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