EX-CIA AGENT TALKS TERRORISMWeekend's Big Ten championship s• site has been rough venue for Lions c LOCAL Pao„ SPORTS, Page 9. J :7 _ 4 is n il e Thegaili an Published independently by students at Penn State President Barack Obama deliv ers remarks on health insurance reform during his event at the University of lowa Pell grants to rise State legislators are applaudim2: a hill that will put 5368 into Pell grants over ten years. By Terhea Doaty FOR -t The U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday that will invest $36 bil lion dollars over Hi years into Pell grants. increasing the maxi mum given to 53550 this year and moving ti) Ss,y 75 by 2017. Penn Slate 0 °- they look forward !o the in funds available to hell, ;tudents pay for their o 1:-gr education. pc,keswoman universit' Annemarie Alountz said "The additional Pell grant money will be very helpful to stu dents as students and families struggle to afford higher educa tion," she said. Cutting subsidies to large banks that give student loans, the bill will redirect money to invest in the grants, which directly affects students and their families. Private commer cial banks will in turn be dropped from the federal stu dent loan equation. State legislators applaud the effort to increase funds. "Education is one of our nation's greatest capital assets," said Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. "This bill will make college more accessible and more affordable to students and their families." Tor Michaels, chief of staff for state Rep. Scott Conklin, D- Centre, said the congressman agrees with the increase in funds allotted to Pell grants. Any time the student population can be helped to achieve an educa tion, it improves the country as a whole, he said. "Clearly we are in a global economy and Penn State is a very important component in that economy - Michaels said. "Any time our future leaders have the chance to receive a higher education especially those that cannot afford a col lege education but are bright See PELL GRANTS. Page 2. Atlas' Soundtrack performs during last year's Battle of the Bands. This year's battle begins Saturday. UPUA to offer legal services Penn State will open its new Office of Legal Services on Monday. By Paige Minemyer COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER University officials announced Thursday that the Office of Legal Services will open its doors Monday, according to a press release from Student Affairs. RUNNING WITHOUT RACE By Casey McDermott COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER On March 31, Penn State students will elect the fourth-ever black student body president and the• first in UPUA history a situation some are proud to say is generating little controversy. To Vice Provost for Educational Equity Terrell Jones, the relatively small role race has played in the election is a testament to the progress that has occurred throughout Penn State's history. - The fact that [the current election] has gone through with so little fanfare makes a statement about where we were 20 years ago compared to where we we're at now, - Jones said. - If it wasn't for your generation, Obama wouldn't be president, so you've made it very clear that we see things differently" But that progress didn't come without some resistance and hard work. Seth Williams, who became the first black Philadelphia district attorney last year, was the most recent black student body president, taking office more than two decades ago. p • i..., ..., . , ~.... 1 . iter •. . , .. . r-." Chris Donadio/Collegian Chloe Elmer/Collegian UPUA candidate David Adewumi David Adewumi and Christian rebuts an issue in a debate held Ragland speak with students in the on Tuesday. NUB-Robeson Center on Thursday. Bands prepare to battle on stage will take place April 17 on the playing, you listen to them HUB lawn. and you'd think that they'd be The second-, third- and on the radio and I go to Penn State musicians: fourth-place winners will play class with these people," Prepare for battle. at Movin' On for 45 minutes Colvin (senior-advertising) Movin' On's Battle of the each toward the beginning of said. "It's an amazing amount Bands will take place at 9 the festival. The winner will of talent that we have at Penn p.m. Saturday in the HUB- play a 55-minute set closer to State." Robeson Center's Alumni the end of the day. The competition brings Hall. Battle of the Bands Co- back several bands that have Twelve performers will Chairman Katie Colvin said battled - before, including compete to receive playing this year's talent is worth Ground Breaking Ceremony time at this year's Movin' On coming to see. and So Long, Pluto. spring music festival, which "These people who are See BATTLE, Page 2. Attorney Carolyn Larrabee, who served as a Centre County assistant district attorney for four years and is a 2004 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law will lead the new division. University spokesman Geoff Rushton commended the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) for its efforts in establishing the Legal Services and said administrators are fully behind the program. -.4. • By Lindsay Cryer COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER - It was a great demonstration of leadership by UPUA to advo cate for this," he said. The Office of Legal Services would provide students with free legal advice and also will help them find lawyers and other coun sel. This service will be funded by the student activity fee, costing students about $2 a semester. Establishing Legal Services has been a key part of current UPUA to elect first black pres. Having attended Penn State as a second generation undergraduate and now looking at the school from an alumnus' perspective, he said he understands how much the campus climate has improved for minorities, even in the last half-century. Williams recalled his father's experience at Penn State in the 19405, when despite being a varsity track athlete, he and other black stu dents were prohibited from living on campus. Even during William's college career in the late 1980 s. he witnessed racial tension and said he received multiple race-related death threats when serving as student body presi dent. But even for the difficulties he and his father encountered, Williams said the univer sity has made strides for each generation. "The world is much different than it was that short period of time ago," Williams said. "It's progressed very far from the time I was there to the time that we have now, and I hope we can continue to move forward." Indeed, moving forward is foremost in the candidates' minds. Current presidential See ELECTIONS. Page 2. t it ,„ UPUA candidates answer questions at IFC/PHC Presidents meeting. BLAME ANADA o work of art I ARTS IN REVIEW, Page 8 psucollegian.com UPUA President Gmin Keirans' platform during his two terms in office. He said he's thrilled to see it finally happen after two years of hard work - It's really progressed from an idea into reality - Keirans (senior business management) said. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Philip Burlingame said Keirans' efforts have been See LEGAL OFFICE. Page 2. Dado's friends raise funds Friends of Joe Dado started selling wrist bands last semester, and in their desire to help continued the sale Joe Dado's friends will never forget him. Now more than six months after the Penn State freshman's death, they're trying to keep his memory alive for oth ers. too. Navy wristbands with "In Loving Memory" and "Joe Dado" sat in a pyramid on a table in the HUB-Robeson ('enter on Thursday, as his friends sought to perpetuate his memory by raising money for a scholarship in his name. The money raised by the $3 wristbands will go to a scholar ship for a male and female soc cer player at Dado's alma mater Greater Latrobe High School. organizer Michael Cook said. Cook (freshman-bioloy) said he and Jonathan Hue (fresh man-chemistry) organized a wristband sale last semester with the help of Dado's friends and family, raising $750 for the scholarship. Now, they're starting up the See DADO. Page 2. Students sell wrist bands that read: "In Loving Memory" and "Joe Dado." Profits from the sale go to a scholarship fund endowed by Joe Dado's parents. Steph Witt/Collegian By Sarah Peters COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER If you go What: Movin' On's Battle of the Bands When: 9 p.m. Saturday Where: HUB-Robeson Center's Alumni Hall Details: Free and open to the public. For a list of bands and a schedule, visit movinon.org/battle.
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