December 12-18, 2013
The Centre County Gazette
Page 5
Penn State students charged with hate crimes By ADAM LIDGETT StateCollege.com
STATE COLLEGE — Two Penn State students have been charged with hate crimes following an anti-Semetic vandalism spree at a traditionally Jewish fraternity. Penn State students Eric Hyland, 19, of Export and Hayden Grom, 19, of New Fairfield, Conn., are accused of spray-painting images of swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti outside Beta Sigma Beta and neighboring Delta Sigma Phi. The pair is charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct as a result of vandalism that occurred in early November. Police said the two teens spray-painted 12 vehicles, a Dumpster and a garage. Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said that both Hyland and Grom were members of the Acacia fraternity, and have since been expelled from the fraternity. She said the Acacia National Fraternity is in the process of issuing a response to the incident. Powers said it is the university’s understanding that both men operated on their own and not as members of the fraternity. “This is an unfortunate and hurtful incident, and we are glad that so many people were able to assist police in determining the individuals responsible,” Powers said. “Hateful behavior in any form is not acceptable and perpetrators should be held accountable.”
The Acacia fraternity released a statement Monday, saying that the organization will continue to work with State College Police to make sure the Hyland and Grom are brought to justice. “The actions of these two individuals are contrary to the core values of Acacia and in no way represent the Penn State Chapter as a whole, nor any of the other 37 Acacia chapters and colonies across North America,” the Acacia fraternity said in a statement. “The chapter has been a pioneer in fostering diversity across religious, ethnic and racial lines, and the membership of today’s brotherhood proudly reflects this history.” Investigators said Hyland and Grom both confessed last week. The graffiti consisted mostly of antiSemitic language and symbols, but also included sexually graphic words, sexual images and the initials “K.K.K.” Police said most of the graffiti was targeted toward Beta Sigma Beta. The evidence against Hyland and Grom came from surveillance footage of the crime, as well as information given to police by a tipster who identified Hyland and Grom as the people who committed the vandalism, police said. Police also found three other people who identified the two as the people who spray-painted the images. Police also credit both alumni and active members Beta Sigma Beta as well as the Penn State Inter-fraternity Council for helped solve the case.
Road improvements offer smoother, safer travels By JENNIFER MILLER StateCollege.com
STATE COLLEGE — It was a long time coming but safety improvements on two sections of a busy Ferguson Township road are now complete. Crews with PennDOT and Ferguson Township officially completed an improvement project for Whitehall Road late last month. Officials said the nearly $16 million project was undertaken to make the road safer for motorists and bicyclists. “Over the past two construction seasons, PennDOT has worked to improve traffic movement and ease congestion through the Whitehall Road area,” said Ben LaParne, assistant district executive for construction in PennDOT District 2. “Those improvements will have an impact on the lives of motorists, mass transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians.” PennDOT spent $10.3 million on a three-mile project between Route 26 and Atherton Street included widening the road, adding a center left turn lane, adding marked bicycle lanes, installing new traffic signals, making drainage improvements, relocating waterlines and applying paving. HRI Inc. of State College was the contractor for the project. Ferguson Township spent $5.5 million
on a project between West College Avenue and Tadpole Road. After several months, construction detours were finally removed Nov. 22. Work in that section of Whitehall Road included realigning a curve notorious for accidents, moving utility poles away from the road and widening lanes and shoulders to allow more room for bicyclists and agriculture vehicles. Ferguson Township Public Works Director Dave Modricker said the road sees roughly 10,000 vehicles a day, so the improvements were important. Modricker said local residents and commuters grew frustrated with the project toward the end. However, since completion he’s received positive feedback on the improvements. “I’m really happy to have seen it come to a conclusion. ... We’ve gotten a number of compliments from motorists and people who live on the road who are happy with it,” Ferguson says. “The township appreciates everyone’s patience during construction and I think everyone is now pleased with the product now that we’re done.” PennDOT wants drivers to remember that bicyclists are also on the road. Specifically, PennDOT warns drivers to use caution, share the road with bicyclists and remain alert for bicyclists entering the road.
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A PEDESTRIAN WALKS past a mural of former South African President Nelson Mandela during a snow storm in Philadelphia on Dec. 10. Penn State paid tribute to Mandela during a ceremony on Sunday night.
PSU pays tribute to Mandela By ADAM LIDGETT StateCollege.com
UNIVERSITY PARK — Nelson Mandela and the lessons of his life were celebrated Monday night during a candlelight vigil outside Old Main. The vigil was hosted by the Penn State chapter of the NAACP. The former South African president was known throughout the world for opposing apartheid and South Africa’s policies of racial discrimination. He was jailed for 27 years. Penn State Assistant Dean for Diversity Enhancement Programs Jamie Campbell spoke at the vigil without a microphone, but loud enough for all to hear, even on a frigid night. He said he spoke as Mandela would have, as a man of the people, standing on the same ground as the crowd, and not upon the steps of Old Main. “For 27 years he was imprisoned for his dedication to the people,” Campbell said of Mandela. Campbell said people should learn from Mandela’s example of not hating your op-
pressors. “Mandela never sacrificed his dignity,” Campbell said. “Even after having to beg to hold his grandchild, he never said ‘I hate you.’” Campbell urged students to make an effort to be a part of something else bigger than themselves to honor Mandela’s legacy. Mira King, of Penn State’s African Student Association, said that the world has acknowledged Mandela’s legacy, and that students should take a cue from his leadership. “At this moment, 90 heads of state are heading to South Africa for what is expected to be the largest gathering of world leaders in Africa,” King said. Those world leaders attended a memorial service for Mandela Tuesday morning. She says people should analyze and learn from the decisions he made. She says that even though their positions may not be as radical as Mandela’s, they will affect those around them. “Mandela was not a superhero,” King said. “He was just a man who found his purpose.”