___„ Behrend Beaco 1111;11\ April 11, 2003 , , 10 Page 1 Vol. L , No. 19 Positions selected for 2003-2004 SGA PHOTO BY ROB WYNNE lithhitNU titAL.UN Scott Soltis prepares for his new role as SGA president. by Erinn Hansen Calendar Page Editor The winners have been selected for the 2003-2004 Student Government Association (SGA). Elections took place on Tuesday and Wednesday and students had the opportunity to vote online for whom they wanted to lead Behrend next year. "The elections are a crucial part of the student government and the student body," said Jen Crawford, SGA Elections Chair. "The more students vote, the more the student body has a voice, which is very important." One President, one Vice-President, one Secretary, and 11 Senator positions were chose. The selected candidates include, President, Scott Soltis; Vice- President, Jenn Sutter; and Secretary, Jessica Burnett. The 11 Senators include: Alexander Henderson; Erin Strayer; Gillian Young; Nathan Snyder; Kristin Zyupancic; Matthew Withum; Nichole Lemke; Jair Carrasquero; Sara Grant; John Zwigart, and Jason Horton. The campaign started Feb. 17, which began a series of steps in the election process. Senator and Secretary candidates had to pick up an application, along with a petition, get 50 different signatures from the student body, and turn it back in to the RUB Desk. Candidates for President and Vice-President had to do the same thing, only they needed 100 signatures. All of the candidates were then contacted, and had to pick up a campaign packet. On March 17, the campaign began, and the candidates could start putting up posters and getting help from their friends as well as the elections committee. However, no more than 150 campaign posters were allowed. Then on March 25, students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to meet all of the candidates in the Reed Wintergarden, followed by a question and answer session for the President and Vice-President the next day. "We were looking for people who are willing to communicate back and forth between SGA and the students," said Sutter. "We were also looking for people who are going to work hard, do what they are supposed to do, and put in the hours and the time that it takes." SGA is the governing body of the student population, strives to voice student opinions on all issues that contribute to the betterment of the social and intellectual life at Penn State Behrend. Students can become involved in SGA by running for the Council through elections, and weekly meetings are open to everyone. Regular open forums are also held to hear student concerns and act upon them. Each position has certain responsibilities. The President and Vice SGA CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 NEWS 1-3 EDITORIAL 4 Activists march APR 1 4 2 003 gEtiFtEND COL.LF Lamy towards empowerment Despite the bitter chill, chants resonated through downtown Erie as students, volunteers and activists rallied against domestic violence and sexual assault at the Take Back the Night march Tuesday at Perry Square. Organized by Behrend support group Women Today and Gannon University's Center for Social Concerns, marchers wearing Take Back the Night t-shirts began at Sixth and State streets. circled around Fifth Street back to Perry Square, and concluded the march at Gannon by singing the Tracy Chapman song "Behind the Wall." In between chants of "2-4-6-8, no more date rape," and "sexist, rapist, anti gay—don't you take our night away," stops were made so speakers could tell the crowd of roughly 50 marchers the statistics of abuse and the need for change. "We are outraged by the fact that one in three women will be raped in their lifetime 78 in one hour," said Crime Victim Center representative Jen Redenis. Speakers included Redenis, the Gannon Interfraternity Council president Joshua Hayes, the Behrend Panhellenic president Diane Smigielski, and Behrend Counseling and Advising Office representative Allison Parr-Plasha. At Gannon, marchers shared their experiences and opinions at a speak-out followed by free food and music. Information tables offered free brochures detailing the effects and statistics of sexual abuse and domestic violence. "We're here so victims know where they can turn," said Smigielski. "These violators cannot make us victims if we know how to handle the situation." A series spotlighting newsworthy members of the Behrend community 1 I Behrend with a degree in Management and home to visit my family. Marketing. Q: Do you have any advice for the next 111 . I Through the SGA she has been active SGA president? with THON, which is becoming more and A: Listen to people, take lots of notes, I more popular each year. Hovis also acts as ask lots of questions. Constructive criti- I vice president of the Irish American Sod- cism is a good thing. Think outside of the I ety which she helped start and participates box. And I like how Steven Covey states' in Leadership Unlimited. She has seen it, "The challenge is not to manage time, ' Behrend put many new ideas and plans into but to manage ourselves." action and has played a large part in many Q: What was your favorite part or the I of these. Hovis will leave big shoes to fill major benefits of being SGA president? I when she leaves office after this semester. A: I really like working with people I Q: What is your best memory of going who are motivated and inspired to make I to school here at Behrend? a difference. A major benefit of being I A: I haven't left yet. I still have some SGA President is the perspective that you ' time for more! As of now, I'd have to say obtain about Behrend—it's a wonderful all the people I have met and worked with— school and I wish more people could see they're all great! it that way. I I PHOTO BY ROB WYNNE / BEHREND BEACON Q: What are your plans after graduation? Q: What is your favorite hook'? I I Two-year SGA president Brandi Hovis will graduate in May with a degree A:1 am attending graduate school at In- A: I have quite a few favorites but I lin Management and Marketing. diana University of Pennsylvania for the "1 984" by George Orwell and "A Sepa- I Student Affairs in Higher Education rate Peace" by John Knowles rank at the 1 son would be driven to insanity, but not her. (SAHE) program. I She seems to perform both jobs with ease. Q: What is your favorite movie? Hovis grew up in Cochranton where she A: "Dead Poet's Society." I Have you ever wanted to know how attended high school at Cochranton High Q: What do you like to do in your free I extremely busy a person could be? Brandi School. She is part of a large family, with time, when you have any? I Hovis could definitely tell you a thing or five brothers and two sisters. Hovis has A: What's that? Just kidding. Well, when 1 two! She has somehow juggled SGA been SGA president for the past two years Ido have some extra time I like to, believe president duties and a college schedule and a member of the Senate for three and a it or not, go to bookstores or little cafes. I for the past two years. The average per- half years. She will graduate this year from It's relaxing. When I get the chance Igo L Inside FEATURES 5 CALENDAR 6 A&E 7 Annual 'Take Back the Night' draws student crowd at Perry Square Campus Q & A by Jen Henderson assistant news editor by Angela Szesciorka staff write! HEALTH 8 SPORTS 9-10 PHOTOS BY KEVIN FALLON / BEHREND BEACON Demonstrators, including many Behrend students, speak out against vio lence and sexual assault at the annual "Take Back the Night." This is the fourth year that Behrend has hosted and sponsored the Take Back the Night march. The Take Back the Night began in England in 1977 as a women's protest against violence encountered on the streets after dark. The next year, activists in San Francisco held a rally focused on sexual assault, which encouraged the spread of awareness all over the world. Behrend sponsors included the Interfratemity Council, the Multi-Cultural Council, the Office of Student Affairs, the Panhellenic Council, Student Activity Fee and Student Government Association. Gannon sponsors were Metz & Associates and the Center for Social Concerns. Other sponsors included Cinemark-Millcreek 6, Crime Victim Center, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Erie Athletics, Erie Insurance Exchange, Hamot Health Connection, the National Organization of Women, Safe Net, Sarah Reed Children's Center and St. Vincent's. The Crime Victim Center provides free education programs to the community. Any person interested in learning more about what the center has to offer as well as victims in need of help may go to 125 W. 18th Street or call the 24-hour hotline at 455-9414. A web page for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the main organization is www.pcar.org. Women Today seeks new members. Interested students may contact the president of Women Today, Carrie Rodgers, at errl43o)psu.edu. Women Today is dedicated to education, growth and awareness concerning the issues of women. The organization co-sponsors the Women's Film Series and encourages voter registration and attends marches in Harrisburg, Washington, D.C., and other locations. Contact Us NEWSROOM: 898-6488 E-MAIL: Offices are located FAX: 898-6019 behrcolls@aol.corn downstairs in the Reed Union Building This week: Brandi Hovis top. Q: I toys , would you improve Behrend? A: I would love to get more students I involved!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers