PAGE 4, THE BEHREND BEACON, MARCH 17, 2000
Break continued from page 1
ended, the group gathered again for a
tour of the monuments and memori
als at night. Students posed for pic
tures on the lap of Albert Einstein, in
Franklin Delano Roosevelt's water
falls, and around the Washington
Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
The group also showed their respect
toward the Korean, Vietnam Veterans,
and Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Me
morials. Mike Frawley, who attended
the trip for the second straight year
commented on the night tour saying,
"it was interesting to see the monu
ments at night. You get a whole new
perspective."
The group toured the State Depart
ment and Capitol Building on Tues
day and relaxed momentarily on the
House of Representatives floor (the
House was not in session at the time).
Kendra Sue Derby of the Ron Brown
and Paul Tully Institute for campaign
management at the Democratic Na
tional Committee headquarters took
questions about the training she gives
Democratic candidates on campaign
ing. Behrend student Matt Wiertel
commented, "it was interesting to see
how one of the most corrupt political
organizations internally worked. If
you want to learn how to illegally
raise campaign contributions, much
like Al Gore did in 1996, I recommend
going on a DNC tour."
Wednesday was highlighted with a
trip to Arlington National Cemetery
where the group watched the Chang
ing of the Guard before the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier. The day also
featured a visit to the Newseum and
meetings with representatives from
the International Monetary Fund and
from the Center for Strategic and
Budgetary Assessments, a defense-re
lated think tank.
One of the most enjoyable tours of
the week took place on Thursday as
the group walked through the halls of
the Pentagon, learning about the daily
operations of the military leaders that
hold offices there. Katie Galley, an
other Behrend student commented on
the tour, saying, "the seaman tour
guide was very informative and
pointed out the display about the Na
vajo Code Talkers from World War
II." Liz Hayes added, "it was cool
how they had a hot dog stand in the
c-ourtyard of the Pentagon."
Later that day, the students and fac
ulty leaders posed for a picture with
U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, who
took time to answer some questions
from the group.
Friday capped off the week's
planned activities with a continental
breakfast with U.S. Representative
Phil English. English shared his
views about the current presidential
campaign and fielded questions about
local issues, including the rising gas
prices throughout the country. The
rest of the day was free for students
to visit sites that they didn't get to see
during the week.
"The students had free time to visit
Washington's many museums that we
did not have time to see as a group,"
said Speel.
The group gathered at noon on Sat
urday to depart back to Erie after a
week of nice weather conditions in the
nation's capital. The students and fac
ulty members slowly felt the transi
tion from warm and relaxing Wash
ington, D.C. to Erie, being welcomed
back with none other than snow and
SPAIN TRIP
by Kristine Harakal
business manager
From the authentic Spanish village
of Toledo to the commercialized me
tropolis of Madrid, the students of the
International Studies 497 C class saw
it all. Nineteen Penn State Behrend
students spent their spring break trav
eling around Spain in order to expe
rience the culture and improve their
grasp of the Spanish language.
The journey began on March 3
when the students met at the Erie In
ternational Airport. It was non-stop
fun from there. Upon arriving in
Madrid, some students took it upon
themselves to explore the city, while
others chose to follow Dr. Juan
Fernandez-Jimenez, professor of
Spanish, on a guided tour. In the
evening, everyone joined Fernandez-
Jimenez in the heart of the city to ex
perience Carnival.
A tour of the Prado Museum was
the main event on Sunday, where stu
dents were able to admire the works
wards, students took a walk through
Retiro Park. That evening students
enjoyed the Spanish discos.
On Monday, the long bus drive to
Fernandez-Jimenez' hometown of
Jaen began. There was a stop in To
ledo where some people bought
swords and jewelry. The Toledo Ca
thedral was toured in the evening.
At the request of the ten-year-old
daughter of Dr. Dawn Blasko, the
group spent Tuesday touring a castle
in Jaen. Blasko, associate professor
of psychology, brought her husband
and two daughters to Spain with the
students.
On Wednesday Fernandez-Jimenez
received an award from and key to the
city of Baena. The local television
stations interviewed him, and there
was an article in the local newspaper.
He received the award for literary
work that he is doing. After all of the
paparazzi left, the group continued on
their way to Granada to see the fa
mous Mosque.
The beautiful castle of Alhambra
was toured on Thursday. There the
group explored the Generalife, or gar
dens, for two hours. Afterwards, it
was off to the beach. The beach was
enjoyed by most of the group as they
stuck their toes in the water in order
to say that they were in the Mediter
ranean Sea.
Friday was the day of leisure. Some
students took a tour of the Baths and
then the Cathedral in Jaen. Others
caught up on some much needed sleep
that they had lost from spending all
of their nights at discos.
Saturday may have been the most
authentic Spanish day of all. The
group toured an olive oil factory and
then had lunch at Fernandez-Jimenez'
home with his family. After eating.
Fernandez-Jimenez brought out his
Spanish guitar and began playing
some Spanish songs. His entire fam
ily sang along, and the few students
that knew the words also joined in.
Sunday was spent traveling hack to
Madrid for the last night in Spain.
Many students took advantage of the
last night and went to a disco. Others
rested for the morning that would
come too soon.
The group departed from Madrid
early Monday morning and arrived in
Erie late Monday evening. The trip
to Spain was not only a fun way to
spend spring break, hut vas also a
way to experience the culture of an
other country.
ALTERNATIVE
SPRING BREAK IN
JUPITER ISLAND,
FLORIDA
by Liz Hayes
news co-editor
While many students were kiting
around over Spring Break, the
members of Reality Check were
spending their days helping the
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environment. Nine students went to
the Blowing Rocks Preserve on
Jupiter Island, Fla. to participate in
volunteer activities.
For the past year volunteers have
been working at the nature
conservancy, building a new trail that
will run through the 73-acre Preserve.
The trail is being designed to inform
people of nature conservancy in
general and about the native wildlife
and foliage found on the Island.
The group of Behrend students
performed various tasks while at the
Preserve. They arrived on the Island
every day around 7 a.m., Monday
through Friday. Tasks there included
designing and building a stone patio,
building log fences that lined the trail,
trimming trees bordering the trail, and
mulching the trail itself.
In addition to working on Blowing
Rocks, the group took two different
field trips to local environmental sites.
One trip was to a wildlife
rehabilitation center, where the Sea
Turtle Rescue Program is run. At this
center, endangered sea turtles that
have been wounded are rehabilitated
before they are released into the wild.
No turtles are kept permanently at the
center.
The other trip was to another nature
preserve that contained a large
marshland. There the group learned
about different types of native wild
and plant-life. They even got the
chance to see baby alligators.
Before arriving at Blowing Rocks,
the group stayed in Orlando on
Saturday. Several students used this
opportunity to check out the Universal
Studios Theme Park.
Upon arriving at their destination
Sunday afternoon, the group stayed
the remainder of their trip in tents on
a state campground. They even
cooked their own meals a few times.
The group had some free time
during the week. On Thursday night
they went to a street party in West
Palm Beach, enjoying the live bands
and vendors. They also logged
several evenings on the private beach
co-owned by the Preserve and a few
private homes.
The trip incurred few costs for the
students. The Student Activities Fee
provided some of the funding. Also,
the group was able to take funds that
had been allotted for the Baltimore
trip that was scheduled for Fall Break
but was canceled. Faculty and staff
also donated funds. Students only had
to pay for their meals in Orlando and
for their breakfasts and dinners on
Jupiter Island.
Janique Caffie, director of
educational equity programs and the
organization's advisor, also went on
the trip. Shawna Pelasky, coordinator
of Greek life and student leadership
programs, also contributed heavily to
the organization of the alternative
break trips this school year.
This was the last alternative break
trip planned for this semester.
However, more trips are being
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NEWS
planned for the 2000-2001 school
year. For more information about the
trips, interested students should
contact Pelasky in the Student
Activities Office at x 6171.
Read next
week's
Beacon for all
the fun and
sun of this
year's Spring
Break. Send
your stories
to behrcolls
aoLcom, by
Tuesday @
5:00
PHOTO BY CHARLES TESTRAKE
Students from the Washington D.C. trip take a ride on the Senate Subway from the Hart Senate
Office Building to the Capitol.
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:'‘ by Angela
,Msiol4B
with hone cards, gym
:4s44o;and am& radios may be a sign
anits#ollrifs not immune to the
ite#lfitsivp tactics of credit card
ntetkeiits!.: The tat,tieS* offerings in
axiliange for 15 minutes worth of
credit card applications often keep a
steady flow of students gathered in a
"I got my Visa card here on campus.
wanted a free calling : card -that's
why I signed up. I didn't really thi nk
dun I Was goinglo use the card, but I
ended up using it when I decided that
LWOW a eelt phone," said student
di,tetiartintiniptutint have begun
lotatzet college students, hoping that
the students will become life-long
customers of their cards and other
financial products. Card issuers have
also created plans that allow students
to receive payments for having a
friend sign up with the company.
a t have had a credit card since I was
16; my dad got it for me in case of
emergencies. I got my own credit card
when I came up here to school from
one of:the tables. It's the Penn State
Alumni card. I usually use it for
•
groceries, and the basic stuff I need,"
remarked student Jessi Dearolf.
Some card.owtthv, college students
have realized that using and making
payments on their cards will help
them establish credit. Unfortunately,
most of these students are subject to
wmvigettoyota.corn
staff writer
high interest rates. Though interest
may be based on whether ot not a
student has a job and on any past
credit history, most rates tend to be
set at 17% or higher.
Some of the companies are
receiving criticism for portraying a
"plastic money" illusion, instead of
the reality of debt.
"They shouldn't be targeting
college students because we don't
have any money and they know it,"
said Ryan Anderson, another
Behrend student.
Many students are aggravated by
the frequent soliciting from card
marketers. This soliciting may
include the tables seen outside of
Bruno's, phone calls,,, pr Nternet
advertising on college iikeites.One
credit card marketer placed phone
cards on his table to attract students,
even though phone cards were not
one of the gifts that could be received
after applying. When asked about it,
he openly admitted to this tactic.
"I hate that we are called about the
Penn State card all of the time. The
tables don't really bother me; I just
ignore them," student Justin Lennon
explained.
Student Monitor, a marketing
research firm in Ridgewood, NJ, has
shown that more than half of
students at four-year colleges have
credit cards in their own names.
Most of these students pay their own
bills, and have learned to be
responsible with their cards.