Page 4
Editorial
Weak education
system hurts all
"Here little black boy, we're going to make things
easier for you because you're just not good enough."
These words came from Joe Clark, who spoke to
an overflow crowd in Reed Lecture Hall Tuesday
night
Clark was speaking of the lowering of collegiate
admissions requirements to provide oppurtunities to
minority' students.
Clark pointed out that the fault lies with the
system, not with the students. He placed much of the
blame on poor fundamental teaching in the
elementary and secondary levels of education.
It's that poor teaching that leads to some students
being less prepared for college than other students.
Yet, if that unprepared student happens to be a
minority student, there is a good chance that they will
be admitted to college anyway.
That's not right. Academic standards should not
be lowered for anybody. Not for minorities, not for
athletes and not for people who can buy their way in.
There are already too many problems in our
educational system. We can not afford to compound
those problems by letting unprepared students into
college based on factors other than academics.
Those students slow the progress of other
students. This practice also shows students that it's
not good grades and hard work that are important,
but whether or not you are considered a minority.
Unfortunately, it also gives unprepared students
the idea that they'll always be able to get by because
they have been underpriveleged in the past.
An important point to remember, however, is that
unprepared students aren't at fault. The weak
educational system is to blame.
It's a shame that more educators aren't like Joe
Clark. It's also a shame that when an educator of his
stature comes along, we need him to travel the
country telling the rest of the people in the
educational system to get their act together.
The Collegian
Published week
Editor
Todd J. Irwin
Business Manager
Christie Redmond
The Collegian's editorial
opinion is determined by the
editorial staff, with the editor
holding final responsibility.
Opinions expressed in The
Collegian are not necessarily those
of The Collegian or the
Pennsylvania State University.
Senior Editor
Mark Owens
Senior Editor
Robb Frederick
Associate Editor
Christi Luden
Associate Editor
Greg Geibel
Layout Editor
Chris Kocott
Advertisement Layout
Kevin Polcovich
Photo Coordinator
Jim Pierdomenico
the students of Behrend CoIIe•e, Erie, PA
Office Manager
David Mahoney
Advisor
Dr. Mks Simmons
Letter Policy: The Collegian
encourages letters on news
coverage, editorial content and
university affairs. Letters should
be typewritten, double-spaced
and signed by no more than two
persons. Letters should be no
longer than 400 words. Letters
should include the semester
standing and major of the writer.
All letters should provide the
address and phone number of the
writer for verification of the
letter. The Collegian reserves the
right to edit letters for length and
to reject letters if they are
libelous or do not conform to
standards of good taste. Letters
should be submitted to The
Collegian office no later than
noon on Tuesday prior to the
desired publication date.
Postal Information: Th e
Collegian (814 898-6488) is
published weekly by the students
of the Behrend College; Reed
Union Building, Station Road,
Erie, Pa 16563.
The Collegian
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Letters to the Editor
Take a stand
What has happened? I've been
very disappointed with the
substance of the paper recently.
Actually, the lack of substance
would be more appropriate. Why
has The Collegian become a
spineless bundle of sports scores
and Police & Safety reports?
Last year's paper had Rob
Prindle's "Love Rob" column. It
dealt with a lot of touchy
subjects that really upset people.
Unfortunately, Rob even
mellowed out just before he
graduated. It seems that Chris
Spanos tried to keep some issues
alive, but her column ended
almost as soon as it began. I
doubt that apathy afflicted Chris.
Has The Collegian become so
understaffed that there is no one
to write about issues that exist?
Will our problems go away if no
one talks about them?
Those columns and articles
that some considered so offensive
served a purpose. They got
people talking about these
sensitive issues. When people
can talk, there is hope for
understanding.
A lot of people disagreed
vehemently with Rob and Chris.
I was speaking with a friend of
mine once about how much she
hated "Love Rob." The Collegian
came out that day, and I noticed
that "Love Rob" was the first
column she turned to.
I guess the whole point I'm
trying to make is that The
Collegian has turned into a
boring, pointless piece of junk
mail with nothing more
interesting than some second-rate
cartoons. I believe that a
newspaper's purpose should be to
stir the mind, and facilitate
discussions on real issues that
affect the students here at
Behrend.
The last thing I want to read
Thursday, February 21, 1991
Editorial
- rtchn(icw
in The Collegian is another
feature on the "Milk-Chugging
creature" in Mark Owens'
apartment.
Take a stand, editors!
Dave Johnson
Ninth semester
B&BS
Good rap
I must commend Tom Strunl.
on a wonderfully perceptive letter
in the February 7 issue of The
Collegian. The piece focused on
the positive outlook of rap
music.
In the short time that I've
attended Behrend, it's been clear
to see that many students are
either misinformed or ignorant of
what skills, talents, and
capabilities exist among other
cultures. What a sad fact that is,
considering our experiences
throughout college should prepare
us for the "real world." The world
is replete with races and cultures
that should enlighten, not
intimidate us.
Building impenetrable walls
of discontent is not going to
make our dislikes indefinitely
vanish.
Words cannot express the
importance of being open to a
multitude of opinions, attitudes,
and behaviors of those we directly
of indirectly interact with on a
daily or occasional basis. No you
need not like rap, rock, or
country music; merely respect the
music and the musician for
conveying an essential message.
Although rap has proven to be
an instrument for attempting to
achieve a better understanding of
what life is like on the streets, in
jail, or at the poverty-stricken
level, its message is intended for
everyone. Not just for people
living in less than favorable
conditions, but for those of us
move enemy cram territory,
who have never experienced what
it's like to be afraid to go to sleep
at night, or to wake up in the
morning.
Let us not close the door to a
world that is conceivably destined
to reproduce change after change,
but tear down the walls of
exclusion.
Editor's note: The
Collegian encourages
letters on news
coverage, editorial
content and university
affairs.
Letters should be
typewritten, double
spaced and signed by no
more than two persons.
Letters should be no
longer than 400 words.
Letters should include
the semester standing
and major of the writer.
All letters should
provide the address and
phone number of the
writer for verification of
the letter.
The Collegian
reserves the right to edit
letters for length and to
reject letters if they are
libelous or do not
conform to standards of
good taste.
Letters should be
submitted to T h e .
collegian office no later
than noon on Tuesday
prior to the desired
publication date.
Tesha Lynn Nesbit
Fourth semester
Communication