Page 4 The Behrend Beacon Caps and gowns bring reality of graduation to life by Lauren Packer editor in chief Students planning to graduate on May 15 took one of the few remaining steps this week en route to receiving their di- plomas, On Monday and Tuesday, the reality of graduation started to sink in as those intending to graduate purchased caps and gowns, announcements, class rings and received their family tickets. Steph Covert, PHYS 08, will be just one of two physics majors to earn a di ploma this spring. "Only 39 more days left until gradua tion," Covert said Tuesday. "It seems like such a long time. But then again, as a freshman, four years of college seemed like a long time. I have no idea where the time went in those years." One of the biggest challenges that still looms for soon-to-be graduates isn't fin ishing projects or passing finals, said one senior. Instead, most are worried about finding extra tickets other than the six university-allotted family tickets. Covert, a first-generation college graduate on her maternal family side, sees herself in dire need of tickets. H&SS Director, a lengthening of a radio program Aquila wrote, hosted, and produced for National Public Radio from 1998 until 2000 called "Rock and Roll America." This program was syndicated all over the United States, and even parts of Europe, and Aquila considers it one of his best achievements. "The NPR series was one of the most interesting projects I have ever done. Having the opportunity to interview most of the pioneers from rock 'n' roll's first decade was a dream come true not just from the perspective of a kid from south Buffalo who grew up on the music," he said, "but also from the perspective of a professional historian trying to ex plain the cultural significance of the music." Aquila's music tastes center around rock 'n' roll but as a historian, he has to listen to all music equally. When asked, he couldn't really come up with a "favorite" band or song. "It sort of depends on my mood I listen to ev- erything from Buddy Holly to Eric Andersen, from Springsteen to Steve Earle, from Brenda Lee to Alison Krauss, with an occasional Bach or rap thrown in for good measure," Aquila mused. "As a music fan, I have a few favorites; but as a cultural historian I explore everything, since all of popular Free HIV testing available to students by Atheia Mobley and Theo Shomsky contributing writers Chances are, if you are a Behrend student and have a bladder, you've seen the Health and Wellness Center flyers for confidential HIV testing in bath room stalls around the campus. However; for many students, the idea of getting tested leaves their minds as quickly as it enters. What students fail to see is that getting tested is a matter of life or death. According to Patty McMahon, director and nurse practitioner of Behrend's Health and Wellness Cen ter, early detection is the key to keeping patients infected with the HIV virus healthy. "If the virus is there...We can help them watch their T-cells, so that when medication needs to be instituted, it can be done so." McMahon further noted that if the virus is de tected and treated early, the patient can look at HIV as more of a chronic type of disease than a life threatening illness. Through a grant from the Erie County Depart .. 41 e " 41‘, DOMINO'S PIZZA CAMPUS SPECIAL! 1 LARGE PIZZA IV/CHEESE AND 1 TOPPING ONLY $6.99 OR GET 2 FOR JUST $12.99. ADD AN ORDER OF DOMINO'S DELICIOUS BREADSTICKS FOR ONLY $10.99*! ADD A 10 PIECE WINGS OR KICKERS AND A 2-LITER COKE FOR ONLY $5.99. •litlat I 9.o9Bradifick; pct Wet Offer valid all week long! You must ask for the Behrend Special when ordering., Domino's Pizza is open for lunch every day at I I am and is open late everyday. Dominoes Pizza guarantees delivery of a hot fresh piiia in almost any weather. Why go out? Call Domino's TODAY! OFFER GOOD FOR CARRYOUT OR ON-CAMPUS DELIVERY ONLY "I personally need at least 10 tickets," said Covert. "What I really want to know is how they came up with the number six? Even if I had to buy the extra tick ets, I would." Victoria Anderson, COMBA 08, be gan her quest for extra tickets immedi ately after receiving hers. "Any of you guys have extra tickets?" she asked to the other seniors waiting in line to pur- chase caps and gowns. Anderson's questions may have drawn laughter from the crowd, but all seemed to share her pain and worries about not getting enough tickets for family. "I'm getting my family in there," Anderson said. "I don't care." With roughly fewer than four weeks of classes, the seniors at the Senior Sa lute Days were bombarded with some important choices. Donate to the class gift? Order announcements? What about a class ring? Bob Hoover, an announcement repre sentative from Balfour's, explained why most students choose to send announce " Old Grandma's always good for a check," chuckled Hoover. "But seri ously, it's about the parents and their conti culture tells us something about the times." Aquila isn't sure about what kinds of classes he plans on teaching at Behrend yet, but if past expe rience is any indication, whatever he chooses to teach should be interesting. During his career, Aquila has taught History of American Pop Cul ture classes, a class known as "The American West," a Popular Culture, Mass Media, and Society class and a class known as "America in the 19605." As to whether or not any of those classes would be making the trip back east with him, Aquila wasn't sure. And for students who wonder what kind of pro fessor Aquila will be, here, in 31 words, is his de scription of his teaching style: "Socratic. I like to mix lectures with lots of discussions. I want stu dents to come away not just with a knowledge of facts, but also an understanding of concepts and issues." Aquila does have one question for students, fig uring we were the most qualified to answer it. It's a very important one, and he would truly like to know before he starts at Behrend. "Last, but not least, I have a question for all of you: Where's the best pizza in town?" ment of Health, HIV testing on the Behrend cam pus is completely free. According to McMahon if a student was to get tested through their family phy sician, it can cost up to $BO. The testing procedure, which happens on cam pus, takes less then 30 minutes and is completely confidential. The nurse simply asks a few questions and has the student sign a written consent before testing. There