Page 4- The Behrend College Collegian Thursday, March 20, 1997
Spring break blues
by Colleen Fromknecht
Collegian Staff
After a week of rest and relaxation, I
have returned to school realizing that I am
not in the mood to continue my studies. I
think I am a victim of Spring Break
Blues. I headed south this year and for the
first time since I have been in college I
took a real honest to goodness vacation.
My mistake was going south--- the sun,
the sea, and the palm trees swaying in the
breeze all conspired to make me resent the
idea of returning to the frozen north of
Erie, Pennsylvania.
While break was wonderful, I was not
prepared for the letdown of returning home
during a snow storm in March. I did not
seem to mind the winter weather so much
while I had to deal with it, but now that I
have felt the warmth of the sun again, I
hate to have to deal with Erie's
unpredictable weather.
To make matters worse, I am having a
hard time getting back into the swing of
things with my classes. Normally I
actually enjoy attending classes. (I know
that seems crazy, but I pay big bucks to
attend school and I darn well better get
some enjoyment from the time I spend
here!) I have been lucky because most of
my classes have been really interesting.
Even the dreaded Gen Ed classes
occasionally surprise me. But after
spending a week away from campus I have
no desire or energy to sit through class
I think I am seriously
anymore.
depressed
, •
,
7/ 7
0
~~i
Due to the fact the Farmer's Almanac predicted this year to
be extremely rainy, the Backroom decided to rent out
canoes to help students get to the other side of campus.
It's that time of year again where people finish up their thesis, caps & gowns are purchased, the credit card
bill gets paid. . . and The Collegian elects new editors. If you're interested in getting involved in your
student newspaper, do it! If you want to run your student newspaper, apply!
ALL BUSINESS MAJORS
Want to get some real experience to put on your resume? The Collegian needs a business manager to manage all business affairs of a
student newspaper. Interested full-time students should send a resume and a letter of interest to The Collegian, attn.: Jennifer Colvin.
The Express, the new culinary cart from Housing
and Food Services is now open in the lobby of
Hammermillgurn serving fresh coffee, juices,
cookies, pastries, and fruit from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. Hours and menu items to be expanded
soon, suggestions are welcome.
The Express is great for a quick breakfast and
between class munchies. Stop down today!
SGA ELECTIONS ARE GOING ON, PICK UP A PETITION FOR
PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND SENATORS. NO PREVIOUS
EXPERIENCE NECESSARY FOR ANY POSITIONS.
Spring semester always seems
unusually long to me, probably because it
begins in the middle of winter. By the
time break rolls around I have had it with
the weather, the classes, the teachers, the
students, and the ones I love. I really need
a Spring Break to calm down and gain my
perspective. I know it's hard to believe,
but Spring will actually arrive sooner or
later. I just have to hang in there a few
weeks longer.
What is really amazing to me is that
almost everyone I've talked with since I
have come back from break seems to feel
the same way that I do. To me, it is a
small miracle that we have not all gone
nutty and have run screaming from the
cold and the snow toward warmer climates.
Hopefully, we will all settle down into
our normal routine and once again be on
the correct path to academic achievement.
Until that happens, if you see a person
wandering aimlessly down the hall with a
glazed look in his or her eye who is
carrying on an unintelligible conversation
with someone who is not there, don't be
too worried. It is probably one of the
students who have been hit by the Spring
Break Blues. Although there is no known
cure, time will eventually allow the poor
soul to return to his or her everyday life at
Behrend. Just don't mention the word
snow, it could be dangerous to your
health!
4Er ORBS
Ar torsik
diro _
Applicants must submit the following to the Office of Student Affairs (Attn.: Dr. Chris Reber):
1. Statement of journalistic qualifications
2. Editorial philosophy
3. Assessment of The Collegian's strengths and weaknesses
4. Plans for organization of staff members
Deadline: March 21
ALL MAJORS (liberal arts or science) are encouraged to apply!!
16 le 2,
e t 3
t 7 1.
Questions? Call Jennifer or Danielle at 898-6488
►neon
Pro and Con iii j p
By Mike DeSantis
Collegian Staff
Ding, ding, ding in the right corner,
wearing the black trunks, is The Smoker.
In the opposite corner, wearing the white
trunks, is The Non-Smoker. This battle
has been going on for what seems like
forever. Who has won? Well right now
the college has been victorious, because
starting next year smokers will no longer
be able to smoke in their rooms. Is this
the right thing? Well, according to
articles that were published in the
Collegian a few weeks back that may not
be the way we want it in the future. Let's
take a look shall we...
The two articles that were written were
by John Amorose, called "Please Let Us
Smoke", and then a reply to his article
from Loretta Brandon in a letter to the
editor saying how disgusted she was by
John's article. Well, let's see who would
have won this argument if they argued in
front of me (please keep in mind I am a
non-smoker).
OK, here we go, round one, beginning
with a hit from Ms. Brandon saying that,
"people who smoke can be the cleanest
people in the world, but for a non-smoker
they will always seem unclean because
they smell of cigarette smoke." This can
be very true, especially in cases where
smokers live with other smokers. On the
other hand you can't always smell the
smoke, unless you get really close. One
point for Loretta (1).
Loretta also brings up the point about
the reason that Behrend doesn't want
students to smoke is because it may help
them get a job. Well Loretta you should
get a point for that, but I unfortunately I
can't give you one. The reason that I say
this is because I had an internship last
summer and I would have to say that I
think about half the company smoked. So
no point, sorry.
Another good point that Loretta's article
brings up is the part about the smoking
breaks. She says that smokers "must find
some time in the course of their day to get
another 'hit', which takes 5-7 minutes." I
do agree with this so you get a point(2).
Because I do remember that even if the
people I worked with were able to go for a
while without smoking, sooner or later
they needed to "go and get a cigarette."
Unfortunately Loretta's points were
different from John's so I can't compare
them directly. John did however did make
some good points, which I will now
discuss, in his article.
Ding, time for round two. John comes
out with a hook and makes a great point
(1). He stated that "our beautiful, and
often publicized campus will be littered
with cigarette butts and empty cigarette
packs." Unfortunately, whether or not
smokers smoke in their rooms or not that
is going to happen anyway. I see smokers
SPC 111011 OF THE WEEK: Tie Preacher's Wife
Thursday through Sunday, ROO p.m. Reed Lecture Hall
in smoke!
outside the residence halls right by the
door. This gets you a point (1) because I
really don't like entering my hall through
the smoke and would rather have people
smoke in their rooms.
Another good point that Mr. Amorose
made is that if something happens in the
rooms because of the cigarettes they have
to pay for any damage they cause to the
room So why shouldn't they be allowed
to smoke in their rooms? One more point
for John (2).
So far these two are tied...who will
win? On to round three. Well here we
go...this whole fight is over whether or
not to smoke, yes? Well I would like you
all to think about this. Now I know this
doesn't directly correspond to the subject,
but how many of you are Pro-Lifers and
how many of you are Pro-Choicers? Well
isn't this the same type of argument?
Those of you who are Pro-Life...if
someone who was Pro-Choice came up to
you and tried to get you to become Pro-
Choice would you change? Maybe, but
probably not and that is why John gets
one more point (3). The people who
smoke know that it is bad for them. They
have been preached at forever. You know
what though? You can yell and scream
our head off and make rules not to smoke
a ...,
.
by Jason Shingc‘s
Collegian Staff
The holiday of Ptirim is approaching. attend where there is live music men •
What is Purim you ask? It is a holiday of 'from modern to Jewish folk, where peopl -
costumes, drinking, food, dancing, and drink and dance, drink and puke, and
more drinking. Even children am allowed some more (the orthodox know how t •
to chink on this holiday, for age does not PartY).
matter. lam allowed to drink on this The conservative rabbi joins in
holiday too. So can you . . . drinks and dances with his friends, family
Purim is a Jewish holiday that means and most of all to Hashem (god)
more than a party, it tells the story of the Children play merrily, but the women
evil Haman (delicious cookies are named unfortunately separated from the men
after him), Mordecai, and queen Esther. usual. That is all right, for I can drink i
Haman wished for the destruction of the front of adults without worry.
Jewish nation which was under Persian The day before Purim, there is the fits ,
rule at the time. Unbeknownst to the of Esther which honors, um let's see. . .
king of Persia and Haman, queen Esther is Um. . . Esther! If you guessed wrong
Jewish. -• 4.llrinstit, manipulation ..of then you are a dummy. So after an empt
blotikeal• Esther*** ode herself as storatteh. sundown PasisellYuld the food:;;
the
the kea4 j quale,,Av eTtvince (skip drinks are served. This would be a
the plot) the king of Persia to'blJ Haman theme for a fraternity party. You
in shame. If Haman were to des dt suffer in remembrance to history you "
Jews, Esther, the king's wife would a not know and party. You can charge •
be killed. \ conversions. I will start a Jewis
In the temples, especially those which \fraternity called Aleph Gimel Dallid or
are orthodox, adults and children dress in Unict Lamid Lamid (get it?). Kegs of
- costume while the Magillah is read. wine would be served while people dance
During each mentioning of Haman, an to Hava Nagilah. And since Ido not get
'roar of horns are blasted, bells are rung, any girls, I would not have to separate
MI- II / I I I II //' II -II 1 4 '4._ int.
on the way to class and they drop butts
and packs anyway. Recently I have been
bothered by the fact that people smoke
ATTENTION SPRING GRADUATES: SPRING
COMMENCEMENT WILL BE HELD ON
SATURDAY, MAY 17,1997 AT 12:00 P.M.
ON THE REED LAWN, WEATHER
PERMITTING.
CAP AND GOWN ORDERS ARE DUE AT THE PENN
STATE BOOKSTORE BY MARCH 21, . 1997.
anywhere, but people won't quit smoking
Why? Because it is their choice to do it
and they want and choose to smoke. So
let them go as long as it isn't in your
face. If it is, then tell them not to. I'm
sure they will respect your wish.
Smoking in the residence halls is a huge
fight still to be fought, and I would
reconsider having smokefree dorm rooms.
Why, because if students smoke outside or
in their rooms the smoke still goes into
the rooms via open windows, under the
door, and various other ways. If they k
smoke in their rooms though, and worse
comes to worse a fire starts because of a
cigarette that didn't get put out properly,
according to the housing contract, since it
causes damage to the room, students will
have to pay for it. So nonsmokers don't
have to worry about paying for the
damages.
As for letting people smoke... John wins
3-2, because people have the right to 433
whatever they want to themselves. So
leave them alone if they want to smoke.
Smoking in the residence halls is a
different story and I wish those luck
involved the fight.
Any comments or topics and ideas that
you think should have a pro and con
discussion send to MacGyver9o@aol.com.
Purim
Afterwards there are always celebrations t
The Behrend College
Collegian
published weekly by the students of
Penn State Erie The Behrend Colle.e
Editors in Chief
Jennifer V. Colvin
Danielle M. Murphy
Business Manager
Carley Gwin
News Editors
Doreen Foutz
Sara Prosser
Sports Editors
Brian Gregdry
Matt Plizga
Entertainment Editor
Sheila Bickel
Tim Holsopple, Assistant
Photography Editor
Colleen Gritzen
Opinion Editor
Colleen Fromknecht
John Amorose, Assistant
Advertising Manger
Tom Keefe
Office Manager
Crystal Dehart
Acadmeic Advisor
Dr. Ursula Davis
Activities Advisor
Dr. Rob Speel
;(777■157(777; i • e • even is
published weekly by the students of Penn State
Erie, The Behrend College; First Floor, The J.
Elmer Reed Union Building, Station Road, Erie,
PA 16563. The Collegian can be reached by
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ISSN 1071-9288
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