THE BEHREND
EACON
A PENN STATE ERIE STUDENT PUBLIIIMEEMON
XLVIII No. 26 APRIL 13, 2001 8 pages
41mExiiiimumi
PENNSTATE
Erie
SPRING 2001.
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FRIDAY - Partly Cloudy
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High - 55
Low - 48
Check page 2A for the
weekend weather outlook
MEMO
PAGE 3A
Behrend's Political Science
department held its second
annual "Political Science
Jeopardy" this past Tuesday
PAGE 12A
RANII I\(* \\
Ali Ellis takes a minute to sit
down and share his thoughts
on Erie, traveling and his new
home at Behrend
PAGE 14A
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Haven't hit the movie theatre
lately? Find out what you're
missing out on. And what
you should consider missing
out on
The Beacon's monthly installment
of Your Money and You.
This week's topic:
Student Loansvr . - 4
4 I
NEWS
NI, CAMPIii„,„. 7A
CALENIAR OF EVENTS
MARK YOUt CALFINDA ()A
EDITORIAL
STAFT EDITORIAL .... 111 A
FEATURES
wort;l\ 1141 - „ 121
SPORTS
DIM RV\ D SPOR N...
'‘ I lON ‘,PoRT‘,.
NEWSROOM: 898-6488
FAX US: 898-6019
ON THE WEB:
www.clubs.psu.edu/beacononline/
Offices are located downstairs in
Reed Union Building
Equipment thefts continue
Cost of
thefts highest
in years
by Jeff Miller
managing editor
Last weekend, a janitor reported the
theft of a video data projector, which
was taken from the Academic
Building in Room 41. The thief
bypassed several security measures
while removing the projector from its
overhead bracket and cut the wires
leading to the computer in front of the
classroom. Also, the locked computer
stand in the podium at the front of the
classroom was broken into in order to
retrieve the remote control for the
projector.
Behrend's electronics come equiped
with special security kits made for
computers, projectors, and A/V
equipment, according to Mario Loreti,
an instructional service specialist with
Media and Instructional Support
(MISC).
"They use aircraft grade steel cable
and chains. There are also alarms on
the projectors," said Loreti. "It takes
a special tool to remove them as well."
Because the cables leading from the
projector to the computer go through
the walls it isn't just a simple matter
to replace the missing projector. The
room will have to be rewired.
This theft isn't the first of its kind
at Behrend. This academic year, five
projectors have been stolen from
classrooms and engineering labs. The
price of the stolen projectors is
estimated at $5,000 each, totaling
more than $20,000.
The monetary value of the
Blue Bus funding questioned after decreased ridership
Behrend's Blue Bus has experienced a decrease in ridership during the past year. FILE PHOTO
by Jason Snyder
editor-in-chief
The Student Activity Fee Committee will discuss
and possibly decide the future of Behrend's Blue
Bus at this week's SAF meeting. There is a
possibility that funding for the Blue Bus may be
cut, given concerns of decreasing student use during
the past year.
Student Activities Assistant Stacey McCoy and
Director of Student Activities Chris Rizzo requested
the funding for the Blue Bus in their SAF proposal
submitted last month. The proposal was broken
down into three separate options for future funding.
Some options would require a commitment from
SAF to fund the project for the next five years.
The first option, and the most expensive, would
call for the purchase of a new bus. This would cost
$48,304 paid all at once through SAF. Additional
costs within that option include the cost for wages,
gas, and the use of a cellular phone. The total cost
for this option is $50,961.
Students in Academic 41 look at the empty video data projector stand after the projector had been
reported stolen. The theft adds to Behrend's list of expensive equipment stolen this year.
projectors isn't the only concern for
administration. "Whoever walked in
and took this projector [was also]
stealing the ability of the college to
provide quality education," said
William Donahue, manager of Police
and Safety.
Behrend's MISC is doing
everything possible to replace the
missing equipment and keep the
negative effect it has on classes to a
minimum.
"One problem is these projectors are
chosen because of their features and
The second option submitted would also call for
the purchase of a new bus. This plan would pay for
the bus over the course of five years, at a rate of
$l,OOO/month. The total cost of this option is
$14,657 which also includes the cost of wages, gas
and a cellular phone.
The third option is very similar with the only
difference coming with the cost of gas and
maintenance. This option calls for payment to be
made to Fleet for fuel and maintenance. The extra
money needed to pay for this service is about
$5,000, bringing the cost of this option to $17,306.
