The Capital Times, December 9, 2005 Culturally Inept; a bi-monthly pontification Oscar Beisert By Oscar Beisert Columnist oeblo2@psu.edu Well, after hearing Olmsted gossip on the topic of impeachment, I was compelled to comment on the prospect. However, I will try to do so in a professional OP/ED writer's manner without any of my emotive chow chow; yeah, right! Number one, in response to a recent newspaper address given by President Edwards, wherein I From your vice pres. Erin Moskal By Erin Moskalczak SGA Vice President eemsool@psu.edu Let me first start out by introducing myself, I'm Erin Moskalczak, your Vice President of Student Government. I first became involved in SGA as a freshman senator of Humanities. I am a sophomore majoring in telecommunications and business. I was born and raised in Scranton, PA. I chose PSH because of its close location to Hershey. Ever since I was a newborn. I have been attending the Hershey car shows with my family. I was born into a car-buff household and well, it stuck. Not only am I into cars but I also enjoy swinging my golf clubs when I State of By Michael Edwards SGA President mlesooo@psu.edu With the semester coming to a close, I felt the need to look back at the past semester and see what this SGA has accomplished, Now before you snicker to yourself and say that we have not accomplished anything, let me stop you and say you're wrong. So far this SGA has accomplished part of my goal. I set out this year to add on to the brilliant work of the presidents who came before me. However, I felt the need to change a few things that they have already done and add on some of my own visions and help the overall welfare of this campus. My goals for this year include three very broad and highly set goals. The first includes restructuring. As some of you may or may not know, Penn State Harrisburg is going through a restructuring phase. Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College, once joined was given a slight probe or two, I will just say, if it's garbage, don't dignify it and, if it's not, then confess and you will be forgiven. However, our President's passive aggressive "poor me" attempt to exonerate himself or, at the least, make me look ridiculous—with his confession of being caught as a participating member of the soccer team —was unworthy of an individual capable of winning an election as a write-in candidate. Unfortunately, in matters of representation, there are always those who come off as one thing and end up another. No, Mr. Edwards, you're wrong! While you were caught being a member of the soccer team, that wasn't really the point; now was it? The unavoidable truth was that instead of being present for the budget portion—hello, student body this is your money—of the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting you choose to leave early and attend the have time One of my major concerns on campus is student apathy. If you are active in campus activities chances .are you are in many clubs. There are a handful of students that seem to be in the majority of the clubs on campus. Don't get me wrong, that group of students does have great ideas but how can a specific group of students represent the entire student body?. ‘ Why can't more 4Mia‘kiiiMl,malimkAlap4stacuAt.that Penn State pride you have while you watch the football games? Join a club or two and you will be surprised how much fun you have with people you would have never met if it weren't for that club. If you do not have an interest in any clubs, start your own! It could be anything from a sporting club to a daily mail checking club. Just get active! Because there is a limited amount of very active students on campus, the ideas for new events can be challenging. That handful of active students will eventually run out of ideas. What events would you like to see more of? Clubs offer everything from speakers on diversity to arts and crafts to Stuff-A-Plush. But what do you, the typical student, want to see on campus? I can only ask with Penn State Schuylkill, has now broken apart, in my opinion, for the better. Also, the addition of first-year students and intercollegiate sports has created the need for this campus and SGA to undergo some serious and drastic changes. These changes include the need for amending the Student Government constitution. So far we have done part of my mission to amend the constitution so that the SGA will no longer be an activity manufacturer but instead an active and leading government that appropriately branches into the different educational schools of Penn State Harrisburg. The second of these goals was to incorporate a better system of clubs and activities which somewhat ties into the first goal. This second goal included part of the financial amendments recently adapted to our constitution. SGA should be taking on a more centralized position in helping organize campus activities practice of your club sport. While many of you may see my jibe at his soccer practice as a slur against sports, I assure you, this is not the case. Instead I am merely pointing out that our president apparently values this commitment over the one he made to the entire student body. In regards to our president attending the meetings, I didn't run for office in the Student Government Association. In fact, I have no interest in being a member or contributor in any capacity at formal association functions. However, my curiosity would most likely compel me to attend the meetings if they were in the evening rather than during my nine-hour work day. Because I can't make the meeting, I voice my opinion here! Because of an obvious lack of SGA presence on this campus, I am able to see the inaction without been seen. Just because citizens expect politicians to my roommates so many times. You have a voice, and I want to hear it Not only do I want to know what events you would like to see on campus, but also what problems are you facing here? We as the Student Government are here to help you. Every academic school has senators to help assist you with your problems. We cannot do our jobs without your input. Stop in the SGA office and let us know how we can make your college experience here better. If I am not available in the office please feel free to e-mail me if you have anything you would like help with. I will not only look into your problems but I will help you as much as I can. If I do not have an answer for you, I will find out who can help solve the situation. Whether it be concerns about when the construction of Ziegler Commons is going to be finished or Stacks being opened more hours let us know! If you have anything wrong with me personally or my job on campus, let me know. I welcome negative feedback. Let me know what you like or dislike. It gives me the opportunity to know what students want me to change. No one can really succeed without negative feedback. Bring it on. the through clubs and organizations, not through SGA itself. I hope to adopt a plan to help decline the "apathy" on campus. As most of you had read in my article I strongly disagree with the word "apathy" as it is not all the students' fault but our fault for why they do not attend events. We need to do our part in finding what students want to do so that they will get more involved, The third of these goals is to introduce more Penn State Pride onto the campus of Penn State Harrisburg. I have been working with Dr. Holtzman into finding alternative funds to produce new Penn State banners that will be hung from every parking light on campus. Along with these banners, I hope to propose a unique mural onto the walls of Olmsted for all to see that we here at Penn State Harrisburg are proud of our campus. Finally in the Pride campaign, I hope to help the Alumni Department into finally bringing an outdoor Lion shrine to the Opinion represent their constituents and uphold their commitments, doesn't mean that every citizen has to attend government meetings. Our officials should be able to execute their duties without the entire student body present—thus the reason while officials are officating and other citizens are not. And for those who are knowledgable about communications, an infrequent presidential address may seem like public relations, but it certainly isn't filling the innumerable vacancies that exist in our SGA. As for getting involved, I applaud every student who is simply a student because as a student at this University you are contributing; thank you! Without confusing my column with the article I wrote on fashion, what we have here is a question of wool. Did Edwards pull the wool over the voters' eyes or was it that the voters were his fellow freshman that really didn't care S G A campus. The project is currently funded to 60% and we hopefully can bring the other 40% around in time for the next academic year. Lastly, I ask for the SGA's help into finding new ideas to express our pride around campus. Before I draw to a close, I'd like to thank a few people who have made this semester such a success. Augie You have the privilege of my position last year, and have done a terrific job getting new computers in the office, rebuilding relations between SGA and the IT Department, and also your awesome work on the SGA website. While hopefully we haven't made your position too daunting, you can be assured that you will never be a "flyer boy." Jeremy—For guiding me, helping me, and always keeping me in check, thank you. Oh, and also for putting up with Steve (O'Holla) and me singing in the office. Paul Fogle—While you scared us when we found out that you were sick in the hospital for a week, you still found a way to get whether they actually got their money's worth? My inference is that the wool was pulled and that while some of his votes were his fellows, many of them were innocent bystanders being patronized into parktaking in student government and the election process. So if the subject of impeachment ends up being a reality, I say tallyho! P.S. For this year's Freshman, don't just vote your fellow; do some research and vote for the (Wo) man who's gonna get the job done! Look for more pontification from Oscar Beisert in the spring semes ter right here in The Capital Times. Add your job done. I look forward to working with you on the "Paws Here" project to improve the relationship between Penn State Harrisburg and the surrounding community. Maruja —Best THON committee chair ever. What an amazing job. Last year, the SGA bailed THON out; this year hopefully Harrisburg will raise the most money out of all the campuses!! Keep doing the great work, but remember it's FOR THE KIDS. Setev (Steve O'Holla)—For organizing and helping make the minutes as well as the ANGEL website a better and more accurate system. And yes, contrary to belief, the president must, does, and will always read the minutes. Erin—For always reminding me when to book rooms and for organizing a more efficient system of clubs and activities; thank you. Hopefully I didn't wake you up too many times with those 2 a.m. meetings on Instant Messenger. Ariel-1 can't stress what an S.IEIE+ Society of Environmental Engineering 410 Penn State Harrisburg's only environmental club VP Be a part of Earth Day in April 2006 rProfessional and career development in environmental fields Meet people who share similar interests Contact Jim Elligson. SEE President jcel4l@rxsti.edu ress amazing job Ariel has done for us this year. She has by far put up with the most crap from anybody, and still seems to have a smile on her face and the time to decorate our office (Jeremy's is the best snowflake). You are truly a great friend and a great person and I can't stress what a vital part you play in this year's SGA. And although 2 of them aren't here today, I'd like to thank the nice ladies from the Student Activities office. Without their hard work and massively amount of guidance, we would never be here today. And lastly, I'd like to thank the rest of the SGA. Without your help, nothing would ever get accomplished, literally. Thanks for making this semester so great and I can't wait to start working with all of you again in January. SGA 200-06: Helping better the future and pride of Penn State Harrisburg, one paw print at a time. Thank you.
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