I The Behrend Beacon
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - The First Ammendment to the U.S. Constitution
The Behrend Beacon
Published Weekly by the students of Penn State Erie
T'| I HI. BEHREND
beacon
Penn State Erie,
The Behrend College
First Floor, The J. Elmer Reed Union Building
Have a “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” ?
■Sr 9 $ 9
■
Send Suggestions to klksoos@psu.edu
Submission Guidelines
The Beacon welcomes readers to share their views on this page. Letters
and commentary pieces can be submitted by email to dgmt47@psu.edu or
nirectly to the Beacon office, located in the Reed Building.
Letters should be limited to 350 words and commentaries should be lim
ited to 700 words. The more concise the submission, the less we will be
forced to edit it for space concerns and the more likely we arc to run the
submission.
AJI submissions must include the writer’s year in school, major and name
as The Beacon does not publish anonymous letters. Deadline for any sub
mission is 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon for inclusion in the Friday issue. All
submissions are considered, but because of space limitations, some may not
be published.
All submissions must include consent to be edited before they can be
edited for publication.
Crisis of creativity
By Patrick Webster
managing editor
Hollywood producers seem to be at a
loss to explain why movie ticket sales
have declined steadily over the last live
years, leading to an overall drop in tick
et sales of almost 13 percent. Many like
to point their fingers at satellite and dig
ital television, internet videos, content
piracy, and an increased availability of
independently produced films. 1 think
they couldn’t be farther from the real
causes. Nor do 1 understand why I am
being asked to pay increasingly exorbi
tant prices for one-time big screen
releases that can be purchased perma
nently for roughly the same price a few
months later. Movies just aren’t as good
as they used to be.
When you examine the great classic
movies of all time, the dramas, come
dies, action and even horror films that
captivate large audiences, there are a
few common threads that link them
together. While a few of the greatest
cinematic works depend on big name
ensemble casts, unique cinematography,
or groundbreaking special effects, most
boil down to one thing: a great story. A
great story captivates an audience in a
way that will stand the test of time and
be enjoyed by several generations
because it includes themes that almost
anyone can identify with.
A lot of that has to do with great
source material. Many movies based on
classic literature, historical events, and
amazing sports stories succeed not
because a certain actor is in the movie
or because it has great special effects,
but because the story itself interests the
viewers. Classic movies have depth.
Two of the biggest movies in recent
years have been based on theme park
rides in Disneyworld.
Jennifer Haight. Editor in Chief
Patrick Webster. Managing Editor
Lindsay Snyder. Advertising Manager
Michelle Suroviec. Public Relations Manager
Kim Young. Adviser
News Editor
Chris LaFuria
Sports Editors
Daniel Mitchell
Nick Underhill
Opinion Editor
Kale Kelecscnv
Humor Editor
Ben Ravmond
Station Road, Erie, PA 16563
Contact the Beacon at:
Telephone: (814) 898-6488
Fax: (814)898-6019
Several critics and self-styled movie
buffs describe movies that have been
made recently as "escapist:’’ that is.
viewers use the movies to escape the
monotony and normalcy of their daily
lives. 1 like to call truly great movies
something else. They're immersive.
People do not watch great movies to
escape their lives, but to enter the lives
of others. It is truly enjoyable and mov
ing to immerse yourself in events and
plots so real that you can feel yourself
there, observing Pickett's charge at
Gettysburg or marching with the Earp
brothers and Doc Holiday as they head
towards the OK Corral.
This applies in a similar fashion to
modem music. It seems that some mod
ern artists, perhaps devoid of original
ideas and inspiration, like to "borrow”
classic works of music and put their
own lyrics or minor spin on it.
The only thing that bothers me more
than hearing a classic work of Mozart
being played as the background for a
lyrically obscene piece of rap or pop
music is hearing people say how great
that music is, having no idea who the
original artist even was. This applies
also, to a lesser extent, to new covers
and interpretations of classic music.
And by classic music, I don’t just mean
old. dead European composers, but also
artists who were popular between the
1950’5-1980’s, who seem to be increas
ingly targeted by unscrupulous music
samplers.
While I have no doubt that the enter
tainment industry wants my hard-earned
dollars, they won’t be getting them until
they start putting out new and original
work worth my investment.
OPINION
Student Life Editor
Sean Mihlo
Calendar Page Editor
Rachael C’onwav
Copy Editors
Jordan Gilmore
Miranda Krause
Jane! Niedenbcrgcr
Photography Editor
Stephen Kahasinski
Beacon Thumbs Up
Aw**
w
24/7 REDC computer lab
-New Lion Plaza
-Classes cancelled due to power outage
-Seniors having only one year left!
It’s too bad soap
By Christopher LaFuria
I think the First Amendment should be amended. No, I
think the First Amendment should be eradicated. Among the
many freedoms promised to us by the Constitution framers,
we, as Americans, have the privilege and the birthright to say
just about anything that comes to our minds. Despite the
many boundaries, such as censorship, that have been placed
on free speech, the legislative branch has made it abundantly
clear through the tenure of their existence that they shall make
no laws "abridging the freedom of speech.” Obviously none
of the framers could anticipate life in the 21st Century.
America runs rampant with filthy diseases, filthy breathing
air. filthy consumerism, and, to top it all off, filthy mouths.
Whether it's a lack of a decent upbringing or just a lack of
good taste, Americans better not be kissing their grandmas
with the same mouths they use in everyday speech. From the
government officials to the most genuine law-abiding citizens,
everyone in America,
a speech
adjustment. I can
even recall a story
about the pastor of a
local church who,
during a charity goif
tournament, had a
mouth like Tony
Montana.
The intention of the Constitution framers was to create a
free government in which people could voice important and
significant opinions about the government and the actions of
the country. Twenty-first century Americans use the same
right to make a mockery of fellow citizens and blaspheme all
that is capable of being blasphemed.
Example: Eminem. While he has avoided the pop-culture
scene for some months now, the echo of his criticism still
loudly resounds when issues of free speech in lyrical content
The Niedenberger and Kelecseny: Government Edition
3. a process held to determine officials
6. a draft of a law presented to legisla
ture
7. the ability to get someone to do
something they wouldn’t do otherwise
9. a generic word used to describe the
formal part of the state
11. individuals and institutions that
make public policy
12. man who developed the communist
theory
18. policy of colonizing other countries
19. hanging or pregnant
20. a critical turning point
news editor
“...Americans better
not be kissing their
grandmas with the
same months they use
in everyday speech.”
out procedures for a country to follow
Down
1. process through which a community,
state, or organization governs itself
2. principles and policies of a political
party
4. a rule enforced by authority
5. the institutions and practices that
endure from government to government
6. this is used to cast a vote
8. upper house of legislature in the
United States
9. term used to describe how intema-
Friday, September 15, 2006
Beacon Thumbs Down
- Long walk from Science to REDC •
- No clocks in REDC classrooms
- New parking arrangements
- Creepy new Facebook
isn’t flavored
arise. While filtering through his content, critics came upon
the abundant and blatant use of the word “faggot,” which
Eminem claims was not meant to be derogatory towards
homosexual people. What Mr. Mathers neglected to realize is
that any word, regardless of its context, that is insulting to a
group of people, should be avoided. While the concept and
practice of homosexuality is accepted in society, the gratuitous
use of the word is unnecessary.
In a society of compromise
think it is possible to keep
First Amendment. Howev;
some adjustment should be mat
to put a bar of soap in the mout
of our citizens. Similar to I
Amendments dealing with '
right to bear arms and the right
vote, laws should be made so thi
in case of violation of laws
decency, rights can be taken aw;
Convicted felons can’t voi
Some crimes eliminate your ri;
to bear arms. Likewise, soi
speech should have citizens’ F ;
Amendment rights taken away.
Penrt' State President Graham Spanier made the problem of
unethical speech known to the university community. “The
problem goes beyond simple lack of respect for others to more
serious matters such as racial discrimination, hate mail, anti-
Semitism and other forms of religious intolerance, harassment
of gays and lesbians, rock throwing, and alcohol-fueled acts of
disorderly conduct,” Spanier says, “Actions that threaten the
dignity or safety of any one of us represent threats to us all.”
Of the many forms of incivility mentioned by Spanier, ver
bal abuse ranks in the upper echelon of problems. The United
States needs to take a stand against hateful, derogatory or just
plain rude speech. If America cannot conform, actions need
to be taken in the area of amending Amendments. Or, simply,
people in America need to know when to be quiet.
icument
tic jrces. it
10. legislative, e.g.
13. a group seeking to influence the
passage or defeat of legislation
14. the refusal to approve 6 across
15. amendment that grants U.S. citizens
the freedom of speech
16. “Vote or 2004 campaign run
by P. Diddy to reach younger voters
17. to change or modify policies for the
better
Solution next week