Man charged with aggravated assault

Rickey Lee Sweitzer, 24, was arrested at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday for assaulting a woman during an argument at a residence on West Cherry Lane, according to the State College Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint, Sweitzer grabbed a hunting knife and threatened to kill himself after arguing with the woman. According to court documents, he then slapped her, threw a flashlight at her, then used both of his hands to choke her around the neck.

Sweitzer also allegedly kneeled on her face and restrained her on the couch while choking her. The woman told police she blacked out and suffered numerous bruises. The woman did not seek medical treatment at the scene.

Sweitzer was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment and was placed in Centre County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 straight bail. His preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.

Film series to feature foreign relations

The PSU Americanists is sponsoring a film festival this week that addresses issues dealing with Palestinian and Israeli relations and the impact of the U.S. on the region.

The film series is titled "Premises and Promises" and features four movies that will be shown free of charge in 160 Willard.

PSU Americanists member and film series organizer Nesrine Chahine said one of the overriding themes of the series is to examine the concept of a "promised land."

Today, the film Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land, a documentary about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, will be shown at 7 p.m. Tomorrow, TV's Promised Land will show at 7 p.m., and Divine Intervention at 8:45 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the festival will show parts one and two of Bab Al Shams, or Gate of the Sun, a film adaptation of a novel of the same name.

Chahine said the group hopes to have discussion sessions after each film, focusing on the issues the movies covered.