An Open Letter To Governor Dukakis
by Peter Weichlein
Collegian Staff Writer
Dear Mike,
So sorry you didn't get elected.
What a bummer. Must be pretty
humiliating to be beaten by a guy
like George Bush and his ever-so
exciting sidekick, Danny Quayle.
Well, there's always 1992.
I would have written a lot
earlier, but I knew how busy you
were, hoping to be elected, pouting
over what that bully said about you
and trying to figure out whether
being called a liberal is bad or not.
So I figured I'd wait till after the
election to get back in touch. For
some reason I thought you'd
probably find yourself with a lot of
time on your hands after November
8.
Now what? You could always
govern Massachusetts again,
probably not as exciting as running
a country, but its a living. Or here's
a thought Go into acting. Politics
and acting are so closely tied
together, it wouldn't be too hard.
Host Demonstrates
Bad Judgement
by Jeffrey J. Lawson
Contributing Writer
On November 11, afternoon probably the world's most bigoted
television viewers were treated to a person. The important difference,
bizarre and unique display of however, between the shows is that
bigotry-inspired violence. I am, of Donahue is much better at
course, referring to Geraldo Rivera's executing the role of host. His
show (aired on that date), in which dealings with the "bigots" were
racial slurs spurred an all-out brawl more successful, more information
that resulted in general garnering, and perhaps most
pandemonium and a broken nose for importantly, far less hate-filled and
Geraldo. Poor Geraldo; it didn't violent.
have to happen. I am fully aware that there are
The focus of Rivera’s show that those people who will strongly
day was the concern over the disagree with me; those people
seemingly rising tide of racism, contend that Geraldo is a great
especially by youths, in today's investgaive host who succeeds at
society. To drive the point home, "getting to the bottom of things."
Geraldo invited three young "white I happen to agree, however I
supremists" to comment on their believe that when you're dealing
views. However , it soon became with such a sensitive subject as race
apparent that Rivera’s plan was relations, you have a duty as host
merely to use the men as catalysts to. be more of a mediator, than a
for the arguments and controversy commentator. Both these men have
that he seems to enjoy so much, the difficult job of "cutting through
Many even seemed to feel that the the bull", while at the same time
incident was staged; that this sort of allowing everyone the right to
thing would be a great audience- speak their minds, even if their
grabber. I don't think so. Even opinions are unorthodox or
Geraldo has to realize the unpopular. Anyone who watched
reverberations of such an 'event'. Geraldo that day knows that this
That kind of situation, staged or was not the case. Geraldo wouldn't
not, can easily spiral out of control, allow the guests to give their
as Geraldo found out ' opinions, even to answer his own
It is interesting to note that only charges. He screamed "Shut up!" at
two days before the episode was them, and even went so far as to
taped, Phil Donahue was on the air , n
with the exact same subject. Continued on page 7
Letter to the Editor
Writer Objects to
Subjective Policy
Dear editor,
.. I, being on the staff of Tempus and a woman, feel that through the
freedom of speech, I should let my feelings be known about a recent
incident that happened in the Reed Building lobby. Tempus, Behrend's
literary magazine, has been announcing to the public, through papers
and posters, the beginning of the acceptance of submissions. AH
posters had gone: through the regulatory University policy of having
"PSU Approved" stamp slapped on them before being placed on the
walls. One of the posters designed and made by a staff member was
placed in the Reed Lobby near the mailboxes. This poster was meant to
show literary creativity with its play on words. The day after this
poster was hung, it was found missing. The artist of this poster asked
various women of Women Today and everyone in Tempus about it.
Obviously, no objections were raised, or the poster wouldn't have been
chosen to represent Tempus. The editor, Darrell Freund, was asked to
see an official of the University and was told the poster was taken off
the wall by a University employee who found it offensive.
Does this mean that whenever anyone finds something offensive on
the walls of the school, they can tear it down? I know there are plenty
of things people wouldn't like too see around school—for example,
Christmas decorations in a public school can be, and are, found
offensive to non-Christians—but people don't go on programs stripping
the walls. I don’t believe anyone has the right to take down anything
that has the "PSU Approved" stamp. The "PSU Approved" stamp is
for the specific purpose that only what gets stamped can go up on the
walls. If things get taken off the walls that have this mark, then isn't
the stamp rather pointless?
The poster was taken down because a University employee found it
offensive and felt it was her duty to rid the walls of sexist
advertisements. After the act was done, the University agreed with her.
However, the University didn't say. anything about one of the girls'
floors selling back rubs—setting up a stand in Reed lobby, letting the
purchaser choose the female, and then setting a date. No one thought
the Rent-A-Service, by first floor Perry girls, was sexist—" Hire
someone to do your laundry, dishes, sweeping, wash your car...” I
don't see how these events aren't offensive or sexist while a play on
words is.
I think Penn State Behrend should define the rules of the "PSU
Approved" stamp to the workers who are doing the stamping and to the
people who need something stamped. I also believe the University
should give more thought to student affairs and once they make up then
minds, stick to it.
You have a well-known face and
name and you would probably be a
box office hit, maybe the leading
man in a sequel to "About Last
NighL" Why not? Of course Ron
PETE'S
PERSPECTIVE
Reagan w iu be unemployed pretty
soon. Wouldn't it be a riot for the
two of you to team up together, the
1980 s answer to Laurel and Hardy. I
love it You would take the country
by storm and end up-being even
more important than the president ■
Of course acting requires some
sort of emotion, you'd have to take
lessons, but you're a fast learner.
Towards the end, it even looked like
you and Lloyd might make it. It
probably wasn't a confidence
booster when Lloyd kept his old
job, " just in case." But why did
you guys loose? I voted for you,
and so did a lot of other people.
Granted, nobody really believed
in you as the savior of this nation,
Donahue's guest that day was an
older "white supremist" who made
his views very plain - he was
Heather McKinley
as the person to lead the world
towards eternal peace, as the guy to
clean up the environment, and the
miracle worker to get rid of our
deficit.
But nobody who voted for
George Bush thinks he's any of
those persons either, and just voted
for him as the lesser of two evils -
the same reason people voted for
you.
So why did more people think
George is less likely to screw up
than you? You probably dont want
to hear this, but I'll tell you
anyway, so you won't forget come
1992. First of all, next time
somebody calls you something as
disturbing as liberal, don't pout for
eight weeks and then ignore it.
Maybe a little name calling now
and then would have been a good
idea, that’s what people expect from
a future president
Second, don’t' announce your
plans for all kinds of fancy
programs and never really talk
about how you will finance them,
because people will automatically
think "taxes" and that’s a bad word.
OPINION
LOVE ROB
Butch is Back
by Rob Prindle
"You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant Just walk
right in, it’s around the back, just a half a mile from the railroad
track...."
Arlo Guthry's song "Alice's Restaurant" popped into my head this
morning as I thought about Thanksgiving. I was listening to the classic
song about growing up and dealing with the threat of going to Viet
Nam as an old ftiend walked in.
Butch, my buddy of oh so many years, didn't say a word as he sat
down and listened to Arlo. The song finished and Butch had a tear in his
eye.
-I. asked my friend if something
was wrong. He practically jumped
out of his seat as he screamed "Yes,
I'll say that something is wrong. I
mean, I'm sitting here listening to
you ask if there is something
wrong. My god, don’t you realize
that the world is crumbling?"
I had to tell Butch that I was
ignorant to the crumbling world of
which he spoke. I reminded him
that Thanksgiving vacation is right
around the comer. I asked how he
could think of the crummy shape of
the world when vacation and then
the end of the semester were so
close at hand.
"You poor uncomplicated
person,” he replied as he looked
disgusted. "Don't you watch the news? Don't you see what people are
doing to each other? They are using religion to kill each other. Jew's
killing Palestinians. Catholics and Protestants attacking each other. All
jn the name of God. Do you know, Rob, I saw a bumper sticker on a
pickup truck that said 'God, Guts and Guns.' What the heck is that
supposed to mean? 'God' and 'Guns' in the same thought? Give me a
break."
I had to explain to Butch that he was being too critical. Nihilism is
never the answer, I explained. God doesn't kill people, people kill
people* I stated.
Butch turned this weird shade of fuscia and shook violently as he
told me; "I know that people kill people. What the heck do you think I
am? A moron? What I was trying to say is that people will use any
excuse to hurt other people. Nationality, skin color, sexual preference,
the neighborhood they live in, the shape of their nose. Anything."
He had a point I still reminded him that Thanksgiving was coming
up. Surely, there is much to be thankful for. I asked Butch if he agreed.
"Sure I agree," he began. "I know that living in America is the
greatest privilege in the world. I know that we live in a country where
most discrimination is socially unacceptable. I know that in .America a
guy like me can write and think and say anything that I want. I know
that we live in a land of excess. Anytime I have four bucks in my
wallet, I can walk into Ponderosa and stuff my self full of their all-you
can-eat salad and hot-stuff trough. And I can even enjoy this 'American
excess' as long as I don't think much about all of the hungry people
living on the streets."
It was hard to argue with what Butch had just preached. I admit that I
got a little upset when I realized he was right. To get back at him for
ruining my day, I asked him a simple question. What was he doing to
help any of this? It is easy to complain, but what was he doing to help?
"Rob," he srnd, "I am doing the best thing that I know how to do.
I’m not letting it drive me crazy and I'm not thinking that fm any better
than the people who need help. I may be luckier than them, but even
my luck is owed to the people who were here before me."
"It's like that 'Alice's Restaurant song we were just listening to. If it
weren't for all of those guys who went, and all of those guys who
protested, and all of those people who died in all of those horrible ways,
no one would ever know that it should never have happened. I know
that what I've said is twisted logic to some degree. If you thinir about
life too much, you get twisted. I am thankful for one thing, though.
I'm thankful that even though things could get worse, they seem to be
getting better. People are still dying and people are still using racial
slurs and wars are still going on, but more amd more peolpe don't like
it much. Games have to end some time."
November 22, 1988
Once they think that, you'll never
get elected. You see, George did
that much smoother than you, he
said he’d never raise taxes, which
doesn't mean he won't find 200
other ways to get to our money.
And thirdly, and most
important, stop being so dam
boring. Once in a while you could
afford to smile, maybe even laugh
or yell, or scream, or get worked
up. Or something to prove there is.
an actual, living being in that cheap
suit of yours. Because people like
someone in the White House who
will show those Russians who's the
boss. Someone who gets things
dene, someone to scream when
people screw up. A president for
crying out loud, and lets face it,
Mike, even though you might
symbolize the American dream of
second generation immigrant going
to the White House, you still didn't
look like much of a President.
Give my love to Kitty.
-Yours Truly, Pete
Let’s Talk
MAC Attack
by Ray Sines
Collegian Staff Writer
The "cashless" society ~ A
payment system where computers
are replacing our present paper
based payment system with
"electronic blips" is rapidly
closing in upon us.
We are entering an era of
electronic funds transfer systems
(EFTS). Computers, via satellites,
already enable electronic funds to be
transferred almost instantaneously
around the globe.
August Beqwuai, in his book
titled: "The Cashless Society
EFTS at the Crossroads," predicted
that by the 1990 s each home would
be equipped with a computer
terminal through which banking
would be conducted.
In actuality, most homes already
have a capable computer to
accomplish this task their
telephone. Telephones with "touch
tone" can access bank computers in
many cities already.
For example, customers of
Signet Bank, in Arlington, Virginia
have the capability of paying their
telephone bills via their home
telephone. They just dial the bank
computer number, and at the signal
they punch in their assigned code
number. A computer-recorded
voice-message will acknowledge the
call and give them a list of items
they may accomplish. Response is
made by punching in the additional
appropriate numbers. A receipt
will appear in their mailbox
approximately three days after the
transaction has been made.
Different money access card
systems are uniting to make their
electronic access areas larger and
larger.
Rudimentary "cashless" systems
are making appearances at an
almost exponential rate. Automated
teller machines (ATMs), Point of
Sale Systems and telephone
billpaying services have become
increasingly common nationwide.
Editorial: Our O
There is No Equality
in Separation
A measure introduced by Darron Henry, president of the
Association of Black Collegians and affirmatively voted on by
the SGA will require the creation of a new senate position - a
minority senator who would be elected exclusively by minority
students.
Students in favor of the new senate position contend that the
needs of minority students cannot adequately be met by an SGA
that does not mandate the presence of a minority senator.
Previously, senators have been allocated on the basis of one
senator for every 200 students. The minority senate position
would work differently. Not only would Behrend's 174
minority students be counted appropriately as either resident or
commuter constituents, but they would also be granted a
separate vote in a "minorities only” election. By this action,
minority students will effectively be given two votes.
We suggest that giving two votes to one group of students,
to compensate for their minority status - is wrong both in theory
and in practice. Separate but equal can never be equal.
Minority students, like all other students deserve and are
entitled to equal representation. But, giving one group of
students effectively an extra vote, is no better than the
discrimination civil rights fought so hard to escape. When
blacks were forced to the back of bus, Martin Luther King Jr.
fought for their right to sit where they wanted, not for the right
to put blacks in front and the whites in back.
Currently SGA representatives are elected by popular vote,
by constituents representative of the student body as a whole.
If we are to use the Constitution and hence the U.S.
Congress as an example to follow, we find no precedent. In our
democracy, legislators are elected on the basis of geography,
not race. It seems highly unlikely that the U.S. Senate will ever
choose to elect 100 senators, chosen geographically, and
perhaps ten more chosen for their race. No we don't live in an
ideal society, but that's not likely to change as long as we try to
apply such imperfect solutions to our problems.
The best we can do is to seek not to separate but to
assimilate. Our society will never be free of prejudice so long as
we seek to further separate ourselves, by making decisions
driven by the guilt of wrong done in the past
Homosexuals at University Park have also sought specific
Senate representation, but were denied. Is their claim to
discrimination any less valid.? Should they be given a separate
vote. Who else is deserving of two votes? Tall people? Uelv
people? Who is to decide?
Quite simply, extra political power cannot be granted to one
group without usurping the power of another.
A bad decision, made to redress racial guilt and past
injustices, is still that - a bad decisioa
When one writes an editorial of this nature he tends to worry
that he will be labelled as a racist. However, that fear has been
lessened, for we can think of no more racist idea than the
concept that minorities are the only ones who can adequately
represent other minorities.
We believe all individuals are entitled to an equal say in this
or in any government. We also believe that students pushing for
this amendment, seek only to be fairly represented.
But ultimately, the minority senate position is not fair to
anyone.
Rubber checks and floating
checks will soon be a thing of the
past. "Today 43,500 cash registers
accept ATM cards, up from 600 in
1984," according to USA Today
(Oct. 20,1988).
Mellon Bank has recently
mailed, to all their ATM
customers, a set of coupons which
gives $l.OO discount when gas is
purchased using an ATM card.
Several fast food stores have
also followed suit in installing
ATM machines. In addition,
McDonald’s and Burger King are
testing ATM cards in many areas of
the U.S.
"Exxon, Mobil, Arco and
Amoco take ATM cards at 10,000
stations," say USA Today.
ATM machines are being put
into the cash-only lines at grocery
stores becasuse it takes only 1/5 of
the time of writing checks. In
addition, the store's money is
deposited into their account at the
moment the customer takes the
groceries.
"As more cash registers take
ATM cards, purchases on them
have soared from 54,000 a month
in 1984 to 7.7 million in 1988,"
says POS News.
Ironically, a world cashless
society is prophesied to come to
pass in the Scriptures.
mion