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THE BEHREND B ~, i '':#•..: CON
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Friday, February 3, 2006
Crackdown on Copies
By Miranda Krause
staff writer
mlk3 190 psmedu
The Penn State Erie Police are cracking down on the
amount of photocopied parking permits. Campus offi
cials say that some have tried to beat the system by pho
tocopying real parking permits and hanging them on
their rear view mirror trying to pass them off as real
par ing permits.
With thousands of cars
parked on campus every
day, it is almost impossible
to check all the parking per
mits, but fraudulent permits
are easily seen. "If you've
looked at thousands of
[parking permits], thou
sands of real ones, then you
see the one that isn't quite
right, you have to look at
it," says Penn State Erie
chief of police Jim Amman,
"They do it obviously to
save money; Rules and
Regulations says it's a $2O
fine for a fraudulent per-
The seemingly small fine
doesn't stop there. For not having a parking permit, a
student can receive a $5O fine on top of the $2O. Then
the offender is cited for theft of service, and will have to
appear in district justice court. After that the offender
may face fines up to $4OO and with the court costs could
pay up to $5OO. Offenders are then referred to student
affairs, who do whatever they feel is reasonable. "If you
are trying to save a couple of bucks, you are running a
risk" says Amann.
However, it's not just about the photocopied permits;
police are disturbed by the amount of tickets written.
Last year, the total number of parking tickets written
was 3,484. This year beginning from Aug. 31 2005 to
2006 the amount of tickets written so far is has been
426. A parking pass is the only way to avoid getting a
ticket. A semester parking pass for a full time commuter
student is $l3O whereas a semester parking pass for a
residential student is $135. Also, a part time student
pays $65 for a semester parking pass.
Human/animal hybrid sees own
shadow, Page 6
Coutent‘t
News.
Editorial..
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Student Life..
Sports
OttliiiVl I. s
Newsroom
898-6488
Fax:
898-6019
E-mail:
editorinchi ef@psu.edu
Our offices are located down
stairs in the Reed Union
Building.
Jeremy Korw,
Although outwardly similar, counterfeit permits are easily identified
Warm weather leads to wasted winter
The fluctuating winter weather in the Erie region is
creating a changeable climate of opinion among resi
dents. While some people are enjoying the warmer than
normal temperatures, others are lamenting the lack of
Students and staff alike have been enjoying the
warmer climate. The Food and Housing crew has been
enjoying an easier winter with the omission of keeping
the sidewalks off their list of chores this month. "It's
been great, I've only had to shovel snow once," exclaims
Bill Underhill. Many students are taking advantage of
the increase in temperatures at the local basketball courts
or in front of their dorms throwing around a football.
Others are just thankful for the simpler things the
warmer temperatures have brought, and Julius Aldanna
is among them, "I'm just happy because I don't freeze
and get my feet wet going to my classes!"
On the other hand, the warm weather has had an
adverse effect on skiers and snowboarders. Mark
Allison, a Behrend student and avid snowboarder, is
among those disappointed with the weather. "I feel like
my whole winter has been wasted. I was looking for
ward to getting out there and I've only been able to a few
times." Allison claims that all of the local spots are shut
down for now. "If you want to ride where there are rails,
you have to drive to Peek n' Peek which is thirty minutes
away, or Holiday Valley which is 90 minutes away. I
don't have time to do that between classes and home
work." The winter has also been very difficult on those
who are just learning how to ski and snowboard in class
es, which is the case with Rohan Ramanna, who says
that the weather has been very discouraging. "Lately it
has just been sheets of ice and its very slippery, it just
makes it way too hard. It's definitely hindering my
learning process."
...1-3
7-8
...9-10
Although the skiers have been expressing that the
weather has been undesirable, it has not kept them away
from Peek n' Peak. Michelle Weilaeher says that busi
ness has been good this month, "We haven't gotten as
much snow as normal, but the weekends are still very
busy." Weilaeher goes on to express sympathy for her
customers having to endure undesirable elements,
"When it rains it gets slippery and just puts a damper on
things for the skiers."
A Penn State Erie Student Publication
However, if you purchase a fall and spring pass,
rather than separately, you receive $3O off the total
price. Tickets range from $7 to $5O depending on the
offense. Chris Szustak, a freshman, as well as a com
muter here at Behrend was angry to find a ticket on his
Chrysler Concorde. "It was ludicrous because it was the
second day of classes." Szustak had parked in the stu
dent parking section without a permit and had received
a $5O ticket for the offense, "I was so upset because I am
suspended for
another week. Even if you are a resident, you must
remove your car from the campus. Amann says, "A lot
of the tickets are the same people over and over again."
With the ticket price ranging from $7 to $5O Amann
says, "We have people that have racked up hundreds of
dollars in parking fines. That's a lot of tickets." All
money for parking fines goes toward the maintainance
of existent parking lots and the construction of new lots.
The rules for visitor parking are simple. After you
receive a free parking pass from the Erie Hall police and
safety services, you may park in the visitors parking lot
of the Reed Union Building or you can park in the Erie
Lot. Visitors cannot park in residential lots except on
weekends after 5 p.m. on Fridays, and must have their
cars removed by 3 p.m. on Sundays. For further infor
mation on parking rules and regulations, Behrend's
police and safety website is at: http://pennstate
behrend.psu.edu/studentipolice/index.htm.
