PAGE 2 itorial What's The Problem? A friend and I were recently discussing the problems currently facing Americans. Besides the Reagan administration, the energy crisis, water shortages, inflation and unemployment, we came across an even more crucial problem-Us! We recognized a problem that is becoming worse each day. It's the decline of the tolerance we have for each other. I'm sure many of you have noticed it, but have you ever thought of how we can eliminate it? First, let me explain what I mean by tolerance. Take your family as an example. You might fight with your brothers, sisters, parents, or relatives. However, in the end you make up (the majori ty of the time). Maybe the problem will last for a week, month, or two, but eventually, the common bond that you have with your family helps you solve the problem. No matter what kind of situa tion you have, the fact that you are a member of a family is all you need to bring everyone back together. I guess you could say the common element is love. - Now multiply that situation by 100, and imagine the U.S. as being a large family. All of us are different brothers, sisters, and relatives. The only problem is that we don't have a common bond like families do. We don't all have a love for each other. As a matter of fact, some of us dislike each other quite a bit. It's not our fault, it's our background. Few of us (except Indians) originated in this country. We are all immigrants (our family heritage is from the old country) and unfortunately we have carried over the dislike from our homelands. The Italians from Rocapia don't get along with those from Sicily. The people of Northern Spain are different from the people of Southern Spain. British don't get along with Irish, it's part of our heritage. There were borders or long distances separating the people in Asia or Europe or wherever their families originated. The coun tries would feud but at least they didn't have to live near each other. However, here in the U.S. sometimes the only thing that separates these people are city streets. Families from each of the countries could possibly live in the same neighborhood. They have neither common bonds nor love for each other. So what occurs are fights, gangwars and killing. All of these different kinds of people live throughout the U.S. Immigrants who are young and old, educated and uneducated, rich and poor: none with a common bond. The growing number of immigrants in the U.S. is pulling all of us further and further apart. More opposing nationalities are moving closer together and intermixing in the U.S. Understanding each other and even speaking to each other are becoming increasingly difficult. Now you see the problem, - the solution is even more difficult. What we need is a common bond, like the one we have in our families. What could possibly bring us all together and make us one? How about our fight for freedom? Why are most of the immigrants here? Why did our parents, or grandparents immigrate to the U.S.? The search for freedom, to get away from oppression, political difficulty, economic disaster, or social problems in their homeland: that's why all of us are here. The Italians, Spanish, Jews, British, Germans and Irish all have the same right to be here as anyone else (as long as they are legal immigrants), so we all have to start respecting the rights of each other. If there is anything that can pull us together it would be the recognition of our duty to give the immigrants of today the same rights that our parents and grandparents had. The same chance for freedom that we have, our parents had, and our grandparents had. The U.S. is a haven for those seeking freedom and we must let those who need freedom the rh nce to obtain it here. New J.R.C. Officers Doug Saltzman - President Ellen Steele - Vice-president Sue Travers - Treasurer Chris Ekis - Secretary By John Slcrzypczak BEHREND COLLEGIAN Letters To The Editor Man's ability to reason should be a tremendous benefit to him in this life. But because of man's pride, his reason has given him the justification to live his life any way he chooses, and he ra tionalizes that his life is accep table before God. The Bible says, "Every way of a man seems right to himself but in the end the Lord judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart," (Proverbs 16:2). Today there are many people who are convinced they are good enough for heaven and God. They -say, "I'm a pretty good person, I don't hurt anybody. I'm not perfect, but who is? I do a lot of things for people. I believe in God and I pray at night and go to church every Sunday - I'll go to heaven." Three years ago, I had this same outlook until I read what God has to say about the human race. He says, "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10) and "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). He also says "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). So God is saying that we are all sinners and we all deserve eter nal damnation, no one is an ex ception. He also says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (I John 1:8). So once we come to grips with the fact that we all are sinners we then have to realize that we can't save ourselves. Consider the reason Christ died: "He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them, and rose again" (I Cor inthians 5:15). This is our part of salvation. We can't save ourselves, but we must live for Christ once we accept God's plan of salvation. How does one know if he is liv ing for Christ? Living for Him en tails obeying Him, serving Him and making decisions only after consulting Him. It means you make His wishes priority over your own. It means you turn from evil and pursue holiness. Don't kid yourself. No one is Co-Editors: Sports Editor: Joe O'Keeffe Erin Caverly Claire DeSantis Tom Hicks Michael Kitchen Wendy Kline Mailing Address-Behrend College, Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16510 Office-Student Offices, Reed Building Office Phone: 898-1511 Ext. 221 Opinions expressed by the Editors and staff of the Behrend Collegian are not necessarily those of the University Administration, faculty, or the student body. good enough for God: We are all sinners. We need to meet Him on his terms not our own. Don't be like the man who is "Ever learn ing but never coming to the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 3:7). Jesus said, "He who loves his life loses it, but he who gives it up will receive it back" (Mark 8:35). Reason it out. It's better to live the way God wants and reap the benefits than to live your own way and regret it for eternity. Remember, in the end God will have the last word. Thanks, Joe Fornear Dear Editor: Behrend is developing a stu dent chapter of ASPA (The American Society for Personnel Administration) and you can be part of it. If you want to develop and maintain competence in dealing with personnel, if you value lear- A.B.C. When you see the initials ABC you might think of the broad casting network. At Behrend Col lege it stands for the Association of Black Collegians. In the past, the ABC has had its problems with a lack of participa tion and support. President Dawna Bivins remembers a few years ago when the ABC was not in existence because of the depar ture of some head members. Bivins, who is in her second year as president, recalls the last year when the attendance and support at the meetings was poor. This year she sees the members more enthusiastic in par ticipating and a substantial supp ly of newcomers, who are waiting to carry on the Association of Black Collegians when she leaves. The Association of Black Col legians has become more noticeable on campus with its Dunkin Donuts sales. "The students are always asking when are you going to sell more Wthrtnit Tolkgiati Member of The Press Association Chuck Beckman John Skzypczak Business Manager. , Mark Welton Staff. Jeff Lewis Ron Leonardi Lisa Lubomski Tony Newman Mary Peters By Thomas G. Hicks Man. Editor. Pam Hillkirk Photo Editor: Steve Nesbit DECEMBER 18, 1981 ning through interaction with professional managers, and if you plan to make the transition from the classroom to the business world, you need ASPA. When you join ASPA, you will receive major publications, such as "The Personnel Ad ministrator" and the "Occupa tional and Health Review" bulletin, designed to help practic ing managers and personnel ad ministrators become more effec tive on the ;job. You can read about real problems and 'how they are solved, something tex tbooks don't provide. When you take an active role in student chapter activities, you demonstrate management skills and the ability to get things ac complished, qualities that employers will look for during a job interview. If you would like to be a part of ASPA, contact Mr. John Hamilton, 898-1511 ext. 237 or Becky Wheeler, 899-2508. Thank you, Becky Wheeler doughnuts?" said Bivins The ABC held its first activity of the year on November 7; when they sponsored a "Super Cabaret at the Martin Luther King Center in downtown Erie. The members were enthused with the turn out. The ABC is looking forward to the most ac tive year the club has ever had. Some of the club's future ac tivities are: A trip to see Shirley Chisoim at Mercyhurst College in January and a trip to Peek 'n Peak also in January. Some of the upcoming events in February are the Valentine's Dance and Black Cultural Affair. There are presently thirty-one members of the Association of Black Collegians. So feel free to contact any of these members for further information or about even joining the group. Present of ficers of the club include Dawna Bivins, President; Sheryl Hargrove, Vice President; Dawn Travis, Secretary; and Theresa McLauellin, Treasurer. Margie Reiser Josette Skobieranda Maureen Trageser Cynthia Warwick Tricia Wood
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers