, I . 'e e a Cli k 0 Irl January 11, 2002 10 Page 40 Vol. XLIX No. 15 Welcome Back! • 4 x 144 i ~,,1 ' PENNSTATE g Erie pring 2002 Friday's forecast: Partly cloudy High: 38° Low: 25° Check page 2 for the weekend weather outlook NEWS DID YOU NOTICE THE WHITE STUFF? Yep, it's here. But, to some, snow isn't all that bad. News editors Erin McCarty and Kevin Fallon discuss what a few local experts have to say, as well as some upcoming activities like the Behrend Winter Olympics. SPORTS AIR LIONS Behrend's men's and women's basketball teams have entered AMCC con ference play. Recap the action thus far ■ Behrend News...l-2 National News... 3-4 Calendar...s Editorial... 6 Features.. 7 Sports... B-10 1:11111=MIEF NEWSROOM: 898-6488 FAX: 898-6019 E-MAIL: behrcolls@aol.com Offices are located downstairs in the Reed Union Building A round of applause Family and friends filled the Junker Center on Dec. 15 for Fall Commencement. Approximately 300 academic and professional degrees were conferred upon associate, bachelor, and master candidates. The commence ment address was delivered by Dr. Id° Millet, associate professor of management information systems. Penn State Board of Trustees member Edward P. Junker 111, Interim Provost and Dean Dr. Jack D. Burke, and Associ ate Provost and Dean Dr. Robert W. Light participated in the conferring of degrees and presenting of diplomas. Congratulations grads and good luck! Erie's snowfall typical for season, says local meteorologist by Kevin Fallon assistant news editor After a warm December, students were welcomed back to Behrend with cold temperatures, wind, and snow. Over the break Erie was hit by a storm leaving the Behrend campus covered with snow. So far the spring semester has been anything but spring -like. According to meteorologist David Call, Erie received 47.2 inches of snow as of midnight Jan. 9, which is typical for this point of the season. Call's prediction for the coming months: snow, snow, and more snow. "1 think we will finish with more than 100 inches this winter. Average snowfall for the last 30 years has been 90 L 7 Plows piled snow high, clearing the roadways, but stu- dents, faculty, and staff aiike had to battle icy patches as they drove to campus. See the article for tips on how to avoid hassles when driving in winter. with nearly 150 inches," said Call. "It appears the rest of winter will probably have near or below average temperatures and another 50 inches of snow or so," said Call. "It will seem harsh; however with the exceptional warmth of November and early December, the overall winter will be close to normal." The snow was met with mixed reactions from students. Some snow lovers like freshman Tom Learn were excited about the flakey white stuff. Snow is number one," Learn said "Sometimes I want snow in the summer so I open the freezer and make a snowball. Snowstorms are great. It should be snowing right now." Like many others in the Erie area, ‘I“ he br thr Jd PHOTO BY ROB WYNNE / BEHREND BEACON PHOTO BY ROB WYNNE / BEHREND BEACON Snow, snow, snow! Behrend students returned to a campus turned winter wonderland. weather. "I like snow angels, snowballs, snowmen, snow football, and sledding," Learn said. But many students across the campus were not happy about the snowfall. "I don't like the snow. It's too cold and always in the way," said Nicole Swartzentruber, freshman. "The snow puts me in a bad mood. It can clear up right now. I just want to make it though until summer." Call said that both snow lovers and loathers make many mistakes when it comes to winter weather. "People lose respect for snow. They attempt to drive at normal speeds, and then slide off a curve or into other cars. Also, they neglect to dress appropriately for the cold. From experience, I know that standing outside in the cold for more than five minutes takes a lot of energy out of you. Hypothermia is always a risk." PHOTO BY PAIGE MILES / BEHREND BEACON Call also gave a few tips to help people prepare for the winter: I .Practice driving in the snow. If you don't have a lot of experience in the snow, find a big parking lot and practice driving around in your car. 2. Keep your car in good mechanical shape, its gas tank at least half full, and have an emergency kit (cell phone, blankets, snacks, shovel, basic tools, and kitty litter or sand to be used for traction if you get stuck) . 3. When driving, be ready for dramatic changes in road conditions during lake effect snow events such as sun, flurries, snow-covered roads, and low visibility. 4. Lastly, allow extra time to reach your destination so you can drive slower or deal with accidents blocking the road. Winter Olympics to benefit 'THON by Erin McCarty news editor The snow-covered campus is about to be put to good use in Behrend's first Winter Olympics, an SGA-sponsored event that will take place on Jan. 18, and Jan. 19. The Winter Olympics came about as a way to raise more money for THON, the Penn State [nterfratemity Council / Panhellenic Dance Marathon, and to increase students' awareness of the Four Diamonds Foundation. Four Diamonds is a charity benefiting children with cancer, and it has been the recipient of funds raised by THON since 1977. We're both connected to and detached from Penn State," said Kristin Grudowski, Communications and International Studies 07, who helped coordinate the Winter Olympics. She hopes that having a unique event here will help Behrend students to feel that they are more involved in the charitable efforts of the Penn State community. Although the response has not been overwhelming thus far, there are enough volunteers to carry it out and Grudowski foresees increased intrreqt next year. Fifteen teams of six people will compete in the six events, all of which will occur during the second day. Friday night's activities will commence at 5 p.m. with team check in at Erie Hall. From sto 7 p.m., each team member will sign in and receive free gifts for participating, including a T-shirt. A mock torch run around campus will take place between 7 and 8 p.m., concluding the opening ceremonies. Jan. 19 will begin with breakfast in Erie Hall from 10 to 1 1 a.m. The first event, in which participants will race one another to build a snowman, will last from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and take place on the Behrend fields. The second event, from 12 to 1 p.m. on the Behrend fields, is a snowball-throwing contest in which the winners will be determined based on distance and accuracy. Originally, the third event was slated to be a snowshoe race, but it will now be a cross-country skiing race that will last from 1 to 2 p.m. on the Behrend fields. During the fourth event, occurring from 2 to 3 p.m., teams will attempt to prove their potato-sack-racing prowess on the Perry slopes. From to 4 p.m., the action will move once again to Behrend fields for the fifth event, which is a sled-pulling race. The final event, which will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on the ski slopes, requires participants to create a sled and then race it. Between 2 and 4 p.m., participants and spectators will have an opportunity to shake off the cold with a barbecue served in Erie Hall. Additionally. throughout the day there will be warm up stations with hot chocolate set up in the proximity of the various events. Attendees will also be able to enjoy music during the day, as the Planet radio station will broadcast from Behrend. At 5:30 p.m. everyone is welcome to attend an awards ceremony in Erie Hall. Prizes will be given in three categories: most money earnetl, most points earned, and a combination of the two. "Putting it together was hard work," said Grudowski, "but it should be a good time." She pointed out that last year alone, THON raised $3.6 million and she would like to see Behrend students sharing more fully in the enthusiasm that made such a feat possible. "THON is the largest student-run philanthropic event in the country," she said. "Students should be proud of that."
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