Page 6
Opinion
Students have
silent for too
Students want. We want more books, a better
education, lower tuition, more financial aid, diversity, a
prestigious degree.. .the list is endless.
We want, we want. But so few students are willing to
give anything back to their college. The prevaliant feeling
on this campus is apathy. Not enough students really
care about what happens here. At least they don't care
enough to act.
Sure, everyone is willing to complain, but when it
comes down to it, very few students are willing to
contribute their time and effort to improve life here.
This is not a new problem. Students have been
apathetic for a long time. The reason is simple and
obvious. . .fear. That's right, fear. Students are afraid of
failure. We are afraid to take a chance and try something
new. Or challenging. Or risky.
Student Government elections are a prime example,
Of the five different presidential positions available,
only two of these positions are being sought by more
than one candidate. That means three students will be
elected to student presidential positions without any
opposition.
It would seem for all of the complaining that goes on
around campus, there should be more than only a
handful of candidates running for student government
positions; positions from which students could make
improvements and have an impact on the system that
seems so monstrous at times.
It may be too late to run for a position this year, but
there is something of great importance that you can do
now. Even if you have never been directly involved with
student government, you can have a say in how things
are run next year. Today and tomorrow from 9 am to 4
pm, SGA elections are being held on the first floor of the
Reed Union Building near the student mailboxes.
Let your voice be heard by voting for the candidate of
your choice. Even if those choices are rather limited.
The Collegian
Published weekly by the students of Behrend College, Erie, PA (814)
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The Collegian
Mike Royko
Antsy closet crowd
should think twice
by Mike Royko
Some militant homosexuals have come up
with a new idea for improving their self-esteem,
increasing political power, exaggerating their
importance and getting themselves invited on TV
shows that are in need of addle-brained guests.
These militants claim to know the identity of
many homosexuals who go through life posing
as heterosexuals. In other words, those who
choose to stay in the closet.
But the militants want them to come out of
the closet, whether they want to or not, and
become visible members of what is known as the
"gay community."
At this point, I have to say that I've never
really understood the definition of the "gay
community." Presumably, some unemployed gay
drug addict would be a member of this
community. So would a wealthy gay polo
playing socialite. But other than how they
choose to use their sexual appendages, I don't see
that they have much in common, and it's
unlikely the socialite would invite the gay drug
addict to cocktails. So how close-knit a
community can it be?
That question aside, the homosexual militants
are now using something called "outing.” This
means that if they have reason to believe, or even
strongly suspect, that someone is a homosexual,
they reveal it in one of their newspapers, picket
his residence and make his sexual preferences
public. That's where the word "outing" comes
from. They drag him out of the closet.
This has created a controversy, which delights
the militant homosexuals. With bumbling Andy
Rooney off the hook, things have been quiet on
the gay front. There is always AIDS, of course.
But it has slowly sunk into the consciousness of
most Americans that far more people die of
cancer, heart disease and other afflictions. And
that few non-homosexuals or drug-needle users
are in danger. But when the president makes a
speech, you don't sec many cancer victims
showing up to screech that he is insensitive to
their needs.
Those who practice or favor "outing” provide
two motives. One group says it wants to punish
secret homosexual politicians who are not
sympathetic enough to homosexual causes. The
other says it wants to expose prominent
successful homosexuals to provide ordinary
homosexuals with "role models."
The opposing view is that under our system
of law, an American's home is his castle. Even a
cop has to obtain a search warrant before barging
in. So if a secret homosexual's home is his
castle, his closet is a nook in his castle, and if he
doesn't want to be dragged out of his closet,
that's his right.
But the "outing" practitioners say that closet
homosexuals politicians arc hypocritical and have
no right to privacy. And it is the duty of
prominent gays to serve as "role models."
In other words, what they do might appear to
be an invasion of privacy, but as the saying
goes, you have to break a few eggs to make an
omelet. Or, as Slats Grobnik might put it, you
have to peel a few fruits to make a fruit salad.
(Look, don't accuse me of being insensitive.
You're the ones who arc poking into someone's
closet.)
This controversy is stirring strong feelings
and growing debate, but I can't make up my
mind.
On the one hand, I believe that what a couple
of consenting males choose to do with their
Wednesday, April 11,1990
Mike Royko
genitalia is their own concern, so long as they
don't do it on my front porch, in the company
lunchroom, in the middle of Michigan Avenue or
at home plate during the singing of the National
Anthem. In other words, they should be discreet
and respect the sensibilities of those who are
indifferent to their leering, panting and moaning.
After all, the rest of the nation doesn't hold
parades and cry: "Impotent pride" or "Premature
ejaculation power."
On the other hand, it might be interesting -
at least for Gcraldo and Oprah to see what
happens if the militants pursue their policy of
"outing."
I would guess that what we'll sec is a show in
which the proud militants arc sitting there with a
few of those who have been dragged from their
closets, and the conversation will go something
like this:
"Bill, you were a successful corporate
executive and a pillar of your community and had
a wife and three kids before it was disclosed in
the Boys Will Be Boys News that you secretly
stopped for drinks and other activities at the
Swell Guys Lounge. How has your life been
affected by being dragged out of the closet?"
"Well, my wife was very understanding and
said she would have her lawyer take only the
house, the summer house, the cars and 90 percent
of our savings, as well as full custody of my
children.
"The CEO at my company said he is very
understanding and said he would write a glowing
reference letter to the school of hair styling of
my choice.
"All three of my children are now in therapy.
The last time I saw them, they said that I have
been replaced as their role model by Chuck
Norris.
"Other than that, things are going OK. I’m
still a member of my golf club, although there is
a debate whether my locker should be in the
men’s or women’s locker rx>m."
"But are you more at peace with yourself now
that you are no longer living a life of deceit,
duplicity and sham?"
"Not quite. But I'm approaching a feeling of
tranquility and will be there after I make one
more move."
"What's that?"
When I shoot that little sumbilch that
opened my closet door."