Pogo Two
The Collegian
commentary
By Bob Wetmore
Managing Editor
"Carol, age 19, was recently
arrested and convicted of
shoplifting. Let her tell you about
it in her own words.
"It was like a bad trip. Here I
am with this stupid $3 belt stuck
in my purse. .and I got caught.
"And you wouldn't believe what
they did next. They called the
police. I never thought they did
that just for shoplifting."
"Now, I've got a record—me!
My mother's so ashamed she
won't step outside the house. But
even worse, my boss found out.
Now, I'm out of a job—the best
job I ever had."
But Carol didn't just steal from
a store. Since shoplifters cause
higher prices . . . and shoplifters
take everybody's money."
This could very well have been
a Behrend student. But it's not.
Though, with shoplifting reaching
(or has it already reached)
epidemic levels on this campus,
it's a possibility.
Even as much as eight years
ago, and probably before that,
there has been a noticeable per
centage of rip-off artists on this
campus. And what better target
for such skilled persons as the
Behrend Bookstore.
Bookstore officials have
pointed out that there has always
been a constant incidence of
shoplifting, even in such a small
confine as the bookstore.
Students seem to be brazen
enough to lift things in front of
employees and student witnesses.
One case involved , a group of
students who worked together to
perform a "lift" approximately
three years ago. In this instance,
a certain group had performed
malicious activities around
campus, and as a finale before
their departure, the bookstore
seemed a likely target.
The identity of these persons
was known, and it was assumed
that there were witnesses of their
other malicious acts around
campus. And yet,' were they
prosecuted? No!! It was not the
fault of the bookstore personnel,
for they duly reported the in
Igehreitit Tellegian
gip Irtiu Assuriation
of alanumnuaralth almpuses
Bob Wetmore
Managing Editor
Mike Kaveney
Business Manager
Executive Secretary: Carol Mantsch -
Ad Manager: Ron Strike -
Copy Editors: Amy Snyder, Katy Ferer, Jenny Suchin
Business Staff: Judy Reed
Writers: Jay Schonthaler, Janet Mazur, Pamela Gilmore, Dan
McKay, MaryJo Santini
Photographers: Lynn Boone, Jeff Urraro. Gan Haley
•
Typists: MicheleCrotty, Kathy Weiser
Mailing Address-Sehrend College, Station*Road, Erie, Pa. 16510
Office- Student Offices. Reed( Union Bu ilding -
Office Hours: 9:30 a. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 899-3101 Ext 238
Opinioni - eiipressed by the editors and staff of the flehrend Collegian
are riot necessarily those of the UniversilyAdministration,_faculty, or
the student body. -
Published every Thursday throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring
Terms. with exclusions for holidays and term breaks.
The editorials appearing in this
newspaper will be opinionated
and therefore subject • to
criticism.. All letters that are
typewritten of 200 words or less,
and submitted to the newspaper
staff will be printed with the
exception of those that are
repetitions or in poor taste. The
staff reserves the right to correct
cident to Security. It would
probably be appropriate at this
time to ask where security had its
thumb placed.
Also, in another case, there was
a total lack of responsibility taken
by our beloved security.
A student had brought a book to
the bookstore , which she wished
to sell back. Unbeknown to the
store personnel, the book was
"hot." Several hours after the
incident, a student was able to
identify the stolen book as his,
and information involving the
case was turned over to security.
After contacting the students
who originally sold the book back,
it was found that a second student
had lifted the book and given it to
the first to sell back because "he
needed the money." Security
recovered the money (only $4.00)
and promptly returned to placing
its thumb. Was anything else
done? Possibly. It was thought
that the student was placed on a
year's probation—but we all
know what people have access to
this information.
Now, what did this case have to
do with shoplifting? A lot. With
such incentive, we should all go
shoplifting. Just think, if we're
caught, we'll probably even be;
able to keep the merchandise.
Now, I'm not trying to put down
Security, but show me a security
agency that is composed partially
of students, when it is students
that they are trying to police?
Incidences seem to indicate
otherwise (need I elaborate?)
But shoplifting on campus isn't
the only activities that Behrend:
ites engage in—local stores will
attest to that fact.
One local store keeps a running
file of Behrend offenders. And,
believe it or not, they were more
than anxious to provide in
formation on Behrend activities
in their store.
It seems that our model student
has a tendency to lift health and
beauty aids, records and tapes.
Only petty things. Occasionally,
some small items will be paid for
at the checkouts, either -as a
decoy, or some form of diluting
the guilt.
Unfortunately, most cases
which are caught are females,
Member of
Paul Corbran
Editor-in-Chief
Ron Wayne
Entertainment Editor
Editorid Nom
6 • -4
or delete portions of all letters for
.publication purposes.
All letters must be signed,-but
names - will '•be withheld upon
request. Term standing, major,
and hometown must be included.
Signed columns represent the
view of the author only and do not
necessarily reflect the Editorial
policy of the Behrendi Collegian-
Mark Reese
Sports Editor
Behrend Collegian
possibly due to the fact that
women carry purses and wear
large, bulky coats: all the easier
to quickly conceal an item.
Most Behrend students which
are apprehended are out of town
residents, probably due to the
fact that commuters have very
little reason to be desperate
enough to engage themselves in
such amusements. (could this be
an indication of the availability of
dorm-oriented activities?)
On the lighter side of the pic
ture, this store to which we are
referring prosecutes all cases.
And even sadder, most all of
these cases are over eighteen, so
news of the offense rarely makes
it back to the parents, and only in
very rare cases, back to the
University.
It would seem tame a sad fact
that the University doesn't use
its landlord power more ex
tensively.
What gives a certain faction the
power to declare Behrend a
separate entity; immune from
the laws of the commonwealth?
How much are local authorities
paid to keep their noses clean?
And lastly, is all of this
carefully formulated to make
Behrend look like the un
blemished virgin of the area
colleges (and a contribution to
intentional isolationism)?
From shoplifting to
isolationism. Quite a, span, isn't
it? Well, don't forget, Richard
Nixon was President of the United
States, too.
Editor's note: Due to the fact
that the Collegian was swamped
with material for this issue, we
regret the fact that a large
.amount of letters were not
printed. The Collegian would like
to assure the Behrendt community
that these letters will be printed
in their totality next issue, pend
ing that conditions allow for
insertion of the material. The
Collegian welcomes all letters on
editorials, and allows equal space
for rebuttal.
Hi gang. It's me again with
more good news from the land of
the free and the home of the _
criminally insane (Univirsiqr
Park). If you remember, last
week the Ambassador program
was here from University Park—
Well, now State College is of
fering you a free, all expense paid
trip to the Centre County "Cam-
pus—that's right—The Dirt
Cheap Travel Agency will
transport you and the sex partner
of your choice to dismal, snow
bound State-College via,dog sled
(pulled by a team of 3 drunken,
rabid Irish wolf hounds), where
you'll be staying in make shift
cots located on the spacious 15
acre golf course adjacent to the
Nittany Lion Inn—YES—"To
Transfer or Not to Transfer."
Pardon my inane ramblings—it
all started when someone stole
my hair. All levity aside; there is
an excellent opportunity for all
students considering transfer to
University Park within the-next
year to really become• well
acquainted with all facets of life
in State College through Com
monwealth Campus Day.
After two years of extensive
pianning by the USG. Department
of Commonwealth Campuses,.the
Commonwealth. Campus Day,. to
- -be held ori'SattirdAy February
14th, has become -a - reality. The
events, will be -as follows—ln the
morning, all will be assembled in
Recreation Hall and have the
opportunity .to discuss 'Campus
life with representatives from.
fraternities, sororities, dorm
councils, campus organizations,
(i.e. OTIS, USG, SIMS, etc.),
academie divisions and others. In
the afternoon, students will be
taken on bus tours of the.campus
41h. • From the desk
of the Editor
fl By Paul Corbran
Editor-in-Chief
Last week I wrote on the isolation of Behrend College -
which may very well be self-inflicted., I've learned. I have
received response on this and would like to thank all those
involved. I hope there will be prompt action on this very
injurious problem soon.
Today I would like to broaden my topic to something that
concerns the community - the whole 'country, for that
matter. Some of you may recognize the subject matter from
a speech class last term 'or the editorial page of the Erie
Times last summer. This is the first time I've put it in the
Collegian, though.
The topic of my article, this issue, is public worker
strikes. This stems from the recent strike of Erie County
employees. I have no compassion at all for these people and
I condemn their actions with utmost sincerity.
The strike at the County Hospital is the most in
considerate act, and the most despicable. There is a staff of
forty, or so, supervisory personnel to care for four hundred
elderly patients, many of them unable to even get out of bed.
To quote myself, there is a big difference between a strike in
a hospital and that of one in a factory. The latter would
carry financial injury to the corporation which will even
tually be passed on to the consumer. The former carries a
more direct and severe injury to people. People are suf
fering because of the lack of proper paramedical care.
We're not talking about machinery here, we're talking about
people's lives.
Moving on to strikes in other areas, such as police or fire
protection._ ••Last summer there was a strike of the fire
fighters in Kansas City. 4young boy perished... to hell with
the euphanisms, a young boy DIED because surrounding
area companies honored the strike and would not respond to
in-city calls. This irresponsibility makes me sick! How
many other people have died, unnecessarily, because they
couldn't get help fast enough?
There are other actions to take other than that of striking.
The Millcreek Police Department, for example, has a
system where if and when their contract runs out, the issue
falls directly into binding arbitration in the event of no
settlement. They are not allowed to strike.
I don't believe that public workers should have been
granted the "right" to strike. This, so called, right infringes
upon the rights of you and me, as citizens of the community,
to proper care. and protection. These people have succeeded
in taking the word servant out of "public servant" and
replacing it with headache.
Well, on the lighter side... I don't know if you've noticed,
but our SGA president has donned a new look. That's right...
Mike Woods went out and got his hair cut and shaved his
beard off. "Senioritis" must really be getting to him - I
think, though, that Gillette made him an offer.
Oh. well, enough said,
A Word From Our
(thus the dorm complexes) and
the many apartment buildings
and "high rises" offering in
forinaticin on rental prices and
facilities for tenants. The day will
be climaxed by an all night dance
marathon for charity (on cam
, pus) when students may become
acclimated to UP social life. The
SGA is in the process of arranging
a chartered bus for mass tran
sportation for this weekend,
although arranging your own
transportation is ad
visable. I would strongly en
courage attendance by potential
transferees as many are vic
timized by geographic confusion
and miserly landlords upon their
first visit to Happy Valley.
I would like to make an ex
planation by way of apology to
presidents and members of new
organizations chartered under
the . SGA this year. It was our
responsibility to accommodate
those organizations that have
long existed at the _college and
made substantial contributions to
the student body. I must express
my enthusiasm and gratitude
;.regarding the positive efforts by
students -to establish new - ac
tivities for the Behrend College
and I personally wish we. could
absorb all of
„your operating
- '"expenses. 'lUtiforluna.tely,' our
activities allocation is not sub
stantial enough to subsidize even
our "established" clubs or offer
the students much in the way of
new activities. I hope you all will
continue your enthusiam - through
the remainder of this academic
year and hopefully, next year's
SGA will be able to allot you the
financial assistance necessary.
Good job! •
Finally,. I would like to coin
President
By Mike Woods
SGA President
mend by way of consolation, the
Bebrend College Basketball
team for their fine performance
against Frostburg State on
Saturday night. The entire team
gave it their best effort and lost a
heart breaker by 1 point in
overtime. I believe this to be one
of those contests in which the best
team was not the victor. Good job
guys!
From
Memphis
to Behrend
new sounds
It's, a long way from Memphis
to -here. Two Poor Boys a long
way from home are starting here
instead. On February- 6, at 9:00
p,M. -in , the RUB, an. ex,
traordinnyy group will - provide a
- musical jamboree of the music
that shook ,all - - Of - Europe and
America. Not since Furry Lewis
came- to town has the area. had
-anYrftiglike this. Two POiir Boys
a Long Way from Home, is as if
minstrel shows still -flocked
across America. Three hours of
continuous old time and blues
music. An evening of joy to one
and all, come early and stay late.
the music will flow on and on.
Featuring Bandjo —Toe, Bogus
Blind Rick, Rev. RR Brown,
and a host of others in solo and
joint . performance. It's a long way
from Meniphis to here.
February 5, 1976