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News Briefs
Tougher sentences retained for
crack possession
President Clinton signed a bill Monday retaining tougher sentences
for possessing crack cocaine titan the powdered form of cocaine.
Minimum sentencing for crack, die less-expensive, smokabje form of
cocaine is five years. Cocaine in the powdered, more expensive form
carries a minimum sentence of ten montits for possession.
Clinton said the tougher sentences are necessary because crack is
considered more addictive. Crack gives a quick, intense high and
carries with it many devastating social ills. Clinton did, however,
acknowledge the disparity in sentencing for crack and the powdered
form of cocaine, asking Attorney General Janet Reno to find a way to
punish the crimes equally.
“The sentencing structure should reflect the fact that all crack starts
as powder,” Clinton said. “When large-scale cocaine traffickers well
powder with the knowledge that it will be converted into crack, they
should be punished as severely as those who distribute the crack
itself.”
The U.S. Sentencing Commission has been asked to once again
review the disparity and report new recommendations.
Possible gene for
homosexuality in men
Researchers have found new evidence that a gene inherited from the
mothers may influence whether a man is gay. The study, using pairs
of homosexual brothers, supports a similar study from 1993.
The study found that genes are involved in male sexual orientation,
but do not determine sexual orientation. Other biological factors,
like hormones, as well as unknown variables may also affect sexual
orientation.
The study, like the one from 1993, did not identity any gene.
However, both studies suggest that such a gate exists in a particular
portion of the X chromosome. Men inherit the X chromosome from
their mothers.
Researchers have no way to know the strength of the gene's
influence in the development of homosexuality in men. No evidence
was found of such mi effect in women.
University of Colorado adopts
dating policy
The University of Colorado has adopted a new sexual harassment
policy that requires faculty members to inform their superiors if they
plan to date students in their classes.
The policy comes complete with a glossary and flow charts and i$
aimed at discouraging such relationships altogether. According to
University officials, these relationships have the “potential for
harassment.” The policy is also being applied to any staff member
who enters a romantic relationship with a subordinate.
According to Nancy Kombium, University attorney, professors
will still be permitted to date students they do not teach, but the
practice will be frowned upon.
Police and Safety
Report
October 25: A student was found to be in possession of a
stolen resident parking permit. Charges of receiving stolen
property have been filed.
October 26: Police and Safety is investigating the theft of a
VENDACARD from the library.
October 27: A student was issued a citation for careless
driving as the result of an incident in S-lot.
October 28: A student reported that someone had
damaged his vehicle which was parked in S-lot.
October 29: A student was issued citations for underage
drinking and public drunkness as the result of an incident
which ocurred near the apartment quad.
October 30: A vest was taken from a delivery van parked in
the Reed lot.
October 31: Criminal charges are pending against a
student as the result of an investigation of the smell of burning
marijuana.
November 1: Charges of DUI are pending against a non
student after Police and Safety officers observed her driving in
a careless manner in S-lot. A passenger in the vehicle was
issued a citation for underage drinking.
News
Preparing for
implementation of
student activities fee
by Steve Landon
Collegian Staff
Beginning in the fall of 1996,
each student at Penn State will be
paying an activities fee for the
first time in 40 years. The fee
will cost full-time students $25
per semester and part-time
students will have a reduced rate
based on number of credits.
How that money will be spent
has still not been determined.
The University has formed an
implementation committee to
research fees at other institutions
and to determine guidelines for
Penn State’s fee.
At its meeting on October 21,
the Council of Commonwealth
Student Governments (CCSG)
elected two representatives from
outside the University Park
Campus to the implementation
committee. Those elected
representatives were Lourdes
Tirado from the Behrend College
and Thane Fake from the York
Campus.
Also at the CCSG meeting
was William Asbury, Vice-
Far political right and white
supremacy to be explored
BEHREND-James Ridgeway,
Washington corespondent for the
“Village Voice,” will pfesent
“Blood in the Face: White Power
Politics” on Thursday, November
9 at 7 p.m. in the Reed Lecture
Hall. The presentation will
include a film and lecture.
Ridgeway is a journalist,
author, and film maker. He
covers domestic and international
politics and economics for the
“Voice” and has been author to
more than a dozen books.
Ridgeway’s books have covered
subjects ranging from the politics
of universities to various aspects
of the environment Ridgeway is
currently completing “Red
Light,” a major study of the sex
industry, and “Ethnic
Nightmare,” an anthology of
writers from the former
Yugoslavia.
Ridgeway is the producer and
director of the acclaimed
documentary film, “Blood in the
Face," a companion film to his
book of the same title. This film
of the far political right
movement was produced and
directed with Kevin Rafferty and
Anne Boheln. Ridgeway also
produced and directed “Feed,” a
documentary on the 1992 New
Hampshire presidential primary,
with Rafferty.
Ridgeway graduated from
Princeton University in 1959.
His books include “March to
War,” an anthology on the
Persian Gulf War, and “Haiti
Files,” on the Haitian crisis
(1994).
Ridgeway’s appearance is made
possible through the college’s
Creative Writers Series and is
sponsored by the Division of
“It’s students’ money,
students should decide [on
the allocation of funds]. ”
-Lourdes Tirado
President of Student Affairs for
the University. Asbury and Dr.
Tom Eakin, Assistant Vice
President of Student Affairs,
answered questions posed by
representatives from the 19
commonwealth campuses.
When asked why a committee
needed to be formed, Asbury said,
"Once guidelines have been
established, 1 expect the money
will be distributed directly to
SGAs [Student Government
Associations] just as the money
the University allocates now is."
"I don’t really see a need for a
separate committee, however,
Humanities and Social Sciences, Division of Humanities and
its Creative Writing Program and Social Sciences at x6lOB. The
the Clarence A. and Eugenie lecture is free and open to the
Baumann Smith Endowment public.
Fund.
For more details, contact the
wpse
am 1450
Every Thursday at 6:05 p.m.
Nittany Lion Hotline
This Saturday
Penn State v. Northwestern at Noon
NFL on Sunday
Miami v. San Diego at 7:45 p.m.
Monday Night Football
Talk to Julie, Nick & Brian on
"WPSE’s Touchdown Talk" at 8:06 p.m.
Philadelphia v. Dallas at 8:45 p.m.
wpse
-*• am 1450
Thursday, November 2, 1995
to do so as long as the students
hold majority representation and
those students are approved by
the SGA at that campus," Asbury
continued.
Before being elected, Tirado
addressed the CCSG and
explained that the fee should
remain in the hands of students
through elected student leaders.
"If a faculty or staff member feels
they have a worthwhile project
that should be funded, they
should submit a proposal to
SGA; the SGA should have the
final word on allocations. It’s
students' money, students should
decide,” Tirado said.