March 1,2002 18 Pages, 2 sections
Vol. XLIX " No. 22
• a < a nm State Erie: Studen ■■■ u- irucation *
pennState
Spring 2002
NEWS
HOMOSEXUALITY
FORUM
The fourth weekly
Multicultural Council forum
addressed issues of homo-
sexuality and organized
religion. Read about it on
page 2.
CONCERT
The Behrend Concert
Band performed a spring
concert last night under the
direction of Dr. Gary
Viebranz. See page 3.
SUSTAINABILITY
Behrend is making a
concentrated effort to
preserve the beauty of this
campus and encourage
students to be environ
mentally conscious. Read
about it on page 4.
SPORTS
MARCH MADNESS
Test your college basket
ball knowledge with the
Behrend Beacon’s March
Madness contest. Predict
the winners and win a
prize. See page 68.
Behrend News. .. 1-4
Editorial...s
National News... 6-7
Calendar... 6
Humor... 9
Features... lo
A&E... 11
Health..A2
Sports.. .1-6 B
NEWSROOM: 898-6488
FAX: 898-6019
E-MAIL:
behrcolls@aol.com
Offices are located
downstairs in the
Reed Union Building
THON raises record-breaking $3.6 million
by Jen Henderson
staff writer
Forty-eight hours of dancing,
fundraising, and much-needed
awareness for a worthwhile
cause highlighted the Feb. 22-
24 event known as THON at
Penn State’s University Park
campus.
THON, the world’s largest
student-run philanthropy spon
sored the event, which raised
a record-breaking sum that will
be used to help conquer child
hood cancer.
Approximately 660 dancers
took part in THON, which
raised $3,613,178.61 from
their various sponsors. The
money was gathered through
various fundraisers that in
cluded canning efforts, busi
nesses and other sources. The
total was almost $3,500 more
than last year’s event. Each
year THON seems to grow in
attendance and strengthen its
goal of helping those with can
cer. .
Penn State Behrend contrib
uted to the event in a number
of ways. Sara Davis and
Lauren Vaught were elected to
attend this year’s THON. The
two showed their support for
the cause through participating
in the dancing, fundraising,
and the fun that went on.
Behrend alone added a total of
$5,500.
Brandi Hovis, SGA Presi
dent, has nothing but praise for
the event
“It was another life-touching
experience,” said Hovis. “Sara
and Lauren did a wonderful job
and their spirits were high.
They did it for the kids!”
“With all your heart...” was
the theme of THON this year
and that idea was displayed
through the caring individuals
who participated, donated, and
attended the affair.
Bands played continuously.
Throughout the 48 hours there
was no sitting or sleeping for
any involved. However, time
flew by due to the packed
schedule that occurred and the
visits and events prepared by
celebrities, families, students,
and children alike.
A Tommy Hilfiger Fashion
Show in which both Penn State
Students and Four Diamonds
children modeled, took place.
A 1 so ip.emb?.rs:Qf .fi«<lHt MXY
television shows, “The Road
Rules” and “The Real World”
attended the event to show
their support.
A family hour involved chil
dren and parents sharing their
own personal stories and their
bouts with cancer. Line dances
were taught to the crowds and
Participants in this year’s THON celebrate breaking last year’s record of money earned. THON is the
largest student-run philanthropic event in the world and benefits children with cancer.
repeated hourly with chants
that kept them moving.
The amazing support and
participation that occurred at
this year’s THON helps to
show that despite all of the
problems that society has had
to face lately there are still
people out there taking time
out to help those around them.
The $3.6 million raised will
go towards comprehensive
Storytelling a life-long love
for English professor Pancake
by Lori DeFabio
staff writer
Dr. Ann Pancake, Associate
Professor of Creative Writing and
Literature, has published many of her
writings, including “Given Ground,”
a 2000 Bakeless Prize winner.
Pancake, who grew up in West
Virginia, spent much of her childhood
telling stories in her head, before she
was even able to read or write.
“My father was a preacher, so I
spent many hours in church, where I
was usually bored,” said Pancake.
“To entertain myself, I told myself
stories in my head.”
The pastime that she enjoyed may
have been the key that inspired her to
become interested in writing.
Five years after getting her B.A. in
English at West Virginia University,
Dr. Pancake went to the University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill, to get her
M.A. in English. From there, she
received her Ph.D. in English from the
University of Washington.
Why did Pancake choose to work
in Erie after she has seen so many
other schools?
“I came to Behrend because I liked
the other people in the English
department whom I met during my
interview, and I liked the description
of the student profile,” said Pancake.
“I also came here because it’s within
a day’s drive of West Virginia which
is where I grew up and where much
of my writing is set. It’s important for
me to able to get down there fairly
regularly.”
Pancake enjoys writing creative
nonfiction the most, which is why she
is lucky that she is able to teach a
PANCAKE
continued on page 2
care and support for pediatric
cancer patients and their fami
lies. It will also enable more
research at Penn State Univer
sity Children’s Hospital at
Hershey Medical Center.
THON, in its history, has
raised roughly $2O million
through the annual work of
more than 4,000 collective stu
dents. The Four Diamonds
Fund, another valuable organi
zation, frequently assists
Dr. Ann Pancake signs a copy of her book following her fiction reading
Thursday night. Her most recent publication is “Given Ground.”
Provost search update
Penn State President Graham Spanier and Dr. Rodney
Erickson will continue the search for the new Provost
and Dean of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The
extensive feedback received on the candidates did not
produce a consensus choice. They therefore believe it
is in the best interests of the College to extend the search.
During the next several weeks, they will seek to identify
additional candidates by revisiting other nominations and
applications, as well as further networking activities. If
other candidates are identified, they will work with the
Search Committee to bring them forward.
If these efforts are not successful this spring, they will
reconstitute the Search Committee in a few months, and
plan to bring additional candidates to campus early in
the Fall Semester. Dr. Jack Burke, Interim Provost and
Dean, has very graciously agreed to continue to serve
until such time as the position is filled on a permanent
basis.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG GRIECO
THONwith its fundraising ef
forts.
Four Diamonds was started
by the Milliard family in
memory of their 14-year-old
son, Christopher, who died
from cancer. The organization
is also a group that raises can
cer awareness and is finding
ways to help those in need.
This year marks 30 years of
THON and Four Diamonds
working together.