lehrcnii Collegian
Volume XXV No. 13
Oswald, Penn State
To Discuss School's
In an attempt to offer students
the opportunity to discuss the
significance of the new status of
Behrend College John W. Oswald,
Penn State President, held a
meeting during his visit last
week. Although sparcely at
tended, the comments made by
Oswald covered a wide range of
problems from academic to
university functions.
Oswald remarked that one of
the things that came out of his
first year of office was the clear
indication of the participation of
students in the educational
process. Every campus is under
the requirement to constructively
involve students in the proper
kind of input in higher education.
The future of Penn State relates
to how effectively branch cam
puses and Behrend College do the
job. Last year over 40 per cent of
Penn State’s graduates went to a
commonwealth campus. Very
soon more than 70 per cent of the
graduates wll have received
their initial college experience off
SGA New Meeting Place Proves Successful
By Commencing in Residence Hall Lobbies
By Jim Benner
Staff Writer
Energy or power is a force, that
when harnessed can be of
unlimited value to man. The
power of any group of people
especially students, is also a
valuable component to utilize.
Perhaps the first step in har
nessing student energy on
Behrend campus was taken
Monday evening, February 19 at
the SGA meeting held in Perry
Hall lobby.
Many students who just hap
pened to be there or passing
through took an interest in the
discussions that ensued once the
meeting began. Ideas, gripes, a
few laughs, all contributed to a
spirit of openness and com
munication. The meeting lasted
nearly two hours, at the end of
which it seemed a beginning of
actual student concern had
evolved.
Along the lines of Food Service,
the problem with providing warm
food in Dobbins Hall arose. If not
so palatable for its flavor, at least
it might be kept warm.
The RUB grill which closed due
to lack of student support was
reapproached. Requests for
various machines, including the
essential washers and dryers, in
working order at convenient
places were made. Even, the
questionable construction of the
residence halls, where as it was
put, you hear the student next
door leafing through his book,
was a point of discussion. So too, a
way to socially reunite com
muters and residents, who were
initially separated with the
building of Dobbins Hall, became
a topic for concern.
Finally a committee, armed
with these requests and ideas,
was formed to work with Mr.
Finley, Director of Food and
Housing, for future plans.
As regards the ice-skating rink,
a number of students offered
their opinion, that even though
the unusual winter weather .was
held up its construction so far, the
basic framework should be
assembled in expectation of the
more, usual cold temperatures.
Mr. Mead, assistant to Dean of
University Park.
Last year the Academic Policy
Plan of the whole Penn State
University jelled under Dr.
Oswald’s direction. It stressed
that Behrend has a broader
mission than just that of a
commonwealth campus. Penn
State, with its size and diversity,
needs a campus with the kinds of
options of a smaller bac
calaureate program.
Realistically, Behrend will not be
in a position to repeat the op
portunities of a campus of 30,000.
Oswald wanted to reaffirm his
convictions to all undergraduate
students as Behrend College goes
into the final stages of develop
ment. However, new facilities
and additional faculty can only
proceed as the necessary funds
become available. At a time when
the University is trying., to
maintain an upward thrust, there
is a leveling off and even a decline
in their sources of financial
support. Higher education has
been warned that it will be
Student Affairs, informed those
present that such could be the
case, but it would require that
students maintain the surface of
ice if any melting occurs. The
maintenance staff is too busy and
too few in number to do this. The
idea was accepted and a request
will be made for the construction
of the framework.
The important area of traffic
regulations and security were
also covered. Complaints were
made about inconsistancies in
regards to ticketing cajrs,
especially in the RUB parking lot.
So too, the apparent unfairness of
having the dorm lots off limits
entirely was mentioned. It was
said that certain spaces should be
reserved of course for staff and
RA’s with cars, but the remaining
space is wasted. It should be
available at least on a half-hour
time limit.
The rates, for fines was
questioned too alongside ticket
complaints. Ideas for a lower
initial fine from $l5 and even a $5O
limit for fines per term came up.
Another committee was formed
to work with Mr. Nowak on these
possible reforms.
A serious matter, that of
security guards carrying
firearms on campus at times
other than allowed, was exposed.
Walker Moore, SGA president,
English Lovers
Can iVoit? Write!
Are you the type that gets
caught at parties talking about
psychoanalytic interpretations of
william Faulkner’s novels? Or do
you perhaps see didactic illusions
m esoteric works? Do you find the
onomatopoeiatic lines of Ten
nyson or Blake ringing through
the day? in trochee? Are you
tired of not having any place
outside of the classroom to
discuss your empathy with
Stephen Dedalus? Now there is an
organization for you.
The English
Organization will
Published by the Students of the Behrend College
of the
Pennsylvania State University
Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16510
receiving less fiscal backing from
the federal and state levels of
government.
Penn State had proposed an
increase in tuition for next year, a
sum Oswald thinks already too
high. But there is a feeling among
our legislative leaaersmp,' ootn
Republican and Democrat, that
tuition ought to move to $l,OOO.
