Amnesty Concert Rocks Philly By Bernie Mixon Tens of thousands of fans jammed RFK stadium in Philadelphia for the first U.S. stop of the Human Rights Now! World Tour, a concert designed to bring attention to the countless prisoners of conscience around the world. For the performers, which included Sting, Peter Gabriel, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman, and Youssou N'Dour, the message was more important than the entertainment. Sting, who was one of the first performers to sign onto the tour, noted that, recently, rock stars have too frequently been asked to take part in shows where "they say let's all hold hands and make the world a better place." "The logic of these things escapes As ticket holders entered the stadium, they were flanked left and right by personnel passing out patches and an actual copy of the 30 articles of the Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the United Nations. Tables were also set up at the entrances to encourage fans to sign a petition in support of the declaration. Peter Gabriel's rendition of "Biko," a song dedicated to Stephen Biko, slain in South Africa in 1977, was welcomed whole-heartedly by the audience who raised clenched fists in the air. There were even some who joined hands in rememberance of the slain South African leader. Gabriel said Amnesty's message of hope was particularly important to the younger generation. Amnesty officials have repeatedly asserted that the organization wants to raise consciousness, not money, and it is using the current tour to highlight the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. More than 73,000 tickets were sold for the event. Philadelphia was the first American stop on the tour, which will cover 14 nations. The Patriot News and Associated Press contributed to this report. Need to earn extra cash? Have a vehicle and com mute from the Harrisburg area? There is presently a position open for someone who is able to provide transportation for a physi cally challenged student a maximum of three days per week. Student is willing to work around your schedule; $25 weekly For more information, please contact Felicia Brown-Haywood at 948-6260. Penn Staters Attend Amnesty Concert By Bernie Mixon Along with the thousands of fans that crammed into RFK stadium in Philadelphia to attend the first American stop on the Human Rights Now! World Concert Tour, students from Penn State Harrisburg were in force to stand up for human rights as well. Cheryl Phillips, education major, was among those who attended and for her the attraction was to learn more about the individual freedoms denied to others. "A lot of people went because of the four headliners, but that doesn't apply to me," Phillips said. "It's important that the voices of many people be stronger than the people who rule." For Mark Olenick, senior electrical engineering technology major, the concept and purpose of Amnesty International is not new. "This concert was about standing up for the common person and not allowing hypocrisy to dictate and the realization that certain human rights are inalienable," he said. Olenick said, "It's important that the voices of many people be stronger than the people who rule." He said that the one problem he sees with events like these is the excitement of the moment and the disinterest after it is all over. "There are many people who will sign their names to a petition and a week later they will have changed their mind, " he said. "Physical support is really more than signing a petition." Stephanie D. Thomas, senior elementary education major, said she saw this concert as the "event of the season" and readily admits that the chance to see the performers was her primary motivation. "At first, I went to see the performers because I didn't fully understand what the cause was all about," she said. "Now I understand what it's all about. It's about Stephen Biko. It's about Nelson Mandela. It's about the many prisoners of conscience around the world." Thomas said that she along with Phillips and Olenick plan to join Amnesty International and help the cause for human rights. "I realize how wrong the persecution for what you believe in is," said Thomas. CUB Offers Exercise Equipment Just Like the Spa! By Michelle Sutton Thousands of dollars a year are being spent by Americans to become physically fit, lose weight, or to build mounds of muscles. Health fitness clubs like Fitness America, Slim Time Spa, and Wolf's Gym, formally Gold's Gym, offer healthy activities to health-conscious Americans. Penn State Harrisburg students are in luck. They have access to raquetball courts, aerobic classes, and olympic free and universal weights, as well as a full basketball court. That's right! - and best of all, it's already paid for in your tuition. No extra cost to take one of the student-run aerobic classes that are open to men and women five days a week. The multi-purpose room is equipped with mirrors, mats, and a sound system. This room can also double as a martial arts training area or exercise area , as well as for aerobics. Four raquetball courts, one of which doubles as a walleyball court, are open to faculty, staff, and students. Walk-ins are welcome, but anyone who has ever been over there around 5:00 p.m. , a very busy time, knows that reservations are accepted in room 121. The fourth court serves as a challenge court. The weight room, located on the second floor, is a popular hang-out for the newly formed Capital Iron club and any other male or female students who wish to tone or build muscles. The room is equipped with 2200 pounds of Olympic free weights and dumbells, two multi-stationed universal machines, and three adjustable weight machines which were built by Capital engineering students. The CUB also houses a full basketball court . At noon on weekdays, the court is heavily in use with many students who go to just shoot hoops, said Duane Crider, director of Recreation and Athletics. The court also doubles as volleyball and badminton courts. The hours are 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends. Crider also added that these can be adapted to the students' needs. In addition to fitness areas, the CUB also offers an alternative to studying in the library or the Gallery Lounge , which is often scheduled for lectures and art showings. This quiet study lounge contains a few periodicals and comfortable seating. A game room is also located on the main floor and is equipped with ping pong tables, pool tables, and foosball. Fruit juice and soda machines are also available. The CUB, unlike health spas, sponsors many varsity sports and intramural activites. Men's soccer, basketball, baseball, and women's volleyball are strong sports for Penn State Harrisburg. Intramural sports may include softball, flag football, volleyball, and ping-pong. Crider also initiated a social dance class and a fencing class last year for a minimal fee. The CUB offers many other pluses over other health facilities, along with free lockers and sports equipment for student use . Plus each student, staff, or faculty member may bring up to two guests. It is within walking distance of Olmsted and the dorms, and most of it is already paid for! With all these advantages and more, why should you go anywhere else? Activities Spice Up Dorm Life By Joyce Povey Do you ever find yourself complaining to your friends that there's never anything to do? Or walk down your hall only to fin(' that none of your friends are in their rooms? Well, why not join them in your floor activities planned by your R.A.? The first floor Church R.A. Gene McCoy has combined his student activities with the third floor Church R.A. Mark Olenick's. They are in the process of planning a trip to Three Mile Island and they are also showing two video cassettes on AIDS tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6. Olenick is also trying to organize Lotus and Word Perfect seminars for sometime in November. It's a battle of the halls with McCoy and third floor Wrisberg R.A. Saul Pellicano. They have already kicked off their sports competition with a football game claiming McCoy's first floor the victors, (Saul notes that it was only by two points!) leaving the frisbee and volleyball competitions to be organized around their athletes' schedules, Joanne Smith, Wrisberg's first floor R.A., is teaming up with Church's second floor R.A. Kim Ahner for a Pictionary tournament sometime in October. They are also planning a floor social to be held in November. Smith and Scott Squeglia, second floor Wrisberg's R.A. have a male female question and answer session set for Oct. 13. Almost all of the R.A.s wanted to stress the fact that they are open to any and all suggestions that students have. They want to organize events that interest students. So there you have it folks, you can no longer complain that there's nothing to do around here. So why not get involved and show your floor's spirit? After all, there are only so many times you can go to Spanky's!
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