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