January 26,1979 Cubs in spotlight at fieldhouse Sweeting interview Declares Erie Hall Inadequate In an interview held a few weeks ago, Dr. Roger Sweeting, Athletic Director of Behrend College for the past 15 years, expressed optimism for the new surge in “secondary sports” across the nation. Referring to such recently publicized sports as tennis, racquetball, and jogging, he was happy to see a greater degree of participation, remarking that the “attitude has changed in the last 20 years. We’re more aware of the wide variety of recreation.” On the other hand, he is deeply concerned about the obsolete indoor facilities for sports here on campus. When he. started teaching here, in 1963, there were only 400 students and he was the only full-time instructor. Since then {in directproportion to the new national attitude) student interest in sports has grown faster than the means to handle it. “The greatest dif ference,” Sweeting noted, “in terms of participation, is in the recreational and intramural programs.” This has put a strain on the limited space Erie Hall has to offer, something Sweeting is fully aware of. “We’re getting into Fischoff to perform January 31 Astonished .. . amazed ... enchanted these words and more describe how the audience felt about the performance of George Fischoff this year at Bowling Green State University. I attended the National Enter tainers Convention and heard hundreds of acts; rarely did one receive the response and en thusiasm that George Fischoff s did. I’ve never seen so many people run to the booking room to try to get him for their schools; fortunately, Behrend was one of those lucky few. George plays the meanest piano I’ve ever seat. He is extremely talented; he brings so much more to his performance than musical ability. George also says, “The piano can do anything,” and proceeds to prove his point. We heard a method and a melody that made you feel like you were at a square dance. Thai came such a varied group of styles and sounds that it is im possible to believe they all came from one man playing one in strument. From rode to blues, bluegrass to disco, into an Irish jig and then back to Bach (which he says reminds him of his days at Julliard) there was never a - dull moment! His continuing commentary during the performance teaches you a little about the recording < industry, gives you a few short music lessons, and introduces his positivist philosophy that each person has a talent if he will only work to discover and develop it. George creates an informal something that has been an issue for a period of years at Behrend the facility limitations. Our indoor facilities have not kept pace. By the time we teach our classes, work with the varsity sports ... there is precious little time left for students who simply want to recreate,” he said. “We try to be aware of student interests and needs ... so we can alter our programs to meet those needs.” The total sports program at Behrend uses a “four-pronged” approach,- dividing activities into varsity sports, instructional classes, intramural sports, and recreation. Unfortunately, free time recreation gets last priority. Again, this is due to the over crowding of space and schedules at Erie Hall. An example of this is the volleyball dub. They have court time for practice only during the lunch hour, meaning they must scramble for meeds at some other time. Another fact (sadly' acknowledged by Sweeting) is the necessity of simply turning away many students who want to use the Hall for personal recreation. Often hours available for indoor jogging or exercising are atmosphere for his audience in the performance. He has people “assist” him at the piano by plunking away at a single note while he improvises something compatible. He also has mem bers of his audience call out a series of notes or chords that seconds later he transforms into either “The Behrend Blues,” or “Penn State Punk Rock.” One of BEHREND STUDENTS! —why pay high prices for pet supplies? For "near dealer" cost prices write Box 738, Erie, 16502 10 gallon J v / aquarium 1 s Iri-A Enterprises Jack Polancy, Sports Editor for the Erie Times-News, mentioned last Sunday in his column that Behrend College is scheduling: their February 1 basketball matchup against Point Park College to be played at the Erie County Fieldhouse. With three games in the balance, Behrend stands at 14-1 the day before the Collegian deadline. Unless a major upset occurs, Behrend will enter the contest with a dazzling 16-1 ridiculous. Dr. Sweeting cited history as creating the problem as it stands now. Because of the legislative shutdown on college building funds in the early 1970’5, Behrend did not get the athletic complex promised to it. The future looks no brighter. “We probably won’t get a huge amount of state or federal funds,” Sweeting said. “If that’s the case, we have to look inward. We have to look at the local area and see what we can do to help ourselves.” On a more hopeful note, Sweeting suggested going to the com munity of Erie for money. He cited the disappointment felt by many because of Erie Hall’s small seating capacity. Many people, he felt, would enjoy an enlarged facility for basketball games. Drawing on more history, Sweeting pointed out the case of the Reed Union Building, where students and faculty were chiefly responsible for its financial backing. It was Behrend people who built the Reed building with their own money. There may be a case for doing the same thing with a new physical education center. his more recent compositions, “Piano Dancing,” was a favorite with the crowd. After the last performance was over, a group of students persuaded him to play it once more so they could dance to it. If this review sounds a little over-complimentary, whet can I say? A cynic, proven wrong, is something like a reformed alcoholic ... he becomes a fanatic. So, come find out for yourself. Super-piano George Fischoff will be here January 31, at 8:00 in the Reed Lecture Hall. j Behrend Collegian !record. Quite likely Point Park [will carry similar stats into the igame. At press time they stood with an equivalent 13-2 record. Excluding a single loss to Westminster, the Behrend Cubs have blazed the courts beyond :even the most optimistic predictions. Coach Sims is engineering a miracle that is raising eyebrows all over the Erie area —.one reason why the .Point Park contest is being held at the fieldhouse for greater attendance. Until then, the sureshot team of Greg Vaughn, Michael Powell, Ernie Cooper, Kirk Farbacher, and others will keep Cubs’ op ponents busy every moment they face each other on the court. Above, Michael Powell drives hard down court. ©A pensive Sibley “Shep” Robinson sits out a game—eying the photographer and her camera as she catches his eye daring a recent home game. it’s H4Pr f Hl|li , #nn* &fAWWLOMC£f OPEN Mm RESTAURANTS • 4041 Buffalo Road 24 HOURS! Page Three
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