The Daily Collegian
IFC to institute zero-tolerance policy on assault
By Megan Rogers
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
The Interfratemity Council will
take a zero tolerance stance
against sexual assault and harass
ment with a new policy that has
garnered praise from some stu
dent leaders.
The policy, which was passed at
the Nov. 30 Presidents’ Council
meeting, explicitly states that any
form of sexual harassment
from sexual innuendoes and jokes
about gender or sexual orientation
to sexual assault will result in
Gallery’s
art caters
to niche
By Sarah Olah
FOR THE COLLEGIAN
Jody Harrington, owner of the
recently opened gallery and art
shop lon, 209 W Calder Way, is
inviting the community to come
and hear stories about the fea
tured artwork over a cup of tea.
“Everything in here has a
story,’’ he said. “People should see
it for themselves and hear the
story.”
On Nov. 13, Harrington "popped
the first champagne cork," debut
ing the venue to friends and other
people he and his wife work with,
he said.
lon is now open to the public,
and Harrington said he plans to
have a public reception sometime
this month, where community
members can get a feeling for the
art gallery.
lon’s core design philosophy is
quality, class and substantiality,
Harrington said.
He said he wants to have mod
em pieces with simple beauty and
quality work.
“It is a new school here, from
retail to architecture to the people
who move here,” Harrington said.
“lon gives more culture to State
College.”
Jody Alessandrine, Downtown
Student to run 250 miles to raise money for charity
By Megan Rogers
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Chris Ulmer is running as far
away as he can get from State
College after he graduates Dec.
18.
But his 250-mile run to his par
ents’ house in Willow Grove, Pa.
isn’t just so Ulmer can return
home. Ulmer (senior-media stud
ies) is also raising money for
Teach for America by asking peo
ple to donate money for each mile
he runs.
Ulmer will begin his run the
sanctions from the IFC Judicial
Board, IFC Vice President for
Standards Nick Rodriguez said.
Under the policy, fraternities
are responsible not only for their
member’s behaviors, but also the
actions of those in their fraternity
residence, Rodriguez (junior
crime, law and justice, Spanish
and international studies) said.
UPUA President Christian
Ragland has taken a strong stance
on the issue of campus safety, and
the IFC wants to stand alongside
other student leaders on the issue,
Rodriguez said.
Kelsey Morris/Collegian
Jody Harrington, owner of lon Gallery, stands in front of some of the
pieces for sale. lon, located at 209 W. Calder Way, debuted on Nov. 13.
Improvement District executive
director, said lon does not current
ly face competition because there
are no other galleries like it in
town.
“It is a niche clientele that is
offering something no one else is
offering,” he said.
People can shop or look at the
array of pieces from furniture
to photographs. The price range
varies from $4 to $14,000,
Harrington said.
“Everything in here I would be
more than happy to put in my own
home,” he said.
There are eight artists featured
now, four of whom are local. But
the gallery also showcases work
from artists living as far away as
Amsterdam.
Eric Roman, a local artist fea
tured at lon, has three photo
graphs of Northern California on
display. The photographs are from
when he was in California for
graduate work
“It is a venue for more serious
same day of his graduation. For
the next three or four days, Ulmer
will run about 55 miles a day
through small Pennsylvania
towns, stopping only when he
needs to rest.
Some friends will follow in a car
with Ulmer's belongings, but,
more importantly, with moral sup
port.
“I’m prepared to boost his spir
its as much as I have to,” said
Justin Emery, Ulmer’s roommate.
‘lf I have to get out and run with
him, I'll do that, too.”
But his Penn State friends won’t
LOCAL
Ragland (senior-political sci
ence) said he applauds the IFC on
its policy.
Though it’s not a solution to the
problem which he stressed is
pertinent to all students and not
just those involved in greek life
it’s an important step, Ragland
said.
In the past, the IFC has not had
this type of strong language in its
bylaws, Rodriguez said.
“We want to hold ourselves to a
higher standard than even the
police will,” Rodriguez said.
“Regardless of whether it’s a
art and for people looking for a lit
tle more than regional work,”
Roman said.
Lisa Harrington, Jody’s wife
and co-owner of lon, said she also
enjoys all of the artwork
“They all have different aspects
to them that I like,” she said.
Jody Harrington said lon is cat
aloguing important people in the
art world.
He said the artists he has fea
tured are going places, and he
believes their work will end up in
museums.
“You either get it or you don’t,”
Harrington said. “It's either for
your home or not, but people need
to come in and decide for them
selves whether it is for them or
not."
Though no students are fea
tured at the venue now,
Harrington said he is “hungry to
meet new artists.”
Harrington said he is looking for
what fits with the store’s modem
feel.
be the only ones tracking Ulmer’s
progress. A friend and student at
Temple University is creating a
documentary which he plans to
submit to film festivals based
on Ulmer’s efforts.
Antonio Piluso, who will be cre
ating the documentary, said the
group came up with the idea in
late October. When Ulmer first
mentioned it, everyone thought it
was a cool idea but didn’t think he
would go through with the plan,
Piluso said.
But Ulmer proved to be dedicat
ed to the project and those travel
member or not, regardless of
whether it’s a joke, we do take this
seriously.”
Ragland said greek communi
ties are often discussed when talk
ing about issues surrounding sex
ual assault. Greek communities at
each of the Big Ten schools are
usually brought up at conferences
on campus safety, Ragland said.
And though he’s attended a few
such conferences, he said he has
not heard of any other greek com
munity that is taking as strong a
stance as Penn State’s IFC.
“The greek community being
Local politicians
reject pay increase
By Nathan Pipenberg
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Local state politicians said
they don’t plan to keep cost of liv
ing adjust-
ments
would increase
their salaries
1.7 percent
opting instead
to give the
money back to
the govern-
ment or chari- Corman
The cost of living increase
raises rank-and-file legislators'
salaries from $78,315 to $79,623.
Salaries for legislative floor lead
ers are rising from $113,468 to
$115,364. The changes will go
into effect Jan. 1.
State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-
Centre, will donate the money to
local food banks, said Tor
Michaels, Conklin’s chief of staff.
And State Sen. Jake Corman, R-
Centre, and Rep. Kerry
Benninghoff, R-Centre, both
pledged to return the money to
the state.
'‘You try to lead by example,"
Corman said. ‘‘From my own
personal situation, I just thought
it was appropriate to give the
money back.”
Pay adjustments don’t occur
every year, but all three local
politicians said they reject the
ing with him are equally excited,
Piluso said.
“I wish it was happening tomor
row. I don’t feel like waiting anoth
er week and a half,” Emery (sen
ior-broadcast journalism) said.
Ulmer said Penn State students
are known for rallying around
causes like Teach for America,
and he hopes to raise at least
$l,OOO for the non-profit organiza
tion.
“People are really good with
stuff along these lines. People are
good with [the Interfraternity
Council/Panhellenic Dance
Wednesday, Dec. 8,2010 I 5
proactive instead of reactive is
awesome,” Ragland said.
IFC President Dan Florencio
said his executive board, which
will be formed in the upcoming
weeks, will work to educate greeks
about the policy and plan pro
gramming to keep sexual assualt
at the forefront of the communi
ty’s mind.
Florencio (senior-philosophy)
said he plans to collaborate with
the Coalition for Women and the
Women’s Resource Center.
To e-mail reporter: mers2oo@psu.edu
increases whenever they appear.
The last cost of living increase
was in 2008, Corman said.
Legislators can’t refuse the
money, and most either write
checks back to the State
Treasury Department or donate
to charity.
Conklin has consistently
donated his pay hikes to charity
because he wouldn't be sure
where the money would go if it
was returned to the state,
Michaels said.
Around the state, other legis
lators are also declining the pay
hike, citing economic troubles
and pay freezes for other state
employees.
Both outgoing Gov. Ed
Rendell and Governor-elect Tom
Corbett plan to reject the pay
increases as well.
Rendell has forgone increases
in the past, and currently earns
a $170,150 salary rather than
$174,914. Because he declined
this year’s increase, Corbett's
salary will sit at $174,914 instead
of increasing to $177,888.
The cost-of-living adjustments
for legislators, judges and some
executive officials became auto
matic in 1995. But Rep.
Marguerite Quinn, R-143. plans
to introduce a bill that would
eliminate the automatic pay
increases for legislators.
To e-mail reporter: ndpso4s@psu.edu
Marathon],” Ulmer said. "I’m try
ing to get every student to donate
a cent per mile.”
Those interested in contribut
ing to the effort can donate online
at firstgiving.com/ChrisUlmer.
Ulmer said students usually
have one reaction to his plan:
They think he’s nuts.
Ulmer said he’s not too worried
about making it home since he's
competed in the IXissey
Mountainback 50-Mile Relay and
Ultramarathon Race in October.
To e-mail reporter: mers2oo@psu.edu