THE BEHREND t Beacon n \ A PENN STATE ERIE STUDENT PUBLICATION 18 'ages pennState ESErie FRIDAY - Rain High - 48 Low - 35 Check page 2A for the weekend weather outlook PAGE 5A Photos and statements of the candidates running to represent you in Behrend’s student government. PAGE 13A It was perfect timing for Vince McMahon’s WWF to buy out its competition last week. The combination of wrestling’s elite organizations gives new hope to what was a bleak future. PLUS... The Beacon’s monthly installmem of Healthy living on 14A. NEWS \vt;\thkk WOK 1.0 & N ATION NATION U O VASIN. S 7A EDITORIAL si av s fdi ) * miAL. H \ CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARK YOl U CALKNOAR 10A FEATURES IK) i SPOTS IN Kmi, 12A SPORTS 1U ’ HKV \'|> >H’l 5... IB \ VIIONA!, SPORTS-...... 41? NEWSROOM: 898-6488 FAX US: 898-6019 ON THE WEB: www.clubs.psu .edu/beacononline/ Offices are located downstairs in Reed Union Building BEACON OPEN HOUSE & CHARITY EVENT XLVIII No. 24 Katie Koestner’s soft-spoken demeanor didn t take away from her powerful message. Koestner captures audience with life-altering story by Liz Hayes news editor She may have had a quiet and unassuming presence, but for all her soft spoken appeal, Katie Koestner got her point across loud and clear. There is more to rape than a woman getting attacked by a stranger in a dark, deserted alley. Date and acquaintance rape do occur, and they occur more frequently than many seem to think. Koestner, who has shared her story of rape and the derision that followed with a national audience, came to Behrend on Wednesday to further advance her tale and to get the word out on this often underestimated social problem. Koestner began her presentation by commenting on the odd turns a person’s life can make. She wondered aloud what careers the students in the audience thought they would enter upon graduation. She took a look back at her Republican candidates for Erie County Executive debate at Behrend by Liz Hayes news editor On Monday, Behrend’s College Re publicans and the Beacon co-spon sored a debate between the three can didates running for the Republican primary nomination for Erie County Executive. Those candidates, Rick Schenker, Denise Robison, and Joy Greco, answered three questions di rected by a moderator from a local radio station and two more questions from the audience. Each debater was permitted a five minute introductory speech. Schenker won the toss and went first, followed by Robison and then Greco. All three candidates spoke of their qualifying experiences that had pre pared them for the job of Erie County Executive. Then they indicated the goals they would try to achieve if elected. All cited similar goals - re taining and expanding business and industry, retaining young college stu dents about to enter the economy, and improving tourism. The candidates also made more specific pledges in their opening own past career goals, humorously noting on the drastic changes in her goals: in kindergarten it was a ballerina; in ninth grade, a minister; in tenth grade she planned to enter the Air Force; and finally, in her senior year of high school, she planned on double majoring in chemistry and Japanese. However, the degree she finally received was in public policy and women’s studies. Then the story of the turning point in her life began. Koestner explained to the audience how she was from a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania, where there were cow pastures around her high school. She painted the picture of a shy, naive girl in her first weeks away trom home at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. A picture of a girl who met a nice guy in her chemistry class and began to study with him. A girl who, after KOESTNER continued on page 3 A From left: Joy Greco, Denise Robison and Rick Schenker debate in the Reed Commons. speeches. Schenker promised to be Erie County’s chief salesman and to create an Erie County Impact Com mission, similar to commissions Gov ernor Ridge and former President Ronald Reagan have formed. This commission would search for meth MARCH 30, 2001 The stats on rape according to national surveys • Four in five women who are victims of sexual assault know their attackers • Forty-two percent of women in one study said they had been victims of sexual coercion while dating in college. Of those women, 70 percent did not seek help. • Women are more likely to report sexual assault it their assailant is a stranger rather than an acquaintance, and they are more likely to report completed rape than attempted rape. • More than two-thirds of men involved in sexual assault at a university had been drinking at the time of the incident, as well as half of female victims. ods to make business more efficient and to get the youth more involved. Robison declared that she wanted to create “a county where no one wants to leave and where everyone wants to come.” She indicated that she would try to improve how well SGA elections hold only two contested positions Behrend's student government has cooled off going into next week's mostly uncontested election. Only two positions, president/vice president and secretary, will be contested spots on Behrend's student government. That s a far cry from last year, which leatured a heavily contested senato rial race and a heated presidential battle. The presidential/vice presidential election will have Keenan Hansen running lor president with Traci Hamm running for vice president on the same ticket. Their opponents are Brandi Hovis and Clint Lewis. All lour candidates are current members of SGA. SGA ELECTIONS Behrend reaches out during Service Week Feeding the hungry, collecting clothes (or the needy, and cleaning the campus are just a lew highlights of community service from this semester's Student Service Week, which concludes today. For the fourth time since the fall of 1999, the Student Service Week, sponsored hv the Student Activities Office, has sponsored by PHOTO BY NEIL MAKADIA s t u j e n t Behrend student Josh Hilewick paints organizations such as Lambda Sigma Honor Society, Reality Check, Women Today, Multi cultural Council, Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council. Lion Ambassadors, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Student Government Association, and Joint Residence Council. Not only are numerous ellorts made during Student Service Week, but also in the planning of it. About a month ago, Katie Leary and "Melky” Ayala Torero began the planning for this rigorous week. Both Behrend students volunteered their time to STUDENT SERVICE WEEK eggs with the elderly at Brevillier Village Erie gets the word out about its re sources so as to draw in tourism. Greco also discussed improving the local business climate and improving industry retention. She looked to her current experience on Erie County Council and various other involve ments. After the opening statements, the moderator asked a series of questions, and each candidate had two minutes to respond. Candidates could rebut another’s argument during those two minutes, but there was no extra time allotted just for rebuttal. The first question was how the can didates would ensure that well-pay ing jobs remain in Erie County tor graduating college students. Greco was first and said that she would pass legislation to improve the climate for businesses that are dealing with bur densome taxes. Robison answered that high-tech companies should be the main focus of area leaders and that she would work to ensure the coordi nation and integration of this sector. Schenker said that he would approach college students and find out what would convince them to stay and - 2 SECTIONS by Jason Snyder editor-in-chief continued on page 3A by Hillary Hawranko staff writer continued on page 3A work in Erie The second question asked whether or not child poverty was a major is sue, and, if so, how the candidates would deal with the poverty levels. Robsion called child poverty the “most dubious distinction this county has,” saying that she would approach the recipients of local welfare aid and ask them how the system could be im proved. She also said she would look into comparing Erie with other coun ties to see if Erie could find alterna tive solutions. Schenker indicated that he would re-enforce the discus sion of abstinence and look into hav ing faith-based organizations help out. Greco also agreed with Schenker’s idea of enlisting faith-based organi zations, as well as working toward boosting self-esteem. At this point two questions from the audience were taken. One student asked how the candidates would keep manufacturing jobs in Erie, to which the candidates reiterated, for the most DEBATE continued on page 3A brought Behrend organizations together in a collaborative effort to serve various aspects of the Erie community. Each day during the week a different acti vit v
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