HEARD ON CAMPUS
"I do think there is a good chance for the Republicans (to regain the White House). Eight years of Clinton is a lot of Clinton, and I think the nation has a sense of exhaustion…and there’s always an appetite for change." --William F. Buckley Jr., founder of the conservative journal "National Review" and former host of the long-running show "Firing Line," at a press conference before last night’s debate with Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The debate was part of Penn State’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
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JOE PATERNO SIGNS ON FOR ANOTHER FIVE
Monday, Jan. 24, Penn State University extended the contract of head football coach Joe Paterno for an additional five years. It will keep the nation's winningest active coach at the school through the 2004 football season. "Joe is a treasured resource of this institution and we wanted to continue a long-term relationship that properly recognizes him for all he has meant to Penn State on the field and off it as well," said Penn State President Graham Spanier. "Joe Paterno's program in his 50 seasons on the staff and 34 as head coach has become a model for the integration of college football into the fabric of an institution of higher education. His won-lost record, postseason successes and the graduation rate of his student-athletes have brought great pride to Penn State Alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the University." For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/sports
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PENN STATE’S BUDGET GETS NEW LOOK FOR THE WEB
Reading budgets may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they can give readers a look at the ongoing operations and priorities of an organization. Penn State’s open budget and actual expenditures reports are now available on the Web in a much more user-friendly format. The Budget has been public for many years as printed documents in the library at each Penn State Campus and, in more recent years a web-based version has also been available, but required additional software to read. The Budget Web site also includes budget reports for the legislature and the Board of Trustees and an archive section with last year’s budget, for those who want even more. New is a Common Data Set section with statistical information on all Penn State campuses. Much of the information included in the Common Data Set is taken directly from reports that all institutions submit annually to the federal government. Other reports will be posted as they are ready. For the new, improved version, go to the Penn State Home Page at http://www.psu.edu and under the first subject, "About Penn State," click on the Budget
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GRIOTS GO ELECTRIC TO PRESERVE ANCIENT HERITAGE
The ancient West African griots and griottes, popularized by Alex Haley’s narrative "Roots" and best known outside Africa for genealogy and musical performances, are expanding their audiences with the help of modern technology such as the Internet and satellites. Dr. Thomas Hale, professor of African, French, and comparative literature, outlines the evolution of this 1,000-year-old profession in a new book, "Griots and Griottes." The book details the griots’ expansion from the courtyards of West African nobility first through railroad and automobile and, more recently, through radio, television, and the Internet. In addition, newer, cost-effective materials for musical instruments have allowed griots to play before larger audiences, which are hungry for world culture and music. For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/africangriots.html
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JOYCE NAMED HUCK CHAIR, HEAD OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
William L. Joyce has been named Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair for Special Collections in the Penn State University Libraries. Joyce brings more than 30 years' experience in rare books and special collection librarianship to his role as head of Penn State's newly formed Special Collections Library. This department includes Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Penn State University Archives, and Rare Books and Manuscripts. Joyce has chaired numerous national organizations and committees and recently completed a presidential appointment on the Assassination Records Review Board. Joyce most recently was associate university librarian for rare books and special collections at Princeton University since 1986. Joyce also has served as assistant director for rare books and manuscripts at the New York Public Library and manuscripts librarian at the University of Michigan.
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LEGACIES; FIDDLERS, FIFE PLAYERS, SINGERS
There was a time not so very long ago when people throughout Pennsylvania made music as a way to enjoy themselves and keep their heritage alive. By the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, folk music of this kind was dying out, being replaced by more polished and homogenized recordings. But while there were still traditional players and singers around, the late Penn State Professor Sam Bayard went traveling to find them, and he recorded their contributions to this region. Recently, WPSU Producer Cindi Deutschmann profiled his work collecting the music that helped define rural Pennsylvania. For more, go to the Legacies Web page at http://wpsu.psu.edu/Legacies where you can also hear some of the folk music Bayard found.
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REBA MC ENTIRE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS COMING TO BJC
Country Singer REBA McENTIRE will perform The Singer’s Diary on Sunday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $45.00 and $55.00 for reserved theatre style seating. Tickets go on sale Saturday, January 29 at 10 a.m. Wristbands for ticket buyers at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center will be available Friday, Jan. 28, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 29, from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m.
The RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS with special guest, the FOO FIGHTERS, will be on stage at the Bryce Jordan Center on Wednesday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $30.00 for reserved seating and general floor admission. There will be a limited amount of general floor admission tickets available. Tickets go on sale Saturday, January 29 at 2:00 p.m.. Wristbands for ticket buyers wishing to purchase tickets at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center only will be available Friday, Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m..
Tickets for both concerts are available at the Bryce Jordan Center, EisenhowerAuditorium, selected Uni-Mart ticket outlets, Commonwealth Campus ticketoutlets, or charge by phone at (800) 863-3336 or at (814) 865-5555.
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THREE PROMANENT FACULTY DIE
Peter R. Gould, 67, the Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Geography in Penn State’s Earth and Mineral Sciences, died Jan. 22 in State College after a year-long battle with cancer. He is world-renowned for his achievements in the application of mathematical and statistical techniques in geographical research. He investigated the impact of world events such as the Chernobyl incident and the AIDS epidemic by charting the spread of activities. For example, he used computer simulation to show how AIDS spread through communities rather than simply the extent of the epidemic. He joined Penn State in 1963 and retired in 1998.
Sebastian V. "Marty" Martorana, 81, professor emeritus of education and senior research associate in Penn State’s Center for the Study of Higher Education, died Jan 23 in rural Centre Hall. He was nationally recognized for his work on state public policy affecting community colleges, state and regional planning, and interorganizational cooperation in higher education. He also held administrative positions at State University of New York, the New York State Board of Regents and the U.S. Office of Education. He joined Penn State in 1972 and retired in 1989.
Donald J. Willower, 72, Distinguished Professor of Education at Penn State, died Jan. 21 in State College. He was nationally and internationally known for his research in educational administration and school administration. Joining the faculty in 1959, he had served as acting dean of the College of Education and acting head of the Division of Educational Policy Studies. At the time of his death, he was chair of the Educational Administration Program.