PAGE 2, THE BEHREND BEACON, DECEMBER 10, 1999
EWS AND WEATHER
Behrend dance team adds excitement
to basketball halftime shows
h Keenan Hansen
staff writer
The half-time hell rings and every
one knows what is about to happen
on the court: the Behrend Lions'
Dance Team is one of the highlights
of basketball at Behrend. These tal
ented ladies perform at every home
basketball game during half-time.
Led by their captains Leah Desazio,
Becca Scheaffer, and Michele Seisek,
the team provides their audience with
much entertainment in their dancing
and choreography.
This is the first year the Dance
Team has been present at Behrend.
They started last October, and captain
Michele Seisek, 03 Bio, commented
on its formation; "I thought it would
promote school spirit and draw a lot
of people to campus and the basket
ball games. It also gives people a new
way to get involved in spirit at
Behrend." The team also performs at
the Spirit Stations on game days.
They are also planning on competing
in future dance competitions.
There are seventeen members of the
Hanging of the Greens opens
by Erin McCarty
staff writer
Friday, December 3, marked the tra
ditional ringing in of the Christmas
season at Penn State Behrend with the
Hanging of the Greens ceremony.
Though the weather was so warm that
it felt more like summer than winter,
the engulfing Christmas spirit was felt
as surely as if there had been snow
upon the ground.
The Hanging of the Greens has been
a tradition at Penn State Behrend for
many years. This year, as always, it
took place in the heart of the Winter
green Gorge Cemetery. The tiny
0
Question 0i)
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN AT
MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 31, 1999?
"All the cows' spots will change from black to white. That's
cool ... I live in farm country, so ..."
"Not a thing. I think we're making a big hype over nothing
It's just a new year with more zeros."
`I don't think anything will happen . . . my dad said so!"
-Colleen O'Neil, 03 COMBA
dance team, and one choreographer.
The roster includes: Kindra Beck,
Marta Gonzalez, Melinda Hanes,
Katie Miller, Jill Page, Mima Panic,
Angie Parasocitch, Kasey Petersen,
Katie Przepyszny, Jill Sorsman, Suzie
Stewart, Zakahra White, Jenn Zajac,
and Megan Zuschlag. Becky Hubler
is their choreographer.
Athletic Director Brian Streeter is
also involved with the team. Seisek
chapel next to the memorial stone for
Warren, the son of the Behrend bene
factors Ernst and Mary Behrend,
seemed like something out of another
world, a simpler time. It was within
these rustic walls that the service was
held at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening.
Cars lined the paths of the cemetery
as the beginning of the ceremony drew
near, and participants made their way
toward the chapel in the darkness, aided
by a pathway of milk jug luminaries.
Soon the chapel was packed with
people, and the service began.
"It's a sort of combination of things,"
explained Ben Lane, Dean of Students
Emeritus. "A Christmas service, a me
-Steve Chapel, 03 CE
"Well I definitely wouldn't want to be in New York. A lot
of religious cults will engage in violent acts."
-Ramon Enriquez, 03 Int'l Mngt
-Sean Mascoll, 07 COMBA
be world's going to end
ard!"
attributes much of the dance team's
formation to Streeter.
All of the dance team members
seem to have a positive attitude about
it. "It's been a lot of fun so far," said
Katie Przepyszny, 01 DUS. These
dedicated girls practice two to three
times a week, and it shows off in their
dance routines.
Most of the spectators at the games
are very enthusiastic about the team;
morial service, a celebration of the
beginning of winter...but most of all, I
think, it's a Thanksgiving service in
recognition of the incredible gift Mary
Behrend gave to us. This year was re
ally special because, for the first time,
the ceremony was attended by mem
bers of the Behrend family."
The Hanging of the Greens itself is
an old European custom. When War
ren was killed in a car accident on the
way home for Christmas several de
cades ago, Mary Behrend erected the
memorial chapel to honor his memory.
