Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1998
Students have many outlets for concerns
PENN STATE HATES STUDENTS -- or at least that's what Steve Allison suggested in a letter to the editor Wednesday saying the "establishment" at this University "shrouds itself in secrecy" and teaches us "not to challenge the isolation we feel as students."
The people who work in Old Main are dying to hear our opinions
and if our opinions aren't being heard, it's because WE'RE ISOLATING
OURSELVES. Let's take a tour of "The Establishment."
The University Board of Trustees: The board voluntarily allows
a STUDENT to be a VOTING member. The governor has selected Robert
L. Myers, (rlm189@psu.edu). Send him an E-mail, we're sure
he'd love to talk to you.
University President Graham Spanier. E-mail him: gspanier@psu.edu.
We've both gotten responses within three hours. Don't tell me
that if 25 percent of the students sent him an E-mail about any
issue, he wouldn't take it seriously.
University Faculty Senate (not Undergraduate Student Government
Senate), the policy making institution of Penn State, has 12 ELECTED
STUDENT MEMBERS, one from each college (even Division of Undergraduate
Studies!) Contact your college's student council, your dean's
office or USG to find out who it is!
Are you willing to spend a little time getting involved? If you
are, a great place to start would be USG. After we did, we found
out that within USG, there is a STUDENT with direct influence
on every part of the University.
Allison mentioned the design of buildings -- a student is on it,
Tim Creyts (ttc@essc.psu.edu). Curriculum issues -- student
Jayatri Das (jxd215@psu.edu). Implementation of freshman
seminar -- students Desha Girod (dmg190@psu.edu) and Mike
Platz (mdp119@psu.edu).
All of us sit on USG Academic Assembly, one branch of USG with
two students from each college, including all 12 student faculty
senators. Other members of USG are planning a campaign to push
for a fall break. Anyone want one of those? Act 199? Anyone think
it violates First Amendment rights?
The more support from the student body as a whole, the more influence
the undergraduate STUDENT government and YOU, have.
This isn't a sales pitch. As students, we CAN make a difference,
and the administration IS listening.
Stop by 203 HUB, call 863-1USG, or check out www.clubs.psu.edu/usg.
Someone will be able to hook you up with a STUDENT working in
an area of your concern. Or please, send US an E-mail. We would
be thrilled to talk to you. Just don't complain about the lack
of available opportunities for students -- it only shows you haven't
tried.
Mike Platz
Tim Creyts
Academic Assembly
student faculty senators
Clinton scandal warrants critical look
In the past few days I have been appalled at the student population's lack of knowledge and subsequently lack of concern regarding the scandal surrounding the White House.
The allegations and potential consequences are serious not only
to President Clinton but to the institution of the presidency.
In the upcoming weeks I urge students to take a more critical
look at the news and how the different scenarios might affect
you and the future of your country.
Jeffrey J. Benzak
senior-history
