Established October 26, 1948, as the official publication for the
student body of Pennsylvania State University, Bebrend
Campus, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Published by the Breeze Publishing Co., North East, Pennsyl
vania
Associate Editors
Assistant Editors Linda Williams, David Weekley
Writers Diane Baldwin, Linda Bemis, Judy Benson,
Sandra Berkey, Karen Blashford, Virginia Gandelman,
Diane Janowski, Jo-Anne Kisiel, Karol Orzepowski, Phyllis
Rosenblatt.
Keep Christ in Christmas
How often do we realize when we write Xmas that we
are actually substituting an X for Christ? This is just one
of the many ways in which we are contributing our small
part to the modern trend of withdrawing Christ from
Christmas.
Just what do the boisterous parties of this season have
to do with the Birth in the manger? Although Christmas is
a time for rejoicing and happiness, many people now cele
brate to the extent of forgetting the true meaning.
The meaning behind the small gift is no longer impor
tant. Instead, competition between givers as to who shall give
the biggest present prevails.
Now, Santa Claus becomes a Christ personified, and
little children are taught to believe in the superficial image
instead of the spiritual being.
Bigger and better electric trains are replacing the man
ger under many Christmas trees throughout the country.
Elaborate tunnels and toy villages divert the attention of
the child from the Christmas star, shining unnoticed atop
the tree.
If each one of us would cast a critical eye upon our
modern Christmas, we would realize just how far we have
strayed from the intended meaning of the holiday.
Let’s try to keep Christ in Christmas this year and
always!
"Yes, I think you’re wearing it
_ „ , . . ... „ backwards, but leave it that
Well, I dropped that course.” .. ’ . .
way—it sort of symbolizes your
entire scholastic career.”
THE NITTANY CUB
Mary Lloyd, Jeanne Chambers
WMhIS CfiMtfff
* J-
THE NITTANY CUB
OjtflK COMEtfT
Personality Parade
By Jo-Anne Kisiel
"Nice things come in smia.ll
packages.” This familiar, adage
best describes our own Irene Kel
ly. Ira or Tinkerbell, as she is
better known, comes, to Bebrend
from Monroeville,- Pennsylvania.
As a hazel-eyed 4'11". “pixie,” she.
surprises her fellow plassmates
with her never-ceasing bundle of
energy. This energy is put to
good use in a variety of activities.
She is secretary of the Chorus
Club, a member of the. "Bits of
Behrend" staff and the . 'Red
Cross, and currently rehearsing
for her part of Hettie. in the
Christmas play. Earlier in .the
year Ira was selected iby her ad
mirers as a candidate for home
coming queen.
When quizzed about her feel
ing toward Behrend, she replied
that she especially liked the quiet
(?) atmosphere of the dorm. Her.
“pet-peeves” are her grades, the
Snow Goose, and! hemming gym
suits.
She enjoys collecting animals,
real and suffed; mature boys-,
ribbing her'roommates, and pizza.
Ira can usually be seen doing
Letter fo the Editor
MR. BURNS SPEAKS recognition knowledge.
Several weeks ago the Nittany ' 2 ‘ allow the tocher, to,
Cub received a letter from Mr. student who reads ,
Allen Bums, history instructor. ™ dely and uses Levant know-
It seems that last semester he re- leage from entire experience'
ceived a letter from a student at- 88 „ opposed to those who read
tending Behrend which condemn- nothin ® t>ut text
ed essay examinations. This in- x 3 ‘ T^ ey allow the teacher to;
spired Mr. Burns to write a re- test , the knowledge oC
ply stating his opinions on the 8 and «*“*** oL:
question of essay versus multiple- reward ““ “
choice exams. . -has the larger picture correct
- * even though a' few unimportant':
The thought then occurred to details are wrong,
him that other students might 4 . They allow the teacher to’
also have opinions on this sub- reward the student who - can mar
ject and others pertaining to shal facts and present them effee
methods of grading and lecturing, tively.
He suggested that the Cub run - „ . „ , , .
. . , Tr . , ~ . 5. Finally, they give all students
his letter, and then print the stu- . .
. . practice m handling facts and
T a skill that will probably
The Cub editors agreed that tbe be . more
idea warranted experimentation. life than or idea
Because of the limited space in the exams them
availaJble,. only Portaons of Mr. £elyes _ He summed up letter
Bums’ reply axe stated below. by short> j be iieve
In the first half of his letter that essay exams axe ‘fairer’ to
he mentioned reasons for the un- students in every way. The only
popularity of essay exams, pri- reason, indeed, that I ever use
marily that-the students tend to multiple-choice exams is oecause
feel that the instructor is subjec- I lack the time and energy to
tive rather than objective grade essays. Every time I use
in scoring them, and them, however, I have a ‘sneaky
the standards of the individual feeling’ that I’m really cheating
instructors vary. He then listed students out of something they’re
five reasons why he favors them, paying for, and I. wish I could
1. They allow the teacher to abandon ‘multiple guess’ questions
reward students who have use- immediately and for all time.”
ful knowledge as opposed to those The Cub welcomes replies and
who have no more than vague (Continued on Page 4)
Irene Kelly
the following: writing letters in
the dorm, getting long distance
phone calls during classes,
screaming madly at basketball
games, or doing a ballet in gym
class.
Her main ambitions in life are
to become an elementary teacher
and! to have long hair.