I Tuesday, Sept. 7,2010 Facility tests emissions By Mike Hriclk COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Penn State’s new emissions testing facil ity is becoming a national leader in alter native fuel and commercial vehicle research. Located at the 10,000 square foot Vehicle Testing Laboratory at the Thomas D. Larson test track, the facility acts as a buffer between the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and commercial vehicle companies. Vehicles are assessed on a variety of fea tures. Transit companies that purchase the vehicles that meet or exceed FTA require ments receive more federal grant money, said David Klinikowski, director of the Center for Bus Research and Testing at Penn State’s Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transport Institute. “The center tests maintainability, safety, performance, fuel economy, break testing and noise levels,” Klinikowski said. The Larson Institute is an interdisciplinary research center administered by the College of Engineering which oversees an estimated $4O million in research con tracts, Klinikowski said. Director of the Larson Institute Martin Pietrucha said the institute administers over 125 staff, faculty and student employ ees. Vehicles are tested on a 300 horsepow er large roll chassis dynamometer to simu late different driving cycles, Klinikowski said. The dynamometer acts as a “big rolling pan stuck in the floor” like a stationary highway, according to Klinikowski. A full-flow dilution tunnel is used to col lect vehicle exhaust, measuring hydrocar bons, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, car- Multicultural Greek Council showcases organizations By Matt Scorzafave COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The HUB-Robeson Center filled with energy and excitement as nearly 100 students filed into Alumni Hall on Friday night in anticipation of Penn State’s Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) annual showcase. The event featured performanc es that included stepping, chanti ng and choreographed dances. In total, 12 different fraternities, sororities and cultural organiza tions took the HUB stage to show the Penn State community what they have to offer. “We like to put on performances to show what we do,” Angel Zheng Stink bugs could threaten crops By Monica Von Dobeneck ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER HARRISBURG Last year, brown marmorated stink bugs were a nuisance. This year, they are a serious threat to fruit orchards, and experts are not sure how destructive they might become. The übiquitous brown bugs with a cit rusy or piney scent are making their way into midstate homes, previewing the hordes likely to appear in late September and October as the weather cools. Bloggers share ideas about getting rid of them: Flush them down the toilet, vacuum them up, drop them in a bucket of soapy water, squash them, stick them to duct tape. They are annoying in homes but don’t do much damage. They don’t bite or destroy wood. To farmers, they have become a destructive pest. Greg Krawczyk, an entomologist with the Penn State University Fruit Research Center in Biglerville, said some fruit orchards have lost 40 percent of their crops to the bugs. The hardest hit are in Adams County, northern Maryland and West Virginia. Stink bugs can eat almost anything and so far have no natural predators in the U.S. No one knows if their damage is going to spread to other crops. “We have a huge list of questions and a “Volvo is constantly coming out with new engines and new technologies. We’re letting them know how their vehicles are performing.” John Sigglns Associate director of the Industrial Research Office bon dioxide and diesel fuel particulants, Klinikowski said. “It’s mind-boggling how complex it is so you get something that’s a true picture of the exhaust fumes,” Pietrucha said. Klinikowski said commercial vehicle testing is a priority because companies become eligible for grants only if a vehicle lasts after 12 years or 500,000 miles of road wear. The center was completed in December 2009 and began testing vehicles in 2010. Building and equipment costs totaled over $5 million for the center, Klinikowski said. The Larson Institute recently entered its first commercial partnership. The emissions center has committed to Volvo to research pollutants and biofuels in heavy-duty trucks, Associate Director of the Industrial Research Office John Siggins said. “Volvo is constantly coming out with new engines and new technologies. We’re let ting them know how their vehicles are per forming,” Siggins said. Siggins said the center is investigating off-road equipment technologies. To e-mail reporter: mjhsso7@psu.edu (senior-education and public poli cy) said. Zheng, a member of Sigma Omicron Pi sorority, said the annual MGC showcase is a way to promote recruitment for greek life that is not governed by either the Interfraternity Council (IFC) or Panhellenic Council (PHC). “Our rush starts earlier than other frats and sororities. This is a great way to promote recruit ment,” Zheng said. MGC was established in 2002 as a governing body representing the culturally and religiously diverse social fraternities and sororities at Penn State. The council currently governs nine fraternities and sororities. very, very short list of answers,” Krawczyk said. The bugs, originally from Asia, appeared in this country about a decade ago and have spread rapidly. In the midstate, exterminators are just starting to get calls from homeowners and are expecting an onslaught as the bugs seek shelter for the winter. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Heather Meccia, office manager for H.T. Treadway Pest Control, based in York County. Susan Roselle of Swatara Township has hired Treadway to rid her of the bugs that cover her windows as they try to make their way inside. “I’ve seen them for the past five years, but this year they are really, really bad,” she said. “If I open the window, they just drop in. Everywhere I turn, there are tons of them.” “Their numbers are amazingly huge,” Krawczyk said. Penn State entomologist Steve Jacobs said the list of fruits and vegetables they dine on includes “almost anything—sweet corn, lima beans, peaches, apples, soy beans.” Many orchards have used integrated pest-control management systems to avoid harsh pesticides that kill the good bugs as well as the bad, Jacobs said. But there’s not much that will kill the stink bugs outside the broad spectrum pesti cides. LOCAL Janet Kallon (junior-biobehav ioral health) said she and her friends were excited to see all of the groups together. “Our friend from Alpha Nu Omega told us about this. We thought it would be cool to see all of these groups mesh together,” she said. Though all of the groups pres ent Friday night are members of the MGC, Zheng said the annual showcase is one of the few times throughout the year they all come together. “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the performances. We know we all put hard work into this,” she said before the event. Before the event, MGC WII have a contest Totatmimber of units sold nationwide in December I: i: The Daily Collegian is looking for enthusiastic students to serve as graphic artists and page designers. Experience is not required Applicants must be full-time Penn State students to be eligible. Students who cannot make it to the information session can email Heather at hrsso29@psu.edu. President Pankaj Khurana said he was looking forward to the show case. “We’ve been planning it since last year’s showcase. Our goal is to have our chapters show what they do,” Khurana (senior-health policy and administration) said. Members of MGC showcased their organization in a number of ways Friday night. Lambda Theta Alpha a Latin sorority at Penn State per formed a routine that provided insight to both its history and mis sion statement, while the Penn State Filipino Association per formed a traditional Filipino dance. Other groups performed their Do you want pages like this D EVOLUTION OF « TEAM ' -Jm," ... and graphics •Enzymesand • / \ receptors in are * • . ••*irs -tort io J. J stomach latch • '"/T *\ J onto the edges jfe* / of the pill. j\ l*After chewing a pill there are more edges exposed ' I We enzymes to latch onto, meaning less / I \medication is needed with chewable pills m Those interested should come to a brief information session at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the Collegian office in the James Building on South Burrowes Street. Chewable birth control * •: iZS ; iitT* H M. CT h e Daily ollegian The Daily Collegian “We thought it would be cool to see all of these groups mesh together.” Janet Kallon junior-biobehavioral health organization’s chants or showed videos about their chapter. Some students came out to simply enjoy the show. “I don’t know much about these greeks,” Bertrand Francis (sen ior-life sciences) said. “I’m here to see what they have to offer.” To e-mail reporter: mrss429@psu.edu THE PAPER PLATE. # Dining Guide V • 't l . v *V % N \v> 11 l\vr Oelive't'j ORDER FOOD ONLINE AT PSUCOLLEGIAN.COM to design J- _ (Hi— | Burst pipt fkwdi t oruii Rii. !
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers