Don't n I forget to set your clock or 11 watch back one hour on Sunday Band gives State College a new way to groove - -wi --- ~ ,s 7 _le ovr. ~.,, ..._,.. IF * e , 0 !) t. •.. lllO, , • , i _Al ■ elf rgileitv:-. „ . .- , ' A - , ..., .., • ~.. S : i 7-_,: ' , 7' . . 7.7 ~ 1;Z.4 . .). ' - ", - , A --t..- ..... , ...,,,, ,\ — page 19, Arts Hig 5( Sunsn See pi the ■ daily www.collegian.psu.edu Vol. 99, No. 73 26 Pages ©1998 Collegian Inc USG retains respect by administration Despite problems in this year's USG, relations between USG and the administration have been unaffected. By KHYBER OSER and TIM SWIFT Collegian Staff Writers Earning respect it is essential for any student organization. For the Undergraduate Student Government, respect in the eyes of Penn State's administration is cru cial to its operations. The bickering that has come to mark this year's USG Senate is dis appointing, said Director of Stu dent Unions and Activities Stan Latta, who is also USG's adviser. Groups to hold rape program By REBECCA ZEIBER Collegian Staff Writer In response to recent rape investiga tions, three organizations will present a program tonight to raise rape awareness, promote community support and stress the importance of communication. The Center for Women Students, Womyn's Concerns and the Undergraduate Student Government are sponsoring "Stu dents Promoting Education and Awareness about Rape" (SPEAR) at 7:30 p.m. in front of University Gates, said Beth Silvia, USG director of legal affairs. Citing the statistic that one in eight women will be raped during her college years, Silvia expressed her frustration that many assaults are never reported. "This rally is a gathering of the commu nity for a single purpose and single goal," she said, indicating the power support can have on such issues. Two students from Peers Helping to Reaffirm, Educate and Empower (PHREE) will be presenting their thoughts on rape education. USG senator James Hornick and Inter fraternity Council President Brad Nestico are also among those scheduled to speak at the program. Hornick said he believes students can reach out and do more to help rape victims and to prevent rapes from ever occurring. "The Penn State community as individu als and as a whole can solve these prob lems," he said. SPEAR will begin with speakers dis cussing rape awareness issues. At 8 p.m., those gathered will spread along College Avenue to distribute resource cards printed with phone num bers, such as those of the University Escort Service and the Center For Women Students. Whistles and buttons will also be distrib uted. The event was planned because rape affects many students, whether it is reported or not, said USG President Caro line Casagrande. "It is the greatest safety concern that women can face during their college years," she said. Assistant professor discusses Kosovo crisis By BRIAN ROSSITER Collegian Staff Writer Students came to discuss recent developments in the strife between Kosovo and Serbia, but they left with the political theories behind the first rounds of gunfire and the reluctance for either side to reach for the white flag. Assistant professor of political science Scott Bennett told a hand ful of students in a discussion last night in Boucke Building that the fighting centers around whether the Yugoslav province Kosovo can win back its autonomy or achieve independence. "The immediate issue with Koso vo is whether or not it becomes independent," he said. "The Kosovo However, Latta and Penn State President Graham Spanier said the administration will continue to work with USG, whatever the con ditions. "Whatever might be happening in USG has not affected the rela tionship between the student gov ernment and the administration," Spanier said. USG's efforts to research trans portation alternatives on campus and initiate a fall break are two examples of USG's working rela tionship with the administration, he said. "Any organization interested in real change is going to most likely effect change from the inside (of the university)," he said. Spanier said he most often deals with the USG President Caroline Casagrande, and he said his rela- Local markets promote organic foods without government regulation By BETH LUCAS Collegian Staff Writer At last Friday's farmers' market on Locust Lane, a farmer proudly pointed toward little baskets of organic tomatoes and explained that a taste of the toma toes would reveal the answer.t tion is organic better? The answer can be found after one taste, he said, because the tomatoes have their natural flavor due to growth under organic conditions. A major component in commercial food is pesticide, said nurse Janis Betz, founder of Healthy Journey Ministry of Bellefonte, who is concerned about Xenoestrogen, a component of petrole um-based pesticides in nonorganic food. "Xenoestrogen contributes to PMS in women and decreased sperm count (in future generations of men)," she said. Jeff Arthur, Penn State professor of industrial engineering, has eaten organic foods for about 30 years. "Why put poison into your system if you have a choice?" he said while shop ping in Morgen's Natural Market, 234 E. College Ave. However, some nutrition professionals are concerned about the healthfulness of organic food. Melissa Martilotta, director of Penn State's nutrition clinic, said the nutrients in organic produce are the same as in nonorganic produce. "The body doesn't really know the dif ference between organically raised pro duce and other produce," she said. "One concern many nutritionists have is that since organic foods do not contain addi tives, the nutrient quality can be com promised. Our food supply contains many foods that have been fortified and enriched with vitamins and minerals often hard to obtain otherwise." There are no federal regulations for organic products, although 40 state and private guidelines exist. The National Organic Standard Board defines organic agriculture as the management of prac tices that restore, maintain and enhance the natural environment by minimizing the use of pesticides and chemical fertil izers, according to the Organic Trade Association's World Wide Web site. Liberation Army and certain peo ple in Kosovo want independence." Bennett said nationalism is the crosscutting element between the warring countries, but the way they demonstrate it takes different shapes. Amid the din of the bloody clashes during the past several months, Kosovo has cried for sepa ration from a Serbia set on unifica tion. "The Kosovars really identify themselves as a group," he said. "With Kosovo once being autonomous, people develop some identity toward that political unit. It's nationalism in the sense of sep aration from this bigger entity, which is Serbia." Two weeks ago, Yugoslav Presi dent Slobodan Milosevic responded tionship with her is a healthy one. results, Casagrande said, adding Latta reiterated Spanier's corn- administrators are interested in ments on Casagrande and said helping students more than most he meets with her on a weekly students believe basis Open discussion with the admin istration has netted positive Natalie Harp of State College stocks up the coolers with fresh fruit at the Organic Market Co-op, 209 W. Calder Way. Both the Co-op and Morgen's Natural Market, 234 E. College Ave., specialize in organic produce and products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is "There would be no difference Morgen's sells organic grains, condi creating a national program to regulate between organic and regular food (with ments and snack foods while the Organic organic certification, a prospect Massie the national program)," Jones said. "I Market Co-op, 209 W. Calder Way, pro- Jones, owner of Morgen's, disagrees wouldn't be able to eat anywhere any- vides organic produce. with. About 100 people signed a petition more." Many rely on the stores for their entire in Morgen's against government con- The board's definition of organic food diet. trolled certification, she said. even includes meat products if the live- "I shop (at the Co-op) every Tuesday She prefers the current system of stock has been fed organically and has for the health of my family," said Anne managing the certification, because the lived in defined healthful conditions. Burgein of State College, while buying government would allow for pesticides State College has two organic food coconut-covered prunes for her two and chemicals to be used in the growing stores in the downtown area that work daughters at the Co-op. of organically certified food, Jones said. together to provide organic products. "They love them," she said. to NATO military threats by acced ing to United Nations demands that he end his repression of Kosovo ethnic Albanians. Still, signs of dis cord have yet to recede. "NATO is upset at the Serbian President, and it's also becoming upset with the Kosovars and the Kosovo Liberation Army, which has not stopped fighting and is pushing things along in the ongoing crisis," Bennett said. Bennett said the United States and NATO have been hesitant to intervene because neither see the conflict burgeoning into a national security danger, coupled with the fact that Kosovo unlike Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War lies in a geographically insignificant pocket of the world. Friday, Oct. 23, 1998 "Whatever might be happening in USG has not affected the relation ship between the student govern ment and the administration." Every two weeks, Casagrande and other student leaders meet with Vice President for Student Home grown "The U.S. and most of NATO have not seen any direct national security interests," he said. "Koso vo is not a strategically important region there's no minerals, there's no oil, there's nothing that's going to threaten U.S. security in the short term." Bennett also attributed the lack of action to the apathy of citizens of the United States and countries overseas. "There's simply no domestic push in the U.S. and most European countries for any sort of involve ment. People just, for the most part, seem to not care ... People act when they're shocked, when it's new and when it's in the front of their minds. It simply hasn't been in the front of people's minds." Graham Spanier Penn State president )h Low 6 ~"•• 40 line with a few high clouds. sage 2 for the extended forecast. Campus Weather Service Affairs William Asbury. Asbury said he has a positive rapport with Casagrande, but he is not actively involved with other USG branches. Latta said the senate is lagging behind other USG branches in terms of agenda items that affect students. "(Does USG) look bad in the eyes of the administration? My opinion is no," Latta said. "Yet, this year the senate has been particularly stymied, and I have not seen any effort by the senate to address issues affecting students' well-being or welfare on campus." The current USG governing sys tem creates potential stalemates between the president and the sen ate, leading to frustration by both parties, Latta said. "The current model is difficult to Scott Bennett, assistant professor of political science, speaks about the crisis in Kosovo at the Society of International Development meeting last night. Please see page 2 for related story. Published independently by students at Penn State get a lot things accomplished because of the structure," Latta said. Looking back on his 22 years of experience with USG, Latta feels USG works best when the senate and president share similar goals, yet engage in healthy debates. Asbury said he felt the senate should more often invite adminis trators to their meetings in order for student leaders to become bet ter acquainted with the issues from an administrative point of view. Most of the senate infighting is not uncommon, he said, yet recent reports of senators drinking alco hol before a meeting Tuesday night disappointed him. "It seemed juvenile and unex pected from college students," he said. Collegian Photo/Zubin Patrawala Collegian Photo/Kathy Braining
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