"Propaganda?" Sure, I know what that is. That's what they
call the lies which are spread by dictators. If that happens to be
your idea of propaganda, you're due for a little surprise. First of
all, most propaganda has a foundation of truth, however small that'
may be, and is employed by' such diversified groups as large cor
porations, labor unions, religious orders, and even welfare organi
zations, such as the Red 'Cross. By now you're probably wondering
"Well, just what do you call propaganda?" Basically, propaganda
is anything which attempts to influence our opinions and actions
by means of an emotional appeal. Sometimes the aims of the pro
pagandist are socially desirable, but more often they constitute a
threat to the welfare of the public and even to democracy itself.
When we habitually base our decisions upon emotional grounds
we cease to be free thinking individuals and become slaves of a
master showman. To prevent this we must be able to recognize
propaganda whenever we come in contact with it. The simplest
and easiest method of deter Mining whether or iklt something it 4
propaganda is to ask yourself if it appeals to your intellect or to
your emotions. If it appeals to your emotions, you can bet your
last dime that it's propaganda.
Modern propagandists are shrewd characters and manage to
insert their wares into almost every form of communication, in
cluding the radio, moving pictures, books (including text books),
newspapers, lectures, and even jokes. The following example
might well be called war propaganda:
An American general and a sweet young thing were sitting in
a 'Parisian cafe shortly after V-J Day. Finally the conversation
turned . to the atom bomb. The girl was very impressed by the de
structive power of the bomb and asked the general how many it
would take to destroy every large city in France. The general
replied that he .didn't know off hand, but got out paper and a
pencil and started figuring. Three minutes later he looked up and
said: "Why, it would take approximately 35 bombs to destroy
every large city in France." The girl was amazed and then asked
how many it would have taken' for Germany. Again the general
picked up the pencil and started figuring. Five minutes later he
looked up and replied: "Oh, I'd say that about 56 atom bombs
would have destroyed every large city in Germany." "Just think
of that," marveled the girl. "Tell me, how many would it take for
a country'as large as Russia?" "Exactly.2l2," replied the general
immediately.
For .the past nine weeks the majority of the HUC student
body has been spending most of its odd moments in that latest
substitute for a substitute game room—"the cellar." This unique
little quarter of the underground, origin of the grapevine and
scene of other vital student activities is undoubtedly a basic need
in our compact organization. But a few of its , characteristics are
not necessary. The outstanding one of this never forsaken spot
is the sloppy condition. This condition is aggravated by the
volume of cigarette butts littering the floor every day despite
the ceaseless, efforts of our school janitor to keep it clean. It is
not his job to play nursemaid to a group of "college" students but
41:00
Propaganda
By WAJLT STEINMAN
IT'S UP TO YOU
HAZLETON COLLEGIAN
to insure maximum efficient use of the building by carrying out
a multitude of previously assigned duties.
Several suggestions for improving the "game room" have
been suggested to the college council. But before any action can
be taken this deplorable condition must be changed.
In order to effect a change the council has decided to seek student co
operation in the matter. The week beginning Dec. 8 has been designated
probation week to test the student body. An ample amount of butt cans
are provided in the basement of the building—the only section where smok
ing is allowed—to dispose of the refuse. It shall be the duty of those who
utilize the smoking privilege to see that butts are deposited 'directly into the
cans. Unless this is done the 'privilege of smoking in any •portion of the
building shall be suspended indefinitely for everyone. Smoking anywhere
else in the building endangers the rest of the student body and the first and
second graders who have classes on the second floor. The janitor whose
thankless task it is to clean up the unholy mess will decide whether or not
the suggestion has been followed
If after probation week the condition is not remedied and further
action is deemed necessary several more decisive steps can, and will be taken.
Inquring Reporter
By GEORGE DEMSHOCK
HUC this school year includes
well over 200 non-resident students
in its enrollment of approximately
460. To show the scope of territory
covered, the question was directed
expressly to these non-resident stu
dents.
QUESTION: What is the chief
difference you notice between high
school life and college life?
GEORGE P. EPSTEIN (New
York) :
"The big difference is in the atti
tude of the teachers. In high school,
I was just a little animal to be shoved
through school, but in college I'm a
man seeking an education."
HARRY T. PONTING (Wilkes-
Ilarre) :
"The primary difference is; in col
lege the education received is depen
dent upon the individual. There is
more cooperation on the part of the
instructors to help students benefit
from college training. It offers stu
dents a chance to discover what will
be expected of him in the future,
and give him the basic fundamentals
to accomplish this task which was not
so stressed in our high school."
ROBERT L. .SHANDRY (Sha
mokin) : •
"One of the chief differences I've
noticed is the amount of cooperation
between the student and instructor.
Work in college is greatly speeded up
compared to high school. Then too,
college gives one a chance to choose
those subjects he likes best."
LEO H. FANELLI (Mahanoy
City) :
"In comparison to high school life
students in college are much more
mature, and apply themselves in a
better manner."
THOMAS J. JENKINS (Lans
ford) :
"The attitude of the high school
students is they feel they are work
ing to behoove themselves, rather
than the institution. In high school,
classes seem to be dragged out, but
in college, subjects are made more
interesting by introduction and ex
perimentation of newer teaching
methods. The teachers of high
school are reluctant to flunk because
of local social aspects. College in
structors are more independent, free
of local politics, public pressure, and
the like."
Faculty Chatter
By NAOMI GOSS
School spirit is one of those hard
to-define terms. It's one of the things
we recognize and know when we
meet it, and yet when it's lacking in
our daily life we aren't quite sure
just what is wrong. School spirit is
a complex subject—it involves par
ticipation in extra curriculars at
tendance at sports events and pep
rallies school dances and social
functions—and a general feeling of
unity and cohesion among the stu
dent body and faculty. Attendance
at the first basketball game of the
season and at the York pep rally
were good for a beginning but
let's have twice as many out at the
Pottsville game on the 17th. Get
behind those boys who are defending
your school's name and give them
some support.
Proper laurels should go to Patri
cia Kringe, Gladys Lorah and Joella
McCarty for their willingness to par
ticipate in our school's newest under
taking—the cheerleading squad.
Congratulations go to Virginia
Dougherty Maurer who succeeds
Mrs. Bernard Levash as secretary to
Mr. Goss, Administrative Head of
HUC.
On December 11th David B. Pugh,
Supervisor of the Undergraduate
Centers of Penn State, will be host
to the Hazleton faculty and members
of the Advisory Board at a Christ
mas Dinner to be held at the Hotel
Altamont.
J. J. McCoomb, Associate Librari
an at the Penn State Library was a
recent visitor at HUC. Miss Camp
bell reports that Mr. McCoomb was
very favorably impressed by our
Center Library.
Mr. Seibel, Mr. Mac Mullen, and
the Misses Staffieri, Phillips, Bonn
and Erleman will attend an English
Workshop conference on the main
campus this week end.
The results of my search for news
to report in this column reminds me
of a story—
Hughie Close: Do you know what
happens to a girl who wears long
skirts ?
Nancy Rowand: No, what?
Hughie: Nothing!
In order, to build high, one must
dig deep.
Love looks through a telescope;
envy through a microscope.
—Henry W. Shaw