are two forms of HIV tests available. A student can decide whether to take the Orasure (an oral method of testing), or have blood drawn. The Orasure may take a little longer for test results (up to three weeks), whereas the blood test is much quicker, with results arriving within two weeks. According to McMahon, testing ends two to three weeks before finals, so that the center has time to counsel all patients about their results. Testing is available throughout the business day at the Health and Wellness Center with three nurses certified to conduct the procedure. For more infor mation contact McMahon at the Behrend Health and Wellness Center at 898-6217. EWS Friday, April 9, 2004 pride. Students haven't been through life to understand the pride of children. And besides, you do actually get money back from these, depending on how rich your friends and relatives are." "My parents want a formal way of let ting my relatives know," said Anderson. "I think a simple phone call would have worked, but I guess it's all about the glitz and glamour." Tony Cecchini, POLSC/ HIST 10, described the an nouncements as "unnecessary." "I'm not willing to take on any more expenses," said Cecchini. "I don't think my parents would care either way anyhow." The price of some of the ac cessory items at the salute days turned Covert away from buy ing most things. "I really liked the one ring they had, but I can't afford to pay $3OO when Penn State has already sucked everything out of me. I if I would have bought a ring and announcements, in addition to my cap and gown, I would have spent close to $5OO today " nued Anderson agreed the rings were a bit expensive, but she had another reason for not purchasing one. "I would really rather purchase a ring from the graduate school I earn a di ploma from." The Jostens representative could not directly comment on any aspect of class rings because company procedures pro Students wait patiently in line to buy caps and gowns day. Deford reflects on life in sports by Scott Soltis assistant managing editor Acclaimed sports writer Frank Deford spoke to students and community members Thursday night at the final installment of this year's Speaker Series. Deford detailed many of his experiences to a predominately male audience interested in hearing of his career in sports. The disproportionate distribution of gender was no surprise to Deford as he mentioned that "sports mean even more than sex to most men." Deford told many stories of his run-ins with Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, Jerry West, and his friend Arthur Ashe. Deford was one of the earliest to know that Ashe had developed AIDS and was chastised for keeping his word to a friend. Deford expressed concern over the current state of sports in America throughout the evening. "The bad stuff is the easiest to believe, sadly that had become the leitmotif of our times," explained Deford. He also spoke about collegiate athletes and wondered aloud why athletes in sports such as track signs a speech Meek, Streaker, feels that the chairperson was a good addition to the program, as well as the fact that the sisters had a year's experience to go on with the pageant. "I feel that this year was a lot easier than before," said Waters. "We were able to build off of our suc cesses from last year, and work on some things that needed worked on." The sisters' first inclination of success came after the change wars, which were held a week ago. The first round of contestants, 20 in all, went head to head to see who would make the top 10. Throughout the week, the sisters collected double of what they had last year, reaching over $3OO. All money raised through the event goes to the sorority's philanthropy, the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County, Ky. "This is definitely going to become an annual event at Behrend," said Waters, "We got a lot of positive feedback from last year's pageant, as well as a decent turnout." Last year's attendance was around 100 people, and Justin Curry & Angela Szesciorka news editors hibit it One item that was "free" for the stu dents came from the table with a minia ture Nittany Lion statue. Here students were encouraged to donate all or a por tion of the $lOO deposit paid as a fresh man to the senior class gift. The gift will be a life-size statue of the Nittany Lion, like the one found at University Park. and field, golf and swimming should receive scholarships. He questioned why a tennis player should get a scholarship, but not a piano player. Later in the evening, he would again use the arts in comparison with sports. He acclaimed the surge in popularity of basketball to the fact that "basketball has sold itself as a visual art." Deford also showed concern about parents' role in sports from the elementary to the collegiate level. He told a story about how when his daughter was very young she learned how to swim and told him that he would not have to worry about paying for college because she would get a scholarship. This elementary school age girl had heard this from another of the swimmers whose parents had already begun the cycle of pressure. This increased emphasis on the individual has led Deford to worry about the direction team sports are going. "I feel the whole concept of team is threatened today," Deford said. He underscored this by saying that after a team loses now, the players talk about if they are going to make the highlight reel on "Sports Center." y evening in continued Waters was hoping for more this year, which she re ceived, with the majority of the Commons being packed. Once the event was over and done with, Waters was "relieved, yet happy." "I think that the AST sisters are awesome. They're some of the sweetest and nicest girls I've met," said Streaker. "I met the majority of them tonight, and I feel like I've known them for a while already." Meek feels that the pageant was a great success this year. "I think that with a year under their belt, they knew were they doing," said Meek. When asked if they had any advice for the recently crowned duo, Masilunas and Schermer offered the fol lowing advice. "Always remember, don't hate ... participate," said Masilunas. "Live it up," said Schermer. Streaker and Meek's titles will be upheld until next April, when they will pass them on in the third install ment of the pageant. eir upcoming gra mmons
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