Monday, Feb. 2, 1998
Student Counselors ready to help others
The start of a new semester means many things to students, staff and faculty at the University. It can be especially challenging and feel overwhelming for those people starting at University Park for the first time.
It also could mean something different for those individuals feeling
homesick, stressed about classes or roommates or just in need
of someone to talk to. Student Counselors is a confidential peer-counseling
program that provides a listening ear for students in need.
Student Counselors are here for you! Student Counselors provide
information and referrals necessary to help students get answers
and get help. After many offices and services are closed on campus,
Student Counselors can be reached in the evenings at 863-2020
or in person in 101-B HUB from 5 p.m. to midnight.
This week is Student Counselor Awareness Week! Be looking out
for the blue shirts this week and for our table in the HUB basement
to get information and learn more about our organization.
Student Counselors
February a good time to give heartfelt gift
February is a great time to think about giving a special gift from the heart. What about the gift of life? With the help of several student groups, the American Red Cross is conducting several blood drives on campus this week and next, to help meet the needs of regional patients who are dependent on blood to live.
It might be hard to imagine needing blood yourself one day, but
the truth is, virtually all of us will use donated blood in our
lifetime. When you think about the fact that to date there is
no medical substitute for donated blood, it makes sense to help
replenish the community supply today, when you are healthy.
Last November, nearly 2,000 of you selflessly came together to
volunteer your blood, helping us secure a strong win over Michigan
State in the Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge.
The semester has changed, but the need for blood has not. Please
join us from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday or Thursday
in the HUB Ballroom to give a most unique gift from the heart
-- your pint of blood.
For additional schedule information, call 237-2713; to check your
eligibility call (800) 54-BLOOD.
Connie Schroeder
campus coordinator for the American Red Cross Blood Services
Professor's actions deserve critical look
I am writing to express what I am sure will be an unpopular opinion with much of the Penn State student body.
It is my opinion, that should it be determined that professor
emeritus Julian Heicklen did indeed smoke marijuana at the University
Gates on Thursday, then he should immediately be fired from his
faculty position.
As in the letters I wrote to University President Graham Spanier
and Undergraduate Student Government, I think it must be reiterated
that civil disobedience does not excuse illegal actions.
Heicklen has his right to protest what he deems to be an unfair
intrusion into his personal affairs, but he should remain aware
of the possible repercussions of his actions. Heicklen appears
to be prepared for this -- evidenced by the fact that he had bail
money with him. At least he is being responsible.
While I do not agree with Heicklen's actions or the ideology of
the Libertarian party, I have no quarrel with either group. Heicklen
is making a statement for what he believes, but it is time for
the University to take a stand as well. By no means am I trying
to assert that people should be denied their ability to protest
what they feel are injustices.
What I am saying is that Heicklen has (allegedly) broken the law,
and I hope that we hold our faculty accountable for such actions.
I hope that there is a clause in the contract of our faculty members
that prohibits them from using controlled substances. If there
is, it would seem that Heicklen is in violation of this clause.
If there is not such a statement, then maybe one should be added.
My sincere desire is that the University will not tolerate actions
such as Heicklen's on the part of its faculty members, and I hope
that the fear of poor press will not prevent disciplinary action
from being taken against him.
How many times would a student be permitted to smoke marijuana
in front of Old Main before the University came after him? I suspect,
not too long.
Penn State prohibits skateboarding and bicycling on campus as
it sees fit, I certainly feel that the use of illegal drugs is
greater in severity than either of these.
Erik V. Orient
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