10 The Daily Collegian Editorial Opinion Retention is the key Recruitment is not enough; keeping minorities at PSU needs improvement Last week, a group of black lawmakers in Pennsylvania called on state-funded colleges and universities to develop plans to boost minority recruitment or face a possible funding cut. Penn State officials respond ed to the call, confidently say ing that they have made "some real progress" toward increas ing enrollment. And they have made some, as minority enroll ment has risen 7 percent since last fall. Recruiting in minority neigh borhoods, increasing schol arships and financial aid and inviting prospective students to campus helped the University improve its diversity. But the work is not done. While enrollment is up, keep ing underrepresented students at Penn State is lacking. Adminis trators must address the issue of retention with the same vigor that has been given to recruitment. Only then will more minority students remain at Penn State. z;Collegian Thursday, Oct. 17, 1991 ©1991 Collegian Inc. Editor Isabel Molina Business Manager Wendy L. Frank The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor holding final responsibility. Opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of The Daily Collegian, Collegian Inc. or The Penn sylvania State University. Collegian Inc., pub lishers of The Daily Collegian and related publications, is a separate corporate institution from Penn State. Board of Editors Managing Editor Joe Tarr Opinion Editor Lisa M. Zollars Asst. Opinion Editor Kevin C. Naff Editorial Assistant John T. Lincoski Campus Editor Dana DiFilippo Mat. Campus Editor Bridget A. Mount Town Editor Tom B. Smithyman Asst. Town Editor Greg A. Scopino News Editors Beth Higbee, Andy M. Hunn CopylWlre Editors Dave S. Eichler, Karen Guth Jessica Hartshom, Adrienne L. Payne Sue Ramsey Sports Editor Laura Eckert Assistant Sports Editors Nick Gill, Jeff Pratt Dave Stevenson Magazine Editor Chris A. Otto Asst. Magazine Editor Chris Martin Arts Editor Shannon Kokoska Asst. Arts Editor Alisa D. Bauman Features Coordinator Kimi Eisele Women should be responsible for abortion decisions Last week, I was having lunch at the HUB with two friends. While we were eating, Jason and Missy acknowledged a flyer on the bulletin board. I looked over and was completely appalled. It read, "Should we punish rap ists by killing their children?" I'm sorry, but the notion of kill ing the children as a punishment to the rapist is disgusting (not to mention offensive to rape victims). But killing the child should be an option for the mother. As far as the part "their child" is concerned, the rapist did not set out to inpregnate the woman. The fact that the woman got pregnant is a misfortune resulting from a vio lent crime. The rapist's opinion is worthless because he is not a proper father or role model. He is gone. He will provide neither love nor mon ey for this child. The rapist has no right to influ ence the personal decisions of this violated woman, whose trust in men he has permanently damaged. An abortion in a rape situation in no way punishes the rapist. Forcing the victim to carry the rapist's child is to punish an innocent woman. Some of you are probably leary of reading another column on the abortion issue. I'm just so damn tired University President Joab Thomas said that everything has been done to increase recruit ment. But, higher enrollment figures are not valuable unless the retention numbers are just as high. Many steps have been taken to improve the campus climate at the University, such as adding the diversity requirement. Howev er, the climate could be better. Building a new Paul Robeson Cultural Center would help improve retention by showing the administration's dedication to addressing the needs of under represented groups. Unfortu nately, this project has not yet been undertaken. The University has taken positive steps in its efforts to attract more minority students. But administrators cannot stop now. Officials must continue efforts to boost enrollment and develop more effective pro grams to improve retention. Photo Editor Jeff A. Farrar Chief Photographer Mike Kubel Board of Managers Assistant Business Manager Heather L. King Accounting Manager Kristin A. Jones Office Manager Tracy L. Risser Asst. Office Manager Jeffrey W. Pilot Sales Manager David E. Weiss Asst. Sales Manager James R. Fetterod Layout Manager Courtney L. Caswell Marketing Manager Thomas G. Dernetriou Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. If a complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, some grievances may be filed with the Accuracy and Fair Play Committee of Collegian Inc. Information on filing grievances is available from Gerry Lynn Hamilton, executive secretary, Collegian Inc. Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian encourages comments on news coverage, editorial policy and University affairs. Letters must be typewritten, dou ble-spaced and no longer than one and one-half pages. Forums must also be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than three pages. Students' letters should include semester standing, major and campus of the writer. Letters from alumni should include the major and year of graduation of the writer. All writers should provide their address and phone number for verification of the letter. Letters should be signed by no more than two people. Names may be withheld on request. The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for length and to reject letters if they are libelous or do not conform +o standards of good taste. Because of the number of letters received, the Collegian cannot guarantee publication of all the letters it receives. Letters may also be selected for publication in The Weekly Collegian. All letters received become the property of Collegian Inc. Letters and forums from University Park and State College: Please deliver any submissions in person at the office of The Daily Collegian; 123 S. Burrowes St. All authors must be present with picture identification either University ID or photo drivers license when presenting the letter or forum. Mail other letters to: The Daily Collegian; 123 S. Burrowes St.; University Park, Pa. 16801-3882. My Opinion of people pontificating about the whole subject. Nobody has the right to tell you how to think or act. I am male. There it is my basic reasoning for being pro-choice. Pretty simple. Carrying and bearing a child is probably the most unique of all human experiences. No matter how concerned, supportive, and loving a father is during the pregnancy and birth, a man cannot fully under stand the magic, pain, and emo tions of a woman involved in creating a child. Thus, someone should not have a dominant voice in controlling something he cannot understand. Regardless of his attitude toward the pregnancy, the ultimate decision lies with the woman carrying the child. Opinions She is the one who has to struggle with mammalian, maternal instincts. She should and will have the final choice. I don't feel or imply that a par ticipatory father should have no input. That is my response to "what if it was your child?" The man involved (husband or boyfriend) has the right to petition the woman with his opinions because they are valid and should be heard. Showing his acceptance of responsibility and his support is an applaudable, egalita rian step. However, let's think about that. If a woman is absolutely set on hav ing an abortion and her boyfriend says she can't, do you honestly think she will carry that baby for nine months just to please him? No matter which way the pregnant woman chooses to go, it is she who must live with the emotional consequences of her decision for the rest of her life. It scares me to think that the Supreme Court, especially with newly-confirmed Clarence "Long Dong Silver" Thomas, could over turn ~Roe vs. Wade this year. How can we let a court of eight men and one woman decide what all women can and cannot do with their own bodies? It's wrong . .. and illogical. OREEC,Olllm4gi9Oi Pigmy* Reader Opinion Don't scoff at issue The Judge Thomas/Professor Hill hear ings on sexual harrassment stirred debate among our peers like few issues have in the past. These proceedings have forced peo ple to look at a societal problem that most people do not even recognize. Somewhere down the middle of the two testimonies lies the truth. The discrepancies of this par ticular case reflect the conflict of most sexual harrassment incidents. Sexual harrassment permeates our society, but most people do not recognize it. The man throws a comment or makes a joke; the woman feels degraded or inferior. No one calls it harrassment. The intention is not malicious, but the reaction is not irratio nal. What starts from "harmless" jokes, "meaningless" comments and "uninten tional" inuendos concerning sex and male superiority results in harrassment, assault and even rape. The individual making the joke does not necessarily become the person committing the rape, but societal toler ance of such remarks reinforces, and approves the mindset that exists. Many people scoff at the sexual harrassment issue, but it cannot be laid to rest until it is mit igated or solved because too many people, both men and women, are victims. Lena L. Laaken senior-international politics Nicole A. Barclay senior-music history and piano performance Take a stand I am one of many disenfranchized peo ple waiting to be represented in local government. I am one of many in student government confused about where Jim Van Horn, borough council candidate, stands on the issues. The important question for me pertains to the issue I thought Jim and I were in agreement on. The issue is fair housing for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people of State College. My confusion stems from Jim's appea rent case of political split personalities. During last year's Undergraduate Student Government election, in which Jim ran for president, he stated that he was opposed to "It scares me to think that the Supreme Court, especially with newly-confirmed Clarence "Long Dong Silver" Thomas, could overturn Roe vs. Wade this year." Women should decide the abor tion issue not a bunch of con servative men, According to a recent Miami Herald column, the majori- . ty of male politicians use the abortion issue as political strategy. Many male politicians don't vote how they feel. Instead, they vote according to how they think will get them re-elected. That's sad. Men should just stay out and let women decide. Pro-lifers cannot honestly think abortions will stop by reversing Roe vs. Wade. An increase of over priced, black market abortions and unsafe self-abortions would result. The coat hanger will not only be a symbol but a reality. Many preg nant women will lose their lives in botched-up, unlicensed abortions yeah, that really exemplifies pro-life to me. Remember, being pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion. I think a 30- year-old yuppie woman aborting her child because it will hurt her career discrimination against gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals. He was a strong advocate for including sexual orientation into Penn State's non-discrimination policy. During the campaign Jim made an appearance before the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Student Alliance. At the meeting the not only stated his support for the non-discrimination policy, he also supported fair housing. Since then, I have come to understand that Jim is against the Fair Housing proposal. What I don't undertand is how someone can be oppposed to discrimination in employ ment and endorse discrimination in hous ing? Since many of Jim's friends are gay or gay-supportive, I cannot believe that he would want them to be turned down, or worse evicted from their place of residence because of their sexual orientation. There are some who say that Jim Van Horn has only one agenda, his own. I hope they are wrong. If you think Jim will represent your concerns remember this, if th past speaks for itself, then your issues and beliefs maybe used as a stepping stone to political office and then abandoned after election day. Please vote responsibly. Executive Coordinator Underrepresented Groups USG Art is political This is in response to the Oct. 11 opinion column by Laura Ward. As a senior, an English major none the less, I expected a little more mature, intelligent, rational argument from Ward. To call public offi cials who have been elected 'pinheads" and "wisdomless" is not only silly but also insulting to the people ("saps") who took the time to vote. Why not try writing to yoilr Do you have something to say? Have you been reflecting on the state of the world? 123 S. Burrowes St. Has reading The Daily Collegian over a bowl of cereal University Park, Pa. 16801-3882 each day been putting you in a bad mood? You can share your thoughts with the rest of Penn States campuses or let us have it by writing a letter to the editor. State College and University Park residents may submit letters in person at 123 S. Burrowes St. with photo identification. Others may write to: The Daily Collegian Letters to the Editor is morally wrong. Abortions used as a method of convenient birth con trol is disturbing, too. Abortions should be used, if the woman chooses, in cases of rape, incest, inability to care for the child, and life-threatening situations. How can a woman on welfare with sev eral hungry children, no other family support and no job properly care for a newborn baby? Worse yet, what about a drug abuser? Are we going to make a woman with a crack problem carry out her pregnancy? Have you ever seen a crack baby born disfigured or with no limbs? This drug abuser won't care for her child. Are you willing to take care of the thou sands of deformed crack babies out there? There's not enough woman or manpower. That crack baby, if it survives, will live in constant pain and misery. What kind of life is that? Many opponents will say that abortion is murder, but is a fetus an Thursday, Oct. 17, 1991 FEAR NOT! I, THE UNITED STATES SENATE, SMALL DEFEND `CU FROM NIS SEXUAL. GOO representatives and senators and telling them how you feel instead of calling names? Or, better yet, how about rallying support for a canidate who better represents your concerns and opinions. I agree with the ideas that censorship is unamerican and that no person(s), cer tainly no government, has the right or responsibilty to regulate what is"obscene." But, as an artist, philosopher, and politi cally active taxpayer, I see art as a per sonal reflective experssion of life. The government should not be involved at all. That's not to say art shouldn't be political. On the contrary, art should be as polit ical as it is religious or emotional. If the NEA is going to give artists financial support, then why shouldn't the - NEA choose on criteria it sets who can receive or not? Many non profit organizations and private education institutions refuse to request or take government aid for the sole reason that by taking the money, they can be told how to spend or on what not to spend. Art is something spiritual and if it is bought or traded, it should be done so because others get feeling from it. Art is not something done just to make money. Money should never be the motivation for expressing one's self artistically. Artists who can't financially support themselves on the sales of their creations should get jobs to meet the basic needs, but they shouldn't expect the gov ernment or anyone else to do this for them. Commercialism is the raping of art. Todd A. Morgan junior-philosophy Michael LaFlam All writers must provide phone number and address for verification. Letters may be no longer than one and a half typewritten, double-spaced pages. Letters of up b three pages may be submitted as forums. The Collegian reserves the right to condense or reject submissions. Submissions become the property of Collegian Inc. Direct questions to Lisa Zollars, opinion editor, (814) 865-1828. "Dear Collegian..." • *mak actual living human being? Nobody, except God, knows for sure, but I don't think it's murder. A friend of mine said he didn't think a fetus was a human being until it could live outside the mother's womb without the aid of extensive technology. I agree, since there have been a few documented cases of babies who were born in the latter part of the second trimester sur viving without extensive life sup port. I also agree with the idea that an abortion should not be done after the first trimester, unless some pregnancy-related complication threatens the mother's life. I truly think all men should be pro choice simply because of their gender. Men should let the burden of the decision rest upon the women who will bear the children. If I make a mistake by leaving it all up to women, then I'm sorry. Then I'll have to live with the consequences of my decision for the rest of my life just like a woman has to if she decides to have an abortion or not. Mistake or not, I believe in the end . . . God will love us all. Frank Lau is a senior majoring in business logistics and a Thursday columnist for The Daily Collegian.
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