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Letters to the Editor
The Death Of The Democratic Process?
On April 3,1975, democracy at Capitol Campus died. A
sad state of affairs, “a travesty” to say the least. An
uncaring executive branch, a lax senate of misfits, an
illiterate immoralistic election screening committee
defunct in its duties and a student court diseased with in
competence made no attempt whatsoever to preserve the
American Democratic Process. Thus it seems, according
to the April 17 C.C. Reader issue to be another “disaster
for the already all-too-shit-on Capitol Campus Students.”
The Democratic Process as we see it is one of common
sense and compromise. On April 3, '1975, the Student
Government Association met with the expressed
intentions of hearing and voting on the report submitted
by the election screenings, a process inherent in a
democratic government. A vicious debate ensued for
approximately two hours. Executives, senators and newly
elected representatives listened to the report and for the
most part voiced their opinions. Common sense prevailed
(regardless of petty bureaucratic, bourgeois techni
calities) there was a definite discrepency. To say that
either presidential candidate won would be inconsistent
with any rational logic due to the extenuating
circumstances presented by the election screening
committee, which was necessary to protect the common
good.
Accusations have been made that the S.G.A. impeded
the democratic process. The matter was seriously
considered with caution by all members and a special
election was our only equitible alternative. There was no
discrepency concerning the other offices. If this was the
case, there is no doubt in our minds that a total
re-election would have been necessary.
We as ex-members of the executive branch of the
S.G.A. feel that a correct decision was formulated in good
conscience and with complete assesment of the facts.
The validity., of the S.G.A.’s decision was challenged
through the Student Court which consists of students
who take their responsibilities seriously. The student
court upheld the S.G.A. decision.
Politics often leads to misplaced emotions and
opinions based on rumor and hearsay. The two of us are
deeply saddened by the course of events and have not
taken a single aspect lightly. Students must be collective
if they are to be effective, misunderstanding in our own
ranks can only lead to downfall. These problems are an
outgrowth of our conditioning within this society, a factor
which we must overcome if we'are to succeed in affecting
positive change.
M.M. ex-president, S.G.A.
R.H. ex-Vice-president, S.G.A
C.C. READER
That was damn nice what you said about us in the last
issue of the Reader!
Andy, Pat, John, Jr., Rutz and myself -
man -
But, then -- we’re dealin’ with good people, too
The Tiltin’ Hilton Bar
(in Highspires’ biggest hotel)
Don Beard, MGR.
Th« Capitol Campus Raadar
The C. C. Reader is published by the students of the
Pennsylvania State University at Capitol Campus,
Middletown, Pa., and is printed by the Middletown
Press & Journal during the Fall, Winter and Spring
Terms.
Opinions expressed by the editors and staff are not
necessarily those of the University Administration,
Faculty or Students.
Editor-in-Chief
Associate & Photography Editor
Assistant Editor
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
Business Staff
Sports Editor
Photographer
Staff. Jimmy Olson, Joe Minnici, P.R.J. Smith, Ronnie Wer,
Hot Lion Coordinator
Graphics . I
Faculty Advisor ..
Thanks!
- we ate that up,
Jim Bollinger
Fred Prouser
Phyllis Schaeffer
Steve Nonn
Gary Macchioni
Bob Pobiak
..Gene T. Eddy
Mark Feldman
Dave Nicholas
DianeCressler and P.R.J*.
Dr. Betty Thorne
C.C. READER
The Reader Blew It!
I have several points on which I would like to express
my opinion in regard to articles which appeared in your
April 17, 1975 issue of the C.C. Reader. The first point is
on the article “Elections Leave SGA Leaderless” by Sherry
Lukosi. Apparently Sherry failed to make sure her facts
were accurate. At NO time prior to the time an unofficial
recount of the ballots had taken place did I state to Miss
Bretherick what vote count criteria had been used by the
Election/Screening Committee. In fact, according to the
constitution, Miss Bretherick could only receive a
re-count by an official written request which she never
did. I feel Mr. Fey failed to use sound judgment in
allowing Miss Bretherick to recount the ballots, valid or
invalid, and that this was the beginning of a major
development which should have been otherwise avoided.
My second point of dispute is in reference to the note
from the editor entitled “The SGA Blew It!”. I agree that
the SGA was ultimately responsible for the lack of
procedurial guidelines by the Election/Screening
Committee. I don’t feel that the comment directed
against the Student Standards Board was warranted. In
the first place, the Student Standards Board is not a part
of SGA as an operation thereof, and secondly, Mr.
