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The Behrend Beacon
,/ 4I I rl I I (~11.
News Editor
Erin McCarty
Assistant News Editor
Jen Henderson
Sports Editor
Scott Soltis
Assistant Sports Editor
Lauren Packer
Editorial Page Editor
Paige Miles Beacon
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.
It's gonna take more
than a french fry
to kill me
Kevin Fallon
• ;;,; $
I almost died this week. No
joke. I almost choked to death on
a McDonald's french fry. I always
knew McDonald's would kill me,
but I always thought it would be
a slow, drawn out death involving
lots of cholesterol.
I was driving and eating at the
same time, and I learned the hard
way that is a dangerous
combination. I started choking
and had to pull over on the side
of the highway. My friend was
about to jump out of the car, drag
me out, and perform the Heimlich
maneuver when, with my last
ounce of life, I coughed up that
dastardly fry.
Almost dying was an eye
opening experience. I always
thought that if I was about to die I
would say a last minute prayer or
think of my loved ones. Instead I
was just thinking about how the
hell I was going to get this
stinking fry out of my throat.
Then I started thinking about
how pointless the last four years
of hard work would have been if
I would have died two weeks
before graduation. I mean, if I
knew I was going to die, I would
have spent the last four years
partying and watching "Seinfield"
reruns instead of working hard.
But, on the other hand, if I would
have died I wouldn't have to take
any of my finals.
Then I thought that if I choked
to death, I would be able to sue
McDonald's for a truckload of
Editor-in-Chief
Kevin Fallon
Managing Editors
Rebecca Weindorf
Robert Wynne
Zrue
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
money. Unfortunately, I lived, so
I won't get a dime.
I wondered if my family would
miss me. I am sure they would.
After all, I mow the lawn in the
summer
Then, my life flashed before my
eyes. This is the time where you
get to relive all the great moments
of your life. But, I haven't done
that much with my life yet, so my
greatest moment was the time I
watched the "Back to the Future"
trilogy in one sitting.
Then I started thinking about all
the things I wish I would have
done that I didn't get a chance to
do, like get married, have a family,
and find out who wins "American
Idol 2." I thought I would never
really find out how many licks it
takes to get to the center of a
Tootsie Pop and I would never
find out where in the world
Carmen Sandiego has been.
But now I have a whole new
outlook on life. Almost being
done in by a slice of potato has
brought new meaning to my life.
I have been given a second
chance. I will now live each day
to the fullest.
For starters, I plan to read and
understand a James Joyce novel,
beat the original Super Mario
Bros., order an ice cream cone
with all 31 flavors, grow a
mustache, learn how to
moonwalk, eat brunch, sing
"What I Like About You" to my
girlfriend at karaoke, pull off
Santa's beard, eat a steak so big
the restaurant gives me a free T
shirt, run up the Rocky stairs,
inhale a balloon, and sing the
Munchkins' song, and find a
woman with three breasts like in
"Total Recall."
After I do all that, I can die with
no regrets. That is, as long as it is
not at the hands of a vegetable.
EDITORIAL
Advertising Manager
Christine Kleck
Calendar Page Editor
Erinn Hansen
A&E Editor
Daniel J. Stasiewski
Associate Editor
Mike Butala
Healthy Living Editor
Courtney Straub
Distribution Manager
Scott Softis
that week's issue
Friday, April 25, 2003
Letters to the Editor
After having attended The Gala, a for
mal awards ceremony hosted by the As
sociation of Black Collegians and cel
ebrated by many of the groups under the
umbrella of the Multi-Cultural Council
including MCC themselves, I want to
publicly recognize three women who
were neglected in recognition, apprecia
tion, and celebration. Abbey Atkinson,
Kim Moses, and Radhina Ramirez have
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Guy
Reschenthaler's recent editorial mistak
ing the promotion of diversity for rac
ism. I usually have some kind grievance
with Beacon articles, but this one has
enraged me to the point of this reply. I
am severely disappointed that my fellow
peers, supposedly educated people, have
fallen for, written about, and published
this idea that affirmative action means
quota system and is a bad thing for
"whites."
Let me help you clarify a few facts.
Affirmative action, nor the University of
Michigan, has implemented a quota sys
tem. Like what was explained in the ar
ticle about Kennedy's vision, they im
ply that the minority population should
be REPESENTATIVE of the community.
Wouldn't it make sense that a commu
nity with a certain percentage of ethnic
minority citizens should be represented
in the demographics of the neighboring
college? If a mostly "white" town admits
mostly Puerto Rican students, that might
say something about racism in policy. By
the same right, a diverse area, like Michi
gan, would have to admit just as diverse
of a student body to avoid racist politics.
Let's talk about the meaning of diver
sity and minority status, as well. First, I
must address the "white" issue. I'm not
white. Neither are most of the students
reading this. The three "white" womyn
sitting next to me are representative of
Only one more
opinion!
Send Letters to the Editor to:
In the
My identity crisis
would want me in their group because
they thought I was smart but when the
project was over and we would have a
"B" everyone would wonder why not an
Are you a mix? What are you? Are A.
you Chinese or something? Were you 111 'Eri 1 ..w°9 4 " .1 "5t Meeege Pal le
w iter46, j':44.le you au Wotan thi te tilh'e teektetP Sues tried Ping
Thilt4 ire *WSW* drat*** *MS **Om btit it didn't ***Out
treaaalltadthmiagiamt mitatititir g Wald to Over SO MY Moak'
**wit you iidio have Keit 11 * *Odd tate OWN apply.
410entionS **AN* someone Mak' 5 4 ,70 °wry 411.14 : 1 '
yelled at here's the reason . . it's Tilde, eh we wire one my friends would
First of all, Oriental refers to rugs and look great but I would look like I was
food, not people. Second of all, "What wearing a mask. Most makeup is made
is your ethnic background?" sounds a with a pink undertone and that doesn't
lot nicer than "Are you Chinese or go well on Asian eomPlexions•
something?" and third of all, "what are Asian`skin tones tend to be yellow and
you?" is completely rude. lam a hu- makeup looks terrible on me. Not to
man being. mention the concept of eyeliner and eye
i k Vell enough about my political et* shadnw4leesn't work on Asian eyes. The
m a nta. Here is m y s t ory . My fader problem with th at is the eyeliner always
was bom and raised in Erie and rubs off and you can't see the eye shadow
stationed in Seoul, South Korea when because of the folds on my eyes. So to
he
et was
niY n the Array ,
who );, That
o is
rean.hey
he this day I rarely ever wear makeup be
cause you either can't see it or I look like
be
metmother, where
_
fell in love, came back to Erie, got a ire "
married, and eventually had my sister In about ninth grade my mom decided
and I. to take my sister and I to her home in
I had a tough time growing up. 1 Seoul to meet our relatives. I kept think
failed preschool because my firstl an - ing that I must really be Korean now be
owe was Korean and sd pause o f cause I was actually there. But when I
that, my mother refused to teach me went there,everyone who was Korean
anymore. During my second year of considered the an American. When my
preschool all of my knowledge of the *ter and I would get bored we would
Kaman language was w i pe d f rom my try to find Americans to talk to but they
mind. In grade school, whenever I wouldn't acknowledge us until we spoke
would draw pictures of myself, I was and then they would know that we were
„
always told by my peers that I needed ` 1112 ‘ 511 " 1 " , as well.
to make my hair black and my eyes with College was going to be different. I
a slant because that is what Asian would leave the small - mindedness end
people are suppose to look like, Peninini,s4:4llith,school behind me. Dur
paritaiiretwitlitmtinicsointse-igieTws;siroi:
ithiout**WOO 0404***41 62 0 4 1 40 */* l s o SG'
K. - in high sOhOOlt*ai coral& M meet One Clai °' 4 two
eased the smart one because I was Asian &la* whe were clearly talking
but I was an average student. When about an A s ian meeting that they were
g rou p p ro j ects were p i c k e d ever y one going to go to. I approached them and
by Christine Stewart
contributing writer
been working through various organi
zations under the MCC to promote the
message, and carry out the actions lead
ing to unity, tolerance, and diversity
from the very beginning of their school
careers here at Behrend until today upon
the brink of graduation. People who
dedicate themselves as these three
women have deserve some kind of hon
orable mention, at the very least. So, I'd
their Irish, Austrian, German, Roma
nian, and Italian ethnicities. How can
you group us into one color and not ap
preciate the diversity in this room? So,
when Reschenthaler refers to "racial
preferences," that's an area each of us
who live and breath fit into.
As far as minority status, that's dif
ferent from race and ethnicity, as the
University of Michigan understands
while Reschenthaler apparently does
not. Yes, Asians are a minority group,
however what is the percentage of Asian
students at Michigan? They are advo
cating diversity on their campus, not
simply promoting minors.
I am a lesbian, a mother, (and was a
teenaged mother) a high school drop out,
and have a long life of experience that
most college students don't share with
me. I'm sure it was that diversity that
helped me gain admission, not only to
Penn State, but to Brown University, Mt.
Holyoke College, and University of
Miami. (It sure wasn't my alluring GED
certified by the state of Florida or my
enticing financial aid application!)
Are they all bad schools? Did their ad
missions officers make a mistake in
thinking that I could add something to
their classroom experience just as a
Middle Eastern or European student
could to Michigan? Diversity points are
issued for diversity, not race. There is a
blatant difference. Remember that
Michigan has not gained the status of
Let us know what you
Behrcoll2@aol.com
diversity corner
Paige Miles, Editorial Page Editor
issue to voice your
think!
The Behrend Beacon
like to say congratulations on a job well
done to Abbey, Kim, and Radhina. You
have set great examples for students to
follow in your mission of making the
world a more accepting place for each
and every person who inhabits it.
Sincerely,
Danielle Stahlbaum
04, GAS
Howard or Moorehouse
Finally, I didn't get a chance to pro
test with my peers because I did not ar
rive on campus until 4 p.m., but make
no mistake about the intelligence behind
those protesters. They knew what they
were saying, what they were doing, and
exactly what they were standing for. Per
haps because you saw a bunch of black
students bound at the mouth with the
words "AFFIRMATIVE ACTION," you
were influenced by your own bias and
prejudiced thinking. More than black stu
dents took part and many ethnicities, in
cluding my Irish self, stand behind the
University of Michigan and their diver
sity policies. I will only advance by learn
ing about others and for that education
to take place, a variety of people must
sit in my classrooms, be employed within
my career field, and live in my neigh
borhood. To ensure that kind of environ
ment, we must partake in the tolerant and
accepting policies from people like JFK
rather than allow narrow minds like
George Wallace to find a source of power
again.
I know my thoughts seem rather ran
dom, but my mind races at the ignorance
behind this article. For further reference,
I suggest research
Sincerely,
Abbey L. Atkinson
08, GAS
asked when and where the meetings
were. They looked at me like I was.nuts
and then asked why would I want;to go
and walked away. Supposed full
blooded Asians looked down upon me.
I felt I bad been stripped
and apparently wasn't. s •
be in the AgoOrganiesitittettadfOtit
I've beard tie diffeesei 11 0*.bit i the*
prince I badleit pednidnatitie Cd
I have had a long struggle of trying to
discover who I am. I don't think I have
found out yet. I thought I did find out
but I'm even hesitant to write this ar
ticle. Plus, all I talked about was my
Korean side. I should be able to em
brace my Irish, Scottish, and Hungarian.
sides. I think it is partially my fault and
society's. I am always approached , tut,
being Asian before I am Irish, Scottish,:
or Hungarian.
My name, Stewart, is Irish and I al
ways get double takes after my mann is
said and someone sees a Korean woman
standing there. I think I will always have
a constant struggle but those of you read
ing this article I hope you will mare
that Asian people are constantly asked,
"What are you and were you, born hem:*
If an Asian person jumps do,\VOlShf
back because you asked them Ana they
were, you have to understand that ive
are asked , this constantly and sometimes
it becomes annoying and sometimes you
just can't take it anymore and yell.
I always try and correct pet* not
because I'm anal but for future reference
I don't want you to get yelled at because
you are rude. I have been asked if you
are a mix? That is the rudest UeStiOn
lotted Ino this aid ittaol
.Ilopefuliy those of you nu&
ing this will'learn from this man's igno
rance and ask you questions more pa
litely.