IHr !j! HR! N,j > \ ;! \( (j\ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3,2000 U.S. Congressman Phil English speaks to Behrend students by Liz Hayes news editor United States Congressman Phil English, who is up for re-election on the Republican ticket, was scheduled to present his lecture “Speaking Up for Education” at Penn State Behrend on Wednesday, November 1. However, as he was unable to leave Washington, D.C., in time for the event, he voiced his views and answered questions over the phone, and his wife, Chris, came in person to further present English’s platform to those in attendance. The rally, sponsored by Delta Sigma Pi (Behrend’s international professional business fraternity), began promptly at 7:00 p.m. with a presentation by Vicki Snyder, English’s campaign manager. Snyder, an alumus of Behrend, Vicki Snyder, a Behrend alumus and Congressman English’s cam paign manager, stands beside the telephone while English spoke to the audience from his office in Washington, D.C. FEED THE NEED Behrend Clubs and Organizations mill be setting up boxes around campus to collect drg and non-perishable food items. Look for boxes in the following locations: *Rlmy Hall *ohio Hall ’■‘Apartments ♦Suites ♦Traditional Residence Halls ♦Reed Union Building ♦Academic Building ♦Behrend Science Building began by apologizing for the congressman’s inability to attend. She explained that Congress could not recess for the year while not yet in agreement with President Clinton on a national budget. Apparently this is the first time since World War II that the Congress has been delayed this long - they were to have been done by October 29. Snyder also provided some basic background information on English while waiting for him to call. English represents the 21 s ' district of Pennsylvania in the United States Congress. This district includes Erie and parts of Crawford, Mercer, and Butler counties, extending almost to the Pittsburgh area. Snyder was also very enthusiastic about having college students vote, regardless of whom they decided to vote for. Just as Snyder was finishing her introductory remarks, the phone PHOTO BY LIZ HAYES set up on the corner of the stage rang, indicating English was on the line from his office in D.C., His wife, Mrs. Chris English, walked into the Commons at the same time. Mrs. English came up on stage and took her place behind the podium, where she would remain for the rest of the event. Snyder proceeded to answer the phone, which was hooked up to a microphone so that the audience could hear what was being said. The sound quality was not at the best level, but English’s voice was intelligible. English began his remarks to the audience by again apologizing for his absence and thanking everyone for their “patience in a very weird arrangement.” He also reinforced Snyder’s comments to vote in the upcoming election. He then began to enumerate some of the items on his platform. Key issues mentioned included education - he supports increasing the Pell Grant, expanding educational savings accounts, and providing tax breaks for college students; Social Security - he would like to increase the rate of return on social security benefits by having individuals invest a portion of social security money in real assets; and jobs and technology - which he hopes will be expanding in northwestern Pennsylvania. The floor was then briefly opened up to questions from the audience. Questions included how the Congressman responded to negative advertising, how out-of state college tuition rates could be made more affordable, what he thought of the Second Amendment, whether or not China should be allowed into the World Trade- Organization, and what his opinion of the Palestine/lsrael situation was and how he thought the U.S. f. •• NEWS we'll push you the [edge]* should handle M Afterward thanked audience a trail and turned 1 1 microphone ovei to his wife. Mrs. I-'n trli sli reaffirmed her hush a n d commitment to education, as well as informing the audience of her involvement in the Erie Public School System, especially with the Ciilted Program. She stated that her husband supported limiting the control the national government has over education. thereby giving local districts greater mobilitv and freedom “What we don't need is a federal govern m c n t dictating what local educators need to do conclusion of Mrs English’s shoi t address, Snvder came back to the podium to cone 1 tide night presentation. She then invited Jctrv Knight, English's local chief of stall. < Knight, also a Hein concluded b\ me, voters in the 2 I d then tell p£% pf -/ ;. f Mlfgroi.o 1 MfiDresentative Phil English’s wife, spoke to [Vim ■ Nov 1, because the Congressman was unable I nqlish informed the audience of her and her In; n and their involvement with the Erie Public S' N norite arc registered that English di>es d. - tend to vote on an independently on 1 a ini-.is and not strictly not strictly In. . lines. He also stated Republican part. '• "3 ■ ....BEFORE YOU K i FALLING TOO.. >IJR CH.RISTM AS V V EA ST PL AZ A 3 A RBORCREEK you to I i ,* , < * ':Wi' v.-' ump* 'nni'V.*'' iiiiit j (-n< ’ ' .. ’ !U < ’--^
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