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THE BEHREND BEACON
Bob Dylan: At least he has longevity on his side
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By Chris LaFuria
news editor
The first time Bob Dylan came out with an
album. Johnny Carson had just taken over “The
Tonight Show," John Cilenn made it to spaee lor
the first time. Kennedy tried to stop the USSR
from building missiles in Cuba, and Jamaica
beeame independent. After the release of his self
titled debut album in March 1962. the 2()-year-old
Dylan took the New York folk scene by storm,
releasing several captivating albums, including
"The Times They Are A-Changin,” whose title
track was sung on the steps of Washington D.C.
minutes before Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. gave
his famous speech.
Forty-four years later. Dylan is at it again, with
his first new release since September 2001.
Miodrni Titles, whose name is taken from a 1936
Charlie Chaplin lllek, contains songs covering
every topic from his recent obsession with mod
ern-day pop stars, "I was thinkin' 'bout Alicia
Keys/Couldn’t keep from crying/When she was
born in Hell's Kitchen/I was living down the
line." to his trouble with women, "I'm flat out
spent/This woman she been drivin' me to
tears/This woman so crazy/I swear I ain't gonna
touch another one for years."
While taking a turn from his signature folk
style. Modern Times reveals Dylan's consummate
transition from simple guitar/harmonica hybrids
to a more complete hillbilly-type boxcar sound.
In addition to himself on the guitar, harmonica
and piano, Dylan employs more guitars, violins,
violas, steel guitars, a mandolin, and a cello.
While all of the songs are written by Dylan
himself, the influences and resources are limit
less. There’s “Rollin' and Tumblin’.” which is
Getting involved is important for first-year students
By Kate Kelecseny
opinion editor
Educational environments are established to cre
ate an atmosphere to better facilitate learning and
instructive processes. However, as it is instilled in
all of us, learning is not merely gained within the
walls of a classroom. We are constantly urged to
apply knowledge to the real world and to gain
experience outside confining classroom walls.
Research and application of acquired knowledge
isn’t enough to fully gain real world experience. In
high school, many of us joined clubs and activities
as a means to either occupy time or to add some
thing else to our resumes for college applications.
Teachers and school board members advocated
extracurricular activities as they felt such activities
promoted working as a team and not as an individ
ual. They were intended to be beneficial, yet at
times were simply another roster to which we
signed our names. Looking back, I realized that I
was literally in over a dozen clubs, of which only
two or three I actually dedicated my time to. I had
gotten almost nothing out of it.
After being at Behrend for two years, I have
finally realized the tremendous importance of get
ting involved in so-called extra-curricular activi
ties. As many would agree, it is almost painful to
admit that my parents and teachers were right; but,
in this case, they were. Of course, everyone is hes
itant at first to become involved with certain clubs
and organizations, as the leap from high school to
college is a big enough shock. However, it is essen
tial to become involved. As a freshman, I was cau
tious to immediately join in the first clubs I came
in contact with. In high school, there are assumed
reputations and past occurrences that led you to
decide what you wanted to become involved in and
what exactly you would get out of it. However,
- 8,2006
Dylan's modification of the 'sos hit by Muddy
Waters. "Nettie Moore” is a song which derives
from a ballad from the 1860 s by the Sons of the
Pioneers
Aside from instrument selection. Dylan has
taken more control over the album. Under the
pseudonym "Jack Frost," Dylan produced every
track on the album. "1 felt like I've always pro
duced my own records anyway," Dylan said in an
interview with Jonathan Lethem of Rolling Stone,
"except 1 always had someone there in the way."
Dylan and his band are underway with a new
tour supporting Modern Times. For the tour and
the production of the album, he collected what he
calls his favorite band ever assembled. Along
with Dylan are Tony Gamier, his bandmate since
1989. on the bass and cello, drummer George G.
Receli, guitarists Stu Kimball and Denny
Freeman and multi-instrumentalist Donnie
Herron on steel guitar, violin, viola, and man
dolin. Dylan also revisits some of his noteworthy
tracks from earlier in his career such as "Forever
Young," "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Like a
Rolling Stone."
Currently, Modern Times sits at number one on
the Billboard 200 album chart and holds the top
spot on the Top Internet Albums chart.
Furthermore, the album is presently the leading
seller on Amazon.com.
After his 44th release, Dylan shows no signs of
slowing down. Modern Times is the third install
ment of a trilogy that started back in 1997 with
the release of Time Out of Mind. Following was
Love and Theft, released in 2001. "I think I’m in
my middle years now," Dylan tells Lethem, “I
have no retirement plans."
entering Behrend as a freshman or new student is
an entirely different ballgame.
One of the most successful and productive
events at Behrend is the annual Club Rush. Here,
all the clubs and organizations set up a table with
representatives to answer any questions and to give
you as much insight as possible to their respective
club. Signs and posters cover campus bulletins but
do not have the same effect as speaking with an
actual member. There are always times when we
find ourselves in situations where our initial
assumption of something is completely different
than what it is in actuality. The same idea goes with
joining an organization. Obviously, from past
activities and your understanding of your own abil
ities, there are certain things you can immediately
rule out. I know that as an English major, joining
the plastics engineers on their next project would
n’t be the most intelligent thing for me or the club.
That’s a given. However, there are over 90 differ
ent clubs and organizations on campus with mem
berships ranging from a handful of students
upwards to 50. There is truly something for every
one. Join something because you are interested in
it, not merely because your friend is.
I understand that I sound like a parent and am
stressing the importance of partaking in such activ
ities; yet, I believe our parents and teachers are cor
rect. I feel that applying yourself in other things
outside of the classroom will better enable us for
challenges we will face in the real world and in our
careers. High school is over, along with the reputa
tions and stereotypes of what is acceptable and
popular. Simply walk through the McGarvey
Commons on Thursday, September 14th and check
out what Behrend has to offer. Get involved. Make
the most of your time here at Behrend.
Stratford Shakespeare Festival trip planned for October 14th
Who wouldn’t want to spend a day in the lovely Stratford, Ontario watching theatrical performances at
the Stratford Shakespeare Festival? The Penn State Behrend Round Table Society and the Matchbox
Players are sponsoring an outing on Saturday, October 14, to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, which is
held in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. For the past fifteen years. Dr. Dean Baldwin, professor of English and
Assistant School Director, has been offering Behrend students the opportunity to experience a culturally
and intellectually enriching excursion to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
This year, there are a total of 25 students permitted to attend the festival, along with the two faculty advi
sors, Dr. Dean Baldwin and Dr. Christine Mangone. According to their website, www.stratfordfestiwtl.ca.
Stratford, Ontario, is the home of the largest classical theatre in North America, which came from the
dream of Stratford-born journalist, Tom Patterson, in the early 1950’5. The festival was a great success
within Canada and internationally, and it now attracts more than 600,000 people each year. The festival
opens in April and continues to perform Shakespearian and other classical plays throughout the summer
and into November.
All students attending the festival will pay a mere $2O fee, which handles the cost of transportation and
a ticket to either Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or Roger and Hammerstein's musical. South Pacific . Dr.
Baldwin said, “A lot of students have never seen a real theatrical performance, and it s really important to
have an experience like this in college if not before. It’s an opportunity to see a play, a really well per
formed play at a low cost. The performances put on are just as good as any play you could see in London
or New York City, but I know you couldn't get it there for only $20."
Transportation will be provided by two available vans, but students are required to bring either a birth
certificate or valid passport to cross into Canada, and additional money for food and any souvenirs they
may wish to purchase. All attending will meet in the Reed Union Building parking lot at 7:30 a.m. on
October 14. Throughout the four and a half hour trip to Stratford, there will be two scheduled stops. The
first stop will be in Buffalo, New York, for gas and to give students the option of getting breakfast at Burger
King, and the second stop will be just outside of Stratford for lunch at McDonald's. Students who do not
wish to eat at either of these fast food restaurants are encouraged to bring a packed breakfast and lunch. On
the way home, the group will make one stop at a restaurant for dinner. The vans are expected to return to
the Reed Union Building parking lot by approximately midnight.
“Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, is a romantic comedy involving a love-sick duke, a pair of fraternal twins,
the hard-drinking Sir Toby Belch, and the usual Shakespearean love triangles, disguises, mistaken identi
ties, and high jinks. Malvolio, the puritanical butt of practical jokes, provides both humor and pathos." Dr.
Baldwin replied.
“Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical, South Pacific, is set in the South Sea Islands during World
War II and features a contingent of sailors and nurses. It’s a comedy tempered by the realities of the war
and is generally considered on of Rogers and Hammerstein’s finest collaborations," said Dr. Baldwin.
All students are encouraged to take advantage of this great opportunity to see some really great plays,
have once of a life time trip to Stratford, Ontario, meet new friends, and get off campus for a day. Dr.
Baldwin said, "I strongly encourage everyone to come on the trip. It’s a great chance to put down the books,
see a little bit of culture, and just have fun."
There are still tickets available for students who are interested in attending the festival, but all interest
ed students must commit to the trip by September 14. Tickets can be paid for in cash or by checks made
payable to Penn State University. To purchase a ticket, contact Dr. Dean Baldwin through email
dxbl 1 @psu.edu or at his office, 127 Kochel. Tickets can also be purchased through Dr. Christine Mangone,
cbmll@psu.edu or Professor George Looney, goll@psu.edu
( (
Dr. Champagne receives prestigious Fulbright Scholar grant
Beyonce’s birthday was four days ago. This past Tuesday, Katie Couric became the first
female solo anchor of a major television network evening newscast in the United States. New
York’s Fall Fashion Week kicks-off this weekend. Photographer Annie Leibovitz snapped Katie
Holmes and Tom Cruise’s lovechild, Suri, for October’s issue of Vanity Fair, her first publicly
released images. Some of these recent events in popular culture are sure to pop up in one form
or another in Dr. John Champagne’s lectures this fall in Tunisia. Earlier this year. Dr.
Champagne, an Associate Professor and Program Chair of English at Penn State Behrend. was
awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach American Studies at the University of La Manouba
located in the city of
Manouba in Tunisia. At the
school, which has an enroll
ment of over 30,000 stu
dents, Dr. Champagne will
conduct courses in mass
media, advanced writing,
and ethnic minorities in the
United States
Out of all countries, why
choose Tunisia? In 2001,
only a few short months
after the September 11th
attacks, Dr. Champagne took
a trip overseas to visit
Morocco and Tunisia. He
tells the Penn State Erie
Newswire that during his
stay in Tunisia, he noticed
how heavily influenced their
culture was by American
culture, besides the preva
lent influence of European
cultures. He says he was
“particularly delighted by
popular Tunisian music,
with its incorporation of ele
ments from such diverse
sources as American rap,
French pop music, and
indigenous musical genres.”
In a course entitled “United
States minority/ethnic litera
ture in an international
frame, Dr. Champagne will examine how these influences not only affect a culture’s musicali
ty, but literature as well.
Another course that Dr. Champagne created, “Analytical approaches to U.S. popular culture,”
will provide the University’s undergraduate roster with the chance to analyze current trends and
events in the United States and apply those analyses to their own popular culture. Students will
also be able to question how American popular culture affects their lives as a consumer.
A member of Penn State Behrend’s English faculty for over 13 years, Dr. Champagne is one
of only approximately 800 University professionals in the U.S. to receive the grant. A heavy
dosage of teaching experience and a slew of accomplishments certainly helped him to receive
the Fulbright award. Not only has Dr. Champagne taught numerous English, literature and film
courses, he’s also a nationally recognized author, publishing two novels over the past two
decades. Throughout his career at Penn State, Dr. Champagne’s received numerous other
awards, including the Penn State Alumni Association and Student Award for Teaching
Excellence and the Behrend College Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr.
Champagne will be overseas for the entire 2006-2007 school year.
By Ashley Bressler
staff writer
By Sean Mihlo
student life editor
The Behrend Beacon I