October 9, 2006
SGA makes PSH
voice heard at
University Park
By JORDAN WISKEMANN
Staff Reporter
JLWIO62@PSU.EDU
Room 118 of the Science and
Technology building was packed |
with club representatives again during ;
the Sept. 21 SGA meeting. Each
was awaiting the senate’s verdict
on the allotment of funds per club.
As the club budget plans were read,
the senators disagreed on how much j
money to allocate, as many of the
senators wanted to give the amount the !
club asked for.
“All those people back there, we
want to help them too,” said Augie
Bravo, vice president, as he pointed
to the club representatives, who were |
seated towards the back of the room. j
“We want to give everybody as much
money as we can, but we are limited, i
We can’t give as much as $l,OOO per I
club, so keep that in mind.” !
Following the club budgets,
Senator Matt Mahoney proposed an I
amendment to SGA’s constitution, j
For the first, Mahoney explained that j
if an exception for budgets is granted j
by SGA vice president, the exception
needs to be approved by a two-thirds
majority of the senate. He said this is
a way to maintain a check and balance |
between the vice president and
the senate. !
President Ariel O’Malley explained j
that Bravo works closely with club j
leaders, including during the summer, j
Sometimes a club needs an exception I
during that time. If this amendment j
would be approved as written, the j
senate would have to vote through
email. O’Malley said this is highly
frowned upon, for email masks j
true identity. j
The second amendment proposal
suggested any club who must use over J
$5OO at one time while printing will
need to have this approved by SGA. If
SGA does not approve, the club will
need to pay whatever amount their
printing costs.
SGA also appointed Marques Stewart
as a senator for the Division of
Undergraduate Studies.
Paul Fogle, senator from the School of
Public Affairs, was one of the senators
on a trip to UP to meet with the
Commonwealth Council of Student
Governments. He sat on academic ;
affairs and discussed the University
questioning its first-year seminar, and j
academic advising as a whole.
Senator Aame Stefanon discussed
diversity affairs. He proposed the
hanging of international flags on
campus, with a flag to represent every
nationality present in PSH’s population.
He also suggested SGA create a world
map on campus, including pins with
the same representation as the flags.
Drew Selliti, senate leader, described
governmental issues, including
forming a working business
relationship with legislators.
Treasurer Patrick Sease explained
the concerns raised in student affairs.
According to Sease, these concerns
encompass getting students more
involved, taking advantage of Student
Activity Fee funds to benefit the student
body, and bringing a wider selection of
healthier foods to campus. Sease also
encouraged senators to discuss any
concerns they have regarding student
affairs, and he assured the senate
he would be happy to voice those
concerns at the next CCSG meeting.
Senators then discussed the
amendments proposed at the
previous meeting.
Senator Mahoney then read a
resolution on bookstore prices which
included both creating petitions to the
Chancellor to be sure all professors
get their book orders in on time
and investigating why Barnes &
Noble discounts are not accepted at
our bookstore.
Matt Myers was sworn into the SGA
as senator for the School of Business.
During the Open Forum session of
this meeting, Senator Matt Mahoney
read a statement regarding how he
feels many issues at PSH remain
unresolved as the SGA continues
to plan student activities. Mahoney
said he is determined to represent
the student body and that planning
activities for the students “does
not a turn a bowl of Ramen into a
filling meal.”
THE CAPITAL TIMES
No more domestic victi
PSH strives to raise awareness, curb brutal domestic violence
By DESIRAY HANSFORD
Staff Reporter
DMH3S3@PSU.EDU
Every 9 seconds... a woman is
abused in the United States. The
month of October is Domestic
Violence Awareness month. PSH
is having several events in October
to help students become aware of
the resources that the campus and
community has to offer.
12:45 in the Morrison
Gallery there will be
a DVA Panel where
refreshments will be
served. Someofthe
panelists include
representatives
from
the
District
Attorney’s
Office,
Pinnacle Health,
Dauphin county
Victim Witness
Assistance
Program, YWCA of
Greater Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania State
Police, PSH Criminal
Justice program and
Chiefs of Police. At
6:30 p.m. there
will be a “Prom
Night” play
Save a life: give blood to XGI
By SUSAN STRANDBERG
Staff Reporter
SJS326@PSU.EDU
XGI, its formal name being Chi
Gamma lota, is holding a blood
drive. A service fraternity with
an interest in helping veterans,
XGI has partnered with the
Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank
since the onset of the fraternity.
The blood drive that happens
twice a year, once in the spring
and again in the fall semester,
will be held from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. on Wednesday, October 25,
in the Olmsted building of the
Penn State Harrisburg campus.
Interested donors may register
in the Olmsted lobby Monday-
Wednesday, October 22-23 at the
on- stage located in the cafeteria.
Currently 28 members strong,
XGI represents all branches of
the military. XGI also welcomes
social members, people who share
an interest in helping veterans
but have no military experience.
One of those type members is
the current XGI Secretary, Di
Kenney, who has been a mem
since the fall 0f2005. “I wanted t(
a part of this organization becau:
want to help veterans,” Kenney si
“One of the most memor:
events for me happened tl
past Memorial Day, whei
we dedicated a post office
in Newville, Pennsylvania,
honoring state resident, Medal
of Honor recipient, Sgt. I' 1
Class Randall Shughart,” said
Kenney. “Shughart is the fourtl
only Pennsylvania resident to h;
received this award.”
“The Central Pennsylv;
Blood Bank provides the pos
and all medical supplies, fr
EKG machines to simple iti
like paper towels,” XGI cum
president Matthew Mahoney s:
“We provide the refreshm<
performance in the auditorium of
the Olmsted building. Immediately
following the play will be a vigil in
Ziegler commons. Also, there will
be a “Silent Witness” program that
will be announced at a later date.
The “Silent Witness” project is an
awareness campaign from a national
program that focuses on domestic
homicide, started by the YWCA 10
years ago. They have life sized red
wooden figures each bearing
The purple ribbon is the
symbol of identification for
Domestic Violence Awareness.
with money obtained through our
budget request to the school.”
Every club is required to do some
sort of community service event
in order to be recognized by the
University. “XGI is known at the
PSH campus for its Veterans Day
Ceremony and their blood drive.”
Donating blood may be one
of the most important things
you have ever done, according
to the Central Pennsylvania
Blood Bank’s web page.
Donating blood is a safe and easy
process that takes approximately
45 minutes. Generally, anyone age
17 or older and in good health,
can donate blood. Eligible persons
are encouraged to donate and save
a life.
To be eligible a person must ha ve had
no tattoo’s or body piercing within
the past 12 months. Some countries
that have been traveled to within
3 years, and weight restrictions
may affect a donor’s eligibility.
If having any doubts about being
eligible to donate, discuss them
with someone from
display there will be white plates,
each with a name and date of a death
of a victim of domestic violence. The
white table cloth on the table will
look like a brocade tablecloth but up
close in small text, (hand written),
in silver, it will have local women
stories of domestic violence.
On November 6 there will be a
football raffle of an autographed
football by Pittsburgh Steeler
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
The tickets will be $ 3.00 for one
ticket or $ 5.00 for 3 tickets. Please
email Officer Jennifer J Allshouse
jual@psu.edu for more information
about the raffle or any of the events.
The funds will be donated to the
YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s
Domestic Violence program.
name of a victim
from an abuser.
In addition,
there will be
two
figures that
stand for an
Officer Jennifer J. Allshouse who
is apart of PSH Liaison Committee
to the University commission for
Women, and PSH Safety and Police
Services helped put the events
together. Allshouse has always
been apart of domestic violence
awareness, education and prevention.
“My main interests lie with
continually educating not only
myself but others about the subjects
of domestic violence and sexual
uncounted
woman
and man
who were
domestic
violence
victims
but was
never
identified.
In Stacks
Market there will
be a month long
display called
“An Empty
Place at the
Table".
On this
assault. It is so important everyone
knows what domestic violence
is, how to protect themselves and
others, and available help resources
both on campus and off’
said Allshouse.
She said the events here on campus
would not be possible if it wasn’t
for the dedicated members of the
PSH Liaison Committee to the
University Commission for Women.
The committee not only holds the
events but also provides the budget.
This committee will continue to try
next year and the years to come to
help the students to become aware of
domestic violence.
beverages is permitted prior to
blood donation, Mahoney and
Kenney strongly advise against
the use of alcoholic beverages for
up to 48 hours after giving blood.
“We tried it once after a successful
blood drive, and it was not good.
Two beers felt like you had a case
and the hangover’s were terrible.”
The blood collected during the
XGI blood drive stays in central
Pennsylvania and is used for people
w'ho have massive blood loss due
to an injury or surgery, according
to the Central Pennsylvania
Blood Bank’s web page.
Blood donors are able to donate
blood every six-eight weeks and
with the donation of one pint of
blood each year donors are ensured
that credits will be available for
transfer to any participating hospital
in the United States by becoming a
member ofthc Central Pennsylvania
Blood Bank’s Family Plan.
For more information about the
family plan or where to go to donate
blood, go to the CPBB’s web page
at www.cpbb.org.
The purpose of having DVA events
here on campus is “to increase campus
safety, broadening public awareness
about the nature of rape and domestic
violence. To educate on the needs of
individual audiences and, discuss
such as acquaintance rape education
and prevention, personal safety and
prevention techniques, stalking,
mixed messages and communicating
in dating” said Allshouse.
Students can obtain more
information about domestic
violence from the YWCA of Greater
Harrisburg, PCADV (PA coalition
Against Domestic Violence),
NCADV (National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence), OVW( Office
on Violence Against Women), NOW
(National Organization of Women,
PSU Harrisburg Safety and Police
Services, PSH counseling center,
and the PSU student health Services.
Some of the warning signs of dating
violence from a partner are “blames
you when he/she mistreats you,
pressures you for sex, plays on guilt
(“If you loved me you’d,..)” said
Allshouse. Relationship violence has
assortment of ways which include
emotional, physical and sexual.
These warning signs include threats
to hurt someone, humiliating one in
public, pushing or shoving, pulling
hair, forcing unwanted sexual
actions or forcing one to have
unprotected sex.
PLEASE come out to these events
and learn more about domestic
violence awareness. If you or anyone
you know is a victim of domestic
violence come forward. There are
people on campus and off that are
here to help. Domestic violence
does not only happen to women and
children but also to men. There is a
low percentage of men that report
these crimes, but that does not mean
there is no help. The same resources
Passport to success
By DIANE KENNEY
Staff Reporter
DMK29S@PSU.EDU
The passport program is
designed to help raise awareness
of events on campus said
staff assistant Melinda Logan.
Students can sign up to get
an activity passport, in the
Student Activities Office.
The idea was introduced to the
campus by former Penn State
employee Nichole Duffy. Students
are to bring their passport to all events
on campus; if the event happens to be
a passport event then the student will
receive the proper label to be affixed in
their passport.
Logan went on to explain that all
events included will beclearly labeled.
The web site that informs all Penn
Staters of this is www.events.psu.edu.
The events cover a wide range of
events, such as leadership events,
career service events, games shows,
athletic functions, multicultural
events and alumni events.
Though it is helpful, you do not
need a passport to attend campus
events, but some events do
require a Penn State Identification
card; such as SGA sponsored
event Stuff-a-Plush; or Student
Activities event, Blizzard of Bucks.
Logan even offers the option
to have an e-mail sent out to
remind students of upcoming
passport events
Student Government President
Ariel O’Malley has already
noticed an improvement with
higher attendances records to
the activities attended by her.
“The only problem I see is, I always
forget my passport, and they don’t fit
in your back pocket.”
Junior, Kervens Dorcely, feels as
though students are excited about the
passport program, “I see student who
are thrilled to fill their passport for a
chance to enter the drawing.”
For example, the first week of
the semester there was a comedian
that are available for women are
available for men as well. It is
extremely important for anyone
of any sex, age, or ethnic group to
stop domestic violence by reaching
out for assistance. As a society we
have to end this cycle of violence
and make a stand to become more
aware and educated. No one needs
to be a victim anymore. No one
deserves to be a victim. Let’s show
that we are not afraid to put an end to
domestic violence.
Domestic Violence
Facts:
• Estimates range from
960,000 to 3 million incidents
of violence against a significant
other who are physically abused
by a spouse, boyfriend, or girl-
friend per year.
• At least one in every three
women have been beaten,
coerced into sex or otherwise
abused during her lifetime.
• Intimate partner violence
is primarily a crime against
women. In 2001, women ac-
counted for 85% of the victims
of intimate partner violence
(588,490 total) and men ac
counted for approximately 15%
of the victims (103,220 total),
• As many as 324,000 women
each year experience violence
during their pregnancy.
• Thirty percent of Americans
say they know a woman who
has been physically abused by
her husband or boyfriend in the
past year.
in the Community center, which
brought an excellent attendance of
about one hundred and fifty students.
Always a huge hit is the Blizzard
of Bucks held over the Capital
Union Building, with an attendance
of around one hundred and forty.
Author Koren Zailckas came
about three weeks ago on a Thursday
in between common hours, with
a surprising attendance of thirty
eight people.
“What good is it to attend all of the
passport events?” Logan said, if you
actively participate in the program,
come to the student activities office
E-131 in the Olmsted Building,
during the weekend of November 27
through December 1, and turn in your
passport to enter the drawing for a
chance to win prizes from sponsors.
Commerce Bank, Cornerstone
Cafe behind Sheet/, and Isaac’s on
Paxton Street, to receive a ten percent
discount for just showing your
activities passport. Our last sponsor
so far, (though more may join in as
the semesters continues), Jostens, the
company that takes care of all your
graduation needs such as your official
Penn State ring and personalized
graduation announcements, also
will give great prizes and will
be in the lobby of the Olmsted
lobby October 18 from 1:00 p.m.
to 6:00 p.m.
It seems that though early into
the semester, and the program,
students are excited and will
continue to attend campus
events for the chance of a prize.
Though new to the campus,
the passport program seems
to be working out well.
This program is not just
available to Student Activities,
student clubs are more than welcome
to have their events listed as
passport programs by letting Logan
know such events, as the
XGI Blood Drive will be a passport
event. All clubs are encouraged and
welcome to come.