er SAN Ss Vol. XXVII, No. 2 Penn State University, Delaware County Campus October 11, 1995 SEPTA Promises Shorter Trip For Students From 69th St. By Janine Furillo “I think that it will be better if they shorten the rides," Nicole Wesley (first semester) says, "Right now they are so long and boring.” This seems to be a typical response for many students riding the bus to and from school everyday. Evelyan Wilson (first - semester) agrees, “ It takes too long to get to Penn State because they have to drop the disabled people off at the Elwyn Institution. I think that students should have their own bus from Sixty Ninth Street Terminal straight to school.” : Some improvements have been negotiated. One is express bus from Sixty-ninth Street Terminal directly here, with a possible stop at the Springfield Mall. Additional #110 buses will leave the campus in the evening. The departures will be at 9:45, 10:45, and 11:45pm to extend ~ service beyond the current 7:35pm last departure. Brion McNear (first semester) replies,” The bus fair is too high in cost, and a lot of my time is wasted waiting around for the bus to arrive.” Also students may soon be able to purchase their bus tokens from the PSU bookstore. = Student Life is also investigating Compasses which offer a five percent reduction from SEPTA, and a five percent or more from the sponsoring institution. An additional bus will leave Sixty-ninth Street Terminal every half hour, which will take the Routel by- pass instead of going through Media. This will reduce the ride by approximately ten minutes. SEPTA trains will arrive at the Elwyn Station very thirty minutes instead of every hour to connect more efficiently with bus #117. The Student Life Committee has just completed the first stage of a student survey on public transportation. This survey provides a current list of students using SEPTA buses to commute here, as well as information about the route(s) they take, the time of a one-way commute, and their zip codes. Eighty students using bus transportation have so far been identified. Eight of the students take bus #117, which runs from Chester to West Chester; the rest take bus #110 from the Sixty-ninth Street Terminal. The length of a one-way ride ranges from forty-five minutes from Media, and a two hour ride from South Philadelphia, : Mrs. Barbara Daniel, Coordinator of Student Life, has met four times with Fred Ewald of Delaware County ‘s Transportation Management Association. Over the past few months they have been working to identify transportation issues affecting our students, especially the time and cost involved in public transportation. Hard Work Earns New Money For Campus Improvement By Judy Chrupcala After fifteen months of operating within tight budget constraints, Dr Tomezsko, Chief Executive Officer, announced to the campus that it had received $700,000 from the University in light of increased enrollments at Delco this year and last year. This fall’s enrollments show a total of 143 more students on campus than last year. The money was given to Delco for all the hard work they put into the campus. In referring to the money given by the University, Dr Tomezsko said, “Calling it a windfall is calling it luck. Luck had nothing to “do with it, just hard work.” The money is being spent in many ways to improve the campus. First, additional adjunct faculty were hired to teach the additonal classes needed due to increased enrollments. Also the campus is adding more tutors to help students in the Learning Center. In addition, a new counselor, a computer services specialist, and a secretary are being hired. Since the money is temporary and must be spent by July 31, the end of the fiscal year, a large portion of it will be used for up-grading campus technology. New software and 50 computers will be added to the computer labs and Learning Center. ~ Also computerized information kiosks. will be available to students in each building. Finally, improvements will be made to the physical plant. General campus signage and special Americans with Disabilites signage will be added as well. Students will get a shorter bus ride to Delco with SEPTA’ s new fall schedille, Photo by PETE HOWARD Dorms At Delco A Possibility By Tim McLaughlin If you have been wondering when this campus will build dorms, the answer is not anytime soon. If and when the dorms will be built are as much up in the air as the completion of the new academic building. The administration here has made no decision yet regarding dorms on campus, waiting instead to hear the policies put in place by our new president, Dr. Grahm Spanier. Dr Spanier has said that the University will plan a course of action for next year concerning things that are “possible.” This means there’s a limit to what Penn State can do. If the presence of dorms on campus is possible, Campus Executive Officer Dr. Ed Tomezsko said, “We would want them on campus. And they would then need the completion of the new academic building which could bring the campus population up to 2,200 students.” Dr. Tomezsko added, "The completion of the academic building, if it started today, is probably 18 months away.” So the earliest date which dorms would be possible appears to be the 1997 academic year. The University is aware that some students decline to attend this campus because of the lack of dorms. Right now the Admissions Office is collecting data through applications about whether dorms are a priority to incoming students. SGA Vice President AJ Russo thinks the dorms are a good idea. “Dorms would be an asset, because “enrollment would continue to grow, and they would be good for student activities with a lot of people living on campus. The school has wanted dorms for along time. The problem is getting the money from the state.” If one thing is clear, it is that Delco will remain a commuter campus at least into the foreseeable future. After that, dorms are a definite possibility. Octoberfest: Apples, Pies And Kegs By Janine Furillo Octoberfest is a special time on campus to show Penn State pride. Patterned after the German festival which usually lasts a month, the Delco version is happening as you read this and will be going on until October 13. Octoberfest is a week during which the SGA and all the other clubs put on daily events to entertain students. A.J]. Russo (Vice President of SGA), said, “I think it will go over well. It gives students a chance to see the clubs and organizations putting on activities, campus life.” The Octoberfest and being a part of activities planned are not all sports oriented. You might want to have a strong throwing arm because on Tuesday, October 10, the Keystone Society will be sposoring a pie throwing contest. There could be quite a turn out, especially when the target is one of ‘your professors. Everyone should come prepared to eat apples on Tuesday, October 10. ~The Service Corp and Lion Ambassadors will be selling candy apples. Or enter the contest to eat as many crackers with peanut butter without drinking and win a prize. Jenn Pompizzi (First Semester) said, “I think it will be a great experience for my first year of college.” Pat Boyle (Third Semester) said, “My life doesn’t begin untill the Crackers and Peanut Butter eating contest ends.” When that’s over, wash them down with a choice of apple juice or apple cider. Weather (Continued on page 6)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers