A look at the
by Heather Fleming
staff writer
Dr. Matthew Davies is a fourth year Co
ordinator of the Department of Political Sci
ence and International Studies Association,
and he is also the Chair of the Global Devel
opment Section. He is not just a man who
teaches at Behrend; he is just as curious as
any student and loves to learn.
“The most gratifying moments in the class
room come when someone asks me a ques
tion I don’t know how to answer, because it
shows me that the student cared enough to
learn about the topic to be able to ask difficult
questions,” Davies said. This is a professor
who is extremely motivated in what he does
and this shows through his hard work.
“I can say that part of making a difference
[in the world] lies in being an active member
of the profession, which includes teaching, re
search and writing, and service to the profes
sion,” Davies said.
Much of his research and writing takes
him out of Erie to places like New Orleans,
London, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Because of his membership in the Interna
tional Studies Association (ISA) and the Brit
ish International Studies Association (BISA),
Davies attends annual conventions in places
around the world. While in London, the work
shop that he attended “was organized to dis
cuss the institution of a post-graduate program
in Commonwealth Studies at the Institute for
Commonwealth Studies.”
Attending these conferences, Dr. Davies
admitted, is “a lot of work!” But he also said
that he really “likes conferences as much work
as they are. I always leam a lot and really en
joy myself.”
There may be those who are wondering
why Davies would be a member of the Brit
ish International Studies Association, which
is intended primarily for scholars working in
the UK. But it does have members from
around the world. So why is Davies a mem
ber of the BISA?
“Many of the people in my field whose
work I greatly admire are working in the UK,
and membership in the association helps me
to keep up with their work when I read the
journal that BISA sponsors and when I attend
the annual convention,” said Davies.
• Not only does Davies attend conferences
and participate in panel discussions, he is cur
rently writing a book with Dr. Michael
Nilemann of Trinity College in Hartford,
Conn.
More parking
spaces planned,
according to
forum panel
by Nicky Galloway
staff writer
The parking forum convened
Monday at 5:15 p.m. in Reed 117.
The parking forum panel consisted
of Dr. Jack Burke, the Interim
Provost, John Ream, the Director of
Operations, Bill Donahue, the
Director of Police and Safety, and
Ken Miller, the Director of Student
Affaire. The forum explained that
there is always enough parking, but
it may not be as convenient as
students want it to be. Penn Stgte
Eriehasdtelowest paricjngrateof
all of the Penn State caucuses for
commuters and residents, At
University Park, students pay a
lower rate for, parking that is less
convenient anda higher rate for
more convenient,closer parking. On
die Behrend campus; ail parking is
Widered ;;
* fall. Boweyetv thefe is a strupe ,
life of Dr. Matthew Davies
PHOTO BY ROB WYNNE / BEHREND BEACON
Dr. Matthew Davies and his wife strike a cozy pose. Davies, an assistant professor of
political science, also serves as Coordinator of the Department of Political Science
and International Studies Association and Chair of the Global Development Section.
He is also a member of the International Studies Association (ISA) and the British
International Studies Association (BISA) and attends conferences worldwide.
“The book deals with the social theory of a
French philosopher and sociologist whose
name was Henri Lefebvre who died in 1991,”
said Davies. “I am examining [Lefebvre’s]
work on everyday life and on the social pro
duction of space to see how his insights might
contribute to the study of international rela
tions and the global political economy.”
Writing, research, and teaching are just a
few of the ways that Davies hopes to make a
difference in the world today. He strives so
hard in his profession because he is trying to
Questions all around at
the Provost
by Jen Henderson
staff writer
“What is your favorite television show?”
Dr. Jack Burke, interim provost and dean,
asked the students who gathered Monday in
the Perry Hall Lobby. This question helped
break the ice for many more inquiries that
were to follow. Pizza with the Provost
provides students a chance to question the
provost, student activities directors, and also
housing and food services on problems or
concerns that they have found important on
campus. Also attending Monday’s session
were Ken Miller, the Director of Student
Affairs; Randy Geering, Manager of Housing
and Food Services; Nancy Paneponto,
Interim Provost and Dean Dr. Jack Burke addressed student concerns during Monday’s
Pizza with the Provost.
'ns y_/
ft.%,
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Friday, February 1, 2002
“find good ways to think about problems in
the world, and we bring these ideas to bear
not only on our research but also on our teach
ing.” He is instilling ideas in all of those he
teaches and hopes to see a chain effect in
changing the world.
“When it works, then students who read our
books and papers or take our classes think
harder about their world and how they want it
to be, and then make their contributions to
changing the world as well.” said Davies.
Associate Director of Student Allairs: Brandi
Holmes, building coordinator tor Perry and
Lawrence residence halls; and all lour RAs
from Perry Hall.
The evening started with one ot the 1>
students in attendance commenting on the
limited choices of healthy lood available on
campus. Behrend officials responded that
many times there are limited f ruit selections
and salads available, but they are not always
there at various times in the day. Normally,
there are no salads made for the weekends
either, so students have limited healthy
selections during these times. Students made
suggestions about possible fruit bars, and
more vegetables being available. Officials
addressed the problem with Bruno's not
PHOTO BY JEFF HANKEY / BEHREND BEACON
Behrend students
sound off about new
Members of the Behrend community
casually walking by may not notice the
change in the ATM located in the Reed
Building. As soon as they stop to make a
transaction they will realize that the ATM is
under new ownership. Instead of being
owned by Mellon and Citibank, the ATM is
now controlled by PNC Bank.
The change comes as a part of the
university-wide partnership with PNC and the
id+ card, which allows Penn State students,
faculty and staff with PNC accounts to use
their id+cards as AIM cards. Eveiyone using
the ATM without a PNC card may now incur
fees of up to $2 from PNC, as well as
additional fees from the bank where they have
an account. This news garnered varied
reactions from students familiar with the
ATM in Reed,
“1 think the switch-over to PNC is
definitely a good thing,” said Allison Jawdy,
Accounting 06. ‘‘Hie reason ! chose PNC in
the first place was because it was what was
on campus when I was here as a freshman. I
was disappointed when they changed it to
Citibank or Mellon.” 0 f
course, the benefits to the switch are strongest
for students who have accounts with PNC,
as Nicole Greene, O6,
pointed out >- ?/- ,fi J
“I believe that this change is definitely a
good one for people with a PNC account,*
said Greene. “I did not understand why it
was changed in the first place. For people
like myself who do not have a PNC account,
it really doesn’t make much of a difference
because I am still being charged $2 for every
transaction, which is a bit much.”
Other students, like Kara Gris 6, Marketing
06, saw the change as negative overall.
“PNC has really high few,” said Gris 6. “I
don’t know why the school switched back
again.”
Those wishing to forego most of those fees
may consider the option of opening a PNC
account. They may also simply choose to
withdraw cash only from ATMs associated
• with their own bank. Not everyone may reap
students like 'Leslie Coveifr.fotfmational
Business and Finance 07, who will have to
pay fewer fees have reason tobe pleased.
“So long as we don’t have to pay a fee to
use our own money, it’s a good thingl” Coven
said. “About time!”
Pizza with
opening until 4 p.m. on Sundays and
discussed a more central location for an
additional food place. More fast food
restaurants are highly likely to appear at the
new intersection near Knowledge Park.
However, this would still be quite a distance
for students to travel for food.
Other factors that attendees discussed in
great detail were the need for a bus on campus
to take students various places in Erie,
computer and other labs being more
accessible at various times throughout the
week, bathroom concerns, parking on
campus, library resources, and campus
renovations.
Many students present at the meeting were
residents of Perry Hall. Specific requests that
were made included a water fountain for the
guys on the first floor of the building and more
soap dispensers on both sides of the building.
The possibility of supplying air fresheners for
the restrooms was also mentioned. The plans
for the proposed renovations for Perry Hall
were displayed. Renovations would total
about $lO million and add enough space for
approximately 150 more students. The plans
also would be more wheel chair accessible
and would provide a route down the hill. The
bathrooms would also be rewired and
remodeled for more privacy.
The topic of parking also brought up new
suggestions of tiered parking and additions
to lots that already exist. Officials also
addressed the bus suggestion, but they
explained that a previous bus was rarely used.
It caused high prices and was not really worth
the time and effort to keep it running for the
few students who used it.
Throughout the evening many good points
were addressed and the faculty on hand
listened intently to what the students had to
say. Hopefully, some of the issues will be
taken into greater consideration to the
betterment of the student body.
The Behrend Beacon
p
QUESTION OF j
THE WEEK 1
- asked by Kelly Walsh
“The Rams because Simmons says so. "
Kevin Brunner
EET, 08
’■'■lihtr.! i■ t (
“Cleveland, because Lurch said so. ”
Craig Ottaviani
MIS, 08
‘‘All / know is that the Steelers lost and I
am going to a party. ”
Bethanie Falleta
Elementry Education, 04
“The Rams since Pittsburgh lost. ”
Adinah Juliet
Psychology, 04
“St. Louis without a doubt because their
offense is unstoppable and their defense
has stepped up to be a Super Bowl
contender. ”
Dante Spain
EET, 04
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