MY VOICE Has Spring Break gone too far? Spring Break is only a week away, and students are getting antsy. In what many people think of as the typical Spring Break, however, students take their mind off of school and in stead completely lose their mind. While we all can’t afford to migrate south, some college students choose to do so. What goes on during these festivities would normally be nearly un speakable. Spit is swapped by those who hardly know each other, STDs are passed through one-night flings, the total amount of beer consumed would overwhelm even an alcoholic, and the amount of drugs outnumbers a pharmacy. While to some that may seem like fun, I just can’t get behind the idea of letting go of morals for a week. Maybe it’s because 1 don’t drink or do drugs. Maybe it’s because I like my women MARISSA LANICH staff writer 4701 College Drive, Erie PA 16563 RoomloH Executive Board Editor-In-Chief: Business Manager: Connor Sattely Bethany Long editor@psu.edu bjtso37@psu.edu Managing Editor: Faculty Advisor: Shawn Annarelli Kim Young smaslB9@psu.edu kjylo@psu.edu Web Editor: Marketing Manager Jeremy Korwek Katie Cook jdksoo9@psu.edu klcs293@psu.edu classy, the ones who don’t take their tops off before the guy even finishes askin; Maybe it’s idea of crazy until 2 a.m night I don’t sound like a ing prude w 1 has a “hoik than thou” at titude. I don’ consider my self boring, I’m not a prude, and 1 know that I, too, am not perfect. I know there is a lot of temptation to let loose and get some ca- boose. I get that. However, how can a college student justify going crazy for a week, acting like their Spring TOYOTA. MOVING TORWAfcP MY VOICE The death of dating Dating is out, hooking up is As college students, we all know that this is true. We see it at parties, among our friends, and possibly in our own lives as well. Instead of an invitation to din ner and a movie, it is more com- invitation to a party where beer id bed ooms are con niently close. The “demise of dating” and the iking up phenome ion have been more jenly discussed in the media over the last several lars, and those from previ ous generations are learning about the new norms for mod em sexual relationships. Some still hold conventional views and find this hooking up •opriate and backward. However, many believe that Thf Bf.hrf.nd Beacon News Editors: Ally Orlando acososWpsu.edu Rachelle Thompson rltso6s@psu.edu Ast. News Editor: Eric Peirce ewpsos2@psu.edu Break vacation is some kind of other universe where nothing matters? The week might you might teavage than •am technol the conse that week ifetime. <rew Pinsky, known for his ing of MTV’s \d Pregnant, iks out xst Spring >ses are lying into the pathological lehavior of ;he young people, giving them unlim- ited alcohol and plenty of rooms,” he said. BRANDON BOYD senior writer There have been casualties of college students who have drank themselves out of reality this is a healthy progression and an appropriate lifestyle in today’s society where birth con trol and a more liberal view of female sexuality have created a more relaxed attitude toward sexual activity. I have yet to form a strong opinion on our society’s move ment towards casual hook-ups. While 1 see the strangeness in relationships progression back ward and the cons of a more promiscuous lifestyle and 1 also see the inevitability of this movement toward “hook-up” culture and the beneficial ef fects of this liberation. mon to re- However, when it comes to the end of dating, I do hold an opinion. Beyonce once said that “If you like it then you should’ve put a ring on it.” Similarly, I think that if you like it then you can take me out for dinner. Or at least show me some respect. Regardless of how a relation ship begins, whether it’s with a friendship or a hook-up, there comes a time when, “come over and party at my place tonight” isn’t sufficient. Although drinking Natty Sports Editors: Nick Blake npbso4Wpsu.edu Alec Italiano ajiso37@psu.edu Opinion Editor: Neil James opinion@psu.edu 'he busi- litorial Boi Culture Editor: Shannon Ehrin sbesol7@psu.edu Copy Editors: Jeff Kramer jsksl6l@psu.edu Marcus Yeagley mjysol2@psu.edu Photo Editor: Daniel J. Smith djss223@psu. edu Videographer: Mike Fultz mjls2o4@psu.edu Engineering Editor: Ryan Frankouski rsfsos4@psu.edu and lost their lives for no rea son. There are plenty of eye-pop ping stats and statements about Spring Break vacations. On av erage, guys have 18 drinks a day and girls have 10. Theft, assault, and rape are all more likely to occur during Spring Break due to the excess of alcohol consumed by college students. If you are still planning on heading to warmer weather during the week, be safe. Travel in groups, watch your drink, and know your limit. That being said, enjoy your Spring Break, whatever you choose to do. If you want to go and party, I’m not going to stop you. As for me, I’ll stick around in dreary Erie to unwind and relax. Maybe I’ll even try to stay up until 3 a.m. Then again, I don’t want to get too crazy. l Ojas##*** Light and getting drunk with your obnoxious roommates may sound like a good time to you, this is not a good seduc tion technique. Commitment and exclusivity are becoming less common re quirements for modern sexual relationships between men and women, but that doesn’t mean that respect should go out the window as well. Regardless of what you’re searching for, whether it is a committed relationship or even just a casual relationship, put a little effort into it. A relationship may be purely casual; however walking your hook-up to the door and re specting him or her as a person is still essential. If that relation ship has potential, extend an invitation for something a little more personal than a keg party. This mutual respect is not only fundamental in any human relationship, but will also be beneficial down the road, whether the relationship results in a consistent hook-up, a friendship, or even a commit ment. Telephone: (814)898-6488 Fax: (814)898-6019 Business Editor: Akeem Mclntosh aomsl43@psu. edu Humanities Editor: Adam Spinelii alsssB9@psu.edu Science Editor: Ryan Gula rggso29@psu.edu jQfam SAYS Stimulus failed? On the recent anniversary of the Economic Stimulus Bill, one thing that I kept hearing about is how it was a colossal failure. This is utter nonsense. In my mind, the stimulus has been an overwhelming success. If you don’t think so, you probably are just failing to see the big picture. If you don’t remember, years ago, many politicians felt that Americans with no money or bad credit weren’t buying enough houses. This is not fair, they thought. So they went to the banks and said “please make more bad loans.” To encourage this, the politi cians agreed to have Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two quasi-governmental agencies, buy the bad loans to take them off bank balance sheets. Freddie and Fannie sold the loans to other banks and secu rities firms. Large insurance companies like AIG insured them. Politicians took lots of money from these companies and pre tended they didn’t know what was going on. When the Fed eral Reserve decided to raise in terest rates, the mortgage market imploded and the econ omy collapsed. The Bush administration thought they had the solution. They sent checks to Americans to increase consumer spending and get the economy going. Unfortunately, Americans went on cruises and paid off their credit card debt. We went billions deeper into debt and the economy contin ued to tank. Which brings us to the almost $9OO billion stimu lus. Most Americans felt the money would be used to create private sector jobs, and we MY VOICE February might only have 28 days, but you can not convince me that it is the shortest month. Comedian Lewis Black, who visited this campus about two years ago, once said “It’s when you want to slit your wrists just to see color.” Now that football season is over, what possible reason is there to even wake up on a weekend before 5 p.m. I’ll give you skiing, but col lege kids are cheap and lazy. Unless you’re in the midst of a bender, there’s no way you’re getting up at 9 a.m. on a Satur day morning to schlep up to Peek’n Peak. Even if you did want to go, who the hell would be stupid enough to want to go with you? You want entertainment in February? You’ll get nothing and like it. You’re better off drinking until dawn on Friday and Saturday night and waking up in the early evening. Aside from all the extra fun, you’ll miss break fast and lunch those days and theoretically get thinner. College football and the NFL give you something to look for ward to in the fall. Even if you don’t like football, at least the weather is nice. That’s a lie, ac tually. Outside of September, the weather is spotty at best. At least there’s the hope that it will Single copies of the Beacon are free and available at newsstands around campus Additional copies can be pur chased with permission of the editor-in-chief for $1.50 each Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of all students, faculty or University administration. Opin ions expressed in columns, cartoons, and letters are not necessarily those of The Behrond Beacon unless otherwise indicated. Any letters intended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than .150 words, and include the writer’s name and phone number. Letters may be edited for content or length at the editor in chief's discretion. The Behrend Beacon does not publish anonymous letters to the editor. If students want their letters to be published, they must include their name. The Behrend Beacon intends for its Opinion page to he a forum for discussion, not a screen to hide behind. Occasionally, The Behrend Beacon may request responses to online queries in which responders will be identified by their username. The Behrend Beacon is editorially independent from the Penn State system. The Behrend Beacon operates par tially on Student Activity Fee, and partially on advertising revenue. It is published every Friday during the school year except for before and during scheduled vacations, with exceptions for special issues. The editor-in-chief has the final authority on editorial decisions, including, but not limited to, all columns, edito rials, and letters to the editor. Complaints regarding Beacon coverage of school events should he directed to the edi tor at editors psu.edu. Behrend Beacon February 26,2010 www.thebehrendbeacon.com were even promised that with passage of the bill, unemploy ment would not rise above 8.5 ED MISETA /('( hirer in (H onnmu s percent Unfortunately, by the end of 2009, unemployment was over 10 percent. This, I think, is driving all of the “stimulus was a failure” talk, which is flat-out wrong. If the goal of the bill was to put Americans back into pri vate sector jobs, then obviously it was a failure. But when you look at where and how the money was spent, you have to wonder. $B7 billion went to help states with Medicare costs. $2 billion went to Section 8 housing. $36 billion went to extend and in crease unemployment compen sation. $25 billion went to health coverage under COBRA. $2l billion went to increase food assistance. $l6 billion went to increase Pell Grants. $l5 billion went to aid needy in dividuals. $3 billion went to in crease block grants for welfare programs, etc. There was even money to double the size of the Depart ment of Education in Washing ton, DC. In Erie, $1.4 million in stimu lus money is helping the home less. Unfortunately, homeless people don’t create jobs. I could go on, but I think I’ve made my point. This money is not creating private sector jobs because it was never intended to do so; the stimulus was designed to grow the size of government and the number of people who are dependent on handouts from the government. And in that regard it has suc ceeded fabulously. Unfortunately, most workers in this country will continue to see the economy stagnate the national debt go to higher and higher levels. February be 60 degrees and sunny. JOHN QUINN < unlrihuling writer November, December, and January are cold like February, but we get substantial time off. Those months also include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Superbowl Sunday. February has a day featuring a groundhog. Incidentally, Groundhog Day brings about a rare potential in American history: an assassina tion that would be really funny. On February Ist, everything comes to a screeching halt. But after this month, it’s gravy. March arrives, which kicks off the conference tourna ments, which lead into St. Patrick’s Day, which leads into the NCAA Tournament, which leads into April, which brings us nicer weather, the sun, George Harrison, etc. There’s actually hope. Febru ary is like a 28-day sentence in a prison that’s freezing cold and has no convenience store. At least you’re safe in the shower. So, since Black’s idea for color is not completely realistic, our only choice is to put our heads down, close our eyes, and plug on. March 1 will, the oretically, arrive at some point. Meanwhile, since the real Olympics suck, you can spend the rest of the month watching Cool Runnings. If John Candy can’t lift your spirits, you’re better off dead. All profile photos taken by Daniel Smith / Behrend Beacon Editorial Policies
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