The Behrend Beacon State Erie photo by Andrea Zaffino Professor Greg Fowler, keynote speaker at the Harambee Dinner, sits by a tree next to Turnbull Hall Emergency contraception available at the Health and Wellness Center By Kristie Vitron staff writer Patty Pasky McMahon, a nurse practitioner and coordinator of the Health and Wellness Center, is con cerned that many students are not aware that the Center offers emer- gency contraceptives or “the morning .niv.l pill Other services offered by the Health and Wellness Center include strep throat, cholesterol testing, flu immu nizations and physical examinations. The Center’s staff, which includes several nurses and physicians, are also able to administer pregnancy tests and Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment on sight. "I found that women didn’t know that we have the morning after pill available,” stated McMahon. The first What's Inside New Group on Campus Police and Safety Horsing Around SPC Movie: Truman Show Calendar of Events Page 4 Editorial: Death Penalty in America Campus News Sex and European Teenagers Switched at birth Cross Country Invitational thing students should realize when they wish to receive emergency con traceptives from Health and Wellness The pill is extremely effective if taken within 72 hours Patty Pasky McMahon, nurse practitioner at the Health and Wellness Center is that there are no strings attached. It is a non-judgemental service and it is completely confidential. The service is offered to rape vic tims and any woman who has had unprotected sex for any reason. How ever, when women are making the appointment they need to explain what the appointment is for. McMahon commented, “The pill is extremely effective if taken within 72 hours.” These appointments are con sidered to be medical emergencies and patients will be seen immediately. The Center is not concerned about repeat users. McMahon feels that there is little abuse of the service and ASA to hold date auction By Rose Forrest layout editor “Do a little dance, make a little love, buy a date tonight!” Monday, September 28, Alpha Sigma Alpha will be holding its third annual Date Auction. All of the money that the romantically challenged have been saving will go to the Special Olympics and the S. June Smith Center, which is for children with mental disabilities. The event will be taking place at 9 p.m. in the Reed Commons. Some 25 Behrend students, both male and female, will auction themselves off to raise money for the sorority’s national philanthropies. Over $ 1000 has been raised over the past two years. Both years the money was raised for the mentally disabled. The first year $4OO was raised, and the second year $795 was raised. The sorority has been working on the program since last year. They have been collecting donations for dates from local businesses such as Erie, PA 16563 she would rather see results from the morning after pill than unwanted pregnancies. The majority of college women will terminate an unwanted pregnancy through abortion if they do not receive immediate help such as emergency contraception. In case women are questioning their morals, they should realize that this pill is not the French abortion drug. It will not terminate a pregnancy. “Re cent studies have found that the pill prevents fertilization,” said McMahon. What the morning after pill does is prevent pregnancy by keeping the ovary from releasing an egg or by preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. T he pill, which is taken twice over a twelve hour span, consists of a high dose of hormones and may cause some minor side effects. McMahon reminds women that they are the ex act side effects that birth control us ers experience such as nausea or head aches, which most women do not even get. Before each dose of emergency contraceptive, a prescribed anti-nau sea or vomiting medication will be taken to prevent illness. The drug is Greek Life Serafini’s, The Olive Garden, Pufferbelly, Papa John’s, Tinseltown, and even a few Penn State football tickets. Alpha Sigma Alpha fundraising chairperson Julie Hale Do a little dance, make a little love, buy a date tonight! explains, “The list goes on and on.” The dates will be distributed in order of the highest bids. Chaperones will be provided upon request. The sorority is promoting the event with the catch phrase, “Do a little dance, make a little love, buy a date tonight!” There will be a two dollar donation at the door and the bidding starts at three dollars. Hale recommends, “Bring friends and have fun watching.” September 24, 1998 Volume XLVII No. 5 Get Off Your Cross - Somebody Else Needs the Wood Professor Greg Fowler delivers keynote speech at the Harambee Dinner By Danielle Marshall staff writer “This is a night to celebrate the di versity of those who are unlike our selves- to appreciate the things which make us different.” Mr. Gregory Fowler, lecturer of English, was the speaker for the annual Harambee Din ner held on Thursday, September 17th 1998. The title of his speech was "Get Off Your Cross - Somebody Else Needs the Wood.” Harambee, which is Swahili for “Let’s pull together,” is an event where all cultures and ethnic groups considered so safe and effective that the FDA approved it for over the counter sale this month in Seattle, Washington. To make the use of emergency con traception even more effective, a nurse discusses the use of other forms of contraceptives such as condoms or birth control with the women who come in. The Health and Wellness Center feels that if women are edu cated, they will practice safer behav- photo by Andrea Zaffino Patty Pasky McMahon, nurse practitioner and coordinator of the Health and Wellness Center Alpha Sigma Alpha photo by Andrea Zaffino Behrend Cross Country Runners start the race at Saturday’s Behrend Invitational. See story come together to share a night of din- “It was really nice. I was really ner, entertainment, and inspirational surprised at the turnout. I was really We all have some form of a cross in our lives; for some of us that cross is an unwillingness to allow for people who are different from ourselves, a self-righ teousness that would exclude or dismiss those who are unwilling to live or be like us words. This Multi-Cultural event gives students an opportunity to build fellowship with each other for the first time in the academic year. Multi Cultural Council president Jennifer Fontecchio welcomed stu dents by describing the meaning and principles behind the event. Mr. Fowler said, “we all have some form of a cross in our lives; for some of us that cross is an unwillingness to al low for people who are different from ourselves, a self-righteousness that would exclude or dismiss those who are unwilling to live or be like us.” After such a well-received speech, students Timothy Tate, 06 Commu nications, and Danielle Marshall, 05 Political Science, enlightened the au dience with two musical selections, “Pressing On” and “Up Where We Belong.” ' . t impressed by the variety of cultural backgrounds that were present,” com mented Tate. Many in attendance remarked that the event moved them emotionally and provoked deep thought. Dr. Zachary Irwin, associate professor of political science, said “it was a mar velous opportunity for students and faculty to share in one of the more unique events Behrend has to offer. I loved Greg’s speech. The food was tremendous. The fellowship was abundant. I would recommend it to anyone After an evening of diversity, inspi ration, and enlightenment, Mr. Fowler said that “The feedback has been very positive, and I was pleased with the diverse groups of people that I saw there. It was very well-attended.” PCFIVFO •hi.. iRHfRy Professor Greg Fowler