Ben Kundman, Editorial Page Editor behrco!l2 @ aol.com News Editor Erin McCarty Asst. News Editor Kevin Fallon Sports Editor Mike Bello Asst. Sports Editor Kate Levdansky Petrikis Editorial Page Editor Sen Kundman Features Editor Karl Benacci A&E Editor Jeanine Noce Wire Service Editor Guy Reschenthaler Staff Photographer Jeff Hankey Office Manager Jason Alward J\ THEBEHRO® 4- Beacon 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. The View From the Lighthouse Student organizations are for students There are plenty of things that need improved at Behrend; however, complai about the campus’ problems will nevei anything accomplished. As one may or not know, student organizations are groups that get a lot of things done hei Behrend, and their success depend. l students and their dedication to organization they participate in. One positive trend at Penn State Behi is the increase in participation of studeni various organizations: -SGA recently had a great voter turnout in its recent officer elections — a vast improvement from last year’s numbers -Behrend’s fraternities and sororities have all had a great rush this semester, adding quality members to the Greek system. -The Behrend Beacon was home to a lot of new writers who used their talents to help improve the newspaper. The new interest in student organizations is a large part of the success of these groups along with the fact that organizations are keeping qualified members intact: -Brandi Hovis will use her skills in a second term as SGA President once again, undoubtedly providing the campus with experienced leadership. - Larger rush classes in recent years have meant a younger Greek system with many returning IFC and Panhellenic Council members who work hard to make the Greek experience even better. - A large portion of the Beacon editorial staff will be back next semester, resulting in fewer errors and better articles (we hope!). The increased interest among campus groups is a wonderful thing. Added student involvement adds up to: -Enhanced Behrend events. -More voices and viewpoints are being heard and recognized. -More quality and variety of Behrend events, The benefits of participating in an organization are endless. One can meet others, have fun, gain valuable knowledge and experience to add to a resume and learn how to do something new. One can apply the work one does in an organization to what then plan on doing after graduation—this not only brings one experience, but it also can give a person a better understanding of what occurs in that particular field. Behrend’s groups are making the college’s future a promising one, but organizations must have the continued support of students and faculty to keep building upon its success After all, nothing will change unless there are students showing interest, and organizations are the best way to make changes on a college campus. It’s great to see students getting off the sidelines and becoming a part of a Behrend organization because it not only shows they’re motivated, it also shows they care about their campus and what goes on here. Managing Editor Rebecca Weindorf Public Relations Manager Kelly Walsh 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. Monday for inclusion in Business Manager Paige Miles Advertising Managers Libbie Johnson Melissa Powell Angela Rush Distribution Manager Eric Kiser Calendar Page Editor Erinn Hansen Health Page Editor Sarah Orr Humor Page Editor Ben Kundman Associate Editors Jennie Ellison Nicky Galloway Technical Support Doug Butterworih “Professionalism with a Personality” that week's issue. EDITORIAL Friday, April 19, 2002 What is humor? I am writing in response to the ar ticle written by Mike Butala. First of all, I fully believe in the freedom of speech. The freedom of speech has given our nation its identity. Fur ther, many good things have come from the freedom of speech. How ever, it is a matter of courtesy that one does not make threats, scream fire, etc. because that is not the pur pose for the freedom of speech. Mike Butala has every right to hold his own opinions. My main concern about this article is the placement rather than the content (even though 1 strongly disagree with his degrad- TAKE BACK THE NIGHT AWESOME SUCCESS! I just wanted to shout out a big CONGRATULATIONS to Women Today for organizing one of the largest programs Penn Stat*Erie presents and one of the most formally organized protests in Erie County, Take Back the Night. The evening was incredible to say the least, and it means a great deal to the community and battered survivors to have so many people willing to march on their behalf. So, to all of TBTN’s organiz ers, sponsors, and marchers: you all did an awesome job and your hard work really showed through! Passing the gas...to G. Love and Bojangles Ryan Anthony editorial tolumnisL^^^L^ You are now reading the last editorial I will write as a college student. Well, at least the last as an undergraduate, but certainly the last here at Behrend. By the looks of my degree audit, I will have earned 133 credits, passed through 50-some classrooms, been lectured by 40-some professors, and tallied up a nice little stack of letters home informing my parents I made the Dean’s List. Oh yeah, it has certainly taken a lot of extra work (much more than I anticipated), but when I gallivant up there on the stage on May 11,1 will also be handed a medal for graduating with honors. Tons of people graduate from Penn State University, but not all that many do it with honors. To me, that makes the extra work and lost sleep worth it. I cannot take credit for all of this on my own; I did all the work, but a few people gave their time to help me Girls going commando All right, right, so Undressed from Snf„‘g the neck up a " d T ra ‘ n c,n ' ,? r Let s not get into Becky Weindorf argument either, okay? It is purely managing editor a biological and physical reason that women need their underclothes. The only piece of clothing that MIGHT exclude the use of undergarments would be the bandeau top (read: it is supposed to be tight enough to give support anyway.) First of all, women come in different shapes and sizes. If the weather’s warm and you've got that little halter top screaming at you “wear me! wearme!”, then for pity’s sake, learn to wear a strapless or just wear your regular double strapper. Don’t bounce into Bruno’s with a little top and expect everyone to think you’re covered (and if you don’t bounce, do me a favor: NO NIPS.) Secondly, if for no other reason, everyone gets old. I will get old. YOU WILL GET OLD SOMEDAY. It is medically proven that women without support WILL sag more than women who took pains everyday to properly support themselves. And Let’s face it. At least guys can hide I had the privilege (?) of watching the Oscars for about 15 minutes last month. And Gwyneth Paltrow just happened to be within those 15 minutes. And you know what I thought? “Gee, I can’t believe there’s someone in Hollywood with smaller boobs than me!” Honestly, if you didn’t see the dress she was wearing, you really should go check it out. The ballroom skirt was great; long, billowy black folds cinched at the waist, demurely brushing the ground with every trained step she made. Oh, but that was only half of it. The top half had a flesh colored liner with a sheer black layer on top, and the front was gathered vertically up to her low scoop neck. And everyone in the world could tell that no vine was holding her grapes. Letters to the Editor ing remarks.) I have the freedom to voice my opinions through a letter to the editor. If Mike Butala’s com ments would have been placed as a letter to the editor stating his beliefs then I would not have spent my time in responding because frankly I’m certain he doesn’t care what women have to say based on his article. However, his “article” was placed on a humor page. Is it humorous to personally attack a group of people? Is it humorous to destroy the Penn State principles that our school is working so hard to implement? Since these things are only humorous to a Kristin Rodgers President, Lion Ambassadors along the way. With this editorial, I would like to give credit where credit is due. I attribute my college success to these individuals, and to them, I express the utmost gratitude. Dr. Troester What can I say? You have been a heck of an advisor and it is partially your doings that helped me take the right classes so I can graduate this spring instead of next fall. Some of those classes were even taught by you, and you did a great job in the classroom, but outside the class is where you really shined. Through internships, projects, honors options, and finally a thesis, you steered me through to the finish. I tip my hat to you, Dr. Troester, for your advice, guidance, and knowledge of which faculty should sign which papers. Thank you. Mrs. Mester If there was ever a person aside from my own mother whom I wanted to call “Mom,” it is you. I only had you for two classes, but I wish you taught more so I could have taken you over and over. In the classroom, you are an amazing leader and teacher, but at the same time you demonstrate the sincere dedication and emotion that a mother would select few, these comments are, in my opinion, inappropriately placed. It is fine to let Mike Butala express his discriminatory remarks under his name, however placed on the humor page it is a part of OUR student newspaper that is read by not only students, but also students from other colleges and people from the com munity. Also, the Behrend Beacon is funded partially by the University, which is in turn paid by us, the stu dents. So, students that do not agree with this column should voice your opinion through letters to the editor the next generation show. To me, it was almost as if you treated your classes as if they were full of your own children. I will never forget the snowstorm before Thanksgiving in the Fall 2000 semester. I called you to tell you I was not going to be in class because I was going to try to leave for home before the snow came and instead of saying simply, “Okay,” you told me to be careful and invited me to your own house for Thanksgiving dinner if I was not able to make it home. Thank you for the offer, and thank you for being such an amazing influence. I hope whatever I do in my future, I do it with the same love for your job that you demonstrate every day. Thank you. Mr. Kerwin I think over the past couple years I have taken more of your classes than the entire rest of the communications department combined. You have taught me how to write, edit, and rewrite, but more importantly, you have also taught me how to video, edit and video again. Your background has given you some great field experience that Behrend is fortunate to benefit from. I am also fortunate to have had you here to guide me through countless hours of the ins and outs of videos when you have to grab more than your granny skirt to sit down, you’ll wish you listened to me. While I’m on the subject of medical/physical reasons, many women who are blessed (or cursed - trust me, I know women who would say both) with ample cleavage have back, neck and shoulder problems from the weight. I have yet to see a woman of this size to not wear a bra, so I do not want to insult any woman on this campus that actually has medical problems because of this. I’ll only say this: other ladies, take the hint. It is better this way. Oh, another reason - some ladies like to draw attention to themselves. Sure, that’s your priority and right. But come on. Unless you’ve decided to take the time and play with paste in the morning hours before class, instead of saving it for a real night on the town, everyone knows. That low-slung back and plunging neckline isn’t fooling anyone, honey. And, remind me again, when was it NOT tacky to wear formalwear during daytime hours? The walkway between Reed and Hammermill is not a catwalk, this is an INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING where we come and The Behrend Beacon or simply not giving writers like Mike Butala the time of day to read the attacking words that he has cho sen to write. As a woman (never to be referred to as a “broad”), a per son, a student of Behrend I am out raged that these remarks are repre senting our college through the “stu dent” newspaper. Abigail Long 04 COMBA and essays. Thank you. Mr. Causgrove I ventured into a marketing minor with little knowledge of the subject, but your Marketing 300 class signaled to me that marketing was to be my minor. Now I have taken you for three classes, and that did not happen by accident; how could anyone not want to take classes taught by, simply put, such a nice guy. I know you have interests outside of teaching here, but every time 8 a.m. rolls around, you are here awake and alert, ready to motivate and wake up a classroom full of groggy students. It takes a lot to do that, but you seem to have the ability to do it with ease. On top of that, you have shown me that you, like so few others, actually care about the success of your students. Thank you. This is certainly not an all-inclusive list; there are many others who deserve thanks, but I have already exceeded my 700-word limit. If my name has ever appeared on your roster over the past four years, thank you! Anthony’s column appeared every three weeks. LEARN and WORK, not show off who has the better bare stock on top. Save it for the bars and clubs. I give guys props for being able to swing it. It is their privilege, I suppose, to be able to brag about it with their buddies. Ladies, if you want to try it, don’t try it in public. Even though a couple thousand students live right up the hill, THIS UNIVERSITY IS PUBLIC. It is also a place of business and of profession - why do you think our administrators come to work every day in suits and professional dress? You want a job? Like I said before, start learning how to wear the damned strapless (everyone knows when you wear the clear straps, people). If the strapless isn’t working, then maybe you’ve got the wrong outfit going. I’m sure there are plenty of guys who like that light airy feeling, but for girls, keep that light airy feeling to your hair in the wind and spare us, please. Everyone can recognize that jiggle. Weindorf’s column appeared every three weeks. Page
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers