4/PSH NEWS February 10, 1992
Student apathy strikes at SGA Clubfest
Lisa Malask
Capital Times Staff
The Student Government Association
made an effort to lure potential members
to the Clubfest by giving away pizza. The
aroma of dough and sauce and cheese may
have filled the room, but students sure
didn’t.
SGA President Michael Hcrmick, a
senior majoring in public policy, looked
over the room, where just a few students
visited club tables.
"The Clubfest was publicized," he said.
"Students complain about what's not
going on, but every time I turn around,
there is another event unattended."
The event took place in the Gallery
Lounge on Jan. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m.
Kay Stohlcr, a junior majoring in
information systems, enthusiastically
represented her club, WPSH Radio. She
was eager to explain the benefits of
joining, but she said membership has been
declining.
"Last semester, we had about 50
members," Stohlcr said. "Many have
graduated, and now we have about 30."
Kim Gaskins, a senior elementary
education major, said her club, the Black
Student Union, has approximately 15 to
20 members. She emphasized that anyone
can parlicipatc-mcmbcrship "is not based
Memories highlight
Sharon Barris
Capital Times Staff
Performers, speakers and friends
assembled together in Penn State
Harrisburg's Capital Union Building to
honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with a
celebration ceremony on Jan. 23.
The ceremony, entitled "Our Memories
of Marlin," was a collection of memories
not only by individuals who knew King,
but also by people who celebrate his
achievements with civil rights.
A variety of performers presented
poems, prayers and songs. Groups such as
the Capital Gospel Ensemble and the
Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ
Youth Choir offered choral arrangements,
while Felicia Brown-Haywood and Fran
Arnold entertained with solos.
The 30-mcmbcr youth choir sang out
praises that had the audience rejoicing and
clapping hands.
The audience participated musically,
through Teb. 14
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on color."
Senior Lori Graby, a literature major,
said she thought more students would be
receptive to Tarnhelm, the campus literary
and arts magazine.
She said Tamhelm is composed mostly
of humanities majors, but anyone can
join.
"It is open to anyone who wants to put
something back into the campus," Graby
said.
One student, Cory Dclregno, said
students are participating more actively in
dormitory events. Delrcgno, a senior
accounting major, is also treasurer of the
Resident Student Council.
"The RSC provides activities for
students living in the dorms and the
Heights," he said. "Three-quarters of the
people who sign up go to the events."
Penn State Harrisburg has a wide
selection of clubs for commuter and
resident students.
Clubs such as the Black Student
Union, the Lion Ambassadors, Capital
Iron, Citizen of the World Club, WPSH,
Campus Compact, Resident Student
Council, Capital Gospel Ensemble and
Capitalite are just a few of the campus
organizations which can provide students
with both education and camaraderie.
It's not too late, club leaders say.
Students who missed the Clubfest can still
join.
singing the Negro National Anthem, "Lift
Every Voice and Sing."
Melvin T. Johnson, a Penn State
alumnus, shared his personal memories
about life before King.
He recalled a time when he was a
young boy, sitting in the park. He
watched the truckloads of soldiers and
tanks called in to enforce the integration of
blacks and whites on the trolley cars.
Johnson described a day at Woolworlh's
lunch counter in Washington D.C., when
the waitress spat on the counter, saying
"No service!"
He remembered how hard it was to live
at a time where "colored" water fountains
and bathrooms were mandatory.
He also remembered how changes
began, when one man stood up for the
rights of the black man. One man fought
to initiate a change.
"He was a motivator," Johnson said.
"He could make you feel 10 feet high.
"When he spoke to us, we knew we
King celebration
could whip lions, but Martin didn't want
us to whip the lions," Johnson said.
"That's very difficult to do."
Johnson challenged the audience to
remember King and his accomplishments
every day.
"Remembering Martin is not very
PSH professors discuss
concerns about recession
Gia Witmer
Capital Times Staff
Two Penn State Harrisburg business
professors said last week that although
there are a lot of problems in the
economy, they see light at the end of the
tunnel.
Vedula N. Murti, chair of economics
faculty, said the recession is not
permanent. It's "a periodic fluctuation in
business cycles; a period of decline in
economics which usually occurs for 18
months," he said.
This is a "yuppie recession," said
Murti, because it is the white collar
workers who are unemployed. He said that
very few people who lose their job will be
rchired.
"Savings and investment is what we
are lacking," Murti said, "and that is what
the Japanese arc doing right."
"No one is saving money in order to
make good investments in technology and
human capital," he added. "We also need a
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difficult," Johnson said. "But, being like
Martin is very difficult."
Karen Nicholson, assistant professor of
education, said a unified effort must be
made by all for racial harmony.
"If we are going to overcome, it is
going to have to be 'we,'" Nicholson said.
program to cut the deficit."
Taxes are another issue. Many people
complain that taxes are too high but that
is not the case, said Murti, citing the high
tax rates in western Europe.
Students are also feeling the impact of
recession through an increase in tuition
and supplies. "Students are finding it
difficult to borrow money, and there are
fewer scholarships available," Murti said.
"So, students are working part-time jobs,
which delays graduation, and some have to
drop out of school completely."
"For the first time," Murti said, "There
is doubt about this generation doing better
than previous generations.”
Many graduates have to pay back their
school loans, and they may have trouble
finding jobs. Jobless and in debt, they
can’t invest in stocks, bonds, or consumer
goods; the things that help the economy
grow, said Murti.
Although the economy looks grim,
there is hope, Murti said.
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