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Racial roots need dealt with
by Jo
Colle hn Rossomando
gian Staff
It is absolutely appalling to see the
attitude that exists on this campus with
regards to race. Hatred fills the air with a
putrid stench and it is not found just
among the majority, but also among the
minority. The roots of our racial
discontent need to be dealt with sooner
rather than later on a policy level.
Remedying economic and social
deprivation must be the focus of intense
social reconstruction.
Slavery for many Black Americans is as
real today as it was 150 years ago. Blacks
often forget that their ancestors were
betrayed by other blacks and sold into
slavery. Slavery left an indelible imprint
upon the psyche of Black Americans
because it conditioned them to believe that
they were somehow inferior to whites. Of
course this is a blatant lie. We have
peanut butter because of the efforts of
George Washington Carver. Booker T.
Washington was a great educator
responsible for black improvement in
Harlem. Crispus Atticus shed the first
precious drop of American blood during
the struggle for independence. These men
are NOT black heroes, they are
AMERICAN heroes. It is time that we
admit the value and importance of Black
Americans to this nation.
Of course America is not perfect, but
rather we can improve. We must want to
make the necessary and proper chan les
Improper
ratio
by J
Ca ason
ia Simmons
lksm Staff
I wrote this artic.al to complain. Here
goes . .. The state of this learning facility
deserves an abundance of opportunity for
the male specie. however, if I want it, it
will not come. It is all based upon the
anthropic principle. It explains the
present nature of the situation simply by
the fact that we are here to observe it. If
we ceased to exist, the situation would not
manifest. To personalize the principle,
because I want a beneficial change, my
fancy remains ignoreed.
The women are lucky. They get the
cream of the crop - do not overestimate
this statement. For every woman, there
are three men and two of them are a result
of a lost pilgrimage. The quiet humans of
the campus conjure a drool of sexual
boredom. Some do have girlfriends in
their hometowns, but for those who find it
necessary to sojourn numerous miles to
visit the abode call Behrend home (me).
Therefore, I complain.
I want this campus, pan of the US. the
land of the five (so we think, however, if I
was born in Morocco I would not
complain), the place of equality to restore
the proper ratio of male to female students
in order to enable proper socialization for
the desixmlant.
lam a lost one. My mystification of
our false reality enables me to get lost. I
shall forever search in the improper
direction, for this campus is my rock and
redeemer to a powerful career. I will
remember the disturbed ratio during my
adulthood and through subconscious
manipulation, I will be a product of
conditioned helplessness. My chi force
residing in this land is disturbed, therefore
I complain.
that will start the process of rebuilding
America. We must take the cautious first
steps on the road toward unity. With this
I mean taking steps as individuals to be
the daring ones to befriend members of
other racial groups. It seems to me that
many minorities are so filled with anger
and bitterness that they will not allow the
divisions to subside. They need the
racism in everything. What are they
going to do once the last of the racist
residue is purged? They won't know what
to do because they have made victimhood
so much a part of their psyche that they
will be lost. Whether these people admit
it or not they want racism to persist
because it provides them with security. It
is fear that allows the vile stench of
gger weights
bothered by waiting in lines to use a
machine. If the university doesn't want to
build a new one for those of us who use it
for recreational purposes. at least think
about the athletes who need it more badly
than us. A lot of money that comes out
of our tuition to go here, goes to
unknown places. Not to beat a dead horse,
but why is it that we needed that overly
costly stair tower? Just think about the
kind of kick-butt weight room we could
have with even a quarter of that money.
The college itself, is trying to grow as a
whole and improve, seeing that many
students are deciding to complete their
four-year degree here. By making
improvements in the size and quality of
the weight room and Erie Hall for that
matter, would be a great start to making
this campus better.
by Nikki Gennuso
Collegian Sloe
I, like many others, enjoy using the
weight room here at Behrend.. I stress the
word MANY. For those of us who
choose to use this facility, it sometimes
means standing in line to use simple
machines, or waiting for someone to get
done using the free weights that you need.
There are a few thousand people on this
campus, and the weight room isn't nearly
big enough to accommodate half of them.
I've personally found myself going down
there at rather odd and inconvenient times,
just so I can use the ever-saught-after
Stairmaster. There are only four, mind
you.
If that isn't enough, what about the
varsity athletes? They need extra time to
get in there and work out without being
Opinion
racism to persist, and people like those
mentioned above that are the problem.
You know who you are, both white and
black. If you are not willing to be the
brave ones then you are the problem.
We have the division because no one is
willing to be brave. Minorities are just as
guilty of stereotyping as Caucasians. If
you assume all whites or blacks are your
enemy, you are limiting yourselves. The
world is far to big to maintain a tribalistic
attitude. Come out of your group
mentality because you are placing
blockades in the way of progress. If you
decide that racism is going to keep you
down it wilt. Racism did not keep Martin
Luther King, Duke Ellington, or Fredrick
Douglass down. Fight for yourself and
decide that no one is going to stop you.
Angry bitter people are doomed to fail
because no one wants to be around them?
Who is going to hire a person with poor
language skills and an attitude (general
reference to all people is intended) because
they will bring everyone down around
them. If you are positive, openly filled
with self-pride and visible strength, no
matter what you do you will earn respect.
If you think all is lost, then all is lost
because you are too weak and foolish to
make a small difference. Keep in mind a
whole lot of small differences make a big
difference. If you are too bitter and fearful
to take steps to remedy your problems and
reach out to other races YOU ARE THE
PROBLEM!
Thursday, April 4, 1996
The Behrend College
Collegian
Published weekly by the students
of
The Pennsylvania State University
at : , 4:4)
Editor in Chief
Jennifw V. Colvin
ihisinus Monaco,'
Jennie Heilman
News Editor
Danielle Murphy
Assistant News Editor
. Doreen Foutz
Sports Editor
Nick Zulovich
Assistant Sports Editor
Julie Stocker
Entertainment Editor
Joe Mottillo
PhOtography Editors
Sheila Bickel
Joe Stiller
Opinion Editor
Chad Clouse
Advertising Manager
Thomas D. Keefe
Copy Editor
Michelle R. Gruendl
Advisor
Mrs. Cathy Mester
Coflegftm Staff: Mary Beiger, Ryan
Bogart, Crystal Dehart, Nicole
Gomm, Brian Gregory, Bryan
Gonvichak, John Hafner, Bryan
Harkins, Kra Kindon, Adria Kovaly,
Adam Levenstein, Heather Mc
Mahon, Sarah Melchiorre, Sharain
Naylor, Jeannine Ouitette, Matt
Plizga, Colette Rethage, John
Rossomando, Joe Ryan, Sean
Siekkinen, Jason Simmons.
Photographers: Brian Charnock,
Brian Fisher, Colleen Gritzen, Gina
Leone, Bob Misulich, Chris Nelson,
Eric Smith.
Postal Information: The Collegian is
published weekly by the students of
The Pennsylvania State University at
Erie, The Behrend College; First
Floor, The J. Elmer Reed Union
Building, Station Road, Erie, PA
16563. 814-898-6488 or
81A1-898-6019 fax. ISSN 1071-9288
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