The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, February 10, 2006, Image 1

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Page 7
THE BEHREND BEA CON
Friday, February 10, 2006
Campus concludes culture commemoration
Jennifer Haight/THE BEHREND BEACON
Culture Week has brought many different kinds of performers to the Behrend community, ranging from painter, Richard Hight to dancing drum group, Wacongo, to the returning slam poetry duo, Yellow Rage.
By Matthew Ryan Burneisen
staff writer
mrhso6l (a psu edu
Culture week, which kicked off Monday, has brought musicians,
poets, painters and activists to campus from different parts of the
country and the world to expose students to new things.
On Wednesday, in the Winter Garden of the Reed Union Building,
Penn State hosted Wacongo. Part of the Rhythms of Life Series,
Wacongo is a Central African dance and drum group featuring instru
ments, songs and dances from the people native to Central Africa. The
performance lasted for about an hour and attracted a diverse crowd.
Students who had seen posters or read announcements about the event
came, but people were also drawn out of Bruno's to the lively per
formance. Kevin Jackson of Lawrence Hall said, "I forgot about it,
and I was walking back from class and it (the music) brought me in."
Children from a local elementry school were found in the crowd
and were very active in participating in the show. Andy Herrera, the
Director of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, said "[The
group set] a very harmonious mood and did a good job incorporating
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Penalized parking
A lack of parking spaces at Behrend and the abundance of park
ing tickets are causing some anger as well as frustration among
students. Some students believe the plethora of parking tickets is
caused by stolen parking permits. Dan LaFuria, a commuter stu
dent, left his window open in the spring time and someone stole
his parking permit. While parked in the student parking lot, he
received a ticket for $5O. After explaining his story, his parking
ticket was lowered to $7. "I was very upset," LaFuria said, "I had
the permit and I still had to pay for the ticket. I actually had to buy
a new permit."
Eric Kephart, a freshman and commuter student, claims his per
mit was stolen too. He had parked in the student parking lot and
received a $5O ticket as well. "It was disappointing because I had
to go to Erie Hall, it was a waste of time."
Last year, from 2004-2005, the total number of parking tickets
written was 3,484. This academic year, 2005 2006, the number
of tickets written so far is 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. However, if you purchase a fall and
spring pass together, rather than separately, you receive $3O off
the total price.
The price of tickets ranges from $7-$5O, depending on the
offense. After nine tickets are written for the same vehicle, the car
is then suspended and must be kept off campus for a week. If the
same car receives any more tickets after this, each offense will
have the car suspended for another week. Even if you are a resi
dent, you must remove your car from the campus.
Colleen White has not had nine parking tickets but has had
three. One parking ticket she received was for parking in the 15
minute parking spaces behind Niagara. The ticket was for $l5 but
was lowered a few dollars because she had paid it within three
days. White doesn't like the arrangement of parking spaces
because "it's hard living on campus and not being close to a park
ing lot." White says, It just depends on which building you live
in, for me if I can't find anything thing in the 'banana' lot. I have
to go to the Junker lot and the walk up hill...well I hate it and even
more so in the snow and rain."
...1-3
6
7-8
...9-10
However, a new parking lot is being constructed behind the
REDC, the new engineering and business building, located near
the Junker Center. It is said to provide 160 parking spaces. This
may help with the lack of parking spaces and would provide park
ing that is a lot closer to the dorms. Unfortunately, the parking lot
will not be constructed until this summer, and John Ream, direc
tor of operations doesn't "anticipate it being open until November
December of 2006."
A Penn State Erie Student Publication
the crowd into the performance."
Still to come, there is a diversity luncheon in the McGarvey
Commons, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. today. Free food will be provid
ed to students along with pamphlets, buttons and a slide show to
embrace diversity and promote equality. On Saturday, Yellow Rage
will perform in the McGarvey Commons from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This
duo of Asian American poets should be unique. Herrera said that it
should be an "amazing performance of spoken word" and described it
as "rap with poetry." He also said that they "express themselves very
strongly about their experiences of being Asian American and what
that is."
