CHILD CARE CENTER provided no longer at Behrend. Meetings sponsored by the Women's Commission Liaison Committee, the Child Care Parent Teacher Organization, and the Faculty Council Ad Floc Committee, which was chaired by Associate Professor of History Dr. John Rossi, were held so the Behrend community could express opinions on the center's future. The Student Government Association also came forward to defend the center. Many suggestions were offered, but 110 decision had been made when classes ended in December 2001. The committees had until January to submit a proposal to then Dean and Provost Dr. John !Alley. Committee members had found institutions with childcare facilities had higher recruitment and retention rates. Also, many Erie collet•e' that Behrend competes with also offer childcare. Finally, on Jan. I, I.illev made the announcement the center would have a future at Penn State. PennDOT cooperated with Behrend to delay demolition until alternative facilities could he provided. either with a temporary center or the new building itself. Aside from the huildinv costs. the Child Care Center is hasicall self-sufficient, Miller explained. The center uses the fees parents pay to cover operating costs. Millet added that salary increases and fringes are usually funded by the Universit There are 85 children enrolled at the center. Moore said.'. ith another 25-30 on a ‘vaiting list. Moore estimated 60 to 70 percent of those enrolled are children of Penn State ..aculty, students, or staff. •Ilie center employs 22 full-time staff members and 18 part-time Refiiend students. DEBATE procedures in Erie. Webb was referring, to an incident last fall when several students registered but were unable to vote in the 2000 elections Lynch said she knew of the situation and while she personally had little to do with the voting procedures, she would take up the issue with the election board to make sure it didn't happen main Schenker said it was important to enforce processes, including voting, and improving technology in the Courthouse would help prevent similar glitches from occurring in the future. Another participant asked lithe candidates would support a community college in Erie. Schenker said he supported the concept, especially if it would increase technological and industrial training. lie said he realiied these skills were necessary to local industry, but also warned against raising the tax base which could inhibit industry from moving into the area. Lynch replied she had supported a community college when Erie had one in the past and she would support one again. She said the fOrmer college cost Erie 5600,000, hut garnered S 7 million in return. Next the candidates were asked if voting booths could be brought to campus for the local elections. Lynch said she would work on getting them, possibly even for the Nov. 6 election. Schenker said while he wanted to establish a "customer-friendly County," he would have to make sure it was feasible. Jim White, a member of the College Republicans, asked the candidates if they thought negative politics in a campaign would detract voters from participating in the election, especially in light of the recent national tragedies. "It really hurts the voters because the focus is on somethinu other than the issues," Schenker said. Ile also referred to a pledge both he and Lynch signed in January to not FROM FRONT PAGE allow negative campaigning in the race. Lynch agreed, stating negative politics was not conducive to the election. However, she said candidates did have to focus on providing accurate information and accountability. She used the example of cmhlovcrs I \ resumes, saving they had the right to question the factuality of what wa.:, stated. The next question asked the candidates about the amount of jobs actually created in the area in recent years and the salaries these jobs had. Lynch said more than 2,000 jobs have been created, especially in industrial cooperatives like Knowledge Park. !she could not speak tor the salaries these jobs brought, but said they varied, pros iding employment for people at many income brackets "People with fewer skills can get [lower paying] jobs and use them as stepping stones" to better opportunities. she added Schenker disagreed that I rie's job market was as healthy as \ itch implied. "Lie lack of leadership is driving brie into an economic black hole.'' he said. adding the Eric County Executive must lake responsibility fon creating and keeping jobs in they county tompa at that point asked the candidates to state what they thought the role of the county executive was. Lynch said die executive had three functions: to run the county , 20\ ernuhmt to represent the community, and to lu s ter community support and dev elopment. Schenker said he thoue}it Lynch had bronght stability to the go% el 11111C111. hut Licked the leadership to "move the count\ for and to where we arc an economic hot spot in Pennsylvania... Another audience member asked the candidates for their view on the prospective abortion clinic. Both candidates asserted they were pro-life. Schenker went into more depth, saying he thought a clinic would he a "Night on the community,'' hut that the legal framework supported it. [he candidates were asked to provide their it's not for everyone, but that's Sure, Army ROTC isn't a piece of cake. After all, in here you'll push yourself. Test your limits And in the process, develop skills that'll last a lifetime. Like how to think on your feet and be a good leader and decision maker. You could even get a scholarship. Register today for an Army ROTC class. Because you're riot just like "everyone2' ARMY ROTC Unlike any other college course you can take. [the ' 0 otittea Clive us a try NO Obligation Fresh/Soph Call Ma'or Zan 'us 89k:7273 . . 1,'..., , .- , , . ~ . . .... . . . ~... ~,‘. ~ . . :„.. ~, „.„. ~,.....,.. s ,. . ~.„.. : ..,........1, - , ...„ , . 'I:: „..:,,,,..:;',.''..........4‘...:....!.:14...;:::,,.'..,1,...,..::•..":. 1,'...,..4., N ~,.,,:., „„,..,......., ~....4. ... ....: .„...,..,,_....., . ~ ...x......,, ~..,„...., .. - r--1 1 --/ --- ~...,) .... .. . . .... . ~ . „..... .:. , . ..,. a ~... '___.... - - " Ia '..--- imumium j Friday, October 26, 2001 '~~. ' , aye; ~;,; ;f c~ 4`: MIME The Child Care Center on Station Road will be rated next week to make way for the Eastside Access I lighway, which will run through the existing building. The center has moved to a new facility in Knowledge Park. backgrounds and political experience. Lynch said she has been involved in Erie government since 1974, including the county council and county executive. Schenker said he was "born and raised" in Erie and did master's work in public policy. He said he worked on Torn Ridge's campaign for governor of Pennsylvania and worked extensively with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of political science, asked the candidates to relate what role their religious views would play in fulfilling the duties of office. Schenker said while he is a church-going man, he didn't feel his religion would have anything to do with creating jobs with Erie County. "The only role religion would play is I would do my job during the day, then go home and pray that it worked." Lynch said she thought her religious beliefs would help her face adversity. The final question addressed whether the candidates thought it was necessary to retain the Erie International Airport. Schenker said it was vital to economic growth in Erie and in making Erie a "regional authority." Lynch said she wanted to make a plea to US Airways to maintain service to Erie and to keep fares competitive with those offered in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo. Aimee Peterson, president of the College Republicans, said the debate was very in formative and helpful to the Behrend community. She was also pleased with the audience turnout, saying it was greater than she had expected. Her one critique of the debate was she would have liked to hear more comments on jobs. "They discussed high tech jobs, but what about jobs like nursing and those that don't require a college education?" Webb also was pleased with the debate. "I think it's important that students learn about local-level politics." He said he was glad to see job issues and voting reform issues brought up, but thought the candidates could have explored the issue of the airport further. wil l ."*.4i.4•k PHOTO BY LIZ HAYES Behrend fraternities give back to the community Alicia McGrail staff writer Fraternities arc nothing more than a bunch of macho college guys who use the frat house as an excuse to throw parties all the time. Sound familiar? It's a popularly held of Greek misconception organizations, and a number of fraternities at Behrend are involved in a number of activities designed to reach out and give back to the community through service projects. Two of the largest Greek organizations, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Tau Gamma, are involved in a variety of volunteer projects that match the efforts of various clubs on campus. Both fraternities just finished participating the annual Walk-For-Diabetes race and plan to participate in the Adopt- A-Highway program in the spring, in which each fraternity will choose a local street to clean up once a month. The TKEs are planning a food drive for November in which they will push a barrel around campus to raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank. They also plan to set up a safe sex booth that same month to educate students on precautions and to pass out free condoms. Sig Tau has donated to the United Way Relief Fund following the Sept. I l tragedy. After a local church burned down last year. the fraternity rallied to raise money to donate to the rebuilding of the church. The members of Sig Tau also volunteer at St. Benedict's retirement home, read to preschool kids, and participate in the Books for Kids program. Zeta Beta Tau participates in a walk that benefits Big Brothers and Big Sisters each spring. Last year they walked the equivalent of a two-hour drive from Erie to Pittsburgh, taking turns by doing shifts, which lasted approximately sixty miles per shift. This year they plan on getting the Gannon chapter involved to earn more money for the organization. Last year, the frats cleaned up Presque Isle and they clean up Behrend's campus annually. The Behrend Beacon QUESTION OF THE WEEK "I'm not afraid because host' many people does it really alftect and it is c•urable Bert McClellan Mechanical Engineering, 03 ••••••••• 000000 ••• "We're afraid because it may affect someone we hold dear like myself or my fellow mailroom employees. especially our pal Patrick Ilarris." Ryan Baringer, Brian Steffan MIS, 01: Architectual Engineering, 01 "i'm not going to let terrorism change mllilt James Wybel Electrical Engineering, 01 "No. Why would Behrend be on the hit list? Nelson Mascarenhas Computer Engineering, 0/ I =3 "Not personally because I haven't been affected by it, hut I can understand the concern." Ursula Nix l'sycholoK\ Page 3
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