| The Behrend Beacon
WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST
SATURDAY
Very windy with a little rain. Cloudy
an d windy in the evening.
BEHREND BRIEFS
Battle at Behrend
On Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Reed Building, room 117, representatives from the
Republican and Democratic Parties will present their political agendas. You ask
the questions. They give their answers. Complex issues in a simple format.
Anything can happen in a live forum. Do not miss this opportunity to see de
mocracy in action.
Music at Noon
Ethel, a inventive string quartet, will perform Oct. 19 at noon in the Reed
Wintergarden. This performance is part of the Music at Noon series. Bring
your lunch. Admission is free and open to the public.
Steel drum band to perform
The Rythms of Life Series, whose goal is “seeking to inspire an appreciation
of all people through vibrant presentations of the arts,” presents the six-piece
steel drum band, Steel Impressions. The band will perform Oct. 20 at noon in
the Senat Hall courtyard. In the event of rain, the band will be moved to Bruno’s
Cafe.
POLICE AND SAFETY
10/7/2004
Complainant reported that someone had taken the spoiler off his car sometime
last night while it was parked in Ohio Hall lot.
10/8/2004
Complainant reported the theft of the muffler from his vehicle.
10/11/2004
Complainant reported that someone had scratched his vehicle sometime last night
as it was parked in the S lot.
10/12/2004
Report of damage to elevator in stair tower.
10/13/2004
Officer was dispatched to Perry Hall for an assault report.
"A kind word is like a spring day."
Russian proverb
Janet Neff Sample Center HU
for Mamtrn & Civility
HIGH: 52 LOW: 42
HIGH: 53 LOW: 43
Mostly cloudy with showers in the
evening.
HIGH: 55 LOW: 46
Patchy clouds with chance of rain in the
morning
HIGH: 62 LOW: 50
Rather cloudy with rain possible all day.
HIGH: 65 LOW: 51
Overcast with rain in the evening.
HIGH: 66 LOW: 52
Clouds with rain, partly cloudy at
night.
HIGH: 64 LOW: 48
Mostly cloudy with rain in the evening
CLASSIFIED
Mike Errico, a solo guitarist, performed in the Reed Wintergarden on Oct. 8
- gave yi, _:rvey >mmons
Blood Bank. The event was sponsored by Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Election 2004
b: ©overage in your Behrend Boason:'”?”'
The Grand
Debate Watch ends with enlightened students
By Dan Snedden
assistant news editor
During the past two weeks, students
have participated in Debate Watch, a pro
gram from the Commission on Presiden
tial Debates designed to promote voters’
knowledge of the candidates and the is
sues surrounding the election.
Debate Watch took place in Bruno’s
and over the course of the program, more
than 600 students attended. Many stu
dents were reluctant to participate at first
because attendance was mandatory for
various communications or political sci
ence classes, but according to discussion
leader Joleen Roberts, COMBA 07,
“Most students said they would not have
watched the debates if they weren’t re
quired but by watching and discussing
them, the students learned much about
the candidates.”
“Debate Watch helped reinforce what’s
being discussed daily in both the media
and classes,” said discussion leader
Rachel Lyon, COMBA 05. “It also has
made students pay attention when they
iscuss cat (date’s performances after watc ig
lecturer in advertising, leads one of the discussion groups.
FOCAL POINTS
otherwise would not have.”
Mrs. Cathy Mester. senior lecturer in
speech communications, headed the
Debate Watch program.
“I was very impressed with how many
students were informed of and took part
in Debate Watch,” said Mester. “Aware
ness of the issues is critical for young
people and although they don’t always
realize it, many national issues directly
affect them. Another contribution to the
success of the Debate Watch program
was the hard work of the Bruno’s staff;
their help is appreciated.”
The results of the Behrend
Debate Watch program were sent to the
Commission on Presidential Debates,
which gathers the results of all partici
pants in Debate Watch to determine how
citizens felt about the debates.
According to the Commission on
Presidential Debates, approximately
16,000 people in 700 Debate Watch dis
cussion sessions throughout 48 states na
tionwide have participated. Of those,
roughly 2,600 people in 300 groups re
sponded directly to the Oct. 8 town hall
style presidential debate.
Data collected from the first presiden-
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Friday, October 15, 2004
F inale
tial debate shows that 44 percent of all
participants felt that Iraq and the War on
Terror were the most important issues
covered in the debate, followed by
nuclear proliferation at 17 percent, North
Korea at 13 percent and homeland secu
rity at 9 percent.
Over 27 percent of Debate Watch par
ticipants viewing the vice-presidential
debate felt that the most important issue
brought up in that debate was Iraq and
national security. Approximately 15 per
cent of participants thought the most rel
evant issue covered was health and
healthcare, with poverty and jobs closely
behind at 13 percent.
The most recent Debate Watch results
are from the third or town hall style de
bate. Iraq and national security, accord
ing to 34 percent of participants, was
considered the most important topic in
this debate, followed by economic issues
with 26 percent, health care with 13 per
cent and the environment and stem cell
research, each with 8 percent.
The Commission on Presidential De
bates will soon have data on the last de
bate. It can be found at www.debates.oig.
second presi
immuni