C.C. reader. ([Middletown, Pa.]) 1973-1982, February 05, 1981, Image 3
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. Page 3