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Informed voters
make the difference
1 ELECTIONS |
SGA
l9 9 2
lor April 7 and X
Currently, potential candidates are drubbing up student
signatures with the hope of acquiring enough to gain the nod of
approval to enter the race.
Soon those candidates who do make it into the race will be
spewing forth rhetoric in the hopes of gaining students' votes.
Interestingly enough, those votes are incredibly hard to come by.
Not for any particular candidate or ticket, but for all of them.
In the past few years, the race for the office of president of SG A
has been decided by a handful of votes in each election. But keep
this in mind: during each of those years, the number of students
who actually voted hovered around an incredibly sad 25 percent.
This sort of gives new meaning to the old saying, "Every vote
counts." Since every vote does count, it is imperative that the
voters are an informed group of students.
To that end, SGA has organized two "Meet the Candidates"
programs where students will have the opportunity to learn about
the different candidates and ask them questions about their plans for
the office they seek.
The first program is scheduled for Monday, March 30 at noon in
the Wintergarden. The second is slated for Monday, April 6 at 8
p.m. in the Perry Hall lobby.
In the interest of making informed decisions come election day,
it is vital that students who plan to vote attend one of these
programs. It is just as important for students who currently don't
plan on voting to be in attendance. Perhaps a few minds will be
changed, and a few more votes will be cast.
After all a few more votes will, more than likely, make quite a
difference.
The Collegian
Published weekly by the students of
The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College
Editor
Todd J. Irwin
Business Manager
Adrienne Shrewder
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.
Assistant Editor
Vicky Snyder
News Editor
Mark Owens
Assist. News Editor
Loretta Russ
Features Editor
Robb Frederick
Entertainment Editor
Christi Luden
Entertainment Editor
Craig Campbell
Assist
Sports Editor
Greg Geibel
Assist. Sports Editor
Matt Cissne
Copy Editor
Dawn Brenneman
Editorial
It's that lime of year again.
With the whole country
watching the goings-on in the
presidential primaries, everybody
scorns to be talking politics.
Now the political talk on
campus is starting to shift to
the Student Government
Asmx iaiion elections scheduled
Ad Layout & Design
Distribution Manager
Joe Mycka
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. Letters should be
submitted to The Collegian
office no later than noon on the
Tuesday prior to the desired
publication date. Letters
submitted to The Collegian
become property of the
newspaper. The Collegian is
published every Thursday durng
the academic year on recycled
paper.
Postal Information:
Collegian (814-898-6488) is
published weekly by the students
- of The Pennsylvania State
University at Erie, The Behrend
College; First Floor, The J.
Elmer Reed Union Building,
Station Road, Erie, PA 16563.
Rob Pfendler
Advisor
Dr. Mike Simmons
Opinion
Letters to the Editor
The challenge
It appears that this year's
election will include only two
tickets for the position of Student
Government Association
President and Vice President
The Elections Committee has
scheduled two open forums in
order to "meet the candidates"
during the campaign phase of the
election. As a result of the
narrow field contending for these
positions, it would truly benefit
the student body if a debate
between these two tickets could
be held during lunch in the
Wintergreen Cafeteria to facilitate
the discussion of issues which are
pressing to the student body.
John Mack and Jake Sherosky
would like to challenge Joe
Mycka and Greg Farrell to a
public debate in the above
mentioned location, at a time that
will accommodate both parties.
The presidential candidates
will debate first, directly followed
by the vice presidential
candidates. Let's put the student
body first in this year's election.
John J. Mack
Fifth semester
History
Jacob J. Sherosky
Fourth semester
MIS
No condom tact
Valentine's Day is usually
celebrated with cards, flowers,
candy, etc. Now in the 1990'5,
condoms have found their way
into the special day for loved
ones. In the Health Center on
Feb. 14, they handed students
condoms with an instructional
leaflet and said, "Happy
Valentine's Day." Organizations
sold baskets of candy with
condoms attached, "Happy
Valentine's Day."
Our openness towards safe sex
is great, but it has evolved as a
result of tragedy. With thousands
of people afflicted with A.1.D.5.,
we are more conscious of our
sexuality than ever. Ultimately,
it all comes down to choice,
though. People can choose
whether they are going to engage
in sexual relations or use
contraception.
By voluntarily handing me a
condom without asking me if I
want or need it, is stepping over
a thin line. Two assumptions are
made when automatically giving
someone any form of
contraception, in absence of a
request. One, the assumption that
the person is involved in an
intimate relationship, and two
that the person believes in and
uses contraception.
Certainly, the intentions
behind distributing the condoms
were good, but tact was not
employed. Informing us, as
students, of the availability of
contraceptives is important and
beneficial, but equally important
is consideration for students'
reactions to various means of
conveying that information. And
using Valentine’s Day as a
justification for blatantly
dispersing condoms, detracted
from the nature of the holiday.
Valentine's Day is not isolated
for lovers, it is for everyone. And
not everyone is "doing it."
Tesha Lynn Nesbit
Sixth semester
Communication
Thank you
On behalf of Omicron Delta
Kappa, I would like to thank all
those who helped make this
year's Mile of Fannies the most
successful ever. I would
especially like io thank our
Thursday, March 26, 1992
friends in the community, Giant
Eagle, who came through for us
when all others turned their
backs. This year we collected
over $3OO for the playground
construction at Emerson
Elementary.
Once again, thank you for
your time, resources, and
pennies.
The author of this letter is the
Chairman of ODK's 1992 Mile
of Pennies Committee.
Ed. Note: If you would like to
voice your views on an issue,
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. Letters should
include the semester 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.
submitted letters become property
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.
Marty Jackson
Eighth semester
EET