I Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 Kelley King/Collegian Penn State professor of philosophy Nancy Tuana speaks during the climate change talk Tuesday evening at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. Professors talk morals on climate change By Jessica Llzar COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Three professors urged an audience of about 60 on Tuesday to consider the ethical and moral implications of climate change, in addition to the obvious scientific chal lenges. "We have to turn up the volume in the U.S. on the moral and ethical dimensions of this issue." said Donald A. Brown, asso ciate professor of environmental ethics, science and law. The Campus Sustainability Office of the Office of Physical Plant organized the panel discussion between three Penn State professors who attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COPIS) in Copenhagen, w here 194 inter national representatives met for two weeks in December to negotiate interna tional agreements on various climate issues. The panel was comprised of professors Brown. Nancy Tuana and Petra Tschakert. who discussed the conference's resulting policies and their opinions of the outcomes. Held in Memorial Lounge of Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, the discussion was also digitally broadcast online. Brown called himself the pessimist of the panel. COPIS represented the twenti eth year of failure to secure a meaningful global solution to climate change, he said. Thana said she agreed. But she did see hope for future negotiations. "A lot more attention was paid to the fact Students facing problems for Haiti spring break trip By Colleen Boyle COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER A group of students is looking to travel to Haiti this spring break to help those devas tated by the earthquake, but advocates said the students may be biting off more than they can chew. Organized by the Facebook group "PSU Haiti Spring Break 2010 Love Wins," students like Chelsea Collier found them selves united by the common goal of want ing to do something more to help those in need. “It’s kinda been on my heart lately,’’ Collier (junior-marketing) said. "The peo ple of Haiti needed help before this earth quake.” Multiple students looking to help the people of Haiti contacted David Adewumi (junior-Spanish) shortly after the earth quake. Adewumi, who has traveled to the neighboring Dominican Republic, took charge of the project and created the Facebook group. Fifteen people met Sunday night to dis cuss the trip. Facing strong Federal Aviation Administration restrictions, the students are looking to team up with organizations like Youth With A Mission or the American Red Cross. Though they are not trained to offer medical support, the students can offer manpower, Adewumi said. IFC’s elects By Sarah Peters COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The Interfraternity Presidents Council convened for its first official meeting this semester Tuesday night, electing the Vice President for Finance and the Interfraternity Council (IFC) Representative for the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA). Pat Gordon (senior-information, sci ences, and technology) was elected to a second term as Vice President for Finance and said stability is one of the greatest advantages he offers. “With all the changes that the IFC is making right now, I really think stability is the biggest thing I could add to this posi tion, being that I did it last semester, and I’ve been on the IFC for the past year,” he said. Gordon said he hopes to get all of the fra ternity chapters established with the Fraternity Purchasing Association and help with the Fraternity Billing Program, which allows fraternities to charge dues to members through the university. About half of the fraternities already use the sys tem. Presidents Council new representatives that this is an issue of extreme ethical impact," said Tuana, professor of philoso phy; science, technology and society; and Women’s Studies. "Lives are being already negatively impacted, and newer docu ments are reflecting that these are ethical issues.” Kenneth Davis, meteorology professor and audience member, also agreed. "Focusing on the ethical aspect is criti cal," Davis said. “We are continually deceived to think of this as a scientific debate." Those nations that are affected the most are those who cannot protect themselves, panelists said, and developed countries like America have an obligation to them. After the discussion, an audience mem ber viewing it online asked about "Climategate," a controversy over illegally obtained e-mail correspondence about cli mate change research. "No one in the governments takes seri ously the e-mail debacle," Brown said. Some audience members said they appreciated the emphasis on the ethical implications of climate change. "They explained what is missed in the media,” Daniel Sarmiento (graduate meteorology) said. "It was a lot of pes simism, but that's understandable." The panelists will be holding another discussion on the same topic for the com munity on Feb. 13 in the Schlow Centre Region Library, 100 E. Beaver Ave. To e-mail reporter: jlul2s@psu.edu But some think the trip may be more dangerous than helpful. Project Haiti President Alain Bonny, who attended Sunday’s meeting to discuss the trip, warned the group about the risks of travel ing to Haiti, especially now. “I really do appreciate the help they're trying to give,” he said. "I told them if you guys can get a structured way to get down there, then I’m all for it, but there are other things to consider.” The roads are trashed, and disease is spreading in Haiti, he said. For unskilled laborers, the only work available may be gravedigging. Americans can help the citizens of Haiti from afar through donations. Bonny said. People of Haiti mostly need money, but in time, clothing and food will also be needed, he said. Despite the challenges presented to PSU Haiti Spring Break 2010 Love Wins, it is committed to helping in any way it can, whether that means making the trip or organizing fundraising efforts here in Happy Valley. “I think as college students, sometimes we kind of say, ‘Well, I'm in college. What can I do to help out?’ But I think it is so important for us to involved," Adewumi said. “Any small thing that we can do, we must do, and it’s our responsibility." To e-mail reporter: cabs3s6@psu.edu IFC President Max Wendkos said he’s looking forward to continuing to work with Gordon. “I’m excited to have someone on my executive board that has an existing knowledge of the IFC’s financial policies,” Wendkos (senior-marketing and psycholo gy) said. Noah Kara (junior-political science), a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, was elect ed as IFC Representative for UPUA, a position designed to advocate greek rights. As a student focused on comparative politics with experience in greek life, Kara said he feels well-suited for the role. “I’ve held various positions in my frater nity and I have a deep-seated understand ing and appreciation of greek life, so the two were a natural fit,” he said. Kara hopes to improve the reputation of how Penn State students view greek life in his new role. “Greek life is under scrutiny and criti cism from a myriad of sources,” he said. “I really want to help rebuild how Penn State students view greek life.” To e-mail reporter: svpso7l@psu.edu issue The Daily Collegian
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