Page 6
EDITORIAL
Gather, sort and decide...then
vote!!!
Most of us have had the opportunity to watch President
George Bush, Democratic presidential candidate Bill
Clinton and independent hopeful Ross Perot debate before
the American public. For many of us, this is the first
opportunity we've had to watch Perot answer questions
off the cuff. For the most part, he wasn't swept under the
carpet during the debate. The unusual nature of this election
alone draws us to it. Tuesday's debate between Dan
Quayle, A 1 Gore and James Stockdale was as entertaining
as a World Wrestling Federation match gone haywire.
Who is James Stockdale and what was he doing there
anyway? Do viewers get any extra insight by watching the
debates? Perhaps we would if there were more of them to
watch and if they were held earlier in the season. As it
stands now, these last minute debates may prove more
confusing to the voter, forcing them to stay at home
November 3rd. But, in less than twenty days this heated
three way race for the top office in our government will
come to an end. 'The end' will be a blessing to some and a
disappointment to others. No more degrading television,
radio and newspaper ads. No more begging for time on
morning shows and no more debate face-offs. Instead,
we'll take a deep breath and settle in for four years. But,
how many of us will have exercised our right to vote? Will
we allow ourselves to make our own decision or will we
let others make the choice for us? Young voter anger is on
the rise this political season. To combat this, we must be
vigilant about the information we choose to digest. Sort it.
Gather it from many sources and above all, question it.
Why is it that we take for granted a right that people in
other countries die for? We can't allow our voice to be
muffled this time. Make a decision and go with it. A
change in our voting habits could produce a needed change
in how politicians view issues like education, job security
and health care.
The Collegian
Published weekly by the students of
The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend Collei
Editor
Vicky 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,
Ben Kem, Ryan Marquis, Calandra
Matthews, Sue Moreno, Joe
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 woids. 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 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
Letters
A call for
more
organized
religion
It must of been the second
week of school when I met him.
We never spoke. I was afraid to
disturb him as he knelt in front
of Porcupine facing east-absorbed
in prayer. I wanted to ask so
much about the beliefs and
beauty of a religion that I had
never seen. One day at lunch I
sat across from another. Our
conversation paused for a silent
moment as he said grace. I was
in awe of this person's devotion
to his faith. We talked about our
different religions, and again I
was impressed by such an expres
sion of faith.
Religion is an important part
of many students' lives, and there
is far more diversity in faith than
what was last week's article
(Religion on Campus) men
tioned. Yes, there are many
Christians, and they represent a
strong and well organized group
of students. But there arc
Muslims, Humanists and Jews
that form Behrend's "religious
minority. "Are there groups,
services or "opportunities for
[these] students to develop the
spiritual parts of their lives?" It
is difficult to organize such
"groups" without knowing "who
How about some mail?
If you would like to voice your more that two persons. Letters Collegian reserves the right to
views on an issue, why not write should be no longer than 400 edit letters for length and to reject
a Letter to the Editor? words and should include the letter if they are libelous or do
The Collegian encourages letters semester standing and major of not conform to the standards of
on news coverage, editorial the writer. All letters should good taste. All letters submitted
content or University affairs. provide the address and phone become the property of The
Letters should be typewritten, number of the writer for Collegian.
double-spaced and signed by no verification of •the letter. The
f ( )
' l NBNOJ&... J
to the
else is out there. "For the past
year, efforts have been made to
organize a Jewish "group. "Due
to busy schedules or lack of ini
tiative, progress has been slow,
but interest is not gone. Would
there be a possibility for a
"Hillel" this year? If so, I'd gladly
be a part in it.
Danette-your article applauds
two very organized devoted
groups. I hope that other reli
gious groups will be encouraged
and able to find such community
at Behrend.
Tamalynn Press
3rd Semester Elementary
Education
Dogged with
cat calls
I would really like to know
why Penn State allows the
construction crew to be so
inconsiderate of those of us who
pay to be here. The crews have
consistenly been hide to females
walking anywhere near the
construction site. They make
sure that they are blocking the
road up to Reed during the
busiest hours of the day, and
when the road is open, they make
sure that it is difficult to get
through the area in which they
are working. I personally have
seen three cars almost get run
over by their equipment, not to
Thursday, October 15, 1992
/HUS
Editor
mention those standing in the
area giving you a free inspection
of the inside of your car.
I think that this whole thing is
getting absolutely ridiculous. I
do not see a current Penn State
Erie parking sticker on that
yellow trailer permanetly parked
in the lot next to the tennis
courts. I pay to be here. I
specifically pay (too much) to
park here, and now there is one
less space to park. Also that
trailer is going to cause an
accident because it is almost
impossible to pull out around it,
or to see if there is someone
pulling out beside it.
I want to know if there is some
way that these problems can be
corrected. Maybe have the crews
working during more convenient
hours for the rest of the campus.
Maybe they could park that trailer
behind Hammermill. There is
more space in that lot, and a
smaller percentage of that lot gets
used. This would make it less
dangerous for us commuters.
Maybe if Penn State let the
workers know who is paying
their salaries right now, ihen
maybe the workers will
understand that the library needs
to be done before the twenty-first
century.
Leah Daw
6th semester
Junior
Psychology Major