news
club
Ranger Club
On Nov. 3, the Ranger Club meeting started with an inspection of the
uniform and equipment of each member. Then, the Rangers moved into
the Behrend building and were instructd on how to read a map and
understand the 5 basic terrain features: hilltop, valley, saddle, ridge, and
depression. They were also instructed on measuring road distances, and
on locating the grid coordinates of points on a military map, then measur
ing the distance between them. The meeting was concluded by having the
Rangers run the fitness trail for the purpose of learning how to navigate
the woods in the dark, and to increase physical stamina. -
On Nov. 10, the Ranger meeting again started with an inspeCtion, then
the Ranger Challenge Team demonstrated how to build and cross a one
rope bridge. After this, the rest of the Rangers got hands-on experience
building a one rope bridge,'and they were shown how to cross the rope us
ing an inverted hang, and also the Commando crawl, in which they cross
while on top of the rope. Then the Rangers moved to the Behrend building
and were given a class on orienting a map by either using a compass or us
ing terrain association. They were taught how to find azimuths, which are
directions on the compass measured in degrees, using the lensatic com
pass. The meeting was concluded by a motivational sprint and push-ups.
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by Jim Thomas
Last weekend, November 7, 8
and 9, two brothers and a pledge
went to Indiana University of Pen
nsylvania for the, 1986 Fall Sec
tional Conference. Time was spent
partying and playing Euchre, in ad
dition to going to seminars. It was
great fun! Our chapter received an
engraved gavel from the WVU
chapter as a gift for being inducted
into Alpha Phi Omega.
Several planned events here at
Behrend are as follows: another
plant sale, Sectional Sledding,
Teasley memorial ski trail, and
Don't took now...
puzzle page 4
Exams test
teaching ability
Most everyone who reads this newspaper has been in this situation
before: it's a test day. A student stares with empty eyes at the center of a
vast, blank piece of paper. His vision is blurred, and he dreads what the
next question may bring.
Of course, there is also the teacher, standing at the head of the class
with a self-righteous look as if to say, "You should know this—most of it
anyway."
That's how they remain for an hour, and with each passing minute, the
student's hate for the teacher swells. At the same time, the teacher
becomes more defensive, knowing that the test is perfectly fair or very
close. These attitudes, which are very common and accurate, display a
blatant breakdown in the system—testing in particular.
Webster writes that a test is "an event, etc., that tries one's qualities."
Obviously, all tests try the student's ability to learn, but in as much as a
test tries the student; it is also a test of the professor's ability to teach.
Some teachers today do not feel this way, rather that a test is a one-on
one matter, students vs. material. This is how they design their tests, con
sidering them a good challenge for the students and attatching a bell curve
at a later date. This is one teacher's typical attitude toward testing:
Many analogies can be drawn from the attitudes of the professors. The
most common is the teacher who trains the student as a coach would train
his team, but then leaving the students to face their opponent alone. There
is always the professor who distributes the material as a sadist would show
his victim the the torturous implements he is about to use.
Teachers like this enjoy playing a game of King of the Hill and as
students near the top, the professor wields his exams as a deadly weapon,
striking down every student in the class. They leave only those few with
IQ's over twelve million or anyone managing to get the answers to the test
beforehand.
Then there are the professors with split personalities. They're so kind
and caring while they teach, but on days of testing as they hand out the ex
ams, the professor transforms into a menacing cyclop with a hideous grin.
He passes out the exams as if they were cynide capsules.
A personal favorite is the professor who tells the class that they aren't
doing enough work, and then, when the exam comes, throw as many
curve balls as possible to prove his or her point.
One final example of misteaching and mistesting is the professor who
teaches class as if he's talking to his younger brother or sister. This teacher
uses the exam as a justification to vigorously beat upon them.
What every method of teaching and testing boils down to is the ability
of the teacher to communicate to the student—not just in notes and lecture
but also in testing.
Too often exam questions don't resemble problems that the student has
encountered before; then it is no longer a question of solving the problem
in the manner it was taught. The challenge lies in finding the problem at
all. _ _ _
These may seem fair enough to the teacher, who has worked these pro
blems for years, but to the student who has just grown familiar to the con
cept or equation, it is impossible.
Problems such as these are most likely a shortfall of the professor, an
inability to communicate what he wants done on a particular problem.
The ideal is' a test that would test what was taught, what was com
municated from professor to student If only the basic concept was taught,
then only the basic concept should be tested. If more involved problem
solving is taught, then that is exactly what should be tested.
Exams become contests of intellect between the professor and the stu
dent. It - seems as if both parties enter the classroom with the pre
determined idea that each side will get in its best shots before the test is
over, when, actually, an exam should be a test of the combined effort of
studela and teacher.
by Lori Beals
Collegian Staff Writer
Teasley 10k Ski Marithon.
Ed Bailey will be our chapter's
only delegate to the National Con
vention in Houston, Texas.
Anyone who may be interested in
joining Alpha Phi Omega is
welcome to attend our meetings
which are held every Tuesday night
at s:lspm in either the Conference
Room or the Reed Lecture Hall.
We will be having a Formal Rush in
the Spring of 1987.
Scuba
Club
Susanna Jalosky
Collegian Staff Writer
On Nov. 25, the Scuba Club will
be selling handy 14 oz. mugs at the
mens' basketball game against
Bethany. The mugs will be filled
with your favorite soft drink for
two dollars. The mugs canbe refill
ed at the games for the rest of .the
season for the low price of only fif
ty cents.
At the Daemon game on Feb. 2,
there will be free refills to promote
the sale of the mugs.
by Jake Guinta
Collegian Staff Writer
Astronomer holds two-day seminar
by Lori Beals
Collegian Staff Writer
There was a good turnout at
Behrend on Nov. 10 and 11 for the
presentations of Astronomer Dr.
Heinrich Eichhorn. The first night
he spoke about the sun and its
atomic energy, experiments on
Mars which turned up no life, why
none of the other planets in our
solar system could support life, and
radio signals transmitted by
pulsars, which were first thought to
be signals from other intelligent life
outside of the solar system.
The next night, his topic was the
search for extra-solar planets
around stars like our sun which
would be able to support life. His
view on the subject of other in
telligent life in other solar systems
was that "we will have to wait to
Studded tires
in PA
legal
House of Representatives—Rep.
Harry E. Bowser today reminded
Pennsylvania motorists that it's
now legal to use studded snow
tires.
The Erie County legistlator
noted that the studded tires are il
legal in the Commonwealth bet
ween April 15 and Oct. 31. Bowser
added that approved snow tires
(not necessarily studded) or chains
are required on vehicles traveling
on declared "snow emergency
routes."
Bowser also reminded citizens of
special regulations for
snowmobiles.
Individuals who operate
snowmobiles on state-owned land
or designated local roadways must
"Sunday
with the Times"
December 7
at 10:00 a.m.
Reed TV Lounge
Build a better RAT trap
I have often heard less than
favorable comments about the peo
ple who make themselves at home
in the lobby outside of the
Wintergreen Cafe. I've tried to be
nonjudgemental for a while; the
benefit of the doubt was given to
the group of people that call
themselves "RUB Rats". Even
though not all of the inhabitants of
the lobby are members of the pack,
they all commit similiar offenses.
After many observations, my opi
nion is no longer that of an objec
tive onlooker.
I was walking by the
Wintergreen Cafe lobby recently
when I heard what could possibly
be the foulest phrase ever uttered.
Much to my chagrin, I was• being
accompanied by a female member
of the Student Affairs staff who
also heard the profanity. I didn't
know who to be embarrassed for
first: the staff member, myself or
the individual with the adolescent
vocabulary. After apologizing to
the staff member on behalf of all
the relatively articulate students at
Behrend, I turned to see from
whose mouth spewed the filth that
Editorial Policy
The Behrend Collegian's editorial opi
nion is determined by the Editor, with
the Editor holding final responsibility.
