What Intellectual Environment ?
An open letter to the Penn State
Harrisburg community:
"Intellectual environment."
This is what the administration claims
we've got going around here, and the
more I see this phrase the more shrill I
become by it. After nearly four
semesters at this school, I would like to
know exactly where this environment
exists. It may exist in the minds of
certain persons in the administration, but
it isn't evident in the real campus world.
I offer some non-intellectual aspects that
are found at Penn State Harrisburg.
Let's take a look at the
Humanitiesßehavioral Science merger.
The merger may not be such a bad idea,
but to not consult with faculty before
the merger was announced was rude and
arrogant. What is there to be afraid of?
It's no wonder administration feels
"tension when there's any suggestion of
change." Where's the comradeship, the
sharing of ideas, the "intellectual
environment"? If the merger is for
faculty and student to "get together and
work more successfully", then when
does this togetherness begin? Shouldn't
a togetherness between faculty and
administration have been started via open
debate in the merger's 'open for
consideration' stage instead of 'this is
what we're going to do' stage? This has
been a poor example of working
together.
Students and faculty alike - must
put up with classrooms that are far from
soundproof. One can hear chalk being
applied in the next room, not to mention
voices. Maybe this would be
satisfactory if testing periods coincided.
Also, we have a few faculty members
around here that practice non-acceptance
of student ideas in the classroom. Don't
ask questions, don't challenge the status
quo, don't think. Just memorize the text
and the lecture notes (which are
sometimes one and the same) and
duplicate it on the test. The goal, it
seems, is to get a grade, not to foster
critical thinking. Is this the "intellectual
environment" that is being referred to?
Women's History Month: An Important
Observance
Kimberly Anastas
Women have not only been
discriminated against for centuries, but
they have been crying out for help
against violence.
As early as the fifth century
b.c., Aristophanes brought women's
struggles to light in a comedy called
Lysistrata. The women of Athens, who
despised war, declared a sex-strike
against their husbands who had been at
war with the Spartans. Although a very
humorous play, Lysistrata's underlying
serious tone was successful in
illustrating the inferiority men impose
upon women.
In the 1600 s a hispanic nun,
Sor Juan Ines Dela Cruz, wrote poetry
about the abuse so many women endure.
The title of one very powerful poem
speaks for itself: "She Proves The
Typically, schools of Penn
State's size have library holdings of well
over 100 books per student. At Penn
State Harrisburg we have less than 65
volumes in the general collection per
student. I'm not the only student on
campus that out of necessity uses the
State Library for research Why waste
time in the Heindel Library looking for
material which isn't there? Is this part
of our so-called "intellectual
environment?"
One last example, and this is a
sad note indeed. This is in regard to the
salary discrimination by sex among the
faculty. It may come as a surprise to
most of you, but given equal
qualificiations, male faculty members
out-earn female faculty members to the
tune of over $3,500 annum. And at a
school where we have a female provost!
Is this the "intellectual environment" we
are expected to believe exists here?
It is stimulating to have with
us such artifacts as the Tarnhelm, art
exhibits in the Gallery Lounge, Heindel
Library, and in the Humanities Division
office area. The Provost Lecture Series
and the noon-time entertainment in the
Gallery Lounge are looked forward to and
are events we can be proud of having. It
doesn't measure up to the quantity and
variety in programming presented by our
crosstown friends at HACC with their
outstanding extras for the community,
but we do have something here to be
thankful for.
It's my impression that at Penn
State Harrisburg too little attention is
paid to academic excellence and too
much attention is given to political and
financial goings on. It's not so bad
attending school here, but please stop
referring to the school as having an
"intellectual environment". It just isn't
so.
Darvin Geyer
Senior, Behavioral Sciences
Inconsistency of the Desires and
Criticism of Men Who Accuse Women
of What They Themselves Cause."
Today, in 1988, women still
endure abuse: physical, mental and
sexual. Women still fight for equality
in the workplace, in education and at
home. There is still wonderful literature
being written on the subject but more
importantly, we all just have to open
our eyes and our ears and witness it for
ourselves.
Hundreds of organizations have
been established to help combat the
problems of violence against women but
the problems are far from being solved.
Since March is Women's
History Month and Penn State
Harrisburg is offering programs and
exhibits to commemorate it , we should
Now for the Democrats
OK, OK. I know what you're
saying--" Boy, this guy really blew it.
He picked Simon for gawsh sakes."
Well, no, not really. If you'll hearken
back, Simon was my choice as the
Democratic contender with the most
palatable media presentation. Honest.
The Republicans
I've been sick, so I was unable
to submit a column for the last issue of
the Cap. Since then, I've been overtaken
by events on the Republican side.
(What a turn of phrase--I've been
overtaken by events...l write about
politicans and I start sounding like
somebody's press secretary. Sheesh.)
Dupont and Haig have both dropped out,
and Kemp may not be far behind. So I'd
better start with Jack and write fast
before he goes casper, as in ghost.
Jack Kemp:
In looks, Jack Kemp is the
epitome of Republicanism. You know
all those guys down at the Kiwanis in
dark suits and power tie knock-offs from
K-Mart? That's Jack Kemp. He's
boring. His allocution lies somewhere
between a dial-tone and distant traffic.
Did I mention that he's boring?
George Bush:
Listen up, 'cause there's a very
strong possibility that George will be
our next president. Bush has the most
impressive resume in the universe. Ask
him. He's been everywhere, done
everything, and met everyone. Yet, for
some reason, he looks like the guy who
gets sent out for coffee. He dresses well,
and I think he's stealing blood from his
wife to look young, but, regardless of
what happens, in my heart of hearts,
Bush will always be a vice-president. -
Pat Robertson:
Pat is colorful enough to be a
all use the opportunity to become more
aware of the problems women have faced
for centuries. Learn how you can help
victims and if you are a victim, do
yourself a favor and seek help. Films,
lectures and panel discussions have been
carefully planned to promote awareness
and give victims and potential victims a
channel for seeking much-needed help.
Capital Times, March 16,1988, Page 5
The Candidates: Part 2
Democrat. A budding linguist,
Robertson is trying to convince an
uncaring world that he was never a
television evangelist but, rather, a
religious broadcaster. Right, a religious
broadcaster who also claims to have
turned Hurricane Gloria back to sea
through hard prayer and eye squinting.
Pat's an amateur eugenist, too. It's his
theory that the U.S. is being out
populated by infidel third world countries
and our governemnt should pay our
women a premium for evey baby carried
to term. That should stop teenage
pregnancy cold--" But, Peggy Sue, if you
get preggers the President will give you
$500!"
worth
Robert Dole
Bob Dole is a cynical batard,
and that's good enough for me. He's the
guy who said the American people
would have to take some 'bitter
medicine." In other words, he'd raise
taxes. That was at the beginning of his
campaign, before his media weasels
made him stop, but what a revolutionary
idea: tell the truth! He doesn't stand a
chance.
Addendum:
It has occurred to me that since
the presidential selection process is fast
becoming a TV/visual operation only,
directed somewhere below the mean
average intelligence of furniture, we
should take it to its logical extreme.
Therefore, I propose G.L.O.P. (Great
Ladies of Politics). Lay a bed of goodly
poached dirt and let the candidates' wives
way in. Barbara Bush and Libby Dole
could do literally what their husbands
have been doing figuratively all along:
wrestle in the mud. We could see if
Tipper Gore has true grit. And it might
be Gary Hart's only chance--Lee would
rip their eyes out.
OOPS!
In the alcohol awareness
survey printed in the last edition
of the Capital Times, the correct
answer to question number 20,
should have been: Myth - When
a pregant woman drinks her
unborn is. affected.
My choice, for what it's