The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, November 07, 2003, Image 11

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    Erika Jarvis, Features Editor
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Michael Landy (right) and Brad Dolhi (far back) with Fockers team
mates pose for the coveted intramural photo. Fockers won the 2003
6 on 6 volleyball championship.
by Samantha Cibula
contributing writer
The Lakers have Shaq and Kobe as their
dynamic duo. Behrend has Landy and
Doihi as our dynamic duo.
Seniors Michael Landy, MEBD 07, and
Brad Doihi, MANGT 09, have been
dominating the intramural athletics scene
since their arrival in Erie four years ago.
"Intramurals have given us something
to do," said Landy. "It gives us a way to
compete without being on a varsity sport."
Doihi and Landy were immensely
competitive varsity athletes in high
school. Doihi played volleyball at Butler
High School, and Landy was involved in
volleyball and football at Bethel Park.
Now, the two take their competitive side
to the billiards room, Ping-Pong table,
badminton court and the Behrend fields.
"I have participated in every intramural
sport over the past four years," said Dolhi.
"I do hate playing badminton and Ping-
Pong, but you do what you have to do to
win."
Winning is everything to Dolhi and
Landy. They first found their winning
ways in the first year they competed.
'Our first year we were with 'Outta the
Blue, — said Landy. "They were a bunch
of seniors and we kind of fell into their
team. Now, we've taken their spot as
champions."
The Fockers, Dolhi and Landy's team,
have dominated a variety of intramural
sports since the team's inception. Titles
include back-to-back volleyball
championships for the past two years.
They are the reigning softball champions
and have two overall point-system
championships.
"There is no point in playing if you
don't want to win," said Dolhi. "It's all
about being competitive and winning."
Trading spaces
Students from all over the country have transferred to Behrend for the 2003
academic school year. Whether the student is coming from another Penn State
campus or another college all together, they chose to continue their education right
here at Behrend.
Being a transfer student can be troublesome. You have to ask yourself, where
will I go? What will I do? Will all my credits transfer? Will I make friends just as
easily?
According to Transfer Counselor Donna Fuller, there are certain steps you have
to take in order to complete the transfer process, and many have done so in this
year alone.
Fuller said, "The number of transferring students we've offered admission to for
the fall 2003 year was 108."
Many students transferred here from other Penn State campuses. Jason Kramer,
a junior here on campus, came from the Penn State Beaver campus. He spent his
first two years at Beaver and decided it was time for a change.
Kramer said, "I liked Behrend because it was a smaller campus and everyone is
so friendly."
Plenty of nontraditional students have transferred here as well. Howard Franklin,
an adult student transferred from West Virginia University, said, "I liked being
affiliated with a nationally known school like Penn State University."
Both of these transfer students seem to go through the transfer process quite
easily.
"My experience transferring into Penn State Behrend has been very smooth.
The staff here has been kind and helpful and has made things as easy as possible
for me. My advisor has been assisting me and applying as many credits as possible
toward my degree here at Behrend," said Franklin.
Scheduling, housing, and credit conflicts are factors in the transfer process. Fuller
says that the program chair evaluates many courses and they decide how each
course would fulfill the PSU requirements.
"Scheduling was really easy because I just went on E-lion and did it online, and
my credits transferred easily because I was already a Penn State student," said
Kramer.
Leaving a school upon which you were accustomed to and entering a fresh
environment can be a little scary. Adjustment might take time, but it will happen.
Kramer said, "I think it is really nice here so far, and for being a small campus it
has a lot to offer."
"I have found the students and faculty here on campus to be extremely friendly
and I would recommend Behrend to anyone who appreciates a big education in a
small campus setting," said Franklin of his new surroundings
If you plan on transferring to another school or Penn State campus, know that
you are not alone. Adjustment to life at a new campus is not so bad after all.
es f ag
and books
Dolhi's die-hard intramural efforts and
ways of thinking have earned him 2002-
2003 Male Intramural Athlete of the Year.
Rob Wittman, coordinator of intramural
and recreational programs, knows just
how important the two are to the teams,
but also to the intramural program itself.
"They are so competitive and it brings
out the competitiveness in others," said
Wittman.
Landy attributes the loss to TOE in this
year's championship flag football game
to Dolhi's absence.
"I hate to say, but him not being there
had something to do with us losing," said
Lundy on Dolhi's season-ending ankle
"Do'hi's ankle folded on us, and he had
to leave the game," said a teammate.
"That's probably a good reason why TOE
handed us a devastating loss."
Although Dolhi and Landy are missing
the flag football championship title, they
say that it is their favorite intramural sport.
The two are an integral part of a very
successful intramural program that boasts
a participation rate of 63 percent overall
for residents and 69 percent for freshmen
residents.
"Dolhi and Landy are pieces of the
intramural puzzle," said Wittman.
Dolhi and Landy have not only found
room to play intramurals but they also
have refereed various intramural sports,
played noon hoops with staff members
and helped recruit students to play.
"Refereeing is a good way to make my
intramural fee money back," said Landy.
Dolhi, graduating this fall, will soon be
wrapping up his intramural career, leaving
his winning legacy and competitive
attitude to Landy and the rest of the
Fockers.
by Tina lanni
contributing writer
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Bocian serves Behrend and his country
by Dana Vaccaro
staff writer
As the graduating seniors of the fall
semester are preparing themselves for the
future, Mathew Bocian already knows
what lies ahead of him in the next year.
Bocian will be receiving a degree in
communication and media studies this
December.
Following graduation, he will not be a
journalist or a public relations director; he
will, instead, serve America and represent
our country, just like thousands of other
soldiers, over in Iraq.
Ever since Bocian was 4 years old, he
wanted to be in the Army. At the young
age of 14, he decided that he wanted to
serve America and join the Army. In the
fall of 1999, Bocian's dream came true,
when he enrolled himself into the Army.
When Bocian came to Behrend, he
immediately got involved with the
R.O.T.C. After he graduates in December,
he will be commissioned as a second
lieutenant, meaning he will have to go
through an officer basic training course. At
the completion of the 22-week course,
Bocian will become an officer and no
longer be enlisted.
After the officer training, Bocian will get
sent to a unit and there he will find out
when he will be leaving the states and
where he will be located for a one-year
tour.
Bocian recalled a period of time when
he was in high school sitting around with
a couple of his friends who also wanted to
enroll in the Army, wondering when it was
going to be their time. They knew their
grandparents had their time, along with
their fathers' and uncles, but they never
knew when it would be their turn.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Bocian and his
friends, knew their time has come.
He said, "Out of the four of us, two are
serving over there right now, one is on his
way, and I guess you can say I am the last
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Mathew Bocian, a member of ROTC, will graduate in December and
then possibly deploy to Iraq where two of his friends already are.
of the group to go over." Even though
Bocian and his friends are miles apart, they
still keep in touch through e-mail.
He has mixed feelings about going
overseas. He is prepared to go over,
because he does not have much left here.
The majority of his friends are already
serving over seas, and one more will be
sent out around the same time as Bocian.
However, Bocian said, "It's going to be
a challenge,especially being officer for the
first time, rather than being someone who
is used to being led. I will be the person
doing all of the leading."
Bocian has a couple of options he can
pursue after serving on his one-year tour
overseas. He said, "I could stay in the
Army and retire, or I can do 8-12 years,
:et out and look for a job with the F. 8.1."
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Bocian would hope to combine his Army
experience and communication degree by
working for the F. 8.1. However, at this
point of his life, he is strictly focusing on
being an officer.
Outside of the Army and his busy 25-
credit school schedule, Bocian is just like
any other person. He enjoys fishing,
hunting and visiting his hometown of
Pittsburgh. He also takes up recreational
skydiving, a result of being a qualified air
borner for the Army.
Along with being involved in the
R.O.T.C. Bocian has been a teacher's
assistant for two and a half years for Dr.
Archie Loss. He enjoys being an assistant.
He feels it is rewarding and said, "it's nice
to know the students look to you to guide
them."
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