Question of the Week
"Research, fun and looking
forward to turning 21."
lan Eccles
Math, 06
Ted, Barbara Dunker support campus organizations
by Angela Frantz and Kelly Walsh
contributing writer and public
relations manager
On Monday there were sightings of
Sherwin the Squirrel all over campus.
Sherwin is the resident mascot of
Butterflies for Kids, a nonprofit or
ganization for special needs children.
He was asking for donations and tell
ing people to stop by the Butterflies
for Kids table that was outside of
Bruno's.
Ted and Barbara Junker, RASO
(the Returning Adult Student Orga
nization), the Lion Ambassadors, the
Behrend Beacon, and students of
Commu 305 worked together to make
the Butterflies For Kids fundraiser
and awareness campaign a huge suc
cess. Butterflies for Kids, founded by
First Independent Film Festival a success
by Erinn Hansen
calendar page editor
Video productions that scare, amuse,
explore death and rebirth and ones that
inspire and traverse fantasy. They were
all on display as the Humanities and
Social Sciences and Communications
Media Studies hosted the first Creative
Arts Independent Film Festival, on
Tuesday at Penn State Behrend. The
event took place in Room 42 of the
Academic Building, and was a contest
that featured video presentations by
students at Behrend.
"Everybody was invited to have a
production entered in the contest, but
since this is a first-time event, the
majority of the films were submitted
by the communications production
class," said John Kerwin, moderator
and professor of Communications and
Media Studies. "Video production was
started two years ago, offering many
courses, and we plan to do more with
this festival and productions for
Communications."
Talented students were invited to
submit video productions. Free food
and drink was provided, and
everybody was invited for a night of
fun.
Seven films were shown; however,
the last film was not entered in the
contest. The winning film was "The
Lord's Prayer" by Sunny Webb. This
movie was about a college girl who
said the original Our Father, and ends
up having a conversation with God.
During this conversation, God himself
helps her find out about some of the
situations in her life that she should
make better, while going through the
prayer, line by line. In the end, the girl
realizes that she does need to change
some of her actions, and finds herself
relieved of all stress.
The second film was "Mysteries of
the Universe" by Gregg Hollack. This
movie attempted to explain the answer
to the differences between men and
women, but ended up not knowing the
exact answer.
The third film was "Realistic Id" by
John Foreman and Kevin Kalia. This
movie was about a college student who
wants to cross between the real world
and the fantasy world. He begins
having dreams about the fantasy world,
which is making him crazy. The
student eventually learns to gain
control of his dreams, and the fantasy
world becomes the real world.
The fourth film was "Adventures
4: ' 4: 11„Jf.
"Going on a cruise in May!" .•
Erica Martire •
•
Psychology, 02 •
RASO member Diane Esser promotes
self-confidence and motivation for
special needs children. At the
fundraiser, the Junkers helped
Sherwin plant the seeds of education,
imagination and friendship. Ted
Junker agreed that giving children one
on one attention fosters self-pride.
The Junkers were delighted to take
part in supporting not only Butterflies
for Kids but also RASO.
"One of Behrend's themes is a dedi
cation to life-long learning. With over
1,000 displaced workers in the area,
one of RASO's goals is to reach these
people and encourage them to con
tinue with their own life long learn
ing," said Esser.
The Junkers are dedicated alumni
who help the campus flourish in many
ways. Butterflies for Kids and RASO
with Grandpa" by Becky Hack. This
movie was about two little girls who
act naughty while being alone with
their Grandpa. These girls hide from
him, and talk about how he has been
giving them drugs and alcohol, and
figure that spending time with Grandpa
is not so bad, but actually fun.
The fifth film was "The Nightmare"
by Matt Bocian. This movie was about
a college boy who dreams that he goes
into this weird place, and finally ends
up in a cemetery, only to find out that
he is dead. He eventually wakes up
realizing that it was only a dream and
PHOTO BY ERIN McCARTY / BEHREND BEACON
(From left) Coordinator John Kerwin; judges Stan Staminski and Anne
O'Neil Klemensic; winners Jeanne Rennie, John Foreman, Kevin Kalia,
and Matt Bocian; and judge Richard Welch celebrate a successful fes
tival. Not pictured is winner Sunny Webb.
relaxes as he falls back to sleep
The sixth film was "Accidental
Reality" by Jeanne Rennie. This movie
was about two friends who go walking
in the woods. While playing around,
one friend accidentally pushes the
'other over the cliff killing him, while
the person that killed him, finally
realizes what he had done later that day.
The seventh movie, which was not
entered in the contest, but just shown
for entertainment was entitled "A Long
Distance Romance" by Nicole Green.
This movie was a love story about a
long distance relationship that ended
up staying strong.
Each of the six movies were judged
by Anne O'Neil Klemensic from
Gannon University, independent
producer/director Stan Staminiski, and
Richard Welch from Mercyhurst
College. The criteria was based on
creative skill, creative talent, and audio
and video production, and the judges
had to interpret them on their own.
However, all of the films were judged
very broadly since this was the first
-;( take advantage of the surti,;,
PHOTO BY KELLY WALSH / BEHREND BEACON
(From left) Diane Esser, Barbara Junker, Sherwin the 'Squirrpi, and,
Ted Junker spread the seeds of kindness on Monday. ,
time these students made these films.
Along with that, the film had to keep
the audience's attention, and the
students needed to look beyond the
machine and focus more on the story
to make sure the plot was
understandable.
"If you choose sounds carefully and
put a lot of time on effects, but do not
really focus on what the story is about,
you will lose the audience," said
Welch. "The audience is the most
important part of a movie, and you
want to make sure that the film keeps
their attention," he added. All of the
movies were very well produced with
lots of talent, and the audience's
reaction showed.
'The film festival was awesome, and
all the films were really great," said
Krystal Bates, a student at Behrend.
Even the judges and producers
themselves were impressed.
"All of these movies were very
creative, and I am impressed with the
commitment of the students," said
Klemensic. "It is obvious that these
students spent a lot of time on these
films, and that they put all of their heart
and soul into them," she added.
Rennie's film took second, Bocian's
third, and Foreman and Kalia's fourth.
The awards were gift certificates of
$5O, $3O, and $2O respectively.
Richard Welch from Mercyhurst
College has arranged for all of the
movies to be aired publicly on Channel
19 for Erie Cablevision. The Creative
Arts Festival will continue as an annual
event, and Kerwin hopes to hold it in a
bigger auditorium, with more entries.
Friday, April 26, 2002
"Bumming around Europe,
trying to find Billy
Shakespeare."
Kristen Rodgers;
Joanne Kloc
En: lish, 08
"Working and going to
concerts."
Zack Eriksen
DUS, 02
BOOK BUYBACK--
L _ _
were very appreciative of their ongo
ing support.
Also showing support was First
Lady of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, Kathy Schweiker. She re
minded those involved with Butter
flies for Kids, "Pennsylvania's chil
dren are our most valuable resource."
She explained that she wouldn't be
in town to lend her support but en
couraged volunteers that their hard
work was all well worth it. She said
organizations like this make Pennsyl
vania such a great place to raise chil
dren.
For Butterflies for Kids to remain
successful for the summer of 2002,
donations are needed to buy seeds,
fish, and a lawnmower. The organi
3-iiiOn is always looking for VOlnri'-'
teers to help with gardening and to
rUA ' V
143, .
-
111, 011141
WHERE:
BEHREND BOOKSTORE
WHEN: STARTS NOW
EXTENDED HOURS FOR FINALS WEEK:
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BRING US YOUR BOOKS:
IN CURRENT EDITION
IN GOOD RESALABLE CONDITION
- I
"Working at Calamarfs' and
going to Jimmy Buffett."
Matt Zerbe
Finance, 06
R YOUR BOOKS
The Behrend Beacon
work with the children. Volunteers
find it a rewarding experience when
they are matched up one on one to
brighten a child's day.
"As the founder of Butterflies for
Kids, I have always felt strongly
about sharing the abilities we are
given," Esser said. "Sharing with spe
cial needs children is a magical ex
perience and I have received much
more than I can give in seeing the
faces of the children in our gardens,
and working with all of the wonder
ful volunteers that make everything
really happen each season. Without
the volunteers, there would be no gar
dens. They are a lot of work, but I feel
it is a labor of love for everyone who
has experienced wakiiii'i'sedit
With tA." ' " ' '"'
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