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.