Paige Miles, Editorial Page Editor The Behrend Beacon treckh. /)V the .strulents of Penn . S tub' Elk. The lieltrend Collage News Editor Erin McCarty Assistant Sports Editor 111/10110\11 Lauren Packer Assistant News Editor Jen Henderson Sports Editor Scott So/tis Editorial Page Editor Paige Miles Beaco n Features Editor Karl Benacci "A newspaper by the Staff Photographers students for the students" Jeff Hankey Heather Myers ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 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. Behrend Blahs Wow. Where has the time gone? I only looking Erie girls as it is, so the pretty have three editorials left to write--this girls shouldn't be smoking. Sure, lovely one, another one, and my final goodbye girls may still look good after a few column to Penn State Behrend. It seems puffs, but it all adds up and gives them like only yesterday I was a timid, shy yellow teeth and unhealthy skin. Of freshman. True, some people still think course, I don't care if unattractive I'm shy, but that's just because I girls or the entire male species don't like them. smokes. In fact. either of these I've learned a lot of things in col- °' 01 groups can light up six packs a lege, and I am here to share them -1 14140 day for all I care. It's all good. with my beautiful readers. C' 4F.1 Light em' if you've got em.' Some of these things are fellas and beasts. cool, and most are not. Lets Since I'm passing my start with the nots. word quota, I'll Things I dislike: give a summary - I get annoyed really Oh, you didn't know? of other Behrend easily and I'm really Karl Benacci things that suck high strung, so there's nothing worse than sitting in class and being distracted by a cell phone some idiot forgot to turn off. The worst part is everyone looks around the room—including the tool that owns the cell phone. Why is this? Is the person hoping it's someone else's phone that coincidentally has the same Christina Aguilera ring tone'? If so, I'll say this: The odds of two people in the same room having "Genie in a Bottle" as a ring tone is more minute than the odds of me marrying Christina Aguilera, and as everyone knows, I'm not going to marry/ Christina (My faithful readers are well aware I'm going to marry Britney Spears instead!). - My second Behrend pet peeve in volves not pets, but people who are la zier than the fools who park next to the apartment dumpster, turning the road into a one lane deathfest. What could I be talking about? The million-dollar staircase's elevator abusers! There are actually people who are so unmotivated and sloth-like that they take the elevator not just up, but down, also. Yes, DOWN! Is it a coincidence these people are often corpulent and over weight? Nope! If anything, these people should be running the million-dollar staircase steps like Rocky Balboa. I un derstand some people are unable to use steps, so let's only use the elevator to go up so we don't wear the damn machine out for the people who actually need to use the elevator. However, there's nothing worse than a jabroni(et te) who sees a group of people walking behind them and decides to ride the elevator alone as opposed to being nice and waiting for the others. Personally, I don't use the elevator un less I'm weakened by sickness, which brings me to my next tirade. - To the people who come to class sick and spread germs: Everybody hates you. We hate your sniveling, gasping, nose blowing ways. If you're sick, please stay home, or else you should come to my house and bring me chicken soup and Sucrets after you've infected me with your scummy germs. -Speaking of gasping, there's nothing worse than an attractive girl who smokes. Why? Because there aren't enough good- Editor-in-Chief Kevin Fallon Managing Editors Rebecca Weindorf Robert Wynne Professional Publication Mgr Dave Richards Advisor Cathy Roan 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. Monday for inclusion in play 13ehrend in tramural basketball with long nails. It's not the girls league! Cut them (This is especially close to my heart after a guy who calls himself Princess scratched me so deeply that hlood dripped from both wrists! I felt like Kim--Fininem's ex- wife (9). -Repulsive roommates--we all have a few of these, don't we'? -People who have an audio system in their car that's worth more than the car itself. I will never understand these people. They huy a nice system when they don't have a window to throw it out -People who interrupt-No one likes you or what you have to say. Fill your mouth with some ciriarettes and walk off the gorge -Bad professors. We all hate them, even more than the people who come to class sick. One day, I even had a had pro fessor who taught sick. I hope she smokes. There's no space left, so I will list the things I enjoy about Behrend with little -The painting of Bruno (in Bruno's) His eyes follow me wherever I go, whether it's to get some pizza or throw my lunch away. -Maintenance. There's nothing funnier than Behrend students getting sprayed with grass from a lawnmower. -The Junker Center. Why? -The Behrend Dance Team. They're all fine, and I assume none of them smoke. Maybe they will perform at my graduation party. I am here to offer a final piece of Benacci wisdom. For everyone who is graduating this semester (myself in cluded): After our one-week of vacation from our final Spring Break we'll be covering our eyes because of the glare from the light at the end of the tunnel. Make the final seven weeks (and finals week) an enjoyable time. I look back on my high school years and realize I didn't do anything cool (other than play than varsity sports). Carpe diem. After all, college is a time to remember; these are supposed to be our crazy days. Benacci's column appears every three weeks. :~ . r~ Advertising Manager Christine Kleck Calendar Page Editor Ennn Hansen A&E Editor Daniel J. Stasiewski Associate Editor Mike Butala Healthy Living Editor Courtney Straub Distribution Manager Scott Sollls that week's issue fak jiffisA Friday, March 7, 2003 In the diversity corner by Carrie Rodgers contributing editorialist That's so gil.y! Ileac! or said this a lot? Well, you're not alone. Using the tern "gay" has now evolved into describing unpleasing situations, people or objects. When I am in the conversation, the speaker is quick to add, "Well, I wasn't referring to you. I hope that you're not mad." I'm not mad. but it does concern me that many people regularly use the term nega tively. Is being gay wrong? Is it that unac cepted?As long as we continue this language, we are in danger of offending our best friend, brother, sister or co-worker. In most cases. I know people are not trying to directly of fend me, however, many others may he of fended and affected. Imagine yourself as a gay student---even better, a gay freshman. You have no idea what college life is about, let alone the opinions regarding sexual orientation. So, you just observe and listen to your peers. Overhear- Ponderi All right. You knew there would be a pattern here, and this editorial is going to he about someone I don't know very well, and yet we share the same last name. Ah, no, it's not my third cousin twice removed, although I might have a few of those living in town, actually. Anyway. As I've said in my last editorial, being a senior doesn't always have to center around studies it's a stage where I'm about to completely change. And though I can credit this change to my future husband and my parents and other big-name stars in ' reality show that I call My Life, the are other key characters on the playbill that I'd like you to meet - one of whom I have already intro duced in my Feb. 7 editorial. And a: the big, tough, protective oldest sistt that I am, I'm ready to share some o my editorial spotlight with my other younger siblings and, in a sense. let them take over the Eldest Sibling Undressed from the neck up part that I have played so diligently in the last 22 Becky Weindorf The second sibling in my family was used to being called the baby'. because for six years, she was She was the little sister that I 10-o-oved to pick on or dress up. She and her childhood friend would always he at our house and I would beg to brush their hair and braid it and all that stuff. I was that older sister who had that authority streak (I hesitate to say 'anal' because I don't think I am) and loved to dress them up in my weird, stylish clothes. When Lindy came along, she was the little daredevil. We have an infamous story in our house (actually, there are too many to count, but this is the one I remember right now). In our old house, Letter to the Editor Kevin Fallon's column on Jack Burke as Provost in the Feb. 28 issue is One of his best. Burke is of course the best, best choice to continue the excellence that characterizes Behrend College and sets us apart from other locations in the system. But hat if 'Sal and Rock° . an swered'? ( They are Dr. Thomas Wortman. Special Assist. to Dean and Dr. Robert Light, Associate Provost ). Feel free to publish their letter: Dear K. Fu/h)!? We, the members of Burke's Posse, take exception to Four recent column gtia4 it,100%) RE Atly .-‘ :"F 27 1 , 4 , A." _ • ing derogatory terms and jokes targeting gays and lesbians keeps you in the closet. This is where we fail. Even though the majority of the campus might he accepting, you will never know--you're too of raid. You believe revealing your sexual orientation will push you even further outside the campus com munity. Opting to stay in the closet seems to he the appealing answer for many gay youths. Most of them have good reasons. Fears of humili ation. separation and physical injury are among the top concerns. If we continue equating gay with an unpleasing subject or person, many students will continue hiding their orientation to "fit in". This can lead to lowered self-esteem. Defacing Trigon post ers concerning GI.BT (gay. lesbian. bisexual and transgendered) issues further validate that being openly gay is unacceptable. We need to watch what we say. Using and accepting this language further separates gay and straight students. Given that one in 10 people are gay, lesbian, bisexual or ng the word `seni the one with the refinished basement, Cindy took one of her tricycles and decided to ride down the stairs into the basement. Can you imagine the noise we heard? THUDDA-THUDDA THUDDA-THUDDA-13AM! She came out relatively unscathed on that one (note: I said 'that one.' There are others where we have a lovely assortment of broken bones, swollen joints, and a couple concussions.) So this sibling here, although we don't share a lot of our lives now, is also one of letting me be a driver in another state) and a wild explosion of blonde hair and blue eyes. When you first meet her, she's quiet, but the type that carries an aura of, shall we say, power? She was a tomboy when she was younger, and played every known sport on this continent (softball, soccer, volleyball, she's talking about javelin right now). I think she has a boyfriend, but she doesn't like it when snobby classmates at school mess around and try to be popular and "all that. - She's one of those no-nonsense people who hates the high school crap and can't wait for everyone else to grow up, and about Dudley Dean Right. Nobody asked us if he should be Dean Either of us would hare been a better pick cause we're the real power behind Burke. the guy come.s running into the office every morning confuted, it's US thus points him to decal - or hi-test. Who do you think gets him into his tax correctly for all those fancy-smantzy affairs wheretve have to stand outside or park cars? Boy, could vue tell you stories. Like his insistence on yelling "Bingo!" before he has all the numbers. We better get really cushy jobs outta all this ise instrumental pieces of ny history here in Erie that I am about to leave for the new life that's awaiting me in four months. Cindy is six years younger than I. on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday thanks for The Behrend Beacon transgendered. we encounter \ c\ cr\ EVell in private conversations. people Gill overheat you on the IA:IV 10 do , \; Bruno,. in the classroom. in the dorms cv Cry \A here Nothing is really private at lichrend l '•,cd in just casual come's:mon. 50111 ustsnl , e a powerful and detrimental effect on a sub dent who is concealing his ur her !denim. There is hope 13e1etid is trying. to lied ways to embrace the (Hlit'l comniumt% Recently. I talked to a RA \\lin told me pint of training invokes L•limmanng often,' c lan guage towards gays and lesbians 'omplete change, ho\A ever. need, to ',duo ssnlun you Being a 61.8 T ally is a great place to skill Educate yourself about all .tspects i)l di .! sity. Use non often,' \e and Inclu,isr lan guage-- language that does not (Mend any race, gender, sexualti or.en.a..on and so on. This allows students to feel condonable themselves and peers. Given todiiv's \\ odd events, we need to look inward and emhi ace diversity within o crown bottlers. Wain int ac ceptance, we are fighting ourselves. or,'part two has talents for Aiming and writing Portraits are one of her specialties. As a powerful volleyball player 161 the local McDm\ ell 'Trojans and an ad\ (with! tier the Christian retreat program Foot Steps. I think ( .ind is going through life with a relaxed smile and a realistic outlook on her future. Sort of like the time she and I used to share a room when we were younger, and the realistic future that we shined was hay ing our o\\ rooms (and we made sure our mother heard that request every din. Cindy will he one of my bridesmaids come July this year. and I think she's excited about it, even though she has to get her hair done and wear a dress (wink). And even though I had a tendency to overdramatiie my temininth at her age, she's starting to discos er ho she is, and what she wants to he NA hen she grows into a woman. I think there's a lot more common between us than I realise. too, because one of those discoveries that we both discovered at In was that we cut throiTh the bullcrap and don't put up with it. It makes life a lot simpler. And we both ;lie 'tough gals' (my father's words) For the last three years, e been trying to complete school and tOcus most of my energies on either my future husband or my studies. Maybe this is not an editorial pence, but like I said. I'm changing parts. I have to make that transition as smooth as possible. Its a lot of responsibility coming first in ai Limit\ like mine. P.S.: Special editorial preview! I ook tot `Squirt' on April I I. Weindorf's column appears every three weeks Signed, Sal and Rock() (aka Dr livortman. ( - hal Tar‘ and Dr R.Ligla. Chief ol Seas) (Wortman was instrumental in having Behrend declared an arboretum in same issue: and Bob Ught has among his duties heading up the Sea Grant program through Knowledge Park. Both are as good sports as Burke) Have fun Mike Chiteman, !lead Division of Undergraduate Studies 20 Eric Hall Page 5
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