February 10, 1977
You Too
University Park, Pa.... Two
things many college students a
few years ago claimed were
irrelevant--good grades and a
good time--are being revived
these days at The Pennsylvania
State University.
Dr. Melvin S. Klein,
director of student activities,
says that students appear to
have become very "academical
ly oriented and career minded."
At the same time, he adds,
"students aren't apologizing for
wanting to have a good time
after they study. A few years
ago, this wasn't the case."
He advises that extracur
ricular activities surely reflect
the changes. There has been a
boom in interest in curriculum
and career-oriented clubs. And,
for the first time in years, a
regular Friday night dance is
held on campus. A Free
University course on Disco
Dancing enrolled 500 students.
Dr. Klein offers some other seminars on practical topics like
related trends: resume preparation and thesis
--There's an identifiable in- ti ps.
crease in attendance at Dr. Klein emphasizes that
activities sponsored by campus students should not be deemed
religious organizations. less idealistic. Philanthropic
--"Save the World" groups activities have never tailed off.
appear to be less active. And students continue to be
--Student organizations are concerned about change. How
"membership oriented," con- ever, their approach seems to
cerned with meeting immediate be better planned and pro
and practical needs of mem- cessed through channels in a
bers, not with abstract social way in which change can be
goals. accomplished.
"From what I see," says Dr. "They really do their
Klein, "students in 1977 are homework," Dr. Klein says.
sensitive to and concerned "They express concerns in
about the 'quality of life.' But more sophisticated and respon
they are now concerned with sible ways. Their campaigns
the 'quality of life' as it exists at reflect better planning. And
this point in their lives only. most importantly, their efforts
This is perhaps why there's an are related to areas in which
increased interest in religious students believe they can have
groups. Students, I think, are an impact. They aren't t4ing
trying to relate religion to their on the Pentagon budget."
current lives as students. The The concern with grades,
future and Society as a whole say Dr. Klein and McCauley, is
are not their only concerns." directly related to the jok.
According to John McCauley market and career aspirations.
assistant director of student McCauley notes that students
activities, out-of-the-classroom today, unlike many six or seven
concerns of students are "more years ago, have long- and
With - - ram.: Salt.
U.P., Pa.-- Safety is
important, however, the de
icing salt which is used to melt
snow and ice has a harmful
effect on plants.
Damage to plants takes
several forms, says J. Robert
Nuss, extension horticulturist
at The Pennsylvania State
University. These include burn
ing and browning of salt
spray-splashed evergreen foli
age (usually along high-speed
highways); "scorching" of de
ciduous plants (whose roots are
damaged when excess salt in
the soil causesmoisture stress);
and stunting or poor growth.
When diagnosing salt dam
age, says Nuss, it is important
to eliminate other causes such
as drought, fill over the root
zone, wilt diseases, compacted
soil or improper transplanting.
All these conditions can cause
the same or similar symptoms
to salt damage.
The use of a minimum
amount of salt mixed with sand
will reduce the chance of
damage to your plants. Don't
try to melt six inches of snow
with salt, but shovel first,
advises Nuss. Leave the salt on
the pavement after snow and
ice are melted where it will be
ready for the next snowfall. If
Can Mix
practical and seen as another
area in which to grow, not as a
mere divergence from studies."
Therefore, he points out, there
is the new interest in clubs that
can help students learn more
about their job prospects,
leadership skills, budget man
igement, and planning meth
"l agree," adds Dr. Klein,
`and this is why we see student
organizations being held more
accountable by their members."
To illustrate the service-to
members functions of campus
organizations, Dr. Klein lists
ways in which groups help
members with day-to-day
needs. For example, the
Organization of Town Inde
pendent Students (OTIS) offers
workshops andpamphlets on
such things as apartment
contracts and other consumer
related matters. The Graduate
Student Association conducts
you do have to shovel the salt,
don't pile it on landscaped
areas.
Where large amounts of salt
are needed, try to devise
some kind of gutter along
walkways and driveways to
carry it off as it dissolves with
water. This will keep it away
from sensitive plants. It helps
to keep soil levels about 2-3
inches above pavement level
next to walks that are salted
during the winter. This should
prevent runoff into planting
areas.
Salt-tolerant plant species
can be used in the home
landscape. These are often
seashore natives which can
stand heavy salt concentrations
in the soil. But this is at best a
poor solution to the problem,
since salt-tolerant plants are
often not suitable for new home
landscapes and are seldom
practical in established ones.
Ordinary garden fertilizer is
a very effective alternative to
salt for snow and ice control. A
light sprinkling of granular
urea on walkways will be as
effective as salt. It will have the
added advantage of enriching
the soil it comes in contact with,
so that instead of being killed or
stunted, affected plants will
actually grow more vigorously.
C.C. Reader
Good Grades With A Good Time...
short-range career goals.
"They know where they
want to be five years and ten
years from graduation," he
says. "And they realize that
part of the plan is getting good
...And Still
U.P., Pa.-- A leadership
position in a student club might
be as important to a
job-hunting college senior as an
"A" in a management course,
says Richard Hess, assistant
director of career development
and placement at The
Pennsylvania State University.
"Surveys have told us that
among the many qualities
companies are looking for in
graduates are ambition, moti
vation, creativity, and leader
ship," says Hess. "I don't want
to downplay these attributes as
they are required in the
classroom, but often the
successful use of these skills
outside of the classroom
impresses potential employers
even more."
Good grades are important,
notes Hess, but they are seldom
a sure-fire indicator of how well
a student will do as an
employee.
"There are a lot of C-plus
students who will go straight to
the top in some organizations
and a lot of A students who will
fall flat on their faces," Hess
explains. "Recruiters know this
is the case, too, so they look at
snow seems to
grades. They're working pretty
hard."
McCauley chuckles and puts
forth this example:
"You probably wouldn't
have heard this too often in the
Get A Job
many indicators."
Hess suggests that a college
student looking for a good job
should get some "reality based
experience," such as a planning
or leadership post in a student
organization related to that
student's career goals. The
enthusiasm and ability dis
played in this post just may be
the factor determining whether
or not a job-hunter is
successful.
"Companies are more and
more stressing the concept of
teamwork and the student who
has experience with this
concept will be a more
attractive candidate," he says.
Despite the desire of
companies for "active" people,
Hess warns against the oft-used
strategy of "padding the
resume with a long list of
activities." Recruiters can spot
such a tactic, he says, and they
are not impressed by it.
Hess offers this appropriate
statement made to him by a
recruiter for a top corporation:
"I don't want to see
someone with 80 activities. Just
give me one student govern
ment president."
se ear' with sky
late '6os and early '7os when
there were other things or,
students' minds, but we hear it
often--'Can we leave this
meeting a little early tonight? l
want to go home and study.'"
`Two Daughters'
The International Affairs
Association will sponsor the
movie "Two Daughters" as part
of their foreign film festival.
According to Paul Scartelli,
president of the association, the
Indian film will be shown on
Thurs., Feb. 10th at 12:15 in the
campus auditorium and again at
8:00 p.m. in the Student
Center. The festival is free and
the public is invited to attend.
"Two Daughters" is a
two-part subtitled film com
prising "The Post-master" and
"The Conclusion." "The Post
master" evolves around a
student/postmaster and an
orphan girl of ten. The small
kindnesses the postmaster
bestows on the waif, and the
young child's growing affection
for him are not fully
appreciated until their separa
tion is imminent.
In "The Conclusion"
Satyajit Ray directs the
Characters into a series of
humorous and profound _deci
sions about love. A young
woman forced into marriage
runs away but later returns to
her husband on her own accord.