Category: Newswriting Page 1 of 2

The morning glow of a summer sun sizzles on the Indiana horizon, growing in intensity until the sun itself boils forth from the ground and rises, spreading it’s rays over the state. It’s already hot, however, at a steel mill, where it’s twin pair of basic oxygen furnaces have been raging with the sun’s same intensity all night. The enormous two-story, pot-bellied vessels alternately tip sideways and straighten, fed by chunks of solid steel scrap washed down with deep swigs of molten iron. Every 45 minutes, each furnace produces as much as 300 tons of molten steel.

Although not immediately discernible, the river of steel pouring forth from these furnaces is far different from those that built this nation at the turn of the century. It is far different than the steel we relied upon in the Second World War. It is even different that the steel produced a decade ago. Modern steel mills like this one all across North America are hard at work producing what the industry has called “the new steel.”

Although steel has been made for more than 150 years, it has been quietly and continuously evolving. Today’s steels are new. Consider that half of all the types of steel produced today did not exist just ten short years ago. This new steel
is the result of a $50 billion investment made by the North American steel industry in advanced technologies that make the world’s strongest, most innovative material even stronger and more innovative – and all at a lower cost to the consumer.

A New Steel Industry

Mark Stephenson is a busy man these days. He’s the executive director of TheSteelAlliance, an industry group which kicked off a campaign in May 1997 to highlight the benefits of the new steel to the public. While he’s more than prepared to discuss steel’s attributes, he’s equally excited about the transformations taking place in the industry. He quickly reviews the more than 90 North American steel producers, suppliers and affiliated organizations that joined
together to form the Steel Alliance.

“We’re talking more than just ‘the new steel’ here. He steel industry has reinvented itself, meeting its own challenges by creating stronger, thinner, easier to shape and corrosion resistant steels that help make lighter, safer, longer lasting products,” said Stephenson. “By harnessing new technology and upgrading the steelmaking process from start to finish, the steel industry has transformed itself into the ‘new steel industry.’”

The steel industry has emerged from the past two decades a leaner and more efficient industry than ever before. Thanks to advances in technology, no other country produces more steel per man-hour than the United States. In addition, the United States is the planet’s lowest cost steel producer. The North American steel industry has also collectively cut emissions, increased the recycling of post-consumer steel products from the solid waste stream and reduced the amount of energy needed to make steel.

All these positive attributes of steel have something in common: the public, for the most part, is largely unaware of them. David Hoag, the chairman of TheSteelAlliance and chairman and CEO of LTV Steel Corporation, agrees.

“The steel industry in North America is alive and well, but few outside our industry know that,” said Hoag. “There are many misconceptions about the industry and about steel, and we are determined to change those perceptions.”

Arming consumers with the facts about steel has begun through a five-year, high profile awareness campaign entitled “The New Steel. Feel the Strength.” The campaign reaches out to the millions of people who buy automobiles, appliances, houses, canned food or any of the many products made of with steel to help them recognize steel’s attributes. And with an audience of millions, the campaign is sure to keep Stephenson busy in the years ahead.

On the Front Lines.

The infrastructure of the computerized age has crept into all areas of our lives, and the steel industry is no exception. From behind the glass of climate-controlled “pulpits” that overlook the steelmaking line, engineers monitor computer screens that flicker with data about the hot slabs of new steel rolling past. Computers working in concert with the latest technology in responsive steelmaking machinery ensure that steel is made to precise dimensions and worldclass quality.

Steel’s biggest strength has long been its flexibility-meaning its ability to adapt to change and meet increasingly stricter performance demands. Metallurgists and engineers in the North American steel industry work with these new technologies to produce ever stronger, lighter, thinner steels. For example, the Sears Tower, the world’s tallest building when it was constructed in 1974, could be built with 35 percent less steel today.

Cleaner Air, Water

Make the steel manufacturing process cleaner: an initiative that the steel industry has backed with a multi=-billion dollar investment.

Over the past decade, the industry has invested approximately $10 billion to reduce steelmaking’s impact on the environment, especially in regards to air and water emissions. Advanced air pollution control devices have been installed in steel mills that capture dust particles and gases.

Today, the industry has collectively reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 28 percent and waste water emissions by 91 percent compared to ten years ago. Annual energy consumption has been cut by more than 30 percent in the same time period.

UltraLight Steel Auto Bodies

The North American steel industry has worked in partnership with automobile manufacturers to engineer and manufacture automotive components that are much lighter and stronger than was thought possible less than a decade ago. This partnership has led to new vehicle designs and construction techniques that have meant a 20 percent decrease in vehicle weight since 1978.

