The Behrend PENNSTATE Ji
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Beacon "Jy -
February 18, 1999 Volume XLVII No. 20 . : '-'
Race is not a factor in
Behrend admissions
by Will Jordan
editor in chief
Affirmative action, which began
with the Civil Rights Act ot 1964,
greatly affected the hiring of minori
ties in the private sector at its outset,
but in recent years has slowly fallen
to the wayside. Affirmative action
tried to provide equal opportunities
for minorities, women, and the dis
abled in the work force and school
ing. To find out more about affirma
tive action at Behrend an interview
was conducted with Janique Caffie.
who is the Director of educational F.q
uity Programs.
Caffie stated. "We have a policy
that we do not discriminate against
any student regardless ol their race,
gender, sexual prelercnce, or back
ground. II you want to say that that s
our affirmative action policy, then yes
we have one." However Callie be
lieves that affirmative action does
exist in some wa\s at Behrend. "In
terms of what the original de lin it ion
of affirmative action is. as lar as cre-
Review:
at the Studio Theatre
by Valerie Trost
staff writer
On Tuesday night, I had the privi
lege of being one of the first to view
Behrend’s spring production The
Visit. It is necessary to first congratu
late director Tony Elliot and the en
tire cast for successfully executing
this challenging and unique produc
tion. The Visit is like nothing I have
ever seen before.
The production is a disturbingly
entertaining story of betrayal and cor
ruption. It takes the audience on an
unforgettable, strange, and frighten
ing journey into the very darkest side
of human nature.
Sullen shadows are cast on the
ating an even and level playing tield,
admissions has standards for all po
tential students and they look lor stu
dents who meet those standards."
Caffie defended the concept of af
firmative action as a national and uni
versity policy, stating that affirmative
action is not just for people of color.
"College life is supposed to be a mi
crocosm of the real world which is
very diverse,” Caffie added. College
is supposed to prepare people for the
real world and what lies ahead. It is
rare to work in an environment where
the people are not different. The U.S.
is not a global body if affirmative ac
tion goes away, continued Callie.
The University ol California has
done away with affirmative action. "1
do not think that it has eliminated their
ability to receive funds from the gov
ernment.” stated Caffie. I lie amount
of money they receive depends on
enrollment. The restructuring of fed
eral programs would stale who gels
aid. The people that lose out are the
students if the money to support them
is not there; students lose out more
than the colleges and universities.
Step Into the
town of Gullen, Germany, as the
people wait in anticipation for the re
turn of the enormously wealthy Claire
Zachanassian. The town has been
somehow mysteriously cursed and
left in economic ruin. Claire was born
and raised in Gullen and the towns
people are desperately hoping she will
come to their aid.
She is more than willing to help but
wants something in return. This large
sum of money will be given to the
town on one horrifying condition.
Mistreatment in the past has made her
determined for revenge, and she
wants “justice” for her crimes.
This desperation leads family and
friends to twist and turn themselves
into something shockingly evil. Mo-
Marijuana smell Message in a basketballwin
reported Bottle AMCC Title
Erie, PA 16563
Police and
Safety:
Caffie believes that affirmative ac
tion, as it is often currently practiced,
is not working. It shouldn’t mean
quotas. Schools should not forcibly
diversify their student population.
They should diversify their campuses
through recruitment plans, locating
students and make them want to come
to their school, said Caffie.
She also talked about the lack of
role models for students of color at
Behrend. “There really aren’t that
many professors or administrators for
the students to look up to,” Calfie
said. She feels that if there were more
role models for them to look up to,
the students would be more willing
to stay at Behrend instead of transfer-
t ‘Strep’ is a bacterial infection
■with symptoms such as a severe sore
throat, fever, headaches, dizziness,
Jightheadedness, swollen and sore
glands, and some cold symptoms. It
pan also cause a second infection like
influenza because it can depress the
When asked about the idea of afl'ir- immune system.
mativc action being a win-win situa
tion. Cat l ie said, "it is how people ap
ple affirmative action. We need to be
able to openly discuss race. I would
Affirmative action continued
page 2
Janique Caffie Director of
Educational Equity programs
photo by Jason Blake
Shadows
rality and humanity are suddenly
questioned when the villagers find
themselves consumed with greed and
temptation
Angel Moreno gives an intensely
sharp and chilling performance of
Claire Zachanassian. Her movement,
expressions, and words remain pitch
black throughout, creating a strong
sense of mystery and fear. Showing
no weaknesses, she stands above the
town through this journey of despair.
This is Angel’s debut in the Studio
Theatre although it is obvious that she
is no stranger to the stage.
Playing the other central role is
Theatre continued page 2
Flu and strep season
strikes Behrend
iy Jennifer Hemme
>taff writer
Behrentfs Health and Wellness
Center is treating approximately
twenty-five student# a day for influ
enza and strep throat infections ac
2ording to Patty Pasky-McMahon,
Director of the Health and Wellness
Center.
Influenza, or ‘flu’, is a viral in
jection causing some symptoms
jsimilar to a strep throat infection
(sore throat, fever, and headaches).
Some other symptoms are: a very wet
jo very dry painful cough, a runny
inose, body aches, and chills. Some
times there can be vomiting and other
Abdominal complaints accompany-
Listening to all that jazz
hy Danielle Marshall
stall' writer
Last Friday, Behrend had the privi
lege of enjoying the smooth, relax
ing sounds of jazz musie. The deli
cious finger-foods from Bruno's, and
the reflective and studious writings
and readings of our talented students
were also a part of the event. This
event was sponsored by the National
Society of Black Engineers and
Janique Caffie, Director of Educa
tional Equity Programs.
Many students read poetry of fa-
Career
sponsoring Career Fair
by Michael Frawley
assistant editor
The Career Development Center
is going to be sponsoring a Business,
Humanities, and Science Career Fair
to be held on Thursday, February 25,
1999. The purpose of the career fair
is to bring students and faculty to
gether with company representatives
from a wide array of businesses. The
fair, which is to be held in the Reed
Commons, will run from 12 noon to
around spm.
Students from all of the colleges
and universities in the area; Gannon,
Mercyhurst, Allegheny, Edinboro,
along with Behrend, have been in
vited to participate in this event. The
fair offers a great opportunity for all
students to learn about different ca-
Review of
ing the other symptoms
If students have any of these spreading of these infections by thor*
symptoms, the Health and Wellness oughly washing hands before andaf-
Center can do an in-office strep ter mea is, and also after any contact
screen and iab test, and have the re- w j th nose ; 1
suits in less than ten minutes. If stu- Students shoubiatsQ get ad
dents do go to the Health and equate rest, eat a bsigpced diet, and
Wellness Center for treatment, the Hnpfr
staff will also do a physical exam,
write up a health history, and dispense , depressed by bad heafth habits,
prescription and non-prescription - “1W s .3MSIWe»I
medication. Center’s new hours are: By appoint-
If the strep throat test is positive,
the patient will be given appropriate
antibiotics. If it is negative, the pa
tient will be given prescription and
non-prescription medication like
ibuprofen, decongestants, and expec
torants in order to alleviate flu symp-
But the Health and Wellness
Center warns that students should not
self-prescribe antibiotics for influ
enza because they cannot tight the flu
Students can prevent the spread
of these illnesses by not sharing uten
sils, food, drinking glasses, and tooth-
mous authors and even pieces writ
ten from their imaginary minds.
Heather Robinson, 02 DUS, stated, "It
was fun, but when I had to speak I
was nervous. But being around a lot
of people who were supportive made
me feel good."
Everyone enjoyed the hysterical
jokes from the comical Kim Moses,
05 MET. and the deep and intensive
words expressed from NSBE presi
dent Russell Jean-Baptiste. "Behrend
might be small and 1 know sometimes
we say ‘we hate it,’ but there truly are
some beautiful people here," stated
Development Center
reer options and to touch base with
various employers.
The Career Development Center
has created a website that outlines
what students can expect at the fair
and how they can prepare for it. The
website, http://www.pserie.psu.edu/
career/bfair.htm, has a listing of all
of the employers planning to attend,
along with links to the websites of
the employers. The site also has other
valuable information on what stu
dents can do to prepare, such as what
kind of clothing to wear and brush
ing up on interview skills.
While an event like this would
seem to be more geared toward se
niors preparing to enter the job mar
ket, the CDC wants all students, re
gardless of semester standing to
come to the fair. Mary Beth Peterson,
Director of Career Development and
Men’s and
women’s
tv® '
I •
brushes. They can also prevent
ment, Monday-Thursday...B:ooAM
-8:00PM, Friday..,B:ooAM-S:OOPM.
The Walk-in Clinic hours are: Mon
day-Thursday...s:OOPlyl-8:OOPM,
Saturday... 11:OOAM-3:OOPM. The
Health and Wellness Center is located
in the Carriage House next to the
Bursar's Office. Phone 898-6217 oi
FAX 898-6924 for an appointment oi
more information. Students livin{
off-campus are welcome.
Russell Jean-Baptiste, 04 MIS
The Jazz Cafe turned out to be a
great success according to these stu
dents. Alejandro Perez, 07 MISBD,
staled "It was fun. I had a good time.
I wish it was longer." Charity Shadle,
02 Psych, stated "It was a lot of fun. 1
wish more people had showed up. The
audience was really receptive.” From
associating with on and olt-campus
students to enjoying the pleasant cafe
style atmosphere, Behrend students
reflected Black History and its mean
ing and purpose in our lives.
Placement, said, “however under
classmen are strongly urged to attend
to gather relevant information re
garding how their majors fit into the
world of work.” Underclassmen who
come to the fair will be able to find
out career paths for their major that
they might not have considered oth
erwise.
Peterson also suggested that, “ev
eryone attending the Fair should
bring plenty of resumes and be pre
pared to talk about themselves, their
abilities, and their skills.” The Ca
reer Fair will supply a first class op
portunity to learn about career
choices that students should take ad
vantage of. Any questions about the
Fair should be directed to Kevin
Moore or Mary Beth Peterson in the
Career Development Center.