■ —" ~ JL
The Behrend pennStatx
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Beacon
Erie, PA 16563 March 25, 1999 Volume XLVII No. 24 ■' ’
Bob Woodward compares Watergate and Clinton scandals
by Ryan Cannon
staff writer
Behrcnd was honored this past
Thursday to welcome to campus the
Assistant Managing Editor of Inves
tigative News for the Washington
Post, Bob Woodward. Woodward was
possibly the most impressive figure
in the school’s 98/99 speaker series.
He gained vast popularity in the 1970 s
for his Pulitzer Prize winning role in
the infamous Watergate investigation
that resulted in the resignation of
President Richard Nixon.
Woodward’s speech intrigued an au
dience of various ages. His topic was
the presidential scandals of Nixon and
Bill Clinton, and he also commented
on today’s media in general. Wood
ward had some fascinating thoughts
concerning two scandals that resulted
in extremely different outcomes.
The story of Bob Woodward and
Watergate began in 1972 when Nixon
received over 60% of the popular vote
and was re-elected to a second term.
Woodward was a young, charismatic,
investigative journalist for the Wash
ington Post who teamed up with fel
low reporter Carl Bernstein to unearth
the defining story of his career. Nixon
had received illegal campaign contri
butions during his election, and
A whole
Behrend
by Ayodelc Jones
managing editor
Fifteen Behrend students were
given the opportunity to experience
first hand the culture and the people
of Spain and during Spring Break
from March 5 to March 15. While
many Bchrend students were basking
in the sun and relaxing, the learning
experience for these fifteen students
crossed international borders, as stu
dents, led by Spanish professor Juan
Fernandez, embarked on an experi
ence of comparative cultural analysis
and appreciation.
The week began with the students’
arrival in Madrid, where they first vis
ited the famous Prado Museum
(which holds the works of many cel
ebrated artists such as Goya and van
der Stock).
The National Palace was a delight
for many with the rooms made of
marble and porcelain which were or
nately decorated with various fine
fabrics such as silk tapestries that
hung from every room. The sheer
magnificence of the Palace, was cer
tainly visually pleasing. While it left
many in awe and amazement, it was
a reminder of the dominance and
wealth of Spain’s previous royal fami
lies.
Next on the country tour was the
city of Toledo, where much of the
city’s architecture is of Roman and
Moorish origin. One of the outstand
ing characteristics of Toledo is the
Cathedral. It was completed in 1493
shortly after his vic
tory, became quite
paranoid that this
truth would be dis
covered.
Nixon began tape
recording anyone
that he suspected of
leaking information.
At some point in
time, information
the
concerning
Nixon scandals was
given to Woodward
and Bernstein by a
secret source: the
mysterious Deep
Throat. The identity
of Deep Throat has
never been revealed
and is only known by
two people, Wood
ward and Bernstein.
Given the gift of
this secretive infor
mation, Woodward
and Bernstein vigor
ously investigated the
scandal and thor- photo by Mke Coursey
oughly researched all Journalist Bob Woodward speaks in Reed Comnrvons
of their information.
Their findings led to a chain of events
that forced Nixon to resign from the
presidency. Wocxlward and Bernstein
were awarded the prestigious Pulitzer
new world:
visits Spain
and is one of the most original cathe
drals built in the gothic era in Spain.
The Cathedral has twenty-two chap
els and is decorated with a large num
ber of artworks from artists of the
lime. Despite the beauty of this old
city, Toledo is known for its expert
craftsmanship with precious metals,
such as iron, steel, bronze and cop
per. Sword making is very famous in
this town, although this is a somewhat
outdated craft. It is geared toward
tourists and many of the students were
able to purchase swords and replicas
of famous swords.
As the students traveled further
south, they visited the city of Granada,
which is most noted for its 14th cen
tury castle fortress, the Alhambra. The
Alhambra Palace looks over the city
of Granada and is one of the most fa
mous examples of Moorish architec
ture. The Alhambra consists of palaces
built by several rulers. Each is made
up of fountains, lush gardens and
courtyards filled with orange trees.
The Alhambra is a representation of
man’s ultimate desire to be one with
their God and nature.
Rounding out the end of the week
was a visit to Professor Juan
Fernandez’s house in Escafluela. Af
ter a short visit to the family olive oil
factory, students relaxed and dined on
unique Spanish dishes, such as the
famous paella, while they listened to
the music of Fernandez’s friends and
family. There was no better way to end
a week of travel and fun.
VIVAESPANAH!
n- student
ested for
rinating
Prize for their outstanding achieve-
ment in journalism.
In his speech at Behrend, Wood
ward followed a brief summary of his
England study
by Nicole McGee
staff writer
On J uly 4,1999, a group of approxi
mately 20 Behrend students will be
traveling to England as part of the
program headed by Dean Baldwin,
acting director of Humanities and
Social Sciences. The students will be
enrolled for classes at Nene College,
North Hampton, England.
The study abroad program in North
Hampton, a town in the center of En
gland, will be five weeks long.
Those five weeks are loaded with
challenging academic courses and
diverse cultural excursions.
From a course list of fourteen
classes, students have the option of
choosing up to nine credits of study
(all classes are three credits).
Course options involves such
classes as Ecology of the UK and
Creative Dramatics. The courses
are part of a wide ranging curricu
lum that will offer a specific focus
on through the English culture.
Credits will transfer back to Be
hrend in the Fall.
Students from Behrend will be in
teracting with other students in
volved in the same program; these
other students will be coming from
as far as Florida, Canada, Italy, Po
land, and Russia.
