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7 9
Collegian
Erie, PA 16563 Vol Xtyfll, No.
Thursday, September 14,1995
Activities fee leads
to controversy
by Steven R Landon
Collegian Staff
A student activities fee may be
in place as soon as next Fall for
all Penn State students.
A $25 per semester charge to
all full-time students has been
proposed to the University’s
Board of Trustees (BOT) by the
President’s office. The money
raised by the fee will be used to
supplement funds allocated for
student activities and programs.
The BOT will vote on whether to
accept the proposal Friday
morning.
The meeting will also mark the
opening address of the new
President of Penn State
University, Graham Spanier.
The concept of the activities
fee is not a new one. In the late
1940'5, a fee was instituted to
pay for the Hetzel Union
Building in University Park. In
1953, construction of that
building was completed.
Proposals in 1985 and in 1992 to
reinstate an activities fee were
stalled by student opposition.
Last year the concept was
proposed again, this time by
student leaders. In efforts that
began right here at Behrend, the
fee was proposed as our only
option amid State cuts to
maintain and expand student life
related services and programs.
Renovations for higher learning
by Sean Siekkinen
Collegian Staff
It has been seven years since the Behrend’s according to Reber.
most heavily trafficked and widely used "In the future, the next phase of
building has undergone a facelift. renovations will involve the retiling and
The 26-year old Reed Student Union completion of the Commons area, the
Building, along with the Nick Building and addition of new student mailboxes, and more
the Carriage House, is now in the Final space for Career Development offices,” he
stages of a $700,000 renovation project said.
promising to yield benefits similar to those Reber believes that a college’s physical
of the renovations in 1988 which added the surroundings have a major impact on how
campus bookstore. students and faculty feel about learning and
Construction in the Reed Building, which about the school itself,
began in early May, has added Student "Our beautiful setting allows people to
Activities offices and a new Commons area experience the beauty of the campus and to
where the former library was located. Space be comfortable at the same time. We pay
that had been occupied by Student Activities attention to aesthetics without sacrificing
now houses new office space for faculty and efficiency. We've made [the Reed Building]
staff. The first floor boasts eight new attractive and functional.”
offices as well as refurbished restrooms. Director of Student Affairs, Chris Rizzo
Although contractor H. Platt Co. did not says the goal of the renovation project is to
meet the original project deadline of July 31, create a more student-friendly Reed Building.
Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Chris Reber "In just the time that I’ve been here [since
said, "Right now, renovations are 98 percent 1992], Behrend has been a very exciting
The
Behrend Student Government
Association (SGA). President
Mike Woycheck feels the fee is
necessary in order to narrow the
gap between budget requests and
the money SGA is able to
allocate.
“Last year SGA received
approximately $160,000 in
requests from student
organizations but could only fund
$60,000,” Woycheck said.
According to Dean of Student
Affairs Chris Reber that figure of
$60,000 has remain unchanged in
approximately five years despite
an almost doubling of the
number of student organizations.
The University evaluated the
way it spends money last year in
a “Futures Process.” In that
evaluation Behrend was asked to
cut 36% from it’s budget for
student activities related
programs. Student activities and
programs have been low on the
University's priority list when in
competition with expanding
faculty and facilities at all
campuses.
Provost and Dean Dr. John
Liiley advocates the fee to
compensate for lack of funding
for activities. "Student Affairs
really took it in the neck,” Liiley
said. " The student activity fee
would help us recover a lot."
see FEE on page 3
complete.”
The unfi. ished Commons area is being
refurbished independently by Penn State and
therefore is not considered part of the project.
Behrend College
Photo by Colten Gritzer/ Collegian Photographer
Stocker leads the Lions: Senior defenseman Julie Stocker lead the Lady
Lions to a victory in the first varsity game in school history. For more details on
the game see page 12.
place to be," he says. "While other colleges,
are experiencing reduction phases, we're in
an expansion phase."
"I hope that new and returning students
alike will see the renovations as a very
positive thing," Rizzo said.
"While other
colleges are
experiencing
reduction
phases, we're in
an expansion
phase."
-Chris Rizzo
Dean of Student
Affairs
One of the other campus buildings
currently experiencing the expansion phase,
and whose new image should also contribute
to a more positive perception of the school
itself, is the Nick Building.
•The $460,000 required to fund the Nick
project came from a grant by the National
Science Association, with matching funds
from the University.
Maintenance Supervisor, Lucien Lawson
has been involved with the Nick project
since he contributed to the original designs
over a year ago, and continues to participate
by overseeing the construction work for
quality and accuracy.
Lawson says so far, the renovations have
entailed lots of initial demolition, the
installation of new walls, plumbing, and
electrical systems, and the addition of new
research labs for the Science Department
Pending additional funding, work and
renovations on the north side of the facility,
according to Assistant Provost and Senior
Associate Dean, DrJack Burke.
"We like to modernize our facilities
whenever we can find funding,” Burke said.