The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, February 04, 1999, Image 1
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.