THURSDAY
Oct. 10, 2002
Vol. 103 No. 61 16 pages
Report: Colleges
less affordable
A national education center's affordability grades
for public and private universities have dropped.
By Mike Walbert
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I mew2o2@psu.edu
Penn State students and parents
alarmed by escalating tuition rates are
not alone in their financial concerns, a
recent study says.
A report released by the National
Center for Public Policy and Higher
Education last week found that col
leges have become less affordable in
most regions of the country since 2000,
the last time the report was published.
Using a report card system to grade
each state, the nonprofit center
dropped the national affordability
marks for public and private universi
ties from a C- to a D.
As is the case with Penn State, many
colleges and universities say they have
been forced to raise tuition in response
to a declining national economy.
"The overall numbers reflect the
gains in the late 19905, increases in
tuition and the decline in family
income," said Heather Jack, the cen
ter's director of state relations.
Pennsylvania's affordability grade
dropped from a C in 2000 to a D+ in
2002.
The report said that although Penn
sylvania is a top performer in giving
financial aid to low-income students,
the share of income that the state's
poorest families must pay for tuition at
the lowest-priced colleges remains
near the bottom in the nation.
Penn State officials and students
said the state's poor showing in afford
ability came as no surprise to them.
"That's what we've been saying for
years," university spokesman Bill
Mahon said. "The state has decided to
pay less money to tuition."
Jenni Peterson (junior
advertising/public relations) is a Penn-
Former S. African leader to speak
By Mike Walbert
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I mew2o2@psu.edu
F.W. de Klerk, the former president of
South Africa, will appear at 8 tonight in
Eisenhower Auditorium as the second
guest in Penn State's
yearlong Distin
guished Speakers
Series.
Often referred to
as "the peacemak
er," de Klerk was a
major driving force
behind the elimina
tion of apartheid in
racially torn South
Africa,
De Klerk also was
credited with being one of the key play
ers in the establishment of South
Africa's current nonracial democratic
system.
However, de Klerk is perhaps best
known for his decision in 1990 to
release imprisoned leader Nelson Man
dela, to whom de Klerk eventually
ceded power in 1994.
De Klerk will speak about a number
of topics tonight.
He will speak on his views on current
global events and conflicts, as well as
giving perspective on his major
achievements while he served as South
African president from 1989 to 1994.
Inside The Daily Collegian
Search for sniper continues
A tarot card with the taunting words
"Dear policeman, I am God" and a
shell casing emerged yesterday as
potential clues in the hunt for the
sniper terrorizing Washington, D.C.'s
suburbs. I NATIONAL, Page 4.
Big Bird comes to the BJC
You really can be there with Elmo,
Big Bird, Ernie and the rest of the
gang this weekend when Sesame
Street Live brings its furry fun to the
Bryce Jordan Center. Elmo and his
pals will be performing "1-2-3... Imag
ine!" a show that transports viewers to
exotic locales just by using their imag
inations. I VENUES, Page 8.
Humble in leadership, victory
Midfielder Heather Conroy's 13
goals lead the Penn State field hockey
team, the Big Ten and is tied for sec
ond in the country. But Conroy refuses
to take any of the credit for her team's
success. J SPORTS, Page 9.
THE
11E61
I'2 "c: 101101 4 . alif
■ Preparation 2000: C+
2002: B-
M Participation 2000: C
2002: B-
M Affordability 2000: C
2002: D+
■ Completion (graduation)
2000: A 2002: A
■ Benefits 2000: B- 2002: B-
sylvania resident and pays for her
schooling. The low affordability grade
is fitting, she said.
"I think Pennsylvania could be doing
a lot more to help its colleges, especial
ly state schools," she said.
In compiling the affordability grades,
Jack said the center looked at three
major issues: a student or family's
capacity to pay for college after finan
cial aid, respective states' strategies
for affordability (or appropriations) and
the frequency of student of loans.
California scored the highest, receiv
ing an A for affordability. Jack attrib
uted the high mark to a quickly
improving higher education system
and a system that gives tuition breaks
to low-income families.
Pennsylvania legislators might be
able to learn something from this West
Coast state, Mahon said.
"Here you have a state even in
these times of economic downturn
that put a lot more money into higher
education than anyone else," he said.
Additionally, the center graded each
state in four other categories: how
effectively states prepare students for
college, how many people attend col-
See AFFORDABILITY, Page 2.
Brian Loretz, Distinguished Speak
ers Series committee chair, said de
Klerk was an ideal choice to appear
because the former world leader would
bring a refreshing international scope
to the series.
"He was a very attractive speaker for
students ... and hopefully students will
gain a world perspective [from him],"
Loretz said.
"It makes the series a little more 'dis
tinguished.' "
De Klerk graduated with a law
degree from the Potchefstroom Univer
sity for Christian Higher Education in
1958.
After serving in various political
groups throughout the nation, such as
the South African Parliament and Cabi
net for several years, de Klerk was
elected as his party's national leader in
February 1989.
Seven months later, following the res
ignation of President P.W. Botha, de
Klerk was unanimously elected into
office as the new president of South
Africa.
De Klerk retired from politics entire
ly in 1997.
During his tenure in the political
landscape, de Klerk received several
prestigious honors for the work that he
had done.
In 1993, he and Mandela were select
ed as co-recipients of the Nobel Peace
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Calendar 3 National
Classifieds 13 Opinions
15 Scoreboard ... . 11
Crossword 15 Sports 9
Horoscope 13 TV Listings 14
International 5 Weather . 2
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Inside today: Get ready for Korn at the BJC 11Aniujb
PUBLISHED INDEPENDENTLY BY STUDENTS AT PENN STATE
Pedestrians cross the intersection of White Course D
Victims hospitalized
A biker and pedestrian
were hit Tuesday while
crossing the street.
By Adam Fabian
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I amf2ll@psu.edu
After a biker and a pedestrian were
injured in separate accidents on Ather
ton Street on Tuesday, pedestrian safe
ty is once again at the forefront of con
cern in State College.
George Trammel, the 19-year-old
bicyclist who was hit near the Grey
hound bus terminal, remains in serious
condition at Geisinger Medical Center
II Thee: 8 p.m.
■ Date: Tonight
■ Place: Eisenhower Auditorium
■ Details: The speech is free and
open to the public, but
tickets are required.
Prize for their leading roles in the
democratization of South Africa.
Also, alongside Yasser Arafat, Yitzak
Rabin and Mandela, de Klerk was co
named Time magazine's Man of the
Year.
Loretz said the committee hopes de
Klerk's appearance and speech will add
to Penn State students' educational
experience.
"Students can take the speaker and
possibly correlate it with the higher
education they're receiving, especially
when he talks about social issues and
other things they're studying," he said.
The session is free and open to the
public, but tickets are required for
admission.
Tickets are available on a first-come,
first-served basis from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. today at the Eisenhower box office.
Limited tickets might also be available
tonight at the door.
increase punishment
for Ecstasy dealers
Bill to
By Anne Strong
and Torte Bosch
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITERS 1 aes2l9@psu.edu
Sen. Jake Corman and state Attorney
General Mike Fisher are one step clos
er to cracking down on Ecstasy crime
in Pennsylvania.
Bill 1431, which increases penalties
for those convicted of dealing Ecstasy,
was passed unanimously in the state
Senate last week and will be addressed
in the House of Representatives next.
Fisher, who is the Republican guber
natorial candidate, approached Cor
man to develop the legislation after two
Ecstasy-related incidents in State Col
lege last school year.
In November 2001, Penn State alum
na Stephanie Yau died of an Ecstasy
overdose, and in March 2002, four peo
ple were arrested as suspects for sell
ing Ecstasy in State College.
•ve and Route 322. This road was the site of two accidents on Tuesday
in the pediatric intensive care unit
Penn State student Trammel suf
fered severe head and leg injuries when
he entered Atherton Street from the
terminal's driveway and was struck by
a minivan.
trammel was initially taken to Cen
tre Community Hospital, but was later
life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Cen
ter, where he underwent surgery for his
injuries.
The pedestrian accident victim, Penn
State student Marla Stewart, 21, was
injured when she attempted to cross
the street mid-block on Atherton Street
near the old intersection of Pollock
Road, State College police said.
Stewart was taken to Centre Com
munity Hospital for a leg injury. Police
Dealing with acts of hate
focus of new USG group
The Tolerance and Equality Committee plans to
assess the university's response to harassment.
By Nicholas Kershbaumer
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I npklo6@psu.edu
Undergraduate Student Govern
ment (USG) Senate approved the for
mation of a temporary committee at its
meeting Tuesday dedicated to keeping
Penn State's administration account
able for hate crimes not effectively
addressed by the university.
The Tolerance and Equality Com
mittee (TEC) will assess the efficiency
and effectiveness of Penn State's
administration and student organiza
tions if either are ever accused of com
mitting acts of hate. The committee
defines acts of hate as intimidation,
harassment and physical aggression
toward someone because of his or her
race or sexual orientation.
Under the TEC, negligence in
addressing or concealing any
hate crime also will qualify as an act of
hate.
Leaders of diversity-oriented organi
zations such as Lambda Student
in Pa.
Corman said he had been concerned
with drug use in Pennsylvania in the
past, and Fisher brought his attention
to Ecstasy.
"The two incidents really resonated
the whole issue of Ecstasy with me,"
Corman said.
Both of these incidents occurred in
Centre County, but Corman does not
think Penn State is the only place
where Ecstasy use is a problem.
"I think college campuses are a large
target for any kind of drug," he said. "I
don't think University Park is on its
own."
The new bill separates penalties for
the conviction of Ecstasy dealing into
three levels.
Those who sell more than 50 tablets
or 15 grams will receive a maximum of
five years in prison and a maximum
fine of $15,000. Dealing more than 100
tablets or 30 grams will result in a max-
WEATHER Page 2
TODAY: Cloudy
30 cents off campus ©2002 Collegian Inc.
said the injury is serious but not life
threatening.
State College Police Department Sgt.
John Wilson said that anywhere a lot of
people try to cross a street, there tend
to be safety problems.
There have been problems in the
past, Wilson said, but two pedestrian
accidents in one day is unusual.
Wilson said that there are about 20
pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents
per year, or about two such accidents
per month in State College.
Out of those accidents, Wilson said
there is about one death per year.
He said the numbers fluctuate from
year to year, but they stay relatively
close to the average.
See ACCIDENT, Page 2
Alliance urged senators to approve the
TEC.
Sara Ryan, USG director of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender community
and its allies (LGBTA) affairs, said 11
hate crimes were reported in the first
month of this semester.
Ryan said the TEC must be a com
mittee run by USG because it has the
power to insist on university accounta
bility, the necessary access to universi
ty officials and the responsibility of
serving students.
"What more can we do for students
other than work for their general well
being?" said Ryan, after displaying the
LGBTA flier that was defaced last
Thursday on the door of the USG
office.
Some senators, while agreeing that
the university must address acts of
See TOLERANCE, Page 2.
■ USG Senate will also consider changes
to its bylaws. I LOCAL, Page 2.
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imum of 10 years in prison and a maxi
mum fine of $lOO,OOO. Dealing more
than 1000 tablets or 300 grams will
result in a maximum of 15 years in
prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
See ECSTASY, Page 2.