Feb. 4,1987
Proposed Library Learning Center Comes Under Fire
By Jan Travers
Controversy is building
on the proposed $l5 million
library at Penn State University,
Harrisburg. The new library,
thought long overdue by
members of the campus, has
generated two arguments, one
with the location and the other
with the inclusion of a computer
center within the building.
The physical plant
master plan, recently presented to
the college community by H2L2
Master Planners, calls for the
three story library learning center
(library plus computer center) to
be located adjacent to the CUB,
with walkways to connect it to
the Olmsted Building.
For a campus with the majority
of classes in one building, many
have questioned, both during the
presentation and since, why the
library isn't more centrally
located. According to Douglas
Steele, H2L2, an attempt was
made to create a totally balanced
campus atmosphere.
Agreeing with this
reasoning, Robert Graham,
associate provost and associate
dean of faculty, later explained
that the decision of the location
was preceded by an assessment of
several areas of the campus.
"When I saw the different
"Isms 11 Committee Addressing
Problems of Discrimination
By Tom McGovern
A committee has been
put together to handle what the
college considers to be a growing
number of complaints that are
discriminatory and demeaning in
nature. The group, known ds the
"Isms” committee, wants to
organize a task force that will
avert problems before they arise,
rather than respond to complaints
once they are lodged.
Dr. Jerry South,
associate provost and director of
student affairs, heads the
committee. His office reports
approximately 50 complaints in
the last few years that involve
sexism, racism, and other
discriminatory behaviors based
upon a person's ethnic, age,
religious or physical disability
status. The committee believes
this to be only a small portion
of the actual amount of incidents
that have occurred on campus,
and that because of a lack of
information, it will be difficult
to develop strategies to address
the problem.
Dr. Robert
Munzenrider, a faculty member
of the "Isms" committee,
addressed the January 13 meeting
of Student Government.
models, I was sold on the choice
of location because with two
massive buildings (Olmsted and
library) near each other the
campus was definitely thrown off
balance," he said.
But Student Court
Chief Justice Todd Hammaker
doesn't buy it. "The location is
horrible. They are sacrificing
efficiency just for aesthetics and
that is stupid. Most of the
classes will still be in Olmsted
and it will be impossible to
efficiently spend a free class
period in the library. Half of the
time will be spent going there
and coming back," said
Hammaker.
Likewise, SGA
President Jeanette Brinker stated
the library should be the center
of activity on a campus. "I
think the students will complain.
The planners could have done a
better job of asking students
what they want. They are the
primary users," said Brinker.
Even more controversial
is the planner's recommendation
that the library be combined with
a computer center, to be called a
library learning center.
According to R. Graham, H2L2
met with "a wide range of people
on campus and collected
information, and the things
coming up most often were that
PSU, Harrisburg needed, in
Munzenrider asked for an
expression of support from the
student body's elected
representatives to send to the
provost.. When put to the vote,
it was unanimously approved.
Also approved was that
representatives from SGA would
serve on the task force, along
with faculty and administration
members.
The task force will
develop a consensus on what are
inappropriate behaviors both in
the classroom and elsewhere at
Capital College. The committee
wants to "create a climate of
support for people who feel they
are targets of discrimination,
building up ground support in
favor of the victim so a feeling
of uselessness is not an excuse
from reporting."
"This is not to be a
witch hunt!" claimed
Munzenrider at the meeting. The
faculty does not wish to identify
offenders or victims, just identify
problems and try to solve them.
Whatever action is taken, said
Munzenrider, "must uphold the
principles of academic freedom."
Capital Times
addition to a library, an
auditorium and a computer
center. Choosing a computer
center was more in line with the
charge made to the architect.
Ruth Leventhal,
provost and dean, commenting
on the charge said, "We told
them (H2L2) to imagine a
library of the twenty-first
century. I personally envision
information transfer taking place
"The location is
horrible. They are
sacrificing effic
iency just for
aesthetics and that
is stupid."
by wire and computer. A library
with access to a computer
facility will be more functional,"
she added.
However, not everyone
agrees. "I think the idea of a
library learning center should be
studied more carefully with more
discussion," said William Mahar,
humanities division chairman.
Agreeing, Theodora
Graham, humanities professor,
said, "I'm concerned with how
Nittan
Lines
1 really -think -that -this new Library
Security System is a bit Much?
the library/computer center
evolved," T. Graham was a
member of the Library Task
Force from January 1986
through September, 1986. The
task force final report
recommended a new library was
needed and included three
possible other building which
could be incorporated into it.
These included a computer
center, an auditorium, or
instructional services with film
preview rooms.
Throughout their
presentation, H2L2 maintained
that the library learning center
was agreed upon because the
climate control and security
systems for each was
compatible. A theater is not
feasible because with that
combination there are different
security considerations, like
controlled access , according to
Leventhal.
Disputing this, R.
Graham said he is in favor of a
library/performing center. "I
don't agree with the planners. I
don't think they looked hard
enough for examples at other
universities of this combo," said
R. Graham. Nor did T. Graham.
She stated that previous
architects of campus buildings
t (who according to R. Graham
was also H2L2) were not
interested in looking at what is
H&y, Ws. one /
not conventional. "That
unimagination is why we often
have ugly buildings on campus,"
T. Graham said.
"I am not totally
against the plan. I just want to
be sure that we investigate
different combinations,"
explained T. Graham. In a letter
to Faculty Council Chairman
Donald Alexander, T. Graham
outlined her feelings and
recommended the quality of life
on campus be "dramatically
improved" rather than only
enhanced. "This will not be
achieved by the addition of a
computer center to the library
nor the naming of this add-on a
'learning center’," the letter
stated.
T. Graham argues that
the campus desperately needs a
performing theater and
classrooms with projection
capabilities. "Penn State has an
obligation to support the good
teachers, she said.
The plan, approved by
the trustees on January 17 is in
no way binding, according to
Leventhal. "It is simply a
proposal for the future; it does
not reflect final decisions about
any of its parts, including the
proposed library learning center,"
said Leventhal.
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