HE Li • d GIA Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Nelly has crowd in a 'sweat' at BJC Reviewed by Paul Weinstein COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I ptwllo@psu.edu Well, it certainly was hot in the Bryce Jorrrdan Center last night. And there were plenty of "uh ohhh"s. But don't worry nothing was wrong. Fbp-rap superstar and playful thug Nelly presented a lecture in "country grammar" for a moderate crowd at the center last night. Along with no less than 10 vocalist representatives from his Derrty Ent squad, the St. Louis native provided a singable, danceable and bounce-able set of universally appealing party music. It wouldn't have been an official hip hop show without a healthy dose of rel atively unknown openers to pump up the crowd before the Sweat/Suit man himself took the stage, though. After an ominous, off-stage voice commanded Penn State to "make some noise" and asked all the "sexy ladies" to identify themselves, a series of rotating emcees provided a few verses of what could very well be the next big thing to blast out of car win dows on College Avenue. The hour-long round robin included highlights from duo King Jacob and Prentiss Church, who had excellent chemistry and crowd control, and female rapper Chocolate Tai, whose flow was only interrupted by the fact that her name sounds like a joke from an In Living Color skit. Many of these artists' catchy, carefree tunes clicked with the animated audience and hinted at future sets that might connect even better once we all are familiar with the hooks and can sing along. But no amount of warming up, no matter how derrty, could have pre pared concertgoers tkir the emergence of Nelly himself, who seemed to mate rialize at the top of an onstage stair case amidst a cloud of presumably artificial smoke. Although he looked slightly uncomfortable but slick with his white jacket and massive belt buck le, Cornell Haynes Jr. wasn't faking it when he began his set with "Heart of a Champion" from Sweat, his latest release. By the time he had us all bobbing in unison to "E. 1." two songs later, Nelly was looking way more at ease in a Penn State basketball jersey. The song's memorable chorus, almost five years old at this point, still managed to elicit a better sing-along than a Penn State football game rendition of the Collegian chooses next year's leaders By Lando Cataldo COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I lac2B7@psu.edu The Daily Collegian's Board of Directors selected two new Collegian leaders for the next academic year. After interviewing the candidates and deliberating behind closed doors, the board chose Jennette Hannah (junior-journalism) as editor in chief and Clay Kohler (junior-broadcast journalism) as business manager last night Hannah and Kohler agreed that the top priority for next year is increasing readership. "I want to get us to do more outside of the Collegian," Kohler said. "We need to connect more with the student body!, Hannah said that she wants the paper to reach more students. "We're not reaching freshmen," she said. "We need to offer things that can only be found in a college newspaper. We need to have more fun while keep ing up the high quality" she added. Though Kohler had no competition Nelly performs at the Bryce Members of NeNy's Derrty ,See NELLY, Page 2 for the business manager position, Hannah competed with current Man aging Editor (news) Bridget Smith (jun ior-journalism). Hannah has served as a local economy reporter, campus editor and metro editor. Kohler has served as a lay out specialist. Hannah said she hopes to attract more readers in the coming year. "I think there's a lack of hard news," she said. "People like to read about the lat est controversy and criminal activity," Hannah added. Kohler hopes to Hannah Kohler start using advertis ing on The Digital Collegian, the Colle gian's Web site. Ex-hoopster Tate reflects on difficult PSU career Jamaal Tate went through a lot on and off the basketball court in his time wearing Penn State blue and white. I SPORTS, Page 11. PUBLISHED INDEPENDENTLY BY STUDENTS AT PENN STATE Jordan Center last night as part of his Ent label perform at the Bryce Jordan See COLLEGIAN, Page 2 Male ballerina wears tights. proudly By Alnsley Maloney COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I adm23s@psu.edu When Tyler Mossman saw a sign that said "Boyg Wanted" in the White Build ing, he did what most guys would never do he signed up for tights, pirouettes and splits. Last fall, Mossman (junior-compara tive literature) tried out for Vole, Peen State's ballet club, despite having no prior ballet experience. "In high school I tried out for the spring musical, and because I'm a terri ble singer, they cast me as a terrible dancer," he said. "But I had fun and met a lot of people, so when I saw the sign, I thought I'd give it a shot." During tryouts, Mossman discovered that ballet is much different than any dancing he had ever done. "I had no idea what I was doing," he said. "I told the girl standing near me on the bar, 'Look I don't mean to stare, but I have no idea what I'm doing so I'm trying to copy.' " Mossman's "copying" was apparently good enough for him to be placed one step ahead in the advanced beginner's level. But he said in his first real class his "terrible-ness was a lot more evi dent." "I didn't know the foot positions or anything like that," he said. "After the About 150 rallied at the capital yesterday for state appr9priations Megan Daum/Collegian Sweat/Suit tour. Megan Elvrum/Collegian Center. HUB celebrates 50 years Cakes, speakers and perform ances helped commemorate 50 years of the HUB-Robeson Center yesterday during its birthday celebration on the building's ground floor. I LOCAL, Page 3. Students ask lawmakers for funding By Devon Lash COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I dlash@psu.edu HARRISBURG About 150 stu dents filled the steps of the Capitol Building yesterday to petition legisla tors for more state appropriations for Penn State. Bridget Daly, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) president, spoke on behalf of all the Penn State Commonwealth Campuses and called on legislators to provide higher appropriations not only for next year but also for years to come. "This is so crucial to develop, not just for us, but so our brothers and sis ters won't be left with the debts we have," Daly said. Students from University Park, Commonwealth Campuses and other state-related universities stood behind six state representatives who spoke on behalf of funding higher education. PSU considering MLK Jr. statue By Lisa Welimann COUEGIAN STAFF WRITER I Imws9lo@psu.edu The Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity (CORED) met yesterday to discuss ways to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit to Penn State on Jan. 21, 1965. Penn State President Graham Spanier asked for CORED's recom mendations on ways to memorialize King's historic speech at Rae Hall, said Mahmoud Ablan, student issues man agement team co-chain "It was historic because we are a north state," Ablan said. "lb a crowd of thousands, he made this speech at Rec Hall." Many suggestions for a commemo ration are being considered, including a statue. "A lot of students want an actual statue;" Ablan said. "Something Tyler Mossman (junior-comparative literature) stretches before performing. Mossman is the only male dancer in the Vole ballet club. class I was dripping with sweat There's a whole different set of muscles you have to use." After class, Mossman asked the instructor to help him with the posi tions, and he has been doing ballet ever since. After four semesters, he has Vol. 105 No. 142 Rep. Michael Sturla, D-Lancaster, said Pennsylvania ranks second or third in the country for its number of institutions of higher learning. "The real crime here is that we are not funding higher education," Sturla said. about tuition dol lars. This is about the future of Penn sylvania," Yudichak said. During his address to legislators, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Galen Foulke said See RALLY, Page 2. very visible for everyone to see." The Black Caucus requested the erection of a statue of Kung in a list of requests aimed at ending racism on campus. However, in an official response to the group, Vice President for Student Affairs Vicky Thponey and Vice Provost of Educational Equity Terrell Jones said the Kmg family had placed restrictions on the image and asked CORED for other commemora tion suggestions. A statue of King at Rec Hall, which would be placed across the street from the Nittany Lion Shrine, has the poten tial to be seen as a unified entrance to Penn State, Ablan said. Associate Vice Provost for Educa tional Equity Thomas Poole said a stat ue may not be the best option. "There has been many great speak ers, and I don't think the university See STATUE, Page 2. worked his way up to the intermediate level. "I'm still pretty bad, but I've certainly improved a lot," he said. "It's hard to draw comparison. ... I've been doing it for 15 months, and some of the girls See BALLET, Page 2. Arts 10 Briefs 2 Comics 17 Crossword 17 Opinion 8 Sports 11 State 7 300 off capon Rep. John Yudi chak, D-Luzerne, a 1993 Penn State graduate, said ris ing tuition has become a personal concern. "This is not just ftiMiStagfiellN4 865-1828 EalgiNditflliVgiti* 865-2531 sJ~Nt~t~VY~ ©2005 Cap*, Inc.
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