Pngu 4 Love by Rot PrMle l hive an amusing anecdote. A few yam ago when I was attending Tech memorial High School sitting happily in Mr. Swabb's English class, a female friend of mine leaned over before class began and told me something odd. She Inched qnito philosophical and said, as if it had been preying on her mind for a long time, that die had a tremendous responsibility. She said that being a female she was under a constant pressure from men. She said "Ya Know Rob, I could get 'Laid'anytime I want.” This was perhaps the single most philosophically charged thought I had head up to that point It remained the most philosophical thing until this past summer. I watched the Democratic Convention and saw the Reverend Mr. Jessie Jackson any that even though there had to be a winner and a loser to the primary election, even though be had lost, the Democratic party was what was important. Small differences should not stop him and ail those who supported him from now turning their support to their Party's candidate Michael Dukakis. Unfortunately all of Jackson's supporters did not fed that "Lions and lambs should lie down together.” .Dukakis lost the Letters to the editor Thank You Letter Dear editor, For a second consecutive year my daughter Sara and I have enjoyed the special kindness of the Halloween Trick or Treat "Wee Peoples Project" Later that evening the candy covered a third of my floor prior to sorting, storage with consumption(though much was eaten on the spot). Thank you! Our candy supply could even outlast the memory of the stndcnts and their rooms decoded appropriately. Many students will discover that one of the best parts of being a parent is once again, to act like a child at Halloween. We faculty had a great time, not to mention our children! That so many of you worked to share the evening with the children from the Barber Center should be a source of great pride for all of us. Keep up the good work. Zach irwia,' AsidcUft" Pfdfetfsbr of Political Science An Opposing View Dear Editor, After reading the column "A select Few" in the Oct 27 issue of the Collegian, I was prompted to reply. The columnist relates an incident where a person, one of the "select few" insults another student because of his or her weight The columnist also tells of similar incidents he has observed an the Behrend campus. The writer then stttes his distaste for this type of behavior and says that he does want to, at the same time, "acknowledge these attacks with rebuttal, that would only lower myself to their level." But in his column, the writer uses the labels moron, uncouth losers, illiterate baboons, perfect swine, and uses the phrase, "these vermin are subhuman." Isn't this the same behavior that the "select few" display? I am not trying to defend the actions of the "select few," but they should be allowed to voice their opinions even if others And them offensive. The writer also states, "we strongly out number them." We being the writer and his "fellow misfits’, and them being the "select few." Is the writer saying that his Opinion is right because the majority support him. If this is the case, why doesn't the writer and those that agree with him form a group and call themselves the "select many?" Then the "select many" could condemn anybody or any group that disagrees with their views because they are the majority. Christopher Clark flh semester Mechanical Engineering I thought I'd let the author handle this one. J.M. Method to Madness Dear Christopher Clark, After reading your letter I concluded that you think it is all right for ®y person to express his opinion, no matter who it hurts. If you truly believe this then you have no problems with the following opinion. I thhuc you area narrow minded fool who speaks without thinking and is probably suffering from an abnormal and unhappy childhood. Do these mreeah offend you in anyway? They should, but (after reading your letter) they embody my opinion of you and according to your letter I am entitled to expreas it Now Freriize that the printing of these statements is totally uncalled for end that by doing so I am only lowering my own credibility. The roason.l had tb print them is that it is the only way I imagined my point would get across. I apologize for the rudeness of these statements. The idea that I fhould form a group and sit around condemning anyone that disagrees with me is crazy. Once again, the only people I intended to condemn were the group of people who committed these crimes. The, feet that yon want to add yourself to this list by defending these criminals simply reinforces your misunderstanding of my original column. Again, I am sorry that I had to make such a crude example of you but 1 hope you understand there is a meaning to my madness. Insipidly yours, Richard G. Cain Rob election, and I had a hard time falling asleep as I realized that George was our new president and Junior Quayle was second-in charge. My first thoughts after the votes were counted were pure evil. Now those Republicans will dig themselves a hole, I hissed under my breath. I wanted to see terrible things happen to the country with no one to blame the carnage on except that Republican fool who haunted the White House. But let me stop here and tell you that my feelings towards the GOP were not always so vile. Before this election I was not anti-Republicap. vjhtw cteated jobs -Not hard to do I would have voted for Dole if h£ you use 2 trillion dollars that had survived the primaries, but gre not yours. The Republicans George bush soured my taste for thfc tended the Supreme Court with whole Party. After all, fye Gfchservdtives who may someday represents them. Bush was the decide to make women who have invisible man for eight years whife \*ttartioas criminals. This is Reagan ruled. He was the man-out, unfortunate and frightening, he was the guy that was too big of I hope that Bush will be a good a joke to be joked about How president and pull The United States could this person expect to be out of debt I hope that the new elected by avoiding questions and president will be fair to everyone covering himself in the Icky-sweet and nominate open-minded justices goo of God, Guts, Guns, flags ana to the highest court in the country, prayer? Didn't Americans demand ' I give my complete support to issues instead of hype? \ President-elect B ush. I thought and hoped that Bushif Bhsh is not a stupid person, he will do such a crappy job that the: '§g a patriotic man who, I believe, next time a GOP member it" truly wants the best for our great elected. Love Rob will grace not a country. I hope and pray that he can newspaper, but a tombstone. separate, the 'goo' that got him Perhaps this was melodramatic, elected from the stuff that it will but I honestly felt that the word ta^cc f° improve this country. Conservative would become the Americans mieht vote for a cus-word of the Ws and beyond. I candidate who wants prayer in believed that just as Jimmy Carter public schools, but We need a took the blame for the Nixon/Ford president who is smart enough to years, Bush would take the heavy realize that Americans need a burden of the national deficit and president who will spend his time the widening gap between rich and on much more important issues. I poor that Reagan built think that Bush is smart enough. I I have since remembered the throwing all of my confidence words and ideas of Jessie Jackson. I into the next President of The realized that it would be United States of America. No masochistic to hope that the kidding. country deteriorates further under So, President Bush, Do good. Bush. The Republicans claimed that please. OPINION Helpful Classmates Dear editor, I'm writing so that two Behrend students might receive the recognition they deserve. On Friday, October 14,1988,1 left campus after class and headed out Route 430 to my home in Wattsburg. While on the bridge over 1-90,1 was struck broadside by another vehicle. I had suffered some injuries and was quite scared. Steve McGarvey, a Behrend student and old friend was passing by. He took the time to stop and come ova* to my car to calm me down. Steve stayed with me the entire time and even followed the ambulance to the hospital. He contacted my parents and stayed with me at the hospital until they arrived. Steve can’t begin to realize how important his being there was to me and my family. My appreciation also goes out to Scott Schuller. Scott is a volunteer for Brookside Fire Department and responded to my accident. He must have seen my parking! sticker or was told that I was also a Behrend student- Scott went outj of his way to speak to me as a fellow student fand keep itiy mind off if my injuries. His smiling face and frier ally work made the whole oneal mole bdUfable. These tWo young men went out of their way to make my situation easier. I thank them. My family thanks them. And I feel Behrend faculty and student body should be proud to have these students out at campus. Sincerely, Kristin Smith Wonders Dear editor, The smoking ban is a response to the non-smoker's rights violations of the past. These rights have long been ignored by the smoker; although it was done all the time, it was rarely done with malice. Over the past couple of years, smokers have become very aware of what they’ve been blindly doing to non-smokers and the consequences to them. The smoker has been following this routine for so long that it's become a habit. Old habits are hard to break. This is a bad habit both for the smoker and for the non-smoker, and should indeed be broken. That is, the idea behind the smoking ban is valid and long overdue. I'm a smoker who dislikes the present situation and who also agrees to the Smoking Ban. I would like to point to two statements which are rather confusing: (1.) (generalized statement) "Secondary smokers are at greater risk than smokers." How can this be? How is this possible? If someone smokes a cigarette, the smoker is creating two types of smoke: Direct (from the cigarette, inhalation), and Indirect (from exhalation). The people involved are either smokers or non-smokers who both must breathe the same polluted air. There is, however, a basic difference between what these two groups of people inhale. Would someone explain to the smokers of the world how smoking is worse for the non-smoker than for the smoker? (2.) In the Collegian's October issue, a statement was made that effectively does to the smoker what the smoker has been so often ridiculed for doing to the non-smoker. The smoker is no longer being recognized as the person she or he is, but rather as someone who deserves to be outcast The position of defending a group of people's rights has now November 10,1988 About Smoking Ban, reached the other extreme, all but cancelling the smoker's rights. "The policy originally called for a one year grace period which would have provided separate smoking and non-smoking lounges" This statement speaks about a grace period which would give the smokers at least a chance for partial recognition of rights. Is this grace period, which it now appears will not be provided, anything like a Grandfather Clause? Something like the Grandfather Clause would be wrong, because all it does is allow for enough time to pass before stripping away the next group of students rights. Wouldn't a grace period, which implies temporary, be nothing more than a ploy to allow the policy to take effect without a rebuttal? "The group finally decided not to further explore this idea because of problems which could develop in determining which areas to set aside for smokers." This is the next sentence in the Collegian news article. Does this sentence, as it implies, mean that the idea of upholding a group of people's rights is not worth pursuing, and if so- why not? Who are these omnipotent people of "the group"? Are these people thinking about the rights of people, or are they rather thinking about the financial aspects of this situation? Finances should never be more important than the rights of even one individual, that's NOT what this country was founded and built on. Don’t people realize that the Smoking Ban, without consideration given in every area, is only the first step in the stripping away of the basic rights of the people of the United States? If this is permitted without taking everything into account, where will it end? will it end at all? Smoker Tired of Being Insulted, Criticized by Peter Weichlein Collegian Staff Writer In times to come someone might refer to this column as the futile attempt by a smoker to justify his addiction. An addiction it is. Even the Surgeon General came to that brilliant conclusion not too long ago. Let's face it: the man's a genius. And his flash of brilliance came just in time to join a nation wide crusade against butt-heads, a crusade which infuriates me in its bluntness. As I see it (of course I'm biased since I smoke), this fight is just another example of American's thinking they are the chosen people, chosen to fight anything they believe to be antisocial, chosen to crusade against the unbelievers. First it was the unsuccessful war against alcohol, then against smoking pot, now the smokers get their turn. A bit far fetched, maybe, but I'm mad. I'll be the first one to admit that smoking is stupid. That revelation occurred when I was told by a certain young lady after our first sensual kiss that my mouth tasted like an ashtray. The lady didn't work out and I remained a smoker. Out of conviction, out of habit, out of fear of gaining 200 lbs. if I ever did manage to quit. It is therefore established that I am Library is too Loud To whom it may concern: It has come to my realization that our library here at Behrend has become a student social hall. Trying to find a place to study on campus is difficult enough. Whenever you go to what is supposed to be the most quiet place, it seems that you walk into the middle of a convention! I understand that sometimes there is a need to converse with someone else on a topic in question or to find information, but isn't it a little ridiculous when a bunch of girls come in, sit down, dump out their little candies (that they just bought at the R.U.B. desk) and begin to chit chat about their weekend, their boyfriends and all the other world problems. What I am getting at here is, aren't there other places around campus that people can get together and solve the world's problems and discuss their weekends? It was not just one incident that has plagued me. Every time I go to the library there are people talking everywhere and the noise just gets louder and louder. I just wish that some of the students would respect the idea that some of us like a quiet place to study. Could those of you who find it so necessary to bring all of your thoughts and problems for discussion to the library please take diem somewhere that wont be annoying to others??? Thank you for your much appreciated consideration!!! Chuck Thompson Further, has anyone from this group cf policy makers looked at the psychological consequences of such a bold move? Has anyone stopped to consider the impact on the individuals who are the recipients cf this Ban? Does anyone from the group even care about the negative impact such stress can have on a person? Stressors such as the Smoking Ban are not severe in their impact. The most pressure is in the fact that there is no recourse for the smoker, and contrary to the present non-smoker way of thinking, as voiced in the Collegian, classes will not help in the short term. Since this is a University, which means turn-over of student population, the short term should be high on the list of priorities. Smoking cessation classes are wonderful ideas, and quite welcome, but they are designed for the long term. The short term can be addressed with In response... Dear Andy, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us on this matter. We can certainly respect your mixed feelings on this issue. Weighing one value against another is never easy. However, I almost wonder if we're talking about the same news article. You seem to take exception to a generalized statement which indicated that secondary smokers are at greater risk than smokers. So would I - except that the article never said anything even remotely to that effect Secondly, you refer to a statement "that effectively does to the smoker what the smoker has been so often ridiculed for doing to the non-smoker." I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about here, but keep in mind that a news article should not attempt to express the writer's opinion. We do quote some people. But their opinions are not necessarily ours. As a matter of opinion I do feel you raise some important questions, but try not to forget that we don't necessarily endorse everything we report on. James Martin, Editor aware of the wrong-doings I'm subjecting my body to. I'm a nice smoker. I only light up when it has absolutely been established that no one around me will mind. Just ask my roommates. They've put up with me for over a year now, and whenever they have felt bothered by my smoking, I obliged and any problems were resolved. I don't smoke when people are eating, I don't blow my smoke into people's faces, I don't light up in non-smoking areas. I try to keep my smoking as personal as possible, affecting my lungs only, and nobody else's. Yet the government and most of America's population seem to PETE'S PERSPECTIVE hate me. I'm less popular than Charles Manson. Northwestern won't allow me on their airplanes anymore, and if I ever get caught riding a bus, I'll find myself in a lot of trouble. And now my beloved school, the institution I hold most sacred in the world, a place known for its open-mindedness and its fight against discrimination, my beloved Penn State has openly admitted that it hates me, too. A Cont. on pg. 7 Collegian areas set aside for the smoker to smoke. Is the University so concerned about costs that the rights of a group of people (albeit small) can be allowed to fall by the way-side? If the concerns aren't costs, what are they? The Smoking Ban is long overdue. Implementation (April 1, 1989) is meant to not force the smoker out into the cold this winter. Does this mean the rule is only in effect unless the weather turns bad? If not, then this seems to be a covering of the true intentions, which seem to be to buy enough time to let this policy take hold without anyone having a chance to speak out against it. By waiting until April 1 of next year this policy is being nice to the smokers right now, but what about the incoming freshmen of next year? Andrew D. Festa
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