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by Pastor Ray Sines „
Collegian 'Staff Writer $ -
What is your goal? Did you •
know that nearly 90 percent of col- Pastor Ray
lege freshmen in our nation have anything else in my life?
no idea what they want to do in When you can sincerely answer
life? The numbers are not much this question without doubt, then,
lower for sophomores and juniors write your answer down and look
either. Why? at it. This should be your goal in
Most students, as a whole, have life. If you will value this goal
no idea what they would like to ac- above all else, you will find
complish in life. This even bears yourself doing what ever you have
record by how often a student will to do to reach it.
change his/her major or enter the As you begin to work toward
drop-add line. • your goal things will begin to fall in
I remember, as an eight-year-old place and the anxieties of not
child, one day I wanted to be a knowing what to do will begin to
fireman, the next day a doctor, two vanish. New anxieties will develop,
weeks later a fire chief, and even a but they will be welcomed and
bit later a carpenter. I probably become challenging.
never spent more than two minutes To answer this most important
thinking about any profession in question will require much more
particular. One day it seemed more thought then choosing a major, but
prestigious to be a fireman, you will find, after answering it,
another day a doctor. your major(s), minor(s), and
Why is it so hard for an in- everything else that you will need to
dividual to decide what HE succeed will become much clearer.
WOULD LIKE TO DO? Is it Don't put it off until tomorrow,
perhaps because others have tried next week or next month. Do it
to act the role and failed or is it now! You'll be glad that you did!
because of a personal "learned Don't let yourself get boxed into
disability" of your own? Then, some other profession simply
again, it may be that you don't because of your existing finances,
think that you could qualify for environment, education or apathy.
certain vocations. Well, let me give God willing, you can be what you
you a clue. want to be and you can do what
Ask yourself this very important you want to do. Just do it!
question: If money, environment, Apathy reeks. Take the time
or intelligence were not a variable,. right now and make a commitment
what would I like to do more than to yoursef.
MIJSIC REVIEW
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by Paul Miniger
Collegian Staff Writer Bob Geldof
ful and upbeat that they too will
soon be hits. These songs resemble
Nobel Peace prize runner-up, older Booomtown Rats music more
Bob Geldof, has found time away than any other track on the album.
from his Band-Aid efforts to make "The Beat of the Night" is a
a new album. "Deep in the Heart haunting song about an inter-racial
of Nowhere" is a collection of murder which occurs in a London
songs written and sung by ex- flat. Through Geldof's narrative
Boomtown Rat, Bob Geldof. Arid and his use of dramatic imagery,
even without the Rats, "Deep in one can almost witness the events
the Heart of Nowhere" overflows of the crime as they occur. Unfor
with creative talent. Dave Stewart, tunately, the first time you'll get to
Allison Moyet, Brian Setzer and heat "The Beat of the Night" will
Eric Clapton are among the twen- probably be during an episode of
tythree players on the album. "Miami Vice."
And with that many names, "August was a Heavy Month"
there's bound to be a hit. "This is will probably never be as popular
the World Calling" is probably the as "This is the World Calling," yet
most popular song off the album. it is one of the better songs on the
It ironically combines the lyrics of album. In fact, there is hardly a
a man who's lost hope with a sweet bad song on "Deep in the Heart of
lullaby. Consequently, its grief Nowhere." With the exception of
struck lyrics ring familiar with "When I Was Young" and "I Cry
Geldof's last hit "I Don't Like Too" which are a little too sen-
Mondays." timental to be taken seriously.
Two other songs, "In the Pour- Well, what can you expect from so
ing Rain" and "Love Like a meone who loses the Nobel Prize to
Rocket" are so much more power- Winnie Mandella.
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- piER *REV'S"
Editorial Policy
The Behrend Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by the
Editor, with the Editor holding final responsibility. Opinions ex
pressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of The
Behrend Collegian, The Behrend College, or The Pennsylvania State
University. Brown-Thompson Newspapers, the publishers of The
Behrend Collegian , is a separate corporate 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 re
ject 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.
Stream
of Consciousness
I hold a wonderful memory from my early childhood. A memory of a
time when I was young and contentedly unaware of something my parents
called reality. They would bring up this word "reality" most often times
on Saturday mornings, while I was watching cartoons. What did "reality"
mean to a six year old Paul Sarkis? . . . not too much. Nevertheless, as I
Would sit there eating my Frosted Flakes two feet in front of the set, my
mom would sit down beside me and smile and say, "Now Paulie, you
know that's not reality, don't you?" I would nod slowly and eat some
more Frosted Flakes and spill some milk on the dog whil my eyes remain
ed transfixed on the screen.
I always wondered why my mom asked me that question. I guess moms
want to make sure that their kids aren't getting ideas about going outside
and hunting road-runners, armed only with products from the ACME
corporation. I may have been six years old, but I had a pretty good feeling
if you got run over by a steamroller, you didn't just get really thin.
My father first introduced me to reality one Saturday morning by walk
ing over to the television and switching from cartoons to the news. "Now
that's reality! " he said. I looked at him, then looked at the screen and ate
some Frosted Flakes. "Reality is boring." I thought to myself. So much
for Reality 101.
My next lesson in reality would occur a few years later, as I finished
grade school. At the time, I firmly believed that six years costituted a
Letter to the editor
Priorities of 'Greek Life' under fire
Recently, as I've been walking
through the Reed Building and the
dorms, I've noticed several signs
making various promises of
lifelong friendship, excitement,
and a sense of belonging. These
signs have been posted by the local
and national fraternities and
sororities on campus. I have to
chuckle whenever I see one,
because after being a Sister in
Sigma Theta Chi for a semester, I
found no such fulfillment of these
promises.
First of all, these plaguesome
posters are constantly pestering
students to rush their particular
faction. However, one must bear in
mind that not everyone will be
deemed "worthy" to' pledge. Many
will be rejected for no apparent
reason. Those that do get accepted
and become pledges will endure a
trial of hazing and humiliation for
an entire semester. As a result of
the time spent at line-ups and other
various pledge chores, many ex-
Letters to the editor intended for publication in the next issue
of the Collegian should be submitted by Feb. 18th at 5:00 p.m.
`Bury the Dead' in an avalanche of success
by Susanna Jalosky
Collegian Theatre Correspondent
The scenery for "Bury The
Dead" was simply constructed;
however, it remained very effective
in creating impressions necessary to
absorb the important message that
it offers.
The simple "T"-like construc
tion of planks set the stage for most
of the battlefield scenes. A plat
form was constructed against the
north wall containing a pit which
served as the graves dug by an army
burial detail_ Protruding from the
platform were stairs and a short
runway. On either side of this run
way hung two small ceiling lamps.
These two areas set the stage for
scenes from the General's office
and Editor's office.
The lighting played a tremen
dous role in this one-act produc
tion. With each mood or moment,
lighting served as the transition and
attention grabber.
This is a story of six dead
soldiers defiantly rising up and
refusing to be buried. The story is
shocking, unrealistic, controver
sial, moving. Their message is a cry
for help and a need for peace.
The ensemble of actors in this
production is to be commended.
Overlapping roles made it more
difficult to develop characters;
however, the play was no less effec
tive. Unlike "Two By Two," where
each developing personality con
veyed the story,"Bury The Dead"
relied on theme, emotion and the
words of concern from the corpses
to convey its message. A series of
heart-wrenching scenes between the
Just say 'no' to reality
By Paul Sarkis
Collegian Staff Writer
perience a significant drop in their
GPA. On top of that, pledges are
charged a fee for this "privilege"
of belonging.
Once a pledge becomes a full
fledged member of one of these in
stitutions, he or she can expect a
loss if his or her own individual
identity. New members quickly
adopt, the values, attitudes, and
'Prejudices of their fraternity or
sorority. They'll be perfectly at
home if school, morals,• family,
and friends (who don't charge for
their company) are no longer of
any importance. Members tend to
cut themselves off from other clubs
and organizations designed to
develop skills, contribute to socie
ty, and prepare its members for the
future. I've seen very little of that
from the sororities and fraternities
on campus. In fact, these oganiza
tions tend to exclude themselves
and avoid socializing with non
members on campus. While I was a
sister, I was merely exposed to a
corpses and loved ones proved to
be the climax. These dead soldiers
represented what might happen if
soldiers killed on a battlefield could
rise up and express their feelings
about their own death.
The soldiers, all of different ages
and backgrounds, had their
reasons for refusal. Their reasons
were sincere in their intent. • One
man felt the war was unfair and
unfeeling. Men's lives were traded
for a portion of ground under their
feet. One man felt he hadn't before
understood the cause for which he
was fighting, and now he had
something to say about it. Other
men felt that although their lives
satisfactory education, and I felt that junior high school would prove to
be redundant. My parents, however, did not share my opinion and in
sisted that I continue my education. In response to my objections they
would say "Well, that's reality." I concluded that reality meant doing
things that you didn't want to do. This "reality" stuff didn't sit well with
me.
One night my mom scolded me for trying to sneak some cookies before
dinner. "You eat your dinner first, then you can have a cookie, that's
reality! " she explained. "No it's not," I said. "I've sneaked cookies
plenty of times before dinner! " I affirmed gleefully. Mother was less than
amused. So much for my first argumentative thesis on reality.
I'm an adult now . . . a graduate of the school of reality. Every now and
again, though, I'll sneak away from reality for a while. I'll wake up early
on a Saturday moning, while the rest of the dorm sleeps off Friday night,
sit myself in the TV room with a bowl of Frosted Flakes and watch the
Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour. There exists within the television a
wonderful world where a Coyote can go skiing in the desert by strapping
an ACME crushed ice machine to his back. A world where you can fall off
a cliff and the only injury you sustain is the temporary annoyance of hav
ing your body resemble an accordian.
Some people might find this immature . . . almost as immature as my
editor chasing me around the dark halls of Perry spraying me with shaving
cream. But no matter how we do it, we all must escape from reality every
now and then. So go watch some cartoons, or fill you roommate's pillow
with Redi-whip and just say no to reality.
world revolving around beer and
parties. Many members begin to
lose sight of their real goals in life
and their purpose of paying
thousands of dollars to Penn State
-to achieve an education. They're
too worried about what they'll
wear to the next "social
gathering."
I always thonght it rather ironic
the way these organizations sport
the phrase "Greek life." I'm really
curious as to what that means,
especially since Greek colleges have
no fraternities or sororities. In fact,
while I was living in Europe, a
Greek college friend once asked
why American university students
walk around wearing Greek letters
on their backs.
My own conflicts arose within
Sigma Theta Chi because I was not
willing to sacrifice my grades in
order to play silly games in the mid
dle of the night outside in the cold.
While I was a sister, I never felt
quite comfortable ordering pledges
Students line up outside the theatre, hoping to get a ticket.
weren't elaborate and perfect they
loved life and obtained a new ap
preciation for their lives and their
homes. Finally, a twenty- year old
man stood. During a scene between
him and his mother, she constantly
asked to see her baby's face, which
had been destroyed by shell
fragments.
He argued that it wasn't right for
him to die. He hadn't really lived
yet. All those years of preparing
for life, and he'd never received the
chance to experience it. He was a
kid dressed in a uniform, told to
play soldier and then killed on a
battlefield. This had a tremendous
effect on an audience primarily
FEBRUARY 12,1987
Collegian
PAGE 3
911 4
around. I'm not in the habit of
treating my friends like slaves. It
was made quite clear to me that I
was no longer wanted around
because I had other priorities,
other friends, and other activities.
I cannot stop anyone from
pledging, but I would advise a
potential rushee to be aware of
what he really expects. If he's just
looking for Companionship, that
can be found anywhere—for free.
There are numerous clubs on cam
pus where one can meet others,
achieve, and grow, without having
to become one the dregs of society.
Everyone should bear in mind their
real intentions for attending
college—for an education.
by Michelle Grasmick
Fourth Semester, Psychology
oto by Wen
consisting of college students.
Sounds of sniffling and feelings of
compassion filled the room.
The audience walked away very
rich. They posessed a new
understanding, of an otherwise in
tangible concept: war.
In this great country of ours, we
can stand up for our rights and
what we believe. Dead or alive,
these soldiers exercised that right,
creating nothing less than a great
impression. This production was
impressive in many ways: the
technical use of sound and lighting;
the conveyance of a message of
what war is about; and the impres
sion their words left on our hearts.