Bollinger was not present at the courst hearing and,
therefore, I feel justified in stating that Mr. Bollinger’s
comments were based entirely on hearsay and not on
factual evidence. There were also other comments which
were made by Mr. Bollinger when, in fact, Mr. Bollinger
has no facts with which to back them up except hearsay.
If they were true, it sure was not so presented and proven
at the court hearing. I feel that the SGA could have done a
better job in handling this matter, however, the people of
the SGA are volunteering their time and services and at
least show an interest in their school. I don’t feel it is fair
and equitable to deface the whole organization because of
the irresponsibility of one or two people.
In conclusion, I want to state the C.C. Reader,
therefore, BLEW IT! This has not been the first time
either!! Therefore, in my opinion, I believe the C.C.
Reader should begin looking at themselves once, and
once they have perfected themselves, then let them knock
down all the other organizations on this campus which are
working so hard and really trying to do something good
for the student body and for this campus.
Chief Justice-Student Standards Board
Allen Kerchner (not
Parking
Regulations
Unjust
Dear Editor and Students,
We are writing this letter
in reference to parking
regulations on Capitol Cam
pus.
We feel that the regu
lations imposed on students
whith Meade/Heights and
dormitory parking stickers
should entitle them the right
to park their vehicles in the
recreation and base gym
parking areas. It is our
opinion that these students
deserve the right, because
they are on-campus students
and pay room and board
along with their tuition. It
does not seem fair that the
students should pay 7.50 to
use parking spaces in
recreation areas on campus.
These students are limited in
their activities on campus as
it is, and receiving a fine for
parking in these areas is
unjust and discouraging to a
more fulfilling social life on
campus.
THANK YOl'
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR
CHESS CLUB MEMBERS
The Chess Club will hold a
special emergency meeting
next Wednesday, May 7,
1975 at 12:15 pm. At this
meeting, the new officers for
the 1975-76 school year will
be elected. The positions to
be filled are: President,
Vice-President, Secretary,
and Treasurer. All members
and interested students are
urged to attend.
Collegiate journalism at Capitol is struggling to survive.
Beset with financial problems and an overworked staff,
this writer feels that the student newspaper here at
Capitol has even greater potential.
The multi-media journalism option should tie in with
the student paper, as it offers practical experience in the
day to day operation of a modern tabloid. We have the
latest equipment in the expanding world of print
communication. The availability of a computer
typesetter, commonly known in the trade as cold type,
offers a unique opportunity for next year's staff. The
possibility of writing a story and setting it in type while
the paper is being laid out is just mind boggling. What
the computer typesetter offers this paper is immediacy. It
also offers a taste of participatory journalism.
Typography is just as important in a paper as content.
This writer has found that by using different type faces,
different moods can be given to stories.
What the computer typesetter also offers is trouble. As
a sophisticated piece of machinery, it requires proper
temperature controls. Presently, the typesetting room
lacks such equipment. What is needed is an ordinary
room air conditioner priced at about $2OO to keep a
$14,000 machine operating properly.
This week the computer stopped working, and as a
result, the paper is coming to you one day late. One day
may not seem important, but because we are late one day,
important scholarship information has gone stale, and
publicity for The Rites of Spring was threatened.
This late night notes column is devoid of questionable
words. This writer does feel that it is obscene for an
important piece of machinery to be jeopardized by lack of
proper temperature controls. Also, perhaps the
multi-media journalism option administrators will give
some thought to utilizing the C.C. Reader as an open
laboratory for collegiate journalism next year... an open
laboratory where decisions on content and layout are
directed by the students, with the advisors offering
suggestions, not control.
MAY 1, 1975
New Reader
Editor
From page One
that of a true Editor, and not
have to do all the stories
herself. She intends to
excerise her editoral judge
ment more extensively next
year. (No more ‘Tits & Ass’?)
In reply to a rumor
currently circulating, Phyllis
said that if the University
should change Capitol’s
name, she would hold a
contest to change the
Reader’s name, too. In
absence of that, however,
she means to keep the
current moniker.
As part of her training,
Phyllis will take over the
Reader for the next issue. In
order to indoctrinate her into
her new job, she will control
every phase of the paper’s
publication, from making
assignments to layout. For
the next two weeks, she will
be the operating Editor-in-
Chief.
Phyllis says she has not
decided on her official staff
for next year, except that the
Photography Editor will
probably be Mark Feldman,
President-elect of the Photo
Club.
Phyllis is not the first
woman editor of the Reader;
last year’s first Reader editor
was female. She is,
however, the first Journal
ism major to hold the
position.
Late Night
Notes