The Behrend Beacon SGA appoints new secretary By Ayodele Jones managing editor The end of the year is here and while many of us are preparing for finals, the Student Government Asso eiation is already planning for the up coming Spring semester. Michelle Benjamin, who is now the present sec retary of SGA, announced her resig nation, effective at the end of this se- mester. There were two candidates vying for the job; Rose Forrest, 03 Com munications, and Stephanie Nardello, 03 Political Science. Each candidate was given an opportunity to tell the Senate a brief statement on their quali fications. Nardello, who is secretary of Lambda Sigma, said "I have the time to pul into this and I would like the opportunity. I would never go into anything without giving 110%, and I am committed to giving my all for What's Inside Police and Safety: Domestic Dispute Finals Blowout Calendar of Events Page 4 Editorial: Finals stress Campus News: First Lady at Georgetown World and Nation: FBI investigates Sinatra PageJZ Tim o’Brien Review: Top Ten Movies of 1998 Page LQ Men’s and Women’s basketball Erie, PA 16563 SGA.” Forrest decided to speak on her experience as a leader “I am lay out editor of the Beacon and I am also secretary of the Commuter Council. My experience with government ex tends to my minor in political science and my major in Communications. 1 feel that I am fully qualified.” Each candidate had a few sugges tions for improving SGA. Nardello noted "SGA is built on a solid foun dation, the students, and I would only wish to improve communication among the students and everyone here." Forrest also agreed with Nardello, but she included some points of her own, "I would better publicity on campus and I would also try to get more commuter residents involved. In addition, I would attempt to get more organizations and groups in volved by sending more representa tives to SGA meetings.” Although it waS a tough decision, Michelle Benjamin stated “I hope that the new secretary continues to keep up the work that I have done to make SGA run smoothly.” After closed elections, Nardello was elected the new secre tary of SGA for the upcoming semes ter. In addition, Senators also discussed Astronomy Open House: What was the Christmas Star? Behrend science professor Robert Knacke discusses theories on Christmas star. by Sarah Edwards staff writer Over Christmas carols and cook ies, Dr. Roger Knacke, Director of the School of Science, discussed the star of Bethleham at the astronomy series and how it actually might not be a star at all. Knacke said that in the Bible there are two ac- counts of Jesus’s birth, but only one of these accounts discusses - the star. Matthew wrote his account in Greek and in Greek the mean- ing of the word star can be interpreted as any celestial event. Also, Matthew says that the star was moving. The reasons that Knacke feels that whatever hap pened during Jesus’s birth was not a star is that a star would not be moving across the sky. Knacke narrows his theory of what the star could have been to ei ther a comet or an alignment of the planets. The comet theory takes ef fect based on the theory that in 66 plans for the upcoming SGA Book Sale, Book Swap. The book sale al lows students to sell their books through SGA, thus making it cheaper for students to purchase their text books from fellow students. The stu dents set the price for their books and SGA would then catalogue them and reimburse them at the end of the week. The swap will be held during the week of January 11-15. Monday and Tuesday of that week students will be able to drop off their books (which will later be sold), Wednesday is the first day of buying books. The sale will continue until the end ot the week and if any books are unsold, students can pick up their books on the last day, Friday. The hours for the book swap are the following: Mon day 11 -3 and 5-7, Tuesday 11 -3 and 5-7 and Thursday 11-3 and 5-7 Wednesday 10-5 and Friday 11-3. Andrea DiPiacido, 03 communica tions and SGA Vice-president said, "If everyone participates in the book sale that we are holding and it is suc cessful we will have this every se mester to serve the students, because that is what SGA is for. “ A.D. a comet appeared over Jerusa lem. The comet theory is ques tioned due to historical records. The theory Knacke feels could very well be true is that the planets Ju piter and Saturn were becoming re aligned. In the process of realign ing, they look conjoined, which means they appear closer than they ac tually are. In December of the year 7 8.C.. which always be a mystery be cause there is no actual proof of what the wisemen saw on that holy night. On a lighter note, there also was a new object seen in the sky lately. Knacke was lucky enough to have a picture of the unidentified object. It appeared to have a red shiny nose and seemed to be leading a sleigh. If you spot it watch out “-Cause Santa is coming to Town. Merry Christmas!!!” December 10, 1998 Volume XLVII No. 15 was when Jesus was ac tually born, Mars also conjoined with Jupiter and Saturn. Even though this theory is very probable the star will pfnnState Dr. Dean Baldwin, Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students have opportunity to study in England by Kristie Vitron staff writer Through the study abroad program offered here at Penn State Behrend, students can earn up to nine credits, live in first class campus housing, and experience another culture, for less than $3OOO. This summer, with the help of Behrend's Dr. Dean Baldwin, students can attend the University College of Northampton, the Nene College, in England. The program runs from July 6th to August 10th 1999. There are four weeks of classes and one week of travel. Students have the option of taking 3,6, or 9 credits making the cost $2OOO, $2500, or $2900. Stu dents must also pay about $6OO for roundtrip airfare between here and England. There are many things included in the cost. Students will each have their Beacon leadership is changing By Anne Rajotte editor in chief The leadership of the Beacon is changing hands for the Spring semes ter. Will Jordan, a third semester Com- munication major will take over as editor in chief in January. Jordan has worked as a staff writer for the Bea con in the past and is currently news Will Jordan, left, is the new editor in chief. Anne Rajotte, right, will be spending the spring semester in Austria own room in an apartment they will share w'ith 4-s,other students. The apartment is equipped with a kitchen, lounge, and bathrooms. Breakfast is free and other meals are available at a low cost. Local cultural trips, trans portation, and a one week long trip to London, Scotland, or Ireland are also included in the cost. The eleven classes, which are each three credits, will transfer to Penn State. There are classes offered for varying majors as well as for general education. Some of the courses in clude British Literature, British His tory, Sociology, Economics, and En vironmental classes. Dr. Baldwin will teach a few of the classes, but the rest will be taught by British professors. This summer's program is hope fully only the first step in a long term relationship between Penn State Be hrend and the Nene College. Dr. Baldwin hopes that by next year En- “I am very much looking forward to the challenges of being the editor in chief of the Beacon. Hopefully, next semester will run as smoothly or smoother that this semester,” stated Jordan. Ayodele Jones will retain her posi tion as managing editor. “I am greatly looking forward to the new semester with Will as editor in chief, but I will '•.i ' • «. glish students will have the opportu nity to come here, while Behrend stu dents travel to England for an entire semester. There are many benefits from studying abroad. Because many em ployers look favorably at people with international experience, the University’s aim is to have 20% of it’s students study abroad. Students will gain this foreign culture through their British instructor and classmates as well as traveling throughout the coun try. Dr. Baldwin feels that “This is a wonderful opportunity for students, and I hope that they will take advan tage of it.” Interested students can contact Baldwin at dxbll@psu.edu. Because space is limited, students should act soon. A $5OO deposit is due by February 28, and the rest of the balance is due by May 28. also look back on the last semester in which Anne Rajotte taught everybody the ropes and she will sorely missed.” Also returning is Features editor Jon Stubbs, Sports editor Jason Snyder, Layout editors Mike Perkins and Rose Forrest, Advertising man agers Erin Edinger and Carey Smith, Business manager Jaime Davis, and Continued Page 2 photo by Andrea Zaffino lAk_Lfcfrt