4 I FRIDAY, SEPT. 10, 2010 Schlow By Nathan Pipenberg COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The Schlow Centre Region Library's board of directors passed a $2.2 million budget Wednesday, an increase from last year despite the poor economy and cuts in state aid. Though the budget is a 3.9 per cent hike from last year, the library has decreased staff and plans to purchase fewer new books than before. Library Director Cathy Alloway said the library will lose almost $52,000 in state aid in 2011, and has lost $120,785 since 2007. But at least for this year, $60,000 in donations from the community and a potential increase in Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) funding will cover some of what could have been a gaping hole in the budget. The library asked for a 2.9 per cent increase in COG funding, but it was the library's patrons who came through in the end, Alloway said. Ryan Ulsh/Collegian Flesh Decor, 332 E. Calder Way, is one of the many businesses that have opened recently in State College. State College makes room for new stores By Nathan Pipenberg COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER State College is like a home away from home for many stu dents with familiar campus landmarks and downtown stores welcoming them back for a new semester. But like all towns, State College has evolved, with some business es closing doors and others open ing shop. Students looking for new shop ping destinations should begin their search on Calder Way, where three new stores opened over the summer. One of those is State College's newest convenience store Calder Convenience, 213 E. Calder Way. The owners of the store find themselves in an already thriving market, with Penn State students often on the lookout for a cheaper cup of coffee or bag of chips. How does Calder Convenience set itself apart? The owners think they've found the answer with cafe-style seating, hardwood floors and inexpensive cigarettes that are rolled in front of your eyes. A first pack of cigarettes cus tomers can choose from five tobacco blends and a variety of tubes costs $3.50. If you buy a carton on your next purchase, the price will stay at $3.50. And while co-owner John Yukevich doesn't quite advocate smoking, he swears Calder Convenience offers the cheapest cigarettes in town. Further down Calder Way, stu dents can find two competing women's clothing boutiques, with storefronts facing each other across the 300 block of the street. J• o( O ` '1" Celebrate with all your Zeno 's Seasonal Favorites • OPRIF I:stheo"TO " TO $ 1 Bottle . METE Collegian News 814-865-1828 Business 814-865-2531 Library passes "People in this community are incredibly generous," she said. "We had an outrageously success ful fundraising campaign." While the library's board of directors has already confirmed the budget, Alloway said COG will have to approve the budget as well. Jody Alessandrine, director of the Downtown State College Improvement District, said every effort to maintain funding levels for the library should be taken. "It's a wise investment in their community," he said. "People have to be very judicious with their money, but this is one non-profit that has far-reaching effects on the community" Despite better-than-expected levels of donations, Alloway said the library still has to look for ways to cut costs in order to continue operating with the same stan dards. One reason for that, she said, is because maintenance costs have risen over the past few years, especially as more people use the This block of Calder Way isn't the busiest section of downtown State College. In fact, while one side of the block boasts five store fronts, only one is occupied. The lone store is Flesh Decor, 332 E. Calder Way. Flesh Decor opened in mid- June, but owners Laura Rossman and Sarah Mayville said business has increased drastically since students have returned to Penn State, eager for the latest in trendy formalwear. Mayville said the clothes are designed with a night on the town in mind. "We do fashion consulting," Rossman said. "We're here to give one-on-one advice." Across the street from Flesh Decor is longtime State College businessman Art Fine's latest project, Cheap Thrills, 325 E. Calder Way, another store burst ing at the seams with women's clothing. Fine, who also owns downtown staples People's Nation and Barefoot, said Cheap Thrills occu pies a small space he has owned since 1975. Because the building measures less than 1,000 sq. ft., he had to carefully select the clothing Cheap Thrills would sell, eventual ly. deciding on a selection of dress es, tops, leggings, bags, scarves and jewelry for the Penn State fashionista. Downtown Improvement District Director Jody Alessandrine said the number of new businesses moving in impressed him. "It's just always good to see growth," he said. "Other down town areas aren't talking about business moving in and we can do that." To e-mail reporter: ndpso4s@psu.edu =WAY LOCAL library's services because of the poor economy. "People aren't going to the bookstore to buy fiction anymore," she said. "So the library is getting busier" Alloway said the library will be forced to decrease new material purchases this year. Previously, the library spent about 13 percent of its budget on new books but this year it will only spend the mandated 12 per cent. Though libraries are supposed to spend more on new materials every year, this year the library will apply for an exemption, allow ing it to scale back on new pur chases. Alloway also said the library is looking into adding meters to its parking lot to benefit from cus tomers who visit other downtown businesses after library hours. "Librarians are always living on the edge and looking for cheaper ways to do things," she said. To e-mail reporter: ndpso4s@psu.edu Graduates struggle with jobs By Sarah Peters COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER After earning three degrees, filling out 100 job applications and getting several interviews, recent Penn State graduate Mike McCallips