During week three of the five week
program, students will be participat
ing in a week long field trip. The trips
have been planned to coordinate with
specific classes within the program,
but students had to choose which of
these trips they will be taking. The
four trip options are: The West Coast
of Ireland, The Scottish Cairngorms,
The English Lake District, or
London’s West End.
apologized. Instead,
he simply created excuses to justify
his actions.
Secretly tape-recorded conversa
tions were famous parts of both presi-
abroad program takes shape
Matt Jones, 04 DUS, explains, “I
chose the Ireland trip because I want
to gel as much diversity as possible
out of this experience.”
The cost of these mips within a trip
is included as part the tuition of the
program. Throughout this week-long
break front classes, cultural events
like workshops with professional En
glish writers and actors, an evening
of traditional Irish music, a tour of
some of the highest mountains of the
British Isles, and visits to areas as
photo by Andrea Zaffino
Dr. Dean Baldwin heads up the
England study abroad program
sociated with writers like
Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Ruskin
will be taking place.
During their weeks at Nene Col
lege, students will be living in what
the English call “en-suites”. The
suites include individual bathroom
and bedroom facilities, as well as a
kitchen and lounge to be shared by
six suite-mates. The cost of these ac
commodations is also included within
the tuition price.
Two professors from Nene College
Movie
review: The Basketball
Corruptor
role in this major event
in United States his
tory with a comparison
to the recent Clinton
scandals. He noted
that perhaps the most
significant factor in
these scandals was
concrete evidence.
Nixon told people
to lie for him and ac
tual evidence served as
proof. No evidence
exists that can prove
Clinton asked anyone
to lie. Also, Clinton is
a completely different
person than Nixon and
received public sup
port throughout the
scandal. This public
support of Clinton,
which surely affected
the outcome of his
scandal to some de
gree, largely existed
because he apologized
to the American public
for his wrong doings.
Nixon never really
dential scandals. To this day, new
Nixon tapes are still being released,
and Woodward joked that, for jour
nalists they arc “the gift that keeps on
giving.” He even added that Nixon
was the Linda Tripp of Watergate.
Clinton’s most serious illegal activ
ity may involve his 1996 campaign
funds which Woodward claimed won
him the election through thirty-sec
ond television commercials. Because
of the magnitude and result of the
Monica Lewinsky scandal, this might
not be investigated until after his term,
if at all.
In 1994, Woodward interviewed
Clinton and members of the White
House staff for his popular and con
troversial book, The Agenda. It was
about Clinton’s first eighteen months
as president. Woodward pointed out
during his speech that Clinton is a
smart man and knows how to deal
with people. He also said that
Clinton’s most significant achieve
ment was fixing the economy, and this
is what he should be remembered for.
Woodward then began to discuss
today’s media. He said that there
should be more important reporting,
and that many prominent stories arc
overlooked. He feels that the future
of journalism is at stake. Because
Woodward corn, page 2
visited Behrend recently to speak to
students about the trip and answer any
questions they might have had. Dr.
Cliff Dedynski and Dr. Patrick Quinn
gave a first-hand account of North
Hampton. They informed the students
that the town is about the size of Erie.
They also discussed the program it
self. Dr. Cliff Dedynski and Dr.
Patrick Quinn explained, “We tried
to keep all extra costs out of this pro
gram. You arc not going to be paying
a whole lot more than what you have
already once you come to En
gland.”
Dean Baldwin agrees that for the
price of the program the trip is “one
of the best abroad programs I’ve
ever seen.” Baldwin has been head
ing the group of students by relay
ing news from England to them,
reserving group discount tickets
with an airline, keeping them in
formed via e-mail and group meet
ings, and taking care of countless
other details involved with the trip.
Given typical costs of many abroad
programs, this program does offer
students unique and valuable op
portunities. Still, a tuition mini
mum of $2OOO, plus plane ticket is
a great deal of money for most Be
hrend students.
Misty Holt, 08 Psych Ed, says, “ I
applied for a loan and a scholarship.
I’m working four jobs while being a
full time student with a dual major.
It’s not easy!”
Greg Lukjanczuk, 03 Bus, adds,
“My dad will pay for it if I get above
a 3.0 [this semester]. If I don’t, I have
to pay for it myself.”
While many students will watch the
sky for fireworks this July, these stu
dents, Dr. Baldwin and his wife will
be IN the sky, flying to England.
Behrend may
benefit from
proposed
State budget
by Mike Frawley
assistant editor
in funding for new projects that
could greatly benefit students on
campus, along with the commu
nity as a whole.
The Community Coalition, a
local citizen actkrtt group, will
be holding informational meet
ings about the projects that ef
fect the Brie areainthe upcotfc. v
ing state capital budget
These he held'
on Wednesday, March 31 from
4pm to 9am at the Brie Insur- !
ance Exchange Auditorium, and
again on Wednesday, April 7
from 4pm to 9pm at the Blasco
Memorial Library. Anyone who,
would like to attend should call
454-3878 to preregister and re
ceive an informational packet
about therrteetings.
The five projects that arc in
the proposed budget are: die
Maintenance and Police and
Safely Building, the Otto Be
hrend Building Renovation, the
Research and Economic Devel
opment Center; the Erie Hall
Renovation, and the Erie
Knowledge Park - Part 11. These
projects will greatly improve the
campus, and the over all learn
ing experience for students.
The Research and Economic
Development Center, with it’s
$3O million price tag, will have
the greatest impact on the stu
dent body.
With this money Behrend will
build a state-of-the-art building
for research and development,
and which would also house the
School of Engineering and En
gineering Technology, the
constructed in 1962, which
badly needs renovation.
The meetings about these
projects are very important:
From these meetings the gover
nor and state legislature get a
clearer view of what local pri
orities feu funding are. Students
should attend and give their
views cm how this money should
be allocated