And through the continued cooperation between steel producers and automotive manufacturers, the future is bright with promise for higher quality, more environmentally-friendly vehicles. Steel producers from around the world are working
on a project called the UltraLight Steel AutoBody, which combines cutting edge automotive design with the newest state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to enable the world’s automakers to produce a new family of safe, light-weight, low cost, fuel-efficient car bodies.

Steel Framing

Steel built our skyscrapers and bridges. And now, environmental and economic concerns motivate the building industry to examine alternative materials and methods in residential construction. An exciting new market has been found in steel homes.

The new steel resists decay, corrosion, fire and floods more than any other material, which is why it is now being used more in residential construction.

The New Steel. Feel the Strength.

Nearly 150 years ago, steel sparked the industrial revolution. Today, it’s still revolutionizing the way we live and shaping our future.

Students prefer riding in the warm confines of the Undergraduate Student Government/Panhellenic Weekend Loop to trekking home in the cold.

George Engelmayr (freshman-chemical engineering) rode for the first time Saturday morning and enjoyed the experience.

“I think it’s great in the winter because I don’t really feel like walking in (snow),” he said. “It might not be as important during the summer because most people don’t mind walking back.”

Joyce Leahy (sophomore-architectural engineering) of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, 2 Hastings, took advantage of the $2 pass and plans to use the service as long as the party she attends is close to a stop.

“We don’t have to worry about the 35 cents when we leave (the party),” she said. “It’s kind of neat with all of these people in here.”

Weekend Loop Driver Joe Davidson of University Fleet Services said last weekend was the busiest so far.

Safety rider USG Town senator Paul Yacisin said he was unsure if he supported the weekend loop at first but is now in full support of it.

“I’d like to get a third van if we could,” he said. “Actually, I think the University should be putting up the money for this.”

That is an option the weekend loop sponsors are looking into.

“A third van is something we’re considering,” said Fraternity senator Mike King. “We have to weigh it in costs versus benefits and take it from there.”

For now, the weekend loop will continue to operate with two vans, meaning some people may be left in the cold waiting for the next ride.

Nittany/Pollock senator Lisa Fields, who along with King made the weekend loop a reality, said there is not a lot of extra money for a third van because it is not a profit-making enterprise.

“I’m sure we’re going to look into getting other sources of funding for it,” she said. “If there’s the demand, we’d love to have as many vans as we need.”

Fields rode the weekend loop the first weekend but said it was not very successful because canning for the 1993 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon kept people away.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “There were a lot of parties this weekend, and it’s really the first big weekend since it started.”

Informational fliers were placed in the mailbox of every woman in the dorms last week. Megan Weaver (freshman-music and art education) said the service was beneficial.

“Walking from here to East is a long way,” she said. “There’s a lot that can happen between here and there because it’s dark.”

So far there have been no conduct problems aboard the weekend loop, Davidson said. The weekend loop is still in its trial period, but the sponsors will have to wait until the weather improves to see if the positive response is maintained.

The Undergraduate Student Government Senate is going green.

The USG Senate last night voted unanimously to issue an executive order requiring the current and future executive branches to purchase only recycled paper for use in the USG office.

“The purpose of the order is to ensure that the executive branch would purchase only recycled content paper,” said Town senator Marc Van Camp, the order’s sponsor. “This is also to set a precedent for future terms.”

Van Camp added that he has found outside suppliers of recycled paper which, in the long run, would save the USG money.

“Right now we are paying about $5 a ream,” Van Camp said. “If we were to sign a long-term contract, we could be paying as little as $2.95.”

By following the order, the USG would be much more efficient, said Van Camp.

“The money they spend comes from the students’ tuition,” he said. “This way we can save money through this research and be environmentally conscious, which is the important part.”

Newly appointed Town senator Gordon Beers warned that the USG must be wary of the type of recycled paper it purchases.

“Most companies are selling paper that is only 10 percent post-consumer,” Beers said. Companies often sell paper labeled as recycled, but it is actually made of waste from previous paper production, he added.

West Halls senator Andy Ovies said the USG was being in criticizing the University for not using recycled paper.

“Last year we expressed our concerns that the University wasn’t doing their part, taking the environment into account,” Ovies said.

In other business, the USG Senate allocated $40 to assist the Architectural Engineering Student Society in bringing an American Disabilities Act expert to speak on campus.

Robert Dale Lynch will come to campus March 15 to speak on handicap accessibility to University structures.

“The American Disabilities Act — which was passed in 1990 –people don’t know a lot about it,” said bill sponsor and Town senator Adam Bender. “Students will get a better understanding, especially architectural engineering students.”

Also during the meeting, East Halls senator Larry Santucci treated the USG Senate to “pseudo-twinkies.” The treat came in response to Santucci and East Halls senator Bob Torres’ Twinkie bill being called out of order in last week’s senate.

The Twinkie bill would have allocated funds to treat the USG Senate to Twinkies, in response to USG President Rob Kampia referring to the senate as “Twinkies.” Rather than using USG funds to purchase the pseudo-twinkies, Santucci and Torres, covered the bill.

An attempt to expand the ranks of the Undergraduate Student Government in the 1994 elections failed in last night’s meeting.

The legislation would have increased the number of senators from 25 to 29, adding senators to West Halls, South Halls, Centre Halls and the fraternity district. It fell two votes short of the necessary two-thirds vote.

East Halls senator Larry Santucci said it would be redistributing unequal representation.

“Common sense would dictate in any reapportionment senators would be added to every district,” Santucci said. “For my taste this legislation would create too big of an inequality. The system we have now is fair.”

West Halls senator Andy Ovies said the increase was necessary to assure diversity in representation and added the extra senator would be a security measure.

“What if I had to attend another meeting tonight?” Ovies asked. “Then West Halls would have no representation for that meeting. I think it is a bit much to have only one person representing an entire area.”

Fraternity senator Mike King accused both sides of just playing with numbers.

“It’s gerrymandering no matter how you look at it,” King said. “The question is, which type of gerry mandering would best benefit the students.”

The legislation originally was proposed to change this year’s election codes, but the Academic Assembly tabled the legislation on Monday. The legislation had to sit for one week putting it past the deadline for this year’s elections codes, said USG Senate President Mike Gillespie.

In other business, the USG Senate passed an executive order requiring USG President Rob Kampia to attend the remaining USG Senate meetings during his president’s report.

Kampia also endorsed the order.

“It is a good compromise, but I caution senate in going about things this way,” Kampia said. “We had a communication problem, obviously, but I don’t think the best way to solve it is filling out orders for me to follow.”

But the order was a slap on the wrists for Kampia’s continued belligerence, King said.

“I think the order is way too lenient,” King said. “He continues to act up and thumb his nose at us when we confront him with it. Then when he’s in trouble he wants to work with us.”

King added the legislation was ineffective.

“This is a joke,” King said. “He is supposed to be here anyway.”

East Halls senator Bob Torres said he believed the legislation was a necessary measure.

“We are required to do something about his negligence,” Torres said. “This is the best thing we can do between impeaching him and doing nothing.”

Undergraduate Student Government President Rob Kampia may not have a choice in how he communicates with the USG Senate after tonight’s meeting.

An ad hoc committee will recommend the senate pass an executive order that would require Kampia to attend the remaining USG Senate meetings.

“Every week there is a spot on the agenda for a president’s report,” said Nittany/Pollock senator Lisa Fields. “It is silly that we have to do this. But since he hasn’t been there, this is just our way of telling him what he has to do.”

The ad hoc committee was formed to determine if there was sufficient evidence to impeach Kampia. There were questions on Kampia’s use of the USG briefcase and the whereabouts of an answering machine.

Although there was not enough evidence for the impeachment of Kampia, the committee decided the situation could have been minimized if communications were better between Kampia and the USG Senate, said Senate President Mike Gillespie.

“We need to increase communications,” Gillespie said. “That would have facilitated all of this. The trial would have still happened, but it could have saved time.”

If the USG Senate passes the executive order, it will be broken down into three parts.

The first part states there was negligence in spending for the answering machine and briefcase; the second part requires Kampia to attend the remainder of the meetings during the president’s report. If Kampia cannot attend a meeting, the third part states he must notify the USG Senate at least 24 hours in advance and hand in a written report to be read during the president’s report.

Kampia said he thinks the executive order is the wrong way to solve the problem.

“What they’re trying to do is legislate behavior,” Kampia said. “If they want to anger me, they can pass this executive order and try to force me to do something.”

East Halls senator Wendy Hurst said Kampia’s statement is correct to an extent.

“As far as his attendance at senate meetings, we are legislating behavior,” Hurst said. “We cannot, however, mandate his attitude. That is his own problem.”

Kampia had previously announced he was minimizing his contact with the USG Senate, but reconsidered the action.

“I decided that in the heat of the moment,” he said. “Just because two or three senators have problems that does not mean that I should avoid the other 20.”

Kampia said relations between he and the USG Senate would be more likely to improve if the senators took time to work with him rather than ordering him to communicate.

