Are you aware?

Government Awareness Week is over, but awareness can carry on

Last week was Undergraduate Student Government's Government Awareness Week.

If that means nothing to you, or if you weren't even aware that the week came and went, don't worry. It's never too late to get in touch with your government officials.

More importantly, it's never too late to learn the issues that are affecting your community.

What should make you worry is if you just don't care at all or if you haven't even stopped to consider why you should care.

If that's you, then call one of your representatives just to talk.

You can ask them what they're doing to help you and your neighbors. Or, ask how you can help.

Chances are, you'll start to care -- either because they're not doing anything you care about, or because they are and you want to help. Give it a try.

Here are some starting places -- the telephone numbers and E-mail addresses of some government officials that influence our lives.

Also, USG elections are coming up. If you're interested in being in student government, you can get information by calling 863-1USG.

In Washington:

President Bill Clinton: (E-mail) president@whitehouse.gov

Vice President Al Gore: (202) 456-1414 (or E-mail at vice-president@whitehouse.gov)

Sen. Rick Santorum: (202) 224-3121

Sen. Arlen Specter: (202) 224-3121

Rep. John Peterson: (202) 225-5121 (or 238-1776 in State College)

In Harrisburg:

Gov. Tom Ridge: (717) 787-2500

Rep. Lynn Herman: (717) 787-8594 (or 238-5477 in State College)

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff: (717) 783-1918

Sen. J. Doyle Corman: (717) 787-1377

In State College:

Mayor Bill Welch 234-7110

Borough Council Members: Council President Tom Daubert, Jean McManis, Ruth Lavin, Jerry Wettstone, Donald Hahn, Richard McCarl and Janet Knauer: 234-7106

Planning Commission Chairman Peter Everett: 234-7109

At Penn State:

University President Graham Spanier: 865-7611

Executive Vice President and Provost John Brighton: 865-2505

Senior Vice President for Administration Carol Herrmann: 865-2507

Vice President for Student Affairs William Asbury: 865-0909

University Board of Trustees President Jesse Arnelle: 865-2521

USG President Sharon Entenberg, Vice President Ed Kilpela, Senate President Mark Sosnowsky: 863-1USG

The Daily Collegian:

News Division: 865-1828

Editor in Chief Jason Alt: (E-mail) jta108@psu.edu

Opinion Editor Rachel Hogan: (E-mail) rah145@psu.edu

Assistant Opinion Editor Amy Brosey: (E-mail) amb184@psu.edu.