FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2000
No day but today
Zoinks! Where has the summer gone?
Well, you know what they say, time flies
when you're having fun. I can still
remember the day I moved into my
freshmen Residence Hall. It doesn't seem
very long ago. Now I'm a sophomore?
I I still feel the same...so what is
so different about being a sophomore?
Surprisingly, there are many differences.
A few nights ago, I was using a com
puter in the Reed Union Building. While
checking my email, a girl (who happened
to be a freshman) initiated a conversation
with me. We conversed on such topics as
our classes and what there is to do in Erie.
At one point in the conversation, she told
me that being a freshman sucked and how
she couldn't wait until she was older. I
responded by asking her if she was on
crack. I told her that being a freshman is a
great experience.
She then asked me if I was on crack
After the wonderful discussion I went
back up to my room and studied (okay I
admit it, I didn't study, I watched TV).
Later that night, I thought about the
conversation that I had with the freshman
crack girl. I thought about the various
opinions that I had when I was a freshman
as compared to now and how some of them
have drastically changed.
I will admit, the Residence Halls aren't
very snazzy, and there is a lot of adjusting
to do during the beginning of freshman
year. But being a freshman is not some
thine that's bad.
21: the age of
champions
Let's play a little
game together: if I
were to say the
number twenty one,
what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Well,
if you guessed black jack, that's a fair guess, but not
what I had in mind. Nope, I'm talking about the big
21, you know the age where you can walk into any bar
in anytown in the good old USA and say, "Hey, give
me a beer, I'm twenty one." Some of you may fall into
the eighteen to almost twenty one year old category,
the three year inevitable Purgatory that we all must go
through. The rest of you fall into the twenty one and
over category, ah what lucky souls.
I recently had the pleasure of turning the BIG 21, on
August 11th to be exact, which so happened to be a
Friday night (how lucky could I get?). It was an
awesome summer evening when my friends and I
ventured out to celebrate my legal status. Our first
stop was at a local bar, where I was rooted on repeat
edly to do shot after shot after, well you get the
picture.
After a few blurry hours, we ended up at another
bar, thanks to our designated driver, where I pro
ceeded with my shot consumption. Everyone was so
happy I was finally legal, I couldn't help but feel a
little special. But all good things must come to an end
and inevitably I started feeling a little woozy, and well
I'm sure you can guess what happened next. To many
of you, my 21st birthday may have sounded similar to
your own.
When I woke up the next morning, not feeling so
hot, I remember lying in bed thinking, "I'm so glad I
survived my birthday without serious injury!" I
couldn't wait to go out again since I was now official.
And I did, quite a bit in fact. It was so exciting to be
able to go to any bar in town and say, "you're darn
right I've got i.d.."
It was also cool because I saw a lot of people I
hadn't seen in years. But, then just as I had decided
that being twenty one was the best thing in the world,
I started noticing a pattern. Now mind you, Erie isn't
that big and there are only so many decent bars to
hang out at, but it seems like every bar my friends and
I go to, we see the same people over and over again.
Sure, it was nice to see people from high school
again and it was even nicer to catch up on old times
with them. It was even cool to see most of the same
people the next couple times I went out. But, by about
the sixth or seventh time of running into the same
people, you start to realize why seasoned bar veterans
always preach about how the bar scene gets old real
fast.
So, what's my point in all this? Well, I just want to
emphasize the importance of one's twenty-first
birthday. Sure it may not be pretty, and I can guaran
tee that your friends will have the blackmail pictures
to prove it. But, all in all it's a milestone and from
what I've heard the last birthday worth looking
forward to. Well, for all of you fellow bar hoppers,
I'm sure I'll be seeing you out again and again. Until
then, cheers!
/I,t, A column Will appear every three weeks
I P, Oh, You
Didn't Know?
Karl Benacci
What's My Point?
Kimberly Zuck
fourth grade
and saying "oh I can't wait until middle
school." I can remember being in eighth
grade and saying "oh I can't wait until
high school." I can remember being in high
school and saying "oh I can't wait until
college." Recognize the pattern? No matter
where a person is in life, be it elementary
school or high school, they're always
wishing to be in a different stage of life.
Many of us can remember saying as a
little kid, "I wish I was a grown-up." Well,
chances are, most grown-ups wish that they
were a little kid again. Enjoy where you are
in life. Time seems to go by faster and
faster and the sooner you start enjoying
where you are, the happier you will be. I
can remember myself in high school,
complaining with my friends about high
school and how badly it sucked. Another
popular topic that we'd often talk about
was how we couldn't wait until college.
But now I miss everything about my high
school.
Well, almost everything. Life changes
Primetime TV: outwit...outplay
Yeah, yeah, yeah...survive this...survive that. What
is with this "survivor" theme popping up everywhere
lately? Companies are using the whole "jungle" idea in
their advertising and commercials; the ex-cast member:
from the TV show Survivor are more popular now than
when they were on the show; and in general I have bee
noticing an overall increase in the competitive nature o
society. It's as if the "outwit," "outplay," and "outlast"
fever from the TV show are now a way of life for
Americans.
It's not like it's a first. Trust me, the media, espe
cially prime time TV, has played this trick on us before
Who could forget last year's "race for the million," as
Americans everywhere crowded around their TV
screens just to watch an "every-day Joe or Sue" answer
questions to win a million dollars?
Within a few months every TV channel had one of
"those millionaire shows." I guess when it comes to
money, America just can't get enough. Less than a year
later prime time TV took a turn, but not necessarily for
the worse. CBS told ABC to "move over Regis.... your
gangster-style suits and witty catch phrases aren't
enough to hold America's attention."
So that's just what CBS did. They told 16 people to
trade their business suits in for their bathing suits
(although one castaway even lost his bathing suit...)
only to become the first cast on a new "millionaire" TV
: e prepared to shop around for the perfect guy
by Julie Chen
Campus Correspondent - University of Texas at Austin
Okay career women, listen up. You're a growing
breed. Making the grade and snagging that recommen
dation is probably not your biggest obstacle. Brains,
beauty, bravery. Check, check, check. Having it all is
the name of the game.
Boys? There are probably more of them calling than
you know what to do with, which is just as well. There
is no better time in life to date than when in college.
At least you know they can read.
But ironically, many college women are equally
frustrated with finding a fulfilling relationship.
Already found Mr. Right? Read no further. Consider
yourself a step ahead: one more item crossed off from
that ever-trailing list of "Things To Do Today. Or
Very, Very Soon."
For the rest of us who must face the idiosyncrasies
of reality-juggling work, school, community service,
exercise, ambition, family and friends -- the desire for
"a perfect romance" creates an extra twist on that
already hectic life.
Oh, don't deny it. The complaints are profuse and
have all been aired. "He's so laid back...he's down
right lazy!" "He's cute but there's no chemistry. He's
no fun. What a dud." "Argh, doesn't he care about the
corruption of our government?" "He wants commit
ment--eek! I can't even commit to my GPA." And
voted most popular: "He's too demanding -- I don't
have that kind of time!"
If only interpersonal relationships came with a
manual. But luckily, through personal experience,
dating can be compared, almost too perfectly, to
another familiar sport: shopping. (And with "mini
mum input, maximum output" being such a popular
mantra to success, may someone else's bane be your
EDITORIAL
constantly and if you enjoy the present,
you probably won't live your future in
regret. I will admit, when I was a fresh
man, I longed for a room in Ohio Hall.
I wanted to become a sophomore so
that I could get out of my Resi
dence Hall. But as I look back
upon my freshmen year, I miss it a
lot. I miss playing basketball on the Perry
Courts, I miss the hilarious talks that I had
with Mike, my old roommate, and I even
miss the great view of the Reed Union
Building that I had from my room in Perry
Hall.
remember
being in the
I have observed a number of changes
that occurred from my freshmen year to my
sophomore year. Now that I live in a new
building, I am surrounded by many people
that I don't know, and friends who lived in
Perry Hall with me last semester are now
scattered all around campus. Another
change that I've noticed is that some of my
friends from freshman year have either a)
transferred to other campuses or b)
dropped out of college.
In closing, I urge the freshmen (and
everyone else) to enjoy the present,
because someday everything will be
different. Wishing for the future and
wasting the present is a total waste of life.
Freshman year (along with any other stage
in life) is full of great memories, so enjoy
the time you have because before you
know it, you'll he worm food.
Ii 7f?
Instead of
competing with
Americans all over
the country to answer
questions correctly for one
million dollars, the idea behind this new TV show is for
the cast to compete and to eliminate each other for a
million.
Thirteen successful episodes later, tribal council
meetings, hostile truck drivers, and an overweight,
naked (not to mention wealthy) homosexual are what
we got. For some of us, 13 episodes were enough, but
for others, the post-Super Bowl new Survivor season
won't come fast enough.
So that's where "BIG BROTHER" comes in. CBS
knew that in order to really out-do the other guys they
had to carry out the millionaire theme even after the
"Survivor" season was over, so a spin off and/ or
glorified version of MTV's "The Real World" is what
we got. Or, to get technical, 10 people, 3 months, no
contact with the outside world. It's all in the numbers,
~,i,;„„r
~..
onal Student 0
blessing.)
Tip number one: try on everything. Assumptions
can be the root of demise of all potentially beautiful
relationships. Give the guy a chance. If you don't try
on the dress, assuming the color won't look good on
you or it might not fit right, you might miss out on a
really good deal. And just because it looks good from
afar doesn't mean it is. Many of them like to talk
about how much they work out to look that good
There is no better
time in life to date
than when in
college. At leastyou
know they can read.
Two: don't hesitate to return or toss out any unsatis
factory merchandise. If after you've given him a
chance but he makes you unhappy, please do not let
your boundless compassion rear its nagging head.
Staying in a bad relationship may not be worth the
price. Do you give 100 percent and get 10 percent?
Does he use and abuse you? Please do what you'd do
with shoes that don't fit.
Three: if you know a good thing when you see it,
treat it right. Guys are the same way: they don't know
what you're thinking. At least, give them a hint. What
The Hot Debate of The Week'
Disciplinarian or Coach?
Should .Bobb 1 , k l l i.,, .4 . .,
_ .. A * ~.,. -:, ,
J red the 'way
.I.i
Bobby Knight fired? It's about time. The
man obviously can't control himself. He
violently grabs his players by the neck?
What kind of coach has to rip a guy's throat
out to make his point, or for that matter,
grab a freshmen by the arm and rip him a
new one for saying, "hey, what's up
Knight?" A coach is supposed to set an
example for his players. In an interview
with CNN, Knight stated, "I just tried to
teach him some manners." Knight admits
that he did have a confrontation with one of
the students. Was his job description
"professor of manners" or head basketball
coach?
Even if the student was rude to him,
Knight should have walked the other way,
especially with his past of violent outbursts.
He showed his true colors when he grabbed
one of his players by the neck. A coach
should have patience and self-control in
stressful situations. Even if a player got out
of line, Knight should not have resorted to
physical violence. Whatever happened to
just screaming in a player's face or making
them run laps around the gym?
Every week, two editors from the staff will debate
a topic that is hot. Students, faculty and staff are
encouraged to email suggestions for the hot topic.
Send ideas to behrcoll2@aol.com
t Chat
Change
istine Kleck
t istO cdi tor
29 years of coaching. 29 year of disciplin
ing his players. And suddenly, Bobby
Knight's been fired. Knight's history as a
basketball coach isn't a mystery to any of us.
His hard-nosed coaching style isn't anything
new. But all of a sudden, after a "zero
tolerance policy" that hasn't even been
completely spelled out yet, Knight has been
fired for a disciplinary act that he has
performed openly for 29 years. Sure Knight
was in the wrong when he once grabbed a
player by the neck years ago.. Sure it is
controversial when he disciplines any of his
players in a physical manner. But how can a
coach get away with physically disciplining
his players in the past, but suddenly (after 29
years), be fired for doing the same thing? If
Indiana University wanted to have a non-
controversial coach that focused on only
teaching basketball and not teaching basket
ball etiquette and simple manners, Knight
should have been fired the day he was hired.
Maybe a coach shouldn't touch his players in
a physical manner. But the Indiana players
knew what they were getting into when they
got recruited. It didn't take them 29 years to
figure it out.
..outlast...
and then of course dollar signs do play a pretty big part
in this whole ordeal.
So now what...the kings of prime time are telling us
that we can forget answering questions, or dressing like
natives, all we have to do is live in a house for 90 days
with 10 other people. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it?
Wrong!
Not only do you have 10 houseguests, but 10,000
house guests. Yes, that's right, for the price of
$500,000 CBS will pay you to be watched by all of
America, while you pretend to like 9 other strangers,
while you perform weekly tasks, and there they'll even
throw in a chance to have your hair dyed green (at no
extra charge). Talk about a bargain. I mean if you can
stand the 14 robotic cameras, 5 stationary cameras, 5
handheld cameras, 4 infrared cameras, 60 microphones,
and 69 camera windows/two-way mirrors watching and
recording your every breath, as well as your every
burp, then the cash is all yours.
To kind of give meaning to this whole idea, I guess
there is only one thing to say: "When it comes to prime
time TV, Americans like, and certainly can't get enough
money...but at least now we're winning it more
creatively."
Iticek'c column ~ .11; Wry di/VP ('k%
non
they know is based on what you do. That is a truth
held to be self-evident. If that perfect dress needs dry
cleaning, take it in.
Four: be careful of fraudulent goods. There will be a
. .
few Don Juans along the way who will say everything
you want to hear and do everything you want a guy to
do, but they won't mean it. Not all Prada purses are
made by Prada. There are guys who fit the stereotype:
they do not think with their brains. (No explanation
necessary.)
Five: have a general sense of what you're looking
for. You don't want to waste an entire day at the mall,
not that a busy woman like you would. But, not
knowing what you want doesn't always have good
results: more money is spent, not a great bargain
gained. Ditto with accepting dates without regard to
who asks. Sometimes, it's nothing lost and nothing
gained. More often, the repercussions can are harsh,
especially if it's the wrong guy whispering sweet
nothings into your drunken ear.
Finally: don't be afraid of falling in love. Thinking
about how you could conquer the world with that little
red dress is not the same as actually letting yourself do
so. If you like the guy, girlfriend, just like him. Don't
deceive yourself with a I-can't-fall-right-now-I-have
to-save-the-world-first antic. Avoiding the sales never
got you very far. Victory will be yours when you find
a man whose intellect matches his biceps. A man
whose humor will erase the blunders that set your
ambitions off-course. And ideally, a man whose
understanding will ease every pain of your crazy life,
which seems to run on a cycle of 30-hour-long days.
But, like everything else that you had to work hard
for in college, you'll have to find Mr. Perfect the way
you find that perfect sale: like a woman on a mission.
After all, wasn't your dogma, she who hath all inherits
all?