December 13, 1979
The Irian Crisis: What To Do?
By Mary Miseta
Selected faculty members and
students were asked to give their
opinions about the Iranian crisis.
In response to the following
question:
"Do you think that the U.S.
should use military action in
Iran? Explain your answer."
• "Military force in Iran should
be used as a last resort. They
must either release the hostages
or we should start attempting to
do something besides justice of
(the) military.
The use of the military now is
impractical, only because of the
strategic location of Tehran.
Fifty Americans are still alive in
Iran, and the idea of sacrificing
the fifty people's lives, plus other
American military lives, to free
wouldn't accomplish anything.
The best route to go right now
would be an ecomonic blockade.
I've heard the argument that
when the bombs start falling,
people are going to lay down their
hands. And in Islam, they would
not go along with it, because it is
an Islamic country."
Capt. R.F. Schneider,
Army ROTC
"I would not initiate any
military action unless there is
harm coming to these hostages.
If they're tried, and as a result of
the trial, they're going to execute
people, then I'd have to say that
we would be justified in using
military force. I would recom
mend it.
If these people are tried and
shot, the people responsible
should be taken. I feel they should
be tried by the U.N., or
somebody." -
Capt. Jeff Witherel,
Army ROTC
"My answer to the question
would be no. We should not in
tervene - militarily. Once we do
that, we would have played our
trumph card and we would no
longer have any other options.
We should use social and
economic pressure to release the
hostages before we start con
sidering military action. That
kind of thing is exactly what has
gotten the Iranians suspicious of
us to begin with. We do have a
history of intervening militarily
Behrend Prat
Time: Saturday afternoon.
Place: Behrend soccer field.
Event: The First Annual Alpha
Phi Delta, Behrend verses
Gannon football game.
Victors: Behrend Cubs, 12-6.
This past Saturday, after a
game delay an hour and a half,
Behrend's first frat football game
took place. Gannon had earlier
accepted the invitation sent by
Alpha Phi Delta's president, Pat
Sedlak, for the battle, with the
winners buying the losers two
quarts of Jack Daniels. There
would also be a beer blast that
night at the Gannon frat house,
sponsored by the losers.
Around 2:30, approximately 40
guys gathered in the Erie Hall
parking lot and the contest was
on. The weather conditions
couldn't have been worse, but all
the more fun. Thirty-two degrees,
A Night Out With The Nights
The Behrend Collegian in the
upcoming iSsties will be scouting _
out places to. go and things to see
in the Erie area, as well as the
state of New York. This week we
discover and explore; "The
Castle." _ _ _
So you say you've spent too
many hours submerged in that
nasty old Chemistry book? It's
Fridaymight and if_ you-hear one
more. Chemistry term you'll go
bookers. You just have to go out
and escape the realities of your
1.2 grade point average. Now you
ask YAW -*We to.
in internal affairs of other
countries. That is exactly what
the Iranians are accusing us of
doing. They are accusing us of
using military spies on their
country. That is their
justification for what they are
doing, which is a violation of
international law."
Prof. Dana Anderson,
Psychology
"If you mean whether we
should, at the present time use
military force on Iranian soil, the
answer to that is probably, no.
Because one: it would get the
fifty hostages killed quickly; and
two: the use of that kind of
military force probably can't be
justified on legal grounds at the
present time. If the hostages are
harmed, then that changes the
balance of the situation. If you're
talking about a more limited kind
of military action, some kind of
blockade, or a quarantine of
vessels going to and from Iran, if
the hostages aren't free in
another two weeks time, I'd favor
something like that. But military
force in the form of some kind of
landing in Iranian territory, or
bombing the oil wells, I think
would be over-reacting to the
situation as much as what the
Iranians have done is illegal and
unpleasant to the U.S: I think
military action at this time would
do more harm than good."
John Gamble
Associate Prof. of Political
Science
"The answer is no, simply
because I think that any military
action is going to result in the loss
of lives of about fifty people. I
think what needs to be pursued
currently is the diplomatic
release of the hostages. I think
that 'shortly the shah will either
be asked to leave the U.S. and
that would be the solution.
Military action would be suc
cessful, but it would result in
deaths."
Jim Weber,
Political Science Dept.
"No, I do not think that we
should use military action in Iran
at this point, if eter. The first
sign of American military in
tervention is quite likely to
produce the deaths of all the
hostages. We would lose the
FB Game
snowing pretty good, and a
whipping wind sat the scene. But
that didn't stop our guys. In the
first quarter, our Andy Dawson
carried the ball for the first TD of
the game. It remained 6-0 until
the third quarter when Gannon
tied it at six all. The fourth
quarters action saw Behrend's
own Brad Palmer carry the ball
over the line to finish the game's
scoring. That score remained the
final 12-6.
It was a good clean game and
the only major injury, occurred
when Gordy Snyder's nose
connected with a Gannon player
and some of his precious blood
was spilled. The after-game
partying went on as planned and
everyone had a great time. It was
a well-organized event and we
hope to see the frat brothers get
together again.
do?" How about escaping to the
days of old, to an old castle? The
Middle Ages are just a drive
away at the Castle.
The Castle is an old mansion
converted into an old King Arthur
like edifice. The establishment is
cleverly adorned with odd
Medieval garb. Gracing the walls
of the Castle are everything
ranging from knights in shining
armor to their colorful shields
and lances. It seems like Sir
Lancelot could walk up to the bar,
order a - Dina Colida challenge a
patron to a jousting match and
nobody- would seem too sur
.--13450.4. _The Ataleffthere isAmice.
. s ,Bebrend .Col legion
game anyway so why step in? Of
course, the hostages are finally a
symbol. They are to the rest of
the world, and to us, a symbol of
the ability of a solumn group of
terrorists who control one of the
major powers of the world.
As soon as we intervene
militarily, they're going to have
forces aligned against one
another. Iran will become very
important, and also our allies will
become very important. Clearly
at this point, the powers of Iran
are also looking for a way out and
how they go about doing that is
going to be a delicate issue.
I would like to see this go to
international courts of law, as
soon as this is over, but right now
we cannot succumb to black
mail."
Karen M. Campbell,
Prof. of English
Student's responses follow:
"Since the release of the
hostages is unlikely, war must be
considered inevitable. Several
deliberate acts of war have gone
unpunished: the taking of the
embassy, the seizing of the
hostages and neglect of their
basic human rights. Economic
aggression is only a temporary
solution. Much as I hate to say it,
I have to advocate military ac
tion when all else fails."
Bridget Burns
"If they take military action
now, the Iranians will kill all of
the hostages, so we shouldn't go
in. But if they start killing and
trying the hostages, then only
should we go in and take action."
Edward Spiffier
"I think we should, because the
Iranians have been making
gestures to us, and they want to
go to war with us. They have
definitely made war moves, and I
think we should take them up on
it, and go to war with them. We
should send the military over
there, not because of the lives of
the forty-nine, but because of
pride for America."
Denise Berdine
"At one time I was for military
change from discos and bright
flashing lights.
And speaking of disco, there is
none. The Castle plays 100 per
cent rock n roll. Weekdays the
bar features the music of Wouf
Buffalo, a renowned rocker
station if there ever was one.
Weekends you can find a D.J.
also playing, strictly rock.
So if you like rock and you like
a good time, look into an evening
at TEE CASTLE.
,( special
than to Mike Hirsch who had a
good time while digging up
facts).
The Castle, located on Webster
.Road. between Braden and.
action in Iran, but that was at the
very beginning of the crisis. As
soon as they took our hostages,
we should have jumped in. Right
now, I am a very firm believer in
the political process of using
international pressure and
diplomacy to get back the
hostages. I do not think that the
hostages should be used against
us if things go bad, other than
diplomacy. But at the moment,
just straight diplomacy, no war."
Ed Bell
"I do not think military action
should be taken against Iran.
I think that the Iranian
government is falling apart, and
that military action will not be
"Merry Ch ristmas"
Westfield in New York state. Less
than an hours drive away from
Behrend College.
Hints cont. from p. 2
would be something nice and
different for your houses leading
conservative.
Just remember the first rule
about Christmas shopping, if you
like it, but it then that way it will
probably become yours anyway.
Christmas is the season of giving,
but receiving half your gifts back
makgs the, season warmer. -
necessary. The U.S. has backing
of the European countries, and
Kohmeni is losing his prestige
among them."
Tim Hartung
"Use military action just to end
the whole thing. They're trying to
get away with things that they
shouldn't be able to get away
with. We will not submit to black
mail. If we use military action,
we will put an end to it. People
might get hurt, but we have to
demonstrate our power. I think
along the line, that if somebody
makes a mistake, punish them
for their mistake. It is barbaric,
but it should be done."
Ricky Potts
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Intramurais
Basketball Scores
December 5
Game # 1
# 12 (Bob Amiano) defeated
# 11 (Mike Mixon) 61-50
Game # 2
* #2 (Mary Rose) defeated
# 1 (Carol Miller) 21-20
Game # 3
#3 (Chris Veith) defeated
#4 (Ellen Johns) forf.
Game #4
#l3 (Edwin Spitter) lost to
# 9 (Mark Katchum) 44-30
Game # 5
# 14 (Dave Hornack) defeated
# 8 (Ted Little) 69-20
Page 3
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