\ I. N% S OPINION I'ol4 I The liehrend College Spri ß n igueßsreak Ni News Briefs Back From US Florida _Pli Hazing at UP 2) <(• fu 1 a n see page 2 NCAA Tourney •11, ) C 1.1 e I.....IFRT‘INNILNI. Tompkin . s i see page 5 Riot See pages 7, 8 Cam Erie PA 16563 Volume XLV No. 19 ~_ ~,~. ~,, ,~ Thursday, March 27, 1997 Growth increase Academic excellence plays a part in BEHREND: In line with growth projected in its strategic plan, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, has recorded its largest ever spring semester enrollment. A total of 3,024 students are registered this semester, surpassing the previous record enrollment of 2,954 set in spring 1994. The greatest enrollment increase has occurred in four year majors including plastics engineering technology, We are bolstered by the fact that two of the three Penn State majors with the highest starting salaries are offered at Penn State Behrend. -Dr. Jack Burke mechanical engineering, electrical engineering technology, management information systems, management, accounting, biology, chemistry, mathematics, English, and history. Growth has also been recorded in Penn State Behrend's MBA program. Dr. Jack Burke, senior associate provost, cited several reasons for the College's record-setting enrollment. "We are seeing a continued increase in the number of VISUAL PERCEPTION- Dr. Stuart Ewen, professor of media studies and chair of the Department of Communication at Hunter College, discussed "A Citizen's Guide to Visual Perception" last Thursday evening. enrollment increase students who choose to remain at Penn State-Behrend for all four of their undergraduate years," said Burke, "resulting in larger junior and senior classes. The College's growing reputation for academic excellence plays a part in our enrollment increase, and so does the high job placement rate for Penn State-Behrend graduates." In addition, Burke noted, "we are bolstered by the fact that two of the three Penn State majors with the highest starting salaries are offered only at Penn State-Behrend: plastics engineering technology and management information systems." Almy Hall Living and Learning Center, a new Honors residence hall currently under construction, will be completed this summer. To keep pace with the current growth trend, the College plans to construct two additional residence halls over the next four years , Community Blood Bank Ashley Newhouse/Colleatan Photographer A BLOODY ORDEAL- Kristine Kannel donates blood with the assistance of Kelley Paperelli. Theta Phi Alpha sorority and Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity co-sponsored the blood drive which took place Wednesday. Watch for next week's Collision By Mike Nieal Collegian Photographer STRAIGHT wins charter By Aimee Harris Collegian Staff Writer STRAIGHT won its fight yesterday, March 5, to become an official University organization. Darin Loccarini, president of STRAIGHT, ran up to the Veterans Affairs office to tell STRAIGHT Secretary Jason Potts the appeal had been accepted after he read the approval letter. "The first thing (Loccarini) says to me is, 'We're chartered," Potts said. "Then my jaw hit the floor." Potts said he was "very satisfied" with the decision and was glad it came so quickly. In letters written to Loccarini, president of Students Reinforcing Adherence In General Heterosexual Tradition and the justices of the Undergraduate Student Government Supreme Court yesterday, the Student Organization Appeals Board stated its decision and reasons in granting STRAIGHT's charter. The board said it found STRAIGHT met all requirements set forth in the Policies and Rules for Student Organizations booklet. This criteria included a nondiscriminatory membership policy and a nondiscriminatory purpose that was not in conflict with University policies. The group is now official, said SOAB adviser Barbara Copland. "Reactionless" was the way Loccarini described his feelings about the decision. "When you know you're right, something like this isn't a big deal," he said. Since last semester, Loccarini has defended the legitimacy of his organization from speculation about its constitutionality, possible violent motivations of its members and "intolerance." Not only has he defended the group's intentions, but he has worried about his own life following death threats. The USG Supreme Court originally voted down STRAIGHT's cnarter, preventing it from becoming an official University organization, on Feb. 16. In the majority disposition, the justices said they turned down the charter because they could not support an organization that defined itself "as being against another group, culture or I i festy le." The court also worried about not creating an environment of "diversity and understanding" on campus and producing "much bitterness and tension in the Penn State community." STRAIGHT would not have a positive effect on the University community University in a positive light, the court added. SOAB disagreed, EMI stating STRAIGHT met all the requirements to be official. The board also wrote in its statement it believes STRAIGHT members only want to express a viewpoint and that they understand their "obligation to promote responsible behavior." "We further find . . . that the objective of STRAIGHT is not to foster or encourage, but rather to deter intolerance directed at individuals or groups whose viewpoints may differ from those of STRAIGHT," the board wrote. The decision was expected, said Duane Gildea, political co director of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance. "It see STRAIGHT page 2 PROFIT OR(; ;POSTAGE PAID ERIE, PA RMIT 0 282
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