By Nicholas Underhill
staff writer
nru I (Ce'psu.edu
Mini-THON helps in a big way
Students here at Penn State Erie are putting in
their own efforts this upcoming weekend in the
mission to conquer childhood cancer. The first
Annual Mini-THON is being held this weekend
at Erie Hall beginning at 7 p.m. Through the
Mini-THON and
college student
and can't
afford to pay
that much."
several donations, a
goal of $lO,OOO is
hoped to be reached
by Feb. 17 (the start
of THON at
University Park).
All money raised for
the event is being
donated to the
THON organization
in an effort to fight
After nine tick
ets are written
for the same
vehicle, the car
is then sus
pended and
must be kept
off campus for
a week. If the
pediatric cancer
The Mini-THON
will last 24 hours,
beginning at 7 p.m.
Friday, and ending at
7 p.m. Saturday.
During the 24 hours,
the participating
dancers will not be
able to sit or sleep. Currently, there are 15-20
people signed up to participate in the 24 hour
dance; however people can join at any time, or
just simply show up. Ben Raymond and
the rest of the LEB (Lion Entertainment Board)
have arranged for "Son of Glam" to perform
starting at 10 p.m. Friday night. Son of Glam is
a more "successful band" that has been here in
the past. "If enough people come to support
them and Mini-THON, it should definitely give
the dancers enough energy to last the full 24
hours," Raymond stated.
receives any
more tickets
after this, each
offense will
have the car
Further information about the band can be
reached at the bands website at
www.sonofglam.com. Other entertainment will
be going on during that time. Saturday morning,
the Men's and Women's Lacrosse teams will be
Penn State Erie student John Diurba enjoys the unseasonably warm weather by practicing his mountainboarding
Winter sports enthusiasts need not fear because the
winter weather is right around the corner. Erie
Meteorologist Tom Atkins of WJET television attributes
the recent weather to a Pacific Jet Stream flow that was
moving from west to east, but he says that this is soon to
end. "A polar Jet Stream flow will return next week and
February temperatures will plunge below normal levels
again, similar to the first three weeks in December. With
Lake Erie unusually unfrozen, it will give us the poten
tial for more lake effect snows." He goes on to state, "Of
course lake effect snow is not the only way we get snow,
so as long as the temperatures stay cold, we can tap snow
from traditional low pressure and fronts, often called
By Johnny Evans
staff writer
jne2s2o'psu.edu
Pe x( Sta te rie Mini-THON
Schedule of Events in Erie Hall
r,hresief. 3:
to pot: son of oho (spOnsoteo by
Licit tatfirtaimitti and and
Studeniitctivfty;Fund)
Sitliribl% February 4:
a.m.: Matchbox Playor's hnprov
164flitkioont billikefielf ;sine
140 - itn.:.attlf.thne challenge with the
P•tichictid lacrosse learn
2 pm.: `'Who Knows You Better?"
game show
5 p.mii,Cheetleaclerverfatmance •
6 p.m,: Closing ceremony
participating in a basketball game. At 2 p.m. a
game show will take place titled "Who Knows
You Better," and an Improv show is also sched
uled to take place.
Director Meredith Straub stated, "We are ask
ing for each dancer to raise $5O for the organi
zation, but anybody is welcome to come and
participate regardless." Bleachers will also be
set up for anybody who just wants to come
check out the event. All
over 10,000 Penn State students and an endless
list of sponsors, THON is able to donate a gift
to the Four Diamonds Fund to help acheive
their mission of conquering childhood cancer
through "superior care, comprehensive support,
and innovative research."
THON is supported by all Penn State cam
puses. Every February, a 48-hour no-sitting,
no-sleeping dance marathon is held at the
University Park campus. This year the event is
scheduled to be held Feb. 17-19.
Over the fun-filled weekend, hundreds of
supporters come together in hopes of one day
finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Over the
past 30 years, THON has raised over $3O mil
lion and has helped many children and familes
fight childhood cancer.
`synoptic snow.'" Brain Neudorff, also a meteorologist
with WJET, adds, "Lake effect (snow) is not done by any
means; combine that with cold temperatures and an
above normal lake (temperature), and that could equal
out for the skiers stuck in this snow drought getting
something after all."
So far, the city has only tallied 53 inches of snow this
season, the fourth lowest total in its history, in contrast
to 123 just last winter. In January of 2005, 38 inches of
snow were accumulated, 28 more than it ha 3 in 2006.
The average temperature of 37 degrees also placed on
the record charts, at third; the normal average is 26
degrees.
Vol. LIII No. 19
money for funding the
event is raised or donated.
TOPS Friendly Markets
and the Penn State Alumni
Association have given sub
stantial donations for the
event, and the goal is to
reach $lO,OOO by Feb. 17.
According to the THON
website, THON is the
largest student run philan
thropy in the world. It is a
year-round fundraising
event benefiting The Four
Diamonds Fund, committed
to conquering childhood
cancer, at the Penn State
Children's Hospital in
Hershey, PA.
Through the efforts over