2 I The Behrend Beacon Left to Right: President Slate Poring of the College Republicans. Vice President Ryan Snyder of the College Republicans, U.S. Congressman Phil English, Pa. State Senator Jane Earlltß-4'J). Pa. Slate Representative Cart Sonney. College Reupublicans’ Secretary Brett Miller, and Republican Committeeman Daniel J. Smith Pa. candidates meet with students Bv Connor Sattelv managinij editor cisso(>()(rt psu.edu Local Pennsylvania representa- tives met in McGarvey Commons on Thursday to talk with students and introduce themselves to first-time Miters. Pennsylvania State Senate can didate Cindy Purvis. State Representative candidate Rick Mitchell. State Representative Curt Sonney, Congressman Phil English. State Representative candidate Kathy Dahlkemper. State Senator Jane Earl I. and rep resentatives from both the I’ennwlvania Slate Senator Jane hull (K-4 l h her Demin null oi>i>onenl The Behrend Beacon Executive Board Rachel Reeves, Editor-in-Chief -rcrsos7@psu.edu Connor Sattely, Managing Editor - cisso6o@psu.edu Michelle Quail, Advertising Manager - miqsooi ©psu.edu Kim Young, Faculty Adviser - kjyio@psu.edu Ryan P. Gallagher, News Editor rpgsoo4@psu.edu Matthew Schwabenbauer, News Editor mjss3B7@psu.edu Jennifer Juncosa, Perspectives Editor jdjso6l @psu.edu Nick Blake, Sports Editor npbso4l ©psu.edu Christine Newby, Sports Editor censos6@psu.edu Evan Koser, Arts Editor emksllo@psu.edu Neil J. Peters, Asst Arts Editor njpsoB3@psu.edu in McGarvey Commons Obama-Biden and McCain-Palin campaign came in the early after noon. Each were given their own table, and handed out information sheets to students that wandered in to cheek it out. Education and the economy were the main topics students were worried about at the event. Both the candidates and current office holders discussed with stu dents their views on how to solve the problems of the nation. The speakers wandered around the room, greeting students and get ting to know them. Sonney. who describes himself as a lifelona Harborereek Cin a debate. Founded in 1948 Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Reed Union Building 4701 College Drive, Erie PA 16563 Room 10H Telephone: (814) 898-6488 Fax: (814) 898-6019 Editorial Board Campus News Township resident, loves the Behrend campus. He thinks that a main priority needs to be getting students into college. “Of course, a priority is getting students in school. Beyond that, though, stu dents have to look at what they want to do with their lives. If you want to stay in Erie, take a look around and look at what’s in demand here; just look very closely at what you want to do, and where you want to live.” He also realizes that paying for edu cation is a difficult problem that students face. “The government is giving increases in funding to universi ties," he says, “about three per cent per year. But these universi ties are raising tuitions by six, seven percent per year. The costs that students face are being driv en up by univerties, and that’s what we need to stop.” Sonney is a Republican first term state representative who also feels that in order to create jobs in places like Erie, the gov ernment needs to entice business es to come and stay. “The govern ment doesn’t create jobs,” Sonney says, “companies do. We have to make this a friendly area for companies by reducing taxes, and a friendly area for college students to stay after their educa- Mitchell, who graduated from Behrend with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marcus Yeagley, Head copy Editor mjysol2@psu.edu Mike Wehrer, Copy Editor mrwso94@psu.edu Jeremy Korwek, Website Editor jdksoo9@psu.edu Keegan McGregor, Photography Editor klms323@psu.edu Daniel Smith, Senior Photographer djss223@psu.edu Bethany Long, Assistant Ad. Manager bjlso37@psu.edu INTRIBUTED knows the area well. A candidate for Pennsylvania’s fourth legisla tive district, he still feels close to students. “Students who graduate with mountains of debt are at a huge disadvantage,” Mitchell says. “It also seriously hurts the econo my.” The Democratic candidate says that even with the economy in a downturn, helping students get into and graduate from col lege must remain a priority. Funding, he says, can come from the system that’s already in place. “There’s a lot of waste to be identified in the system,” he says. “It won’t be easy; especially with the way the economy is, it will be a challenge. But we have to help students pay for college and grad uate. Education must remain a priority.” Congressman Phil English also attended after speaking on a Questions on Religion in the 2008 American Election panel in the REDC, hosted by the Religion and Democracy pro gram at Behrend. Representatives from the Obama and McCain campaigns greeted the entering students. Jon Hopcroft, Northwest Regional Director of the McCain-Palin campaign, and Cathi Zelazny, the Chairwoman of the Erie County Democratic Party were each pres ent to speak to students, along with staffers for each campaign. What’s Inside Greek week kicks off on campus With one event planned every night, ending with Friday night’s annual chariot race, the Behrend Greek Week is an hon ored tradition in which fraternities and sororities meet to com pete and have fun. PAGE 3 Pop-punk group Punchline play CD release show in Edinboro Last Saturday, Pittsburgh pop-punk band Punchline returned to the Edinboro Hangout to play a record release show for their newest full length album, Just Say Yes. The album hit stores on Sept 16, and is the follow up to their 2006 album, 37 Everywhere. The building was nearly full and many fans came out in support of the band. PAGE 7 Three out of Penguins last five games decided in overtime The Pittsburgh Penguins have kept fans on the edge of their seats at the start of the new season as three out of their five games have been decided with less than a minute to go in overtime. Credit affects continued from front page. traveling far past Penn State reg istration deadlines. With students finding their nor mal avenues for loans blocked, the remaining student loan com panies are desperately trying to keep up with increased demand. As Jane Brady, an assistant financial aid officer at Behrend, puts it: there is a “backlog for those [loan companies] still standing.” Cook says that without the bailout passed by Congress earli er this month, students would be in much more trouble than they are now. “The bailout was good because without it, credit would com pletely dry up,” says Cook. What is Debate Watch? Debate Watch is a voter education program of the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Debate Watch brings citizens like you together to watch the televised debates, talk about what you learned, and, if you choose to, share your reac tions with the CPD. * Anyone can host a Debate Watch! Just pick a place with a television, pick a group of people, and pick a discussion leader. * Organize a Debate Watch by yourself or in conjunction with your civic group, school, job, or neighbors. * If you can’t hold a Debate Watch when a debate is aired, simply record it and hold the discussion the next day. * Leading a Debate Watch does not require any special skills or expertise. Your main role is to pose discussion questions to the group mem bers after they watch the debate. In the process you will make sure everyone gets a chance to speak and you will settle any disagreements among participants. * Be sure to consider what to do before the debate and the night of the debate. Source: http://debates.org/index.html Friday, October 17, 2008 crash loans Further complicating matters is another possible effect of the financial crisis: higher tuition Cook says that Penn State has a stronger immunity against rising costs than other schools such as Edinboro University. He says this is because Penn State has high-drawing football games and donations from alum ni. When the state declares that it needs more money, Penn State is able to meet those requirements through those incomes. Other schools are often only left with the option to raise tuition. “PSU would be affected," says Cook. “...But it would just take longer.” PAGE 8