fi n vv ri : k m
BEHREND STUDENT GOVERNMENT & PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARIES
Behrend JIL Beacon
Vol. XLVII No. 25 14 pages
Behrend
on week
Pennsylvania primaries to take place on Tuesday
by Mike Frawley
managing editor
Even though the presidential primaries
have been decided, with George W. Bush and
Albert Gore moving on to the general elec
tion in November, the primary elections that
are going to take place in Pennsylvania on
Tuesday. April 4, still have some very im
portant races taking place. Many different
positions are up for election this year, and
while not all of their primary races are con
tested. they all will be on the ballot for people
to vote for. These elections include races for
US Senator, US House of Representatives,
Attorney General of PA, Auditor General of
PA, and various state senator and representa
tive races.
When voting in the primaries you can only
vote for candidates from your party, which
leaves people who are registered independent
out in the cold in Pennsylvania. The purpose
of a primary election is to narrow the field of
candidates down to one from each party. So
if there are six Democrats running for an of
fice, the primary will narrow the field down
to one candidate to run in the November gen
eral election.
One of the most interesting and highly con
tested elections that will occur on April 4 is
for US Senator. Senator Rick Santorum, a
SGA to hold first contested election in two years
by Tracy Jones
staff writer
Elections for the first contested race in
more than two years for SGA President and
Vice President are quickly approaching.
Running for President are Jen Miles and
Demian Blair. Clint Skillen has teamed
up with Miles as her potential Vice Presi
dent while Mike Frawley is on board with
Blair.
Blair currently serves as a Senator on
Police and Safety
Jr opping I ever
Saturday, April 1
Republican, is up lor re-election this year.
Many Democrats feel that there is a good
chance he can be beaten and the Democrats
can take over the scat. While Santorum is the
only Republican running in the primary, Demo
crats have been lining up to take a shot at un
seating him. Six Democrats are currently listed
on the ballot, all vying for a chance to take on
Santorum in November's general election.
They are Tom Foley, Allyson Schwartz, Murray
Levin, Ron Klink. Phil Berg, and Bob Rovner.
Representative Phil English, a Republican
representing Pennsylvania's 21st Congres
sional District, is also up for re-election this
year. He is running uncontestcd in the primary
elections, as is his Democratic challenger Marc
Flitter, a local Erie Neurosurgeon.
There are three state offices that are up for
election - Attorney General, State Treasurer,
and Auditor General. The Democratic primary
for Attorney General is contested this year, with
Jim Eisenhower and John Morganelli compet
ing for the chance to try to unseat the Republi
can incumbent Mike Fisher. The election tor
Auditor General is uncontested in the primary,
so the Democratic incumbent Bob Casey Jr.
will be facing Republican challenger Katie
True. In the Treasurer's race, incumbent Re
publican and Democrat Catherine Baker Knoll,
the former State Treasurer, also have uncon-
SGA, and is a member of Zeta Beta Tau
Fraternity. Frawlcy serves as a Senator and
Parlimentarian for SGA, and is the Manag
ing Editor of The Beacon.
Miles is the current Treasurer for SGA,
and Skillen is the President of Zeta Beta Tau
Fraternity.
“It’s a big step for SGA that we have a
contested election. It’s been quite awhile
since there has been one. I think it’s be
cause we (SGA) have a better image with
the students this year,” said Miles.
to embark
of elections
tested primaries
None of the local races for state senator or
representatives are contested for this election
cycle. For state senate. Republican incumbent
Jane Earll is running unopposed as is her
Democratic challenger John Paul Jones. They
will face each other in the November general
elections. For state representative, local incum
bent Democrat Tom Scrimenti and his Repub
lican challenger, David Mitchell, have uncon
tested primaries as well.
Many people do not even know all of the
races that they can cast their ballot in. “I can
vote for all of those? If I am not well informed
about a race, I vote on party lines,” said
Behrend student Becky Weindorf.
“I am confident that I am making an in
formed choice about the races that count,” said
“Contested elections show how far SGA
has come in just the past year, and whoever
wins will hopefully be able to continue to
improve the organization,” said Frawley.
Melody Sherosky, head of the elections
committee, invites students to attend an up
coming debate between the two teams of
candidates. The debate will take place Mon
day, April 3, at 5:30, in Reed 117.
Also up for election at this time are the
the 11 SGA senate seats for next year and
SGA secretary. There are 13 people run
The Behrenp Beacon Index
pfnnStatf
Wire Service page 5 Features page 10 ‘ L
SGA Elections page 7
Editorial page 8 Other Sports page 13
Friday, March 31, 2000
Behrend’s Criminal Hearts
opened on Thursday, March 30.
The play will run for the next
Check the Features section for show times
and ticket information.
student Matt Wiertel. Many people vote on
name recognition or position on the ballot if
they do not know anyone who is running.
Traditionally college students have one of
the lowest turnouts of any age group in any
election, and with the presidential primary
already decided, the turnout will mostly likely
be very low again. If you are not already
registered to vote it is too late to be able to
vote in the primary election, but you can still
register to vote in November’s general elec
tion. If you are a student who lives on cam
pus you can register to vote either here at Be
hrend and vote locally, or you can register to
vote at your home and get an absentee bal
lot.
The Pennsylvania primary will be held on
Tuesday, April 4th.
ning for Senate while Michelle Benjamin
is running uncontested for SGA secretary.
Voting will take place April 5 and 6 out
side of Bruno’s from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each
day. Students are encouraged to take ad
vantage of the opportunity to vote in this
contested race.
For complete SGA election coverage,
including statements and photos from all
candidates, please turn to the special elec
tion insert on page 7.
two weeks in the
Studio Theatre.
Calendar page 9
Spring Sports page 12
A Penn State Erie Student Publication
Spring
Fever
returns
to the
Quad
by Katie Przepyszny
features co-editor
This Saturday, April 1, Behrend will host
the traditional Spring Fever in the Apartment
Quad from 4:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Previously known as the Battle of the Bands,
the event has since become more upscale and
elaborate with the combined help of the
Behrend community.
Sponsored by IFC, JRC, the Commuter
Council. LEB, Panhellenic Council, and the
Student Activity Fee, Spring Fever will host
a variety of carnival-themed activities this
year.
Centered upon music with the help of five
area bands Organic Voodoo Machine, No
On 15, Crown Me Kings, Burden, and the
Buzz Poets the event will also offer Sum
wrestling, bouncy boxing, a palm reader,
temporary tattoos, spin art, and free food.
Each campus club and organization also has
the chance to set up its own booth with
attractions of its own. Several planning to
partake include the Commuter Council
hosting a tie-dye booth, Niagara Hall Council
providing a popcorn booth, the Apartment
Hall Council offering a root beer sundae
booth, and Alpha Sigma Tau.
Much time and dedication has gone into
planning this year’s Spring Fever celebration.
An event committee has been meeting for two
months to cover publicity and security
concerns, due to unfortunate situations that
have occurred at the event in the past. Several
precautions are now being taken, and all
information concerning rules and regulations
can be found on an available campus flyer.
A major concern for the event involves
alcohol. Any parties held on campus during
the event must be behind closed doors, and
students attending the event are not permitted
to drink if underage, serve minors, use false
identification, hold parties in which both
alcohol and minors are present, or possess any
open beverage containers on the grounds other
than the cups that will be supplied by Housing
and Food.
Every student at the event will be held
responsible for his or her actions, as well as
the actions of his or her guests. Posters are
being supplied to hang in the Quad as
reminders of the evening’s policies.
To monitor the event, extra Police and
Safety officers, as well as extra resident
assistants, will be on duty. Aside from offering
crowd and traffic control, they will also be
available for other services, such as medical
assistance,
Fever continued on page 2
|^Eri e