Friday, January 23,2009
Campus cheers new president
Students fill
Bruno's
share
historic
moment
By Adam Spinelli
conoibuting abler
ikssB9(a
As Senior Political Correspondent for CNN
Roland Martin said, "People saw today what some
dreamed would and could never happen. - Jan. 20
marked an event that Behrend students will remem
ber for the rest of their lives. Crowds of hundreds
gathered around TVs on campus, joining millions of
people observing Barack Obama being sworn in as
the 44th president of the United States
Students and faculty watched in locations ttround
campus. including Bnino's cafe. a Teserved room in
Kochel. and many computer labs. No matter where
anyone watched Tuesday's inauguration. the mood
was the same.
"I feel proud and lucky to witness such a turning
point in our history. - says freshman English educa
tion major Carolyn Foley. Like many other stu
dents on campus, and around the world. this was
Foley's first time voting m an election.
The mood in Bruno's was strangely quiet on
Tuesday. The sense of community grew with the
crowds as the speech drew closer. When Brack
Ohama stepped forward to take the oath, the crowd
erupted in applause, some cheering along with the
nearly three million in Washington. D.C. Some
nodded solemnly as the inauguration began. others
wept still others chuckled softly as the Chief
Justice spoke the oath incorrectly.
As Presidm Ohama began his inaugural speech,
the importance of the moment weighed heavily on
the minds of those assembled.
- I never thought that I would see this day in my
life time. - says English lecturer Mary Connelly.
"Everything has changed now. When I was seven
years old, my mother itrag2ed me out of bed to see
Speaker shares "What Obama Means"
By Mike 0. Wehrer
contlibuting
mrv , 5094 w psti.cdu
The Behrend Speaker Series hosted author and
playwright Jahari Asim in McGarvey Commons
Wednesday. Asim writes and speaks primarily on
the subject of racism and race relations. His lecture
was entitled "What Obama Means" and is also the
title of his recently released book.
Asim opened by talking about how happy he had
been during the "thrilling and joyous week" of
Obarna's inauguration. He said the sight of Obarna
being inaugurated filled him with "excitement that
warms the heart and shakes the soul."
In an interview, Asim said that college students
now have real power due to the "dissolving of itkn-
tity politics
"College students and young people were seen as
apathetic." Asim said. "That's no longer the case."
Asim went on to say that college students had
special leverage because they are passionate and able
to network easily via the Internet, which was a large
part of Obama's strategy in the recent election.
Asim also spoke on the changing nature of the
black community in America. He said that in the
"entirely black community" where he grew up,
expectations were that "promising young black
men became doctors, lawyers, and engineers." He
told an anecdote about his own experience as a jun
ior in college studying pre-law.
realized I didn't want to be a lawyer, so I called
my mother to tell her," Asim said. "I told her
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See OI3AMA on page 2
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A Penn State Behrend Student Publication
MARCUS YEAGLEY/Thcßchrcndßeacon
Jaboi Asia, speaking to a crowd of students, faculty, (Ind continuum' members . about the new pirsident
Friday
High: 36°F
Low: 24°F
A.m. clouds will give
way to p.m. rain or snow
Forecast courtesy or student mete
Students cmwded into Bruno'A to watch the immuration of the 44th inrsident of the United States
Saturday
High: 24°F
Low: 11°F
Mostly cloudy with snow
showers possible.
wolo2ist Matt Alto
Sunday
High: 16°F
Low: B°F
Mostly cloudy with a
chance of snow.
Forecast continued on page 2
Vol. LIV No. XVI
KEEGAN MCGREGOR Thetichremiticacon
Hammermill gets
high-tech
renovation
By Kay Smith
(Ymoibutini;lite!
k iii ,sl 74(0 psti.cdu
Conical lights hang from the ceiling. I . \\ ent),-four
inch monitors line the \\ ails. Four zached desks
sporting dual screen computers comprise the center.
Televisions hang from the ceiling.
These. along with a cushioned bench. are jUSI
some of the appealing aspects Hammermilrs ne\\
lab offers to hard-working students. The remodeled
lab, with its modem aesthetic style. opened late last
October and includes 24/7 access to all students.
Besides the dual screens, there are - cubb\ holes" -
sectioned oil desks - fOr personal space. each with a
computer: two study nooks. each with a television
and their own couches; and a circle of comfortable
chairs in the hack. A coffee machine that accepts
Lion Cash takes position to the left as you enter the
modern environment.
T0d..1 Say, manager of IT Support S ery i ces cal Is
the renovation a "lab-lounge en\ ironment - where
students can come to do their ‘%ork or hang out,
have coffee. and socialize. However, Say admits that
the lab is "still not one hundred percent com
plete...but it's functional for students. - The remain
ing work. it seems, needs mainly to he dime on the
aesthetic properties of the lab: enclosing the study
nooks in the back by glass. for example.
See NEW TECHNOLOGY on page 3.
News 1-4
Perspectives 5
Arts 6
Sports 7-9
Local Dining 10