■„ , ,Weekend Weather
Behrend Women sVo lev ha II „.. v , .. , Tl ...
- Friday: Showers and T-storms likc
• j* 1 W'f • i v | Saturday: Cloudy w/showers and
invitational, rind out how T .^.High 7 2 F .chance^.
f 1 * 1 o cipitation 40%.
they did on page >s. Sunday: Few showers. High 71 F.
chance of precipitation 30%
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Days Inn
houses
students
two years
in a row
On-campus hous
ing remains prob
lematic for new
students, hotel
happy to help
Connor Sattely
managing editor
dss(lfi(K«psu.cdu
For the second year in a row, students
are turning to the Days Inn several miles
away from campus to solve their hous
ing dilemma at Penn State Behrend. The
Days Inn. which offered almost a full
floor dedicated to college students last
year, has once again opened their doors
as a type of alternative off-campus hous
ing.
Penn State Behrend. currently holding
the largest and second-largest classes
ever to enter the campus, found itself
with a waitlist for on-campus housing as
early as last spring. Randy Geering, the
Director of Housing and Food Services
at Behrend, explains that anyone who
asked for housing at the right time got it.
"For people who missed deadlines, or
applied late, they may have been put on
the wait list,” Geering said. “But every
one who wanted housing and applied on-
time got it.”
That list would not include freshman
Brian Barker, who applied later than
most due to his indecision over which
college he wanted to attend. “I was at the
FTCAP seminars,” Barker recalls,
“when I found out that I was on the wait
list, which was supposedly around four
pages long at that point.”
His next option became University
Gate Apartments, where he put his name
on their wait list as well. “1 asked them
to call me if a spot opened up for a room
mate, but I didn't really think it would
happen,” he says.
See DAYS INN on page 2.
Newsroom
898-6488
Fax:
898-6019
E-mail: rcrsos7@psu.edu
Our offices are located downstairs
in the Reed Union Building.
A Penn State Behrend Student Publication
Only one way out
Every day commuter students sit in a traffic jam on College Drive as they head to their after
school activities. On an average day, the line of cars can be seen from the intersection of
Jordan Road and College Drive, stretching clear past the Police and Safey Office. Many
commuters find it difficult to leave the lower Reed parking lot. Concerns about the ability
of emergency vehicles to easily pass through also have students worried. Look for the com
plete story in next week’s issue of The Behrend Beacon.
Chancellor Burke to retire
after spring semester:
A look over the last couple decades
By Emily Reichert
copy editor
ecr.SOftX O' psu.edu
Dr. Jack Burke has enjoyed his
years as chancellor, however, the
time for a change is upon him.
Chancellor since 2001, Burke has
shown his passion for Behrend
through his consistent attendance at
campus activities, such as musical
groups, theater departments, and
sporting events, while overseeing
dramatic additions to the campus.
Burke has said that he enjoys
attending the Undergraduate
Research Conferences, held every
spring, because the complexity of
them never ceases to amaze him.
“Undergraduates are now doing
things that students from the master
degree level were doing years ago
Visit us on the
web at www.the
behrend
beacon, com
and it's because of the technology."
says Burke. "It allows you to do
more."
One of Burke's most treasured
memories was at a graduation cere
mony. A young Bosnian transfer stu
dent had lived in Erie for five years
and was graduating from Behrend.
She wanted to return home to her
family, but her foreign-exchange
parents decided it would be best for
her to stay because of war. Little did
she know that her family had secret
ly been flown into America and was
hiding behind the curtains during the
ceremony. While she was on stage
receiving her diploma, Burke made
the announcement. “We have a spe
cial surprise...,” he said, voice
cracking. The girl’s family then came
out from behind curtains and every
one in the crowd celebrated with the
student.
See BURKE on page 2.
What’s Inside?
- Check out the newly released video
game Spore on page 5
- Read this edition’s “Whiskey
Chronicles on page 6
- Steelers/Browns preview on page 8
'iKHil.llK
Shown above: Chancellor Burke sits
in Brunos Cafe. He will be retiring at
the end of this spring semester.
Vol. LIV No. IV
Amethyst
Initiative
does not
have every-
one con-
vinced
“ When I was in col
lege in New York, the
drinking age at the
time was 18 and that
certainly did not stop
binge drinking.
However, it did make
it easier for those
under 18 to binge --
they had easier
access
-Chancellor Burke
Mike (). Well rer
slat] writer
mrw S|)o4</' psti.edu
Penn State Behrend Chancellor
Jack Burke said Tuesday that he
would not support the Amethyst
Initiative, even if it were his deci
sion to make. "We make such deci
sions as a University." he said via
e-mail.
Penn State President (Iraham
Spanier declined to sign the initia
tive when it was offered to him in
August, saying he was unsure ol
the right thing to do.
Spanier is still open to discussion
on the subject, according to
University spokeswoman. I isa
Powers.
The initiative is. accordinu to its
website, a program that supports
"informed and unimpeded debate
on the 21 year-old drinking age."
As of Wednesday. 120 college pres
idents and chancellors hasc sinned
on to the initiathc.
Dr. Burke is not convinced that
changing the drinking age would
reduce alcohol-related incidents,
citing a 13 percent drop in DWI
deaths among 18-21 year olds.
Burke also pointed out that low
ering the drinking age would send
already high auto insurance rales
even higher for teens. Also the 130
signatory Presidents and
Chancellors represent a very small
percentage of the nation's 4.500
institutions.
Burke adds "When I was in col
lege in New York, the drinking age
at the time was 18 and that certain
ly did not stop binge drinking.
However, it did make it easier for
those under 18 to binge - they had
easier access
See AMETHYST on pai>e 2.
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