Courtney Straub & Justin Curry, News Editors
E by Courtney Straub and
Question of the week Heather Peterson,
news editor and staff writer
"Within the next week."
Laura Martin
DUS, 01
International Film Series
continues at Behrend
by B.J. Shields
staff writer
"We saw the university begin to
increase efforts to offer international
education, and we thought 'maybe we can
open the movies to the rest of the student
population, — said Dr. Juan Fernandez-
Jimenez, Professor of Spanish at Penn
State Erie, referring to the inception of
Behrend's International Film Series.
Just about 10 years ago he had decided
that students in his Spanish classes should
know more than just the words and
phrases of the second language they were
learning. He thought they should also
understand its history and culture, and
what better means than to offer them the
opportunity to view some popular movies
from Spain.
Opening these movies to the rest of the
student body, and as well to the general
public gave way to the mission of the
series: introducing viewers to other
cultures through the artistic medium of
film, and to encourage them to take active
interests in foreign cultures and language.
Since the inception of the series, it has
come to consist of films from various
nations of origin, such as Brazil,
Argentina, Portugal, Germany and
France.
"I was a bit naive at first, thinking the
most difficulty would he in securing the
films," said Fernandez. After contacting
the Spanish Ministry of Culture, he found
that the rights to publicly broadcast the
films would cost more than just simple
rental and shipping fees.
"The costs for showing each film range
anywhere from as little as $250 to as
much as $500," said Fernandez.
Thanks to the popularity of the series, the
films have been able to establish funding
through the School of Humanities and
Social Sciences, with additional
Rae Thon reads at Smith Chapel
by Justin Plansinis
staff writer
Melanie Rae Thon (pronounced "ray
tone"), acclaimed writer of fictional
novels and short stories, visited Penn
State Erie last Thursday, September 25.
She read an excerpt from one of her
books, spoke to both faculty and
students, and answered many of their
questions.
The Clarence A. Smith and Eugenie
Bauman Smith Fund financed Ms.
Thon's visit to Behrend. At 4:00 p.m., a
reception was held for Ms. Thon in the
Smith Chapel living room, and over 30
students and faculty were in attendance.
A variety of cheese and fruit was served
as refreshments and the event was very
informal. Both students and faculty
asked questions about her inspirations,
her history, as well as her novels.
Ms. Thon's most recent novel entitled
Sweet Hearts, the story of why a pair of
children led a degenerate life, was the
most frequent topic of conversation. She
described how her own life growing up
in Montana near a Native-American
reservation gave her the knowledge and
interest to write about similar events that
happened in Sweet Hearts. Students
showed an interest and knowledge in her
"The second week of October."
Kyle Sheehan
Biology, 04
contributions coming from the Mary
Behrend fund.
"When we started the series, it was
funded through the equal opportunity
program, whose support allowed us to
bring speakers to enhance the films.
However, the support of that program was
intended solely for the establishment of
such ventures," said Fernandez.
"We've been fortunate to have good
response to the series, but would of course
like to pack the room, - said Fernandez,
"If we can do that, perhaps we could be
considered for further funding, and
possibly bring additional speakers to stir
interest. -
Speakers and
funding aside
the International
Film Series has
been an asset to
the community
in its mission
The series is
comprised of
four films this
year (all include
sub-titles),
including the
recently shown
"Happenstance - ,
directed by
Laurent Firode,
and starring
Audrey Tautou.
Happenstance was the first film shown in the
InternationaPFilm Series
Students can
look forward to
the next film in
the series "Nine Queens" (Argentina,
2(X)1) to be shown Monday, October 6.
This film is directed by Fabian Bielinsky
and stars Gaston Pauls. Touted as a
devious thriller, the film spans a day in
the life of scam artist Juan (Pauls) as he
pairs up with the crooked cop who arrests
work based on their intelligent questions.
The students in attendance represented
Penn State Erie very well.
The reading was free and open to the
public. Though attendance at the reading
was required for some English classes
here at Behrend, the number of people
there of their own choice was impressive.
At 7:00 p.m. Thon read a sample of
her fiction in the maiyoom of the Smith
Chapel. She read a part of her short story,
"Father, Lover, Dead Man, Dreamer"
which is from her short story collection
entitled First, Body. Many students and
faculty stayed to have their books signed
by Ms. Thon, and some bought copies
of Sweet Hearts, which were being sold
outside the chapel.
"I enjoy speaking with my readers,"
said Thon, "I like to hear first hand what
people think of my work." Indeed, Ms.
Thon traveled all the way from Utah and
lost her luggage en route and yet she was
still incredibly eager to speak with those
in attendance.
Aside from Sweet Hearts, Thon's other
novels include Meteors in August and
lona Moon. Her collections of short
stories include Girls in the Grass and
First, Body.
Originally from Montana, Melanie
Rae Thon has taught at Emerson College,
,
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Friday, October 3, 2003
• "Next Monday." •
•
•
• Brittany Nguyen •
•
: Mechanical Engineering, 01 •
The next film in the series is scheduled
for Monday, October 13. "The Princess
and the Warrior" stars Franka Potente
(Run Lola Run) as Sissi, who lives an
isolated life as a nurse at a mental
institution. When she meets Bodo, a
handsome petty thief, her life is turned
upside down. The film from Germany is
directed by Tom Twyker, known for his
stunning images and swirling camera
movements.
The final film, scheduled for October
20, is titled "Goya in Bordeaux", directed
by Carolos Saura (Spain). It follows the
life of one of the greatest artists of the
modern era, exploring his evolution as a
man, in his works, and in his private
obsessions.
All films will be shown in Room 117
of the Reed Union Building, starting at
7:00 p.m. and are free and open to the
public.
Syracuse University, the University of
Massachusetts, and the Ohio State
University. She divides her time
between the Pacific Northwest and Salt
Lake City where she teaches English and
fiction writing at the University of Utah.
Thon is the winner of the Five Point's
Paul Bowles Price for Fiction from
Georgia State University in Atlanta. In
1996, GRANTA included Ms. Thon on
its list of twenty "Best Young American
Novelists." Her fiction has been
included in Best American Short Stories,
and she has received many grants from
various art foundations.
'chard Ormrod is a member of the
Czech Philharmonic Chamber
Orchestra
students about her recent novel
4Pk I A
Ikj
"October 5."
Shaun Sauer
MIS, 07
STOPSIGNS continued from
page 1
Jordan Road, but it's terrible when you
leave from College Drive, forget that
they took the stop signs out and almost
kill yourself, along with everyone else
at the intersection," quipped the owner
of a red Mercury Cougar.
With the winter months fast
approaching, there is One positive that
will come out of all of this. No longer
will anyone coming hack to an on
campus residence have any excuse for
not making it up the Jordan Road hill.
This idea made Jason Giordon's day.
Giordon, a sixth semester plastics
engineering technology major, who lives
in the apartment complex, had more than
his share of problems with drivers on the
Jordan Road hill last year.
Czech Philharmonic Chamber
Orchestra graces Logan music series
The Logan Wintergarden Series will
continue its fourteenth season on
Tuesday, Oct. 7, with the
internationally acclaimed Czech
Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.
This combination of talented musicians
from both the Czech Philharmonic and
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
will give a lunchtime presentation in
the Wintergarden of the Reed Union
Building at Penn State Behrend. The
performance is free and open to the
public.
This thirty-member orchestra
including strings, winds, brass, and
titmani will perform selections such as
the overture to Mozart's The Marriage
of Figaro, the second and third
movements of Beethoven's Piano
concerto No. 5, and the andante
movement of Jan Vorisek's Symphony
No. I. Currently on its third tour in
North America, the orchestra will
highlight Welsh pianist Richard
Ormrod, who has captured attention on
former U.S. tours.
Led by Pavel Prantl, artistic director
and concertmaster, the CPCO is most
widely known for its tonal clarity and
The Behrend Beacon
"November 18"
Sarah Mensing
Business, LAS, 07
"I hadn't thought about it until now,
but I like what PENNDOT and Harbor
Creek did, removing the stop signs like
that," said Giordon, "There was a time
last year when I had to do a 180 degree
turn in the middle of the road because
someone didn't know how to drive in the
winter."
The biggest argument against the signs
is that they are needed because delivery
trucks and some others that frequent the
college do not realize that the signs have
been removed. All it would take is one
truck to stop and a car behind it to not
have time to stop for everyone to wish
the signs were still there.
Regardless of the mixed feelings, the
signs are gone, for now. The three way
debate between Penn Dot, Harbor Creek,
and the College will likely not he going
away any time soon.
musical intimacy. Its classical
repertoire ranges from composers such
as Beethoven to the lesser known Jan
Vaclav Vorisek. Since 1977 this
orchestra has been recognized for its
"Czech strings" sound, a unique Czech
tradition that focuses on resonance and
tonal color originating from the Czech
Philharmonic.
The series was founded by Kay
Logan in 1989 and is supported by the
Harry A. Logan Jr. Foundation. Logan
created this unique series as a way of
bringing classical music to all
audiences, including children. All of
the musical groups incorporate an
educational program with audience
interaction into their performances, and
each ensemble also performs at Diehl
School, Behrend's Adopt-a-School
partner.
Guests are encouraged to bring a
brown-bag lunch to enjoy the
informality of this noontime event. For
more information about upcoming
Logan performances, contact the Penn
State Erie Office of Students Activities
at (814) 898-6171.
Information compiled from
University Relaions resources.
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