2 I THURSDAY, DEC. 2, 2010 ,t: N BRIEF Fraternities waive rights to preliminary hearings Three fraternities each waived their right to a preliminary hearing in court Wednesday. Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, 338 E. Fairmount Ave., is charged with two counts of misdemeanor unlawful acts rela tive to liquor, malt and brewed beverages and licensees, the State College Police Department said. Police said the fra ternity held a party where an 18-year-old woman was served Milwaukee's Best beer. Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, 329 E. Prospect Ave., is charged with one count of unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverages and licensees, police said. On Sept. 5, a 20-year-old female student was served mixed drinks at the fraternity, police said. Beta Sigma Beta fraternity, 255 E. Fairmount Ave., is charged with two counts each of misdemeanor selling or fur nishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors and misdemeanor unlawful acts relative to liquor, police said. The charges stem from an incident that occurred overnight on Oct. 1, in which police said two underage female students one of whom, 18 years old, was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center for an alcohol overdose drank alcohol earlier that night at the fraternity Local superintendent charged with DUI State College Area School District Superintendent Richard J. Mextorf, 48, of Port Matilda, was charged with DUI on Wednesday, Pennsylvania State Police said. At 7:58 a.m. on Nov. 18, police said an officer stopped Mextorf for a traffic violation along Route 64 near Stover's Sub Shop and detected an odor of alcohol on Mextorf's breath. Mextorf was found to be under the influence of alcohol, and police said he was taken into custody and charged with DUI and other related traffic offenses. LUNCH Findlay, Pollock and Warnock: Turkey noodle soup, wild rice soup, chicken cheesesteak, edamame fried rice, shrimp scampi with penne pasta, broccoli florets, cheddar cheese sauce, sea soned curly fries, sugar snap peas, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, guilt-free zucchini bread, orange gelatin, oreo cookie, strawberries and bananas, whipped topping Simmons: Baked tomato basil tofu, grilled buffalo chicken wrap, chicken pot pie, hearty vegetable sauce, sixth pound burger, vegetarian garden burger, wheat penne pasta, baby carrots with dill, broccoli florets, chick pea bulghur, tomato pilaf, ginger glazed sugar snap peas, oven baked potato wedges, sauteed zucchini, tropical rice pilaf, chocolate pudding, fresh baked chocolate chip cookie. Waring: Lunch roll basket, soup of the day, turkey noodle soup, turkey BLT salad, broccoli florets, chicken cheesesteak, featured grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken breast, popcorn chick en, quarter pound cheeseburger, quarter pound hamburger, sea soned curly fries, sugar snap peas, white cheese sauce, beef and broccoli stirfry, baked sweet potato, edamame fried rice, vegetarian burger, wild rice soup, fresh baked chocolate chip cookie, guilt-free zucchini bread, orange gelatin, oreo cookie, strawberries and bananas, whipped topping DINNER Findlay, Pollock and Warnock: Turkey noodle soup, wild rice sdup, burger topping bar, grilled chicken breast, hot dog, hot dog bar, quarter pound bacon cheeseburger, quarter pound hamburger, turkey burger, vegetarian burger, boston baked beans, shoestring fries, sugar snap peas, zucchini and yellow squash, aerosol whipped topping, banana cake, applesauce, chocolate shavings, graham crackers, hot chocolate, midnight cake, mimi marshmallows, white cake Simmons: Whipped topping, chocolate shavings, hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, California teriyaki rice bowl, baked cod with lemon, grilled chicken breast, grilled vegetables with whole wheat penne, sweet and sour beef stir fry, baby carrots with dill, broccoli florets, chick pea bulghur, tomato pilaf, ginger glazed sugar snap peas, oven baked potato wedges, sauteed zucchini, tropical rice pilaf, chocolate pudding Clarification: An editorial "Tuition can't be taken lightly" unclearly stated some information about Rally in the Rotunda. 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Among the different stances he took, policies he helped form and rules he enacted, one thing Wendkos didn't have much pull over was what happened at the beginning of fall semester: contro versies surrounding the Inter fraternity C ouncil/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. But the soon-to-be lame-duck president said he hopes things improve for the next execu tive board. After various THON overalls made the decision to no longer release the list of totals raised by individual organizations and to change the quantity of organiza tions publicly recognized, Wendkos said he had a few bones to pick with their approach. "It decreased competition and negatively impacted productivity" Wendkos (senior-marketing and psychology) said. "They didn't real ly see it