The Language of Commuting
by Michelle Sutton
Approximately 1200 lull-time
students at Capital are commuters,
meaning they must drive every day to
get to classes. Driving every day on
interstates, highways, and rural roads
means speeding, beeping, and flashing.
Okay, you are wondering what
is she talking about, right? Speeding,
beeping, and flashing are all common
automobile language for commuters and
frequent drivers.
Speeding is common to
everyone, but when you are running late
for that eight o'clock class and it is
already 7:45, it becomes essential, yet
still illegal. On interstate 83, the
troopers hide in the most discrete places
or they are driving as fast as you are and
they are in unmarked cars (resembling
your family car).
If you do get caught, and many
will, just hope you get a trooper that
already has their weekly quota or
someone who likes blue eyes (it worked
for me the other day). If not, good luck
trying to talk him/her out of citing you
that ticket of anywhere from $5O to
$lOO. If you do attempt to talk him/her
out of it, use an original excuse, and be
creative. I'm sure they've heard them all.
Along the same lines as
speeding, there is flashing. No, I don't
mean someone standing along side the
road just wearing socks and an overcoat.
Flashing is part of the international
automobile language used by drivers
from Texas to Maine, even
Pennsylvania. To warn an oncoming
driver that a radar trap is ahead, a driver
may flash his/her lights on and off.
Although this is very helpful to that
driver who may be flying around that
curve at 90 m.p.h., it can land that
friendly driver a nice $6O to $BO ticket.
Take it from one who has already lied
her way out of getting that ticket for
being a courteous driver. (Believe me,
Where Were They?
Dear Editor,
I want to start out on a positive
note. On Friday, March 25th I attended
the Semi-Formal at the Villa Leo. My
husband and I had a good time. There
were complaints by some (there always
are) but overall I think the event was a
success. My hat goes off to those who
worked so hard to put it together.
It was good to see that a few
faculty and staff were able to attend the
Semi-Formal. I hope they enjoyed
themselves.
This brings me to my next
point. On Monday, March 28th, Lt.
Gov. Mark Singel came to Penn State
Harrisburg. A typical small group of
people gathered in the Gallery Lounge.
(Again I want to thank all of you who
attended.)
I have been involved in the
arrangements of a few activities on
campus and have become accustomed to
lying your way out of that ticket is not
very easy -- I had to think long and hard
for my excuse, and he still didn't believe
me and he said so.)
Truckers also blink their
headlights at other trucks and cars to tell
them they are far enough ahead to pass
in front of them. It took me awhile to
learn what this message meant, but once
I did it made a lot of sense and is very
helpful to the speeding driver.
Flashing your lights could also
simply mean, "Hello," if you know the
car in front of you.
Along with flashing, another
non-verbal message used by drivers is
beeping (if friendly) or honking (if not
so friendly, this one is often followed by
verbal messages and we all know what
they may be). Beeping is common
among friends traveling together in
different cars on their way to Ocean
City, or if you want to get to know
someone.
But honking is a different story.
Honkers are usually perturbed drivers
who do not wish you a good day. Either
you have done something to upset them,
like pulling out in front of them, or
going slow when they are in a hurry.
Honking may appear non-verbal, but
inside that car it is definitely very verbal.
Only sailors use the kind of language
that honkers use while honking.
Speeding, flashing, and beeping
(honking) are everyday occurrences for
commuters who travel the open roads.
Take it from a commuter who drives 45
minutes each way every day, commuting
can be educational and frustrating so be
nice to commuters--they could have been
honked at or pulled over in those wee
hours of morning (it is enough to ruin a
whole day). Also, a word to the
professors of early morning and late
evening classes, be patient with those
who straggle in late, they could be
commuters.
the lack of student participation
However, this time I was more
upset with the faculty of this campus.
Where were they?
DTK, the group sponsoring the
Lt. Gov., sent letters to all faculty
members. Didn't the letters get to them?
Didn't any of the Public Policy faculty
and staff feel this particular speaker
would be of any interest? Just the other
day an instructor of mine was discussing
how difficult it is to get students involvd
in extra activities. Just for the record,
this instructor did attend the lecture and I
see him at many events.
We do seem to have a problem
with motivating students beyond class
work but what excuse does the faculty
have?
Carol Kilko
Member of DTK
Capital Times, April 6, 1988, Page 7
College Means Growing Up
By Judy L. Hricak
College, it is supposed to the best time of one's life. It is a time
filled with a lot of memories, papers, deadlines, pressure, and satisfaction.
Many students get satisfaction from a job well done. Once a student
has put a lot of time and effort into a project or paper, there is a good feeling
of having accomplished something worthwhile.
However, it is distressing to know that some students at Capital
College do not experience such a feeling. Sure, they get their papers done
and turned in on time, but the way that they accomplish the end result should
be questioned.
Some students find it impossible to do anything on their own.
Instead they seek the "easy way out" and constantly lean on friends to help
them along. They are chronically dependent on others.
Consequently, they are not only creating tension among other
students, they are also hurting themselves. The chronic dependents, though,
do not see it this way. They are only concerned with getting
an "A" any way that they can. What they do not realize is that people can
only be used for so long before they become wise to what is happening.
Usually by this time it is too late to do anything. The chronic
dependent has earned his or her grade, but he or she has also lost some friends
in the process. One has to weigh which is more important.
It is hard to believe that there can be a worse situation than this, but
one does exist.
In every college, no matter how big or small, there are students who
have absolutely no confidence in themselves. Thus, to get a good grade they
purchase papers--either from another student or from a "paper catalog."
It is hard to believe that once students have reached college they still
cannot stand on their own feet and do things for themselves. Why spend all of
the money for tuition and books if you are not going to get anything out of
it? This is a question many students should be asking themselves.
It is time for some students to grow up. Maybe by being a chronic
dependent, or by buying papers one can achieve his or her short-term goals,
but it is almost guaranteed that when these students hit the real world, they
will fall flat on their faces. If this does happen they will have no one to
blame but themselves.
Let's Not Repeat
Mistakes of Past
by Laura Karinch
As we say goodbye to Women's
History Month, let's remember for a
moment a significant part of women's
history, and our country's history--the
Salem Witch Hunts. This mania was
the culmination of several decades of
witch trials and hangings in New
England in the 17th Century following
immigration of our founding citizens
from England. The Puritans came to
America at a time when Charles I ruled
England and persecution for witchcraft
there was nearing its high point.
For several decades in New
England sporadic accusations of
witchcraft occurred. These outbreaks
culminated in the Salem Witch Trials.
From the first accusation of the
Salem tragedy in March, 1692, to the
last accusation six months later in
September, 1692, 20 persons were
hanged (no witch was ever burned in
Don't Forget the last edition
of the Capital Times will be
April
27. Deadline for sub-
missions
New England) and 55 persons were
tortured. Hundreds were imprisoned or
exiled from their homes.
Most of these people, the
majority of which were women, were
completely innocent of witchcraft. They
were unpopular or considered peculiar in
their strict Puritan community.
"It was an epidemic of mad
superstitious fear, bitterly to be
regretted, and a stain upon the high
civilization of the Bay Colony."
(Historical Towns of New England,
Salem, p. 148, Latimer.)
These men and women were
persecuted without consideration for due
process of law in a frenzy of fear and
hatred which was thought at the time to
serve God. That was three centuries ago.
Today we must rid ourselves of fear and
hatred to promote equality and stop this
type of history from repeating itself in
perhaps better forms of guise.
is April 20.