The Power Abusers There has been a lot of discussion in the past few-weeks concerning newsmen, and these discussions have led to one particular practice that I have found helpful, that is, the close attention with which I now listen to our friendly commentators who join us at our dinner table. Such close observation finally paid off for me. The other evening, as I lenjoyed my evening meal, my favorite commentator actually made a slip of the tongue. Now, as anyone can tell you, while this does not happen too often, the results cna be funny or tragic. This case, however, while it did provide a light moment in an otherwise bleak pastime, also provided food for thought. The newsman in question was announcing the topics of the night's news; he mentioned the FBl's recent invasion of two Illinois' homes,•and he made a slip (we must assume, of course, that it was a slip) that set me to thinking. He adressed the topic as one concerning "drug enforce abusers." The topic was, of course, one of the enforcement of laws concerning drug abusers, but The Shape of Things To Come The latest new revelations on Watergate the past few days caused me to wonder: Does anyone remember or even care what Senator McGovern said concerning Watergate and other issues on his four or five half-hour TV ads last fall? It seems that not only ,Watergate, but other important issues of '72 have recently come to a point where we can see the shape of things to come for the next three or four years. One of the biggest issues of McGovern's campaign was his plan to get out of Vietnam. Clearly Nixon's peace settlement is not working. The infiltration and fighting contimue. His "guarantee" in the agreement have gone for naught. Now he has left us in a twilight zone where he can get us back in or pull us out farther. He has already made threatening gestures to North Vietnam again, and we are still bombing Cambodia and Laos. So are we in or out? McGovern said that Nixon had no plan for really getting out. McGovern spoke of a plan for total disengagement. We clearly don't have that now. On the economy, McGovern spoke of continued high rate of inflation and unemployment. Unfortunately for him, the economy was improving last fall. But look again at the last three months. Clearly, the economy is expanding, but inflation has now gone out of control and unemployment remains at 5 per cent. Even though there has been a tremendous expansion in the number of job holders, what_ have you heard about the job market lately? In most fields, it is still very tight. by Tricia Fisher that particular mistake pointed out another and equally dangerous type of abuse. That is, the abuse of power within the confines of our law enforcement agencies. This type of abuse can be and IS one that affects not only the abusers themselves but many innocent victims as well. The two innocent couples whose homes were invaded (without any sort of warrant being presented) represent the tragedy of abused power. Perhaps it is time that our law enforcement procedures were reviewed. Do we want "safe streets" (which such procedures - are not producing anyway) at the sacrifice of personal freedoms? In the 18th century, a number of wars were fought in an effort to attain personal freedom. One of them was our own Revolution, and it was fought to protect the American people from having to submit to such forms of tyrannical rule. This issue, while it is not a new one, is still very important to all people who wish to call themselves free. No one much cared how or when or by what procedures the drug busts were made, or whose freedom was byAlan Prichard On Watergate, McGovern spoke of the Nixon administration - as the most corrupt since Harding. Not very many are laughing at that anymore. He said that either Nixon knew of the Watergate plan ahead of time, or should have known about it. Senator Brooke (R-Mass.) said essentially the same thing on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, April 22, when he said that Nixon can't escape complete responsibility for Watergate. Most Republicans have deserted Nixon on this one. Clearly, the Watergate scandal is already bigger than the Bobby Baker affair, and we still haven't seen the limit of it yet. Last fall, few people believed Watergate was a serious issue. The latest Gallup null before Nixon's statement last week shows that four out of ten Americans believe Nixon had prior knowledge of the plans. So it appears that McGovern's "Prophecies" are ringing true today. That is little consolation for those of us who supported McGovern in the first place, but it is a liability for those who supported Nixon because they felt McGovern was somehow "incompetent or wishy-washy." They must be wondering today why they thought Nixon was the better man to be President. It would be easy for you to pass this editorial off as another crack from a bitter McGovernite, but think again. Now we have a president who may be politically dead because of Watergate, and we'll have him for a long four years. Nice prospect? Think about it when you vote in '74 and '76. stepped on; however, this recent case of mistakes identity is proof that the American people are not able to practice the freedom they love to talk about so much. Maybe the next question to arise is just what is going to be done about this? Will there be a scanty investigation or no investigation at all? Will the whole thing be whitewashed or swept under the carpet with the rest of the dirty Landry? Don't keep silent about this! Your Congressman should know how you feel. Press for an investigation. Write to the Man, and let him know that all is not well in Suburbia, USA. A herd of cattier must ignore the injustices done to them as they have not means of redress; people aren't cattle, but if they remain silent long enough, they soon are treated like cattle by those who hope to keep them down. Stop cowering! Stand up: speak up and be heard! Faculty Rights Discussed The University Faculty Senate will decide at its May 8 meeting whether to establish a Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. Discussion at Tuesday's Senate meeting on the proposed committee---designed as an appeal mechanism for resolving faculty complaints—centered on the provision that such a committee would review only cases in which the complaint stemmed from procedural errors and not substantive matters. Dr. G. Edward Philips, chairman of the subcommittee which studied the matter, said the proposed committee would not be established as "a body to second guess faculty committees, department heads, or deans on their judgement of a faculty member's performance. the Senate in April, 1971, the proposed committee may review petitions from faculty members and administrators involving: —Any situation in which a faculty member asserts that he i or she has suffered a substantial injustice resulting from a violation of academic freedom, professional ethics, or procedural fairness. —Any situation in which an administrator seeks a committee judgement as to appropriate action toward a faculty member who, in his judgement, may be failing to meet his or her responsibilities. In determining the extent of the review of the matter, the committee may decide either not to consider it, conduct an informal review, or establish a Hearing Board. In other business, Dr. John W. Oswald, president of the University, told the Senate that a statistical report on the University's educational programs, faculty members and faculty workload has been submitted to the State Legislature and is being made available in key offices on campus. Continued on page 5 HIGHACRES COLLEGIAN, MAY 8, 1973- PAGE THREE Belles-Lettres S ponsers Reading Festival In conjunction with National Library Week, the Fourteenth Annual Regional High School Dramatic Reading Festival, sponsered by the Belles-Lettres Society, was held in the library on April 13. First place honors were captured by Mark Firley of Freeland for his dramatic presentation of "Cyrano Deßergerac " by Edmond Rostand; by Mary Conway of Kingston Central Catholic for her poem "The White Cliffs" by Alice D. Miller; and by Mary Beth Skicki of Bishop Hafey for "Wonderful Tarbaby" by Joel. ew Drinking Chandler Harris, - in the prose section. Other winners were: Law Proposed DRAMA State Senator Robert William Novack, Kingston A.Rovner (R-6th District), the Central Catholic, second; l youngest member of the Suzanne Farr, Millville, third; Pennsylvania Senate, introduced and Patte Sachse, West Hazleton, Senate Bill 60 in order to lower fourth. the drinking age in Pennsylvania from 21 years to 18 years. Rovner said, "It is necessary for the Pennsylvania Legislature to act favorably on the subject of 18 year old right to drink in New Jersey went into effect. Our neighboring State has become the fifteenth state in the Unoineffect. Our neighboring State has become the fifteenth state in the Union to fall into step with a continuing movement throughout the nation to grant adult rights to 18 year olds. "I have introduced the bill to allow 18 year olds to drink in Pennsylvania, because it is a lot safer to keep the young people in our State than to force them to drive across State lines. Now they can go to practically all the states surrounding Pennsylvania and drink if they wish (New York, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Ohio to some extent)," said Rovner. POETRY Jill Redash, Weatherly, second; Tina LaPorte, Freeland, third; and Susan Feese, Shamokin, fourth. PROSE Joyce Stack, Kingston Central Catholic, second; Monica Chilcoat, Freeland, third; and Barbara Thrash, Weatherly, fourth. Hazleton, Marian, MMI, Berwick, and Northwest also competed. Jonn Busher served as Master of Ceremonies for Drama; Mark Colman for Poetry and John Coburn for Prose. The judging was done by Robert Bonner, Coordinator, PSU Commonwealth Campus Library, Miss Elaine Holland, Hazleton Art League, and Mrs. Margeret Longo, King's College faculty, in Drama; by Jay Breckenridge, Highacres faculty, Miss Eileen Brenner, Hazleton Community Players and Alan Price, Highacres faculty in Poetry; by Gene Collins, Fine Arts Council, Ernest Haeussler, Highacres faculty, Miss Cindy Gance, WAZL and Mrs. Margeret Tamea, Highacres Professional Staff in Prose. Greetings were extended by Professor Andrew Kafka, Belles-Lettres advisor; by Wayne Funk, president of Belles-Lettres and by Bob Henry, S.G.A. president. Dale Walck, Public Relations Chairman, organized the seating arrangements and was assisted by Fred Kolet, Cheryl Pollock, Mark Denke, John Cobum, John Busher and Tricia Fisher. Refreshments were served by Pattieanne Ignar, student advisor of Theta Sigma Pi. The Hospitality Committee consisted of Liz DeSilva, Linda Gallagher, and Tricia Fisher. Special services were rendered by Mrs. Mary Ferry, head librarian, Professor Bodenstein, advisor to Theta Sigma Pi and Mark Denke, campus photographer. Senator Rovner said, "I want to make it clear that I am not saying that 18 year olds should drink, but if they do, we should keep them in Pennsylvania rather than force them to drive distances out of the State." Senator Rovner said all who support his bill should contact their State senator or House member letting them know of such support. He continued, "Young people should have their views heard."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers