I MM M A «
Spring Service Week wraps up at Behrend
by Daryl Ploss
staff writer
During the week of April 10-15,
Behrend held Spring Service Week,
during which a different activity was
held for students to lend a hand in
the community. Students didn’t have
to volunteer for each activity they
could sign up for as many or as few
activities as they desired
On Monday, April 10, volunteers
held Easter egg coloring at Brevillier
Village for children of all ages.
On April 11, 20 volunteers served
lunch at the City Mission. Anybody
who was unable to help serve lunch,
but still wanted to help the City
Mission was able to make a dessert
to be served at the dinner.
During Wednesday, April 12, from
2:30-6:00 p.m., volunteers took
charge of activities at KidsCafe.
From 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday,
April 11, volunteers traveled to
Presque Isle to help clean up various
areas of the park.
Dancers where found for the dance
marathon which was to be held from
Friday, April 14, starting at 8:00
p.m., and continuing through
Saturday, April 15 to 8:00 a.m.
However, due to the lack of turnout,
the event ended early at about 2:00
a.m. on Saturday morning. It was
held in the Reed Commons. The
dance marathon benefited the Make
A Wish Foundation, which assisted
in making the dreams of a critically
ill child come true. Several students
committed themselves to the effort.
It was not necessary to dance to
support the cause.
Saturday, April 15, was United
Way’s Day of Caring. Volunteers
were cleaning up public areas in
JAGGIN' AROUND IN 4ELLO
Behrend students enjoy some Jello wrestling outside of Niagara Hall on Thursday, April 20. The rain didn't stop students from
turning out, as many watched from the Niagara Hall porch.
Father John Santor of the Catholic Campus Ministry and several students distribute food to children on
Wednesday, April 12, at the Lutheran Memorial Church in Erie as part of Spring Service Week.
Wesley ville, including parks,
cemeteries and other areas in need.
Overall, there were 60 volunteers
that participated in some aspect of
Spring Service Week.
Service Week has strong roots at
Behrend. The Coordinator of Greek
Life and Student Leadership
Programs, Shawna Pelasky,
commented on the origins of Service
Week: “When I began at Behrend I
saw a large commitment to serving
our community; that is where the
vision for a campus-wide service
week started. The vision of Service
Week is to have a time of each
semester where the Behrend
community collectively focuses on
service and helping our community.
Many students, faculty, and staff are
doing incredible acts of service on a
continual basis, but Service Week
gives us a chance to come together
and celebrate our commitment to
service.”
This year’s Service Week was
planned by a committee of students
and staff. The Service Week
committee members where Mandy
Gay, Brian Hill, Pam Lelebvre, Kelly
Shrout. Sr. Mary Drexler, Marcus
Kalivoda. CeleneYanosko. Nicole
Cipriani, and Shawna Pelasky.
The students on this committee
were the driving force behind the
activities that were planned for this
week. They created the schedule of
events and contacted local agencies
for times and specific projects.
April 21. 2000. The Behrend Beacon, page 3
Behrend community
Hakes back the night’
by Libbie Johnson
associate editor
According to the Pennsylvania
Coalition Against Rape, 22% of rape
victims are between 18 and 24 years
old and an estimated two-thirds of all
rapes are not reported. To increase
awareness of sexual violence, Women
Today, Behrend’s organization for
women, and the Women’s Studies
Program at Penn State Behrend, are
cosponsoring “Take Back The Night
2000” (TBTN 2000).
Melissa Bender, Coordinator of
Women’s Studies, says that TBTN is
a yearly event which occurs in cities
and on college campuses throughout
the U.S., Canada, and in Europe.
“Participants march together to show
solidarity in their demand for safety
from violence . . . this march is
intended as a protest against the
violence that has been historically
directed toward women and as a
promotion of awareness concerning
rape and sexual assault."
At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April
26, marchers are invited to meet in
the Reed Wintergarden (or on the
lawn outside Reed, weather
permitting). A guest lecturer will
deliver a short speech about violence
against women. The crowd will then
march through campus, carrying signs
and chanting. Several organizations
will set up stations to pass out
information about counseling options
and medical care after assault and the
legalities of pressing charges for rape.
Other events include a candlelight
vigil and a “speak out,” during which
survivors of rape or assault will be
invited to share their experiences.
Bender said, "the ‘speak out’ can
be a very dramatic, emotional event,
but it has also come to be seen as a
moment of renewal for those who
have grappled with the aftermath of
violence.”
According to Bender, TBTN has
taken place yearly in Erie since 1991.
Stipends continued from front page
For the SGA meeting on April 5,
secretary Camillo found the minutes
from the September meeting that
stated that the resolution for stipend
requirements was passed. Because
the election had already started, SGA
voted to allow Skillen to run for the
vice president position and that the
stipend issue would be voted on at a
later date. Miles and Skillen won the
election, which put SGA in the
position to decide what to do with the
supposed requirements.
Since there was no official
document that stated exactly what the
requirements were and because there
were mixed views between SGA
members, the Stipend Committee
held a meeting on Wednesday, April
19. The goal of the meeting was to
come up with a proposed by-law for
the second time that would state the
official requirements for eligibility to
run for president and vice-president
of SGA.
The requirements proposed to SGA
read:
- To be eligible to run for the Student
Government Association president or
vice president, both candidates must
hold at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
This stipulation must be upheld for the
duration of the school-year term.
- Presidential candidates may not be
the president of any other Penn State
Behrend club or organization during
their term as SGA president. This
does not include brief transition
The Beacon will print
the SGA Budget
Allocations
week’s paper.
“The first TBTN was hosted by Penn
State Behrend and in succeeding years
it was moved to downtown Erie.
However, for various reasons, the
event has not happened since 1997.
Students in Women Today were very
interested in revising this event anti
worked to once again sponsor the
event at Behrend. They hope that this
event will once again become an
annual event.”
Elly Vahey, a Behrend student, is
marching in TBTN because she feels
people should feel safe walking at
night. Vahey believes that this march
is not just for women. “This march is
for all people women, men, and
children. All people should
participate because safety is a concern
for evervone."
Bender requests all those who are
interested to participate in TBTN
2000. “All students, faculty and staff
of Penn State Behrend as well as
members of the community and those
associated with other local colleges
are invited to participate in the event.
Anyone who is concerned about
curbing violence against women is
welcome."
The activities will end with a
reception to be held in the Reed
Wintergarden. All involved in TBTN
2000 activities are invited.
periods at the beginning and end of
the term. This requirement does not
apply to the vice president.
When proposed at Wednesday’s
SGA meeting, senators found minor
problems with the requirements. The
vote on the eligibility requirements
was held over to next week's meeting.
Anyone is available to meet with
Sherosky to give their ideas for the
proposal.
With the passage of the resolution.
Skillen along with Miles would both
be checked at the beginning of the fall
semester to see that they both meet
the newly passed requirements. If not,
they will be forced to give up their
seat in SGA.
Dealing with Skillen’s eligibility
questions, Miles assured the Stipend
Committee that "it won’t be a
problem.” Skillen also assured the
Beacon that based on the proposal that
the Stipend Committee brought to the
SGA meeting, there will not be a
problem with his eligibility.
Ken Miller, now Director of
Student Affairs, will be responsible
for checking to see if the GPA
requirement is met or not at the
beginning of each semester, which
was one suggestion made at the SGA
meeting this past Wednesday to add
to the proposal. i
Once the fixed proposal is passed;
Sherosky assured that she will take it;
upon herself to attach the by-law tri
the SGA Constitution.
in next