Letters to the Editor
In defense of honorable journalism
By JEREMY N. KIEHL
Chief Justice, PSUH Student Court
JNKI43@PSU.EDU
The Capital Times and its staff owe an apology to all the students
who read the article labeled "SGA Update" in the December 9th edition of the
campus newspaper. After reading this article's complete departure from honorable
journalism, I would be remiss to let such a display of biased, sensationalized
journalism go unanswered when it lacked basic research, knowledge of
parliamentary procedure, and objectiveness. While I do not have the time or
patience to respond to every one of the numerous irresponsible errors and
opinions reported as truth, I will address several of the more blatant ones.
From the onset, the article was clearly and unfairly biased in its report
of the interaction between the Student Government Association and the Graduate
Student Association. For the Capital Times to state that SGA members lacked
"concern" and only answered the GSA's questions in order to defend themselves
against mounting accusations is absurd. As one of several SGA members who
were late for class in order to remain after the meeting to talk with the GSA
representatives, answer questions, and respond to concerns, I challenge the
Capital Times assertion. Additionally, the repeated pitiful references to the SGA's
unwillingness to "spare a little money" or give a "fair amount of money" to the
GSA were biased and simply untrue. Although I do not have time to delve into
the details regarding the funding process the SGA goes through in allocating
funds, it would greatly behoove the Capital Times to do a little research into the
money the GSA actually receives from the University.
In addition to being biased, the entire article was written in an absurd
sensationalized fashion. The continued references to the meeting as being
"heated", a "circus", a "commotion", and a "debacle" made me wonder if I had
attended the same SGA meeting. While certainly more lively then many SGA
meetings, this one resembled little of the picture the Capital Times article painted.
Furthermore, the insinuation that mysterious and ominous whispered conferences
were going on between the Student Court and SGA President Michael Edwards
as he furtively "crept" around the room is absolutely laughable. The duty of the
Student Court at such meetings is to provide oversight and to give discretionary
advice as outlined in the SGA Constitution. The conversations between Michael
Edwards and the Student Court were directly related to procedural issues and
nothing more. I sincerely apologize to anyone who envisioned a grand conspiracy
after reading the article.
Although I recognize that there are places in the Capital Times for the
pontification of baseless opinions and topics worthy of tabloid publication, the
SGA Update is not one of them. It should do exactly what its title proclaims
- update the student body regarding the work of their Student Government. The
latest SGA Update article did not come remotely close to fulfilling this duty.
While I welcome healthy, constructive criticism, I will not hesitate to lash out at
the un-researched, biased, and sensationalist style of reporting that the Capital
Times has resorted to. The editors of this paper are doing a great disservice not
only to their once good reputation, but also to the campus at large. I look forward
to the Capital Times return to the honorable journalism the Penn State Harrisburg
Student Body deserves.
Please see Editor's Comments on page 2 regarding above
Reading the numerous articles and rantings in the Dec. 9th issue of the
Cap Times, I thought maybe you should Vai froin someone in the Senate, you
know, someone who was there and isn't just basing their rantings off of rumors
and disenchantment.
Firstly, let's start with Parliamentary Procedure. Who at PSH knows and
understands Parliamentary Procedure? By some of the statements in the Capital
Times, it is obvious that many do not. I know Mike Edwards put Parliamentary
Procedure booklets in the Cap Times boxes, but if you didn't receive one ask him
I'm sure he'll make one available to you.
An issue that arose in the Dec. Ist meeting was the GSA and their
funding. What the SGA Update didn't mention was that, according to Monica
Minter, the GSA receives about $45,000 in funding and keeps it all and that the
SGA received $33,520 to split among all the clubs, from Lion Ambassadors to
Tarnhelm, on campus. In addition to that, take note that the age of the average
graduate student on campus is 32. Compare that to the average age of your SGA
senators - 20. Would you like someone who is 12 years your junior to plan an
activity for you? On top of all that, we did some research. There is no record of
the GSA requesting money from the Student Activity Fund. To be that forthright
with her statements regarding funding, Ms. Minter should have double checked
her information.
The GSA's position on campus is to "represent and support the interests
of current and future graduate students by supporting scholarly activities and
providing leadership, service and social opportunities." With $45,000 I would
think that you could provide those opportunities, because with the $33,520 the
SGA provides opportunities like that which are open to all students, regardless of
undergraduate/graduate status. We provide these opportunities by funding clubs
on campus who in turn plan and execute activities. We also plan and execute
those types of activities - for everyone.
A Public Comments time was early on during the meeting. The member
of the GSA that tried to speak at the end of the meeting was trying to speak
was during Open Forum. Open Forum is a time for the Senators to bring New
Business to the table for the next meeting and to generally discuss items on the
agenda. What it also didn't mention was that due to the GSA's earlier tirade the
meeting was running into a class time and we had to leave the room so we didn't
delay and disrupt a class, in addition to the fact that many members of the SGA
had classes at 2pm as well. A few members of the SGA also met with the GSA
after the meeting - was that mentioned in any article? No.
And while it's appropriate for students to examine and dissect the SGA
and it's operations, don't you think that you would need to attend at least one
meeting in order to do so? Not if you're writing for the Capital Times. Having
been to all except one meeting this semester I can tell you that Oscar Beisert
has not been to one single meeting. Not one! Oscar should become involved in
the GSA, since he cannot come to SGA meetings, as he is a graduate student
and the GSA meets in the evening. In each and every article Oscar has written
this semester for the Cap Times he complains about the SGA and it's members
- don't just talk, do something! And I would like to take to task his "obvious
lack of SGA presence" statement. This past week alone we have done Stuff-A-
Plush and Finals Food. Did he take advantage of any SGA activities this year? I
couldn't tell you. What I could tell you is that our activities this semester have
been overwhelming successes. We ran out of food for Fall Fest - after raising
our budget by 500$ for the activity - we also had Color Me Mime, a "design
your own ceramic" which was an activity that began after night classes ended, in
addition to many other activities. We also have much more being planned for the
Spring Semester, like Winterfest and a Spring Formal.
Also, there was a Screening Ad-Hoc committee which was set up
this semester to fill vacancies of the SGA. This committee was meant to take
interested students and interview them, making sure that they could truly be
involved with and help the Student Government Association. It hasn't been a
particularly helpful committee, but it was meant to take the brunt of the work
regarding the vacancies of the SGA off the President's shoulders, leaving him
available for other matters.
If anyone feels the need to rant you are more than welcome to come to an SGA
meeting and speak during Public Comments, we are more than willing to hear
you out and figure out a possible solution with you. You can contact me at any
time and I'll personally try and help you out and way I can.
By RACHEL MAHAN
For the Capital Times
CAPTIMES@PSU.EDU
CULTUKi\LLY INEPT
A 81-MONTHLY PONTIFICATION
By OSCAR BEISERT
Staff Reporter
ODBIO2©PSU.EDU
On my way out the door for
winter break, my new Editor asked
me to go out and find something
"interesting" to write about during
my holiday. "Oh my gosh," I
thought—with one of my normal
bouts of paranoia—does that mean
my usual topics are getting' boring,
should I take her comment as a
subtle hint to get it together or throw
in the towel, was her simple request
just that of an over dramatic new
Editor, or was I over analyzing her
elongated and newspaper related
"Happy Holidays?"
For a while I chewed on this
piece of newspaper jerky, and
then I realized, how could I make
conclusions about my new Editor; I
don't even know her.
And then it clicked; maybe I
should pay more attention to how I
evaluate my relationships.
Strangely enough, I had always
considered one of my main interests
to be the formulation and analysis
of relationships—especially, or at
least I thought, my own. Now, as
you may have assumed, I am using
relationships in the most general
sense of the term—according to
dictionary.com, a relationship
being the condition or fact of being
related; connection or association.
So I decided that during my
holiday, I would pay close attention
to my "relations, connections, and
associations" with others.
Only three short days after my
long-term relationship—the lengthy
thirty seconds—with my new Editor,
I found myself on a plane in route to
Houston, Texas.
During the flight, I was fortunate
enough to become acquainted
with a contemporary of mine
The Student Government Association (SGA) at Penn State Harrisburg wants your feedback.
In order to improve student events and activities, the SGA is asking that you take the time to complete this short survey.
Tell us what types of activities you would like to see take place on campus; also let us know how we can better communi
cate with the student body. Without your feedback, we cannot improve student communication or campus programming.
The Student Government encourages all students to take advantage of all the opportunities that the college has to offer.
