Capitol admin, red-faced
“BOOKSTORE” from page 1
University Park. And, it’s
Bischoff who evaluates them,
recommends changes, and im
plements those changes.
However, Bischoff said,
“Capitol Campus’ Bookstore is
considered autonomous. The
manager doesn’t report to me,
and I have no responsibility to
it, except on an advisory level,
and then only if called upon.”
He went on to explain that the
responsibility for change lies
with Capitol Campus’ Ad- •
ministration: “They have
authority over their bookstore,
and for any changes in the
physical set-up or the product
mix of that store.”
This came as a shock to our
administration. From the Pro
vost on down, officials were
surprised. Dr. Gross said: “My
understanding of the reality is
that the bookstore is out of my
control. But, if I can do
something about it, then I will
do so.” Another campus of
ficial, Robert Hamill, who
recently took over the position
of Business Manager, said, “My
understanding was that there
are certain limits on what we
can do.”
However, Bookstore Manager
Kistler, a retired Army Master
Sergeant, says he was really
“Now, today, Pm just following
my original mandate...”
William Kistler
Bookstore Manager
just following his orders. In his
first interview ever, he said.
“In 1973, when I was hired, I
knew we were autonomous, and
my original mandate from the
Capitol Campus’ Administration
was that the bookstore was go
ing to have texts and supplies.
It wasn’t going to be a depart
ment store.”
“Now, today, I’m just follow
ing my original mandate, and I
just assumed that it went on the
same way,” Kistler said. “So, if
the feelings have changed, then
somebody in our administration
must say so, and I’ll be happy
to do what they’(Hike me to.”
One of the chronic problems
confronting the management of
the bookstore is the underorder
ing of textbooks. “If we could
get the instructors to order ear
ly,” Kistler said, “then it would
help the problem. With 269
course options this semester,
and 229 m the spring, I’ve got to
use a guesstimate, (Kistler
makes projections, then orders
the texts based on prior atten
dance in the course) because,
with high shipping costs, I’ve
got to stretch my budget out.”
Some of our faculty members
don’t exactly agree. One in-
structor said, “What was I to
tell the ten people in my class
who didn’t get books? That I’m
sorry, but you’re just one of the
people who was left out of Mr.
Kistler’s guesstimate?”
Since September, 1978,
Capitol Campus has had a
Faculty Committee on the
Bookstore. Its job was to review
the operation of the store and
recommend improvements.
They’ve done their job. But, the
problem has been, and still is,
who were these recommenda
tions sent to? Kistler says he
responds to our administration.
Our administration thinks the
responsibility for change comes
from University Park. And,
University Park doesn’t really
even think about it, because in
the minds of the officials, any
problems are being addressed
m Middletown.
But the problems aren’t being
addressed. And, over the years
it has perpetuated to the point
where students resorted to
cheap-shots and personal at
tacks of the character of Mr.
Kistler (CC Reader, Apr. 2,
1981), rather than seeking out
the truth behind the lack of
action.
Only one other school in the
PSU System has an autonomous
bookstore: The Hershey .
Medical School. That school’s
bookstore staff is’well aware of
its autonomous status. And, ac
cording to one source, “Of
course, the accountability of
this store rests with the Her-
shey administration. We’re
responsible only to them.”
R.E. Zilly, PSU’s Vice-
President of Business, who is in
charge of the system, admits
“There is a problem, and we’ll
have to address it. Your Pro
vost, Dr. Gross now realizes
that Kistler works for him, but
Dr. Gross had thought the
ultimate responsibility was with
us.” He went on to say that the
responsibility at this time, as
well as in the past, was not with
University Park. If there are
changes to be made, then it
rests with Capitol Campus’ ad
ministration.
In fact, because of Captiol
Times’ inquiry into this story,
Dr. Gross met last week with
Dr. Zilly to discuss this
misunderstanding.
One of the problems they may
discuss will be the funding for
improvements. Commonwealth
Manager Bischoff said, “If your
administration asked for im
provement funds, we would
evaluate the request, and then,
if approved, we would fund it.”
And so, according to Bischoff,
“It’s time to assign responsibili
ty.” And our administration
now agrees. As Capitol Cam
mis’ assistant to the Provost,
Dr. John Joseph, candidly ad
mits, “I think we might nave
just gotten ourselves a
bookstore.”
Eng. pioneer explains new method
Bud Smith
Truss analysis was the focus
of an engineering lecture by Jai
Kim, Chairman of Civil
Engineering at Bucknell
University, Feb. 8 in the
Temps, drop, fevers rise
By Racquel Summerford
Study and prayer will help
you through midterms and
Capitol Campus’s Health Ser
vices Center can help you make
it through the cold and flu
season.
“January through March is
the height of the colds and flu
season here at Capitol Cam
pus,” says Health Services
Center day nurse, Jean H.
Kresge. According to Kresge
the Health Services Center has
been seeing an average of 40-45
patients a day since January.
Kresge says that the majority
of the patients come to the
Health Services Center suffer
ing from nasal congestion,
fever, and head ana body
aches. These symptoms usually
last 24-48 hours and may be ac
companied by nausea. The
treatment for these symptoms,
is, usually aspirin and
decongestants. Kresge also ad
ministers medicine for nausea
if it’s present as well as recom
mending bed rest and drinking
plenty of fluids.
However Kresge warns that,
“if the symptoms include a
very sore throat and a fever
lasting more than 48 hours, the
student should come in im-
mediately because they may
Gallery Lounge.
Twenty-five people attended
the slide presentation and
discussion entitled, Rehabilita
tion of metal truss bridges by
an arc-hanger additional floor
beam system, led by Dr. Kim.
not have just h cold.” Treat
ment in this case would involve
antibiotic therapy and throat
lozenges. And if Kresge or the
night nurse, Bonnie Petrosino,
think that you need more atten
tion, the doctor is in every
Tuesday. The doctor examines
the patient, writes out prescrip
tions or refers patients to other
physicians as needed.
There is no cost for seeing the
nurses or the doctor. “That’s
one thing I can’t stress
enough,” says Kresge. “I think
that students sometimes
hestitate to come in because
they think they will have to pay
but all of our services are free
except for diagnostic tests.”
Kresge also says many
students are under the impres
sion that treatment at Hershey
Medical Center is free because
it is affiliated with Penn State.
“Not so,” says Kresge. “Just
recently a student came in after
he’d gone to the medical
center’s emergency room with
flu symptoms. He had to pay
$6O for treatment that would
have been free here.”
Treatment of any kind at the
Health Services Center is open
to all Capitol Campus students
whether they’re graduate,
undergraduate, provisional, live
on campus or commute.