rt aA SO PENNSTATE Delaware County Penn State, Delaware County September, 1999 The SGA officers ready for a new and exciting year. Left to right: Dasa Kelly, VP; Mary Beth Quattrachi, Secretary; Dana Conroy, President and Jennifer Scocca, Treasurer. Obituary Photo by SGA Campus Mourns Member Of Founding Faculty By Sarah Stover Editor-in-Chief Very seldom do students remember a particular teacher in their college careers that they can vividly pick out from the rest. Very seldom do alumni’s ask about one individual who changed their world in college, or pushed them beyond the limits of expectation. Very seldom do faculty talk so highly of a respected and honored member of their staff with such devotion and pride. Dr. Jane Cooper was all of these things and so much more. Penn State Delco has lost one of their own over the summer, and now an entire campus is left to cherish the memory of Dr. Jane Cooper. She was one of the seven original full time faculty members appointed to the Penn State campus when it first opened in 1967. She was an associate professor of biology and continued to open up the eyes and minds of students for 32 years. Dr. Cooper lost her battle with cancer and passed away on July 7, 1999 at Crozer Chester Medical Center. She was 62 years old. Many described Dr. Cooper as a witty, down to earth lady who never failed in speaking her mind, whether you agreed with her or not. This was her charm. “Jane was unique..,” commented Dr. Tomezsko, campus Executive Officer and a 30-year colleague of Cooper’s. “She was all energy. She really cared about what she did and she really cared about who she worked for, her students.” “When 1 talk to alumni,” Tomezsko continued, “she is always one of the faculty they ask about.” Dr. Jane Cooper was a fighter, especially when it came to her students. Dr. Stephen Howarth, a former student who later team taught with Cooper for nearly 2 years, remembers her dedication to students most of all, mainly because he used to be one of them. “When I came to Penn State Delco as a student, Dr. Cooper [had a reputation of] being too hard and too tough, nobody wanted to take a class with her. But after taking micro- biology with her, I was so well prepared for Grad school that I remember finishing a six week lab course in 3 days, that’s how prepared I was.” Howarth pauses, then continues “ She actually came to and told me that I was taking all these science credits and that I needed a recommendation for Graduate school and she got together with other teachers and wrote a joint recommendation which she continued to upgrade and forward to the appropriate schools. I'm a dentist now and she was one major reason I was accepted into Dentist School. There wasn’t a person on that campus who wouldn't do more for her students...” During her teaching career, she won the Eberly College of Science’s C.I. Noll Award for outstanding teaching and advising, along with the campus outstanding teaching award. Also, she had won the John D. Vario award for exceptional service on the campus for establishing the Tim Mark Foundation, which helps to launch the careers of local emerging artists. Just this past April, Cooper received the Madlyn Hanes Prize, established and funded by the campus faculty as a tribute to Dr. Madlyn L. Hanes who was a former administrator at the campus. The prize recognizes the faculty member who has made outstanding contributions on behalf of the campus through exceptional achievement in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity or service. Dr. Robert Black, professor of biology, explains the effect Cooper had on his life. “Jane was my colleague and friend for 27 years. (Continued on page 4) Student Government Sets Agenda for Year Ahead By Scott Troyan Lion’s Eye Staff Writer Many clubs are offered for the student body, and managing them is the job of the Student Government Association (5.G.A.). Heading the S.G.A. this year are President Dana Conroy and Vice President Dasa Kelly. The S.G.A. is responsible for representing the student body to the administration. They also manage schoolwide events, allocate funding for the clubs and representing this campus at university wide student government gatherings. The S.G.A. convenes bimonthly in room 216, Main Building, and member clubs are required to represent themselves at the meetings. The meetings are open for any student to attend. At the August 30 S.G.A. meeting, Conroy and the other officers spoke of several goals for this year. Better communication was stressed, also was having the clubs working together and co-sponsoring events. She also mentioned unity within our regional caucus (which also includes the York and Mont Alto campuses). Conroy is a business major and hopes to bring more student involve- ment to the S.G.A. and create a feeling of community on the campus. She said she ran for the office because she “enjoys being involved.” Conroy enjoys her position and plans to use it towards working with the other campuses. Kelly majors in the liberal arts and ran because she enjoys politics. One of her goals is better organization for the S.G.A. She said, “I want to leave our mark (as a class).” Up coming S.G.A. events are the Club Lock-in on October 1 and Family Day on October 2. Jury Convicts DUI Driver of Killing Delco Student By Sarah Stover Editor-n-Chief A Delaware County jury convicted James Comber of vehicular homicide. Comber was found guilty for driving his Chevrolet Blazer while legally intoxicated and causing the car crash that ended the life of Scott Latimer - a Penn State Delco student. The accident occurred December 19 of last year on Burmont Road in Haverford Township and Latimer died the next day due to his injuries. The defense argued that it was not certain who was driving at the time of the crash—Comber, or his friend Daniel Simpson. Simpson had a previous record of drunk driving and he left the scene of the accident. Comber was found semi-conscience at the scene and was arrested several days later. Both men, however, were intoxicated and both climbed out of the passenger window after hitting Latimer’s LeBaron, which flipped the Blazer onto its roof, trapping Latimer in his car. Two hours after the accident, Comber’s blood showed an alcohol content of 0.16; it is illegal to drive at 0.10. Cocaine and marijuana were also found in his system. Comber and Simpson had been barhopping before the accident and were on their way to Comber’s parents’ house when Simpson claimed that Comber started to drive erratically, swerving back and forth on the road. Paul Latimer, Scott's father, has been closely following the trail. “I want to stay in touch with Penn State Delco,” he said. “Scott really loved that campus.” He added, “This is a really tough time for us. Scott is gone. What college students have to realize is that you only get one chance in life. A lot of college kids like to go out and party and serious stuff can happen. Comber is a repeat offender and was driving without a license and with drugs in his system. We have to get these guys out of the driver's seat.” (Continued on page 2) Campus memorial tree for Scott Latimer is a somber reminder to those who pass by. Photo by Cherjon
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