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EDITORIALS
I am writing in response to an
editorial, titled "More Isn't
_ _
. Always Better," which appeared
Pray For Ra in the last issue of The Collegian.
Several of the opinions and
by John Skrzypczak . to class. I was sure that the rest statements expressed in the
I usually don't get the summer- of the Behrend community would editorial are, I believe, inac
time blues. I'm an Erie resident be in the same good m•, . I was curate and need to be clarified.
and have learned to adapt to the in. I was right. Students fr 1t• Pit- John Sk rzypcza k , w h o
weird and sometimes "gross" tsburgh who constantly complain authored the editorial, stated ear
weather -that Erieites are sub- about Erie weather were even ly that "No one can be blamed for
jetted to. If it is winter,' just live happy. the lack of attendance at the ac
with, it and wait for summer.,lt is amazing what a little bit of tivities except the students." I
However, the last few days sunshine can do for everyone. It think that this statement is essen
ha v e contributed t o m y doesn't matter if it's cold as long tially inaccurate.
memories of summer. as that "sun is shining." Generally speaking, activities
The key reason for my sum- Anyway, it was a great day and at Behrend have been well at
mertime thoughts is the warmth now I have visions of summer- tended this year.'l was approach
that is brought on by the sun on time at the Peninsula. ed by an English student several
these momentous days in the I have a mental image of weeks ago who needed to know
history of Erie winters. myself at the beach, basking in how many activities had been
Remember the sun god Ra that the sun with my pitcher of Pina veritable "bombs" this year (she
you studied in ancient history? Colada's, lounge chair, and "por- was writing a paper on the sub-
Well, I'm surprised Erie doesn't to jam," as the sun god bronzes ject), and I was hard-pressed to
have a rejuvenated movement of my body.- think of one! We opened 'the year
Ra worshippers. Well, everything is just fine with a fabulous orientation pro-
Even though this would pro- now. At least until the first hot gram, followed by hypnotist
bably be considered as barbaric summer night when the ther- James Mapes' standing-room
worship, it is still hard to believe mometer reaches 98 degrees F. only program in the lecture hall,
that the worship of Ra hasn't . followed in turn by many dances,
become popular in Erie. Letters To . _
The Editor all of which had moderate to
I'm not a pagan but when the heavy attendances (Toga party,
sun shines in Erie, the event Several issues ago, the Col- South Sea Island Beach Party,
should receive some sort of corn- legian printed an article on the Halloween Punkin Party, Lamb
memoration from a local interest Behrend library regarding poor da Sigma Dance Marathon, to
group. Maybe, even declare it a service. After finally completing name a f ew ) .
religious or national holiday. my Library Resources Manual 'Our coffee-house program has
What I'm saying is that next to for English 20, I feel compelled to gained considerable momentum,
God, or drugs or alcohol, (or disagree.
_.is has the Weekend Cinema pro
whatever turns you on), nothing The experiences I have en- gram, which is now operating in
can give you more help to get you countered with the library staff the black (a rare accomplish
through a dreary Erie Monday have been very positive as well as ment at a school this size). We
morning than the glare of the sun informative. The helpful student have seen bonfires, hayrides,
in your eyes. ' staff may not always have an sleigh rides, comedians, - ice
When I woke up _this morning answer immediately, but I have skating parties, speakers, a
(it's Monday when I'm writing discovered that they will not just Christmas Bazaar, Spirit Week
this), my ambition level was at dismiss any question. activities and many other social
an unusual low. However, once I The dedicated staff works very and cultural events, with solid at
peered outdoors and saw a ter- hard to serve the • needs of tendance figures.
rifle light, one even brighter than students. I challenge anyone to There are many students who
the street lamp that keeps me prove that there is better library deserve a great deal of credit for
awake at night, a new kind of service than that of Behrend the hard work that has been
determination found its way into College. necessary to revitalize our pro
my soul. Thank you, gram of cocurricular activities.
I was almost determined to go Josette Skobieranda While attendance may have been
Add experience
:to your ciegret.
College Freshman
Why not take a look
at the ROTC
-simultaneous
membership
programs
Up to $10,207 over the next
3 years of college
—Guaranteed employment after
graduation with $17,491 salary
—More info, at &thread ROTC
Office (814) 899-7028
contact
MAJOR JOEL PidOTT C 814) 898-7028
Army ROTC. Learp.,what it takes to lead.
7.ME TUITION it ROTC PAJITICIPATICN' NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP
FRAME CREDIT • (SAME FOR THE RESERVES)
HIGH , •
:.:HOOL
NFs:oR ,
‘t Mirk ,
/ '
..
LoiliGE 'WHAT? Enlist in the National Guard or Reserves
r -
.isHMAN - WHO? Private (El)
,LMNI,K WHAT? Attend Basle Conbat Training
' WHO? Private (El)
- PAY? $1102.80 (2 months)
iI , IIF,E $4BO Tinton in Military dIiAT? Attend weekend training ascohiles
, 07.10m1RE Science 111 WHO! Cadet (ES)
ANNUAL STIPEND: $lOOO PAY? $1170.24 (one weekend per month)
'il.n.Mtif Attend ROTC Advanced WHAT? Attend annual training with unit •
C.a.AP (6 reeks) WHO? Cadet (ES)
. PAY: $739.62 PAY: $365.70 (IS dews)
OVULE $4BO Enroll Ln Military WATT Attend weekend training assemblies
JUNIOR Science IV WHO? Cadet (ES)
ANNUAL STIPEND: $lOOO PAY? $1170.24 (one weekend Per ....h)
SUMER ' NOTE: Upon completion of WHAT? Attend annul training with unit
Military Science IV, WHO? 2LT
. '
• participant Is PAY? $528.30 (IS days)
commissioned as Second
,
lieutenant (21. T)
Ln1.1.1.4E sagn , %MAT? Attend weekend training +annuli/les
ZhNIOR - WHO? 2LT . ....
PAY. - $1690.56 (6ile weekend per month)
TOTAL $1440.00 $2739.62 7 - F027.74 . .
cum
TOTAL . $8767.36-RESERVES OR $10207.36-NATIORAL GUARD
Facts indicate that you may work in
three to five different careers. It won't be
unusual to make changes as you go. And
it's entirely possible that your final career
does not even exist today.
Often in a first job, you are an
assistant to the assistant. Your
responsibility is limited to a desk and
typewriter.
But when your first job is an Army
2LT, you'll have real management
experience. You'll be in charge. On a
specific job assignment, you could have 30
to 40 people working for you. And you could
be responsible for millions of dollars in
equipment.
Responsibility for people and -
resources is exactly the kind of - take •
charge" experience civilian employers
seek. It's a margin of difference in the
increasingly competitive job market.
Prepare to rise to the top in your
field. Make your first job 3 or 4 years as an
Army Officer.
If you have two years remaining in
school, you can begin ROTC this summer.
You'll be compensated financially;
stimulated physically and mentally.
To add experience to your degree
SALARY FOR ACTIVE DUTY AFTER GRADUAI;;ON FIRST YEAR:
SECOND YEAR Toll;
17IRC YEAR- S26:108
THE BEHREND COLLEGIAN
Letters To The Editor
a problem at times in the past, we
must be careful not - to retain out
dated perceptions that are no
longer accurate. To do so is an in
justice to students responsible fir
the success of such programs.
This brings me to my second
point. Ultimately, a successful
activity at Behrend is always an
outcome of collective student ef
fort and involvement. It is not my
responsibility as Student Union
Manager-Activities Coordinator
to initiate, plan, implement and
evaluate activties. I am essen
tially a facilitator of these efforts
and an advisor to student leaders.
It is very important that
Behrend students have as much
autonomy as possible in the pro- ,
cess_ of developing an activities
program, if it is going to be mean
ingful to them. If students wish to
change certain aspects of the ac
tivities program, they will need
to assume some responsibility for
effecting this change.
While I am a resource person
for clubs on campus, it is not my
-intent to dictate such change.
Any student can become as in
volved in the cocurricular ac
tivities program as he 7 she
wishes. Students wishing to pro
_
gram a major concert, for exam
ple, might want to join the Stu
dent Union Board Special Events
Committee, or conduct a survey
to assess student interests on
campus relative to concert pro
- gramming, or attend .a Student
Senate meeting to determine the
feasiblity of having several
organizations co-sponsor such an
event.
These are the kinds of pro
cesses involved in developing an•
activities program . at Behrend.
While suggestions for improve
ment are always welcome,
students need to realize that the
program ultimately belongs to
them, and that suggestions need
to be accompanied by responsible
action if they are to ultimately
come to fruition.
I might point out, incidentally,
that a major concert has been
programmed for Spring Week in
May. Livingston Taylor and Com
pany will perform at Behrend
sometime during the Week of
May 3, 1982.
Finally, regarding Mr.
Skrzypczak's contention that
events are often programmed in
conflict with one another, an ex-
amination of the Central Calen
dar this year suggests otherwise.
Mr. Skrzypczak's illustration of
the Lambda Sigma Dance
Marathon conflicting with The
Exorcist is, •in fact, inaccurate.
The marathon ended at 8 p.m. on
Saturday, January 9; The Exor
cist began one hour later. Both
were well attended. The Dating
Game took place on January 18,
not on January 13, as Mr.
Skrzypczak indicated, and was
not therefore in conflict with a
basketball game.
I do think that Mr. Skrzypczak
raises an important point,
however: it is imperative that all
events be scheduled in my office,
where t4e Central Calendar is
recordeff, so that conflicts can be
avoided—and they have happened
occasionally this year.
I pink that Mr. Skrzypczak's
article reflects a common
phenomenon at Behrend and,
The Commuter Council is entering
the Winterfest activities with a car
nation sale February 12 and 13.
The carnations will be 75 cents
apiece. They will be on sale by the
RUB desk on Friday between lo
a.m. and 2 p.m. and at the Valentine
Ball on Saturday.
In cooperation with Student Af
fairs, the Council will soon have
mounted a map for car pooling and
off-campus housing. Information for
these programs will be gathered by
a questionnaire given out at
registration.
FEBRUARY 11, 1982
perhaps, in society at large. We
tend to remember mistakes of the
past and to confuse them with
current successes.
His concern is genuine, I know,
and in one sense refreshing: It is
in a sense good to. hear that so
meone thinks there are too many
activities at Behrend. Such is the
kind of criticism that most of my
counterparts in other colleges
and universities Would relish—for
a moment, at least!
Respectfully,
Chris Reber
Student Union Manager
This is a response to your last
editorial ; "Old Glory Has -Red
Too", dated January 18, 1922. I
read Mr. Beckman's article over
many times, trying to figure out
what he was getting at. The arti
cle began By talking about the
anti-draft people that were at
Behrend. He then moved on to
talk about whether the in
habitants of the U.S.S.R. should
be called Rugsians or Soviets.
Thomas Jefferson and John
Locke were then briefly discuss
ed. Mr. Beckman finally arrived
back at the issue at hand; the
draft.
I take it by his pacifist views
that he is against the draft and
the - present administration's
military programs. He refers to
"militaristic pandemia afflicting
the current administration." I
like his choice of words, too bad
he did not elaborate further.
I cannot figure out Mr.
Beckman's term, "militaristic
pandemia." To me it could be
compared to the military system
in the Soviet Union, or I
say Russia. If our society has
been inflicted by a crazed
militaristic administration, God
help us if war should break out.
Back to the point of the draft.
Mr. Beckman states, ". . . I
wouldn't mind serving a
reasonable period of time for my
country." This is refreshing to
find out that he would give up
some of his time to serve the
country in which he lives. By this
time my tone can surely be
heard: pro registration and draft.
In his last paragraph, Mr.
Beckman seems to be correlating
the draft and the Red Cross,
Heart- Association and other
volunteer organizations. Sugges
tions that persons would serve in
these organizations instead of the
draft is absurd.
Also, solving our domestic pro
blems before we branch out is one
problem I am afraid, that will
never be solved. If the govern
ment channeled the entire
military budget through
domestic channels, it might bring
the figures into the black. What
he fails to realize is, what hap
pens if the United States is invad
ed, are we to send the Cancer
Society to meet th 6 resistance?
Of course not. Only a fool believes
the.woild will live in harmony,
without conflict.
The bottom line is, that a draft
is necessary to bolster the slack
ing armed forces. Critics charge
that if a draft is started in peace
time, war is imminent. With to
day's buildup of arms and each
country having a check on each
other, a draft would just be
another plus for the United
States.
Earlier I said I was for the
draft,' but I do not actually hink
there will be one. In America's
205 years of existence, the draft
has only been put into effect 38 of
those years. I would like to, in
conclusion, remind Mr. Beckman
of one last thing. Old Glory - Has
Red, White and Blue.
David S. Cochran
PI Sc. 6th term