page 2 - The Behrend College Collegian. Thursdav, October 30, 1997
CANDIDATES continued from page 1
Merski feels the education of
our youth is an extremely
important job, and that their
education is instrumental in
combating many of the problems
that face society. A county-wide
crime prevention program could
also be beneficial, he feels, by
having officers hired to speak to
senior citizens on how to protect
themselves from crime.
Community outreach is not his
only concern, however. "The
Sheriff's department is the same
as it was seventeen years ago. We
need to reorganize to make it
more cost efficent." Additional
computers are also a needed
item, according to Merski.
Training of the deputies is a
concern as well.
Up-to-date training, refresher
courses, and more in depth
study, such as police training,
would be greatly beneficial and
are sorely needed. "The
situations that [the Deputies] are
involved in are not as volatile as
the regular police, nor do they
happen on a regular basis, but it
does happen and not being
prepared could be costly."
Finally, Merski would like to
have the area colleges become
involved with the
administration, by possibly
having internship positions
offered in the Sheriff's office.
Donna Mindek is running for
reelection against Rick Becker
for Harborcreek Township
Supervisor. Mindek has been a
Supervisor for twelve years now,
with that time being spent as the
roadmaster. One thing she
would like to see happen is a
diversification of the duties of the
Supervisors. Too often, she feels,
the same job is done by the same
person and variety might bring
to light new solutions and ideas.
One of the plans that Mindek
has been helping to develop is the
Comprehensive Plan for
Harborcreek. This plan is a low
density development plan,
meaning that development is
curtailed so as not to over-run
the majority of rural,
agricultural areas that
Harborcreek wishes to maintain.
This is a ten-year comprehensive
plan which will also include
transportation needs, as well as
the addition of bike and walk
ways connecting local parks.
Also, in a few years, the Eastside
access highway will begin to
traverse through the Behrend
campus, which Mindek feels will
give the students more
accessibilty, not to mention the
surrounding community,
bringing them closer to
Behrend's many cultural
offerings.
When asked about the
interaction between Penn State
Behrend and the Harborcreek
community in which it resides,
Mindek had lots of comments
and ideas--for starters, possibly
having the local Harborcreek
newspaper keeping in contact
with the Collegian, having
reporters share what is going on
locally to keep the campus
informed.
Mindek would also like to see
more student involvement in the
community. For a number of
years she has tried to involve
fraternity students in the
summer Harborfest, though she
realizes that many students do
not live in the area during that
season. In addition, internships
in the township building are
another area where students
could become involved in the
community while gaining the
valuable skills and knowledge
that the township has to offer.
Mindek would also like to foster
the relationship between the
Student Government
Association and the township,
possibly by having
representatives from each attend
the other's meetings.
Becker could not be reached for
comment.
Avoiding STD's
by Ray Morelli
staff' writer
Sure, it was fun while it lasted, but
when you wake up the next morning,
one has to ask: with all the risks in
volved in being sexually active today,
was one night really worth jeopardiz
ing the entire future? AIDS, preg
nancy, and a whole spectrum of sexu
ally transmitted diseases (STD's) are
out there, just waiting for the careless
and irresponsible.
The most menacing, of course, is the
HIV/AIDS virus. The U.S. Depart
ment Of Health and Human Services
states approximately one million
Americans have HIV, which translates
into one out of every 250 people.
Sandra M. Decker, a case manager for
Northwest PA Rural AIDS Alliance,
reveals some surprising information
about HIV. "I'd say about fifty per
cent of people with AIDS contracted
it through high-risk behavior like gay
sex, IV drug use, or extreme promis
cuity." This means half contacted the
virus through more common ways tra
ditionally less associated with AIDS
sufferers.
"The biggest increase in infection is
among twenty to thirty year-olds,"
Decker says. This age bracket in
cludes college students and people
who formed their life habits in school.
"No longer affecting just junkies or
homosexuals, AIDS affects every
one," according to Decker. The AIDS
Alliance can refer individuals for free
testing and counseling. Case manag
ers like Decker seek out help for AIDS
victims. Testing and assisstance are
strictly confidential.
The Health and Wellness Center also
offers free, confidential testing. "We
would encourage anyone who's been
sexually active to be tested," says
Patty McMahon, director of the
Health and Wellness Center. "AIDS
is no longer a death sentence. With
treatment, people can live normal,
healthy lives for years," McMahon
said. The Wellness Center can offer
free or cheap treatment. • ••
Besides just AIDS, there's p wide
array of other STD's one risks con
tracting by engaging in unprotected
Are you voting in next
week's local elections,
why or why not?
"I am not a registered voter up here,
but I'm getting an absentee ballot back
home."
"I'm getting an absentee ballot."
-Michael McCracken, 03, PLET
"No, I didn't apply for an absentee
ballot."
"I think I am because I have some
interest in how the votes come out."
-Mark Delano, 05, History
"No, I just don't get into politics."
-Tiffani Kinkosh, 03, PLET
"No, I'm not registered to vote in Erie
County."
"What elections?"
-Fletcher Hochstetler, 05, PLET
"Yes, I am because I believe as a
Behrend student that Harborcreek
officials should take notice to the
needs of the ever-growing Behrend
community."
sex. The most common is condyloma,
better known as venereal warts. Very
prevalent in young people ages 16-24,
condyloma is incurable. While active,
these warts can be treated with acidic
topical medicine, as well as with
cryosurgery, which freezes the warts
to kill them.
Another common STD is chlamydia.
Many chlamydia sufferers have no
visible symptoms even though the
scarring it causes in the reproductive
tract makes it the number one cause
of infertility in both males and fe
males. Chlamydia can be cured with
antibiotics. Herpes, unlike chlamydia,
is incurable. Herpes works in cycles
and even while dormant may still be
transmitted from one person to an
other.
Another major concern pertaining to
unprotected sex is pregnancy. Most
college students are just learning to
take care of themselves and certainly
are not ready to be responsible for
someone else. A relatively
new option is the "morning-after" pill,
called post-coital contraception. Up to
seventy-two hours after unprotected
sex, the pill can prevent conception.
A wide variety of birth control is
readily available, some at the Health
and Wellness Center. The female con
dom is now available in the United
States, giving women another option.
Used properly, it has a three percent
failure rate.
"College students are going
to be sexually active, we want them
to be safer," says McMahon. In
today's world, one careless slip could
have long-lasting, life-altering effects.
Every step should be taken to avoid
these problems, but if a problem does
arise, it's important to seek treatment
immediately.
McMahon advises people
not to be embarassed," Anyone can
make a mistake. Things happen. No
one should have to pay for the rest of
their life for one incident. The door's
always open." The next time you find
yourself in a risky situation, think
about the facts and ask yourself, "Is
it really worth it?" The AIDS Alli
ance may be reached at (814) 456-
8849.
-Michael Albert, 03, PLET
-Jeremy Smith, 03, PLET
-Shawn Morelli, 07, History
-Mike Zampetti, 05, History
NEWS
WALKING DOWN THE LINE: Students wear special glasses that make them feel legally drunk
during alcohol awareness week at Bruno's.
Judge Joyce criticizes the justice system
On October 23, 1997, Judge
Michael Joyce, candidate for Penn
sylvania Superior Court spoke at
Behrend on "Legal Education and
Topics of the Judiciary." In his
speech he criticized the American jus
tice system as overly litigious and
called on the penal system to stop
mollycoddling prisoners.
Judge Joyce has been on the Erie
County Court of Common Pleas for
thirteen years and for those thirteen
years ninety-five percent of his opin
ions have been affirmed in Appellate
Court. Pennsylvania is one of seven
states that still elects judges to its
appellate courts. Of the twenty-seven
judges in the Appellate circuit, none
are Penn State graduates, a fact that
Judge Joyce is determined change
this November.
America is the most litigious coun t
try says Joyce. Many cases that are
brought to trial are about principles
rather than money; these are cases
where the courts shouldn't be in-
volved. This practice leads to an in-
by Ayodele Jones
staff writer
LOCATION: MERCYHURST COLLEGE
CONTACT BEHREND CAREER
DEVELOPMENT FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND LISTINGS
creased volume of cases which are
pending in the judiciary system. If
people would stop looking to the
courts to resolve issues of
unimportance, the amount of law
suits would undoubtedly decrease.
Joyce says that there are too many
people in jail. Programs should be
implemented to rehabilitate the
prisoners because eighty-five per
cent of crime is committed by re
peat offenders. Prison should be a
place where people never wish to
return. Many prisoners who re
ceive three meals a day, cable tele
vision and the right to sue if their
cookies are too soggy see prison
as a step up.
Joyce has been given the nick
name "Maximum Mike" because
he is tough on repeat offenders.
His philosophy is to give first time
offenders a break as long as their
ret . l?l6lVfie id atte,or
dealtwith heavy drug implications.
- He Wiglieg t6"plintarilY flibils 'on
rehabilitation for first time offend
ers: repeat offenders should know
the difference between right and
wrong, because they have been
• • I
I
SPONSORED BY THE ERIE
COLLEGE CAREER
COOPERATIVE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6,1997
1:00 - 3:00 PM ALL STUDENTS
3:00 - 4:00 PM SENIORS ONLY
OVER 100 COMPANIES
REGISTERED
through the penal system before.
There are a lot of lawyers in the legal
system but there is always room for a
good one because lawyering is the art
of persuasion says Judge Joyce. It is
very difficult to get candidates to run
for county judges because it requires
lawyers who are often making $20,000
more than the sitting judges to take pay
cuts. Judges should serve the interest
of justice, not their own. Judges are not
a special people, they only have a spe
cial job. It becomes a problem when a
judge thinks he is a special person be
cause he wears a robe. Judges are ser
vants of the people says Joyce.
Joyce says it is not critical to him to
be a Republican or Democrat but the
system is based on a two party system.
Judge Michael Joyce has a history of
being a conservative, hardworking
judge, who serves the public. Joyce is
aware of the fact that people have a mis-
t4PY are
not involved, but he promises ifclected
one of his primary initiatives is to get
closer to the people.
i • 6.
I.
photo by John Hoderny
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