4 • NEWS
Brandon Langsdale
lEEE Fundraiser
Supports Autistic
Child
By Steven E. Moses
Capital Times Staff Writer
Last semester, the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers held
a fund-raiser to support the son of a
deceased alumnus, Kevin Langsdale. As
reported in the October 23 issue of The
Capital Times, Kevin graduated in spring
2000 from the electrical engineering pro
gram and a month after graduation, col
lapsed from a brain aneurysm. Kevin
was 26 years old. He is survived by his
wife, Paula, and their 2-year-old son,
Brandon.
The lEEE recently received news
from Paula that Brandon is missing his
right cerebellum. Brandon was originally
diagnosed with autism. His left cerebel
lum must take care of motor functions
for both parts of his body. Paula reports
that with years of therapy, Brandon will
be able to live a normal, happy life.
The lEEE is holding a sub fund-rais
er this spring to commemorate Kevin's
life and to benefit the loved ones he left
behind. lEEE is selling ham, turkey and
Italian subs from Rock's in
Hummelstown. For more information
about ordering subs or contributing to
this great cause, please e-mail Jason
Ulshafer at jrulo7@psu.edu.
Use
CAPITAL TIMES
GSA Tackles New Island
The Graduate Student Association,
barely out of rebirth, has already imple
mented a number of events within the past
month, including a Graduate Mixer and a
Graduate Bowling Night. However, their
most successful event has been the recent
Personal Care Item Drive for the Bethesda
Mission. Three bags (one for women,
men, and children) suddenly appeared in
every department on the Penn State
Harrisburg campus.
The item drive, originally scheduled to
run for the week of
February 20-27, was
extended until March
2 to ensure a good
turn out. When GSA
representatives made their pick-up
rounds, they wereigreeted with an abun
dant harvest. Jennifer Boger, GSA dele
gate to the school of public administration
and candidate for the SGA presidency,
coordinated the drive. A little apprehen
sive about the outcome of the drive, Boger
was delighted when donations poured in.
"There were a couple of times when I
checked bags around campus and found
nothing. Then on collection day, to have
three cars filled with donations, was a
great success for the GSA and the
Bethesda Mission shelters. I want to thank
everyone who participated in this event.
The items that were collected will be put
to good use at the missions and will be
greatly appreciated by those who benefit
from them," Boger commented.
4 `ln Search of Wild Trilliums''
Original Play Produced by Penn State Staff, Students
and Community Members
In Search of Wild Ti
play by Communi(
Louise Morgan will be
28 at 7 p.m. and Marc
Olmsted Auditorium.
Jesse Gutierrez is pro(
director. Gutierrez had
PSH under Professor
"This is my first tii
Professor Morgan and
opportunity to work, Cl
to learn," Gutierrez sail
Graduate student Go
cast in two roles in
plays the suitor to thk
one scene and then he]
vinistic professor at 1
Michigan, in a later SCI
the experience of fine
differences and playing two complae
opposite objectives, to be very reward
ing."
The rest of the cast was recruited from
the Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg.
Chosen for their hattliness t this foliage should have
little trouble resisting the pollution in the parking
lot and Pennsylvania's harsh winters.
By Jennifer Kasunick
For The Capital Times
There were generous donations of all
types, including a variety of toiletries,
towels, blankets and many wonderful
children's books and supplies. The GSA
extends a hearty "thank you" to all those
who selflessly contributed to this event.
The drive would not have been so suc
cessful otherwise.
The Graduate Student Association,
however, wasted no time resting on its
laurels. Their next project is an even more
aggressive one as they plan to adopt an
island of the new parking lot to be built
south of the new library.
Members of the executive board met
with representatives from PSH mainte
nance and operations to discuss various
options and tactics behind the adoption.
Armed with all the necessary information,
GSA members debated what would fill the
approximately 10' by 162' island. they
decided to forego grass for the island and
opted for a concrete slab. It will be low
maintenance and require fewer tuition
dollars. Three Ginko Biloba Princeton
Sentry trees will be planted within the slab
with two clusters of Hydrangea quercifo
fia shrubbery between the trees. Chosen
for their hardiness, this foliage should
have little trouble resisting the pollution in
the parking lot and Pennsylvania's harsh
The play explores the years between
1876 and 1900. These were the years of
Mira's "becoming." At a time when a
woman's influence was strictly confined
to the home, Mira Dock found a way to
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2001
winters
The island will not only function aes
thetically, it will also serve as a refuge
from cars. Under two of the trees (in a few
years), an eight-foot bench will be
installed roomy enough for the weary
student needing a nap or respite between
classes. A conveniently-placed trash
receptacle will be available for those
Chocolate-Chocolate-Chip-Peanut Butter-
Chunk-Sugar-Sprinkled Otis Spunkmeyer
cookie wrappers.
The project's esti
mated price is about
$2,000. GSA is plan
ning two fund-raisers
to subsidize the cost.
The first fund-raiser, a Spring Flower
Sale, will run from April 9-12 and, appro
priately, on Earth Day, April 17. GSA pro
jects they will sell about 600 flowers,
including daffodils, mums and hyacinths.
The 6" plants will be fully foiled and
sleeved and will cost $6 each. Melodee
Gerrish of the school of business adminis
tration, is managing this event. Pre-order
sheets will be in the departments shortly.
The other fund-raiser, a silent auction,
will be held during the week of the Rites
of Spring/Earth Day. With a full schedule
of events planned, the GSA hopes to raise
the needed funds to bring the island beau
tification project to fruition. With any
luck, GSA's example will challenge other
organizations to step up and adopt one of
the remaining five parking lot islands.
ter potential as a leader by educat
;elf and seeking out opportunities
the borders of her home, her city
state.
stirring speech to the Harrisburg
Trade in December of 1900 was
:alyst for the City Beautiful
nt in Harrisburg. She later served
Commission of Forestry for the
►escribing her creative process,
said, "I researched Mira's life and
id used history as a touchstone or
o imagine the life of a Victorian
of accomplishment. Though the
Fastened to real events and dates,
the play is invention. It is a work
ical fiction."
Indensed version of the play will
;nted on March 28 at noon in
Olmsted. Also, a reception sponsored by
the Office of Humanities will follow each
evening performance.