MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2001
HOVIS' GOALS
that she will bring to Behrend's
student government.
"We're hoping to improve advising
because that's something that a lot of
students have problems with," said
Hovis. "We want to find out why
students are told different things by
different advisors."
Hovis also plans to work on
commuter concerns. "Commuters are
not represented well," said Hovis.
She hopes to work with Commuter
Council to find ways to get
commuters involved in campus life
and claims she will
support Commuter
Council in their efforts to
open a commuter lounge
Other efforts Hovis
plans to take part in
include aiding the Multi-
Cultural Council (MCC)
with programming and
improving the image of
Greek organizations on
campus. Hovis thinks
that Greek involvement
in Thon at University
Park could do a lot to
boost their image at the
college.
"I think that a lot of
people don't look at the
good that they [Greek
organizations] do. I think
this is because Greeks
don't make things open Brandi Hovis, the SGA president-elect,
enough for other students enumerated some of her goals for the
outside of the Greek upcoming school year.
system," said Hovis. She
hopes to work with Greek leaders to having him as my vice president,"
make students outside of the Greek said Hovis.
system feel welcome. Next week. the Beacon will speak
Within SGA, Hovis hopes to work to Clint Lewis about his goals and
on getting SGA's name out to expectations for SGA in his role as
students. don't think that the people vice president.
on SGA realize how important they
PENNSTATE
are," said Hovis. Once students begin
to understand the importance of
student government, Hovis thinks a
lot more can be accomplished. "I
think that the senators should take
pride in what they're doing for the
school."
Hovis realizes the importance of
having a qualified vice president to
work with. She feels Clint Lewis was
most qualified out of the students that
she spoke to prior to her decision.
"I know his work ethic and I know
he's a hard worker. I feel confident
il Fzie &liege'
Honors and Awards
Convocation
Sunday, April 22, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Erie Hall
FROM FRONT PAGE
PHIL ENGLISH
to our trade policy." His statement
was met with an approving crowd.
After speaking for 20 minutes on
issues that concerned him,
Representative English opened the
floor to the people in the audience,
along with anyone else in Bruno's
who had a concern or a question to
share. A half a dozen students and
faculty took advantage of the time
English was offering and asked him
questions ranging from the opening
of oil reserves in Alaska to his
impression of President Bush.
State Rep. Scrimenti encourages student involvement
by Jason Snyder
editor-in-chief
Pennsylvania State Representative
Tom Scrimenti came to Behrend on
Thursday with a message for the 20
students that gathered in Reed 114:
"We want you." Scrimenti encour
aged students to get involved in gov
ernment in whatever capacity they
could, including local, state, or even
federal
, governmental positions.
Scrimenti stressed that it's not too
early to get involved with politics.
"You are never too young to get in
volved in government," said
Scrimenti, who first took on politics
at the age of 19.
"There are a plethora of job op
portunities in Erie," said Scrimenti.
He pointed out the number of state
offices that are based in Erie that of
fer internships and jobs for students.
By getting involved in these posi
tions, Scrimenti thinks that job op
portunities will open up in the fu
ture, including jobs as attorneys and
legislative assistants.
40th
Annual
NEWS
One student asked
Representative English if he felt
that the way that President Bush has
been portrayed by the media is
accurate. He answered that he feels
the coverage has been inaccurate
and that the President has
"articulated his platform well."
Another student asked if English
was happy with Bush's tax cut.
English feels that "the long term
impact will be better than the
immediate impact, especially in
places like Erie County."
When starting out, Scrimenti sug
gests following certain candidates
that are personally appealing. "You
should then get involved by work
ing in candidates' offices and cam
paigns," said Scrimenti.
The problem with decreased inter-
"You are never too
young to get involved
in government."
est in government among college
students, according to Scrimenti,
comes from the idea that students
have "tunnel vision." "People only
get involved if issues affect them,"
said Scrimenti. This is a problem
because most of the decisions made
in government do affect people in
some capacity.
-Tom Scrimenti,
Pa. State Representative
English answered each person's
question as thoroughly as possible,
following up with the question,
"what was your opinion about
that?" He listened to each response
with a great amount of attention and
then followed up each comment
with his own feelings, and at times
offered a solution to the problem
brought to his attention.
English's staff also handed out
surveys that asked about issues
facing Congiess, and issues that
concerned the students.
To avoid this, Scrimenti encour
aged students to read newspapers to
keep up with governmental deci
sions. He pushed for students to
speak up by writing letters to the edi
tor to local and college newspapers.
Scrimenti touched on some issues
of concern in his district such as the
lack of clout for the city of Corry in
the State Senate. He also recognized
the importance for Erie County to
take a regional approach to govern
ment, which he thinks will aid in
building up the area.
Scrimenti also spoke about his
support for funding at Behrend.
"I support Behrend College in
their funding," said Scrimenti. He
commended the efforts to build up
Knowledge Park and claimed he will
continue to support growth in that
However, Scrimenti took a differ
ent approach to growth and expan
sion outside of campus grounds. "I
support growth and expansion where
it's permitted," said Scrimenti. He
didn't, however, support the plan
Although he had to contend with
a loud crowd on the right side of
Bruno's that was obviously not:
interested in his platform or'
appearance on campus, the students
that were there to see English felt
that he had a positive message and'
impact. "I think the visit was an
excellent experience for those who'
participated because it let both:
supporters and opponents of ,
English let their voices be heard,"'
said Behrend student Ryan Bard.
proposed to build the new Walmart,
in Harborcreek, or the proposed
racetrack nearby.
Scri menti questioned this type of
expansion because the growth would,
upset residents in the area who had
no intentions of moving into a neigh-,
borhood with a future that involves
commercial expansion.
Scrimenti had mixed views towards,
the Eastside Connector that will be
going through Behrend and parts of,
his dktrict.
"The impact is going to be dra
matic,- said Scrimenti. "We need to
make sure that we are remaining
people-sensitive and environment
tally responsible."
Scrimenti was invited by Behrend's,
College Democrats, a grouped re
formed last fall to rival the newly.
formed College Republicans. Col=
le tze Democrats' president-elect
Steve Webb invited Scrimenti to re
turn next year to speak again.
"I'll come back next week if you.
want," responded Scrimenti.
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