VOL. IV, NO. 17 FEBRUARY 28, 1975 PENN STATE UNIVERSITY C.C. READER John Dean Speaks by Doug Gibboney Last Friday, the day four former White House aides were sentenced to prison for their roles in the Watergate cover-up, the man who started them tumbling, John Dean, appeared at Millersville State College. Dean, wearing a vested blue suit and flashing his Cheshire Cat smile, mounted the stage at exactly 8:00 p.m. and, after an apology that "he cannot come out and speak for free", launched into his analysis of Judge John Sirica's sentencing of H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlich man, John Mitchell and Robert Mardian. Dean admitted to mixed feelings about the men in volved and said he feared the "good they did would be forgotten... and I feel they did do some good". The four, according to Dean, played a "gambler's game in trying to beat the system on legal technicalities". For Haldeman, Dean said, prison will be "extremely hard for he is a man used to giving orders". Dean feels Haldeman "has convinced himself he is innocent of any wrong doing". Former Attorney General John Mitchell, Dean said, "may have received a death sentence. Many men I met in prison said the reason they were there was because of him and they'd wait for him". John Ehrlichman and Robert Mardian will have a problem of "arrogance that just won't wash in prison society". Dean added that "Judge Sirica is a man in pursuit of the truth" and "it may not be too late for these men to tell the truth and have their sentences reduced". President's Council Meets by Jim Bollinger The formation of a national student-advocate lobbying organization was the primary topic of interest at the last President's Council meeting held Thursday, Feb. 20. Russ Hogg, SGA Vice- President and chairman of President's Council, in troduced the existence of the Pennsylvania Public In terest Group (Penn PIRG) and its attempted establishment at Penn State to the leaders of the various groups who were represented at the meeting. Hoggs distributed in formative pamphlets about Penn P 1 RG and explained its function and why it was established. Hogg described PennP PIRG as being a "Nader like" organization run by and for students. He said that the attempts to involve Penn State were initiated at University Park. He gave it his complete endorsement. Hogg further explained that acceptance of PennP PIRG at Penn State had to be by petition, with at least 50 percent of all Penn State John Dean speaking at Millersville State College where he admitted that he was "an ambitious young man" during the Nixon Presidency. "There is no better op portunity than tomorrow for Richard Nixon to come forward and tell the truth of Watergate. It would be a great service to his friends and to the nation. It might hurt a little bit to tell the truth but certainly in the long run it's the only route". Dean expressed doubt that the four Watergate figures would ever enter prison. He cited the two year appeals process and offered a scenario where Gerald Ford would pardon the men just before leaving office, if he should be defeated or decide not to run in the 1976 election. Mitchell, Haldeman and Ehrlichman are "still students (including branch campuses) signing. Membership in PennPIRG includes a mandatory $2- per-student membership fee, which, Hogg pointed out, is fully refundable to each student on demand. Hogg entertained questions on the necessity of Penn PIRG and its ef fectiveness from the Council. Hogg suggested that involvement by each individual student could be used gain academic credit by independent study. The suggestion was attacked by the Engineering students representing their organizations on the grounds that they would never have time for such involvement and since, they said, Engineering students make up such a large part of the student population, Penn P I RGwas unnecessary to Capitol Campus. For further information on Penn PIRG, see related article. In other developments, Dave DeLong of Head Shop reported on the final preparations being made for Casino Night Feb. 25. And representatives of the C.C. powerful men with powerful friends", Dean said and he mentioned Mitchell's ties with Nelson Rockefeller. During the hour and 15 minute question and answer session, Dean Skillfully fielded all queries with the expertise of one who has been there. After 16 months of interogation by the government's best in vestigators, there are few questions that stump him. Commenting on the four months he spent behind bars, Dean said "the country club and the tennis courts just weren't there". Later, in his most heavily applauded remark of the evening, Dean said, "The American Criminal Justice Reader revealed their new letters policy. For further information, see the "Note from the Editor" on page 2. The Council then listened to a report from Scott Deardorff about the University's Council of Branch Campuses, and his own personal involvement in this and other University wide organizations. In the course of discussion following his presentation, a motion was passed to have Housing and Food Services investigated. This motion arose from numerous complaints against Housing and Food Services. In the final piece of business, the procedure for numinations for the James Jordan Award (presented to a popularly-elected Faculty Member of the Year) was discussed. Due to a lack of time, the subject was tabled until the next meeting. President's Council is scheduled to meet again Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 P.M. The location of the meeting will be published later. All Presidents of organizations, or their representatives are urged to attend. system is full of inequities. A young person can be arrested with an ounce of marijuanna and get 10 years while I only get 10 months". Dean denied the allegation the Nixon Ad ministration was "paranoid of the press. At times, Nixon thought he had the press on his side". Investigative reporting, of the Watergate Affair, Dean admitted, "caused the problems. No sooner would they get wind of something than we'd be sweeping it under the rug again. We tried to look down into other presidencies and say 'look, Watergate isn't so bad now, is it?' but we could never find any laundry that dirty". Asked about the report Nixon would like to be Ambassador to China, Dean said, "I doubt if he comes to me for counsel on that". About 1500 people at tended the two hour program for which Dean was paid $3,000. Outside the hall, a handful of demon strators protested Dean's appearance on campus. U. N. Model Begins Delegations from 37 central Pennsylvania high schools are participating in a Model United Nations at Penn State-Capitol Campus on February 27, 28, and March 1. H. E. Amb. Nico G. Dimitriou from the Em bassy of Cyprus in Washington, D.C. addressed the opening assembly of the Model UN at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 27 in the auditorium. Clemmie Gilpin, in structor in Afro-American Studies at Penn State- Capitol Campus, is coor dinating the three day assembly. He indicated the purpose of the Model UN is for student delegates to learn about the theories and pract ices of the organization by taking the roles of various UN nations. Gilpin also stated that the Model UN is a simulation of the actual organization based in New York. The student delegates are meeting in three councils (economic, social and security) and the General Assembly. Each par ticipating school comes to the Model UN versed in the position and policies of a particular country. lll************************ * * * * * * NEXT FRIDAY - * direct from University Park It 41. JOHN W. OSWALD - * President of PSU * * * * will answer your Questions . * 11 in the auditorium of the * ..._ Main Building at 2:15 p.m. * * * aig***********************l BE THEBErrityttwor PAGE 1 PIRG OR EGON—PI RG Students uncovered the fact that a major bank required women to produce a cer tificate of sterility or an affidavit swearing she was using birth control measures in order to get a loan. VERMONT—PIRG Students discovered that whether males & females have the exact same qualifications that the female will be turned down 9 times out of 9 thru em ployment agencies. MICHIGAN—PIRG Students have belabored a doctor's "conspiracy" for refusing to help the state with poor patients. They have proved that some of the states most distinguished bankers are law breakers finding that they hid interest charge information from client. Michigan PIRG students also turned up hazardous & lethal toys in 40 per cent of the stores. Quick reforms were instituted in the banks & toy stores. SOUTH CAROLINA— PIRG Students exposed a private blood collector who had faked records, was willing to take blood from donors on pills & alcohol, & had no doctor on hand. NEW YORK—PIRG Students excoriated un dertakers for refusing to tell the bereaved how much funerals would cost INDIANA—PIRG Students embarrassed a citizens group fighting a phosphate ban by un masking it as a laundry industry front. And so the list goes on and on until we get to Penn sylvania - NOTHING. This is no socialistic or communist inspired group but is as American as Patrick Henry. Remember his life story? Penn Pirg will take you beyond school & into the real world of: Consumer Fraud; Government Unrespon siveness; Housing 8 Health Care; Unfair Taxation; Discrim inat inn Penn Pirg is being organized at University Park & on most com monwealth campuses. It was brought up before our SGA at the February 13 meeting & was indorsed almost unanimously. Do you back the concept? Come to W-110 & sign a petition.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers