behrcolls@aol.com Latin students represent community by Alicia McGrail staff writer Last Friday, the Latin Student Organization held its semi-annual Friday Fiesta, which was open to both students on campus and the Erie community to enjoy. LSO members hired a DJ to play Spanish music and made traditional Spanish food themselves, laboring in the kitchen for almost five days. The group also went to the various halls on campus to offer lessons to the students on Spanish dance and prepare them for the Fiesta. All of the hard work paid off; the Fiesta Sophomore by Ann Marie Havey advertising manager After a successful start last semester, the Sophomore Business Bridge will be held again Feb. 2 -3, at the Bel-Aire Conference Center. The SBB is an innovative, and now nationally recognized, program sponsored by Penn State Erie's School of Business. The SBB is designed to provide second-year business students with numerous opportunities and advantages, including building friendships with other School of Business students and faculty members; participating in teambuilding, problem solving, leadership, and negotiation skill building activities; and assisting students with academic major choice and career decisions. The retreat is primarily designed to aid sophomores in choosing their major, scheduling classes, and beginning to think about post graduation plans. The team building, problem solving, and negotiation activities also enable students to start HEART OF AMERICA Like most Americans. millions of young people have been deeply affected by the terrorist attacks. They arc asking for a way to get personally involved and make a difference. By purchasing The Bean of America Pin. corporations and organizations can support the relief efforts and also help young people get involved in creating a better world. All pro is from the sale of pins will support The Heart of America Foundations community programs and Family Relief Fund for the families of the victims of terrorism. Show the world the power of love. drew a turnout upwards of 250 people. All of the effort we put into the Friday Fiesta was worth it because the community enjoyed it so much," said club treasurer Anna Fernandez. Unfortunately, the Friday Fiesta planned for next semester may not be held, due to a lack of funding from the Student Groups and Activities board. Otherwise, the Friday Fiesta will be open to whomever wishes to attend in the Spring as well, and members of LSO predict an even bigger crowd at that event, which will feature a live band, as well as a DJ. Business Bridge in sophomore year forming friendships with their peers. " The group activities at the Business Bridge not only allowed me to meet other business students, but also taught me team skills that I have used in my upper-level classes," said Lisa Ann Strobel, a BECON major. This is a key part of the Sophomore Business Bridge because of the large number of group projects business students participate in at Behrend. "We met graduates and business people that work in fields that relate to our major," said Becky Poling, an accounting major, of last year's SBB. "They helped us realize what we will he doing after graduation." Business professionals representing many different careers will be guests at the SBB. Students meet with these professionals in small groups to participate in interactive discussions. During this time, students can ask various questions to understand the specific business fields and career paths more, and find out what companies are looking for in prospective interns or employees. Recent graduates from Behrend Let's fight hate with love. '''Y Frotii No iceoX.Amo el ... 111 =ll The LSO is centered firmly on the concept of community, and consistently interacts with Erie's Hispanic community. The club works with local churches and is involved with a variety of programs designed for Latin youth living in Erie. In past years, the members have been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs and have also taught Spanish dance to local children. The organization aims to present positive Latin role models for the children they work with, many of whom have problems at school. "We reach out to kids of the same also host small discussions. They will share their experiences and discuss how their Penn State education benefits them. In addition, they can recommend professors, courses, and offer other suggestions about how to be more marketable upon graduation. There will be faculty members from the School of Business there, too. The SBB encourages students to start building relationships with their future professors. There are many opportunities for students to engage in discussions with professors, providing a chance to feel comfortable and ask questions in a relaxed setting. After speaking with the faculty Katie Leary, an MIS student, learned about the different majors, and how much they overlap; therefore, realizing how easy it would be to dual major. Attendees also meet with current School of Business juniors and seniors. The upperclassmen will give insight on what to