C.C. reader. ([Middletown, Pa.]) 1973-1982, April 16, 1981, Image 3
C.C. Reader Letters To The Editor Getting A Charge Out Of It Editor: In response to David J. Caruso's editorial "Seeing the Light" in the February 19 issue of the C.C. Reader, I applaud enthusiastically. I applaud be cause he addressed what is perhaps the most important issue in America today— the energy crisis. Some of you may be thinking, "Oh, no! Not another article about the energy crisis. Haven't we heard enough?" The answer to thar question is "Obviously not!" The aim of this letter is not to inundate you with repetitive prose, but to look at the situation in a. different light; to bring the matter to the one area students, professors, and administrators all consider vital—the pocketbook. In an average Capitol Campus class room there are six rows of lights, with three fixtures in each row; each fixture holds at least two flourescent light bulbs for a total of 36 bulbs in one room. Assuming energy-saving 35-watt bulbs are used (I hope this is not wishful thinking), it takes 1260 watts to light the classroom. If the lights in this classroom are lit for one hour--whether or not the room is occupied-1.26 kilowatt hours (KWH) of electricity have been wasted. (One KWH = 1,000 watts of electricity drawn for one hour). On any week night, Monday through Thursday, the lights in at least 10 empty classrooms are burning. If they are lit for two and one-half hours, the total amount of electricity wasted in one night is 31.5 KWH. In one week the amount increases to 126 KWH. In a month, a whopping 504 KWH is wasted. The cost to a PP&L residential customer like myself for this unnecessary lighting would be $24.80.• That's not very much, you say? Well, look at it this way: every month 504 KWH or $24.80 has been wasted. In a year 6,552 KWH or $297.60 will be wasted. That amount of energy would supply my husband and myself with all the electricity we needed for approxi mately three and one-half years. The responsibility for this wasteful ness lies equally with the students and the faculty, as well as with the school administration. Yes, I realize the Uni versity doesn't pay residential rates and no individual student or faculty member pays for the squandered electricity di rectly, but be aware that the University must pay for its electricity and those costs are passed on to you. If we as a nation are ever to solve the energy crisis, the effort must come from each of us, not only through an increased awareness of the problem, but more importantly through an increased willingness to change our lifestyles. The first step is as simple as flicking a light switch as we leave an empty room. * This figure is based on the October 31, 1978 Residential Rate Schedule. As of January 30, 1981, residential rates in creased. Maybe Next Time Editor Several weeks ago 39 students sign ed a petition requesting that PSU change the wording on diplomas for the Humanities Division to include the stu dents' study options. Because the Humanities faculty tries to comply with student requests when ever feasible, we looked into the reasons for the present wording and into what would be involved in changing it. Also, because we felt sure that the petition was prompted by students' concerns about their chances in the job market, we did some research into employment of our Humanities graduates. We found, first of all, that there would be some difficulties in making this change in the format of the diplomas. One problem is that adding the option would clutter an already full diploma-- designations of degree, major, and loca tion are included now. There is barely a line of the diploma that isn't already taken up with other information. Then, too, there are administrative complications involved. To qualify for a particular option, a set of requirements must be met, and in some instances a student is forced to change his or her option just prior to commencement. In these cases, a new diploma would have to be ordered, which would inconven ience the student and, on a University wide basis, would be very costly. I know that the students who signed the petition (and others) are primarily concerned about finding jobs after grad uation. We therefore checked with Peg O'Hara, director of our Capitol Campus Placement Office, for her thoughts, on the matter. Ms. O'Hara talks with employers every day, and we felt that she would have a good sense cf how employers react to the PSII Humanities degree. Ms. O'Hara said that she has never heard one adverse comment about the, degree, and that the Humanities stu dents have, in fact, done extremely well in finding jobs. Students from the Multi-Media Journalism option, for in stance, are working at virtually all the local and nearby media outlets, and many have moved on to better jobs at larger stations or newspapers a few years after graduation. A significant number of the interns in that option are hired immediately after graduation by their internship employers. As for the students in the Human ities/Business option, Ms. O'Hara said, "If anything, that combination makes them more, marketable to the business employer." I think it's also important to remem ber that the option does appear on the student's transcript. Since this, not the diploma, is the official record of one's academic work, it is usually the docu ment that is presented to prospective employers. Letters of recommendation from teachers would also make clear the type of work that the student has been doing here. And, of course, the student can feature the option and courses that he wants to emphasize on his resume. I realize that this information may not completely satisfy those students requesting the change, but hope it will put to rest at least some of the anxieties about jobs. With the resume, the tran script, and teacher recommendations, I believe that prospective employers will have a good idea of which skills the student has. Dixi J. Weaver I might add that if any of our seniors have not yet visited the Placement Office in the Multi-Purpose Building, I silggest they do so as soon as possible. The people there are friendly, know ledgeable, and sincerely interested in helping the students find the right jobs. 11l be happy to talk with any stu dent who has additional questions about the diploma or degrees granted at Capitol Campus. Thursday, April 16, 1981 Robert J. Graham Head, Humanities Division Roberta For Prez Editor As a student at Capitol Campus for the past two years, I've been involved with a lot of the goings on here. Election of the SGA officers is quite a serious matter and I'd like to remind students that they have a right to participate. I hope that everyone with a sense of responsibility will vote in the elections and will vote for the most responsible candidates. I personally and wholeheartedly en dorse Roberta Bronson for president of the Student Government Association. Roberta is currently a junior senator and was a leader at the branch campus she attended. She's energetic, personable, and would be excellent for the position. I hope everyone will read her platform (which is printed in this paper) and put a big X beside her name next Tuesday or Wednesday. VOTE ROBERTA! People Who Live In Glass Houses... Editor: We thought your April Fool's issue was really disgusting. In our opinion, it wasn't worth the newsprint you wasted. We even tried lining the bottom of the bird cage with it, but the bird died as a result of acute constipation. We consid ered using the paper to wrap some fish, but the paper smelled worse than the fish. It's a wonder that your adviser hasn't been deported to Europe for this journalistic disgrace. In an effort to help you raise the standard of your publication to a level fitting a Pennsylvania State University publication, we are sending you, abso lutely free and at no charge, our latest copy of the state-acclaimed Schuylkill Collegian. It would be to your best interest to try to copy our paper as closely as possible (Why not? You've already tried to copy "Ask Aunt Harriet"). We certainly hope you appreciate our efforts and hard work at trying to elevate the level of your paper. Best wishes in continued success (or lack of). The Board of Editors The Schuylkill Collegian P.S. No hard feelings about the bird, we went out and bought a new one. About Trout Editor Let's go fishing! Pennsylvania's trout season opens this Saturday at 8:00 a.m.4 and plenty of trout have already been stocked for those of you who like to take to the streams. Resident fishing licenses are $9.25, while non-resident cost $14.25. They are available at most sporting goods stores, including Pennsylvania Outdoors in the business district of beautiful, downtown Middletown. A very productive local stream is Stony Creek. To get there, take Route 322 West to the town of Dauphin. Turn right on Route 225 North, which immediately crosses Stony Creek. As soon as you cross the bridge, hang another right. This road parallels the creek for at least eight miles, and there are ample parking places all along it. My Phillies are starting to get it into gear and the Pirates will soon be scuffling to the hold of their galleon with their big guns deprimed. And watch those Orioles fly high in the A.L. East, while the Bronx Bombers ride deeper and deeper into the subways of the Big Apple. C.C. baseball is doing remarkably well, but can't a schedule of their games be published somewhere? All of you country-rock fans out there simply must go to see the group Abilene at your first opportunity. I saw them last weekend at Country Road and they were excellent. In fact, Country Road is a good place to go see any group (a $3.00 cover but reasonably priced drinks and a nice crowd). I was glad to see the space shuttle take off and land this week without too many problems. It was a good way to show the Ruskies and the rest of the world that the United States is still in the lead in at least some areas of technology. I believe a peaceful display of strength and power such as this shows something worthwhile to the rest of the world. It may even have a small part in preventing some of the Irans, Afghan istans, and Polands of the future. I might as well take time now to announce my candidacy for SGA Pres ident. Since I lost by such a narrow margin last year, my public relations expert thinks I stand an excellent chance this year. I plan on running a clean campaign, and hope everyone else does too. Details of my platform will come at a later date, along with an appraisal of this year's SGA. Concerned Until the next time I feel like writing, I remain P.S. Who does this Frank Nelk character think he is anyway? He has no couth! 111 Editor's Note-The next issue of the C.C. Reader will feature the Lions' 1981 baseball schedule. E-Pitt-omy Of Indecision From CH The University of Pittsburgh Cam pus Judicial Board recently convicted three students there of assault after they ran a classified ad in the student newspaper that allegedly threatened another student. Each of the three students was put on probation by the Campus Judicial Board, a student court. One had actually placed the ad, while another had allowed his box number to be used in it. The third helped put up a threatening poster. The threats were focused on a female student unknown to the defendants prior to the incident, according to testimony in the CJB hearing. The University of Pittsburgh Stud ent Code of Conduct defines assault as any type of threat, intimidation, coer cion, or use of physical force in a way that endangers the health or safety of another person. Under that definition, both the classified ad and the poster amounted to assault because they threatened the female student. One of the three convicted, Alan Gladish, admitted taking out the classi fied ad and putting up a poster that threatened the woman as part of a Halloween prank. Gladish denied char ges that he also placed a circled copy of the ad under the student's door and made threatening phone calls. Page 3 LEONARD WUMKE