SPECIAL GRADUATION ISSUE The end of the academic year, commencement, is invariably a memorable occasion for it marks both an alpha and omega in the preparation for life. I am grateful for the opportunity of this final message to you although I regret that the limitations upon my teaching this year have prevented the closer contacts I enjoyed in the past. Strangely, I didn't even get to play in the faculty-student tennis match this year but that may have been to your advantage. Never - the - less this is a moment of hope and promise in what is being described as "an age of despair." Your commencement is a time for choosing, and the choice is yours. Will your choice be that of courage or of despair? William Faulkner once said that the only real question for this gen eration is "when am I going to be blown up?" I refuse to accept that on the record of our history. Furthermore, the pessimists who emb raced that idea often used it to cover their wantonly destructive beh avior. Frankly, I believe that your generation has a promising future & to deny your responsibility in fulfilling it by blaming the mess we' re in on our generation is simply to take an easy "cop out." Sure, we dropped a bomb on Hiroshima; we dropped one on polio, too. Yes , we killed a Black man in Memphis, but we elected a Black mayor in Mississippi, too. We flew across the Atlantic and landed men on the moon. I could continue the comparison but what about your world? American troops are out of Vietnam but war and poverty are still with us, and they're not new. We had a world depression and a world war and we didn't hang it all on our folks, so don't you. Every generation inherits a world not of its own making. Life is a continuum, not a compartment. What we will be is only possible because of what we have been. Your parents and our generation are no more guilty than you are perfect. Your motives are no better than were ours, but this is not to suggest that they are worse either. Although I know that there are those who see you with the experience blinded eyes of cynicism and defeatism and attribute to your motives all of the guilt of their own troubled consciences, they fear you because they don't trust themselves. But don't let them tear you down. It may surprise you but your more sanguine elders honestly believe that you are our hope for a better future. And I must admit that I count myself among this optismistic group. The realities of life seldom conform to the hopes and desires of men. Should we give up them and wallow in a kind of nihilistic self-pity? Of course not, there is another side to the coin, it calls for courage. Life itself is a constant struggle between despair and courage. Courage is simply the capacity to face life as it is; to believe in its value despite its contradictions. Furthermore, courage will prevail. The forces that affirm life are stronger than those that deny it. The lessons of life are not easy, nothing worth doing is completed in one lifetime. Nothing true, or beautiful, or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone. Is America as F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "the dream that never happens," or is this simply another literary example of protest against the optimistic notion that all is well? The American dream is an ongoing, a continuing thing. It cannot have happened because it is happening, and it is the responsibility of institutions such as this to see to it that the leadership is provided to continue our progress toward the American dream. What is that dream? Succinctly stated it is the belief that the people are the final source of authority. And that in a free society which recognizes the dignity of the individual, the people have the right and the opportunity to determine their own political, economic and social institutions. The American dream is no fantasy but it desperately needs people willing to commit themselves to its development. People who can make choices, right choices. What I'm saying is what out Ambassador to Mexico said almost fifty years ago. "The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit. Try if you can to belong to the first class. There is far less competition." IT STILL DOESN'T MAKE UP FOR THE SOGGY FRENCH FRIES THE DEAN OF FACULTY ************* FROM George D. Wolf Dean of Faculty C.C. Reader From Mr. Dressier Farewell and Good Luck! As you leave these cloistered halls, be prepared to enter the most exciting classroom of a working experience. Only an imaginative mind can define the awaiting challenge. Surely your skills are now capable of converting dreams into reality. Go and do it! Take with you two things, in addition to the education provided for dealing with practical realities. Hold high and maintain a strong allegience to your religion. It is a bedrock which will never let you down no mater the trying circumstance, no matter the victory. Also, hold high and maintain the very likeable sense of humor you have displayed here. There are many occasions when the world needs to laugh, and indeed MUST laugh. You have gained an insight into many of the major problems we face. That you can face these with a selfless desire to serve your fellowman without losing the perspective bodes well for the America of the future. Let us all be counted among those who serve mankind. You have my best wishes *• * * From Jerry South The Class of '74. The phrase has a distinctive sound and certainly a special meaning for the men and women who are a part of it. Graduation for the Class of `74 provides an opportunity for the graduates to reflect on their past experiences and to make plans for the future. Even though it will be some time before you can accurately gauge the value of your experiences at Capitol, I imagine you are aware that you have changed since coming here. The college years should be a time of value clarification and idea formation as well as academic learning. As we've shared the last two years, I've seen you moving through these processes. I think the Campus environment has stiumlated much of this. Hopefully, you've found the experience here both challenging and stimulating. The past two years have been dynamic ones for the Campus. Not only has Capitol been a part of your changing life, but you have had a part in changing Capitol. James D. South Director, Student Affairs Dr. Thomas Knight Jordan Teaching Award 4 0V.4.1 The third annual James A. Jordon Jr. Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence will be presented to Dr. Thorn& J. Knight, an associate professor of Social Science and History at Penn State's Capitol Campus. The award is given to that faculty member whom students select as the most effective teacher - educator. It is in memory of Dr. James A. Jordon , Jr., a former professor at Capitol Campus who died in a boating accident in 1971. The previous two recipients of the award were Dr. Ambrose Klain, associate professor of regional Students nominated for awards slim Government Leadership Awards The following is a list of students who showed outstanding leadership qualities for the 1973-74 Academic year. The Awards are presented by the Student Government Association. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS - SPRING 1974 Twenty students at the Capitol Campus of Penn State University in Middletown have been selected as members in George Baran "Who's Who Among Students in Frank J. Bellini WZAP American Universities and Barbara A. Boswell-Student Court colleges." Harold E. Brown - SGA They were selected from a Wanda K. Burkholder total undergraduate enrollment -Public Relations Carmella A. Cannone - Yearbook Robert W. Chaapel - SGA John F. Chang - WZAP Richard B. Cimoch - M.H.8.0.G. Ronald J. Deßosa - Head Shop Richard D. Emerick - SGA, PSEA William D. Fleisher - Public Relations Alan J. Frame Margaret M. Furey - Head Shop Robert L. Hetzel - SGA John B. Langdon Michael S. Leather - SGA William J. Matthews - SGA Kenneth Napierkowski - WZAP Donald F. Peluso - G.P.P. Moses Pierce - B.S.U. William P. Potter - X.G.I. Fred S. Prouser - Yearbook Gerhard Reich - M.H.8.0.G. Francis J. Riley Peter D. Sell - G.P.P. Richard A. Smith - X.G.I. Nelson W. Spengler - SGA, X.G.I John E. Stiehler James Toggert Jr. - SGA JUNE 8, 1974 receives planning and Dr. James L. Knestrick, associate professor of Social Science and Psychology. At the request of the students, Dr. Knight also will be commencement speaker at graduation exercises. As recipient of the Jordan award, Dr. Knight's name will be inscribed on a plaque along with the names of the two previous award winners. The plaque, which features a bust of the late Dr. Jordon, was designed by Oliver LaGrone, well known local artist and lecturer, and hangs in the school's Gallary Lounge. A native of Texas, Dr. Knight joined the faculty at Capitol Campus in September of 1968. He received a doctorate in European History from the University of Texas in 1967. He has taught previously at Michigan State University and at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Knight's wife, Barbara, is graduating in Social Science with highest distinction at the Staurday commencement. The Knight family lives in Marietta, Pennsylvania and two proud guests at the graduation ceremony will be their children, Rusty and Karen. Irene E. Turnier - Yearbook Margueret Vanderslice - SGA Marvin G. Weidner - Student Court Paul M. Willard - WZ AP James M. Yorgey - I.E.E.E. Who's Who Awards of 1,403. The award goes to those undergraduates who are deemed most qualified in academic skills and school activities. The awards go to: Robert F. Brannan Michael S. Leasher Margaret M. Furey Richard D. Emerick Harold E. Brown Robert W. Chaapel Elizabeth H. Hoffman Marguerite C. Vanderslice Emily A. Bambrick Roland D. Hoke Robert L. Hetzel George L. Hetzel George C. Bishop Frank C. DeSantis Charlotte I. Holeczy Barbara A. Boswell William J. Matthews James E. Toggart Robert C. Woodington Karl E. Salmon Debra K. Botts
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers