Page Two
THE NITTANY CUB
Established October 26, 1948, as the official publication for the
student body of Pennsylvania State University, Behrend Campus,
Erie, Pennsylvania.
Published by The Breeze Publishing Co., 4557-4559 South Lake
St., North East, Pennsylvania.
Editor
Assistant Editor
Sports Editor
Photography
Reporters
McAllister, Mel Ross, Mary Gene Shea, John Thomp-
son, Bob Williams
It has been noted by certain members of the administration of
the Behrend Campus that Behrend has more student activities than
nearly any other commonwealth campus, and almost as many as
the main campus of Penn State.
Most of those who have heard this statement seem to be content
with its conclusiveness and many even feel somewhat proud of such
an accomplishment for their school. What conclusiveness does
Dear Editor...
Why isn't there more collegiate
enthusiasm at Behrend?
One glaring defect in the col
lege life at Behrend is the absence
of student enthusiasm in extra
curricular activities. In an earlier
"Letter to the Editor," it was
stated that the adjustment to
college life takes time. I would
like to know how much time is
needed. At the date this issue is
released, thirteen weeks of col
lege life will have already
elapsed but still there is no more
student enthusiasm than was
shown at the beginning of school.
Examples of this can be seen at
various social functions and ath
letic contests held throughout the
year.
At a record hop held prior to
the end of the first term, a sparse
turn out of students were in at
tendance, even though there were
such features as free refresh
ments and a twist contest. Also
at basketball games, the absence
of enthusiasm can be seen much
easier with approximately thitry
to thirty-five students present to
see the Cubs in action.
This defect must be corrected
immediately. The students must
first show their support for those
activities already in existence. if
they want more extra-curricular
activities added to the few which
they already have.
_ Dave Maynard
_ Mary Jean Ferguson, Alan
Editorial!
this statement carry? None what
soever. These people have failed
to bring to mind one important
question: What percentage of the
student body of the Behrend
Campus is actively participating
in these activities? The answer,
unfortunately, would have to be:
A very small percentage.
Need proof? Consider a number
of clubs on the campus. Mr. Baker
reports that the Astronomy Club
boasts a roster of "8 or 10 mem
bers." Mr. Bedford's Engineer's
Club has very few more. The
Music Appreciation Club's weekly
attendance sometimes drops to as
low as two or three students. The
Literary Club, after two meetings,
consists of approximately ten. stu
dents. This newspaper, THE
NITTANY CUB, is definitely
understaffed, with a total of only
eight loyal contributors. And so
it is with nearly every other stu
dent organization on the campus.
Activities such as these were in
stituted, for the most part, to ex
change and discuss ideas on vari
ous subjects. With minute mem
berships such as these, how
many really original and con
structive ideas can be found?
Consider student attendance at
sports events. There are approxi
mately 300 students presently en
rolled at Behrend. At the last
home basketball game, Behrend
vs. Jamestown, there were rough
ly 80 students present from
Behrend. This is less than 30%
of the enrollment. Where was the
other 70%?
Naturally, there are reasonable
and justifiable excuses for not
R. M.
THE NITTANY CUB
Bob Ropelewski
_ Dave Craley
_Ed Paauwe
Is It or Is It Not ?
Webster's New International Dictionary defines a news
paper as "a paper printed and distributed, at stated interval'
to convey news, advocate opinions, etc., now usually con
taining also advertisements and other matters of public in
terest." It has been further said that a newspaper has the
following three functions:
1. To record current events.
2. To both mold and offer a sounding board for public
opinion.
3. To strive to please by offering something to every
body.
Certainly, from the above definition, the Nittany Cub
can be considered a newspaper. The Cub staff attempts, to
the best of its ability, to make Behrend's student news
paper perform each of these duties by trying to accurately
record news, striving to give an accurate picture of student
opinion, and seeking to please everyone. Often, it is in at
tempting to fulfill this last duty that we are criticized. A
newspaper which to one person is a model may be to some
one else a dull and uninteresting publication ; while what
the second person may regard as embodying the best quali
ties of modern journalism may be considered by the first as
embodying the very worst. Thus each publication such as
the Nittany Cub must constantly seek to travel along the
middle of the road, so to speak. But this is almost an impos
sibility and therefore people are dissatisfied.
The Nittany Cub staff certainly welcomes any and all
constructive criticism. Anyone who wishes to express an
opinion can do so merely by writing a letter to the editor.
All properly signed letters which are written sincerely and
in a constructive manner will be published. And, as we
mentioned at the beginning of the fall term, anyone who
wishes to write articles or help this newspaper in any way,
is welcome to join the Cub staff. Seeking to please everyone
is a big job, but you are welsome to help us try.
participating in activities. There
are also many unreasonable alibis.
Probably the most outstanding of
these is the "too busy with
studies" pretext. It can be reason
ably concluded, however, that if
any student's intelligence were
such that it was essential to study
at every spare moment, he or she
would probably not have been ad
mitted to Penn State.
College life and college edu
cation cannot come to an end
with the closing of a book at the
conclusion of the sixth period each
day. It must be carried over into
every act which the student per
forms. Besides developing a knowl
edge of a variety of subjects, a
college student must also develop
a well-rounded personality and a
Is This A Typical
SG A Meeting?
The meeting of the S.G.A. was , "Wonderland By Night", are well
held this week in the Teachers' underway. The S.G.A. is planning
Lounge as their regular meeting on having a pep rally for the
room, the Memorial Room, was Penn State Prosh—Behrend bas
locked up. The Treasurer, Jerry , ketball game on January the
McMahon, reported the S.G.A.'s twentieth. Helen Rovegno mo
balance had remained unchanged tioned that the meeting be ad
at $652.22. Bob Williams, Activi-journed and Sally Woolworth im
ties Chairman, reported that; mediately seconded the motion.
plans for the winter dance, I The meeting adjourned at 8:15.
Tuesday, January 23. 1962
depth of character to adequately
handle this knowledge. This can
be done only by actively partici
' pating in college affairs, by
being with people—all types of
people, not only those whom we
choose to be with—by exchanging
and comparing ideas, and simply
by attending numerous and di
verse college functions. It cannot
be done by running home to see
your friend down the street with
whom you grew up. Your friend
will not be with you all of your
life.
The Behrend Center Campus
has the people, the activities, and
the ideas. You, as a student at
Behrend, are paying for these ac
tivities. Whys not make use of
them?.