Penn State Behrend began its newspaper column mere weeks after the campus opened in fall of 1948. Back then, it was called the Nittany Cub. We have undergone many name changes since then: we called ourselves The Collegian similar to Penn State University Park, then the Behrend Collegian, and finally we named ourselves the Behrend Beacon. Our logo contains a lighthouse, which is represents our location in Erie, next to one of the United States’ Great Lakes. Lighthouses are beacons that call lost ships to shore. That has been our goal throughout the newspaper’s existence: to shed light on issues, share the accomplishments of Behrend and Penn State as a whole, and to build connections between writers, editors, and readers. If you are interested in the Behrend Beacon’s history and legacy, click here to view our library’s archived copies. Important information about our mission and policies are recorded below.

Mission Statement

We are the newspaper of the Penn State Behrend campus, serving the students, administration, faculty, staff, and visitors of our campus. We vow to inform all of our audiences, and we will strive to make each issue better, so that we remain a vital part of the Penn State Behrend experience. We also pledge to be professional, and to follow the highest standards of quality journalism as set forth by the Society of Professional Journalists and their Code of Ethics.

Editorial Freedom

The Behrend Beacon is editorially independent from the Pennsylvania State University system. The Editor-in-Chief has the ability to change the publishing schedule as needed as well as the final authority on editorial decisions, including, but not limited to, all columns, editorials, and letters to the editor. Complaints or comments regarding coverage of school events should be directed to: Madeline Jewel or mmj5825@psu.edu

Letters to the Editor Policy

The Behrend Beacon welcomes its readers to share their opinions regarding content and current events by writing letters to the editor. Letters should be 300 words or less, and all letters are subject to verification and editing. The Behrend Beacon does not publish anonymous letters or form letters from organizations that contain multiple signatures. All letters should include the author’s name, street address (only the city or township is printed) and a phone number or email address, which will be used only for verification purposes.

Letters can be submitted by sending an email to: mmj5825@psu.edu or through standard US mail to:  

Letters to the Editor,

The Behrend Beacon  Penn State Behrend

Reed Student Union Rm 003

4701 College Dr.

Erie, PA 16563

Advertising Policy

Any student, club, organization, corporation, or business is eligible to purchase space in The Behrend Beacon. Student-run clubs and organizations are encouraged to purchase ad space in The Behrend Beacon to promote their organization and its activities, and funding from SGA for such advertisements will be honored. The Behrend Beacon reserves the right to resize any ads as needed to fit within the space. The Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to deny any advertisement. Payment must be received by the date given on the invoice. Any payments not received by then are subject to a penalty payment.