The Behrend
Beacon
Black Panther founder sets the record straight
by Will Jordan
editor in chief
“All the power to all the people,”
Bobby Seale, founding chairman and
national organizer of the Black
Panther Party, spoke at a press
conference this past Monday before
speaking at the Reverend Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration
which was held in the Reed Union
Building.
Seale was asked to comment about
the era and the influence that King had
on him by a reporter from the Erie
Times. Seale had first heard King
speak in 1962 at a rally. A year later
he would find his next profound
influence. This came from Nelson
Mandela when he was imprisoned in
1963. Malcolm X was another
influence when he left the Nation ot
Islam in 1964.
In 1966 Seale created the Black
Panther Party (BPP) which consisted
of young college students. The BPP
was based on a Ten Point program
which called for full employment,
decent houusing, true history
education, an end to economic
exploitation, preventive medical
health care, fairness in the courts, and
constitutional democratic civil-human
rights for all people.
In his speech, Seale mentioned the
black and white demonstrators at
Berkeley College from 1962 to 1966.
He also mentioned the demonstrators
being brutalized by the police. The
BPP took a position of self defense
against the police brutality. "The
government has no right to brutalize,
torture, or violate the constitutional
rights of the protestors.” Seale said.
The BPP started several programs
which included the Free Breakfast for
Children Program and the Free
Hospital and Perscription Program.
The BPP also crossed racial lines.
Unlike the beliefs of most people
about the BPP, they did not advocate
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black supremecy or black seperatism.
“We don’t hate white people, we hate
oppressors.” Seale stated. They were
about "All the power to all the people."
As Seale put it, "It didn’t matter if you
were black, white, blue, red, green,
yellow, or polka dot,” the BPP would
work with you. The BPP had a
working coalition with several
different organizations.
Seale then mentioned that before the
death of Martin Luther King Jr. the
BPP had 400 members. After his
death, the number of members grew
to over 5,000.
In a television interview, Seale said
that he presently resides in
Germantown, northwest Philadelphia.
He brought up his program called
REACH which teaches effective
community organizing to young
people. REACH stands for the
Reclaiming, Recycling and Re
evolving, Ecological, Economic,
Enviro- Empowerment, Around and
About all- peoples Active, Creative,
Cooperational, Humanism.
He then reiterated that the BPP was
"not just about Black Power." When
asked if the BPP were a continuation
of "by any means necessary,” Seale
said that they were to an extent. The
BPP was for self defense and the
protection of constitutional rights.
After the television interview was
over. Seale was escorted in Reed
Commons where the celebration of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was already
under way. The Celebration began
with several students re-enacting the
march on Washington D.C. This was
followed by opening remarks by
Provost and Dean, Dr. John Lilley, and
a warm welcome by Director of
Educational Equity Programs, Janique
Caffie.
As Seale entered the room, the “I
Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. was being projected
on the large screen. After the speech
was over Jacqueline Jackson
introduced Seale.
Seale began by stating that the first
Behrend receives
$850,000 gift
from Clark family
by Shannon Weber
News Editor
Due to a generous endowment of
$850,000 made by the Clark family,
their children are now eligible for
scholarships at Behrend. This major
endowment was set up for this
purpose. In 1997 the Clark family had
established a $ 100,000 scholarship to
provide young people the chance for
an education. The Clark family is the
owner of Snap-tite, Inc.
“It’s very important to us to reach
out to the young people of this
region,” said George Clark, Snap-tite,
Inc. chairman, president, and CEO.
“Many of the young adults in this area
would not have a chance to go to
college unless someone gave them
some help. Our hope is that this gift
will make a difference in many
people’s lives.”
Snap-tite, Inc. looks at this not as a
contribution but as an investment into
the community. “We know that by
investing in this young people, the
January 21, 1999 Volume XLVII No. 17
time he saw Dr.
King was in the fall
of 1962 in the
Oaland Auditorium
at a rally. Seale was
an engineering
design major in
college. Seale also
stated that the
movie Panther is
90% false.
Seale said that a
book called "Facing
Mount Kenya” that
was recommended
to him by a friend
made him want to
look in to the
culture of the
"Afro- american.”
"I found out that
Tar/.an didn’t run
Africa." Seale said.
Seale then
mentioned the run
ins that he and the
BPP had with the
FBI and J. Edgar
Hoover. In 1969.
Hoover made a
promise to the
american people
that the FBI would
get rid of the
menace of the BPP.
Throughout 1969.
the FBI attacked all
45 BPI’ offices across the United
States. Seale made several references
to Dr. King and his works. "In fact,
we had a working coalition with the
Southern Christian Leadership
Conference (SCLC).” Scale stated.
"The Black Panther Party never
advocated rioting." Seale stated.
After the murder of Dr. King, Seale
and members of the BPP prevented
several riots from occuring
throughout California. After the
movement of the 1960’s had come
to an end, 29 members of the BPP
were killed in shootouts and 14
policemen were killed.
community will benefit in the long
run. That the way we feel about it,”
noted Gary Clark, vice president and
chief administrative officer ol Snap
tite, Inc.
The increase of the investment
made by the Clark family for the
Clark Family and Snap-tite, Inc.
Scholarship was inspired by the
campaign that is going to be
announced by the college. This is
Behrend’s the first major capital
campaign since the early 1980’s.
“Penn State Behrend’s corporate
campaign drive has just begun and
will continue through the first nine
months of 1999,” explained Dr. Chris
Reber, associate provost for
Advancement and University
Relations at Penn State Behrend.
“Thirty-five percent of our
students come from families with
annual incomes of less than
$35,000,” said Provost and Dean Dr.
John Lilley. “It is wonderful to know
that this generous gift from the Clark
family and Snap-tite, Inc. will open
doors for students from this day
Bobby Seale speaks at Reed Commons for MLK celebration
"The court room to us was a
forum.” Seale said. The BPP was
always to accept an arrest. They had
one of the best team of lawyers in the
country. The BPP won 95 c / ot their
After Seale finished with his
remarks. Coordinator, Residence Life
and Human Relations Programs,
Masrur Syed gave the closing
remarks.
In an interview' following the
celebration, Seale was made aware of
the recent Klu Klux Klan rally in Erie.
He said that the members of the KKK
need to be educated more than
Behrend Men’s Basketball Team triumphs
by Jason Snyder
sports editor
The Penn State Behrend's mens
basketball team opened Allegheney
Mountain Collegiate Conference
i AMCC) play with a pair of wins to
continue their strong season. Their
impressive play has not gone
unoticed, and the 11 -2 Behrend Lions
found themselves ranked third in the
recently released NCAA Division 111
East Region poll.
Ironically, the number one ranked
team in the region is Saint John Fisher,
a team which Behrend beat handily
74-61 earlier season. Behrend's only
losses have been at Division 1 Cornell
University, at a RIT, the tenth ranked
team in the recent poll. The Lions
have won five games in a row and
eight of their last nine games.
Behrend faced a tough league foe
when they traveled to Pitt-Bradford
last night. Pitt-Bradford beat Behrend
twice inleague play last season.
Details of the game will be in next
week's Beacon .
AMCC play began for the Lions
on Wednesday, January 13 at Lake
Erie. Behrend won the contest 57-
48. Behrend defense limted Lake Erie
to 19-54 (35%) shooting.
Forward Chris Hughes led the
Lions with seventeen points, followed
by forward Andy Lawrence with
fourteen and guard Jason Paloskey
anything else. Since the minds of the
members of the KKK are usually
underdeveloped, they are very
susceptible to what their leader is
saying. It is the leaders of the KKK
that give the message of hate. Seale
mention that a DNA lest was done and
alter till of the visible differences in
human beings, there is only a 2%
difference. This includes skin color,
hair color, hair texture, and even the
male/female reproductive organs.
"That means that everyone is 98%
similar to each other.” Seale said.
The next event at which Seale
spoke was an informal, round table
with ten. Lawrence led the team with
six rebounds and Hughes grabbed
five.
Behrend's next game was a home
contest against Frostburg State on
Saturday, January 16. The teams
brought conflicting team profiles to
the Erie Hall hardwood. Of
Frostburg's seventeen suited players,
thirteen were freshman or sophmores,
with seven being listed as 6'4" or
taller. Behrend dressed fourteen
players, only six being freshmen or
sophmores, and listed only lour
players at six feet four inches or
taller. Behrend used their distinct
advantage asnd experience to beat
Frostburgh 69-54.
The teams exchanged early
baskets, and, with nine minutes to
play, in the first half the score was
knotted 16-16. Behrend outscored
FSU 15-4 in the remainder of the half
and went to the lockeroom with a 31 -
20 advantage.
Behrend opened the second half
strong and had their largest lead of the
game with twelve minutes remaining,
at 45-25. FSU played catch-up, and
a foul shot with 6:30 remaining closed
the gap to 50-39, but Behrend played
strong during the stretch run and held
on for the impressive win.
Frostburg chose to run a full court
press the entire game, despite
Behrend's ability to break it a
majority of the time.
"Becuase they pressed us we had
* i • • i.:.
discussion in the Multi-Cultura
Council oftice. Several students
attended the event. The first question
that arose was about the
assassinations of Mark Clark and Fred
Hampton. Seale brought up the name
of a former FBI agent. Wesley
Swarinjin. In his book, Swarinjin
spoke about the plans that J. Edgar
Hoover had for "getting rid of the
menace of the BPP.” Part ol the plan
included the murder of the BPP
leaders.
“Humanity in America has come a
Continued on Page 2
to adjust," guard Jason Poloskey
commented. "Everyone played
unselfishly and did a good job finding
the open man."
Statistically Paloskey was the most
unselfish of all, as he led the team with
eight assists to go along with his eight
points..
Despite Frostburg's team height
advantage, Behrend owned the
offensive offenive and defensive
glass. Behrend outrebounded their
oppobent 37-19. Center Chris
Hughes dominated the inside and led
the Lins with twenty points and eleven
rebounds. Center Nate Wilson also
collected eleven rebounds and scored
nine points. Guard Brock Bovaird
scored sixteen points and made three
three-pointers in the second half.
Strong Lion defense held forward
Stephen Re, FSU's top scorer at
sixteen points per game, in check with
six points 2-7 (29%) shooting. FSU
had been averaging 85 points per
contest coming into the game.
Behrend travels to Pitt-Greensburg
for league action this Saturday,
January 23, and then to Hilbert for a
non-league game neext Wednesday.
Behrend's next home game is on
Staurday, January 30, when Laßoche
visits Erie Hall.