that way, they just thought that competition detracted from the kids." Graduate students talk HUB expansion psucollegian.com Elizabeth Murphy Alex Weisler Beth Ann Downey Andrew Metcalf Lexi Belculfine Chris Zook Somer Wiggins Kevin Cirilli Ashley Gold Laura Nichols Laurie Stem Steve Hennessey Paul Casella Nate Mink Bill Landis/Kevin Kline Heather Schmelzlen Steph Witt LOCAL By Vera Greene COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER However, Wendkos said that the By Alyssa Sweeney COLLEGIAN STAFF WRfTER Penn State graduate students met Wednesday to share ideas for the prospective expansion of the HUB-Robeson Center, including green roofs, new eatery options and water bottle fill stations. Student Activities Director Mary Edgington attended the Graduate Student Association meeting in the HUB to get input from students. Edgington said the expansion an estimated 30,000 square feet toward the HUB deck and the White Building is expected to take place within the next four years. "We understand the importance of student involvement on the proj ect," she said. "We just want to open up the floor to students on what they would like to see done." Graduate students requested silent study rooms and computer labs many agreeing undergrad- State Patty's From Page 1 Newly elected Interfraternity Council President Dan Florencio said statistics seem to suggest it's those from outside Happy Valley not Penn State students who are causing most of the problems on State Patty's Day. He said it's ulti mately up to the presidents of Penn State's fraternity chapters to address State Patty's Day celebra tions, but the stance of the IFC Executive Board is clear. "We're strongly against any holi day that celebrates excessive drinking and we're going to contin ue to be leaders in addressing these issues," Florencio (senior philosophy) said. "As evidenced by past State Hanukkah showed their acceptance of all order to experience it and share it faiths. Chabad Vice President Jon with others." Frisch (sophomore-computer engi- Rose addressed the students From Page 1. neering) said events like this are and families, saying he, too, was to Jewish tradition, a small amount important in order to bring togeth- thankful for the opportunity to of oil only intended to last one night er both students and members of share the holiday with the commu instead burned for eight days. the community. nity. To celebrate the holiday, Jews Student Melanie Stiekman (jun- "You have to embrace diversity light candles for eight nights, give ior-public relations) said she is and celebrate it," Rose said. and receive presents and eat fried thankful for her religion. "One person doing something foods. "On Thanksgiving, I mentioned good and sharing it with others is Members of the student organi- my appreciation for my religion," truly special. Holidays are for zation gathered in celebration and she said. "I came here tonight in everyone." • Weather From Page I. crews had managed to patch most of the holes and clean up the dam age, Ruskin said. Earlier in the day, though, flood ing on campus was still an obstacle for many trying to make their way around. "As I was walking this morning it was flooded all over the place," Campus Weather Service President Robert Lydick said. "The borough was basically a river." Aside from the rain, Lydick said this week's weather was also sig- Zoning philosophy) said he plans to reach which would apply to fraternities out to fraternities to relay the clay- re-colonizing under the temporary From Page 1. ification to them. use provision, until this October, The borough clarified the defini- Fbuntaine said. posal as the Jan. 10 public hearing lion of a fraternity last May, but If there are no changes made approaches. decided to wait on voting on a sug- after January's public hearing, the Newly elected IFC President gestion, which was originally pro- rezoning proposal may be voted on Dan Florencio said he spoke with posed by fraternity representa- at the borough council meeting in Fountaine today to make sure tives. February Fbuntaine said, everyone was on the same page The suggestions would place with the issue. Florencio (senior- requirements on the proposal, "It decreased competition and negatively impacted productivity." greek community deserved more. Even though there was a compro mise between greek life and THON that entailed naming the top five totals and putting six through 10 on a big-screen, Wendkos said more could be done. "Competition fuels incentive. They have to stand out in the cold and rain, I think it'd be great if they announced and recognized them for their hard work," he said. "But it doesn't seem like at this time THON wants to do that." Wendkos said he understood some of the rationale, but he isn't sure if it's the right way to move forward. "I guess they're trying to make it more equal," he said. "It may be the right thing to do or may not be the right thing at all." Above all, Wendkos said, greek life needs better communication with THON in the future. Dealing