Page 4 EDITORIAL Privacy versus freedom of information Campus newspapers should be allowed access to the same kinds of information as the rest of the media. But right now that is not the case. Why? It's called the Buckley Amendment, a federal law which requires student records to remain confidential. However, this same law makes it difficult for student newspapers to obtain crime information. Behrend Police and Safety cannot release the names of students who commit crimes on campus. Some of the statistics you may have heard about before attending Behrend may actually be misleading. If the State Police are called to investigate a certain crime, the data goes on their record. So, in order for us to report on what happens on campus we are forced to travel outside university boundaries. This is not the fault of our campus administration. The blame should rest solely on the shoulders of our state and federal governments. They have made the confidentiality decision for us and this means students attending Behrend for the first time as well as their parents may not be privy to the true status of crime on this campus. Unless The Collegian is given an anonymous tip concerning a crime, we aren't able to cover it. It's time to start treating college students the way they ought to be treated. Like everyone else in society. Students who are concerned about this issue should contact both their state and federal representatives and express their feelings. The Collegian Published weekly by the students of The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend Colle; Editor Vleky Snyder Business Manager Karen Major 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. News Editor Loretta Russ Entertainment Editor Craig Campbell Sports Editor Matt Cissne Copy Editor Keith McFall Advertising Manager David Mahoney Collegian Staff: April Bogdanski,, Jim Burke, Brian Chaffee, Robin Clement, Hal Coffey, Julie Coughenour. Von Cousin, Shawn Gallagher, Abby Greenberg, Amy Herb, Gary Johnson, Sue Kass, Rick Kastan, •Bew Kem, Ryan Marquis, Calansra * -Sue? 'Moreno, 'Toe Mottillo, Liam O’Mahony, Danette Parrett, Melissa Sabo, Randy Schmoyer, Tim Schweitzer, Rob Taylor, Jen Toubakans, Teresa Turley Photographers: Amel Balcita, Tim Barr, Steve Binder, Craig Breter, Andrew Festa. Kristie Guldner, Dan Jaecks, Darren Schilberg Typists: Pamela Baccus, Dylan Sousa Advisor: Cathy Mester Columnists; Andrew Festa, Alicia Hartman, George Hiegel 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 wnter. 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 during the academic year on recycled paper. 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. FAX (814) 898-6019 Opinion -EGO FKaeMf!. Wfe BO) PfCBltM?. WNgwMN Can we talk or what? For the past six weeks, I have been trying to get adjusted to my new schedule. Classes seem to be getting harder, but yet more interesting. With pressures of graduation, it is that much more difficult to adjust and buckle down to doing school work. However, I feel that it is not fair to the students to have to go to a class that is taught by a professor who is not a fluent English speaker. I am tired and frustrated of spending this much money to attend this university and not be able to understand my professor or professors. It is ridiculous that I am forced to learn the subject material strictly from the book and my friends. I hate going to class and I usually don’t, so I am penalized for my attendance record. Where is the justice? I think the university should have a strict screening of the professors to ensure they can speak the English language well enough for students to learn from them. If they can’t speak then they should not teach! I hope something is going to be done in the near future. It is an embarrassment to the scholastic aspect of this university. Michael Ginsburg 7th semester Management What's on your mind? Do you like The D.O you hate The Collegianl Let us know!!! Letters to the Editor Foreign cars and lost men. To Dr. Lilley: Early Wednesday morning, at approximately 7:00 a.m., a fellow in a very smart looking Lexus ( a foreign car) was aimlessly driving around campus. First he drove to the Erie Hall lot, then to the Reed Lot, and as he was moving his car astern to head back to Stadium Drive, he stopped me and asked for directions. He was looking for "Something called Glennhill Farmhouse." Without thinking, I am naturally kind, I gave him specific directions to Glennhill something someone had apparently neglected to do. While continuing to walk to the Reed Building, I realized that this disoriented fellow was probably an alumni fellow, major contributor, or some other nominal member of the Behrcnd Community. I estimate the value of the information I gave him between $5 and $5.30 counting current sales tax, and $5.65 under Brown's plan. Since he was obviously lost, and probably about to donate untold millions to some pet project, you will agree a "finder's fee" is in order. In the future though, you might wish to give directions to important folks coming to campus, it makes hitting them up all the more easy. (Was this a consultation?) Jeremy R. Sutch 7th Semester, MthßD Thursday, October 8, 1992 Where's the dumbbells? What's up with the athletic facilities here on campus? Anyone who works out in the gym, will know what I'm talking about. Why is it so hard to keep the equipment in working condition? Even though the equipment is bound to break because of continual usage, how long does it take to repair it? There are four pieces of equipment that as of Monday have signs posted on them stating "OUT OF ORDER." Two of the machines have been "OUT OF ORDER" for two weeks. Again I ask how hard is it to fix these machines? All they need is the DAMN cables replaced. I did recognize thal some new equipment was purchased this past summer such as some new dumbbells (5-10-15 lbs. sets, nothing bigger), a new Olympic bar, and some new plates, but the weight room is still in need of better, newer, and safer equipment. For instance, it would probably cost less money to buy new dumbbells than to pay someone to weld them back together fifteen times and have them break apart again, this time on someone. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE! Let's face it, after classes and tests, some of us need to clear our minds and sweat out the stress and working out is the answer. But when you walk into the weight room day after day and see all of the equipment that is still "OUT OF ORDER," it aggravates us more and more. So whoever wants to admit that their in charge of the training facilities in Erie Hall, I ask can we please repair the equipment so it can be used?- Where does our tuition go? -- Obviously not the training room! Keith Reliant 7th Semester-Engineer
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