The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, April 01, 2005, Image 4

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    I The Behrend Beacon
The Behrend Beacon
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Penn State Erie,
The Behrend College
First Floor, The J. Elmer Reed Union Building
Station Road, Erie, PA 16563
Contact the Beacon at:
Telephone: (814) 898-6488
Fax: (814) 898-6019
Liberalism equals treason
By Jason Della Sala
staff writer
Some students sit in class and criti
cize others for being involved in poli
tics, when the truth is that politics
affects your everyday life. The igno
rance of those that are apathetic to pol
itics shows their disrespect of those that
died to give us the right to vote. Being
apathetic to politics shows that our
forefathers that died in the American
Revolution died in vain. Unfortunately,
those are the same students that contin
ue to whine and moan about Bush win
ning another term. Hopefully, they will
wake up from their sleep of ignorance
and become more belligerent.
President Bush was elected president
of the United States in 2000 by a nar
row margin, with much skepticism
from the liberal population of the
nation, claiming he stole the election by
losing the popular vote. Not only do
they not support our president, but do
not respect the constitution, which
states the president is chosen by num
ber of electoral votes. That same popu
lation had no argument when he won
the 2004 election, with both the popular
and electoral vote. I guess their argu
ment died along with their political
party. Luckily for the values of our
nation, Conservatives control all three
branches of the government.
In order to win both popular and
electoral votes, Bush must have made
some connection with the American
people, because more people voted for
him this election than the last.
Throughout the 2004 campaign
process, Bush was constantly ridiculed
for his slurred words and poor vocabu
lary. When Bush won the 2004 elec
tion, the joke was on those whom
ridiculed him. For being stupid, he did
something ingenious to beat
Democratic Senator John Kerry, the
candidate noted for changing stances
on almost every major issue.
Today, liberals accuse Bush of being
a mass murderer. In reality, a mass
murderer is a tyrant, such as Saddam
Hussein, Osama bin Laden and Kim
Jong 11. Bush has made it clear that he
is doing everything in the power of the
United States to eliminate the world of
murdering tyrants (ex: Iraq War). The
fact is that those who do not support the
war in Iraq are those that are afraid to
face their conscience. I do not find it
BlEth blah Mehl
Daniel J. Stasiewski, Editor in Chief
Amy Frizzell, Managing Editor
Courtney Kaplin, Advertising Manager
Alyssa Peconi, Public Relations Manager
Dr. Cathy Roan, Adviser
News Editor
Brad Stewart
Assistant News Editor Calendar Page Editor
Dan Snedden Rob Frank
Sports Editors
Sam Cibula
Sara Kamber
Opinion Editor
Andy McNeil
Photography Editor
Danielle Faulkner
admirable when a leader uses biologi
cal weapons on his own people, such as
Saddam Hussein.
Those that do not support the war
must show some subvention for those
that carry out those heinous acts. They
claim that the United States did not use
all peaceful methods available, again
showing their ignorance. Iraq refused
to follow 16 UN resolutions, through a
period of over two decades. I suppose
the liberal population wanted to go 17,
18, 19 and so on, until Saddam Hussein
decided it was time to follow interna
tional law.
I love how liberals claim to have a
bleeding heart, when in fact; their heart
is hard as stone. Not supporting the
war is supporting the continuous defi
ant acts of Saddam Hussein and the
support of this killing of millions of
innocent people. These same people
claim that Bush went to war for Iraq's
oil, but obviously they have not yet
mastered the skills of mathematics. If
the United States went to war for oil,
our gas prices would not be $2.10 at the
pump. Again, their stupidity reigns
supreme.
Another moronic opinion of liberals
is that Bush is for the rich only. They
are sadly mistaken, statistics proving
them wrong yet again. The northeast
ern states, which are noted to have the
highest household incomes, voted for
Kerry in the 2004 election. Maybe if
the left side of the population quits
making up their own statistics and actu
ally went by the statistics the rest of the
world follows, they would not look so
confused trying to attack people with
morals and values, those of which they
lack of their own.
Not only is Bush taking progressive
steps internationally, but he is also tak
ing domestic steps forward. Bush has
pushed for the faith-based prison pro
gram, which entitles prisons to teach
Christianity, a religion of peace, to pris
oners. Again, liberals claim this pro
gram to be unconstitutional, violating
separation of church and state. Again,
let me renovate their lack of knowl
edge. Prisoners have the option to par
take in the program. The meaning of
`option,' according to Oxford, is the
freedom and power to choose. If liber
als want to question that, the dictionary
is sitting on the reference shelf of the
Lilley Library.
OPII\FION
Student Life Editor
Lori DeFabio
Copy Editors
Lacy Buzard
Jenn Haight
Sarah Weber
Beacon Assistant
Carolyn M. Tellers
Lazy students, lacking government?
Several weeks ago the Beacon's
Question of the Week asked a random
sampling of students whether or not
they thought SGA officers should
receive a tuition break. Most of the stu
dents questioned were unaware that any
financial leniency was being granted
and the majority of the responses were
negative.
This question of the week generated
some of the most feedback in letters to
the editor than any other article or item
printed in the Beacon this year. Of
course, both the responders were mem
bers of SGA so their bias in the matter
is obvious.
It wasn't the intention of the Beacon
or its editors to point fingers or label
any members of SGA as lazy or unde
serving of any compensation for their
time. In fact, Beacon editors also
receive stipends, not to the tune of half
our tuition, but payment none the less.
The Beacon couldn't have known
how students would respond to such a
question but the responses raise an
interesting point. Your average student
has no clue about the workings of the
SGA. I'd be willing to bet that at least
'Sex on the
By Kristen Comstock
editorial columnist
Everyone walks into the bar "in heat" and ready to mate
like rabbits. It can be seen in their eyes. The guys are glanc
ing down at our shirts, which strategically emphasize our
boobs, thinking, "I hope I can get a piece of that." The girls
are glancing down at our popping-out breasts thinking, "Is
that my competition for tonight?"
As the music starts rolling and the drinks start flowing, we
can smell the hormones fill the air (or maybe that is the
smoke, spilled beer, dripping sweat and saliva from the
already drunk couples making out on the dance floor). It is
time to find ourselves some horny "rabbits" who are willing
to buy us some drinks.
Which brings up the question: Do guys who purchase
women a "Sex on the Beach" expect sex in the bar bath-
room?
A Harvard psychologist said, "[Sex] is increasingly dis
connected...sex just isn't a big deal." Hook-ups are many
college students' expectations when they go out.
One survey found that 70 percent of students reported hav
ing hooked up, often with a stranger. The average number of
hookups they participated in was 10. Half of those surveyed
said they started the evening planning to hook up, but not
with any particular person in mind.
So this means, half the people actually mean it when they
lean over to you and say, "You should remember my name,
because you'll be screaming it later!"
Many of these hookups are not regrettable and are some
times even preferred over relationships. According to a psy
chologist from the College of New Jersey, the cultural mes-
BECOME AN EDITOR!
FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL DJS39S@PSU.EDU
Brad Stewart
news editor
half of the student body has no clue
who the president of the Student
Government Association is.
Does this mean that the president
doesn't deserve a tuition break? It
could mean two things.
Members of the SGA aren't doing a
good enough job to actively make their
presence known to students.
Students are too lazy and apathetic to
beach' leads to more
sage is "Good sex is sex that isn't emotional."
Monday morning anyone can hear the comment, "I was so
wasted, you won't believe what happened!" Part of college
is having that story to tell the next day. Without the story, the
hookup would be meaningless. Without our guy and girl
friends to brag to, the random lay would be worthless.
Many think a one-nighter is worthless even without the
friends to (excuse the completely inappropriate use of this
phrase) blow your own horn to.
A survey given on March 15 to college students reported
that 45 percent of men and 60 percent of women say people
should be in love if they have sex.
That same survey found 51 percent of men and 42 percent
of women have had one-night stands. So contrary to what
the chicks' bar outfits convey, women apparently are still
more conservative when it comes to screwing than men.
But the burning question is still unanswered (and no I'm
not referring to any STDs). Men may not expect sex when
buying a girl a drink, but they appreciate anything that is
given. Men always want a little bang for their buck, if you
get the implication.
Luckily for the boys, girls are now keeping sex score too.
Many a time, one can hear a girl scheming, "See that boy in
the blue shirt? I'm going to do him tonight."
For now, all a guy can do is hope he wore the right color
shirt that night and he gets mistaken for "that boy" after a
few purchased "Sex on the Beach" drinks.
All a girl can do is keep wearing that outfit her dad would
not approve of and that underwear her mom refused to buy.
Both genders should wish for the best when they venture
out and hope they can live up to the goals they have set for
themselves, whatever those may entail.
MIN
~_'=~
Friday, April 1, 2005
Being a lazy student myself, I'm apt
to lean towards number two as the rea
son most students know nothing about
SGA. I can appreciate a laissez-faire
approach to governing. But based on
the QOTW responses, maybe that does
n't work for everyone.
Of course, all big changes are easier
said then done. And it's possible that
the students who didn't want tuition
breaks for SGA officers were simply
envious they hadn't known and would
have run for president themselves. Or
maybe the students were upset because
they couldn't name a single thing SGA
had ever done for them.
The responses also raise these ques
tion: Are SGA positions superficial fig
ureheads that are created to give stu
dents the illusion of control, offices
provided to satisfy those students who
feel the need to yield some scepter of
power? Or does SGA handle Penn
State administrative decisions so that
the average apathetic student doesn't
have to?
Something to keep in mind as the
new president and vice-president enter
their appointed positions.
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