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News Briefs
Earn a degree in four years?
Completing an undergraduate degree in four years used to be taken
for granted. But now many college students are lucky to graduate in
five years.
Many universities—particularly large public institutions-face
shortages of classroom space and space due to budget cuts and
increased enrollment. This leads to fewer sections and required classes
filling up before registration is complete. This means students may
take five or six years to complete requirements for graduation-all
while paying extra tuition and delaying entrance into the job market
For some universities, the number of incoming students overlaps
students who should have graduated.
Universities and state governments are attempting new strategies to
decrease the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree. Attempts
include streamlining graduation requirements and offering incentives
to students who graduate on time.
By graduating on time, students not only save money but costs are
reduced for taxpayers, say legislators. Some schools offer money
back guarantees to students who do not graduate on time and some
colleges are cutting back on general education requirements.
Students say other circumstances are to blame for graduation
delays. For example, cuts in financial aid have forced students to
work while attending school, causing them to take fewer credits per
semester.
Welfare reform passes Senate
The US Senate passed a welfare reform bill Tuesday in a 87-12
vote, sending the bill to committee to be reconciled with a more
conservative bill passed by the House in March.
The bill, which had Democrat support, would dismantle the federal
welfare system and the New Deal which provides income for millions
of single mothers and their children. Federal welfare funds would be
dispersed to state governments in block grants giving states greater
control over the welfare system.
Before being sent to President Clinton, House and Senate
negotiators must resolve differences between the two bills. The most
controversial points are over child care funding, how much of its own
money a state must spend on welfare programs, whether school
lunches and foster care programs should be returned to the states as
block grants, and aid to unmarried mothers.
Both houses agree that welfare recipients should be required to work
in increasing numbers, that their checks should end after amaxiroum
of five years, and that legal immigrants shoiSltfcrfe hritger receive
public assistance.
Popcorn mogul dies at 88
Orville Redenbacher, popcorn king and bow-tied advertising icon,
has died at the age 88. Redenbacher was found dead Tuesday morning
in his whirlpool spa in his condominium in Coronado, California.
The cause and exact time of his death are under investigation.
Redenbacher, famous for his commercials for the popcorn named
after him, had an image so wholesome and middle-America, that
many people that he was a media creation. However, William E.
Smith, executive director of The Popcorn Institute in Chicago and
friend of Redenbacher said, “What people saw on television, that was
him.”
“In all of our industry,” said Smith,
gentlemen and great personalities.”
Volunteer o
by Doreen Foutz
Collegian Staff
Penn State Behrend, in
conjunction with Diehl
Elementary School, has organized
an Adopt-A-School program
in order to provide a safe,
structured environment in which
students can learn and Behrend
students can become involved in
the Erie community.
In the Adopt-A-School
program, there are three ways for
students to participate.
Individual students can
participate in the tutoring
program, which requires a one
hour a week commitment for the
semester.
In the past, “anywhere from
forty to eighty students have
tutored at Diehl; I’m hoping the
tutoring program is stronger this
“He was one of the great
Tutors needed for Adopt-A-School
year. I’d like to see eighty to one
hundred tutors down [at Diehl]
this year,” said Mari Trenkle,
Academic Support Programs
Coordinator.
The tutoring program starts
September 26 and applications
are available in the Office of
Student Activities.
After-school tutors are needed
on Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Transportation is provided from
the Reed parking lot on these
days, and tutors are desperately
needed for Wednesday and
Thursday. Tutors are also needed
Monday through Thursday from
9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to
2:30 p.m. Volunteers must
supply their own transportation
on these days.
“The tutors make the most
News
Dr. Gary Alt:
• BEHREND-The Penn State
Behrend division of science and
the Science Club will sponsor a
National Geographic Speaker,
Gary Alt, Ph.d. Dr. Alt will
present “The Bears of North
America” slide show and lecture
on Thursday, September 21 in
the Reed Lecture Hall at 7:30
p.m.
One of the nation’s leading
black bear experts, Dr. Alt, will
give the natural history and
general ecology of North
America’s three bear species:
polar bears, brown bears, and
black bears. During the one hour
presentation, Dr. Alt will share
not only his expertise, but his
sense of humor and personal
experiences with bears.
During the presentation, Dr.
Alt will explain how polar bears
are so uniquely adapted to the
frozen arctic environment. He
will explain the differences
between black bears and grizzly
bears, and what makes grizzlies
so aggressive. Dr. Alt will also
discuss what can be done when
encountering a bear in the wild.
from MCC page 1
of resources within the center,”
Ward says.
Tirado is optimistic about
MCC this year. "[MCC] is
motivated this year to get things
done. We have a lot of new
pcpple, a driyeo executive board,
arid a Stforig'cbnttnfttee system
within MCC," she said.
Tirado continues.
"Organization presidents in MCC
are doing a great job meeting the
needs of their representative
groups."
When questioned about
problems occuring last year,
Tirado and Ward expressed
optimism and pride in the
progress of administration in
addressing their concerns.
"Although MCC started the
boycott of administrative
sponsored programs, we opened
the door for other organizations
to approach administration with
their concerns,” Tirado reasons.
ie£
difference,” said Trenkle.
“Children who have participated
in tutoring have improved.”
Adopt-A-Class is an option for
student groups and organizations
to volunteer at Diehl. This
program is for organizations who
agree to provide a minimum of
four activities for the grade they
adopt. Two activities are to be
held in the fall semester and two
in the spring semester.
Adopt-A-Class provides an
excellent opportunity for
leadership development, but has
had a disappointing turnout in the
past two years. According to
Trenkle, three grades were adopted
last year. The reason for this
lack of interest may be the
commitment. “Many groups just
don’t want to commit for the
whole year,” said Trenkle.
Bear naked
Dr. Alt’s slide show includes
rare photographs of a polar bear
charging a sled dog, a brown bear
catching a salmon in midair and
newborn black bear cubs.
Bears, the largest land
carnivores in the world, are the
subjects of many myths. They
are also the most misrepresented
and misunderstood mammals.
Dr. Alt separates fact from fiction
in his presentation.
“The Bears of North America”
is free and open to the public.
"MCC is motivated
this year to get
things done.”
-Lourdes Tirado
Among the concerns expressed
last year that have produced
results this year are:
1. Better coordination between
Student Life; Student Activities,
Student Affairs and student
organizations in planning events
and programs on campus.
2. The hiring of an additional
minority faculty member.
3. More student involvement
in the planning of the Speaker
Series.
The return of the "Blue
If anyone has any questions
about MCC, the Resource
Center, or any of the eight
member organizations of MCC,
they can reach MCC at ext.
6098.
Because many groups did not
participate in the Adopt-A-Class
program, Diehl created a new,
third program.
The newest program is for
special events and fundraisers.
Student organizations can
sponsor or co-sponsor a special
event or fundraiser for the
students and teachers at Diehl.
Due to budget cuts, the
teachers are forced to cut back on
supplies, leaving some needs
unmet. Each teacher at the
elementary school has made a
wish list of things they need for
their class.
Organizations can help meet
these needs by holding fundraisers
and donating the profits. The
types of special events are
limitless. In the past students
have helped children carve
Thursday, September 21,1995
Interested in making
some money? Then
The Collegian wants
We are currently in
need of a,courier.
Fopthis position, you
would need a car to
deliver The Collegian
to Corry, PA
Wednesday night
and bring it back to
Behrend in
the morning.
If you are interested,
please call the Editor,
at x 6488.
pumpkins, gone on tree
identification walks, organized
safety programs, played computer
games, and held poetry and
writing contests.
For groups and organizations
wanting to help out in the Erie
community, Diehl provides an
excellent opportunity. Trenkle
said, “These arc the kids the
teachers have identified as having
potential. What they need most is
encouragement; that’s the most
important thing we are providing
for them.”
Applications for the Adopt-A-
Class program and tutoring are
available in the Office of Student
Activities. For more information
contact Mari Trenkle at x 6230,
Patty Conboy x 6160, or Tom
Gardner at x 6014.