A hearty thank you to the THON committee
By CRAIG DEWALT
Overall THON chair
CAD2BI@PSU.EDU
Dear Editor,
I would like to take this time to
thank each and every individual
who made Penn State Harrisburg
THON a complete success. The
effort began in early August when I
was recruiting committee members
with the hopes of making an
impact on our campus.
After creating an Angel group
and filling it with eager students,
I set the bar high with a goal of
raising $lO,OOO. This goal would
almost double any total that Penn
State Harrisburg had ever raised
throughout one THON season, but
I had high hopes.
The THON season started
immediately after the fall semester
had started. The first meeting was
filled with many smiling faces all
with the same goal in mind, to
raise as much money as possible
for the kids.
At the initial meeting we
discussed the history of the Four
Diamonds Fund as well as some
brief facts about THON. I then
announced my ideas for the year,
and gathered many great ideas
from the committee. It was from
that day forward that the hard work
and dedication would kick in.
The first canning weekend
brought in fairly decent results.
A few groups went out to various
locations in the area and managed
to raise just over $l,OOO. This was
the positive start that we were
looking for.
Shortly after the first canning
weekend was the first big THON
event, the Date Auction. The
Student Government and the Black
Student Union joined forces to
host a night of pure entertainment.
Many students were auctioned off
and some received bids of $lOO
and up. The total amount raised
at the Date Auction was just over
$1,400.
By HILLARY ISLEIB
Columnist
HDmi@PSU.EDU
My Team in Training coach
says that running is 90% mental.
After my first week with Team
in Training, I have discovered
that being mentally prepared and
mentally focused are at the core of
everything in life.
Preparation in anything improves
the probability of success. But,
when I registered for Team in
Training, I had simple walking
shoes and cotton yoga pants for
athletic gear—not exactly the
wardrobe of a marathon runner!
Without at least something warm
to wear, I would be flushed out of
the first practice for sure. I set out
to buy some running shoes this
week and running clothes but when
I walked into the running store
1 felt more like I’d been pushed
into the deep end of a pool! Arch
supports, power gels, running socks
for the left and right foot —I knew
absolutely nothing as I sought out
someone at the store who could
help me.
“I’m not really a runner.” I
told the associate with a little
embarrassment. But, I felt a little
stir of indignation rise within me as
I said those words. The first part of
the mental game started right then
and there. I had to believe in myself
before anybody else could believe
in me.
My first run with the team was
later in the week and started out
as one of those situations where
ignorance was truly bliss. Had I
known what I would experience
in that first mile, I probably would
never have made it to the starting
With the momentum rolling the
THON committee went into the
second canning weekend with
hopes of tacking on another grand
to the total.
The cold weather limited our
canning time, and the competition
of the Salvation Army was too
much to handle. I mean seriously,
do you think Matt Sarver can
compare to cute girls with candy
canes? Didn’t think so. We
managed to gather a few hundred
dollars.
It was at this time that some
members of the THON committee
began to mail out letters and were
receiving donations through the
mail. Approximately $2,700 dollars
were raised in personal donations/
corporate donations. This was a
great addition to our total.
The next big event was Bowling
for Kids. I decided to host Bowling
for Kids because it was a huge
success the previous year when
we had it with the IT Club. This
year’s Bowling for Kids was a little
bit of a disappointment but we
still managed to raise a little over
$1,300.
With our two big events out of
the way, all of our energy was left
for the final two canning weekends.
The third weekend we sent out
more groups and managed to raise
$1,200. It was ridiculously cold
but it didn’t stop our canners from
devoting their weekends for the
kids. This was our biggest canning
weekend yet, but we still had one
more to go.
At this time we began to start
selling tickets for two raffles.
The first raffle was one that was
organized by University Park.
The grand prize was a Pontiac car,
and other prizes included a trip to
Paris, and an Apple Notebook.
The second raffle was for one of
two autographed footballs. Jordan
Norwood of the Nittany Lion
football team was kind enough
to get Joe Pa and the guys to sign
two footballs for us to raffle. We
line. With temperatures below
freezing and the remnants of a
stubborn cold still lodged in my
lungs, 1 showed up at my first
practice with sweaty, nervous
palms. I had all the right gear to be
prepared, but mentally, I was
still doubtful.
Coach went over some basic
information, then we stretched and
headed outside. Within minutes my
lips were numb and the wind was
blinding my sight.
“Ninety percent mental?” I thought
sarcastically as the small pack of
runners widened their distance from
me. Coach circled around to run
with me when he saw me
lagging behind.
“How are you doing?” He asked.
I thought, “What a mess 1 must
be!” as my nose was running down
my face, my lips were numb and
flapping in the wind as I struggled to
get any air into my lungs. My face
was turning red from the huffing
and puffing and I cursed the sun and
snow and everything else about the
running trail.
“How did I get myself into this
program? Why? I never thought
my lungs could hurt so bad. I never
thought my lungs could hurt. Oh my
gosh my lungs hurt!” I kept thinking
to myself.
“I’m not really a runner.” I replied
to Coach between gasps of air in a
feeble excuse to explain myself.
“Yes you are.” He replied.
“You’re running aren’t you? And
you’re doing great by the way!”
Suddenly, the morning sun over
the snowy fields looked slightly
bearable and every runner, walker,
jogger, and biker on the trail felt like
a kindred spirit to whom I belonged.
I wasn’t much warmer and my lungs
managed to raise a few hundred
dollars between these two raffles.
It was time for our final canning
weekend and Kappa Sigma decided
to jump on board for the kids.
Once again it was very cold, but
that wasn’t going to stop us. A
few groups went out from the
THON committee but Kappa
Sigma dominated this weekend.
They were at various locations
throughout the Harrisburg area
and managed to bring in some
serious cash. The final count for
the weekend was close to $l,BOO
which was our best weekend yet.
After all was said and done,
our total for the year was
$12,604.23, which more than
doubled any number that Penn
State Harrisburg had ever raised.
People at University Park were
God and Man
By MARK ROSENSTEIN
AAJR399@PSU.EDU
It has been 56 years since
William F. Buckley Jr. penned
God and Man at Yale. The book
was groundbreaking, as it exposed
partiality in the academy.
It would be nice to imagine
that academic bias ended after
Buckley’s book was published.
Sadly, it has not.
When was, one wonders, the last
time that the esteemed faculty at
the Pennsylvania State University,
Harrisburg read HR64?
I know that most are asking,
“What is HR64?” The policy,
initiated on November 27, 1950
(revised on January 30, 1987),
states:
The faculty member is entitled
! to freedom in the classroom in
i discussing his/her subject. The
faculty member is, however, ■
responsible for the maintenance
of appropriate standards of
never ached so badly in my life, but
the mental game finally clicked and
I had the confidence to finish
my run,
“I am a runner!” I said to myself.
“I can finish this marathon!”
The euphoria I felt after that
run was something special. Of
course I’ve learned since that first
run that 1 have a long way to go
(literally!). But, I learned this week
the importance of self-confidence
and allowing others to help me. It’s
okay to have help. Having my Team
in Training teammates and coach
to run with was the only reason I
got out to run at all this week. And,
without the motivation from all of
the monetary donations, it’s easy to
forget why I was up so early on such
a cold Saturday morning to
begin with.
I’m running for all the patients and
survivors of leukemia, lymphoma,
and other blood cancers. I’m just
running, but what makes the real
difference in the lives of these
cancer patients and survivors is all
of the money that is collected to
research a cure for these diseases.
So, please make a donation. My
website is http://www.active.com/
donate/tntva/tntvaHlsleib. Please
note that this is changed from
last week’s column as there was a
technical problem with the
last website.
This is going to be a long run,
but a great experience. Whatever
it is that you are doing, be proud
of your struggles and your
accomplishments, because they
both work together to propel you
forward. My Team in Training
coach was partially right: running is
90% mental, but 100%
self-confidence!
even commenting to me about how
involved we were this year.
We sent a group of students
on the Hershey Medical Center
THON tour for the first time and
next year we will be able to send
four dancers to dance at THON.
This will be the first time that Penn
State Harrisburg is allowed more
then 2 dancers to dance at THON.
I would like to thank the
wonderful committee of great
people that helped out this year. It
was the largest, most productive
THON committee that Penn State
Harrisburg has ever had. Each and
every person who helped out in
some way, shape, or form should
be extremely happy with the end
result.
Breaking the $ 10,000 goal was
a great moment, but I think we
scholarship and teaching ability,
It is not the function of a
faculty member in a democracy
to indoctrinate his/her students
with ready-made conclusions on
controversial subjects.
The faculty member is expected
to train students to think for
themselves, and to provide them
access to those materials which
they need if they are to think
intelligently.
Hence, in giving instruction
upon controversial matters the
faculty member is expected to
be of a fair and judicial mind,
and to set forth justly, without
supersession or innuendo, the
divergent opinions of other
investigators...
No faculty member may claim as
a right the privilege of discussing
in the classroom controversial
topics outside his/her own field of
study.
The faculty member is normally
bound not to take advantage of
One Man Party
By NICHOLAS ZIMMERMAN
Staff Reporter
NXZSOO3@PSU.EDU
Since the fallback in the Iraqi
Freedom War, there has been lost
faith in the Republican Political
Party. Many American citizens feel
that the actions of our
President were what all
Republicans would have done.
However, this is false. A look at
the voting records for the approval
of war was a mixed feeling among
Republicans and Democrats alike.
Most people are aware that D-NY
Senator and Presidential
hopeful Hillary Clinton supported
the war. While it can be argued
why she supported the war, the fact
is that no one person could have
known how the war has turned.
I find it quite interesting that so
many supported President Bush
when he swore to seek out the
terrorist that heinously
attacked our country. Then when
we trust in him to go about that the
best way he sees fit, over half of
his supporters turn on him.
Since that time, more and more
citizens have been looking to
Democrats to fix our country and
the war. This is the same party
that chose D-Mass. Senator John
Kerry to represent them in the ’O4
Presidential election.
Whether you personally believe in
the war or not, we all must support
the troops. You would think a
veteran at best would understand
that. However, during a speech,
Kerry said, “If you make an effort
to be smart you can do well. If you
don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
All jokes aside, this is a direct
insult on all our men and women
serving in the United
States Military.
really reached out and spread
the awareness of THON on our
campus. 1 hope that many of you
will join the THON committee next
year and double this year’s total.
After being a Four Diamonds
child myself, I know what it feels
like to be one of those kids. Trust
me, each and every Penn State
THON student is a hero in his or
her eyes.
THON is the best weekend of
their lives, it’s something to look
forward to, something to keep
their minds off the treatments,
something to put a smile on their
face, something bigger than any
one individual.
For the Kids,
Craig Dewalt
at PSH
his/her position by introducing
into the classroom provocative
discussions of irrelevant subjects
not within the field of his/her
study.
(www.guru.psu.edu/policies/OHR/
hr64.html#F)
This letter, however, is not
intended for the professorate;
rather it is for my fellow students.
The student body should accept
nothing less from our faculty than
a discourse that is honest, bias-
free, and on-point.
This “protection of the truth” is
endowed to us by HR64... commit
this, my compatriots, to memory.
We must heed the words of
Abraham Lincoln, “To sin by
silence when they should protest
makes cowards of men.”
Cordially,
Mark J. Rosenstein
I wish I could remember a time
during my life when the office of
the United States President was
held with honor and respect. When
we all, Republican, Democrat or
Independent, could
say that we have an amazing
President, That they are truly a
grand example of what it means to
lead the best country in the world.
However, my generation up
to date has been robbed of that
honor. Day after day there are
people in our classrooms, dorms
and work places that put down our
Commander-in-Chief. Turn on the
TV, you will find the same thing.
By no means do I wish to exclude
any political party from their part
in the decay of respect for our
nation’s leader, but it must be said.
Liberals across the nation
have been quick to insult and
commit slander against our
President and other
government leaders.
Sure we all have the Freedom of
the Press and the right to state our
opinions about our
government. However, at
what point does this become
counterproductive? When does our
free press do more to inform and
assist the enemy than protect our
own citizens?
These are just a few ideas to
consider next time you have
negative opinions that you wish
to spread across the airways and
newspapers about any of our
country’s leaders.
Closing with a question we
all need to ask ourselves before
judging President Bush’s
actions, what would you do if a
stranger came into your house,
ate your food, then slapped your
mother in the face
before leaving?
President's
Corner
By ARIEL O'MALLEY
SGA President
AEOSOO2@PSU.EDU
For those of you who do not know,
we are in the season of Lent. It is
a time when it rained for 40 days
and 40 nights during the story of
Noah. Lent is a period of 40 days
that symbolizes the time spent by
Moses and Elijah in the wilderness
(not at the same time). One other
symbolization is to show when Jesus
was in the wilderness and fasted for
40 days. There are other things that
the 40 days of lent may symbolize;
it all depends on what your faith has
shown you to follow.
During this time many people
choose to give up something for 40
days. Many people give up sweets,
some give up red meat. Other
people choose to attempt to give
up swearing, sexual intercourse, or
smoking. For those of you who are
giving up something that it truly
challenging for you, I wish you the
best of luck because I will be right
there with you!
Now onto some THANK YOUs.
I would like to say thank you to
everyone who went up to University
Park to support both Matt Sarver
and myself. It was truly amazing to
look up into the stands and see a sea
of red there. It was wonderful! The
other campuses were jealous of all
the support we had. 1 am so proud
to say that I am part of Penn State
Harrisburg after this weekend! You
were all fantastic and I would not
have made it through THON without
all of your support, kind words, hugs,
and piggyback rides!
Now since so many of you have
been asking me about my THON
experience and what it was all like I
have decided to share what my time
was like. Friday at 4:OOPM Matt
Sarver and I walked into the Bryce
Jordan Center where we would be the
first group of dancers to participate in
THON in this building. Walking into
the BJC I could not have been more
excited! The stands were already
beginning to fill up and the energy
w ithin the building was unbelievable.
After putting all of my stuff away
I had to go back out onto the floor
and sit for what seemed to be hours
while we waited for 6:OOPM to come
around. Finally it came around, all of
the dancers got to their feet for what
would be the most amazing 46 hours
of my life. We learned the infamous
THON line dance and had an endless
amount of entertainment.
I had the great opportunity to
spend a large amount of time with
the children of the four diamonds
family. Despite all that these children
have been through they are the most
optimistic, happy, thriving children
that I have ever seen. They are truly
an inspiration and 1 will never forget
a single hug or loving word that I
received from any of them!
Eventually Sunday came. I wish
for one moment that I could explain
to you the amount of pain that I felt
throughout my body. 1 have never
felt a pain that intense in my entire
life. My feet burned and ached to the
point where I could barely stand on
them and they were swollen to the
point that they nearly did not fit into
my sneakers. I began to have flashes
where everything would go black and
I felt as though I would pass out.
This was by far one of the scariest
moments in my life. I really wish that
you could all feel the amount of pain
that 1 did, even for just a moment, so
you could truly feel what it was like.
Finally 4:OOPM came around and
we were allowed to sit down. I have
never been so happy to sit in my life,
The pain was so hurtful that I began
to cry. But when they raised the
THON total of $5, 240,385.17