C.C. reader. ([Middletown, Pa.]) 1973-1982, April 30, 1981, Image 2
Page 2 The Legacy With the overwhelming media coverage of the past month ~ we need not be reminded that the President of the United States, his press secretary, a Secret Service agent, and a policeman were felled in our nation's capital, the victims of a crazed gunman. With the discovery of each new corpse in Atlanta, we need not be reminded of the two-year reign of terror that has seen 26 young blacks murdered. We don't have to go too far back in time to be reminded of John Wayne Gacy, David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz, the Boston Strangler, etc.,etc. It is an infamous legacy, indeed, a legacy written with the blood of countless victims. What many of us fail to realize, however, is that for every publicized atrocity, for every violent act that we read about in the papers and hear about on radio and television, there are hundreds of senseless incidents that go unheard of. Unheard of, yes, but every bit as tragic. This legacy of violence is all around us, and, what is most frightening of all, we seem to be resigning ourselves to it. Advocates of gun control laws constantly scream that the banning of handgun sales would curb this rampage of violence. Though this very well could cut down on the shootings that now occur with such startling rapidity, the chances are good that the slack would be taken up by stabbings, bombings, and beatings. We Americans have proven to be very resourceful when it comes to killing each other. Others claim that capital punishment is the answer. If a lunatic rapes and murders a young mother, they argue, his punishment should be death. Not only would revenge be wrought, but it very well could deter other would-be murderers. Above and beyond all this debate, however, is a dead woman and the family she left behind. The banning of handguns and the reinstating of capital punishment can't bring her--or the many victims like her--back. They are already homicide statistics. They have become an unwilling part of the legacy of violence. As the violence increases, and the bodies pile up, it appears as though our respect for life is diminishing. Murders, rapes, and assaults are talked about in the same tone as are the Dow Jones averages. Unless such incidents touch us personally, we simply accept them as part of life. We have become saturated with violence, and have chosen to turn our backs and walk away from it. It is time for some serious soul-searching on the part of our country. It is a dangerous situation when we look on the nation's rising violent crime statistice with nothing more than mild disapproval. We need to place human life back on the pedestal it once occupied. If we are truly the civilized and advanced people we claim to be, we should not have to live in constant fear for the safety of ourselves and our loved ones. . . . The legacy of violence in America has left more than enough victims in its bloody wake. It should not be allowed to go on any longer. Volume 14, No. 3 c.c. reader April 30, 1981 Published biweekly by the students of The Capitol Campus of The Pennsylvania State University in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The C.C. Reader has the following four-fold purpose: [l] to keep students informed about their campus community; [2] to provide editorial comment on issues facing the campus community; [3] to serve as a forum for student poetry, photographs, graphics, and other creative endeavors; [4] to serve as a learning mechanism for all students interested in the journalistic process. This includes reporting, editing, layout, typesetting, and paste-up. Activities Editor - Keith N. Gantz Photography Editor -- Mark W. Clauser Staff Kathy Kern, Yvonne Harhigh, John G. Harvey Faculty Advisors - Dr. Donald Alexander, Monica O'Reilly The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and are not necessarily the opinions of the students, faculty, staff, or administration of The Pennsylvania State University. The C.C. Reader welcomes letters from readers. Letters intended for publication should indicate the writer's college affiliation, if any. All letters must be signed by the writer. Unsigned letters cannot be printed. However, a writer's name may be withheld upon request. Letters should be legible (preferably typewritten, double spaced); and any material that is libelous or does not conform to the standards of good taste will be edited and/or rejected. The Assistant Editors shall serve as Editorial Editors for the remainder of the academic year. Editorial/Opinion Pennsylvania State University Capitol Campus Middletown, PA 17057 Office W-129 Phone -- (717) 9444970 Editor in Chief Harry H. Moyer Assistant Editors David J. Caruso William J. Neil Sports Editors - Darrell Reider Kevin Spiegel Circulation 2500 Editorial Editors Thursday, April 80,1981 Wumke Letters to orms to the Occasion Editor: The Edito r My campaign manager and I send our heartiest congratulations to the new SGA President, Roberta Bronson, and all the new officers of Student Govern ment. As some of you may have seen by my posters (before they were so rudely ripped down by some low-life schmuck), I decided at the last moment to throw all my support to Ms. Bronson. Her land slide margin of victory was no doubt due in part to the votes of my loyal followers. We both thank you muchly. Editor _ I am amused, pleased, and flattered by a note in the "personals" column of your last paper which I think, but am not sure, was addressed to me. But besides all that, I would just like to say I have a very busy schedule which is why some people may think I am always in my room, which is not true. I participate in two extra-curricular acti vities (C.C. Reader and Tarnhelm, Cap itol's literary magazine, which is worked on throughout the school year but is published in the Spring Term), and also work three jobs during the week for a total work-week of approximately 30 hours (two jobs on the work study program plus a job at home on week ends). I am also a full-time 12-credit student. --Dave Caruso I would also like to say any opinions in my articles are from my interviewees or are implied by them, and are not my own. One more note--a thank-you to those who read my articles which are printed in the C.C. Reader. I appreciate the time they have taken from their own sched ules to read them. And believe me, I do not worry! Now that the ill-informed are well informed, I think I'll get back to work. And I sit in my room? I stand on my head! Say What? The Winner Takes It All Editor My warmest congratulations go to Karen Kurek for winning, the Student Government Association position of treasurer in the recent election. I wish her the best of luck and success in the coming year as SGA Treasurer. I would like to thank everyone for their support and votes as a candidate for the office of SGA Treasurer. Good luck to the new SGA Executive Board. Now all of you newly elected officials will have to learn to put up with me for the next year. Yes, that's right sports fans, I shall be around for at least a while yet. I'm on the mega-year plan. But rest assured that Leonard can praise as well as criticize. Ain't that right, Dave Austin? Be sure to watch the next issue of the C.C. Reader for my provocative apprais al of this year's SGA. Although I haven't finished drawing my conclusions from the final stats, I can say it's looking real good. So how did all you Pennsylvania anglers do on the trout season opener? Old Leonard displayed his piscatorial prowess with catches of six and three on his first two outings. Worms seem to be the bait so far. This Saturday marks the opening of muskellunge, northern pike, chain pickerel, and walleye season. The stretch from the southern end of TMI to the Falmouth Access area is a prime walleye area on the Susquehanna River. This year, for the first time, bass are in season all year round in rivers and streams, and this section also offers some good smallmouth fishing. Minimum size in rivers and streams has been raised to ten inches this year, twelve inches in lakes and ponds. Kathy Kern Though many have come, and many have gone; and many more will come, and many more will go; what they left and what they will leave--is what really counts. They teach. We have started, and we will finish; we will try, and we will succeed; we will fight, and we will win--is what it's all about. We learn. And did you ever know that a good-looking woman (man) is like hard liquor? A little bit is good; more is even better; but if you get too much of either one--you're going to be hurting. That's what I always say. From the ozone, I remain LEONARD WUMKE Judith A. Polliard C.C. Reader