FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2001
Some
realizations
about reality
television
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Chew on This
'-
-,-"`A Rob Wynne
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I usually don't take the time to write my
editorials about mainstream happenings in
the world - you know, the stuff everyone
complains about already. I have, however,
become quite fascinated with the
introduction of "reality TV" over the last
year, and I've slowly been collecting tidbits
of fact and opinion about the new fad.
Combined with all of the recent hype about
the morality issues (or lack thereof) in the
new Temptation Island show, I feel I have
come up with a few points for you to chew
on, and maybe spit back at me. It's just an
editorial, remember.
First off, (and I don't mean who was first
off of the island) I must say that Temptation
Island isn't a bad show. For those of you
who are ready to quit reading my editorial
now (Katie G.), thanks for showing up and
enjoy reading the rest of the paper perhaps
you can check out my auto supplement.
Really, I think the show serves as a good
example of exactly how shallow some
people can be. If a person finds that the best
way to have a good time with someone else
is to he put on an island where handsome
and beautiful men and women have to be
shipped in, then there is a problem.
Actually, it's too easy. This show represents
the growing stereotype of many young
people lazy and selfish. If one can get the
best quality for minimal effort, and then
success is achieved, right? Couples that are
willing to throw away years of memories for
a quick flirt don't deserve to be together
anyway.
Moreover, I don't know how many of you
are currently in a "real"ationship or have
been in the past, but isn't part of learning to
love someone taking the time to understand
him or her and realizing that they may have
different and interesting qualities from
yourself? I don't think I would want to date
someone just like myself. Just a tidbit of
info the show did say that "compatible"
singles were brought on to the island I
guess it's all a part of the whole
temptation" theme.
I have noticed one drawback about the
show, however. Everyone is too
comfortable. flow conic., everyone on the
show is a massage therapist, a doctor, or a
lawyer? At any rate, if you hate the show, at
least watch it and learn from it, maybe even
laugh at it. My girlfriend said she was
queasy watching the show by herself, so
now she tapes it and we watch it together.
Just remember that the show doesn't break
couples up couples break couples up. Got
it?
Moving on, I am curious if you remember
the 1987 movie "The Running Man,"
starring Arnold Schwartzeneggar. The
movie was based around something of a
"survivor" plot —except it was prisoners that
were trapped in a labyrinth struggle to
survive by any means possible for the glory
of freedom. If you remember that movie,
don't even tell me you didn't think it was a
little far-fetched at the time. Granted, the
most action-packed game shows during that
time were "Family Double Dare" and
"America's Funniest Home Videos," but
what seemed unreal just a decade or so ago
is reality today.
What I'm waiting for now is some kind of
show involving cars. Maybe a cross-country
or cross-continental trek to see who has the
car with the most guts. It's kind of ironic,
but there is actually a movie called "Death
Race 2000." It was made in the late 70's or
early 80's and was one of Sylvester
Stallone's first movies. Basically, in the
year 2000, six or seven people race their
cars across the country, scoring points for
damages done to other vehicles and innocent
pedestrians. Whoever made it to the end of
the race first, alive, and with the most points
became the new president of the United
States. I guess that would eliminate the
electoral college. What's even more
interesting, the intense focus of the media on
the event also seems eerily realistic.
One more paradoxical item; I find it
humorous that reality is making its way on
to reality TV. The news about the couple
who have a child and didn't tell anyone wil
surely boost the ratings of the show, becaus
the more twisted the show, the higher rating
for the TV show. So who will be voted (or
booted) off next? Only morals will te11...
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Behrend high school drama club presents...
Coffee Talk
Kristin Rod
4p
When you think of leaving high school,
many exciting things come to mind—hopes
of starting over, dreams of your first class
starting at 3:00 p.m., and the greatly
anticipated—being freed from the grip of
the 'rents. Although admissions counselors
may tell you Behrend is "hot and trendy,"
the one thing admissions counselors and
brochures do not tell prospective students is
that they will only be starting high school
all over again.
Yes, I said high school, and why? Mainly
because nothing has changed from then to
now, it is all the same. Yes, teachers do
offer extra-credit. Yes, you still have to
walk forty miles to your first class in boots
and layers of wool through four feet of
snow—but hey, who wants to be on time
anyway, I mean maintenance never is, right?
Yes, the cafeteria food still tastes the same,
and yes, the best friend you thought you had
next door will sleep with your boyfriend at
Upholding cultural integration during Black History Month
My Society noticed that either one culture or
Jer a'ne Hardy another dominates many of the on
campus events. For example, at the
leoool-, various Karaoke events that take place
in Bruno's, the audience is either all to
7'l predominantly white or all to predominantly
black. The case is also the same for the
many on campus dances. As well, reporting
at last weeks "Open Mic Night" in Bruno's,
I observed nearly no blacks at all.
Now, I know what you're going to say. As
different cultures we are all into different
activities and different forms of entertain
ment. However, at the events I have just
cited, the entertainment is not and does not
have to be dominated by one culture. There
is no real reason why blacks and whites
cannot attend the same karaoke event or
"Open Mic Night," for example. The
entertainment provided at these events can
be enjoyed by all races, so why aren't they?
With such observations I am beginning to
suspect that Behrend is reluctant to integrate
on a social level.
While in the classrooms, I have observed
that race relations are relatively comfortable
enough to allow the professors and students
As we are on the verge of Black History
Month, a prime question lingers in my
mind, and with this editorial I plan to delve
right into it. Is integration between races
welcome at Behrend on a social level?
Such a question was somewhat addressed at
the "Talk Back to the Beacon Forum" last
December, when students of all races and
creeds got together to express their concerns
as to whether or not diversity was reflected
in the various school media. I would now
like to extend the question to the overall
social life in general. Is Behrend a comfort
able and welcoming atmosphere for racial
integration?
From a social standpoint, I haven't
observed as much interaction between
blacks and whites as I would like to. I
Fighting over something with your friends? Want to see it debated
in the newspaper? Send us your idea, and we will debate it in our
'Hot Debate" of the week discussion!
behrcoll2@aoLcom
EDITORIA
think!
some point in time. Maybe I'm
exaggerating a bit about the snow
removal, but everything else has
ers remained exactly the same from high
The inevitable question at every
party, "what is your name" and
someone always knows who you are and
everything about you right down to what
you call your favorite blanket. So why is
this annoying? Well my friends, weekend
after weekend Behrend College presents a
little something for the students to look
forward to—Drama Club. That's right, each
weekend something different happens at
many different parties, fraternity houses,
chess club meetings, what have you.
However, the week after these parties is the
best. You see, these Drama Club meetings
are usually held Friday and Saturday nights,
but the real reviews of how the show went
don't happen until Monday morning hits,
when everyone drags thems e lves down to
Bruno's for their first meal since Friday,
which explains the mad crowds at Bruno's
every Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
Friday—and you ask "don't they serve
food at school during the weekends?" Of
course they do, but you see these Drama
Club meetings involve alcohol, and not a
beer or two, we're talking IQg stands,
funnels and all the fun stuff. By the time
Sunday night rolls around, the odds of a
hool
The Hot Debate of The Week'
A separation no more?
There is a long and glorious tradition in
America of socially beneficial programs run
by religious groups. Many faith-based
missions exist in Erie, including the City
Mission and the Neighborhood Art House.
Programs of this nature satisfy a need within
the community, providing food for those
unable to afford a meal and allowing inner
city children a i r 3arkee ttquir their creative
skills. „
When 4,Jeorge W. Bug) Mix:iSes to offer
funding for these types of efforts, he is not
condoning the creed of whatever group may
be behind it. What he is doing is taking
advantage of a willing volunteer base with
limited funds.
There are too many needy people in
America to allow good intentions to remain
unexpressed. Bush recognizes that the two
commodities in greatest demand are time and
money. If the people are willing to give the
time, the government should consent to give
the money.
The new president promises that the funds
given to faith-based programs will go only to
aspects focusing upon public service.
Evangelistic efforts will not receive govern
ment compensation. Separation of church and
state will, indeed, remain intact.
The bottom line is that there are problems in
this country which need to be addressed. If
there are people in our society prepared to
take measures towards alleviating these issues,
their motivation shouldn't really matter. The
end result is improved quality of life for those
for whom the programs were designed, and
that's something we can all be proud of.
very week, two editors from the staff will debate a topic that is hot. Students, faculty and staff are
tcoura 'ed to mail su s ions or h Int )i nlise is to 'hrcoll2 ibaol.com
Drama Club student doing any work is
pretty unlikely, and by work I mean getting
out of their smelly bed.
So here it is again Monday, everyone's
eating, everyone's happy and all of the
sudden the Drama Club reviews start to roll
in. It is actually a quite unique process
because it always seems as if a group of
friends have pre-selected which group
member will attend what showing of the
Club performance. So for instance, let us
say there are four students (reviewers) who
decide to chat about the weekend and all
that happened therein. Well each reviewer
obviously went to different parties, or
maybe they attended all the showings, in
which case I would have hated to be
driving Friday night. Regardless of who
went where, the reviews start and suddenly
every on-campus students name comes into
the conversation (or just the half of campus
that actually stays here on weekends).
That's right, eating Bruno's and hearing
about how your best friend paked at a party
and then proceeded to take your boyfriend
home is really what I looked forward to in
college! Or maybe some girl you hate
"hooched" it up and took herself to some
"anonymous" off-campus party where she
drank illegally and all of a sudden it's the
hugest story (drama) in the whole world.
Or maybe you are sick of seeing the same
people over and over at every party known
to discuss various race issues, but race
relations beyond the classroom are of
questionable status. As many of the events
on campus are sponsored and presented by
key organizations, which are characteristi
cally made up of single cultures, students
are often under the impression that because
a black or white organization sponsors an
event they will only welcome black or
white students respectively. This precon
ceived notion is what I believe to be
responsible for much of the lack of integra
tion in events held on the Behrend campus.
As a member of various organizations, I
see this as very unfortunate. As former
programs chair for the National Society of
Black Engineers, I planned most of my own
events with intent to welcome all races. I
find it to be disturbing though, when
students are hesitant to attend the event that
a particular cultural group is sponsoring.
For many of the on-campus groups and
organizations this should be a grievance. I
know from first hand experience that the
programmers of the various campus
organizations don't put their hard work into
an event to limit the amount of students
j L.<SQ 'pfd f
Now our tax dollars are going to church
sponsored, non-profit, charitable organizations.
Doesn't sound too had does it? Money going to
help the poor and destitute. the disabled and the
needy, the children and the elderly. Who could
complain about that?
But what happens when that church won't help
one little ki4because hais not a Christian'? Or
that hom gtty ytho mg longpr believes in
God? W appen? wVA Teo* who don't
believe in same ovatis OW organization' )
Are we really to believe that organizations won't
discriminate against others who don't pander to
the same beliefs?
Look what happened in the Boy Scouts a year
or so back. The Scouts, backed by the Mormon
Church, refused to let a young gay man continue
to be involved in the organization once his sexual
orientation became known. The Mormon
Church threatened to withdraw funding and all
association with the Boy Scouts if this person
was allowed to stay involved. And lo and
behold, the Boy Scouts caved to the Church (who
provides the largest percentage of their funding)
and didn't let him in.
The Boy Scouts sound like a great organiza
tion. What would be wrong with the government
funding an organization like them? Only that a
portion of the population can't benefit from that
organization!
But, what the hey, let's just combine church
and state. Give parents money to send their kids
to Catholic schools, give money to the churches
... forget about all the other charitable organiza
tions that aren't sponsored by religious organiza
tions that could also use the money and often
provide the same services or could if they had
the public's money.
to have hit college life. What I'm sure you
are sick of is that no matter where you go,
you absolutely cannot get away with
anything; students live for drama and
whoever can make the biggest fool of
themselves at a party is the life of the
crowd—the one who always gets invited
back and the one you hate seeing because
they are the sloppy drunk.
My suggestions for those who feel either
A: that they like to be this sloppy drunk, or
B: those who find this drama absolutely
worth living for, is to find a new hobby.
College is turning out to be the only one
party you high school students have ever
attended—the thing you talk about all year,
where your reputations are grounded, and if
you don't perform, forget it—you're out. I
mean, I have to admit when my parents
were ready to fork over a good $12,000, all
I had on my mind was beer, "hoochy"
clothing, boys, and how many parties I
could puke or pass out at. One final word
of thought would be to remind anyone that
thinks their high school sweetheart will last
through college—wrong again my friend,
there are too many fish in the sea, especially
when your best friend next door wants him
as well. Hang up the letter jackets my
friends; this is the best game you'll ever
play!!
Rodgers' column appears every three
weeks.
who can participate in them.
Why do I kick up dust now about such an
issue you ask? Well as I have said in the
beginning of my editorial, we are on the
verge of Black History Month and I would
like to see the special events that take place
during this month in particular to enjoy
more cultural integration. Black History
Month is not a celebration that is solely for
Blacks. This month I encourage every one
to participate in all the events being offered
by Black organizations and others as well.
Pardon the slang but I think it would be a
lot "cooler" if the campus community
indulged in more cultural integration. The
line, which distinguishes the many diverse
cultures of today's young generation, is
thinning. In the year 2001, the Behrend
campus should look to taking cultural
relations to the next level by looking to the
similarities amongst the diverse cultures and
conducting social activities with this in
mind.
Hardy's column appears every three weeks