News and Weather New programs have great impact on incoming freshmen b\ Mike Frawlev managing editor The start of the new school year has brought many changes to Be hrend. One change, that has a great impact on the class of incoming freshmen, is the newly created Fresh man Seminar program and its part ner program, the First-Year Interest Groups. The purpose of the Freshman Seminar program is to give students a chance to learn more about their chosen field, while working closely with other freshmen with the same interests. Each of the schools at Be hrend have their own seminars, with educational goals that correspond to their individual fields of study. These goals include increasing skills associated with the Fields of study in the seminars, exploring job oppor tunities within their field, and to pro mote a better understanding of what is involved with each field of study. It is hoped that this program will give students direction in choosing a field of study and their future careers. uestion 0) What was the best or about the new school “All the nice young ladies.” Andrew Kish, freshman “Seeing my friends again.” “Waking up for class and getting my Ethernet hooked up.” “Room and suite mates are really cool.” Rachael Briggs, freshman “All the rain.” “Parties, boys and all the nice people.” Jesse Kirkpatrick, freshman The First Year Seminars that are being offer to freshmen this semes ter include : The Business Enterprise, Introduction to Mechanical and Plas tics Engineering Technology, Intro duction to Engineering Design, Ap plications of Psychology, Writing Behrend, Biology Interest, Science and the Successful Student, and the Health Sciences Seminar. Along with the great education op portunities that these new seminar courses will offer to incoming fresh men, they are required for gradua tion and students entering the col lege this year. Linked with the seminars is an other new program for the fall called the First-Year Interest Groups, or FIGs for short. The FIGs, which are a completely volunteer program, are designed to bring together a group of students with similar interests in a area of academic study. These stu dents are linked to take a group of courses together, a Freshman semi nar course and a supporting course that goes along with the seminar, such as English 15 or Math 11 0. An upperclass Peer Mentor is assigned Stacey Erzen, junior. Charlie Utz, junior Katie Braymer, freshman to each FIG to help the members of the FIG in a wide range of subjects, such as adjusting to campus life and problems with classes. The goal of the FIGs is to help stu dents adjust to life at Behrend, strengthen lies among students, en hance students' interaction with fac ulty members both in and out of the classroom, and increase students’ in volvement on campus. Ken Miller, Interim Dean of Student Affairs, when asked about the new programs, said, "the main idea is to build strong relationships between freshmen in the seminars and linked courses. It is exciting that 200 students choose to participate in this program. It is a good opportunity to explore their in terests together with an upperclass student." Another goal of this pro gram is to provide another avenue for commuter students to get in- volved in on-campus activities. Both of these programs were de signed to help Behrend grow and ex pand as we enter the 21st century. worst thing year? 8/23/99 Report of a work study student feeling faint at Dobbins. Police and Safety responded to find student awake and alert. Police and Safety requested EMS be contacted. Brookside/Emergycare responded and patient was transported to Hamot Medical Center for follow-up. 8/25/99 Students in Almy had taken the smoke detector apart. R.A. on duty assisted Police and Safety had students put it together and trouble cleared. 8/29/99 Complainant reported burning food in the microwave oven in his room activating the smoke detector. The room was checked and the smoke dectector reset 8/31/99 While on patrol coming from F-lot, Police and Safety was stopped by female student asking that they give her a “ride” to the Registar’s office because she didn t feel like walking. Student was informed that escorts are not provided for that reason. FRIDAY.. .SUNNY. HIGH 80 TO 85. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND BE COMING EAST LESS THAN 10 MPH. FRIDAY NIGHT... MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW AROUND 60. lolice And Safety REPORT Weather SATURD AY. . .MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH 80 TO 85 SATURDAY NIGHT.. .PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW NEAR 60 PRECIPIT SUNDAY...PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S.