Question of the Week "Poe or Nikka Costa because they are original artists." Shelley Fisher Biology, 08 Staff assistant Linda Kaleta shares presence of God in her life by Christine Kleck staff writer As Linda Kaleta, staff assistant to the career development and personal counseling center, began speaking at the fifth “Soup for the Soul” weekly reflection and luncheon hour, a light dusting of snow began to fall outside. The soup and speaker series has taken place every Thursday during Lent at noon in the Smith Chapel living room. “I am not going to preach, because I am not a preacher, nor am I going to quote from the Bible, because I don’t know the Bible very well, but I can tell you that in a lot of the things that have happened in Linda Kaleta discusses how God touched her life during the fifth Soup for the Soul luncheon. The final luncheon in this Lenten series will feature Dr. Daniel Barnard, lecturer in music. Student Government Association encourages students to vote by Kevin Fallon assistant news editor The Student Government elections have come into full swing. Monday marked the first day of campaigning, and students will cast their votes on election days, April 17- THE CANDIDATES President: Brandi Hovis Vice President: Katie Leary Secretary: Tara Pavan SGA Senate: Victoria Anderson, Joe Bianco, Lori DeFabio, Jonathan D. Fisher, Kristin* Grudowski, Guinevere Habersham, Keenan Hansen, Rob Lewis, Natalie Lytle, Tom Medovitch, Nana Osei-Bonsu, Latashia Marie Smith, Nate Snyder, Scott Soltis, Erin Strayer, Jennifer Sutter, Marvin Telp, Tameka Tillman, Sun Tsui, Alex Wu wf Of “Aerosmith because they are J my favorite band." • Cameron Shuck • Psychology, 06 J my life, God was present,” Kaleta began. This wife and mother of two explained that many of her spiritual encounters have also included her friends and family, especially her children. “When she (Kaleta’s daughter, Jennifer) was about 3 1/2 months old, she still hadn’t rolled over yet. I was changing her and I felt comfortable enough to step away from her for a second to get some wipes. As I reached to do that, I felt a tap on my shoulder. There was no one in the room with me, just Jennifer...and as I turned I caught her. So I do realize there is a presence, and that was a physical presence, and I feel that that was my guardian angel watching over me,” she PHOTO BY KEVIN FALLON / BEHREND BEACON Katie Leary and Brandi Hovis are running uncontested for vice president and presi dent in this year’s SGA election. The executive board candidates are running uncontested. Brandi Hovis will become SGA president for the second straight year. Katie Leary will replace Clint Friday, March 22, 2002 : V if'" & & "Michael Jackson because he likes to beat it." George Morgan 111 Psychology, 02 Kaleta also recalled the power of God watching out for her during a particular situation that happened at Behrend. At a time when things weren’t going well with her current job, Kaleta recalled that God was able to help her overcome the situation by making another position available for her. “1 met with Sue Daley (Behrend personal counseling services staff psychologist) and so a job position became available in their (Career Development/Personal Counseling Center) department,” Kaleta said. After refusing the position a few more times to stay on staff at the Reed Union Building Information Desk, Kaleta was asked one more time. The timing and situation were better for Kaleta and the rest of the RUB desk staff, so she accepted. “I remember Allison (Parr-Plasha, personal counselor) said to me, ‘Does God have.to knock you in the head - He is trying to tell you something, Linda.’ It was probably the best decision that I could have made, because 1 really love this job,” Kaleta said. Kaleta also discussed the ways that she has seen Christ in others. “I have to admire all of the youngsters - because I think that they have realized that Christ is a part of their lives a lot sooner than I have.. .1 think that it takes a lot of courage today for students, because there is so much peer pressure,” she said. Finding that prayer is the best way to overcome a difficult situation, Kaleta recalled an incident with friends in which prayer helped her to see the good in others. “I had these two friends, and the one didn’t like me being friends with the other - so there was a lot of tension there,” she said. “One day when I was sitting in church the thought came to me that Lewis as vice president. The secretary position will be filled by Tara Pavan who will replace Bridgette Ramdhanie. It will be up to the students to decide which of the 22 senate candidates will win (form at Behrend V "Britney Spears" Ashley Neve DUS, 02 maybe I should pray so that maybe her heart would change and so would mine - so that maybe she would see me differently ” she said. Kaleta felt that by praying in that situation, God would show her why the two friends didn’t get along. “Prayer has helped me to feel more open and when I am open I can forgive and not judge,” she said. Kaleta also brought up the idea of asking God for things. “It is OK to ask God for things,” she said. Referring to what the quotes said that were placed on small pieces of paper on the tables, Kaleta says that when asking for things, you have to P.U.S.H., or pray until something happens. “Sometimes you might ask for things, but that isn’t what God has planned for us,” Kaleta said. She said that when asking God for things we must also understand and accept what he has to offer us at that time. “When Jesus was dying on the cross, He said ‘I want to give this up to you, but it was my Father’s will’,” Kaleta said. In comparing that to her own life, she said, “I may have a cross to bear, God, but I need Your strength and Your courage to help me make it through.” Kaleta has found many of her answered prayers in those around her. “When we ask God for help, He will help us - through our families and friends He helps us - and we probably don’t even realize that they are there to help us,” she said. Kaleta has also found God’s help in strangers, as well. “Sometimes...a complete stranger does something for you and you just ask, ‘why is this happening’,” Kaleta said. ' Referring to a quote by her mother, Kaleta explained that hardships will and do happen, it is what we do with them that counts. “As my mother would say, ‘A little rain must fall in everyone’s life. It’s how we the 11 seats. This election marks the largest number of candidates ever to run for senate seats. In last year’s election nine candidates ran to fill the 11 seats. Only three of the 22 candidates are currently hold SGA senate seats. “I am excited about working with the new senate,” said Hovis. SGA is encouraging students to cast their votes. “It’s important for students to vote so they get the 11 best candidates to represent them,” said Jason Snyder, member of the SGA Election Committee. The Election Committee said its goal is to break the record of 500 voters, set two years ago. “Our goal is to increase voter turnout,” said Snyder. “We want to get at least 600 people to vote. We want to make voting booths more accessible to the students.” One way SGA plans to get more voters is by having voting booths on both sides of campus. The Election Committee plans to place booths outside of Bruno’s and in one of the engineering buildings. SGA stressed that they do not want the The Behrend Beacon "Linkin Park because they kick ass." Brian Vallor Electrical Engineering, 06 handle that rain... it is the rain in our lives that is going to help us grow...will we learn something from it...will we turn a negative into a positive?’ It’s easy to have faith and believe in God when things are going good for us. When things are stormy, or we have floods, there are things and people to help us get through it,” Kaleta said. Kaleta also made a reference to another quote by her mother explaining just how • we are to see God in our lives. “God is never in a hurry, but He is never late - we have to wait until it’s His time,” she said Finally, she invited the audience to take a look around the room at everyone in attendance, "tjoci is present in every one of those people that you see...those people were also looking at you, because' God is present in all of you,” she concluded. Sister Mary Drexler, SSJ, Campus Minister and assistant to thef<; “Soup for the Soul” event, then asked the audience to discuss amongst their tables “When has the power of prayer made a | difference in your life?” Sister Drexler concluded by asking Kaleta if her mother had a religious quotes, in reference to the snow, for within the--; time of the reflection hour the light. ' dusting of snow that had begun with 1 Kaleta’s speech was now falling heavily-' and beginning to pile up. For more information on the “Soup fof ■ the Soul” programs or to make a reservation for the March 28 concluding gathering with Choral Director, Lecturer in Music and speaker, Daniel Barnard, contact either Lynn McNeil, Coordinator to Protestant Campus Ministry at x 7139 or Sister Drexler at x 6245. election to be a popularity contest “You need to take the time and learn about the candidates,” said Hovis. “You need to pick the people that are most qualified, that is what’s important.” SGA will host Meet the Candidates on April 15 in Reed Wintergarden from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is meant to give students an opportunity to talk with the candidates. SGA stressed the importance of voting. “You hear students complain time and time again about things that can be fixed on campus, but then students never come together to do anything,” said Snyder. “By not voting, they are saying Behrend doesn’t need to be improved and we don’t need people to represent us, which is not accurate.” SGA ELECTION TIMELINE March 18: Campaigning begins April 12: The Beacon features special SGA election page April 15: Meet the Candidates in Reed Wintergarden April 17-18: Election days
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