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Editorial
Revise Erie schools'
required reading list
Behrend associate professor and Erie School Director
Eva Tucker Jr. has found himself in the middle of quite a
controversy.
A story appeared in The Erie Morning News last week
stating that Tucker wanted Marie Twain's "Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn" removed from the Erie School
District reacting list.
Tucker was upset by the use of the word "nigger" in
the classic, citing it as a derogatory reference to blacks.
Tucker’s initial position evoked plenty of opposing
views and even some shock from some Behrend faculty
members and students, including the editorial staff of
The Collegian.
Now Tucker has shifted the focus of his concern. He
would like to see books written by minority authors
added to the list rather than taking "Huckleberry Finn"
away.
Reading novels by minority authors that show history
from different perspectives will allow students to learn
other viewpoints and give them a more complete
education.
Additionally, Tucker expressed concern about how
"Huckleberry Finn" is handled in the classroom. He
does not want to see the confusion and prejudice of that
generation passed along to the students of today.
Teachers should use the novel as a springboard for
discussion regarding prejudices and address the
differences between accepted norms of Twain's time and
of today. This could also open the door for discussion
about race relations today and how students feel about it
Tucker’s modified position is commendable. Instead
of trying to impose censorship on the young minds of
Erie, he wants to broaden them.
Hiding the problems of yesterday from the students of
today will not change the past or make today's problems
go away, but opening students' minds is a positive step
towards a solution.
The Collegian
Published weakly by the students of Behrend College, Erie, PA
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Todd J. Irwin
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Christie Redmond
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The Collegian
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Provost appalled
I was appalled and saddened to
team of a recent incident in which
racial slurs were yelled at Dr.
Michael Ichiyama from two
different residence hall windows.
There is no place at Penn State-
Behrend for such actions.
Words that belittle others are
destructive and an affront to all of
us. On behalf of Behrend
students, faculty, and staff who
were disgusted to learn of this
incident, I wish to apologize to
Dr. Ichiyama, a talented colleague
new to Behrend.
In his September 3 Letter to
the Editor, Dr. Ichiyama extended
to those who perpetrated this act
an invitation to have lunch with
him. He described it as an
opportunity "to see (him) as an
individual and not a category or
stereotype." I salute Dr. Ichiyama
for his willingness to turn an
ugly situation into a learning
experience.
As we begin a new academic
year, I hope that all of us will
make a sincere effort to meet and
learn from others who bring
different backgrounds,
experiences, and beliefs to Penn
State-Behrend. I hope all of our
community will participate in the
many important educational
programs throughout the year
that are designed to engage us in
discussion about our different
backgrounds mid perspectives.
I shall do everything I can to
create an environment in which
all of us can feel welcomed,
appreciated, and safe. We must all
work together to make this goal a
reality.
John M. Lilley
Provost and Dean
Clarifying status
I read with interest last week's
story and editorial about child
care. I would like to provide a
few clarifications about the status
of child care efforts at the
College.
The Penn State-Behrend Child
Care Task Force is very much
aware of the divergent child care
needs of students and
faculty/staff.
The child care center request
for proposal, which will be
mailed soon to professional child
care providers, states that "part
time and flexible child care will
be given equal priority to full
time care" to accommodate the
needs of students.
Those who submit proposals
to construct and operate a child
care center at Behrend will be
required to include detailed
information about the manner in
which part-time care will be
provided.
The University has stated that
child care centers constructed on
University property must meet
state licensing requirements. It is
important that the safety of
children and quality of services be
the top priorities of on-campus
child care. This means that our
center staff must ensure that staff
to-children ratios will meet or
exceed state requirements at all
times.
While unscheduled, drop-in
care cannot be provided since
advance notice is needed to plan
for necessary staffing, we will
ask providers to allow students to
schedule part-time care around
their class schedules for a pro
rated charge.
Potential providers will also
be asked to submit detailed rate
schedules. Costs to students,
faculty, and staff parents will be a
principle consideration in
selecting a child care provider.
In the needs assessment
conducted last year of students,
faculty, and staff at every
University location, respondents
were asked how much they are
willing and able to pay for on
campus child care. Preliminary
estimates suggest that services
can be offered within the range
that Behrend students have
Thursday, September 20,1990
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reported they can pay. The
provider will be required to
provide services to students,
faculty, and staff below the
market rate.
Several weeks ago I contacted
the Office of Risk Management
at University Park to explore the
potential for providing a listing
of babysitting services available
near the campus. We have worked
out an arrangement for the Top of
the Hill Club to compile and
distribute this information on a
regular basis.
In addition, a directory of child
care services in Greater Erie has
been prepared by the Child Care
Task Force and will be printed
shortly. It includes information
about services, meals, and costs
at more than 30 area centers. I
hope that both of these resources
will be helpful.
I would be happy to discuss or
answer questions about child care.
I can be reached at the Office of
Student Services, 130 Reed
Union Building, at 898-6111.
Chris Reber
Dow of Student Services
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