Inching closer he, Sean Lee hoeful II play Sat p urday Banding together Arlen speaks akA 4 --: SPORTS, Page 8. • Penn State student organizations 'tth]lifo'4l ll - 1 • . • compete in a Homecoming .6' 0)0.0 - , r oquic 5%A:"' , lip-syncing challenge flid; (...111011) 4 .7" LOCAL, Page 4. il. O Itilfie oile The Dail an psucollegian.com Published independently by students at Penn State Yearly funding The state budget is in and PHEAA now knows how much money it will have to give to Penn State students compared to last year. 2008 - 2009 PHEAA funding from Pa. $407.3 million $403.6 million Average#ltudent PHEAA grant $2,794"' $2,728 * Maximu iri udent Pell grant $2,675 - -. $2,365 * Pell gr are federal funding, HEAA is not Source: Row Penn State Office of Student Aid Brittany Payelko/Colleon IHEAA receives S4O3M Students will soon find out the amount of funding they will receive for the year. By Evan Trowbridge COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Students who have been waiting for months to find out how much money they will receive from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) should know by Friday offi cials said. PHEAA has been working to recalcu late funding amounts since Friday, when the agency was appropriated $403 million from the state, PHEAA spokesman Keith New said. The appropriations came as part of a 101-day-late $27.8 billion spend ing bill, the cornerstone of the state's budget. Penn State has been filling the $25 mil lion hole left by the lack of PHEAA fund ing since this summer so students would not be forced to pay the money they were supposed to receive in grants. However, the funding from Penn State was only an estimate of what the grants could be. The more than 18.000 Penn State students expecting PHEAA grants will know the official amount by Friday. The $403 million for this school year is a less than one percent decrease over last year's $407 million in state grants. Anna Griswold, executive director for Penn State's Office of Student Aid, said Penn State would have been in a difficult situation had the spending bill been passed later. She was not sure whether the university would have been able to help students out with another $25 mil lion advance. "It goes back to the question to whether the university would have been able to handle things like it did in the fall ... and we just don't know that right now," Griswold said. New said schools across the state have been able to handle the impasse well throughout the process. "That's something, ... how truly Pennsylvania schools have stepped in to help out during this time of difficulty:" New said. Although students will be notified by Friday with how much funding they will receive, it will take a month for the See PHEAA. Page 2 Brady hypes Beta The Honors College dean talked to students about reestablishing the now-defunct fraternity. By Caitlin Sellers COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER As a new adviser to the defunct Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Schreyer Honors College Dean Christian Brady spoke to Schreyer students Tuesday evening about their opportunity to help change the greek system. Standing amongst imported Argentinean hardwood in the newly renovated Beta Theta Pi 2009 - 2010 house. 220 N. Burrowes Road, Brady offered his opinion of the fraternity's new goals as it begins the reestablishment process. - Greek life across the nation is being questioned, shall we say, and I think Beta has a chance to set a good tone maybe even save greek life." Brady said. "That's a little strong, I suppose, but it doesn't have to be Lord of m , 'ellerter C:[lPgrf the Flies: . Jeff Rundle, Beta Theta Pi reestablishment director, talks to stu- Schreyer scholars interested dents about the fraternity's reestablishment efforts on Tuesday. The in joining the fraternity were chapter's charter was suspended in February invited to an informal open house Tuesday evening with process of recovering a charter reestablishment director for Brady and other faculty present. from the national Beta Theta Pi Beta Theta Pi. The Alpha Upsilon chapter of fraternity, a project that can take The chapter's charter was Beta Theta Pi is currently in the up to two years. said Jeff Rundle. See BRADY. Page 2. Simmons stays for now Upcoming renovations to Pollock Dining Commons will allow Simmons to remain open for one more year. By Laura Nichols COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Simmons Dining Hall will stay open for one more year in response to student out cry over the closing while administrators At r, Drey Collegian Members of the Penn State School of Theatre perform Romeo and Juliet outside of the Hintz Family Alumni Center on Tuesday. They will hold