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.