DECEMBER 7, 1961 Shelter Use o: Present fallout protection plans for the Highacres Campus contemplate utilization of the Main Building for fallout shelter housing, according to an announce ment by Mr. George Nelson, chairman of the faculty committee on Civil Defense problems. Nelson informed The Collegian yesterday that the committee, which also includes Mr. Ward of the Phys ics Department and Mr. Foster of the Engineering De partment, is investigating the use of the Main Build ing's basement floor for fallout shelter purposes. The Main Building, shown above, contains a lower level running the full extent of the edifice. Basement rooms currently include drafting laboratories, library stacks, service areas, and The Collegian office. Heavy construction of re-enforced concrete used in walls of 1 V 2 to 2-foot thickness, together with stone masonry veneer, gives the building efficient protection against the entrance of deadly gamma rays. It was this consideration, Nelson pointed out, that led the com mittee to give the Main Building the most favorable evaluation when examining possible shelter areas. In addition to its structural advantages, the Main Building also contains two separate toilet areas in the basement. Moreover, protected water facilities farther up the hill from the building insure a safe supply for any possible shelter-utilization practices. Because of the construction and other advantages of the building, it is thought that conversion of the HIGHACRES COLLEGIAN Main Building Contemplated basement into a shelter area can be made with a mini mum of expense and construction. According to some theories of fallout protection, it could be possible to provide sufficient protection by blocking openings with sandbags. Whether such a method might be fea sible in this instance is still under investigation. 1 Regardless of the final method decided upon for conversion of the Main Building area for shelter pur poses, Nelson cautioned, it should be remembered that such a shelter is effective only for fallout protection. No shelter can be really effective against direct blast effects of a nuclear bomb itself, he warned. MEET YOUR PROFESSORS MR. ROBERT EPLER A recent addition to the High acres history faculty is Mr. Robert Epler, who taught at University Park last year. Before teaching at college level, Mr. Epler taught for five years in the Public Schools in Lancaster, Penna. Mr. Epler received his B.S. de gree from Millersville State Teacher’s College, Pennsylvania, in 1955. He then went on to receive his M.A. from the University of Delaware in 1960. Mr. Epler is currently working on his Ph.D. at Penn State. Mr. Epler has been married for four years, is the father of a four PAGE THREE month old daughter, and says, "1 highly recommend it (marriage).” The Epler family resides in Con yngham Valley, and likes living there very much. When asked how he likes High acres, Mr. Epler replied, “I have a very favorable impression of Highacres. Its small size permits closer personal contact between the faculty and the students.” His activities here include sponsoring the World Affairs Club and co sponsoring the I.C.G. Mr. Epler’s hobbies include sports, preferably basketball and football, reading, and photogra phy.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers