Bob Pickrell (junior-secondary education) sent an angry e-mail Saturday night. Later he regretted it and sent an apology.

The recipient of the message, state Rep. John Lawless, R-Montgomery, wasn't the only one to hear what Pickrell wrote.

The representative decided yesterday in Harrisburg to read Pickrell's words verbatim into the public record, and he also acknowledged calling the student at home.

In his first e-mail, Pickrell criticized Lawless' "flagrant bashing" of Penn State's Feb. 3 Sex Faire and his threats to the university's state funding.

"I suppose the likelihood of you acting responsibly in this situation is about as likely as your eyes moving to the same level," Pickrell wrote.

For Lawless, the insult cut a little too close.

"You know what? I survived a very difficult part of my life, and I'm not going to let some punk tell me what to do," Lawless said.

During the state House Appropriations Committee meeting, he explained that his facial disfigurement came from surgery to remove a brain tumor 15 years ago.

However, Penn State President Graham Spanier had his own e-mail message to read aloud yesterday — one he received from Pickrell.

"I am writing because this afternoon at about 2:30 Rep. Lawless called me at home and threatened me," Pickrell wrote to Spanier.

The student mentioned his first e-mail and the apology, and added that Lawless' call lasted about half an hour.

Lawless claimed "he would prevent me from getting a job after college and ruining my reputation in college, which terrified me. I have spoken with my parents and they were horrified. I am so scared," Pickrell's message continued.

The lawmaker acknowledged that he had made the call, but said the call lasted only six or seven minutes. Lawless noted that when he introduced himself on the phone, Pickrell said he was uncomfortable with the call.

"All I did was voice my opinion to a representative who has influence on the funding of my school," Pickrell wrote to Spanier. "I would appreciate anything you can do because I feel powerless in this situation and that my First Amendment right is in jeopardy. Can he do this?"

Lawless directed a follow-up e-mail to Pickrell, which was later forwarded over the Penn State American Civil Liberties Union listserv. He informed the student of his plans to read the e-mail to the appropriations committee.

"I think it clearly demonstrates the ability or lack thereof of PSU students to communicate on an academic and professional level," Lawless wrote. "I want the legislature to know that in 18 short months this is the type of student PSU is making available as a secondary education major to teach in our schools."

Lawless confirmed his actions yesterday, warning that he would inform state school districts about Pickrell's e-mail and might sabotage his potential teaching career.

Speaking to Spanier, the representative used the example of this and other electronic messages he received from Penn State e-mail addresses to cast doubt on "the type of students you're accepting."

Pickrell informed The Daily Collegian about the situation Monday night. He said yesterday he continues to receive e-mail messages asking about his family, but has decided not to respond to them.

In his submission to the ACLU listserv yesterday morning, Pickrell noted he was hopeful that he had found some of the support he needed.

"The university administration promised to defend me and help in any way they could. I've already expressed my thanks," he wrote.