L/BRARy
THE BEHREND
PEN NSTATE e C
Erie
October 11, 2002 16 Pages
Vol. XLIX No. 36
lent - Pit(
: enacci named Alumni Fellow
Presenting the prestigious Alumni Fellow Award to Joseph Benacci (second from right) are
(L to R) Larry Mroz, president of the Penn State Alumni Association, Dr. Jack Burke,
Interim Provost and Dean of Behrend College, and Graham Spanier, President of Penn
State University.
College students *oin
by Kevin Fallon
assistant managing editor
"Our goal of the rally was to show Congress there
is a substantial contingent in Erie that is opposed to
military intervention in Iraq and that when the time
Calls for peace were heard in downtown Erie on comes for Congress to vote... we want them to vote
Monday. About 400 people gathered in Perry
'no,'" said Kons.
Square to protest the possible United States invasion Kons also stressed the importance of student
of Iraq. The rally was organized by local college
involvement in issues they believe are important.
students and religious groups.
"As students we've never had the opportunity to
The rally included hymns, prayers, and appeals do anything like this. I think we did an excellent
to the Senate and Congress to say no to war. The job of rising to the occasion and doing something
rally ended in a march across South Park Row to we never thought we could do."
the Federal Building where protesters voiced their The rally was one among several nationwide that
opinion on a possible war.
took place on the first anniversary of the United
Behrend student Jon Edwards said he went to States' bombing of Afghanistan. The rally also took
show his support against the war.
place hours before President Bush spoke to
"Rallies like this are important to show our Congress, the United Nations, and the American
leaders who represent us what the citizens they people urging U.S. military action in Iraq. Bush
represent think about certain issues, so that they said that Hussein is a threat due to his biological,
can make their decisions based on what the people nuclear, and chemical weapons and is linked to
think," said Edwards.
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
Edwards also said that the student involvement According to a recent USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup
in the rally was an important aspect.
Poll, support for such a war has been falling,
"Students should definitely get involved, there although the majority of Americans still favor it.
are a lot of us and we can definitely make a Support for the use of ground troops in Iraq declined
difference," said Edwards. "Looking back at the from 74% in November to 53% before Bush's
history of our country, movements such as the anti- speech Monday. Also a narrow majority of likely
Vietnam war efforts and the civil rights movement, voters polled said the United States had not done
student participation has always been a huge part all it can to solve the crisis diplomatically.
and has always helped to get people heard."
Jen Kons, a student at Mercyhurst who helped The Rev. Charles Mock, of Shiloh Baptist
organize the rally, said that events like this are a PEACE RALLY
good way to be heard.
continued on page 3
NEWS 1-4
ADS 5
CAMPUS WIRE 6
Inside
EDITORIAL 7
HUMOR 8
FEATURES 9
Penn State Erie Stut
CALENDAR 10
A&E 11-12
SPORTS 1-4 B
by Jen Henderson and Erin McCarty
associate editor and news editor
Joseph A. Benacci was given the 2002 Alumni
Fellow Award at a reception in the Reed
Wintergarden Thursday night. Benacci is the
CEO of TWL Corporation, a family-owned com
pany in Erie. He attended Penn State Behrend in
1953-55, then continued on to University Park.
Since that time, he has given excellent service
to the Behrend community. He was part of the
organizing committee for the Behrend Alumni
Association in the mid-1980s and then served as
a member of its board of directors.
Benacci accepted his prestigious award from
Penn State President Dr. Graham Spanier, who
also visited Behrend recently for the renaming of
the Lilley Library and Kochel Academic Center.
Interim Provost and Dean Dr. Jack Burke in
troduced the recipient, praising him as "one of
our most loyal alumni.
"His hard work and determination set a high
standard," said Burke.
"We're here to honor an outstanding Penn
Stater," said Spanier. "Joseph Benacci is a rich
source of information and inspiration for the Penn
State community."
The Alumni Fellow Award is the most promi
nent award that can be given by the Alumni As
sociation. The title is respected in the Penn State
community. It entails asking the recipient to con
tinue on with his or her community service to the
campus and sharing knowledge and ideas with
students here.
"The award is also an invitation for them to
return to Penn State... sharing well-informed and
sometimes hard-learned perspectives," said
Spanier.
Benacci accepted the award with humility and
gratitude. While breaking the ice, Benacci said,
"My wife cautioned me don't clear your throat
when you get up there." He went on to thank
everyone in attendance, especially his family: his
wife Berit; and his children Joseph, Christina,
Ray, Jennifer, and Karl, a current Behrend stu
dent described by Burke as "a very tall guy."
Benacci spent Thursday and today at Behrend
BENACC
continued on page 4
in local rally for peace
PHOTO BY KEVIN FALLON / BEHREND BEACON
Many local college students were among the 400 people who gathered in Perry Square on
Monday to protest war with Iraq.
Contact Us
NEWSROOM: 898-6488 E-MAIL: Offices are located
FAX: 898-6019 behrcolls@aol.com downstairs in the
Reed Union Building
-rvl L •
Virtual
Career Fair
viable option
for students
by Lori DeFabio
staff writer
Two Penn State Behrend students this year had
the opportunity to intern for a Virtual Job Fair
through StaylnventPA.com.
The Stay Invent the Future website shows people
the many reasons that Pennsylvania is a great place
to live and work. This virtual job fair allows people
to post their resumes and allows companies to find
prospective employees. The website is updated
every day so students can search for companies that
are looking for employees and don't have to worry
about whether all the positions are filled yet.
The website also allows people to search places
to work and lists the costs of living in different cities
in Pennsylvania. If you find a company you are
interested in, you can submit your resume directly.
Otherwise, just post your information and wait for
a company to contact you.
Behrend students Valerie Hammond and Kelly
Walsh, both Communication and Media Studies
majors, have received internships through the Stay
Invent the Future program. Hammond believes that
it's a great way to find employment without all the
pressure of making a good first impression.
"I think this is an incredible opportunity for
students to research and contact companies without
the pressure of standing before a representative,"
said Hammond. "This way they can get a feel for
exactly what the company is looking for before even
having a first interview."
The Virtual Job Fair is important (and free) to all
students, but especially to those who are graduating
soon and need to find a job.
"I graduate in December so I am looking for a
job, too ... and very soon," said Hammond. "I think
this program is an easy way for students to get
connected with Pennsylvania companies that are
looking for qualified candidates."
CAREER FAIR
continued on page 3
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