Vol. 26 No. 3 PSH celebrates 25th anniversary Elin Marcel Capital Times Staff Students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered at Penn State Harrisburg as the college celebrated its 25th Anniversary Oct. 4-5 with speeches, dances, sports events and ceremonies. With clouds and an occasional plane in the skies over Penn State Harrisburg, the Convocation Ceremony began Saturday, Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. in the Sculpture Garden. The ceremony, which featured keynote speakers Joab Thomas, President of Penn State University, and Ruth Leventhal, Provost and Dean of Penn State Harrisburg, drew a crowd of about 60. Trinity Brass, a brass ensemble, provided background music as a processional of about 80 faculty members attired in full academic regalia opened the event Thomas, whose speech was punctuated by the roar of airplanes from die airport, described the future of Penn State Harrisburg with two ideas. "Be careful where you aim-you might get there," Thomas said, adding "The Sexual harassment scrutinized T.J. Brightman Capital Times Staff After a week's worth of controversy and two days of emotional and gripping testimony played out through the camera's lens, all eyes are riveted on the nation's capitol. It is as if the public has been handed a giant cliffhanger. The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet tomorrow night regarding the next possible United States Supreme Court Justice, Judge Clarence Thomas. Thomas and the rest of the world await the outcome as this great drama unfolds. And before the dust settled, two Penn State Harrisburg professors talked about Faculty votes on Karen M. Putt Capital Times Staff The question of implementing a diversity requirement was put to a vote amid both student and faculty voices calling for more debate on the issue with the ballots due on Oct. 18. Nearly 40 faculty members and two students debated the pros and cons of the diversity proposal for almost two hours during their Oct 1 meeting. Bill Stoner, a graduate student in Cap ital T Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg future ain't what it used to be." Thomas quoted baseball mogul Yogi Berra, who said "'lt's dangerous to make predictions, especially about the future.'" Despite Berra’s warning, Thomas predicted change in higher education. According to Thomas, profound innovations will occur in the classroom over the next ten years. Thomas suggested that teachers and students will communicate by telecommunications systems both during and outside of class, changing the role of teachers. "It is important for all of us to dream about the future," Thomas said. "Don't be afraid to establish high goals." Thomas stressed the importance of quality in the future of Penn State. "The future of the campus depends on the quality of leadership...the quality of faculty leadership...the quality of alumni and supporters," Thomas said. Thomas urged listeners to recognize the value of investing in the university's future. "Make the whole greater than the sum See Anniversary, page 3 the questions raised, and what will ultimately be discussed in tomorrow's history books. Robert J. Bresler, professor of public policy, said there are two issues at hand in the Thomas case, the first being the sexual harassment question, and the other, he called "sexual McCarthyism,” which he defined as guilty just by being charged with a crime. "I'm not convinced this is [was] the best way to deal with this issue," Bresler said, "lliis way only damages all of the participants.” Bresler said the Senate Judiciary Committee should have handled the charges themselves and not let the case community psychology, questioned the group about what sort of representation students have had. "I really think you ought to focus on the students," he told the faculty. "Maybe offer them some open forums." James Hudson, chair of faculty council, said there were student representatives involved in the debates last spring, but the faculty had heard little feedback from the student body as a whole. Some faculty spoke in favor of more student involvement, saying they should Penn State University President Joab Thomas discusses the future of the campus at the convocation ceremony in the Sculpture Garden during the 25th Anniversary celebration. reach the proportions it did. "It is best to handle these events behind closed doors," he said. "There was no reason for this to go public." Theodora R. Graham, associate professor of humanities and English, tuned in more to the sexual harassment issue and said women across the country have been "galvanized," and to an extent, so have some men. "People are more aware of this [sexual harassment] and it's interesting to see that such a strong case had to bring this out," Graham said. "The ripple effect that this is going to have will open up many areas and free both men and women to discuss diversity be brought into the process, and calling them "well rounded, articulate and knowledgeable of the diversity problem.” Those speaking against the proposal said it is not the best approach to diversity for our student population, calling it "an insult which assumes the students are prejudice." "We're not dealing with 18-year-old freshmen," said Robert Bresler, head of public affairs. "We don't have to tell them how to prepare for the world, I think they know what it's about." mes this issue in ways they were not able to before." When asked whether she felt that this newfound awareness about sexual harassment would cause some uneasiness or tension between men and women in the workplace, she said there might be some caution in establishing close friendships. "It’s not good for male and female relations," she said. But she was quick to add, "When it comes down to comments that are inappropriate and the coolness factor, the coolness will eventually go away." And what about the many questions issue The proposal in question was written in response to a 1990 mandate by University Park calling for the implementation of a diversity requirement by the campus. The proposal defines cultural diversity as "difference or variety in ethnicity, language, race, religion, gender, age, differently abled or sexual orientation, social class and global and regional perspectives." If passed, the proposal October 14,1991 Photo by John Rudy See Thomas, page 10 See Diversity, page 4
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