PENN
Beacon
Black History Month: a chance to celebrate
by Danielle Marshall
staff writer
February is a month that brings not
only the day to celebrate our loved
ones, but also an opportunity to re
flect on Black history and its mean
ing in our society today. Behrend will
have a chance to focus on issues from
racial discrimination to the apprecia
tion of African-American culture,
such as music. Music will be the as
pect of the African-American culture
that will kick oft our events.
On February 12th, The National
Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
and Educational Equity Programs are
sponsoring a Jazz Calc at 7:30 p.m.
in Bruno’s. There will be a variation
of jazz: music, along w ith free lood
and an opportunity tor students to cite
their own poetry or poetry ot other
people.
On February 19th. Student Activi
ties is sponsoring the play "The Meet
ing” performed by three actors trom
Pinpoint Theater. The play consists ot
Philadelphia Flyer’s sports
speaks to Behrend athletes
by Rose Forrest
copy editor
Tuesday night the Behrend athlet
ics program brought in Dr. Joel Fish,
a renowned sports psychologist, to
talk to students about mental pre
paredness. The 44-year-old sports
psychologist for the Philadelphia Fly
ers has given over 200 presentations
throughout the country, teaching stu
dents how to improve the mental part
of their game. Fish played baseball at
Clark University and runs a center tor
sports psychology in Philidelphia.
Brian Streeter, the Athletic Director
here at Behrend, hoped this program
would, “benefit student athletes.”
Freshmen
by Nicole McGee
staff writer
On a recent Wednesday, while most
high school students were eating
lunch, a concerned group of Behrend
faculty and administrators were ques
tioning them. The students under
analysis were Behrend’s upcoming
freshmen. The season of the Fresh
man Seminars is upon the adminis
tration, and planning is underway.
Freshman Seminars will be one
credit classes that upcoming freshmen
must take to fill a graduation require
ments. All four college divisions of
Behrend College will be responsible
for the coordination and style of their
own seminar classes. There will be
around fifty seminar opportunities per
year; but it’s recommended that fresh
men schedule the seminar of their
choice in the fall, when options will
s'* /
Erie, PA 16563
a fictional meeting between Malcolm
X and Martin Luther King. This event
will be held in
Reed 117 at
8:30 p.m. “It’s
really good.
It's a fantastic
program,”
stated Janique
Caffie, Direc
tor of Educa-
tional Equity
Programs.
The Asso-
ciation of
Black Colle
gians (ABC)
is planning to
have some
cultural mov-
ies shown in
the MCC Re-
Janique Caffie and Jennifer
Fontecchio in the MCC office
source Cen
ter. On Feb
ruary 11th at
7:00 p.m., the
movie
"Glory" will be shown. On February
Fish, who is partially funded by the
NCAA, explained that "sports psy
chology is about the mental.”
Fish feels that mental preparedness
can help students in realms in and out
side of athletics. One ot the goals of
his program was to bring Behrend stu
dents "up to date in the field ot sports
psychology.” This field includes top
ics such as mental preparedness, men
tal toughness, positive attitude, goal
setting, clutch performance, commu
nication, team work, focusing, relax
ation, visualization, leadership, and
motivation. He reports, "if we can re
lax we can perform better on the field,
in class, or in social situations...you
can’t enjoy an athletic experience
seminar offered for credit
be greatest
The seminar itself will serve to pre
pare freshmen for the academic aspect
of college and familiarize them with
their chosen major. Other benefits will
include familiarity with other students
and with faculty in their academic pro
gram.
The issue of freshmen undecided on
their major was brought up at
Wednesday’s meeting. It seems rea
sonable for these freshmen to use a
given seminar as an information
source. It may help them to decide on
a major.
Megan Sweeney, 02 Comm, agrees
with this concept, “I think the semi
nar class is a good idea because it al
lows freshmen to see what their major
is going to be like. If they are unde
cided, it gives insight also.”
While the seminars must have aca
demic content; a variety of resources,
Police and Safety Varsify
Suspicious male
siphoning gas
February 4, 1999 Volume XLVII No. 19
25th, the movie "The Diary of Miss
Jane Pittman” will be shown at 7:00
Photo by Jason Blake
Rollerink.
For these activities, please sign up in
the MCC Resource Center. ABC will
psychologist
when your stomach is in knots.”
One aspect Fish emphasized
throughout his talk was the idea that
improving just 3,5, or 7 % is impor
tant. He described how these small
improvements can be applied to his
‘big five mental skills’- "confidence,
composure, concentration, commu
nication, cohesion. ’
Fish interacted with the audience
to examplify these topics. He showed
ink blots and asked the audience
what they saw. This illustrated a point
he made about individual differences
which tied into finding your own way
to improve confidence. His discus
sion went on from mental blocks to
self confidence and the delevolpment
like guest speakers, may be used to
add diversity to the classes. Senior
Associate Provost and Dean, Jack
Burke, informed faculty that despite
the confusion, implications, and con
cerns of planning the seminars, re
search from other institutions show
that freshman seminars like these turn
out to be what students like most
about their first year college academic
experience.
Behrend freshman John Piasecki,
02 Bio, agrees, “I took a class last
semester that was about studying
strategies; it gave you tips on study
ing and time management and things
that freshmen need to know. I loved
it. It was awesome.”
Some people are questioning the
need of these seminars at a college
the size of Behrend. The idea was
originally a solution to the large class
size of University Park. While Burke
also be sponsoring their annual
Kuumba night in Reed 117 on a date
to be announced later. This night fea
tures the crafts and talents of many
Behrend students who are not
ashamed to show off a little bit of
what they’ve got. These talents range
from poetry reading, acting, singing,
or playing instruments. All are wel
come to attend. Keep a lookout in the
Behrend Beacon for a writing contest
ABC is sponsoring, where you can
win a $ 10 gift certificate to Behrend’s
bookstore.
Along
with this,
there will
be a
chance for
students
on and off-
campus to
dine to-
gether at
Damon’s
at 7:00
p.m. on
February
19th. After
The Multi-Cultural Council will be
teaming up with some of its organi
zations to bring to Behrend a month
full of entertainment, guest speakers,
and association among our own. “The
times and dates of events will be
posted around campus and in the Re
source Center,” stated MCC Presi
dent, Jennifer Fontecchio, 07, history.
This month will supply an atmo
sphere where memories are visual
ized, history is reflected, and fellow
ship is required.
We can reflect this month on these
which on
February
20th, there
will be a
night of
skating at
Skate Way
of a "mental game plan”. The plan in
cluded positive self talk and courage.
He suggested athletes, "leave the
critical voice in the locker room.” An
other suggestion he made was to
“think of three things you did good
that day.” Fish encouraged the ath
letes stating, "nobody in this room is
a chocker; you can’t convince me oth-
erwise.”
To help Behrend athletes cope in
pressure situations, Fish took a vol
unteer from the audience. He in
structed a track and field member to
rapidly, and unsuccessfully, throw a
agrees, “Our class size is no where
near their class size, “ he also adds
that “smaller seminars will have a lot
more benefits than those larger
ones...they will help students sort out
career choices, major choices early
on.”
Courtney Vetter, 02 Comm, sup
ports the idea. “I think the seminar is
a really good idea because it gives you
an inside on your major before you
start taking classes and start into it.”
One issue brought up at
Wednesday’s meeting was conflict
ing interest of students. Suppose a
student athlete wanted to schedule
both an athlete seminar and a semi
nar appropriate to his/her major.
Faculty can only advise, not mandate,
a must see
Vandalism incidents
rise in South Lot
by Will Jordan and Rose Forrest
editor in chief and copy editor
In recent weeks, students have re
ported an increasing number of break
ins and incidents of vandalism in the
South Parking Lot. Roughly ten cars
a week have been defaced. Incidents
include keying, broken antennai and
stolen stereos. More serious acts in
volve broken windshields and log
lights. These acts have been sporadic,
with weeks of no reports followed by
an abundance of incidents. Students
in the Beluend apartments are con
cerned for their cars. Jonna Zi/.ak. 06
Psych explained. "Its not lair that I'm
paying this much for parking and I’m
not getting adequate security lor my
Continued talks at Joint Residence
Council meetings have revolved
around the need tor special lending.
Joint Residence Council President,
Doug Watkins, is sending letters to
Bchrcnd administrators as well as
Graham Spanier, President ol Penn
Behrend students have
edge on research
Hammermill ibrary told the Beacon
that since she has been there in June
of 1998, they have had no problems
with Behrond students returning
books. The library is open until 2 am
Sunday through Thursday and has
modified hours on the weekend.
The Nash library at Gannon has
similar stipulations. Students can
borrow 2 books for up to 2 weeks, and
are able to renew them twice. Bob
Dobies/., circulation librarian at the
Nash library said that in order to keep
an effective line of communication
by Elizabeth Guelcher
layout editor
When it comes to research, Behrend
students have an advantage that often
goes unnoticed. Within 12 miles ot
campus are two major college librar
ies: Hammermill library at
Mercyhurst College, and Nash library
at Gannon University. Both libraries
extend borrowing priveledges to Be
hrend students and both are accessible
by public transportation. The
Hammermill library allows Behrend
borrowers to take out 2 books at a time
for up to 28 days, with the option to
renew each book twice. Mary
Mcgrath, circulation librarian at
Men’s and
women’s basket
ball leading their
divisions
. *.
Penn State Behrend’s studio theatre
presents The Visit. Story page 8
'■ $93
Slate University. The letters ask for
$3,000 in additional funding to in
corporate a surveillance system into
the patroi of the upper lots. He also
hopes that by explaining these issues
to the officials that officer patrols
will be increased. Watkins reports,
“...no one ever sees what happens or
what is going on. That is where the
surveillance will come in
handy...even though the surveillance
will not stop the attacks, hopefully
they will be able to find characteris
tics of the vandals.” Police and
Safety would then be able to use the
tapes to be able to chart the specific
times the crimes are occurring and
boost patrols.
Police and Safely has declined to
comment on the rise in vandalism
until the return of Police and Safety
Director, Bill Donahue, in two
weeks. JRC urges students to keep
an eye out lor suspicious people and
report all incidences ol vandalism to
Police and Safety.
open, ho tries to maintain a rapport
with librarians at other college librar
ies. The Gannon library is open until
midnight Sunday thorough Thursday.