DEIICOfI
Friday, September 28, 2007
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Contents
News 1-3
Opinion 4
Humor 5
Entertainment 6
Student Life 7-8
Sports 9-10
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E-mail: cslsoos@psu.edu
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University of Florida student tasered at Sen. Kerry forum
University of Florida student, Andrew Meyer, struggles with police as he is escorted out of the Kerry forum
By Rachel Reeves and Evan Koser
staff writers
rcrsos7@psu.edu, emksllo@psu.edu
"Don't tase me bro, don't tase me!" This was a
University of Florida student's plea after being
forcibly pulled away from questioning Senator John
Kerry at the close of a public forum.
The student had started to interrogate Kerry about
any involvement with the Yale secret society, Skull
and Bones, and what that meant concerning his rela
tionship with known member President Bush. After
the student, Andrew Meyer, was asked to step down
Campus activities to
By Michelle Quail
staff writer
mlqsoo 1 @psu.edu
Attention Behrend students, it is time to look for
ward to a better year. Members of the Penn State
Behrend Activity Fee Committee have voted to grant
$20,000 in funding to campus activities taking place
in 2008. This means there is a lot more money flow
ing to the campus, and therefore some fresh and
exciting opportunities. The first headway is school
awareness. Chancellor Burke has approved funding
to place a number of Behrend signs around Erie,
bringing recognition of the college to the its sur
rounding community. The principal use of the
money, however, to be for the betterment of student
run programs. The Student Activity Fee Committee
(SAF) decided to provide extra funding to the stu
dent government to increase involvement of students
in the clubs and activities on campus. New clubs,
organizations, and activities will now be emerging
which the budget previously could not support.
Ken Miller, Director of Student Affairs, explains,
"We've been looking for a way to strengthen the
SGA budget process because many clubs are turned
Behrend safety discussed in
By Marcus Yeagley
contributing writer
m' 5012@.au.edu
Safety is always an important issue for any academic institution. Every year, in
compliance with federal law, Penn State University distributes among its faculty
and student body a report, "Policies, Safety, & U," containing the University's safe
ty measures, crime statistics, and other
information regarding the security of its
campuses. The new annual issue for
2007-2008 has within it explanations of
the federal and University laws regard
ing drug abuse, alcohol, sexual abuse,
fire safety, theft, carrying of weapons,
and hate crimes
Showcased at the top of the publica
tion is a message by Penn State
University president Dr. Graham B.
Spanier. "It is up to each one of us to
help foster a secure and supportive
environment at Penn State an envi
ronment where individuals can feel safe
to visit, learn, work and live," says A Police and Safety SUV is one of many Police and Safety vehiles on campus ,
Spather. "Safety on campus is one of
my highest concerns. A truly safe campus can only be achieved through the coop
eration of everyone."
Campus police and safety also works closely with Student Affairs to bring edu
cational programs to the community. Along with a theft prevention program and a
sexual assault prevention program, they offer an alcohol deterrence program. Set
A Penn State Behrend Student Publication
and following his refusal, the microphone was cut,
which led him to protest loudly. When he continued
to demand the right to be heard, police came on the
scene to try and subdue him. He broke free of their
first efforts to restrain him, yelled wildly, "Why are
you arresting me? I didn't do anything!" Security
managed to get him as far as the door before the six
police officers dragged him to the ground and
threatened to subdue him with an electric stun gun.
Although Meyer was handcuffed, he was not
silenced, and the police proceeded to shock him as
warned with 50,000 volts. Even though the audience
had either applauded the student's removal or just
be funded by thousands provided by SAF
down for funds because there hasn't been enough
money available."
Things certainly are changing behind the scenes of
the Behend Student Activities Committee in a num
ber of ways, and students should expect to benefit
greatly from the changes. The number one goal of
the funding is to provide better resources for offices
of student clubs and organizations. So, upon the
request of the SGA, 21 of the office computers have
been replaced with new ones. Plans have also been
made to replace furniture in the club offices that has
been around for longer than three years. Students
involved in the clubs and activities will begin to
enjoy more financial flexibility, along with nicer
offices.
Mark Westerlund, a sophomore at Behrend, is
enthusiastic about the new funding. "My rugby team
could really benefit from the cushion of money that
we are getting. I think all of the help will bring my
team together next year for a stronger season,"
Westerlund said. Since currently only one-third of
the clubs have websites, SGA is planning to put
some funding towards the hiring of students willing
to work on these websites.
According to Miller, Student Affairs received
up through student affairs, officers go to residence halls to speak about underage
drinking. "Our priorities are, first of all, to keep our crime rate down," explains
Behrend Police Chief, Jim Amman. He also says that another goal is to "deter
minor alcohol consumption on campus."
Along with a comprehensive listing of many of the safety procedures Behrend
has in place, such as monthly fire drills, emergency stations, and ID-card identifi
cation systems, the report tells of the
criminal activity reported from the cam
pus. Most striking of the released statis
tics are the ones about the number of sex
ual assaults, burglaries, and alcohol viola
tions. According to the report, the number
of the incidences of sexual assault at Penn
State Behrend has increased over the
years from zero in 2004 to three in 2005
to more recently seven incidences in
2006. The number of arrests for violation
of liquor laws has leveled off with 15 for
both 2005 and 2006 and in 2006 alone
there were five reported burglaries from
the residential halls on the Behrend cam
pus. Minor thefts also seem to happen
quite often, but are usually considered
crimes of opportunity that take place
because of a student's carelessness.
In an effort to help lower the crimes reported from the University school
Continued on page 2.
: u t Vol. LIV No. V
Lifoi4Ny
watched silently, some screamed in protest after
Meyer had been shocked many had felt that the
police had taken it too far.
This event has sparked a nationwide
debate. Some people believe that the officers
were brutal in their use of disproportionate pun
ishment. Others believe that Meyer could have
been a serious threat and should have been dealt
with as such, maintain that safety of those pres
ent was the priority. Three hundred and fifty stu
dents at the University of Florida protested the
next day against the excessive use of force. Two
of the officers have been placed on paid leave
following the incident. As for Kerry, he
remained on stage and offered to answer the stu
dent's questions. Kerry claims that he wasn't
aware that Meyer had been tasered until after the
matter, and said that since he wasn't aware of
everything Meyer was saying, he couldn't say
whether or not it was a necessary measure.
Students at Penn State Behrend tend to
agree with the Florida protestors. Many believe
that if Meyer was cuffed and no longer was a
threat, stunning him was completely unnecessary.
"I think it's ridiculous that the police had to use
this much force," said student Justin Pekular
Most are alarmed at the officers' readiness to turn
to the last resort. However, there is less trepidation
when the question turns closer to home. Fewer stu
dents are concerned by the fact that Behrend's own
Police and Safety officers carry firearms, if not
tasers. "I don't feel like the police are a threat.
They're here to protect us," explains student Louis
Blackman. Most feel that what happened at the
University of Florida could never take place at
Behrend. "I think we're pretty safe. We're pretty far
off from Florida," says Behrend student Zack
Tolles.
funding from University Park to create a website
that will actually interview students on many sub
jects, such as their opinions, interests, high school
activities. Upon completion, this website will give
each student a profile of activities, clubs, and organ
izations that would likely strike his or her interest
based on the responses submitted. The new website
will be available to all students, and it will most
likely become a pathfinder for new students joining
the campus.
SGA and Student Affairs are still forming a com
mittee to complete this website, and any students
interested in getting involved with the creation of
the website may contact Miller. "The greatest way a
student can benefit is to ask for it back in the form
of an event or activity on campus. If a student isn't
part of organizing the event, then he or she should be
sure to attend," said Miller. The funding of the cam
pus activities is in the hands of the students, and it is
up to them how it should be spent. Students can join
the SGA budget committee by contacting Erin
Kennedy. Students can join the SAF committee by
contacting Ben Gilson.
annual report