Pennsylvania State University at Capitol Campus C MC. Ire al Vol. 9 No. 6 Media's expenditure of energy Two student's view: Democratic process by Mike Kondor and Jan Hrabovsky Five people from Capitol Campus were chosen to assist the White House Press Staff at Tuesday night's Democrat ic State Committee Dinner and Reception. Those chosen were Jan Hrabovsky, Term 9, Multi-Media; Mike Kondor, Term 8, Multi-Media; Carole Wix, Term 12, Multi-Media; Carol LeVan, secretary to the Director of Campus Relations; and Jane Kinsey, staff assis tant to the Campus Relations Office. The event was held at the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg. Local TV camermen prepare to type the Vice President's comments. President Carter was ex pected to be the featured speaker. At the last moment, however, due to the gravity of the situation in Iran, Carter was forced to cancel his ap pearance. Vice President Walter Mondale became the substitute guest• of honor. Following is an account of the experiences of two of the students from Capitol Campus at the dinner/press confer ence: 2:01 PM - We are driving to the Farm Show Arena in the rain, listening to the radio, when we hear the disapppint ing news that Mondale will be replacing Carter at , the. Com mittee Dinner. 2:07 PM - We enter the Farm Show Complex. The atmos phere is permeated with the odor of previous livestock ex hibits. 2:17 PM - We meet Terry Doyle of the White House Press Staff, who shows us the vital areas of operation. First, we are shown the portable headquarters of the Secret Service. Pin-striped suits dominate the scene. Next, we are told of the room for the "crazies" -- people who, for example, bring chocolate chip cookies to present to the :'resident. photo by Mike Kondor 2:59 PM - We are shown the reception area for the Vice President. Terry points out two large motor homes, one of which would have served as the official eating place of the President. Terry explains that the President never touches food at social func tions of this sort. All of his food must be tested by the Secret Service before it is eaten. 3:15 PM - There is frenzied activity in the arena through out the time we are there. Caterers have arrived and are busy setting the tables; com munications experts are wir ing phones; television crews Terry ,of the White House Jss pito, Campus Press Volunteers. From left to right, they are Jane Kinsey, Carole Wix, Carol LeVan, and Jan Hrabovsky. from the local stations are setting up their cameras; and we are hanging signs to direct the press and to direct guests to the rest rooms. 3:30 PM - After completing our assigned tasks, we are resting at a nearby press table. We are approached by a Farm Show Arena guard. "Hey, you're press people, aren't you? How's the situa tion in Iran?" he asks. We reply: "We aren't authorized to give out that information." "Oh, O.K. -- How's the weather out there '?" he re torts. Accident campus A girl was hit by a car on Fifth Street (the road leading to the main building) before the intersection leading to the dorms at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. Officer Charles Alexi, head of Police Services, said that the girl was taken to Osteopathic Hospital, where she is under care. The driver of the car is a campus student. Local and Campus Police are working on an offical investigation of the accident. 4:01 PM - The aroma of (3100 a plate) chicken dinners com pels us to venture into the caterer's area. We are im mediately approached by a Secret Service agent (6 feet 4 inches, 220 pounds), who po litely directs us to return to our original positions. 4:05 PM - We leave the Arena and drive to McDonald's in the rain. 5:45 PM - We return to the Committee Dinner. Guests and reporters are arriving every minute. Now the fun begins. Almost immediately, a guest's finger is severed from Result of impact of girl's body with car on Fifth Street (Sneaker placed on hood by investigating officials). 15 November 1979 photo by Mike Kondor his hand as his chair collapses under him. Paramedics are hastily summoned to the scene. The guest is transport ed to the hospital and the confusion continues. 6:30 PM - Local news person alities begin to arrive. Among them: Nancy Johnson and Les Miller from Channel 8; Rich ard Seneca from Channel 27 and Jim Sinkovitz from Channel 21. 7:30 PM - The dining hall is rapidly filling to its capacity of 2000 guests. Terry explains that our job is to prevent Continued on page 4 photo by Darryl Bielski
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