October 30, 1970
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS
Jim Benn, Awareness Committee
by Ann Ostroski
Jim Berm, of Capitol Campus, is
one of the chief organizers of the
Awareness Committee. This organ
ization serves as a representative of
Capitol Campus in the newly founded
Harrisburg Area Peace Coalition.
Jim, a 10th semester Humanities
major is per se an unconventional
looking character with somewhat of
a Utilitarian outlook on todays’ is
sues. He is a native of Upper Darby
and obtained his first two years of
college at the Community College of
Delaware County. He is persuing his
education here in the American Stu
dies option. He also serves an active
role on the Board of Governors of
Meade Heights. One of his interests
is the Coffee House. He feels it is
pertinent to the Meade Heights Com
munity to have this center so that
more students would come out, get
together and communicate; to have
the center available for activities and
enjoyment. “It could be a forum for
students’ discontent and a tool for
developing new ideas in community
living.”
Jim Benn is a man dedicated to a
cause; he seems more concerned with
the accomplishes within the organi
zations rather than his own prestige..
The organization has no officers. He
wants a strong, permanent peace or
ganization, which would work hard
for the betterment of the needs of
the most people. Jim wants to show
people of the area that Capitol Cam
pus gives a damn; and can prove it.
Awareness To Reach The People
by Charlie Bussison
On Wednesday, September 30,1970 The Student Awareness Committee
Capitol Campus set into motion what has proposed that its energies be di
they consider their contribution to a rected to five areas through delegat
newly oriented peace movement. The ed committees. The subcommittees
group, The Capitol Campus Aware- consist of 1. Welfare Rights Commit
ness Committee, is composed of sev- tee 2. Anti-Racism Committee 3.
eral concerned students, but most Anti-Imperialism Committee 4. Viet
important, the students will be aided nam Committee and 5. Support of
by Community workers, labor per- Labor Committee, with its dominant
sonnel, and concerned citizens of the concern upon the involvement of la
surrounding area to help with the de- bor minority groups. The concept of
cision-making policies of the organi- delegate committees evolved during
zation. The committee’s coordinator, the Awareness Committee’s second
Jim Benn, stated that “the primary meeting. At this time, a representa
objectives of this group will be to tive of BSU, Carrie McFadden, offer
get the community involved and a- ed to head the anti-Racism Commit
ware of the existing problems and tee tentitively, the provision being
help guide these people to the solu- that she would accept on behalf of
ions of them.” the BSU who would, in the near fu-
fact that the efforts °f thepeace his services to activitles per ti„e„t to
movements in the past set up orgam- labor Wea has had experience
af ‘ h Iy >" thia field already having worked
A ]™' , tl ? e laal with union organizers at Olivetti
ed had been primarily directed to the underwood Corn for some time and
people on the campuses, thereby pol- is qu j te aware 0 f the numerous eon
anzmg the community from the cam- flictg between ]abor and
manage
puB, ment.. Thirdly, Jim Benn will head
The Awareness Committee will
take its issues to the people of the
community. It is hoped that this ef
fort by the students will be regarded
as constructive and thereby aid in
the formation of a student-communi
ty coalition as well as a student
worker coalition.
THE CAPITOLIST
The Awareness Committee con
sists, presently, of 26 staunch mem
bers and is still growing. The com
mittee is the outcome of last years
work shops, which were concerned
with the National Strike on the Cam
bodian Issue. They have. joined with
the Black Student Union of Capitol
Campus and several similar commit
tees from other colleges, high schools
laborers and minority groups to form
the Harrisburg Area Peace Coali
tion. H.A.P.C. was officially estab
lished Oct. 9, 1970 at Capitol Campus.
This organization works apart from
national actions and concentrates on
local problems and initiates local ac
tion. Their interests do not lie in
marches and rallies but more impor
tantly in informing the public about
injustice and rights. They want
people to come out of their homes.
To make the necessary changes, Jim
insists the committees work hand in
hand under one organization to han
dle a particular issue. Their member
ship goal is the entire community.
The objectives of the organization
include those concerning imperialism,
of minority groups, repression of
workers, welfare rights and the com
munity situations. Capitol Campus
members are working presently in
Middletown, Highspire, and Steelton
areas, canvassing for the upcoming
Peace Action Day Oct. 31. At the
same time they are specifically con
cerning themselves with giving the
workers of Olivetti Underwood Fac-
the Vietnam Committee with the aid
of all members of the Student A
wareness Committee. It was made
clear at the meeting that each sub
committee would be inter-related in
a single effort for community aware
continued on page 7)
tory their support in the fight to
establish a union. Jim went on to
discuss the unpleasant and dangerous
working conditions of Olivetti.
The tactics used to achieve “jus
tice” are those of pressuring com
panies and corporations or for ex
ample: writing to the senator to ex
press disapproval of national pro
blems.
To , express discontent, obviously
isn’t enough when pleas pass over
deaf ears, another step must be
taken. Act the Awareness Com
mittee does.
FACULTY PROFILE
Dr. Robert Colman
by Missy Rotondaro
The field of social psychology is
one of the most interesting topics to
the current generation. One of the
new men on campus teaching this
field is Dr. Robert Colman.
Originally from Montana, Dr. Col
man received his A.B. degree from
Harvard University where he major
ed in social relations. He later earn
ed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology
from the University of North Caroli
na. His experience also includes a
stint as a research associate in psy
chiatry at North Carolina. From
1966 to 1970 he was at New York
University as an assistant professcr
of Psychology.
His professional experience, how
ever, does not stop merely with his
academic training. He also belongs
to several professional organizations.
Among these include The American
Psychological Association, Eastern
Psychological Association, Sigma Psi,
and the New York Academy of
Sciences.
In his statement concerning Cap
itol Campus, Dr. Colman said that he
was intrigued with the area. He felt
that there was a better interaction
here between many kinds of people.
He was also impressed with the stu
dents here at Capitol Campus and
their eagerness to learn.
Dr. Colman currently lives at North
Spring St. in Middletown.