18—The Daily Collegian Monday, Oct. 12, 1981 Housing board to select student Rental advisory committee seeks concerned student for input By CINDY ORREN Daily Collegian Staff Writer The Rental Housing Advisory Committee of the Centre Regional Council of Governments will be selecting a student tonight to sit on the RHAC board. Committee chairwOman Charlene H. Harrison said the subcommittee will be looking for students who have the ability to articulate their opinions and be compatible with other members of the committee. The student's rental experience and term standing are also important, she said. The committee would like to have a student who is going to be in the area for at least one year and also during the summer. The student should also be able to identify rental problems that need to be remedied. "The student should have a genuine concern about rental housing," Harrison said. Members should be willing to serve on subcommittees that coincide with their interests and abilities, and to contribute comments, suggestions and interest on all rental problems. "Members are expected to give their best thought power to the issue," Harrison said. Ray Boyle, a finer student representative to RHAC, assisted with a committee that tried to persuade a community group, such as a church or civic group, to become involved with elderly renters. The plan's intention was to provide companionship for'elderly renters and assist them in simple household chores in order to offer an alternative to L.A. majors benefit from business skills By BRIAN E. BOWERS Daily Collegian Staff Writer Liberal arts majors who have business and quantitative skills find it easier to find employment after graduation, said a representative from the Career Development and Placement Center. Courses in quantitative reasoning and analysis, computer science and economics can be taken by students in the College of The Liberal , Arts to increase their chances of employment, said Beth Shirey during a University- Employer Relations Forum held last week. Many jobs are technically based, so engineers are often hired before liberal arts majors, Shirey said. Howeyei., many engineers are transient in their jobs because they end up doing jobs that are better suited for liberal arts majors, she said. "A lot of engineers are doing a lot of writing and administration and negotiation for which liberal arts majors are better equipped," Shirey said. The forum, held Thursday and Friday, was designed for employers and liberal arts faculty to get together to discuss employment opportunities for liberal arts majors and how they can be improved, said Richard Hess, one of the Career Development and Placement Center committee members who organized the program "The intent (of the forum) was to fill a void," Hess said. "Not very often, in some organized fashion, do faculty from the College of Liberal Arts have the opportunity to get together with employers and share ideas. What we did was provide a forum for that to happen." Employers, mostly from large corporations and the government, and faculty members broke into small groups during the forum to discuss skills needed by liberal arts majors to compete for jobs, what types of courses would make graduates more competitive and other related topics. Some understanding of computer use, quantitative knowledge and leadership . . . . . . . . ••.• . : . . ••••• . •• •••• ,• . . ..• . . • . • . • .....••• . . . . . . . .• . . . . .• . .• . . . • , .•• ••_.. •• . . -• . .• The lion is safe for another year Continued from Page 6. Cindi Kleeman (11th-accounting), the unofficial leader of the morning crowd said dedication and pride in the lion kept them all there despite the cold. Several suspicious looking people toting violin cases were spotted around 3 a.m., but were quickly discovered because of their Boston accents and temporary ID cards. After a point, normal suspicion turned into deep paranoia. "Here comes a car . . . he's getting out . . . what is he doing? What's taking him so long? He's probably mixing the paint in the back of the car," and "Oh sure, you say you are just a squirrel but how do we know you are not a spy for the enemy?" Finally, with no threat in sight, vigil watchers left around 7:15 with the secure notion that lion was safe. At least until next year. Oktoberfest: for alums only Continued from Page 6 Hotdogs, sauerkraut, beer, cider and a band welcomed the blue- and white clad fans returning from the game. Heather Gilbert, assistant executive director for the Alumni Assocation, said the Oktoberfest was a service for the alumni and has been a popular nursing homes and other types of housing for the elderly, Boyle said. Although the plan was never realized, it is hoped that it will be taken up again, Harrison said. Boyle and another committee member also met with senior citizens to discuss the Uniform Condominium Act, which converted many appartments into condominiums, causing several elderly renters to lose their apartments. They discussed the current impacts of the act, what the future impacts would be and what kind of local laws could be enacted to control condominium conversion. Boyle, along with the RI-lAC, has studied energy problems of renters, particularly the Energy Escalator Clause. This clause is used when utilities are included in the rent but the cost of heating fuel, for example, increases during the year. A landlord cannot raise the rent, but can use the Energy Escalator Clause to make the renter pay for "unforeseen circumstances." The RHAC tried to determine just what the responsibility of the landlord is, and sent a set of recommendations to the municipality. "As a student renter, it was nice to be able to talk to a landlord, and tell him about my frustration," Boyle said. "A landlord who would serve on such a committee is obviously concerned about what's happening." The RHAC is responsible for providing a forum of discussion for rental housing issues that are skills are needed by liberal arts majors, said Louise Sandmeyer, a moderator for one of the discussions. Leadership skills are usually acquired in extracurricular activities rather than learned in classes, Sandmeyer said. Many liberal arts majors do obtain some quantitative knowledge but they do not know how to communicate this during an interview, she said. "The faculty, Career Development and Placement and employers must ' recognize liberal arts majors do have marketable skills," Sandmeyer said. Jeff Garis, from Career Development and Placement, said communications skills are also essential for liberal arts majors. "Anyone not graced with communications skills will find it hard to get and maintain a job," he said. Hess said students should learn to "package" themselves so they can.show they have the skills that are related to the job they want. Liberal arts majors may have to accept jobs that they believe they are overqualified for and then work their way up from the inside, Garis said. Many liberal arts students are suited for middle-management positions, he said, but these are usually available only from the inside. "Some students may have to swallow their pride and start at a non professional level," he said. Gary Foster of the CIA was one of the representatives from the federal government attending the forum. "The government is a big consumer of liberal arts majors because it seems that careers (in the government) develop across so many different lines that what we look for is people with a great deal of flexibility," Foster said. "We also have to have people who have highly specialized skills in engineering and others, but we need people who can translate from the specialized skill to the generalist policy maker, who doesn't have special skills," he said. Nittany Lion fans are led in cheers at Friday night's bonfire another part of this weekend's Homecoming festivities event in the past. A crowd of more than 500 was expected by the end of the evening. "The Oktoberfest is a gathering place for alumni to come," she said, "and it is also a chance for people to meet other Penn Staters and hopefully to meet some new friends." The University's new indoor sports complex, dedicated yesterday, includes indoor practice facilities, football offices, meeting rooms, a Hall of Fame, Indoor sports complex • By BECKY OLSON Daily Collegian Staff Writer Each person using the new indoor sports complex is indebted to hundreds of unseen hands, University President John W. Oswald said yesterday at the dedication of the complex. "I know of no other university which comes close to Penn State in providing opportunity for physical activity and recreation," Oswald said, "and with this complex, we move another step forward." The complex, which resulted from the largest private fund-raising effort in University history, cost about $3.5 million. More than half of that total was raised by alumni and friends, while the rest came from outside borrowing, athletic income and ice rink revenue. The total amount of money raised was insufficient, however, because of inflation and higher-than anticipated costs of construction. According to the dedication program; several hundred thousand dollars still need to be raised, and landscaping . and , other tasks must be completed. Alumni Association President Richard Zimmerman praised the work of Kathy Lewis and the Homecoming Committee for making such a successful Homecoming for the students and alumni. "I'm very impressed by the spirit," Zimmerman said. "We've had important to landlords and tenants, local governments, the University and others in the community. The committee discusses specific rental housing issues in the Centre Region and reports to COG. In the past, the RHAC completed a report on the impact of a switch from municipal property taxes to income taxes on renters and rental property owners. Besides discussing condominium conversion in State College and energy conservation in rental housing, the committee has visited a number of different units and conducted a Rental Housing Tour for local residents and students, Harrison said. The RHAC consists of 13 members one from each of the five COG bodies (State College borough and Ferguson, College, Patton and Harris township); one each for the Organization for Town Independent Students, the University and the Centre County Housing Authority; two from the State College Chamber of Commerce Apartment Owners and Managers Committee; one student renter; and one professional person. Harrison said students interested in filling the open position should write a statement explaining why they want to serve on a committee concerned with renting. The statement should be sent to COG executive secretary Tom Kurtz, 118 S. Fraser St., by today. A subcommittee will review the statements at the meeting tonight and will then meet with the students to choose one for the board. beautiful weather, the tailgating was great and I saw a lot of old friends." The young and old Penn Staters, the future Penn Staters and even some non- Penn Staters filtered in and out of the Oktoberfest and talked about the game and Penn State. Joe Paterno, head football coach and athletic director, said he is pleased with the completion of the complex. "For almost 30 years, we (the football staff) spent 10 to 12 hours each day in one room with no windows or air conditioning and a lot of cheap cigars smoking," Paterno said. "For this building, we wanted adequate space and a Hall of Fame." The complex has large football offices, meeting rooms and a Hall of Fame room devoted to Penn State sports achievements. It also features indoor practice facilities for outdoor sports teams, equipment, training and locker rooms and an indoor ice skating rink which seats 1,100 spectators. Paterno said it was not fair for the football squad to play outside in bitter November weather conditions. "It's an investment," he said. "Some things we just need to work on inside." But Oswald said some students petitioned the loss of the old skating rink and two dorms when construction on the complex began three years ago. Mercury spill closes building temporarily A mercury spill that caused "minimal airborne contamination" closed Unit 2 of the University's Research Center, east of University Drive near East College Avenue, on Friday until 2:45 p.m., the manager of safety , services said. "At this time, we are not aware of all the circumstances or of the persons involved, but we are continuing to investigate," said Howard 0. Triebold Jr. The contamination was caused by a beaker of liquid mercury which broke and then evaporated. Dan Love (10th-general agriculture), a work-study student in the plant pathology department, said that as far as he knew, the beaker was broken between 5 and 11 Thursday night. "Some guy phoned in the information to the department," Love said. "We don't know who he was or if he was the cause of the spill." Triebold said safety services personnel took an air quality equipment, training and locker rooms and a skating rink. The complex is located in the Nittany Halls area next to the football practice field. Marching down College Avenue is a tradition Continued from Page 6. Pollock-Nittany Residence Hall Association won in the overall independent category for their float and crazy band. As darkness descended upon campus, people gathered on the steps of Old Main. University President John W. Oswald welcomed the crowd and the Penn State Glee Club sang a few selections. "We're glad you came back and we want you to come back often," Oswald said. Oswald reminisced about the many traditions of Penn State and told the audience that although he came to Penn State in 1970 and the University is over 125 years old, he is well aware of the many traditions on campus. "I've been here long enough to know of the heritage of Penn State," he said Oswald recalled the days when the bonfire was held on College Avenue, how students would run in packs past ticket takers in the movie theatres, and the tug-of-wars on Old Main's lawn. reading Friday morning in the laboratory where the spill occurred and throughout the building and found that mercury levels in the air did not exceed a measure of danger known as the "eight-hour allowable limit." "In fact," Triebold said, "the reading only indicated minimal airborne contamination and was approximately half of the eight-hour allowable limit." Dr. Michael Leicht of the Poison Control Center at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville said mercury vapor is only dangerous "in very high concentrations. If that occurs ; a person who inhales the vapor would feel dizzy or lightheaded with headaches and difficulty in breathing." Proper ventilation of the room where the mercury spilled is the best prevention for these symptoms, he said. Monitoring of vapor levels will continue into the early part of this week. —by Lindsay Naythons dedicated "But most students developed faith in what we were doing for two years," he said. Paterno said that although there is a indoor area for football and other sports, the Hall of Fame is the soul of the complex. "For the first time, an important aspect of Penn State has been put together as an inspiration for the future," he said. Oswald said the Hall of Fame shows not just a gratitude for the past, but an anticipation for the future. Paterno said, "We are Penn State, and I think this complex, thanks to you (donators and fund-raisers), shows why we are." Paterno said one reason he has stayed at the University for 31 years is because of the unique loyalty here that he has not seen at many schools. The dedication was initiated and sponsored by the athletic department and the College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation as an added fund raising effort for the complex. He also praised some of the newer traditions such as orientation leaders, dance marathons and Gentle Thursday. "Good memories are still being made," he said. "We are part of a tradition that goes past 100 years." Oswald said the spirit of the. University is another important part of Penn State. "The lasting tradition, I subinit, is spirit," he said. "The spirit of caring about Penn State, making it better and at the same time having a good time." The Glee club then asked the audience to join in with them to sing "Fight On, State" and then performed several other selections on the candlelit steps of Old Main. Later in the evening, the bonfire, pep rally and fireworks display were held near Beaver Stadium with an appreciative and rowdy crowd in attendance. The Blue Band played, the cheerleaders cheered and Joe I Paterno and the football captains welcomed the crowd and asked for their support in the game on Saturday
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