The Behrend Beacon Going once, Going twice, sold Alpha Sigma Alpha holds date auction to raise money for charity Behrend student Rose Forrest auctions herself off for charity. By Angela Rush staff writer “Give me sixty-nine, do I hear sev enty, seventy going once, going twice, sold for 70 dollars.” On September 28, the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority held their third annual date auction. It proved to be a big success, with a to tal of $829 raised to go toward the sorority’s national philanthropies, The Special Olympics and the S. Jane Smith Center for children with men tal disabilities. The sorority made a total of $4OO the first year, $795 last year, and this year saw an increase once again, at $829. Lori Betters, 05 pyschology, said, “I expected a big turnout.” The highest bid for a female was $7l dol lars and the highest for a male was What's Inside Voter Registration Police and Safety Asleep under truck SPC Movie: Armageddon Calendar of Events Editorial: Baseball America's favorite pastime Campus News Teen Breasts Border patrol sftobtlpg Volleyball victory $7O dollars. The lowest priced went for only $8 dollars. Local businesses and companies supplied the sorority with donations. Among the contributors were Block buster, Burger King, The Erie Play House, Pizza Hut, TGI Friday’s and the list continues on. The way the dates work is this: everyone had the opportunity to bid on whatever per son they wanted a date with, the high est bidder receiving a date with that person. The amount of money spent to buy the date determined how good the quality of the date would be. For example, if someone paid $5O for a date, they are likely to get a candle light dinner and a movie. If someone paid $2O they would probably get something like movie tickets and some food from McDonald’s. Greg Foutz, 05 MIS, said, “It was Parking is the topic at Coffee with By Ayodele Jones managing editor Parking! Parking and More Park ing! Questions and concerns regard ing this passionate subject were ad dressed to Dr. John M. Lilley, Pro vost and Dean of Penn State Erie - The Behrend College. A large num ber of students gathered in the lobby of Perry Hall on Tuesday, Septem ber 29, to discuss their concerns about various topics on campus at the first meeting of Coffee with The Pro vost of the 1998 academic year. Parking and the lack of available spaces provided and set the tone for the conversation of the evening. Among general complaints were the shortage of parking spaces and the distance that many students have to walk in order to park their car on campus. A parking lot on the other side of Ohio Hall (a new dormitory which is under construction) was supposed to be completed before stu dents arrived for the 1998 academic year; completion of this alternate parking lot is now expected before the first snowfall. Dr. Lilley recognizes parking as a very serious issue on campus and said that “parking is a really tricky problem, when it’s a pain for you it’s a pain for me in terms of the volume of e-mail I receive in regards to it.” One student concerned with Behrend’s increasing size asked Dean Lilley “since there is no park ing now, what are they planning to do when Ohio Hall is completed and there are more students on campus?” Lilley responded with encouraging words: “There will be an additional three huge parking lots on the other Erie, PA 16563 Photo by Andrea Zaffino an interesting experience to be up there and I encourage everyone to be come involved.” He was bought for $62 dollars by his girlfriend, Jacie Wilson, 03 Theatre Comm Art, who said, “it was very exhilarating because it wasn’t like I really had a choice, and it was nice knowing that my friends were behind my back.” One of her friends had lent her some money so that she could have this date with her boyfriend. Jessica Manno, 03 Biology, com mented that, “a lot of people attend because it is interesting.” Peggy Molnar, 03 Communications, said that she had attended the previous year, but she said, “the participants are looking a lot better this year, and they Auction continued Provost side of Ohio Hall, there will also be an additional parking lot across Jor dan Road for the forthcoming new athletic complex. Once these lots are completed there will be more than enough adequate space.” Students offered various opinions on the subject of parking. Lisa Sand ers, 03 MIS, said “Just suck it up! Stop bitching about it because it is not going to change. God we have a beautiful campus and if we keep building parking lots all we’re gonna see is parking lots.” One student came up with the notion that fresh men students should not be allowed to have cars on campus for their first year; this would alleviate many prob lems and give spaces to returning stu dents. In comparison to other col leges Lilley noted that “Our parking is much more convenient than other campuses.” The quality of life on campus was also an important concern for stu dents. The quality of programming at Bruno's came into question when several students pointed out that these events are poorly attended even though there has been an increased amount of audience members this se mester. Angel Moreno, 07 BLASC, thinks that “the money allocated to the Student Programming Council needs to be reallocated to Hall coun cils so that students can have an in put on what is programmed. As it currently stands a select few of stu dents gets to decide what entertains the entire student body.” Many stu dents remarked that they return home during the weekends due to the lack of social life here at Behrend. For many in attendance, the quality and at times the absence of entertainment is one of the main reasons for their October 1, 1998 Volume XLVII No. 6 Director of Engineering School to retire next year By Andrea Zaffino photo editor After many years of service to the Behrend College, the Director of the School of Engineering and Engineer ing Technology, Dr. Richard Progelhof, will be retiring at the end of the Spring semester. Progelhof has been working in the engineering departments at various colleges and universities since he completed his PhD. When he began working at Behrend at the beginning of this de cade, he planned at that time on be ing here no more than six years. Progelhof commented, “it’s time to retire. I’ve been continuously working since 1962, and you don’t have the stamina anymore.” He continued talking about his school and the accomplishments achieved during his time as Director. “I’ve been able to represent a really good faculty ... I’ve been very proud to serve as their director.” While Dr. Progelhof has served as Director, the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology has seen substantial growth. The student body has grown in six years from 719 stu dents to an enrollment of roughly 1116. The School has also received a number of federal grants to improve laboratory equipment and to expand the plastics engineering program. After retirement, Progelhof has plans to move South. “My wife and I have bought property in North Caro- iage 2 current discontent at student enter tainment programming. Lilley said, “we are consciously trying to prevent you from going home, because there is some educational value in keep ing you here, you gain new friends and experiences.” Library facilities and the insuffi cient availability of books was also brought to the attention of Dean Lilley. Lilley acknowledged “that the book collection is very weak, but our electronic system is one of the best in the nation and students should be fully knowledgeable to access the electronic system, it’s their best bet.” With a wide range of issues being addressed, students were given the chance to vent their concerns to the Provost. “I like this program because it gives Dean Lilley an opportunity to hear issues directly from the stu dents’ mouth to his ear. Student con cerns do not to be rerouted through other faculty and staff, said Chris Rizzo, Director of Student Activities. Melina Fernandez, 03 Psychology, thinks “the Coffees with the Provost are actually ineffective. The univer sity is too worried with spending money on useless things rather than what students care about like library facilities." Provost and Dean John Lilley Dr. Richard Progelhof, Director of School Photo by Andres zamno of Engineering and Engineering Technology lina, and we plan to build a house there this winter.” Currently there is a search commit tee in place to find someone to fill the Director’s position. Progelhof says he will stay on until this is ac complished. The chair of the search Committee is Jack Young, associate professor of mechanical engineering. In the coming months, an extensive effort will be taken to find possible SGA postpones Freshmen election By Ayodele Jones managing editor Once again elections for the open The reason why we came to SGA is because the funding wasn’t available through the Humanities Department. Gretchen Foust, member of the Matchbox Players freshmen seats on the Student Gov ernment Association have been post poned for another week. Elections will be held in the Senate next week, Wednesday, October 7. Freshmen candidates Michael Ames, Christo pher Buchanan and Yolayone Merced will have an opportunity to speak on their particular platforms. Members of the SGA will vote and choose two candidates for the two open positions. -—'i 1 ■ l'.. „ - A