— LION’'SEYE — October, 1990 Cathy Hagarty, as the Nittany Lion, made rounds near the Commons Building during Cultural Awareness Week. Photo by: PATRICK KIM The Cultural Awareness Week That Was by Matthew B. Cieri Cultural Awareness Week, from September 24 to September 28, offered some interesting events. On Monday the Ethnic Food Fest started the activities. Among the various cuisines served were Mexican, Kenyian, Pennsylvania Dutch, Irish, Italian, and American. About 75 people attended this celebration of culture through food. A one dollar dona- tion was requested; the proceeds were for the benefit of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Next scheduled was the Alternate Lifestyles discussion, on Thursday, Sept. 27. Unfortunately, the members of the Gay and Lesbian Task Force were unable to attend and lead the discussion. Instead, Mrs. Lindsey and Ms. Zam- pogna led a discussion on how to deal with some academic issues, such as cop- ing with math and talking to professors. The week ended with the “Rap” con- test. Only one contestant team entered,but more came to hear their Rap about ethnic food. All those who were there were excited about having another contest. However, they suggested that the next “Rap” contest be called a Cultural Awareness Talent Show. They felt that this one was too restricted to Rap only. But in fact, it was open to song, dance, and poetry. Now that Cultural Awareness week is over an important question remains: What does Cultural Awareness mean? I interviewed Mrs. Lindsey, who has an interesting perspective on the issue. She said, “Cultural Awareness means not only to know your own culture, but also other different cultures. It is a small world, and we have to live together. On- ly through the understanding, knowledge, and respect of each other can we live harmoniously. “America is not a melting pot, but rather a collage. In order to understand each other, we need to communicate. Also, defining culture is difficult. The dictionary definition states that culture Nat'l. Science Foundation Grant Benefits Campus Science Students by Ed McFall When Michael De Rosa, of Wall- ingford, an associate professor of chemistry at the Penn State Delaware County Campus, talks about the value of a recent research grant he received from the National Science Foundation he is not just referring to what will be ac- complished scientifically. The $140,000 grant is for studies on the mechanism of electrophilic aromatic substitution but to De Rosa it could also make a contribution to improving what is perceived nationwide a$ critical prob- lems in the “science personnel pipeline.’ Educators, business leaders and governmental officials have been ex- pressing widespread concern about the quality of science education in this coun- try, the dwindling number of young peo- ple who are interested in pursuing a career in science, and what those things will mean in the years to come in respect to scientific achievements in the United States. With the grant for the three-year pro- ject, De Rosa expects to develop the new methodology he has identified to demonstrate how many intermediates are present in electrophic aromatic substitution, one of the most studied reactions in organic chemistry. The NSF grant allows De Rosa to ex- plore his methodology and provide a pro- gram of summer research for under- graduates at the Delaware County Cam- pus that will enrich the educational ex- perience of chemistry students and fur- ther stimulate their interest in chemistry. “One of the things that NSF and a lot of funding agencies are doing is to try and come up with a lot of different pro- grams to get kids to go into the sciences,’”’ De Rosa said. : “Everybody talks about the same thing. What they call the pipeline prob- lem. We don’t have as many students coming in to do the sciences — chemis- try, physics, biology and math.” Black Student League Sets Busy Semester Schedule The Black Student League has plann- ed another full semester of activities which include service projects, fund raisers, and social events for League members. Coming up first is a Bake Sale on Oc- tober 24. It will be held in the Main Building student lounge from 11:30 to 1:30, the right time and place to help out hungry students, staff, and faculty! Three more events are planned for November. A clothing drive will be con- ducted campus-wide on November 7, so start cleaning out your closets now. Then on November 14 a Smorgasbord will be offered in the Lion’s Den. For one modest price you can eat all you want. Watch for details posted throughout the campus. Then, as a relaxing social event before the end-of-semester crush, the League has planned a Bowling Party on November 30. Then, from January 4-6 during semester break, the group hopes to go on a ski trip together. Leading the Black Student League this year are President Ed Finley, Vice President Tim Jacobs, Treasurer Denita Wright, and Executive Officers Crystal Clarke, Shellay Keys, Marni Hollis, and Paul Slater. Black Student League officers include (I. to r.) Tim Jacobs (vice president), Crystal Clark (executive officer), and Ed Finley (president). Photo by: DIANA MICERI He said, of his grant, that ‘the ex- citing part is that students will have a chance to have hands-on experience,” beyond the education they received in the regular classroom. De Rosa said he had one student this summer doing research on the project and “you can see the difference in the student when he goes into the lab.” He said that in required lab work, stu- dents have the opportunity to use ‘tried and true” recipes and learn the ‘‘basic principles of carrying out. simple chemical manipulations.” He said that with the student this summer, ‘he came in one morning and said, ‘You know I couldn't sleep all might thinging about the idea I had.’ ”’, “That is one of the things about research,’ he said. ‘‘It really can be very exciting because the student knows that he is working on something that nobody else has. They develop a proprietary interest in the work. “It really hooks students on science.” De Rosa noted that it is not the big- gest schools that have the best record of the number of students who go on to become Ph.D scientists but the smaller, liberal arts school where students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a professor on a particular problem. “We are trying to see if we can do something like that for our students so they can have a research experience, hopefully for one or two years, and they will decide to go on to graduate school and continue in chemistry,” De Rosa said. is made up of how people eat, dress, act, and their customs, heritage, and religion. Culture varies not only from race to race, but also from region to region. However, some think culture it only race; it depends on who you ask.” So look for other unique cultures, and explore them, alone or with a friend. Scholarship Fundraiser Helps Delco by Angela Deal Need money? Tried of working extra hours to pay for school? Well, this may be the scholarship for you. On October 20, 1990 at Penn State Delco, friends of Dewey LaRosa will be holding a fun- draiser to benefit his memorial scholar- ship which honors the late Upper Provi- dence district justice. The fund, which was established just last year, has already awarded scholarships to two Penn State Delco students. LaRosa, a Penn State Delco graduate of "78, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Ad- ministration. LaRosa was a decorated infantryman during WWII, when he was severely wounded and confined to a wheel chair. Despite this handicap, LaRosa served 28 years as district justice for Upper Providence and Rose Valley. One year following LaRosa’s resigna- tion, he died. In his honor the Dewey LaRosa scholarship has been establish- ed to benefit students. The reception will be held from 5 p.m. -7 p.m. in the library, where an exhibi- tion of paintings by a local artist, Joanne Gross, will also be displayed. In addition there will be wine and hors d'oeuvres and the former scholarship recipients will be there. Tickets can be bought for $25 per cou- ple or $15 a single (checks should be made payable to Dewey LaRosa Memorial Fund and sent to K. Davis, 1212 Hunt Club Ln., Media, PA 19063). Nittany Christian Fellowship Offers Fun, Friends, Support by Judith R. Belson Need some counseling or advice? Need some spiritual guidance? Need some religious information? Most of all, do you need some fun and a chance to meet some new faces? Then the Nittany Christian Fellowship is the place for you! The Nittany Christian Fellowship is one of the many clubs available to stu- dents at Penn State Delaware County Campus. It meets every Tuesday in the Lion’s Den during the Commons hour (11:30-12:30) for a group discussion on various topics and how the Bible can be used to help in these situations. On Thursdays, different activities are plan- ned, from an informal volleyball game, to painting the office, to having lunch at the mall. Other activities are also plann- ed for the whole campus, too. The chairpersons of the NCF are Aaron Coury and Stacy Kerno. Their focus for the NCF is to get people to learn about Christianity and the Bible, as well as providing guidance and friend- ship for students. They are very under- standing people, so if you ever need so- meone to talk to, they'll be there for you. Nittany Christian Fellowship is a great organization made up of lots of really fun people who care. Everybody should see what this organization does, especially if you need a real mental break from the stresses of classes. But don’t just take it from me; experience it for yourself! WATCH FOR THE GAMES CLUB COMING TO A LION'S DEN NEAR YOU! * x * HELP SUPPORT ‘A DELCO SCHOLARSHIP! ~ USE THE VENDING & GAME MACHINES IN THE LION'S DEN
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers