\t The Daily Collegian Published independently by students at Penn State University panel clears Mann By Megan Rogers COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER A panel of university professors cleared Penn State professor Michael Mann Thursday of all wrongdoing in connection with his climate change research, ending Penn State's investigation into his academ ic honesty. Mann said he is "very pleased" with the 19-page report the findings released by a panel of five professors who began their investigation March 4. The committee investigated whether Mann deviated from Penn State's research regulations in proposing, conducting or reporting his research activities. The panel determined that Mann com plied within the lines of standard practice in all three areas. STATE BUDGET PSU faces cuts Penn State moves forward with budget despite state's delay. By Paul OsolnicK COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Though Gov. Ed Rendell has yet to sign the state budget. Penn State and other state-fund ed institutions are preparing for the effects of the tight $2B billion budget. Penn State intends to move forward with plans for its own budget despite the lack of a sig nature on the state's, Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said. “The expectation is this was an agreeable budget to the gov ernor,” Powers said. 'Tve been told by our legislative affairs folks that this is pretty standard. So at this point we re not alarmed by it." Powers said the university will likely implement a 1 to 2 percent budget cut across the board for every Penn State department both academic and administra tive. The budget, which was passed See BUDGET. Page 2. Local bands perform This is the second in a five part series about prepara tions for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. By Kathleen Loughran COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER British Phil is missing all but two of its original members, but that won’t stop the Penn State based band from appearing in its first Arts Fest. “Truthfully, we’ve lost a couple guys from graduation, and they seem to be taking their lives pretty seriously,” Penn State stu dent Clay Blunk said. “In the past week, Eric Weiss. Mike Doyle and me have been practic ing. We actually all haven't prac ticed together yet, but it’s going to be good.” To complete the group, British Phil has found replacement musicians, including Weiss (jun ior-architecture). British Phil isn’t the only Penn State student band new to the See BANDS, Page 2. The professors questioned Mann arid looked through more than 376 files of ille gally leaked e-mails related to Mann's research. r „ They also examined doc uments collected by the inquiry committee from Mann himself, among other sources. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and will now be kept at the Office for Mann Research Protections, according to the report. William Easterling, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and Mann's supervisor, was interviewed during the investigation, as well as professors from Penn State. Columbia University and the ROCKETS 5 RED GLARE __ jgiaii . Jto An onlooker enjoys the fireworks from last year's 4th Fest. The fireworks show is expected to once again light up the State College sky with its more than 15,000 exploding shells. Dar Williams’ lyrics capture audience By Kathleen Loughran COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER At her Thursday night concert, singer-songwriter Dar Williams said she wanted someone to "infil trate" a radio station at Penn State. No, it's not a conspiracy. Williams said she simply thinks State College needs a folk station. At the State Theatre, 130 W College Ave., Williams performed one of her songs that would fit on such a station. “This next song is for all sorts of radio stations that have blown the minds of kids,” she said. “Blue grass can feel just as subversive as anything." Then Williams sang "Are You Out There.” Williams also performed other songs such as “The Easy Way” and “Spring Street,” with an encore of "Book of Love” and “The Babysitter’s Here.” Before singing “Spring Street,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Senior scientist William Curry, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, was involved in the interview process. Mann said he is relieved the investiga tion process is complete and is looking for ward to resuming a normal life. “I hope now that I and whoever else was involved in the investigation can return to what they are supposed to do research, teaching and making Penn State a great university," Mann said. The panel declined comment and con sisted of university professors Sarah Assmann. Welford Castleman. Mary Jane Irwin, Nina Jablonski and Fred Vondracek, as well as university research integrity offi cer Candice Yekel. Folk musician Dar Williams performed at the State Theatre Thursday. Williams talked about how her 20s were not oniy a period of struggle, but also a “kaleidoscope” because she was trying out different iden tities. Kristen Withers and Megan fans of Williams and her folk-pop See MANN. Page 2. Mehalko, who go to school at South Hills School of Business and Technology, both said they decided to attend the Thursday concert because they have been psucollegian.com @dailycollegian Timeline of events Dec. 2, 2009: Penn State launches Inves tigation into Mann’s climate research. Dec. 17, 2009: The Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank, calls on state lawmakers to investigate. Feb. 4, 2010: A Penn State inquiry panel clears Mann of three of the four claims made against his research. May 4, 2010: Virginia lawmakers call for an investigation into Mann’s research when he was an assistant professor at the University of Virginia. July 1, 2010: The investigative panel clears Mann of all charges against the integrity of his research, concluding the investigation. Festival dazzles crowds State College will light up with a fireworks display, patriotic para chuter and carnival rides By Zach Geiger COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Picture this: a giant birthday cake big enough to feed hundreds. A skydiver free-falling from a mile up with a colossal American flag strapped to his back. And more than 15,000 exploding shells light ing up the night sky over State College. This year’s Central PA 4th Fest is set and primed to blow away last year's event in every way possible, 4th Fest Executive Director Bernie Keisling said. "We re going as big as you can go,” he said. Every year, 4th Fest draws tens of thousands of visitors to State College to celebrate Independence Day, and this year’s family-oriented, community birth day party for the United States is on course to double in size, Keisling said. If you go What: Central PA 4th Fest When: 4K starts at 9 a.m., fire works begin at 9:15 p.m. Where: VIP viewing behind Medlar Field Details: Full schedule of events at www.4thfest.org. Regular admission is free, VIP viewing pass tickets cost $25. music for a couple of years. “She takes your breath away,” Withers said. Mehalko added that Williams voice is “beautiful.” But Marc McDill from State College said Williams’ lyrics are what he enjoys the most. “Aside from the obvious, her songs, the lyrics she writes great songs,” he said. Williams’ opening act caught the audience’s attention in a dif ferent way. No voice was heard when Sara Watkins took the stage and opened the show instead she performed an instrumental number on the violin, accompa nied by her brother, Sean Watkins, who played guitar. The duo shift ed back and forth between instru mental songs and duet singa longs. Charlotte Eubanks from State College said she enjoyed Watkins’ performance. “I liked her songs,” Eubanks See WILLIAMS, Page 2. See FESTIVAL. Page 2.
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