Page 4
Letter to the Editor
Writer questions
presidential privilege
On the February 5 episode of
the Nightly News, I saw a report
on the Iran-Contra Hearings. A
report which stated that a judge
wanted Ex-President Reagan to
turn over documentation and
submit to questioning. Reagan's
response was to invoke
presidential privilege.
I was not fond of the Reagan
reign, but he did (one could only
hope) his best, the results of
which are subject to opinion, and
served (either well, okay, or
poorly, again subject to opinion)
as the president of our great
country. Ronald Reagan, for a
variety of reasons, not all of
which were good or just, will be
in the history books. But, does
the fact that he held the nation's
highest public office make him
exempt from any wrongdoing?
Is that office such that all
those who hold it, or have held it
are gods who are above reproach
and can, therefore, do no wrong
in the eyes of law?
It is a sorry message to pass
on to the peoples of this nation if
we do not hold all people, at any
and every level, accountable for
their mistakes. It is a sad day
when such messages cause
children to look up at the person
in that office and say, "He or she
might be wrong or have done an
unjust, negligent, or criminal act,
but that person is a god or
goddess and can not be asked to
account for his or her actions."
We, as a nation, invade a
foreign country and, at the cost of
lives on both sides, extract the
man in power. The man, at first,
eludes us and later seeks
-.sanctuary in a religious facility,
under what the man terms
"political asylum" we demand
that no such request be granted
because of his past actions.
A LAST STRAW "
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We finally get our way and
the man, which gives the
message that the man is guilty
and must prove innocence. With
all of this said, how can we
possibly grant presidential
privilege to Mr. Reagan who is
no less a man, in the human,
biological sense, that the one
taken from Panama, without
having a much stronger reason
than the "I was your president"
b.s. we seem to be getting?
If an unemployed person is
accused, that person is assumed
guilty, generally speaking. If a
worker is accused, the company
he or she works for will
sometimes come to the aid of the
person, but is still guilty by
assumption. If the company CEO
is accused, he or she will hire a
lawyer to win the case, or simply
get a slapped hand and a pardon.
If the president of the USA is
asked to turn over evidence in a
case and to testify, he is
innocent, never accused, and
exempt from penalties the
average person would face
without choice.
We are still the best country
in the world (my opinion - others
may or may not agree), but we
seem to be run by gods who
answer to no one but the dreams
they have at night. Many
children, I’m sure are wondering
where to apply for this god-like
key of privilege.
- Andrew Festa
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Provost discusses plans for
more on-campus housing
More majors may be added
by Mark Owens
Collegian News Editor
Last Thursday at Coffee with
the Provost, several important
issues were discussed, including
freshmen requirements for
housing and future expansion of
the campus.
According to Provost and
Dean John Lilley, starting in the
fall of 1991 freshmen will be
required to live on campus unless
they arc living at home with their
parents.
Non-traditional students,
however would be permitted to
live off campus. Lilley said that
he did not envision an on-campus
living requirement for
upperclassmen.
Eventually, enough housing
should be available to
accommodate 60 percent of the
student population on campus.
Another topic discussed was
whether or not Bchrcnd should
accept applicants who do not
indicate Bchrcnd as their first
choice.
Behrend ranks second only to
UP in the Pehn State system in
NOMINATION FORMS AVAILABLE
FOR
The Guv W. Wilson Award for Excellence
Council of Fellows Excellence in Teachin
Nominations must be submitted to the
Office of the Provost and Dean by
March 9, 1990
Any student, member of the administration,
student group, or faculty member may
submit a nomination form.
Nominations Forms are available in the
Library.
The Collegian Wednesday, February 21, 1990
Making a point: Provost and Dean John Lilley
addresses a student during a past Coffee
academic standards for admittance.
"The smarter the students we
get here," said Lilley, 'The better
the standard we’ll have."
Lilley also said that as ihc
in Academic Advisin
Award
and
campus grows, more majors will
be added. He pointed out,
however, nothing will be done
until the new library/acadcmic
complex is completed.