MY VOICE "When they say, 'We Are MARISSA LANICH Penn State,' this is what they're stair writer talking about." - Joe Paterno What I'd like to know is how students actu at Joe Paterno to in his state may seem as if coach was talk impressive foot host at Beaver 'as really talking hing much more \i'LlEturtglort, 7 11 1 1 "- - kritiork•-.l*.:,Arr. .4,411.par0cc..4g MY VOICE Many students at Behrend partake in one of the biggest debates on campus: which is better, Behrend or University Park? I like to think that I have some authority on the subject, since I have experienced both. I transferred to University Park for my junior year and spent all of last semester attending State College. And then I transferred back to Behrend. So here is my declarative statement on the everlasting question: it depends. For some people, University Park really is a good fit. If you know exactly what you want to do, University Park has a lot to offer. The wide range of classes covers anything you could ever want to know, and it offers ma jors that Behrend doesn't. If you grew up in a family where everyone went to University Park, there is a lot of tradition and a lot of good connections available to you at the big cam pus. And there is something to be said for Beaver Stadium being a short walk away, as op posed to a four-hour drive. Personally, University Park just didn't make sense. First of all, I tried to change 4701 College Drive, Erie PA 16563 Room 10H THE BEHREND BEACON - - : D i : • -A _ Business Manager: Bethany Long bjlso37@psu.edu Faculty Advisor: Kim Young kjylo@psuedu Marketing Manager Katie Cook klcs293@psu.edu Editor•ln-Chief: Connor Sattely editon@Psu.edu Managing Editor: Shawn Annarelli smaslB9l§Psu.edu Web Editor: Jeremy Korwek jdksoo9@Psu.edu Penn State's proud legacy My second time around my major from Journalism to Public Relations over the sum mer, after the application to major pr , wrapper Comm, ment a is imp, very ki who I mind a game, out exai want their It w difficul used ti size. COMM nica tion progra, there the la, in the This int classes major upwards o people in them The first day I walked into my Public Rela tions class (population 370), the professor said, "Don't even ask for a letter of recommendation News Editors: Ally Orlando acososl@psu.edu Rochelle Thompson rftso6s@psu.edu Opinion Editor: Neil James opinion@psu.edu THON is the largest student run philanthropy in the world, raising over $6l million throughout its history for the fight against pediatric cancer. Many students don't even know what THON is and aren't aware of the amazing opportunity that is in front of them. Although the Dance Marathon, THON's main event, is held at University Park, it is an event that is made possible by the effort shown year-round by students from all across the commonwealth. Of the $7.49 million that was raised last year, our THON team at Behrend raised an im pressive $29,134. This is the third year that I have been involved with THON, and I can honestly say that joining this organization is the best decision that I have made here at Penn State. The effort that thousands of college students put forth throughout the year and the im pact that it makes on the lives of children battling cancer has truly inspired me. The experiences I have had have changed my life. My par ticipation in THON has made me so proud to be a Penn State .!nn State Dance :hon, more corn ly referred to as lON, is a year mg effort that rises funds and wareness for the ight against pedi zric cancer. 'hese efforts all ild up to a 46- no-sitting, no ng dance In held in the tn Center at Uni every February. students from ate community each year to t a reality and to ice in the lives of ed by cancer. 7tM - lltt- R3PERAL etafRNAL-141` I'►p oo 4 o . ' . at the end of the semester. I don't know you, and I never will." alread RACHEL REEVES qall t% der tee, I work in the ath letics department collecting stats, and I just took a job as an R.A. In a month, I am traveling to Boston for four days with the Sports Editors: Nick Blake npbso4l@psu.edu Alec Italiano ajiso37@psu.edu Culture Editor: Evan Koser emksllo@psu.edu The Rest of America ropssm44 That is a hard thing to Lh coming from !s of 30 and relationships professors at •end. And then . e is the reason t looks terrible paper, but still )unts for some ing in real life. love Behrend. I love the stu lent organiza ms that all irk so hard, and mentors I have I love how iful the campus great the hous and the close ' the classes. I l't trade my op ities here for tng. I'm• a member of the concert commit- itori • I B • ar Ast. Culture Editor: Shannon Ehrin sbesol7@psu.edu Copy Editors: Jeff Kramer isksl6l@psu.edu Marcus Yeagley miysol2@psu.edu student, and I feel lucky to have had such an incredible opportu nity. As college students, we all have a lot on our minds, includ ing our classes, schoolwork, exams, work, as well as other responsibilities. However, after meeting children that have the strength and the courage to face and fight cancer, college life feels much less overwhelm ing. THON is a great opportu nity for students to help others and make a difference, and I would encourage anyone that can get involved to do so. The Behrend THON team will be canning this weekend throughout Erie, specifically on Peach Street and Buffalo Road, to wrap up our year of fundrais ing. And we will be traveling to University Park for THON weekend on February 19th 21st. If you see any of your fel low students out in the cold, show them your support and donate to a great cause! If you would like to get involved with THON, contact Carly Lapp (cm15158(0 psu.edu) or Erin Moran (efmso26g , psu.edu) for more information. T L. )K,' Lion Entertainment Board. Life is not so rich at Univer sity Park - it doesn't allow you to get involved in the same way. In the end, it's a highly per sonal decision. My biggest piece of advice is just to say - don't be afraid to change your plans. If you're on track to transfer next fall but are hesi tating, give it some thought. Or if you do transfer and it just never starts to feel right or make sense, you can always come back. Trust me. I'm a plans person. Changing course in the middle of my college career terrified me, and it's one of the hardest decisions I made. But it's also one of the best. At the end of the day, I knew that when I looked back on col lege I would think of Behrend. Besides, I'm not done yet. I'm not done finding ways to give back to Behrend, the school that gave me my start. I'm not done learning from it and grow ing in it. And I'm not done find ing ways to help Behrend stay its wonderful self, and maybe become even better. Telephone: (814) 898-6488 Fax: (814) 898-6019 Photo Editor: Daniel J. Smith djss223@psu.edu Videographer: Mike Fultz mjfs2o4@psu.edu Engineering Editor Connor Sattely ethfor@psusedu Business Editor Garrett Carson Any letters intended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 350 words, and include the gmcso2l@psu.edu writer's name and phone number. Letters may be edited for content or length at the editor in chief's discretion. The Behrend Beacon does not publish anonymous letters to the editor. If students want their letters to be Humanities Editor: published, they must include their name. The Behrend Beacon intends for its Opinion page to be a forum for Adam Spinelli discussion, not a screen to hide behind. Occasionally, The Behrend Beacon may request responses to online alsssB9@psu.edu queries in which responders will be identified by their username. Science Editor: The Behrend Beacon is editorially independent from the Penn State system. the Behrend Beacon operates par- Ryan on Student Activity Fee, and partially on advertising revenue. It is published every Friday during the school Ryan Gula year except for before and during scheduled vacations, with exceptions for special issues rggso29@psu.edu The editor-in-chief has the final authority on editorial deckions, including, but not limited to, all columns, edito rials, and letters to the editor. Complaints regarding Beacon coverage of school events should he directed to the edi- MY VOICE Vexing Valentine Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine's Day is ap proaching, and it's a load of crap. Romantic, isn't it? Ladies, before you come after me for my poetic talents, and its message, hear me out for just a moment. The idea behind Valentine's Day is fine. Showing your love for someone you truly care about is one of the best things a person can do. Of course, advertisers have taken hold of this holiday and commercialized it to the ex treme. Now, chocolates, cards, and fl nate every Fe Basically, a spend a whi cash in a shoe of time. Sure and your pal ner will bt happy all day, but the only person that benefits long-term from that box of chocolates is the person who pockets the profit. This isn't to say that shouldn't buy anything for their girlfriends. If you try doing that, don't point to my column and blame me. Chocolate is great, flowers are fine and cards are just dandy, but material items only go so far. Last time I checked, there were 364 other days on the cal endar, and I'm sure your part ner would love for you to show some affection on those days, too. I won't ever claim to be Dr. Love, but even I know that it takes more than one day to make things last. Why not show your affection on Nov. our voice zeette eo d;tiot. Send us a fete nion@psu.edu Submissions must be s orter then 350 words. All submissions will be printed as written. • ,"6101, Renaming Aquarius Drive I was recently invited to join a Facebook group entitled "Rename Aquarius Drive at PSB". This is a group, attempting to gather a list of names which students feel would better suit the road. The Behrend Student Government Association, the group of individu als elected by the student body to represent the student body, is putting their time into changing the name of a road. Let me state before I continue, this is not an attack on SGA. I will openly admit that SGA does amazing things for this campus and its students. If SGA is truly meant to represent the majority of the students on this campus, then how is changing the name of a road that, most students don't know where it is located, let alone what its name is, so high on the priority list. I do not mean to go as far as saying that this isn't important, I just feel it doesn't represent how the majority of the students feel. I would safely bet that the hundreds of students, who walk up the side of Jordan road to and from class each day, would be more concerned with having sidewalks installed than whether or not Aquarius Drive is renamed. Sidewalks are not the only issue that SGA should be looking at either. Perhaps another entrance to cam pus to reduce congestion, more parking lots, and even another residence hall should be on their radar. Not to say that SGA is not working on these other problems, it is just not as obvious if they are. My concern is that SGA is focusing on the easiest tasks as made evident by the creation of this Facebook group. Where is the group for installing sidewalks on Jordan road? Perhaps the name change is important, but it should not take the forefront in SGA because it is the easiest. If SGA is working on these other issues, the stu dents should be informed. Create a Facebook group for building a new dorm. Don't allow the harder projects to fall by the wayside. Single copies of the Beacon are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be pur chased with permission of the editor-in-chief for $l5O each. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of all students, faculty or University administration. Opin ions expressed in columns, cartoons, and letters are not necessarily those of The Behrend Beacon unless otherwise indicated. BEHREND BEACON February 12, 2010 www.thebehrendbeacon.com All profile photos taken by Daniel Smith / Behrend Beacon 17? Jan. 8? May 2? Heck, why not every day? That doesn't mean to go out and buy a rose or a cheesy card each and every day, but even the smallest effort goes a long way. For the guys that think being romantic is buying your girl friend a cheeseburger at Bruno's, the idea of a mushy gushy day might be like sugar to a diabetic. Here's a tip for you: For every affectionate deed you do, go ahead and do something manly. Grow some sweet sideburns. Make your own beef jerky. Football. Do iced to do to everything :ay happy as 'p things or those who et been hit Cupid's ow, don't :at it. With the other ple having :hell out the :en, you get keep it all in 'our wallet (scratch that; we're , n college). Well, at least you don't have to spend it on chocolates that you don't even get to eat. Then again, some of those chocolates in the heart-shaped boxes taste like they're filled with tooth paste. Maybe not eating them is a good thing after all. When Sunday arrives and the abundance of flowers and sug ary sweets shower couples around the world, just remem ber that it's only one day. To make it truly count, one day in the grand scheme of things means nothing. Showing affec tion on more than just the day florists dream of is what really makes it count. JOE GOETZ inotth , wrneste, tdur atum Major
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