The Capital Times
Vol. 35, No.l
1995 PSH graduates celebrate commencement
by Danielle C. Hollister
Co-Editor
Traffic came to a stand
still on Chocolate Ave. as
Penn State Harrisburg grad
uates, friends and family
gathered to celebrate the
1995 commencement cere
mony at the Hershey Theatre
on Sat. Jan. 6, 1996.
Once inside the elaborate
theater, 132 baccalaureate
degree candidates and 100
master degree candidates
prepared for their gradua
tion. The commencement
ceremony began promptly at
9:30 am with the procession
al of students lead by profes
sors carrying banners repre
senting each division.
The students in their
black caps and gowns filed
into the theater filled with
their families and friends
anxiously awaiting the big
event. Provost and Dean Dr.
John G. Bruhn welcomed
everyone and introduced the
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Robert
J. Bresler, professor of public
policy.
Dr. Bresler offered his
"sincere congratulations to
"Blizzard of '96" blasts midstate, delaying first day of classes at PSH
Penn State Harrisburg
Physical Plant employees worked
in rotating shifts around the clock
Sunday through Wednesday to get
the campus open.
Crews spent days plowing
and shoveling all over campus.
Some students even contributed to
the snow removal efforts on
Tuesday.
"Library of the Future" projected to become reality at PSH campus in 1999
"This is the single most important event in the history of college," Dr. Harold B. Shill, head of division of library and information services, said.
By Cecilia Fuller
Contributor
Right now it's only a small
sign in the middle of a grassy
patch of land. Nothing much
happens there. Last November a
bagpiper stood near it, honoring
America's Veterans by playing
"Amazing Grace."
In the next few years this
small sign will be replaced by
Penn State Harrisburg's
"Library of the Future," with
opening projected for the sum
mer of 1999.
"This is the single most
important event in the history of
the college," Dr. Harold B. Shill,
head of the division of library
and information services, said.
"It will begin to transform this
from an Air Force Base to an
academic institution."
"The library will be a mag
net to attract and retain students
and faculty," Shill said. "The
change will be profound."
Gov. Robert P. Casey
released $17.33 million in state
capital budget funds in January
of 1995 for the construction
costs of the library which will
house more than just library
books.
There will be a Special
all members of the graduat
ing class" and he recognized
"the sacrifice, hardships and
long hours" that the gradu
ates have endured to get
here today.
He cautioned the gradu
ates, "Do not under any cir
cumstances settle for medi
ocrity."
Dr. Bresler said that they
should always strive for
more than the ordinary.
"The mind is like a mus
cle," he said. "It can atrophy
from disuse and develop if
challenged."
Dr. Bresler said that the
challenge for this generation
is a moral, intellectual and
spiritual reawakening of
society. In closing he said,
"Good luck and God's speed
to each and every one of
In addition to the many
leadership roles he has
served in within the School
of Public Affairs, Dr. Bresler
is currently National Affairs
Editor and regular columnist
for the magazine LISA Today.
He also provides political
commentary for numerous
Collections room, a government
documents area/office, a multi
media area, a microforms room,
a maps/geographic information
systems area, a curriculum labo
ratory and a children's area.
There will be 10 group
study rooms, 40 faculty/gradu
ate private studies, and two fac
ulty group study rooms, and
593 public seats. Personal com
puter users will have access to
the Penn State network through
213-45 carrels with data ports.
"It will both change habits
of learning at Penn State
Harrisburg, and provide enor
mously increased access to elec
tronic resources of all types,"
Shill said. "This is essentially a
one building college. The bulk
of the activity is here in the
Olmsted building. This will give
more of a collegiate feel."
There will be 45,030 square
foot of space just for books. The
present library only has 32,700,
including administrative
spaces," he said.
Faye Youngmark, head of
circulations, said the new library
will be a big improvement. With
more space will come more
organization, more resources,
and quiet study area that can be
radio and TV stations
Dr. Bruhn presented Dr.
Bressler with a Nittany Lion
statue to thank him for
speaking at the graduation
The crowd broke into
applause when Dr. Bruhn
recognized Frank Holzel, an
Electrical Engineering
Technology graduate, who
was the only student in this
graduating class to maintain
a perfect 4.0 C.P.A. through
out his college career. Three
other students graduated
with Highest Distinction(see
the end of this article for
list).
Student Government
Association President Duane
Brooks spoke to the gradu
ates about their future.
"Let this day be a new
beginning of what may
come," he said. "Life is short
Make the best of it today
because they're may not
always be a tomorrow."
Brooks concluded his
speech by saying, "Good
luck and congratulations to
everyone and remember be
Penn State proud."
The feeling of Penn State
kept quiet.
"It will be more conve
nient," Youngmark said. "It will
be more convenient. We're
working in an old Air Force
building. This will be designed
for the technology. We can
spread things out."
"Circulation and reserve
materials will be in separate
areas," she said. "It will make us
more productive."
Her staff is looking forward
to the change, with dedicated
areas to work on reserves.
"Some of our work won't be
out in the open, and with priva
cy it will be easier to get work
done without interruptions,"
she said.
"It's so far in the future, I'm
not sure I believe it," Carolee
Roman, who works in technical
services, said. Her department
moved into the rooms vacated
by the Registrar's Office in the
fall of 1995.
"The new library will mean
better working conditions. We'll
feel more a part of the library,
more accessible," she said.
"Work flow wills° a little
smoother."
Book ordering goes on con
tinually, she said. "We've been
Obititus Dictum
proud was also conveyed by
the Penn State Harrisburg
Alumni Society President,
Sharon Cole
"In a few moments you
will join the largest alumni
association in the world,"
Cole, who is a 1989 social sci
ence graduate said. "You are
never far from a strong net
work of friends ready to help
you be your best."
She said that Penn State
Harrisburg alumni are a
global community with
graduates living in 34 coun
tries around the world.
Cole closed her speech
with the "Penn State tradi-
She yelled, "We are!"
And the graduates
roared back, "Penn State!"
Cole said, "Thank you."
And the graduates
responded, "You're wel-
come."
Before the ceremony
began, the Penn State proud
students shared memories of
their college experience with
each other. They also talked
about their feelings on grad
uating and what the future
ordering like crazy. The bulk
starts in October and goes in
until February. We'll have the
space we really need."
Some books and periodicals
are in storage until the new
library opens, she said.
"There'll be more ambiance
and more art," Roman said.
"There will be a gallery."
The State Data Center
Operations Unit, which collects
census and demographic data
throughout Pennsylvania, will
be housed in the library build
ing.
"We will have the two major
information units of the state in
the same facility," Shill said.
"The library and the data cen
ter."
Businesses frequently access
both the library and the data
center when making marketing
decisions. Two technology
enhanced classrooms, with
satellite video conferencing, will
also be available for use.
New services will include a
document delivery/drop-off
photocopy center, a
reference/consultation counter,
electronic information worksta
tion clusters, self-service copier
nooks and a self-service copi-
ceremony at Hershey Theatre
Dr. Bruhn awards diplomas to graduates at the 1995 commencement ceremony
holds for each of them
"It's great," Jennifer Collins, psy
chology graduate, said. "It's exciting
and I even got a full time job at the
detention center."
"I'm really excited," Elaine Risner,
communications graduate, said.
Feelings of excitement were mixed
with nervousness and relief.
"Actually I'm scared to death,"
Nicole Tetrault, psychology graduate,
said.
er/ fax room. A snack bar in the
building will be available for
patrons.
"It's important to build the
flexibility for media," Shill said
"We're planning to be able to
add electronic resources that
don't exit today."
In the August 1995 Heindel
newsletter, Shill announced,
"The 'Program Statement for the
New Library/Information
Center Building,' a 124 page
planning document that speci
fies the architectural require
ments for Penn State
Harrisburg's 'Library of the
Future,' has been completed by
a twelve person programming
committee... An architectural
selection board, to be appointed
by Gov. Thomas Ridge, will
choose an architect on behalf of
the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The architect will
use the program statement as
the basis for designing the new
library/information center."
The state appropriation
funds will only cover the cost of
the building construction.
Private funds are being sought
to complete the furnishing of
the interior. A target of $2 mil
lion has been set for donations
"It's a wonderful feeling to finally
get it over with," David Kostiak, crimi
nal justice graduate.
Some graduates did not hesitate to
express their true feelings about this
monumental occasion.
"Just let me outta here," Greg
Smith, communications graduate, said
"I'm surprised," Joanne S'avini,
behavioral science graduate, said. "I
didn't think it would ever happen."
F. cts about the "blizzard of 96"
• Gov. Thomas Ridge declared a state of
emergency that closed roads in 47 counties
on Sunday that remained in effect until 6 am
Tuesday in 35 counties
• This was the worst January snowstorm in
Harrisburg city's history.
• This blizzard topped the 20 inches of snow
that fell in January 1945.
• It almost broke the record 25 inches of
snow that was set in February 1983
Snowfall accumulations:
• Harrisburg - 22.2 inches
• Lancaster - 28 inches
• York - 38 inches
• State College - 17 inches
January 15, 1996
to be raised before the projected
opening in 1999.
In order to install the
advanced technology, corporate
pledges and fund raising din-
ners had raised more than
$500,000 by the fall of 1995. An
employee campaign had raised
pledges of almost $130,000.
Sandy Friedman, director of
development and university
relations, told Shill the
faculty/staff campaign is open
ended and new pledges may be
still be made. A five-year payroll
deduction plan has been a pop
ular option.
Private funds raised will
also provide for collection
development and preservation
and unrestricted funds for facul
ty/staff development and com
munity outreach initiatives, Shill
said.
Anyone interested in mak
ing a contribution may contact
Sandy Friedman, Director of
Development and University
Relations at PSH. The address is
Penn State Harrisburg, 777 W.
Harrisburg Pike, Middletown,
PA 17057-4898. The phone num
ber for the Development and
University Relations office is
(717) 948-6316.