the
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Professor’s stellar artwork
Starlight, Shine Bright
Child Celebrities
Etownian Features, page 4
Campus Life, page 6
Opinion, page 11
I My Converse
elizabethtown college
November 18, 2010• Volume 107, No. 9
One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298
update
Centerfold, pages 8-9 On the Web: www.facebook.com/etownian
money
Ex-professor prepares for parole Citizens Bank clarifies new fees D I Patricia A. Cangelosi Copy Editor
into legal difficulties. At the library, Eller has access to many books and newspapers that he otherwise would not have, and he reads often. All sex offenders at Waymart are required to atr. David Eller, former head of religious studies and director of the Young Center at Elizabethtown Col- tend several therapy courses. Vocational courses lege, is up for his parole hearing in December. He was are offered as well on a voluntary basis, and Eller arrested in July 2006 after attempting to meet a 12-year- took some of these classes related to publications and bookbinding. Prior to old girl for a sexual encounter; teaching at Etown, Eller was Eller was unaware that the girl a book editor, according to was actually an undercover cop the page that once featured from the Pennsylvania Attorney him on the College’s webGeneral’s Predator Unit. He was site (http://web.archive.org). charged with unlawful contact Kraybill emphasizes that with a minor and criminal use Eller truly enjoys historical of a computer, which, comresearch and scholarship bined, could lead to at most 27 and hopes he will be able to years in prison and $35,000 in pursue something related fines. to his interests after his senIn June of 2007, nearly a year tence is over. after the incident, Eller was While Kraybill did not sentenced to two-and-a-half comment on Eller’s plans for to ten years in jail and five adthe future, he did say that ditional years of probation. He in order to receive parole, is serving his time at Waymart Eller would have to submit State Correctional Institution, an all-male medium (level two) Former head of reiligous studies at Elizabethtown a proposal for a specific plan security facility. His parole hear- College, David Eller, is up for a parole hearing to use the parole time, which ing was originally scheduled for next month. He is currently serving his time must be approved by Waymart early fall 2010, but it has been in Waymart State Correctional Institution. administrators. Kraybill also noted that Eller’s support delayed. There is no date set at system has been a great asset for him. “His family has this time, according to Terri Fazio, Waymart’s public been extraordinarily caring. I think, compared to a lot of information officer. According to Fazio, the earliest Eller could have people who are incarcerated, he has had the good fortune been released from jail was November 2009; the latest of getting support from his friends and family,” Kraybill is May 2017. She has never directly worked with him said. He believes that this support will be essential if Eller and cannot comment on details of his incarceration is granted parole. Long indicated that he cannot make a judgment about at Waymart. “It’s very unfortunate that it ended up compromis- whether Eller deserves parole. “That process has to take ing not only his personal life, but his professional its own course,” he said. “I generally believe that people life as well,” President Theodore Long said of Eller’s deserve second chances, and if they pay their debt, they sentence. “We were all sorry for his family and very should get another chance to prove themselves.” A Facebook fan page is dedicated to David Eller, distressed about his behavior.” Dr. Donald Kraybill, a religious studies professor though it is not known who created it. Currently, 58 at the College, formed a close friendship with Eller fans “like” the page, which features four photos and before his incarceration, and remains in contact with posts such as “David needs a $250,000 bail to be rehis former colleague. Kraybill visits Eller at Waymart leased from jail! We can do this!” (June 29, 2009), “help twice a year, once every winter and once every sum- spread David Eller awareness tell your friends to join mer; they also correspond by writing letters. Accord- this group” (Aug. 23, 2009), and even “You can now ing to Kraybill, Eller has found work as a legal aide in follow Papa through twitter!” (Jan. 12). The alleged the prison’s library, helping other inmates who run Twitter page has not been located.
politics
Obama visits Asia; Pelosi runs again Alyssa F. Broda Staff Writer
“L
eadership isn’t just legislation... it’s a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone. We haven’t always been successful at that, and I take personal responsibility for that,” President Barack Obama stated in an interview with “60 Minutes” following the recent election, in which Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives, including Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
While feeling the betrayal of voters who once elected him, Obama traveled to India to improve relations with foreign leaders and the country as a whole. This midterm election has led the President to reflect on his past two years in office, as well as look for ways to better convey his political message, not only within the U.S., but with other governments as well. While Republicans say the voters’ goal was to do away with the Democratic Party, Obama states the election was a referendum on the economy. He said he is discouraged the economy has
Photo: Matthew P. Butera Image: attorneygeneral.gov
yet to improve, but it is impossible to be in complete control of an economy this big. “There are limited tools to encourage the kind of job growth that we need,” the President noted. However, Obama remains optimistic the country will come out on top even as Republicans argue the economy will improve only with their leadership. Dr. Michael Pisapia, professor of political science, stated “As the economy improves, the Democrats will try to take credit for it, but now, so will the See OBAMA, page 2
Alexis L. Morris Staff Writer
n today’s economy, every nickel and dime counts. So when Citizens Bank sent letters to its account holders detailing new fees applied to its previously free checking accounts, people were not happy. Starting Dec. 5, those members with a personal green checking account will have to pay a $4.99 monthly fee, excluding members who are under 18 or over 65. However, there are two options for waiving the fees. According to Charisse Silva, the manager of Elizabethtown’s Citizens Bank branch, an individual must have either a minimum of $1,500 in his or her account or make at least five billing transactions every month. Acceptable forms of billing transactions include using a debit or credit card, paying via check or completing an online transaction. To many, these stipulations may seem ridiculous and demanding up front, but when examined closer, Silva explains how members can easily avoid the fees. “I personally don’t think that people will have a problem with this because it’s pretty easy to make at least five transactions a month,” Silva said. “Nine out of ten [account holders] have at least five bills that they have to pay per month.” In addition, Citizens Bank has increased its outof-network ATM fees from $2 to $3. However, the bank has taken measures to help its members avoid these fees as well. According to Silva, due to a contract with Sunoco and A-Plus, Citizens Bank ATMs will be installed in all of those locations. Als o, “we’ve increased our number of ATMs by thousands all over Pe n ns y lv an i a and the eastern part of the country,” Silva said. These fees have risen for a multitude of reasons. In addition to the state of the economy, the bank reform signed into effect this past summer has driven fees up. According to Dr. Thomas Scheiding, assistant professor of economics, the bank reform cut the amount banks could make on their overdraft fees. “The non-sufficient funds charge [bounced check fee] generated significant sums of money for banks,” he said. “The revenue only grew when customers would overdraw their checking account while using their debit card and proceed to use the debit card several times before realizing they were overdrawn … Without an ability to capture revenue fees from bounced checks or to cut expenses any further, banks have to raise their other fees.” Silva agreed, stating that the fee increases were meant to discourage inactive account holders from continuing their memberships. “There were a lot of accounts that weren’t being used, and they were costing the bank a lot of money,” she said. Also, unlike many of its competitors, Citizens Bank did not add the fees into its members’ statements. “It’s not like something we were trying to
See BANK, page 3