Borough needs student dollars to stay afloat

What caught my interest specifically was the quote by State College resident Earl B. Smith who stated that "State College can survive without Penn State."

Who is he kidding? State College is 70 percent students. Without Penn State, State College would never have even existed.

I would love to see what would happen if all the students decided not to do any of their shopping in the borough of State College.

What would happen if we either bought everything on campus, or drove out to College Township to do our shopping?

Or even imagine what would happen if we all refused to live in State College and moved out to surrounding communities and commuted. Picture the big apartment complexes sitting empty. State College would fall apart.

All businesses would have to go out of business, and then the non-University-related residents of State College would no longer have jobs.

Another point I have to raise is, don't people realize when they move to the area that there is a major University down the street?

Don't they stop and consider the implications this might have? State College is lucky to have us. And they should wake up and realize this.

Jonathan Ingram
junior-history

Borough boycott would reveal economic truths

They say we are loud, destructive and not upstanding citizens. The most common argument that students use is that we (students) were here first, and the town of State College came after us.

Most of the businesses in State College would not survive if it were not for the students at this University. Still, they treat us with total disregard and total disrespect.

If the State College Borough Council passes these measures, it will greatly reduce the amount of options open to us, as students, to live. If that happens, I believe that we, as students, should retaliate.

We should hit them in their pocketbooks.

I think that if they pass these measures, we should boycott all businesses downtown, or that are owned by residents of State College.

If we can do this, they will finally realize how important we are to their economic well-being.

Maybe then we can get some respect.

Tom Bux
junior- American studies

Ignore mean squirrels -- that'll teach 'em

When I was a freshman the squirrels here on campus were my friends.

They were nice squirrels. I would feed them, talk to them, I would even play with the squirrels. Now, these squirrels are mean. They drop acorns and twigs on my head, and don't apologize. They no longer talk to me -- they make faces. These squirrels are selfish.

Every time I walk by one they expect me to give them something to eat, and if I don't they turn their backs. Well, hey, when have they ever fed me anything? When have I ever dropped acorns on their heads?

I think these squirrels need to be taught a lesson. I would like everyone to join me in ignoring the squirrels.

When you are approaching one, turn your head, shift your focus, and keep on walking. It will be hard at first, but you must resist. Don't even glance at a squirrel. If you see someone feeding or talking to a squirrel please chant "IGNORE THE SQUIRRELS!"

In time, these squirrels will realize that students have the upper hand and will beg for our mercy. So please do University Park a favor and help change the attitudes of the squirrels. Thank you for your cooperation.

T.J. Metrovich
senior-accounting

GSA elections to be held Tuesday, March 25

It is that time of year again -- time to elect student leaders. The Graduate Student Association will hold its elections at 8 p.m. on March 25th, in 101 Kern.

Candidates should complete Intent-to-Run forms, available in the GSA office, 111B Kern from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Completed forms are on display outside the GSA office. Candidates may also be nominated from the floor on March 25th.

Information on the GSA, its elections rules and procedures, as well as elected positions, is available electronically on the GSA World Wide Web page: http://cac.psu.edu/~gsa/index.html.

Julie Ann Bubolz
President
Graduate Student Association

Use of words 'girls' and 'boys' is not degrading

It gets repetitive and tiring to hear someone write an article about things occurring at the University, yet not a single, specific or actual event is ever cited.

The use of the word "girl" is not a degrading word towards womEn.

If anyone would ask all the boys in a room to stand up, as a 22-year-old male, I would stand up in a crowded room of people.

I was born a boy and although I have grown into a man, I will always consider myself a boy -- just an older, wiser version.

If all columnists in the Collegian can do is complain every time someone says a word they don't like, or complain when an organization based on morality is chartered, then I am seriously going to have to consider to stop reading the opinions section of The Daily Collegian.

Steve Markle
senior-general science