9 - Digitized Collections

ODinions
The Daily Collegian
Tuesday, March 25, 1986
Unintentional statement
A skeleton crept out of the closet this
weekend as unaware Penn Staters flocked
outdoors into the sunshine to enjoy the first
days of spring.
It appeared in the form of a "shantycondo,"
that was erected as an "investment
in fun" for-a social event on the front lawn
of the Sigma Pi fraternity.
Some of the partiers who erected the
shack for the theme party insisted they had
not intended to make a statement about
divestment, apartheid or the shantytown on
campus.
"These guys are neither here nor there,"
asserted Sigma Pi President Mike DeTomrhaso.
"The last thing we want is a confrontation.
It's just in fun. We're not
concerning ourselves with any issues."
Well think again, folks. Just by coming up
with such an insipid theme, you've already
said something.
Maybe you disagree with the measures
being taken to protest apartheid. Maybe
you disagree with disinvestment. Maybe
you don't care; you're just tired of hearing
about the whole damn issue every day.
But the bottom line is that you cannot
ignore it. And because these issues have
been so visible, you've been forced to think
about them.
And that is what's important.
At a university where apathy has come to
be known as the common denominator of
student opinion, such a display — any
display — of thought or opinion is a rarity.
reader opinion
El Salvador
It has been six years since the assassination of Archbishop
Romero of El Salvador. In that same year, four
American nuns were murdered in this small Central
American country.
Who was Archbishop Romero? Why was he killed?
Since that time, what has become of his murderers and
those responsible for the murders of the nuns?
Archbishop Romero was a man who advocated peace.
He called on the United States to stop sending military aid
to El Salvador. He accused the government of repressing
the people such as an occasion on Feb. 23, 1980 when he
denounced military invasions of peasant villages in which
more than 50 people were killed.
Romero's last words were a plea to Salvadoran soldiers
to obey the words of God not to kill people. The next day,
he was assassinated.
A commission appointed by President Duarte to discover
the truth about his murder and that of the nuns was
disbanded this past fall. No reason was given.
Knowledgeable sources have claimed the commission
was disbanded because it had connected the right-wing
death squads responsible for these killings with high
military officials in the present government.
U.S. aid to El Salvador increased in those six years
from $50 million in 1980 to $300 million in 1986. President
Reagan is asking for $500 million in this year's budget.
In honor of Archbishop Romero, Friends of Latin
America will be showing two videos about Central America
at 7:30 p.m. March 25 in 251 Willard Building.
Peter Brown, graduate-agronomy
March 19
Take time
An event that will capture the attention of the nation
this summer is the 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty
on July 4, 1986. It will be a time to contemplate the
meaning of liberty for all Americans, especially in light of
the infringements on liberty around the globe in these
troubled times.
The media will be reminding us that America is a
"melting pot" of various ethnic and racial groups who
came to this country and who worked together to provide
For however ignorant and uninformed a
statement the builders of the shanty-condo
may have made, they brought to light that
the shantytown and protests on campus
have unconsciously forced people into making
decisions and forming opinions about
the issues at hand.
The theme party showed that some people
are tasteless and thoughtless and do not
want to seriously address the issues. One
fraternity brother at the party admitted
that "I don't think that anyone likes those
rude, ugly-looking things in front of Willard
Building."
But it also brought up the flipside of the
coin. It is enlightening to know there were
some people at the party who thought the
event was m poor taste. As a Pi Beta Phi
sorority member said: "This is really a
crummy situation." But to this she was
forced to admit that "my opinion is very
different from some of my sorority sisters."
Both good and bad came from the building
of the shanty-condo this weekend.
It brought out a laissez-faire attitude that
many people suspected but could not identify
before.
Regardless of whether it was a good or
bad statement, the fraternity and sorority's
actions did say something substantial.
It remains to be seen what new skeletons
may appear, if any, but the significance of
the shanty-condo should not go unnoticed.
Let's hope this action will be followed by
other more-informed opinions.
a better life for themselves and their children. Many of us
will seek out old family photos of our ancestors' arrival at
Ellis Island as we seek to retrace their first steps on these
shores.
Yet I fear that in the throes of the celebration of liberty
and our ethnic heritage there will be forgotten Americans:
the Native Americans.
Having grown up on the Seneca Reservation, I am
keenly aware that for them the celebration may be a
reminder of the cost of liberty, of what they gave up,
willingly or coercively, of how they were forced to move
their families and tribes so there would be room for all of
us on this vast continent.
So as you take time to explore your family history, also
take time to learn about the first Americans, the Native
Americans, and be mindful of their place in American
history.
Rita M. Oliverio
doctoral candidate-counseling psychology
March 21
Stereotypes
Stereotypes surround nearly every segment of our
society, and agriculture is no exception. For instance, the
words "agriculture" and "farming" are synonymous to
many people. Having not been raised on a farm, I once
shared this limited viewpoint. As an agriculture student,
however, I have gained another perspective.
The perpetuation of the stereotypes concernig agriculture
is partially the fault of those in agriculture. It is
difficult to represent the depth and diversity of agriculture
and it is often much easier to accept an existing
image. As in any field or occupation, the most visible
things get attention, be they positive or negative.
People see cows and tractors from highways and hear
about farm foreclosures in the Midwest, but they are
made aware of little else. Therefore, people do not realize
that agriculturalists today are also, among other things,
successful businesspeople, engineers, food scientists,
horticulturalists and animal breeders.
This week is National Agriculture Week and this
Wednesday is National Agricultural Day. Our nation has
been blessed with fertile soils, quality water, vast forests,
the
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Collegian
Tuesday, March 25, 1986
©1986 Collegian Inc.
Anita C. Huslin
Editor
William G. Landls Jr.
Business Manager
The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion
is determined by its Board of
Opinion, with the editor holding
final responsibility. Opinions expressed
on the editorial pages are
not necessarily those of The Dally
Collegian, Collegian Inc. or The
Pennsylvania State University.
Collegian Inc., publishers of The
Daily Collegian and related publications,
is a separate corporate institution
from Penn State.
Board of Editors — Managing Editor:
Jeanette D. Krebs; Opinion Editor:
Doug Popovich; Assistant
Opinion Editor: Alan J. Graver;
News Editors: Ron Yeany, Bob King;
Copy/Wire Editors: Anita Yesho,
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Eyster, Denise Weaver, Donna Higgins;
Town Editor: Phil ' Galewitz;
Assistant Town Editor: Lori Heller;
Campus Editor: Amy Fellin; Assistant
Campus Editor: Celeste Mc-
Cauley; Sports Editor: Mark
Ashenfelter; Assistant Sports Editors:
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Science Editor: Nan Crystal
Arens; Business Editor: Rich Douma;
Graphics Editor: Tony Ciccarelli;
Photo Editor: Gregg Zelkin
Assistant Photo Editor: Cristy Rick
ard.
Board of Managers
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fm
LCJ7
Assistant
Business Manager: Amy R. Norris;
Accounting Manager: Lori A. Spossey;
Office Manager: Gretchen A.
Funk; Assistant Office Manager:
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Marketing
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encourages comments on news
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a wide range of climates providing adaptability for many sonably cannot be expected to produce an effective
plant and animal species.
solution. It has become evident to us that many people
For this we should be thankful this week and always, equate divestment with an anti-apartheid stance to the
especially in the face of world hunger. Let us look beyond extent that if you don't support divestment you must
the stereotypes surrounding agriculture and appreciate support apartheid, or worse yet, you must be a racist,
and celebrate what we have in it.
We do not support apartheid in any way and we ' do not
Ellen Cherchuck, graduate-agriculture consider ourselves racist. We do not suggest that our
March 21 soi uti0ns are the only means of changing South Africa's
IMIierlirAr"ft-Ari
policies, that they are the best or that they will be
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undisputably effective.
Divestment, as presented in the arguments we are Our purpose is two-fold. First, we would like to invite
familiar with, appears to be a policy that leaves no room those who can show a realistic, positive effect that
for a peaceful resolution of the racial problems of South divestment will have in South Africa to do so. Our position
Africa. As we view divestment, its main problem seems is not inflexible. We would like to know if we have
to be that it is misdirected.
overlooked an important aspect.
If we truly desire to destroy apartheid we must realize CurrentlV) we do not believe that we have. Our second
that its true causes are not economic, but social. The is grounded in the hope of 0^ning a blic
attitudes that inspire racism are deeply rooted in society discussion of ^,^3 other than divestment for combatand
cannot be changed by a policy aimed at penalizing tmg apartheid
companies operating in South Africa. *_ '
Policies that we would support as a means of effecting We believe that most, if not all, students are opposed to
positive change in South Africa include supporting gov- apartheid, but that many have reserves about divestment
ernmental candidates who oppose apartheid and are as a viable weapon to combat it.
dedicated to ending it by exerting pressure on South It is important to note that being anti-divestment is not
African officials, an extensive letter-writing campaign the same as supporting apartheid. Rather than throwing
directed at making our opinions concerning divestment our support behind divestment blindly, we should first
known to governmental officials and other public interest explore alternatives other than the quick and sloppy one
organizations, as well as any other means capable of represented by divestment.
exerting pressure in the area necessary to have an
Michael Lehutsky, senior-prelaw
impact.
Dennis Piatt, sophomore-engineering
Divestment is a"quick and easy approach that rea- March 19
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Laid back:
Trying to keep an open mind isn
Some people call me a wimp. I prefer to
think of myself as an open-minded pacifist.
Regardless of the label, I continually refuse
to take a stand on issues.
The problem is that I can usually understand
and sympathize with both sides in a
conflict of interests. I call this open-mindedness.
I enjoy playing the devil's advocate. It
makes people really think about what
they're saying or why they believe something.
Sometimes it makes them really
angry, and this is lots of fun also.
But basically, I'm just an agreeable type
of person — very live and let live. To use an
already overused phrase, I try not to "invade
people's space" and I expect them to
extend the same courtesy to me.
It takes an exceptional amount of aggravation
to set me off. At times, I've been told
I'm very laid back — some call it comatose
— too much for my own good. But there are
some things that really tick me off big time.
One of these things is umbrellas. I thought
people needed licenses to own and operate
lethal weapons.
And no one under five feet tall should be
issued an umbrella. No one! I've had my
throat nearly slit and came close to losing
an eye or two on several occasions by under-
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tall people wielding umbrellas like swashbucklers
on the high seas.
Now I don't have anything against short
people understand — some of my best
friends are short. (Hi, Kath. Please don't
hurt me. Kathy knows judo and likes to
practice on people who make short jokes.)
Another thing that really offends me is
when people (guys mostly, I hope) spit on
the street and other public places. The other
day I had to walk around downtown like a
drunk because I was trying to dodge the
fallout of a rather prolific spitter walking in
front of me. Very gross. If I want to experience
vast quantities of saliva, I'll get a Saint
Bernard , thank you.
Not that I'm out to repress anyone. Do
your thing, babe. Just don't push it on
others.
t
always easy after too many confrontations with umbrellas
For example, someone in my building has
a fondness for a particular singer. This
person likes to save the rest of the tenants
the trouble of turning on their stereos by
blasting the favored singer and usually the
same song throughout the day.
Over break I had a hard time eating,
sleeping and functioning without the familiar
refrain pulsing in the backround.
The only thing I hate more than people
entertaining their neighbors with their favorite
tunes is when these annoying people
never change the record! There are certain
ways to be considerate while being obnoxious.
One example are those National Rifle
Association commercials. Instead of showing
men with beer bellies who wear camouflage
and flourescent orange clothes and
baseball caps bearing the slogan "kill
things," they show a woman playing a
violin.
And then they tell you about dismemberment
insurance. Please!
I can picture Buck and Jimbo watching
The Dukes of Hazzard , drinking cheap beer
and prolifically expelling gaseous material
from both ends of the digestive tract. Then
the NRA commercial comes on.
Buck and Jimbo instantly perk up, as this
ad features guns, which have to rank right
up there with the ten best things in life.
(Right after beer, four wheel drive pick-up
trucks and Merle Haggard records.)
"Say this NRA thing sounds like a good
deal, don't it, Buck? Look — $10,000 dismemberment
and accidental death insurance.
That sure would have come in handy
last year when I had one beer too many (if
there is such a thing) and I got a little
trigger happy. Blew off more than half of
R.J.'s left hand. What a mess! Almost
ruined our friendship."
"Yeah, and remember the time Billy Bob
shot that little boy's puppy? Hell, it looked
just like small game — it was brown," Buck
said. "That little brat's family just didn't
understand. Billy Bob even offered to buy
them another dog! Some folks are so ungrateful!"
"Ain't that the truth," Jimbo said. "Besides,
don't it say in the Declaration of
Dependents or Constitution or somethin'
that men have the right to kill things?"
"Yeah, I think so. Oh, we're missing the
Dukes! Pay attention, because these plots
get pretty complex. Don't wanna miss nothing
important,"
When good old boys like this get loose in
the woods with lethal weapons, I worry. I
am, however, a great believer in the Constitution,
and man's right to be left the hell
alone to do his thing, including bearing
arms. (Or to arm bears, which might be just
about as safe.)
But the NRA advertises their insurance
benefits a little too lightly. People shouldn't
need dismemberment and accidental death
insurance. There is enough killing going on
in the name of higher causes — let's not kill
in the name of carelessness and irresponsibility.
This could lead me to drunk driving, but
I'll spare you the grief. I don't think any
person with the good taste and obvious
superior intelligence to read this column
would ever do anything that asinine.
*
Well, now that I've offended all short
people who carry umbrellas, all habitual
spitters and hicks who like to drink beer and
kill things (at the same time), I suppose I'll
wrap it up. I've got some college transfer
forms to fill out.
Laura May is a junior majoring in animal
bioscience and a columnist for The Daily
Collegian. Her columns appear every other
Tuesday.