The Behrend College W Collegian 30, 1995 • PA 16563 F Vol XLIV, No tJ c UB 9&' Thursday, November Cultural Week differences throu Penn State CES by Sean Siekkinen Collegian Staff In response to an ever growing diversity among Penn State's student body, and in light of recent reductions in state educational spending, University President Graham B. Spanier unveiled late last month plans for restructuring the five decade old A recepti A blue bi students' Sponsi Campus Photos by Chris Nelson/ Collegian Photographer Exploring otner cultures: Students Nicole Buther and Lourdes Tirado particpated in last night’s Open Fora Series, “Latino: The Other Minority.” The forum, sponsored by the Multi-Cultural Council, offered an opportunity for Latino students to voice their concerns and be recognized. The forum was held in conjunction with Cultural Week. Commonwealth Education System. The CES includes 18 of the 21 Penn State campuses. University Park, Behrend, and the Capitol College at Harrisburg are not CES members, but will be involved in the project designed to update the University's state wide image. "Campuses need to undertake a Erie, series of discussions about the role they play within their communities and whether they are truly operating in the best interest of the University, the community, and the Commonwealth," President Spanier said in a recent press release. "We need to reexamine a system whose structure has not changed dramatically since its initial inception more than five decades ago." According to Robert E. Dunham, Dean of CES, factors contributing to the move towards restructuring include a fluctuating state unemployment rate, an increasing minority population, and a shift in the Pennsylvania workforce from manufacturing to service industries. Penn State will respond to these changes by restructuring each campus to best meet the individual needs of its region and by giving greater autonomy to those campuses with more dynamic community needs to meet Current plans have CES campuses conducting self evaluations and discussions about possible actions through the end of the year. After turning in tentative recommendations, the evaluation process will continue celebrates h awareness shake-up up until the Board of Trustees meeting in July, when final proposals of each campus' mission will be reviewed. A five year strategic planning process will then begin, in August of 1996. Behrend Dean and Provost Dr. John M. Lilley admits that plans are up in the air right now. It is possible that the CES will continue with new programs in the restructured University. But the Penn State renaissance could also mean the end of the CES, yielding to a scries of regional colleges. As a unique, separate entity within the Penn State system, “We need to reexamine a system whose structure has not changed dramatically since its initial inception. ” -President Spanier by Bryan Harkins Collegian Staff Penn State-Behrend is currently celebrating Cultural Week now through Saturday, December 2. According to Lourdes Tirado, Multi-Cultural Council president, "In the past, we have had only one day. This year it is more involved." The purpose behind Cultural Week, according to Tirado, is "to make people aware of other cultures and to help them appreciate the differences." Cultural Week originated during a MCC meeting. Christian Alvarez, MCC secretary, said, "During a meeting, we threw out some ideas for Cultural Week and some groups offered to do some stuff." As Cultural Week continues, the cast of “A House on Mango Street” is being reunited for a see CULTURAL page 2 Behrend is not likely to undergo any radical changes as a result of the CES shake up. However, it is likely that a CES campus will be absorbed into the Behrend College over the course of the five year planning phase. Although Eric newspapers have reported that Behrend is likely to form a link with either the Dußois or Shenango campus, Behrend officials have all but ruled out a partnership with Dußois. "I would say there is little likelihood of a link with Dußois," said Dean Lilley, pointing out that a link with the Altoona campus would better benefit Dußois. At a Student Government Association meeting, Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Chris Rebcr also cast doubt on the possibility of the Dußois campus becoming part of the Behrend College. Reber cited the distance between the two schools as a major obstacle. Both Dean Lilley and Dr. Reber acknowledged the possibility of Shenango joining the Behrend College. Planning for a Shenango-Behrend link is in the early stages of exploration, according to Dean Lilley. "This is a very complicated process," Dean Lilley said.
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