Opinions expressed on the editorial
pages are not necessarily those of The
Behrend Collegian, The Behrend Col
lege, or The Pennsylvania State
University. Brown-Thompson
Newspapers, the publishers of The
Behrend Collegian , is a separate cor
porate institution from Penn State.
Letters Policy: The Behrend Collegian
encourages comments on news
coverage, editorial policy and Univer
sity affairs. Letters should be
typewritten, double-spaced, signed by
no more than two people, and not
longer than 400 words. Students' let
ters 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 Col
legian (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.
find out if we are alone."
Dr. Eichh9rn .attended Vienna
University ^'in Austria from
1945-49, where he recieved degrees
in Astronomy and Math. Later he
moved to the U.S. and was an
assistant professor of Astronomy
at Georgetown University.
From 1964-79, he was a pro
fessor of Astronomy at the Univer
sity of Florida at Tampa, and from
1979-present be has been a pro
fessor of Astronomy at the Univer
sity of Florida at Gainesville. He
also served there as the Chairman
of the Astronomy Department
from 1979-85.
Well known for his research in
the field of star positions and data
reduction, Dr. Eichhorn has been a
visiting professor of Astronomy in
Brazil and France and has lectured
all over Europ. In the future, he
register their vehicles with the State
Dept. of Environmental Resources.
There is a bi-annual fee of $lO.
Bowser noted that most
snowmobile dealers and notaries
public have the forms needed to
register the vehicles.
Instructors learn new methods
to teach remedial math
Continuing- Education—Local mathematics teachers revised during a period of several years by the University
and administrators will be trained to conduct remedial of Maryland Arithmetic Center, the Tuscarora In
math programs in their school districts during a two-day termediate Unit 11, several local school districts, the
seminar sponsored by the Penn State-Behrend Division Penn State University system, and the Pennsylvania
of Continuing-E.ducation. Department of Education.
The seminar, "Training Leaders to Teach More than 2000 teachers and administrators from 100
Mathematics with Diagnostic and Prescriptive Methods school districts have been trained in the DPM program,
(DPM)," will be held Nov. 21-22 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 which was developed to help local leaders mold a DPM
p.m. at the Ramada Inn (I-90/Rt.B). program to meet the needs of their districts' students,
Based on a fourstep instructional process, the seminar teachers and administrators.
will provide: general information about the DPM ap- After attending the workshop, the participants will be
proach; an explanation of and practice with DPM in- qualified to train their local faculty in DPM skills. The
struments (including base-ten blocks, counting chips, cost for installing a DPM program is reasonable and
loop abacus, and fraction bars); instruction in develop- well within the budgets of all districts.
ing strategies and lesson prescription; and practice in For more information or to register for the DPM
making assignments and evaluating students. seminar, call the Penn State-Behrend Division of Conti-
Mr... DPM program was developed, lieldtested and nuing Education at 898-6103.
had made my cheeks flush.
There, in all their glory, sat the
RUB Rats. The scene was as it
usually is in the lobby: five people
had pulled some chairs and couches
around a coffee table and were
playing cards and smoking; two of
the five were sitting on the backs of
the chairs with their shoes on the
cushion. On a couch off in the
distance lay a commuter with the
music from WBCR rocking her to
sleep. There were a few people sit
ting on the floor talking and a few
studying in chairs off to the right.
Another person was sleeping under
his coat in the center of the lobby.
A student lay shirtless on the carpet
while a girl with a pony tail gave
him a back rub.
The floor was cluttered with
overturned styrofoam •cups,
cafeteria trays piled high with emp
ty plates and used, crumpled
napkins. Ashtrays, upset by the
careless, lay in piles of grey dust
and bent cigarette butts. Books,
coats and discarded Collegians
(Lord knows why) were among the
rubbish that adorned the carpet. It
was early in the evening and the
debris from the day's activities lay
scattered throughout the area . . .
the way it is every night when the
RUB rats leave.
Yes, contrary to popular belief,
the RUB Rats do leave; they do
have beds and most of them even
have rooms or apartments on cam
pus. Who knew? Like many
passersby, I had just assumed that
the RUB Rats lived in the lobby.
Regardless of the time of day or
night, they always seem to be there,
the same faces, the same places.
And some of the things these faces
do and say in that lobby are offen
sive to the members of the college
community in which the RUB rats
are supposedly active members.
As I walk by the lobby everyday
it becomes more and more ap
parent that the people there do not
want to be a part of anything other
than that lobby. I am well aware
that many RUB Rats are members
of various clubs and organizations.
In fact, I know some of the RUB
Rats personally and, individually,
they're not that much different
than any other college student.
But, when they're all together (and
they always seem to be), they
become a part of a world that they
plans to teach astronomy in
Austria and China, and continue
his research.
His view on Astronomy as a
Dr. Heinrich Eichhorn, astronomer.
have created especially for
themselves and only other RUB
Rats are welcome to tread on that
magic carpet outside the Cafe.
The lobby outside the
Wintergreen Cafe is there for the
use and recreation of all students--
not just the select few that have
made it theirs. I have heard the
RUB Rats say that others are
welcome to join their little group,
yet why do they move the furniture
into little circles every day if not to
shield themselves from the people
that constantly walk by? I don't
know about you, but I don't usual
ly feel comfortable relaxing on a
piece of furniture that I have to
climb over the back of to sit on.
And, while I realize that there
are certain four letter words in my
C~ ~~
, N
own vocabulary that I can do
without, I would never let pro
fariities like the ones used by some
of the RUB Rats slip past my lips in
an area as public as that lobby. My
grandmother always says that peo
ple who use the English language in
that manner simply don't have the
ability to express themselves cor
rectly. I would not want my grand
mother to walk by the lobby out
side the Cafe. She'd freak.
She would also freak if she had
to pick up after the group of people
that have turned the lobby into a
dining hall. I have never
understood why anyone would eat
NOVEMBER 20, 1986
Collegian
PAGE 3
whole was that "without healthy:
astronomy, society as we know it ,
would go down the drain." , ,
0 ,:;:ri.,,.
in the lobby when the cafeteria 'is
directly behind them. There are
ample chairs and tables available in
the Cafe. If the students in the lob
by must eat there, the least they
could do is throw their garbage
away. Please, people, have a little
respect for others who would like
to utilize the lounge area. A student
wishing to sit down in the lobby
would have to hurdle a few piles of
trash just to get to one of the
couches. It takes two legs and little
effort to walk your dirty tray over
to the trash can--make the journey.
The custodians have enough to do
without having to clean up after a
bunch of people who don't care
enough about their environment to
clean up after themselves.
Think of the impression visiting
parents, performers and university
officials must receive when they
gaze upon the activities of the Cafe
lobby. What would you think if
you saw a group of people hanging
all over each other, sleeping on the
floor surrounded by piles of gar
bage? I would think I had stumbled
into an alley behind some lower
class establishment. And I would
not want to stay there very long.
Unfortunately, the Reed
Building only has three lobbies and
this lessens the opportunities for
commmuters and residence hall
students to meet and socialize in
the Student Union. But more
lounges are being designed in the
new master plan for Behrend—so
lobbies are on the way! Until then,
we have to work with what we
have. If a small group of students
take over one of the three lobbies,
that leaves only two areas for the
2,400 students to relax between
classes. It's going . to be a tight fit,
don't you think?
The lobby outside the
Wintergreen Cafe was not designed
for a select group of students to
congregate and dominate. It is a
meeting place where everyone
should feel Welcome to come, listen
to the music of WBCR and relieve
a little of the tension brought on by
classes, activities and other
pressures, but the current in
habitants of the lobby do not make
allowances for other people. They
have simply turned the lobby into
their own little Rats' nest.
Jack Horner
Collegian Editor
Photo by Rob Eggleston