In an effort to reach out to local community children, six Behrend student organizations (Muticultural Council, Inter Fraternity Council, Association of Black Collegians,
Returning Adult Student Organization, and the History Club) sponsored their third annual Christmas caring workshop. The event was held last weekend in Bruno's and featured a
mini-arcade, arts and crafts, free food, and a visit from St. Nick. Despite the weather conditions, turnout was good, and the event was largely a success.
The organizations plan on holding this event for years to come, and hope participation and involvement will increase each year. The involvement of so many diverse
organizations together distinguishes this event from many others on campus, and sets a great example of how together students can make a difference in the holiday season.
Student
involvement in
WPSE
by Andrea DiPlacido
staff writer
WPSE, the I,UQO.wwatt a •
commercially licensed radio•station
of Penn State-Behrend, was given
$40,000 worth of student activity
money last year. The money was
reallocated from the Student Activity
Fee Committee to underwrite the
participation of students. Ten
students operated the station last year
and also ran the board which is
currently automated. Out of those
ten, five were enrolled in the
Communications 003 class, a one
"I do believe the format
should change. Even if
it stays AM radio, there
should be student
programming."
Michael Zampetti
SGA President
credit radio practicum, while the
others were either-completing an
internship or volunteering.
The students that are involved this
year are doing work study, attending
the class, or volunteering time to help
out. Though they may be doing it for
different reasons, the students
involved are learning the business
and communications aspects of
WPSE.
"When I came into the
management position," comments
General Manager Ron Slomski, "I
felt the partnership business program
would enable us to develop non
traditional radio funds. In other
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semester standing and major
Behrend students spread Christmas spirit
words, funding from industry as well
as retail." So far, this has proved
successful
The radio station received their
funding money to help start off their
first year of a new format to ensure
future success. As of now, the station
is fulfilling its goals this year to
become self-sufficient. Funding
money helped the station to take off,
so that in the future, selling
advertisements would cover
expenses.
Students do not run or manage the
station. Instead, it is professionally
run and the goal is to is to make it a
profit-making business. The business
network format was chosen to
provide a good learning opportunity
by way of firsthand experience.
However, SGA President Michael
Zampetti comments "I do believe the
format should change. Even if it stays
AM radio, there 'should be student
programming." Since the station is
AM, it does not offer music and is
instead oriented toward listeners who
tune in to get business information.
Many other students agree, saying
they would like to see the college
radio more oriented towards students.
Its business news format is meant to
appeal to local business people.
Community listeners value the
service the station provides, and the
format of the station supports
Behrend's strength in business, argue
some Behrend administrators.
However, some complain that the
station is not beneficial to the student
body at large. Marketing,
Communication,s and Business
majors are people who can take
advantage of current opportunities at
the station.
1. name, phone number,
photo courtesy of Lion Ambassadors
Astronomy open
house: the
Christmas star
by Andrea Zaffino
editor in chief
Last Thursday on December 4th,
Dr. Richard Knacke, Director of the
School of Science, hosted the
Astronomy Open House "The
Christitat Star." Knacke first spoke
about the current alignment of
Mercury, Mars, Venus and Jupiter. He
explained that this is an unusual event
and nothing like this will happen
again for about a century.
It was too cloudy to bring the
presentation outdoors for a look at the
actual alignment from a telescope.
However, Dr. Knacke gave an account
for the event using slides. He showed
how linear alignment can only happen
if the orbits are in the same plane.
Beginning roughly around 4 1/2
billion years ago, a huge cloud of
gases shrunk together to form the sun.
Knacke explained, "The fact that
[the planets] are all in a plane shows
the cloud was not a sphere but flat,
like a pancake." The current
alignment is a trace of what happened
4 1/2 billion years ago.
After discussing the planetary
alignment, Knacke addressed the
subject for which the open house was
titled, "The Star of Bethlehem." He
gave a historical account for what
This is the last issue
News
might have actually happened on the
first Christmas and some past and
current theories for what the wise men
may have actually seen in the star of
Bethlehem.
Knacke explained that the accurate
day or month of Jesus' birth is
unknown and December 25th was set
centuries later. He told the audience
that what may have happened is that
the wise men were astronomers or
astrologers from Babylon who
traveled to Bethlehem around the fifth
or sixth century BC.
Some theories for what they may
have seen included a comet, which is
unlikely because more people than the
wise men would have noticed it.
Another theory was a supernova
Dr. Knacke said of this idea, "I think
not, it seems very unlikely."
Then he gave his explanation that
what they saw was most likely a
grouping of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars,
which happens about once every 800
years, during the time of Pisces and
what the three men saw was dubbed
as the star of Bethlehem. Knacke said,
"This is the most probable
explanation but I can't say for sure.
At the core, those events will always
be a mystery."
Collegian
hed this
ter
will be published
5, 1998
OiMMBREE
MEM
siKk
The Behrend College Collegian Thursday, December 11, 1997 - Page 3
Rlice And Safety
_Ft E P 4)
12/02/97 Received complaint of pornography being
shown on campus.
12/02/97 Complainant was concerned that there may be
a problem at the safe sex cabaret and requested an officer
stay in the area (see above)
12/03/97 Complaint of possible vandalism to decorated
tc outside Bruno's between Reed and Perry.
12/04/97 Complaint of theft from the RUB desk involving
a student employee.
12/04/97 Complainant reported glass kicked out of the
candy machine in the laundry room below apartment three
hundred.
12/05/97 Complainant reported EMTA bus was stuck
against the light pole in Reed lot.
12/06/97 Complainant reported a problem with the phone
in Almy Hall. Found he was trying to call a number
starting with `9.'
12/06/97 RA needed assistance locking the front door to
Tiffany Hall due to someone shoving paper in it.
12/06/97 Student drove into the back of a university
vehicle.
photo by Michael Morano
: .,I4
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