still hasn't found a full time profession but he's not giving up• - - McCallips, Class of 2009, earned degrees in information sciences and technology, security and risk analysis and landscape contracting. Despite the obsta cles he faces, McCallips said his employed friends have been encouraging, sending him leads from within their companies and advising him to broaden his search. "If you're set on one area, try to use Internet resources to find areas throughout the United States that are similar and apply there, too," he said. "If you have your heart set on somewhere, don't be afraid to expand your search a little bit." McCallips employed as a waiter, but still searching for full time employment in his field is among the growing ranks of those battling the recession in their quest to find employment. Career Services Senior Director Jack Hayman said he encourages students to start looking for a job early and to take advantage of the services avail- Alumni to host reunion, By Paul McMullen COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Students will get a chance to connect with their predecessors this weekend during the Blue- White Black Alumni Reunion, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association. The reunion, titled "It's About Giving Back," will include a tail gate party at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel to watch the Penn State-Alabama game, a career fair, Friday and Saturday night parties, Sunday brunch, tours and a student alumni networking reception. "Alumni love talking to and get ting to know current undergradu ates," said Roger Williams, exec utive director of the Penn State Alumni Association. "Students will be given the chance to talk to alumni who are already success ful, which gives them a tremen dous advantage." ,ESIII MEALS HiWay Order Online @ Pizza.com Village Square Mall ELIVEIRED 8141°213m entis 70375 1688 No eirion S (a* Ifflao• • tyobib IL 41, Lunt SPORTS LOUNGE & LIQUOR BAR FRIDAY t 4,4. 4.‘ V 2 Price Nappies 4L 9-nme lama Fathers L OWJACK owed SATURDAY 1/2 Me awl= smin FISII INEI L SWIS Ted 4' , " " " " & The Hi Fis $2.2M budget Schlow Library Director Cathy Alloway said donations from the commu nity helped cover what could have been a gaping hole in the budget. able to them. Though Penn State has one of the best career services programs in the nation, only about half of students use it, Rayman said. Among graduates from May 2008 to August 2009, 76.9 percent of baccalaureate survey respon dents were employed. That number is usually around 80 percent, Rayman said. Rayman said he's hopeful, though. More employers are reg istered to attend career fairs this year and more employers have reserved on-site interview rooms. Brandon Tricou (senior-elec trical engineering) said his job search isn't his "No. 1" priority right now he's also looking into the Peace Corps but he's opti mistic about finding employment if he chooses that option. "It seems that most of the sec tors I'm looking at, manufactur ing and energy, are doing pretty well," Tricou said. "But then again, I'm still early in the process." But Stephanie Odino (senior crime, law and justice) said her search has been difficult. "Even though there's a lot of openings, the competition is still high," Odino said. Odino said she's visited Career Services three times in an attempt to perfect her resume The opportunity to connect with those who have already established themselves is an opportunity that should not be passed up, he said. Gaining expe rience and being mentored by alumni can be an excellent opportunity to get a foot in the door of the professional world, he said. Besides providing students with the opportunity to network with alumni, the primary goal of the reunion is to continue the „ INFERNO BRICK OVEN & BAR FRIDAY Mil 1/2 Price Nappies Kele' One [kinks ill 1/2 Price Hall 9-111 fin NNW - Iveril Xl3 tt INNINGS $8 Lunch Deal' cheese piste /I- drink Garner Street from Mrtanahan's) If you go What: Blue-White Black Alumni Reunion Where: Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center When: 10 a.m. Friday Details: Call 800-548-LION (5466) for information THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Amount of employed graduates from May 2008 to August 2009 Average amount of employed graduates in past years before sending it to potential employers. Rayman encouraged jobseek ers to be "resilient" in their searches. "Be persistent and understand that just because you don't get a job on the first second or third try, it doesn't mean it's a reflection on you," Rayman said. "It's probably a reflection of the economy." Josh Yorke, Class of 2009, is now an actuarial analyst, but get ting his job was no easy task. After first being rejected by his current employer, he got a job offer the day after his graduation. For Yorke, getting a job in the recession meant honing his interview skills. "For me, it became much more important to master my inter viewing skills, because if I didn't have a great interview, I wasn't getting a job," Yorke said. To e-mail reporter: svpso7l@psu.edu raise funds effort to raise $lOO,OOO by the end of the year to endow the Penn State African American Alumni Organization Trustee Scholarship. The aim of this scholarship is to extend a helping hand to black students who qualify financially and academically, said Jeff Moore, Class of 1991, chairman of the Black Alumni Reunion. A portion of the proceeds raised through registration for this event will go towards this endowment, which can provide a boost to those who have trouble making ends meet. "With the increasing cost of education, it is a difficult task coming up with the funding to receive a first-class education at a place like Penn State," he said. "Our goal is to ease the burden on those who seek to be a part of the Penn State tradition." To e-mail reporter: phmso3o@psu.edu :R it LO • ? ... 57 ~TS Zr r N () t---r -u.kui cei,Lx A in mice Luo NEW NIGHT! LIVE ON STAGE EVERY WEDNESDAY
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