New PSH Niki Bupp Staff Writer The Penn State Harrisburg Women's Enrichment Center will begin a reading discussion group for female inmates at Dauphin County Prison in November. The purpose of this project is to "provide women who have experienced personal crisis with a different medium - the Humanities - with which to develop self expression as they solve their real life problems," said Irene Baird, director of the Harrisburg Women's Enrichment Center. The project director for the women's prison program, Nancy Karlik, said that the reading, writing and discussion groups are "an Giroux talks on issues of diversity; ells to redefine the vision of schooling Renee Jackson Staff Writer Schools must develop "a new language, a new vision" that addresses diversity, difference, and curriculum in the 1990's in the view of Dr. Henry A. Giroux, who lectured at Penn State Harrisburg on October 19. Dr. Giroux, who holds Penn State's Waterbury Chair of Secondary Education at University Park, shared his beliefs and arguments about education in America. He spoke with an audience that nearly filled the auditorium to capacity at his 10 a.m. session. He spent about 10 minutes introducing his topics, then used the remainder of the 90 minute forum to respond to questions that came mainly from education major. "I don't believe that school is simply about training people for work," Giroux said. "We need to redefine the vision of schooling." Much of the needed redefining lies in the areas of diversity and language, Giroux explained. "Difference is about possibilities," Giroux said in discussing multi-literacy for teachers The language of the community needs to be brought back into the schools, he also said. Learning multiple languages will expand students' possibilities rather than limit them, he continued. It will also prepare them to be "citizens of the world." About citizenship in this country, over the last 15 to 20 years, schooling has lost its link to democracy, Giroux said. As the Status of future library revealed; Withheld funds delays project until Fall, 1998 Ed Wevodau Staff Writer The Penn State Harrisburg community should not expect a new library until at least the fall of 1998, Library Division Head Harold B. Shill said in a recent interview with the Capital Times. While the December 1992 Capital Budget bill appropriated $17.3 million for the building of a new library on the PSH campus, the state administration has yet to release the money to the university. Shill expects the library's design and construction to take approximately three to four years after the money has been released. Technically, the state administration may elect not to give the money to Penn State. In that event, the project would be cancelled. However, Shill said he does not foresee this situation. "We will have a new library," Shill said, "but the time line is not clear." Shill points out that the Capital Budget bill often authorizes more projects than can be immediately funded. When this situation occurs, the beneficiaries must be patient. The greater Penn State community has been patient before. The 1988 Capital Budget bill authorized funding for an addition to Pattee library at Main campus. University officials did not receive the money until 1992. In a worst-case scenario, Penn State Erie recieved reading group enriches women inmates opportunity for women to express themselves, increase their self-esteem, and let them find out that other women are going through similiar experiences." The crimes committed by the women at Dauphin County prison are mostly shoplifting and drug abuse crimes. Anyone sentenced for a crime for more than two years will be sent to a state penitentiary. The Women's Enrichment Center, housed in the Penn State Eastgate Center, is part of the Division of Behavioral Sciences and Education. The center opened on April 1, 1994 with a grant set up by the Pennsylvania National Humanities Council. The Harrisburg Women's Enrichment Center is unique in that it focuses activity centers for democratic struggle that they should be, schools should be involved in ongoing debate, he explained An important part of the struggle in education should involve a curriculum, as America needs a "curriculum of inclusion" instead of a "curriculum of exclusion." Those who need to be inlcluded are students such as minorities and women. "What does it mean to learn skills that have no relationship in the world?" Giroux asked. x addressed these issues in education * The necessity of multi-literacy for teachers and students. * The need for schools to become "active places for democratic struggle." * That school curriculums are "in no way applicable to the culture of the '9o's." * That school reforms should come from "the bottom"— from those people actually struggling with the problems. * His vision of the teacher's role and mission. He also spoke of a basic skills curriculum that tends to be offered to groups who are considered subordinate. This kind of education offers a "very limited notion of learning," he said. Another major problem in education is the traditional canons that are taught. "I don't think any knowledge is timeless," Giroux said. He pointed out that the canons are "prescriptions for powerlessness" when passed on in an automatic way by teachers. — They're not scared—they're human funding for their recently completed library nearly twenty years after the money had been appropriated. Shill downplayed the possibility that PSH will experience an excessive waiting period, although nothing has been assured by university officials that the new library is "the number one priority" in the Penn State system. Presently, Penn State lobbyists are asking the Casey administration to release the funds before his term ends. It was Casey who authorized the $17.3 million for the library in the 1992 Capital Budget bill. If the Casey administration does not release the funds, lobbyists will focus their attention on the winner of this fall's gubernatorial election. Shill remains optimistic that either the Singel or Ridge administration would likely release the money. He pointed out Singel' s wife is a Penn State graduate, and Ridge's wife once directed the Erie County Library System, both positive signs for the university. When the funds are released, PSH must raise about $2 million in matching funds, as dictated by law. The Capital Campaign has been established for this purpose. Led by Provost Ruth Levanthal, the Capital Campaign has currently raised $26,000 at several small-scale events. Shill admits concern about Dr. Levanthar s departure at semester's end. Her successor will be expected to assume her role as head of fund-raising. "I am concerned that we maintain mainly on low-income women, those who would not usually attend Humanities classes. 