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Clarion Call THE
CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
VOL. 98 ED. 14
Clarion University holds HIV/AIDS Awareness Week events ALIZAH THORNTON Copy Editor
CLARION, Pa. - Clarion University’s Black Student Union held “Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Week” this week from Feb. 6-11. Throughout the week the organization sponsored events for students of the university to participate in. On Monday, Feb. 6, and Wednesday, Feb. 8, Clarion’s BSU held table days from noon - 2 p.m. in the Gemmell Student Complex. Members gave students pamphlets on topics such as: drinking and HIV, common sexually transmitted diseases, STD facts and tattoo and piercing safety. An ice-cream social kicked off the week Monday night. Students gathered to discuss the upcoming events of the week and eat ice cream in a relaxed atmosphere. Free HIV testing was available for Clarion University students on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Keeling Health Center. The organization did not choose this week at random to sponsor these events. Tuesday, Feb. 7 marked the 12th National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The day
Brittany Harger / The Clarion Call
Students participate in activities sponsored by the Black Student Union for national HIV/AIDS Awareness Week. originated in 2000 by five organizations funded by the CDC in 1999 who wanted “to provide capacity building assistance to black communities and organizations,” according to blackaidsday.org. The four focal points of awareness are: education, testing, involvement and treatment. African-Americans accounted for 44 percent of all Human Immunodeficiency Virus cases in the United States in the year
2009, according to an article on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website called “HIV and African-Americans.” African-Americans only accounted for 14 percent of the total population in the U. S. during that same year. The article states African-Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by the HIV disease. In honor of the national day, Clarion’s BSU provid-
ed students with speaker Lisa DeFranco, who discussed with students how to use and properly put on a condom. Following the presentation, students participated in a condom scavenger hunt. In the end, the winning group with the most accumulated points had to apply what they learned from DeFranco by placing a condom on a banana the correct way. “I wanted this week to
be fun but educational,” junior Psychology major and Programs Chair for BSU Leanore Burrell said. Wednesday night DeFranco came back to Clarion for a showing of a video called “HIV in Black America.” Brandi Cox, president of BSU, said she wanted to bring “unity” to the students at Clarion. “I just want them to learn about safe sex, and that it’s not just for one race or ethnicity.” National Black HIV/
AIDS Awareness day is one of ten awareness days for the disease. Blackaidsday.com lists other HIV/ AIDS awareness days such as: National Women & Girls (Mar. 10), National Native (Mar. 20), National HIV Vaccine (May 18), National Asian & Pacific Islander (May 19), Caribbean American (June 8), National HIV/AIDS & Aging (Sept. 18), National Gay Men’s (Sept. 27) and Nation HIV Testing Day (June 27). BSU will present the Sex Feud game show starting at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in room 120 of the Science and Technology Center. Friday, Feb. 10 the organization will have a bake sale in upstairs Gemmell from noon - 2 p.m. and a V-day game show from 8-10 p.m. as collaboration with Every Friday and Saturday Night programming. The week will end Saturday with a Toga Party from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. in the Gemmell Food Court. The price for Clarion students with will be $5 and for non-Clarion students, the price will be $7. Doors close promptly at midnight. For more information about National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness day go to www.blackaidsday.org.
Students thank university tuition donors Gov. Corbett announces budget RACHEL FARKAS
BLAYNE SHEAFFER
News Staff
News Staff
CLARION, Pa. - Students gave thanks for their education on Tuesday and Wednesday during the second annual Tuition Freedom Day celebration. Tuition Freedom Day gave students the opportunity to fill out thank you cards, which will be given to donors who contribute to Clarion. The Eagle Ambassadors and Clarion University Foundation organized the event. “Tuition Freedom Day represents the last day of the academic year that the students ‘pay’ for their education,” said Holly Pipher, annual fund officer for Clarion University Foundation. “Until that point, their education is covered by the tuition that they or their parents pay,” Pipher said. “After that, philanthropic donations and state funding support the students’ education.” The thank-you cards will be used to show the major gift donors how thankful and appreciative the students are for their donations, in hopes that they will contribute again, said Annette Johnston, president of Eagle Ambassadors. In return for writing thank-you cards,
CLARION, Pa. - Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced the 2012-13 budget proposal Tuesday, Feb. 7 at around 1 p.m. After addressing floods, Marcellus Shale and unemployment, Corbett addressed education. First discussing basic education funding, he said, “We have less money than I would like, so we must adapt.” For basic education he said, “There are no cuts. In fact you will find a slight increase, just as we did last year.” Corbett’s solution for higher education costs was not as definitive. “It is clear we need to have a thorough, public and candid conversation on how best to deal with the spiraling costs and our own obligations,” he said. Corbett is proposing a Higher Education Advisory Panel to discuss postsecondary education. Heading the new panel is Pennsylvania Senate’s Rob Wonderling. Corbett is giving the panel until Nov. 15 to report back. The Board of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education recognized that this proposal would mean reduced
funding by 20 percent, which is $82 million. In a joint statement made by the Chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors, Guido Pichini and PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh, the Board stated that while they agree with Corbett’s adamancy on higher education being affordable to every family, there will still be suffering in funding. “If this proposal stands, we will have lost more than $170 million in state and federal education and general funding, compounded by a 50 percent reduction in our capital allocation and the loss of Key ‘93 funding dedicated to deferred maintenance,” the statement said. PASSHE representative said that they are doing their part, constantly looking for different efficiencies and that since 2010, they have more than 900 vacancies through the system and have eliminated “hundreds of programs.” “We will continue to look for ways to reduce our costs,” PASSHE said. The PASSHE is looking forward to working in the Higher Education Advisory Panel to discuss a plan for higher education.
INDEX
WEATHER
Jessica Bedeax / The Clarion Call
Students stop and sign letters of thanks to Clarion University tuition donors. students were given free T-shirts and cookies at a table set up in the Gemmell Student Complex. Johnston said approximately 100 students visited the table and wrote thank-yous as of Tuesday afternoon. Pipher said she hopes that Tuition Freedom Day will raise awareness in the student body of the necessity of university fundraising efforts. “Without outside funding, the tuition for
many students would dramatically increase. We hope to educate students about the importance of giving back to the university and how they directly benefit from the generosity of others,” Pipher said. “They get the opportunity to thank those who help make their education affordable,” she said. According to the Eagle Ambassadors in 2011, it costs $21,000 to educate students, but they only
have to pay $14,000. The video states that the remaining $7,000 comes from the donors and state funding. Donors can designate their money to go to any specific area they have an interest in, and all the money goes to the Clarion University Foundation. The complete list of donors for Clarion University can be found in the Dec. 2011 issue of “Clarion and Beyond.”
Inside THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Donna Oberlander shares with students. Features Page 5
Matthew Ferrence recites his work for students. Entertainment, Page 8
Men’s basketball falls short to IUP. Sports, Page 10
Opinion Features Classifieds Entertainment Sports Standings
Page 4 Page 5 Page 7 Page 8 Page 10 Page 11 Today: Cold and sunny High: 39 Low: 23 Extended 5-Day on Page 2