— LION’S EYE — November 4, 1996 Editorial Stop Bitching: Go Vote! By Mary Doolittle There is something wrong with our country when the first Tuesday of November comes around and not every American has visited the polls. Itis a far cry to call our nation a republic when those who have been given the power to vote choose not to. As I embark on my third semester, still unsure of what I want to do with my life (as I am sure many others are), I am taking on one of the greatest responsibilities my country has put before me, voting. Why do I make voting seem like such a big deal? Because it is. Voting is the opportunity to let people hear your voice. Whether you want to have an abortion, be married to someone of the same sex, or make drugs legal. This Presidential election is especially important as we come upon a new millennium. Over the past 10 years we have witnessed dramatic changes in our world. We have seen the Berlin Wall come down, Poland, Rumania, Czechosolvakia and the Soviet Union become democracies, and the AIDS epidemic become a recognizable world wide plague. There are three candidates who are contenders to represent us world wide. These three men are supposedly the best. However, we the people have made it so that they are the best. We allowed them to get this far in the campaign. If you don’tlike the candidates, you must ask yourself how they got this far? Did you not let your voice be heard or did someone else just talk “I get ajada listening to my peers and myself sit around bitching and complaining about the injustices that exist in our lives.” louder? We must look inside ourselves and find our truths and use them when voting. We must look into the candidates and do the same. We must judge heavily what is the best for our country. I get ajada listening to my peers and myself sit around bitching and complaining about the injustices that exist in our lives. Sol will stop complaining and “do something” about it. To those pseudo-martyrs still complaining, all I have to say is, no one is oppressed at PSU Delco: no woman, no particular ethnic group, or even those financially burdened (which I am). So please stop carrying your ancestors’ crosses. However, if you choose fo carry a burden: take on the civic responsibilities that our country has asked of us, as the price of freedom, like voting. Take a stand and stand by your convictions. Voting on November 5 is the first step. There are so many problems that exist today: taxes, education, and health care, as well as violence and crimes. I understand that our county is very petty, and a presidential election basically consists of bashing the opposition and making promises that the candidates half-heartily pledge. But we must remember what is at stake, nothing less than the future of our friends, family and offspring. So on November 5, if you think of not voting, go home and watch Braveheart. Think about Arthur Ashe, Aimee Williard, and the young future noble peace prize winner whose hasn’t been given a chance and is looking to be found. Think of the bald eagle, your future and the air your children will breath. Think of the people in other countries and those in ours. Then convince yourself it doesn’t matter who is elected. P.S. Remember Doolittle in 2016 for President. THE LION’S EYE Vol. XXVIII, No. 4 The Pennsylvania State University November 4, 1996 Delaware County Campus EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Laurie Koechert Greg Jurkowski Ibk104@psu.edu gsj101@psu.edu STAFF Daniel Abbondi Margie Henry David Metcalf Tamica Beckham JoAnne Johnson Maureen McAndrews Lisa Colucci Paco Laborde Christina Papa Mary Doolittle Erin Lulevitch Amy Winnemore ADVISERS Barbara Daniel John Terrell The LION’S EYE is published monthly during the academic year by the students of the Delaware County Campus. Submissions are welcome from all students, faculty and staff. Material must be typed, double spaced, and submitted in the LION'S EYE mailbox located in the Club Room. Letters, articles and cartoons represent only the views of their authors. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect editorial opinion. THE LION’S EYE regrets it cannot guarantee the return of any material submitted. All submissions are subject to editing. ~ semester English student. Opinion & Review Students are hard at work on various school tasks at the computer lab in he Vairo Library. Debate Continues On LIAS ~ By Tamica Beckham In the October issue of The Lion's Eye, the problem of the “clogged computer rooms” due to LIAS classes was discussed from the students’ point-of-view. In response to that article, Ms. Susan Ware, research librarian and LIAS program coordinator, provided insights on the situation. She provided facts about the LIAS program which students may not realize. Some students have responded to those facts. -Fact one: “Room 201F Vairo Library is first and foremost a library classroom, not a computer lab,” says Ms. Ware. -Fact two: “In 1995 15 additional computers were acquired in rooms 214Main & 215Main to make computers available to students. The Vairo Library then offered to share its classroom space in 201F,” says Ms. Ware. Tracey Barco, a junior, says, “These rooms should not have been offered by anyone. For the amount of tuition that I am paying it should be available at all times. -Fact three: “The computers in 201F are reserved for only a small fraction of the available service hours. LIAS Workshops have been scheduled in 201F for 1 hour each day, Monday-Friday. 201F is also needed on a flexible scheduling basis in By Daniel J. Abbondi Zero reports of public drunkenness, zero arrests of individuals involved in drug related situations, and only three incidents of students drinking on campus according to official campus records. “That's Delco?” responds a 3rd semester student. Apparently, more alcohol and drug related incidents occur than what campus records account for. Student’s opinions at Penn State are of wide variety. “Drugs made me a better Christian” says a 2nd I almost always have some with ine, they simply make me a better person.” He ends claiming in a hearty tone “I love drugs.” Friends of the individual concur with him, admitting to usually having drugs within reach on campus as well. stupid, but smoking up (marijuana) makes everything better. Almost everyone does it a little,” states a 3rd year student. Penn State security officials - acknowledge the problem, but to a lesser degree. Arrests are difficult to make because students must be seen committing the act. Thus, the public records do not fully reflect what really goes on. “Drinking before class is order to provide library instruction for various course-related research assignments,” says Ms. Ware. Tony Carpenter and Meredith Daniels, sophomores, say, “The times that these LIAS workshops are being held are always on common hour, the time of the day when almost every student is trying to prepare work. Why can’t they have these workshops later in the day?” -Fact four: “Forty computers are now available in Vairo Library in two open, unreserved labs. Twenty Power Macintosh computers with CD-ROM drives and full networking capability are located directly outside of Room 201F,” says Ms. Ware. Senior Charlena Woodford replies, “But there are always more than twenty students who need the computers, and now every student is paying $140.00 a year for computer use.” Now it is fair to say that the facts ‘given by Ms. Susan Ware are truly helpful, although maybe not convincing to some students. It is also important to’ mention for all the students who have not looked at their student bill, that their computer fees have increased to $70 a semester. Students would like to have LIAS offered at an hour other than common hour, and the staff would like the students to appreciate the total picture in considering the availability of the computers in room 201F. ‘Roach Clips Replace Books Furthermore, says a group of students, “Most of the drug use takes place off of campus, so the campus security really can’t do anything about it.” Student reaction to the drug use on campus varies. “Drugs are for recreational use, like on weekends. Something is wrong with those people who even drink before class,” states a 3rd semester ‘history student. “Drugs are simply a waste of good time and good people. Anything introduced into a person’s body that is not natural cannot be good for the person,” replies 4th semester English major. On an opposite note, “Drugs kick ass!” shouts an anonymous student passing by, “I would be lost without them. Anyone who wants to keep them illegal makes me sick!” Although there’s a lot of disagreement surrounding the issue of drug use on campus, most agree the situation is not likely to change in the near future. “What could happen?” asks a 1st semester art student. “As long as no one is ever caught, people will continue to use drugs on and off campus before class. That's the way it is and nothing is going to change it.”
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