Sitting down for society
By Shannon Nordt
Staff Reporter
sapsol9@psu.edu
Typically we think of heroes as
presidents and generals but one
of the greatest hero's in America's
history is Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks
made her mark on the world the
moment she decided not to give
up her seat on the bus.
On December 1, 2005 this
event changed the lives of
Americans forever. "The life
of Rosa Parks has been an
continuous inspiration to African
Americans all over the world and
especially to me. She has given
me inspiration to believe that
I can do anything that I put my
mind to," Says Communications
student Devinque Murray. "She
has taught me to have courage
and stand up for what I believe
in. She will always remain
a important figure in African
American history and will always
be known as the woman who
took a chance"
The 381 day boycott drew in big
media attention and managed
to end legal segregation
everywhere.
From this incident Mrs. Parks
became an inspiration for
movements yet to come and
gave hope for the future of African
By Kathryn Herr
Editor in Chief
kah92B@psu.edu
Each day, the students, faculty,
and staff at Penn State Harrisburg
go about their business under
the watchful, protective eyes of
the University Police on campus.
The police work around the clock
to provide services to the campus
and Middletown communities.
The police station at PSH is a
tightly run operation with one
chief, three full-time officers,
and several part-time officers.
The station is always buzzing
with visitors coming to register
vehicles, pick up lost property,
or attend programs presented
by the officers. Everyday is
different for the officers and
everything they do is in the daily
police reports.
Early in the morning at 7 a.m.,
Officer Marlene Jarbeck arrives
for her shift with tired eyes and
coffee in hand. Though she
stands only around 5 feet tall,
she packs a mean punch in the
realm of law enforcement.
She has been at PSH the
longest of all the officers. Jarbeck
can often be seen on a bike as she
does the bike patrol on campus.
It was Jarbeck who originally
brought the Rape Aggression
Defense (RAD) program to PSH.
Jarbeck works with a number
of other organizations in law
enforcement. She specializes in
forensic crime scene investigation
and works with Dauphin County
Police Dept. in their forensics
department as well as the Capital
Region Crime Scene Unit. She
also teaches cadets forensics
and vehicle stop techniques at
the municipal police academy.
The job is a true passion of
Jarbeck's. "You never have a
typical day. I never know what to
expect of my day," said Jarbeck.
Her only gripe of the job is the up
and down opinion of police. "After
9/11 the respect was back," said
Jarbeck. But how long will it last?
Jarbeck says she believes they
deserve respect all the time, but
sometimes society has a negative
opinion of cops.
In addition, as campus police,
some citizens don't take them
seriously. "We are certified police
officers, not security guards," she
said with agitation.
Jarbeck has a bachelor's degree
in Criminology from Indiana
University of Pennsylvania and
a master's degree in Health
Education with a concentration in
Forensic Psychology from PSH.
Though Jarbeck is loaded with
all types of police work both
inside and outside of protecting
PSH, she always finds time for
her family. Her two sons, ages 9
and 13, keep her busy on a daily
Americans
Still making history after her
death on October 24, Rosa
Parks, 92 was the first woman in
American history whose casket
was placed in the rotunda of the
United States Capital. This was
usually only done for Presidents
of the United States, giving
Americans a chance to pay their
respects.
Even before her death Rosa
Parks still remained active in
her community. She read and
answered letters from students
and politicians, attended church
and even managed to visit
hospitals in her late age.
Before her life changing incident
Rosa Parks was an inspired
member of the NAACP serving
as secretary, and later as an
advisor to the youth division.
Born in Tuskegee Alabama to
Rosa Louise McCauley and
James McCauley, Mrs. Park's
family had endured segregation
and slavery as her grandmother
and grandfather were born before
the emancipation, the end of
slavery.
Rosa, at the age of 11, was
enrolled in the Montgomery
Industrial School for Girls. Only
having to attend school for five
months instead of nine, Mrs.
Parks said in a earlier interview
To serve and p
basis. "They think it's really cool
that their mom is a cop," said
Jarbeck.
Jarbeck is often relieved by
Officer Jennifer Allshouse at 3
p.m.
Allshouse specializes in self
defense, safety, and awareness
of domestic violence and
sexual assault. She teaches
both the RAD program and
the Self-defense Awareness
Familiarization Exchange (SAFE)
program at PSH and in the
Officer Marlene Jarbeck
community as well
Allshouse has been with PSH for
five years. "I really like working
at Penn State," said Allshouse.
The friendliness of the campus
community and the college
campus atmosphere is enjoyable
to her. Before PSH, Allshouse
worked for Penn College of
Technology in Williamsport. She
was the first woman hired there
and was instrumental in turning
it into a true police department.
Allshouse also worked as a secret
shopper for a department store,
catching shoplifters undercover.
She is proud of catching over 100
shoplifters.
"I've wanted to be a cop since
I was about 14 or 15-years-old,"
said Allshouse. She has been a
police officer now for 15 years.
Allshouse has an associate's
degree in Business Administration
from the Dubois campus, a
bachelor's degree in Criminology
from Indiana University of
Pennsylvania, and is currently
working on her masters degree
in Health Education here at
PSH. She entered the police
academy in 1990. Alishouse says
ultimately she would like to teach
criminology and law enforcement
at the college level.
A self-proclaimed pool shark,
Alishouse enjoys hanging out
after a long day at work with a
pool stick in one hand and a
margarita in the other. "Yeah I'm
really good," said Allshouse. She
that her inspiration was given to
her by her mother who was also
a local school teacher.
After finishing at the Industrial
school, Mrs. Parks attended
Alabama State teachers college
where she followed in the foot
steps of her mother to become
an educator.
While attending school Mrs.
Parks met her husband Raymond
and settled in Montgomery,
Alabama.
She received numerous threats
and harassment calls because of
her act of bravery. Due to these
fearful incidents and threats Mrs.
Parks and her husband wanted
a change in scenery and to start
a new beginning. They moved to
Detroit in 1957.
In Detroit Mrs. Parks served on
the U.S. Representative Staff for
John Conyers until her retirement
in 1988.
After her husband's death in
1977, Mrs. Parks founded an
institute for self improvement
in their names, incorporated in
1987.
This institution sponsors a
summer trip called the pathway
to freedom where the youth of
Detroit tour the country to learn
its history.
The institution is formed for
children between the ages of
has just received her motorcycle
driver's license and looks forward
to purchasing a shiny new bike.
Allshouse recalls riding with her
dad when she was young and
yearns to ride again soon with the
wind in her hair.
Though Allshouse lives across
the state from her family she tries
to see them as often as possible.
In the mean time her 12-year-old
cat, Tigger, keeps her company.
As the hours go by and the sun
goes down the night shift begins
at 11 p.m., bringing in Officer
Frank Divonzo to take over for
Allshouse.
Because Divonzo works the
graveyard shift he tends to do
the most security detail, locking
the buildings, unlocking them in
the morning, and night patrol.
Therefore, his specialty has
become security of the campus
and the community. He has been
working with the Information
Technology department to
minimize security breaches
on campus and safely store
equipment.
"I am amazed at how many people
leave high-end technology items
laying around," said Divonzo.
His only dislike of the job is
the time of his shift. It does not
allow him to interact much with
the campus community. "It's a
fairly quiet shift," said Divonzo.
However, the nighttime hours
tend to bring some of the more
colorful calls such as underage
drinking, noise complaints and
providing escort service to and
from campus buildings.
"I like the small campus and
relationships and rapport with
faculty and students. I do get
to meet a lot of students," said
Divonzo.
Divonzo spent 19 and one half
years in the Army reserves, four
and a half years of active duty.
His favorite part of his military
career was the two years he was
stationed in Germany. "Living in
Europe was just incredible," said
Divonzo. Though he spent most
of his time on the base he was
still able to speak conversational
German and some Italian. He is
still in touch with friends he met
during his time there.
Divonzo would like to live in
Germany in the future. "I just love
to travel," said Divonzo
Divonzo is working toward his
second masters degree from
PSH in Secondary Education
Social Studies. With one content
class left he will soon be student
teaching. He hopes to one
day teach overseas. His first
master's degree is in Community
Psychology and Social Change,
also received at PSH.
Much of his time is committed
to a paper he is writing about the
economic and social impact of
News
11-18. During this tour they visit
places like the Underground
Railroad, civil rights movements
sites and other important
information that pertains to
American history.
Even after leaving an impression
on the lives of many Americans,
especially those of African
descent, Mrs. Parks still could
not escape the troubles of this
world.
In 1994 Mrs. Parks was attacked
by a man in her own home for
the purpose of money. This
situation devastated Mrs. Parks,
but she easily forgave the young
man because of her Christian
background. "I pray for the young
man and the condition in our
country that has made him this
way. Despite the violence and
crime in our society, we should
not let fear overwhelm us. We
must remain strong," says Rosa
Parks in an earlier interview when
asked about her life threatening
encounter.
Because of her countless efforts
and achievements Mrs. Parks
received from former President
Clinton, in 1996, the Presidential
medal of freedom, which is
given to people who make great
contributions to American life.
Three years later in 1999
Mrs. Parks also received a
tourism in Barbados
Divonzo is the vice president
of the Capital Area Greenbelt
Association and an avid runner.
He runs about three to 12 miles
a day on the greenbelt with a
running club he and his wife
began.
Divonzo is a 'transplant', born
and raised in Long Island.
The man in charge of these
crazy-wild officers i$ Chief of
Police Kevin Stoehr. He came
to PSH in June , of 1997 and
Officer Jennifer Allshouse
oversees the Schuykill campus
police station as well. Stoehr also
teaches in the Criminal Justice
undergraduate program at both
campuses.
The Capital Times, November 28, 2005
Rosa Parks gets fingerprinted after refusing to give up her seat
on the bus. This was a giant step in the Civil Rights Movement.
congressional gold medal a high
level of civilian honor.
"As Rosa Parks travels to that
undiscovered country of who's
born, where no traveler ever
returns; we must ensure that her
good deeds were not done in
vain," says Public Policy student
Dontie Brooks. "Her life should act
as a model for all to emulate, as
we continue to run this race with
the torch of justice and equality
for all in our hands, cleansing the
world of its indecorous acts of
bigotry and racism."
Before her death Rosa Parks
rotect
Stoehr received his bachelor's
degree in Business and his
master's degree in Criminal
Justice from Duquesne University.
He entered the police academy
at Mount Lebanon in 1978
and trained at the FBI National
Academy in 1993.
While PSH has unique needs in
comparison with a regular police
department, Stoehr really enjoys
interacting with the students
and the campus community. He
believes the college experience
is as good as it gets and he
wants PSH students to have a
pleasant and safe experience.
"We have a very safe campus
here and we want to keep it that
way," said Stoehr.
In the past few years, Stoehr
has watched the campus grow
and 'change dramatically' with
the increase of enrollment and
the acceptance of freshmen.
"It's a great time to be here,"
said Stoehr.
Stoehr is a proud father of three
college students, two daughters,
one at University Park on the
field hockey team, and a son
also at UP who plays ice hockey.
Stoehr and his wife spend almost
every weekend traveling around
the country to watch their kids
compete or visiting their family
in Pittsburg. Stoehr's wife is the
assistant athletic director, in
charge of intramurals, recreation,
and fitness at PSH.
A common perception of all the
officers and the chief was their
Photo courtesy of Google Images
wanted to assure that everyone
knew the truth about her life
In this effort Mrs. Parks wrote
a book called "Rosa Parks: My
Story"
After her first book Parks printed
a second book called "Quiet
strength: The faith, the Hope
and the Heart of a Woman Who
Changed a Nation".
Parks memorial service was
filled with mourners and tributes
to Mrs. Parks from across the
country.
will be greatly missed but never
forgotten.
views of the campus dynamics.
They all say they can see the
campus changing dramatically
mostly for the better. With the
addition of new dorms and more
students comes more calls and
more action on campus, but
they see it as a positive change.
Stoehr is currently in the process
of hiring two more officers, one
will be joining the team shortly and
the second is yet to be hired.
The door to the PSI-I police
department is always open and
Officer Frank Divonzo
students, faculty, and staff are
encouraged to use their services,
as they are happy to serve and
protect our campus.