Guest columnist, Crispin Sartwell, gives his take on parenting as the new century approaches. See "Outcomes-based parenting..." -Page 7 No big surprises found in co Study will be used By: Dan Zehr The results of a $15,500 survey fo cused on Penn State Harrisburg's communications department were released Tue., Jan. 20. Despite the cost, they simply revealed what many PSH professors already knew—employers rate writing and thinking skills as the two most im portant skills for success. The Diagnostic Plus study rated critical and creative thinking skills a 9.6 and writing skills a 9.2 on a 1- 10 scale (10 being highest). The business analysis company asked employers what skills they consid ered most important for success. Communications program alumni from area colleges also rated these skills. The two groups, however, dis agreed on these key issues. For ex- to decide communications' direction as specific software and computer are pushing for a third. Any new fac skills scored high with alumni and ulty will be in place for the fall '9B low with employers. In other words, semester. employers wanted more basic theo retical skills while alumni felt they needed specific, practical experi ence. Parker, is only contracted through the end of the same semester. Churchill alone holds a tenured po sition in communications. So the hiring of new faculty is essential. The extra position, if attained, will expand the course of study to include a technological component. Paul Weener, president of Diagnbstics Plus and a former Penn State em ployee, concluded the present curriculum's focus was in "the right spot." The two, definite new hires would continue to support and en munications professors. At this time, see "Survey" on page 4 Those teaching and coordinating PSH Humanities have consistently stressed a theoretical approach. The feedback they have gotten on that approach from employers has been overwhelmingly positive, according to professor Eton Churchill. So why spend that much money on a redun dant survey? One of the report's intentions was to discern what experience to seek when hiring job applicants. The Hu manities Department is currently searching for at least two new com- Is PSH the fine arts' enemy? See "What are you getting for your educational dollar?" -Page 2 Presently, three professors are teaching communications. One, Usha Zacharias, is leaving after the spring '9B semester. Another, Jim munications surve COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY SKILLS RESULTS Entry Level (% mentioning skill) Employers Alumni Writing 42.9% 72.7% Verbal 34.3 57.6 Computer 31.4 24.2 Career Success (see above) Skill Writing 26.5% 24.2% Technological 23.5 24.2 Flexibility 8.6 27.3 Importance to success (rating on scale of 1-10) .SfdE Emp. Rating Alum. Rating Crit./Creat. Thinking 9.6 9.2 Writing 9.2 9.4 Computer skills 8.9 8.8 Rating Deficiencies (Employers) Rating Difference Critical/Creative Thinking 2.8 Oral Communication 2.5 Writing 2.3 Rating Deficiencies (Students) Skill Rating Difference Computer Skills 2.1 Specific software skills 1.6 Source: Diagnostics Plus Horizon notches win No. 1 Tops undefeated Hudson Valley, 111-108 By: Matthew Bowman "The third time is a charm," or so the say- Ong goes After two defeats to begin their inaugural season in the Eastern Basketball Alliance, the Harrisburg Horizon (1-2) picked up its first victory last Saturday when they defeated the previously unbeaten Hudson Valley Kings (2- 1) by a score of 111-108. Charlie Fortney, former EBA All-Star and current Horizon team-leader, led all scorers with 39 points, 27 coming in the first-half As the two teams entered the locker room at halftime, Harrisburg was clinging to a 59-54 lead. The lead would not last in the second half, however, as Hudson Valley evened the score 80-80 at the end of three-quarters of play. Twelve minutes of play would determine this game's outcome. The tide began to turn in the middle of the final quarter. Gerald Jarmon, a Horizon guard, drained a 3-pointer on his way to scoring 26 points putting the Horizon on top with a 6 point lead. Two Hudson Valley technical fouls fol lowed, stretching the Horizon lead. The Horizon continually had an answer for all the charges made by Hudson Valley. Even Rick Deitz delves into the business world to find out what students need to know for their job quest -Page 2 Harrisburg Campus with a late run with less than a minute remain ing, the Kings could not deny Harrisburg of their first victory. Fortney ended all scoring by making four consecutive free throws put ting his team on top for good. The Harrisburg Horizon will play host to the Lancaster Storm Saturday right here at the Capital Union Building. Starting time is scheduled for 7 p.m. with pre-game activities beginning at 6:05 p.m. Tickets are available for PSH students in the Student Government Office, room 216 at a cost of $6 per person. For each ticket purchased, one child (14 and younger) gets in free. All proceeds benefit THON and The Four Diamonds Fund. Horizon 111, Kings 108 HUDSON VALLEY (108) Cunningham 0 0-0 0, Hall 5-8 1-3 I I, Heyward 2-8 2- 3 6. Houston 4-8 7-7 21, Middleton 9-15 6-8 24, Rowe 1-5 4-5 6, Scott 4-6 0-0 8, Taylor 9-14 5-8 23, Wallace 4-9 1-5 9. Totals 38-78 26-39 108. HARRISBURG (111) Jarmon 9-11 5-9 26, Franklin 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey 3-7 2-3 8, Hightower 2-4 2-4 6, Fortney 11-19 11-12 39, Shue 1-3 3-3 8, Parker 2-4 1-2 5, Crosby 5-9 1-2 14, Bragg 0-1 0-00, Beaden 0-0 2-2 2, Smith 1-1 1-1 3. Totals 34-59 28-38 I I I. Hudson Valley 27 27 26 28--108 Harrisburg 27 32 21 31--111 3-Point Goals - Houston 2; Fortney 2, Jarmon, Shue, Crosby. Attendance - 860.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers