October 9, 2006
By MARUJA ROSARIO
Editor in Chief
MXR3OO@PSU.EDU
Hello everyone. How are ya’ll this
week? Good, I hope.
I feel that in this world, we don't
say thank you enough. We take
people and actions for granted.
We start to think that just because
someone always does something,
they are always going to do that.
And somewhere in that thought
process, we have forgotten that
people like to know from time to
time they are appreciated. So, I’m
going to send out a few rounds of
thank yous that are important to me.
First of all, thank you to everyone
who read the last issue. It does my
heart proud to see all the newsstands
in Olmsted empty at the end of
the first week, and not because
they were thrown away. It makes
everything that we do, from staying
here until 3 a.m. for two consecutive
nights or frantically sending people
out with cameras for photos, worth
it. So thanks.
A round of thanks goes out to the
Okay people...
One can only imagine what they see in this picture. At a quick glance, the VW of the Jetta steering wheel is evident,
so the setting becomes a car. Obviously, there is a driver whose face cannot be seen, and it appears there is some
one standing up. All those assumptions are true, but what is really happening is more entertaining than simply that.
The driver, left side passenger, and right side passenger are all hanging out their respective windows, "rowing" a
boat while the front seat passenger is standing out of the sun roof keeping a "lookout" for land. There is a rear middle
seat passenger, who has no position except to smile. These people were stuck in Penn State football traffic, and for
more about their adventures at UP during the Northwestern game, continue to page 8, PSU Sports at a Glance.
The Capital Times seeks
to provide complete, cor
rect information. Any neces
sary corrections, comments
or critiques are wanted and
welcome.
Please stop by The Capi
tal Times office (El 26), e
mail captimes@psu.edu,
drop a suggestion in the
box outside the office or call
the office at 948-6440.
Any corrections should be
reported no later than a week
after the paper is printed
THE CAPITAL TIMES
Capital Times staff. Whether it is
the incentive program (that’s we’re
still working out the kinks to) or
just your genuine love of journalism
or writing, THANK YOU. Your
dedication to this newspaper, from
getting your stories in on time or
having the foresight to ask for a
extension, has made layout a smooth
process. It’s always going to be a
long process, but at least it moves
forward, instead of stalling like it
has in the past. So thank you for
your hard work, and continue to
be amazing.
A hearty thanks goes out to
Kristen Poole, who continues to be
willing to help with the newspaper
even though she graduated in
May. She is training staff to take
her place (so she can get the heck
out of here!) but is always beside
me busting ass in the meantime.
Thanks KP for all your services. We
couldn’t have done it without you.
A personal thanks goes out to
Mr. Matthew Carroll. Students, if
you feel like you just picked up a
Cosmopolitan or a GQ magazine
because of all the ads; he is the
man to blame (or thank). However,
I would be lying if I didn’t say I
was proud of him for coming into
this position and, with very little
help from me, picked up a dropped
ball and started running with it. Mr.
Matthew Carroll, stay away from
the 1 /2, and thank you for putting
up with all my odd requests for
what we should do with money
(Medieval Times!).
Another personal thanks goes out
to Matthew Mahoney, assistant to
the editor and number 1 victim of a
“Roo fit.” If I’m having a bad day,
CORRECTIONS:
The Capital Times did not add
Supat Kanchanasakul to their
staff list as the new photogra
phy editor.
Rabyia Ahmed's name was
misspelled in the staff list. Cor
rect spelling above.
The numbers from Lorena
Roedan's e-mail were
forgotten. Her e-mail is
IMR23S@PSU.EDU
he hears about it. If I’m stressing,
he hears about it. If the sh** has
hit the fan, he hears about it. He
hears the good, the bad, and the
ugly, with minimal complaint. He
offers a good shoulder to cry on
when people’s stories aren’t in, and
he’s always got my back when we
prepare for battle. Thanks Matthew,
for being a great assistant and an
even better friend.
Speaking of friends, they are the
last round of thanks this time, since
I’m running out of space. To each
one of you who stop by at all hours
of the day, telling your personal
stories and making me laugh, I
would lose my mind if you didn’t
come by and take my attention for a
little while. Diane, you’ve still got
Tupperware in this office. Dickie,
you’ve got pancakes coming.
Augie, it still is your time. Laila,
we will get our adventures going.
Craig and Sarver, all I can say is
“lefty on lefty? You’ll never hit my
knuckleball now.”
Take no offense if I didn’t thank
you this time. I’ll catch you in
person. As for the rest of you, go out
and thank someone. I guarantee it
will brighten your day as well
as theirs.
Have a great day.
Maruja Rosario
Photo by CRAIG DEWAIT/Guest pi lotographer
The Capital Times
We are currently looking to fill
the following positions:
Layout/Graphics Editor
Photographers
Reporters
If interested, please contact us at
948-6440 or captimes@psu.edu
The housing market bubble
By CHRISTOPHER CVUIC
Staff Reporter
CXC374@PSU.EDU
It looks like March 2000 all over
again. Only this time, instead of a
bubble in the price of technology
stocks, it appears as though there
is a bubble in the housing market.
Economists have expressed concern
for months about the housing market,
which has seen a substantial rise
in prices over the last three years.
Their fears appear to be realized.
Data from the National Association
of Realtors showed a decline of
1.7% in the national median home
price, the price where half the
homes sold are more and half are
less. While month-ovei
declines are not unc
This is the first yi
year decline since Apri
The 1.7% decline wa:
the second largest in U.
history, trailing only
the 2.1% decline in
Nov. 1990, when the
nation was in the middli
a recession,
This may only be
beginning of a price corret
in the housing market,
supply of homes on
market is up 38% from a ;
ago. There is now 7.5 moi
of inventory on the mai
The last time there was a
month supply of invem
I WSLX2y^EPOt^T
10/04/06: Suspicious incident:
M&O reported finding W 338
propped open with piece of
newspaper. Everything appeared
normal in room.
10/04/06: Health and safety: M&O
report foul odor at children’s
playground along Kirtland Avenue.
PSO could not detect an odor.
10/04/06: Key service: Requested
to unlock financial aid office for
employee who was locked out.
10/04/06: Found property: Found
keys picked up by owner.
10/04/06: Lost property: Caller
reported losing keys in Olmsted lot
two w eeks ago.
10 04 06: Suspicious person: Report
of w hite male sitting on ground.
PSO’s responded found student who
w as relaxing. Verbal warning given.
10 04 06: Missing person: Husband
reported faculty member did not
return home. PSO searched campus
unable to locate. Husband called
and stated faculty member
Capital Times Staff
Editor in Chief: Maruja Rosario Assistant Editor: Matthew Mahoney
Business Manager: Matthew Carroll Copy Editor: Erin Anderson
Layout Consultant: Kristen Poole Assistant Layout Editor: Marin Bendoritis
Staff:
Rabyia Ahmed
Michael Albright
Oscar Beisert
Meghan Cleary
Christopher Cvijic
Laila Dideban
Oliver Eisler
Mariam Elhadri
Desiray Hansford
Diane Kenney
was April, 1993. KB Home, one
of the largest home builders in the
nation, recently announced that
third quarter orders are down 43%.
As a result, many potential buyers
are remaining on the sidelines,
hoping to take advantage of falling
home prices. Conversely, many
sellers are being forced to offer
incentives or lower prices to move
their homes.
The housing market may be helped
by falling interest rates. The Federal
Reserve once again held the Fed
Fund rate steady at 5.25%, during
their September meeting. As a result,
mortgage rates have slid 9 out of
the last 10 weeks to 6.31%. While
this drop in rates should help bring
returned home.
Arrest log: The following persons
were cited for PA crimes code 6308
(purchase, consumption, possession
or transportation of liquor or malt or
brewed beverages):
Ryan Leigh Edwards age 18, Anton
Hennessy age 19, Michael Alan
Hartman age 18, and Kyle J. Reed
10/03/06: Theft: Report of play
station and game taken from
residence. Investigation continuing.
Arrest Log: Matthew J. Neff
age 18 was cited for purchase,
consumption, possession or
transportation or liquor or malt or
brewed beverages.
10/02/06: Alarm activation: Fire
alarm activated by contractors.
Alarm reset
10/02/06: Alarm activiation: Burglar
alarm set off by employee. Alarm
10/02/06: Disruptive student: Report
of student yelling and swearing
Photography Editor: Supat Kanchanasakul
Lisa Mauti
Shannon Nordt
Ariel O'Malley
Frank Pinto
Will Powell
Megan Resser
Lorena Roedan
Matthew Sarver
Andrew Scott
Ann Stillwater
still higher than they were six
months ago.
So what does this all mean
for individuals interested in
selling or buying their homes?
Buyers, particularly first-time
buyers, should consider holding
off on buying a new house.
Indications are that the Federal
Reserve may lower interest rates
within the next six months. That
should help push mortgage rates
even lower. Many economists
believe home prices could continue
to slide. The combination of lower
rates and lower home prices means
that there could be a “sweet spot” to
buy a home anywhere from 6 to 12
months from now.
I
ndividuals considering selling
r homes have a much more
cult choice. This is because the
umstances related to why they
selling their home, influence
eir decision. Some may have
no choice but to sell their
■ homes, due to moving out of
an area. Others may need to
in order to buy a larger home,
others may have an investment
lerty, which they wish to
while prices are still high,
recommend still selling your
le if you want to. Just realize
it may sit on the market for
iths, and if you need to sell
uickly, you may be forced to
;pt a price much lower than
anticipated.
during on cell phone conversation,
PSS responded and issued verbal
warning to student.
10/01/06: Follow-up investigation:
PSS filed non-traffic citation
against:
Erica A. Dreckette age 18 for
purchase, consumption, possession
or transportation of liquor malt or
brewed beverages in reference to
incident
10/01/06: Medical assist: PSO
responded to report of unconscious
student. Upon arrival student was
conscious and breathing.
09/30/06: Police information:
Contractor reported they will be
pouring concrete for Nittany Lion
statue today.
09/29/06: Assist outside agency:
Middletown PD requested
assistance with alarm at Wachovia
Bank.
09/28/06: Suspicious incident:
Person reported phone missing.
Later phone was found laying on
bag in locked office.
Lisa Stone
Susan Strandberg
Jordan Wiskemann
Photographers:
Rabyia Ahmed
Victoria Hennigan
Lorena Roedan
Joshua Salvi
Supat Kanchanasakul