PT —_———_~ La tus bh The Lion’s Eye Opinion December 5, 2005 Editorial Older Students Bring Appreciation for Learning It 1s clear that there are many reasons for adults returning to school to pursuit a higher edu- cation. We've heard from several returning adult students ranging from forty-years-old to over eighty. We've heard everything from wanting to advance in their careers to enjoying the experi- ence of learning, totally changing the direction of their lives, all the way down to simply "not want- ing to rot in front of a television set." Whatever the reason, these returning veterans all have one thing in common that young students lack; real world experience. These older students speak of great admiration for professors and a great appreciation for learn- ing. I recently told a professor "there is nothing in these text books or these walls that truly repre- sents or prepares students for the real world." In a sense, I'm right. But I am also wrong. College 1s a place to grow up, as I have. Itis also a place to be young again and expand your mind, to focus on the things that most often get overlooked out there in the real world. How often do busy business people have the opportunity to stop and truly think about the world around them? How often after the stresses of the hectic work day do people want to come home and turn on the news or examine the rhetor- ical function of a good film? College allows for just that. In college, your job is simply to learn, to explore, and to grow. Perhaps after learning out there in the unforgiving world, the crazy hassles of work and hardship of survival, there can be a greater respect for this institution of higher learn- ing that myself and so many other young students take for granted. So I find myself wondering as I venture off out there into that vast expanse beyond these walls, after the experiences of life, success, failure and age, will I like Lillian and Bob Farrell end up back to school exploring the other side of wis- dom, knowledge and mental success? I leave you with this; success is not measured by material gain, but in true fulfillment of self, wherever that may be. J. Couch. Lots of skiing. Depends on the Working. day. Kunihiko Okabe Amanda Schaub Vic Troiani Education Math. DUS Business Relax and find a full-time job. Hangout, party, relax , and ski. | don’t know yet! Alan Meng Jackie DeSalvo Folake Ojo IST Media Studies Biology What Civil Liberties? Over the course of the past several years, I can't help but believe that the government has started invading our lives and privacy in ways that are probably causing our founding fathers to roll around in their graves. When the founding fathers stated that the government should be "by the people and for the people," they envisioned a government that wouldn't take it upon itself to decide what's best for the citizens. First, I would like to touch on my grievances regarding the 1st Amendment. Over the course of my first year here at PSU Delco, I listened to Howard Stern, the famed "shock jock," on the way to my morning classes. During this past year, the Federal Communications Commission fined him $495,000 for "indecency." So, what is indecency? Quoted directly from the FCC web- site, "Indecent programming contains patently offensive sexual or excretory material that does not rise to the level of obscenity. As such, the courts have held that indecent material is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be banned entirely. It may, however, be restricted in order to avoid its broadcast during times of the day when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audi- ence." If kids might be listening, you can't say anything questionable. So the question that I have to ask is: Where are the kids' parents? We all know that adult humor isn't meant for chil- dren. So, should we ban everything but Sesame Street and Blue's Clues in the name of protecting children? When the Bill of Rights says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of reli- gion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances," does that mean except for question- able content? No. Of course not. In my opinion, the framers wanted the people to individually decide what's best for them. If you don't like what you're watching or listening, turn it off. If no one is tuning into a show on the radio or the TV, ad revenue drops and the company present- ing the material pulls it in favor of something that will bring in more money due to larger audi- ences. : Now, I'd like to touch on my grievances regarding the 4th Amendment. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search- es and seizures, shall not be violated, and no war- rants shall issue, but upon probable cause, sup- ported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the per- sons or things to be seized." After September 11, 2001, we were scared out of our minds. We were willing to do just about anything necessary to ensure our safety. This time, specifically Benjamin Franklin is rolling in his grave. He once said, "They[those] that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safe- ty, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Right now, I think that it's safe to say that America doesn't deserve either. Of course none of us want to die in a ter- rorist attack, But, think about terror- ism for a moment. Terror: Intense, overpowering fear. Ism: A distinctive doctrine, system, or theory. So, terror- ism is a system of instilling an intense, overpowering fear. Well, I have to tell you that right now my terror level in regard to the government is red. In The Patriot Act, among many other pieces of legislation pushed through after 9/11, is chipping away and in some cases blatantly infringing on the 4th amendment, all in the name of keeping Americans safe from terrorism. I've heard many people say this to me: "If you aren't doing anything wrong, you don't have anything to worry about." This is very true in and of itself. However, the problem comes when the government is able to pry its way into our everyday lives without any probable cause. We then become afraid of our government. If we are afraid of our government, then our govern- ment becomes the power as opposed to the peo- ple. With fear comes control, and ultimately the desecration of freedoms which countless people have fought and died for. At this point in our history as a country, we should ask not what our country can do for us, PENNSTATE Delaware The Lion's Epe Lion’s Eye Editorial Board 05°06’ Managing Editor: Sharon Achilles Photo Editor: Matt Kelly Associate Editor: Dan Delaney Copy Editor: Andrew Walter BusinessManagers: ShanaGoldson Sports Editor: Katie News Contributing Staff: David Hardison, Amar Ganti, Sean Collins, Jusin Couch, Michelle Roche, John | Miller, M. Bruder, Frank Friday, P.J. D’Annunzio, Gerry Dungan, Paul Michael Hurych STAFF ADVISOR: Professor Lynn Keyser Contact the Lion’s Eye: email: saal92@@psu.edu, telephone: 610-892-1258, office :202 Comons
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