If Behrend doesn't purchase a new bus, a fourth
option would be to keep the current bus running,
reducing the schedule of operation to just 29 hours
per week. This plan would only cost $2,657, but
wouldn't guarantee that the bus would be fully
operational given the recent mechanical problems
the Blue Bus has had.
The fifth option requests no money from SAF,
but requires the use of the $lO,OOO in carryover
funds. The carryover funds would pay for the
ease of use. It seems as soon as we
find the perfect model they stop
making it," said Loreti. A new model
will have to be selected to help replace
what has been stolen.
Professors have the option to get a
mobile projector and computer unit for
their lectures. Unfortunately, at this
time in the semester it is difficult to
obtain a mobile unit; many seniors are
using them for graduation projects.
A wide variety of classes are being
held in Academic 41 this semester.
They include art history with Dr.
Sharon Dale, African American
studies with Dr. Roberta Salper,
Jewish and Christian studies with Dr.
Daniel Frankforter, and mass media
and society with Dr. Carla Lloyd.
Behrend is taking steps to reduce
theft of technology equipment on
campus. "We are investigating it
actively, and the state police have
been made aware of the theft," said
Donahue. "There have been cameras
THEM
continued on page 3A
operation of the Blue Bus to be used specifically
for special trips only.
According to Student Government Association
president Jen Miles, the problem in funding the
Blue Bus comes from the lack of ridership. This
concern resonates throughout campus from
students who don't use the service.
"There's a huge decline in ridership," said
McCoy. "We are only serving a core group of
students."
McCoy admits that this is a problem when
requesting money. "What the Student Activity
Fee is looking at when I proi4ide them with the
details about ridership information is whether or
not to spend this money if we only have, for
example, four students this past Sunday, ride the
bus." According to Director of Student Affairs
Ken Miller, it cost $237 for these four students to
use the bus this past Sunday.
According to McCoy, it cost a total of $3,752
for the Blue Bus to run in the first two weeks of
the fall 2000 semester. This two-week span was
the busiest for the Blue Bus this year. That would
be equivalent to charging SAF $18.95 per student
to use the bus during those two weeks.
When students use the service less often it
results in a higher "per student" cost. Taking the
four riders this past Sunday, the cost per student
would be $59.25. That means that it cost almost
$6O to give a student a ride to Buffalo Road or to
the mall.
Total ridership this year is 2,217, with many of
those riders being multiple time users. This is
down from last year, which totaled 3,464 riders.
The decrease is because ridership was recorded
differently. Last year, the ridership numbers
would include student groups that requested use
of the Blue Bus. The members of these groups
were counted individually, which is not the case
this year.
BLUE BUS
continued on page 3A
- 2 SECTIONS
LSchools
join to
create new
majors
by Mark Benko
staff writer
The Penn State Behrend School of
Engineering and Engineering
Technology will join with the School
of Science in presenting two new
majors beginning in the fall of 2001.
An information seminar will be
held at noon on April 17 in Nick 171.
The meeting will be hosted by Ron
McCarty, instructor of computer
science from the School of Science,
and Dr. Ralph Ford, assistant
professor of engineering for the
SEET. It is open to the public.
McCarty will present the new
computer science major that is
designed to complement, not
compete, with Behend's existing
computer majors. The program is
designed to provide a framework for
those students interested in
developing computer skills related
specifically to the sciences. Flexible
natural science requirements will
enable students to tailor a program to
complement studies in biology,
physics, chemistry and other natural
sciences.
The objectives of the major will
also contain rigorous math
requirements with a science
orientation
The major will be geared to satisfy
potential employers, adhere to
accreditation guidelines as much as
possible, and provide computer
NEW MAJORS
continued on page 3A
Behrend
VlZualizes
web-based
tool
by Andrea Bolton
staff writer
VIZ, a new web-based spatial vi
sualization training program, is fast
approaching. The web site is being
designed and the program completed
by students currently attending Be
hrend. The interdisciplinary team of
students working on the project con
sists of eight students from the psy
chology, engineering, and communi
cation majors.
VIZ is a program dedicated to the
understanding and improvement of
spatial visualization skills and was
actually up and running last year. Dr.
Dawn Blasko, associate professor of
psychology, and Kathy Holliday-
Darr, instructor of engineering graph
ics, began designing the web site
through the assistance of a university
Fund for Excellence in Learning and
Teaching (FELT) grant. They were
able to complete two tests of spatial
ability, and the project for this sum
mer will consist of eight interdiscipli
nary students using "cutting-edge
technology." The projects that have
already been completed will remain
a permanent part of the site. Teach
ers and faculty will be able to access
VIZ
continued on page 3A