Page 2 The Behrend Beacon WEEKEND WEATHER SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY $ S #* * Snow Likely High: 35 ° Low: 22° BEHREND BRIEFS Research and Economic Center to be built Construction of the new $3O million Research and Economic Development Center (REDC) at Penn State Erie is expected to begin this summer. When completed in early 2005. the 160,000-square-foot center will strategically support education, research, and technology transfer activities designed to strengthen the economy of northwestern Pennsylvania. "This is a truly transformative facility, one that is al most 20 years in the making," said Jack Burke, interim provost and dean. "It ranks among the biggest state capital investments in Erie County history, and it will be the largest of our 51 campus buildings." Teens prefer discussions with Mom When it comes to talks about serious subjects such as taking drugs, U.S. teens apparently believe that mother knows best, a Penn State expert says. "Seventy percent of the adolescents in my study stated that they were more comfortable discussing important topics with their mothers," notes Michelle Miller-Day, assis tant professor of communication arts and sciences. "This contrasted with 12 per cent of the respondents who favored talking with their fathers." Miller-Day published her findings recently in the Journal of Adolescent Re search. Her study was based on a survey of African-American and white teen agers ranging in age from 11 to 17. Given that adolescents may choose to talk with mothers rather than anyone else about risky issues and that they feel closer to their mothers, mothers may be logical targets for drug education and intervention pro grams, the researcher says. For the full story by Paul Blaum, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2003/ teenmomsdrugtalk.html E-Lion grade reporting system a success In keeping with the goal of becoming a more student-centered University, Penn State has gone high-tech with its grade reporting system for faculty. Although students have been able to get their grades through eLion for a few years now, those grades were input using older, slower technology, and students had to wait until at least the first week in January to find out their fall semester grades. Now, faculty can use eLion to enter their grades directly online from anywhere in the world, and students are able to access them in real-time. For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_2oo3/Jan3o/elion.html 3 Nominations sought for various awards To celebrate the many accomplishments of women across the University, the Commission for Women (CFW) is seeking to recognize women who have achieved and excelled at Penn State and in their communities. Women selected for the award will be honored at the CFW's annual banquet on March 24 at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus. All nominations should be submitted to Karen Hackett, Achieving Women of Penn State Nominations, 230 Computer Building, University Park, PA 16802. For more information, contact Karen Hackett at kmh@psu.edu. For a nomination form, contact the Commission office at (814) 865-1683 or visit the CFW Web site at: http://www.lions.psu.edu/cfw/ and click on the "Achieving Women" link. Sub missions are due no later than Feb. 14. Penn State’s Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity each year presents two awards to faculty, staff, students, and technical-service workers across the University who strive to make Penn State a better place in which to live and work. The Outstanding Service Award is presented to an indi vidual within the University community who has shown outstanding service re garding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender concerns. The Ally Recognition Award goes to an individual who is identified as an ally of the lesbian, gay, bi sexual, and transgender community and has shown outstanding service regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns. The deadline for both nominations is March 7. More information is on line on the Commission's Web site at http://www.lions.psu.edu/clgbte or by requesting a form from the Commission's office in 311 Grange Building or by calling 814-863- 7696. Penn State supports students in militaiy As the United States mobilizes thousands of troops for possible military action in Iraq, the effects are hitting home among dozens of Penn State students, faculty and staff who serve their country as part of the National Guard or armed forces reserves. Since August 2002, nearly 80 members of the University community have been called to active duty, and the number heeding the call of service to their nation will likely rise in the coming weeks. "Penn State will continue to support those whose studies and work need to be abruptly put on hold in order to serve their country," said President Graham B. Spanier. POLICE AND SAFETY In regards to an incident that happened on Jan. 21, a citation was issued to an individual who threw a campus ticket on the ground and left. 1/24/03 A complainant reported that several items were taken from his room this past weekend. 1/27/03 16:00 An information report was filed on an individual charged with a violation of Act 64. 1/28/03 06:15 Rain/Snow Possible High: 38° Low: 25° CLASSIFIED Snow/Rain Likely High: 38° Low:2B ° Friday, January3l, 2003 mv* •> <V£ f »' v &?b ' §§l P! ® S H! P||:ili|| 3 Behrend student Ryan McCarthy uses the balmy 2-degree temperature as an excuse to work on his tan. For the slightly saner among the Behrend population, take heart - temperatures this weekend arc expected to reach nearly 40 degrees. Behrend to build $l2 million residence hall by Erinn Hansen calendar page editor Students at Penn State Behrend are getting excited about a new residence hall that will accomodate 150 students. “There are currently 1,500 stu dents living on campus,” said Randy Geering, Director of Hous ing and Food Services. “This new facility will increase that number to about 1,650 students when it is finished.” The structure will be designed by Noelker and Hull Associates, who also designed the Smith Chapel at Behrend along with Cedar Hall, a residence hall at Penn State Altoona. The constructor of this project is to be determined. The new building will be named Senat Hall, which will follow Behrend’s tradition of naming their residence halls after ships, cap tains, or schooners who partici pated in the Battle of Lake Erie, in the War of 1812. “The new building will be named after George Senat, who was the master schooner of The Porcupine, a ship that was used to defeat the British in 1813,” said Geering. Senat Hall will be an “L” shaped building to the west of Perry, and towards the Carriage House. It will then turn and be to the south of Reed, on the hill where the stairs are now The structure will be three sto ries high with five levels. “There really was no spot for five floors,” said Geering. “The hill is a chal lenge and needs to be as accessible as possible, and this is a way to do An architect’s sketch of Senat Hall, a $12.5 million project that will begin as early as this summer. FOCAL POINT The plan is to build entrances on three levels to accommodate this challenge, which will provide an ac cessible route between Reed and the Million-Dollar Staircase. Senat Hall will include bedroom suites that will house two students, with three other rooms in that area, the same way that the Porcupine, Ti gress, and Tiffany suites are set up. Plans also include lounges and study spaces, a resident coordinator apart ment, and a central laundry facility. This attractive addition to Behrend will be co-ed, and mainly for freshmen. Also, students will be grouped according to major, like Almy and Ohio Hall. Senat will also have special programs, such as LIFE House, which stands for Living in a Substance Free Environment. Stu dents in LIFE House choose not to become involved with drugs and/or alcohol. “This house is not going to be where one side is male and the other side is female,” said Geering. “We are trying to enhance academic and social integration, and are putting majors together because habits tend to coincide.” The Board of Trustees approved final plans for Senat Hall earlier this month, and bids go out in March. How the bidding process works is: the architect makes up the plans and presents them to a contractor who will look them over, decide on the cost, and then bid on it. Behrend will then decide on which bid to accept and get a notice (permission) to pro ceed with the plan. “The total cost is not set as of right now, but it is expected to be around Erin McCarty, News Editor behrcoliS @ aol.com PHOTO BY JEFF HANKEY / BEHREND BEACON $12.5 million, which will also in clude renovations to existing Perry Hall,” said Geering. Currently, male-dominated Perry Hall houses about 200 students, mostly underclassmen, in two-bed rooms. It is one of Behrend’s eight residence halls, aside from the njne student apartment buildings. Reno vations will include replacing the existing roof with a tiered roof, new wiring, new cosmetics, new ceiling tiles, new mechanics, and reworked bathrooms. The lounge area will be renovated and will include new win dows, new lighting, and a new ceil ing. Finally, the locks on the doors will be removed, and students will have to swipe their Student ID in or der to get into both Perry and Senat Hall. These renovations will provide more housing, as well as provide an exciting addition to the housing ar eas of the campus. Construction of Senat Hall and the renovations of Perry Hall is ex pected to begin this May after stu dents leave for summer, and will still be in progress when school re sumes in August. Students will still have access to the Million-Dollar Staircase, but will have to cut through Perry and down the hill to get to Reed. This project is expected to be completed in August of 2004 and will make Behrend look bigger and better. “This project is a beautiful tran sition from academics to housing,” said Geering. “Behrend had worked together to create better access to student housing with this project, and'we are looking forward to start- ing it.” »& j§f i *•. x. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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