The Etownian - 02/24/2011

Page 1

School teacher blogs student insults

New Zealand all shook up

The End of the Internet ... as we know it

Opinion, pg. 13

News, pg. 3

Double Truck, pg. 8,9 One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298

February 24, 2011• Volume 107, No. 15

On the Web: www.etownian.com

residential improvements

student achievement

Students pass bills through House $330K plan for wireless Internet Andrew S. Herm Staff Writer

Brianna E. Wiest News Editor

E

T

wo bills that recently passed in the 2010 session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives have their roots intertwined with Elizabethtown College. Katie Zerfuss, class of ’03 and sophomore Al Gorton both played pivotal roles in the promotion and passing of two separate bills. Zerfuss’s bill began its long journey to the House in 2002, while she was an intern with the Committee Fellowship Program. She was assigned creating an original legislative images: etown.edu

draft, the same way any professional legislator would. After struggling to find inspiration, Zerfuss noticed a trend of sexual assault cases throughout college newspapers, and she set in motion what is now the omnibus school code bill Act 104 of 2010. Article XX-G (Sexual Violence Education at Institutions of Higher Education Act) states that all institutions of higher education, including private-licensed schools, must establish a educational see STUDENT, page three

in the community

lizabethtown College is looking into developing a wireless Internet system for the remaining dormitories that aren’t connected. Dean of Students Marianne Calenda claims that she “recognizes student demand for this service is high,” but isn’t sure the College will be able to financially support the installation for this upcoming summer, as was discussed at the latest Student Senate meeting. The approximate cost of the wireless program will be around $330,000. According to Steve Rutter’s “Wireless Coverage Capitol Equipment Rationale”, installing“wireless in large ‘institutional style’ dormitories constructed of concrete and block is difficult.” Rutter also is concerned that students will “gripe” if “for instance, Myer has wireless and Royer does not”. Overall, not having wireless Internet access, especially in underclassmen dorms, could present a negative impression for prospective students. At this point, the project in whole will probably not be completed for a few years, ultimately due to lack of funding. For now, Elizabethtown students have to live with the minimal wireless access that is available.

campus safety

Etown woman faces criminal charges Safety concerns: crime increasing? A I Samantha L. Peters Staff Writer

22-year-old Elizabethtown woman faces criminal charges after allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate from the York Community Corrections Center. Kayla Danielle Davis of 332 Holly St. was employed as an intern at the corrections center from Aug. 9 to Oct. 13, 2010, working toward her criminal justice degree from York Technical Institute. According to police, Davis took part in a sexual relationship with inmate Kenneth Irwin Kunkle,while interning at York Community Corrections Center. The 29-year-old is in the facility serving a five-to-ten year sentence for drugs. When the inmate was able to get weekend passes, the couple met at a home on the 200 block of S. Third Street in Columbia, Pa. These meetings took place several times throughout Davis’ internship. “I would never have a relationship like the one between Davis and Kunkle,” first-year criminal justice major Catie Broglia said. “Working for a prison or corrections center, you might not know what exactly a person did to get in there. And you are supposed to be helping the inmates. If you have a relationship like that, all you are doing is hurting them. She is crazy.”

The state Department of Corrections searched Kunkle’s belongings and found 23 love letters in the home and turned them over to the police. The love letters were the starting point in the investigation.

image: gadailynews.com

Kayla Danielle Davis faces charges for having sexual relations with an inmate during her internship at the York Community Corrections Center.

Micah Aumen, a sophomore criminal justice major, was “not surprised to hear that an intern at a corrections center would have sexual relations with an inmate. I feel it is not uncommon for correctional officers, or anyone working in a similar

capacity, to be sexually involved with an inmate, forced or otherwise,” he said.“In this case, I see [Davis’] actions to be completely unprofessional.” The York Community Corrections Center holds an orientation for all new employees and volunteers, during which the ethics and responsibilities of a person working at the center are covered. The topics that were discussed included sexual contact with an inmate, which is prohibited. “If she knew it was against the rules to have a relationship like that, she should not have done it. Plus, it was her job to watch the prisoners, not sleep with them,” first-year criminal justice major Alyssa Weirich said. “And she cheated on her husband, so that makes it even worse.” First-year Courtney Levithan, had a bit of a different view. “I do not think it was wrong if both of them were willing. If she forced him to do something, then that is another story. Since she knew it was against what the corrections center said, Davis should get in trouble,” Levithan said. The incident was brought to the attention of the authorities in early January. Davis was arraigned and released on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Sara F. Neumann Staff Writer

n the past semester and a half, it seems that there has been a rise in the number of violations on Elizabethtown College’s campus. The stolen textbooks, the off-campus alcohol bust and other alcohol violations seem to have dominated the pages of the Etownian, as well as conversations between students. Despite the drama that has occurred all over campus, both the Dean of Students and Campus Security are eager to set the record straight and to let students know that their campus environment is still safe.

“We have the same problems here as everyone else, but one of the hallmarks of Elizabethtown is our safety” Dale Boyer, Campus Security

“I don’t think that there has been a rise in violations, it’s just that more stuff has been brought to our attention. There are always peaks and valleys in things like this,” Dale Boyer, assistant director of Campus Security, said. Dean of Students Marianne Calenda said that she has no definitive reason for the numerous violations. “We can only speculate,” she said. Regarding the thefts on campus, particularly those in Schlosser and from the Tempest Theatre, both Campus Security and Dean Calenda want to assure students that see HISTORICALLY, page two


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