Editorial
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When asked about nuclear power, the great scientific genius -Albert Einstein
once said, "Take the issue to the public square; let the people decide."
The comment is a relatively modern one, but the idea it professes dates back
many centuries. It was considered the root of the American system that when a
controversy arose, the people should be allowed to decide their fate for
themselves, and, indeed, did so. Participations in government was considered a
privilege rather than a burden. Activism and a need to "Stand up and be counted"
considered the rule rather than the exception.
Before the late 1960'5, the American college student was not given the opportuni
ty to participate. Rule was autocratic and, at times, stern by college administra
tion. Those who wished to be active were encouraged to refrain from doing so until
he or she had had "enough experience".
During the late 1960's and early 1970's this philosophy began to change. Students
fought for, and often received some form of governance on their college campuses.
The student finally had some say in the way his institution and often his place of
residence, was run.
One would think that this tradition would be carried through to the present day,
as problems facing colleges today are as important, if not as publicized as the onft
facing students fifteen years ago.
This is no the case.
At Capitol Campus, like many other institutions, apathy rules the day. Job and
personal interests are considered paramount, whereas campus issues are almost,
if not totally, ignored. The recent Student Government elections saw but one can
didate run for each office. Voter participation also was low, as less than three hun
dred from a student body of over 2600 cast ballots.
Yet the same people who fail to participate are the first to complain about the
quality of life on campus. When asked why they don't participate, "I just don't
have the time", or "I really can't make a difference myself", are the usual replies.
Perhaps this generation will have to learn, like those before it, that activism
begins with oneself. That "the other guy cannot be relied upon to improve the
quality of life. Perhaps also that those who would complain but do nothing deserve
the negative aspects of what they complain about and should refrain from com
plaining, not until they have had "enough experience", but until they have tried to
do something about it.
Volume 16, No. 4 Pennsylvania State University May 22,1982
Capitol Campus
Middletown, Pa. 17057
Office—W-129
Ph0ne—(717)944-4970
Published by the students of the Capitol Campus of the Pennsylvania State
University in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
The C.C. Reader serves the following four-fold purpose: (1) 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, cartoons, 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.
Photography Editor Mark W. Clauser
Copy Editor Mary E. Diehl
Sports Editor Kevin Spiegel
Staff Sherry Reese, Pat Wenger, Darlene Lahr, Phil Intrieri
Faculty Advisor Monica O'Reilly
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.
c.c. rea
Editor
Joe Sucec
recommended for minimum entry into
Accoußtißg the various accounting fields." She ad
mits she will be able to acquire the
From Page One necessary requirements for gradua
courses which will not be offered) are tion, „
but feels she will "not be as well
Accounting faculty members were ask- prepared as expected." She also points
ed to comment on the problem. Mr. out that "6% of the CPA examination is
Charles Kern refused comment. Mrs. based on 'Government Accounting'—a
Susan Coldwell feels that students should course which is not being offered!"
not be too upset over the lack of advanc- Susan alos made inquiries into this pro
ed courses. She says that other blem. While she can "appreciate that
undergraduate colleges do not ordinarily courses are pot being slated due to insuf
offer advanced courses either, and that ficient faculty," she wonders why during
most advanced courses are offered at the "82-83 five elementary courses are
graduate level. Unfortunately, Capitol available when four advanced courses
Campus does not have a graduate ac- are not (when) as of the 83-84 year, the
counting program, Mrs. Patricia elementary courses will no longer be of-
Wilburn stated that while the ideal situa- fered." She feels the lack of advanced
tion would be to offer all the advanced courses being offered will be a
courses, practical considerations must "detriment (to) next year's seniors and
be taken into account. Mrs. Wilburn graduation students "
points out that undergraduate study is
not designed to guarantee success on the
CPA examination although the study will
provide the minimum requirements to sit
for the examination. She also feels that
most students will fair well in work situa
tions even without the advanced courses
because, as she points out, much of what
a student learns will not immediately be
put to use. From an advisory point of
view, Mrs. Wilburn feels that more
breadth is needed rather than more
technical knowledge. She recommends
that more Business, Economics,
Finance, and other non-business courses
be taken, although she would like to see
Seminar in Accounting which would ad
dress current topics.
Dr. Gilmore, the Division Chairperson,
was asked to comment on the students'
concerns. He points out that the Universi
ty seeks to meet the needs of all students
in all programs and options, and he notes
that some options give students more
qin I)onetit letter
Future Graduates
I am a recent graduate of Capitol Cam
pus. I stood in the line of business ma
jors, waiting...watching the tense but
relieved, hopeful faces of my classmates.
The pride was overwhelming as each ap
proached the stage, received his/her
diploma and greeted the administrators.
They called my name. The tension
mounted as memories of student life
flashed in my mind. I was proud to be
graduating from Penn State even from
Capitol Campus even in the gym.
• Dr. Gilmore, Head of the under
graduate Business Dept.; was the last ad
ministrator I was to greet. Instead of the
expected, "Congratulations and Good
luck" I had received from the others on
the platform, he jeered, "Oh, so you
filially made it after all this time." He
was referring to an incident on which I
questiondd his advising. The hostility in
flexibility than other options. Accoun
ting, unfortunately, is one of the most
structured options. Dr. Gilmore also
points out that course proposals are bas
ed on three aspects—Faculty Resources,
Money, and Student Interest. While ex
pounding on Faculty Resources, Dr.
Gilmore noted that
1) two accounting instructors are leav
ing and that no replacement is presently
in sight,
2) the demand of accounting educators
so greatly exceeds the supply that it
would take 15 years to catch up,
3) while the campus offers highly com
petitive salaries (from the educational
point of view), the salaries do not come
close to what individuals can earn in in
dustry and accounting firms, and
4) most accounting instructors are
specialized—that is, a particular instruc
tor usually cannot adequately teach
every accounting course.
his spiteful eyes left me in shock.
Reaching my seat, I sensed the same
feeling in a fellow classmate. He had
received a similar comment from Dr.
Gilmore. Is he capable of saying
anything positive to a student? to
anyone?
Well, don't despair! At least we all
know that if someone like Dr. Gilmore
can "make it" in this world, any of us can
even as graduates of Capitol Campus.
If our education doesn't get us jobs, our
experience in dealing with the idiots C.C.
seems to recruit for teachers and ad
ministrators will.
I don't feel it's necessary to sign my
name. Unless Dr. Gilmore made such
comments to all of the graduates, he'll
know who I am when he reads this. I hope
he realizes the negative impact he has on
people...l can't believe it's only on us
students.
A graduate