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Friday, February 16, 2007
Erie County Council delays smoking ban
By Chris Brown
copy editor
Erie county council voted 5-2 on
Wednesday, Feb. 14, to delay the
implementation of the county-wide
smoking ban until Mar. IS. Erie
County Judge John A. Bozza request
ed the Council push hack the start date
of the ban until after he ruled on the
permanent injunction filed by a group
of tavern owners. The date for the
hearing on the permanent injunction is
scheduled for Feb. 26.
The owners of the Corner Bar &
Grill, 32 E. Main St. Corry. PA, and
the corporation that runs Willow's,
621 W. 26th, Erie, PA. filed the
injunction on Feb. 5. Bozza rejected
their request for a temporary injunc
tion because the owners failed to
"Show greater injury would result
from refusing the injunction than from
granting it, or that the issuance of an
injunction will not substantially harm
other interested parties in the proceed
ings, namely the public at large."
However, to win a permanent injunc
tion the owners only need to prove that the council ban on smok
ing is in violation of other statutes.
Besides the obvious legal debate surrounding the smoking
ban, it also raises questions about government interference in
private matters and public enterprise. Erie County Council
passed the resolution because it felt smoking
in public "was a danger to health." The
problem is how the government should
weigh risks to public health against freedom
and businesses
Kelly Walczak, a smoker, (MRKTG 08)
disagrees with the council's ban. Walczak
said that she, "[doesn't] understand why the
county couldn't just sell smoking licenses to
bars like they sell liquor licenses and make
everyone happy. - Josh Cork, a smoker and
employee at Jimmy Z's Time-Out Tavern,
doesn't think it's going to stop people from
smoking and doesn't solve the root of the
problem, saying "They'll just go outside and
smoke. That will just create more problems
because nothing is built outside to control
people; they'll be in the street, crowding the sidewalks, and cre
ating more of a nuisance outside," said Cork. Besides the sim
ple solution of smoking outside, there is the problem of enforc
ing the ban. Adam Cucitrone, (ECON 04). thinks it will be "hard
to stop people smoking because of the number of bars in Erie."
Economics also plays a factor in people's feelings towards the
county ban. The suit filed against the Erie County Council orig-
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Newsroom:
898-6488
Fax:
898-6019
E-mail: cslsoos@psu.edu
Our offices are located
downstairs in the Reed
Union Building.
"In New York the ban
had little effect because
there was a lot of other
places to go besides bars,
but Erie just has bars."
-Younes Renak,
Behrend Student
University Gate Apartments suffer damages
Going to college is something most young people
dream of; the chance to live with less rules and more
independence. However, along with independence
comes responsibility; responsibility some students
can't handle.
Recent damage reports at the newly constructed
University Gate Apartments highlight the problem of
student irresponsibility. Property manager Dave Hart
says, "some students who live in the apartment com
plex are purposely being destructive." Hart says stu
dents are doing everything from punching holes in
walls, to kicking in doors ana doorframes, to shooting
off fire extinguishers. "When damages occur, people
don't realize the cost and effort it takes to fix them. We
do everything we can to try and maintain these apart
ments for the residence, but it's hard when you have
people making careless choices," Hart said.
In addition to property damage, residents at
University Gate report problems dealing with irre
sponsible neighbors. Resident Nitasha Strait said she
finds some people's behavior disgusting. "Sometimes
it's so gross living here. I woke up to dead goldfish in
a pool of vomit in front of my door," Strait said. "Who
does that, honestly?" Shawn Goehring, another resi
dent at University Gate, says he feels that while many
of the residents do a good job cleaning up after them
selves, others do not. Goehring said, "The residents
who do not clean up after themselves seem to forget
that they no longer have a cleaning person to follow
A Penn State Behrend Student Publication
mated because the owners of the Corner Bar & Grill and
Willow's felt it would take money away from their businesses.
Younes Renak, a smoker, (MRKTG 04) and a natk e of New
York, thinks the ban will have a negative impact on Erie husi-
Renak said, "In New York the ban had little effect
because there was a lot of other places to go
nesses
side," added Penfield
Whatever one's feelings on the smoking ban, it looks as
though the days of the smoke filled bar and tavern are numbered.
Many states and municipalities have already passed legislation
on the issue and even if the Erie County ban fails, there's a good
chance the State Legislature will pass a statewide ban on their
By Sheri Kroskie
staff writer
besides bars, but Erie just has hars. -
However there is the chance it could
have a positive effect on businesses. Many
non-smokers choose to go to restaurants or
bars precisely because they are non-smok
ing. That's how J.J. Penfield. an ex-smoker
(GAS 06) feels. Penfield is for the ban
because she doesn't want to he forced to
inhale second hand smoke just bec ause she
wants to go out. She went on to say.
family and I go to New York because it is
smoke free and we don't have to worry about
second-hand smoke there. I we it as a perk. -
She also pointed out that many people
already regulate where they smoke by them
selves. make my husband smoke out-
them around
There are oft
cigarette buts
and beer cat
lying outside
our complex,
Goehring said.
Dave Hart sai
University Gal
tries to keep
with the me!
by havir
cleaning cre
come throug
out the week
However, Hai
said,
become
extremely diffi
cult to der
everythin
when so mu(
garbage and
filth ' accumu
lates."
Residents
say anyone who takes a walk around the complex on a
Sunday morning will see the problem firsthand. What
people will see, residents say, is a mosaic of nachos
and cheese scattered down stairways, empty beer bot
tles piled at the base of stairwells, and a weird orange
textured substance lining the walls.
It s i..lreat to see t\k 0 unique shr of teams
he
1 J r '.•
Students can find several
ways to quit smoking
With the Erie County smoking ban looming on the horizon. mane smok
ers may \ orry about how their habit will he affected b\ the law. Instead
of sitting in the smoking section, they'll he forced to go outside, and stand
at least 10 feet from the huikling. During the winter in Erie. this is not
exactly something that one would he inclined to do. There are two possi
ble solutions. One, said smoker could try to fight the ban. Or. considering
all of the health problems that smoking causes, one can quit smoking.
Of course, this is much easier said than done. However, there are many
types of products and methods which were created to aid in quitting. The
most common product used for aid in quitting is a nicotine replacement.
There are several forms of this.
The nicotine patch is placed on your body, and it releases a constant sup
ply of nicotine. It must be replaced every 24 hours and is available in vary
ing doses. Then of course. there's the nicotine gum. The more you chew
it, the more nicotine is released. It's convenient when you really have a
craving for a cigarette. Next is the Commit nicotine lozenge. You simply
place it in your mouth and allow it to dissolve, which takes 20-30 minutes.
If vou not only have an addiction to the nicotine. but also an addiction to
the act of smoking. there's something for you, too. There is a nicotine
inhaler on the market. Simply puff on the device, and hold the vapor in
your mouth for a few seconds. Make sure you don't inhale, however.
because the nicotine
Continued On page 3
Behrend's official name is revealed
When asked where they go to college. Penn State Behrend students hay e
a variety of answers. Penn State Erie, Penn State Behrend. Penn State Erie,
The Behrend College. or Penn State. Overall. Behrend prefers the title
Penn State Behrend as opposed to Penn State Erie, because it separates the
college from other campuses.
Penn State Behrend is not your typical Penn State branch campus. With
its small campus setting, students get the feeling that they are attending a
private residential college, as opposed to a two-year transfer campus.
Although it may he small. students ultimately receive a large education
with a Penn State degree.
Penn State Behrend's history dates hack to 1946 when Penn State was
looking to establish a branch in the Erie area. In 1948. Mar) Behrend
made the decision to donate the land in memory of her late husband, Ernst.
Within the same year, 146 students were enrolled. though they were only
able to complete their freshman year before being forced to transfer else
where. On January 20, 1973, Behrend became the first Penn State campus
outside of University Park to obtain four-year college and graduate status
capabilities.
Penn State Behrend has since grown into a lour-year college with a pop
ulation reaching a record-breaking high this year of over 4.000 students.
Such a major growth may he due in part to marketing. Dew ayne Wright,
Director of Marketing and Communications at Behrend says.
Continued on page 3
According to Hart, the staff of University Gate
Apartments is dealing with the problem. "We've
caught on to the individuals that are responsible, so it's
not everyone's fault that lives here. Certain people
have been evicted however, because of the problems
they have caused due to maintenance." Hart said.
Continued on page 3.
Vol. LIII No. XVII
By Janet Niedenberger
opinion editor
By Jessica Carlson
staff writer