Page 2
Crisis in Higher Education
There is indeed a crisis in higher education, and its
effect is dramatically seen in Capitol's projected fall term
enrollment. Based on figures released by the
administration and the Academic Services Office the best
this campus can expect in total undergraduate enrollment
is 1,450, down from the 1,645 who had registered for the
fall term 1972. And that figure does not take into
consideration possible tuition increases of between $45
and $145 for next year. I would speculate that enrollment
totalling 1,325 would be more realistic, a drop of 20 per
cent.
Currently, advance admissions figures for the fall term ,
1973 are at a level of 73 percent of a year ago, Earlier, the
admissions picture was extremely bleak as in February it
was 44% of the preceding year, according to Ms. Mary E.
Gundel, Admissions Director.
Why? Well, first one must
examine the big picture and
consider nationwide trends.
Firstly, since the draft has been
disbanded, young men don't
have to go to college to escape
the military.
Secondly, the cost of a
college education has
skyrocketed to a point were
many high school graduates
can't even consider going to
college. Those who can are
evermore choosing a college
within commuting distance. ,
Thirdly, there is a distinct
anti-collegiate atmosphere in the
country, as evidenced by the
failure of the national and state
governments to properly fund
public institutions of higher
learning. Still another factor is
that you don't have to go to
college anymore to get a decent
paying job. Of course, such an
assumption displays
shortsightedness, but it holds up
in respect to the tight job
market over the past few years.
And there are other factors in
the overview that are too
numerous to list.
The previously mentioned
factors plus some specific or
unique to Capitol have affected
the enrollment. Ms. Patricia L.
Young., Admissions Counselor,
recently published a survey of
385 students who turned down
offers of admission the last two
terms.
185 of those sent surveys
responded and cited many
reasons why they decided not to
come to Capitol.
Response to 'Airy Opinion'
Charlie Holeczy
Asso. Editor
This is a very angry response
to a very ignorant letter. I am
fully aware that there are many
people in this school who are
disappointed with the
newspaper. 1 only ask - - why
don't they do something about
it instead of sitting around
complaining.
Hotheaded airy opinions are
not worth the air they consume
unless printed and backed by
evidence. The letter indicated
that some feel that inadequate
coverage of school activities is
the main fault of the paper. Are
Among those reasons cited
were: better programs at other
schools; not enough available
financial aid; did not like
baccalaureate degree names; and
the lack of facilities for
recreation and social life. Ms.
Young thinks the "main reason
why most of the students who
decided against attending
Capitol. . . is not an academic
one but a social-personal one.
Because increasing enrollment
is
seen as vital to the
continuation of this campus, the
university is pulling out all the
stops. Thus, the agreement to
have guaranteed admissions
policies with HACC and now
Peirce Jr. College in Philly. Also,
the CLEP program is in high
gear, as well as the possible
take over of the University Center
in Harrisburg. In addition,
Capitol has been • granted
permission to advertise in the
newspapers of junior colleges
throughout Pennsylvania.
But, it may be too late. Since
its inception, this campus has
struggled to survive. In the near
future, the struggle may come to
an end with the unfortunate
death of the campus. These are
not scare tactics, but harsh
reality. Only through the
immediate implementation of
programs to stabilize enrollment
can this campus survive past
1976.
When enrollment for the fall
term 1974 dips down to 1,000,
perhaps my personal alarm will
be shared by all.
Robert W. Bonaker
** * *
they not literate.enough to write
a small article themselves? A
handful of students cannot cover
the activities of the school
without missing much of what is
happening.
In vain, the newspaper
searches for support and help
but receives only idle complaints
and mocking jeers. It is wrong to'
say that the newspaper is the
voice of the students. Ideally,
this is its purpose; realistically, it
is the voice of a few trying to
interpret the voice of all. The
extreme laziness of the students
to actively voice their opinions
within the school newspaper
cannot be blamed on the staff.
We are trying.
THE CAPITOLIST
Hooray
for
The
Capitolist
Editor;
As a recent graduate of
Capitol Campus, I was shocked
and dismayed to read a letter in
last week's issue concerning this
publication's efficiency, or lack
of it. I was particularly dismayed
by the list of co-signers to that
writing; people that are usually
well informed of the why behind
the what.
I am bewildered as to why
they would make such a
statement without first checking
the facts properly; thus,
committing the same error of
which they accuse the
"Capitolist."
Without trying to belittle the
efforts of the fine Capitolist
staff,l would like to recommend
a quick glance at all the by-lines
in this paper over the past term.
How many times does the name
"Robert W. Bonaker" appear?
This man gives of his own time,
usually at the expense of his
academic and social life, for this
paper and the student body.
I know how hard he works to
cover as many events as is
humanly possible. I also know
how hard he has tried to get
others to cover those events that
he cannot attend. These latter
efforts usually end in futility. Is
it fair to ask Bob to do more?
If the co-signers are as
unhappy with the results of this
situation as they lead me to
believe, why don't they do
something about it. If, at the
next event you attend, a
Capitolist staff member is not
present, take some notes and
submit an article of your own. I
know Bob will appreciate it. and
think of the service you would
be doing the student body at
such a small additional time
expense of your own.
A second conclusion by the
letter was a ridiculous,
flamboyant display of an
impulsive and irrational
deduction. The paper is not an
instrument of the administration
and it is not trying to mislead
the students in believing
anything. The newspaper is
attempting to dig and to pry and
question any action within the
confines of the campus. We
want to publish the truth.
The main problem with the
paper is basic and can be solved
-- we need help. We need writers,
reporters, and enthusiasm. Three
people cannot be in a million
places at the same time. We need
ideas and people to transform
these ideas into writing -- not
airy opinions or silent, troubled
thoughts.
We want students to speak;
we need and want students to
speak using the school
newspaper as their means of
communication.
** * *
No Capitalist
Next week, Thursday, May
31, The Capitolist will not be
published due, to the holiday
week-end and scheduling
conflicts.
The final issue of the term
will be June 7 with an issue for
Commencement on June 16 a
high possibility, if funds can be
secured from the Student
Government Association.
It should also be noted that
all campus facilities will be
closed for Memorial Day, May
28.
** * *
Letters
Capitolist Supporters
Editors;
"As students of this school
we are dismayed to find that the
only voice of the student body,
The Capitolist, is an inefficient
amusement weekly." However,
it seems that the 'only voice' of
The Capitolist belongs to Bob
Bonaker, whose 'inadequate'
reporting' may be due to
inadequate aid from belly-aching
bystanders.
WE submit that the students
of this school who demand a
better newspaper should uncover
the 'correct facts' themselves!
Or, is the truth too much for
them to take?
P.S. Keep up the good work, R.W
Kick in the Pants
Editor,
For the two years that I was a
member of The Capitolist staff, I
had never written anything for
the paper. But now I must in
hopes of giving the junior class a
kick in the pants and get them
interested in the organizations
on campus.
With June coming up, we
have held many of the positions
in the organizatiorn will be
leaving and in some instances
there is no one to fill these
positions. A case in point is the
newspaper. Last year the staff
was made up of about half
seniors and half juniors. This
year's staff was almost all
seniors. We had about five
juniors during the year but now
we have but two, the new
coeditors.
If more juniors don't jump on
the wagon and give these two
their aid, • the quality of The
Capitolist will surely go down
and we can't let that happen.
For the students need the
newspaper because it is the
major medium they have. No
other media on campus reaches
so many or is open to anyone
who has something to say.
Mark Israel
for Arts Festival
Editor,
To try to thank all of those
people who' were involved in the
planning of the - Spring
Music/Arts Festival is an
insurmountable task. However, a.
particular thanks to Russ
Rhorabaugh and members of the
maintenance department is in
order. Their cooperation is
greatly appreciated, and in the
past has often been overlooked.
Ed Gangsle, Tom McPoyle
and Jim Yorgey did an
outstanding job with the stage
and sound set-up. Their
ingenuity and long hours helped
to greatly reduce the cost
involved for this event. Pete
Forrest and Bill Fleischer also
did more than their share in
assembling and scheduling
student marshal's.
Last, but not least, a special
thanks to a small but dedicated
group of die hards who spent a
large portion of Sunday
afternoon cleaning up the
parking lots, roadways and the
Meade Heights area. These
people are: Aaron Spicher, Mike
Leasher, Al Williams,. Frank
Bellini, Jim Yorgey(again), Tim
Gnap, Jerry South an; ete Bull.
Again, a complete list is
impossible, but a sincere thanks
to everyone involved. I think
most everyone enjoyed
themselves, in spite of the
Weatherman.
Sue Mann
Mary Jean Tamanini .
Dianne Bryan
* * *
John Wolford
** * *
Thanks
Paul Mirabile
** * *
May 24, 1973
Students
and
distorted
priority
Structure
Dear Editor:
Having just leaned that the
parking fee for the summer term
has again increased- to $7.50, I
feel it is imperative that I write
this letter. Somehow I get the
impression, which is pure
speculation on my part, that this
$7.50 or at least part of it will
be applied to the Student
Activities Fund since University
Park has stated the fund will
receive no monies from them for
the coming school year.
fUniversity Park's decision shows
'once again that the student
enjoys a position just above the
curb in the distorted structure of
priorities. •
However, just because
University Park has made this
decision, there is no reason why
Capitol Campus should expect
students to pay a mandatory
Student Activities fee to create a
fund. Part of my objection to a
mandatory fee is due to the
expected increase in tuition
'beginning with the school year
in fall 1973. The other part of
my reason is mainly • personal. I
am a married, commuting
student from Mechanicsburg. I
have 'hestred from faculty that a
good deal of the students at
Capitol are commuters also.
Because of my situation, I have
never attended a student activity
nor will I be able to do so in the
future; consequently, I see no
reason why I should be expected
to fund activities in which I will
not participate.
This does not mean that
others cannot contribute to the
fund if they so- desire. My main
objection is that the decision to
contribute or not to contribute
has been nude by someone else
and not me.
I am not exaggerating when I
say that money is scarce in a
student's life, especially a
married student and paying
$6.50 for which I receive
nothing in return is not my idea
of thrift. I arrive at the $6.50
figure for the student activities
figure since last term's parking
fee was only one dollar which,
by the way, was stated to be the
fixed amount for future terms.
This shows the hypocrisy of the
administration once again
burdening the student with the
responsibility that should be
assumed by the administration.
I hope this letter will initiate
some interest by people with the
same views, who will also voice
their disagreement by
boycotting the increased fee
beginning with the Rummer
term.
Patrick H. Flynn
** * *
A Mr. Paul
Thank Yon
Editor
I would like to offer my
thanks to Mr. Paul, the much
criticized security officer on
campus. Recently, my
automobile was hit while it was
parked in the Heights.
The assistance he. rendered
was quite professional and
thorough. He eased my
momentary aggravation through
his expertise in his profession.
For a man who is
continuously criticized, I just
want to say "thanks."
Mickey Wolfson
** * *
ED.NOTE: The winner of the
five dollar prize in the "Re-name
The Capitolist Contest" will be
formally announced in the June
7 issue.
Yours Truly,