another show at 6:30 tonight and Thursday. Shakespeare love story performed under stars By Matthew D'lppolito COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER An audience of about 645 crowded in front of the stage and suffered through the cold to see Tuesday night's outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet. The play, performed by the Penn State School of Theatre, began at 6:30 p.m. on the Hintz Family Alumni Center lawn. The play will also show tonight and Thursday at the same time. Overall, it's just captivating, it really grabs you," Ned Kimble (junior-psychology) discuss renovating Pollock Dining Commons. Assistant Vice President for Housing, Food Services and Residence Life Stanley Latta said the conversion of Simmons from a dining hall to a living space will be post poned until the end of the spring semester in 2011. It should be completed by December 2011. he said, and will be ready for occupancy by the beginning of the spring semester in 2012. Part of the decision to push back the reconstruction came from the confirmation tiat + 6.looritooming ompai i ing AL" , 6 j* • "ZI .144. -; 4N11•- _*, ' 1 said. "It's too bad it was windy and cold When the folding chairs provided on the lawn were full. audience members sat on blankets or the stone wall along the side of the lawn or, like Kimble. simply stood in the back. At the start of the play the audience was quiet and largely unresponsive. As the play progressed. the show elicited more respons es. At one point. the antics of a very hun gover Mercutio brought laughs and some groans of "ew' as he threw up. Kimble said he is always impressed with See SHAKESPEARE. Page 2. that Pollock Dining Commons could begin renovation efforts as soon as next spring. Latta said. That process could allow it to absorb some of Simmons's features. Simmons was originally set to close at the end of the 2010 spring semester in an effort to meet the demand for on-campus housing. Latta said Housing and Food Services is working with the Association of Residence Hall Students and members of the Schreyer Honors College to gather student See SIMMONS. Page 2. l ill ik , a "I 4-, . Possible return to court for Felletter Charges against the Collegian photographer were dismissed in July, hut the DA wants to appeal to the Superior Court. By Peter Panepinto COLLEGIAN STAFF WR;TER The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has requested briefs in the case against Daily Collegian photographer Michael R. Felletter, moving his dis missed charges closer to an appeal. Felletter (senior-visual journalism) was charged with five counts of failure to disperse and one count of disorder ly conduct both misdemeanors after photographing a riot that erupt ed after Penn State's Oct 25 football victory over Ohio State last year. Felletter was on assignment for the Collegian. The charges were withdrawn Jan. 21 but re-filed in March, when one count of failure to disperse was bounel over for trial. Centre County Judge David E. Grine dismissed that remaining charge July 22, citing unclear evi dence. County Felletter Attorney Centre District Michael Madeira filed an appeal July 31 to the Superior Court in the case against Felletter. . . Madeira said the case will "definite ly" go to the Superior Court. "We're utilizing that system to make sure the judge was correct in his deci sion," he said. "That's what the Superior Court is there tor" Felletter said he hopes the Superior Court agrees with Grine's decision to dismiss the charges. "I'm disappointed that it's going fur ther," Felletter said. "I hope the Superior Court makes the right deci sion." Felletter photographed the riot, during which thousands of Penn State students flooded Beaver Canyon. Police initially arrested 14 people in connection with the incident. Police said Felletter s photograph ing caused the crowd to become "more exuberant, excited and destructive."accordin: to the claim nal complaint. In C;rine's July decision, he said it is unclear whether Felletter was follow ing police orders to disperse when they arrested him. He ruled that the prosecution's evi dence was foggy in showing whether Fe'letter complied with police orders to "move along" when he moved from the street to the sidewalk. Additionally. Grine blamed the rioters. not Felletter. for their behav ior. Felletter is being defended by attor ney Andrew Shubin, who took the case on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union. Madeira must file briefs before Nov. 16. according to court documents. If he fails to file in a timely manner. the court will dismiss the appeal. Shubin could not be reached for comment by press time. To e-mail reporter: pppsol7@psu.edu
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