs and organizations.
"If you want people to vote for you, you have to go out and support them,"
Mentz said. "Luckily, we're just involved kids, Seth (Laird) and I."
The enterprising candidates had more ideas from there. Mentz contacted the
Pizza Hut and Dominos restaurants on Buffalo Road and asked them to put
Mentz/Laird election flyers on every box delivered to Behrend. The restaurants
agreed, but not everyone was as helpful.
"We wanted to have three standing signs on wood frames going along the road
to the Reed Building and the Science Building," said Mentz. The signs would
have been made with bed sheets, but Operations would not allow the candidates
to put up the large signs.
Mentz and Laird made mouse pads for the Reed computers, purchased a large
advertisement in the Behrend Beacon, folded more than 100 table tents with vol
unteers and had "Zack and Seth" T-shirts made. Mentz was even prepared to e
mail every on-campus student reminding them to vote on Election Day. The cam
paign, however, came to an end before the e-mails could even be sent.
The Mentz/Laird campaign prepared shirts, mouse pads, buttons, table tents and
Mentz created a program to personalize e-mails to the student body.
bring their own outfits.
The theme this year is "What's Hot
on TV."
"We'll take clips that happen in
movies and in TV to open up each
scene," said Sumah. There are eight
scenes this year consisting of swimsuit,
business, international, club, street,
bedroom, formal and leather.
Each scene has clothing relating to
the scene. The scenes will have not
only models strutting their stuff on the
runway, but different skits relating to
the scenes.
The skits are sure to be a hit consid
ering the past years success with them.
Former skits include a female version
of "The Godfather," "Don't Tell Mom
the Babysitter's Dead," "Miss
APR 01 2005 Vol. LII No. 26
MENTZ, continued on Page 3
Congeniality," music videos and dance
intermissions.
"The Fashion Show is an annual
event that demonstrates creativity and
encompasses style," said George
Morgan 111, ABC member helping
Sumah.
The models are students here at Penn
State.
Admittance is free of charge and
refreshments will be served.
"Everyone who comes to see the
Fashion Show loves it and everyone
who participates wants to do it again. It
is just a good way to bring an end to the
year," said Sumah. Being a senior, this
is her final year in charge of the fashion
show and believes that this is a good
way to leave.