Page 2 The Behrend Beacon WEEKEND WEATHER SATURDAY SUNDAY ;„,. k 4 ''.•,.' .;',.• . `~ =i~ ~. ~ Chance Snow High: 35° Low: 25° Women's History Month events A bipartisan resolution passed by Congress in 1987 designated the month of March as National Women's History Month. In 1992, a Presidential Proclamation made it a major national and international celebration. Students, faculty, and staff at Penn State Erie will celebrate National Women's History Month with keynote speakers. a film series, music, a panel discussion, and a participatory reading. The public is invited to all of the Women's History Month events. Keynote speakers for this year's celebration will be Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, authors of "Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Fu ture." The two will speak at Behrend on March 21, at 7 p.m. in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Building. Both speakers have written for "Ms." and other feminist publications. Richards is co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation, an activist group for young feminists. They bring a new point of view for both col lege-age men and women about politics, social justice, and equality in pay and employment issues. AlitLaila, who captivates audiences with her mesmerizing performances on the sitar, a long-necked string instrument of Indian origin, will perform on March 19 in the Smith Chapel at 7 p.m. On March 28, Ariel Winds, an all-female woodwind quartet, will bring its unique sound to Music at Noon in the Reed Union Building Wintergarden. On March 24, five members of the Behrend staff and faculty will present a panel discussion about the common themes that unite women worldwide, and the ways in which their discipline supports women's goals. Dr. Peggy Lee, Campbell Bullock, Dr. Charisse Nixon, Dr. Antonella Cupillari, along with moderator Dr. Colleen Kelly will attend. The event begins at 7 p.m. in Room 117 of the Reed Building. _ _ "The Vagina Monologues" by award-winning playwright Eve Ensler will be performed in a read in the studio theatre on March 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. All who attend will be invited to take a turn at the microphone to read a page or two of this thought-provoking, sometimes funny, and sometimes poignant look into the thoughts of women. Sea Grant leads Avian Botulism Task Force During the past three years, the Lake Erie watershed has experienced an in creasing die-off of thousands of gulls, loons and other fish-eating birds as a result of type-E avian botulism. Pennsylvania Sea Grant, in partnership with the New York and Ohio Sea Grant programs, has taken the lead in developing a task force to address this problem and obtain funding for related research. The organization serves as a clearinghouse for reports on avian botulism in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, according to Eric Obert, associate director of Pennsylvania Sea Grant, an outreach center of Penn State Erie. Eating Disorders Awareness Week In a culture preoccupied with being thin, pressures on vulnerable young women can interact with other biological, psychological and social factors and lead to an eating disorder. According to the latest edition of the Medical Minute, a service of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, these factors combined are often the reasons why eating disorders have become increasingly common in U.S. soci- During the past three decades, eating disorder cases have increased. Eating dis orders are serious medical conditions that can affect every organ of the body. An orexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can have significant, sometimes irreversible medical complications. The prognosis is favorable with early recognition and ag gressive treatment. The majority of patients are typically Caucasian adolescents and voting adult women. However, the number of men and women from other ethnic and demographic backgrounds with eating disorders, are increasing. Last week, The Behrend Beacon printeda picture of someone without his permission. The Beacon wishes to apologize to that party and regrets the error Mayside Motel Niagara Falls Free shuttle to clubs, Canadian Side Falls, and casino www.maysidemotel.com 905-358-7844 from $2O US per night "A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his/her society.." Janet Neff Sample Center for Manners if Civility e a % * -II- ''''li(;' Chance Snow High: 35° Low: 22° CORRECTION CLASSIFIED - Thomas Jefferson MONDAY , . Chance Snow High: 32° Low: 22° s . ..........1 ...1 j Friday, February 28, 2003 ~- ."~~. Members of the Behrend choir sing up a storm during Thursday's concert. Read about the choir's upcoming trip to Italy on page 3 Behrend junior earns top honors Griffiths wins award, place on Delta Sigma Pi nat'l board of directors by Becky Weindorf managing editor Have you ever wondered if Behrend is a dead-end college, just like some say that Erie is a dead-end town? Jason Griffiths will prove you wrong, ladies and gentlemen. Griffiths, a sixth semester Marketing major at Behrend, has just won the highest honor that a Delta Sigma Pi collegiate brother can receive. Griffiths was notified in February that he had won the Mr. & Mrs. Sidney A. Sparks National Collegian of the Year award he had applied for over four months ago. "We had a voting meeting to elect the most eligible brother from our chapter for the award," Griffiths said. "I found out that I won in phOadelpt,o at our annual Northeastern Provincial Conference early February. It was a complete, surprise. My emotions were running high. I had thought for sure I wouldn't win because 1 was up against over 170 other brothers [competing for the award]." And what, exactly, is Delta Sigma Pi? "Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) is a professional business fraternity focused on personal and professional development. meaningful service, with a strong social aspect as well." Griffiths said. "DSP was established in 1907, and we've had a chapter [at Behrend] since 1991. "We also do community service and invite professional speakers from the Erie community in all major business fields. Some faculty here are also DSP alumni. and they help prepare us for graduation or speak about their areas of expertise." The nomination process for the Collegian of the Year award seemed to be Senior class to present gift of Nittany Lion to Behrend by Christine Kleck ad manager As the entire Behrend community, especially the graduating classes of 2003, knows only too well - the motto and goal of Penn State University is "making life better." This year's graduating classes at Behrend will certainly make life better for the entire Behrend community with a class gill a lion statue for the campus. This process is only in its beginning stages, as various physical and financial issues and obstacles must be addressed. The support of the entire Behrend community is needed now more then ever if this gift is to become reality. The Senior Class Gift Committee of students and administrators meets weekly to generate a plan to promote support of the entire process, and to encourage financial assistance from the Behrend community. Members to date include students Deana McCandless, Katie Leary, Nicole Dirling, Alexander Henderson, Joell Sperry, Dana Williams, Jennifer Crawford and Christine Kleck and Director of Alumni Relations, Kevin Moore and Director of Student Affairs, Ken Miller. The committee meets on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in Reed 113 and all are encouraged and welcome to attend. The next steps on the committee's agenda include promoting the senior class gift committee and process; raising 0"k a tense one "First I was nominated for the award in October from my own chapter, then nominated as best candidate in our region and then from our entire province," Griffiths said. "After that, I was competing against the most qualified brother from each of the other four provinces." The criteria for the award include the brother's in% ol vement, leadership and service within the fraternity, the community, and the college; a strong scholastic average; and pursuit of professional development through courses and work experience. Other criteria the Board of Directors looks at are dependability, responsibility, integrity, personality. and moral character. As the representative of all collegiate Ml' brothers, Griffiths will take a two-year assignment as Collegian of the Year. Duties tor this award include plenty of traveling, where Griffiths will visit other Ml' chapters and speak at national events. "I'm their voice. - Griffiths said, referring to the collegiate student body of Ml' brothers. "I'll he putting on seminars about leadership, building professionalism, and a stronger brotherhood in each chiipter.- So. did SPCOM WO prepare Griffiths for all the public speaking he'll he doing lift the next two years? "I will he giving my acceptance speech in August at the biannual Grand Chapter Congress in Palm Springs. Calif., in front of thousands of brothers," Griffiths said. "SPCOM lII° didn't fully prepare me, but made mite aware of the challenges in public speaking. It put me in the right direction." •I'hc DSP Board of Directors holds their meetings at the national office in Oxford, Ohio. every six months, during which money and awareness of the project; and bringing the senior graduating classes of 2003 together to make a dream come true. Upcoming information on the 2003 senior class lion statue gift will appear in the Beacon and around campus through advertisements, posters, flyers, letters and mails. Locations for the gift, the overall cost of the gift, the construction and completion timeline of the statue and the way in which the gift will recognize the Behrend graduating classes of 2003, are all being considered. Financial gifts and general deposit pledges are currently being accepted by the Senior Class Gift Committee to fund this gift to Behrend. Graduating seniors may pledge the balance, an increase, or a portion of their general deposit. To find CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Senior Class Gift organizers plan to use this year's money to buy a Nittany Lion for Behrend. Erin McCarty, News Editor behrcolls@aol.com Nt:t. . 4tomv,.k. :0411A, Griffiths will also receive special assignments An award this huge deserves a huge paycheck, right? Not exactly. "I only get a traveling budget I'm a volunteer. I don't get paid anything. I was awarded $4OOO in various scholarships for college expenses, but it's not a job." _ _ _ Griffiths is the first collegiate DSP brother ever to win this award as a junior. In the past, winners had already completed their studies. His first year as an award winner will include his anticipated graduation in December 2004 and sharing responsibilities with last year's winner; likewise, in his second year, he'll be working full time and sharing responsibilities with the 2004 winner. "Part of the responsibilities includes traveling to great cities like Boston, Chicago, and Palm Springs to represent and present," Griffiths said. "There are about 10 of these national conference trips each year. There's no way I could do all 10 myself, but I'd love to try." What lies ahead for Griffiths after college seems to be the real award. "Delta Sigma Pi is one large networking tool," Griffiths said. "There are over 200,000 alumni brothers of DSP, and winning this award has opened so many doors. I have opportunities I never would have had without becoming a brother in such a wonderful organization." In addition to DSP, Griffiths is a part of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO), Marketing Club, and plays the tuba for concert and pep hand. He is currently serving as APO's secretary and has had several executive positions in DSP in the past, including pledge educator and community service vice president. out the balance of your general deposit, visit the Bursar's office, located in the basement of Erie Hall. Those interested in adding to their general deposit should let the committee know. They will be contacted at a later date with more information on the process. With the second half of the graduating senior students' last semester fast approaching and the tkine of commencements right around the eurner, the class of 2003 needs your help to make their senior class lion statue gift a memorable experience and something that the Behrend community will remember and cherish for years to come. For more information on the 2003 senior class gift, committee and process, contact Moore at 898-6475 or at kem7@psu.edu.
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