expect from classes, how to balance increasingly demanding workloads, describe Corporations and organizations can visit The Heart of America Foundations website at www.heartofamerica.org for information about how they can help. Retail orders may be placed directly with the pin s manufacturer, Friends, Inc at I -877-I-CARE PINS (422-7374). T' - hex- Friday, December 7, 2001 background as us, and show them their potential as Hispanic college students furthering our education," said Radhina Ramirez, LSO's president. "We serve as positive role models to the kids by showing them that while things may be hard in school now, hard work will pay off someday." The LSO not only reaches out to the Hispanic community in Erie, but also to Hispanic students here at Behrend by supporting one another, spreading awareness of the rich Spanish culture, and providing a close connection between students and the community. favorite projects they have done, and share their internship experiences. Entertainment at the Business Bridge will include a comedy show created by Dr. James Kurre of the economics department, with the assistance of various other faculty, staff, friends, and students. This year students will have additional time to socialize and use hotel facilities, such as the swimming pool. The Sophomore Business Bridge has now been presented at two national conferences, and has been recognized as a benchmark for developing similar programs in colleges and universities across the country. Registration is very limited, so students interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should apply before leaving for break. The registration fee includes transportation to and from the Bel- Aire, lodging, meals, and the conference itself. Interested students need to register in Turnbull at the School of Business office. PENN STATE BEHRENDI YOU HIT THE BOOKS, WE'LL BE THE COOKS! Call 899-2313 for delivery or carryout! 4111 1111111 # 116 ni gi agob i 4402 Buffalo Rd.: 599-2313 roAt Go Easy on the i.../allet! Medium 1-topping Pan Pizza! $5.99 Anob pix Lin t of Two 1 nnucihn pat we LIMO Ninety MK I inlb any atm nilhn Ile NM Oil MS WIN OM 1111 SGA seeks ways to lower tuition by Jen Henderson staff writer Students at Penn State Behrend are not going to give up their fight to address the issues that mean the most to them. The tuition increase here and at the other 18 branch campuses is one such issue that students will consider. The Student Government Asso ciation at Behrend is very involved in this ongoing process. The SGA, along with the Council of Com monwealth Student Governments, is working to address this issue and see what can be done to help. Ev'en though they would like to, SGA cannot do anything about the increase that has already occurred. It has been explained that the tu ition increase is due to the budget, inflation, and the need for better technology. President of the SGA Brandy Hovis said, "We need to pay more to keep up with other schools and keep the value on our Penn State degree." Ways that the SGA is dealing with this issue include setting up meetings with state representa tives and senators, such as Sena tor Jane Earl!, and starting a lob bying campaign. During these meetings they plan to give the rep resentatives and senators a chance to get to know the students here and see that many of the bad things that they may have heard are far from the truth. The meetings would also pro vide ample opportunity to show how senators' donations could in fluence a worthwhile, productive education. "Many state representatives do 2007 E. 3S St.: 825-7572 Lions! r WO OM MO NIB OM II Lotsa Value! I Large 1-topping Pan or Stuffed- Crust Pizza! $7.99 Allhildovi Limit of 111,..- Two I One agora per rot tamed (Mewl vea Ntit nil wet wry odwp Pilo I. INIII MO MEI Mt MO 11111111 ill not feel that Penn State does good things as students and for the com munity due to various things that happened at University Park," said Hovis. SGA plans a lobbying trip to travel to Harrisburg later this year. The Governmental Committee is also concentrating on other worth while events that will help their the Rock-the-Vote campaign and a voter registration in the fall," said freshman SGA senator Jeremy Adlon, the chairman of the Govern ment Committee. Through this whole process SGA is trying to get additional state appropriations to help the cause. If the state appropriations occur, the tuition rates could de crease due to the money that would go toward Penn State Behrend and other branches to pay for the increase in tuition. For this whole procedure to occur, the SGA, along with many dedicated students, will devote their time and efforts to this effort. or visit us at r ---- I BIG DEAL' I BIGFOOT PIZZA 2-topping AND a I I 2-Liter Coke! I $10.99 I we're talkin' 21 slices! I I Carryout or I I onY I One wow' pm art Wood Dimity Ants ■ %Mt w.y Jews oars I. IMO MIN OM E- Mil a The Behrend Beacon "Our efforts will concentrate on "We need to pay more to keep up with other schools and keep the value on our Penn State degree." spi':. -Brandi Hobs, SGA President