api al Lim Vol. 35, N 0.4 Rep. Gekas answers questions from Penn State students, faculty and staff in Washington, D.C. Penn State President emphasizes significance of PSU to midstate by Jody Jacobs and Ann E. Mease Staff Reporters The President of Penn State University, Dr. Graham Spanier arrived at the Harrisburg Hi l ton Thursday, Feb. 29, on the first stop of a day long tour of events to develop a stronger partner- ship with the community, stu dents and business leaders in the surrounding area. Dr. Spanier spoke to the Susquehanna All lance business group at a breakfast meeting with over 300 busi - ness leaders from all over the Harrisburg area. This was the Lion Ambassadors promote PSH to visitors By Danielle C. Hollister Co-Editor Lion Ambassadors have made a den outside the Provost's office. Their den is lined with everything a person could ever want to know about Penn State Harrisburg. Every week day between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. volunteers within the club staff a hospitality table in the lobby of Dr. John Bruhn's office. The table is covered with copies of every PSH publica tion, maps, fact brochures, and even PSU bumper s tic k ers. A volunteer keeps a sign in sheet to record all visitors. Dr. John Bruhn, Penn State Harrisburg Provost and Dean, said he welcomes the presence of this student club at the hospitality table in the lobby of his office. communities during recent visit to local area largest group Dr. Spanier has spoken to since he began his tour s ix months ago. "We need to open the doors to a better understand ing of the importance of high er education to the surround ing community's business leaders and the government," Dr. Spanier said. He stressed the point that each one of the people in the meeting probably has hired one if not several Penn State graduates, who have . helped them achieve a stan dard of excellence in the work place. "We are set up to give information to anyone who comes in," said Kirk McCoy, the Lion Ambassador who was on duty Thursday. "We give people an idea where things are and what's available on campus." McCoy, who is a senior structural design and con struction engineering tech nology major, said Bruhn pro posed the idea to the L ion Ambassadors . good way to make us more known on campus," McCoy said. According to the Lion Ambassadors, the club strives to maintain a mission to pro mote Penn State, PSH, alumni and to instill a I ifetime com- mitment to the entire univer - s ity system. The club's goal i s also to promote goodwil 1 "Higher education "We thought it would be a Rep. Gekas shares personal experience with Penn State Harrisburg in Washington, D.C. Tina Shearer Co-editor U.S. Rep. George Gekas credits his high school gym teacher for sparking his ini tial interest in politics. "It started with my inter est in public speaking," Gekas said. "I began to enter speech contests and eventually I went on to law school." Gekas shared an in depth look at the personal side of his political career with Penn State Harrisburg students, staff and faculty, who traveled to Washington, D.C. The group gathered on the floor of Congress for an informal d is - should be top priority in Pennsylvania," Dr. Spanier s., id. "Economic development and education are the keys to the success of Pennsylvania." Dr. Spanier went on to discuss the budget situation and how it will effect. Penn State and many other colleges in the future. He appeared February 27 before the state Senate Appropriations Committee, making his pre sentation for increased school funding. Penn State only has three sources of income Legislative appropriations, tuition and alumni donations, throughout the community and the campus. "Lion Ambassadors is not a competitive club," said Tonya Salmon, club member. "We are a group of volunteers dedicated to the assistance of others," At the Thursday, March 21 Organizational Advisory Board(OAB) meeting, Salmon nominated the Lion Ambassadors for the Most Outstanding Club. This award i s given to the club that has done most to reach out to the campus community with pro gramming, special topic events and sponsoring events to enhance the campus com munity. Frank Divonzo, represent ing the International Affairs Association, nominated the Lion Ambassadors for the Campus Community Award. cussion that followed the offi - c ial press conference on bio materi a 1 s. Gekas sponsored H.R. 753, the Biomaterials Access Assurance Act, which is now included in Title II of the Product Liability Conference Agreement which faces a pos s ible veto from President Clinton. Raw materials are supplied by companies that are increas ingly being held 1 iable for overall device defects. Gekas thanked PSH for attending the press confer- "This sti 11 would have hePn a mammoth success if only you had come because you'll go back to your classrooms and homes and you'll remember this," Gekas said. After the press conference adjourned, Gekas invited the PSH group to stay to answer their individual questions. Gekas shared his exper i - ences as a U.S. Representative as students asked questions about the concept of govern ment and his daily routine. "I have homework also, such as briefings and caucus es," Gekas said. Gekas also addressed the wide range of problems he faces in reaching his personal Dr. Spanier said. Without state funding there could be areas that could suffer, like any other organization. "An investment in Penn State is the best invest ment anyone could ever make. It benefits you the business leaders, you the parents, and you the people who believe in education," Dr. Spanier said. At 12:50 p.m. Penn State Harrisburg student, Sherry Bartush sat in the Gallery Lounge at Capital campus patiently waiting for Dr. Spanier, who arrived 10 minutes late for his meeting anier I .. 6 This recognizes the c lub that has done the most to reach out to the surrounding community in volunteering services, promoting services, sponsor ing special events for the enhancement of the communi- The Lion Ambassador's agenda for this year is exten sive. A few of the events they have been involved with include: dignitary tours and receptions, alumni functions, other club assistance, home less shelter collections, Vietnam Veteran's clothing/household collection and Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowling for Kid's Sake. An awards ceremony for all clubs on campus will be held on Friday, April 19 in the Dining Commons. The win ners of all awards will be announced at that time goals. "The name of the game is to get something accomplished," Gekas said, "You can't always sense the jubilation of an accomplishment as much as the depths of despair you feel when something goes wrong." Gekas recently solved a local resident's eviction dilemma only to travel to D.C. to deal with his disappoint- ment on not getting his way on the anti-terrorism issue. "That little thing with the eviction means I can do anything, it propels me to keep trying to solve other prob lems," Gekas said. Frank Divonzo, public pol icy, said "We were shown things I believe are essential to people in our major [public policy], and criminal justice, as we all have to deal with the political process." Brian Guistwhite, public policy, said "Congressman Gekas was very insightful not only on current legislation, but the personal aspects of decision making his day-to day routine." "An opportunity 1 ike this you get once in a 1 ifetime, to sit down and have a Congressman meet with you, definitely an A+," said Wendy Farber, public policy. Dr. Graham Spanier answers students questions at an Open Forum in the Gallery Lounge Thursday, Feb. 29 r/\ %No • mss\ , tMt ~ , oFF ,". Aek I;MMi= A group of Taiwanese demonstrators hand out literature saying, "Let us protest China and boycott Chinese prod ucts", to oppose China's aggression. The group demon strated for recognition of Taiwan's independence in front of the Capital in Washington, D.C., March 18, 1996. March 28, 1996 Liability at issue for biomaterial suppliers "People are going to die," Dr. Gierson Rosenberg said in response to the severity of the decreasing number of suppliers of biomaterials. Dr. Rosenberg, Hershey Medical Center, spoke at the Biomaterials News Conference in Washington, D. C. on Monday, March 18, 1996. U.S. Rep. Gekas intro duced Dr. Rosenberg to offer a medical researcher's point of view on the biomaterials crisis Rep. Gekas announced his plans to continue to fight for the passage of Title II of the Product Liability Report Title II generally prohibits a plaintiff from proceeding directly against a supplier because a device was defective. Suppliers will still be held liable if they are also the man ufacturer or seller of the device Three suppliers of materi - als used in critical medical implants have begun to 1 unit, or cease altogether, shipments of raw materials to device man ufacturers, due in part to 1 ia bility defense costs. "Materials are no longer being supplied and the reserves are running out," said Dr. Anne Roberts, President of Cardiovascular and Intervention Radiology and a practicing physician.
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