PAGE 2, THE BEHREND BEACON, NOVEMBER 19, 1999
NEWS AND WEATHER
Behrend offers course credit while traveling over spring break
by Rebecca Weindorf
staff writer
This year's alternative spring break
trips have more to offer than just a once
in-a-lifetime chance of seeing different
cities and countries - you can earn credit
doing it, too.
This year, the spring break trips in
clude a week-long trip to Washington,
D.C. (March 5-11) and a ten-day trip to
Spain (March 3-13) during spring break
in March.
Each individual trip can be scheduled
through the normal scheduling process.
The class for the trip to D.C. is Politi
cal Science 297(D), worth one credit;
the class for the Spain trip is Interna
tional Studies 497(C), worth three cred
its. Each class meets a series of times
to organize and become oriented with
the upcoming trips.
Politics in Washington D.C.
Dr. Robert Speel has been organiz
ing and heading this trip for three years
now. The purpose of the trip, he says, is
to orient students with how politics
work in the U.S. and in international or
ganizations, and to see firsthand the
experience of real politics.
"For the last couple years, we were
able to meet with Congressman Phil
English and Senator Rick Santorum,"
Dr. Speel said. "We were also able to
visit the Jamaican and Irish embassies,
have tours of the White House, the Pen
tagon, the State Department, and the
Library of Congress, among others.
Two years ago, a few of the students
uestion p
"I don't even know what
you're talking about."
-Andrea Pedersen, 04
BIOL
were able to meet Buddy (the "first
dog' of the Clintons)!"
Not only do the students get to meet
representatives of Pennsylvania and
tour several sites of D.C., but they also
get to stay at The Virginian Suites in
Arlington, VA. The suites are complete
with two beds, a full kitchen, television,
furniture, private bathroom, and closet
space. The ample free time that students
get between tours and visits can include
a trip to nearby shopping areas and ex
ploring the different restaurants around
the area.
"The class scheduled (with the trip)
isn't required for graduation or for the
political science major," Dr. Speel said.
"When scheduling the course, you need
to pre-register and give me the deposit
and registration form. In order to receive
the credit, students must write a paper
on their experience upon return from
Washington. "
Priority for the trip is given to Be
hrend political science majors with jun
ior or senior semester standing, but it is
stressed that the trip is open to anyone
who has an interest in a wide range of
topics and from majors of all kinds. It
is not restricted to anyone, including
people who previously went on the trip,
but priority will be given to those who
have not had a chance to go.
Overall expenses for the week should
be about $500; for any student that is
registered as a full-time student in the
spring, there will be no additional costs
incurred for the course. Transportation
and lodging are estimated at $350, with
WHAT HAS SGA DONE FOR YOU?
I don't even know what that is."
-Erica Fox, 03, PSYCH
"I don't really think they've really done
anything."
-Ryan Alexander, 03 PLET
They gave up on the FM radio station."
-Robert Delaney, 07 MIS
'ye never even heard of it."
-Adam Sainato, 01 AG
"It's hard to say something positive
when all I've heard about them is bad
-Dawn McKee, 05 PSYCH
double occupancy & six nights; food
and incidentals are roughly estimated
at $l5O-$2OO, which include souvenirs,
eating out, and local transportation
(metro or taxis).
Brochures and registration forms
with more information on the trip are
available in Dr. Speel's office in the
Academic Building. The deadline for
the $lOO non-refundable deposit (which
will be immediately reimbursed if the
student is not chosen to go due to space
limitations) was Thursday, November
18, but there will probably still be
spaces available if students contact Dr.
Speel before Thanksgiving.
Spain: A Cultural Encounter
Dr. Juan Fernandez has been in
charge of the Spain trip since it was
started three years ago. In the first year,
fifteen students went on the trip; last
year, fourteen students completed the
trip. The course is not required for any
major, but it can be applied to several
different majors and minors for credit.
The trip to Spain involves exposure
to Spanish life and the Spanish people:
aspects of Spanish culture, art, and civi
lization of the Spanish are observed and
learned by the students. The class will
have six class meetings at Behrend be
fore going to Spain consisting of lec
tures, discussions and presentations to
prepare the students for the trip.
"We will be visiting a variety of
places in Spain, including [the cities]
Madrid, Toledo (also known as the City
of El Greco), Cordova, Granada, Jaen,
Malada, and some olive oil factories,"
"I can't really say that SGA
has done really anything."
-Jerteane Cooper, 03
ENGR
ice . year
sites including the Supreme Court (pictured above)
Dr. Fernandez said. "We also visit some
national monuments, the National Pal
ace, Alhambra, and the Mosque."
A tentative schedule has been made
for the trip in March; several places in
past years have been visited, including
all the places mentioned above. Dr.
Fernandez comments on how success
ful the trip is for all students.
"The students that have gone to Spain
have had all kinds of experiences -
we've had students that never had flown
before in a plane," Dr. Fernandez said.
"One student is now studying in Argen
tina; another is studying in Costa Rica;
and one student who visited Mexico is
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WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK
NOVEMBER 19-21, 1999
115 ti
4 en
Friday Saturday Sunday
MOSTLY SUNNY; CHANCE OF RAIN; HIGH CHANCE OF MORNING
CHANCE OF EVENING OF 50-55. SHOWERS; LOW OF 40,
SHOWERS; HIGH OF 60. HIGH IN LOW 50'S.
now in London. Many of the students
that decide to take this trip are success
ful in later studies and after graduation."
Upon return from the trip, students
will be required to write a paper on
Spanish civilization in order to earn full
credit for the course.
Costs for the trip is $1,199, which
includes plane ticket, hotel accommo
dations (double/triple occupancy), daily
breakfast, transportation in Spain, and
entry to museums and palaces. It is es
timated that $3OO be brought for extra
spending money and other meals. Stu
dents registered as full-time students at
Behrend will have no additional costs
Police And Safety
A P&S officer cited a motorist for driving 40 mph in a 15 mph zone
A P&S officer was dispatched to the lower Reed Lot for a minor traffic
accident
A complainant reported that someone hit his car
P&S received a report of vandalism done to a light on the north side of the
Ohio Hall entrance way.
A complainant came to P&S to report damage done to her car
A complainant advised an officer that the top of the wooden board that hold
reflectors near Ohio Hall was broken.
A complainant reported having received harassing phone calls
A complainant reported possible vandalism to his vehicle
1 11 .
incurred for the course
Students that are willing to go can
contact Dr. Juan Fernandez for more
information at 825-8115 or Ms. Norma
Hartner at 898-6178, and there are bro
chures and registration forms in the
Humanities and Social Sciences office.
A non-refundable deposit of $lOO is due
on Friday, November 19. Other billing
will be done through the University sys
tem, and after November 19, students
will be admitted only if space is avail
able to them. Cancellations, since the
cost includes plane tickets, cannot be
refunded.
IE-2
PHOTO BY MIKE FRAWLEY