page 2 - The Behrend College Collegian. Thursday, December 4, 1997
photo by Michael McCracken
A box of free samples was given to everyone in the audience at the Safer Sex Cabaret
r continued from
v. Kurtzman (1971). Lemon v.
Kurtzman established that the state
couldn't directly fund private reli
gious schools. That case also set down
standards that have been used by the
Supreme Court and lower courts in
deciding cases involving the separa
tion of church and state. The stan
dards, which have been referred to as
The Lemon Test, state that a law or a
government practice is in violation of
the constitutional separation of church
and state, unless it meets the follow
ing guidelines: it must have a secular
legislative purpose; its principle or
primary effect must be one that nei
ther advances nor inhibits religion
and; it must not foster excessive en
tanglement with religion.
A federal district court decided in
Lee v. Weisman that the inclusion of
prayers at public school graduations
did, in fact, violate the Establishment
Clause of the First Amendment, and
the First Circuit Court of Appeals af
firmed this decision. The legal basis
for this decision was based on the fact
that including prayers at a public
school graduation coerced students to
participate in religious exercises. It
also resulted in government endorse
ment of religion. The Court also em
phasized that while the ceremony was
technically voluntary, it was required
in the sense that it was a once in a
lifetime opportunity. The court also
added that at the high school level,
the tremendous amount of peer pres
sure would contribute to coercion to
participate.
The Lee v. Weisman decision has
no legal effect on university level cer
emonies. There have been district
court cases heard, such as Tanford v.
Brand (1997), where clergy-led
prayer at Indiana University gradua
tion ceremonies was upheld. To date,
the Supreme Court has refused to hear
a case involving university level
graduation prayers.
University Park discontinued
prayers at graduations around the time
of the Lee v. Weisman decision. The
reason given was lack of clergy to
participate in the numerous ceremo
nies held several times a year.
Behrend continued clergy prayers
until 1996, when the policy was
Police And Safety
11/24/97 Complainant locked out of Chevy S-10. Was
unable to get into the truck.
11/24/97 Complainant reported receiving harassing e
mail.
11/24/97 Minor traffic accident-student backed into car
and left a note.
11/24/97 Complainant requested a check of RV type
vehicles on campus be made for a runaway who supposedly
spent the night on campus in this vehicle. No RV type
vehicles on campus and runaway could not be located.
11/25/97 Complainant reported heavy smoke in the area
of the Herrmann Barn and was concerned it may be on fire.
Checked and found it to be coming from a very smoky
wood burning stove in a nearby residence.
11126/97 Driver was issued a warning for no exhaust and
careless driving in the B-lot.
1 ~
1 4 '
444
4 .
changed to have student remarks in
place of the prayers. The remarks are
entirely decided by the student,
though over half have been prayers.
In considering the standards set
forth by Supreme Court standards, the
guarantee that the government may
not coerce anyone to support or par
ticipate in religion, Behrend could be
in violation of the First Amendment.
Graduation from college has the same
importance in one's life as graduation
from high school. Similar to the Lee
v. Weisman decision, attendance at
graduation is, in reality, mandatory.
For freshmen during the orientation
period, attendance at the convocation
ceremony is mandatory. To include a
prayer at these ceremonies, where at
tendance is expected, can be consid
ered coerced participation.
The main difference is the age and
maturity difference between high
school graduates and college gradu
ates. High scbeoLars were demilitigo 4 ,,
young to be free from_This has not been decides:lllmi col
lege students. The other difference is
the choice of people saying the
prayers. When the official policy lets
students choose the nature of their
remarks, it leaves the door open for
free speech arguments. Despite this,
prayers said by students or clergy are
still essentially the same thing.
There are fundamental differences
in the situation, though the principles
are similar. It all comes down to: is it
constitutional to include a student led
prayer in a public, state- funded uni
versity ceremony? Opponents of the
Supreme Court decision in Lee v.
Weisman maintain that, if argued his
torically, the policy of prayer would
be upheld, because prayers have been
used at public ceremonies since the
founding of the country. However,
just because something has always
been, does not mean that it is right and
good for it to remain.
As long as the Supreme Court re
fuses to hear cases involving prayer
at the university level, Behrend's situ
ation will remain ambiguous. A lower
court could make a ruling for Penn
sylvania if a student decided to sue.
As long as there isn't any legal action
taken, the policy can remain.
Sierra club president
by Kristi McKim
features editor
Following his election as national
president of the Sierra Club, the
country's foremost environmental
group, Adam Werbach received a
call from the White House, asking
him to "explain his vision." Cer
tainly, a call from the President in
quiring of one's ideology and "vi
sion" can be somewhat startling and
intimidating, but through his expe
rience and confidence regarding
comrnunq and national activism,
lairtack wits.ablo clianc.thax"yl7
sion" and implement a plan by
which it could be achieved.
Werbach discussed these notions
of volunteerism and pursuing one's
goals on Thursday, November 20 in
Reed Lecture Hall.
Calling for heightened commu
nity involvement among young
people, Adam Werbach promoted
"The Spirit of Volunteerism."
Werbach, the youngest president in
the history of the Sierra Club,
showed tremendous faith in the ben
efits of volunteerism, since, by that
generous spirit, "we might have
some small role in making the world
a better place."
A problem for young people to
day is that they are constantly re
ferred to as "generation X." "We're
News
..,,,,--. *-
...,!. '
' ' -410v,i'::
Do you think Penn State
should have a week long
fall break even if it
means classes might
start a week earlier?
"I believe there should be a fall break.
Like in spring semester, it breaks the
pattern of the semester. A fall break
gives students a chance to rest. If
there is a fall break, it might be better."
-Max Jonsef, 05, Business Management
"Definitely. A lot of other colleges
have a fall break. It would allow
students to regroup."
-Brad Wetzel, 07, Management
"Yes. It gives students a break from
classes."
-Nicole Ortmann, 01, Psychology
"Definitely. It gives students time to
catch their breath."
-Brooke Sample, 03, History
"Yes. It gives you a break when you
really need it."
sex continued from page 1
condoms, incense, massage oil,
candles, soap and other samples. All
of these samples were donated by
their respective companies.
The audience was very much a part
of the program. Besides asking ques
tions, there were volunteers being
painted, tasting samples of aphrodi
siacs, and having a hand or foot mas
saged. The audience was receptive
and seemed to be enjoying them
selves. Shannon Jones, 07 Psychol
ogy, commented that, "It was fun. It
was serious information, but they
gave it to you in a way that you didn't
feel like you were being preached to."
Pat Hiller is a local artist who did
the body painting demonstration. He
admitted that he had never done any
body painting before, but that it was
"fun and kind of neat." He went on to
say, "you can find just about anything
and make it erotic".
Gabriella Savelli, another commu
nity member who attended the event
o r,
coffee and
the Collegian
told that we're lazy and unmoti
vated; and then we feel disengaged
and indifferent." When society ex
pects little from the younger gen
eration, then it is difficult to feel like
an actual difference could be made
through young people's contribu
tions.
Using statistics from the most re
cent presidential election, he pointed
out that less than 27% of 18-24 year
olds went to the polls and voted.
When you're told
inoessantlythat
fla#6lUttlXilitics can't
do anything, you start
to believe it.
Adam Werbach
president of the Sierra Club
"Only 27% of young people made
their most basic commitment to
their democracy and voted. When
you're told incessantly that national
politics can't do anything, you start
to believe it."
He firmly believes, though, that
when young people work together
and possess conviction for a cause,
then their voice will be heard and
their needs seriously considered. He
suggests writing letters, organizing
community task forces, attending
-Meredith Linth, 01, DUS
liked the positive message the pre
senters conveyed. She commented
that they didn't focus on what you
can't do, but rather what you can do.
Her sentiment was a common theme
throughout the night. The program
was intended to show the erotic side
to safe sex, and also to show different
ways to express one's sexuality, while
taking into consideration the risks in
volved.
The evening ended with refresh
ments served provided by La Bella
Bistro, just one of the many sponsors
that generously donated food, door
prizes, or samples.
The only glitch in the evening was
a complaint made by a student to Po
lice and Safety concerning porno
graphic movies. There was a video
playing throughout the evening that
included naked people. However, Po
lice and Safety officers found that the
video didn't violate any laws, so no
action was taken.
encourages activism
local planning meetings, and any
other method which will draw at
tention to one's cause.
In his plan for activism, he cites
three components necessary for suc
cessful volunteerism. One must first
possess a clear vision of the goals
which ideally will be attained; then,
one must believe in his/her ability
to implement such a mission toward
those goals. Finally, one must be
able to take personal satisfaction
from accomplishing the mission.
Werbach's impassioned convic
tions led him to work toward sav
ing the environment. He was moti
vated toward environmental activ
ism because, as a child living in the
San Fernando Valley of California,
he would open the newspaper to
check the pollution index—if it
were high enough, he wouldn't be
able to play outside.
He states, "there is something fun
damentally wrong when society
can't guarantee children freedom to
go out and enjoy themselves," thus
his interest in saving the environ
ment. "The environment is an issue
that everyone in America should
agree on. Find me a person who
says there are too many parks, that
the air is too clean, or that we don't
need cleaner drinking water,"
Adam Werbach, President of the Sierra Club, speaks on
the "Spirit of Volunteerism"
parking continued from page 1
have gone by, they receive a three
dollar late charge. They can also
choose to appeal a fine. Appeals are
heard by a committee of students
chaired by the vice-president of the
SGA- the same people who would
receive the money from a fine.
The most common parking com
plaint is, of course, the cost. Bob
Newara, 05 PLET, says, "I'm elated
to be going to Edinboro next semes
ter, where I'll only have to pay fif
teen bucks for a year-long parking
permit!"
Newara draws a fair comparison, as
both Behrend and Edinboro are state
schools. Slippery Rock, another
nearby public school charges only
twenty-five dollars for a year-long
permit. Both are small when com
pared to Behrend's one hundred and
six dollar permit. Still, Donahue
states, "Our rates aren't out of line
considering what they support."
The debate about parking will no
doubt continue. Many students have
no other option but to drive, so they
must pay the fee. Some could use
public transportation but are under
standably reluctant to do so. For now,
student drivers have little choice but
to shell out the money for the tag or
start walking.
Werbach states.
The evidence of successful com-
munity environmental activism is
obvious here in Erie, since "twenty
five years ago, no one would be fish
ing in Lake Erie; no one would even
want to get into the water" but be
cause of people's efforts to improve
their community, Lake Erie is much
cleaner and more appreciated. "This
happened because people got to
gether and they worked," declares
Werbach. The Sierra Club is in the
process of reorganizing funds to
support this desired increase in com
munity improvement. Eighty-per
cent or Money spent on diriCi 'lob
bying has been reallocated toward
environmental awareness at the
community level.
Werbach places great value in
Henry David Thoreau's quote that
"in wildness is the preservation of
the world." Wildness, as used here,
is not only the wilderness of the
natural landscape, but also the
"wildness" within one's self—to
take risks, be heard, and actively
pursue one's goals. In closing his
presentation, Werbach addressed
the large crowd of students, faculty,
and community members: "I wish
you much wildness."