Court justice defends denial of charter

In response to letters published on Feb. 18 by Kevin Dyson and Ryan Drake:

As the University community is now well aware, the Undergraduate Supreme Court voted on Sunday to deny STRAIGHT registration on campus.

The court did not release the rationale for such decision until around noon Tuesday. During that time, however, the students and staff were drawing conclusions on what grounds they think the decision was based upon.

This is understandable, but it is absurd and irresponsible for an individual to infer bias or "dangerous precedent" without any other information than a numerical vote.

Free expression regarding ideals is important; The University and the Supreme Court uphold such principles, especially with this decision.

A charter granted to STRAIGHT would deny other groups of their freedoms, and this is a point that must be understood. I agree that all political views must have the opportunity to be expressed, even the majority.

The mission of STRAIGHT, printed in black and white in front of me this past Sunday, didn't express. It repressed.

I ask the community to realize that the court upholds its decision, as it was the right thing to do. Also, as a general bit of advice, never speak (or write) about something of which you know little.

Bryan C. Weis
Associate Justice, USG Supreme Court

Beware of tampered E-mail messages

I am writing this in response to the recent articles dealing with misuse of student access accounts to send inappropriate and/or harassing E-mail.

I am telling students that if they receive E-mail that they find offensive, they should just hit the delete button.

By changing the options in Eudora or any other mail program, I could have easily have made this letter look like it came from a completely different account, even something as outrageous as gspanier@psu.edu.

I could have also even gone as far as making it appear like it came from insensitive@psu_straight.com, which is obviously a completely false place, even if it does convey my opinion on the STRAIGHT issue.

Changing the information in Eudora will fool the average user, but there are some methods that are slightly more complicated and nearly foolproof for sending fake E-mail.

I might also note that creating fake E-mail is a security problem of the entire Internet, rather than being limited to being only a Penn State problem.

There is currently a law that prevents members of U.S. Congress from responding with personalized responses to E-mail because of the many security issues involved.

I might also add, no method of sending fake mail is foolproof. Anybody sending death threats to the President is just plain stupid, not just because he's a great man, but also because the Secret Service will have little difficulty finding the sender of the ill-conceived messages.

What I'm saying is to just hit the delete key, because you never know. . .

Joe Blechman
freshman-business

Donate your general deposit for class gift

From the Old Man Bell Tower (Class of 1904) to the Nittany Lion Shrine (Class of 1940) to the Elm Tree Endowment (Class of 1996), graduates have begun their alumni years by donating to these treasured projects.

Chances are, at some point in your Penn State career, you have been touched by the gift of a past senior class. Now, it's our turn to give back by donating to the 1997 Senior Class Gift, the Peace Garden.

Additionally, it will be the first gift ever that will see Penn State students working in all aspects of its creation.

Students are currently designing the actual plans for the garden through a landscape architecture class, and it will be students who will eventually construct the garden.

Although exact plans have not yet been set, preliminary drawings include water features, stone pathways, and elaborate floral designs.

The Peace Garden will stand for generations to remind future Penn State students of the Class of 1997, and best of all, you can become a part of this hallowed Penn State tradition without ever reaching into your pocket.

When you first came to the University, you paid a $50 general deposit to be held by the University throughout the duration of your years at the University.

As you moved through Penn State, fees were subtracted for expenses such as overdue library books or medical expenses.

The average student has $38 of the deposit remaining at the time of graduation. Instead of receiving these funds, which won't be available for about two months after you graduate, we ask that you donate them to your class gift.

Over the next several months, you will see fliers, banners and buttons asking for your support.

When you are asked to donate and forever become a part of Penn State tradition, please say yes. Follow in the footsteps of past graduates and donate to your 1997 Senior Class Gift.

Nathan Nair
Senior Class Gift Committee member