The Daily Colleglan Heavy snow expected to skip State College By Laura Nichols COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER State College is in what one meteorologist called the donut hole of another impending winter storm, once again sparing the area from the heavy snow expect ed in most areas of the state. AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Wilhelm said the Centre County region should not antici pate any kind of "crippling” storm, though places like New York and northeastern Pennsylvania Campuses need better assault laws, study says By Greg Galiffa COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER When it comes to punishment, sexual assault offenders have had it easy for too long, according to a report from the Center of Public Integrity (CPI). In the past 12 months, the CPI has conducted a national investi gation that surveyed how college administrators and police handle sexual assault cases on campuses and the results aren't good. CPI lead reporter Kristen Lombardi said the investigation, which surveyed 50 different cam puses, showed a lack of strong punishment for the students found guilty' of committing sexual assault. "The students found responsi ble for the sexual assaults face lit tle to no punishment from admin istrators." Lombardi said. “Responsible findings rarely lead to tough punishment, like expul sion." According to the research, women who report being sexually assaulted to university officials are also often faced with strict confidentiality agreements and uninterested campus coun selors. But at Penn State, which was not included in the investigation, members of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) feel it's the responsibility of the students not the univer sitv to handle the crime. "If we want to see change, we need to be the one to take a stand against it," said Christian Ragland, UPUA Student Life and Diversity chairman. "At the end of the day, it's up to student lead ers." Buy one pair of ~~ jWkqM sunglasses for ~\ v "~ j $9O or more, get a second pair for sg* y $ 3O OFF I sunglasses; ov«s9o Spring Break planner /Z/t/t/t/l/t 3\s\s\3\s\s\ Plan a trip and receive $25 courtesy of The Daily Collegian ASUXJXSUX s\s\s\s\s\s\ could see some sizable snowfall. There will most likely be only a few flurries tonight, which will turn into a steadier snow Friday morning, Wilhelm said. A few inches could sporadically accumulate during the course of the next two days, with an esti mated total of three to six inches of snow in State College, Wilhelm said. However, any students planning on leaving the State College area this weekend could see some dan gerous roadways. Wilhelm said Ragland (junior-political sci ence) said he recently met with Judicial Affairs to discuss imposing stricter sanctions for the university's sexual assault policy. It's important to show these crimes have strong conse quences so people will take them more seriously, he said. One local organization that also works closely Judicial Affairs is the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, which helps train members' of the hearing boards. “Our experience has been the university takes sexual assault very seriously,” director Anne Ard said. “Is it perfect? No. But I do think the university has a sig nificant commitment to the issues of sexual assault. " Penn State Police Deputy Director Tyrone Parham wrote in an e-mail that the university also encourages victims to use as many resources as possible when dealing with these types of inci dents. But cracking down on offend ers can be difficult, State College Police Department Capt. Dana Leonard said. In State College, officers han dling sexual assault cases are more focused on the victim rather than the perpetrator. For them, doing an above average job for victim treatment is of the "utmost importance." he said. "You may not always have the perpetrator or know who the per petrator is,” Leonard said. "You may not be able to press charges, but you always have the victim.” To e-mail reporter: gmgso4l@psu.edu LOCAL going east on Interstate 80 today and Friday could be particularly difficult, with high winds and heavy snowfall. Any travel on Route 22 past the Altoona area and heading west could also be tough, he said. Penn State Snow Marshal Lloyd Rhoades said his crew at the Office of Physical Plant (OPP) is planning to meet early this morn ing to make its final plan of action, but so far, they're prepared for whatever weather comes their way. COLOR WHEEL , Andrew Beam/Coflegian Student Programming Association (SPA) member Stephanie Zub (freshman-graphic design) helps students create free spin art Frisbees in the HUB-Robeson Center on Wednesday as part of SPA Day. Penn State Office of Human Resources awarded $1,500,000 Grant for Child Care assistance to student parents. Spring 2010 Penn State is pleased to announce the grant award of $375,000 a year for the next four years from the U.S. Department of Education to provide child care financial assistance to qualifying undergraduate student parents at all campus locations The Office of Human Resources Work/Life Programs was awarded funding from the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program authorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. The CCAMPIS program assists universities and colleges across the nation to improve child care access for student parents. This year, grant applications for funding were competitive, with only 39% of the proposals selected. Penn State is pleased to be among the funded applications. People and equipment are ready, and OPP has already worked on making sure any lin gering snow from the past storm was cleared this week. Rhoades said. Preparations for inclement weather were made earlier in the week when there was talk of a heavy 7 snowfall on Monday, but it "just kind of fizzled," he said. "We're about as prepped as we can be," Rhoades said. He did add that some Commonwealth Campuses could Linda E. Pierce, Manager of the Work/Life Programs Office notes, “We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Department of Education and look forward to the contributions this program will make to the Penn State community.” Penn State has grown its child care assistance program to serve eligible student parent families across all 24-campus locations. Student parents can utilize these funds to assist in child care costs at approved child i care centers and family home care providers. Qualifying families also may receive assistance with before-and after school care, sick and emergency care, summer child care, and care during finals and mid-term periods. “Our goal is to assist student families with their educational and family goals while balancing the financial demands of earning a degree from our University,” states Stephanie L. Zezzo, Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Coordinator. . .'**&***■ www. oh r. id by visiting . ns Office at (800) 746-6759 or subsidy@psu.edu Thursday, Feb. 25,2010 I 3 “We’re about as prepped as we can be.” Lloyd Rhoades Penn State Snow Marshal see more snow and may cancel classes. However, that should not be the case at University Park, he said for the second time this winter. To e-mail reporter: Icnsol9@psu.edu S 3 »V • isu.edu/WorkLife/Subsid' portunities pennSwe W urces
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