We've All Grown
Leaving the C.C. Reader behind and having to Ali goodbye to a
bunch of hard-working, concerned friends, I have to say thank you
for a great experience. What I have learned about people, college
newspapers, and studemliorganizations has been invaluable and it has
given me much more than the academics alone could have given me.
I've grown and so have the people around me.
Running student organizations hasn't been all 'peaches and
cream'; we've had our good times and bad times, but that's all past.
Even though things didn't always turn out the way we would have
liked them too, we know that we put everything we had into getting
it together. And that's something that no one can take from us and a
hell of a lot to be proud of. What we must do now is to feel good
about what we've accomplished and learn from the mistakes we have
made.
After being apart of this experience for over a year, I can't help
but have a little pride in this place. I know there's plenty to bitch
about, but what good will that do us now? Instead, let's look for
ways to make it better, not in school anymore, but in the world,
because the way I feel this school and this world have a lot of
potential to grow. (Just the fact that Capitol can offer students a
living experience in Meade Heights that is unique and unequalled in
any college environment, is enough to get this school off the
ground.)
Anything more than this can only be achieved through a relaxed,
concerned and open administration. And this will take more than an
overdose of EX-LAX. It's going to take understanding, patience, and
a lot of work by all concerned parties, including faculty and
students.
The only way I see that this can be done is through
communication, and that's where the college newspaper comes in.
Because the READER not only reflects the attitude of the campus,
it also communicates to outsiders what this school has to offer.
(Definitely a selling point). The READER should be the voice of this
campus and should reflect the ideas of the administration and
faculty as well as the students. It's not easy, but it's not hard either.
It's going to take some reaching out to people, a helping hand sort of
speak. Administration reaching out to faculty and students to see
where the problems lie and working together to solve them. A
faculty that reaches out to students to see where their problems lie
and to help them the best they can. And a student body that seeks
these services; all of which should bring about a better rapport and
understanding of goals that would make this experience one of the
best in our lives.
Maybe, everyone is saying, "Well, we're doing this," but the
climate reflected in students is such that it's not enough.
Why this hasn't been the case is beyond me because the way I see
it - we're all in the same game; learning and growing and it's not easy
for anyone, and that's why it's even more important to help each
other out. I've seen student organizations working together and just
the thought of this has filled me with a lot of hope for a lot of
things, society is just one and. America, believe it or not, is.
another.
It wasn't my purpose to get long-winded about this because I just
wanted to wish everyone the best of luck in a world that needs a lot
of help and congratulations for a four year job well-done. Maybe this
hasn't sounded like the Frank DeSantis that some of you have come
to know, but then again, l'm sure most of you don't have the same
ideas, ideals, goals and hopes as when you first came here. Because
that's growth man, and we've ALL GROWN.
/ - - - - . Nte , . , . . . . . . . . , , . . • N
The Capitol Campus Reader
The C.C. Reader is published by the students of
the Pennsylvania State University at Capitol Campus,
Middletown, Pa., and is printed by the West Shore
Times during the Fall, Winter and Spring Term&
Opinions expressed by the editors and staff are not
necessarily those of the University Administration,
Faculty or Students.
Assistant Editor ... Jim Bollinger
by Frank DeSantis
COMMUNICATE, LOVE AND WORK HARD
TO FIND YOUR HAPPINESS
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Frank DeS antis
The future of
Capitol Campus
By Fred Prouser
The future of Capitol Campus
is dependent upon a number of
factors. The Administration and
Faculty are responsible for the
development of educational
programs that will draw more
students to this campus. The
curriculums offered presently do
not adequately prepare many
students for a reasonable chance
at employment. Specifically, the
field of education seems to be
drying up as well as the
perennial struggle Humanities
majors have in obtaining a job
relating to their field. Other
areas of study such as business
and engineering are in a
favorable position in the job
market. What it comes down to
is that the opportunities the
campus has to offer are many,
the problem lies within the
Faculty, Students and
Administration not exercising
their perogatives in making these
opportunities a reality.
Capitol Campus was granted
autonomy two years ago by the
University Senate. What has the
campus done with this
autonomy? A favorite phrase
around campus is, "It has to go
up to the Park." Why are we still
dependent on the Park for most
of the decisions affecting our
campus? It would seem that we
are an autonomous body with
our hands tied behind our back.
The only way we get them
untied is by going up to the Park
with the hope that someone up
there has the time to work the
knot out for us. The knot in this
case always is a decision that has
to be made up there, but
SHOULD be able to be made
right here at Capitol Campus.
The intent of the campus as
originally established recognized
a lot of talent existed, and the
possiblity for some really
positive action was not an idle
dream. What has happened is
that people on campus are
ducking the issues, issues that
are vital to the future of this
place, and instead are placing
their energies on personal power
trips.
What should come about
soon is a frank campus, with an
openess and opportunity for a
rapport to be established among
all involved. A lot of
unnecessary hassles have
occurred this year in many areas
and they could have been
avoided through proper
communication with those
involved.
A lot depends upon the
individual next year. A
committment on the part of
those involved on committees,
both student and
Administrative, is essential if the
campus is to remain a viable
institution. Mechanisms for
change are being developed and
hopefully specific priorities will
be stated with the purpose that
these goals will be achieved.
In the end, it is up to you. Do
you want to make or break
Capitol Campus? The choice is
up to you. THINK ABOUT IT.
* * *
Parting Shots
Well, it's finally over. When I first wrote this article it explained
all the nice but dubious accomplishments that the S.G.A. achieved
during the course of the year. I think, though that such things are
for others to decide and not me.
I've spent 4 years in college governance structures, those great
bulworks of participatory democracy and I can't help but look back
at it all and feel like I've been chewed on a mite. But +he past can't
be compromised nor redone, so there's no sense in telling all that
was accomplished this year and all that wasn't. Instead, maybe I can
offer you some points and suggestions to ponder . . .
First: You shouldn't waste valuable time and effort on the
parking fee. Attack it, but don't endanger your organization by not
knowing the right opportune moments to withdraw.
Second: Do not compromise on the issue of Campus Security.
This is strictly a matter between the students and the direct superiors
of the security department.
Third: Establish a Food Service Committee that will serve as a
constant review board for the various food operations on campus.
(Vendorville, the Cafeteria and the Snack Bar.)
Fourth: Utilize your excess funds to start an emergency loan
fund and possibly a scholarship fund which YOU will control.
Fifth: Research the idea of retaining a solicitor for your use to
research contracts and help students with legal problems.
Sixth: Establish an effective Used Book Sale to be held every
term.
Seventh: Develop STUDENT Evaluation of faculty and publish
your own results.
Eighth: Don't hesitate to carry matters to the highest levels. Put
restrictions on the amount of time you will wait for a reply. If you
do not receive expedient correspondence, carry it to the next highest
level.
Ninth: Utilize the newspaper as your main vehicle for
communication with the students.
Tenth: Develop a strong working relationship with the H.A.C.O
student government, and other area student governments.
The faculty at Capitol are professionals and should be recognized
as such. But the faculty should be offering the type of guidance that
will foster student reaction and activism; and this is lacking. The
faculty should provide in their classroom an atmosphere for the
expression of ideas and promote various frameworks to experiment
with these ideas. I said ideas, by the way and not idea. The
classroom is not for the impregnation of one central authoritarian
viewpoint, but many viewpoints.
Faculty advisors are needed for student organizations on campus.
But an advisor should be an advocate too. We have few strong
student advocates on campus. How often are the students used when
a faculty member is in trouble? How many times will the James
Jordan award be used as a device to gain grace? How many times will
the faculty turn against another member because of his or her
mannerisms or exterior lifestyle or any other mode or expression
that isn't deemed that of the status quo?
You know we can all hide behind our degrees or our academic
rank or our publications or our good standing with the powers that
be. How much time does it take to express an opinion or give advice
or listen to a concerned and interested student?
ADMINISTRATION
Herein lies the pressure points for change. There are many things
that they could do to restructure and nurture this institution and I
will deal with only a few.
The present tenure system should be abandoned. It leaves to
many avenues open for the interjection of one man's authority and
personal biases. Instead tenure should either be eliminated or
substituted with a series of varying term contracts. If an instructor
does not receive tenure this does not mean he or she is ineffective.
He or she should at least have the opportunity to continue on a long
term contract.
If the administration is at all interested in promoting particpation
and decreasing alienation they should seek to institute a governance
structure that will bring all three interest groups, faculty, students
and administrators together.
The office of Director of Student Affairs should become a
separate entity not included under the administrative offices. This
new entity should include: Admissions, Veterans Affairs, Counseling
and Placement.
The bookstore should expand and retain a used book section.
Office areas should stay open over the lunch hour specifically the
Finance office.
The student recreational facilities should be greatly expanded.
How can you sell a campus on its present basis? Academics is not
everything.
Student positions should be opened on all committees and in all
structures. Students should have a say in curreculum matters. (Why
not offer courses pertaining to governance structures, journalism,
etc?)
I could go on, but I suppose many of you will read this and
interpret it as being vague or illogical or something and maybe
you're right. It has been a good two years at Capitol and certainly
the positive points outweigh the negative. But that does not mean
things cannot be improved.
I'd like to wish all the graduating seniors the best of luck in the
future endeavors and the incoming seniors too. See if next year you
don't feel a bit chewed too.
by
Bill Matthews
S.G.A
FACULTY