Collegian
Page 6
IN THE FACE
Caruso-In The Face
0000
by Matthew Filippi
Entertainment Editor
Where do bands get started?
They must play somewhere before
they become so popular that you
have to pay fifteen dollars to stand
twenty feet away from them. Well,
if you happened to be in the Reed
building last Saturday, you had the
perfect opportunity to meet with a
band who's fast on the rise to be
coming known. The name of the
band is Caruso. They traveled from
Trenton, Michigan to play here at
Behrend for the third time. The
band, consisting of four members
(three of which are brothers), has
received incredible recognition in
the past. "Caruso is one of the hot
test collegiate bands in the country.
Their new single, London, is driv
ing, infectious pop music. This
record could break them na
tionally," said Ron Givens of
Newsweek on Campus.
Caruso has opened for various
well known acts such as Code
Hart, ÜB4O, the Guess Who, John
Cafferty and the Beaver Brown
Band, and Joan Jett. They are
presently being reviewed by most
of the major record companies in
the States. When asked if they ever
considered doing a movie sound
track, they informed me that it was
"Psyche of a Racist Culture"
by William Warner
Collegian Staff Writer
Are you a racist? Most of you would respond with a raised eyebrow
and a solemn "no." You would probably be offended or at least become
defensive if you were told, "You are wrong. You ARE a racist." Try as
we may to deny it, nearly all of us are guilty of some form of dis
crimination. There are those among us whose prejudice is obvious in
the way they speak and act towards others. Al Campanis, former vice
president of the L.A. Dodgers baseball team, and Jimmy The Greek,
ex-sportsforcaster for the CBS television network, both lost their jobs
because of their racist comments. More common are the unintended
sometimes unconcious acts that we, as products of our environment,
fail to recognize as racist. Believing that a black person has a natural
talent for sports or an innate ability to sing or dance are two of the more
obvious examples.
Dr. Alvin Poucsaint, "a social activist and script consultant for the
`Cosby Show,' " appeared at Penn State Behrend on Monday Feb. Ist.
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being looked into at the present
time. When I asked, "By who?",
Joe Caruso replied, "We can't tell
you by who but I'm pretty sure it
begins with a 'P' and ends in
`mount'."
A future plan for the band is to
record another E.P., hoping to make
it with this one. Their strategy is to
leave out the soft sentimental songs
and go for the "upbeat, who knows
what this song means as long as it
gets us in the door type song." It's
sad but it's the only way to go
about it in the music business
today. Their last E.P., In The Face
helped to open some of those doors
for the band. "We opened the
doors, now it's time to walk in,"
said Mike Caruso. In The Face
contains the single,"London",
which was top 3 for approximately
eleven weeks at Harmony House in
Detroit. "In The Face is the most
successful selling record by any
unsigned Detroit band in the his
tory of Harmony House," said
Sandy Bean, Distributing Director
for H.H.
I believe the E.P. has a lot of
potential, especially as a movie
sound track. Caruso plays tight,
smooth flowing pop rock. They're
backed by a very strong drummer,
Rob Caruso, and complimented
with, a progressive lead guitarist,
Lee Thomas, the only member who
is not a Caruso brother and the only
member who is married (Sorry,
Tom, but it's what they want to
know). They are also very strong
vocally. Their ability to harmonize
is outstanding. But I think what
really tops them off is their ability
to entertain crowds and their at
titudes. Everyone loves them.
Wright State University comments,
"This is the easiest band in the
world to work with, great show,
we'll definitely have them back." I
can't begin to tell you how true this
is. I have had a great time inter
viewing this band. I'm sure they've
been interviewed a thousand times
and are probably tired of answering
the same old questions, but they
seemed to like doing it. One thing
Caruso didn't have that most bands
do is an ego problem. This is just
another thing that makes them
stand on top. In the past, the band
has been known for their looks. A
lot of bands have made it on looks
alone but Caruso wants to be
known for their music, not their
looks. This is the way it should be.
Good luck, Caruso!
For posters, T-shirts or a copy
of their single, "London" or
their E.P. In The Face, write:
P.O. Box 224
Trenton, Mich
48183
In his presentation, "Psyche of a Racist Culture," the associate profes
sor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School addressed the problems of
discrimination in contemporary America. When we talk about racism, if
we talk about it at all, we speak of the past. We cite the acts of our
forefathers, the slave trading, the civil rights movement, and the tragic
loss of Dr. Martin Luther King. These are historical events, drama from
an era gone by. Focusing on the history of American racism lies at the
root of the problem. Racism is not a thing of the past. While blatant
acts of discrimination are attracting intense public scrutiny, offenders
and victims alike continue to perpetuate the subtler forms of racism.
Dr. Poussaint feels that black children perpetuate stereotypes (like
natural ability to dance and play sports) because "they feel it's a 'one
up' on white kids. The game is that black kids do it well because they
practice it. It is not a genetic thing, that has to do with Blacks and
Whites, but people believe it. It's instilled in our heads and it's woven
into the fabric of our culture."
He also believes that, if the stereotypic expectations imposed upon
black children can be reduced and their energies redirected, Blacks will
become more successful in other areas. "...if black kids came
home...and somehow on their agenda, instead of basketball and sports,
were to practice math and science four or five hours a day, then they
would be good at math and science (instead of sports). If we don't
believe that, we're in trouble. That's the kind of intellectual propaganda
game that limits potential."
Dr. Poussaint has a taken an active role in the struggle for equality in
America. He received his medical degree from Cornell University in
1960. He went on to be the Chief Resident of the psychiatry department
at UCLA for two years and Southern Field Director for the medical
committee of the Human Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi. He
moved to Harvard Medical School in 1969 and is currently an As
sociate Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
He has written two best-selling books, WHY BLACKS KILL BLACKS
and BLACK CHILD CARE. He also works as a script consultant to the
"Cosby Show" in an effort to "influence more responsible network
proramming."
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Communion
COMMUNION-Book Review
000
by D.H. Grzybowski
Collegian Contributing Writer
Communion, by Whitley Streiber, is an interesting and believable piece of non-fiction by the author of
such scarifying fictional classics as The Wolfen and The Hunger. Communion, if it was the work of the
author's imagination, would make for sensational sci-fi reading. Instead we are given the author's recollec
tion of his contact with aliens in a journal format. Imagine, if you will, your worst nightmare coming true
and you will begin to understand the anxiety Whitley Streiber faced in coming to terms with the reality of a
disputed and controversial subject.
Mr. Streiber was not a believer in UFO's nor did he have a history of emotional distress which might
predispose him to imagine being contacted by aliens. It would be easier, he admits, to be diagnosed as men
tally disturbed than to deal with such a strange and as yet scientifically unaccepted reality of alien life. He
admits to a lie detector test, hypnosis and has his mental capabilities certified in an attempt to rectify and
make sense of what is at the root of his disturbing memories—memories which defy logic.
The encounters which Mr. Streiber describes have unknowingly been going on since he was five years
old. As the years progressed the unexplained trauma, both emotional and physical, became more
pronounced. It was this trauma which forced him to examine the existence of aliens, though he is reluctant
to embrace this conclusion.
The events are presented as they are initially remembered; at first just vague impressions of unusual
memories- a flash of bright light, figures lurking by the bed, and unexplained paralysis. The missing details
are later recalled through hypnosis as one man's striking impressions of what he believes to be the truth.
Whether or not we choose to accept this truth is up to us. At first, like Mr. Streiber, we doubt the exis
tence of aliens, choosing instead to rationalize away that which we are not yet ready to accept or under
stand. But as the book progresses we slowly (dare we?) entertain the possibility of their existence even
though we are still fighting with our logical side which tells us they do not, can not, indeed they must not
exist.
The evidence presented is supported by transcripts of what was said while under hypnosis, published ac
counts of previous contact with aliens, and covered-up government reports. This evidence leads us to ac
tively wonder if perhaps what we have read could be true, though our reservations still lurk in the back
round.
Upon reading the encounters presented in Communion it appears that indeed something very strange,
yet very real, is happening. The conclusion (at first inconceivable because it goes against logic, reason, and
your better judgement) clearly points in one direction—THEßE IS SOMETHING OUT
THERE.
Education around the world
by Lorrie Reib
Collegian Staff Writer
For some time now Penn State
University has offered the chance
for their junior and senior students
to study abroad. Students get to
study in all parts of the world, learn
new languages, study foreign
economics, and broaden their
horizons. This program offers so
many different programs that it's
right for just about anyone.
Mari Trinkle, who's office is in
the Glennnhill Farmhouse, handles
all of the applicants from Belli-end.
She gives students all of the facts
they want to know about any par
ticular country they would like to
study in, and the courses that are
offered there. Mari Trinkle is a
good source of information on the
Education Abroad Program because
she went to Germany herself for a
year in 1968.
In talking to her, I found out a lot
of interesting facts. She told me
things like; "I was in Germany
when Czechoslovakia was invaded.
The tanks were only about 20 miles
away and to think if they would
have kept on rolling I would have
been in the middle of it all." She
was almost in the middle of history
being made. She told me about how
it helped her to do a lot of growing
up during that time and it forced
her to become independent. "I
couldn't call mom everytime some
thing went wrong." But I think the
most important quote Mari Trinkle
made was; "It was the most inter
esting and best year of my life and
if I had to do it all over again I
would."
Gennany isn't the only place
students can go to study. Other pos
sible places include: Athens,
Greece_ Cairo, Egypt— Canberra,
Australia— Leningrad, USSR—
Manchester, England and even
Nairobe, Kenya. There are also
many more choices available.
How would your parents finance
all of this you ask? That's easy. The
cost is no more than airfare plus
regular Penn State University Park
tuition. Room and board is the
same as double occupancy housing
at U.P. also. So in all reality they
would only be paying for your
airfare, which can range anywhere
from $4OO for England up to $l7OO
for Australia. Also, you can still
receive financial aid.
All credits you would be taking
Dr. Alvin Poussaint
script consultant for the 'Cosby Show'
eature
are regular Penn State credits. You
are allowed to take a full credit
load and a minimum of 12. If you
would choose to study abroad in
the summer, you could take
anywhere from 3 to 15 credits.
Don't get too excited yet though.
Students must have a cumulative
grade average of 2.5 to even be
considered for this program, and
the higher the better. For most of
the more competitive countries you
mast have at least a 3.0. The
average G.P.A. of students who
went in 1987 was a 3.16, but for a
competitive country such as
Australia a 3.8 was required. So as
you can see, this is not just an easy
way to see Europe. You really must
want to go and learn. You must ob
tain a 'C' or higher in all of your
subjects and attend every class.
That probably eliminates some
people right now, huh?
There are application deadlines
for the education abroad programs.
The deadline for fall 88 FS semes
ters was October 1, but don't
worry, you can still apply for the
spring semester of 1989. You have
until March Ilth to turn in your ap
plication. These deadlines are con
sistant from year to year so if you
are going to be a junior by the fall
semester of 1989 then you can
apply by October 1,1988.
Anyone seriously interested
should contact Mari Trinkle in the
Glennhill Farmhouse, phone 6160,
for more information.
photo by Holly Lew