CAPITAL TIMES, March 15, 1991 Budget slash hurts Penn State In January Governor Casey cut $731 million from the state budget for 1990-91. Penn State and all other Pennsylvania public universities were hit hard. Penn State's total cut amounted to $12.6 million which equals 5 percent of the funding the University recieves from the state. In fact Penn State, minus the $12.6 million, received less funding this year than last. "For a lean university such as Penn State which has experienced years of public underfunding, cuts of this magnitude are severe," wrote Penn State President Joab Thomas in a letter to the University Community. "It is even more difficult to face them seven months into the fiscal year when they have the impact of a 12 percent reduction in funding." Taking money back seven months into the fiscal year seems outrageous. A better solution may have been to labor through the remaining five months of this fiscal year and limit funding next year. It just seems more logical not to appropriate the money in the first place rather than give it out only to take it back. Little kids have names for people like that. This funding cut comes at a bad time for Penn State Harrisburg. The legislators call for a four-year school in Harrisburg with PSH being the best option, but the state apparently cannot even support the one's it has. And what next untimely event will push the new library down the list of priorities? First the Camp Hill prison riot pushed the project back and now this. Some students are having to pay for in-class handouts and we actually expect to receive the money for a new library. I'll probably never see it in my lifetime. Thomas states in his letter that Pennsylvania was not the only to slice education funding. He said the cuts have been even more sever in other states because of their own budget dilemmas. So much for President Bush going down in history as the Education President. Vietnam veterans still feel wounded Pat Byers Capital Times Staff The winds of war subside but the crack of gunfire remains. The Vietnam veteran returns a wounded patriot forever marked by a stray bullet, camoflagued by the underbrush, and wounded by a country who forgot his name. There were no parades, praises or flag-waving homecoming celebrations. Decades have passed but the scars remain. Can the Vietnam veteran feel the emotion of a grateful nation during the Gulf War homecoming? Emotions regarding this question were mixed among veterans at Penn State Harrisburg and elsewhere. However, Bill Woodworth, a combat pilot over Hanoi during the height of the Vietnam War expressed little discontent toward recent homecoming ceremonies and said he is glad people are happy and proud. But he admits, times have changed. Upon Woodworth's arrival at Travis Air Force in 1972, he was told by military personnel to "get out of here,” in order to avoid the hostile crowds that awaited the soldiers outside of the gate. He was met in an empty Pittsburgh airport terminal by his wife and there were no balloons or confetti. Woodworth said he went home and painfully watched television reports EDITORIALS 3on fleck Editor -in-chiej showing pictures of buddies he had seen only days before. Friends who were now listed as missing-in-action. He said he also heard about troops who had been spat upon the moment they stepped off the plane. In many cases he said it was not the physical spit but the sentimental spit that made it emotionally unbearable. "I’ve read stories about guys who were rejected by the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) of all places," he said. Tony Martinez, a volunteer at the Veterans Administration office in Harrisburg, experienced some of that rejection. Martinez was a seargent in Vietnam and said he arrived home a "bewildered young man." "We should have received parades and welcoming committees back then, but instead they called us baby killers." Woodworth said one of the things that upset him during the Gulf War were the myths told about Vietnam. False myths that told of cities and family dwellings torched by American units for personal gain and satisfaction. Penn State student, and veteran Keith Van Orden, agreed with the other veterans that the electronic media had a tendency of over playing the war the last six months. "They are now saying that we should See Homecoming, page 7 ■l y ) fcrtC 130 D it IoVS AT Capital Times Staff Meeting: Please plan to attend the staff meeting on Tues. March 19 at 12:30 p.m. in the office. Attendance would be highly recommended and greatly appreciated. If you cannot attend please contact Jon, T.J., or Dr. Parisi. [iStfS)Qr©QQ Letters to the editor are always welcomed and encouraged. Submit your letter in Room W-341 or place it in our mailbox in Room 212. Typed submissions ate preferred. Please include your name...we cannot print anonymous letters. A newspaper for the student body [ Capital Times ) Editor in chief... Jon Fleck News Editor... T.J. Brightman Photography/Graphics Editor... John Rudy Staff Artist... Craig Smith Sports Editor... Eddie Miller Features Editor... Karen Putt Copy Editor... Nancy Strawhecker Advertising Manager... Rodney May Adviser... Dr. Peter Parisi Staff-Jeff Berrigan, Pat Byers, Robert Caton, Mike Givler, Elin Marcel, Victoria Phillips, Robin Price, and Paula Styer The Capital Times is published by the students of Penn State Harrisburg. Concerns regarding the content of any issue should be directed to the editor in room W-341 of the Olmsted building or by calling 944-4970. Opinions expressed are those of the author and are not representative oT the college administration, faculty or student body. 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