Page 8 The Lion's Eye Pye on Campus March 7, 2003 What's happened to recycling on campus? By KRISTIN HOWARTH KLH345@psu.edu For the Lion's Eye I couldn't help my irritation the other day, as I stood beside the newspaper stand juggling an empty Diet Coke can, yester- day’ s crumpled newspaper, and a burden- ing book bag. I was searching for the recycling bins, assuming they must be around, so I could empty my hands and get to class. After standing there, for some time, I settled on the trash can and hustled to class. Later that same week, I stood com- pletely confused in front of an ordinary looking trash can that had a recycling sign posted above it. Once again, I wavered with my decision.I admit I only took a moment before dispersing all my trash in the bin in question. However, these minor discomforting moments caused me to wonder what was really going on here at Penn State Delco. When I asked a student, the reply was that the campus indeed did have recycling bins, but that all their contents were mixed with trash in the dumpster. It seems the student body and the office staff have given up with the idea of recy- cling. Either that, or they cannot be both- ered. That's interesting, I thought. As far as I can remember, recycling a few years ago was a huge ordeal. Whatever happened to OPINION singing Michael Jackson's "Heal the World" for our parents in elementary school, or to the recycling cartoons and videos in class? Was recycling just a fad? Middletown Township (that's us) sets up recycling regulations for all residential areas. However, the township requires all commercial facilities and institutions to develop their own recycling programs. Penn State Delco does not have a program. I spoke with Lisa Yerges, the director of business services, and also with Don Peterson, head of maintenance, inquiring more about Delco's efforts. I learned that our campus does recycle newspapers and office paper, but nothing else. However, the recycling bins are located only next to copiers and are unmarked. More times than not, the bins are mistaken for trash cans. Unfortunately, the campus has not actively shown an interest in recycling since the environmental club disbanded. When that club was around, bins were placed throughout the buildings and mem- bers of the club collected and took them to a facility to be reprocessed. But the club has fizzled out and very little environmen- effort has been done on the Delco cam- us. The absence of recycling here has not only helped harm the environment, but in some cases it’s an inconvenience. Those adamant about doing their part will take bottles, newspapers, and cans back home with them. Concern is growing within the staff and the student body. We all must put a little effort into something as important as where we live and what we depend on. There is an instant and even easy solution to this problem: Simple solutions would be to make recycling bins easily visible and accessible, even if that means putting one next to the trash can or near a doorway. Surely no one could be opposed to recy- cling given the opportunity. An even better solution would be to once again develop an environmental club. When 1 asked all those I talked to how changes could be made, they all enthusias- tically recommended the environmental club, eager to help themselves. Jeff Bauer, the coordinator of student leadership, offered to help get the club up and running again. Jon Leonhard, a former member of the club, is willing to be the staff advisor. The recovery of the environmental club would not only mean a much-needed recycling program would be established, but also the club could bring many other positive changes to campus. Nearby high- ways and parks may be cleaned up, trees, shrubs, and flowers could be planted, enhancing the beauty of the campus, and even the huge parties and grill outs could be brought back to life. ~My proposal is this: Earth Day is April 22. If the staff and student body could organize themselves and develop a possi- ble plan of action by then, it would be a big first step. This spring would be a great time to start making changes by spreading awareness, taking an active interest, and showing pride in the school. By doing this, huge improvements can be made by Nov. 15 — America Recycles Day. O For information, e-mail Jeff Bauer at JAB447 @psu.edu. Financial ai and scholarship forms coming due By KAREN KARASZKIEWICZ KMK304@psu.edu Lion's Eye staff writer It's time for students to begin applying for financial aid and scholarships. And this year the applications process is a little dif- ferent. Applications for federal student aid (FAFSA) are to be done online. You can find the application at http://www.studen- taid.ed.gov. To fill out the form, students need their parents’ social security numbers, the student's driver's license number, and an alien registration number if the student is a non-citizen. : Sylvia Schaffer, the financial aid advi- sor said students and parents both need PIN numbers. The PIN numbers will be electronic signatures. "If you don't have a PIN number, [the form] is not a valid FAFSA," said Schaffer. Before filling out the FAFSA, the par- ents and the student need to complete their income tax return, according to Schaffer. After that, it will be like a normal FAFSA. After three to four weeks, you will receive a student aid report. "That's where you make any changes or corrections if you have them," said Schaffer. Schaffer said that students should pay attention to the question that asks if you are interested in student loans as well as . grants. she said. If you are a resident of Pennsylvania, the deadline for submitting your FAFSA to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is May 1st, said Schaffer. The Penn State Office of Financial Aid recommends that you sub- mit your application by April 1 to be con- sidered for all student financial aid pro- grams at the university. Applications for scholarships will also be done online, according to Schaffer. They were put online March 3. This year the scholarships are based on fall and spring grades of 2002-2003. You need a minimum of a 3.0- GPA in order to qualify for scholarships. "Some scholar- ships are need-based, but some are strictly merit," said Schaffer. - The deadline for submitting applica- "Answer 'yes' [to this question]," By JARED SZYMURSKI JRS952@psu.edu Lion's Eye staff writer In an attempt of c overing sports for the spring semester, I came across quite a dilemma. There are no spring sports at Penn State Delco. Why is that? I mean, there are studenss around. There are fields in the back. I see people ANALYSIS running around on the grass, if there aren't snowdrifts everywhere. Part of the problem facing spring ath- letes is that the spring semester is shorter. There is less time to run a season, espe- cially a season that is as long as base- ° 0 BY Tu) of £8 Looking for something athletic to do? Look elsewhere tions and letters of recommendation is April 11. Notices will be sent to students’ Penn State Webmail accounts, so be sure to check your e-mail. By the Lion's Eye staff A Penn State student who had trans- ferred to University Park from the Delco campus, was arrested last week and arraigned on multiple charges after allegedly stalking, harassing and attempting to rape a woman. : The story was reported in the main campus’ daily newspaper, The Collegian. Devendra B. Patel, 21, of 340 E. Beaver Ave., was charged with the crim- inal attempt to commit rape and sexual assault, two counts of criminal trespass, burglary, harassment and stalking, sim- ple assault, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen property, two counts of indecent assault, indecent exposure, two counts of unlawful restraint and intimidation of witnesses or victims. PSU Delco transfer arrested at U.P. According to the criminal complaint, the following events led to the arrest: State College Police were called to a downtown apartment complex Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 26, where an employee told them she had heard screams calling for help coming from the victim's apartment. : The employee knocked on the door, but the only response was a woman screaming for help. After finding the door locked, the employee used her mas- ter key to open the door to see the victim on the floor and a nude man with a dark complexion standing over her. As the employee rushed to help the victim, the woman stated that the man had tried to rape her. The man then dressed and left the apartment, taking a camera with him. A couple of snags came up in Penn State Delco’s hockey team’s race to make the national tournament. Penn State won't be going this year, as it turns out. Penn State Berks nudged Delcoout of the way at the very last moment. With an ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) league record of 15-5-0, Delco lost out to Berks’ record Hockey club nipped for nationals of 16-4-2. "It's a shame," said Nick Gallo, who spent a large part of the season side- lined due to a leg injury. "I wish 1 could’ have played more of the season.” The hockey club:is not an intercol- legiate sport, but rather a club sport { supported by the team itself. — JARED SZYMURSKI ball's. So, the Commonwealth Conference remedied the entire baseball situation by moving it into the fall. Wonderful, isn't it? Now, it gets stranger. The only reason Penn State Delco don't have a men’s lacrosse team any- more (and we did have a very good one by the way) is because everyone seems ~ too lazy to get out there and try to organ- ize it. Not to mention, when someone tries to get things rolling, and people sign up to join the team, the turnout at first practice is less than encouraging. There is a men's volleyball club, though. Doris “Tiz” Griffith, the campus’ ath- ~ letics director, is working on getting a fully funded softball team going, but there have been a couple snags in the process. "The only reason we don't have a softball team is because we don't have enough money," said Griffith. And on it goes. My suggestion, if vegetating doesn't work for you, would be to go check out some of the neighboring colleges’ club sport programs. Generally, with club sports, no one cares which college you go to.
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