K'SffiSSpSfßftCK v fop-punk f(ge TO concert on Bq^el. ll The Daily Collegian Published independently by students at Penn State Can you hear me now? New regulations would allow noise levels up to 62 decibels in bars and restaurants. Noise Decibel Level Lawnmower 100 decibels (serious hearing damage) Freeway traffic Potential acceptable 62 decibels level for restaurants (reasonable) Suburb traffic Quiet whisper U-, -• Tcol K Jaclyn McKay'Collegian Borough receives positive feedback By Nathan Pipenberg COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Local bar owners reacted pos itively Tuesday to a proposal that would change policys surround ing downtown noise regulations, saying they hope the request doesn't fall on deaf ears. Members of the State College Tavern Owner's Association have requested an exemption from Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), which would allow local officials to han dle noise levels downtown instead of the board. If the exemption request is approved by both State College Borough Council and the PLCB, the State College Police Department will regulate noise levels according to a borough noise ordinance, PLCB spokesman Nick Hayes said. John Cocolin, president of Hotel State College, 100 W. College Ave., was on hand at Monday night’s borough council meeting to propose the exemp tion, which is slated for a vote during the Feb. 1 council meet ing.s Current PLCB regulations make any noise that can be heard from outside of an estab lishment subject to a financial penalty. Lance Falkowski, general manager of Mezzanine, 420 E. College Ave., said he would pre fer if the borough handled noise regulations. “If [the PLCB] hear anything, they can cite you, even if it’s not bothering anyone,” said Falkowski. Noise levels in State College are currently regulated by the PLCB and enforced by local or state police, Hayes said. “The borough would have to have its own ordinances and apply for an exemption from LCB regulations,” Hayes said. From there, the PLCB would review the borough’s proposed ordinance and decide whether to grant the exemption, Hayes said. “The Tavern Association really See NOISE, Page 2. Mezzanine employees work to clean up the dusty floor. The grand opening is tonight at 7. PSU lacks top value ranking 70 decibels (annoying) Following the announcement that new tuition increases at the University Park campus will like ly take effect next year, the Princeton Review released its list of the “100 Best Value Colleges" for 2010. 50 decibels (quiet) But Penn State didn't make the cut. 20 decibels (very quiet) The list, which includes 50 pub lic universities and 50 private uni versities. was mostly tabulated using statistics provided directly Steph Witt/Collegian Mentalist and illusionist Wayne Hoffman interacts with the crowd during a trick involving identical twin brothers Adam Quinzan-Singer (fresh man-mechanical engineering) and Tyler Quinzan-Singer (freshman-mechanical engineering). For full coverage of the event. | LOCAL, Page 5. Spring brings revamp to Beta Sixty men have accepted bids so far to join Beta Theta Pi fraternity’s re-establishment pledge class, gearing up to begin recruitment for the spring. The former Beta Theta Pi brothers were asked to leave the house by alumni last March when the fraternity was confront ed with allegations of hazing and party violations. By this fall, the 220 N. By Laurie Stem COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER By Sarah Peters COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Cell Block gets remodeled, Mezzanine creates new vibe By Nick Weingartner COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Two days before the opening of Mezzanine the newly named and remod eled Cell Block the downtown hotspot was buzzing like the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Dozens of workers swarmed around the building, trying to get ready for today's opening by swinging ladders, wiping win dows, working on intricate wiring and revving buzzsaws. Dust fell like a gentle snow over the club’s black couches and fur niture. And Lance Falkowski, the general man ager of Mezzanine, 420 E. College Ave., knows every single worker. from more than 700 schools. Penn State received about $27 million less than requested in state appropriations. And with the university expecting tuition increases of 4.9 percent for Pennsylvania residents and 3.5 percent for out of state students, some say it comes as no surprise that Penn State isn't on the list. "For our size, we don't have as large of an endowment," said Anna Griswold, executive direc tor of Penn State's Office of Student Aid. ’Pennsylvania is See VALUE. Page 2. Collegian File Photo Beta Theta Pi fraternity house, at 220 N. Burrowes Road, will be used by pledges this semester for brotherhood activities. Eurrowes Road property should pied, pledges in the re-establish be full with new members, ment class will be coming to the Currently, only re-establishment house on a regular basis for director Jeff Rundle and a few brotherhood events, Rundle said, caretakers live in the house, “We’re looking for men who are which is expected to become the really seeking the positives of fra home of 46 brothers in fall of 2010. temity life but aren’t interested in While the house is still unoccu- See BETA, Page 2. Top 5 value public colleges Listed below are five of Princeton Review's “Top 10 Value Public Colleges for 2010.” Penn State did not make the list this year. 1 University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Va.) 2 (New York, N.V.) 3 :-## •'.cr'i* (Sarasota, Fla.) 4 H®fi''iaSBafjis (Tallahassee, Fla.) 5 Source: Princeton Review “It’s an in-house job,” Falkowski said. “It’s all people I know and have worked with over the years. We have shot girls cleaning and wiping the windows.” Fhlkowski is presiding over a complete rehaul and remodeling of the bar. These changes aim to give the club more of a nightclub atmosphere, further removing the industrial look of Cell Block and its past incarnation the Crowbar, Falkowski said. The renovations include an addition of a DJ platform in the middle of the club, improvements to the VIP section, remod eled VIP bathrooms, new decorations and new lasers for live shows and DJ sets. Falkwoski hopes the new DJ platform See MEZZANINE, Page 2. Comfort-able Freshman volleyball player Tom Comfort is shining. SPORTS | Page 10. psucollegian.com (Boulder. Colo.) Jaclyn McKay/Collegian Student killed in Rt 322 accident By Laura Nichols COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER A Penn State student was killed in a single-car accident on Monday when her car struck a tree about one hour outside of University Park. Jamie Haney, 20, of Baltimore, Md., died Monday after noon, police said. Haney was a junior major ing in biobehav ioral health. Haney was traveling east bound on Route 322, the Pennsylvania State Police said. Fbr reasons still undetermined, her 2007 Chevrolet Malibu went off the road about one mile east of the Newport exit in Perry County and struck a tree in the median, police said. Police arrived at the scene around 2:40 p.m. and Periy County Coroner Michael J. Shalonis pronounced Haney dead at the scene, police said. Police said Haney was the only one in the car at the time of the incident. She was wearing a seatbelt, police said. According to Haney’s Eacebook, she was a 2007 gradu ate of Kenwood High School in Baltimore. To e-mail reporter: Icnsol9@psu.edu
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