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View From The Lighthouse
Democracy hypocrisy
There has been a lot of talk in
this year’s election about how
important it is for the countries
in this world to be more
democratic. But how is it
possible for the United States to
enforce democracy when we, by
definition, don’t even practice
it? The definition of democracy
is this:
democracy (n) 1. Government
by the people, exercised either
directly or through elected
representatives... 4. rule by the
majority.
This brings up two questions
about the way we elect officials
in national elections. When we
go to the voting booths on
November 7, 2000, we will flip
the switch for the president that
we wish to take office. In
reality, we will be flipping the
switch for electors of the
Electoral College, who will then
vote for the person that they
wish to take office
Briefly, here’s how it works.
Each state is designated a certain
number of electoral votes based
on their population. In addition
to that, each state gets two
electoral votes for the number of
senators they have. In
Pennsylvania, there are 21
districts (based on population)
and 2 senators. 21 + 2 = 23,
which is the number of electoral
votes designated to
Pennsylvania. California has 52
districts + 2 senators = 54
electoral votes. Delaware, 1 + 2
= 3 electoral votes.
So how does this challenge
our claim that we are a
democracy? Take this scenario
for example...
A 1 Gore wins California by 1000
votes. Gore also wins
Pennsylvania by 1000 votes.
George W. Bush wins Delaware
by 5000 votes. This would
mean that Bush won the
majority of votes in the three
states by a total of 3000 votes,
yet loses the election, 77-3. We
throw out the total voter count
and put the election in the hands
of 538 electors.
Government by the people ?
Rule by majority? If everything
goes right, then yes, officials are
ultimately chosen by the people.
But there is room for error. Why
take the chance when all we
need to do is take total vote
count into consideration and
announce the winner as the
candidate that got the most
votes? But that brings up
another question
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.
If we are to just take the
candidate with the most votes,
then we could violate that all
important word of democracy
again. How? In 1992, Bill
Clinton won 43% of the total
popular vote. George Bush won
38% of the total popular vote,
with Perot grabbing 19%. If we
were to get rid of the electoral
college, Bill Clinton would win
the election because he got the
most votes. But does he really
rule by majority ?
The term “majority” is
equivalent to “more than 50%.”
More people in this country
voted against Clinton than for
him, yet he still won the
presidency. This is not majority
rule.
We propose a run-off system
of voting. That means, if no
candidate wins the election with
at least 50% of the vote, there is
a run-off between the top two
candidates. Here’s the scenario..
George W. Bush wins 48% of
the popular vote. A 1 Gore wins
41% of the popular vote. Ralph
Nader wins 9% of the popular
vote with Pat Buchanan grabbing
2%. Instead of giving the
presidency to a man that less
than half of Americans voted for,
hold a one-on-one race between
the top two candidates, Bush and
Gore.
Maybe all this is just more to
complicate the election process,
but it’s the principle of it. Don’t
call the United States a
democracy and force the
government on other countries, if
we don’t even practice what we
preach
Get rid of the Electoral
College and only give elections
to people that the MAJORITY of
voters vote for. Don’t put the
power of our country in the
hands of 538 electors, put it in
the power of the people!
Money Page Editor
Amortya Sinha
Calendar Page Editor
Dena DeCarolis
Advertising Manager
Kim Z.uck
Business Manager
Kristine Harakal
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.
ke’s two cents worth
I have been quiet all semester, but I
just can’t take it any more. I have really
enjoyed my four and a half years of
going to school here, and I have
received a first class education that I
feel will serve me well the rest of my
life. But even with all of the
improvements that have taken place on
campus in my time here, there is still
something glaringly absent around
here: common sense. There are some
very intelligent people on this campus,
but when they have to click two brain cells together
for something practical, they can’t even get a spark.
To get through life you need more than just book
smarts, you need common sense, unless you plan
on living in Biosphere 11.
I understand that it is hard for some people to
grasp a concept when it is right in front of their
face. For example, something as simple as the idea
of the purpose of an editorial page. Now let’s
explain this real simple for all of you whose brains
are clogged up with malted hops and bong resin.
The purpose of an editorial page is for the editors
and other selected contributors to state their
opinions on any subject that they feel is important
and relevant. It is also a forum where readers of the
newspaper can write letters to the editors to share
ideas with other readers and the editors. Now lately
we have been getting a few letters about what we
have been printing in the paper. In my opinion this
is a great thing, it shows that people are reading the
paper and care enough to write letters about things
we have printed. What has been bothering me, and
shows the lack of common sense around here, is
that people have been complaining about who we
have writing for the paper, that they should not be
allowed to write for the paper and that we should
get other people to write for the paper.
Now this really pisses me off. Every semester
we give everyone on campus the chance to write a
column for the paper. We run a big ad on the
Are you a hazer?
Dear Editor,
One of the greatest parts of college life is joining organizations. It is a time
of meeting new people, learning new ideas, and getting the most out of your
college experience.
Joining a new organization should be an enjoyable experience, but,
unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some organizations violate
University policy, among other restrictions, during the beginning period of
membership. HAZING - it’s a word that we all recognize, but do we truly
know what it is and who does sit? According to the Pennsylvania State
University, hazing is defined as: any action or situation that (1) intentionally
endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or (2) willfully
destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of admission or
maintaining membership in any organization or group associated with the
University. Hazing policies apply to all members of the Penn State
Community. (Pennsylvania “Anti-Hazing Law” Act 175 of 1986,’ University
Policy Manual, SY-1, SY-2, SY-3, SY-7, SY-8, SY-12, SY-U, SY-16, SY-18, and
SY-27.)
Who does this apply to? As policy says, it applies to everyone. It is
commonly associated with social Greek organizations, but any individual or
group can be guilty of hazing. This includes sports teams, clubs, councils,
service organizations and social and nonsocial Greek organizations.
Newspapers, magazines, and television media boast headlines and horror
stories about (social) fraternities and sororities torturing new members,
forcing alcohol consumption, and committing degrading acts. This is hazing,
of course, but they are the most extreme cases. Did you know that singling
new members out, required meetings, and quizzing new members could all be
considered hazing? Hazing is something that may be affecting organizations
and individuals without their knowledge and awareness. Hazing can be
blatant or subtle, but either way it causes feelings of uncomfortableness,
embarrassment, and/or intimidation.
If you feel that you have been hazed or hazed someone, or if you want more
information, please contact the Office of Student Activities at x 6171. Hazing
is not only legal and in direct violation of University policy, it is detrimental
to the individuals involved, the organizations, and the campus community as a
whole.
Mackenzie Baird, Megan Horanic, Jamie Lewis, Jennifer Osmanski, Lennys
Redondo, and Erika Weissenfluh
Personal attacks at the Beaconl
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter concerning the recent “piss and moan” contents in
the Beacon. For those of you who have forgotten or simply did not read these
letters/editorials in the Oct. 20 edition of the paper. Abbey Atkinson wrote a
letter to the editor voicing her concerns about the apparent ignorance on this
campus of GLBT (gay/lesbian/bisexual/transsexual) issues. She also pointed
out that, in this day and age, we shouldn’t be enforcing outdated gender roles
in our school paper. In response, Katie Galley wrote her tri-weekly editorial
(appearing directly beneath Abbey’s letter) saying that no one cares about
these issues and that Abbey was just complaining for the sake of hearing
herself complain. In the Oct. 27 edition. Bob Sidick agreed.
I have a few concerns with Ms. Galley’s editorial. First of all, I personally
thought that Abbey made a valid argument in her letter, though Katie
compared the complaint with others, such as hers that people often walk
through doors she has opened for herself. I failed to see the comparison.
Secondly, who on this campus can say that this campus isn’t largely
ignorant of GLBT issues? Are you up to date? Do you care? And really, aren’t
gender roles such as those presented in “I know what boys like/What a girl
wants” a bit outdated? I think so, and I don’t see Ms. Galley’s point about the
titles being chosen because they are song titles. So what? The paper is still
endorsing the attitude, and that is what Abbey was pointing out.
Thirdly, and most importantly, I don’t think that Katie Galley had any right
to attack Abbey’s letter. We write letters to the editor because we have an
opinion about what is going on. We are supposed to be represented by the
Beacon, aren’t we? Our tuition goes to paying for the production of it. If Katie
had an opinion, she should have been objective like the rest of us and written
a letter to the editor, instead of stating something as subjective and mean
spirited as this: “ok, can everyone calm down and not read things into every
little thing that they see in the paper, or that they see in life in general for that
matter.. .stop thinking so highly of yourself!” I’m sorry if I offend you Katie
or Bob, but I will “read into” whatever I want to in my life, whether it has to
do with my life or your paper.
Sincerely,
Jaimi Bonczar, President Women Today
column so that we can choose
new editorial columnists for the following semester.
And you know how many we got last semester?
Two. Out of 3700 students on campus, we get two.
Now how sad is that? We have people writing in and
bitchin ’ about who we have writing for the paper, but
when it comes time to submit a sample column to
become an editorial columnist they can’t put down
their remote control long enough to write one, but
they can find time every gosh dam (editor’s note -1
orginally wanted to use a much stronger phrase but
due to our editor-in-chief’s dumbass swearing
policy, I was unable to state my true feeling on the
subject. Thanks Jay.) week to write pointless letters
to the editor about who we have writing for the
paper. Now if that doesn’t show a lack of common
sense around here, I don’t know what does.
I know that right now there are a whole bunch of
you about to spout off letters to the editor about how
horrible it is that I just wrote this, and maybe I’ll
even get a few death threats (which are always good
for a laugh), and if it will really make you feel better
by all means, write the letter. But if you think I
really care and that your letter will change how I feel
and write, let me save you some trouble, don’t bother
because 1 don’t care. I am writing to state my
opinion, which is the purpose of this page and of this
column. And I know that it might not be politically
correct, but this political correctness thing has gotten
a little old.
And while I’m at it this whole hyphenated
Americans thing is just plain stupid. We are the only
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
No Attention To The
something-American (African-American,
n Behind The Curtain Italian-American, Mongolian-American, Polish
• i m j American, Granadian-Americans, Iraqi
-IKC I? rawiev Americans, Yemenese-Americans, Kazakhstani-
Americans, Panamanian-Americans, Stupid-
Americans), but no one is just an American. You
don’t hear people in England who have American
ancestors saying that they are American-English, or
people from Russia who have German ancestors
calling themselves Germanic-Russians. And why
is that? It’s because people from these countries
don’t quibble about their backgrounds, they just
know they are Russians and go with it, but not
Americans. Everyone is so concerned about saying
just the right thing that crap like this becomes
important. Let’s get a grip and drop this stuff. We
are all Americans so lets just leave it at that.
Now that I have that off my chest, let’s get back
to the topic at hand. As the managing editor of the
Beacon I am very happy that people are picking up
the paper and reading it. When I first joined the
paper three years ago the only thing it was good for
was lining a birdcage. Now it has turned into a top
notch paper that people want to read (and if you
don’t believe me go look at the papers put out by
the other local colleges), and we have an award
winning columnist on staff. So please don’t write
to us saying that the people on staff can’t write
because they can. And if you think you can do a
better job, submit a sample and try to get on staff
next semester. It’s time to quit whining and do
something about it if you feel so strongly. Try
leaving your own warped little world and join us in
reality for a moment, and if you need help just give
me a call. I’ve got a baseball bat right here to beat
some common sense back into you.
RS. Next time you feel the urge, just do it.
ian.jgi'ng t'diior
page for weeks
on end asking people
to send in a sample
Praise and suggestions for the Beacon
Dear Editor,
Just wanted to let you know that I have been reading the Behrend college
newspaper for over four years now, and I think that this new Beacon is very
good. The format is not boring, and it comes across very professionally.
There is just enough of every agenda to keep one informed in a short
amount of time. The ads are good too, and everyone likes coupons! The
colored pictures are great!
Maybe a section where each week you feature a place or two where kids
may go to for relaxation might be of interest. Examples might be restau
rants, parks, seasonal events (Haunted Happenings, Festival of Trees, ZOO
lumination, Holiday concerts...), Art Museum events, Mall events, festivals,
Dances (Church/Community sponsored), Erie Amphitheater, or Radio
Station sponsored events. Kids are always saying there is nothing to
do...open their eyes to things that may appeal to their interests.
I know you list some events, and that is good, but it needs to be broader.
Sometimes all it takes is to get on their mailing list, and they will mail you
schedules of events that you may post. Erie Insight puts out a pamphlet of
happenings around town, and the Provost’s Office receives them. That may
give you some ideas. Not ‘too costly’ events though, we all know how poor
college kids are; I know, 1 have two of them myself! Just an idea. Thanks
again for a great paper!
Karen Hein, Staff Assistant/Switchboard Operator
Operations, Glenhill Farmhouse
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Displays of genius need not appear
Dear Editor,
As always, I hardly know where to begin. It seems that every week, Liz
Hayes has less to say. It got so bad that we were treated to a horribly self
congratulatory article about Miss Hayes’ alleged genius. I am sure that we
are all very happy to hear that she can skip classes and still “cough up
another A,” but is the Beacon really the place for this kind of nonsense? I
won’t even touch her presidential endorsement with a ten foot pole, except
to say that it does not seem to me demonstrative of her genius.
Mr. Snyder, who has a way with words (and by this, I mean a bad way
with words), predictably endorsed Mr. Bush for president. Snyder even
goes so far as to accuse Mr. Gore of being a “smooth talker,” which could
not actually be further from the truth. By all measures, George Bush is the
slick talker in this election, and has demonstrated his ability to “talk his way
out of problems” more times than Mr. Gore has. Apparently Mr. Snyder
wants to believe the things he says about A 1 Gore, rather than generate
legitimate criticisms about the Vice President. This is all-out deception.
And while Mr. Snyder accuses the Clinton/Gore administration of decep
tion, he engages in it as readily as either of the men he accuses.
I’d like to offer a solution to the problem of the continued increasing
silliness of the Beacon's editorial page: more writers. Solicit submissions
from the students on a certain topic and please, make the topics good
(that means, no WWF: SMACKDOWN and no Smart is as smart does)
every week. I think Behrend would be interested in hearing from someone
other than The Usual Suspects.
Finally, I wish to commend and agree wholeheartedly with Abbey
Atkinson’s letters to the editor. The Beacon has time and time again done
nothing more than give voice to unintelligent, intolerant, and unoriginal
babble. Kudos to Abbey for pointing this out in such a dramatic and
compelling fashion. On the plus side, The Beacon has not forced me to off
myself, as I promised the first week, just yet. But you sure are trying, aren’t
you?
Jason Leto
off fetters to tfie editor to
Mv£cos2 @aoCcom
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3,2000
country on Earth where it is not good enough
to be from the country. Every one is
editorial
Frawley’s column appears every three
weeks.
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