Letters to the Editor

Aside from bickering, USG works for students

I am writing in regard to Wednesday's article about the Undergraduate Student Government Senate meeting. It is undoubtedly true that USG has some internal conflict. This is true of any student organization, especially one with such a diversity of viewpoints.

However, I do not agree with the assertions that the meeting on Tuesday "erupted into bickering" and that "bickering, personal attacks and obscenities dominated the … meeting."

Was there bickering? Well, I suppose that depends on what you mean by bickering. If by bickering, you mean argument, then there was. With 25 people sitting around the same table discussing USG policy, here is bound to be argument. There is even bound to be heated argument at times, especially if the people involved care about the issues under discussion. However, the fact that there is argument and the fact that we must sometimes address internal issues does not mean that we are not working hard for the students.

USG Senate has been working hard on many projects for the students at Penn State. We have worked on issues such as the HUB food prices, Act 199, voter registration, the reaction to the Arts Fest disturbance and projects by individual Senators that are too numerous to list. In addition, we have provided funding to many worthy programs being implemented by other student organizations.

USG Senate is committed to working for the good of the Penn State community. As a senator, I share that commitment and believe in it deeply. I end this letter with a challenge to any student reading this. I there is an issue you want senate to address, if there is a project you want senate to be working on, if there is anything whatsoever you want done, contact me. No matter what your concern is, I will do everything I can to try to address it.

Jason Covener
USG Senator, East Halls

I am writing to address some concerns expressed recently in the Collegian relating to Michael Bricker's exhibit, "Underground Classroom," which is currently on display in North Halls.

First, the Warnock Cultural Lounge is locked when groups are not using it in order to protect the valuable objects kept in the lounge and not in an effort to censor the art on display.

In fact, the lounge has been a location for Art on the Move exhibits for some time now, so this is not a change in procedure. When the Residence Life Office is open, any student wishing to view the art in the room is welcome to request to use the lounge, as long as another party does not have the room reserved. For times when the office is not open, any student or student group may reserve the room, as long as a reservation form is filled out in advance. Normally, these forms should be filled out three business days ahead of the event, so our office can check the reservation schedule for the room's availability and arrange for any special needs the group may have, if any.

In addition, we are glad to invite any interested party to hear Bricker speak about his exhibit and the controversy surrounding it and answer questions, at a Gallery Talk and Reception on at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Warnock Social Lounge. The Office of Residence Life welcomes all, including persons with disabilities, to its programs and activities. If you have questions about the physical access provided to Warnock Commons or anticipate needing any special accommodation, please call the Residence Life Office at 865-2890 in advance of this program. We look forward to seeing you there.

Sean Cook
administrative coordinator, North Halls

I am writing to voice my opinion about computer labs. In two separate incidences I have gone in different labs and to my dismay have been forbidden to enter because of classes occupying the entire lab.

Often the lab is not even full. I feel that I pay my computer fee and should be able to go into any lab at any certain time of the day or night, whether it is to do a paper or just to e-mail.

I understand that there are classes offered at Penn State that deal directly with computer work and the need for them is essential to learning, but I do not see it to be necessary for more than one computer lab to be closed to other students from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

I feel very strongly about this issue and I hope something can be done to alleviate this situation.

Tara Graci
senior-rehabilitation counseling