lture "4 :IL I A a, A thick haze of harmful contaminants often cloud the two main entrances to the Reed Union Building, Kochel and sometimes many of the res idence halls. But the question is: is this a prob lem? The nation is full of smokers and ranks second only to China, whose government sees no issue with how its population chooses to live. Compare that apathy to the U.S. government. Tobacco lobbyists lobby for rights to advertise and sell how they want and to keep regulations as lax as possible. Anti-smoking campaigns nationwide do just the opposite. In fact, the latter organizations have often succeeded in the past - the last televi sion advertisement for cigarettes aired on Janu ary 1, 1971. Since then, most ads have been seen in magazines. Campus-wide, that doesn't stop students from smoking or even voicing concern about the avail ability of cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products on campus. Nor does it prevent stu dents of the other end of the spectrum from championing their case against the lax restric tions of smoking. While Behrend is host to many smokers, just as many (if not more) nonsmokers share the air. With plans for a convenience store in the works, many students wonder if tobacco prod ucts will be sold. However, last semester a poll of students showed that tobacco sale was "not very important." "I'd be happy about it," said Jevois Harrigan. a sophomore majoring in astronomy and astro physics. "It'd be convenient. I mean, I don't smoke all the time, but it's nice." Harrigan, like many smokers (casual or habit ual), appreciates the idea of selling tobacco prod ucts on campus. However, not everyone agrees. Steel Flynn, a junior mechanical engineering major says that he "wouldn't like it." "I don't like receiving second-hand smoke CAMPUS MUSIC B etd&/ 4 Jason Bishop and the Young People's Chorus of Erie (YPC) will perform a concert benefiting Haiti relief. The Green Children, a recording duo from Los Angeles, will join YPC on Feb. 20 at Mc- Haiti Relief Benefit featuring EVAN KOSER culture editor SHANNON EHRIN asst culture editor. .1) YPC Young People's Chorus of Erie walking to and from class everyday," Flynn said. Anti-smoking lobbyists have certainly left their mark. Many restaurants nationwide have done away with their "smoking" sections altogether in favor of more "family-friendly" environments. In Pennsylvania, The Clean Indoor Air Act banned smoking from nearly every public establishment, and including and many bars and restaurants. Throughout the Penn State campuses, smok ing is technically banned only indoors and within campus-owned vehicles. While some of the other satellite campuses have stricter policies than those of University Park, Behrend students are allowed to smoke outside of buildings within a specific distance from entrances. "I don't mind smoking on campus," said Dan Hido, a junior political science major. "I think it's unfair that people smoke in front of doors where people walk through. They [the campus] should have designated smoking areas away from the buildings." One idea that has been tossed around was to install heat lamps, much like those seen in the stairwells, to some of the many light posts. This would give smokers the incentive to smoke away from populated entranceways. "If they did that, I'd stand under it," said Jeff Barber, a senior political science major. "I would definitely use that," aid Zack Goncz, a junior political science majo "I've heard about [the policy], but I'm not gonna stand in the snow and I won't blow smoke in people's faces." At the University of lowa, smoking is banned altogether. Students are fined for any infringe ment on the policy. Penn State, however, has no plans for such a ban. Still, many students feel that it's their right to smoke, and that any such ban on smoking would be an infringement on those rights. "People have a right [to smoke] because when the university took their money, they never said they couldn't smoke on campus," said Allison Maino, a senior English major. Maino doesn't smoke, but says that one of her parents does. Dowell Intermediate High. School. The concert had already been in the works, but the recent Haiti devastation caused Bishop and The Green Children to "change the plan... [and make] it a benefit for the victims of the earthquake." "The main thing we would love for people to do is buy tickets and come, because all of those proceeds will go to a Haiti relief organization," says Bishop. Bishop and organizers have not yet decided which organization the money will go to. There will be about six pieces performed solely by YPC in the first half of the concert with The Green Children following in the second half. Both groups will end the concert with a collaborated performance. TM men of the Behrend choirs will also join YPC on one of their pieces daring the concert. YPC is an eutreac.h prim of the Behrend School of HOMani ties and Social Sciences and in eludes other outreach programs such as the Center for Organize tional Research and Evaluatk?n (CORE). rpc focuses on diversity and multiculturalism within the community, while fostering musi cal talent from elementary to high school levels. One hundred thirty Students from YPC will be in volved in this particular benefit concert. The Green Children has per formed all around the world. With their music they are able to press upon important social issues in different countries, especially those that are underdeveloped. Although Bishop and YPC have never performed nor met The Green Children, he calls the part- "You see it at OBS, too," said Kyle Murdoch, a junior political science major. "I'm actually indif ferent because I worked where people smoked indoors until the Act. It doesn't bother me that much, as long as they're not directly blowing it in my face." Not all nonsmokers on campus are as accept ing of smokers, though. Perry residence hall now has designated smoking and nonsmoking areas on the building's outside porch. The elevator stairwell on campus even has "No Smoking" signs posted on both entrances. However, many students still light up within. "I'm not happy about [smoking outside]," Goncz said. "I mean, it's legal. Sorry if it's rude, but I don't like seeing people chew with their mouths open." Joni Taylor, a junior general arts and sciences major, feels that the campus is accommodating for smokers. "There's plenty of canisters and I have yet to get a dirty look while smoking. But you shouldn't ever blow your smoke toward people who aren't smoking." Even the on-campus apartments allow resi dents to choose whether or not they want to smoke within their living quarters. "It's a student's right to smoke, just not inside [public places]," said Murdoch, who feels that the university should enforce a distance-from the-entrance policy. "Naturally, smokers will he near the doorways." However, Barber disagrees. "It's unreasonable if I would have to stand 20- feet from a doorway. Why should I have to stand in the snow [to smoke]?" "I'm not really happy about it; it's freezing out side," Goncz said. Whatever policy the campus decides and what ever products the convenience store will provide, there will always be smokers on campus. So long as no full-fledged ban is in place, intolerant non smokers might just have to hold their breath. nership "a natural collaboration." The first meet ing and practice will be the afternoon before the final concert. Besides this Haiti relief benefit, Dr. Bishop and YPC will be presenting many more concerts dur ing the spring semester. On April 18, the Penn State Behrend choirs will perform a Broadway review concert. The performance will be held on campus and will be an alternative to the Behrend's annual spring play. That next week, YPC, along with the singers performing and not performing at Carnegie Hall, will give the Erie community a preview of their performance at 'Fairview High School. About 275 students are involved in this performance, com pared with the 175 students performing at Carnegie Hall in May. Those who are going to New York City are singecs from the YPC Chorale, The Northeast High School Chciir, the Erie Philharmonic Cho rus, and both of Penn State Behrend's choirs. Thelve or more singers from Oklahoma will also join these choirs. Out of all of these ensembles, the Northeast High School Choir is the only group that Bishop does not conduct and is the most recent addition to the company. Most of the singers going to. New York have never been to Carnegie Hall. Bishop on the other hand, is no stranger to this music center, but says, I've never actually con ducted on the stage. This, for me, is my conduct ing debut." The singers will perform Lord Nelson Mass by Joseph Haydn and will be accompanied by a pre arranged orchestra. The production company, Distinguished Concerts International, arranges all aspects of the performance and• pre-perfor mance: rehearsal times, rehearsal space, orches tra and publicity. The Carnegie Hall appearance will be a major achievement for these choirs and with good rea son. Bishop says "This [concert] has been a year in the making." BEHREND BEACON February 5, 2010 www.thebehrendbeacon.com FILMS 2000 s in film: the death of cinema It's a brand new decade, and with every new decade comes plenty of reflection. Reflecting on experiences you had, the friends you made, and most importantly, the movies you saw (or didn't see). When 1 glance back at the most popular movies of the past 10 years, 1 feel disgusted. Luckily, the movies that the general audience flocked to see represent the worst film had to offer. With every new record-breaking movie that comes out or effects-laden generica that ex plodes off the screen, I find myself shaking my head and cursing the good name of Cinema. However, I am forgetting the golden rule: "The majority is made up of imbeciles!" Mindless drones who feed off of explosions and robots. If that definition applies to you, then I can't believe you made it this far, now get back to your Call of Duty. After every decade, film snobs (myself in cluded) are always left screaming "the death of cinema!" However, no matter how much I say it, deep down in my black heart I know it isn't true. There are normally at least a few hundred mas terpieces floating around there somewhere. I could easily rattle off a hundred movies that I feel everyone should see before they die to make them an all-around-better and more cultured person. Instead, I will try and narrow each year down to one or two movies that really deserve your at tention. Whether you ultimately enjoy each and every movie I list, all of them will have some ef fect on you, and they are all extremely worth finding and seeing. 2000 - Almost Famous (preferably the "Untitled: Bootleg Version,: Very few good films have such an emotional Itsonance, especially with a teenager. Cafl*tOn Crove takes his childhood and presents It on screen; chock full of great classic rock tunes. As a writer this had a very strong effect on me, but as a teenager it had an even stronger one. I have yet to find another movie whose character I so connected with. Honorable Mention: Requiem for a Dream and George Washington 2001 - Bully: Based on the 1993 murder of Bobby Kent in Cooper City, Fla. This is one of the few movies that genuinely scared me. It sends chills down my spine to this day whenever I think of it. The tact that I come across kids ii l C. 6 - 11 4.dfitY makes the entire situation even more terrifying. Larry Clark manages to create a realism unlike any film like it. Honorable Mention: Ghost World 2002 City of God: This is the bridge into foreign film. There is not a soul alive who could watch this and get bored with it or be turned off by the fact you have to read. It is just non-stop. The film is seriously a relentless story of drugs and power told through the eyes of kids and a camera lens. 2003 - Kill Bill Vol. 1: Tarantino's homage to kung-fu/revenge flicks is a stylistic masterpiece that is any film lover's wet dream. There are countless different film elements, techniques and styles running through the movie. It's an tukUct ing rollercoaster where anything can happen. 2004 The Brown Bunny: I'd never tell anyone to watch this, so I don't really know why it's on this list. It is definitely an acquired taste. Watch ing someone drive with rain fall on the window for an hour and twenty minutes doesn't sound like a blast, but the end makes it all worth it. Vin cent Gallo and Chloe Sevigny are amazing. 2005 - Brick: I love film-noir and detective movies, and this is a stunning homage. Whoever came up with the idea to take the drug lord de tective noir story and place it in a high school with teenagers deserves my utmost respect. It plays out brilliantly and keeps you guessing until the last second. 2006 - Pan's Lohyrinth: One of the best fantasy films ever.created. It drags you right in until the veer:end. You become highly invested in the sun and the amazing visuals only add to it motes°. Mix in the war elements, and you have a izenterpiece. Hohorsible Mentions; The Departed, This Film Is Not Yet Rated 200 i - The Simpsons Movie: I'm biased, what ever. I am obsesseu w Liu Simpsons, and this is a geod extended episode. 2008- Oomorra: An imaide look into Italy's mod ern day crime families. One of the most realistic crime films I've ever seen, it takes its time to show you in detail what other films would just skip over. The precision of the writing and direct ing makes it feel like cinematic perfection and damn it's close to it. If you, like Scarface, watch th: # I.lirn a thing or A. H Mention: Hungers acting to a p r level). 21 : '• tic Mr. Fox: YciPixar's great. Up was re: good. But if youliKvant a real family film Alk the one. The comedy is so pitch per fect hold in my laughs so I wouldn't miss any ten g character mgMents. This is undeni ably the tt est quote-unSote "kids" movie ever produced. It's the funniest, too. Avoid like the plague: Garden State (2004, only movie as bad as Boondock Saints), Amelie (2001), and Million Dollar Baby (2004) DAN KINEM ',nun 'confer
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