Vol. XXVIII, No. 4 “ Penn State University, Delaware County Campus PENNSTATE } Delaware County Campus November 4, 1996 Two New Degrees Almost Make Delco A Real College By Erin Lulevitch It’s going to be one small step for Penn State University, one giant step for Delaware County. New opportunities for students to complete their baccalaureate degrees here are in the works as Delco helps form the. future, along with eleven other campuses for the new Commonwealth College. Currently students can earn their B.A. in Speech Communications, Letters Arts and Science, American Studies, and Urban Elementary Education here on campus. Next year degrees in Health and Human Services and Business will also be available, according to Sara Whildin, head librarian and group leader of the second Campus Community Meeting where this information was discussed among specially formed committee heads and interested facul ty, staff, and students. It was also reported that new non-credit ‘and non-certification ‘courses may also be offered. Mandatory classes and programs are under consideration as well, such as a freshman seminar and community internship. Brandon Hamm (7th semester, Sp. Comm.), has already benefitted from the new degrees being offered on campus. After spending two years here, Brandon was forced to transfer to the Park to complete the requirements for his degree in Speech Communication. This fall Brandon was able to return to Delco to complete his degree. “It worked to my advantage that I could come back.” ~ Members of four committees formed to plan the Commonwealth College under the guidance of Dr. Robert E. Dunham (Senior V.P. and Dean of the Commonwealth Education System), are responsible for these changes and are hoping to see more students. like * Brandon benefit from these new opportunities. Each campus in the new college §0 : 1 Ln : Lo oe Christina Lolley, Katurah Whittington and Felicio Green participate in SGA’s Ghost will be limited to offering no more than six degrees within the first two years. After that time, the possibilities are endless. The degrees most likely to be added next are PreLaw and Environmental Resources. The other Penn State campuses are undergoing changes as well. Altoona and Ogontz will become four year colleges. Meanwhile, Allentown and Berks, and Schuylkill and Harrisburg are combining to form colleges. Tuition costs will remain the same at each campus and theres still no word yet on whether or not dorms wll be built at the Delaware County Campus. All of the Penn State campuses ~ can expect a visit from Dr. Dunham in late November through December, to discuss the progress of this effort. He will visit Delaware County on Thursday, November 21. Students can join the rest of the campus community in meeting Dr. Dunham from 3:00- 5:00pm to voice their questions about the new Commonwealth College. new Day. The event took piace on October 25 to mark the number of people killed each hour by drunk driving. Delco Plans To Discover Your Future Through Internships And Programs By Christina Papa When asked about his career plans, Eric Dinkelmann, 4th semester art major, responded, “I don’t know what I'm going to do when I get out of college, just something in the art field.” Although many students like Eric still do not know which career is right for them, Penn State offers many opportunities to help them figure it out. One is the Internship/Summer Job Fair scheduled for November 6, from 11:30 to 2:30 in the Main Lounge. Career counselors, Sharmon Gay Superman Speaks At Delco By Amy A. Winnemore “I was the gay superman,” exclaimed Wilson Cruz, one of the stars of the critically praised TV show My So-Called Life. Cruz spoke to a roomful of students and faculty on the stormy evening of October 8, about why he ‘decided to come out of the closet and the prejudices that gay people face today. The event marked National Coming Out Day, and was sponsored by Delco’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Friends Alliance. Cruz spoke about the time he finally decided to admit to himself and to others that he was gay. He was in college. “I wanted to look into peoples eyes and be real,” Cruz said. Becoming very involved in the gay movement was a way for him to feel comfortable with who he was and to make others understand his lifestyle. “I felt like I should wear the letter “GG” onmy chest, because had become the gay superman,” Cruz explained. When he came out to his mother, she thought his homosexuality was her “fault”, but then came to accept it, and even “points out the cute guys” to him now. His father, though, kicked him out of the house on Christmas Eve when Wilson ‘acknowledged his homosexuality, an experience that was later used in an episode of My So-Called Life. Cruz and his father are now on good terms. “It’s all timing,” Cruz explained about when to come out. “You should feel safe both mentally and physically, you should be able to support yourself, and you should feel comfortable with who you are.” Since My So-Called Life was canceled (it’s now in re-runs on MTV) Cruz states that he wants to continue acting, though it is sometimes difficult to get jobs as an openly gay actor. Other than acting, Cruz would like to direct and he is also a trained singer ‘and dancer. “Everyone is put here for a reason; God makes no mistakes,” Cruz concluded. “Everything else in life is whipped cream.” LGBFA president Brand Hamm poses with actor Wilson Cruz on October 8. Offered By Student Life Bryant and Virgil Perry, will be hosting this “paper fair”, which gives students information on pursuing summer career opportunities. Mrs. Bryant and Mr. Perry will be available to answer students’ questions and guide them in their areas of interest. Internships for many different majors are available now, and many have application deadlines, so it is important to get a head start by attending this fair. Also, information on resume writing will be provided. If you can’t wait until the Fair to search for an internship, PSU does have a Career Library. Located in room 209 on the second floor of the Commons building, the Career Library is filled with internships, jobs, and career information dealing with every ‘major. There are also materials that teach you how to prepare for an interview and write a resume. In addition to the Career Library, Penn State also offers the Discover program. This is a computer-based career guidance system which evaluates your values, skills, and interests to help you decide which career is right for you. Italso provides step-by-step planning for your educational and occupational goals. Discover is user-friendly, gives immediate feedback, and is a valuable tool that will aid you in your search for the occupation that is right for you. To make an appointment to use Discover, call (610) 892-1262. Inside This Issue . . . Page 2: Student Put In Jail Over Toy Gun Page 3: Meet Kirk, Unsung Hero Of Delco Page 4: Vote On November 5, it’s Your Right Page 5: A Cheerleader’s Point Of View Ga
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