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Editorial Opinion
The Pennsylvania State University
If Penn State follows through with its possible plans to
take over the Titusville Campus of the University of Pitt
sburgh, it would be the sole operator of 18 campuses
throughout the state.
The idea of adding another campus to the existing collec
tion may seem appealing at first glance, but there’s much
more to it. Although Penn State may be given the campus
free of charge, there will still be an enormous outlay of
financial resources to open it and to keep it open for the
public.
Perhaps Penn State should re-examine its long-term
plans. There are already six, two-year campuses on the
western edge of the state. Why make it seven? And why
Titusville?
The majority of Penn State campuses are very small (ex
cluding Behrend College and University Park) and are con
sidered lucky if they have one academic building and a gym
nasium. The University should take what it already owns and
improve upon it. It’s quality, not quantity, that counts.
.. .and The University of Pennsylvania
Several weeks ago, a lecturer at the Wharton School of
the University of Pennsylvania was suspended for one term
because he made remarks that some black students found
offensive. Murray B. Dolfman, a lawyer who has lectured at
the school for 22 years, was accused of singling out black
students in his class for not being able to recite the 13th
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished
slavery.
Dolfman described himself as a Jew and “former” slave
who celebrated the end of his slavery at Passover. He was
surprised that the black students in his class, whom he call
ed “former slaves” and “ex-slaves,” could not recite the 13th
Amendment. Well, the University was right in suspending
Dolfman. Behavior like this is intolerable and should be
treated as such.
OPINION
Rod Luery,
Collegian Editor
THE BEHREND COLLEGIAN
Fall Schedules Aren’t Worth F
One of the most asinine things
that I have ever encountered is the
50 cent fee to purchase the fall
semester class schedule. I have at
tended and visited various univer
sities in many states, none of
which charge for items so basic as
a schedule of classes.
Supposedly, the fee has been
assesed because the schedules at
University Park cost 50 cents. In
as much as the administration of
Behrend College has fought for a
separate identity, it is odd they are
Behrend Should Take More
Precautions With Off-Campus Housing
Next semester Niagara Hall,
which currently houses freshmen
through seniors, will primarily
house freshmen. The reason for
this change is to lower the
freshmen to resident assistant
ratio to better accomodate
freshmen.
Perry Hall currently has about
a 50:1 student to resident assistant
ratio. Niagara Hall’s ratio is ap
proximately 32:1. We feel
decreasing this ratio is a good
move by the Penn State housing
authorities. It shows both
foresight and concern for incom
ing freshmen.
But what is Penn State-Behrend
doing for freshmen who, not by
choice, must live off-campus?
Prospective freshmen who do not
have housing are provided with
the Behrend College Off-Campus
Housing List, an inclusive list of
residences in and around the Erie
area willing to rent to college
students.
The list indicates nothing about
the quality or health standards of
the residences listed. If you have
ever visited or lived at a few of the
listed residences, you will unders
tand why it is an advantage for
some of the landlords not to have
their residences inspected and
reported as such in the Behrend
Off-Campus Housing List.
Many of the residences are
dives. However, students are
notified that “The listing does not
constitute approval of the housing
by the university.” If Behrend
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Reader Opinion
now adopting University Park
policies. Though I have never seen
a University Park class schedule, I
am sure a comparison between the
schedules at Behrend and Univer
sity Park would resemble the con
trast between the Erie phone
directory and the Manhattan
directory.
Let us say, for the sake of
simplicity, that the University
Park schedule of_classes is 100
pages in length. Then students’
College doesn’t inspect and report
their findings of off-campus hous
ing, they should not provide a list
at all.
Instead, there should be a
billboard in the Reed Building on
which landlords can advertise
their residences. This would make
off-campus housing more com
petitive and force landlords to
clean up their residences.
Landlords know that if a
freshman refuses to live in their
dirty, unsanitary house, another
student will rent from them.
The current list falls short of
providing all information about
off-campus housing. Therefore,
Behrend should either provide
that information or discontinue
the service and leave it to the
landlords to make their residences
appealing to a freshman.
Kevin Belack
Fourth Semester, Engr.
Janet O'Hare
Fourth Semester, Comm.
The Behrend Collegian’s editorial opinion is determined by its
Board of Opinion, with the Editors holding final responsibility.
Opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily
those of The Behrend Collegian or The Pennsylvania State
University. Brown Thompson Publishers, the publishers of The
Behrend Collegian and related publications, is a separate cor
porate institution from Penn State.
Letters Policy: The Behrend Collegian encourages comments on
news coverage, editorial policy and University affairs. Letters
should be typewritten, double-spaced, signed by no more than
two people, and not longer than 400 words. Students’ letters
should include the semester and major of the writer. Letters
from alumni should include the major and year of graduation of
the writer. All writers should provide their address and phone
number for verification of the letter. The Collegian reserves the
right to edit letters for length, and to reject letters if they are
libelous or do not conform to standards of good taste.
Postal Information: The Behrend Collegian (898-6221) is
published fourteen times annually (seven times during each
academic semester at The Behrend College) by the students of
The Behrend College; The Reed Union Building, Station Road,
Erie, PA 16563-.
Editorial Policy
APRIL 18, 1985
fty Cents
cost per page would be one half
cent. The cost of the Behrend
schedule is currentlly six and one
quarter cents per page. In other
words, the Behrend schedule costs
students 12 and one half times per
page what the schedule at Univer
sity Park costs. This is hardly fair
in anyone’s terms.
I do not mean to condone the
action taken of charging for class
schedules. On the contrary, it is
very unethical for the administra
tion to asses the charge. The class
schedules are, perhaps, the most
necessary item to a college
student.
Consequently, I feel I am being
taken advantage of, for without
that schedule I cannot enroll in
courses. The administration
knows this. The administration
knows students will be more likely
to pay for the class schedules than
anything else due to the impor
tance of those schedules. In my
book, such things are unethical
and exploitive.
I pay tuition for such purposes
as running and maintaining the
necessary bureaucracy. I do not
expect to pay increased tuition
every year in addition x to paying
for all the incidental paperwork
necessary for me to work effec
tively. within that bureaucracy.
Imagine if the federal government
made us buy the tax forms that
are necessary to file our tax
returns.
I ask myself what it will be like
by the time I graduate. Will I be
charged for all the paperwork?
The exams? Will I have to pay to
use the gymnasium or the toilets?
Where will it end?
Chris Anderson
Third Semester, 2 LAS