The Behrend Beacon
February 28, 2003 14 Pages
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Burke accepts CEO and Dean
by Erin McCarty
news editor
The two-year search for a
replacement for Provost and Dean Dr.
John Lilley has come to an end.
Though nearly 150 candidates from
institutions across the country applied,
it turned out the best man for the job
was at Behrend all along.
On Wednesday, Interim Provost and
Dean Dr. Jack Burke accepted an offer
to serve as Lilley's permanent
replacement. Reactions across campus
have beeri very positive.
"They were looking and looking and
looking, and there he was the whole
time," said Merideth Hennon, 04. "I'm
happy Burke stepped up and decided
to take the office," said Ryan Sunseri,
08.
Meggan Allen, 10, agreed. "I think
it's a great idea," she said. "He has
experience, know-how, and he's an all
around great guy."
Although no one was surprised
Burke had been offered the position,
many students were surprised to hear
that he had accepted.
"This was not something I thought I
wanted to do," acknowledged Burke.
"I had all along been strongly
THON ra is
by Scott Soltis
sports editor
Imagine not going to sleep for 48
hours. Now try and think of staying
awake without any caffeine or much
sugar. Finally imagine not being able
to sit down and having to dance for most
of those 48 hours.
Are your eyes heavy? Do your feet
These were the circumstances that the
dancers of the 2003 IFC/Panhellenic
Dance MaraTHON had to endure.
Many people know THON is the world's
largest student run philanthropy in the
world. Others just know it's some dance
at University Park every year for kids
with cancer. What people don't see is
just how much dedication it takes to
participate in the event.
From late Saturday night at 2 a.m. to
Sunday evening at 7 p.m., I witnessed
first hand exactly what THON is. I went
to support Behrend's dancers Brandi
Hovis and Michelle Rizzo, but I had no
idea what I was getting myself into.
By 10 a.m., after just eight hours of
dancing, I was incredibly tired and my
feet were killing me. However, I would
not let any of this on because nearly 700
students dancing for THON had already
been there for 41 hours.
The women from Behrend put
themselves through a tremendous
Champagne rewarded for excellence
by Lauren Packer
assistant sports editor
Dr. John Champagne was selected as the 2003
Penn State Alumni Teaching Fellow.
Established in 1985, the award was started to
recognise great teaching and to encourage other
.4eacheis to be more effective in their classrooms.
Nominees for the Alumni Teaching Fellow are
university-wide, allowing any professor at any
campus to be selected.. However, those selected
must have at least live years of teaching experience
at Penn State and be tenured.
Champagne will be honored on March 24 at the
Faculty/Staff Awards Recognition ceremony at
University Park.
Champagne has been an integral part of the
Behrend community since 1993. He is currently
an associate professor of English and teaches
courses such as Globality and Literature,
Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory,
English 15 and English 2028.
"Dr. Champagne is an outstanding teacher who
has completed significant research. He knows how
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EDITORIAL 6 A&E 10
Behrend representatives Michelle Rizzo and Brandi Hovis stand with Charles
Millard, the founder of the Four Diamonds Fund.
physical challenge, and for a second time.
Rizzo danced through the 48-hour
gauntlet in 2000 while attending Penn
State Delaware County, and Hovis
represented Behrend in 2001. Both were
quick to admit that the second time was
harder.
Behrend students did what they could
to keep Hovis and Rizzo from falling
asleep and from thinking about the pain
in their feet, which no longer had arches
from constant pressure.
Freshman SGA Senator Alexander
encouraged to throw my hat into the
After a year-long search ended
unsuccessfully and a second was
drawing to a close, Burke "caved in."
"In the end, I decided it was the best
thing for the college, to keep that
continuity."
On July 1, Burke will officially
become Behrend's Dean and Campus
Executive Officer, a name change meant
to coincide with the other campus
colleges.
One of Burke's first duties will be to
find a new Associate Dean, which is the
position he held prior to Lilley's
departure. One concern during that
process will be to work out how the
responsibilities will be divided between
Burke and the Associate Dean. In
making that decision, he will consult
with various members of the Behrend
community.
"We have had the same organization
for 17 or 18 years, and the college has
changed a lot since then," he said. Burke
has been at Behrend for over 21 years.
during which time he has seen the
student body more than double in size.
But even more than quantity, Burke is
proud of the increased quality of the
Behrend population.
to communicate difficult, theoretical material to his
students, and he's able to get them deeply involved
in their work," said Dr. Archie Loss, interim director
of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Reading difficult texts can be very challenging
to students, but Champagne breaks down the
material and fosters students' interpretations by
using class time, asking questions. and exhibiting
great listening skills.
"When we are analyzing particularly difficult
material, I begin by reminding students that the
kinds of texts we are studying require repeated read
ings," said Champagne.
"I try to make sure we have class time to discuss
in detail passages students find difficult. Whenever
possible, I try to ask questions that will help students
find a way into the text we are reading, and to
identify specifically what they find difficult in it. I
try to create a classroom environment where it is
okay to be wrong,"
As in any class, most students feel that there is
only one correct answer—the one the teacher
provides. Champagne does not agree with this view.
"As a teacher of reading, my job is to help
it own interpretations
"My proudest achievement is putting
in place a very strong faculty and staff,"
said Burke. "It is so much better than
it used to be." He also said that the
physical attractiveness of the campus
and the quality of the student body have
increased in the past two decades.
One of the biggest challenges he has
faced and will continue to grapple with
in the future is the scarcity of resources.
State funding continues to decrease in
an unstable economy, and Burke must
work to ensure that the academic
quality at Behrend does not suffer as a
result. As Dean and CEO, he will spend
more time outside Behrend, raising
funds and getting more involved in
university-wide activities for Deans.
"We have momentum at Behrend,
and I am going to try to keep it," said
Burke. "What's been the real strength
here is the people. Everyone is pulling
in the same direction."
No matter what the future holds,
Burke is up for the challenge. He looks
forward to working together with
faculty, staff and students and watching
the institution grow even stronger.
"This is what it's all about," said
Burke. "We try to work hard and have
fun."
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Henderson stopped by and gave words
of encouragement. Junior Joanna
Kreider made the long trip from Erie to
UP to help the dancers. Behrend THON
co-chair Jenn Sutter was on the floor for
almost all of the final 17 hours, dancing
and giving foot massages. Erin Strayer
(junior SGA Senator) held up a sign from
the stands supporting Behrend's dancers.
Senior Will Sunday made late night runs
THON
continued on page 4
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kid
of difficult texts. Some students are very resistant
to this. They want the teacher to provide the
answers. I try to explain to these students that, once
class is over, I will not be around to tell them what
the text means. If I simply teach them my
interpretation, I am doing them a disservice," said
Champagne.
Grounded in the foundations of teaching,
Champagne realizes that he is there primarily for
the students. Hardships occur when Champagne
plays the reader role in a novel that he is teaching.
"As a reader, there are passages I want to discuss.
I mean, that is why I became a teacher— because I
like to talk about ideas. I have to remind myself
sometimes not to act as if I am the smartest student
in my own class. In other words, I have to keep my
ego in check and think about what students need,
rather than what I think they need," said
Champagne.
As part of winning the award, Champagne is
asked to share his talents and knowledge with other
professors and students through workshops,
lectures, discussions, and by possibly teaching
honors courses.
NEWSROOM: 898-6488 E-MAIL: Offices are located
FAX: 898-6019 behrcolls@aol.com downstairs in the
Reed Union Building
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Dr. Jack Burke, who has served as interim Provost and Dean since Dr.
John Lilley's departure in 2001, has accepted the permanent position.
Behrend declared arboretum
by Jen Henderson
assistant news editor
The Greener Behrend Task Force has
great ideas on keeping the campus
environmentally preserved. This group
of people, along with many others, has
helped to further develop Behrend
environmentally. These changes have
led the campus to be offered
membership in the American
Association of Botanical Gardens and
Arboreta.
The campus is now known as an
arboretum and will be fully inducted in
a ceremony that will take place on April
23.
Throughout the campus's 725 acres
there are a variety of diverse trees in
remote locations and in various build
ings. The Behrend campus has at least
one of each of the 50 states' trees.
Pennsylvania's tree, the eastern hem
lock, are located all over, including the
other side of the Studio Theatre. The
state tree of Hawaii is located inside the
Kochel Building, in an attempt to keep
it alive and healthy.
While most trees are located through
out our campus, some are inside, and
others grow in the green house which
is located behind the Otto Behrend
building.
Dr. Thomas Wortman, special
projects assistant to the provost and
dean, along with Dr. Robert Light, 'as-
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sociate provost and dean, lead the task
force at Behrend. Wortman is sery
proud of what has been done with the
surroundings thus far and believes the
original owners would be too.
He is especially proud of "hos% we
maintain the beauty and integrity of
this setting and how we've acted re
sponsibly towards the Behrends' gift
to us. Frankly I think the Behrend
family would be pretty proud of what
we have done here, they would he
happy that we are conserving the sort
of things that they gave us fifty five
years ago."
Sam Marvit is a freshmen student
who is also actively involved with the
task force
"It gives students a chance to he in
volved simply with consen ation be
cause it is a crisis today in America,
mainly because we use most of the
world's resources," said Mary it
"Hopefully we can take one step at
making it less of a crisis and working
with nature as opposed towards work
ing against nature, which is most of
ten happening."
Marvit has done this work before
and believes that this is a wonderful
chance for students to get invoked.
"It's great for students because it also
prepares them for what the world may
continued on page 3
English professor Dr. John Champagne
has been named this year's Penn State
wide Alumni Teaching Fellow.
ition