,1
2003 Roadhouse receives rave review •
The Behrend Beacon
September 26,WNW Pages
TOL
Vol. LI SEP 29 200 3 No. 3
Music
Quartet brings upbeat kickoff to Wintergarden series
by B.J. Shields
staff writer
When most students hear the words
chamber music, they probably shudder
as they picture a bunch of blue-haired
individuals listening to Bach over tea and
crumpets. However, students who this
week attended the 2003-2004 inaugural
Music At Noon pertbrmance learned that
chamber music doesn t have to be a bore.
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Stefon Harris
Quartet jammed in the Reed Union
Building s Wintergarden Atrium, opening
the fourteenth season of the Logan
Wintergarden Series. Their upbeat
modern jazz seemed to capture the
audience of both students and the public.
Daniel Barnard, professor of music,
invited the band after hearing them in
January at the Chamber Music America
Conference in New York.
The second I heard them I knew they
would be great in our series. I wanted our
students to be able to see how they
interact with each other in such a magical
way, said Barnard, who defined chamber
music not as stuffy classical music that
you need to wear wigs to play, but simply
as music where each instrument plays a
separate part and with generally no
conductor.
After a brief introduction by Dr
Packer and Hansen to
Behrend at All-University Day
by Justin Plansinis
staff writer
Sometimes students at Penn State
Behrend feel as though they are not real
Penn State students because they don't
attend classes in University Park. At
University Park, however, some students
are unaware of the existence of campuses
other than their own.
Penn State's All-University Day is an
attempt at changing that assumption, as
well as a chance for students from all
Penn State locations to get together for
fun and excitement.
All-University Day, commonly known
as "All-U-Day", is a university-sponsored
excursion to University Park in which all
Penn State locations participate. All-
University Day provides an opportunity
to attend a Penn State football game and
a major concert.
Though it is intended to be an all-.day
activity, the main event
for the day takes place
during the half time
when
representatives from
each location carry
flags from their
respective schools onto
the field as a symbol of
unity.
All-U-Day takes
place this Saturday,
Sept. 27 during the
football game between
the Penn State Nittany
Lions and the
University of
Minnesota Golden
Gophers.
It is a chance for
students from Behrend
to meet their fellow
Penn State students in
a fun atmosphere.
Tickets were pre-sold
during the first two
weeks of classes at the
RUB desk. The game
this Saturday is
completely sold out.
NEWS 1-3
CALENDAR 4
EDITORIAL 5
Barnard, the band let loose with two
original works that showcased the talent
of master vibraphonist Stefon Harris.
He just banged away with those
mallets like you wouldn t believe, and the
ethereal sound of the marimba heightened
the sensual flavor of their music, said
fourth year senior Biology major Amanda
Gruver.
During a break, Harris mentioned that
they hadn t planned to perform the
specific songs.
T o play originals, the group really has
to know each other, Harris told the
crowd in reference to their
improvisational performance.
The talented vibraphonist was
accompanied by quartet members Kim
Thompson on drums, Matthew Parrish on
the upright bass, and pianist Xavier Davis.
Harris himself claims a strong musical
background with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in classical music, and a Master
of Arts degree in jazz performance, both
obtained while he was a student at the
Manhattan School of Music. He pointed
out, though, that he and drummer
Thompson began their musical endeavors
much earlier in their youth by banging
on pots and pans.
In closing the first performance in the
Logan Wintergarden Series, as is
customary, Harris opened the floor to
Representing the Behrend campus this
year are Lauren Packer, a
communications and media studies major,
and Keenan Hansen, a psychology major.
The Student Government Association
picked them to represent Behrend because
SGA felt that both Packer and Hansen
embody the values and characteristics that
make Behrend a great place to attend.
"I was born in State College, PA and
lived there my whole life," said Packer.
"I chose Behrend to experience
something new and get away from the
huge university... To represent Behrend,
the school that has afforded me so many
opportunities, both in the classroom and
out, is unbelievable."
Packer, amongst other activities, plays
water polo and works as editor in chief
of the Behrend Beacon, cares a great deal
about Behrend and has a fantastic amount
of school spirit.
"I've been attending Penn State
PHOTO BY JUSTIN CURRY/BEHREND BEACON
SGA President Scott Soltis hands over the Penn State Behrend flag to Lauren Packer for
tomorrow's All-U-Day ceremony at University Park.
Inside
NAT'L CAMPUS NEWS 6
FEATURES 7
at Noon series opens
dialogue with the audience
He answered questions, and
went as far as providing the
audience with several brief
lessons on the evolution of
jazz and blues.
The Logan Wintergarden
Series was founded in 1989
with funds from the Harry A.
Logan, Jr. Foundation. Kay
Logan, a trustee of the
foundation and principal
flutist with the Columbus
Symphony, designed Music
at Noon: The Logan
Wintergarden Series to
demystify chamber music.
The object of the series, from
the beginning, has been to
involve the students by
providing opportunity for
dialogue with world-class
musicians in an informal
setting. Each season includes
six free public performances,
all held in the Reed Union
Atrium. To further
encourage the informal
setting, audience members are
encouraged to bring their lunch to the
events.
Future installments in this semester s
series of performances include the Czech
represent
football games all my life and tailgating
every weekend... When I hear the crowd
of over 110,000 chant 'We Are Penn
State,' it is amazing to think that they all
love the blue and white. To think that a
simple chant like that is nationally known,
and that everyone in the nation knows of
Penn State, it is an honor to be a part of
that system."
Both Packer and Hansen will be
proudly running Behrend's flag this
Saturday.
"It'll be a bodacious experience to run
the flag down, man. It'll be awesome,
dude. I can't wait to see the cheerleaders
either. Rock on!" said Hansen.
Any Penn State Behrend students who
were able to procure a ticket for this event
will be able to show their support and
school spirit during the ceremony.
Although the locations might be a good
distance from each other, they are all Penn
State.
A&E 8
SPORTS 9-10
PHOTO BY JUSTIN CURRY/BEHREND BEACON
Stefon Harris and his quartet provided a noon-time jam session for an audience of
Behrend students, senior citizens, and Diehl elementary school students.
Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra on Oct. www.pserie.psu.edu/hss music
7, and Cantus (a male vocal ensemble) on music_at_noon.htm.
Nov. 4.
Further information can be found at
Relational aggression is a form of
aggression where relationships are used
to harm others-not physically, but
verbally. Penn State Behrend professor
of Psychology, Dr. Charisse Nixon, co
authored a book entitled, Girl Wars;
- v • WI II
I3uHying. After doing between three to
four research years, Nixon and her
colleague, Dr. Cheryl Dellasega, a nurse
practitioner at the Penn State's College
of Medicine, decided to "apply basic
research" into a book that would help
victims, aggressors, and kids caught in
the middle of relational aggression.
When talking about the reason her
book was written, Nixon replied, "There
has been an explosion of information in
the media that has highlighted how
"mean" girls really are...this has been
damaging on a number of accounts. With
no strategies provided, the public has
begun embracing this notion that all girls
are inherently relationally aggressive.
Our culture has come to expect girls to
be mean. We don't believe that is the
case. And in fact, in our book, we argue
that given sufficient guidance and a safe
environment to grow, girls do have the
ability to be caring and supportive. We
look at girls' relational abilities as a
strength...not a deficit. Our book was
written to provide the reader with a new
understanding of relational aggression
including how to address relational
aggression in constructive ways."
Dr. Nixon did a lot of qualitative work
in order to make her book a success. This
work involved interviews with various
mothers, daughters, and members of
families that have been affected by this
type of aggression.
She said that often times children are
"reinforced for being aggressive. They
learn at a young age how to instill fear
in others without getting caught.
Relational-aggressive behaviors are
particularly difficult to address because
they are often manipulative, covert, and
sneaky.
Contact Us
NEWSROOM: 898-6488 E-MAIL: Offices are located
FAX: 898-6019 behrcolls@aol.corn downstairs in the
Reed Union Building
Dr. Nixon co-authors
book on female bullying
by Miens Jensai
staff writer
It is uncommon for the most
`Yottpular".kids tm bete most relationally
aggressive kids. It becomes a difficult
task to hold someone accountable for this
type of aggressive behavior, when you
don't really know who started it (e.g.
rumors, exclusion)." Dr. Nixon and her
colleague discuss in Girl W. rs effective
ways to build relationships within
families as well as within peer groups.
Relational aggression can occur in
boys as well. Nixon's book applies to
girls and how their relationships may be
in jeopardy, but with guidance from
people who care and love them,
relationships can be healed. Through the
right steps explained throughout the
book, self-esteem is built, strong
identities are formed, and trusting,
positive outlooks are created.
The most difficult part of publishing
the book was, "not having my colleague
nearby" said Nixon. Her colleague lives
in Harrisburg, therefore a lot of their time
was spent contacting each other through
emails and telephone calls.
Nixon met her colleague in Harrisburg
two years ago when she was giving a
presentation. After spending time
together professionally, Cheryl asked her
to co-author a book with her that would
help girls with relationship problem and
overcoming obstacles in a society and
culture that creates aggression.
When asked if she had always wanted
to write a book, Nixon answered, "It's
an outgrowth of what I've done
scholastically. I have a passion for this
topic." There are ways to handle
situations when relational aggression is
involved, but the main focus of the book
is to, "focus on the kids in the middle."
It took just over one year to gather all
of the research to put the book together.
• A • w - v - - .•. h. t
End Female Bullying was submitted to
publication in the Spring 2002 and was
published in October of the same year.
If Anyone is interested in purchasing Dr.
Nixon's book, she will be having two
book signings in October, at Barnes &
Noble, located on Peach Street, and at
Borders, which is behind the Millcreek
Mall.