SGA
Update
By MATTHEW MAHONEY
Staff Reporter
MLMSO39@PSU.EDU
The Student Government
Association met Thursday Oct.
25 and was faced with criticism
not only from members of the
student body but also from within.
Camille Capmpbell, President of
the Marketing Honors Society,
wanted to know why the SGA,
and specifically the Student Court
has been focused solely on the
impeachment and not on the student
body. "I charge all of you," she said
during public comments, "to act
as professionally and efficiently as
possible."
SGA President Marques Stewart
pointed out that the court has three
weeks to review constitutions from
the time they are submitted and it
had only been two weeks.
Chief Justice of the Student Court,
Paul Fogle announced that three
charges would be moving forward
to an actual impeachment hearing.
During the continued debate
over constitutional amendments
senators began to exchange indirect
verbal rounds as disparity surfaced
about the senate's agreement
over including the position of a
webmaster. Currently the position
of Communications Director holds
the responsibility to not only
communicate SGA activities to
the students but also design the
webpage.
Senator Dustin Holler, who filled
this position previously, feels
that appointing a web master is
unnecessary and feels this is the
expressed majority of the Senate by
those that attend Senate meetings.
Senator Blackmon countered by
saying that Dustin is improperly
assuming that it is the majority
of the Senate that feels this way
because he admits that it was not
brought up at any senate meeting he
attended.
Debate also continued over the
inclusion of an Inter Club Council
that would replace the need for
clubs to attend SGA meetings.
Feedback from Vice President Sahar
Safaee about the ICC informed
senators that a lot of ideas and
concepts are accomplished at ICC
meetings, and that communication
between clubs is improved.
Senator Martin Santalucia voiced
concerns that the SGA should
he more effective. "The SGA is
being informed by rumors and not
internally," said Santalucia. He also
reminded everyone that the Senate
holds a lot of power to do what
is necessary for the student body.
The idea that the SGA should be
more involved with the needs of the
students is a sentiment echoed by
many members of the SGA on all
levels.
As of the meeting on Nov. 1 the
SGA reported it had $16,868.90 in
the restricted fund; $4,403.41 in the
unrestricted fund; and $2,321.72 in
the FAA account.
The Student Court reported it
had approved constitutions for the
Model Rocket Club, Mu Kappa
Tau, and the Capital Alliance. Chief
Justice Fogle also presented copies
of the impeachment charges to
the Senate for their review. This
was the first time the Senate had
seen the charges and it was done
in advance of their meeting on
Tuesday, Nov. 6.
In the continuing debate of
the amendments to the SGA
constitution the amendment for
a webmaster did not pass. The
amendments for a max of four
justices on the Student Court and
the President to hold a leadership
conference did pass.
Members of the SGA continued,
again, to voice concerns that the
SGA was not focusing on where it
should, the students. Still no actions
have come from these admissions.
Senator Maurice Blackmon
summed it up when he said, "Our
student government has issues."
Show off your diamonds at PSH
By ADAM PORTER
Columnist
AWPSO3B@PSU.EDU
With an eye toward the future,
Linda Barry, Assistant Coordinator
for the Four Diamonds Fund,
has high hopes for the battle
against pediatric cancer. "The
Four Diamonds Fund provides an
invaluable safety net for families
who have a son or daughter treated
for pediatric cancer at Penn State
Children's Hospital," said Barry.
"Thanks to the vision of co
founders Charles and Irma Millard
and the partnership with THON,
the Fund is able to provide pediatric
cancer patients with comprehensive
medical, emotional and financial
support," she continued.
Last year was a "tremendous" year
for the Fund according to Barry,
who noted that the Fund raised more
than $6 million in the last fiscal
year. Not only through an enormous
increase (over $1 million year-to
year) in THON's donation, but also
through many more middle and high
school mini-thons than years past.
According to last academic year's
Diversity
By MAURICE BLACKMON
Staff Reporter
M 1852 1 O@PSU.EDU
One can commonly observe a
separation of races in most large
public venues.
"We're just more comfortable
within our own races" is the typical
excuse
It is unfortunate that the United
States, the melting pot of the world,
continues to deal with issues of
racial inequality, discrimination
against members of various sexual
orientations and religious ridicule.
More so, it is ironic that we,
the United States, even deemed
ourselves a melting pot. It is true that
we are a nation with a rich dynamic
of cultures, but the fact that so little
effort is made to unite us diminishes
our claim to be a melting pot.
Penn State Harrisburg is rich in
diversity, overflowing with groups
dedicated to spreading cultural
awareness on campus.
One might now ask, "Isn't your
campus perfect? Shouldn't it be
so that discrimination against
races, members of various sexual
orientations and religions, doesn't
exist on your campus?"
To address these questions, two
prominent student leaders were asked
fe ,46 :alth Spot
By ROBERT KABATA
Staff Reporter
RFKI 25430PSU.EDU
Here it comes: the article that says,
"Hey smokers, why don't you just go
ahead and quit already?"
This article isn't going to list reasons
why quitting is smart. It's common
knowledge that not smoking is the
healthy choice. But the decision to
quit is a personal one and has to be
reached on your own. I personally
know how great of a drug nicotine
can be, how hard it is to let it go and
how much it just plain sucks getting
through the quitting process. I also
know how much better life (and your
wallet) is afterwards.
For those who choose to try to live
a healthier and longer life, there are
countless ideas and ways to choose
from. Cold turkey, chewing gum,
avoiding areas with smokers, nail
biting, Nicorette, pickle juice, 10
deep breaths, keeping your hands
busy and pushups are some methods
calendar on the Four Diamonds
website, there were over 30 mini
thons through out the area. They
included dance-
a-thons and
rock-a-thons
of varying
lengths with
kids of as young
as 6th grade
participating.
Ms. Barry also
helped organize
Elizabethtown
College's first
mini-thon raising
more than
$7,000.
As assistant
coordinator, Ms
Barry works
closely with
Coordinator, Sara
Firestone, and
Staff Assistant,
Linda Leonard to make sure The
Four Diamonds has the resources to
carry
out their mission. Those resources
include funds but volunteers and
other staff members as well.
inactive at Penn
about campus diversity.
Senior John Howie, president of the
Black Student Union and director
of the Multi-Cultural Recruitment
Team, felt the representation of races
is not an issue. But his
first year here was a
different story.
"The influx of freshmen
alone has contributed to
the increase in diversity,"
he stated
Howie felt it brought
an entrepreneurial spirit
to the campus.
"We've become more
diverse in our ideas and
perspectives, more so
than just in race," he
said, referencing the
Gospel Choir and the
drama club, the Capital
Players.
Student Government
Association President
Marcus E. Stewart also
felt Penn State Harrisburg is taking
steps in the right direction as far as
diversity is concerned.
"A major goal of the SGA this
year is to unite our campus in every
aspect," he said.
On a scale of one to 10, 10 being
good, Stewart felt the campus is
between a five and a six.
"I wish I could give a higher
that people have used to quit smoking.
Death is always a guaranteed way
to quit. But professional help is
available right here on campus.
Smoking cessation information
and assistance is offered by the
Health Services Office, Olmsted
W-102. Appointments can be made
to talk to medical professionals on
the importance and ways of quitting
smoking. Many different kinds of
informational handouts are
available to
take and
read to
help a AUL
person
make the
decision
to quit.
The staff
is very
Photos courtesy of google.com
knowledgeable and willing to work
with a person to get him or her
healthy.
If a person wants to quit on their
own, the internet has countless Web
sites that will help. Two of the best
One of the ways this is
accomplished is through fundraisers
with local organizations and
4 Mitts for NKr Diamonds
Walk -a -than
Image coutesy of GOOGLE.COM
around campus.
Ms. Barry's other
responsibilities include editing
the Fund's newsletter, The Four
Diamonds Forum. She also conducts
tours of the Penn State Children's
Hospital. Tours for students can be
arranged through each campus' or
number, but the burning of the
LGBTSA (gay-straight alliance on
campus) signs around campus must
be noted," he said with frustration.
"Sure, there's diversity in food court,
but the diverse groups sit with one
another... separated from everyone
else! People may attack this claim,
saying they're simply eating with
their friend, but it still gives off the
wrong idea."
Howie rated the campus slightly
different. He felt the campus gets an
A- or B+ in diversity, but "in terms
of inclusion and exploration of other
(and free) are from the government.
The site http://www.smokefree.
gov/ has hotline numbers and links
to online chat rooms, so instant
help is available
for the times t h e
urge is really ' • tough
to fight. Also,
the writers of t h e
warning labels o n
cigarette
packs have
their own Web
site, http://www.
surgeongeneral.gov/
tobacco/index.html, with similar
resources available for the soon to be
non-smoker
Making the decision to quit and
sticking with it is not easy. There
is countless reminders everyday for
smoking and of its very pleasurable
short-term benefits. One of my
professors alluded to that fact earlier
this year, saying how he knew it was
bad, but also how good a cigarette
would taste right at that instant.
However, that "instant" does fade
away.
businesses.
On Wednesday,
December 5, Penn
State Harrisburg's
THON committee
will be holding
a "Community
Night" at the Isaac's
Deli locations in
Mechanicsburg (in
Rossmoyne Business
Center) and on
Paxton Street (near
Bass Pro Shop). 25%
of sales between 4
pm and 9 pm will go
directly to the Fund.
You must present a
flyer to your server
that will be available
photo courtesy of MAURICE BLACKMON
THE CAPITAL TIMES November 12, 2007
organization's THON committee.
To join this campus' committee,
simply e-mail myself at AWPSO3B@
PSU.EDU or Ariel O'Malley at
AEOSOO2@PSU.EDU and we
will add you to the ANGEL group
to keep you up to date on events
and information. The reach of this
organization is broad.
"Last year, The Four Diamonds
Fund assisted 607 patients and their
families. Unfortunately of those 607
patients, 104 were newly diagnosed
at Penn State Children's Hospital,"
Barry pointed out. "The number of
newly diagnosed patients continues
to rise, but we are confident the
patients are receiving the best care
possible because of the support of
The Four Diamonds Fund."
Recalling the ground-breaking
pledge that THON made in 2004
THON of $lO million to build the
Pediatric Cancer Pavilion at the new
Penn State Children's Hospital, Barry
provided an update on the progress.
"I am pleased
to let you know that recently [the
Hospital's] Board of Directors
approved plans for the creation of a
four-story children's hospital.
cultures, we lack, and therefore get a
C+ or D-."
Recognizing the positive and
negative sides to the issue ofdiversity,
Howie and Stewart were asked how
they felt the gap of diversity could
be bridged. President Stewart
suggested approaching Howie
with any questions, comments or
concerns about the issue.
He stated, "You do not have to be
a minority to join the Multi-Cultural
Recruitment Team, MAEP or the
Black Student Union."
Anything with the word "culture"
in it is assumed to be geared
towards Blacks. This is a terribly
ignorant misconception. Stewart
also recommended contacting
Phebe West, Chairman of the
Diversity Committee of the Student
Government Association.
Howie shared his expertise on
the matter, reiterating the Multi-
Cultural Recruitment Team's motto
"bridging the gap."
"We must develop ways to foster
interaction between individuals'
ideas, perspectives, cultural
backgrounds, interests and tastes,"
said Howie.
He feels it doesn't take mathematical
or scientific theories to solve this.
"We're already diverse...what's the
glue?" Howie asked.
He suggested the campus can be
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With the Board's approval, the .
plans are now proceeding to the
formal architectural design phase...
designs will then be presented to [the
Hospital's] Board of Directors and
the Penn State University Board of
Trustees for final approval in order
to begin actual construction. The
presentation of designs is expected
to happen sometime in the fall
of 2008.'`THON is allowing the
dreams of a free-standing children's
hospital and dedicated space for
our pediatric oncology patients
to become a reality," said Barry.
Expressing her gratitude to Penn
State students, Barry continued, "We
thank each and every THON student
for your passion and efforts on behalf
of The Four Diamonds Fund and
Penn State Children's Hospital."
"Through THON, The Four
Diamonds Fund has helped Penn
State Children's Hospital create a top
quality pediatric cancer program.
We look forward to the continued
partnership between THON and The
Four Diamonds
Fund and thank you for all you
do as we work toward our goal of
conquering childhood cancer."
united by possibly bringing together
clubs and educational departments.
This will lead to students obtaining
better understanding of one another.
Howie stated, "Individuals have
to be more motivated to engage in
something outside of their norm. We
all have something to bring to the
table. Don't keep it hidden. Actually
bring it to the table."
It is obvious the campus is dealing
with an inactive form of diversity.
One can place a member of four
different nations into one room. If
they all retreat to the four corners
of the room, they are isolated. The
room is diverse, but in an inactive
form, doing no one any good.
With two open-minded, mature
leaders like Stewart and Howie, the
campus can certainly look forward to
change. President Stewart is making
strides on a daily basis to see to it
that the campus is uniting. The same
can be said about Howie. Though
the silent leader that he is, Howie
displays incredible enthusiasm and
promise for the campus.
Look forward to the next Diversity
Corner, where several faculty/staff
members of minority backgrounds
will be profiled. They will share
their experiences at Penn State and
talk about how and if their diverse
backgrounds have played a part in
their experiences.
DJ Van Man =l+
State
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