6 The Daily Collegian
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Women athletes deserve respect
for dedication in unequal world
Tina Nicholson, Kristy Yam
aguchi, Char Morrett, Jackie
Joyner-Kersee. All of these names
should ring a bell in almost every
one's head.
To many people even the
sports gurus of Penn State
those names are not associated
with anything other than women's
athletics. But for a large number
of young people those women are
heroines, role models and innova
tors in their sports and their lives.
They are lifetime athletes who
knew at the starting gate that
they were not going to earn large
amounts of money like profes
sional male athletes, for doing
what they love most to play.
To play basketball, to play field
hockey, to play soccer, to play vol
leyball. To skate to shoot, to dive
head first, to swim, to jump.
Through their athletic endeavors,
women athletes nationwide and at
Penn State have proved that all
men and women are cried equal,
despite programs and emphasis
that may suggest otherwise.
Tomorrow is National Women in`
Sports Day, and it commences
Women's History Month. The
Dubois Campus is holding a cele-
bration of women and sports
tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to
promote awareness. The event will
showcase local women's sports
teams and have information about
the all-important Title IX.
The opinions page is an open forum for disciiSildn for the entire
Penn State community. Diverse viewpoints in columns, reader
forums and letters to the editor are encouraged to promote an
ongoing intellectual dialogue on issues important to our readers.
=Collegian
Friday, March 1, 1996
©1996 Collegian Inc.
Editor in Chief
Courtney Cairns
Business Manager
Randy Abrams
The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is deter
mined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor
holding final responsibility. Opinions
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essarily those of The Daily Collegian, Colle
gian Inc. or The Pennsylvania State University.
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Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian encourages corn
Pulled teeth, healthy skin and Brad Pitt compose local's break
OK, so those of you who are
actually here probably don't
care what my column is
about. As you sit though your final
classes if you decide to go to
them there's probably one
thought on your mind: spring
break.
At Penn State, the break starts
sometime around Wednesday the
week before, when people start
going to Florida instead of class. By
Friday afternoon, classes usually
have a 1:1 professor/student ratio.
Spring break is a misnomer. Why
call it spring when the vernal
equinox is weeks away? During our
alleged "spring" break, there is
always at least one blizzard; either
we get snowed in at State College,
or we get snowed in trying to
return. Why can't be have a spring
break when it's actually spring?
Everyone's solution to this inhos
pitable weather? Go to Florida, of
course. Pay a lot of money to go be
Heroines
Before Title IX was passed in
1972, women at the scholastic and
collegiate level did not have a
strong representation in athletics.
Title IX made it possible for
women to participate in as many
sports as men. Today, all high
schools and universities offer the
same amount of sports for men
and women.
But women's athletics programs
still are not put on the same level
as men's. The University has 14
men's and women's varsity teams,
but looking at the attendance of
women's games versus men's
shows drastic inequalities. Most
women's basketball games are
free, and students still cannot fill
the Bryce Jordan Center; yet for
men's games, students will camp
out to get good seats.
Is it the University's problem?
Or is it our problem, as students
to fix the inequalities?
It's a little bit of both.
Next year, University Park
should follow Dubois' lead and
celebrate women and sports. And
students must give much
deserved respect to women's ath
letic teams by attending their con
tests.
These are just two small steps
in the fight to end inequalities
between men and women.
But small steps lead to big
changes, and that's the ultimate
goal.
ments on news coverage, editorial policy and Univer
sity affairs. Letters must be typewritten, double
spaced and no longer than two pages. Forums must
also be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer
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Students' letters should include semester standing,
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should include the major and year of graduation of
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ters should be signed by no more than two people.
Names may be withheld on request.
The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for
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not conform to standards of good taste. Because of
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ters may also be selected for publication in The
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rowes St.: University Park, Pa., 16801-3882.
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Weekly Collegian are published by Collegian Inc., an
independent, nonprofit corporation with a board of
directors composed of students, faculty and profes
sionals. Students of The Pennsylvania State Universi
ty write and edit both papers.
with people who have paid a lot of
money to look at each other on the
Going to Florida seems like a
horrendous idea. I can say this
without fear of nasty or reproach
ful letters because most of the pea
ple who are going to Florida are
already sunning themselves.
