EDITORIAL OPINION
Maria Rovito Remembered
in a Highacres Memorial Fund
On Thursday evening, September 22,
1977, Maria J. Rovito, a former Highacres
student, was fatally injured in an
automobile accident on Route 924. The
accident also claimed the life of Maria’s
mother, Mrs. Agnes M. Rovito. Maria
attended the campus from 1972-1974, and
was well known and is perhaps best
remembered for her pursuits in the fields
of literature and journalism.
To write anything about the life and
genius of Maria Rovito should be likened to
painting a tribute to Pablo Picasso or
composing a salute to the career of
Beethoven. Maria, unfortunately, was not
allowed the time to fully achieve her
potential, but her outstanding literary
talents and work in her field created a set
of standards that leave the unskilled
writer with a sense of inadequacy for the
task of verbally recreating the image and
spirit of a unique being.
Above all else, Maria Rovito was a very
special person. She was full of life and
freely gave of this life to all whom she
touched. And she reached out to touch
those who were beyond her arms. At
Highacres Maria was a resident assistant,
the associate editor of the Collegian, a
member of the literary magazine editorial
board, a member of the Belles Lettres and
of Pamasus. She was a counselor, a poet, a
free spirit who danced all alone in the
dark, and a friend.
At University Park Maria participated
on the news and fine arts staff of student
radio station WDFM, was a publicity
chairman for Thespians, sat on the Student
Hearing Board, and was a freshman ad
visor. She was an editor and co-founder of
Continued from page 2
the Department of Safety Police Services
members for just cloing their job. Yet few
students know the quality of patrolmen
serving them.
The article mentioned that Mr.
Stefanowicz attended the Pennsylvania
Law Enforcement Academy at Cham
bersburg but failed to mention that he
graduated as one of the top students of his
class; something not only he can be proud
of but something the Administration,
Faculty, Staff, and Students can point to
with pride and admiration.
“Changes magazine, a member of the
Colloquy Staff, and a Phi Beta Kappa who
graduated with high distinction. She
continued her “love affair” with
Highacres through her younger sister
Lisa, whom she personally escorted to the
campus in 1975.
Maria served an internshio with the
Centre Daily Times in State College and
had been individually recommended by
Fairchild Publications for a publishing
course annually sponsored by Radcliffe
College and taught by the top professionals
in the Held. She had just completed this
course and was preparing to begin a
promising career in New York City when
the accident claimed her life.
If there is but one message to be found in
this cold listing of Maria’s fine ac
complishments let it be that Maria Rovito
lived. She used her life to its fullest. To
quote Loretta O’Neill, one of her fellow
staff members from Highacres, “Maria
was one of a rare breed of people who truly
lived every moment she was alive.”
So, yes mourn the waste of this life; the
loss of a tremendously talented person.
Remember, yes, the joy, the life, the
exuberance that was gladly shared and the
quiet touching moments of which some
will be lucky to have memories. But do not
dwell on this death, for it is through life
and living that one makes a contribution—
be it to all the world or to a single friend.
This living was Maria’s most important
contribution to all she knew and touched,
ind only by following her example we can
eally pay tribute to this most unique,
aving, and talented person. Maria would
/ant it this way.
Letters to Editor
With Patrolmen such ,as Officer
Stefanowicz on duty at the Hazleton
Campus, everyone can be assured that
their personal safety and the safety of
their property is in good hands.
Thank you Highacres Collegian for a
truly overdue article on the competent
personnel serving the students through the
Department of Safety, Police Services.
Ronald C. Drum
7th term
Community Development
Student Union Board
Plans Concert
By Diane Faux
S.U.B. Secretary
Since the beginning of October, the Stu
dent Union Board has acquired a new vice
president and committee chairpersons
have been established. Tara Konschnik
was recently elected vice-president upon
the resignation of Roxanne Hawk from
that position. The chairpersons and their
respective committees are as follows:
Kathy Dobash, Arts and Cultures; Mark
Dworsky, Audio-Visual; Carmella Green,
Hospitality; and Dave Kohuth, Publicity.
The Social committee is temporarily un
chaired.
Members of the Union Board have been
keeping busy; the latest result of their
cooperative efforts being a Coffeehouse
held on October )9. The performer was
Jamaican folk singer Stan Shepard. Coffee
and doughnuts wqre served at the event by
the Hospitality Committee. All in all, the
evening was a success, as reflected in the
relaxed mood of the audience who sat back
and enjoyed the entertainment.
Another S.U.B. sponsored activity was a
pinball tournament that took place Octo
ber 25 and 27. The schedule.for November
includes the annual Las Vegas Night
(November 4) and a dance on November 9
featuring “Peach”. Also, the Union Board
will be sending two delegates (President
and Vice-President) to an A.C.U.I. confer
ence in Washington, D.C. The delegates
will exchange ideas with representatives
from Union Boards across the country.
Plans to kick-off next term with a Winter
Weekend are in the making. December 9
and 11 will bring such events as a Blue
grass concert, sponsored by Student
Affairs Cultural Series, and, tentatively,
Highacres’ first concert in the new gym.
Following an opening act by a Coffeehouse
player will be a band similar to “Morning
Song”—“Taxi” which will perform in
addition to these scheduled activities.
Watch for a Splash Party and a record
breaking event.
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The Highacres Collegian, November 12,1977
CLUB
NEWS
Dancing Popular
at Highacres
By Greg James
R.H.C. President
Ihe dancing days are back once again
for this year’s Residence Hall students and
guests. Attendance is up and so is the
morale. As long as this continues, so will
R.H.C. sponsored Discos. The student
body this year is responding like never
before with their enthusiasm for the art of
dance.
Hie hustle, the twist, the bump, blue
grass, and good old rock and roll are
among the favorites.
On October 14, the dorm rocked from
eight to twelve pm. On October 17, stu
dents woke up to about a foot and a half of
snow and once again the R.H.C. was there.
Coffee was served all afternoon in the
lounge where the stereo was playing the
entire day. Hie scene resembled a ski
resort at a prime day in the middle of a
“winter wonderland.” Hie evening rolled
around with another surprise disco fea
turing Russ Coxe and Mike Shreffler at the
turntables. Approximately 150 students
shuffled in a great atmosphere for almost
four hours.
October 31 marked the annual R.H.C.
Halloween Party and dance. The evening
featured dancing, refreshments, costume
judging, and a full length feature film en
titled “The Mummy.” This undoubtedly
was another smash event.
The future plans of R.H.C. include more
dances, pool tournaments,' ping pong
tournament, swimming parties, recre
ational activities, and various other cam
pus events. The R.H.C. also featured a
“Pie in the Face” booth at Las Vegas
Night hosting some very popular adminis
tration and faculty.
R.H.C. meetings are held Monday even
ings at 6:00 pm in the second floor girls’
project room.
Route
309
Drums,Pa.