fr The Behrend Beacon J \ February 21,2003 ? ? ?nfn l2 Pa g es Vol. L &&HBEMD COLLEGE No. 13 ‘Rossum’s Universal Robots' are by Maria Barron staff writer Imagine a world that existed about 80 years ago, where a few scientists on an island discovered how to manufacture artificial people. They look just like humans, and they outnumber the human race by one thousand to one. Their purpose is to produce so much everything that humans will never have to work again. Artificial intelligence seems to be the answer to all the world’s problems. But everyone knows that when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Find out what happens when all but one of the world’s humans are wiped off the face of the earth and the rule of the robots begins. Tonight, the Studio Theater will be taken over by robots. Yes, robots - “Rossum’s Universal Robots” to be exact. A few of Behrend’s exceptionally talented students, under the direction of Paula Barrett, will be performing. Make no mistake, the student production of ‘R.U.R.’ will shock and amaze you. It is the last show at Behrend that Barrett will direct, as she will teach and direct solely at Gannon next semester. If you’ve Moscow Chamber Orchestra The Music at Noon series continued Tuesday with a performance by the world-renowned Moscow Chamber Or chestra, a large ensemble with musicians from around the world. The group’s culturally diverse ideology has helped it break musical barriers, such as being the first Russian orchestra to tour South Africa. Behrend students forego food to thwart famine by Jen Henderson assistant news editor In order to raise money for a worth while cause, sometimes you have to give up something you need. Students here at Penn State Behrend will give up food for 30 hours to raise money for World Vision, an organiza tion that helps various communities and located around the world with essen tial needs such as nutrition. Communities also need assistance, perhaps even long term, to enable places to keep their standard of living above malnutrition and starvation. Students who choose to participate in this meaningful event start their fast at 9 a.m. on Friday. They are allowed to eat breakfast that day, but it must occur before the start time. The famine fin ishes at 3 p.m. on Saturday when the group gets a free meal NEWS 1 -3 FEATURES 6-7 NATL CAMPUS NEWS 4 CALENDAR 8 EDITORIAL 5 A&E 9 CONTRIBUTED PHOTO “R.U.R.” cast members (from left) Luka LoDico, Maria Barron, Jared Semrau, Marvin Telp, Ryan Stare, and Rob Frank are caught in an intense scene. The play starts tonight and runs through March 2. try Buffet. The restaurant donates the meal to all involved in response to such a genuine effort of charity. Jennifer Kuntz has participated in this event for four years and has nothing but positive things to say about the event. “Personally, I like to participate in the event because it gives me the opportu nity to truly help people in need,” said Kuntz. ‘The money raised goes straight to people who need it. At the same time, I am getting to do service for others and growing spiritually in my walk with God. “When I am fasting it is amazing to realize how much time I spend eating and digesting food and how much en ergy it all takes. At the same time, I am stepping into someone else’s shoes to see what it’s like to not have food for three meals a day and to imagine what it is like to not know when my next meal is Don’t feel sorry for these students starving themselves for 30 hours. They will be quite occupied during this time period. On Friday, there are a number of activities scheduled, such as a Playdoh craft, ice breakers, decorating and spray painting t-shirts to wear to the events of the weekend, watching movies, and playing board games. In the midst of all of this, they will also spend time listening to a speaker about service projects and Third World countries, perform skits based on Bible verses, and sing worship songs. All of these activities are sponsored by the Catholic Campus Ministry and Protes tant Campus Ministries. “I think that the 30 hour famine is a unique and fun way to raise money for a great cause,” said participant Debbie Crawford. “Many times people wish that they could do something to fight world hunger or to offer health care to HUMOR 10 SPORTS 11-12 those who could really need it. Did you know that $5O helps provide an orphaned African child with access to education, food and special one-on-one assistance? Not many really know what a few dol lars can do, but now they can get a glimpse of the effort. “I am so thankful for an opportunity to not only spend a weekend in the com munity volunteering with fellow stu dents and faculty, but also to spread the awareness of global poverty. I am eager to volunteer and participate in an event that is both spiritually nurturing and emotionally rewarding!” On Saturday the group will do service projects at local places in Erie. The group will go to the Erie Homes for Chil dren and Adults, the Florence Crittendon Home, the Blasco Library, and the Erie City Mission Thrift Shop. They will then wrap up their day at the Old Country Contact Us NEWSROOM: 898-6488 E-MAIL: Offices are located FAX: 898-6019 behrcolls@aol.com downstairs in the Reed Union Building Fun in the snow Outdoors Club hosts Winter Olympics by Katie Zeliars staff writer Erie is notorious for its snow and the Outdoors Club has decided to take advantage of that. On Sunday at noon, the Outdoors Club will host the Behrend Winter Olympics on the ski slope. “Come see fiery crashes on sleds. Don’t ask how it can happen, but it can and it will,” said club secretary Floyd Mattie. Teams can consist six to eight people. Students can sign up at the RUB desk; the entry fee is $1 per person. Organizations are welcome to sponsor a team in their name. The Games will have three events, including the blindfolded snowman building. One team member will be able to dictate directions to teammates, who are blindfolded, in how to build the snowman. Points will be given for speed and height. Nothing under four feet will be accepted. The second event will be a “Behrend Style” biathalon/iditarod. The race will be held on the Behrend fields flat. The teams will cross country ski to a target and throw snowballs at it. Once the target is hit they will ski back and tag in the remaining members to pull a sled with their teammate on it to the coming ever had her as a teacher or seen a performance that she directed, you know that you won’t want to miss this play. ‘R.U.R.’ was written in the 1920 s by Karel Capek. It is a science fiction drama that analyzes man’s need to perfect himself: a woman’s effect on man, and man's arrogance in believing that humans can create a person more perfectly than God. If you like science fiction, you will love it. If you like romance, you will love it. The show is a bit melodramatic and a bit ridiculous, but then again, what isn’t? This show is guaranteed to make you think, it pushes lines and puts a lot of, “what if’s” out there for the audience to ponder. Above all, it is entertaining. ‘R.U.R.’ will run until March 2. There will not be a show on Monday. Tickets are $3 each and are currently available at the RUB desk. Shows will begin at 8 p.m. with the exception of Sunday matinees, but if you want a good seat, it would be a good idea to show up a little bit early. If you are looking to have a good time, be intellectually stimulated, or just to relax, ‘R.U.R.’ is the place to be every night at 8 p.m. finish line. The highlight event of the day will be the Anything that Slides race. For this event teams will design their own sleds. The Outdoors Club is hoping for some really creative sleds so points will be awarded for creativity, as well as who finishes the race first. The ehib will give out awards and prizes in the closing ceremonies. Hot chocolate will be sold at the Winter Olympics, as well, to help keep participants and spectators warm. Weather can be very unpredictable, so the Outdoors Club hopes that it will remain cold and snowy. In case there is no snow, the club seems confident it can still create a fun day. In response to the chance that they could have no snow Sunday, President Keenan Hansen said, “Instead of the Winter Olympics it will be the Winter Thaw Olympics and the events are to be announced.” Whatever the weather may be, the Winter Olympics should be a lot of fun, the club says. They encourage people to come out, have a good time. “Watch people wreck on their sleds and your friends bump into each other building a snowman blindfolded,” Outdoors Club member Mindy Schwartz said. Buffet Approximately 20 people will par ticipate this year. Last year there were 30. Hopefully in the future the num ber will grow and more people will see what a rewarding experience the fam- ine can be. “There are few activities offered on such a large scale that exemplify Christ’s teaching on whole-hearted ser vice,” said participant J. R. Rummel. “The real question is, why wouldn’t I?” “When you take the opportunity to view life from someone else’s perspec tive, it really changes your attitude of how you view your life,” said Kuntz. “I always walk away from the famine with a deeper sense of gratitude for the multitude of blessings I have in my life; even the simple beauties and pleasures of having a house to live in and more than enough food to eat.”
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