c.c. reader
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Student Government Association
Dr. Theodore Gross, Provost
The Pennsylvania State University
Capitol Campus
Middletown, Penna.
Dear Dr: Gross:
I am writing on behalf of the Student Government Association
and the student body as to the reason(s) for your decision
to deny Ms. Jane Fonda and Mr. Tom Hayden access to the
students of Capitol Campus.
The student body is presently under the impression that
Capitol Campus, as an-educational medium, favors the exchange
of ideas and information. However, as demonstrated via the
Fonda/Hayden denial, it seems that this may not be the case.
In effect, Capitol Campus procedure seems to be speaking out Mistaken identification
in favor of informational censorship, and in this Instance,
nuclear power.
As students of this institution, we feel that we have a right
to know the upros“ as well as the nconsu of socially pertinent
issues. In oUreyes, nuclear power and its effects upon our
health (keeping i#,mind our close proximity to T.M.1.) is a
pertinent,issue„Only outrage can be the result of a continued
censorship practice and in an institution of this size,
outrage is not needed.
I welcome your reply Dr.
the utmost anticipatiOn.
October 23, 1979
From:
Theodore L. Gross I I,t,
Mr. Michael Sheldon, President, Student Government
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your letter of October 18, 1979 requesting the
reasoning for the "decision to deny Miss Jane Fonda and Mr. Tom
Hayden access to the students of Capitol Campus."
As I mentioned at the meeting of the PrOvost Advisory Committee,
the Capitol Campus has welcomed a whole range of perceptions and
opinions bearing upon nuclear energy. On the one hand, we have
had Dr. Gofman, who expressed an anti-nuclear position; on the
other hand, we have had members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
who have a stake in the future of nuclear energy. We would hope
to welcome any speaker, expressing any point of view, at the Capitol
Campus. But it has become apparent to us that it is impossible to
accommodate large groups on the campus. We attempted to do this
by inviting the President's Commission on Three Mile Island Accident
to hold its hearing at the campus. It did so, as you know, and many
of our staff, faculty and administration were diverted for the
better part of two weeks from their normal activities. We do not ,
have sufficient resources to accommodate the kind of large gathering
that would have and that did result from Jane Fonda's presence in
the Harrisburg area. Our decision had absolutely nothing to do
with the position pro or con concerning nuclear energy. It had to
do with our feeling that we cannot handle large public events on
the campus.
TLG/ksk
THE CAYII Oi ( S
MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYL% A 17(157
17057
Gross, and look forward to it with
1 HE PLN \Sli LA A'SIA Si AI L IVERSII)
INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE
October 18, 1979
SkeZ.y . su,
Michael J. Sheldon, Pres.
Student Government
What do YOU think?
On the upper left hand
corner of this page is a copy of
the letter Mike Sheldon,
president of SGA, questions
Dr. Gross on the denial of
Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden
to speak at Capitol Campus.
In the lower left hand
corner of this page is a copy of
Gross's reply, in which he
states his reason for denying
Fonda and Hayden.
The SGA and the C.C.
Reader would like to encour
age students to respond to the
two letters. Drop off a letter,
stop in or call the SGA, office
W-110, or the C.C. Reader,
office W-129 (944-9470).
continued from page 1
tinuing education program,"
said that some of the
"students" attending have
had over 30 years' experience
with arson investigation. He
speculated that "they've got
enough interest in the prob
lem to listen" to new ideas.
Kornblum referred to the
field of arson litigation as "a
fascinating area." He said the
course at Capitol was doing a
"tremendous job" in educat
ing people interested in arson
investigation, and he predict
ed that "In ten years this will
be the biggest short-term
program in the country."
Interested in working on the
Concert Committee (GPP)?
Help is needed for two up
coming concerts. Contact Jay
Redman, 122 Church,
944-9338.
page 3