Republicans Hold Abortion Debate In South Hall
by Martin Furman
After a month of planning and two
cancellations, the college Republicans finally
had their first event last week, “The Abortion
Debate” With a large showing from both the
Pro- Life and Pro-Choice sides, the debate was
a great success.
Dr. Frank Schell of The Pennsylva
nians for Human Life of Scranton and Denise
Laskos of The Pennsylvanians for Human Life
of Hazleton were the speakers for Pro - Life
Advisine continued
“The problem with the current aca
demic advising system boils down to poor
communication, lack of motivation, and con
sequently lack of interest, “ says Rob Venema,
chairperson of the Academic Advising Com
mittee. Students often times find the advising
system confusing with all of the different forms
of supplemental material (ie: blue books, de
gree audit forms, etc.) none of which is clear
about what a student should and should not do.
As a result of this, combined with the differing
advice received fromfellow students and teach
ers, as well as the apparently poor advice of
their advisors, many students have found them
selves dealing with at least one problem in
transferring to university park and/or declaring
a major in their fourth semester. ‘ ‘However,
Rob goes on to explain, * ‘the problem does not
lie entirely with the system. Many times an
enthusiastic advisor becomes discouraged
when, students don’t come to them for advice.
Planned Parenthood Celebrates Condom Week
by Kristen Beam
Planned Parenthood has designated
February 13 -19, the week of Valentine’s Day,
National Condom Week.
According to Brenda Long, the center
Manager of the Northeastern Pennsylvania
Planned Parenthood, national Condom Week
has been going on for about five years.
Long described National Condom
Week as “a time to think about and discuss
condoms with your partner. ’ ’ She went on to
say that it is a light-hearted way to initiate
discussion on such an important topic as
condom use.
Planned Parenthood is celebrating this
week by giving out free condoms and instruc
tion sheets on ways to initiate conversation
with your partner. There are also pamphlets
available, that outline the benefits of using
condoms, such as for birth control, or defense
against the HIV - virus.
Long remarked on the large amount of
response and community support the center
■om page 1
and Elizabeth Volz from Philadelphia was the
speaker for Pro - Choice.
Approximately 50 people showed up
for the debate in the South Hall Lobby. The
questions that were asked were great from
both sides and the speakers responded ex
tremely well.
With Joe Spado as the moderator, the
discussion was kept under control thanks to
Over a period of time, this leads advisors to
believe that students just don’t care - when in
fact, most students are just too confused with
all the conflicting information they receive,
especially about “apathetic” advisors.”
However the academic advising com
mittee as well as Joe Spado, SGA President,
and Janice D. Hayes, Head of Senate, don t
feel that the current advising system should be
completely abandoned. “We are currently
speaking with members of the administration
and are planning on a meeting with the faculty
and the academic advising center, and have
circulated a student poll, in hopes of getting
everyone’s input into the various problems, “
says Rob Venema. The committee hopes that
with the information gathered from the student
poll, as well as the guidance of concerned
faculty and administrators, the SGA Senate
will be able to present a proposal detailing
has received. A wide variety of people have elderly gentleman went in and picked u]
stepped into the Planned Parenthood offices condoms for his grandson
for condoms. For example, Long noted an
P Planned Parenthood na I lON \l < ONDOM WF.F.K
of North East Pennsylvania FI lUO ARV (4-19
f'nndoin' npiirri Against l
M,I>S
+ Si-Mntl\ 1 1 msmittcd Infections
fin In/leton ( enter
dm ini? Hntinml < ondom Week
I 800-230-PLAN 1 ree
10 II f hi'itnui '< In I t
lln-h'rn I 1!
the crowd staying calm. Things got graphic
toward the end when Dr. Schell showed grue
some pictures of aborted fetuses however,
things still stayed calm.
Keep your eyes out in the near future
for more events by the College Republicans.
Meetings are Tuesdays at 6: 30 p.m. in
South Hall Lobby. Come and see what
we’re all about!
effective and efficient solutions that adminis
tration will have no problems putting into
effect. ‘ ‘We firmly believe that these problems
are ones that can be corrected. Our main
concern lies in getting the support of the
faculty and the administration - we want them
to know that we are interested in their input,
and in getting the cooperation of the adminis
tration on passing our proposal,” say Joe
Spado, SGA President. “However, we also
want every student to know that whether or
not we accomplish those goals, we will fight
for their right to a better academic advising
system and the appropriate changes will be
made one way or the other.
Forthose interested in findingout more
about the problem and what is being done, or
for those who want to get involved fell free to
contact Rob Venema, Academic Advising
Chairman, at 450 -3312 or the SGA office at
454 - 5785.