The Daily Collegian Samuel Settle (sophomore-political science and history) asks State College Resident Bill Simon to sign a petition on academic integrity. Students concerned with internal review By Colleen Boyle COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Atop a milk crate, Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) member Samuel Settle called on Penn State to protect its reputa tion by conducting an outside review of meteorology professor Michael Mann. Armed with signs and hand outs. members from at least six organizations gathered Friday to express opposing views of the cli mate change debate that has taken root at Penn State. Climate change critics bundled up to brace the cold and listen to speakers, holding posters with slogans like “Mann-made Climate Change.” Since the university decided to look into Mann’s research through an internal investigation, multiple groups have accused Penn State of “whitewashing” the issue bv reviewing its own profes sor. Calling for an outside investi gation, the Penn State Young Americans for Freedom and the 9-12 Project of Central Pennsylvania used Friday’s demonstration in front of the HUB-Robeson Center as an opportunity to express their dis approval. Settle said the inquiry the results of which were published in a 10-page document earlier this month is not what he expects from a major research university. "I am not a climatologist,” Settle (sophomore-history and political science) said. “I’m just here to call for an external inves- February 26, 2010 • 11 am - 2 pm HUB-Robeson Center, Alumni Hall Summer Camp Counselor Positions CAMP For Girls Must have a love of children, lots of energy and be able to teach one or more of the following activities: Al! Team Sports, Tennis, Golf, Waterfront Activities, Pool, Art, Dance, Theatre, Gymnastics, Woodshop, Rocketry and more Great salaries, room & board, travel. where the spirit is catching For more information and to apply online: www.campdanbee.com • (800) 392-3752 tigation. At some point, you just get too close to something to see it anymore.” The inquiry regarding Mann’s research began last November after hundreds of illegally obtained e-mails were leaked from a private server in the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in England. Critics say these e mails imply Mann and his col leagues may have distorted evi dence supporting climate change. A university ethics inquiry concluded Jan. 29, with the panel clearing Mann of three of the four suspected charges. The panel of Penn State employ ees determined that a further investigation was necessary into the fourth charge, which alleges Mann undermined “public trust in science.” At the rally, a representative from conservative research cen ter Commonwealth Foundation came to support YAF and handed out copies of a press release out lining the Fbundation’s opinions. But environmental groups including the 3E-COE, Eco- Action and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) also sent representatives to the demon stration, many to support Mann. Ed Perry, organizer for the NWF climate change campaign, said he is offended that others are questioning Mann’s research and ethics and performing what he called “a character assassina tion of one of Penn State's finest climate scientists.” To e-mail reporter: cabS3s6@psu.edu e-to-Peop| e j • Wellness • Recreation * . reer Fair |»j» foy** Mann talks climate change By Colleen Boyle COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Only hours after protestors voiced their opinions on "Climategate" outside the HUB- Robeson Center, Penn State meteorology professor Michael Mann presented a lecture on cli mate change to a packed auditori um in the Walker Building. "I imagine the standing room crowd was due in part to all of the publicity, but I don't mind," Mann said. "I love talking about science to anyone w’ho will listen." Penn State is currently con ducting an investigation on Mann's research ethics after hun dreds of illegally obtained e-mails were leaked last November from a private server in the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in England. Critics say these e-mails suggest Mann and his colleagues may have mis represented climate change evi dence. A two-month-long initial inquiry cleared Mann of three of four charges of research miscon duct, but a panel of three Penn State employees decided Jan. 29 UPUA will audit downtown center By Casey McDermott COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER In response to the four-month delay in opening the Downtown Student Center, student govern ment is conducting an internal audit to determine if plans were mismanaged and if anyone is to blame. The office, located at 103 E. Beaver Ave.. remained vacant for the first half of its $5,200 lease and opened for student use in January with only three months left in the current semester. The audit will investigate whether any individuals are at fault for the delay and whether the center is worth keeping open. According to University’ Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) procedure, once the plans to open the office were approved last year, much of the responsibility for overseeing the office fell to the assembly and chairman Mark Cannon. Within the assembly, the initiative fell specifically under the jurisdiction of the Governmental Affairs ATTENTION that further investigation into whether Mann undermined “pub lic trust in science" is necessarv. While this investigation pro ceeds. Mann continues his duties as a professor, saying he trusts the university to continue with the investigation responsibly. "Nobody has communicated to me that I should do anything other than what I've been doing all along at Penn State in the meantime." Mann said. "That includes teaching, advising stu dents. performing and supervis ing research projects, and engag ing in outreach activities aimed at informing the public about the science that my colleagues and I do." Mann's lecture Friday focused on using paleoclimate informa tion about past climates to inform the still-substantial uncertainties involved in using climate models to project future climate change. Mann gives about two dozen such lectures a year, both in pub lic and university settings. All were welcome to attend Friday's lecture. State College resident Jim Kerhin attended the event and Committee, led by chairwoman Colleen Smith (sophomore-biolo gy). "The greatest thing when you make a mistake is that you have an opportunity to learn from it.” UPUA President Gavin Keirans (senior-business management) said. "With Mark [Cannon] and Colleen lSmith] coming back, I think it's important that we recti fy this now and that there's a learning from it both for them and for the entire assembly" he said. Heading the review’ of the ini tiative is one of UPlIA's own: Matt Sheroff. director of internal affairs, a three-vear member of the organization. Sheroff (senior-finance) said the review is "still very much in the information-gathering stages." He's only spoken with Cannon and Smith so far. but he's seeking to interview anyone else w’ho was directly involved with the Downtown Student Center or has opinions on it. "The idea is to be able to show some accountability on some- Monday, Feb. 15, 2010 I 3 said he was pleased with the pres entation. "He's very knowledgeable and most impressive,” Kerhin said. Members of Eco-Action, an environmental student group, attended the lecture to show their support for Mann in light of the investigation and to learn more about his studies. But those who are not yet con vinced of the legitimacy of global warming were welcome, too. After the lecture, Mann said a local resident approached him, politely expressing his skepticism about the reality of human caused climate change but acknowledging he enjoyed the lecture. "I encouraged him to come to more of the talks and public lectures given by many of the experts we have here at Penn State in the area of climate change," Mann said. “In my view, one of the most important things we do here at Penn State is share our knowledge with the public.” To e-mail reporter: cabs3s6@psu.edu one's part as to why it took so long for this to happen,” Sheroff said. "Were just trying to get the story straight and find out who was responsible and who maybe could have done more." Cannon said he understood the audit to be less about finding fault with individuals and more about examining the center's effective ness in a larger context. "Basically what [Sheroff] is try ing to do is come up with a con crete picture what happened, how did it happen, find out could it have been handled differently, could it have been handled bet ter." he said. "Now 7 1 think it’s time to look to the future and use his reports to see if we want to do [the office] again." Sheroff hopes reach a verdict within the next two weeks. If he determines someone should be held accountable, he will consult with UPUA's execu tive board before moving forward with any formalized sanctions, he said. To e-mail reporter: cmms773@psu.edu
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