Page 4 ‘The Lion’s Eye March 7, 2003 ‘Grand Destiny’ designed to keep costs within control By AMANDA TROMBETTI AUT114@psu.edu Lion's Eye staff writer Penn State feels it has become one of the national leaders among public univer- sities to enhance research and education, through the Grand Destiny Campaign: The campaign is private-support fund- ing within the university that all students ‘and faculty will benefit from. It is also designed to help Penn State to compete with the other schools in the Big Ten. “Grand Destiny” has been strongly sup- ported by alumni and many others, who say they are “Penn State proud.” “This campaign meaningfully touches the lives of people in our community — academically, humanistically and econom- ically,” said Dr. Edward Tomezsko, Delco campus executive officer, in the Grand Destiny Campaign brochure. While state funding has been reduced significantly, the need to keep tuition at a consistent price is extremely important to students and their families. The cam- paign's goal of $1 billion for the whole university by June 2003 consists of four main parts. First is the undergraduate student sup- port, which will enable students to manage tuition and have more opportunities such as studying abroad, researching and intern- ships. The next part is graduate student sup- port, which will allow those who have graduated from Penn State to be mentors to other students. However, fellowships are a necessity when recruiting well advanced students to participate even on a national level. Without support, officials say it 1s difficult for Penn State to keep up with its competition. The other two parts of the campaign are faculty and program support. These will allow Penn State to continue its com- mitment to teaching, technological research and continuous leadership of fac- ulty and students. The program support. will also keep the university over the top with academic programs and the leading the way to new opportunities. “We as a campus have exceeded our goal of $3 million for the campaign. (It) has been mainly (generated by the) student scholarship and program support,” said Beverly Grove. “We are destined to make an even greater impact here and wherever our graduates live and work. ‘A Grand Destiny’ fits the Penn State tradition so well,” Tomezsko said. a All information provided by PSU Delco staff member Beverly Grove and the “Grand Destiny” brochure. A final exorcism for ‘Hell’s Intersection’ By the Lion's Eye staff A little more than three months after the Lions Eye detailed the dangerous condi- tions of the Route 352 intersection with Yearsley Mill Road, as well as the frayed nerves of the Penn Sate Delco community members that have to deal with it every day, Middletown Township council mem- bers approved a final proposal to move and improve it. According to a story published i in the Delaware County Daily Times, the inter- section proposal was passed by Middletown, the township in which Penn State Delco is situated, at the last council meeting in February. Construction to improve the intersection will start this spring, and completion is scheduled by the start of the Spring 2004 semester. “It’s about time,” said one Penn State Delco student. “Most of the people I’ve talked to on campus about the intersection have horror stories about it. “As it is now, I can’t see the traffic com- ing from the east, especially with the snow piled as high as it 1s.” The approved plan, as explained in the Nov. 15 edition of the Lions Eye, calls for an entire new intersection to be construct- ed at the west end of the parking lots along Route 352. A third lane will be created on Route 352 (Middletown Road) West for left turns. And a traffic light will make the left turn for westbound drivers safer. In addition, a circle will be created for SEPTA buses that use the campus as the end of their route. (Buses have been idling near where the circle will be built, after school officials requested they move there from the front of the Main Building. Buses had been creating added noise and fumes for staff and students in the Main Building). In November, Middletown Township Commissioner Bruce Clark told the Lion's Eye that he felt construction of a new inter- section wouldn’t be , forthcoming for “months, maybe years.” However, campus officials felt that the latest proposal would get final approval and that work would start on schedule in the spring. The initial phase of the con- struction is to be done by university crews, according to the plan detailed in November. That would call for slightly narrowing the existing parking area to make room for a third lane on Middletown Road. : By the summer, according to the cam- pus schedule, PennDOT will enter the project, widening Middletown Road, building the new intersection and finally installing the traffic signal. The project that has gained approval is the result of nearly five years of planning. Initial projects called for a traffic light to be placed at the current intersection and widening the current intersection and adding a turn lane there. Both brought objections from Middletown residents and neighbors of the campus. One problem in particular was the real estate across Middletown Road from Yearsley Mill Road. The ground is used as a cemetery, and any widening of the road there would have caused the disturbance of the gravesites. In 1998, when planing for intersection improvement began, Clark said the town- ship informed the university that it would not be given the OK for any new campus buildings if the intersection was not improved. THON provides evidence of ‘Angels Among Us’ Continued from PAGE 1 came to cheer them on, to keep them com- pany, and ran to Subway or Wal-Mart for them. Some students brought food, while others brought games and toys to keep the dancers busy and awake. All was obvi- ously appreciated. Toward the end of the marathon, a very special moment occurred called Family Hour. During this time, the families of the children who receive help from THON went on stage to thank the dancers. A lit- tle girl who has survived cancer got up and told her tearful story. A video tribute to five children who recently died of cancer left not one dry eye in Rec Hall. At the end of Family Hour, THON's unofficial theme song, "Angels Among Us," deeply moved everyone in the stands and on the floor. After 48 hours of no sitting, no sleep- ing and no caffeine have passed, the dancers were finally allowed to sit again. It was then that organizers announced the amount of money that all the hard work and dedication of not only the dancers but of everyone associated with THON raised. Penn State raised more than $3.6 mil- lion for the battle that children fight every day. When asked if he would ever do this again Coyle answered, "Absolutely." THON weekend was a reminder not only to the kids, but to everyone who vis- ited Rec Hall that angels really do exist and they are among us at Penn State. This year's theme was "Hope Surrounds Us." THON gave so many families another rea- son to hope, and brought them one step closer to their dream. If you would like to be a part of THON next year, or would like more information, please contact next year's co-chairs Kathleen Iaci, K AI104@psu.edu, and Ed Rich, EIR102@psu.edu. Photo by Anteia Consorto Kathleen laci opens dancer mail with Ed Rich lending a hand. Ed and Kathleen will be next year's THON co-chairs for Penn State Delco.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers