PAGE 2 Editorial To Smoke Or Not To Smoke By Claire DeSantis Lately, I've been bombarded with information about the hazards of smoking. I think everyone has. There are advertisements in the paper, letters in the mail, Smokeout Days, sections in restaurants, and all sorts of devices and gimmicks that call attention to one of our more visible vices. So the other night, Sunday, to be exact, I decided to quit smoking forever and ever, amen. This is after approximately five years not as bad as some smokers and about a pack and a half a day. (Again, not as bad as some smokers.) I made this decision with a very good friend of mine who also wanted to quit. We did this on the spur of the moment, in an effort to catch ourselves off guard. This enables you to make up fewer ex cuses as to why you should continue to smoke for another few mon ths. It also throws your whole system into such a state of shock that you hardly renlim that you aren't smoking. You do wonder quite often, however, what you are supposed to do with your hands. They just don't feel comfortable attached to your arms anymore. It's only Tuesday now, but I can tell you that I hardly remember Monday. It was a silly day, and one that I would rather not have liv ed through. You see, my morning coffee really tasted like coffee this morning and I could really understand just how bad coffee really does taste. It probably won't terminate my love for this wonder brew, but it certainly does make me see coffee in a more realistic light. I went into the Collegian office at lunch yesterday, and there are about four or five people on campus who can attest to the fact that I fell flat on my face after somehow wrapping my foot around the telephone cord. My afternoon hiking class caused me more agitation than a walk in the woods ever did before, and I was nearly positive that I was go ing to fall from Wintergreen Gorge as we stopped to gaze over its edge I was going to fall or jump. For probably the first time in my driving career, I held down the horn of the car for nearly a minute on two separate occasions during my drive to Behrend. I never even touch the car horn, except if children run out in front of me. What I am trying to convince myself is that in the long run, it will all be worth it. To have my breath back, to have the smell gone, to have more spending money, to go to bed without worrying about a fire it will all be worth it. And most importantly, to lessen the risk of developing the cancer that runs so rapidly through my family. Smoking really is one of the strangest habits. Smokers will attest that it is one of the easiest vices to begin, and one of the most dif ficult to terminate. There are some mornings after being at a party when I'd vow never to smoke again. But as soon as that coffee was in front of me, I'd break down and begin to crave a cigarette. Smokers and cigarettes have a kind of love hate relationship. I have one friend in particular who will not quit smoking because her cigarettes are her best friends. She says that there have been times when nothing but a cigarette will do, and they have been there for her, through thick and thin. They never question her, talk back, or give their opinion. Only comfort her, help her to relax, and keep quiet. The reasoning there is a little twisted, but• since my ex periences, I can understand where it developed in her head. It is not as farfetched as a non-smoker might think! Well, I'm trying my hardest, and writing this in the hopes that by publishing this, I'll feel a real ambition to quit. To those smokers who have tried to sway me by calling me names, I'm going to try to outstand you all. For those of you who are non-smokers, throw out the life rope and help drag me home. Behrend Collegian Editor: Claire DeSantis Assistant Editor: Risa Glick Advisor: Robert DiNicola Business Manager: Rod Luery Assistant: Kathy Eastmond Production Manager: Michael Kitchen Assistant: Dulcie Snyder News Editors: Risa Glick Marge Tomczak Assistant: Features and Entertainment: Carolyn Brust Paula Penco Sports Editor: Michael Coursey Jill Franz Greg Geeza Ed McCloskey 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 Col legian are not necessarily those of the University Administration, faculty, or the student body. Staff Tom Miller Justin Panson Lisa Pavador THE BEHREND COLLEGIAN Letters Of Concern Dear editor, The U.S. Senate is to be con gratulated. Once again, they have shown that the First Ammend ment clause of "Freedom From • Religion" extends to all people and all faiths. It is unfortunate, in a democracy such as ours, that a vocal majority has to raise this issue over and over again, when the Constitution clearly states that "the church shall be- separate from the state, and the school from the.church." It's about time that we all finally understand that the First Ammendment was writ ten to protect the rights of por nography dealers, Nazis, and tabloid writers, not to guarantee school children the freedom to ex press individual beliefs. Tolerance ' has no meaning if those opposed to elitist beliefs insist on changing a proper judicial decision of a court, which must reign supreme, and has never been wrong. Prayerfully, Michael R. Kitchen Dear Dr. Lißey: Have you ever really thought about the lack of a solid arts pro gram here at Behrend? Classes in painting, dance, pottery, and photography have been complete- Behrend Stands Still Twice By Risa Glick February 27, 1984 ... I left Behrend at 5 p.m. today and arrived at my destination in McKean about 20 minutes later. A bad snowstorm was predicted for the Erie area and it was now beginn ing to snow slightly. Not more than ten minutes passed when I looked out the window and saw a fierce snowstorm dumping snow on Erie. Snow was - accumulating on the ground quicker than I had ever seen. I left McKean around 10 p.m. to return to Behrend. Visibility was terrible and traf fic was crawling. What is normally a 20 minute drive took me close to one hour to complete. Within a five hour time span roughly six inches of snow covered the Behrend College area. February 28, 1984 ... I awoke this morning at 7:30 to find about a foot of snow outside. The winds were so violent that a two foot snow drift had formed beneath my window. Walking to class this morning was a real challenge. The sidewalks hadn't been plowed yet and the cold wind seemed to cut right through me. Around two o'clock this afternoon the - administration announced that all evening classes and activities were being cancell ed. At 5 p.m. Behrend College came to a -stand still. Snow had been falling for almost 24 hours. I put my studying aside for the evening and anxiously awaited the cancellation of classes for tomorrow. I heard the official cancellation an nouncement while watching the 11 o'clock news. A sudden roar of excitement was heard throughout my dorm hall after hearing the good news. Behrend College will stand still for another 24 hours. February 29, 1984 ... Snow had been falling all night and close to two feet of snow covered Behrend. The winds continued to gust putting the wind-chill well below zero. Some Behrend students and faculty were snowed in last night and had to spend the night sleeping on cots in the basements of the dorms. By noon today the snow had stopped but the winds were still violent causing deep snow drifts. People on campus found plenty to do to keep ly ignored in favor of an emerging technical emphasis. It seems to be a trend of our society in the 1980 s to look toward practical endeavors. Today' s . college students are more likely to say that their goals are job security and money, that becoming educated and appreciating certain aesthetic values. There's nothing wrong with be ing success orientated, but in the midst of such a movement the arts have been lost, or at least misplac ed. I would like to see the spatial and temporal arts strengthened considerably here at Behrend. By doing this, the lopsided nature of the curriculum would balance out, yielding a more diverse, well rounded, and generally solid pro gram. I have a feeling that the ad dition of a little creativity would go a long way in improving the at titude and enthusiasm on campus. A few workshops would spice up Behrend's appeal, and may have an_influe-nec on the Li u/iibei • people who decide to stay for four years. This change that I have sug gested would in no way - jeopardize the academic integrity of existing courses. These - art courses wouldn't be majors or programs themselves busy. Some played snow football, some partied and some took the day to catch up on studying. 11 o'clock rolled around and like last night, I awaited word for a possible school cancellation for tomorrow, however, it did not happen. Behrend College will not stand still tomorrow, classes will be held. March 1,.1984 ... At eight o'clock this morning Behrend was back in the swing of things. In regards to the weather, it has been a relatively rq Inn day. • Saturday, March 24, 1984 ... Today was the scheduled make-up day for classes that were cancelled on February 29. Today Behrend College was to operate the same as it does every Monday through Friday. Some instructors and students showed up for classes but not another Behrend employee could be found on campus on this "regular" school day. The library and the main desk were opened but the bookstore, records office and everything else on campus was closed. They were at . ahother standstill. What possibly could have caused this standstill? Certainly not the weather. Temperatures were in the 40's and there was no snow or gusting winds today. School was to be held for everyone today, not just instructors and students. I called security to inquire about why this was happening today. My phone call was answered by a telephone answering service and they were unable to connect my call to security. So, on this "regular" school day the switchboard was not in operation and security could not be reached. Maybe the contracts signed by Behrend College employees state that they do not have to work on Saturdays. However, this was not a typical Satur day. Today was supposedly a scheduled make-up day' for Behrend College. This should have in cluded all Behrend employees and students, not instructors and students alone. MARCH 30, 1984 of study; rather, they would be an opportunity for a student_ to choose to work with his mind and hands in fulfilling his arts and humanities requirements. Granted, the class sizes would have to be kept small, and they would 'probably fill up quickly, but the advaniages of these extra opportunities beyond the tradi tional Art History and Humanities courses would ciutNOeigh their limited access. I am not familiar with the com plicated process of funding. The lack of funding may indeed be the reason why the arts are not represented as they should be, but this proposal should be given serious thought. It's true that The University Park Campus is an alternative in the PSU system; however, I believe that in the long run, the establishment of a stronger cultural atmosphere at Behrend would benefit everyone. anson Hotline Needs Volunteers Call 453-5656
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