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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday January 19, 2006
Posted by Dennis on January 19, 2006
Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio announced that he has appointed Larry Meredith as Erie County Personnel Director to lead the Erie County Human Resources department. Meredith was a former Erie City Solicitor and Erie City Council member. He’s a smart guy that everyone seems to like.
Condolences to Jenson and her family of the loss of her Grandfather.
Antoine Garibaldi, PhD, president of Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, has been elected as Chair of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Board of Directors and will serve a two-year term from January 2006 to January 2008. The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of more than 550 independent colleges and universities.
A lesson in Penn State terminology. University Park is not the “main” campus, but University Park. Behrend isn’t a “satellite” or “branch” campus, it’s a commonwealth campus. Students don’t transfer from Behrend to University Park, they change assignment. If you shovel shit, you’re a waste management engineer.
Tom Ridge of Erie, a former Congressman, Pennsylvania Governor and the first Secretary of US Homeland Security, will speak at the Internet Telephony Conference and Expo on January 26 in Ft Lauderdale. Ridge will speak on Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and its place in the country’s infrastructure.
Joe Ruggieri of Plum High School has received the Saint Vincent College’s Great Teacher Award. He joins 40 teachers in two states and two countries who were also recognized for excellence in teaching and providing a positive influence on students. Ruggieri is currently completing his masters degree from Gannon University.
Michele ‘Micki’ Sanner of Erie started a sign language club in high school at Mercyhurst Prep. She then studied speech and language pathology as well as deaf education at IUP. After graduation, Sanner became a speech teacher in the Cornell School District, outside of Pittsburgh. One again she has started a sign language club, this time for the middle and high school students in her district.
In case you couldn’t tell by looking at the green grass, the Highmark Quad Games Cross County Ski and Snowshoe Race has been postponed again due to lack of snow. Yes, Erie and lack of snow. The event was originally scheduled for Jan 8th, then pushed back to Jan 15, then Jan 22 and now has been rescheduled for Jan 29. If there is still no snow by Jan 29 it will be pushed back to Feb 5 and then to seach successive Sunday. The final attempt will be Feb 26.
Erie PA native Marc Brown created Arthur the Aardvark nearly 30 years ago. “Arthur’s World”, a national touring exhibit that features life size rooms and scenes from the children’s books and the PBS cartoon, is making a stop at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh this Saturday.
The Great Escape Film Series at The Movies in Meadville will be showing “Jesus is Magic”. This film showcases the stand up comedy of Sarah Silverman. It will be shown Sunday night at 7:30 pm.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra, conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright, will perform on Friday, Jan 20. This performance will be a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr and will feature the Shiloh Baptist Church Choir and evangelist DM Jamerson. The concert is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm at St Patrick Church, 130 East Fourth Street.
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The Allegheny College Humanities Lecture Series continues this month with a presentation on Monday, Jan 23 at 7:30 pm in Campus Center Room 301. Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Teresa Herrera will present “Adapting ‘The Festival of the Dove’: Depictions of the Spanish Working Class.”
The Mercyhurst College Drama Guild presents Macbeth on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26-28, at 7:30 pm in Taylor Little Theatre. Ticket prices are: Adults and seniors, $5; Mercyhurst President’s Cardholders, $4; and, in an attempt to entice as many young people as possible to experience the last of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies, $1 for all students.
There is a nice feature article on NHL.com on Ryan O’Marra of the Erie Otters. O’Marra was selected 15th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. You have to wonder how these kids keep their heads on straight. He’s still in high school, his parents are hundreds of miles away in Mississauga Ontario and next year he’ll be making a million dollars a year.
Wheeling Nailer Goaltender Andy Franck has been named to the American Conference roster for the ECHL All-Star Game next Tuesday in Fresno, California. The former Mercyhurst College standout is coming off his 2nd professional shutout in his last contest.
The RIT women’s swimming/diving teams defeated William Smith College 139-103 at Judson Pool Wednesday evening. Kristen Curtze (Edinboro, PA) paced the Tigers winning three individual events. She won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 25.58, the 100-yard butterfly in a time 1:03.51 and the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:34.88.
Posted by Dennis at January 19, 2006 7:04 AM
Comments
Another lesson in Penn State terminology: It's not University Park, it's the "Center County Campus."
Posted by: Melissa at January 19, 2006 8:03 AM
That is complete BS regarding Behrend and its complex regarding its place in the Penn State University system. I got blasted while going to Behrend during an English class when I referred to University Park as "main". News flash Behrend (and I say this with all the love of an alum), you will always be the little brother to University Park. You have very little identity without main campus (yes, I said it). Until you cut all ties you will always be subordinate to that big school in the middle of Pennsylvania. If you want your own identity then call yourself Behrend University and nothing else.
Posted by: RichardZ.com at January 19, 2006 9:38 AM
It's not that we don't recognize we have strong affiliation with University Park, main campus, whatever you wish to call it. We do. Behrend, as the strongest Commonwealth campus needs to stay in close ties and in positive relationship with its larger, parent counterpart. And this is done. Behrend is a leader in CCSG. We also are now serving as an example to the other Commonwealth campuses in terms of operations and student government. However, Behrend is its own college at the same time. Those who cultivate the attitude that we're a substandard little sibling are incorrect. The means of promoting Behrend as its own shining identity is to try to encourage its students to remain there for the full four years. I think it's fine to have some pride in the fact you chose the "small campus with a big degree." At the same time, I feel we should also all take pride in the fact we had the privilege of earning a prestigious Penn State degree. It just has to be made a nice balance of the two.
Posted by: Melissa at January 19, 2006 11:17 AM
Let me clarify my statement by saying that none of what I said is meant to define Behrend as "sub-standard". In fact, my time there was well spent and the education I received valuable. However, I resent the wholesale attempt at propaganda to force people to speak of the school in a certain way. I think Melissa stated what is behind this 'identity' issue is that the college wants to retain students and not lose them after 2 years to main campus. Behrend wants a bigger piece of the pie and this is one way to do it. Let me just end it here by saying the whole thing just feels awkward. The Behrend administration isn't allowing for school pride to naturally form but forces the issue by using this specially phrased wording. It's ridiculous in my view. I compare it to the flailing "PC" movement to change American lexicon. Behrend is it's own school, but this identity is inextricablly linked --and dependent on-- University Park.
I sum it up like this; you can take Behrend out of Penn State but you can never take the Penn State out of Behrend.
Posted by: RichardZ.com at January 19, 2006 12:37 PM
As someone who attended a "branch campus" as well as the "main" campus, I can say that that's how they're often referred to. Behrend is a different monster entirely and is usually referred to on other campuses simply as "Behrend." Harrisburg is also considered a different entity but not with the same status as Behrend. Moreover I don't think you can transfer to Behrend, can you?
Posted by: eden at January 19, 2006 1:26 PM
Eden, you're right about how University Park and other branches distinguish Harrisburg and Erie. No doubt Behrend isn't just a 2 year school like a lot of the other branches. I'm pretty sure that students can transfer to Behrend from main campus and think I've heard of that happening (for whatever reasons these students decide to do such a thing).
Posted by: RichardZ.com at January 19, 2006 2:37 PM
Students can transfer back to Behrend, yes. We have a few majors that you can find only at Behrend (Plastics, of course). We also are the only Penn State campus that provides an accredited SAP certification for business majors. Even UP doesn't offer that.
Most people that went to UP to begin with don't give a flying you know what about Behrend. And we are referred to in most cases just by "Behrend" or "oh yeah that s***hole branch campus up in Erie." It's just petty rivalry. That's about all it boils down to.
I'm obviously biased about all of this because I'm a Lion Ambassador. And a member of SGA. And we're not FORCED to cultivate a positive image of Behrend, we do it anyway. And sometimes it's suggested - as someone who's a leader on campus you gotta practice what you preach I guess. I like it here, I'm not going to badmouth the campus. I'm not going to badmouth UP, either. I enjoy many of their events and happenings. I could have ended up there, but I chose the smaller setting. End of story.
Posted by: Melissa at January 19, 2006 2:51 PM
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