Campus in Brief

Knee problems cut cyclist’s ride short

Nana Ama Sarfo, Staff Writer

Battling… Knee problems cut cyclist’s ride short

Nana Ama Sarfo, Staff Writer

Battling temperatures that reached as low as the mid-20s, the Panther Cycling Club camped out in front of the William Pitt Union Monday evening through Tuesday for a 24-hour cycling challenge.

The cycling club, in its first year at Pitt, developed the event – which lasted from 5 p.m. Monday until 5 p.m. Tuesday – as a fundraiser for their upcoming participation in the spring Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference, according to club President Dan Doan.

“I actually suggested the idea for this,” said Evan Perrone, the club’s secretary, who cycled for the fundraiser. “No one else stepped up, so I had to make good on my word.”

Perrone planned to cycle for the full 24 hours, despite knee problems that appeared early Tuesday at about 3 a.m., according to Doan.

However, as his troubles worsened, Perrone had to back out. Other club members completed the challenge for him.

“Our goal is to raise $1,000 to cover costs from the conference that our money from [Student Government Board] won’t cover,” Doan said.

The conference season lasts from March until May.

The club collected money through a raffle of a brand new bicycle donated by the club’s sponsor, Trek of Pittsburgh. Raffle tickets were $3.

“We’re going to try and do this every year depending on how the raffle goes,” Doan said.

There he is…

Laura Jerpi, Senior Staff Writer

The Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania chose Pitt Professor Eric Beckman as its 2005 Engineer of the Year.

Beckman is the Bayer Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at Pitt. He is also the co-director of Pitt’s Mascaro Sustainability Initiative.

“I didn’t know I’d been nominated,” Beckman said in an interview. “I had no inkling.”

Beckman – who was selected to receive the award by the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania’s awards committee – said that he is “very much so honored to receive this award.”

Beckman’s research focuses on the “design of more sustainable products and processes,” according to a release from the University.

He will receive his award at the annual awards banquet on Feb. 22.

A Valentine’s Day fit for a sheep

Sarah Bingler, Staff Writer

Significant others weren’t the only intended recipients of Valentine’s Day cards at Pitt Program Council’s card-making table in the Union Monday.

Women wrote messages to their special someones, and devoted boyfriends labored to express their love through heart-shaped cut-outs. Other students created loving works of art for their parents, grandparents, friends and professors.

Junior Zach Byers worked on cards for his girlfriend, Italian professor and his professor’s pet sheep.

“Tomorrow is a big Valentine’s Day in class,” Byers said. “It’s love week.”

Freshman Bailee Miller created bright colored cards for her friends. As for Valentine’s Day, Miller thinks that the holiday is a little excessive, but still enjoyable.

“It’s just a title for a day, but it’s fun, though,” Miller said. “It’s fun to do this stuff, it’s a nice break from studying.”

More than 60 students showed up to create handmade cards out of construction paper, glue, glitter and other embellishments.

The PPC’s leisure learning committee sponsored the card-making table.