Penn State Behrend Colleg VOLUMEXXXIII NUMBER 11 Lane Plans Retirement After 32 Years Of Service By Judy Bush Collegian Staff Writer Benjamin Lane, associate pro fessor of English, is retiring this spring after 32 years of service to Behrend College. Lane has been an English pro fessor, Director of Admissions, and Dean of Student Affairs, along with many other positions. He has seen many changes come to Behrend and has contributed greatly to some of them. Lane came to Behrend in 1953. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State. He was hired as an english pro fessor for the two-year Electrical Engineering and Technology pro grams then offered at Behrend Center. Throughout his career, Lane has consistently been an innovator of new programs and a seeker of new directions for Behrend. He helped shape the history of Behrend and Behrend’s face as we now know it. In the 1950’5, Ben Lane led the charge on University Park to allow Behrend graduates to receive their degrees here, without traveling the five and one half hours (the thruway wasn’t built) to State College. He helped in- Behrend Plans Master’s Program By Julie Reynolds Collegian Staff Writer A Master’s program in Com munications is possible for Behrend College. It would be premature to guess when this pro gram might be implemented because it is in the planning stage only, said Dr. Terry Warburton, person in charge of the com munications major. “It is not a project that is thrown together overnight,” War burton said. The program’s final structure will result from many additions and deletions by people involved in the program, he said. In addition to many individuals shaping the program, other fac tors include money for additional faculty, facilities, resources, and a variety of university processes in volving funding and approval. Warburton said the program will be a continuation of skills ap propriate to being a professional in the communications field. The program will attract undergraduates looking for addi- troduce the first social degree pro grams to Behrend. Lane was Dean of Student Af fairs for 17 years. At the time the position was created, there was no student involvement in the government of the university, and After 32 years at Behrend Colli counts campus development. tional skills, different kinds of positions, or higher level entry positions. The program will include research-related skills not provid ed by undergraduate study and focus more on the application of communication skills rather than theory. Warburton expressed hopes that the program will attract other areas of the community as well. If the program is set up properly, it will atract people already working in communications who are look ing for promotion, advancement, or the necessary skills to perform their present job better, he said. Finally, the program could at tract undergraduates and profes sionals from elsewhere. “l hope we would have the resources to design a program that would be attractive to areas out side the regions as well,” Warbur ton said. “The object is not to create a program that is to specifically service the Erie market, but many other areas as 1 well.” I STATION ROAD, ERIE, PA 16563 no student representation in the University Senate. Ben Lane was the first viable link between students and administration. Lane also changed the face of Behrend by introducing us to the arts. He mixed his strong personal -4retttst , • ;e, English Professor Ben Lane re- Marande heads Mossbauer Research By Paula Maus Collegian Staff Writer Dr. Robert P. Marande, assis tant professor of physics, has been conducting Mossbauer Spec troscopy Research. Marande explained that Mossbauer Spectroscopy is: “...research on the glass phase of liquid crystal and polymeric materials.” In simpler terms, various substances are subject to gamma radiation. The absorption level of gamma rays in the substance is then studied and compared with the level in other materials. The research takes place in Nick 110 which was formely called the “Laser Lab”. It will be moved to the Hammermill-Zum Buildings upon it’s completion. The name of the lab implies the use of laser equipment, however, they are not used for this research. A multi channel analyzer, a gamma ray source, a gamma ray detector and other high technology equipment is interfaced with an Apple HE' thwi interprets all in ~ta. Behrend students of various majors (two physics, one interest in the arts with his student involvement, and initiated the first Behrend Players and'the first literary magazine. He remembers that one of the plays, “Marriage Proposal,” was done on stage in Erie Hall with three barn doors for the set. Professor Lane remembers when Behrend Center consisted of Erie Hall, Turnbull Hall, the Ad ministration Building, and the theater, all on a dirt road. The theater was the library and stu dent lounge. Speaking of the 1950’5, Lane said, “It was a marvelous, hazy world. Faculty knew every stu dent. Everybody knew everybody. Students lived in a' much more controlled environment.” 'Sfi-.' 5 1 Lane recalls that receptions and dances were numerous. Students organized formal affairs, spring proms, and Christmas dances that were held in Erie Hall. Elaborate decorations, such as a carousel brought in for one prom, and a 25-foot Christmas tree on a turn table, were common. There was total separation of the sexes on campus. Men’s and women’s physical education classes were not even held on the same day to avoid chance pre-med, two electrical engineer ing) assist Marande in his research. “If all goes as planned, these students will present a paper to the American Association of Physics Teachers,” said Marande. John Pastore, one of the five students helping Marande, said, “Even though we are in primary stages of research, I can already In This Issue Behrend Alumnus Runs for Judge page 2 Strangers Dinner Praised...page 6 Entertainment in Erie page 9 All-Stars Hammer Erie Blades page 11 ian meetings in the locker rooms. There were separate dining rooms for male and female students. The 28 female dor mitory students housed in what is now the Administration Building were required to dress formally for dinner, in an outfit that in cluded stockings and heels. Lane remembers the 1960’s as a time when student activism was most influential. “Confrontation was a tactic of communication,” said Lane. “They were sensitive times.” It was in the 1960’s when, also with Lane’s help, The Erie Arts Festival was held at Behrend. “Students organized the whole thing,” noted Lane. Bands played nightly. Famous pianists and singers performed. Arts of all sorts, ceramics, pottery and painting were on exhibit. There were balloon rides and parachutists. The Erie Philhar monic played. There was a circus tent large enough to seat 1,000 people. The affair went on for five days. Professor Lane remembers when Behrend was the only branch campus with a gym continued on page 4 see the benefits for my scholastic advancement. This research has already provided me with the op portunity to experience graduate level work.” The Mossbauer Spectroscopy Research is the first of its kind at Behrend College and has been in continued on page 3 MARCH 28,1985
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