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OSCAR DOUGLAS
by Lee Nell
As I approached Oscar
Douglas for this interview, he
was reading through the SGA
constitution. His running mate,
regretfully, was student teaching
and could not be reached. Oscar
agreed to tell me about his
platform and about Pat, and
notes that their platform, in
final form, will be presented to
the students very soon. This
then is the background, platform
and goals of Oscar Douglas and
Pat Williams.
Pat, a native of McKeesport,
Pa. attended Allegheny County
Community College, South
Campus, where she held student
offices before coming to Capitol.
She is a cheerleader and a
member of the Black Student
Union here. In addition to her
pursuit of a degree in
Elementary Education, Pat is a
member of the Social
Committee and a Resident
Student Council member.
Mr. Douglas, who hails from
Harrisburg, attended HACC
where he was Vice-President of
Alpha Beta Omega fraternity. He
was a forward on the basketball
team here and is a member of
the Black Student Union. Oscar
is Chairman of the Black
Cultural Arts Committee which
presented Black Odyssey last
term and will sponsor Black Arts
Festival Week later this term. A
Social Science major, Oscar also
aided in bringing Vinnie Burrows
to campus last term.
The candidate prefaced his
remarks about his team’s
platform by saying, “We are not
trying to degrade the present
SGA administration. However,
we realize that while some
——“"programs did become operative,
others failed. We feel that our
platform is sturdier and that we
are prepared to get programs
passed and working for the
students.” The platform points
are as follows:
*Snow will be removed more
effectively and will be taken off
the lot where it will not take up
parking spaces.
*A mini-bus will be proposed
to bring students to school. The
bus will be free to all students
and will make regular trips
through Meade Heights and the
dorms either every hour or
half-hour. This bus is to be
funded solely by SGA with a
paid student as driver.
*SGA will set up a steering
committee with representatives
from every committee on
campus. This committee will
meet with SGA at least twice a
month to air grievances and to
introduce and discuss programs.
*SGA minutes will be printed
and distributed to all students.
•The SGA minutes will be
available in the Student Affairs
Office and in the SGA office.
•Copies of the minutes will
be posted at conspicuous points
in Meade Heights, the dorms and
hall bulletin boards.
*A more varied menu and an
increased supply of food will be
proposed in the dining hall. The
atmosphere of the hall and of
the dorm lounges will be
enhanced with better
decorations.
*At least one member, a
member of the executive board
when possible, will be present at
the SGA office from 8 to 5
daily. Students will be able to
express a problem or to question
or learn about SGA actions.
*Social life will be augmented
by encouraging more activities
and dances. More and
bigger-name groups will be
sought
*To eliminate overcrowding
at certain events, proposals will
be made to enlarge both the
student center and the
auditorium or to construct new
building facilities.
Commenting about the
platform and candidacy, Oscar
summed up with, “We feel that
our platform reflects many of
the problems on campus that
need immediate attention. The
social life should be expanded,
the mini-bus can be provided,
the food problem and the
decoration problem in the dorms
must be corrected and the snow
will be removed if we are
elected.
The SGA should be more
receptive to student needs and
should work harder for the
students. If we are elected, our
aim will be to fulfill that goal.
Our platform points such as the
steering committee and the
distribution of the SGA minutes
indicate that the SGA, with our
leadership, will be a more
student-oriented organization.
Through working with the
students, we can enhance
student life and Capitol’s image
in the community.
Hi there, this is your roving
reporter Clyde Botts of the New
York Times, and I am now
interviewing “the” candidate for
Treasurer of SGA, Russ
Matthews.
Clyde: “Russ, just what are
your qualifications?”
Russ: “Well as you know I
have been Treasurer for the past
two months since the old
Treasurer left office. I also was
the President and Treasurer of
SGA at my previous school,
which will help if I am elected to
this office.”
Clyde: “Russ, I realize that
these are just a few of your
qualifications, but time and
space has to cut you short. Also
what are your plans if you are
elected?”
Russ: “First of all I will try
to adopt a policy of informing,
as many people as I can, about
the financial progress of SGA.
This will be done by having
office hours, so people can
question me, a telephone
number, so that I can be
contacted at ANYTIME for
problem solving, and
correspondence with all clubs so
the clubs will not be left in the
dark about finances.”
Clyde: “Well thank
for this information and I hope
that you can get the support and
votes that are needed for your
election.”
Russ Matthews
Candidate—Treasurer
For the last three terms, I
have served as Junior Social
Science Senator in the S.G.A.
On May 11,1 shall again run
for the office of Social Science
Senator.
I can only say that once again
I will try to represent ALL THE
STUDENTS i.e. dorms, Meade
Heights, commuters, and even
the ravine dwellers, from ALL
THE PROGRAMS.
A history of my college
activities include: 2 years
Senator on S.G.A., 2 years Chi
Gamma lota, 1 year President
Psychology Club, Representative
at National Student Convention,
Representative at National Vet’s
Conference, S.G.A.
Representative to Faculty
Council, member Student
Affairs Committee, Carnival
Chairman.
Thank you,
Len Thompson
Candidate-
Social Science Senator
THE CAPITOLIST
MEET THE CANDIDATES.
ran inn
Interviewer, Tom Hagan
First' of all, why are you
running for President of the
S.G.A.?
I’m terribly concerned about
two major problems besetting
the campus. The first one is the
frightening and ever-growing
communication and
“credibility” gap between the
students and the administration.
Secondly, the Student
Government is virtually
non-existent and
non-functioning.
What then, do you think are
some of the faults of the present
Student Government?
Generally speaking, the
S.G.A. is just not functioning on
behalf of the students’ welfare.
Any specifics?
Well, I think we can go back
to the Pat Murphy thing. All
that the Student Government
bothered to do was to send a
letter to Mr. Herpel. It was
students like myself, Lee Nell,
Becky Ruhl, Chuck Albert, to
name a few, who were fighting
on Pat’s behalf.
Also, there is the current
problem involving student
participation in the selection of
the Provost. The articles that I
have written for THE
CAPITOLIST have defined my
position on this issue quite
adequately.
Would you care to reiterate?
My primary bitch is that
students are not allowed to have
the “full and direct role” that
President Oswald has prescribed.
Once again, all that the S.G.A.
did was to send a letter to
President Oswald which said, in
part, that after consulting with
Director Herpel, they agreed
with the way the matter was
going to be handled. Either the
Student Government has been
appeased and snowed under by
Herpel’s and Oswald’s
comments, or there’s a secret
plan as to how the students will
take a role in the selection of the
Provost. It seems that, once
again, the S.G.A. has not given a
damn about the people they
represent. If there is a “secret
plan”, why haven’t the students
been informed? I think these
two examples clearly show that
the Student Government is
nothing more than a
sandbox—with a lot of wet sand.
How would you achieve that
major voice for the students
regarding the Provost’s
selection?
It’s easy to say that one
would travel to University Park
and storm into the President’s
office to demand a seat on the
Search Committee. It might
become our only alternative.
But, I would initially work with
the Faculty Council and Senate
with the hope of convincing
them of the students’ absolute
right to have a seat and a vote on
the Search Committee.
Getting back to your point
on the communications
problem. How do you propose
to lessen this situation?
First, when 1 say “the
administration,” I’m including
not only the Director’s Office,
Student Affairs, and so on, but
also those committees which are
involved in decision and policy
formations concerning students.
I’d hope to establish equal
student voting membership on
those ten committees.
How do you hope to keep the
whole student population
informed? What will prevent
student representatives on those
committees, for example, from
becoming as bad as you feel
present S.G.A. members are?
First, there’s a Reporting
Committee which is supposed to
keep students up-to-date. I
would also ask the Student
Affairs Advisory Committee to
submit a bi-monthly summation
of events to THE CAPITOLIST.
And, I hope to continue my
column in the newspaper to
show what the S.G.A. has done,
as well as any future plans.
As for the second question, I
would not be afraid to dismiss
any student who was not
fulfilling his or her obligations
on a particular committee.
One of the major gripes of
the Commuters is that they are
virtually students of second
status. Do you have any ideas on
a solution for them? I was
thinking of some problems
which are peculiar to them. For
example, their limited
accessibility to some courses and
activities due to unavoidable
time and distance commitments.
Very simply, we have to
know all of their problems, and
the S.G.A. has the obligation to
do all that it can to benefit ALL
the members of the student
body. As for the specific
problem you mentioned, I
would charge the Committee on
Academic Affairs with the
responsibility of investigating
their plight and, in turn, making
recommendations to the S.G.A.
and Faculty Council and Senate
on methods of coping with this
problem.
This is one of my major
points. We have the ways to
bring about change, if we, the
students, are sincere in providing
the means.
Harvey Brown is not a
household name, but neither was
Spiro Agnew. This is where the
similiarity ends. I am a candidate
for the office of Social Science
Senator.
If elected 1 will
wholeheartedly concentrate all
my efforts for the benefit of the
entire student body. I leave you
with my favorite saying, “Be
informed, get involved, and
don’t let them grind you down.”
Thank you.
Harvey Brown
Candidate -
Social Science Senator
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Steve Wesley
Interviewer, Doug Megla
Doug: “What is the Action
Party?”
Steve: “The Action Party is a
group of interested students that
have gotten together to try to
strengthen the S.G.A. Gary
Gold, Patrice Nelson, and I are
hoping to get some student
participation in this election.
“Patrice Nelson is a graduate
of Cedar Cliff High School and
H.A.C.C. She was very much
involved with students and was a
senator of the S.G.A. Her efforts
at H.A.C.C. got her named to
Who’s Who Among Students in
American Junior Colleges.
Patrice is an Elementary
Education major.
“Gary Gold is a 1965
graduate of Moravian Prep, and a
1970 graduate of
"Northampton Area Community
College. He was a senator and
vice-president of S.G.A. and a
member of Phi Theta Kappa
Honor Fraternity. Gary received
the Wall Street Journal Student
Achievement Award and was a
co-recipient of the outstanding
student award. Gary was also
named to Who’s Who Among
Students in American Junior
Colleges. He was in Germany
with the Army for two years and
is currently a junior business
senator at Capitol and a member
of Chi Gamma lota.
“I am a 1965 graduate of
Lancaster Catholic High School.
I’ve spent three years in the U.S.
Navy, and graduated from
H.A.C.C. in 1970. At H.A.C.C. 1
was senator and treasurer of
S.G.A. plus treasurer of Chi
Gamma lota Fraternity. 1
organized the Vietnam
Moratorium at H.A.C.C. and also
had the honor of being named to
Who’s Who Among Students in
American Junior Colleges. At
Capitol Campus 1 was junior
business senator and then
appointed as treasurer, but due
to financial difficulties, 1
resigned.”
Doug: “Why are you running
for S.G.A. President?”
Steve: “I’m running because I
know 1 can do the job. If I’m
elected, S.G.A. will be an
initiator and contributor in
terms of service to students and
in relation to its position on
campus. The S.G.A. will also be
a coordinator of the actions on
campus. If the S.G.A. was a
strong body, people could come
to us and get things done.”
Doug: “If elected, what are
the Action Party’s goals?”
Steve: “The first thing we
will do is run S.G.A. by one
constitution which in itself will
strengthen S.G.A. We’d like to
sec an active President’s Council
and also active clubs. We’ve
endorsed the All College Council
which is contributing to student
power. Capitol Campus could
use more autonomy from
“Mother Main”. Naturally the
parking fee is still a pain
somewhere and we think there
should be a sidewalk along the
road by the dorms.”
Doug: “Is there anything you
would like to add?”
Steve: “Certainly, Doug. I
would like to thank you for
your time. And to the students,
don’t forget to get off those
cheeks and vote. We’ll get things
together.
Ed. Note:
All candidates were contacted
April 29, by the election
committee for announcements.
Space was provided by THE
CAPITOLIST, and offered to all
candidates.