Thursday, April 30, 1992
Letters to the Editor
(continued from page 4)
wonderful folks I've met and the
friends I've made through the
years. The notes I received from
the office staff were always a joy.
The only thing that keeps me
from crying is knowing you'll
always be with me, in my heart
and in my fondest memories.
I will be retiring on June the
fifth, but I'm not leaving Behrend
behind. I'm taking with me some
of the most crazy, wild,
wonderful times of my life.
1 want to thank everyone I've
worked for and with during my
stay. I’ve enjoyed many laughs
with you, had some good
surprises, and some unusual
ones. You've shared much of my
family news with me and I want
to send out a special thank you to
the whole Behrend community
for the tremendous support you
gave me in the recent loss of my
hubby.
For the past two years I’ve
shared the dorm, Perry Hall from
7:00 to 3:30 daily, with 100 fine
young men. As many of you
know, I call them 'My Guys'. I'm
so grateful to them for all their
compassion and love. They've
just helped and supported me
through one of the most difficult
periods of my life. My Guys are
special, but they already know
that.
I adore My Guys and I sure
will miss their youth and
enthusiasm. I wish you all a
good fortune and remember,
please: what you learn now will
have a great effect on your future,
and oh what a future it'll be!
I do thank God that you folks
were in my lifetime, and in my
life. I'll enjoy the memories all
of you gave me. All of you, My
Guys, the Behrend community,
the staff and faculty, all of you
are special. I will always love
you all. God bless all of you
special people.
Del Koppes
Resident Hall Worker
Thank you
Now is the time for
evaluating the quality and
effectiveness of the programs we
have held throughout the
academic year. Looking back, I
realize how many student
organizations and individual
students have contributed to our
efforts. Their help has been
crucial to the success of several
of our programs.
Beginning with the Fall
Carnival at which 21 student
clubs and organizations sponsored
tables and continuing through the
mocktrial, blood drives, the
drinking demonstration,
Mocktails at Bruno's, the
S.A.D.D. speaker, the Health and
Wellness Fair, Stairways Art
Exhibit, Martial Arts
Demonstration, and the Armor
and Sturtevant coffee house,
students have volunteered their
time, creativity, and energy.
Because there were so many
contributors we could not
recognize everyone during the
Awards Ceremony on April 26,
1992. We would therefore like to
honor them at the next meeting
of the Health Advisory Board -
May 7, 1992 at 9:00 a.m. in the
Reed Conference Room.
(Invitations will be sent to all
certificate recipients.)
Certificates will be given to
Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity, The
Multi-Cultural Council, Delta
Chi Fraternity, Alpha Sigma
Alpha Sorority, Sigma Tau
Gamma Fraternity, Martial Arts
Club, Psi Chi Honor Society,
the Psychology Club, the
Matchbox Players, Alpha Sigma
Tau Sorority, and Students
Against Driving Drunk. Several
individuals will also be
recognized.
During the same meeting we
will be discussing ideas for next
year. We welcome all interested
students, faculty and staff to
attend this meeting and
participate in planning for 1992-
93. This past year student board
members were very helpful in
selecting speakers and programs
that students enjoyed.
I hope we see an expansion of
this involvement next year. Any
student interested in improving
student life at Penn State-Behrend
is most welcome. I encourage
student clubs and organizations
who enjoyed participating in
Wellness programs this year to
send representatives to the 1992-
93 Health Advisory Board so that
they can be involved "from the
ground up."
In closing I wish to thank
everyone who participated this
year in our wellness efforts.
Please stay involved. We need
you.
Cathy Eck
Wellness Coordinator
Quiet please
I walked into the library,
pushing through the mass of
people socializing at the door.
The babble of the room was
almost to the level of the Gorge
at lunchtime. 0.K., I figured,
another typical day. I found the
quietest section I could, beside
two other students who appeared
to be studying diligently.
Shortly after I gathered my
research material and began my
work, the two students beside me
struck up a conversation about
the relative merits of sleeping
with this person as opposed to
that person. I realize that this is
an important scholarly subject,
imperative to surviving the end
of this semester, but I was
annoyed at their choice of
location for the discussion.
Still, I have come to expect
this when I go to the library, so I
did my best to ignore them. Then
their friend with the squirt-gun
showed up. 1 discovered rapidly
that there is nothing more
distracting than over-spray when
one is trying to concentrate. Now
I realize that there is some kind
of squirt-gun survival game
organizing on this campus, and it
sounds like an excellent form of
stress relief to me, but is the
library really the place for this?
What has happened to the
commitment to study on this
campus? I realize that our library
is not exactly a researcher's
The Collegian
dream, but it's the best we have.
In case no one has noticed, there
are a multitude of lounges on this
campus where socialization is
expected and squirt-guns are
thoroughly enjoyed.
The library, contrary to
popular belief, is not one of
these, and I get annoyed when it
is treated as such. Maybe this
summer, Penn State needs to
hunt down and hire my grade
school librarian. She had a face
that could stop a clock, but she
knew how to control the children.
Michael A. Brenneman
Fourth semester
English
Proud bond
John Mack, James Ruhlman
and Brian Silvis have recently
expressed their opinions regarding
the Greek participation in the
SGA elections. They have
implied that it was selfish and
foolish.
Voting is our right, bestowed
upon us through the efforts of
many men and women who
adamantly refused to accept the
status quo. It is sad that more
people do not vote in all
elections. It is our opportunity to
choose our leadership. Running a
country or a student organization
demands activism. Those who do
not vote are only hurting
themselves.
Expression of their anger in
defeat has not stopped with their
comments. It has manifested
itself in our student government.
When they subordinate the goals
of the student body to their own
selfish purposes, they embarrass
themselves and neglect their
electorate. When unprincipled
means are employed (Ruhlman's
inaccuracies regarding Schmoycr's
use of student money for copies),
a shadow is cast upon all those
who attempt to make Behrend a
little better.
Lastly, try to understand
where the Greeks are coming
from. We are a brotherhood and a
sisterhood that combine our
strengths to overcome our
weaknesses and strive to be more.
Do not hate us for being active.
We do not infringe upon anyone's
life. We do not impose our way
of life on others. We seek and
demand to be heard. We live here
and attend school here. We,
therefore, pledge our effort to
maintaining what is good and
correcting what is lacking.
The members of TKE are
infinitely proud of our bond. We
are proud of the lengths we have
traveled to achieve it. This pride
cries out for devotion, and effort
is our answer. Most other
organizations have some bond in
which they arc proud. They too
should take advantage of their
greatest assets, their members.
Participation is of utmost
importance.
To those who are trying to
strike out at the Greeks through
SGA; just don't screw it up for
the rest of the student body. To
John Mack and James D.
Ruhlman; you appear to be
power hungry children who care
more about what people can do
for you than what you can do for
people. You will make great
politicians, but damn poor
leaders. Let's put our differences
aside and look to the next year.
Good luck to all those leaving
Behrend. To my brothers, you
will all be greatly missed, your
shoes are hard to fill.
Brian Conboy
Fifth semester
International Management
Good bye
In my past three years at
Behrend, I have never let my
thoughts be heard by the campus
as a whole. However, since I am
graduating, I have decided to share
my opinions of Behrend.
As I recall these past three
years, I feel a sense of joy and
wonderment. I believe that
Behrend has had a positive impact
on my life, and I regret not
spending all four years here.
Behrend engenders not only the
legendary slogan: "the small
college with the big degree," but
its also engenders a unique sense
of unity.
The people I have encountered
on this campus are all special in
their own right. I have learned
much from all of them. I have
especially enjoyed my time
working in the Office of Student
Activities. Both on the clock and
off, I have made some very
unique friendships, that
hopefully, will last a long time.
I will miss Behrend when I
move on, opening another
chapter in my life. For it is the
people at Behrend that make it as
special as it is, from the
administration to the students.
The experiences I have gained
from being involved in student
organizations have been very
educational. I believe my
socialization skills have
improved along with learning to
work with people of different
backgrounds.
I believe that one should
actively participate in student
activities in order to augment
their education. For it is not only
a way to meet people, student
participation will teach one better
time management and to cope
with stress.
Thus as I walk across the
campus these last couple of
weeks, it slowly becomes
difficult to leave and start a new
life in a new setting. I'm
confident that I will make new
friends wherever I go, but I have
doubts that these new friendships
will be as special as my current
ones.
So I say good-bye to Penn
State-Behrend and all of its
idiosyncrasies. With saying this,
1 will also add that I am glad that
I did not travel to University Park
to finish my degree. The
personalized education received
and the comfortable setting of
Behrend have made my college
experience so much the better.
Jason Bates
Eighth semester
Political Science
Go social
Since the recent SGA
elections, The Collegian has
endured a steady flow of letters
protesting the results of the
election.
The unsuccessful candidates
Page
seem to be discontent unless they
are blasting their opponents. The
most prolific author seems to be
John Mack (SGA presidential
runner-up). In Mr. Mack's
opinion, his opponent, Joe
Mycka, is unqualified to represent
the student body. He says Mr.
Mycka is not in touch with the
students' needs.
Mr. Mack, perhaps you
should re-evaluate your own
involvement in student life.
There is more to college than
coming to school, going to class,
then going home. Sitting on an
SGA committee or heading the
Commuter Council, while noble
efforts, do not sufficiently
constitute student involvement.
Being involved means
attending athletic events to show
support for Behrend athletes. It
means showing support of the
Studio Theater by attending
plays. It means participating in
intramurals. It means joining one
of the many social clubs on
campus.
There is far more to college
life than the classroom and SGA
office. I believe that you are
missing out on vast
opportunities to learn about
yourself as well as the books you
read in class. Run again next
year, after becoming truly
involved. You may just find
success.
Donald Alpern
Sixth semester
History
Both false
This letter in response to that
of William Koch which appeared
in the April 23 issue of The
Collegian. Mr. Koch, I have
major problems with your major
problems, namely that they are
both false!
First, while my campaign did
have its negative aspects, I also
included my planned agenda and
prior experience on my posters in
addition to pointing out the
unethical behavior of my
opponent, thus making my
campaign well rounded. Also, are
you blind? My campaign was not
the only one with negative
aspects, such tactics were also
employed in the SGA
presidcntial/vice-presidential race.
Second, you are absolutely
right that Mr. Schmoyer's posters
were billed to Delta Chi. You
must be blind! I clearly stated on
my posters that they were billed
to a student organization. You are
also right in your statement that
SGA does not fund Delta Chi
(which is due to the
discriminatory nature of the
Greek system). However, Mr.
Koch, ALL photocopies made on
the SGA copier are subsidized by
SGA, as the 4 cents/copy billed
to the student organizations
doesn't even cover the cost of
toner, paper, electricity, and
copier rental. SGA is funded
largely by the tuition payments
of students!
Furthermore, Mr. Koch, 1
suggest that you take your own
advice and "research your facts
and make sure that they are
accurate", because this time they
were not.
James D. Ruhlman
Fourth semester
DUS