T H EACON A PENN STATE ERIE STUDENT PUBLICATION IA ' I. A , 1 ..4 SI ~A 3 `~ >3 TODAY : Sunny Check page 2 for weekend forecast ,\Orlel, N,; 4 . 7 . ) -, ; . 1 . 1 , ()7 1.. , ."111,, q-"Ic tit 1-4, PAGE 4A sf,; A Three SGA Freshman Senate seats were filled in an election this past week. A vacant seat was also filled by secret ballot PAGE 8A SNI r • Staff Editorial: Presidential candidates need to expand their focus on issues. Take it to the mat PAGE 12A ro)1 Behrend's fall play is just around the corner. Final preparations are being made. PAGE 6B The opening week of the Sydney Games has the U.S. atop the medal standings...again. )IJ , II - 14 ij ,1(.( NEWS of \A i )U \it' .< EDITORIAL k € CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEATURES NH '0 SPORTS \11,10\,•..i NEWSROOM: 898-6488 FAX US: 898-6019 Offices are located downstairs in Reed Union Building XLVIII No. 5 High 64 Low 50 PHOTO BY BECKY WEINDORF The parallel parking spots added to the lower Reed lot are only a small attempt to fix the parking problem on campus. Parking problems being addressed Parking for residents, commuters, faculty, and staff has become a very hot topic on campus this semester. With enrollment up slightly and physical growth abounding, many have brought up the loaded question, "What's being done about parking'?" Some problems that have been more frequently debated include midday traffic jams on College Avenue and Jordan Road, the routing of commuter students to the Jordan Road Parking Lot, and the temporary parking locations for resident students. In a recent interview, Mr. William Donahue, manager of safety and security at Penn State Behrend, explained the parking situations occurring on campus in an attempt to dispel rumors many of which are incorrect. Behrend campus grows due to generous gifts E f Behrend is obviously in the midst of major construction projects. Some of these projects like the ARC and ball field construction, classroom renovations, and the addition of elevators in Reed and the Stairtower are very obvious to students. However, there are several other construction projects occurring around campus that are not as obvious to students. A new observatory is being constructed behind the Otto Behrend Science Building. Funded by a gift from the Mehalso Family, one unusual aspect of the observatory will be its handicap accessibility. According to Dr. Roger Knacke, professor of physics and director of the School of Science, a new walkway has by Liz Hayes news editor by Liz Hayes news editor 1 . A a l' . ~,,,,, .4.:,:%\ 't''''''''"'"" ti ,, , ,, - , - 1" . it i , k., 1 0 V. ,, ,Wki4 . , f a A i V ' 1,,.1 "Anyone who says we don't have adequate parking on campus is confusing 'adequate' with 'convenient,' and it's not the same thing," Donahue said. One of the louder grievances commuter students have been expressing so far is the routing of cars to the Jordan Road Parking Lot when students want to park near the Engineering Complex on the west side of campus. Many have complained that they are being sent to this lot even though they have seen available spots in the west lots. Donahue explained that this instance occurs a few days a week because more people are trying to park in the west lots than there are people trying to leave basically, turnover is not happening quickly enough. Police and Safety will then direct incoming commuters to the Jordan Lot until enough cars have left campus, freeing up room in the west been constructed leading up to the new observatory that will be wheelchair accessible. Also, a video monitor outside will display the sights from inside. "The monitor will be installed in an outdoor area adjacent to the telescope so everyone will be able to participate in the observing program," Knacke explained. The observatory will be used for astronomical viewing after the Open House in Astronomy Nights throughout the school year. Also, it will be used in conjunction with several classes, namely ASTRO 001, 010, 011, 292, and 293. Knacke said that the existing observatory will be kept in operation even after the new one is in use. The old observatory, whose telescope was installed in the late 1970 s by the now retired Dr. Keith Hagenbuch, will be September 22, 2000 , Atd%, lots. Even though there may be some spots available in the west lots, allowing large amounts of traffic through this area in both directions at the same time will, in the end, create more of a delay than simply sending incoming cars to other lots, according to Donahue. The main remedy Donahue recommends in this situation is for commuters to alter their arrival times. He said that if students could arrive just five to 10 minutes earlier, many of the traffic routing and traffic jams could be avoided. Another comment that students have made regarding commuter parking is that Police and Safety sold more parking permits this year than the campus has actual spaces for. In actuality, this occurs every year: the number of permits sold versus the number of actual parking spaces is not a one-to-one ratio it is almost a two to-one ratio, Donahue explained. used for student research projects Also under construction is the multi faith chapel and carillon on Jordan Road, which is being funded by a donation from Larry and Kathryn Smith. The Floyd and Juanita Smith Carillon will feature a full complement of 48 bells, which will play four full octaves. In a recent press release, carilloneur Mr. Richard Watson of Meeks, Watson, and Company added, "ninety-five percent of the music published for the carillon can be played on four octaves. This size permits teaching and practice of almost the entire literature of carillon music." The bells for the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel should arrive by August 2001, according to Mr. John Ream, director of operations. Knowledge Park is another area of construction. The new Center for .. 4 ~ti; ... .. The reasoning behind this is that not every commuter student parks on campus at the same time; while there are time periods that are busier than others, some people are here only in the mornings, some only in the evenings, and some come and go all day at various intervals. To have the same number of parking spaces as there are permits would leave a large amount of unfilled spaces, which the University and, eventually, the students would have to pay to maintain. However, the situation is different in the resident parking lots. Because most resident vehicles are parked on campus the majority of the time, the number of permits sold is equal to the number of spaces the lots have. Due to this limitation, there is a cap on the number of permits Police and Safety will sell, and this year several Parking continued on page 2 Advanced Manufacturing is now underway with an expected completion date of January 2001. This advanced skills technical center will include high bay areas for large equipment, computer labs, traditional classrooms, and offices. According to Dr. Robert Light, associate dean and associate provost, "the center will benefit the college by providing opportunities for engineering and engineering technology to gain access to machining and other advanced manufacturing equipment [Behrend does] not currently have." Also to be added to Knowledge Park this fall is the second Multi-tenant Building, for which two potential tenants are currently being negotiated. The tenants selected to reside in the park are chosen by the partnership forming possibilities they present to the % t I`.ltirrint , rAy 2 SECTIONS - 20 pages New business degree available by Steve Marroni staff writer Behrend students can now enroll in International Business, a new major added to the School of Business this semester. "The economy is becoming glohalized," said Dr. Kenneth Louie, associate professor of economics and in-charge faculty member of the International Business major. "We wanted a program that would give (students) not only the classroom theory, but also practical, hands on application with respect to globalization." According to Louie, when students major in International Business, they must have a second major as well. The course requirements include four major international business courses in economics, finance, marketing and management. A foreign language and at least three credits studied abroad are also needed to complete the major. "We feel that package will expose the students to a very important (understanding of the) contemporary business environment," Louie said. "I think the program they have here is set up very, very well," said Majoris, a third semester student planning to change her major from communications to International Business. "(With having to choose) another business major, that's going to make me more marketable as a graduate." With two majors and some time abroad, International Business may seem like a difficult major to take if one plans to graduate in four years. "It's possible. You just have to be serious about it," Majoris said. "I have a full schedule all the time. You have to be a student and know what your goals are. You have to look ahead and make a schedule of all the classes you need to take and how long it will take you to take them. I'm definitely squeezing it." "We're getting quite a bit of interest," Louie said. "We are having a lot of requests for information. We expect it to grow substantially as the major progresses in the next couple of years." There will be an information session on the International Business major on Wednesday, September 27, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 113 of the Reed Building. campus, Light stated One final area of construction that few students would be aware of is the renovation of Logan House on Station Road, which houses the Office of Development and University Relations. The formerly unused third floor of this restored house is being converted into much needed office space. With the addition of Office Manager Mary Anne Geary last winter and the search under way for an alumni director, the space is in dire need, Loretta Brandon, public information assistant, explained. This new space, which will hopefully be ready by November 1, 2000, will provide office area for the manager of university relations, the public information assistant, a staff assistant, and several work study students.