46 No. 7 By RABYIA AHMED Staff Reporter RZAIO9@PSU.EDU The one thing that he always wanted to do since he his youth was travel around the world. World cultures always interested him. “I love meeting new people,” said Don Hummer, assistant professor of criminal justice. He is thankful for having the chance to live in culturally diverse areas like the town of East Lansing, Mich., where the state university is located. Hummer mentioned that even going to the local restaurants in that area sparked an opportunity to learn about different cultures. In a table of six people, no two would be from the same country, explained Hummer. “It was great!” he said with excitement. So, coming to Penn State Harrisburg felt a little different. Even though there is not much diversity in this area, Hummer said, he still enjoys it. Most of his family and his wife’s family lives in the vicinity. That’s why he believes it’s a good idea to raise his two children, ages three and five, right here in Hershey near them. Being a family oriented person shined through while talking with Hummer. It is apparent that he enjoys having his children around. He plays with them frequently, too. In fact, his kids are the one achievement he is most proud of. “Any idiot can get a degree,” said Hummer. His is glad for his children. His wife, who he met while getting his master’s degree, helped him become the person he is today. She has taught him patience and to not only set goals, but to make a strong effort in achieving them. “And for that, I am thankful,” he said. Before that, he explained, he would just let things happen. Besides spending time with his family, he enjoys fishing, which is obvious after stepping into his office. There is a fish model hanging on the wall behind his desk for decor. “I enjoy fishing a lot,” said Hummer. But Hummer considers himself to be a conservationist. Unless he goes fishing specifically to catch fish for dinner, he catches them just Please see HUMMER on page 5 INDEX: PSU to undergo bias review From staff and wire reports The Patriot News A state civil rights commission will review discrimination complaints against Penn State University to see if there is a pattern of bias on its campuses. Human Relations Commission Executive Director Homer Floyd said yesterday that he was directed to look into the complaints during an agency meeting on Monday in Harrisburg. Commission Chairman Stephen Glassman told the Centre Daily Times, which first reported the review, that the number of complaints against Penn State was “significant.” Complaints came from several minority and protected groups and from different Penn State campuses, he said. University President Graham Spanier contended in a letter sent last night to Glassman that date did not support his remarks. Fifty-six of about 200,000 complaints filed to the commission since 2001 affected Penn State, Spanier said. There have been no “probable cause” findings among those complaints, and three resulted in a mutually agreed-upon resolution between the university and employee,” Spanier wrote. Spanier and Glassman’s statements undermined the school’s efforts in diversity. “As president, I have promoted an agenda that is deeply committed to justice, equity and eradication of hate and bias,” Spanier said. “Penn Facebook: a life and an addiction By CHRISTINE CHURCHWELL Staff Reporter CMC4I7@PSU.EDU Facebook. What more is there to say? It’s the all-inclusive social networking tool of the 21st century. It’s become a highlight of the average collegiate life; just watch in your IST and computer courses and I guarantee that at least two people will hop online before class to check 7 jge. looking at a friend's page and updating one's own page their site. Why so few? Only because everyone else checked it before Police Report Opinion uary 5 Photo courtesy of Ooogle Images Allegations of racism against Penn State Univerity are being delt with in a serious manner by the University and the Human Relations Commission State’s record with regard to human relations is, in face, stellar. An analysis of your data would suggest that we are among the least cited large employers in the state.” Glassman has traveled to State College several times in recent months for meetings of a county advisory board to the state commission. “Through that process, he has gathered additional information that they left the house that morning! Since the launch of the website in 2004, Facebook exploded onto the college networking scene, bringing together new and old friends in a high-tech and completely awesome environment. Statistically speaking it now has over 14 million registered users across over 40,000 regional, work-related and school networks. Almost everyone I know has become addicted to the social whirlwind that is Facebook. So what is Facebook? Why does everyone love it? And ..2 ..3 led him to believe there might be an issue,” Floyd said. Penn State officials have increased minority enrollment in recent years, but most university students are white. Last fall, the Education Trust, a nonprofit organization studying education gave Penn State an “F” in serving minority students. The group compared 50 of the nation’s largest universities. most importantly, what’s the catch? Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook at Harvard University in February of 2004 and it was an instant hit. Within a few weeks, over half the Harvard undergraduate population had registered. As the website’s popularity rose and advertising revenue grew, Zuckerberg and Co- founder Dustin Moskovitz left Harvard to run Facebook fulltime. In September of 2006, Yahoo, the “essential global Internet service for all consumers and businesses” offered Facebook $9OO Million for its acquisition and was turned down. Damn! Why couldn’t that have been me? It makes you wish that you had thought of it first. For those of you who haven’t been enlightened as of yet I am here to guide you on your journey. First, what is Facebook? Well my Sons and Daughters, according to a Facebook press release it is a “social utility that enables people to spread relevant information through social networks,” A.K.A, it’s a website that allows one person exchange information through the creation of profiles, the Please see FACEBOOK on page 5 News Club News to befriend others and .4-5 .6-7 Celebrate Life.* Needed aid for Katrina offered by a PSH student Colts take the Bears 29-17.. Dick’s Picks Penn State’s 4,481 black students make up 5.4 percent of its 83,721 students, according to university figures released inNovember. Census data shows blacks account for 10.5 percent of the state’s population. The number of black students at Penn State represents an 11 percent increase over the previous year. Floyd said such reviews by the commission were not uncommon and that his review was due in March. 2 men released as Boston officials seek restitution for ploy that sparked terrorism fears By JAY UNDSAY Associated Press BOSTON (AP) - Two men who authorities say placed electronic advertising devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, apparently amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism and shut down parts of the city. Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, were released on $2,500 cash bond after each pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct for a device foun< Wednesday at subway stat They waved smiled as they people in court. Outside, they and television cameras an launched into a nonsensical discussion of hair styles of the 19705. “What we really want to talk about today it’s kind of important to some people it’s haircuts of the 19705,” Berdovsky said. But as he walked off, Berdovsky gave a more serious comment. “We need some time to really sort things out and, you know, figure out our response to this situation in other ways than talking about hair,” Campus Calendar.... 7 Sports 8 Photo courtesy of Googla Images Penn State employs about 39.000 full- or part-time workers across roughly two dozen campuses. Floyd said the number of complaints wasn’t surprising because the university is one of the state’s largest employers. Some moves by Penn State in recent years have impressed the commission, including changes in its freshman orientation program, Floyd said. The university has been the subject of several discrimination lawsuits over the last 18 months. Four academic employees and one former staff member have filed federal discrimination cases against the university in the past 18 months, according to the Centre Daily Times. One was settled out of court; the others are pending. Former women’s basketball player, Jennifer Harris, a Central Dauphin High School graduate, has filed a federal discrimination suit against coach Rene Portland. That case is scheduled for trial this summer. In the suit, Harris, who is black, claims she is the victim of sexual and racial discrimination, saying Portland chased her off the team because the coach thought she was a lesbian. In April, Penn State fined Portland $lO,OOO for discriminating against Harris because of her perceived sexual orientation. Harris has said she is not a lesbian but claims Portland discriminated against players the coach believed to be gay. “We are not perfect, and we take action when warranted,” Spanier wrote to Glassman. Berdovsky said. “So if you could just give us some privacy for a little bit.... I will be trying to make sense of all it real soon.” Officials found 38 blinking electronic signs promoting the Cartoon Network TV show “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” on bridges and other high-profile spots across the city Wednesday, prompting the closing of a highway and the deployment of bomb squads. The surreal series is about a talking milkshake, a was a bomb in Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said at their arraignment. The 1-foot tall signs, which were lit up at night, resembled a circuit board, with protruding wires and batteries. Most depicted a boxy, cartoon character giving passersby the finger a more obvious sight Please see AQUA TEEN on page 4 Entertainment 9-10 11 Games ....Page 3 ....Page 5 Page 8 ..Page 10 of fries a meatball. network is division Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. “It’s clear the :ent was to get ion by causing and unrest lat location,”
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