Page 8
The Behrend Beacon
THE BEHREND BEACON
(I it cekh 1 , / Pe//// Shit(' [fie. The Behreml
News Editor
Liz Hayes
Asst. News Editor
Erin McCarty
Sports Editor
Mike Bello
Asst. Sports Editor
Kate Levdansky Petrikis
Editorial Page Editor
Ben ICunciman
Features Editor
Karl Beria((g
A&E Editor
Jeanine Noce
Wire Service Editor
Guy Reschenthaler
Health Page Editor
Sarah Orr
•Postal Information•
The Beacon is published weekly
by the students of Penn State Erie,
The Behrend College;
First Floor, The J. Elmer Reed
Union Building, Station Road,
Erie, PA 16563
The Beacon can be reached by
calling (814) 898-6488 or
(814) 898-6019 (FAX).
ISSN 1071-9288.
A View From The Lighthouse
Beacon vs. BUDPOT
Everyone keeps asking us, "What
does the Beacon think of the
BUDPOT'?" What do you think we
think! It's pretty darn funny!!
Why wouldn't we think it was
funny? We are average college
students, just like the rest of you. And
the BUDPOT is clearly geared for a
college audience. We chuckle over the
movie reviews, we guffaw over the
dating advice (though we in no way
condone using roofies, either on
yourself or others), and we like hearing
Bill and Mr. OfNazareth go at it.
The BUDPOT hasn't directly
insulted the Beacon (yet). And hey, it's
freedom of speech. Any student can get
out there and say whatever he or she
wants. You can distribute your message
to the Behrend community at large.
You might have to beware of the libel
suit, and bashing everybody can get
you ostracized pretty quick (just ask
former Beacon Managing Editor Mike
Frawley about that one!). But it's your
right as a student and an American to
say what you want.
However, there is a primary
distinction between the Beacon and the
BUDPOT: we are a real newspaper.
Notice the word news. While reading
the newspaper can be considered a
form of entertainment, it has a
fundamental responsibility to provide
the community with information.
That's why freedom of the press is
mentioned in the Bill of Rights so
people can be informed about what's
happening in the world around them.
That is one reason why the
BUDPOT isn't a threat to the Beacon.
The BUDPOT has a different purpose
altogether to amuse and to entertain.
We really hope no one is picking up
the BUDPOT and assuming it will
provide vital campus information.
Also, the Beacon is a university
funded paper. While we are virtually
autonomous in what we can print, if
we start writing about drugs, sex, and
alcohol every week our funding will
get yanked pretty quick. Many
probably don't realize it costs tens of
thousands of dollars a semester to
produce the Beacon. We have a
Everybody loves Raymond
leftover pizza? No. Do I even know
Raymond? No. But yet, I despise
Untitle d 21 Raymond. Raymond is representative
of everything I hate about tele
.
Ben Kundman vision today.
While we dine on
Manwiches and baked beans
from Aldi's, these sitcom los-
Except me. I ers sit in their $6OOO/mo. flat in NYC
whining about how their favorite brand of
ice cream is no longer at the local Baskin
Robbins. Somehow watching a hunch of
20-somethine iobless. lifeless wiener..
hate Raymond.
Did Raymond steal my favorite T-shirt
then have sex with my sister? No. Did
Raymond come home drunk and eat my
Editor-in-Chief
Robert Wynne
Managing Editor
Jeffrey Miller
Asst. Managing Editor
Paige Miles
Public Relations Manager
Professional Publication Mgr.
Dave Richards
Advisor
Mr. John Kerwin
The Beacon encourages letters to
the editor. Letters should include
the address, phone number.
semester standing and major of
the writer. Writers can mail letters
to behrcoll2@aol.com. Letters
must be received no later than
5 p.m. Sunday for inclusion in that
responsibility to the campus to use that
money professionally and for the purpose
it was allotted.
That doesn't mean there isn't a place
for the BUDPOT. Humor is always a
good thing, and the entertainment
business is obviously thriving. There are
tons of publications out there that have a
similar purpose. We at the Beacon fully
appreciate what the BUDPOT is doing
and urge the mysterious writers to keep
it up.
However, let's say the BUDPOT got
a facelift and a name change - would it
be a threat to the Beacon then'? Well,
maybe. It would certainly he
competition. But that isn't a bad thing
either. Our very economic system thrives
on competition. That's why Microsoft is
such a bad thing. Well, let's just say that's
why monopolies are such a had thing -
the verdict is still out on Microsoft.
But another newspaper on campus
would only force both papers to do their
best and to constantly improve. There are
several major national papers, and there
is obviously room for all of them. Each
one just has to keep striving to he better,
or it will lose its edge.
So even if the BUDPOT isn't really
competition to the Beacon, we applaud
its efforts and welcome the challenge of
meeting the BUDPOT's success. And we
know how much work it takes the 15
members of the editorial staff and the 20+
staff writers to produce the Beacon every
week. It's gotta be hard work pulling
together a paper with only a few guys
(as it seems the BUDPOT has). And it's
probably even harder if they are drunk
all the time. Too bad we at the Beacon
can't give that a try!
Associate Editor
Keity mirth
Photographers
Kristin Rodger%
Jeff Hanker
Advertising Manager
Ann Marie Hovey
Katie Galley
Office Nlanagei
Ja con Ah, on/
Copy Editor
Heck\ weindoq
Technical Support
Iroug Butterworth
Distribution Manager
1 !It ikl%(,
•Letter
week's issue
..,.. TORIAL
Friday, October 5, 2001
WIN A DATE
WITH A
BEACONIAN!
Spend a romantic evening in beautiful Erie, Pennsylvania* with the
Beacon staff member of your choice**. Dine at any fabulous restau
rant***, then go see an evening theatre show****!
Only $1 per raffle ticket.
All proceeds beilmeefinfailib6anthWeriltite61 0 the 3 e r i - Orphan
http //www ttot org/
It's not that beautiful. ** If they decide to take part in this.. *** Coney Island or Taco Bell, you choose. **** Whatever you want to see at the cheap moN ies on .50-cent night
AND YOUR CHOICES ARE:
Karl Benacci
Kool Karl on Kool Karl
I'm in the /eta Beta Tau fraternity. I am an aspiring
writer. and I have a poem which will be published it
winter 2002 I think that Garbage Pail Kids Rule!
Karl's talking vet Yeti on Karl:
Pros: New haircut kinda makes him look like that
guy who blew up the Deathstar.
Cons: New haircut kinda makes him
lixik like that guy from Matchbox 20,
was lost in Space Mountain at
Disneyworld for three months when
he was 8 years old
Odds: 2: I
Mike Butala
Mike on Mike
I'm a ( . ancer but I don't have it yet. I
crocheting and needlepoint. When I'm
doing these things, I enjoying driving
secluded beach, popping on the radio
slow dancing till the sun comes
Les Averman on hike
Pros: I lay a tarantula named
look like that guy from
Weemi
Cons: this a qrany,,e obsession with
the 'YI7 Deboit 'Vigers and Disney
movies.
Odds: 3:I
Sarah Orr
„
Pros: Can legally drink. Won the Olympic
-. • silver in the 100 m butterfly swim.
• • - Cons: As health page editor she probably
won't agree with your idea that the five major
food groups consist of coffee, pizza, bourbon,
beer, and tobacco.
Odds: 1.5:1
whine about their meaningless problems
is supposed to alleviate our third mortgage
and the fact that our 22-year-old son just
knocked up a high school cheerleader.
Usually at the end of every season, there
will he the "serious" episode. This episode
is normally a two-parter, to keep you hang
ing all summer. The "serious" episode is
always along the lines of "Bobby has a
lower intestinal parasite that is slowly eat
ing his guts away and if it doesn't cure it
m'uni lie won't he able to drive his Porsche
the I (.:H Show." Please. Av
, 116 v
tWOR,
vow
aige Miles
on Paige:
icely into the average shoppping buggy. I
Iging nuts due to being part of the Beacon
I kick butt at Beer Pong. I love fast and
ve cars I am 394 days away from being
w InPli.e
's drinking so much she keeps track of the
if days left until she can drink legally.
Makes Calista Flockhart look fat,
pears when she turns sideways.
• 1.5:1
!Iy..Walsh
ite confontation and will agree with anything
I say to ensure a good time. Can be found
tering Behrend students for a Question of the
:ek Response.
telly's P.l'
Pros;
Likes beer, doesn't mind 10-cent draft
night, doesn't like fruity drinks. In other
words, boys, cheap date!
Cons: Didn't want to tell people about the
time she outdrank an entire frat house.
Odds: 1.5:1
mmw.Tl
I'm a senior Communications and Media Studies major.
I'm an RA in the apartments. I'm graduating in May,
and I'm involved with Reality Check, ODK, and the
Association for Women in Communications. I love
Italian and Chinese food and I'm 21.
Paul "Pee Wee H • man" R • übens on Sarah:
erage, everyday people go through more
physical and emotional trauma in a year
then all of the sitcom schmucks combined.
The only appeal sitcoms have is that
people who feel the need to live vicari
ously through skinny, slimy, bad stereo
types of how people should look/act/feel.
This is all a load of crap.
The worst day of my life occurred when
a friend of mine said, "You remind me of
Ross, from 'Friends. — Although I have
never had the displeasure of viewing this
horrible monstrosity of the modem TV
Ben Kundman, Editorial Page Editor
Mike Bello
I'm normal, unlike the other pei
on the staff. I like sports, hangi,
out, and anything that involves
booze. I'm a Scorpio and I like
music, especially the Foo Fight(
Mike's bottle of Boon--
Pros: Confident about his plac
the staff.
Cons: Couldn't fight his way
out of a paper bag.
Qdds: 2.69: I
Rob Wynne
I like motorcycles, watching movies,
going to the gym. I'm an Aries and I
to party.
rr iMac on Rob
Pros: Editor of a college newspaper
Cons: Uses a Macintosh by choice,
would rather be working on the
BUDPOT.
Odds: 3:1
Liz on Liz: I know every "Tommy Boy"
was the undefeated champion at beer ponl
looking to make a come-back, always wil
the worni," procrastinates by playing Snot
7, and will kick a hole in your wall for free.
The dirty Brit Liz made out with
nd on Liz
MWM
Pros: Only Liberal on a staff of Republi
cans, will help you win at beer pong.
Cons: Won't stop quoting 'Tommy
Boy," graduating by default because she
has 170 credits.
Odds: 2:1 by a hippie, 10:1 by anyone
else.
Jeanine N
Ma=ll • nine:
I can't handle my alcohol, but I like to
fun. I'm 5'10" and I like to run. Be a
gentleman and treat me right. We'll go
the movies, eat some dinner and have
great night. If you win and we go out
might let you see what I'm all about.
The Brave Little Toaster on Jeanin
Pros: Cheap Drunk.
Cons: Expects to be treated right
Odds: 1.1:1
wasteland, I was well aware that Ross is
the guy with black hair who looks like a
rat. I don't think anyone should strive to
be like a television character created by a
table full of studio execs named "Chet"
and "Trina." There is a vibrant world full
of real-life people who are funnier, nicer,
and have a hell of a lot more to say then
all of these sitcom dorks.
Is there an alternative to the scourge of
the small screen? Absolutely. Pop some
popcorn, grab a cold beer, and plop your
butt on the couch at 8 p.m. on Sunday
behrcoll2@aol.com
Kundman
2-year-old upper middle class white trash
- der from Pittsburgh, PA. I like punk rock,
irding, mountain hiking, and Iron City Beer.
igittarius, which pretty much means I'm a
on Ben
knows how to party.
C0►..,. poor personal hygiene, speeds through school
-'s, talks but never listens, has been compared
mality-wise to that idiot Ross from "Friends,"
like a cross between Tom Petty and Iggy Pop,
!niently "forgets" wallet wlieri on dates, laughs
misfortune of others.
5,651.3:1
Liz
night. That's right boys and girls, I'm talk
ing about "The Simpsons."
Some people confuse this show with a
sitcom, but in all actuality, it is much more
a social commentary. The creator of "The
Simpsons," my homeboy Matt Groening,
purposely made this show to break the
normal sitcom conventions. "The
Simpsons" is a show that teaches us to
laugh at ourselves, not at a bunch of
yuppies' dating foibles.
Kundman's column appears every
three weeks.
Fund