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Ellerbee Speaks Briefly, Promotes Values
by James Martin
Well-known journalist and
television personality Linda
Ellerbee told a full house in
Behrend’s Erie Hall to do things
their own way, because even if they
toe they line they might get fired
anyway.
Ellerbee, author of the best
selling "And So it Goes," and the
former Host of ABCs "Our World,”
spoke at 8 pm, October 1, during
Behrend's annual Parent's Weekend.
Introduced by Dean and Provost
John Lilley, Ellerbee delivered the
second lecture in the school's
annual series.
While her 35 minute
presentation was well received by a
Seroka on
James Seroka, Behrend's new
head of the division of Humanities
and Social Sciences and a
Yugoslavian expert, believes the
recent uprisings in Yugoslavia's
Vojvodinan province were prompted
by Serbian Leaders.
Seroka, who has been
interviewed by Erie's Channel 12
and has been widely quoted in local
newspapers, feels Serbian leaders
were attempting to tighten control
over their two autonomous
provinces: Vojvodina and Kosovo.
Seroka is the co-author of
"Political Organization in Socialist
Yugoslavia," a book he co-authored
with Rados Smiljkovic, who is
now head of the Communist Party
in Belgrad.
"In Kosovo, a province that is
90 percent Albanian, there is a
strong anti-Serbian movement
going on," said Seroka.
He explained that the ousting of
Vojyodina’s Communist Party
Last Temptation Poll
ivy Steve Decker
Collegian Staff Writer
A majority of Behrend students
believe the controversial movie
"The Last Temptation of Christ"
should be shown on campus, but
many students say they wouldn't
sec the movie themselves. These
figures came from a poll of 156
students taken by the Inter-Varsity
Christian Fellowship (IVCF).
The survey, taken on October 4
and 5, was open to all faculty and
students with the exception of
IVCF members, who were not
permitted to participate.
Responding to the first question,
which asked students if they
thought the movie should be shown
at Behrend, 70.5% said yes, 26.3%
said no, and 3.2% said maybe. "The
biggest issue was censorship," said
IVCF officer Chuck Egbert.
A number of people who voted
yes felt that their First Amendment
rights would be violated by
censorship if the film were not
shown. Others said that a college
campus such as Behrend should
have freedom to show such a movie
to promote "the educational
experience."
In contrast, others felt that the
movie was blasphemous and
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crowd nearing 1000, Ellerbee drew
mixed reviews from a number of
administrators and students who
thought she could have done more
to earn her $12,500 fee.
"I really like Linda Ellerbee,"
said Tom Wilkinson, president of
the.TOTH club. "But I read the
book and it was almost a canned
speech but I still enjoyed it."
Assistant Dean of Student
Services, Dave Shields, who had
hoped Ellerbee would be able to
meet with a group of interested
students prior to her lecture, also
expressed his disappointment.
"Her topic was really great," said
Shields. "We'd just hoped she'd do
more for the money we had to pay
her."
Yugoslavia
prt step
closer to losing its autonomy,
according to Seroka.
"When Vojvodina loses
autonomy, it will lose its veto
power. And that is what the Serbian
Party wants. It wants to stop
Continued on Page 7
degrading to Jesus. "Just as people
would be greatly offended by a
movie that portrayed Martin Luther
King Jr. as a perverted
schizophrenic so are others irritated
by a film that describes Jesus as a
wimpy liar,” one respondent wrote.
Others questioned whether such a
controversial movie should be
shown at Behrend.
The second question asked
respondents whether they would see
the movie if it came to Behrend.
There was a narrower margin
between responses than with the
first question, with 56.1%
answering yes, 32.3% answering
no, and 11.6% undecided. Many
who answered no explained that the
movie opposed their beliefs or that
they didn't care for drama movies in
general. Of those who wanted to see
the movie, many were curious to
see just what the controversy was
all about.
Egbert said he was not surprised
at the results, but thought there
would be fewer "no” votes. "The
point of the survey was to present a
non-biased question to get people to
think about who Jesus really is.”
"As a group, IVCF is not
seeking to keep the movie from
being shown, but we are very
concerned about the subject," he
added
STATION ROAD, ERIE, PA 16563
Ellerbee declined to participate
in the group discussion and other
activies, noting she was tired and
hoarse after serving as an
auctioneer in an AIDS benefit
auction in Houston.
Despite a sometimes-faltering
voice Ellerbee spoke forcefully on
her topic of having it all and doing
it your own way—despite the
consequences.
Ellerbee related that doing things
her own way has provided her with
mixed results. She explained that
after landing her first big job with
the Houston bureau of the
Associated Press, (AP) saying what
was on her mind cost her -a job.
After finishing work one night, sne
lingered in the office to write a
letter to a friend, a letter which was
critical of the AP's Houston Bureau
chief. Failure to properly kill the
story resulted in its release to
newspapers across the country. It
also resulted in her dismissal.
Ellerbee said she didn't blame AP
for firing her, noting everyone but
the AP lawyers thought she should
be shot not fired.
Bouncing back quickly from this
early setback, she secured a job as a
"hard news" reporter with WCBS in
New York City. In this position,
Ellerbee quickly established the fact
that she played by her own rules.
"You must determine your own
ethics and stick to them," said
Ellerbee. "Anyone who sticks a
microphone in the face of another
human being who has just suffered
a tragedy or loss and asks anything
at all - is an inhuman dwarf and
ought to be fired."
"So why do they do it,"
wondered Ellerbee. "They've been
told that this is what succeeds.
We've been given the message that
if it’s a rat race its okay to be a rat.
It’s not," she said.
Ellerbee also discussed flashy,
low-in-substance reporters, whom
she calls Twinkies.
"(Some of these people) appear
to have blow-dried their brains right
along with their hair," she said.
Returning to her original thesis,
Ellerbee said not to be afraid of
failing or of doing things one's own
way, recalling that David Brinkley
once told her - not to worry, "the
worst they can do is fire you."
Hitting on the topic of the
presidential election, Ellerbee said
she is waiting for one of the
candidates to demonstrate vision and
to stop worrying about messing up.
In keeping with her topic of job
security, Ellerbee explained that she
has started her own production
company, is writing a second book
and has become a syndicated
columnist
"With so many projects going
on it will take a real cooperative
effort for them all to fire me."
Kanty Residents Push For Changes
Students complain about poor conditions
by Maria Plaza
Collegian News Editor
Residents of Kanty Village
gathered Sunday to complain about
suspected health code violations and
to push for improvements at the
apartment complex. About 90
residents attended the monthly
house meeting to air their
grievances and present a petition
asking for cleaner conditions,
signed by 84 of the 139 residents,
to landlord Ken Lochbaum.
Lochbaum was unavailable for
comment
The survey was presented by
Commuter Senator and Kanty
resident Beth Wilson. According to
Wilson, the main complaints i
concerned insufficient cleaning. She
mentioned flooded floors, broken
toilets, and mold as specific
examples. Other residents
complained of a strong stench from
the men’s floor.
Presently, two full-time and one
part-time worker are employed to do
the cleaning. Residents feel this is
inadequate.
Other students complained that
the chained doors caused a fire
hazard. The only doors open are
SPEAKER - Linda Ellerbee spoke at author discussed her career and her
Behrend's Parent's Weekend. The philosophy for success in the working
television personality and best-selling world, (photo by Marybeth Zawistoski)
Police Seeking Gorge Streaker
by Laura A. Weaver
Collegian Staff Writer
On September 28 Behrend
Police & Safety received a report of
a nude male lounging in the woods
of the Wintcrgreen Gorge.
Apparently a female student
was strolling through the Gorge on
her way home from class when she
noticed the unclad individual. It
seems that he noticed her as well,
for the report states that he began to
follow her. Escaping the Gorge and
it's inhabitant, the young woman
arrived home and informed her
mother who informed the Police &
Safety Office. According to
officials, several incidents
involving the naked male were
reported during this past summer.
Floor skating parties were the
subject of police interest on both
the 28th and 30th of September.
those on the wings, where the
students live. The main area of the
building is used for storage.
The delay in building promised
bathrooms has other residents
upset. The third floor has only a
gang shower, that is, one where
residents must shower together.
"There is a definite shortage of
bathrooms," said Wilson.
There is no toilet paper provided
in the girls' bathrooms. The
management stopped supplying it
because it was usually stolen, but
Wilson commented that locking
dispensers can be purchased.
Some residents have questioned
whether the building has passed an
asbestos test. The cancer-causing
substance, which used to be used as
insulation, has been removed from
many buildings.
Residents also complained about
insufficient heating, lack of control
of parties, and excessive noise
during quiet hours.
Wilson commented that
conditions have improved
somewhat since Sunday's meeting,
but feels that they may be just
placate the residents.
Lochbaum did agree to allow
Continued on Page 3
Student residents on the third floor
of Lawrence Hall flooded the
basement with soapy water and
proceeded to take advantage of the
slippery situation by sliding down
the hallway. Police & Safety were
called in when the situation got out
of hand.
Two more thefts have been
reported to Police and Safety. This
time the crimes were committed in
the Library and the Behrend
Building.
A Sony Walkman was reported
stolen from the Library. A student
left the tape player, along with her
coat, in the appropriate area and
upon returning to them, found the
Walkman was gone.
A car battery was also reported
stolen from the Behrend Building.
The battery was alleged to have
been taken from the basement of
the building where it was used for
KANTY VILLAGE, located on East 38th Street, was
formerly Kanty Preperatory School. Today, a portion of
the building is used for student housing - primarily for
Behrend students. Kanty Village, which houses 139
students, has recently been criticized by residents for
failing to maintain satisfactory living conditions. (Photo
by Marybeth Zawistoski)
Ccf f l
the emergency generator. Both
incidents were reported to Police &
Safety on September 28th.
An act of vandalism was also
reported during the week of
September 26th. An unknown
person apparently scraped a key
along the door of a car door. The
car was parked in the F lot between
the apartments and Lawrence Hall.
Police & Safety's monthly
report' has been completed for
September. During that time,
officials investigated 12 acts of
theft which totaled 5954.50 in
value. Recovered were $616.25
worth of (stuff). Also reported were
4 acts of vandalism, 1 case of
arson, 1 incident of drug abuse, 3
counts of liquor law violations, 1
public drunk, 5 cases of disorderly
conduct and 3 miscellaneous
crimes.