USG-SDS Discussed
Those of you who read Penn State's
newspaper, the Daily Collegian, are
aware of the recent battle that has
gone on between the Undergraduate Stu
dent Government (the USG is Penn State's
counterpart of our SGA) and the Students
for a Democratic Society.
The SDS is an idealistic collegiate
organization concerned with such things
as ghetto tutorial projects, the Viet
nam Wet, and the draft. But now they
feel they should have more say in plan
ning Penn State policies. The best way
to do this is through USG, and a power
struggle has ensued.
Rich Kalich, USG president, recently
set up a joint USG-SDS committee so that
these organizations could iron out their
differences. Apparently the ten-member
SDS committee was fully represented at
all joint meetings, but the USG failed
to respond as wall. Probably this is a
result of the fact that they hold the
power already, and have no need of con
descending to less powerful SDS.
SDS has been energetic in assert
ing itself, and has attended many reg
ular USG meetings. Kalich of USO then
set aside two hours of debate for SDS
proposals This would have been ap-
proved by SDS, but their time was was
ted by filibustering of Dave Zurndor-
EDITORIAL OPINION
fer, USG treasurer. Zurndorfer has
been criticized for asking redundan
meaningless, aggravating, and time=
wasting questions.
The A.W.S., Association of Wo
men Students, takes a dim view of
the whole procedure, and is scepti
cal of the tactics used by SDS in
contesting student government and
university policies. Alexis Brown,
ANS president, says that SDS is "te
ing off the top of their heads," an ,
that there is an air of u nievite
about the organization.
This may be true, but it is al
true that USG needs some revision.
It is not always an accurate repre
sentation of the whole commonwealth
for example. Bob Michaels has ex9e
fenced USG reluctance to cooperate
with commonwealth campuses.
A shake-up is going on in Penn
State student government, and the
struggle is both interesting and
beneficial to students in the Penn
State system.
The last term, "Penn State
System" is an important one. Per
haps. a revision in rules and proce
dures in the USG will make it a
United Student Government of all.