Lion's Vol. XII, No. 4 Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County Campus November 6, 1980 Progress . . . This is a photo of the Library/Learning Center which was built with modern facilities such as a dark room, study carrels equipped with typewriters, and a student lounge. The air-conditioned building also contains especially equipped secretarial offices and screening rooms where as many as 12 students will be able to view chosen films. Those are just a few of the assets the Library/Learning Center will have to offer to the students here at the Delaware County Campus. Students Warned University Park, Pa. — The Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS) placed an advertisement in the Daily Collegian recently warning female students of the health hazards associated with the use of Rely tampons. Female students living in residence halls at the main campus received samplers of Rely tampons in Goodstuff boxes, a sampler of trial-size products provided by manufacturers for college students. The Goodstuff program is designed to give college students a chance to try detergents, personal care items, and other necessities before buying them. ARHS distributed the boxes on campus. Rely tampons have been associated with a recently discovered disease called toxic shock syndrome, a bacterial infection related to tampon use. The National Center for Disease Control in Atlanta has reported 299 cases of TSS and 25 deaths. Toxic shock syndrome occurs mainly in young women and is marked by high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and rapid drop in blood pressure, frequently resulting in shock. Cases of TSS have occurred with the use of all five major U.S. brands of tampons. However, a greater number of cases have been “associated with Rely tampons. It is not clearly understood why Re- ly tampons have caused a greater proportion of reported TSS cases. Proctor and Gamble, the makers of Rely, removed the product from the market because of the allegations and adverse publicity. (Portions adapted by permission from the Daily Collegian) Berg Wins Nobel Pri University Park, Pa. — Dr. Paul Berg, a 1948 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, has received the 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. : : Prof. Berg received one half of the $212,000 prize in chemistry. The other half went jointly to Harvard Professor Walter Gilbert and British Professor Frederick Sanger of Cambridge. Dr. Berg, 54, professor of biochemistry at Stanford University School of Medicine, was cited for ‘his fundamental studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids,” the complex organic acids found in all cells and essential to life. gs He is considered the father of the branch of biochemistry known as genetic engineering. He was the first to manufacture a human . hormone from a virus combined with genes from a bacterial chromosome. “His pioneering experiment has resulted in the development of a new technology, often call genetic engineering or gene manipula- tion,” the Swedish Academy of Science said in a statement. Dr. Berg, who is internationally known for his genetic research, was designated a Distinguished Alumnus of Penn State in 1972. His citation read: g “To Paul Berg, a disease-battling biochemist who has made a number of major discoveries in genetic research, for his stimula- tion of many of the major research lines in biochemistry today, for his contributions to cancer research, and for his continuing probe to find ways to prevent and cure hereditary diseases.” In April, 1976, he returned to University Park as an Alumni Fellow and spent four days meeting with chemistry, pre-medicine and microbiology students and faculty. He also presented a public lecture on genetic engineering. 1 Widely published and in demand as a lecturer at colleges, universities and scientific meetings throughout the United States and Europe, Dr. Berg is credited with discoveries that may one day lead to the prevention, management, and even cure of hereditary diseases, including some forms of cancer. Dr. Berg, a native of New York, N.Y., received a bachelor of ~ science degree at Penn State and the doctor of philosophy degree from Western Reserve University in 1952. Work on the genetic ap- paratus that directs the synthesis of proteins earned him the Eli Lilly Award in Biochemistry in 1959 and the California Scientist of the Year Award for 1963. Dr. Berg was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. He also is a member of the American Society of Bacteriologists and is president of the American Society of Biological Chemists. Te He has served as a consultant to several scientific journals and committees and has authored numerous scientific articles and reviews on his research specialty. In 1969 and 1972, he received the Henry J. Kaiser Award for excellence in teaching at Stanford. He is a non-resident Fellow of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. : Change Machine Stolen — Lynn Johnson The change machine located in the cafeteria of the student Affairs. Modular, was stolen Sunday, October 26 at approximately 2:30 p.m. : According to Gene Cloud, business manager, campus security police was a vehicle take off from the scene but did not pursue the suspects. Cloud, who doesn’t believe students were involved in the incident, said the total loss of the machine was $1700. Lo “It is a totally unfair world,”” he said, ‘‘and Delaware County is not im- mune from crime.” The case is now being handled by State Police and there is no relationship bet- ween this theft and the theft of the University seal which was recently removed from the gateway wall. Spring Break to Be Held in the Sun ~ The Undergraduate Stu- dent Government of the University will be sponsor- ing a trip to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida during Springbreak of 1981. ; The trip, sponsored by over 75 colleges including University of Delaware, Temple, and West Chester State College, will cost bet- ween $279 and $389. For seven nights, the trip includes: roundtrip airfare from Philadelphia to Ft. Lauderdale of Daytona Beach, transfers to and from airports in Ft. Lauderdale or Daytona Beach, parties every night at headquarters in Florida's Big Daddy Lounges, all taxes, baggage handling and maid service, and a choice of hotels. Cars will be provided by | National and Alamo Rent-a- | Car for those students who wish to rent them. ; Reservations and informa- tion are provided by Wain- wright’s Travel in Bethlehem, Pa. For all those students who wish to go on the trip, the first deposit. is due December 3, 1980. For more information, contact USA President, Lori Johnson. Funds Approved From the Collegian (University Park, Pa.) — Gov. Dick Thorn- burg assured the University of its entire $127 million state ap- propriation Oct. 8 by signing legislation fully funding state-related institutions. : . Thornburgh signed 51 nonpreferred appropriation bill, funding the institutions at the levels originally passed last summer. The passage of the legislation practically eliminates the possibility of a tuition increase this year, although the University’s budget proposals for next year include a 5 percent hike. No official comment from the Univesity was available. The governor also approved a technical measure adding about = $33 million to his estimate of state revenues to help pay for the ap- propriations, because the state constitution prohibits deficit spen- ding. The funding legislation was passed Oct. 7 by the State House, one day before the legislature recessed until after the Nov. 4 general election. In a written statement, Thornburgh said, “We have been able to overcome the revenue shortfall created by the Liquor Control Board, which forced me to cut the original appropriation by 10 per- cent.” - Thornburgh had to cut the nonpreferred appropriations by $33 million last July when the LCB did not approve a plan to raise $26 million through a 10 cent-per-bottle surcharge and the legislature defeated a bill to raise license fees. Thornburgh had counted on both measures in framing his budget proposals in January. 7 However, the LCB approved a plan last month to provide the $26 million, is being challenged in Commonwealth Court, but the outcome of that lawsuit will not affect the nonpreferred funding. The remaining shortfall was covered with $4 million in fee in- creases that legislative approval, and $1.5 million in unspent funds that had been budgeted for projects and equipment. Semester Change Poll by Maryanna Savage In a recent issue of Lion's Eye, a letter from the University - president, John W. Oswald appeared informing Penn State members about the possible conversion to a semester system within this institution. In response to this letter, Lion's Eye con- ducted a survey of a small group of students attending this cam- pus, to find out how they generally feel about the possible change. Although this survey does not express the feelings of all campus members, it does reflect some of the opinions and attitudes students have. ; : Students gave responses to three general questions concerning the term to semester change. The first question was, “Which system do you prefer, term or semester?”’ The overwhelming ma- jority stated that they preferred the present four-term system. Reasons to remain with the term system varied. Most agree that they can concentrate on their classes better because of the smaller work load. Some students like the term system because it allows for a larger variety of classes to corroborate with their majors,” and students can take more classes in one year. Many said that the ten-week terms are preferable because they are quicker and less tiresome. Not everyone agreed with the idea of remaining with the term system. A few of the students felt that a change to the semester system would be more adequate for more intense courses like QBA. Others felt that the semester system gave more depth to dif- ferent subjects, is less of a hassle for registering students, and allowed students to remain on the same schedules of other area schools during break and vacation times. The other questions asked were: ‘Did you ever attend or know someone who attends an institution that uses the semester system and what are their/your feelings?”’, and “If a conversion takes place, would it affect your studies or decision to remain at Penn - State?’ In response to these questions, some students stated that their personal experience or contact with the semester system showed that the work load was much more difficult especially for mid-term and final studying. Many felt that the breaks and vaca- tions for semester students was much more desirable, though. The majority of those surveyed stated that a change to semesters would have an effect on their studies and study habits but it would not alter their decision to remain at Penn State. The term system has been used at Penn State for almost twenty years. Its main purpose is to serve as a means of utilizing campus facilities throughout the year. President Oswald states that, *“The conversion to the term calender’’, however, ‘‘did not result in one change which has been sought: a significant increase in summer enrollment leading to better utilization of the University’s resources throughout the year.” Another reason many people are in favor of the semester system is because of the split which exists in the winter term. - If this conversion takes place, it would not go into effect until the summer of 1984. This would have no bearing on students presently enrolled in the University but would affect students in the near future. The President has put a self-imposed deadline of February, 1981 to make a final decision on this case. He wouid like to know the views and opinions of all interested faculty and students from all the campuses by December 1, 1980. If anyone wants to let Mrs. Oswald know his or her opinion, write to him immediately!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers