Poge Two An open leuer to the ad ministration and students of Behrend: Last Monday night I attended a joint meeting of the S.G.A. (Student Government Association) and J.R.C. (Joint Residence Council) for the purpose of discussing the visitation rules on campus. As it stands, students are allowed to have members of the opposite sex in their dorms only between the hours of 6:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on weekdays and 12:00 noon to 2:00 A.M. on Fridays and Saturdays. Currently a lot of students seem to feel that the visitiation policy should be changed to allow more visitation time, particularly during the afternoons. However, though a lot of students feel this way, only about 30 showed up at the meeting, and most of them apparently didn’t have much to say, because they- didn’t say anything. Well, I do have something to say, and Fm going to take this opportunity to do so. Society has changed radically over the pasl decade, probably the greatest change during any decade in history. Ten years ago, it was considered right and proper foi the sexes to keep their distance, but the woman’s lib and the new morality movements have changed this view 180 degrees. Men and women now live and work together, almost as close to each other as to members of their own sex. Men and women relate to each other on equal terms, and share the responsibility of society at all levels. When I graduate, I’ll face a world where I work side by side with women, perhaps have women bosses. This is far from just an ideal, but is fast becoming a reality. Separation of the sexes is disappearing. Then, if all that Behrend says about preparing men and women lor society today is true, they had better be well aware of whal society really is and prepare us accordingly. The visitation rules now in effect no longer reflect current values, outdated not just by years but by a whole social and moral era. The ad ministration may be behind the times, but we students are people of today, ready to deal with reality. Twenty-four hour visitation raises some deep moralistic issue, and I for one don’t feel that all students are mature enough to handle the tremendous sexual responsibility and freedoms that all night visitation puts on them. However, what about daytime visitation? What logical excuse can justify separation of the sexes during the afternoon? Security would not be affected during the daytime. Some people talk about the loss of privacy. For one thing, I don't think the privacy to study would change much if you were to add members of the opposite sex to the visitors you already have. If anything, 1 think it would quiet some of the noise that can be made when only one sex is within earshot. Also, as far as personal privacy is concerned, anyone who would walk down the halls half dressed needs to learn some important lessons and visitation may be the way to teach them. Lastly, if a man and woman really want to get away with anything, I don’t see how the present afternoon visitation policy, or anything short of divine intervention can stop them. Wouldn’t it make more sense to allow visitation during the day? It seems to me, that late night hours offer the only solid excuse for the separation of the sexes. The present, .system of: 68'hours a visitation of a week doesn’t offei any reason or explanation for its existence other, than the bygone ideal that men and women shouldn't see too much of each other. This idea is a throwback to the pre-1960’s and doesn’t have any place in society today. I think we students are responsible enough to co-exist Letters varying viewpoints together, and if there are some who aren’t, they had better learn how to now. The policies a Behrend must change if they hope to prepare us for the world of the future. What can we as students do about visitation policy? The S.G.A. and the J.R.C. have set up a joint council to try to change the rules and the minds of the people that make them. If you want to help, please come to the next S.G.A. meeting Monday, Nov. l at 7:00 in the seminar room of the R.U.B. If we students want to get anything accomplished, we have to organize and put forth a powerful, persuasive effort. The responsibility lies on all our shoulders to get the changes made or suffer because we didn’t try. If we fail, we have only ourselves to blame. Remember we’re all in this together. Don Vernier S.G.A. Student-at-Large To the Editor Having long hair and a big smile with red eyes I am usually associated as being a freak. Unfortunately, I helped carry the burden of an editorial printed in your Sept. 23 issue although I disagreed with more than three fourths of its written content. Not all freaks come down on the athletes trip even if we freaks aren’t actively involved. This preceding paragraph isn’t why I’m writing to the Editor although I’m including it to help finish this big stir, in fact I’m quite bored with all the com motion at this time. My complaint is about your uninformed writers of the past weeks editorials. I’d have preferred to call them asinine but I will consider them totally ignorant on the subject of marijuana. I am referring to their remarks on marijuana. The photo editor, Mr. Jordan, and the F.S.S.B. both made comments on marijuana as if they were absolutely positive that the effects were as ridiculous as those seen in the government propaganda movie “Reefer Madness.” Mr. Jordan referred to marijuana as burning out brain cells arid the F.S.S.B. stated that when “high” a person" is not within his senses. Obviously neither Mr. Jordan, nor the F.S.S.B. have ever tried marijuana, which can be seen in their uninformed biased viewpoints. 40 million people, or one-fifth of the United States population would tend to disagree with Mr. Jordan and the F.S.S.B. on their statements of marijuana. I hope that before anymore misconceived concepts of marijuana are written about, the writer would do some studying on the subject. I also hope Mr. Jordan and the F.S.S.B. attended the N.O.R.M.L. meeting but unfortunately, I doubt that they did. It is people such as Mr. Jordan and the F.S.S.B. that give ’narijuana an undeserved, bad name. To you others who are undecided, try it you might like it. A member of Freaks Unlimited for Campus Karma." Dear Editor, I’m writing this letter in response to a certain editorial in the previous two issues of the Behrend Collegian. I’m no jock, but I’m also no head. When I say head I’m referring to those who belong to F.U.C.K. I think these heads had no-reason to submit the editorial which put them into a lot of trouble. As far as I’m con cerned to each his own. If the Jocks want to run around all day let them. You guys think you’re having a good time sitting in your rooms all day and getting high while the jocks run around for nothing. Did you ever stop to think that jocks get just the same, if not a better high by scoring a Behrend Collegian goal or winning a game. Why don’t you F.U.C.K. Heads grow up. There’s more things to do at Behrend then sit in some little L hole getting loaded all the time thinking your the Best. Besides I know of many Jocks who will party your ass under the table. David Hester 4th term Bus. Adm. Bethel Park, Pa. I’m writing in behalf of the Erie County Republican Telephone Bank. They need volunteers . . . They have asked me to see if there are any students at Behrend interested in working at the phone banks at headquarters - 10th and Peach Streets - in the evenings, weekends, or during the day. If possible, I’d like to have Behrend students go for Sunday af ternoons. The Republicans will have beer and pizza for the workers. It would be a good time and you’d be learning grassroots politics. This would give you a chance to really see what it is like and make up your own mind about the politicans. If interested call Mary Lynn at 455-8084 or contact me at 899-3849 or in the SGA Office. Thanks. Dear Editor As chairperson of the J.R.C., I’m amazed at the psyche of Tom Armstrong. It is really amazing that he would know that the J.R.C. would investigate the matter of three stolen couches even though the J.R.C. was never informed of the theft. I feel that the Collegian should get their facts straight before they print things.' With this type of journalism, Dan McKay’s vision of a paper with a new image will definitely come true. But, sorry to say, this image will be an undesirable one. Respectively, Murray Markovitz Chairperson Joint Residence Council Editor’s Note: The insinuation that Tom’s psyche and-or sloppy journalism somehow fits in with the new image we are striving for is false. By the way, Murray, now that the J.R.C. knows about the stolen couches, what are they doing about them? —D.J.McK. Dear Editor Have you ever been able to sit at a clean table at lunch time in the cafeteria? If so, then you were probably one of the first ones at lunch that day and chances are that the table wasn’t that clean when you left. Maybe being a slob is a natural habit for most people; almost like an instinct. Perhaps this person was brought up- differently than others. He may have been taught to leave empty dishes in the living room or candy wrappers on the floors. Who can question the wisdom of a parent’s upbringing of his own children? Certainly not I. It may be generally accepted in some social circles to be a slob when you visit someone else’s home. Your friend may not care if you throw pop cans or cigarette butts on his floor or prop your feet on his table. He has to clean his house anyway. And how many people- would like to go to a fancy restaurant and be seated at a table where the waiter had just : pushed the previous customer’s mess to the side. 1 don’t like to dig through a ton of garbage just to be able to sit down and eat. The time it takes to drop your garbage in a can is small compared to the pleasure the next person receives when he sits down at a clean table. Steve Armann Folks I think it’s high time to level more with our ad ministration about that nasty word: V-I-S-I-T-A-T-I-O-N. Granted, Dean Lane clarified the issue a little at the joint SGA-JRC meeting held on the 16th, but his well-founded facts and occasional opinions were terribly interlaced with some rather obvious, but telling, facts about what psychological environments residence halls create. For starters, he informed us that “I think it is very important to realize from the very beginning that a residence hall is not a motel and it is not an apartment house, that it is an integral part of the education system of the University.” I personally know of no resident student who is suf fering grand delusions of living in the Bare-End Holiday Inn. If, by chance, the dormitories were motels, they would probably charge you for every inch of toilet paper you used. But, in all seriousness, what kind- of an education does one receive from these hallowed halls Lawrence, Perry, and Niagara? A Masters in Window- Smashing, An independent study in Sex, and a PhD in Partying, judging from the looks of it. If this stuff is so integral to the system, why are the commuters left out in the cold, so to speak? If this education is so mufch a part of the education, why NOT expand the hours? Maybe even to 24 hours, if that is what students really want. ' Maybe freshman Don Vernier hit it on the head when he said “I think that the first thing people think about with 24-hour visitation is sex.” Could this be why Dean Lane’s colleagues from Stanford, Northwestern, Har vard, and Georgia advised him to Flo Busbee sth term Poli Sci Erie, Pa. Janet Mazur Managing Editor Kurt Cavano Executive Editor Office Manager: Avis Lyon Executive Secretary: Sharon Kochanovich Copy Editor: Kareri Blum Layout Advisors:-Greg Kightlinger, Gail Peck Social Affairs Director: BrianAAart»n Art Sdttor: Kathy McGuiness writer: Colleen Gallagher, Joanne Goldberg, Ann Hamilton, Kris Hartzell Betty Lang. Amy Synder. Nancy Porac, Brenda Feathers Tom Armstrong. Diana Lynn Kimmel, Nic&Monico. Ellen Mandell Steve B«shop, M. Scott Douglas, Tom Armstrong Typists: Rachel Battles. Sandy Schacchitti. Sharon Lawson. Jane Rohrer Photographers: S»e Wortman. David Painter. John Edwards Scott Hnrlev Artists: J«e Kozek, James Rabbitt. Michael Nye ey .. Mailing Address- Behrend College, Station Road, Erie Pa issin Office- Student Offices. Reed Union Building 5 0 OHice Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Fridav Phone: 899-3101 Ext. 238 * 9 aav Opinions expressed by the editors and staff of the Behremt roiio„s a n KSSffiST ,h ° Se °‘ the UniVerSi,y Administration o? Published every Thursday throughout the Pan - . Terms, with exclusions for holidays and term breate. Spr,n9 PiOfflßteß . -mm /nft6£PfrUX>l£6MSE Hehrenli Collegian ®hf jlrrsa Association nf (Rmnuimutmtltif (Sampusps Larry Leidtke Business Manager From the desk of the Editor By Dan McKay Editor-in-Chief “avoid it like.the plague!? It makes one wonder. Are they really that afraid of sex? Qf course, if they are afraid of sex, I suggest they see Woody Allen’s film Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex -- but were afraid to ask. The thing that makes me wonder, though, is how Dean Lane’s friend’s story of 24-hour visitation is in complete con tradiction with a report I heard from a friend who is a Junior at the University of Rhode Island. There, not only is there ‘round the-clock visitation, but it is co-ed by alternating rooms. This, he says, "fosters a protective and caring atmosphere.” Some people may be surprised to hear such testimony from a fellow student, but others may be more surprised to learn that it has not yet turned into a home for unwed mothers. But regardless, it works there because the men look after the women, and the women take some care of the men. By living together, they eliminate some hassles and juvenile attitudes that develop in what Dean Lane described as the “Gestalt of the University” and the Operational Reality of the residence halls. What does this integral part of the educational make us white mice or college students? Despite all of this, I wholeheartedly agree with Dean Lane that from here on in, visitation change here is in the hands of the JRC and its president Murray Markovitz and the three volunteers who signed up after the meeting to help him. While I support their cause and wish them all we 11,.! won’t be holding my breath awaiting visitation change. Member of Daniel XJVIeKa v Editor-m-Chief Mary Jo Santilli Entertainment Editor David Jordan Suzanne LeViseur Photo Editor Sports Editor October 29, 1976
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