Thursday, September 26, 1996 Athletic by Mike Coursey Collegian Staff Penn State Behrend is part of the proud heritage of the Pennsylvania State University system, with fine professors, students, and facilities. Over the years that I have been here, many students and faculty noticed a need for a new multi-purpose athletic facility for the Behrend campus. Over the last year and a half, I, among others, have heard many rumors about millions of dollars in the State Capital for a new facility. After inquiring at various offices on campus, I was directed to the Athletic Director, Mr. Herb Lauffer. I spoke with Mr. Lauffer in order to better inform the Behrend community of the status of this project. I brought up the issue concerning the status of the proposed multi-purpose facility with the Athletic Director. His opening reply was, “The legislation was approved in the Pennsylvania State Legislature for a multi-purpose facility, with a projected cost in 1988 of 10 million dollars.” Mr. Lauffer also replied that, “We are still waiting for the state to release the funds.” I inquired about the projected size of the facility and what it would include. Lauffer replied it would include, “basketball, volleyball, raquetball courts, weight room, aerobics room, and a swimming pool.” We appreciate letters Tell us how you feel Letters to the Editor printed every week Complex Mr. Lauffer said that “Governor Ridge is aware of the problem,” although due to the delay in planning, design, and construction, most of this current class will not be around to utilize the new facility. Mr. Lauffer, among others, believe it would help the recruiting process for athletes and the general student population. When I asked Lauffer about the prospects of moving to a higher NCAA division, he replied, “It would take several things into consideration, whether it be Division I, 11, or 111. It would have to follow out philosophy, plus we don’t have major endowments.” Mr Lauffer added that he would “like to see Erie Hall utilized for non-program activities.” Where more time for “pick up” basketball among other things could enhance student life. Finally, Mr. Lauffer added that the new multi-purpose facility would “serve three purposes: physical education, intramurals, and intercollegiate athletics.” I think that a new multi-purpose facility would gready enhance the quality of life for students and faculty, from the varsity athlete to the occassional swimmer. It would provide an area to meet friends and classmates for informal games or a larger facility to cheer on pur sports teams. I hope the project can be started and completed as soon as possible. Smoking and IQ by Joneatra Henry Collegian Staff Does a child’s IQ drop because of its mother’s smoking habit? This is the question researchers are trying to answer. They are trying to figure out if a maternal tobacco habit has an effect on a child’s intellectual ability later in life. To do this, researchers measured the IQ of children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy and the IQ of children whose mothers did not smoke. To determine the impact of tobacco, preschool children were given a standardized Stanford-Binet IQ test. This test measured memory, vocabulary, and perceptual discrimination. The mental age of the child is divided by the child’s chronological age and then multiplied by 100. The new test’s'average is still set at 100 and the score still reflects how a person compares with others. From 1978 until 1980 four-hundred pregnant women participated in this study. These women were asked about diet, smoking habits, and alcohol and drug use. The researchers conducted two separate studies. The first study measured and compared the IQs of children of the four-hundred women. The second study tried to reduce the cognitive defects in the child by sending nurses during and after the pregnancy to the homes of some of the smoking mothers. The results of the first study concluded The Behrend College Collegian - Page that the IQs of children whose mothers smoked were nine points lower than the children whose mothers did not smoke. The results of the second study concluded that the reduction in maternal smoking improved the IQs of the children of mothers who smoked. The researchers reached a conclusion that maternal smoking causes a decline in the intellect of their offspring. I believe the research question is important Many mothers smoke without knowing the damage that they arc causing their child. I don’t believe that maternal smoking is the only cause of decline of intellect of these young children, but it is an important factor. There are some limitations to this study such as culture, environment, paternal smoking, and the mothers’ IQs. Some believe that IQ is innate. The mother’s IQ should be considered in this study. Researchers believe maternal smoking has an effect on the child’s IQ, but paternal smoking is never mentioned. I believe paternal smoking has some effect, especially if the father lives in the home during the pregnancy. The environment and culture also play a role. If a child grows up in the ghetto without a sufficient role model, I believe this child’s IQ will be less than the child that grew up in Bel Aire. I believe this is mainly because of less parental involvement So for all pregnant mothers who smoke, next time you go to light up, think about the child’s IQ. &K »TO£ HWT'- iCTUMftXfIt: tfgX A<teA swount
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