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2006 YEAR IN REVIEW 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
Local bar
underage student
By Janet Niedenberger
opinion editor
10/27/07
Erie is a college town. With four major col
leges within 20 miles of the heart of the city,
it's no surprise that Erie is also a town which is
chock full of bars. There are dozens upon
dozens of alcohol-serving businesses, and it
goes unsaid that there is underage drinking as
well.
This past Tuesday. 20-year-old Chris Brown
and I decided to do a little investigating. Our
purpose was to go to a handful of bars, and see
if any of them would serve us. We picked four
bars to try this at: Irish Cousins, located at
3924 Main Street in Lawrence Park; Jimmy
Z's Time Out Tavern, located at 3406 Buffalo
Road in Wesleyville, Calamari's Squid Row,
located at 1317 State Street: and Docksider
Tavern, located at 1015 State Street.
Irish Cousins was the first bar that we visit
ed. We were not carded at the door, so we pro
ceeded to sit down at the bar. After speaking
with the bartender for a few minutes, we each
ordered a beer. As she was turning to get the
beers, she asked for our IDs. Chris told her he
didn't have his on him, so we left.
The next stop was Jimmy Z's, a bar which is
often visited by Penn State Behrend students.
Again, upon entering the bar, we were not
stopped or carded. Once reaching the bar, we
acted interested in the night's specials. After a
few minutes of small talk. we each ordered a
beer. The bartender immediately asked for our
IDs, and again, Chris acted like he had left it in
the car, so we left, another bar passing the test.
We then drove downtown and stopped first
at Calamari's. This time, we had worked out a
more detailed plan of action. Again, we
weren't carded at the door. After approaching
and then sitting down at the bar, we inquired
about the specials for the night. We chatted
with the bartender about what we wanted to
drink, but as soon as we ordered, we were
carded. Just like the other two bars, Chris pre
tended to searched for his ID, and we headed
out once again. We were three for three.
Our last stop of the night was Docksider.
The bar probably had about 20 patrons. We
approached the bar, and after asking about the
specials, we each ordered a beer. The bar
tender began preparing our drinks, asked us for
the $3.00, and after we paid, he walked off to
serve another customer. Yes, Chris, who is
only 20, was served. We didn't touch the
beers, but instead sat there for a few minutes.
I then waved the bartender back over to us. I
introduced myself, and explained what had
happened. He had little to say.
The next day, I called the bars we visited. I
first called Docksider, and spoke to the manag
er. He refused to give me his name, but he was
willing to talk about what happened.
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Continued on page 3
7-8
...9-10
A Penn State Behrend Student Publication
Behrend student arrested on multiple child pornography charges
A Penn State Behrend student is in prison tonight after being arrested and
charged with possession of child pornography. Jonathan Demerecz, 23, of 2713
Shannon Road was arraigned in North East and sent to jail after authorities dis
covered 80 movies and over 600 images of children as young as five years old
involved in sexual activity on his personal computer. After an investigation by
Wesleyv ille Police and the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Demerecz was
charged with 22 counts of child pornography.
According to his housemates, Demerecz's computer was seized three weeks ago
by authorities. A warrant was left in place of the computer, saying that Demerecz
was under investigation of child pornography. "It was about three weeks ago
when they took his computer and told him they were looking for child pornogra
phy," said Show Zhu, one of Demerecz's housemates.
Other housemates of Demerecz said that they were not surprised with the
arrest. "He always acted strange about kids," said Chris Neville, another house
mate of Demerecz. "It was kind of weird how he always dressed up like Santa
every year. This year, he said he stood outside for two hours to hand out candy to
kids on Halloween." Neville adds, "I wasn't surprised he got arrested after they
took his computer."
Demerecz's housemates noted that at the time of the seizure of his computer,
Demerecz acted erratically. "He was taken to the [Emergency Room around the
time] his computer was taken," Neville said. "When he came back it seemed like
he had a mental breakdown. He couldn't speak and was shaking. We didn't know
what was going on.'
As a student, Demerecz, a physics major, was highly active in extra-curricular
activities. He was on schedule to graduate in the spring of 2007. He was active Behrend senior Jonathan Demerecz on his way to a Matchbox Players event
in Matchbox Players, the theater and improv club. Also, he was the vice-presi
dent of the Garners Club. Demerecz, who is from Butler, PA, surprised many
close friends with his recent arrest. Journalism major Jerry Pohl was one of his by what happened."
friends that first heard about the arrest. found out through phone calls from w.v-
Demerecz has been charged with the crimes but has not yet stood trial
eral friends about [Demerecz'sJ arrest," Pohl said. was shocked and dismayed
Authorities are still investigating while Demerecz is being held on 550.000 rash
bond.
Behrend student narrowly avoids fatal accident
The picture that Shane Miller carries around with him is his reminder
at drinking and driving can affect anyone. Pictures of a completely
!stroyed red Pontiac Sunfire are the only useable remains of what could
,Nle been a fatal accident, and ultimately a life-changing experience. On
inday, Sept. 4, Miller's life was in jeopardy as the result of a vicious car
!cident.
While driving home from a late-night hockey practice. Miller headed
Ist on East 38th Street, after a long, grueling session. When he reached
ie intersection of 38th and Davison, Miller was struck on the passenger
(de by an oncoming vehicle, which completely neglected the red light.
ion collision, Miller and his Pontiac Sunfire were sent spinning onto
curb of Family Video.
Miller, who was uninjured except for a minor knee bruise, has no rec-
Election of the immediate impact, but can vivid]) remember his
nights. "I didn't even know what had happened," he says. "I just
;member the fact that I got hit, and checked to see if I was injured."
After exiting through the passenger side of his vehicle, Miller hurried
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO to the other driver to assess the overall damage. As he got to the other
driver, he witnessed a dazed man in his mid-20s, who reeked of alcohol.
After a nearly tragic accident, Shane Miller's Pontiac Sunfire is left completely totalled Miller then returned to his vehicle to observe the calamity before him.
and irreparable. Above is the remains of Miller's destroyed vehicle
Behrend responds to Virginia Tech massacre
Nearly 500 miles separate the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, VA, and
Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA, yet despite the distance, Behrend students and
faculty are still feeling the effects of the horrific massacre that occurred at Virginia
Tech on Monday, April 16, leaving 33 students dead. Like many college students
and faculty across the country, Behrend's community is wondering what would
happen if there was a school shooting on this campus. On Tuesday, Director of
Student Affairs Ken Miller reported in an Erie limes-News article that Behrend
has a well established critical-incident response plan including a newly renovated
electronic key card system for the residence halls, video cameras, six sworn and
armed police officers, and a critical response team trained in post-traumatic stress
counseling. While this is a step in the right direction, some Behrend students still
feel preparing for an extreme situation like the one that unfolded at Virginia Tech
is near to impossible to predict, or fully prepare for.
Staff Psychologist at Behrend Sue Daley, M.A., said she feels that a good way
to help avoid a massive tragedy at Behrend is for students to take advantage of the
personal counseling services available. "There are key warning signs that can be
looked for in these cases. From what I have seen, there is a difference between
high school shootings and college shootings. In high school, the shooter is typi
cally teased, while in college, the shooter may be individually disturbed, a loner,
a misfit, or not very well supported with emotional attachment problems. Also,
drinking and taking drugs can affect college students more, so if this is combined
with an unstable individual, the outcome can be very unfortunate," said Daley. As
By Christopher LaFuria
editor in chief
11/10/06
By Ashley Bressler
news editor
4/20/07
~{~~ ; w
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As the students of Virginia Tech mourn the loss of their classmates, Penn State
Behrend suestions how safe the campus' critical response team would react.
Behrend is a small, close campus, Daley said she believes it is a collective respo
Vol. LIII No. XXVI
Mike Sharkey/ THE BEHREND BEACON
By Christopher LaFuria
editor in chief
10/06/06
Continued on page 2