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Letter from the Editor
C-ya
Some sixty-odd issues of The Collegian ago, early on a
Wednesday morning, I waited nervously in our broom-closet
sized newspaper office for the courier to show up with that
day's issue.
That was January of 1990. It was also the very first issue
of The Collegian in which my name appeared next to the title
editor. Today's issue is the last.
Since that first issue (Martin Luther King 111 appeared on
the front page, I believe), we've had some memorable headlines
grace these pages: Frat house raided, Accident on campus
injures two workers, Twelve from Behrend in the Gulf, Ground
broken for new library.
Hopefully all of our headlines and the stories that
accompanied them have helped to keep our readers informed
and aware. It is my hope that the Behrend community has
indeed been served during my tenure.
Some changes have occurred here at the newspaper during
the past two and a half years. Most of those changes have dealt
with personnel, but others include changing our weekly
publication day from Wednesday to Thursday, standardizing our
format and officially changing our name from The Behrend
Collegian to The Collegian.
I like to think that over these past couple of years that we,
as a newspaper, have made progress toward journalistic
excellence and professionalism.
I am certain that the next editor and the rest of the staff will
continue to strive for those ideals. Those taking over are very
capable and have my every confidence. Good luck.
I have had the privilege of working with an incredibly
talented, motivated and dedicated staff, and an advisor who has
been everything we could have ever asked for. The proper
words escape me in attributing due credit to them. Thank you.
I remember watching my predecessor pound out his final
words to Behrend on this very same Macintosh. Music was
playing, writers were tapping away on computers, and staffers
were rushing to finish layout. The more things change...
You know, I really am going to miss this place.
The Collegian
Published weekly by the students of
Ivania State University at Erie, The Behrend Colli
The Penns'
Editor
Todd J. Irwin
Business Managor
Adrlanna Shrawder
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.
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 tor 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
Assist. Entertainment Editor ,f“ blish *J ever >
Craig Campbell year on recycled
Aaalatant Editor
Vicky Snyder
Nawa Editor
Mark Owens
Aaalst. Newa Editor
Loretta Russ
Features Editor
Robb Frederick
Entertainment Editor
Christi Luden
Sports Editor
Greg Geibel
Assist. Sports Editor
Matt Cissne
Copy Editor
Dawn Brenneman
Ad Layout & Design
Rob Pfendler
Distribution Manager
Joe Mycka
Advisor
Dr. Mike Simmons
Postal Information: The
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.
Opinion
Letters to the Editor
Sore losers
It is sad to see the childish
behavior of those who lost the
SGA elections. I suppose I am
being idealistic in thinking they
would accept their defeat and
congratulate the winners, but
how long must we tolerate their
pettiness and immaturity?
-Ed.
If those who lost the election
were as dedicated to SGA as their
campaign led us to believe, they
wouldn't be attempting to
undermine the success of its new
administration.
Personally, I think Behrend
should congratulate itself for
electing a group of positive and
enthusiastic SGA representatives.
Hopefully, the future of student
government will not be spoiled
by the petty infighting that
seemed to stricken it this year.
I am especially happy to see
that the gentleman attacked, and
that we elected, have remained
above exchanging shameful
insults both during and after the
campaign. I just wish John
Mack, James Ruhlman, and Brian
Silvis - all authors of recent
derogatory letters to the editor --
would end their sore loser
routine.
WPSE proud
The mission statement of
WPSE, as issued by University
Park, is our bible. We can not
deviate from it, since doing so is
not a Penn State problem, but a
federal problem.
Even if we had an unlimited
budget, it would still be
impossible to attain a 100,000
watt FM. It is not our choice or
Penn State's choice. It is the
FCC's decision that counts. 1450
kHz on the AM dial is designated
Lisa M. Runyan
Fourth semester
Psychology
by the FCC to be a community
station. If we don't broadcast
what we are currently
broadcasting, we will lose our
license to broadcast. Then our
tuition money would be wasted.
First, we are a commercial
station. We are one of only a
handful of commercial college
radio stations in the entire
country. Radio is not a music
driven business. It is a sales
driven business.
Advertisements are what keep
radio stations on the air, not
university endowments that keep
Edinboro, Mercyhurst and
Gannon on the air. WPSE earns
money for the school and for the
tuition paying students. How
many famous disc jockeys do you
know that work at stations that
don't play commercials?
Secondly, we do have a
responsibility to the community
since people actually listen to our
station. WPSE gets ratings. At
certain times during the week,
more people are listening to
WPSE than are listening to
Rocket or Jet.
Jf WPSE could be a better
music station than anyone else in
town, then the FCC would let us
change our format. We can't beat
FM's like Classy and Mix at
playing music. What we are is
the best source in Erie for news,
sports and information. When
people listen to the station, and
see that it is a professional and
informative station, it represents
Behrend well.
The fact is WPSE is respected
by the other stations in town.
They hire our staff to work at
their stations, and at stations in
bigger and better markets. The
experience and the drive for
perfection that 1 am learning at
WPSE will give me what I need
to get a job at a bigger and better
station. That is what I am paying
Penn state my tuition money for.
That is what all serious
communication students want for
Thursday, April 30, 1992
rue you
d checks ,
House bank $
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their money.
The experience and training to
succeed in the "real" world. In the
"real” world, stations don't have
the time and the resources to train
you again. You know what your
doing or you're gone. That is
why I am proud to tell you what
WPSE really is, one of the finest
college radio stations in the
country.
Steven Pellegrino
Second semester
Communication
Farewell
I would like to say farewell to
all of you who have touched my
life during the past ten and a half
years.
When I started working here,
there was a flurry of activity as
all around there was remodeling
going on. The Registrar's Office
moved into the Otto Behrend
Science Building, the once tiny
Book Store moved to its present
location. The R.U.B. Desk
moved to front and center in Reed
Wintergarden.
The Mail Room grew three
times larger and we had a new
entrance to the once obscure Back
Room. Dr. Lilley became
Provost. Erie Hall got remodeled.
Hammermill-Zurn came into
being.
It's been so beautiful,
watching not only the students
grow, but the campus grow as
well. I'm so happy that I came
here to Behrend. Working here
has been a learning and growing
experience. (See, it's never too
late to learn.)
This is a most gorgeous place
to be for all four seasons.
Wildlife prevails. I encountered
skunks, and I saw many raccoons
hobble across campus. And
rabbits! Boy, do we have rabbits!
Behrend is a beautiful place to
sit outside and enjoy the sun and
the breeze and the hundreds of
passing smiling faces.
I'm most impressed with the
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