The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, April 23, 2004, Image 1
\nJmm I IBH v a W A ■ A rnshMlm, „1J InuT ] Bff 11l Friday, April 23, 2004 Convocation rewards scholars by Justin Curry news editor Studying and participation does pay off, regardless to popular belief. On Sunday, scholars and organization members throughout the college were rewarded for the efforts during the year at the 43 rJ annual Honors and Awards Convocation. Held in packed Erie Hall, over 200 students were recognized for various achievements, ranging from club participation to university-wide scholarship. Families and friends of the recipients were present to share in the celebration. Four groups of awards were handed out, Student Life, Athletic, Academic and Special Services. The awards were presented by various administration, with the Student Life Awards being presented by Director of Student Affairs, Dr. Ken Miller, the Athletic Awards being presented by Athletic Director Brian Streeter, the Academic Awards being presented by the department heads of the four schools, and the Special Service Awards being presented by Dr. Thomas Wortman, Dr. Robert Light, Dr. Miller, and Dr. Jack Burke, Campus Dean and CEO. The president of Omicron Delta Kappa, Michael Hargather, EEBD 06, opened the ceremony with remarks on the importance of scholarship at the collegiate level. Following his remarks, Miller presented the Student Life Awards, which recognized students based on club and student activities involvement. Student Government President, Scott Soltis, GAS 06, also presented the SGA President’s award which was awarded to SGA Treasurer, Erica Sitter, MKTG/MNGT 06. Following the Student Life Awards, Streeter presented members of the varsity and intramural athletic teams with awards based on scholarship, leadership, spirit and outstanding service. James Curren, MRKTG 08, who broke the all time scoring record in January, was awarded the James Frye [ CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE The men’s tennis team won the AMCC Conference Title on Saturday, with an overall record 14-7. Ryan Deimel re ceived AMCC Player of the Year and Matt Meyer received Newcomer of the Year. SPORTS, Page 10 Battle of the Bands returns LEB is once again sponsoring the Battle of the Bands competition next Friday, beginning at 2 p.m. in Erie Hall. Head lining the event will be the Julianna Theory, and twelve bands will be competiting for a cash prize. A&E, Page 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS News 1-4 Editorial 5 Calendar. 6 Features 7 A&E 8 Sports.... 9-10 CONTACT US Newsroom: 898-6488 Fax: 898-6019 E-mail: behrcolls@aol.com Our offices are located downstairs in the Reed Union Building. SAF policies face scrutiny by Daniel J. Stasiewski managing editor Dr. Ken Miller can remember a time when Behrend’s weekend activities were limited to a board game and popcorn in the residence hall lobbies. Since Miller started at the college in 1988, weekend activities have evolved. As the co-chair of the student activity fee committee, Miller can tell anyone that the main reason for the improvements is the $44 charge on every Penn State University student’s last semester bill. Currently at Behrend, the Lion Entertainment Board alone is spending $65,000 of what has become an annual $300,000 activity trough, with applications for other funding ranging from $4 to $98,000, which is LEB’s current request. That request will get an response in the next two weeks as the SAF committee meets to decide which of the $460,000 in SAF funding requests will be cut to fit the requests in the $ 180,000 fall budget. According to Miller, it’s the students that direct the committee, as seven student seats, including one for current SGA President Scott Soltis, trump the three administrative positions on the board. But not all students see it that way. “The SAF committee at UP has about 50 students,” said Dave Daquelente, Executive Director of LEB, who believes the small number of Behrend representatives doesn’t provide a large enough student voice. “They do have students on the panel, but it’s much more of an administrative decision,” said Daquelente. While the committee is usually filled with “dedicated” students, Miller knows that the long hours required in the spring semester do hamper student involvement. “We don’t get a lot of interest,” said Miller, who noted that students who might be devoted to such a committee are already members of the Student Government Association. The SAF handbook does not allow SGA members to sit on the committee, with the exception of the SGA president’s co chairmanship. Miller does hope that one day being on the committee will be a more competitive process, even possibly attaching a ballot for committee members to the SGA elections. Daquelente, however, doesn’t see a need for elections necessarily, but he does want only the most passionate students on the committee. “I think (enthusiasm) is a very serious and very critical part,” said Daquelente. Trigo by Justin Curry news editor A sign placed on the door of the McGarvey Commons Tuesday evening warned passers-by of the adult content of the program about to take place. It suggested that children under the age of 14 not attend the ‘Safer Sex Cabaret,’ and with good reason. The Cabaret, hosted annually by Trigon, a support group for gays, lesbians, and transgenders, highlighted the benefits of safe sex, as well as suggested variations of intercourse that can still provide equal pleasure for couples. To illustrate the variations, student volunteers participated in skits and monologues stating the ins and outs of safe sex, as well as provided examples of the maneuvers. Skits portraying phone sex, cyber sex, the dangers of unsafe sex, the importance of lubricants during anal sex, how to properly use male and female condoms, as well as dental dams, and a monologue on masturbation were all a part of the event. A Penn State Erie Student Publication “It’s important to take seriously.” Olga Nacalaban, vice-president of the Multi-Cultural Council, however, sees student input on the committee as part of the application process. Nacalaban remembers when students were allowed to actually go to the SAF committee meetings and potentially affect the outcome of the decision. “I don’t know why the student input has been changed to not having students,” said Nacalaban. SGA