I The Behrend Beacon
FUJEGPE OTI T.
This week in politics
By Christopher Brown
contributing writer
cmbs3l3@psu.edu
This week the Democratic National
Convention kicked off and ended, book
ended with Michelle Obama's address
on its opening night and concluded last
night with Barack Obama's acceptance
of the Democratic nomination in front of
over 75,000 people at Mile High
Stadium in Denver. The convention has
had its highs and lows, but overall I think
it was a success.
Michelle Obama’s opening speech
served as an introduction of the Obama
family to the rest of the country. She
highlighted their struggles, their tri
umphs, and their character by telling per
sonal anecdotes. She described Barack
driving her and their new-born daughter
“home from the hospital ten years ago
this summer, inching along at a snail’s
pace, peering anxiously at us in the
rearview mirror, feeling the whole
weight of her future in his hands, deter
mined to give her everything he’d strug
gled so hard for himself, determined to
give her what he never had: the affirming
embrace of a father's love.”
The first night was emotional.
Michelle’s speech, combined with Sen.
Ted Kennedy’s appearance only months
after being diagnosed with brain cancer
and his promise to be at Obama’s inau
guration in January, left few dry eyes in
the convention center and perhaps the
country. Democratic strategist and for
mer advisor to President Bill Clinton,
James Carville, thought that the first
night was a waste since neither John
McCain, Republican Presidential
Candidate, nor George W. Bush were
mentioned by name.
Rachel Reeves Jennifer Juncosa
Editor-in-chief Perspectives editor
Communications major Communications major
She should never have three cups of coffee. She leaves early to watch Grey's at nine
Connor Sattely
Managing editor
Communications major
Lives on Dr. Pepper and Sportscenter.
Ryan Gallagher
News editor
Communications major
Chris LaFuria is his best friend.
Matthew' Schwabenbauer
College life editor
Communications major
He can say anything and get aw»ay wdth it.
In my opinion:
The world need* to tola more deep breaths. It's pretty much the end of
otusare elready feeling toe stress. Breathel It’ll help.
I disagree. Michelle did what she
needed to do. The Presidential Election
is as much about who can connect with
voters, than who has the better plan or
policies to lead this country forward. I
wish it were different, but that is the way
it is. It made perfect sense then to start
out the convention as an introduction to
the Obamas, even more given McCain
and Republican efforts to paint the
Obamas as un-American.
After Tuesday and Wednsday 1 think
the convention and Democrats every
where let out one giant sigh of relief.
There was plenty of worry about how the
Clintons. Hillary and Bill, would speak
and treat the convention. Would they be
lukewarm? Enthusiastic? Would they
speak more about their accomplishments
than Obama’s?
Hillary made it clear that this election
is bigger than her alone; it's about the
movement and the future of this country.
“Were you in this campaign just for
me?” Hillary asked her supporters. I
believe that it is not only selfish, but stu
pid for Hillary supporters to vote for
John McCain or sit out this election.
They share no similar convictions on
policy or the state of the country, he has
voted against women’s rights, and in his
comments about his wife and joking
about Chelsea Clinton during the 1990's
he has shown a disdain and disrespect
towards women.
I think it is fair to say that the conven
tion didn’t truly get started until
Thursday night. On Thursday,
Democrats finally started making the
case against John McCain and for
Barack Obama. I was astonished by the
vitality and energy exhibited by the usu
ally subdued Sen. John Kerry ("Let me
tell you, before he ever debates Barack
Meet the editors
Political Science major
He is unexpectedly quick with comebacks.
* ,
mm
Evan Koser
Arts editor
Emily Reichart
Copy editor
Communications major
Both of her pinkies are crooked.
Marcus Yeagley
Copy editor
Communications major
Has nothing to add here
Haw an opinion? e-mail jdjso6l6psu.edu
Obama, John McCain should finish the
debate with himself). VP candidate Joe
Biden ("...when John McCain proposes
$2OO million in new taxes for corporate
America. $1 billion alone for the largest
companies in the nation - but no. none,
no relief for 100 million American fami
lies. that's not change. That’s more of the
same"), and Bill Clinton ("Barack
Obama is ready to honor the oath, to pre
serve. protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States. Barack
Obama is ready to be President of the
United States").
Bill Clinton is one of the Democratic
Party's greatest assets in this election
and he showed why on Thursday night.
Many people look back longingly to the
peace and prosperity that occurred dur
ing his presidency. And no one can speak
with more authority than Bill on how bad
the last eight years have been for the
country compared to the 19905. He made
a good case for Barack.
There was a real chance that Obama
would be overshadowed by the Clintons
during this convention. But I think a bal
ance was struck and their message was
delivered: John McCain today is not the
John McCain of 2000. a McCain
Presidency would look awfully similar
to the last 8 years, and Barack Obama is
ready to lead. Now they just have to
make it stick.
If one thing can be said about the con
vention it was high on emotion and per
sonal stories. It will be interesting to see
how the Republican convention con
trasts. I find it hard to believe that they
will be able to make the same attacks on
Obama stick after the DNC convention,
which thev tried to use before.
Jeremy Korwek
Wehsite editor
Communications major
He always steals the good computer.
Keegan McGregor
Photography editor
Communications major
He always complains about something.
Daniel Smith
Senior Photographer
Political Science major
He is a Republican...enough said
Chris LaFuria
Last year’s editor-in-cheif
Communications major
He doesn’t work here anymore.
Friday, August 29, 2008
1 C'l
J )J
It’s always
different the
second time
By Jennifer Juncosa
perspectives editor
jdjso6l@psu.edu
Coming to Erie for my sophomore
year was extremely different than when I
came to Erie as a freshman. As a fresh
man, I was nervous and excited. The first
time I saw Behrend it was freshman
move-in day last year. 1 had chosen the
school based on what my friend in
Rochester told me. She was right, the
campus was gorgeous.
I was in the car with my parents fresh
man year and I was so excited I couldn’t
sit still. I was moving from the left side
of the car to the right like a little kid. I
had no idea what my dorm looked like or
where it was. When I pulled up and 1
walked in, 1 fell in love instantly. It was
a lot like that this year. I wasn’t going
side to side in the car but I was excited to
see my dorm building. It was love at first
sight when I walked into Ohio Hall.
Gladly, my room was a lot bigger than
last year. It was like walking into a hotel
Sophomore year is better
than last year; it’s only
been the first week. It’s
not just because I have a
huge bathroom.
room. Don’t even get me started on my
bathroom...it’s huge.
Moving in was a little different.
Behrend is really good about making it
easy for freshman, they had all my stuff
by my door before I even had my key.
This year I was on my own except for
the dollies by the door to help the mov
ing process. My mom jumped at the
opportunity to make my bed like she did
freshman year and she even hung up my
clothes. This year my parents didn’t take
me grocery shopping but gave me some
money. They didn’t stay as long as they
did the last year but this year I pretty
much knew how things would go.
It was nice to walk the campus again
without the fear of not knowing where I
was going. I knew where I liked to get
dinner, I knew where it was quiet to
study, and I knew where to go if I had the
opportunity to get off campus. One thing
I did miss about my freshman year was
the exploring, because after one year you
It was nice to walk the
campus again without
the fear of not knowing
where I was going.
pretty much have seen everything on
campus. But it was still nice to just walk
around and run into old friends and talk
about our summers and laugh about what
happened the year before.
The only downside to this year was the
feeling I had of being totally unprepared.
L ast year my parents just bought my
books at the bookstore. But as most of us
learned, it’s not the cheapest way to go.
So to save some money 1 had to go find
my books cheap online. I have about six
books out of ten that I need and it’s the
end of the first week. 1 wasn’t so lucky
this year, the first day wasn’t only about
going over the syllabus, and I had real
assignments in books I didn’t have yet.
A lot happens in one year. I know how
to handle college now. Academics
should be a little harder and socially it
should be easier. Freshman year was fun,
exciting, and new but sophomore year is
slightly more relaxing, familiar, and
comfortable. It’s definitely better than
last year and it’s only been the first
week. It’s not just because I have a huge
bathroom.
around.