November 4, 1996 — LION’S EYE — Page 5 Fee For Computers — Worth It Or A Waste? By Laurie Koechert The computers located in the library are a big help to students at Delco. But are the students aware that they pay $70 a semester for a computer fee? Is every student on this campus getting their money’s worth? Is $280 a fair amount of money to pay for four semesters at this campus for computer use? Students are encouraged to get as much use out of the computers on campus whether itis for educational or entertainment purposes. With programs such as e-mail, Netscape, OASIS, and word processing, students have the opportunity to take full advantage of the computer labs here at Delco. However, I'm sure that the main purpose of having a computer lab at college is not to cruise the net or meet other web surfers in a chat room. The computer is a very valuable tool. Any person can access information from almost anywhere around the world, if they know how to properly utilize the computer and its components. I'm sure, almost willing to bet, if we took a poll of students on this campus, more students would know how to gain access to a chat room than research an educational topic. This is where a large problem arises. Students who are trying to research a topic or complete any educational task are always losing out to the web surfers. These surfers can get on the computer and surf for large amounts of time without accomplishing any educational tasks. Those students who are patiently waiting to complete their term paper better just hang loose. I know that all students pay this “computer fee”, but are all students “getting their money’s worth?” I doubt it! Is it because they don’t know how to properly utilize the computer? Probably. I'm sure that some students don’t know how to utilize the computer, but I'm also positive that those of us who do are spending far too much time on non-educational material. What can we do? For those students who do not know how to use the computer I would strongly suggest taking one of the many computer classes offered in the Vairo Library. These classes are considered boring by some, but they are still very valuable. Even if you walk away learning only one new thing about the computer, at least you are that much more “computer literate”. Those students who like to “cruise the net” may not like to hear this, but there should be a mandatory time limit for all students using the computers. This will help cut down the time that others spend waiting to use the computer. I'm not saying that the computer is not supposed to be fun. There are many times that I take advantage of the Internet, but that is on my time, with no one waiting to use the computer, and quite often in my own home. Another suggestion is that the campus should use the local portion of the computer fee ($35) to increase the size of the current computer labs or add new ones. ' Students should not have to pay $70 a semester for the privilege of waiting to use a computer. Bottom line, these computers are at Penn State Delco for educational purposes. So whatever your computer pleasure is, enjoy it here while you can, but don’t infringe on other people’s rights in doing so. A time limit is needed. : Student Life & The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Friends Alliance Presents . . . LGB FILM FEST 1996 “GO FISH” Wed., November 13th 5:00 p.m. — Lion’s Den FREE FOOD & ADMISSION Discussion Afterwards All are welcome to attend!!!! PSU Literary Magazine Submit poetry, essays and art ‘work to the Student Life Office by November 8th. Look for the first issue soon! Questions? Contact Lisa Colucci at LBC107@psu.edu. All students and faculty are welcome to submit entries. Campus Survey Campus cheerleaders march down Baltimore Pike representing Penn State at the Media Day Parade. Photo by Sally Ent Cheerleaders Are Athletes Not Cute Little Floosies By Lisa Colucci The World Book Dictionary defines “athlete” as a person trained in exercises of physical strength, speed, and skill. This dictionary also defines “sport” as a game, contest, or other pastime requiring some skill and usually a certain amount of physical activity. Judging by this reliable dictionary, cheerleaders are athletes, and cheerleading is a sport. But the common stereotype associated with cheerleaders is “a bunch of floozies in short skirts”. Let's clear this apparent contradiction. Seven years of cheering has taken a toll on me. The cause of the two surgeries on my left knee was not due to twirling my hair! The eight hours of practice a week, the football games, ‘the men’s and women’s basketball games, the competitions, and the gymnastics- that is what did it. Cheerleaders exist to support the other sports teams and school functions. But ask any cheerleader if he or she feels respected for this service to the school. I highly doubt that his or her answer will be a positive one. The core of cheerleading is spirit and support. Isn't it only fair that their support for others be returned? The problem is that the support is not returned in most cases, and the respect is blatantly absent. This image of weak little girls in short skirts is ridiculous. Balancing a human being who is standing straight up on your bare hands is hardly weak. Cheerleading requires extreme coordination. You must have strength to lift other girls, balance to do stunts, flexibility and power to jump and flip, rhythm to dance, and body heat to cheer in twenty degree weather for all of those football players! Remember, cheerleaders are out in that weather wearing a lot less than those men on the fields. The reason for the short skirts? Try doing a back hand spring wearing a sweater and a skirt that falls to your ankles. Basically, the style of the uniform was designed for freedom of the joints, which is required in order to perform the actions of a cheerleader. To be honest, wearing bulky clothing is simply dangerous for such a sport. People claim that you have to be pretty to be a cheerleader. Not true. Do you actually think that Penn State would accept a girl with two left feet just because she is pretty? If cheerleaders are pretty, don’t hate them because they are beautiful. If you still believe in those uneducated stereotypes of cheerleaders, contact a cheerleader and ask them to show you the ropes. Let's see if you can handle it. ‘Are You Voting In This Year’s Election? By Margie Henry “Yes, it makes a difference and | want to stand up and be counted.” — Jamie “Yes, by not voting you let someone DiFrancesco, 1st semester, L.A.S. else vote for you.” — Katie Buckley, 3rd Photo by Margie Henry = semester, L.A. Photo by Margie Henry “Yes, because every vote counts.” — Joe Sorbaro, 1st semester, BA. : Photo by Margie Henry “No, because | don’t like either candi- date.” — Christi Robinson, 1st semes- ter, L.A.S. Photo by Margie Henry
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers