STRAIGHT not like PSU

"The University is committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain an environment that fosters respect for others.

"Actions motivated by intolerance . . . do untold and unjust harm to those who experience this pernicious kind of discrimination . . ."

These words can be found in the University Policy Manual. They are part of the University Policy and the core of the mission of this University. They are also the reason why the group STRAIGHT should not be officially recognized on campus.

Darin Loccarini asserts (letter, Jan. 21) that denying STRAIGHT the recognition desired is "essentially . . . saying that upon admission to Penn State you must endorse homosexuality."

The logic here is thin. Denying him and the rest of those who back STRAIGHT the right to form a group based on hate implies nothing more than the stance of the University on intolerance.

Does the presence of a Greek system on campus imply that upon admission I must endorse fraternities and sororities?

Does the presence of Silver Circle on campus mean that I must endorse paganism?

There is no other group on campus whose sole mission is to promote hatred, so why should STRAIGHT be allowed this special treatment? Should Penn State allow an on-campus chapter of the Ku Klux Klan?

I'm sure we could find more than adequate student support to justify its presence, if that is a determining factor, as Loccarini suggests.

If a faculty member wanted to join this new Penn State KKK chapter, that too would be committing career suicide. Hey, but don't go thinking that no professor here shares the views of the KKK --"That's only wishful thinking." Is the logic wearing thin now?

This is not about being politically correct; I am not writing this to please anybody.

This is not about taking sides or promoting the minority. This is about the fact that a group like STRAIGHT goes against the very principles on which Penn State stands.

If Penn State does allow this group to exist as a recognized organization, it would be compromising itself and promoting exactly the kind of environment it is so against.

Kate Kleba
junior-psychology

We are . . . Bureaucracy!

I am writing this letter to help any of you out there that don't totally understand the bureaucracy that is Penn State.

Last semester, as usual, my student loans went through late. And when they weren't here a week after classes, even though the money was coming, the University proceeded to cancel my classes. After a week had gone by, I received notice that my semester schedule was gone.

I went to the Bursar to see if I could resolve the issue. They told me that because they hadn't received my semester bill, which is paid for with student aid, they had put me down as unregistered. My loans sat there and then were sent back the day before, just because of this status. They wanted to kick me out of my room because I wasn't registered for classes.

To make a long story short, I somehow got back into my classes and the loans finally came in.

You would figure that it would be fine for the following semester, right? Nope. As I type this, all of my classes have been canceled, all of my money sits up there, and they have begun to add on that "late" fee for registration.

But, its not totally the fault of the semester bill. Now its something of a verification form. Everything is all in knots because of one piece of paper.

I would understand if I were a freshman entering the University, but I'm in my eighth semester here. Every semester, there is a new hurdle for me to jump.

I don't think the students should have to constantly endure this. I thought that I was the only person that had to go through this until I read a similar letter by Justin Connors. The only problem I face now is that I have one more semester to go.

Joe Maeder
senior-computer engineering

University reflects King

I would like to commend Brad Park (letter, Jan. 22) for an eye-opening title to his letter -- I do agree with Brad that Martin Luther King Jr. might have disagreed with some forms of affirmative action, but in discussing one of the quotes from Vice Provost for Educational Equality James Stewart's interview, "We're pleased with the upward trend, (in minority enrollment), but at the same time we recognize that there is room for improvement", is not of a racial mentality.

For one factual reason, the University is the university that represents the state, and for a state school to operate, theoretically, the University, (in every attempt which is legal), must represent the make-up of the population of that particular state.

If you, the community, know about the population of the state versus where the University's enrollment stands, you will notice that the University does not represent the whole make-up of the state. I believe that the University, with its increasing tuitions, computer fees and student activity fees is trying to help those students who may be supported by public assistance, other forms of family contributions, church scholarships, students who have no parents, and lastly, potential students.

It is true that the University hasn't reached a reputation with African-Americans. For one thing, too many people who "do not think" before they speak their minds negatively about the University give it a bad reputaion, i.e. from bad experiences or living in the surrounding areas.

If the majority of the African-American around Pennsylvania, who regard education as a stepping stone, would look into what the University offers, or has to offer, they would see that in the case of affirmative action, the University offers one of the lowest tuition rates in Pennsylvania and with the attempts to represent the state, the University offers these scholarships to the students who hold potential. There is no special way of getting here, no matter what culture you may claim. I am an African-American male, who was accepted into the University and was given a partial scholarship on what I accomplished in high school and my potential.

If I fail to meet a required grade point average, it is taken away. I do believe that potential is a form of judgement of one's character, and what the the University does to cover their "donkeys" fits within King's dream. We all need to know a bit more about what the University's intentions are and by talking with some of these officials, you can learnsomething new with each question or each comment.

Noel D. Matthews II
junior-African/African-American studies