Each Christmas, she gathered pine
branches and decorated the chapel and
the vault with them. When she gave
so you better be partying pretty
-Andres Castillo, 05 Bus Econ
The Behrend
dance team
performs in
the Reed
Commons
during the
activities of
spirit stations
this past
Friday.
when the girls enter the court they are
greeted with a respectable applause.
"I was impressed, they appear to have
been dancing together a lot longer
then they actually have.' declared
Doug Peters, 08 EE.
These ladies are working hard to
add a little pizzazz to the Behrend
Lions' basketball games. So come
down and show your spirit and sup
port for the Lion athletic clubs.
Christmas season at Behrend
the school her estate, Reid Ferguson,
the school's first dean, wanted to con
tinue her tradition. So Mary sent huge
wreaths to the school every year to be
hung in the chapel, but never attended
a ceremony herself.
Dr. Lane became involved in 1953,
and he helped to establish the structure
of the ceremony that exists today. Each
year, students are involved in the plan
ning of the event, and some participate
by reading scripture or playing a mu
sical instrument. The wreath is always
hung on the door inside the chapel that
leads to the vault, in which not only
Warren, but also his parents are bur
ied. Someone always gives an address
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WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK
DECEMBER 10-12, 1999
I ,
$4 11114 41 1 1 14 •
d
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
CLOUDY; 40% CHANCE PARTLY CLOUDY; HIGH PARTLY CLOUDY; LOW
OF MORNING RAIN; HIGH AROUND 40 OF 30; HIGH OF 40-45
AROUND 40
ABC sponsors successful
Kwanzaa Dinner
Speaker considered 'inspirational' by
Behrend students
On December 5, 1999, the sixth
annual Kwanzaa Dinner was held in
the Dobbins Gazebo at 7 p.m. The
Association of Black Collegians
sponsored the event. This year's
keynote speaker was Ivan Pretlow, a
minister, who focused on the
importance of this holiday and what
it means to today's African American
family.
Kwanzaa, which means "first
fruits of the harvest," is celebrated
from December 26 through Janurary
1. The holiday was founded in 1966
by Dr. Maulana Karenga. and
symbolizes unity to the African
American people. Thirteen million
people worldwide celebrate this
event. The holiday is based on seven
about the Behrends when the wreath
is hung, usually Dr. Lane.
"It's a very simple service," Lane
admitted, "but very beautiful. When we
first started doing this, there was no
light or heat in the chapel so we had to
conduct the service by candlelight. It
is still conducted by candlelight today
simply because it is so beautiful that
way."
The Hanging of the Greens is
Behrend's oldest tradition. In the past,
it was sometimes followed by tree trim
ming in Reed or sleigh riding. It stands
on its own now and is still very well
attended.
Occasionally, inclement weather -
Police And Safety
A complainant reported that a chair had been thrown over an
unspecified balcony.
A complainant reported a minor vehicle/pedestrian accident
P&S detected the smell of marijuana
P&S received a report of a hit and run in the Ohio Circle
A complainant reported having received hang up phone
calls
A complainant reported vandalism to the Engineering
Complex.
A complainant reported having received an email with an
implied threat.
Ci
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by Chantel Gray
and Rehab Elzeney
staff writer
principles, which are creativity,
cooperative economics, self
determination, unity, collective
work and responsibility, purpose,
and faith.
About forty people attended this
year's event. In addition to the
speaker and the recitation of the
Kwanzaa pledge, the dance group
Ultimate Praise performed two
selections, several skits
representing the seven principles
were performed, and a gospel choir
sang two Christmas songs.
"The keynote speaker was
dynamic, and helped the students
[who attended] understand the
importance of the celebration," said
Kim Moses. "It was an experience
that brought the minorities of
Behrend together. It was very
educational and inspirational," said
first year student Nicole Greene.
generally snow - forced the ceremony
to be canceled. But for this last Hang
ing of the Greens of the millennium,
the weather was perfect. Any chill felt
when emerging after half an hour in
the chapel was soon dissipated with a
piping hot cup of cider. Here's to the
next 51 years!