4 I The Behrend Beacon
Freshmen make history at Behrend
Penn State Behrend is the place to be! The largest incoming fresh
men class, consisting of approximately 1,072, is proof that the
improvements made to the campus were worth all the time and effort.
The Behrend campus is slowly coming to life with the anticipation of
the 2006 fall semester. Upperclassmen, fall sports athletes and interna
tional students are moving in and admiring the renovations made over
the summer, but the real excitement will erupt today as the incoming
freshmen arrive, bringing new enthusiasm and life to the campus. The
applications for this fall at Behrend are up 15 percent from last year,
which has caused a lot of excitement in all departments on campus.
While the increase in admissions at Behrend is a great accomplish
ment, Behrend is not the only campus benefiting from the renewed
interested in Penn State University. A university-wide admission
increase has occurred, with an impressive 91,598 applicants for
admission to undergraduate, graduate and other programs this semes
ter. This increase could be due to a number of things according to Ken
Miller, Director of Student Affairs. Miller said he believes the increase
at Behrend has a lot to do with the addition of the new $3O million
Research and Economic Development Center (REDC).
“There are a lot of reasons why there are so many students deciding
to come to Penn State. All of the locations are up, but for Behrend, the
REDC has helped provide more opportunities for students. Housing
availability has also been a big factor. With Senat and the new apart
ment complex across the street from campus, the housing available is
at its best, and visiting students have noticed,” said Miller.
Orientation Edit
By Ashley Bressler
staff writer
Penn State University has received nationwide attention with its ber of students expected to attend. There has also been a need to
successful football season last year, which could also be a reason for increase the money provided by Student Activities for some of the
the increase in admission. Prospective students may want to join the Orientation events, such as the volleyball game, ice cream social and
Penn State community, but may not want to start off at the large cam- the luau to provide each freshman with appropriate food, drinks and
pus of 44,000 students, so party favors.
Behrend becomes a great All departments at
stepping-stone. “I can say from all my years of Behrend have put a lot of
Advertising tactics have J . . . work into rearranging
also altered slightly for this eXpeirenCC, it’S a very exciting time to orienta ti° n accommodate
fall, according to Miller, * JO the i arge freshmen class, but
who said, “We’re trying to Behrend ” the payoff is expected to be a
reach out to students who are * success. Miller said, “We’re
at other Penn State campus
es. We want to make the
degrees we offer well
known, so that students who
might be looking for a smaller atmosphere and already go to a home in the new facility, and the science students moving into
University Park can transfer and graduate from here with the same Hammermill. Then, to add, the enrollment just makes it even better. I
degree they want. A lot of these students aren’t aware of our opportu- can say from all my years of experience, it’s a very exciting time to be
nities, and we have been trying to introduce it to them.” at Behrend.” Hopefully these new freshmen will prove to be the future
Whatever the advertising techniques were, they have worked, and of Penn State Behrend, continuing to excel in sports and academics
Behrend is growing everyday. However, the increase in admissions and bringing pride and recognition to our growing community,
has created a ripple effect on a lot of other aspects around campus as Overall, Penn State Behrend is excited to welcome the new freshmen
well. The most direct effect has been in the preparations for Freshmen and encourages them to join the clubs, activities, and social events that
Orientation. The academic convocation ceremony, which typically make our community the thriving success it has become.
takes place in the McGarvey Commons is now moved to Erie Hall,
which will be used a lot in this years’ Orientation due to the large num-
REDC STATS
> Research and Economic Development Center
> $3O million to build
> Size: 160,000 sq. feet
> Constructed for over 2 years
> 57 faculty offices
> 24-hour Computer Lab Access
>l7 additional Behrend classrooms
>lO mechanical systems labs
> 5 engineering computer classrooms
> 5 25-seat CAD/CAE labs
> 4 plastics processing labs
> 1 Senior Design/Project Room
> 1 25-seat software design lab
> Largest Ungergraduate Plastics Training Center in
America
> Wireless Internet Access
> Cafe at the REDC
> Business computer labs
> Engineering Study Lounges
> Computer systems labs
> Dedicated Research Space
> More administration support space
ion
- Ken Miller
Friday, September 1, 2006
all very excited right now,
excited enough with the
opening of the REDC, the
engineering students finding