Page Two
commentary
ERIE'S
By Jim Martin
Executive Editor
The Mayor's office and the
town council of the city of Erie
have been in the news a good deal
on plans of organizing and
building a Civic Center.
Immediately upon thinking about
it, my initial reaction is
favorable. And it has been for the
last 10-15 years that this idea has
been tossed around the Erie
community. Finally some action
has been able to take place
because of Federal funds being
allocated to the city for assisting
in the actual construction. Mayor
Lou Tullio ("Big Lou") has been
advocating that since the Federal
government is willing to allocate
money to the city, the city—
without a doubt—should take the
advantage of these funds,
preferably by building a Civic
Center. (This leaves much to be
desired).
The citizens in advocating the
blueprints for a Center are
promoting it as the much needed
life instilling drawing card for the
downtown area. Presently, the
economic decline of the downtown
area has been staggering. Many
street corners and blocks are
vacant lots. Numerous mer
chants have moved out to other
more profitable locations such as
the Millcreek Mall at Routes 19
and 99, leaving the remaining few
businesses fending added com
petition from these new outside
areas. Along with the merchants,
travel the customers causing the
possibility of less earnings for the
downtown merchants a growing
reality. Continuing tersely, next
the city's taxes are decreased
because of the . travelling
salesman (or any tax-paying
inhabitant who has moved), then
services provided by the city's
government for the community
are cut to balance the tax base
(revenues) that has been lessened
due to the void that has been
created.
The Civic Center would be a
"drawing card" because it would
lessen this aspect of Erie's plight.
The Center's intention is to bring
to the city of Erie an organized
cultural, athletic and entertaining
facility all under one roof. In
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of Canutionutraltip eamintora
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The Collegian
CIVIC CENTER
doing so, a multitude of activities
would be provided to any and
everybody inside or outside the
Erie community. And all of this
would develop and take place
downtown. The tax base
(revenues) would be built up
again. So the Civic Center could
very well indeed, by a visible and
viable attraction in building up a
depleting economic market.
In addition, by increasing the
enhancement of the downtown,
the Civic Center would also in
crease the variety of the events
and activities offered. This
variety of shows would include a
more cultural, informative at
mosphere for all of Erie, city and
county. Not only an economic
benefit but also an upswing in
cultural enlightenment is forecast
by. Civic Center enthusiasts.
What the city must understand
and be able to grapple with
successfully is the difficulty in
the actual implementing,
marketing and maintaining such
a demanding enterterprise as the
undertaking of constructing a
Civic Center.
In the immediate area, the
county of Erie has a very similar
complex in the Erie County
Fieldhouse (ECF). This facility
is able to put on several seasonal
shows that are "big name" at
tractions and then fills the
remaining dates on the calendar
with lesser "big name" at
tractions but of equally important
marketing value. The Erie area
therefore is provided with a very
good facility which in turn is able
to supply the community with
athletic and other activities on a
regular favorable marketing
(promotion and selling of events)
schedule_ The ECF during its
first two years has worked
toward a schedule that does not
saturate the area, with one too
many similar events. It continues
to mix and balance its shows. The
management for the Fieldhouse
must be on top of the economic
marketing costs incurred to
survive, then turn a profit.
The ECF is still carrying a
debt—more aptly and properly
called bonding—incurred at its
outset. In building the arena,
loans were needed from various
Member of
Paul Corbran
Editor-in• Chief
Editorial Policy
Behrend Coll
banks in Erie. An overwhelming
majority is still owed. The costs
for initiating this type of project
are enormous (in the $100,000's).
Coupled with the implementing
costs, the Fieldhouse must add to
that bill an expected and actual
loss incurred during the first two
years. It is hoped in the third year
the ECF will make a profit.
Initial financing for the Civic
Center will not be enough to make
this enterprise a lasting economic
success. The odd $7 million Erie
is to receive many not even be
half of the financial necessities
needed in constructing such a
complex. What could be en
countered by the community—
primarily city resident tax
payers—is a possible collapse
and failure. The citizen who pays
the most is the city taxpayer
because he pays both city and
county taxes while the county
resident not residing in the city
pays only county taxes. Simply,
costs for the Civic Center will
have to be paid almost entirely by
the city residents (over the $7
million Federal allocation).
How could the Civic Center
fail? Very easily. The most ap
parent cause would be a
disastrous recession or
depression. Also an apparent
single cause would be mis
management. Barring a
disastrous recession the absolute
necessity of a knowledgeable
management becomes the major
key for unlocking the Center's
success. For that reason, it is my
conviction that the management
should not be politically
motivated in any way. That
means no political appointments
to the managing staff. The pitfalls
that management will meet can
be devastating and leave ruin to a
"good idea."
One difficulty will he signing
contracts. The next, obviously, is
to sell them. Also, a very definite
deterrent to developing a suc
cessful operation arises in a
possible over-saturation of the
Erie community market for
events. This is directly probable
because of the ECF.
The Fieldhouse is establishing
itself as a big plus and drawing
card of events for the Erie area.
(The aspirations held by Civic
Center hopefuls). They have
contracts for sporting events,
concerts, exhibitions and many
annual activities. An all-out head
on battle between the Civic
Center and the Fieldhouse could
very easily evolve. Competition
would always run high. Being
that the two areas are similiar in
purpose, the events held at each
would be similar. If the supply is
too abundant then the demand
will fall off. The market will be
saturated. The result may be able
to control the maintenance cost;
employee salaries, wear and tear
depreciation, destruction, realty
taxes, etc. Maintenance costs will
increase. The Sears building's
renovations and repairs will be
extensive. (It is my opinion that
the Sears building portion of the
blueprints is opening a Pandora's
box).
I have always been 'for' a
complex like the Civic Center.
But just right now may not be the
time, despite the federal
allocation. The time was right
during any of the' past 10 years
before the EFC. It will again be
favorable -in three years or so.
The city of Erie has moved too
slow in the past and now may be
moving too hastily. The
population in Erie county is not
that of the Pittsburgh area, yet
the mayor's office thought fit to
compare it on an equal basis.
Pittsburgh has turned a profit of
20 million with its civic center but
they draw from over 2 million
people; Erie draws from maybe
500 thousand. It will be very
difficult for two areas to survive,
let alone one. The Fieldhouse has
still not netted an over all year
ending profit. The people are just
not here.
•.e. A Word From
r 4 . " . • Our President
i I 0 By Mike Woods
This'article is a recent addition
to the usual format of the
Collegian. The editor and I felt it
would be an effective means
of communication between the
student body and the Student
Government Association. I sin
cerely hope that this article will
serve to keep all' of the students
informed relative to issues which
affect them.
First, one of the numerous
alphabet organizations, PSL
(Pennsylvania Student Lobby), is
alive and kicking again in
Univergity Park. Following
several resignations and various
organizational roadblocks
(snafu), the Student Lobby group
is working on several major
issues which shall be elaborated
later in the article. Behrend is
this year a member of this
organization and as such will be
integrally involved with the types
of legislation (on a state level)
which affects all of us students.
Those of you who were here last
year are probably somewhat
familiar with Penn P.I.R.G.
(Public Interest Research
Group). After several months of
no correspondence, I happened
upon a P.I.R.G. representative in
State College at a meeting last
weekend. I was informed at that
time that the Ralph Nader
founded consumer protection
group washaving problems with
funding because of opposition
from the Penn State Board of
Trustees. It is felt that through
certain pressures and-the power
of petition that the Board would
acquiesce, and aid P.I.R.G. in
their development. Through this
organization, the Penn State
student would become involved.
with consumer issues state-wide
and not exclusively within the
university.
A committee. at University
Park is currently considering a
request by security officers
within the University system tha t
they be equipped with fi rearms
for "protection." This might not
effect the - Behrend College, but
none the less, should be a concern
to all of us whether we will be
trartsfering to "Happy Valley" or
not. A move such as this leaves
much lattitude for more tragic
incidences reminiscent of the late
60's an early 70's to happen once
again on college campuses.
Good news for the commuter
populous. The SGA is currently
working the establishment of
a commuter council (like the
JRC ) to deal with issues that
directly effect the largest
segment of this college (I refer to
the commuters). I believe that
this sort of Council would afford
the commuter student body and a
opportunity for more valid input
into the monstrous bureaucratic
machine we call Penn State.
The Behrend College Radio
Presentation of ROTC--
treaties for alienation
By Robert D. Frum . philosophical anticipations of a
The basis of this article is the campus activity. It should be
initiation of an ROTC program noted here that both the ROTC
upon a college campus and the program and the college campus
orientation and opposition are graphic representations of,
derived thereof. The organization and extensions to, larger,
of ROTC ("Reserve Officers detached bodies.
Training Corps.'? on Behrend ROTC in itself constitutes an
Campus, though separate from elite - group open to the masses,
the university curriculum, was with a structure so unique as not
intended to be a facility of learn- to be duplicated in size or type
ing offered by the University anywhere in .the modern world.
(relation through association). As - The creed and ethical code are
such, the ROTC became subject based upon principles of honor
to all the rules, regulations, and ( continued on page 3)
The key for success helping the Center's reality will
(economically) for an Erie . City be the completion of the Erie
Civic Center is the management. . Hilton and the Mid-City Towers
The management must be both being built downtown.
specifically educated in the Amtrak in Erie should be an aid
required fields for developing and as well.
maintaining a profitable
organization. The management What I hope for is a good
will need two free hands from any economy and the support and
political power. This will provide enthusiasm of the Erie citizens
the best chance at 'making' the once the_plans are finalized for
Civic Tenter. Several plusses construction.
SGA President
Station will begin broadcasting
tomorrow 'afternoon at 4:00 p.m. I
feel this is a positive and essential
addition to the student services of
the college and that it will
facilitate better communication
among the students. My personal
thanks to the students who con
tributed their time, money, and
equipment to the station and
especially to Ed Fraetus who has
worked tirelessly since last
spring for the progress which has
been made. We've come a long
way since the. first night we
talked about it, Ed !
After several years of un
successful negotiations to open
the RUB parking lot to students—
it has been done. I met with
Director Kochel last week and
explained the student problem
with evening parking in that lot.
He has since notified me that
students will be able to uitilize the
RUB lot from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00
a.m. Monday through Friday,
and from 6:30 p.m. Friday night
until 6:00 a.m. Monday morning.
A small step for man and a small
step for the students—but what
the hell. Thanks, Mr. Kochel.
Now for some pertinent topics.
I referred earlier to several
issues which P.S.L. is currently
involved in: ; these are the 19
year old drinking bill (for which
SGA is circulating a petition) and
a bill -in the State House and
Senate calling for the
decriminalization of marijuana.
The SGA has sent telegrams to
the legislature supporting the
adoption of both of these bills. We
hope this will be of some influence
to our conservative state
legislators—but. If anyone
wishes to write their represen
tative, I urge you, and will list the
bill names if you will refer to
them—the 19 year old drinking
bill is referred to as H.R. 559, and
includes all alcoholic beverages.
The bills -- introduced to
decriminalize marijuana are
referred, Was- S, 214 la, the State
Senate and H.R. 1699 in the
House. From reliable sources, it
has been indicated that the 19
year old drinking bill has an
excellent chance of passage
(finally!) but the legislation to
decriminalize marijuana stands
little opportimity for adoption as
a function of the conservatism in
the legislature. Oh well, maybe
next year. Write them letters!
I hope this article serves an
informative purpose and that all
of the student body will keep
abreast -of what's happening
politically at the Behrend
College. The student government
is only as powerful as the student
body which they represent. This
is the most active group of
students which I have seen here
for several years and I hope we
can direct this activity into
positive change for the student
body. See ya'all later!
October 30, 1975