A View From The Lighthouse
Political actors, free food
and possible
fisticuffs!
So, are you voting for Bush,
Gore, or other? You know, George
W. Bush, Republican Governor of
Texas, and Al Gore, Democratic
Vice President of the United
States? The two major candidates
that are running for president in the
2000 election? The November
election in which we, the people,
will choose the new leader of the
free world? Is this thing on?
Well, those of you who have
some clue as to what we're talking
about, let's pose another question:
why are you voting for a, b, c, or
w? Do you like Gore because of
his stand on prescription drugs? Or
do you like Bush's platform on
education reforms? Or maybe you
are voting for Nader because you
just don't like Stoneface Al or
Curious George. But what is it
about these candidates that you like
or dislike? Is it their stands on
social security and military defense
that is your deciding factor, or are
you picking someone because they
look better in Levi's or slipped
their wife some tongue on national
TV? Hmmm, interesting.
Well, for those of you out there
who are going to be selecting a
leader based on the number of dirty
words he has said to reporters,
listen up. The Beacon and the
Honors Programs at Behrend are
going to give you the opportunity
to gain a little perspective on the
actual issues the two main
contenders are presenting. We are
holding a debate on campus that
will give listeners the chance to
learn what each candidate is
actually planning to do if elected
Informed students will be
presenting and arguing the stances
for each party. It will be mediated,
so there probably won't be any
fistfights (unless, of course, some
random audience member should
choose to throw the first punch ...
not that we are condoning that).
The debate will be structured; the
rules agreed to ahead of time will
be strictly followed much like
they were in Tuesday's Jim Lehrer
debate (I hope you are picking up
on my sarcasm, here because I'm
laying it on pretty thick).
Now, we realize that the idea of
gaining knowledge in college (huh
huh, that rhymes) may be
disturbing to some, so here are a
few reasons why this is not a bad
thing. For one, think of how
shocked your parents will be when
THE BEHREND BEACON
published weekly by the students of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Editor-in-Chief
Jason Snyder
Managing Editor
Michael Frawley
News Editor
Liz Hayes
Editorial & Health Page Editor
Katie Galley
Features Editors
Karl Benacci
Jermaine Hardy
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Deanna Symoski
Sports Editor
Doug Smith
Abby Long (assistant)
Wire Service Editor
Rob Wynne
Photo Editors
Jeff Miller
Becky Weindorf
Associate Editor
Christine Kleck
Copy Editor
Paige Miles
Postal Information: The Beacon 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 Beacon can be
reached by calling (814) 898-6488
or (814) 898-6019 (FAX). ISSN
1071-9288.
you randomly bring up at the
dinner table how you think Gore's
plan for dealing with Milosevic is
bull. Bet you never saw anyone
snarf peas through their nose
before! Plus, you will get to see
your fellow classmates speak in a
public forum other than speech
comm 100. And you won't have to
give those phony golf claps unless
you really mean it! Oh, and local
media might be there as well.
Think of how impressed when your
hometown friends learn you made
it on Erie news. Score!
Of course there will be the side
benefit of learning what these
candidates are really about so that
we can make an informed decision
when the time comes to perform
our constitutional rights. True, that
this is not much of a motivator for
us Gen Xers, or whatever they are
calling us now. Who cares about
social security we aren't going to
be able to retire for years. And
what's the big deal with missile
defense no one has bombs that
will reach the US. Tax cuts for the
middle class? Hah! We are all
going to be making way more
money than those middle class
fools. Education reforms? We
don't need no ed-ju-cay-shen
We's gonna be graduatin' soon
Lotsa people go to college for
several years, and they all like
paying out the wazoo for it.
For those who think they know
what we are getting at, join us on
October 18 in the Reed Commons
There's no WWF events or
televised presidential debates
scheduled to choose between
There might even be some free
food. If nothing else, it's bound to
be entertaining. And for those of
you who are still trying to figure
out who Bush and Gore are, don't
worry. I'm sure there will be some
reruns or cooking programs on for
you to watch.
Money Page Editor
Amortya Sinha
Advertising Manager
MINIM
Business Manager
Kristine Harakal
Office Manager
Kevin Bruner
Public Relations Manager
Ainslie Ulmer
Secretary
Melissa Proba
Advisor
Robert Speel
Letter Policy: The Beacon
encourages letters to the editor.
Letters should include the address,
phone number, semester standing
and major of the writer. Writers can
mail letters to behrcoll2@aol.com.
Letters must be received no later
than 5 p.m. Tuesday for inclusion
in that week's issue.
c
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'l -- : .•
Enough "Snyde" parking commentary
Dear Editor,
Perusing the Beacon last week, I came across
an interesting title that asked, "What Parking
Problem?" Following the whimsical title was an
article full of "Snyde" commentary that was just
too much to ignore. So instead of entertaining
"an overwhelming urge to pout" about parking
problems, as a mildly irritated commuter, I
willingly take the bait dangled before me and
will address the article.
Correction 1: The "huge injustice" here is not
that all commuters cannot find parking to suit
their preferred proximity, but that we all cannot
Slow down Behrend
Dear Editor,
I have noticed the large amount of letters
written to the paper concerning parking. I do
think, however, that commuter students have a
bigger problem.
On October 2, a commuter student was
crossing the road between the Academic parking
lot and the Reed building. She was hit by a
vehicle and taken away in an ambulance. As of
yet, her condition has not been released by St.
Vincent's. This student is a nontraditional, single
parent who had planned on graduating in May
2001. Because of this accident, her plans for the
Not if different means the same:
right candidate
After watching the presidential debate this week I
feel somehow cheated. I am amazed that with as
great as our country is, these are the two people that
we pick to be nominated for president. What
happened to the charismatic leaders of the past who
were able to make the people believe that we were a
part of something great, that we could accomplish
anything that we put our minds to? What happened
to hope for a brighter future?
I am now so disillusioned with this presidential
election, I don't think that I will be voting for
president. Now don't get me wrong, I'll still be
voting, just not for the two idiots I just watched act
like 4-year olds on TV last night. Isn't it great to
see the candiates cut each other off to scream, "I'm
right and you're wrong?" I am starting to feel that it
doesn't really matter who gets elected, the country
will contiune to plug along like it always has.
I wish I could feel that my vote would make a
difference. That the two candidates had different
views of where America would go under their
leadership, and I was able to vote for the direction
that I wanted it to go, but Gore and Bush are such
carbon copies of each other that even the moderator
of the debates, Jim Lehrer, had to ask what the
difference was between some of their policies.
Forty years ago, the first televised Presidential
debates took place, ushering in a new age of
politics. People, for the first time, were able to see
the candidates, and have television to help them
make their decisions. While this might have had the
best intentions, televisions have ruined politics in
this country. And in the intervening years, people in
this country have fundamentally changed, and in my
opinion not for the better.
r r n
I
BUSH'S
cANNeD
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
get parking located in the shade. Please keep that
straight.
Correction 2: Surprisingly, for every car I see
leaving the campus there is not one, but fifty cars
waiting to take that one parking spot left open.
Correction 3: If you can't get parking, "make
adjustments in your schedule to make up for the
inconveniences... It's a novel idea, but personally
I don't have the luxury of leaving work when I
please to fetch a prime parking position at
Behrend. I leave when the next shift relieves me
with no room for argument
I do agree with the article when it mentioned
future are in jeopardy.
The topic of speeding cars that do not stop for
pedestrians has been a cause of grumbling among
many commuters for years. I have actually
jumped out from in front of speeding cars
multiple times, as have many others. What will it
take for the speed limit to be enforced? Does
somebody have to die?
Granted, there are sonic signs that urge drivers
to slow down (a small Slow sign and a Yield To
Pedestrians sign), but we need some more
protection. I suggest a four-way stop sign at this
intersection, speed bumps throughout campus, and
your parents
about the last
presidential
election that
they really cared
about. I'm willing to bet that they start telling you
about John F. Kennedy. What was it about this man
that was so moving, and where have men like him
gone today? Kennedy did one thing; he gave
Americans hope for a better tomorrow. While he
was only elected by a narrow margin, voters our
age flocked to him feeling that with JFK as our
leader they could change the world. How many
people are flocking to Gore because he's out to
change the world for the better?
Now people tell me that times are different then
they were 40 years ago, and a different leader is
needed today. But is it really all that different? As
we are coming out of a time of tremendous
prosperity, so were the fifties. And the problems
that existed back then are still the same. People
around the world are starving, dying of disease, and
being killed in senseless warfare. JFK started
programs like the Peace Corps and convinced
people that if they tried they could make a
difference. Now, we get to hear Bush and Gore
Ni no L i g
NADER t BOMAN'S'
CANNED ANSWeRS•s•
argue how best to waste a budget surplus; boy
have things changed.
Pay No Attention To The I used to wonder why people
our age don't care about
Man Behind The Curta i n
politics, but now I am beginning
Mike Frawley to see why. Candidates like Bush and
Gore just suck all of the idealism out of you.
I am about to graduate in December (contrary to
popular opinion) and I feel that I should have
some kind of drive to change the world, make it a
better place for my children, but in reality all I'm
concerned about is getting a good paying job
where I don't have to work weekends.
Maybe we need to try to rethink our priorities.
We need to get out and do something. That 5k
walk for the charity of the month is a start, but we
could do so much more. As both candidates said,
we are at a crossroads, and now a choice needs to
be made. Do we continue to live our lives
concerned only about the physical wealth we can
acquire, or do we drop everything, join the Peace
Corps, and give up a few years of our lives to do
something worthwhile?
We don't need to go that far to get back on
track. People need to take a stand on issues that
you feeling strongly about, and don't back down
until they are changed for the better. Taking a
stand is not always easy, and is not always
popular, but that just makes it all the more
rewarding when you are done. "Ask not what
your country can do for you, but ask what you can
do for your country."
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2000
banning freshman from keeping cars on campus.
Why do I support this? Probably because I will
not be an incoming freshman resident next fall.
In the myriad parking solutions that have been
presented in the last month, that one seems to be
the most cost efficient TEMPORARY one. The
author even stated that he would start a petition
supporting the ban to "satisfy our parking rage."
No thanks. Leave it to the commuter council so
no time is taken from your writing.
Heidi Proba
enforcement of the 15 m.p.h. speed limit.
Above all, I urge, even plead, with my fellow
commuters to SLOW DOWN AND PAY
ATTENTION! Pedestrians are real people who
can be hurt, and who have lives and families that
are greatly affected by accidents. I also ask
Police and Safety to enforce the speed limit and
other traffic rules that directly affect the safety of
our commuter students.
Sincerely,
Amy Super, English, 07
picking the
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