The Highacres Collegian
Another semester has past, freshmen look
forward to another year at the Hazleton Campus,
as sophomores look forward to attending State
College. Everyone looks forward to U Park
right? Wrong. Believe it or not, some people
enjoy the atmosphere of this small campus
because of the friendliness felt by fellow
students, and the closeness which has developed
between friends. When you go to a school for
two years or even for one year, people become
closer and closer. If for your first year here you
felt out of place chances are the second year will
be better.
Last year the Collegian staff consisted of
around seven members only four of whom came
back to Hazleton and to the paper for the
1992-93 year. With the help of some dedicated
freshman this year, the returning staff from last
year was able to produce a better quality paper.
This past year has proven to very interesting to
everyone on staff (from what I can see). The
Collegian this year was not just another club on
campus, we were like a family. Everyone got
along with one another so well that sometimes
we would just sit up in the Commons until
midnight just talking about anything and
everything under the sun. No one put anyone
one down, nor did any one person try to take
control of the cqnversation. We just sat around
in the office at night after our meetings
talking about things which made us become very
good friends.
Granted things are not the same way as they
were last semester, but there is still a small bond
between most of the members. What do I mean
by a small bond? Well, let me try to explain it to
you. Some members of the staff go to the
movies together (however this was more
frequent last semester than this one), others go to
the mall together just to walk around, while there
are those few who make a weekly trip to the
Everything I Needed to Know,,.
By: Ben Turrano
There is a book that says
"everything I needed to know in
life, I learned in Kindergarten", I
used to believe that until that
revolutionary day in my life when I
realized that I never stop learning.
Essentially, most of the important
things in my life I did learn during
my childhood and in Kindergarten,
but what came later was
astounding. And I would like to
share those things with you.
This is, in all likelihood, one of
the last articles I will write for the
Highacres Collegian as a member
of it’s staff, and I do so with a
heavy heart and mixed emotions.
After this issue is printed, I will no
longer have to worry about:
inspiration, deadlines, student
participation, deadlines, layout
procedures, deadlines, work
delegation, deadlines, news
coverage, deadlines, distribution,
and did I mention the deadlines.
The experience will be one of
lasting memories, a few
heartaches, proud reminders and a
Remembering
By : Gina Hammond
few disappointments. Few people
have had the opportunity to
become involved with the people
and organizations that I have. All
of whjch have added to the me that
I am today. And the Collegian is
certainly no exception.
I first attended a newspaper
meeting in January 1992, my God
has it been that long!? I was
younger and thought all I needed
to do was write my article(s) and
turn it/them in to the editor, and,
whoala - a newspaper. I learned
shortly thereafter that, there was
much, much, more to it than that.
In the process of learning how a
newspaper is published, I also
learned how people of very
different backgrounds can work
together for a common goal, and
even achieve it! Imagine that.
I’ve also learned, contrary to
popular belief, that people are
generally good. Oh, sure we all
say how messed up the world is,
but it’s only because WE let it get
that way through our lackadasical
attitudes. I have yet to meet a
Disney store in Wilks-Barre. Other times, a
small number of us just start talking in the office
between classes catching up on the events of the
past week. Since most of the members this
semester have harder classes as well as more
classes than last semester our late night talks are
less frequent. Even with the busy schedules we
all have everyone finds time to stop up in the
office for at least a short while.
Being Editor of the paper since last Spring
has taught me many things. Watching each issue
show a little more professionalism than the last,
helping us look more and more like a real
newspaper has shown me that with time and
experience, everything can get better. Much of
the credit for this goes to everyone in the staff
though. Working together is the one of the keys
in doing anything successful with a group of
people. If the staff could not work well together
I truly feel that the paper this semester would be
back to the one page flyer which we had in the
Fall 1991.
Many of the staff members are leaving Penn
State Hazleton in the fall, which some people
many not think of as a big deal, but I do. For the
first time on this campus I felt anything was
possible. In this one small club I found that
people do actually care about more than just
themselves, and think that getting together as a
group on weekends and holidays is cool. Many
people on the staff have had the best times of
their lives this past year. Most of them are
leaving to go on with their lives whether it is
taking a semester or two off making money to
attend the following year or transferring to
Harrisburg or U Park. No matter were we all
end up, together or separate we will always say
"These were the times to remember."
Page 7
person with whom I could not see
various "good" qualities. I’ve tried
to pick up on those qualities,
which I like in others and make
them my own, and in the process
made the people a part of me.
When it comes down to it, none of
us are completely a product of
ourselves, in fact we cannot exist
without one another. It is
impossible. Which brings me to
another aspect of life which I’ve
come to understand during my
tenure here at Highacres, and that
is that all of us, everyone
everywhere, are intertwined as
strands of a spider web, weak and
frail alone, but rather beautiful and
strong together.
One bright, clear, autumn, day
as I was staring at the Conyngham
Valley from the most incredible
vantage point at the Study Court, I
realized that in the whole scheme
of things, my own problems and
shortcomings are really nothing
when seen from a different
perspective. It was then that I
realized that no matter what I’ve
Plectrum
By: Janel Murphy
What is PLECTRUM? That is a
question that many have been asking . Well,
if you went to their free concert in the
Commons on Monday, April fifth, you
should have gotten the answer. Plectrum is
a new band that has gotten together here at
Penn State Hazleton. The group of young
musicians consist of Chris George, on guitar
and vocals; John Steinman, on drums; Matt
Halden, vocals; Dave DePhillips, on bass,
and Michael Byers, on guitar and vocals.
The band has only been together for
about a month and a half, however, the
excellent quality of their music would not
lead you to believe that they have only been
together for such a short time. The band,
with their originality and variety of musical
selections gave their audience a treat they
were not expecting. Each member of the
band brings their talent into the group and
helps make it the success it has become. If
you missed your first chance to see the
newest Penn State sensation, you could have
another opportunity to see their next
performance which is tentatively scheduled
for April 21st at the RHC Luau.
done, felt, thought about doing,
wondered about, hoped of,
dreamed of, worried about; I was
not the only one to do so. In
talking to people, friends mostly, I
came to the realization that I could
never be truly alone, even if I
wanted to be. And that is a most
comforting feeling, at least for me
it is.
Some of you may have picked
up on the fact that I mentioned
nothing about what I’ve learned in
my classes, that’s not to say that I
didn’t, because I surely did; but the
more eye-opening things which
happened about my way, did so
very unintentionally... or did they?
Which brings me to one of the
most stunning, humbling things
which I’ve learned. There is a
higher order to the Universe, an
entity, a continuum, which I cannot
possibly understand or hope to
understand at this point, but of
which I am an integral part... and
so is everyone!
April 1993