Page 4 fOilliMffl the 'student' into Student Put back Government Next Wednesday and Thursday, the students of Behrend will elect the leaders of Student Government for next year. There's not too many choices, though. Only two of the nineteen available positions are being contested by more than one candidate. Of course there are five people running for commuter senator positions, and five more running for resident senator positions; but nobody there will lose. There are five positions available for each commuter senators and resident senators. There is only one person running for the position of president of Student Programming Council. This organization wields a budget of over ten thousand dollars and yet only one person on this entire campus is interested in holding that kind of responsibility. If students are not interested in running for elected positions in S.G.A., they should never complain about having nothing to do on campus on weekends, paying parking tickets, taking diversity courses, not receiving enough money for their own club or organization, or disciplinary actions. S.G.A. is partially or fully responsible for all of those named areas. Student Government is just that, a government of the students. But it takes students to make it work. It easy for students to gripe about what needs to happen on this campus, but it is obviously too difficult for most students to do anything about it. The least that can be done is to cast your vote. Talk to the candidates about their views on S.G.A. or read about them on page 7 of this issue. Then make a difference and cast a vote for the best candidate, the person who you believe will be able to make things happen in Student Government. Student Government elections will be held next Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the mail room on the first floor of the Reed. The Collegian Published week • the students of Behrend Coll :• e, Erie PA 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 Ceiba: Layout Editor Chris Kocott Advertisement Layout Kevin Polcovich Photo Coordinator Jim Pierdomenico Off Ice Manager David Mahoney Advisor Dr. Mice 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 Infoimatlon: 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 Opinion Editorial .1174 1 14 mikylANtiq ' , .A Mad grad For the last three years, graduating seniors have been allowed to stay in their on campus apartments until graduation day. This year, however, that is not to be the case, as most seniors were informed last week (a whole month before the joyous event!) by an extremely hostile letter from James Bowen, Manager of Food and Housing. I was deeply offended by both the content and the tone of this letter. Had I known last semester that we would no be allowed to stay, I would have found somewhere else to live. Now, one month before graduation. I am faced with either being "dealt with as a trespasser" if I stay in my apartment as Mr. Bowen promised in his letter, or not going to my college graduation. And all this, according to the letter, because Mr. Bowen feels that vandalism is likely to occur during that week. I chose to stay at Behrend because I believed that at a small school, concern for a student's problems would be common to administrators, and that a student would be treated more as a person than as a faceless impediment to work. Unfortunately, it seems that I was wrong. Housing, at least, regards us as vandals. Jennifer Shelley Eighth semester Chemistry Anti-U.S.A? I am writing this letter because I heard some disturbing news. No, not about parking or tuition hikes, but about me being anti-American (I was told by a friend who overheard it). I suppose I must be anti- American because I did not think our elected officials (Democrats and Republicans) did all they could to prevent a Gulf War. Clearly oil was not the only issue -- Hussein is for all intensive purposes "not all there." What he did was by no means legitimate. Invading another country is strictly uncool, for anyone to do (even us). In my opinion our officials did a lot wrong. That is the point, my opinion. As ICE T says "Your onion is yours, my opinion is mine, if you don't like what I'm saying fine but don't close it, always keep an open mind, a man who fails to listen is blind." If you want to wave something for the "Good Old U.S.", wave the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. My opinion could be wrong, but that is the beauty of America, if I am wrong I get a second chance. Maybe freedom is not free, but freedom of what? Freedom to do and say what we feel is right. Saddam would simply kill anyone who questioned what he was doing (he did and is). We as Americans must question our government, whether it is foreign policy or beer tax. The day we say "they (elected officials) know best," is the day this country will crumble! We have a duty, given to us as U. S. citizens, by the founders of this country to make sure our government is Thursday, April 11, 1991 c,, Y 7 1 ,41f17ei c ,,,, \ii 1 \ ~ • ~tili 4, li ' .j * ,? tir ill. it It\ ,i, •, ) li r R . O'kj r*? f)11 0 } * 0 qfflt4 1 s----) using the correct policies. We must do more than vote (only about 50% of us do anyway), we have to make sure our officials do what they say they said they would. Everyone should have an opinion of the War, right or wrong, it does not matter. Backup your opinion and you are an American, if you can not maybe you should move! I certainly support the troops, how could I not, I am a SEABEE in the Naval Reserves. The men and women in the service are the best. They are smart, competent, courageous and the list never ends. They did their job, and damn well! I do not know who said I was anti-American, they probably heard it from someone else anyway, but hopefully you can see I am not anti-American. I just have a different view, one I can backup, that makes me as American as I can get. Always speak your mind, do not be scared to go against the crowd...if you believe in your cause! Respect every one's ideas even if they are not your own. Remember: Silence = Death P.E.A.C.E. = Positive Education Always Corrects Error (Professor Grill) Third semester MIS/Political Science Jake Sherosky
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers