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Vol. XLVIII No. 8 14 pages
Governor Ridge dedicates Knowledge Center
by Mike Frawley
managing editor
On Monday, October 18, Governor
Tom Ridge was at Penn State Be
hrend to dedicate the new section of
Knowledge Park. "Knowledge
Park is exactly the kind of high
tech environment we want to
create in Pennsylvania," Gover
nor Ridge said during the dedi
cation ceremony at the Knowl
edge Center. Governor Ridge
delivered $2 million in capital
budget redevelopment assis
tance funds for Phase II con
struction at Knowledge Park.
Knowledge Park is a 200 acre
technology, research, and com
mercial park. It is expected to
create 3000 new jobs for the Erie area
when it is completed. Knowledge
Park is a joint program of Penn State
Behrend and the Greater Erie Indus
trial Development Corporation.
Currently Knowledge Park is home
to two businesses, Aalborg Industries
and the General Electric Transporta
tion Systems' e-business unit. These
two growing companies already em
ploy 170 people at Knowledge Park,
with an average salary of $45,000.
The concept of Knowledge Park is
to create an area for university related,
private, for-profit firms to achieve
high growth by working with the Uni
versity on research and intensive
knowledge based activities. The Erie
Community Coalition has ranked
Knowledge Park as Erie County's top
economic-development priority.
"Knowledge Park means being able
to keep our young people right here
at home. And it means more good,
Behrend rocks at Cider Rock
News and
reviews of
Cider Rock '99
by Jason Snyder
editor-in-chief
This past Friday, Behrend held a
fall version of Spring Fever in the
Apartment Quad, called Cider Rock.
The night featured three bands and
a comedian.
The Joint Residence Council and
Sigma Kappa Nu came up with the
idea and were joined by the Hall
Council, Kris Motta from Student
Activities and the Lion Entertain
ment Board to put the event together.
From 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., ac
tivities were planned, including
clubs and organizations hosting
events for those in attendance. The
booths held such events as face
painting, caramel apples, pinata,
bobbing for apples, a climbing wall
and a velcro wall.
At 4:00 p.m., the first band, Disco
Dynamite, opened the event. They
played until 6:00 p.m., when Jake's
Blues took the stage. At 8:00 p.m.,
comedian Joel Zimmer entertained
the Behrend students in attendance
and the show ended with Key West
Express at 9:00 p.m.
WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK
family-sustaining jobs for the people
of Northwest Pennsylvania," said
Ridge.
Ridge was last on campus 18
months ago as he helped to hoist the
first beam in the park's first building.
"...it means more good, family
sustaining jobs for the people of
Northwest Pennsylvania."
In August of 1998, Governor Ridge
released $8.5 million for Phase I of
the Knowledge Park construction.
This money, in combination with al
most $2.3 million in grants from the
Department of Community and Eco
nomic Development, went to the con
struction of the main building in the
park.
The Knowledge Center, which
Ridge dedicated on Monday, is a
shared conference facility with a large
meeting room for 60 people, a hoard
room that holds 14 people, a second
meeting room designed for 30 people,
and an informal greeting room with
a fireplace. The new Knowledge
Center has the latest in video telecom
munications and audio-visual equip
ment. It also has a catering kitchen
and a series of decks overlooking the
adjacent woods. The Greater Erie In
dustrial Development Corporation
and the Harhorcreek Historical Soci
President of the Joint Residence
Council Sean Mascoll, 07 Comm.,
commented on the night saying, "I
enjoyed the night and am really
pleased that we had a lot of support
from everyone who made Cider Rock
possible." He concluded, "I would
like to thank Patrick Kiely, Linda
Lombardi and Kris Motta, along with
LEB, Hall Council and Housing and
Food Services. They were in it from
the beginning, and without them, Ci
der Rock wouldn't have been pos
sible."
See page 2 for full POLICE AND SAFETY PAGE 2
weekend forecast.
ety have also decided to house their
offices in the Knowledge Center.
In addition to Governor Ridg(
participants in the dedication of ti
Knowledge Center included : Chn
Knoll, chairman of the Econom,
-Governor Tom Ridge
Development Corporation of Erie
County; Michael Mead, chairman of
the Greater Erie Industrial Develop
ment Corporation; Dr. John Lilley,
provost and dean of Penn State Be
!trend; Robert Ploehn, president of
GEIDC; and Edward Junker
chairman of the Penn State Board
of Trustees. The Penn State Be
hrend Pep Band, led by Dr. Gray
Viebranz, the director of instrument
ensembles at the College, played the
Star Spangled Banner for the event,
and The Reverend J. David
Mumford, pastor of Luther Memo
rial Church, gave the invocation.
"This is an investment in Erie's
Future," Governor Ridge said.
"This region is full cif promise. We
must continue to provide the re
sources that will allow the talented
men and women of this community
to thrive in the 21st century
economy.'
rms at Cider Rock this past Friday.
Jake's Blues shocks Cider Rock
by Leanne Acklin
staff writer
Out of the three bands that played
at Cider Rock this past weekend, none
pleased more than Jake's Blues. The
Erie based band drew a decent sized
crowd up to the apartments Friday,
and the rock fans were definitely able
to appreciate the sounds of the night.
Even though the rough-cut voice of
lead singer Jake Banta gave their
tunes the edge of the blues, the music
of this band screamed rock.
Banta, a definite crowd pleaser with
THE BEHREND BEACON INDEX
NEWS PAGE 1
EDITORIAL PAGE 4
CALENDAR PAGE 5
•• . . .
l•
• 11.
Friday, October 22, 1999
Governor Tom Ridge speaks at the dedication of the new Knowledge Center at
his bell bottoms, cowboy hat, and
"69" prominently displayed on the
face of his guitar, seemed to talk to
the audience through the strings of
his lead electric. As the bassist and
the drummer jammed in the back
ground, Banta stepped off the stage
to be closer to his listeners, probably
to emerge from out of the tent, which
Jason the bassist said was "too low."
But whatever the reason, the crowd
responded to Banta's skills with
"woo"'s and "yeah — s, and even the
occasional "sweet."
Jake's Blues cont. on page 2
MEM
WORLD AND NATION PAGE 6
NATIONAL CAMPUS NEWS PAGE 7
FEATURES PAGE 8
SPORTS .PAGE 10
The year of the Lion
by Sarah Edwards
staff writer
"We Want You!" That's the theme
of this year's athletic spirit drive and
the promotions department is work
ing on many exciting ideas and ac
tivities for Behrend Students. The
goal of sport promotions this year is
to create a real sense of spirit through
out campus.
Spectator Mania gives Behrend stu
dents a chance to win cash, and there
is a cash drawing and sign in at every
athletic event. Every Behrend student
is already registered in the drawing
once, but, can increase their chances
by signing in at the Pepsi Bin during
the first half of the athletic con - Is.
Mania winnings never go under $25.
At this weekend's game, Spectator
PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER
Matt Plizga participates in the
halftime cornerkick contest.
A Penn State Erie Student Publication
Armstrong,o6 MIS, says "I think
Spectator Mania is a good idea he
cause it increases attendance at the
sporting events and eveyhodv likes to
win money...so please pick me!"
During the winter sports season,
athletic promotions is organizing
campus-wide spirit stations that will
he open to students during the day of
a game. Various offices on campus
as well as student organizations will
have an opportunity to run their own
spirit station. The spirit station will
make students more aware of the ap
proaching game and build athletic
support.
Halftime at the various athletic con
tests give students a chance to partici
pate in contests that challenge them
and are also fun. The contests are
sponsored by local merchants and
campus establishments. The halftime
Contests for the fall encompass a va
riety of skills, but the winter half time
contests will involve giving a I3ehrend
student a chance to win S.S(NO if the)
can make a basket front hallcourt at
every home athletic contest. Eric
Wa110,03 Engineering, who recently
won a halftime contest feels "The
halftime contests are a good way to
stir up spirit on campus"
Organizations c:tn also create their
own theme night to coincide with an
athletic event. They will he able to
promote their group in a creative was
by choosing to do a theme night and
can also work with other organiza
tions to put on a theme night wind)
This will help to break the ice between
different clubs on campus and bridge
co-club-involvement for future Be
hrend activities.
Sports cont. on page 2
PENNSTAT
jo Erie