Friday, February 8, 2008
Pa. Governor Rendell speaks in Erie
By Angela D’ Aurora
contributing writer
;isd 169(a' psu.edu
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell was in
Erie Wednesday, Feb. 6 pushing prosperity,
progress, and politics. Serving as chief exec
utive of the sixth most populous state.
Rendell spoke about his efforts to increase
government responsiveness and responsibili
ty to the public and its needs. During his
speech at Erie City Hall. Rendell focused
specifically on the 2008-2009 state budget
and his economic stimulus program. - ‘I
believe in Pennsylvania we have to do more.”
Rendell said.
The Governor touched on the changes
Pennsylvania has seen since 2003. Regarding
the unemployment rate. Rendell explained
that, as part of his budget, $3 billion in gov
ernment funds have been set aside to help cre
ate jobs. “Pennsylvania is doing very well."
Rendell said. The state of Pennsylvania is
now ranked fifteenth for job growth in the
nation. Included in the $27.5 billion state
budget is a $4OO rebate for working families
who make less than $32,000 a year. “More
people are working and less people are on
College
Candids:
A photo tour
of what's
happening
on
Behrend's
campus
Stove Winfield (left) and
Adam Pierce (right) study
in the Clark Cafe at the
RF.DC. The Cafe has
become a favorite hang out
spot for both engineering
and business majors.
«*eegL .ego..
Grant McDonald works on a computer at the Reed Building Kiosk.
PSU endowments ranked among highest in the nation
By Mark Nardo
staff writer
manso92 @ psu .edu
Due to a nationwide trend in increasing endow
ments, an inquiry ordered by the U.S. Senate Finance
Committee was made in early January to find out
which universities ranked highest and lowest. Among
the top 50 wealthiest, Penn State came in 46th place
with an endowment at $1.59 billion, which is consid
ered to be significantly high, just surpassing the bil
lion dollar mark. As of last year, college and univer
sity endowments went up about 17.7 percent. Penn
State’s endowment grew about 20 percent from 2006
to 2007, and even though Penn State has the highest
tuition among the ’‘Big Ten” universities, its endow
ment is ranked seventh. The Director of the Center
News
Opinion
Humor.
DffluraD Dincon
Contents
...1-3 Entertainment..
4 Student Life
..5 Music
A Penn State Behrend Student Publication
welfare." he said. Governor Rendell also
spoke about the lack of resources for flood
protection. Rendell said that insurance com
panies have been asked to pay seven cents for
every home owner's insurance policy pur
chased. "That's forty-two cents a year. That is
a small price to pay to secure us for our
future." said Rendell. With the economic
stimulus program. Rendell hopes to increase
incentives for jobs, as well as ask legislature
to triple to $3,000 for every job they create.
"This is a stimulus program that will work,"
Rendell said.
In addition to addressing the state budget
plans and economic stimulus program.
Rendell. in an exclusive interview with The
Behrend Beacon, announced his support of
Hilary Rodham Clinton in the 2008
Presidential election. "I like Obama, but I
believe Hilary is the most qualified out of all
the other candidates." Rendell said.
The Governor said he believes that Hilary
Clinton is even more qualified then her hus
band and former U.S president. Bill Clinton.
See RENDELL on page 2
for College Affordability and Productivity, Richard
Vedder, claims that considering Penn State’s tuition,
it is a middle endowment university.
This recent rise in endowments, according to
Vedder, could be due to an increase of investments in
hedge funds and overseas investing. He also claims
that the gap between poor schools and rich schools
seems to be growing due to this increase. The endow
ments for the richer schools are increasing signifi
cantly more when compared to the poorer schools,
whose endowments aren’t increasing at the same
rate.
Among the other top 50, from 10th place to first,
the rankings and endowments go as follows:
University of Pennsylvania - $4.02 billion,
See ENDOWNMENTS on page 3
Students upset over
computer kiosk problems
By Krista Jones
staff writer
kejso39@psu.edu
The computer kiosks in the Reed and Kochel buildings are well known
for their slow reaction time, poor internet quality and lack of up-to-date
features —including Microsoft Word. However, their original intent was
never for the casual use that students utilize the computers for now.
The computers were installed during the late 1990 s as an alternate way
for students to check e-mail on a computer outside of the lab environment.
Because the only way to check e-mail was to go onto the Eudora client on
one of the lab computers, saving anything important to a floppy disk, stu
dents were clogging the labs with transient computer traffic. Since there
were no laptops, wireless internet or other alternatives, it was necessary for
students to use the labs. This became a huge problem when there were
classes using them, and students couldn’t gain access during
...7
...8
Jeremy KonvekTTHE BEHREND BEACON
Pa. Governor Ed Rendell speaks exclusively with a reporter from The Behrend Beacon during a visit in Erie on Feb. 6.
Student activity fees increasing again?
Students will have the final say ■" « an approx,,„mc n»c-
J J dollar increase or more. Penn State Bchrend is a
second tier campus, so students here are looking at
the possibility of a small increase.
“Nothing has officially been decided, but if it is
and the increase will be implemented, it should take
place beginning in the fall semester of 2008." said
Student Affairs President Ken Miller. Tve never
seen any tuition changes or fee increases imple
mented during mid-semester. They usually occur at
the beginning of the next academic year."
According to Miller, there has been a huge
demand for the funding of activities students want
to hold on campus this year. "Students have put in
requests equaling up to $100,115. Unfortunately.
See FEES on page 3
By Krista Jones
staff writer
kcjso39(g
Students who attend some of the 19 Pennsylvania
State University commonwealth campuses may
find themselves shelling out a little extra cash come
fall of 2008. The student activities fee that is paid
every semester with the tuition bill is up for an
increase. The Council of Commonwealth Student
Governments (CCSG) is looking to pass a resolu
tion that will raise the student activity fee students
pay each semester.
First tier campuses will not have any change or
increase in their fees —however second and third
We are now on the Web!
Visit us online at www.thebehrendbeacon.com
See KIOSKS on page 2
Vol. LIV No. XIV
Behrend and Canisius
College team up to
offer 3+2 program
By Matthew Schwabenbauer
assistant news editor
mjss3B7@psu.edu
Students at Canisius College, a liberal arts col
lege in Buffalo, New York now have the opportu
nity to receive an engineering degree from Penn
State Behrend as part of a new "3+2" dual degree
program.
The School of Engineering has signed an artic
ulation with Canisius College which gives
Canisius students the opportunity to come to
Behrend and receive an engineering degree. The
program, which is in effect for the current semes
ter, requires students go to Canisius College for
three years, then Penn State Behrend for two.
Students will study liberal arts, science and pre-
engineering at Canisius, and engineering at
Behrend. At the end of the five years. 3+2 students
will receive two degrees, a B.S. in physics from
Canisius, and a B.S. in mechanical engineering
from Behrend.
“Our 3+2 articulation agreement streamlines
the credit transfer process and eliminates duplica
tion of coursework,” said Ralph Ford, director of
the Behrend School of Engineering. "We've creat
ed a seamless way for students to earn two
degrees that make a unique and valuable skill set."
A program that requires an extra year, but
results in two degrees seems like a good deal to
many students. “The 3+2 program is a good
opportunity," said Behrend Freshman Aaron
Sullivan. “Having two degrees would impress
employers, and Behrend engineering degrees
carry a lot of weight.”
“This new dual degree program in liberal arts
and engineering will further enhance our success
ful science programs,” said Scott Chadwick, vice
president of academic affairs for Canisius
College. “In addition, the combination of liberal
arts, science and engineering courses will expand
student mastery of communication, critical think
ing and leadership.”
Canisius College was founded in 1870 by the
Jesuits, and remains one of just 28 Jesuit schools
in the country. Canisius is a Catholic college,
located in the Delaware Park district of Buffalo.
New York.