A biting challenge for PSU administrator
Michael Stone
Capital Times Staff
You may not believe this, but I am not
going to share some trivial excursion with
you this issue. I am going to write a real
op-ed column.
Why? Because I am genuinely mad. (I
would say "pissed," but my Mom reads
this.)
In the Oct. 14 issue of the weekly
Collegian, an article appeared regarding
how Commonwealth Campuses are
getting the shaft in terms of the Pepsi
agreement. [A copy of the article may be
found in the Heindel Library.]
(I believe the Capital Times has
mentioned this agreement once or twice in
the past. If you recall, the Penn State
Commonwealth Campuses will divide
$500,000 over the course of 10 years--i.e.,
we receive $2,400 a year from the $l4
million agreement.)
In the article, William McKinnon,
associate vice president of business
operations, said:
"Because the deal was made with the
convocation center in mind,
Commonwealth Campuses are 'lucky' to
get the money they receive.
"'This is a market exposure for Pepsi's
name to be advertised in the covocation
center--the Commonwealth Campuses will
just have to drink Pepsi instead.
"'lt looks more attractive to have
Pepsi's name to be advertised in the
convocation center than at the
Commonwealth Campuses."
Well, Capital Times readers, how does
that make you feel?
I have a few things to say to Mr.
McKinnon and the other PSU dignitaries
who voiced their opinions. And since
McKinnon did not return any of our phone
calls, I will use this forum to do so.
LETTER, from page 4
internships and participate as advisors to
various campus organizations.
Also stated by Dhir in the article was
that "not publishing has a direct effect on
the ability of the school to present a
quality education."
Personally, I think not being able to
offer courses that our students need or not
being able to give the students the quality
courses that they paid for has a greater
effect on how the school can present itself.
The presence of practitioners on the
faculty was one of the attractive qualities
the business program had to offer.
One of the first things we are taught in
our business classes is to always listen to
your customers and always try to keep
your customers' needs fulfilled.
Well, the students are your customers
and your product is education. I think the
administrators need to review some of the
fundamentals of good business.
To Mr. Hansen and the others in the
provost's office, it's not too late. Mr. Kern
is not gone yet, and the other resignations
aren't in yet. So please show the students
that our quality of education is worth the
administration's time to reopen this
matter. I am sure that the school and this
12-year veteran in the classroom can come
to a compromise.
Certainly losing experienced educators
and decreasing the quality of education
should be avoided at all possible costs.
The opportunity is in the hands of the
provost's office and Dr. Dhir.
A school that can afford to have the
heat on high and all the windows open
wide can surely afford to hire an adjunct
professor and prevent this loss.
Bernard Reiley
Senior, Accounting
Mr. McKinnon, I am a student at
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY. Did you
read that? It says, "Penn State." Granted,
I . — .he Harrisbilr - but the a
I pay the SAME tuition my colleagues
pay at main campus, and yet I do not see
the same results they do. I do not have the
art centers, the plethora of buildings, the
huge library, the enormous sports
complex, etc. They are getting a piece of
$l3 million. I will see part of $2,400.
When I mail in my tuition, it goes to
University Park, not Harrisburg. When
this campus makes money, it goes to
University Park, not here. And, sir, I help
pay your salary.
Granted, I chose to come here. And
despite my moaning, I do enjoy it here.
It's quiet, I can study, and I have many
opportunites here. I have a great internship
lined up come January, my professors
speak fluent English and my opinions
matter.
I could go to the over-populated
University Park campus, but I'm chosing
not to drink my way through college like
many of my more illustrious peers. I want
to learn, not just party. True, I do have fun
here and I "party" from time-to-time, but it
doesn't dominate my college life or goals.
When you read those "genuine, behind
the scenes" college books, the ones that
really tell you what the colleges are about,
Penn State is known only for its football
team and its party atmosphere.
They don't say that we produce great
engineers or great (insert major). They say
we're a school driven by alcohol and
sports.
And what better way to improve our
academic image than to sell out to a soft
drink company so that a center may be
The 'Burg" is no paradise
Lisa Malask
Capital Times Staff
Downtown Harrisburg is only a 20-
minute drive from the PSH campus--10 if
you're drunk. (And I don't advocate drunk
driving.) It is the capital city; cultural,
alive and thriving, right? I think not!
By day, the city seems animated with
the hustle and bustle of state workers. The
stores are full, the streets are busy and the
sidewalks are packed. But when the clock
reaches 5 p.m., downtown employees
eagerly rush to their cars to get the hell
out of the city. You better cross the street
rapidly, because they won't hesitate to run
you over. They know the truth about the
"Burg."
When the sun goes down, watch out.
This is when you truly behold what city
life is all about. Picture this: There are
drug dealers on every other corner. The
repugnant stench of urine forces you to
hold your breath as you pass construction
sites and spaces between buildings. Neo
nazi skinheads with swastika tattoos roam
the streets. On State Street, young men
sell their bodies to old men, and Third
Street is a haven for female and
transvestite prostitutes.
Earlier this year, a prostitute, after
being apprehended, confessed that although
she has AIDS and has known about her
affliction for quite some time, she may
have infected as many as 3,000 men with
the disease. She was sentenced to slightly
over a year in prison for...get
this...wreckless endangerment. I suppose
none of her clients have died yet, so she's
not considered a murderess. But how many
of her clients further spread the disease?
Nice city, huh?
built to better accomodate sports and
graduation ceremonies, amongst other
things?
Beaver Stadium seats close to 100,000
people. But, for shame, no student may
tread upon that grass unless he's one of
Joe Pa's kids and wearing black Nike
hightops. (Keep in mind the football
players don't pay full tuition, if any at all).
Roger Williams, director of University
relations, said in the article, "The
University ended up with a larger package
than expected."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't
our library an item on the "Things To Do
List"?
David Gearhart, senior vice president
for development and University relations,
said, "This is a marvelous thing for the
Univeristy--a definite win-win situation."
Sorry, Dave, but I'm a part of "the
University," and I don't think $2,400 a
year sends me running around the campus,
humming the Penn State fighting march,
yelling "we won, we won!!"
Mr. McKinnon, in reference to the deal
being for the convocation center only, why
didn't the deal include just University
Park?
You said it wouldn't look attractive
advertising Pepsi at the Commonwealth
Campuses? I cannot walk more than 50
feet in our classroom building without
seeing the name "Pepsi" displayed
prominently for ample viewing. I guess
we got all of the "unattractive" vending
machines.
I'm sure that the powers that be who
made this deal boasted to Pepsi that "your
name will be at ALL of our campuses, not
just here in University Park."
I busted my butt in high school to
make the grades and went through the hell
of SAT's to get into this school. My
SAT's weren't high enough, so U.P. said
they didn't want me.
Do you want to know what else is
really appalling? Beggars harass you for
money. Bums leer at you. The shrill sound
of an ambulance echoes in your ears as
chills race through your body. And how
about those schizophrenics who pace the
streets, screaming at the voices in their
heads?
There's nothing more aggravating than
the drunks who stagger out of seedy, little,
roach-ridden bars demanding, "Give me a
dollar for coffee!" Sure...coffee...more like
a draft beer.
The drunken brawls are a real tourist
attraction. Step right up folks! Watch the
bloody mayhem. See two men, two
women, or a man and a woman engage
themselves in a bloody battle over who
bumped into whom.
And though the "Burg" is considered to
be a "melting pot," I find it fascinating
that there are two segregated bars within
three blocks of each other, one black and
the other white. And stay on your own
turf...or else!
Some of the numerous, tacky, bug
infested greasy spoons have poker
machines that are, legally, to be played
only for entertainment. Ha! Slimy, grimy,
revolting people, who appear to be allergic
to bathing, spend a fortune--fumbling and
searching through their pockets, their
hands shaking, grasping for that last
quarter.
If you manage to acquire a 100 points,
the owner will slip you five bucks under
the table. I've witnessed multitudes of
people squander their entire welfare check
just to win five dollars and a "free" cup of
Well, U.P. asks for my tuition money
promptly. If it's one day late, I am
threatened with having my registration and
housing arrangements erased with a touch
of a button. Once I graduate, I'll receive
alumni forms ad nauseum, asking me to
contribute each year so that I can still be
associated with the Penn State name.
Mr. McKinnon, you're making me feel
like I'm not even a part of Penn State
now.
It stems that the tuition I pay, the
sweatshirts I buy, the parking stickers I
must obtain, the housing fees I fork over,
the books that I must purchase at
exhorbitant prices and then cannot resell
for more than pocket change--if at all, the
football games I pay to see, the sticker in
my rear car window, and my future
diploma--all with the Penn State name on
them--don't mean squat unless I'm a citizen
of the Holy Land known as University
Park.
I was going to be sophomoric and end
this column with, "I think I speak for the
entire campus when I say: BITE ME," but
I'll control my anger and be rational.
You made no attempt to answer any of
our staffs phone calls, so I'm going to
give you a second chance.
I invite you to send me your rebuttal.
But unlike you, sir, I will acknowledge it,
and even gladly print it.
Write me, call mc, fax me, send me a
telegram, make me a video, fly a banner
over the campus, use smoke signals--
whatever it takes.
You can be sure that I won't be too
busy drinking Pepsi to answer.
The choice is yours.
And readers, the choice is yours as
well. Don't forget to vote. There are still
some major decisions in the world you rai
control.
(A quick addendum: Happy Birthday to
my sister Sue on Nov. 6!)
coffee
On the contrary, Mayor Reed takes
considerable pride in Harrisburg's
numerous new improvements. Sure, I
concede that City Island, the home of the
stadium and other events, looks beautiful
at night. Incandescent lights envelop both
City Island and the bridge. But every time
I pass by, which is often (because I live
in the city--an assemblage of filth) I
cannot help but wonder how many
homeless people could reside indoors if the
tax money that's used for lights were put
toward the plight of the homeless instead
of aesthetic beauty!
The homeless people sleep in Hoover
homes at the bus stops. And speaking of
bus stops, it's convenient if you have no
car, but ultimately it can be a hazard.
There have been incidents where Capital
Area Transit (CAT) clients have been
robbed at the bus stop during the most
active hours of the day, while police drove
by in a stupor, unaware of what was
occurring.
The newspapers are always full of
articles regarding downtown renovations,
but these articles exclude the real story.
There is a mecca of criminals that run
rampant throughout the city. Although the
police station is located right in the center
of the "Burg," many times, it takes them
hours to respond to a call.
Our capital city is deficient. Sure, we
have the chic, new Hilton; and Strawberry
Square is adequate, but this does not
compensate for the absence of culture and
the presence of crime.
So, come to scenic Harrisburg, where
you can play kickball using the trash on
the sidewalks. Dare to meander through the
streets. Bring a friend--you won't want to
be alone...a solitary soul in the ni.ht.