President Scott Soltis, however, confirmed that student were still allowed to take part in the committee meetings. At the major fall allocation, students can be called in by the committee to explain their proposal. During the spring allocations, student came come to the meetings as they happen. Soltis said the only time students are not allowed in the meetings is when the board actually makes their decision. Student ownership The student activity fee handbook sets out a number of guidelines for fee usage, but the purpose remains clear. The fee is designed to support out-of-class activities, and by doing so it will provide a better overall educational experience. Miller remembers a time, before the creation of SAF, when the now annual Speaker Series was cut due to a lack of funding. But like much of the funding that is approved from the SAF committee, the Speaker Series is not an event requested by the students. Chris Rizzo, director of student activities, was the author of the $50,000 proposal, which was approved for the 2003-2004 school year. Rizzo does seek student input before making the decision on the who the speaker’s will be. The host for the evening was Abbey Atkinson, an alum and past President of Trigon, who interjected comedy in between the skits and during the SAF Funding 2002-2004 Band on total number of proposals □ Urrfwded Staff ■Parttaly Functod Staff Requests 11% ■ My Funded Requests 15% a Fuiy Funded Student Request 12% □ Unfunded Student Requests 2896 Source: SAF Allocation Records However, student proposals between 2002 and 2004 have gone unfunded 45 percent of the time, compared to a 27 percent-unfunded rate for faculty/staff proposals. Though students have put twice the number of proposals as faculty/staff members, close inspection of the unfunded proposals results in a clear answer to why students do not get the money they want for events. Student proposals lack fundamental requirements of the SAF committee, such as price quotes for food, advertising and speakers. “The key to a very successful SAF proposal is making sure it’s a well documented proposal,” said Miller. Daquelente, whose organization was turned down for its first Battle of the Bands competition due to planning issues, wouldn't mind seeing some help for students. “If students are writing incomplete or insufficient proposals, then that shows need for (SAF education)," said Daquelente. Daquelente said that he does not see a problem with faculty and staff writing proposals if they support student activities. In his work with LEB, however, Daquelente knows that the students need to take ownership of campus activities. “It’s important that the students get involved in planning the events, not just attending them,” said Daquelente. Student Affairs, in the past, has attempted to make student proposal planning easier. Miller said that SAF proposal-writing workshops were developed, but were never well attended. Miller, however, said he has been willing to look over student SAF proposals before they are due to ensure it has the necessary elements. SAF funds have also been used to presentation on latex In between sessions, members of the audience were quizzed on their knowledge of STIs and condoms, and D Partialy Funded Student Requests 24% Vol. LI No. 24 provide student leaders with direction for SAF funding'forms and policies. Stacey McCoy, manager of the RUB Information Desk, put in a $750 proposal for “Keys to Event” planning. The idea is to provide every club officer who requests an office key with a key ring attachment that has vital student event-planning information, including Web addresses, that will be seen every time the key is used. Nacalaban, however, sees a problem on the committee side, as well. Since students are not able to attend the SAF committee meetings, Nacalaban believes the proposal is the only thing SAF committee members, specifically the staff members, ever see of an organization’s event. “It’s very hard coming from MCC and having been to a lot of the 10 organizational events, and I haven’t seen the people allocating money at the events,” said Nacalaban. Slippery Slope? Recently it was disclosed that $150,000 of SAF money would be taken out of the budget over three years to fund the Back Room renovation project. Though SAF funds are only being used for the organization spaces, Adam S. Lambert, a lawyer who is familiar with SAF case law and a contributing columnist for Campus Activities magazine, said any use of the funds for other than direct funding of student activities is a violation of a 2000 Supreme Court decision. Lambert cited the Supreme Court case of Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth as the precedent for cases involving student activity fees. The case revolves around the Wisconsin student activity fee and it being used to support partisan political speech. The Supreme Court ruled that the University’s mission statement to promote diversity, which was part of a state statute creating the university, would supply the foundation for the decision. Because the allocating body had neutral viewpoint, the Court found in favor the University saying the promotion of partisan speech for diversity’s sake was not a violation of the First Amendment. Since public or partially public universities, like Wisconsin or Penn State University, have their mission statement written into state statute, Lambert said violating that mission statement would also violate the Southworth decision. er sex winners were allowed to pick prizes from a grab bag. The Distinguished Iron City Kings of Pittsburgh also provided entertainment throughout the evening, even imitating the underwear scene from “Risky Business.” Trigon President Kara Daniel, MKTG 06, was pleased with the overall turnout and success of the “Aside from some problems with the microphones,” said Daniel, “I think the program went well. I think everyone walked away learning something they didn’t already know.” That’s not all they walked away with. Every person in attendance at the Cabaret was presented with a gift bag at the end of the show, containing condoms, lubricants and a dental dam, as well as candy, lip gloss, and other miscellaneous items. “The Cabaret will be back next year,” said Daniel, “but I doubt it will be the same as it was this year. In all the years we have had the Cabaret, it has yet to be the same.”