opinion
Strange Daze;
by Ed Miseta
Collegian Staff Writer
The Academy of Awards. The
Tony Awards. The Grammy Awards.
The MTV Music Video Awards. Ii
seems every iim I turn around there’s
a new type of award being handed
out for something. I feel it's getting
to be ridiculous. Do we really need
to give out some dozen awards to a
hadful of movies that come out
every year? Do we really need to
give out just as many to a few
videos that the MTV executives
happen to like, and tell us we must
vote for? And what about all those
great tilings in life that seem to go
unnoticed, and never get any awards?
1 believe we should make a
change in our award presentations.
From now on there should be just
one awards ceremony each year. It
would be called the Peoples Choice
Awards, but would not be for just
actors and musicians. Americans
would vote for the ten 'best things’
of the year. This could include
anything from songs to movies to
athletes to politicians. They would
also vote for the ten things that we
could most do without. The voting
could be done the same time wc vote
Shattering the Outer Shell
by David Friend
Contributing Writer
Walking down the paths of
Behrend one day was a lonesome
task. The Erie weather was at its
typical worst— foggy with a light
drizzle. But I w'as enjoying it.
Perfect weather for me and my
trench coat. I’m in my typical
daylight mood— asleep, observant,
quiet and daydreaming. I notice
things, like cars trying to run
students over. Calls of "Come on,
hit me, please, I need the money!, ’’
ring from the crowd. I wave at a
passerby I know. The simplest
form of acknowledgement, but the
most difficult to initiate. But this
occurrence is rare--- most students
walking to and from classes are
cold, self-absorbed. I go into Reed
and, like every student, check my
Is There Hope
by Rebecca Salibrici
Contributing Writer
Is there hope for America’s poor?
Can society afford pay the price?
If the trend continues the situation
can only get worse, and the number
of poor people will increase. Is
there a better way?
The welfare system began as a
temporary' life support system for
those who suffer a severe financial
loss. In America, the land of
opportunities, this is a good idea.
BUT, the fact is that'folks receiving
assistance need help to help
themselves. And, people who
THE BORN LOSER ‘ by Art Sansom
Letter to
Dear Editor
When will the President wake up
to reality? He continues to
purchase another unneeded nuclear
weapon system of mass destruction,
the B-l bomber, at a final cost of
more than $2BO million per plane.
Meanwhile across the nation and the
world, people are dying in a
ravaging AIDS epidemic. Surely
by cancelling the B-l, S.D.I. and
other nuclear weapon systems
enough money would be freed to
find cures for AIDS, most cancer
and probably feed and shelter the
homeless, and still go a long way
toward balancing the budget.
The F.D.A. must wake up to
reality also. While people die of
AIDS here in America, other AIDS
sufferers elsewhere are being saved
with AIDS drugs which the F.D.A.
stubbornly delays testing and
approval of, not to mention making
it legal to manufacture, prescribe
and possess them. The F.D.A.
in elections. That way more
Americans wouls get out to the
polls. Also, by having just one
awards show, we could do away with
all the others. Then the networks
would air something more
interesting and informative in their
place. Perhaps reruns of Gilligan’s
Island.
To get things rolling, I’ve made
up a list of the ten best and worst
things from these first twenty-five
years of my life. The envelope
please...
The Strange Daze Top Ten:
Ed’s Choice of the Best
Things in Life.
1. Budwciser
It didn't get to be number one
by advertisng alone. Budwciser is a
crisp, consistent, high-quality beer
that is excellent for both sipping and
guzzling. Whether you're
celebrating, drowning your sorrows,
or trying to make member of the
opposite sex appear better looking,
Bud is the best beer for the job.
2. Sex
Although its image has been
tarnished a bit by recent
developments (Herpes, Aids, etc...),
sex is still the most fun you can
have without laughing. It has been
mailbox. I might engage in this
activity several times each day, in
desperation for word from the
outside world. I’m even starting to
savor the letters I get from my
parents! Then I go to a club
meeting, which is a bunch of
potential friends that have similar
interests. But invariably, the
conversations degenerate into "club
business." After all, who is in the
club for any other reason then the
w’ay it looks on their transcript? By
chance 1 meet someone and am
invited to a party. It’s Friday and I
feel good, I’ve just done quite well
on a quiz and two tests this week.
Reasons to celebrate, I think. I
start to talk to the people therte, but
conversations dissolve into
incoherent drunken stupors. I have
no desire to get drunk myself, but I
imbibe some alcohol. (I like
cannot help themselves should not
be given more money to have more
kids! This is the major flaw in our
public welfare system.
People on welfare receive barely
enough to survive. It is true that
many people on welfare don’t
properly care fo their children.
(They weren't properly cared for
themselves, as children). Many of
these children are abused. It is true
that some welfare recipients sell
drugs, or have under-the-table jobs
enabling them to have "fancy cars"-
but this is NOT the rule. There are
few people on welfare who have any
valuable material possessions.
the Editor
must wake up and cease its anti
humane AIDS policy immediately.
The Supreme Court must wake up
to reality also and recognize that the
true marriage bond is the strong
love and mutual sharing
relationship bond and not a piece of
paper. It must recognize this and
the need to grant nothing less than
full, human, civil and economic
rights and privileges, regardless of
sexual preferences in such
relationships.
I urge everyone to wake up the
President, Supreme Court, F.D.A.
and Congress by sending them
copies of this letter as part of a
chain letter to everyone's friends and
relatives, so that they may do the
same. Let's all do our part also and
make a donation to an AIDS charity
also.
Leonard DeFazio Jr.
31 Elmwood Ave.
Batavia, N.Y. 14020
around since the beginning of time
and scientists expect its popularity
to continue into the future. It is
especially good on Saturday nights,
after several cans of Budweiser.
3. Steeping In
An enjoyable, recreational
activity that is most popular on
college campuses across the nation.
One of my favorite past limes is
setting my alarm for seven o'clock
on Sunday morning, then getting
up, shutting it off, and crawling
back under the covers. That is,
unless I wake up next to a not-too
desirablc woman, Whi I had sex with
the night before, after drinking
several cans of Budwciser.
4. Crime Story
Mike Torcllo and Ray Luca are
heating up the lube on Tuesday
nights. The music and
cinematography are excellent and the
violence is the best on television.
Accounting majors watch L.A. Law.
Real men watch Crime Story.
5. Lisa Minctti
The sexiest, most beautiful girl
on campus. I would love to sip
Budweiscrs with her anytime.
6. Scarfacc
The greatest movie ever made. A 1
Pacino is excellent as Tony
staying sober, watching drunks
return to the dorm can be the
highlight of my evening.) The
girls I meet there are all cither
dating, or trying to pry some guys
from their dates. A single,
unattached guy has no real chance at
this particular party. So Saturday
rolls around. For us poor sods who
have no cars, this is the day to take
the good old Blue Bus. The mall is
smallish, but at least I can catch a
movie and get away from Dobbins'
food. Unfortunately, I do not feel
attractive being checked out by
junior high pre-pubescent females.
And the older females are certainly
not interested in a trench coat
wearing, liberal looking, not th§t
muscular college male. I buy some
music, my one real pleasure these
days. This time I get an old
Genesis cassette, Foxtrot, an
For The Poor?
Most jobs involving social work
pay low wages. Many of the most
qualified medical experts would not
work for the low wages of a funded
organization for the poor.
Additionally, the medical card pays
as little as 1/6 the billed costs.
Understandably, most of the medical
profession who are privately
employed, don’t want to service
people with a medical card. As a
result, the medical care among the
poor is becoming worse.
Let's face it-lhe poor people in
America are treated second-rate. This
is not acceptable. Society is their
financial provider, therefore it
Best and The Worst of Life
The
Montana, a Cuban immigrant who
becomes fabulously rich only to
snort his life away. Although
extremely violent, the film is
thrilling, sad, and even funny at
times. It also contains some of the
greatest lines of all time. For
example: Tony, to a man he just
shot in the head: "You think you're
smart? Look at you now. You look
stupid."
7. The Wall bv Pink Flovd
It's not just an album, but a
way of life.
They're more fun to watch than
any other team in baseball. Harry
Carey and Steve Stone are a joy to
listen to, especially in the late
innings when Harry is drunk from
drinking all game. Ryne Sandberg,
Jody Davis, and Andre Dawson will
bring the pennant back to Wrigley in
1988.
9. Money
What would life be without it?
Especially these days when it can
buy anything. Money is awesome,
and the more the better. Just ask
Noriega.
10. Robert DeNiro Movies
Robert is the finest actor in the
business today. From Taxi Driver'
excellent album with a twenty
minute track, "Supper's Ready." I
haven't put it down yet. When I
finally get to talk to someone the
next Monday, it’s irritating to hear
some lovesick puppy drool over
"the most adorable thing I have ever
seen in my entire life," and yet do
nothing about it. But overall, I
enjoy the conversation. I have at
last spoken to an intelligent, and
sober, human being. I also have
had many good laughs. And where
did I final all of this fun? Talking
to a seemingly dull person in the
S.G.A. office. It took me a
semester and a half to find a few
good friends... how long do I wait
for more? Will I ever crack the
frigid, self-absorbed exterior of an
average Behrend student? I hope I
will. So if you see a half-asleep,
trench coat wearing, quiet student,
with old Genesis blaring in the
headphones of his walkman, please
say a simple "Hi," it just might
make the Erie weather a little more
bearable.
should offer guidelines
people to become autonomous.
People on welfare should not be
given more money to have more
kids. Without the responsibility of
additional babies, a parent on
welfare would have few excuses not
to get a job, or a G.E.D. first....or
whatever it takes.
We are the financial supporters
of children who are bom into
poverty. It is our responsibility to
be involved. Make your opinions
known. But first, come to
understand the problem, with
compassion.We owe it to the
children.
"Buckle
Up,
Behrend!"
Now it's
a law.
A public service
message from the
Collegian
TROUBLED?
NEED TO TALK?
WE CAN HELP... WE
CARE ABOUT YOU!
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to The Untouchables’, all of his
movies are worth seeing over and
over again.
The Strange Daze Bottom
Ten: Ed's Choice of the Most
Worthless Things in Life
1. Virgins
Virginity went out with the
second world war. They're good for
marriage, but otherwise not much
fun. To all you virgins: Thanks for
Nothing.
2. Instructors Who Do Not Give
Especially those who give
them back two weeks later, after
you’ve forgotten you ever took it.
And skip the excuse about having all
that research to do. We've heard it
before.
. 3. Joap.Rivers
She’s boring, obnoxious, and
very funny. I'd prefer to listen to
Howard Cosell tell his life story.
4. Yugo's
They're cheap, ugly, and
dangerous. I'd sooner drive a used
Vega. I’m sure the K.G.B. is
somehow behind their exportation to
this country.
5. Philosophy 001
Could it possibly be good for
anything?
Murphy Was
An Optimist
by Kevin Trenney
Collegian Staff Writer
Yes, I do believe that Thomas Hobbes was right. Perhaps man is
not such a noble creature.-"the war of all against all. 9 Machievelli may
have been correct in saying that man will "pursue lust after lust until
death.” Voltaire may have been hasty in criticizing Rousseau's Social
Contract. Could it be that man is little more than an animal?
Why do I take such a dismal view of my own species? The answer
to this question is quite simple. By observing my fellow homo-sapiens,
I have seen so much that makes me wonder if we are any.better than
dogs.
If humanity is so wonderful; Why are theie people who'treat-then
fellow human beings like dirt, simply because they are of a different
race, religion, or socio-economic status?
Why is there starvation and homelessness in the U.S. and the rest of
the world, when there are people who have millions and billions of
dollars in assets. Why does man sell substances to children and other
humans, which will kill them? Why are men, women, and children sold
as sex slaves?
It seems as though our society is caught up in this disgusting "ret
race" for the trophy of material possessions. All of these self-centered
"yuppie wanna be’s" are so caught up in pursuit of "BMers" the "2.3
children" and the other little perks in life, that they don't see the
suffering, the pain, the hurt that so many are experiencing.
My generation seems to be blinded by the images which are created
in Hollywood and its sterile studios (self included).
If someone doesn’t look just right, act just right, then "I can't
associate with her or go out with her." Isn't this the attitude that many
of us take? It truly bothers me that I too often take this internal view.
Thanks to movies and T.V., we get to see all of these (physically)
beautiful people falling in love (lust). Yes we must go after the
"gorgeous babes”. Girls go after the "hunks". Why can't we put the
physical aside.
Boozing is glamorized in Hollywood; the movies, the tv.
commercials. What don't you see? The homes which alcohol ruins and
the deaths caused by drunk driving.
Yes it does seem that we are animalistic in our drives. We can never
get enough money or material possessions. We want more and more.
Love has once again faded away-being replaced by lust People
pursuing conquest after conquest
People don’t seem to love compassion. Pimps and drug pushers
don't care about the people that they deal with. They care only about
profit! Such is life in America today.
Where is our society headed? I believe that destruction is it’s
destination. What can I do. I can take my bleeding heart conservative
philosophy to the people. 1 don't feel that it is the government's
responsibility to solve all of society's problems. It's yours and mine!!
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Collegian
6. Kate and Allic
By far the dumbest show on
television. Watched only by pre
pubescent teens and students who get
C's in Phys Ed.
7. The National Deht
It's large. It’s scary. It’s
expensive. Getting rid of it has got
to be our number one priority.
8. The Pittsburgh Pirates
Probably the worst team in
football. Even Todd Blackledge
won't be able to help this sorry,
sappy, spectacle of a sports team.
9. Jimmy. Carter
- He look office and screwed up
the country for four-years. President
Reagan is still.tfying to undo the
damage he did. Billy or Amy could
probably, have done a better job.
10. li2.
They're shallow, untalented,
and overrated. Popular among
English majors and people who wear
weird clothes and talk funny.
So there they are. The best and
worst of the last twenty-five years.
By the way, if you disagree with
some of my picks, that's too bad. I
don't want to hear about it
The opinions expressed by Ed
Miseta arc not necessarily those of
the Collegian.
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