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Editorial
Changes needed
Once again a few Behrend students have managed
to make the entire campus look bad.
Last week a poster board was hung on the wall
across from the library on the first floor of the Reed
Building. Across the top of the sign was printed,
"Some changes if I ran this 5ch001..." Below this
heading fell 30 blank spaces awaiting suggestions
from students.
The intent of this poster was a good idea. Trying
to elicit honest, helpful and intelligent responses
from the student body, however, was obviously
wishful thinking.
There were some serious and positive suggestions
written on the sign: "add a football team;" "create
more parking spaces;" "add more majors;" and "have
a cultural fiesta for the arts" were mentioned.
Unfortunately, the positive ideas were
overshadowed by a slew of inappropriate racial
comments.
"Bring back white bashing at Behrend, I have
something to say;" "more minorities;" "we need less
cry baby minorities;" "minority power;" "less
discrimination against whites;" and "stop trying to
hold blacks down (because it won't work or be
healthy!)" all appeared on the poster.
Also last week, a National Society of Black
Engineers flier announcing meeting times for the
group was defaced. (See letter NSBE attack on
this page.)
This is not the behavior expected of college
students. Or maybe it is. It's hard to believe that
individuals can get this far in life holding such deep
racist attitudes.
The individuals who participated in this act are an
embarrassment to the rest of the students on this
campus. They are ignorant, immature and
irresponsible. It is the few that ruin things for the
masses .and project a negative image of Behrend. All
and all, it's just a plain shame.
In the middle of all the trash written on the poster
were printed the words: "Less racism - Peace."
Wouldn't it be nice if someday the meaning behind
those words didn't seem so unachieveable.
The Collegian
the students of Behrend College, Erie, PA
Published week
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Todd J. Irwin
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Opinion
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Letters to the Editor
Date rape
Once again I am writing in
reference to the ongoing dispute
over campus rape and the film
relating to this subject.
Two weeks ago, Danette
Parrett wrote a letter answering to
my previous letter. In her letter
Danette makes several good
points, which I do agree with.
However unfortunately, I have
some major qualms with some of
the ideas found in her letter.
She writes, "Unfortunately,
when educational video tapes on
the subject are resented, the
purpose of the tapes is defeated."
I ask Danette what her response
would have been if the issue was
concerning women negatively?
Would you have sat there and
blocked out the offending
comments for the sake of
educational value? I think not.
What Danette is suggesting is
that we should blindly believe
and agree to anything that is
given to us in the form of
something educational. At any
rate this viewpoint is wrong. We
should have the right to question
anything that is presented to us.
Never should you agree to the
beliefs of another just for the
sake of not wanting to disagree
with something that someone
deemed educational.
As for the "no means no"
expression, I think we have a
problem seeing that for what it
is. Rape is not committed by
people that cannot grasp the
meaning of the word no. Rape is
committed by people that refuse
to agree with another person's
decision to have sex.
Instead of beating literate
intelligent males over the head
with "no means no," our schools
and parents should teach our
children to honor the feelings of
others.
Lastly, Danette writes that she
hopes future generations will
regard rape films more open
mindedly. Well, I will view rape
films open-mindedly when they
are presented as such. People are
unable to see the educational
value of something that is
communicated to them
offensively.
It is the communicator's job
to find the best possible means to
get their idea across without
creating resentment. In this
particular film, they failed. In
conclusion I would like to clarify
that it is not the actual tape that
is despised, but rather the
message contained therein.
NSBE attack
In review of the asinine attack
en a defenseless NSBE flier, I, as
a member of NSBE and a
minority, wish to answer some
of your (the person or persons
who defaced the flier) feeble
minded concerns. In defacing the
NSBE flier, you in your wisdom
exclaimed
"Where is the national society
of whites?...Engineers?"
Although I concede, I do not
know where such an organization
exists; I do know the location of
some other organizations you
may consider. The Society of
Automotive Engineers, Society
of Physics Students, the
Engineering Club, and the
Mechanical Engineering Club are
all functional organizations on
campus.
Thursday, October 3, 1991
Mb Incblich
All of these clubs are also
predominantly, if not totally,
Caucasian. If these organizations
are not to your liking, you may
even attend the National Society
of Black Engineers. Even though ma
the work "Black" appears in the
organizations name any Behrend
student can attend.
As to your concerns about
unemployment "Blacks and other
minorities are given jobs just
because of their race in order to
meet quotas."
My reply to that is if a
minority receives a position over
a white male, it is undoubtedly
due to the fact that they are more
than capable of filling that
position. No company, despite
any quota nonsense, will hire an
IGNORANT employee over a
more qualified one.
An advantage if any, that
minority may have over that
"white male" is the fact that all
their lives they have dealt with
discrimination, segregation and
hebetudinous (that means stupid)
preconceived notions such as you
write. That hopefully has made
them a stronger more culturally
informed person, a better person,
and a better applicant.
Tom Strunk
Third semester
History
As far as: "Yes Penn State
does it with students"
I must admit, I know not
what Penn State does. Why not
ask the dean about it, he might. ,
know. By the way, you can also
ask him what happened to the
"minority faculty quota," or don't
they count.
Hopefully, we have come to
an understanding on your
concerns. If there are still any
concerns about NSBE, before you
pick up your crayon, come to one
of our meetings so we can put to
rest any questions.
ATLAR'I
Lorenzo Paul
Ninth semester
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