opinions
editorial opinion
Faulty engineering
More or less, it's similar to Heisen
berg's Uncertainty Principle.
Many engineering students are un
certain about their academic futures
and unfortunately, it's because of a
lack of communication.
This semester many sophomore en
gineering students were ousted from
their preferred majors because they
did not meet the required grade point
average cut-off.
Students contend that a letter sent to
them stated that Spring Semester
grades would be considered in the
evaluation process when in fact only
their grades up until the end of their
third semester were considered. The
students are right, the process is un
fair.
The Officials in the College of Engi
neering said the students were warned
of the evaluation procedures in the
letter, adding that students might have
misunderstood the policy.
One part of the letter stated "if at the
reader opinion
Balanced
At the risk of starting a journalistic
incident, I would like to put in my two
cents regarding Colleen Robinson's
letter . and Brenda Lee's response.
The Collegian has been ranked One
of the top newspapers in the country
among colleges and universities. It
has achieved this position through
journaligtic reporting.
Granted, the Collegian has made its
share of mistakes in the past
grossly misquoting interviewees and
yes, overrating photos of sometimes
irrelevant campus events. But you
must keep in mind the underlying
purpose of the news media and that is
to inform. The fact that one student
out of 35,000 isn't interested in politics
and world/campus events doesn't
mean that these topics should be
eliminated.
Unfortunately, I think that many
people share Brenda Lee's opinion
that the Collegian should focus on fun
at, Penn State and "having a good
time." This attitude should have been
abandoned in high school. If all stu
dents were so self-centered and im
mature, this certainly would prove to
be the crutch in the growth of our
university.
The staff and editors of the Colle
gian know when they have done 'a
good job. By the same token, they are
wise enough to learn by their mistak
es. I thank that the writers of the
Collegian don't share .Brenda Lee's
view otherwise the Collegian would
eventually become one big gossip
column. I trust that the staff will
continue to print those views which
represent ALL student opinions at
Penn State.
Cynthia Chang
senior-management
Least sexist
I would like to take this opportunity
to respond to the statements made by
end of the Spring Semester you have in the College of Engineering to sit
met the entrance criteria and your back and call this a "communication
cumulative GPA is above the required problem" but what about the students
minimum, you will be granted en- • who misunderstood the letter and were
trance to a major." This is what caught actually counting on spring grades to
most students' attention and they improve their GPAs? _
thought they had until Spring Semester In all fairness to those students who
to meet their major requirements. were simply a victim of circumstance,
It seems that the College of Engi- the University administration should
neering did not make it clear that consider granting a grandfather clause
evaluations would admit students on which would guarantee that students
the basis of grades from the first three who qualify could enter their desired
semesters and use spring grades only if major based on their grades until the
students were on the borderline or if end of Spring Semester.
additional spaces were made avail- It is not fair to pull students' career
able. dreams out from under them because
Let's face it, good communication of a "communication problem" that
skills are not just a requirement for the wasn't even their fault.
School of Communications. The Col
lege of Engineering is faulted 'for not
having made the letter to prospective
engineers clearer; its intentions should
have been explicit.
It's all well and good for the officials
Phyllis Mansfield (Collegian, vol 87,
no. 159) concerning the Baby M case.
It is true that historically, women
have been portrayed as emotional,
irrational, and manipulative. Re
searchers such as Lombroso, W.I.
Thomas, and Freud have based en
tire theories of female criminality on
this stereotype of women. Our society
revolves around these stereotypes
and thus, women have been limited in
the opportunities available to them.
Sexism is prevalent in the media,
literature and the laws.
However, one must look not only at
the personality traits attributed to
women, but also, examine the role
women have played in society. Worn
ens' roles are based on the idea that
"anatomy is destiny" as reflected in
the writings of Freud and many con
temporary • writers. Traditionally,
women have been tied to their "natu
ral role" which is reproduction. It is
this idea that biology destines women
to be inferior, that lays the foundation
for other sexist attacks.
The decision in the Baby M case
illustrates that the court has laid
aside the traditional stereotype of
women, in making a determinationin
the best interest of the child.
Although this case was not free of
sexist and classist overtones, the
decision made was the least sexist
one that could be made at this time,
and in this society. Sexism pervades
our institutions and is very deep
rooted. Let's hope that the courts will
continue to engage in decisions which
will promote social change, and help
move toward a society that is free
from sexism, classism, and racism.
Jessica R. Davidovich
senior-administration of justice
Vacuous mindset
This is in response to Brenda Lee's
insightful letter to the editor Friday,
April 10. I quote her last line: ". . .
Stop being so damn stuffy and start,
having a good time." Now isn't that
special.
You're right, Ms. Lee, too many
people on this beloved campus have
lost their , sense of humor. But T think
more importantly, too many people
at this institution have fallen into the
vacuous mindset of the party-clone
mold. Ms. Robinson was in every way
correct in her attack on the Colle
gian's tacky handling of some of the
recent front pages.
True, the Collegian is a college
paper, but its staff is responsible for
producing a professional publication,
every day. Slapping a "winners" logo
across a front-page photograph of the
Stern couple was not professional.
Apparently, Ms. Lee, your beer
soaked feathers were also ruffled by
the extensive coverage of Ebony and
Ivory week. Perhaps you were busy
cleaning out the old beer bong or
purchasing a new jean jacket and
decided not to attend any of the
programs offered by this important
event: Ebony and Ivory was given so
much publicity because it is cultural
ly valuable.
Granted, the Rathskeller case stu
dy is a Penn State tradition, but I
think we get our share of "tradition"
every weekend avoiding the spit of
drunks hanging off of their apartment
balconies, as well as dealing with the
numerous accounts of vandalism,
fire-alarm tripping, and other as
sorted mindless acts of "partying. it
up, Dude!"
I don't need your advice, Ms. Lee, I
live it, but I would advise you and
anyone else who shares your limited
set of priorities to take off your Way
farers and stop looking at things so
narrowly.
Changing
If it weren't for the fourth quarter,
the Penn State footbal team would
The administration should seriously
take into consideration what effect this
is going to have on those students'
futures. Officials must remember they
are not dealing with numbers; they are
dealing with people.
TUE FIRST OF
MAIV MIRSPIRAI
doKES, I NEIL.
have never won the national
championship. Imagine if the offi
cials for the Fiesta Bowl decided
midway through the fourth quarter
that they would stop the game, and
the score from the end of the third
quarter would stand. Would this be
fair, changing the rules of the game?
I don't believe that anyone reading
this would think it would be. This
changing of the rules is exactly what
has happened to many of us now. The
University is the referee this time
and they changed the rules sin the
"fourth quarter" concerning accep
tance into the engineering major.
Now, instead of us being accepted
after our fourth semester, they (the
University) decided we should be
accepted after our third semester.
With absolutely no warning to the
engineering students, this decision
was made sometime during the mid
dle of this semester.
Due to problems my first semester,
I only managed to earn a 1.89. Since
then my GPA has been over 3.0. This
semester, due to my desire to become
an electrical engineer, it will proba
bly be again. But to no avail; all my
hard work and commitment to be
come an E.E. has gone down the
drain. Since the rules have changed I
will not be able to recover from my
first semester's mistakes. If only I
had one more semester to improve
my GPA I would have made it.
As a result of the University's ac
tions, all engineers in my position
have no chance of acceptance in the
scramble for the remaining positions
in our desired majors. We are now
forced to change our hopes and
dreams.
This changing of the rules when it is
already "too late", is not fair. There
should be some sort of "grandfather
clause" which would exempt this
year's students from this unfairness.
We (the engineering students) were
,told no less than five times, in letters
Tin! M. Goodwin
sophomore-film
rules
The second coming
of Throgg and company
Followers of Secular Human- only could no mortal have written
ism, Beware! it, none can understand it! It must
Behold! The Second Coming of be the work of Throgg!
the Word of Throgg the Omni- More proof does Throgg offer
scient, Omnibenevolent and Onmi- you of his existence. He seeks not
directional! Throgg demands thy to frighten you or coerce you. He
attention! Throgg the Bountiful, wishes only that you love and
The God who Exists and Continues cherish what you are. For Throgg
to Create Squirrels! exists! Harken to the Three Proofs
of His Existence: 1. Blue is
Throgg's Favorite Color Is not
the sky blue? 2. Are there not
greater grades of Good, and there
fore must not some Ultiinate Good
exist Must not Throgg exist? 3.
, Surely there must have been a
j; Creator, for there are Causes and
Effects Must not there have
\ i t I been some Ultimate Cause? Must
not Throgg be that Ultimate
Cause? (Do not be confused by the
Greetings! lam the High Priest mindless who insist upon debating
of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol. I "the Chicken or the Egg" for it is a
regret that the High Priest of Sex meaningless quibble).
could not be here today, but he Furthermore, Throgg offers an
preaches elsewhere. other indisputable proof for
The High Priest of Sleep Is free! He prophesizes that upon the
sleeping. Third Tuesday after the Third
I have been commanded by Leap Year after the third assassi-
Throgg himself, the mighty chick- nation attempt upon Ramgiliad in
en god, who came to me during a the Third Century from now, the
recent hallucinogenic experience Dow Jones will fall 22 points! It is
(Laugh not, Unbeliever!). He has indisputable!
$ 1 ..... At
bade me to tell you more of His Indeed, it is the most profound
Creed. statement since Throgg split him-
Throgg would Love Himself self into parts that he might have
Through You. He would offer you friends.
the three things which college It seems in many ways a bounti
students have always been den- ful thing. Alas, Throgg bids me
ied: Sex which other churches now to end. Soon perhaps, the High
would deny you! Drugs and Alco- Priests will once again speak
hol which the Law would deny aside the Willard Temple Steps as
you! And Sleep which your do other priests who wander end
professors would deny you! lessly as headless chickens about
All Throgg asks is that you do the house of Frank Perdue. But for
not hurt each other unnecessarily now, I bid you farewell with a
and that you refrain from eating story Throgg once told unto me.
unconsecrated chicken. Throgg stood before me, his
That is all: is it so hard? beak severe. "If I face you," He
All you have to do to consecrate said, stretching his wings, "then
your chicken is to make the Sign of this wing is left and this wing is
the Egg above your chicken. right:" He gestured. "But when I
That's all. (Though it is more turn around," his tailfeathers now
effective with a Blessed Egg faced me; "then this wing is left
$9.95 through your Official Church and this one right."
of Throgg, Ltd. dealer). I stared uncomprehending.
Almost no tricks or gimmicks! "So what is right depends on
It's easy! And there's no Pope! your point of view!"
But: alas; I see skeptics among Indeed.
you. Do you dare attempt to dis- I must now go. The High Priest
prove the Holy Book of Throgg of Sleep Is Sleeping.
(Physics, third edition, by Halli-
day and Resnick). Open any page John Orr is a junior majoring in
and you will find the truths of the the theological study of Throgg
Universe. F equals mxa. E equals education too and is a columnist
m x c-squared. A re these not true? for The Daily Collegian. His col-
It is an amazing book: for not umn appears every Thursday.
( the last letter being dated January
23, 1987), that we would be accepted
into our majors after our fourth se
mester grades were in.
I, and many fellow engineers, were
denied our right to improve our
GPAs, as stated in the previously
mentioned letters, in order to be
accepted into our designated majors.
We were not lead astray, we were out
and out lied to. Who knows what rules
the University will change next, with
no consideration to the effects. Even
if your are not in engineering, this
decision could affect . you. Due to this
action, the University has opened the
door to making other rash decisions
in the future. Next time they change
the rules, we all might lose.
Michael F. Larme
sophmore-engineering
Ethnocentric
I am writing about recent ethnocen
tric comments I have heard from
people regarding parents who raise
their children in a way that is differ
ent from ours. Even though we think
our way is the best, we should not look
down on people who raise their chil
dren differently.
I am thinking of comments such as,
daily Collegian
Thursday April 16, 1987
0 1 9 8 7 Collegian Inc.
Chris Raymond
Editor
Glenn B. Rougier
Business Manager
The Daily Collegian's editorial opin
ion is determined by its Board of
Opinion, with. the editor holding
final responsibility. Opiniobs ex
pressed on the editorial pages are
not necessarily those of The Daily
Collegian, Collegiab Inc. or The
Pennsylvania State University.
Collegian Inc., publishers of The
Daily Collegian and related publica
tions, is a separate corporate insti
tution from Penn State.
Board of Editors
Managing Editor Bob King
OpiniOn Editor Terry Mutchler
Assistant Opinion Editor Jim Higgins
Editorial Writers
Donna Saber, Kathy Casey,
The Daily Collegian
Thursday, April , 16, 1987
"Oh those poor Hare Krishna kids,
they don't have a choice of their
own," or "those poor Amish kids,
they are shunned if they want to leave
their community," or "the funda
mentalists' kids whose parents teach
them a standard of Godliness." Many
of these children grow up loving the
culture they are in and do not want to
leave it. But they do have a choice
when they are on their own.
There is no need to feel sorry for
these kids. Who has the right to say
which religion or philosophy is the
best to bring up your children, wheth
er it be Krisna, Amish, Fundamental
ist, or whatever? The parents do. Do
not get me wrong, I do not support the
Krishna of any other "off the wall"
groups, but I still respect parental
rights.
In contrast, the Soviet Union and
other Socialist countries such as Swe
den, the state owns the right to indoc
trinate them in the ways of
Humanism. The goal of the Humanist
is to gain control of our children.
Thank God we still own them, but
with ethnocentric attitudes as those I
have mentioned above makes me
wonder how long this will be true.
Christine Negley
News Editors
Phil Galewitz, James Stewart
Copy/Wire Editors
Susan Kearney, Theresa Pancoast
Eric Schmidt, Damon Chapple'
James A. Stewart
Town Editor Christine Metzger
Assistant Town Editor
Jane Kopacki
. Campus Editor Nancy Funk
Assistant Campus Editor
Carolyn Sorisio
Sports Editor Matt Herb
Assistant Sports Editors
Rob Biertempfel, Bob Williams
Stacey Jacobson
Arts Editor Beth Brestensky
Assistant Arts Editor Ron Swegman
Science Editor Kathi Dodson
Graphics Editor Tony Ciccarelli
Photo Editor Cristy Rickard
Assistant Photo Editor Dan Oleski
Board of Managers
Assistant Business Manager
Lori Spossey
Accounting Manager K. C. McClure
Office Manager Curt Sayers
Assistant Office Manager Kelly Moffat
Sales Manager Joe Palastro
Layout Coordinator Annie Corson
Marketing Manager
Dante Orazzi 11l
Assistant Marketing Manager
Kristy Burgess
Al Martin
freshman-DUS
opinions
.
On the horizon Summer
•
•
• .
. if
Raise your hands, at least mentally, you doubt your own future Creativity
Enough. having realized my mistakes (al- I've read while I'm walking. Most that would destroy unity if they ourselves so that we can be the It's not too early to be thinking
Recently I have been seen jump- though I'll probably find myself men lead lives of quiet despera- became overly conscious or con- best, whatever that is, on whatever about working on the opinion
ing (rather violently) up and down still making them) I've elected tion. Like right now I'm desperate cerned with the various character- terms set up by a society that pages of the Collegian for the
on a half-full (empty) page of myself, as a writer, to point them because this isn't going right. istics. doesn't even know where it's summer of 1987.
chaotic scribbles (aka: thoughts). out to everyone else. Enough of the Has everybody noticed how It seems a little ridiculous to going. If it's been an unusually, While everyone is concentrat
.
sermon, enough of the philosophy many domesticated squirrels there worry about "race" so much. We miserable day I wonder if there ing on finishing up the semester
,• " , of why writers write. are on campus? You can't help but were given a brain by Whomever, even can be a tomorrow, with the , and heading for the beaches for
:, . I'm considering jumping up and notice because they're always beg- or it evolved, or whatever .. . society that we're setting up today. some R and R, you can get a head
7 °
' -
°la— down on my notebook again. But' • ging for food like my terrier at anyway, we have one but we don't How many people out there believe start thinking about being a col
4, ~
,„„,. ,- it'll pass. And I'll continue writing. home. seem to be doing much with all the that we'll live to see our grandchil- umnist or editorial cartoonist for
, 4l,
Who was it that said most men Personally, I think they've come advantages that having one was dren grow up? Raise your hands, the upcoming summer session.
Lead lives of quiet desperatiori? up with a plan to take over the supposed to give us. We should be at least mentally, if you do doubt
-„:, ~ ~,,, , 1 ;7 . '0p
w...
The Daily Collegian will be
,-
'Thoreau? Emerson? Every spring world, starting with this educatio- worried about art, and literature, your own future.
I think about that sentence. It nal institute, because they can see and curing disease and cancer, and
lures me from my cluttered dorm mess of things. Nuclear war will through the use of our gray cells,l think I can see a lot of hands.
tlohoekinpgrefsoernacefewofgoothdecoeludmitonrisiatsl
Pages for summer.
~, r'
and editorial cartoonists to grace
•,-... .s", -.1 , ,; starts when the spring weather that we've made such a horrible making our lives somehow better
do The
about next
iit?
quest ion thingis , what i
s Idow havee
room. I love spring. But then in the ' destroy them too. I wonder what a instead of creating bombs and anti- no idea. If I did, I'd be a million-
Columnists will be required to
It has crossed my mind that I summer I love summertime things squirrel civilization would be like. dotes .to whatever it is that afire, and have a doctorate in phi- Columnists will be required to
hate writing, although I. love hav- and above all the sun's warmth but Would they argue over religion like "THEY" are coming up with to losophy, and all sorts of neat things submit two pieces of written work
ing written. It's in my blood, under am always glad to welcome au- we seem to do all the time? Does it destroy us while We sleep. I'm would be going on in my life. In- and complete and application.
my skin. My pen just won't leave tumn, which is in October the most really matter that we worship dif- reasonably educated, and almost stead, I'm studying English, and One column should be submitted
me be. beautiful season and my favorite ferently? We all die in the end as reasonably aware of the politi- writing some pretty pathetic poet- as you would have it appear in the
There are a lot of things I'd like until the first snowfall, and then anyway; sometimes brutally and cal situation to know that it's nec- ry. It's obvious I don't have any paper. Applicants can also sub
to write about. But I always find winter is definitely my favorite painfully, sometimes quietly in our essary to create defensive or answers. Where do we go from mit an essay as their second
lots of reasons why I should dis- time of year until the shimmery beds, and our last breaths are offensive weaponry unless all sides here? It's another question I can't piece of written work.
card my ideas: " I don't know green of spring .. . either blessings or curses. What at the same time delete all such answer. It's something to be Material should deal with is
enough or I'm too close to the And soon. I take long walks then, happens to us after life here on information from their intelli- thought about, though. sues and events that can be re
subject, or it isn't important leaving early for class, and taking earth is between the individual and gence. And already, at 20 years of As someone said, sometime or la ted to the Penn State
enough to waste other people's the "long" way home afterward. I Whomever. I guess the squirrels, age, I'm cynical enough to believe other, the time is now. community. Humorous, political,
time with it, or I'm just as guilty of think a lot on my walks, philoso- fluffy and cute as they are, would that it'll never happen. So put down your hands, they're economic, and soul-searching
it (whatever it is) and I don't feel phize, contemplate, meditate, be divided anyway. Afterall, there Sometimes, usually at night, I probably tired, anyway. And start columns are welcomed. ALL col
as if I have any right to talk about imagine. My pal, Frederick the are red-tree squirrels, and the really worry about the tomorrow thinking. If we don't, who will? umns should be well-researched
it. , Cow, has gone on a host of adven- gray-ground squirrels, and I'm we're building for ourselves today. and make a clear, distinct point.
But enough. I decided
. I can talk tures on the way down to a class I sure if I knew any technical infor- We're so damn worried about Jody K. Spertzel is a junior ma- Cartoonists should submit at
about things that people do' have in Willard. mation about the squirrels I could bombs, and outdoing the other guy, joring in English and is a column- least seven samples of thought
wrong, that Ido wrong, because in Sometimes I mull over things list a bunch of other different types and let's get the most money for ist for The Daily Collegian. provoking work.
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The Daily Collegian Thursday, April 16, 1987
With the dawn comes
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