Tipper Gore, de Klerk named as speakers

Last week, Penn State announced the list of scheduled speakers for the 2002-2003 Distinguished Speakers Series.

The schedule includes:

-- Tipper Gore, wife of former vice president Al Gore -- Sept. 9

-- F. W. de Klerk, former South African president -- Oct. 10

-- Richard Picciotto, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse -- Nov. 11

-- Spike Lee, filmmaker -- Jan. 28

-- Mae Jemison, the world's first black woman to travel into space -- April 22

The speaker lineup is determined by a committee of students that is advised by the Student Activities staff.

The committee invites the community to a meeting to recommend potential speakers for the following semester.

Amy Neil, spokeswoman for the university, said last year's series had the largest attendance in Penn State history.

"The key thing to remember is that the speakers are chosen by the students," she said.

"We think it's a great list and that they selected a very diverse group of speakers," Neil added.

The series is funded by the student activity fee and is free and open to the public.

Tickets for the series are required for each lecture and will be available at the Eisenhower Auditorium box office about a week before each event.

Police say local girl ran away from home

The State College Police Department reported Jessica Lehman, 16, ran away from home over the weekend.

Lehman is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, 150 pounds, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes.

Police Sgt. John Wilson said, "[There is] no evidence of anything other than her voluntarily leaving her home."

Police ask that anyone with information about Lehman's whereabouts contact them at 234-7150.