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Piercing goes beyond
Body piercing grows
among Generation Xers
by Kyra Kindon
Collegian Staff
Eyebrow, ear, tongue, nose,
septum, lip, cheek, navel, nipple.
They all can be pierced. Name a
body part and it has probably
been pierced on someone at some
point in time.
Piercing is the latest fad,
especially for Generation Xers.
Some people think that it looks
cool and see it as a form of self
expression. In 'addition, body
piercing may be a way to show
what one stands for.
Other reasons for piercing
include the need for another body
part to adorn with jewelry or as a
show of endurance. Reasons to
pierce are decided by those who
choose to do so.
Show more belly:
popularity among women.
Question of the week: Where is the best place to go on a first date?
"To an afternoon picnic and stay and watch the sun set."
-Wendy Driscoll, 04 MIS
"Dinner and a movie of her choice."
-Donny Black, 04 Electrical Engineering
"It makes no difference where you take them, women are
never happy."
-Paul Richey, 08 MET
"The beach."
-Jennifer Heilman, 08 Accounting
"To Perkins so you can sit for hours and talk."
-Elaine Glotz, 04 MEDIST
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Some people view body
piercing as a tradition that has
endured for years in other
countries. For them, piercing is
way of celebrating ancient
traditions of other cultures,
Regardless of the reasons for
body piercing, there are some
medical problems that one can
face because of piercing.
"We have not had much of a
problem with pierced parts," Patti
McMahon, coordinator of the
Health and Wellness Center said.
"The problem that people have,
once pierced, is predominantly
infection, but this is usually a
case for the people who have
pierced themselves, not by a
reputable piercing place."
Photo by Joe Stiller/Photo Editnr
Navel rings have grown in
News
Infection is a common
occurrence for newly pierced
people. But, proper precautions
can be taken to reduce the
likelihood of this possibility
Although more severe problems,
such as disease and damage to the
skin, are possible, they are
uncommon.
"Piercing
is like
toothbrushing.
-Cutter
U.S. News and
World Report
Body piercing can be done a
professional, called a cutter.
A cutter at Buddha's Body Art
known as Rob explained the
importance of caring for a pierced
body part.
"As long as people do as they
are told and keep their body clean,
infection is avoidable," said Rob.
"Usually, when people start to
relax with the care of their pierced
part is when problems start to
arise."
Buddha's is located on West 12
St. in Erie.
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One of the dilemmas with
piercing is that some members of
older generations do not
appreciate the art of piercing.
Employers may agree with this
theory and view piercing as a turn
off for their employees.
Ann Landers, a syndicated
advice columnist, discussed work
problems associated with
piercing.
According to Landers, people
with pierced body parts may find
themselves "virtually
unemployable unless she [or he]
removes several of those rings."
People can be seen throughout
Penn State-Behrend , and any
other college campus, with at
least their ear(s) pierced. Men
and women alike have pierced.
Age does have an influence on
one's ability to be pierced. There
are Pennsylvania laws that
govern piercing.
According to Rob, "You must
be over 18 or have parental
consent to get pierced. That is a
Pennsylvania law."
Body piercing continues to
grow among Generation Xers.
Piercing is a phenomena
among many because, as Behrend
student Robyn Wholey, 02
engineering, put it, "It's
different."
One cutter told U.S. News and
World Report that, "Piercing is
like toothbrushing now,"
referring to its growing
popularity.
q think that a guy should take a girl to a hockey game
because they can talk about the fights and get to know each
other." .1
•, ;
-Keegen Guyer, 02 Chemistry
"To the them lab so we can try to mix up some love potion."
-Mike Shaffer, 06 Chemistry
"The best place to take a girl on a first date is to dinner and
then a movie, cause if you decide that you don't like her
then you can sneak out during the movie."
-Brian Schumaker, 06 MET
were compiled by Doreen Foutz WP
Thursday, March 28, 1996
ears
Photo by Joe Sillier/
Photo Editor
Beyond the ears:
Piercings have travelled
down the body, in this case to
the nipples.
As two sympathetic analysts
also said in U.S. News and World
Report: "Amidst an almost
universal feeling of
powerlessness to 'change the
world,' individuals are changing
what they have power over. their
own bodies..."
And why not? "It only takes a
matte: of minutes," said Wholey.
What is your view? Piercing—
P I P R , "11.0!let4c?