The order originally required Kampia to stay for the entire USG Senate meeting, but the committee decided to amend the order and only require Kampia to stay for the president’s report.

“It is not fair to Rob to keep him there the entire meeting,” Gillespie said. “Figuratively, a senate meeting could last until 11 (p.m.). Rob’s business with USG Senate is done after his president’s report. This is our effort to be reasonable with him.”

Fields, who was chairwoman of the ad hoc committee, said she agreed with allowing Kampia to leave following his report.

“Everything that involves him happens during his president’s report,” Fields said. “It would be unreasonable to expect him to stay any longer.”

Kampia said he believes, if passed, the order would not change anything.

“I attended meetings when I could,” Kampia said. “The only thing that will change is now I will tell them before rather than after why I wasn’t there.”

An ad hoc committee of the Undergraduate Student Government Senate decided last night there were not sufficient grounds to impeach USG President Rob Kampia.

“A motion will not be made to impeach,” said Lisa Fields, Pollock/Nittany Halls senator and ad hoc committee chairwoman. “We are suggesting, rather, that an executive order be passed.”

The committee was formed in response to allegations that the executive branch may have misallocated funds for an answering machine and a briefcase during the summer. Although it did not find sufficient evidence to proceed with an impeachment, the committee decided further action must be taken to assure similar situations do not occur.

This action comes in a three-part executive order, Fields said. Part of the order requires Kampia to attend the remainder of the senate meetings. If he is unable to attend, he must submit a written explanation at least 24 hours in advance. He must also provide a written president’s report in his absence.

Kampia said he believes the committee was a waste of his and the committee’s time, and accused USG Senate President Mike Gillespie of pursuing a personal agenda and displaying incompetence.

West Halls Senator Andy Ovies said he believes the committee was necessary and questioned Kampia’s criticism of Gillespie.

“How can he call Mike incompetent,” Ovies said, “when he lost a $130 answering machine for six months?”

Kampia said the answering machine had been in a desk since the time of purchase, and anybody could have seen him carrying the briefcase around campus.

Once again, Undergraduate Student Government President Rob Kampia is under senate scrutiny about the use of office supply funds.

A motion filed in last night’s senate meeting called for Kampia’s impeachment to discover the whereabouts of an answering machine and a briefcase that were to have been purchased over the summer. This motion, however, failed and was replaced by an ad hoc committee which will investigate the supplies which remain unaccounted for.

“I made no accusations of guilt,” explained East Halls Senator Bob Torres. “There are simple numbers on a receipt, and I want to know why.”

Torres said an impeachment is a formal investigation to look for wrongdoing. It is not an accusation of guilt, but rather a discovery process.

The motion for impeachment was brought forward by Senate President Mike Gillespie. Purchase orders were issued to Kampia and Chuck Thomas, University alumnus and USG executive secretary, for the purpose of buying an answering machine and a briefcase, Gillespie said.

While reviewing the USG purchases, the Student Organization Budget Committee found the purchase orders for the items were drawn from improper accounts, and said they would not cover them. The funds were drawn from the office supplies account.

SOBC said the funds for the answering machine should have been drawn from office equipment funds, and the funds for the briefcase were a personal expense.

Gillespie said he began looking through purchases made at the Penn State Bookstore on Campus yesterday morning, and found the receipt for the items which have not been seen at the office.

“I haven’t seen the briefcase,” Gillespie said. “And if you’ve called the office at night, you know there’s not an answering machine.”

Town Senator Paul Yacisin voraciously opposed the motion to impeach.

“I think we’re proceeding too rashly,” he said. “There’s a process and a procedure for doing this and this is not it. Rob should be given the opportunity to answer for these (allegations) before an impeachment begins.”

Kampia was not present at last night’s meeting and was unavailable for comment. Earlier in the day, Kampia announced he was minimizing his contact with the senate because of prior investigations.

Torres said if Kampia had been present for the senate meeting, he would have been able to answer the allegations.

“Rob has a place here on the agenda,” Torres said. “He’s not here as he should be.”

Gillespie said he felt the impeachment was a necessary measure to ensure Kampia’s due process rights. Gillespie was bothered that the motion failed and felt Kampia’s rights were violated.

“Since justice was ignored, this ad hoc committee has to be done to compensate,” he said.

Pollock/Nittany Halls Senator Lisa Fields was appointed chair of the ad hoc committee. The committee will report to the senate next Tuesday and recommend action from their findings.

Gillespie said this motion was not one of a personal nature, but one of justice.

“I want everybody to know this is not a witch hunt,” Gillespie said. “This is simply a process to make sure everybody is accountable. If Rob would have been here tonight, he could have answered (the allegations).”

Many Undergraduate Student Government senators have taken a do-it-yourself attitude about this year’s senate.

“A lot more of the work that comes out of this senate has come from personal projects,” said USG Vice President Beth Schneck.

Many of the personal projects come from the senator’s interests outside of senate work, but are introduced into senate because of their benefit for students. The projects are introduced into senate through proposed legislation.

“Personal projects are the essence of this senate,” said Senate President Mike Gillespie. “The senators come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, and so the resulting projects represent diverse groups.”

Gillespie said he believes it is not always possible to work within committees on personal projects and is pleased with the projects that have come from individual efforts.

But USG President Rob Kampia said he believes personal projects can be done by anyone and the senate’s time could be better spent.

“I think people have become more concerned with their personal projects than they are with the senate,” Kampia said. “The senators could be much more productive working together on projects that change administrative policies.”

Town Senator Adam Bender has worked closely with disabled student interests.

Although most of his work takes place outside of the senate, he invited a speaker from the group ABLED to talk with the senate. As a result, the senate voted to send a letter to the Office of Physical Plant that expressed the senate’s concern with University building accessibility for disabled students.

Marc Van Camp, chairman of the Administration Contact Committee (ACC), also does work with ABLED. He said his committee’s purpose is to work on personal projects.

Van Camp said he believes senators are missing out on resources by working alone and he would much rather see senators work through committees.

“I’ve always preached against individual projects,” he said. “They are restricting themselves by not working through committees. Rather than having one person tied up in a project for a whole semester, you could have nine people knock it off in a month.”

Van Camp said the ACC delegates powers for each personal project within the committee.

Centre Halls Senator Julie Donnell said personal projects help senators work together and communicate. She created the easel project, in which the senate voted to place easels throughout campus to inform students of current USG projects and affairs.

Donnell said she has been contacted by many senators for suggestions for the easels and believes her individual project has helped improve communication between senators.

“There has been dissention in the senate regarding personal projects,” she said. “They say it diminishes the unity. I think they help bring us together.”

Pollock/Nittany Halls Senator Lisa Fields said senators live among many of their constituents and take on projects that will help the people they represent.

“Many of these projects do not involve senators from other areas, so they are easier to work on alone,” Fields said, adding that the projects increase communication between senators.

“Senator (Mike) King and I worked very closely on the Weekend Loop project,” she said. “I think they are a good reason for the senators to work together.”

A year after the Undergraduate Student Government Senate reduced its size, senators disagree on whether it was an effective move.

USG Senate President Mike Gillespie originally thought fewer senators would result in a less powerful senate, but after a semester, he said he is pleased with the reduced senate’s output.

Under the Mark Stewart administration, the USG senate voted to reduce the number of senators from 34 to 25 to remedy numerous vacant senate seats.

Gillespie said he backed the idea after he discovered that a senate staff would be created. The staff helps senators and committees work on projects. Senate staff members can see for themselves the work required of senators.

But Andy Ovies, West Halls senator, said he thinks more senators are necessary to be effective.

“I think the senate staffers help out and are effective,” Ovies said. “I don’t think, however, they should be left doing the job of a senator. If we had more senators, this wouldn’t be a problem.”

Ovies and Town Senator Marc Van Camp both believe the senate should be returned to its original size.

“It is effective now,” Van Camp said, “But I feel it could be much more effective if it were at full strength.”

By eliminating senators, Ovies said USG is eliminating perspectives.

“I think the size is restricting,” he said. “I know last year when there were two senators from West Halls, and we had different perspectives for what was right for West Halls. Now it is just me.”

USG Vice President Beth Schneck said the current size works well and senate meetings and projects run much more smoothly with the reduced senate. Schneck presides over senate meetings.

“I don’t think it is necessary to increase the numbers,” Schneck said. “Many of the senators have done quite well with personal projects, and as for the senate, most of its work is internal. So I feel that increasing the numbers would only complicate things.”

But Van Camp said the reduced numbers are hurting committees and if the ranks were restored, the committees could be more efficient.

“If one person misses a meeting we stand a chance of not making quorum,” he said. “If we had more people, conflicting schedules wouldn’t hurt us as much.”

A quorum is the number of senators needed to vote on issues. The number depends upon the size of the committee.

Ovies and Van Camp want to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to return the senate to its original size, but not all senators think bigger is better.

“I think we should stay with this size,” said East Halls Senator Wendy Hurst. “This is the first session with the reduced senate, and I think there are more good things to come with this size.”