Culture Rush, similar to Club Rush, was held on Monday in the
McGarvey Commons and had a "fairly good turn out" according to
Herrera. He also stated "about 100 people came and that the
main purpose of Culture Rush was "[To try) to get the organizations
on campus that are multi cultural in nature, to not only make them
selves available to students, but also invite to student body to check
them out."
Tables were set up with balloons, finger food was served, and music
from around the world was enjoyed throughout the event.
By Miranda Krause
staff writer
mlk3l9@vsusedu
Cartoons cause controversy
The publishing of satirical cartoons of Muhammad has the Muslim community upset. Riots around the
world have escalated and are becoming increasingly violent. Behrend's Political Science faculty was asked
for their thoughts on the issue.
Dr. Robert Speel said of the riots, "I think to a lot of people in the Middle East, it represents western atti
tudes...the riots are about a lot more than the cartoons. They're about the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the
conflict in Isreal."
Dr. John Gamble said "There should be some latitude and license in editorial cartoons.... There isn't much
free press in the Muslim world...a lot of the protests were aimed at the Danish government not understand
ing that in Denmark, the government doesn't control the newspaper."
Jonathan Brockopp, Associate Professor of History & Religious Studies at University Park said, "Every
one of these demonstrations is taking place for local reasons.... The original context is becoming increasing
ly irrelevant as this controversy takes on a life of its own."
Several of Behrend's Muslim students were asked for their comments. Adam Othman, English 03, does
not consider himself particularly religious. He was shown the original cartoons and said, "As a Muslim I say
you have to get over it....1n South Park, Jesus is portrayed satirically...anyone can be made fun of."
Zeynep Ezgi Muderrisoglu, DUS 02, said, "In today's world you'd expect people to be more tolerant of
other religions and cultures and be respectful."
Meysa Al-Mosawi, DUS 01, said, "Of course we don't like it, but we can't do anything to it....lt's free
dom, they [the cartoonists] can do anything they want, but it's not nice."
Sabina Medilovic, History/Political Scienceos, found the cartoons "extremely religiously offensive" and
said, "I thought that the Danish newspaper printing them was offensive... Cartoonists have a right to draw,
the fault lies with the editors...l understand why the Muslim community was offended but don't think their
response was appropri
ate."
Behrend's
Philosophy professor,
Dr. Joshua Shaw, has
studied and written
papers on humor and
offense. He said,
"Jokes can be immoral
simply in virtue of jok
ing about taboo top
ics." Of this controver
sy specifically, he said,
"Both sides are, I
think, using these car
toons to excuse a lot of
irresponsible, thought
less behavior."
These opinions
demonstrate that an
issue that started long
ago ant :ar away is
affecting Behrend's
campus today.
Magdalen Hsu-Li, a painter, songwriter, singer and cultural activist,
spoke and performed on Tuesday in the McGarvey Commons. She is
an Asian American woman who spoke out about her personal experi
ences of being discriminated against. Her message dealt with more
than just racial prejudice but also prejudice based on her sexual orien
tation.
Visual Impact preformed on Thursday Night and consisted of an
artist who paints to music. His theme was diversity, and he filled an
8-foot canvas in the time it took for one song to play. Also on
Thursday, and throughout the previous two days, the Diversity
Committee had a table set up outside of Bruno's where they promot
ed Culture Week and their organization with giveaways and fundrais-
ing efforts.
All of these events were put together by students, faculty, and their
organizations. Herrera stated, "[The] majority of the events have been
coordinated by the SGA [Student Government Association] diversity
committee and specifically Seraina Naef." Other groups that partici
pated in the creation of Culture Week are the Asian Student
Organization, Matchbox Players, Women Today, and Trigon.
By Jerry Pohl
humor editor
jhp 153 O'psu.edu
Obeli Mien Nos*
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
One of many cartoons that have sparked controversy in the Middle East.
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Vol. LIII No. 20