Photo by Nicole Burkhold Members of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were on campus on Veterans Day. From left to right are Hamp Johnson, George A. “Hank” Henry, Samuel Rhodes, and Samuel O’Dennis. Morris Dees Speaks for All of Us By Alice Potteiger Wilkes Capital Times Staff Writer When Morris Dees finished his lecture last Thursday evening and, after a well-deserved stand ing ovation, the audience’s ques tions began, I found myself regretting that I had to leave. Dees is a co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala. He tours America promoting a national program for “Teaching Tolerance,” encouraging equity, respect and understanding “I didn’t come here to put America down. There are a lot of good things about this nation,” Dees said. He backed up these opening words with a few examples, but the statements and stats that directly followed were eye-openers. “There is an ill-wind blowing across this nation,” Dees said. He noted that in the last reporting year of the Federal Bureau of Investigation there were 9,000 reported hate crimes, 250 permanent hate web sites with 850 that show up sporadi cally and over 550 known hate groups in America. In addition, in the publication “Ten Ways to Fight Hate” which was given to each audience member, I discovered the grim fact that over 500,000 women are raped in America each year. Dees spoke of our dividing lines: color, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, old age and youth, saying these divisions cause a lot of pain, anger and frustration. But he said our deepest divid ing line is class; we’ve come to a point where it’s “the people with money, wealth, power and posi tion versus the people who don't [have these].” It’s a battle over whose ver sion of America this nation is going to become. Dees said, relating several encouraging sto ries of moral and legal triumphs over racism and hate. One story told how the resi dents of Billings, Mont., rallied for a Jewish family whose meno- Hot Buns? Brad’s Which Witch Tickled And Barbell Did By Butterballs Bonanza You Watch? Emo page 8 page 9 page 10 page 11 Volume XL, No. 7 Wednesday, Non ember 17, 1999 rah had been smashed by a brick thrown through their front win dow where the menorah was dis- played, Continued on Page 7 Going Once, Going Twice, Sold!! By Tina Sickler Capilal Times Staff Wrilet Students raised their wands, made of wooden sticks and markered paper plates, to bet on anxious contestants during the Bachelor/Bachelorette event on Nov. 10. Skirts, suits, and boots lighted the auditorium as the PSU crowd whistled and hollered dollar amounts for a hopeful date. Kenny Rogers’ song, "The Gambler,” played in the back ground as the contestants reached the center stage. Dressed in their best, con testants waited for the final bidding results. The big Tuskegee Airmen in Moving Veterans Day Tribute Honored In a moving tribute, Penn State Harrisburg celebrated Veterans day last week by honor ing members of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War 11. The Tuskegee Airmen were black fighter pilots trained for World War II at the Tuskegee Air Field in Alabama. Their success as the first black squadron in the U.S. Army Air Corps is legendary. They became one of the most decorated units of the war. The ceremony began shortly after noon in front of the new library’s flagpole. Retired Army Lt. Col. Ted Clements began the ceremony with a proud welcome to the five veterans and the many visitors and students who attended the tribute. Clements reminded the specta tors that the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen are the very force that allowed him and other African-Americans to stand before them as a retired officer. spenders in the crowd were sur rounded by supportive cheers and persuasive words to raise the magical wand and keep the bid ding going. RCC President Deanna Klinger By Nicole Burkholder Capita! Times Staff Writer Thomas Steck of PSH Maintenance and Operations Department, addressed the audi ence next. Steck, also a veteran, read a few poems about veterans and the importance of honoring such an esteemed group of men such as the Tuskegee Airmen. Members of the Pennsylvania International 193rd Special Operations Wing honor guard lowered the current PSH flag and presented it to the Tuskegee Airmen. Passersby, both young and old, stopped to watch. Some peo ple were moved to tears. With the exception of the playing of “Taps.” the campus was filled with a devout silence. Following the outdoor cere mony, everyone was invited inside to the Olmsted Building Auditorium to hear the Tuskegee Airmen’s stories. Beginning with the Posting of the Colors, everyone rose to pay Continued on Page 6 Mark Burket. a mechanical engineer major, bought three dates which made him a famil iar face in the crowd. Burket, wearing a matching suit and tie, said, "Wearing a suit made me feel like I had lots of money. I am just glad that I have two jobs." The Resident Community Council (RCC) composed of about 10 Meade Heights resi dents, hosted and sponsored the Bachelor/Bacheloretle The RCC achieved its goal with Burket’s and several other participants' cash Continued on Page 4
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