The Daily Collegian Editorial Opinion Surcharge is another example of students shouldering PSU's load Long ago, patriots dumped crates of tea into Boston Har bor to protest higher taxes by the British. Obviously not everyone got the message. More than 200 years later, Penn State students are still victims of taxation without representation. Along with oth er University patrons, we now must pay a surcharge on all athletic and entertainment tickets to come up with the $6 million Penn State owes Centre County in lieu of property taxes. In other words, we are saving the University's butt. Year after year, students are hit to solve the University's financial dilemmas. It is time for our administrators to question the sensibility and fairness of their solutions. Students pay enough in tuition and living expenses; we cannot afford to bail the Uni versity out of every scrape. The Penn State Bookstore on Campus, the Nittany Lion Inn and the two University golf courses also have to contribute to the in lieu tax to the tune of 1 per cent of their gross revenues. Granted, students aren't the only ones who frequent those estab lishments, but they are major consumers. In essence, we will not only foot the bill when we go to a game or show, but also when we buy our books and tee off. Not only should the Universi ty have exhausted all other options before placing its burden on our shoulders, it should have asked for our input. A student advi sory committee could have pushed a "brainstorming session" to new heights. But we were not given that chance. And where were our Under the Collegian daily Monday, August 2, 1993 ©1993 Collegian Inc. Editor Mike Abrams Business Manager Walter F. Gorba The Daily Collegian's ecitorial 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 John Lincoski Opinion Editor Rebecca Fishkin Campus Editor Amanda Thompson Town Editor Amy Zurzola Answering life's bi It seems to me life is the daddy of all road trips. This is proba bly a corny analogy, but it helps organize and clarify my otherwise scattered thoughts, so bear with me and buckle up. I got my keys a long time ago a little kid on a big road. Back then, I had visions and dreams about where my trip would end. I hoped it would successfully take me through high school, mold me into a strong and confident college student and eventually lead to a promising job and a happy adulthood. I've been on the road for a long time now, getting close to the graduation exit, and I have recon sidered my old expectations. Indeed, I finished high school, but I won der if somewhere I made a wrong turn when I became this dishev eled and usually hungover student who is worried about managing a future career when I still can't do my own laundry. Unlike in high school when I knew college was ahead of me, I am Pile it on graduate Student Government officers when the issue was discussed? President Chris Saunders has said he wants to find out the reasons behind the decision and work toward new solutions. But he and Vice President Heather Shore should not only have been aware of those reasons, they should have been involved in the decision and fought on our behalf. Perhaps the University could have arrived at a better solution if USG had been directly involved. The apparently "solid" commu nication that existed last semester between Saunders/Shore and the administration has disappeared the duo was nowhere to be found when the issue was on the table. It is pathetic that our "leaders" have only responded after the fact. My Opinion Rich Peters nervous about where I will be in a year. I am as curious and anxious for the highway ahead as I was then, only now caution is riding shotgun instead of fearlessness. The path is not as defined as it once was. This might be exciting for some road trips, but on the big daddy I'm scared about where I'm headed. I think about what kind of vehi cle I am driving. I'm certain it isn't a flashy Porsche or a well-equipped Winnebago. I think she is more like a large Chevy, hopefully a con vertible and definitely a roadster. Almost everyone at Universi ty Park will attend an enter tainment or athletic event as a student. We should not have to pay even a penny more to see a play or watch a game when we already pay an activity fee with tuition. Today's surcharge may be tomorrow's inflation. In 10 years, Penn State will have fulfilled this particular financial duty. But the simple matter of economics makes it highly doubtful that the Uni versity will slash ticket prices when that time comes. So stu dents will probably continue to pay. It took a full-scale revolution to convince the British that the American people had taken enough. Will it take the same to convince Penn State that we are just sick and tired of picking up the tab? News Editor Michelle Dolman Copy/Wire Editors Todd Gernert, Amata E.B. Kapp Wendy Kops, Sally Kuzemchak Day Sports Editor Ann Tatko Night Sports Editor Michael Weinreb Arts Editor Joey Warminsky Photo Editor Rick Griggs Chief Photographer Mark Pfaff Board of Managers Assistant Business Manager Mad J. Bower Office Manager Danielle M. Gray Sales Manager Ronald R. Lichtinger 11l Layout Manager Frederick Craig Deakin 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. Opinions g questions She has a lot of miles left in her, but there are a few spots of rust. I think she'll be reliable as long as she stays well-tuned for the terrain ahead. I've asked others for directions, but their answers usually confuse me more. Between my parents telling me to start a career, older friends telling me to take some time off and the work force telling me to go back to where I came from, I'm driving in circles. I suppose everyone comes to the crossroads that I'm approaching, but I wonder if they had better maps. Time seems to go by faster as you get older, and right now it is zooming. This summer is already coming to an end, the sun is setting earlier and earlier and I may even be growing a gray hair. I feel old. Of course, my mother is now reading this and trying to rationalize: "How can he say he feels old? He's got his whole life in front of him." Well Ma, I may not be George Burns, but I'm learning that Peter Pan is only a fairytale. It's time to figure out how to do my own laundry. Lion Eyes by Don Lemaire NO 5 - IPAIN 6 ‘t , l TNT &Fab Iraisl%94l Reader Opinion Safety hazard I would like to bring to President Joab Thomas' attention a safety matter con cerning parking lots 44 and 445. It appears the University Parking Office has made a decision to turn off the lighting in those lots at night, thus creating a safety hazzard. I question the common sense of this deci sion for the following reasons: 1. Although a small number of vehicles may park on the lots during the summer, the lack of lighting:increases the risk of crime to persons and property, including rape, vandalism, theft or assault. The lots are a high traffic area for joggers. 2. This makes the University susceptible to damages caused by its own negligence. The lights are a barrier to crime, and turning them off in order to save money is a clear indication of the priorities set forth by the parking office. 3. Penn State has breached a contract with its permit holders. Lighting is a material part of the contract for those who made a decision to purchase a permit based on location and safety conditions in lots 44 or 445. Please look into this situation. Daniel J. Alexy senior-general arts and sciences "I may not be George Burns, but I'm learning that Peter Pan is only a fairytale. It's time to figure out how to do my own laundry." The realization that getting older more than I played Sega. wasn't fun anymore hit me right after At first I was worried about my high school. I crossed a milestone new habits. What was next, nee in my life when I received luggage dlepoint in a rocking chair? I quickly for a graduation present. "Lug- checked to see if I was wearing my gage?" I asked myself, forcing an trousers pulled up too high. The pants artificial smile for my proud par- were OK, but I couldn't do any ents. "Yechhh! Where's the new car? thing about growing into an adult. A set of golf clubs maybe, but I didn't ask for responsibility, it just American Tourister?" crept up on me and took over like That's when it began. Practicali- weeds in the garden of youth. It was ty replaced recreation. Slowly I time to accept it. I had taken a big developed into everything I had been turn on my journey and like it or against in the B.L. (Before Lug- not the gear shifter didn't have gage) era. I found my nights end- reverse. ing earlier and earlier as sleep I also realized lam not the only became more appealing than a 3 a.m. one changing. The whole world is on party. VHI replaced MTV. Ino longer a crazy ride and the scenery is never talked with my mouth full and I the same. Carson and "Cheers" are stopped drinking the milk straight gone. Superman is dead. Mick Jagger from the carton. I started to read just turned 50. And these days, the I HELPYOO? TEI/NNi<S LmNi\l6 , _ Bread and litter I happen to be one of the happy campers Kirsten Terry alluded to in "Babes in the Woods: Confessions of a weekend hiker" in the July 27 The Daily Collegian. In addi tion to making fires and packing the right equipment, I learned an important lesson: bake my own bread. When we reached our camp site, my resouceful campmates Bill, Jeff, Brian and I started a campfire and baked some of the best bread I have had in my life. We held instant dough coated with cinnamon pow der over the fire until it turned crunchy and golden brown. I am sure our croissants would have given Pepperidge Farms a run for its money. Most of the other campers started trickling in to taste our bread. On a more serious note, we found our campsite littered with beer cans, cigarette stubs, toilet paper and condoms. This seemed a sharp contrast to the millions of stars, the owls and the tranquil whispers of the stream. We could tell our Indian cucumbers from our teaberries, but could we tell Mother Nature from our trash cans? Ram Ganeshan graduate-business administration is no Sunday drive Monday, Aug. 2, 1993 C 1993 Collegian Inc. UNITS 3 and 4... N\NE iiv ... WE &or ONE ! Write a letter Do you have an opinion you want to share with your classmates and professors? Have you noticed something on campus or downtown that you think people should know about? If awareness and expression are impor tant to you, don't just tell a few friends. Spread the word and help others know what is going on around them. Write to The Daily Collegian. You can submit letters at the Collegian's business office, 123 S. Burrowes St. Photo identification is required. If you cannot drop your letter off, mail it to the same address. Please include your name and telephone number. Letters should be no longer than two, double-spaced typed pages. Letters up to three pages may be accepted as reader forums. The Collegian reserves the right to reject or edit letters for space and accuracy. All letters become the property of Collegian Inc. Do you have any questions? Please contact opinion editor Rebecca Fishkin at 865-1828. kid on "The Wonder Years" is about as cute as Don King. As I look through the windshield of the cruiser and see everything changing with or without me, I have to accelerate to keep up. This makes it even harder to find the right turn when the signs are so ambiguous. I don't feel out of control as much as uncertain about my destination. There are so many directions to go, but no clear route to take. The decisions I make in the near future will have great impact down the road. I have never been so heedful about which way I steer. On this life-long road trip, I've learned there is no expressway to the easy answers. I'll just have to take it one mile at a time, making sure to slow down to smell the flowers and to speed up near the cow pastures. I guess it's OK to be lost as long as I remain steady on the wheel. Rich Peters is a senior majoring in journalism and a Collegian colum nist.
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