PAGE 5
Kurre Receives More Praise
Editor’s Note:
Dr. James Kurre’s teaching has attracted enough favorable
comment that the Collegian offers vet another view of his
classroom style.
After almost a year and a half of complaining, I
have found an attribute of Behrend College worth
commending, Unfortunately, my o mmentary was
not in the last issue of the Collegian, as Rod Luery,
Co-Editor of the Behrend Collegian, chose to write
about the same topic as mine. So, as Mr. Luery’s ar
ticle was published in the last issue, I now get to
voice my own opinion.
My topic for commentary is Dr. James Kurre, an
Economics instructor here at Behrend. I would like
to discuss Dr. Kurre’s positive teaching habits for
the benefit of those yet to take an Economics course.
Is Abortion the solution?
I am writing in response to a let
ter written by Jill A. Bedford in
the last issue of the Collegian.
If pro-lifters have the views on
abortion which she states, I also
do not condone their views. What
I do disagree with are her rebut
tals in which she tries to justify an
abortion. I agree, it is unfair for a
woman to be raped, for her will to
be violated and for her life and
future plans to be changed or
postponed.
What I question is the solution
proposed for this problem; abor
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Erie, PA 16563.
OPINION
Reader Opinion
Reader Opinion
tion. She later includes unplann
ed pregnancies as a reason for an
abortion.
Is killing the child justifiable? Is
it fair to murder a baby, com
pletely innocent for his existence?
She later describes the child as be
ing unwanted and possibly unlov
ed. Maybe my opinion on abor
tion is biased but I feel that even
the life described is better then
being murdered. Because the child
doesn’t have a choice in his
destiny in those months, should
we be allowed to make the deci-
The subject, itself, Economics, was boring to me,
but being a degree requirement, I had to take it. Dr.
Kurre keeps a comfortable atmosphere during his
lectures, interjecting humor and prompting discus
sion and questions from students. His top priority is
student understanding, shown in clear explanations
and outside worksheets to supplement lectures.
The fact that I am not a Business major and find
Economics a bit more interesting now is a credit to
Dr. Kurre. Kurre is a highly motivated speaker, as
was pointed out in Mr. Luery’s editorial.
For those of you yet to take Economics 2, Dr.
Kurre is a very thorough, organized instructor who
is an enormous asset to Behrend College.
Lisa Pavadore
Collegian Feature Editor
Third Semester, Communications
sion for him
I find it hard to believe that any
child would prefer death over
life. She doesn’t seem to unders
tand that that child had no more
responsibility for his conception
than the mother who is im
pregnated though rape.
In cases of rape and incest, who
should be punished? Should it be
the rapist or the baby? In the case
of the unplanned pregnancy, who
should be held responsible?
Should it be the guilty parties or
the innocent unborn child?
Maybe abortion seems like the
best choice because the child
doesn’t have a chance to object or
describe the agonizing pain he en
counters in an abortion. Maybe
it’s because we find it much easier
to rid ourselves of the problem
(the unborn child) in the case of
the unplanned pregnancy than to
face up to the fact that we made
the mistake and should bear its
burdens. It is true in most cases
that the woman suffers most of
the burden in an unplanned
pregnancy.
Why don’t we work more
toward enforcing equal respon
sibility and alternatives to abor
tion. This would constitute a more
justifiable solution than to take
the innocent life of an unborn
baby.
I understand my views are not
shared by all, but I think more
people should realize that we are
dealing with a human being and
not a thing we can destroy at will.
BEHREND COLLEGIAN
Richard A. Bair Jr.
Fifth Semester,
Bioscience
Commentary
Doctors Make
Wise Choice
by Paula Penco
Collegian Staff Writer
A controversial medical issue is
currently in the news. On Oct. 26,
an infant girl was born with a par
tially formed heart. The infants
name is “Baby Fae”. Without an
immediate heart transplant,
“Baby Fae” would have died
within a matter of hours.
“Fae’s” doctors decided to
transfer the heart of a baboon in
to the infant. A controversy arose
because a human heart was
available at the time. Many ex
perts in the medical field were
disturbed because an animal
heart was used instead of a human
one. Some people found this to
be down right unethical and
morally wrong.
I fail to see why so many people
are in an uproar over this issue.
The doctors chose to give “Baby
Fae” a baboon’s heart because
they saw it as being best suited for
Commentary
SGA Busy
at Work
In the past ten weeks, the Stu
dent Government Association has
dealt with numerous issues which
directly affect, or have the capaci
ty to affect, students and
organizations at Behrend.
Yet, the SGA does so with only
limited student participation. Im
portant decisions are made by on
ly a handful of Senate members.
Recent issues confronting the
SGA have included drives to
remove class periods from the
lunch hour, instigate an honor
code, alleviate the parking pro
blem, investigate increases in ven
ding machine prices, and explor
ing ways to increase state funding
to the Penn State system.
The SGA has also allocated
funds to student organizations,
worked on a proposal concerning
PS-23 (faculty tenure), discussed
ways to lend equipment and
money to students and organiza
tions, and participated in voter
registrations at Behrend.
NOVEMBER 9,1984
her. Since “Fae” is an infant, her
immunity system is not fully
developed. Therefore, her body
was less likely to reject the heart.
Additionally, “Fae” has been
receiving injections to help her
body accept the heart transplant.
Well as it turns out, “Baby
Fae” is the oldest recipient of an
animal heart. She is still in serious
but stable condition. “Fae” is
kept under an oxygen tent but she
is breathing on her own and is
proressing rather nicely.
I think that the “Baby Fae”
issue could very well be a step for
ward for medical history and
mankind. The operation has given
“Fae” a better chance for sur
vival. Her doctors should not be
condemned for such an opera
tion, rather they should be ap
plauded and rewarded. They hve
given a child a chance to live and
hopefully led a happy and fulfill
ing life.
The SGA invested in a com
puter system, set up the Book Co-
Op program (selling back books
to an organization for more
money than the bookstore of
fers), made numerou committee
appointments, and approved the
poster policy of Student Affairs.
It is a shame, really, that only a
relative handful of students par
ticipate in the decision making
process.
Of forthcoming issues, the ac
tiities fee stands out. This is a
proposal to add an unspecified
sum to students’ tuition, in order
to have much better activities and
entertainment at Behrend.
The SGA wants, needs, and
values student input. Meetings are
held every Tuesday night, at 6
p.m., in the Reed Seminar Room.
All students, faculty, and staff
are welcome.
Michael R. Kitchen
Seventh semester, GAS
SGA Student Senator