The Governor’s 1973 fiscal budget
calls for a zero appropriation
increase for Penn State, Temple
and Pitt. Oswald indicated that
his reaction was one of “extreme
alarm.” Institutions of higher
learning have' mandated cost
increases over which no one has
control. The Board of Trustees
therefore must follow one of two
options in absorbing these costs:
either increased ' tuition or
dropping and limiting research,
student services or other
programs.
Student Aid and other sources
of revenue for students are also in
jeopardy this year. President
Nixon is reorganizing the whole
told the group that he would
personally investigate this
allegation.
It was mentioned too, that
according to University
regulations, searches of student
dorm rooms by any paid staff of
the school can be made at
anytime. However, Dean Seanor,
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs,
emphasized that only under
extreme circumstances of suf
ficient question did the school
exercise that right. Civil
authorities, such as state police,
still require a search warrant.
Other brief items such as lack
of books in the library; in
sufficient activities curing the
week and weekend; and the lack
of a more cultural atmosphere on
campus were raised.
In essence, what was demon
strated was student interest in
communicating their desires to
the people who can help get things
moving. This night of talk was an
important victory over the first
obstacle, lack of communication.
Such dorm meetings must and
shall continue. However, now that
we _know better what must be
done, that is it—it must be done!
To keep alive the spirit of Mon
day’s meeting, students must
dedicate themselves to the work
of making Behrend “College’s
live up to its name.
February 27 in 204 Turnbull,
Common Hour. In order to join
you must have at least a 3.25
cumulative average in English,
must have taken two other
English'courses beyond 1 and 3 by
the end of Winter term, and, most
importantly, have a lively in
terest in literature.
This organization is truly a
chance for lovers of English to
renew their romance with the
Romantics, to find reality with
the Realists, and to become newly
critical with the New Critics.
Honorary
meet pn
President, Visits Behrend
New Status with Students
By Susan Sammons
Staff Reporter
federal system of assistance to
schools. On the state level, the
governor has prepared to double
appropriations for Act 101, the
Educational Opportunities
Program. Last .year Penn State
received $lOO,OOO in support from
the state and this increase would
be welcomed.
Students questioned Oswald
concerning out-of-state tuition,
graduate study and University
Park students concern for the
branch campuses. One person
inquired of the proposed tax on
students at University Park by
Center County, which has always
been previously illegal. A
question was raised as to
Oswald’s knowledge of a list on
file compiled of “suspicious
persons.” An instance was
related by a student who had
dropped out of school due to
financial reasons. When he at
tempted to visit friends on
campus he was asked to leave.
Another Behrend student was
Be hr end to Become
Art Center in May
By Jim Benner
Staff Writer
When people think of art,
certain places like Paris, Vienna,
and Venice come to mind. They
are or have been sites of great
importance to the development of
art. Well, certainly no sustained
comparison between any one of
them and Behrend can be made
realistically. However, when
May rolls around, for a brief six
day period, local and student
artists in all fields of art will
display their talents and bring
just a small touch of those places
to mind.
In order to present the best
examples of work within that
period (May 15-20), the coor
dinating committee for the
Behrend College Spring Arts
Festival held its second meeting
the evening of Thursday,
February 15 and drew up a ten
tative schedule. A more per
manent' schedule will be
published later, but the following
general outline describes what
can be expected.
Tuesday evening May 15, the
Behrend orchestra and chorus
A volcanic rock spewn from the bowels of the earth? A
metiorite dropped from the vast heavens? No, as a matter
of fact, the mysterious object these students are pondering
over is a giant snowball, rolled in an endeavor to erredicate
at least a small portion of the snow which smothers the
campus.
Thursday, February 22,1973
hassled at the America concert
when getting into his friend’s car.
Oswald replied that he did not
know enough of these specific
cases to comment. However, he
did say that the university is
being faced with an increasing
amount of problems of robbery
and violence. His wish is for a
professional security force, as far
away from the night watchman
concept as possible. Students at
University Park are coming to
him in increasing numbers asking
for protection. Oswald says that
he wants to protect individuals
and this is m no way an op
pressive move.
Finally Oswald stated he was
delighted with the recent
achievements in Behrend’s
academic status. His visit
February 16 with students,
faculty and local citizens was to
reaffirm his concern in the
development of this university
system.
will present “King David” in Erie
at the St. Paul’s cathedral. This
event, not directly linked to the
Festival planning, still provides
an example of Behrend students’
musical talent.
The following day begins the
event on campus with the
numerous painting and
photography exhibits from
University Park, local people,
and students to be placed on
display in the RUB. The afternoon
will provide a folk-guitarist,
probably in the Lecture Hall
area. No one has been signed
definitely yet.
That evening a woodwind
quintet and discussions in the
literary field from either author
Peter Beagle, who will be on
campus during the Festival, or
our own Dr. Moffett will alternate
on the schedule. It is possible that
a series of one-act plays might be
performed by the campus play
group or one yet to be signed.
An afternoon presentation by
the Behrend band and chorus will
get Thursday off the ground. A
barbershop quartet might
(Continued on Page 4)