'The humanities program never really offered anything to the low-income population," said Karlik. "The low-income population never had the benefit of a humanities program." In order to better serve the community, the Women's Enrichment Center staff likes to think of the center as a "center without walls. - They will travel to different community groups in addition to holding group meetings at the center. The Women's Enrichment Center meets with the group participants to find out what they are interested in reading. The participants select the topic of their choice. constructions," he said. Bad teaching results when teachers have no options but to use curriculums over which they have no say, Giroux said. Students should be ble to go further than the limitations of the book or syllabus. But it is possible to gain a voice in education through the reform process, Giroux said. "Reforms should begin with a vision and not a method," he told his listeners. In looking to the 21st century, teachers will have to become involved with difference and multiple languages in society while recognizing the national language, Giroux advised education majors Three future teachers in Penn State Harrisburg's education department gave the following responses after the forum when asked which of Giroux' s topics were most important to them: "The concept of shift of power from state and district to community," Theresa Collins said. "The idea thr ',al 1 td _at soci, iteracy ant. citizenship are what he considers the basics of education rather than the 3 she continued. "Education philosophy needs to shift from educating solely for standardized testing," Michael Flick said. "Future teachers need to address the changes in society in each community," Erin Douglass said. For Giroux, teaching was a career "where vision could be realized," he said of his career choice in education. He is responding to the "tension between what school was and what is might become." continuity in contact with thccommunity after her departure," Shill said. "Levanthal had a high level of visibility in thc community and her successor must have the same." The Capital Campaign will begin an internal fundraising project on campus later this year. A public campaign will commence when the $17.3 million has been released. PSH does not have to raise the matching funds before library construction begins. When the $17.3 million has been released, campus administrators will give bidding architects a program statement for the new library. The statement contains instructions and specifications to be included in the library's design. Originally drafted by Shill, the program statement has been modified by a design team of students, staff, and faculty. The final draft should be completed later this year. If the funds have not been released at that time, the program statement will be updated every six months to accommodate new ideas and proposed changes, Shill said. Plans calls for the new library to cover 115,000 square feet, roughly three times the size of the current library. Interested PSH community members may consult a new video and brochure for general information about the new library's proposed design, purpose and services. NEWS WPSH awaits transmitter. WPSH seeks transmitter to carry broadcasts to off-campus community WPSH radio station on the third floor of Olmsted waits anxiously for university funding so it can be a "real" radio station. Jim Mann, WPSH Station Manager and a senior in Public Policy, talked at length about what it will take to get the station on the air in Harrisburg. "We've got to get the OK from the administration for funding," Mann said. "Right now, we don't even have faculty willing to maintain the station on a full-time basis." WPSH can currently be heard through university electrical current, in the Olmsted Building and the dormitories, at 0630 on your AM dial. "What it'll take is to get a plan OK'd by the division. Have the board at University Park approve it, and get a license from the FCC," Mann said. "We start off small; 100 watts digital stereo would put us 10 miles out every direction in the Harrisburg Willard-Holt, from Page I her husband and two sons "I still live in Philadelphia half the week, and I live here half the week, so it's kind of creating a new lifestyle for all of us," Dr. Willard- Holt said about adjusting to the commute. "Fortunately, my husband The Women's Enrichment Center staff will then work with some of the Penn State Harrisburg faculty to develop a focused and appropriate reading list. So far, the Center's program has worked successfully at two centers: senior citizens at B'nai B'rith Apartments and at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg. Irene Baird said that the YWCA program, aimed at jobless and homeless women, went so well that it created the model for the prison program. A future program already in the works will take the Women's Enrichment Center and its volunteers to the Latino community. The group participants read hooks by authors like Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. These books lead the women into a discussion Chris McCorkel Staff Writer is very progressive and does probably more than his share around the house. One son is in college, but the other son is fairly resourceful. He takes care of himself, so I have a lot of help. Willard-Holt would like to do some professional writing in the future, and share with others what she has learned from her students. She of their own lives and how the books relate to their own lives The director of PSI! Centers, Karlik, received her master's degree from PSI-I and has been involved in the social services for many years. From working with child abuse to serving on a parent's anonymous committee, Karlik has had a number of experiences dealing with issues faced by the low-income population. Karlik said the Women's Enrichment Center is in need of monetary contributions and volunteers. Volunteering could include leading a group, help writing proposals, or shelving books at the center. For information, contact Harrisburg Women's Enrichment Center at 772-3590. Mann said that the Humanities Division could even make a station part of the curriculum: "...getting the station and Humanities to work together would make us more a part of this college." Since Penn State Harrisburg does not have sports or big club activities, Mann said he thought that WPSH could help the image here: "It would finally put this school on the map." According to Mann, WPSH has already got what it takes to have a transmitter and go to FM. "We're already running 30 hours a week with 13 regular shows, our DJs are dedicated and entertaining, we've got an awesome music selection...the campus just needs to give us their support," he said. Mann said that there are 18 college radio stations in Pennsylvania that operate under SOO watts. Will WPSH ever become a real radio station? "There's a good chance," said Mann. "If the school gives the OK, we could be up in six months. If I can help to get this station going, I'll be a happy camper," he said. also would like to help schools be more responsive to the needs of each individual child. 'That would involve children with disabilities, gifted kids, children of color, any kind of labeled child," Willard-Holt said. "We need to get beyond the label and not let the label be a limit."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers