Page 4
Letters to the Editor
Confused
As usual, Jen Flanagan's
column confuses me. Last week
she wrote, "I am...strongly
opposed to censorship" and
"because of my position on
censorship, I will protect the
rights of anyone to say
anything..."
Several paragraphs after
trumpeting this unconditional
devotion to the first amendment,
she qualified her commitment:
"Freedom of speech becomes a
confusing and highly debatable
subject when it enters the area of
civil rights... Having to make a
decision between [freedom of
speech and civil rights], I
would...side with civil rights."
So, does Jen Flanagan believe
in freedom of speech or not? Next
week's column should announce
her unshakable belief in both
mutually exclusive sides of still
another issue. Stan Fish would
be proud.
Jeremy Sutch
Fifth semester
Mathematics
Well-rounded
I remember saying when I left
Edinboro for Behrend, quote: "I
will no longer have to put up
with taking classes I don't need,
long scheduling lines, and/or
other scheduling difficulties."
Hmm...Does the phrase (Just
a bit of an understatement) "That
was then, this is now" ring a
bell? If I have to deal with one
more semester of taking courses
like Basket weaving 101 or
Conventional Eskimo, (does this
sound familiar?), I may just drop
out to work full-time at
McDonald's. At least then I know
what I'll be doing, and when,
without major problems. And the
problems? Well, one small "faux
pas" on Penn State's part is the
requirements needed for entrance
to a major.
I personally am unfortunate
enough to not have taken algebra
(also known as "Satan's final
torture") in high school. So I am
"provisional" and get the lucky
choice of scheduling last every
semester until I'm done with
algebra. What's the point here?
The college's interesting
argument is that it's trying to
make me--what was the word
they used? Oh, yes--"well
rounded." Well now, I thought
How about some mail?
If you would like to voice
your views on an issue, why not
write a Letter to the Editor?
The Collegian encourages
letters on news coverage, editorial
content or University affairs.
Letters should be typewritten,
double-spaced and signed by no
more than two persons.
Letters should be no longer
than 400 words and should
we were talking about algebra,
not geometry, but that's not my
point. "Well-rounded" sounds like
something a beach ball or tomato
should be: not a student, don't
you think? Hoon-es-tly, if I'm a
broadcasting major, when in the
future will I ever use algebra for
my job?
Here's the scene I live in
constant fear of seeing happen.
Vince is working as DJ in
California, making twenty big
bucks an hour. Suddenly his
boss erupts into the radio room!
"Vince!" exclaims he. "You
simply must help me factor the
cube root of this number! You
never had Algebra! Well, what
good are you? You're FIRED!"
And of course we all know this
stands such a great chance of
happening.
Another recent monkey
wrench thrown into our
scheduling machine is the "phys.
ed." requirement change. I guess
the phrase that actually works
here is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix
it." I honestly do not comprehend
why this was changed. What
happens for many now is that
there is a 1/2 less credit could be
taking of something else.
Then Penn State's newly
instituted surprise was revealed to
me--watch everyone--because
coming next semester to an
"Esact" class near you will be 1/2
instructors! Yes, it makes sense,
it's absolutely true and it's just
for a limited time only! Now
every "Esact" class will have, in
addition to its regular instructors,
1/2 instructors with the topside
only of a human. Rumors still
abound at this point about what
their bottom half will be. I
personally like the theory that
these 1/2 instructors will have a
beach ball from the waist down.
This will make them useful and
(here comes the buzzword--ready,
kiddies?) well-rounded. You
couldn't ask for more!
And as for scheduling itself,
it's always a constant problem.
Why we have 20 sections of
some courses and one section of
others is simply reprehensible.
And some courses are even locked
in the dreaded "when will it
return?" room. I'm sure you've
heard of this room The senior
who needs one of those courses
to graduate is well acquainted
with it. Many seniors every
semester can be heard to exclaim,
"!#*" as they now have to stay an
extra semester or two! What luck,
huh? .
And finally, while we're on
the subject of "need," don't forget
about the student who waits in
include the semester and major of
the writer. All letters should
provide the address and phone
number of the writer f: - Jr
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. All
submitted letters become property
opinion
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line to be told that a course they
desperately need is filled! Why
oh-why does this "accident"
constantly occur? Shouldn't a
student who needs, say, psych
408, be given priority over just
anyone taking it? A myriad of
questions like this arise while
you're stuck in the waiting line.
At last I've finally figured out
all the answers to these
questions, though! It seems our
friends in the administration areas
do claim they're preparing us for
the real world. Well, I finally
realize why some seniors are
actually terrified to graduate!
Think about it, gang, if we have
all kinds of problems in the real
world like we have scheduling,
we'll be inclined to stay here in
college longer.
Or maybe we could all drop
out and work at McDonald's.
Flipping hamburgers'? Hm
maybe, that will help make
"well-rounded."
Vince Smith
Sixth semester
Broadcast
Disgusted
After looking at the front page
of the November 7, 1991 issue of
The Collegian a feeling of
disgust swept through me. Not
of The Collegian
Letters should be submitted to
The Collegian office, first floor
of the Reed Union Building or
The Collegian mailbox located in
the SGA suite also on the first
floor of the Reed Building no
later than noon on the Tuesday
prior to the desired publication
date.
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only did the highlighted "Pretty
Women" picture show where the
priorities of this newspaper lie,
but also diminished the true
feature story of the week,
American Pictures.
American Pictures illustrated
what should be the concern of
this country through the media of
powerful photography. Therefore,
a photo from this emotion
provoking events, rather then the
shallow judgment of other human
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.
Thursday, November 14, 1991
The Collegian
Published week
Editor
Todd J. Irwin
Business Manager
Adrienne Shrewder
Features Editor
Robb Frederick
News Editor
Mark Owens
Entertainment Editor
Christi Luden
Sports Editor
Greg Geibel
Photo Coordinator
Craig Breter
beings should have taken
precedence on the front page.
Perhaps in the future the
newspaper will take into account
the academic emphasis of our
university and reflect that in this
publication.
the students of Behrend CoIIe•e, Erie, PA
Advertising Manager
Keiren Logue
Advisor
Dr. Mike 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,
Eric, Pa 16563.
Michelle Glover
Third semester
English