with a lot of miscommunications this year, he said the incoming executive board for the IFC is look ing to assign more liaisons for THON to improve communication uate students are louder, which makes studying in the HUB diffi cult. Other ideas included a sit down coffee shop, microwaves and more auditoriums. Edgington said more meeting rooms would be included because of widespread demand. "A lot of student organizations don't even apply anymore, because they know they can't get a space," Edgington said GSA President Jon Lozano said he thought the smaller meeting spaces would be useful to several student groups. "Right now, you pretty much have to go small or go giant," Lozano (graduate-student affairs and law) said, who referenced ven ues like Alumni Hall. "Something in between there would be really good." Graduate student David Deluliis said although he won't be at Penn State long enough to see the expansion completed, the GSA "As evidenced by past State Patty's Days, it's literally just excessive drinking." Patty's Days, it's literally just excessive drinking." Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said she preferred not to call State Patty's Day a "holiday" at all, instead calling it an "irre sponsible," "made-up" and "selfish" event. "People think they're creating a tradition," Powers said. "But the results of past years' emergency room visits and general destruc tion would not indicate that this is an opportunity to connect with each other" Despite the opposition, Balarnuta said she's planning on nificant because the decline in temperatures the mercury dropped about 20 degrees in a mat ter of three hours Wednesday marked the official start of State College's "meteorological winter." The arrival of cold weather may have seemed like it was behind schedule compared to past years, but Lydick said it's actually on time. "The reason it feels so late is that we didn't have a cold burst this year last year we had a record snowfall on October 15," Lydick (junior-meteorology) said. "So it seems like we've had a late start, but it's really right on par with where we'd be normally." THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Max Wendkos Interfraternity Council President between the groups. "We need to connect the gap," he said. Sydney Bickford, a member of a THON committee, said she thinks Wendkos made the right move in terms of speaking out on behalf of the greek community during his presidency "He took a stance and shared his opinion with members of THON because it directly affects both par ties," Bickford (sophomore- English) said. "That's important and I think they should continue to keep up that communication." Chris Hershey, another member of a THON committee, said the controversy surrounding the reveal diverted both sides from the main priority. "Even though there were a bunch of disagreements and stuff, in the end, none of that should real ly matter because everything should be done for the kids" Hershey (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said. To e-mail reporter: vhgsoo3@psu.edu could help prospective students with their ideas. "I'm most concerned with what will be here for future students that we didn't have," Deluliis (graduate-communications) said. Edgington said the project would include enclosing the outdoor space by Joagie's Hoagies, new HUB food options and renovating the Penn State Bookstore, along with adding space. The expansion would not include the original plan of connecting the HUB and White Building, Edgington said. Edgington said much of the expansion plan has yet to be approved and the project is still in the preliminary input and design phase. Any suggestions to student activities were welcome. GSA Executive Secretary Nana Dawson-Andoh (graduate-psychol ogy) jokingly said her fantasy HUB would include a plastic ball pit. To e-mail reporter: arss474@psu.edu Dan Florenclo newly elected lnterfraternity Council President enjoying next year's event, and she said it's ultimately up to students to behave responsibly on State Patty's Day. And Florencio said he hopes students take into account the impact their actions on State Patty's Day might have on the community before they step out for this year's event. "I'm from State College, so I kind of have a unique stake in this," Florencio said. "But it's the responsibility of students to behave in a safe manner and take care of our town it's home." To e-mail reporter: cmms773@psu.edu But back at OPP Ruskin said he's thankful that winter wasn't in a hurry to descend on Happy Valley. After last year's winter weather cost up more than $1 million in snow removal costs for OPP a first in Penn State's history Ruskin said an extra day without snow means less money spent on heating buildings, clearing roads and other precautions that come with a colder climate. "The earlier winter comes, the more expensive it is to deal with," he said. "Jack Frost is an expen sive visitor." To e-mail reporter cmms773opsu.edu To e-mail reporter: mers2ooopsu.edu Extended forecast