John Lawless.

A name now infamously connected to Penn State, conservatism and the Republican party.

But Lawless the Democrat? Yes, the man who condemned the university and its students for their liberal programming has now switched parties to become a left-wing state representative.

Lawless said he decided to switch parties because the Republican party has restricted his diverse views.

"I will continue to be the same independent thinker that I have always been. I will simply be representing my constituents as part of a caucus that embraces diversity . . ." Lawless said.

The events Cuntfest and Sex Faire, both of which presented and fostered diverse views, were openly and publicly condemned by Lawless last semester.

Lawless, in fact, successfully pushed the Pennsylvania state legislature to subtract a small amount of state-sponsored funding from Penn State as "punishment" for hosting these controversial events.

The two events were meant to promote empowerment of women and education.

Each provided educational workshops with pertinent information for college students that merely exercised the right of free expression on the Penn State campus.

If diversity is what Lawless believes he supports, then he needs to find a dictionary and read the definition of diversity.

According to an easy access, information filled Web dictionary (www.dictionary.com) the definition of diversity is "difference." The definition states, "The fact or quality of being diverse; difference."

Lawless, of the 105th district and Montgomery County, said he wants to represent his constituents better.

Lawless was originally elected to the state house of representatives as a Democrat in 1990. He switched sides before he was sworn in.

On top of switching to be a Democratic representative, Lawless plans to run for lieutenant governor.

Lawless has ambitious plans, and his change comes suspiciously close to his announcement of his lieutenant governor bid. But voters should be as concerned as the Democratic party and question whether he switches his views as fast as his parties.