C.C. Reader
Letters To The Editor
Wumke's Soapy Solution
Editor:
We have a winner! The 1981 Leonard
Wumke Teddy Bear and Duck Bath
Contest is now at an end. Yes, sports
fans, the case of IC goes to Ed, Chris,
and Joe who submitted the following
interpretation:
"It seems as though you were making
a play on words. When the teddy bear
asked the duck to pass him the soap, the
duck replied,'What do you think I am--a
radio?' If the soap had been Dial soap,
then the duck could have been using wit
in saying,'What do you think I am--a
radio?' , referring to a radio dial."
Sorry, gang. That's the best I could
come up with from the multitude of
entries I received. But Leonard never
lets any effort go unrewarded. "A
promise made is a debt unpaid." Drink
up, men! Other entrants may see my
press secretary for consolation prizes.
In case you're wondering, here's the
second place entry:
"Once upon a time, these drunkards
were going to this cabin. But, through
the lonely night and a light shining upon
the sky in search of a blue LTD, the
ultimate joke was rendered. It seems
that the teddy bear and the duck were
created to bring laughter to the hearts
and mental confusion to the minds of
those seventeen." (Wumke note—This is
a positively alcohol-induced explanation)
Other entries included a rather
tasteless one concerning Communism
and homosexuality. Now here's my in
terpretation:
"The teddy bear represents the So
viet Union. The duck represents the
United States, which has been paddling
around when it comes to foreign policy.
The rather confusing answer which the
duck gave to the teddy bear represents a
breakdown in communications and, ulti
mately, an end to detente between the
two."
Student Service Series
may secure it himself. The circulation
desk issues visitor permit cards which
Imagine yourself a college student allow books to be checked out at certain
who has been assigned to write a paper nearby libraries.
on a strange or obscure subject. You Sixty-five percent of the materials
check your library and discover to your requested are located by Runion on
horror that it has only one small book on microfilm of the holdings of the main
the topic. You panic and take to your car, campus library. Most others are found in
traveling over a period of days from the holdings of the Associated College
library to library in search of materials. Libraries of Central Pennsylvania
In the process you waste a tremendous (ACLCP), with which approximately 110
amount of time, not to mention expen- libraries are affiliated.
sive gas. By the time you finally located Penn State is also a member of the
all of the sources that you need, someone Ohio College Library Center (OCLC).
reminds you that the paper is due in two This is a computer-based system in Ohio
days! that links together libraries of all levels
Fortunately, this is one experience -- public, state and college -- in all fifty
that Penn State students need not states. However, less than five percent
endure. of materials are actually borrowed from
An invaluable aid to Capitol Campus out-of-state libraries.
students is the interlibrary loan system. When Runion has located the materi-
It is a 20th-century library innovation als, a request is made from the American
that gives students access to literally Library Association. The material ar
millions of books and periodicals. rives either through the Library Inter-
A student in search of a particular delivery Service, UPS, or the mail.
source need only fill out the green form Occasionally the student must pay post
found in the reference room of the age or the charges of having photocopies
library. The form should be submitted to made. Photocopies may be kept by the
Ruth Runion, coordinator of the inter- borrower.
library loan system at Capitol Campus. Runion notifies the student by phone
Students are cautioned to submit the when the material has arrived.
form at least two weeks in advance of Due dates of a book are determined
the needed date, because the time by the library from which the book came.
needed to locate and send the materials Students are especially urged to return
varies. However, if the material is interlibrary materials to the reference
needed sooner, Runion will provide the room promptly because overdue books
location of a source so that the student make Capitol Campus look bad.
By Lynn Zimmerman
But enough of birds and beasts! I
have heard from my sources that rather
severe cuts in campus maintenance are
being made now, and even more are
planned for the future. And just at a
time when facilities, especially in living
areas, are deteriorating rapidly and need
more fixing than ever before. Just take a
look at 3rd floor Church if you want a
good example. Not much has changed
there since last year, despite promises
(now known as lies) made by our
"FRIENDS" IN Housing and Food Ser
vice. The old Penn State axiom is at
work again: "Give them less--charge
them more- - do it 'til they scream." My
advice? Let's start screaming now!
I would like to apologize to all parties
concerned for an error in my last letter.
While I stated that a phonathon is being
held to raise money for a new entrance
sign, I failed to mention that alumni have
the alternative of donating to campus
loan or scholarship funds, Heindel Li
brary, or "additional campus beautifica
tion projects." Student aid seems a more
worthy goal for a fund raiser than bricks
and cement.
Just one more point concerning "the
sign" which illustrates the integrity (71)
of our administrators. While the main
thrust of the campaign is aimed at this
decoration, much of its cost has already
been covered by undisclosed donors.
Sure, the money from the phonathon will
go to the campus, but will it really go for
what the alumni pledge it for?
I must admit feeling a touch of grief
on January 25 when the prospective City
of Champions turned into the City of
Choke. But not to worry. Dallas Green's
Kids will be back in form this summer.
And that's what really matters.
The world must change, but I remain
LEONARD WUMKE
A Loan-some System
Thursday, February 5. 1981
Editor:
Anyone who might be complaining
that Capitol Campus is not an exciting
place to be obviously has not been to the
varsity basketball games. Two Satur
days ago Capitol took on a tough Cabrini
College team at home. Down by nearly a
2-1 margin at half-time, the Lions fought
back valiantly and showed a lot of talent
and responsiveness to the home-court
fans. Though they lost by one point in
the final seconds (50-49), the team hung
in there and played tough.
The excitement of the second half
was as intense as any Super Bowl, World
Series or Sixer-Knick game. Our team
came out in the second half ready to
play.
Basketball is a game influenced by
fans. A home team has tremendous
advantage. Let's show our team our
support by showing up and giving them
the home court advantage. Who knows,
maybe your enthusiasm will make the
difference between a fair season and a
great season. And . . . the price is right.
There is no charge for admission.
Capitol Campus basketball fever . . .
catch it!!! See you at the game.
Edward S. Beck
Counselor and Affiliate Instructor,
Behavioral Sciences
Editor
Perhaps someone can answer a few
questions for me. Why is the west
stairwell of the Main Building painted
Pepto Bismol pink? Why is it painted
P.B. pink with dark pink circles? Can
anyone explain the growing trees and
shrinking suns painted on the corridor
walls of the third floor of the Main
Building?
With an average of 150 requests per
month, use of the system is considered
moderate. However, in the past two
years, use of the interlibrary loan has
increased substantially with library ef
forts to make students aware of this
service.
Ed Beck-ons
Off the Wall
.
'o'
Head Librarian Charles Townley looking over the reference room in the
library. Among some of the other services that the library provides is the
Inter-library loan system.
READER Photo by Mark W. Clouser
Now don't get me wrong. I love art
and aesthetic design, but some of these
decorations in the corridors I just do not
understand.
Maybe I am numb to these aesthetic
experiences which greet me as I walk
through the halls to my classes. Maybe I
am becoming too involved in my studies
to appreciate the utter beauty of the big
pink circles and the lime green corridors.
And speaking of utter beauty, what
is that thing/sculpture on the front lawn
of the Main Building? Is it a shrine to Ra,
the Egyptian sun god? Or is it a
monument to the struggles of man,
reaching and striving, but never quite
knowing what he is doing?
I have always considered myself to
be a person who has an artistic eye, one
who can stand in an empty, white-walled
room and find meaning and definition in
it.
But please, for us poor, too-busy-to
understand-it students, a little explana
tion of the Capitol Campus "artwork."
Kathy Kern
The interlibrary loan service can be
and often is a grade-saving device.
Students should not forget about it,
particularly when doing research
papers.
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