The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, March 28, 2003, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    The Behrend Beacon
March 28, 2003 REMWPages
IWI ) Vol L MAR g No 17
TKE brothers take plunge for charity
by Guy Reschenthaler
staff writer
When TKE national called on all chapters to
raise money for the Al zheimers Association
Ronald Reagan Research Initiative, the Sigma-
Delta chapter at Penn State- Erie, decided to jump
right in and make a difference.
Literally.
Ryan Sunseri, chapter president, decided that the
brothers of the Sigma-Delta chapter would jump
into the freezing waters of Lake Erie to raise
money
Brothers showed their support by raising money
during a six-week period, receiving donations of
sponsorship from fellow students, members of the
community and local businesses. The brothers
raised more than $2,000.00 by the date of the
Calls for peace
Students s
PHOTO: KEVIN FALLON/BEHREND BEACON
Chris Strayer (Left) and Louis Marte protest the war outside the Reed Building Wednesday morning.
About 10 students took part in the rally.
"Peace is always an option. We don't see
the need for this war."
-Chris Strayer, English, 02
`We are Penn State, and we plan on making it a better place'
SGA candidates Soltis and Sutter outline platform at QUA
by Rob Wynne
managing editor
Scott Soltis and Jenn Sutter have a
clear vision for next year to make SGA
an amazing governing body.
On Wednesday, Soltis and Sutter out
lined their SGA platform for 2003-2004
at an open Q&A session hosted by SGA.
Running unopposed for president and
vice-president respectively, the duo high
lighted four major topics for SGA next
year tuition, diversity, THON, and
"bridging the gap" between Behrend and
University Park.
They also discussed the structural Soltis has already begun work in this
changes that will take place within SGA area, too. This year, he founded and be
itself to make the group more accessible came the first president of the Irish
to student organizations and the student American Society, an organization un
body, as well as the public community. der the Multi-Cultural Council umbrella.
And they've already begun. With an
ever-shrinking state budget and ever-in
creasing tuition cost for Penn State stu-
NEWS 1-3
EDITORIAL 5
ADS 5
eak out a
dents, Soltis has taken the first steps in
raising awareness about the issue by
meeting with numerous state legislators
like Tom Scrimenti and Linda Bebko-
Jones to discuss Penn State's tuition
hikes.
"I took the initial steps in building a
bridge between our school and Harris
burg," said Soltis.
The second goal on their agenda had
to deal with diversity at Behrend. Soltis
said that things are improving, although
a bit slowly. Some members of SGA
speculated that Soltis placed diversity on
his list of goals because "he had to," but
THON is number three on the agenda.
Each year, Behrend raises money and
sends students to the Interfraternity
Inside
FEATURES 6
CALENDAR 7
A&E 9
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Members of Tau Kappa Epsilon dove into ice cold Lake Erie on Sunday. The event
earned more than $2,000 for Alzheimer's Association Ronald Reagan Research Initiative.
inst the war with Ir
_.,cHREND BEACON
SGA president and vice-president candidates Scott Soltis and Jenn Sutter
answer questions during a SGA meeting on Wednesday. Their platform
consists of issues about tuition, diversity, THON, and bridging the gap be
tween Behrend campus and University Park.
GREEK PAGE 8
SPORTS 10-12
Fourth-graders encounter the
college experience
Diehl Elementary fourth graders got a
glimpse into the future Tuesday, when
they participated in Omicron Delta
Kappa's College for Kids Day.
Beginning at 9 a.m., the children were
able to participate in work stations
focusing on everything from Diversity
to Media Production. Students also
played games outside in the sun at the
sports station and were able to build
sculptures out of marshmallows and
toothpicks.
Dr. John Gamble, in full and
appropriate commencement ceremony
Fourth-grade students from Diehl make some tasty models on Tuesday's
College for Kids Day.
Contact Us
NEWSROOM: 898-6488 E-MAIL: Offices are located
FAX: 898-6019 behrcolls@aol.corn downstairs in the
Reed Union Building
by Christine Kleck
advertising manager
SENFIEND COL
On Sunday the brothers of the Sigma-Delta
chapter plunged into a 30 degree Lake Erie with
friends, family, and a local news organization
there to cheer them on.
"We wanted to do something that people would
want to see, something people would talk about,
and say, 'I can't believe you guys are going to
do that! That's crazy! I'll definitely donate. —
said Sunseri. "People loved the idea, and it was
a good enough to get us a spot on WJET Chan
nel 24 News. I am extremely proud of our chap
ter and hope this idea will fuel the fire for more
events like it in years to come."
The brothers of Sigma-Delta now plan to make
this an annual event. Next year the frat plans to
make it an all-day affair, complete with a cook
out, festivities, and local media coverage.
The chapter said it took great pride in its con
tribution to the Alzheimers Association Ronald
Reagan Research Initiative.
dress to the wide-eyed youth and later
presented each child with an honorary
certificate of completion of the College
for Kids Day activities. One fourth
grader even commented, "I just
graduated college in one day!"
Around noon everyone in attendance
was invited to enjoy pizza, pop and
cookies, provided by Penn State
Behrend's Housing and Food Services
program. By the end of the event, the
fourth graders were smiling as they asked
Behrend students questions like, "How
hard is your homework?" and "What do
you like best about college?"
The smiles on the students' faces as
they left proved that the event was a
Council/Panhellenic dance-marathon
held at University Park. This past Feb
ruary, THON more than $3.6 million for
children with cancer. Soltis and Sutter
would like to see Behrend become the
number one supporting commonwealth
campus next year. Sutter also repre
sented Behrend at this year's THON.
Bridging the gap between Behrend and
University Park is also a major goal for
the candidates. They hope to accomplish
this by closer communication with
CCSG (Council of Commonwealth Stu
dent Governments) and the new caucus
director. Soltis said he is especially in
terested in talking to University Park of
ficials about the non-repeatable varsity
sports credit for athletes.
"It's an issue that's very dear to me,
and I believe that if athletes are putting
SGA
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2