FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2001
The Reverend
Jackson
moves on
Much has recently been made of the
Reverend Jesse Jackson and his extramari
tal affair with a staff member of his
Rainbow Push organization, which resulted
in birth of an illegitimate child. As Jackson
has admitted to his adulterous act and
claims full responsibility for his actions, he
has made himself the target of those who
want to slander his name and his moral, as
well as political standing. Jackson may
indeed forever have this scandal trail him,
and it will be a challenge for him to
recover his positive image, but this is a
challenge that has been faced head on by
Jackson.
After a four-day break from the media
spotlight, which Jackson called a time for
“introspection and reflection, healing and
kneeling," the Reverend returned to public
life on January 22, to address a formal
luncheon of ministers of the cloth. Being
compared to fellow Democrat Bill Clinton
for his infidelity, much light has been shed
on the theory that Jackson must have been
having his extramarital affair during the
same time that he counseled Clinton in the
Monica Lewinsky scandal.
However, the significant difference in
the two cases is that Jackson immediately
assumed full responsibility for his actions,
confessing before his church and family.
“After 38 years and five children later,
Jackie we’re still here. I love you so
much... Life is not a not a straight line in
the road. (There are) curves and valleys but
through it all we’re still here," stated
Jackson in the pulpit of the Salem Baptist
Church in Chicago, Illinois. That he is still
here is the major point that Jackson makes
as he ventures right back into the business
of civil rights after his brief healing period.
Also addressing his church, Jackson states
that he is back to fight for civil rights
because of the many challenges that face
the nation, such as fair voting, affirmative
action and blacks in business.
Despite the controversy, the incident has
only slightly affected the Reverend Jesse
Jackson’s positive national image, as he
remains in a moral fight for racial and
economic justice. He has recently made
moves to pressure big businesses like
Ameritech, AT&T and TCI to steer them
toward minority entrepreneurs. Doug
Whitley, ex president of Ameritech in
Illinois, comments that Jackson’s efforts
made the “big corporation of white guys
aware of the need to reach out to minority
partners.” Also, Jackson is currently
lobbying Viacom to sell its UPN T.V.
network to a minority businessman. Along
with Whitely, others have supported
Reverend Jackson, such as his pastor
Reverend James, who contends that,
“America could not afford to have Jackson
on the civil rights sidelines.” Others who
add to the outpouring of support of Jackson
in his difficult time include actor Martin
Sheen, who at this years Golden Globe
Awards stated, “to Jesse in Chicago, you’re
still our hero and we need you now more
than ever."
Whether or not we want to criticize
Jackson’s actions, we can all see that he is
not letting the controversy stifle him. He is
moving on and working at preserving a
positive national image. Whenever a
leader faces such a crisis as Jackson has,
the best way to handle it is to face your
predicament and move on. It has often
been said that Bill Clinton’s biggest
mistake, for example, was hiding the truth
for so long. If Clinton would have faced
the fire during the Lewinsky scandal and
told the truth from the beginning, he too
may have recovered a great deal of his
positive image.
The debate of whether Jackson should be
forever discredited for his actions is one
thing, but the way he handles himself and
his image from this point on should be
focused on. In this is where most of
America’s judgment of him will lay. We
can all make mistakes but can we stand
strong, learn from them and move on?
This is the true test. In Jesse Jackson s
case he can still contribute a great deal to
the black and white community. And from
the looks of the way he is handling the
situation thus far, Jesse Jackson will
continue to make great contributions.
Hardy’s column appears every three
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The education bug bites again
Last week as I sat in Bruno’s eating my
beef noodle soup and meat lovers pizza, I
began to read the front page of the Brie
paper that someone left on the table. “Erie
school faces takeover from state or local
government.” I thought to myself,
“Hmmm...here it is, let’s see what easily
solved dilemma the government and school
districts have completely twisted into some
kind of rocket science problem.” I laugh
very hard when I read these kinds of articles
about schools, because school
administrators and government officials
sometimes just don’t have a clue. Before
you think "what a cocky kid he is” to
yourself, let me explain a few things.
Erie school district will face a take over
from the state and/or local government if its
students perform poorly on upcoming state
assessment tests. Power will be taken away
from the current school directors.
Calling all campers...
( ready for
Spring Break
2001? I’m
ready, but I’m not sure if one week away
will calm my nerves down from this school.
I mean how many of you out there have like
five gazillion exams, papers, presentations,
and quizzes before we actually kick the
doors down and wrestle ourselves out of
here? Why do professors feel the need to
give so many assignments before break? I
know, I can understand that our minds will
be fried from UV rays when we return, but
come on; it makes me never want to come
back! So this week 1 have devoted myself to
wasting time and whining about school, yet
again.
What I find impeccably tasteful is that
professors make assignments up on purpose,
and they just so happen to be due the week
before we go on break. I have come up with
some really great ideas why this is. The first
and obvious answer is this: they want you to
come to class. I mean hey, who wants to jet
out of here a day early anyway? The second
Tell us what you
Send all letters to:
behrcoll2@aol.com
Coffee Talk
Kristin Rodgers
V
P^:
think!
Takeovers have already occurred in
Chew on This York, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg!
Harrisburg, for cryin’out loud! Our
Kob Wyniie state capital’s school district was a
mess? Not something I would brag
about. It’s all about these tests, these
stinkin’ standardized tests that
determine how much funding a school
and/or district will receive.
Not too long ago, I was in high school
taking these drooling long exams. For those
of you who are not familiar, here’s the
procedure for administering the state
assessment tests.
1. Two weeks before the test, teachers in
each school are prompted by their “higher
ups” to cram five years worth of review into
a few worksheets and lessons in class.
Apparently, the education that the student
has received thus far is inadequate.
2. When students ask teachers about these
tests and why they have to take them,
teachers will reply, “I can’t answer that right
now, just please look carefully at the review
worksheets.” Probably the teacher has no
clue what these tests are for or they’re the
kind of person that thinks they know
something special that you don’t.
3. It really wasn’t the case in the past, but
now students from special education groups
and vo-tech are being drafted into study
sessions t 0... hold 0n... you’re going to love
this.. .TO ACTUALLY LEARN
SOMETHING! Who would have thought?
is that they have no life. That’s
right, every professor cannot wait
for break to start correcting a
zillion papers and exams. Oh boy,
now when I become a professor
that’s exactly what I had in mind! The third
is professors love humor. Can you only
imagine the paper that will be written by a
student next Thursday night who is leaving
for Cancun the very next day? That paper
will obviously go down in history as the
most comical reference anyone can throw
out.
many people
out there are
Okay, you hate me already. Immediately
you assume 1 pray for this work to be due
after break. Wrong. Wha; 1 dislike very
much is the idea of so much work, all
concentrated at one time in the semester. I
realize our minds may not be working for a
few days after we return, but we will do
work the rest of the semester, despite popular
belief. The time after break is when students
start to realize they need to get working!
Let me drift back to the Drama Club
members I mentioned in my previous
column before I have professors assigning
more work due to this article. So I wonder
where and what the Drama Club will be
doing for Spring Break. I have also come up
with wonderful ideas for this as well. The
first and foremost idea that popped into my
mind was camping. Yes, yes, the of trout
camp queen lives on again. You all know
‘The Hot Debate of The Week’
Bush has big...bombs?
Bombs away! In the recent attacks on
Iraq we struck their Integrated Air
Defense System as retaliation for locking
their radar on our aircraft patrolling the
no-fly zone. Some would say that we
shouldn’t be bombing Iraq, but why not?
Since the Gulf War they haven’t followed
the by the Ujtfted .Nations.
They contiaae to create biological
weapons? and disregard the neo-fly.
SaddamTs asking to get bombed back to
the Stone Age. If Iraq locks their anti
aircraft weapons on our planes, then why
shouldn’t we interpret that as an attack.
After all we are just defending ourselves.
We are only targeting military radar
installations. This eliminates the problem
of our planes being targeted by Iraqi
radar.
Why do we need to be the world police
force and butt into other countries
business? If we don’t who will? Like it
or not, we are a world power and with
that power comes the responsibility to
use it. The U.S. is what stands between
tyranny and freedom for all. We have the
opportunity to help the oppressed and
innocent from the greedy little hands of
Saddam Hussan and any one else that
might want to take over the world. We
have the obligation to keep our eyes on
anyone that might get out of hand and the
duty to bomb them if they do.
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
It’s as if these programs fail to meet the
basic educational requirements required by
the state; now teachers are holding last
minute cram sessions in school. Teachers
in high school always advised AGAINST
last minute cramming - didn’t they?
4. Since the tests do not affect a student’s
graduation status or report card, very few
kids take the exams seriously and write
answers like “Yo mama,” for replies to
essay questions. And since the students
really don’t know what these tests are for
(to determine performance and funding
allotment), they could once again not care
less (See no. 2).
In essence, the purpose of the test is
defeated. Kids don’t take it seriously, and
there is little or no communication between
the administration and the student body.
The administrations cram to try and get a
good grade. The purpose of the test,
however, is to see how much (or little) of
an education the students in a particular
area receive. The ones who must take the
punishment are the local school
administrators. But that’s what you get for
cramming.
