Behrend collegian. (Erie, Pa.) 1971-1988, October 27, 1988, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    pennState
Thursday, October 27, 1988
Smoking Ban to Take Effect
by Emily Koch
Collegian Staff Writer
Penn State smokers will have to
go outside following the
implimentation of a new university
policy will which ban most indoor
smoking.
The new policy, which will take
effect April 1, 1989, will prohibit
smoking in all university structures
with the exception of residential
buildings. The policy will prohibit
smoking in all classrooms,
hallways, lobbys, private offices
and restrooms.
Smoking will be permitted in
university-owned apartments and
residence halls, only when all
roomates agree that it is acceptable.
It also remains a possibility that
smoking will be permitted in
rooms used for dinners and social
affairs.
This far-reaching policy was
first initiated by the Health
Promotion Strategic Study Group,
established by Penn State President
Bryce Jordan in 1986.
The group's objective was to
determine if Penn State should
establish a health policy
prohibiting smoking. The group
set up a six-member committee to
study the effects of smoking to
both primary and secondary users.
The policy originally called for a
one year grace period which would
have provided separate smoking and
non-smoking lounges. The group
finally decided not to ifurther
explore this idea because of
problems which could develop in
determining which areas to set
aside for smokers.
The committee suggested that
the university wait until spring to
begin the program.
"Penn State does not want to
force people to go outside to smoke
in the cold of the late fall or
winter,” a report stated.
The new program will be
impimentcd in several phases.
As of October 10, all cigarette
BB Gun Vandal
by Laura Weaver
Collegian Staff Writer
Several minor incidents have
been reported to Police and Safety
over the past weeks.
Niagra Hall was target of an
unknown vandal on October 5.
Armed with a BB gun, the mystery
marksman fired repeatedly at the
eastern window of the lobby. The
cracked window will be replaced.
A minor fire was the object of ,
concern in a Behrend Science Lab
on October 7. It seems that a
student conducting an experiment
with melting wax got the wax a bit
to close to the source of heat,
causing a fire. Luckily for all
parties involved, a quick- thinking
instructor was on the scene and
extinguished the fire.
On Friday October 14 a.party in
the Wintergrecn Gorge was broken
up by police officials from Behrend.
Between thirty and forty people
;W CONSTRUCTION
Governor
by James Martin
Behrend is one big step
closer to building the $lO
million multi-purpose' and
recreational building which has
been in the works for several
years.
Dean and Provost John
Lilley told the Collegian
Tuesday, that GovemorCasey
has, signed a bill which'
guarantees the funding.'
necessary for building-the .
complex.
The new structure, to .be
located on the; east side of
Jordan Road, will include
facilities such as a large.
machines were to have been
removed throughout the Penn State
system. Later, all ash receptacles
will be removed and smoking
cessation classes offered in order to
help ease the transition for
smokers.
All those attending or visiting
Penn State will be asked to abide
by the policy.
In a similiar move, the city of
Erie will impliment its own public
smoking policy effective
November 11. The Erie City
Council unanimously approved of
the ordinance last May allowing for
a six-month grace period in which
city employers could gradually
enact the new law. The smoking
ban will include public buildings,
city officers, and industrial sites.
Despite the controversial nature
of Penn State’s new smoking
policy, a surprising large percentage
of the Behrend community appears
to be in agreement with the new
policy.
"My own feeling basically is
positive. There is conclusive
evidence that second-hand smoking
is dangerous,” said Dean of Student
Services, Chris Reber.
Reber did, however, point to one
drawback in the new system.
"I wish that we could find at
least one or two comon lounges
that were well-venilated," noted
Reber, who admits he can think of
no appropriate areas.
Others, such as English
instructor, Greg Morris, share
Rebel's view.
"Basically I’m in favor of it.
There are understandable objections,
... but the health benefits outway
the inconvenience," said Morris.
Some individuals take a stronger
position.
"It’s disgusting," said one
student. "They have the right to
smoke, but not in my presence."
From another student: "As a
smoker, I think its a good idea
Continued on page 3
were involved with the alcoholic
gathering. Numerous citations were
issued, including twelve for
underage drinking.
That same night an individual
pulled a fire alarm in Lawrence
Hall. The building's occupants
were awakened by the false alarm at
1:10 am.
Officer Todd Allen is pleased to
report the success of his nominee
Christine Huff, as a winner of the
Governor's Volunteer Award. On
Friday, October 14, Huff was
rewarded for her participation in
numerous campus programs
involving alcohol abuse education.
Huff was a founding member
and the first president of Behrend's
Students Against Drunk Driving
(SADD) program. John A.
Pugliano won a second-place award.
Third-place awards were given to
Chanin Beisel, Andrew Festa,
Patricia Landry and Michelle
McClellan.
Approves $lO Million Building
gymnasium, an indoor pool,
classrooms; raquetball facilities
and offices. In addition, the
gymnasium is expected to seat
several thousand- people.
Construction is expected to be
completed within 5 to 7 years
Lilley credits Senator Buzz
Andreseski and Representative
Ben Dombrowski yrtth getting
the construction project
included bn the $l3 billion bill
which Governor Casey signed
intolavV. \
The next step,-according to
Lilley, is to have an architect
approved, which he described
as a highly political process.
He explained that if an.
STATION ROAD, ERIE, PA 16563
Beginning April 1, lighting up will be out at Penn State. (Photo by Beth Bengtson)
Barnes Picks Busk With Reservations
Conservative editor visits Behrend
Fred Barnes, political commentator
architect is approved soon, the
school will get more building
for its money than if the
process is delayed and the $lO
million is subjected to
inflation.
"The important thing," said
Lilley. '.'ls that we now have a
legal basis (for the new
building).
Dr. Lilley explained that
because the new recreational
buHding.is still several years in
the future that $1.3 million has
been approved for an Erie Hall
rennovation project. Plans call
for extending the court in both
.width and length. The Erie
Hall rennovation is expected to.
begin in May of 1990 with
construction to be completed
in the fall of 1990.
Funding for . a more
immediate capital improvement
project, the rennovation of the
Reed Building’s first floor,
was . also approved on
Monday, October 24. The $.6.
million project, expected to
begin later this semester, calls
for building office spaces fox
clubs, organizations, personal
counseling and career planning
and placement
Other changes call for a
new RUB Desk area as well as
for a game room and t-v.
lounge.
by Dawn Davis
Collegian Staff Writer
Political commentator Fred
Barnes thinks George Bush will
win the presidential election, but he
isn't too excited about iL
The senior editor of the political
journal "The New Republic" shared
his views on the Reagan presidency
and the presidential race during his
October 20 lecture at Behrend.
Barnes’ speech entitled The
Conservative Era: Is There a
Future?" was part of the Provost's
Speaker Series.
Barnes opened with some
comments on his work place—
Washington, D.C. "It's a city of
Northern charm and Southern
efficiency.... The guiding principal
of Washington journalism is 'lf you
don't have anything nice to
say...lct's hear it."’
"The Reagan presidency is, on
the balance, successful," Barnes
said. "Reagan is the most
ideological president of the century,
but not a deep thinker or a broad
thinker," he added.
Although Barnes thinks Reagan
will go down in history as a
successful president, he feels it
won't be because of Reagan's hard
work. "Reagan is lazy," he said.
Barnes attributes much of
Reagan's succe_s not to his
working habits, but to his sense of
humor. "Reagan is the most
entertaining politician in the
country....lt helps that he is able to
warm things over with his story
telling ability," Barnes said.
"The economy, I think, is in
extremely good shape," Barnes said,
giving much of the credit to
Reagan. He cited full employment
and low interest rates as some
examples of Reagan's
accomplishments.
While Barnes feels the Reagan
administration has a "terribly good"
record on human rights, he thinks it
has "an absolutely abysmal" record
on fighting terrorism, although that
was one of his goals when he came
to Washington. "It’s hard to run a
tough anti-terrorism program when
the president doesn't raise any
objections to it (terrorism)," Bames
said. He called the idea of selling
arms to Iran in exchange for
hostages "really repellent."
Volume XXXVII, No. 4
Barnes criticized Reagan's
treatment of the underclass.
"Reagan’s idea of the homeless is
Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos," he
said.
In spite of Reagan’s
shortcomings, Bames feels "that the
1980’s will be remembered as the
Reagan era, largely because of his
dominant ideas.... His ideas are even
catching on in the Soviet Union."
"Reagan's idea of the
homeless is Ferdinand
and Imelda Marcos."
Bames credited Reagan with "the
best relations with the Soviet
Union since World War n." He says
the Star Wars program has pushed
the Soviets to make concessions.
He also credited Reagan with the
worldwide resurgence of capitalism.
Commenting on the presidential
candidates, Barnes, usually the
conservative voice of the liberal
"The New Republic," suspects that
George Bush "will not be a
particularly effective president...he
is not a political colossus." He
called the vice president "Jerry Ford
without the pizazz" and "a modest
man with much to be modest
about."
Bames didn't claim to be a
Dukakis fan, however. "Mike
Continued on page 2
inSID E:
School Adopted 2
A Select ‘Few 4
J. Madison Davis 5
New FM Station 1 0
NHL Preview 1 1