The Aquinas 1994-01-20

              Volume 67, Issue 11
Sounding better
WUSR steps up
to stereo and VHS
~~~ A real hit
G06~'h Players to perform
~ Tennessee Wiliams play
Page7
e
I
The University of Scranton's Student Newspaper
A royal romp
Men and Women
roll over Lycoming
Page 12
Thursday, January 20, 1994
Power outages strike Scranton
PP&L shuts down power
to conserve electricity
By GARY KOELLHOFFER
Aquinas News Editor
Gov. Robert Casey declared yesterday
that Pennsylvania was in a
state of emergency due to overuse
of electricity. Pennsylvania Power
and Light is trying to compensate
for the shortages by instituting a
rotating system of power blackouts
throughout the region.
everyone turn off all unnecessary
lights and not use any big appliances
such as washers, dryers and
dishwashers.
The peak periods for electrical
useareearlyinthemorningaspeople
are getting ready for work, and in
the early evening. Beasley recommends
that everyone conserve electricity
as much as possible during
those periods .. ·-~-- "The power outages are for durations
of30 minutes;" said Richard ·
Beasley, PP&Lspokesman. He said
that the system behind the rotating
blackouts is designed to be fair and
it will not go back to someone who
recently had a power outage.
. ·"we··are· not iii the-position 'iorecommend
that any businesses or
schools close down," Beasley said.
"We provide the information and it
is up to them to make an informed
decision."
Aquinas Photo/ANDREW SUGAR
A truck hauls away snow that had piled up on the street. The recent storms, which blanketed the area with snow,
are causing residents to use more electricity while trying to stay warm.
The power shortage is in part a
result of increased electrical use as
people try to keep themselves warm
due to the extremely cold weather.
Casey recommends that everyone
(except the elderly) set their
thermostats to 65 degrees, and that
"l'he situation is very rare and
hopefully very temporary," Beasley
said. He added that this was the first
time in 20 years that PP&L used the
rotating power outage system.
Casey said. "But the condition still Beasley said. "We're not on the
exists, and we expect sub-zero tern- power outage rotation anymore ...
peratures tonight ... it'll take coop- thanks to customers following our
eration to make it succeed" Casey . advice."
noted that it is not a crisis but a Beasley said thatPP&Lis trying
"serious situation." "to do its.best" but events are chang-possibility
that the power outage
rotation will be in use on Thursday.
But according to PP&L, if customers
continue to conserve energy
Wednesday night and throughout
Thursday, there should only be a
few power outages during the day.
"There has bet;n a very positive
response to the power problems," "Themeasures are taking effect," ing hour to hour so there is still a
Gunster shows new look with second floor changes
By KATE VEITH
Common Ground Editor
Once again, construction abounds at the University. Only
this time, the construction is out of sight to most students. The
second floor of the Gunster Center has been under construction
since last January to build a larger cafet'eria ~d new
offices for student publications and Student Affairs.
On the left -hand side of the floor is the new office space for
the director, assistant director and secretary ofStudentActivities.
It will also house offices for Student Government officers
and class officers.
"The office will have work areas for student clubs and
organizations," said Sherman Wooden, directOr of Student
Activities. ''They can keep their records and fJ.les there, and
use the computers for posters, art work and fliers."
Also located in this office will be a Leadership Development
Resources Center.
"It will be open to anyone who wants to enhance their
leadership skills," Wooden said "They can use the available
materials, videos and small session areas for· group work.~·
Other benefits to the new office include space for classes
to meet, for planning of special events and for election
committees. "The oEice is more centrally located but we
aren't moving in all at once," Wooden said. "We will be
moving in gradually. We 'rephasing in, waiting for hook-ups."
Across the hall from the new StudentActivities office is the
new Publications Office. This office houses the student newspaper,
which has emerged from its old basement office into the
light of the second floor Gunster Center. The Aquinas is
sharing the office with The Windhover, the University yearbook.
For the yearbook also, this office marks a step up in the
University community. Their old office was a small room in
the basement of Redington Hall. Now, the two publications
share an office in the center of campus.
"It's much nicer here- we have more room, so we won't be
bumping into each other as much. Also, with these great
windows, we won't be missing sunny days," said Maureen
Hennessy, Aquinas managing editor.
Andrew Sugar, an Aquinas photography editor, expressed
a concern regarding the new office. He fe~ls it does not meet
the needs and wants of the people in the office.
The new office does providemorespacefor the publication
and several more computers to cut down on the late nights
before each issue.
«Jt seems as if the architects did not consult the users of the
space," Sugar said. ''The darkroom is much· smaller than the
old one and there is no room forracks. Also, it isn 'tdark. I have
. to put paper around the edges of the door to make it dark."
''We now have easier access to S tudentAffairs," said Frank
Constantini, editor of The Windhover. "We have a bigger
space, more computers and better organization."
Perhaps the largest endeavor for the second floor is the new
cafeteria. According to Jim Burns, director of dining services,
the second floor cafeteria has a theme, "treat yourself right in
wellness." The food will be specialized with healthy choices
including wellness cold cuts and entree sections.
"It will not be a food court," Bwns said. "It will be open for
lunch and dinner, but will still have the student favorites like
pizza, pasta and a grill section."
Another feature of the new cafeteria came in response to
students' requests for longer hours. The new cafeteria will be
open from4:30 to 7 p.m. The third floor will be open from4
to 6:15 p.m. for dinner.
The second floor will have the capacity to hold 325-350
people, while the third floor has a capacity of 575 people,
which is a 33 percent increase from last year, Burns said.