For one thing, going somewhere
far away is expensive. For another,
it's a proven fact that people do
themselves irreparable psychologi-
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A more human world
Thank you for the diversity articles on
the graduate and undergraduate students
Feb. 21 and 22. We hear so much negative
talk about diversity that its a pleasant sur
prise to hear something positive for a
change.
I have been writing about diversity
issues at Penn State since 1988 when I
wrote the Kaleidiscope of Cultures pro
gram for the College of Education. I have
served on the University Faculty Senate as
a graduate student and on numerous com
mittees for the University, and am now
pursuing a doctorate in multicultural edu
cation in the Interdisciplinary Graduate
School Program.
It is now up to us to educate each other
in schools and in the community about the
contributions all people have made in the
building of our communities. Multicultural
education is a way to pull our Afrocentric
and Eurocentric brothers and sisters
together to not exclude but to include, and
to have appreciation for the contributions
of everyone. Did not black people fight for
liberation during the Holocaust? Did
blacks help to protect the settlers in the
West? Did the U.S. Army reward Native
Americans and black people for fighting
against each other for the benefit of the
pioneers in the West?
Some of us are composed of three differ
ent races (African, European, Indian)
which makes us multiracial if not multicul
tural. Multicultural education is a way for
white, black, Hispanic, and Asian people,
and others to share their knowledge, histo
ry, and culture. Some of our history may
be painful, but in order to develop a better
appreciation for the contributions made by
the less recognized in society we must
cal harm by trying to squeeze
themselves into bathing suits in the
middle of winter. Some people
actually try to prepare themselves
for break by working out before
hand and going to tanning salons.
Now, there's nothing wrong with
working out and trying to get ade
quate exercise as a general rule.
But it seems stupid to try to work
out for the sole purpose of looking
good in a bikini for a few days.
Equally stupid are the people who
are going to tanning beds, exposing
themselves to radiation so they'll be
a nice, toasty brown before they
even set foot in the sand.
Instead, you can just go home,
wherever that is. My first year, I
went home to Boalsburg and
promptly got snowed in. School
was canceled for my brothers, so
we were just one big happy family
in one very small house.
Home does have its good points,
though. For most of us, home
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I hope other students will see and under
stand the need to define for themselves a
true definition for cultural diversity, mul
ticultural education, cultural awareness
and concern for others. The history of
Penn State as well as America is fruitful
with contributions made by all Americans,
but we need to uncover and explore the
impact of contributions made by the less
represented among us. Please join today in
helping our less informed brothers and sis
ters realize that without the support of all
people from the "Buffalo Soldiers" to
"Native Americans" from those who
served in the Revolutionary War, the Span
ish-American War, the Civil War, World
War I, World War 11, Vietnam, Persian
Gulf War and every American battle in the
world, if we had not fought together then
our world history may have been com
pletely different.
0 Pcofl-s- Msoc/A-TE,D Wm}
"I would discuss staying in State College over spring
break but, as a townie, I can tell you that this place
becomes a ghost town. Get out while you still can."
offers benefits better than beaches
and sunshine: free food, for exam
ple. Laundry facilities. You can go
home for a week, watch "The Price
is Right" and the Home Shopping
Network, maybe even open a book,
and return with a new appreciation
for the State College social scene.
I would discuss staying in State
College over spring break but, as a
townie, I can tell you that this place
becomes a ghost town. Get out
while you still can.
My fun plans for this week begin
with one thrilling event: getting my
wisdom teeth out. After each vaca
tion, there are a few people who
come back as veterans of the oral
surgeon, each one with a uniquely
learn it anyway. Please join now to change
tomorrow to make the world more under
standing, accepting, trusting and more
human.
Andrew Jackson Sr.
academic adviser/instructor-
College of Education
URGENT
I am writing this letter to inform stu
dents that there is a little girl who needs
help. On Feb. 21, I received an E-mail mes
sage from my friend who sent me some
disturbing news. The E-mail message told
me about a friend of his who has a sister
that is suffering from leukemia, and that
she needs a bone marrow transplant very
quickly! Therefore she needs a donor. I
have enclosed this letter for students in
order to get information on how to help:
Friends:
My twelve year old sister has Leukemia
and needs a bone marrow transplant to
survive, but has no blood-related siblings.
Her name is Karen, and she is one-half
Korean and one-half North American
(European descendants). Finding out
whether one is an appropriate donor
requires only a blood test. All expenses for
the donor will of course be paid. If you are
or know anyone who is of like origin, please
E-mail me as soon as possible at mdoyle
@cosmix.com. I would also appreciate you
sharing this message with the people you
know. Karen's doctors are searching
through the registered donor list, and
haven't had much luck. Our best bet is to
find someone who is not yet registered as a
donor. I welcome any suggestions you
have, and appreciate your concern.
Thank you.
I hope that for this girl's sake that stu
dents will help out in this search for a
much needed donor. If you think you could
be a possible donor, or know someone who
could be please take immediate action
now. My E-mail address is skplll@psu.edu
Time is of the essence!
Sang Pak
junior -mass media studies
Preaching Pat
As national elections near, I still have lit
tle hope for our future generations. I say
this after browsing through my Collegian
on Feb. 22.
My frustration grew when I read the
article on a high school in Utah which
banned all extracurricular clubs because
of a homosexual club that wanted to be
recognized as well.
harrowing story. Soon I will joining
the ranks of the maimed. Even as
you read this column, Dear Reader,
I may be unconscious.
Partying was the farthest thing
from my mind a few weeks ago
when the oral surgeon explained to
me how I will be able to attach ice
packs to my cheeks with towels
and a clamp.
However, when other people
return from break happy and tan,
I'll console myself with the thought
that I absorbed very little UV radi
ation in the oral surgeon's office;
when I'm eighty, my skin will be a
lot less wrinkled than theirs. (If it
sounds like I'm rationalizing, it's
because I am.)
Friday, March 1, 1996
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A quote within the article read, "Every
one suffers because of the gays." I dis
agree, everyone suffers from this Bible
preaching government of ours. We are
entering into a new millennium and our
government is still fearful of the homosex
ual community. Pat Buchanan recently
commented after winning New Hampshire
that all Americans could rally around two
documents: The Constitution and the Bible.
Whatever happened to the separation of
church and state? We are electing homo
phobic leaders, and they are making their
primary views into laws. Mr. Buchanan
could possibly run for president, and he
claims all Americans should believe the
teachings in the Bible as if it were law.
This is purely an individualistic choice and
should not interfere with equal rights for
every human being on this earth.
What is fearful to me is that my genera
tion is accepting this or doing nothing to
stop this madness. I see Penn State the
same as I see our national political system;
views of the masses are cheered while
views of the minority are shunned. I am
not offended by the Willard preacher at
all, but I would like to see a speaker
preaching Satanism on Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
I don't believe in either topics but a
diversity in views and acceptance of all
would be a pleasant change.
As a white, heterosexual, registered
Independent, the upcoming election is a
difficult decision. I would like to see a can
didate who will respect people and their
alternative views.
Mr. Buchanan, until you realize that the
cornerstone that every American should
rally around is equality for all, I hope you
suffocate in the waste that you are produc
ing.
After I get off the codeine,
things are going to pick up a bit;
my friend Lauren and I are visiting
people we know in D.C. and New
York. We see it as a "Thelma and
Louise-" style adventure, although
Lauren is quite firm in saying
there will be absolutely no guns.
We've already decided that if we
accidentally kill someone, we're
going to head for the Canadian bor
der (rather than the Mexican)
because it's closer.
We have not yet discussed who
will get to sleep with Brad Pitt if
we meet him as a hitchhiker.
Whatever you choose to do, have
a good spring break. Be safe, have
fun. And if you see a slow, white
Nissan heading towards the Cana
dian border, don't tell the police
who's in it.
Tess Thompson is a junior majoring
in English and a Collegian colum
nist.
Dean Scalise
junior-advertising