Opinions [
Recent U.Park elections in controversy
By Jerry Trently
Student Government election
turnout has increased by over
100% from last year’s election,
and still we only have 20.6% of
our population voting.
But before I paint a dismal
scenario about apathy and the
like, I’d like to write about a stu
dent body that has been plagued
by election problems that make
ours look tame.
The trunk of the massive tree
we call Penn State University
has been cut apart in recent
years, from problems stemming
not only from apathy, but with
some down-to-earth movements
Tuesday, A pril 26,1983
/ imcs vou7n °- 7
Executive Editor
Managing Editor
Business Manager
Advertising Design Editor
Photography Editor
Events Editor
Sports Editor
Sales Representatives
Layout Assistants
Advisor
PatCarthy
Mark Clauser
Thomas Dekle
Alice Duncan
Judith Faruquee
La-Verna Fountain
Joseph Guberman
Kim Guzzi
The CAPTIOL TIMES welcomes letters from readers. Letters intended for publication must. idicai
the writer's college affiliation, if any. All letters MUST be signed by the writer. Unsigned letters cannot
be printed. A writer's name may be withheld upon request. Letters should be typewritten and double
spaced; and, any material that Is libelous or does not conform to publication standards may be edited or
that have cracked the credibility
of the University Park Student
Government.
According to a report in the
Daily Collegian, the 1981 elec
tions were marked with con
troversy after a gerbil ran for
the office of president.
“Wimpy,” the gerbil, ran with
running mate Fred Schiller, a
ninth term business administra
tion major. Wimpy and Schiller
were backed by Froth, the now
defunct humor magazine at State
College, and the Monty Python
Society.
The Collegian article quotes
Schiller as saying, “We definite
ly are serious. We saw a growing
gap between students ana
government. Students don’t know
what Student Government is up
to. The only thing they know
about is the movie ads.”
As the controversy increased
during the ’Bl campaign, the
Park’s Undergraduate Student
Government Elections Commis
sioner, Robert Fanning, said that
Wimpy could not run because he
did not have a full time status.
Undergraduate Student
Government Supreme Court
Justice, Gary Kazmer, said that
Wimpy could be elected by write
in votes but that his election
could be disallowed because of
his non-full time status.
As election time neared, con-
STAFF MEMBERS
James P. Kushlan
Marsha L. Larsen
Michael Markle
Linda McCarty
Karen Muro
Barbara Myers
Lisa Noro
Jerry Trently, Jr,
Monica Auld
Charles R. Cobourn, 111
George P. Yanoshik, Jr.
Joseph Hart
Michele S. Haley
Rob Rejmaniak
Kevin Gulrich
Paul Saba tine
Betsy Sheehan
Jo Griffiths
AlLee
cern increased over whether or
not the Student Government
President could have two or four
legs.
Election results were released,
and Wimpy would have to wait
As election time neared,
concern increased over
whether or not the Student
Government President
would have two or four
legs.
for another election to become
President. But the vote counts
did show astounding patterns.
There were actually four sets
Editor’s Note: The feature article, “Study Effectively with proper
training,” published in die March 29, 1983 issue of the Capitol
Times was written by staff member, Raquel Summerfora.
Capitol Times announces
j&efcutefc abbertteftig rate* for our Map t**ue.
QDafee abbantage of our 25% biacount on all ab*
make pour 3Rites of 6prtng ebent ttnoton!
9b rates hull babe a 25% biscount for our Jflap issue
--I,
v«/Aww,Af.v/.v,„,Mv,-.v. • ••• ..•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•• '"•'
*>*' . 2■#•,&< C . zl'4&\->
to make pour ebent fenofam to Capitol Campua.
contact Cftafte* Cmrimtni Hi «M29*r at 944-4070.
forcampust organisation*
to otter cluba an ibeal opportunity
to abbertibe “HUtetf of Spring” actibitietf.
Gur abbrrttatag beabline iai»ap to.
Cake abbantage ot loto rates!
; ~|Page 10
of serious candidates in the elec
tion, and Wimpy and Schiller
finished a strong second with
1,432 votes. The winning can
didates, William Chuck and Ken
Reeves, gathered 2,299 votes.
If anything was proved by the
Wimpy stunt, it was how non
seriously many students take the
Student Government elections.
Election of a gerbil would have
been an embarrassment to the
students of Penn State Universi
ty.
Congratulations to our student
government for the running of a
fair, competent election at
Capitol Campus. Let the future
hold more involved elections,
and let us watch to make sure
our candidates grow hair and nol
fur.