SGA leaders' posture sets poor example Dearest editor, While perusing a recent edition of our Behrend College Collegian, I was shocked to discover a glaring inad equacy in the leadership of our Stu dent Government. This shortcoming is not political in nature, nor does it involve a mismanagement of funds, rather, it falls clearly within the do main of etiquette. To further preface my remarks, I should like to state that I am fully aware of the fact that we attend school in a depressingly bu colic and decidedly middle class en vironment. But one can only concede so much to one's surroundings. We cannot allow our social consciousness to plummet to the low level of those native inhabitants that live and work around us. If we were to visit a Bra zilian tribal culture would we parade about in loincloths? I fell that I am justified in express ing, without a hint of trepidation, my utter mortification regarding the ap palling manner in which our SGA president and vice president chose to position their arms and hands in the picture on page one of the February twelfth issue. They are shown talk ing with the campus Director of Stu dent Operations, and have blatantly brushed aside the most basic rule of civil, courteous conversation! It is not my intention to belittle our leaders; I am merely offering, with as much grace as the situation allows, advice and counseling in relation to the proper positioning and placement of hands and arms during social interac tion. It is the duty of every student to adhere to socially acceptable methods Gum chewing sucks! What I have to say is important and should reach everyone possible. There is a sickening maniacal handi cap plaguing the students of our noble college. I am of course referring to those students who insist on chewing their gum like absolute slobs!!! You know who you are! This is no joke. Every day, in every class honorable, moral, hard working students are forced to sit beside these cows and listen to their nauseating gum smack ing feverishly between their thought less slimy lips. It's enough to make Winter returns to the gorge: Forecasters are predicting upwards of three feet of snow for this weekend. Bundle up! of communication, and this is doubly true of our elected officials— those that represent us on campus and abroad I hardly believe that I am the only student distressed to find out SGA leader on the front page of the news paper, locked in discussion with di rector Ream, with one hand thrust severely into his presidential pocket! And what of our vice president? Thumbs shoved into both pockets as if he were striding toward a mechani cal bull in a rodeo bar! Perhaps the most disturbing effect of this postur ing is that their slovenliness seems to have infected the Director of Opera tions as well! In fact I shall begin my summary of Do Nots with his faux pas. Do not- lock hands in front of your body while speaking to someone. This fron tal position should only be used while defending against a direct kick in a soccer match, and may be disregarded if you have equipped yourself with a protective athletic supporter. Do not- clasp hands behind your back. This position is commonly referred to as the "museum browser" and should al ways be avoided, as it tends to make your partner in discussion feel as if he is on display at the Guggenheim. Do not- place your hands in pockets. You must always be free to gesticulate though over-animation is also inad visable) and this can be difficult if hands have been pocketed, especially when tight pants are concerned. And any decent person cringe with disgust -1 mean who on earth do these people think they are anyway! Smack, smack, smack, and don't for get the occasional bubble popping right while the professor is making a key point in his or her lecture. Penn State should make regulations against this sort of thing. Don't they want their students to learn??? What sort of a credible institution doesn't want their students to learn anything at the cost of offending a few simple tons who seem to think the world is of course, the temptation to fiddle about with loose change or money clips poses the constant hazard of fur ther distracting your partner. Do not- cross your arms over your chest. No conversation can survive overt defen siveness. Recall the undiplomatic re sults of Sitting Bull's conferences. Do not- insert thumbs in belt loops or pock ets or waistlines, even in Texas. If you do, you might just as well spit tobacco and elbow jokingly at your partner's abdomen. He will be equally of fended. There is no mystery to the proper From left to right: SGA President Michael Zampetti, SGA Vice President Timothy Smith and Director of Operations John Ream more preoccupied with them than anything else? You see students of Behrend, we don't need to be subject to such pu trescence, this is not the way the world works! Do you honestly assume that these people will be given jobs if they show up to interviews sporting a gi ant wad of goo in their mouth! No, because any decent employer would know that they didn't belong in any sort of job setting. Just as they don't belong at Penn State University. 1 mean, aren't there community col leges for these inconsiderate people (if you can even call them people!!) Lets do the Twist appears every three weeks in The Collision. ‘vriT 'lt9 - !, .i Editorial placement of hands during conversa tion. Your arms should simply hang loosely and casually at you sides, bal anced with erect back and shoulder posture, so as not to appear apish. The best way to master this stance is to practice it in front of a mirror until it looks and feels natural. I hope that these observations will prove beneficial in the public lives of our elected leaders, as well as in the day to day conversations of every Behrend student. In defense of civilization, Addison Osgood 02 Art History ••••••0•••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . •:•..• Ca s ER., • • • • • • • • • • • . • Apply now in The Office of Student Affairs ••••0••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Looking for showgirls, poker dealers, animal trainers, and bad lounge singers sacek AA*®i I I _ I 1 1 0 The Behrend College Collision. Thursday, April 2, 1998 - page XXX More Comminity Blood Blank coverage needed Dear Editor I am writing to complain about the changes that I have noticed in this year's Collision. I have noticed that instead of covering the really press ing issues, such as the semiannual visit of the Comminity Blood Blank, the Collision tends to write about trivial matters like the Student Activ ity Fee and Student Government. I feel that it is extremely important to learn about the heart of our comminity, the blood blank. By ignor ing this, the Collision is ignoring the true spirit of Behrend and blood blank pride. Also, I would like to comment A * A about layout. Last year, when the staff had space to fill, they were creative and found delightful pictures of dino saurs and checkerboards. Now, all I see are ads, like it was a real newspa per or something. However, I really feel that the heart and soul of the paper has been de stroyed with the changes in the edito rial page. Where are the student edi torials on hot issues like spit sucks? Why would I care how the school spends my tuition money? The real problem on this campus is that a stu dent can't walk down the sidewalk with our being confronted by a hocker. We students have to confront these issues! Apparently our newspa per feels that spit isn't worthy of the editorial page. I, personally, would like to see the paper go back to the way it was last year. I feel that I am missing what re ally goes on at this campus with the lack of blood blank coverage. I used to be secure in the knowledge that there would be a blood blank story in almost every issue, and usually on the front page. Now all I can find is a tiny article buried on page two once a se mester. I hold the Collision person ally responsible for the shortage of blood in Erie County. Who knows what the blood blank could have ac complished with the support of the Collision? I encourage all students stand up for their right to more blood blank coverage. By the way, the blood blank is sponsored by Tau Kappa Ep silon and Theta Phi Alpha. Sincerely, Mick B. Santa 04 Home Economics
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