If the state really wants to help improve
student performance, they should address
the cause of the problem, not just a
symptom. First, more money should be
spent to hire quality teachers who know
their subject area, not just the ones who can
coach a varsity sport. Second, pop quizzes
what I mean, even if you never called this
“sport” trout camp, you still went and
partied in the woods for several days and
drank lots of beer. You can smile and
giggle, but you all know there was a trout
camp queen, mainly because she was the
only girl who would go. Regardless, this
girl touched all your hearts, I’m sure of it.
Wow, can you only imagine the fun? Who
wouldn’t want to sleep in a camper that
reeks of beer and stale air? 1 imagine that
most people are not camping, but it does fit
a fine portrait that we can all paint in our
heads, say around the beginning of April
right?
I imagine most students, who are actually
leaving Pennsylvania, are probably heading
out in the sun somewhere, which is why I
have some advice to give. First and
probably the most important thing is to
remember to never leave your friends. If
you are in Mexico City and get lost in the
bars, I pity you very much. God only
knows who or where you will end up.
Secondly, never ever pose naked for
anyone. I’m being serious this time
“hoochy” girls! Just about a month ago, I
was looking up Spring Break travel plans on
the Internet, and guess what I found? Yes,
many Penn State students on a web page
completely naked. I guess being naked in
front of many people who you don’t know
is fun, but it isn't exactly what 1 would want
So Bush whipped out the firepower last
week. And it’s about time, he’s been in
office all of ten minutes. But seriously, did
he actually have to bomb Iraq? What good
came of it? Did it once again show off how
big and bad the United States is ,} Bombing
of foreign countries doesn’t really
accomplish anythijogdoesu? What came of
this particular bojitlbmg? Nothing, except
the wounding of innocent civilians that is.
Let’s think about if the situations were
reversed for a minute. The United States is
no longer THE super power of the world,
Iraq is. They have a new president who is
eager to either a.) make approval ratings go
up for himself or b.) get the spotlight off
their ex-president’s pardoning scandals. So
what do they decide to do? That’s right,
bomb another country for no apparent
reason. Does this situation seem fair ?
Even if by some miracle, the intended
target of the bomb actually gets hit, there is
always the risk of civilians getting harmed.
Iraqi television broadcast images later that
day of children who had been injured in the
bombing. Even if these pictures were
fabricated, the risk remains. Again, reverse
the situation. There are plenty of people that
live around military installations here in the
United States that could be hurt in
bombings.
So until there is actually a war (Desert
Storm Part Two, starring President Bush
again), then keep the bombings in check.
There is no need to flaunt your power,
everyone already knows it’s there
from the state should be given to random
schools. I bet there would be more focus on
maintaining a consistent and strong
curriculum that stresses fundamentals of
different subject areas. I don’t know what
all of this “how am I going to use this in my
life/hands-on garbage is all about.”
Students must first master fundamentals.
College professors don’t get a Ph.D. without
first acquiring a bachelor’s, right?
Moreover, adequate textbooks, not
antiquated, should be a priority. I couldn’t
get any money back from my copyright
2000 government book last semester
because it was outdated already. What
about the 5-7 year old government texts that
my girlfriend is using in high school right
now? Even worse, my brother doesn’t even
have a textbook for his history class - all of
the students get photocopied pages of
“relevant material.”
Hahahaha...l’m still laughing. Such
simple solutions for what has been made
into a very complicated issue. I’m not
saying that I have all of the answers here,
but I’m willing to bet that you agree with at
least a few of the points I have argued.
Good luck to the Erie School District.. .1
hope the students and administrators are
studying their quantum physics really hard
to answer all of the pre-algebra questions on
the state exams...
Wynne’s column appears every three
weeks.
the entire world to see, let alone my parents!
Good gracious, Santa Claus wouldn’t come
next year, I know that! Third, I’m
wondering how you would handle your car
breaking down. Let us all pray that this does
not happen, but sometimes life sucks. Make
the most of this event and go camping at a
rest stop. How fun would that be?
Goodness, never forget to take pictures at
any cost!
I am very sure that students just want to
have a good old crazy time this upcoming
break, but don’t forget your manners. When
some greasy guy buys you a beer at a bar,
remember to thank him, he’s just being nice,
he could care less that you are on a table in
front of him naked. Okay, now I’m in huge
trouble because all of you out there are
saying, “oh gross,” but you know that if
within five minutes I found a group of Penn
Staters on the net, this could happen to you!
Don’t shame our school!
In my next article I will be able to live
happily again knowing all my work was
completed before break. Therefore, my next
article may be a bit more interesting and
lively. I shall review next time what it was
like to hear over and over again what it was
the Drama Club did for kicks this Spring
Break. Get ready!
Rodgers ’ column appears every three weeks.