Interracial friendships at Behrend: Why can’t we just get along?
By Danielle Marshall
staff writer
That’s what Rodney King said, but
what King doesn’t know is that
students here at Penn-State Behrend
are getting along just fine. Race does
not dictate the boundaries of our
friendships, our study partners, or
even our roommates. It gives a chance
to interact and experience people who
are not like ourselves, whether it be
the color of our skin, the texture of
our hair, or our stature. Race can also
be defined as any class of people
having similar activities or interests.
Apparently, it’s not just about whether
we look alike or not, but it also
concerns the parties we go to together
or the sports teams we try out for. The
Multi-Cultural Council at Behrend
sponsors many events, in which all
students can participate and mingle
with faculty, staff, fellow students,
and community members of all kinds
of races. As a result, interracial ties
Snowball dance returns to Behrend
by Will Jordan
editor in cheif
The 1999 Snowball Dance will be
held March 19 in Erie Hall from Bpm
to midnight. The dance began as an
annual event years ago that slowly
disappeared. This year Student
Activities and Lion Ambassadors
decided to reincorporate the dance
into an annual Behrend event. The
Snowball Dance is a semi formal
occasion. Tickets are $3 per person
and $5 per couple and can be
purchased at the Rub Desk.
Like homecoming dances, there
will be a Snowball Queen and King
that will be crowned at the dance.
Nominations were collected during
are formed and begin relationships
that last for a lifetime.
Jason Morales,
stated,"College is all about meeting
different types of people, especially
by living and learning all about them.
I’m cool with everyone.” Demeca
Howard, 02, BLASC, stated, “My
personal interaction with people
outside my race is positive because I
went to a high school where there
were only thirty black students out of
900. So I’m used to it and I get along
with everybody."
Ken Miller, Interim Dean of
Students, stated, “Here at Behrend the
residence halls offer a great
opportunity for diverse interactions
because of the closeness. In a
classroom, you can’t really speak to
each other.” John Veri, 08 MIS stated
“I don’t give a f*** what color vou
are. I’m sure it matters for some
people, but f*** it.”
On the other hand, some students
feel differently. "A interracial
the week fromboth students and clubs
The nominees for King are George
Calvin, 10 EET, Darren Italiani, an
undergraduate in Gen Arts and
Sciences, Karl Gressley, an
undergraduate BLASC major, and
Eric Moore, 04 Plastics. Moore stated
"I was nominated by the treasurer for
SPC, Lori Viola. I was kind of
surprised by the nomination but it was
very nice and 1 am excited."
The nominees for Queen are Jill
Page, an undergraduate in Bio, Jackie
Sanfratello, an undergrad in Business,
Katie Weigold. 02 Humanities and
Social Sciences, Maria Colvin, an
undergraduate in MIS, Leslie
Dickinson, 02 Plastics, and Sara
Lawrence, 04 Psych. Dickinson said,
relationship is hard to establish at
Bchrend. I think that in some places
it exists comfortably and in other
places, it’s more tense. It is inevitable
that these relationships exist because
the problem of racism still exists. The
community and even the world views
what people think." stated Kery
Hinkson, 07 English. Kyung Hong, 02
Comm, stated "My boyfriend is
Columbian. Personally, I think you
can fall in love with anyone. Some
people are open-minded, especially
Koreans. Those people who aren’t as
open-minded see going out with a
Columbian as weird. They think we
are not good enough Columbians. It's
kind of hard for us. No matter how
good they are, that’s the w ay they see
it.”
In the words of Michael Jackson,
“If you’re thinking about being mv
brother, it don't matter if you're black
or white
“A friend of mine nominated me. I
wasn't planning on going to the dance
until 1 was nominated. It was a
surprise.” Lawrence said. "My
sorority. Alpha Sigma. Alpha,
nominated me. I'm looking toi ward
to having a good time at the dance and
I am extremely honored to be
nominated. I hope that it is good PR
for greeks.”
The voting for the nominees of the
Snowball royalty will take place on
March 17-19 from 11 am to 4pm in the
Reed Wintergarden. Any students can
vote. They will have to present their
ID in order to vote for King and
Queen.
CALk '* f--••/• 17 ' MO FEE-4U TO APPLY, OR r '
OUR WEBSITE i i^WVU.AMIERICANEXPRESS.COM/STUDfJ^Y
News
A look in the Multi-CulturalCouncil office
Thursday March 4, 1999 - The Behrend College Beacon - Page 3
■
THE LOGAN WINTERGARDEN SERIES
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TUESDAY, MARCH 16
BRING YOUR LUNCH TO THE
PENN STATE BEHREND WINTERGARDEN
AND ENJOY WORLD CLASS PERFORMANCES
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