Thank you for taking the time to help the student body have a full and exciting college experience.
Please return surveys to the Student Activities Office in room El3l Olmsted at your
earliest convenience.
Student Activity Survey
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who was finishing her degree at
Syracuse University.
We passed the time discussing
a myriad of topics ranging from
inter-city public education to
the gentrification of blighted
communities. Our conversation
lasted almost two and half-hours and,
boy `o boy, was it interesting; not to
mention, a relief since it allowed the
time to pass rather quickly.
However, by the end of the flight,
neither of us made any attempt
to prolong our relationship and
seemingly content departing with no
means of contact.
An hour in my drive from the
Houston airport to Austin, Texas,
I remember pondering my mid-air
relations, wondering as to why we
didn't exchange instant messenger
or email identities. During my drive,
I also reflected upon a part of our
conversation that led to some rather
disturbing thoughts.
We had both inquired about the
sibling status of one another. My
acquaintance having none, she was
especially inquisitive about my
brother. Answering her questions,
I had informed her that my brother
and I were fairly close; however, the
more I thought about my answer,
the more disturbed I became. Were
my brother and I really close? Of
course not! In fact, I don't know
that we had ever had a conversation
of that length or if he would even be
capable of such.
The more I thought about it, the
more I realized that I knew more
about my next door neighbor—of
five months, whom I had grown
to dislike, than I did about my
only sibling.
Here I was fretting about maintaining
relations with a perfect stranger,
but for some reason I had yet to be
bothered about the fact that my only
natural sibling was a stranger to me.
Student Activity Survey
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During the Austin segment of my
trip I had plans to see a friend whom
I had been in close contact with
since my move. We had managed to
maintain strong relations since both
of us had moved to different regions
of the country. However, during
the weekend, back in Austin, we
only managed to associate for one
awkward hour
Oddly enough, we had been unable
to reestablish a healthy connection
in person, but were somehow able to
spend months talking on the phone
with supposed longings to see one
another. Would I be able to carry
on the charade of our friendship
for another semester or would I be
forced to pull the plug?
While I didn't answer the question
during my trip, I sometimes wonder
why we would make so much effort
to connect on the phone, but so little
in person.
While I was able to spend a good
deal of quality time of others, my
trip to Austin definitely complicated
the looming concerns regarding
my relationships. Nearing the end
of my trip home, I was online at a
coffee shop when an efriend of mine
messaged me to inquire about my
Christmas. Since I would be flying
back into Philadelphia, I entertained
the idea of meeting after four or five
months of talking.
However, the individual was strong
opposed to the idea, claiming that
the last personal meeting, stemming
from an online friendship, led to the
demise of the online friendship and,
obviously, the personal relationship.
Thanking this person kindly for
the faith in humanity, I accepted,
with little choice, the "no" which
had so ardently been rendered. Until
recently, I had simply accepted the
"no" whole-heartedly; however, this
column has led to me wondering
about the healthiness of this type of
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January 23, 2006
friendship. Was it positive for me
to maintain relations with someone
unwilling to meet me in the flesh?
Or was it good to have a non- •
objective listener to speak with on a
constant basis?
My last example, probably, the
most seemingly disturbing, involves
a person with whom I have been
involved with on several occasions
and on a romantic and intimate
level. Supposedly, with similar
interests—not only involving things
of interest, but more so in having
a relationship—l recently saw this
person at a bar in Philly where I met
this person's significant other of
over eight months.
Glazed over, I felt completely
distraught. Not at the loss of this
prospect per say, but more so because
I felt as though I had completely
misjudged all of my relationships
over the last six months.
Could it be that I had been so non
chalontly introduced to this person's
significant other when such an
introduction would bring so many
false pretenses to light?
From my brother, to my friend
from home, to a lying adulteress,
was it possible that I had suffered
from misjudgment on all counts?
Were the failures of these
relationships inevitable or had I,
personally, just missed the boat?
These intrigues leave me with
a few questions for everyone to
ponder. Is there a common culture
to all of these relationships or
do each of them has a culture of
their own that we, as individuals,
widely share? And, no matter what,-
would it be more constructive to
conceive the old folklore "its not the
amount of time, its what happens
during that time?" With this in
mind we must wonder, how do we
maintain, recollect, and judge our
relationships?