rage Two PENN STATE COLLEGIAN -Ii Published semi•weekly during the College year. except on by students of The Pennsylvania State College, in the interest of the College. the students. faculty, alonini, and friends. CHARLES A. MYERS '34 FREDERICK L. TAYLOR 14 Editor I3usinesa Manager GEORGE. A. SCOTT 14 lIAROLD J. BATSCII '34 Managing Editor Circulation Manager WILLIAM M. STEGMEIER '34 11. EDGAR FURMAN '34 Assistant Editor Local Advertising Manager BERNARD It. ROSENZWEIG 14 JOAN C. IRWIN '34 News Editor Foreign Adiertiaine Manager JAMES M. SIIEEN '34 FRANCIS WACKER '34 Sports Editor . Classified Advertising Manager RUTH M. 3IARMON '34 MAE P. KAPLAN 14 Wornen's Editor Women's Managing Editor EVA M. BLICIIFELDT '34 Women's News Editor MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1934 TILE CROWDED AUDITORIUM which greeted the first number of the Artists' Course series last week Was undoubtedly. gratifying to those who have been working for the resumption of the feature. The overwhelming , response points to a definite interest in things cultural on this campus. But it also points to the sensible way in which the persons in charge drew up the arrange ments. , A series of programs was secured which would please varied interests, and the price of the course was made extremely reasonable. There is only one regret. The advance ticket reservation enabled many faculty members and townspeople to get seats to the exclusion of sonic students who were previously instructed that tickets would be available only at registration. This can he remedied next year, however, when there is more time for such details. Otherwise, the supervision of the whole affair has been excellent. AT LAST SOMEBODY HAS suggested something which we have needed around here for a long time. The government is thinking about giving out free gum drops in the way of armories, and we might as well get our hand in the bag too. The one we have now is a little out of place with the latest developments in military science and tactics, and it doesn't fit in with the archi tectural scheme of the campus an way. Furthermore, there is no building we need here worse than a new armory. At least, it would provide plenty of drill space, which has been sadly inadequate, even since the varsity tennis courts were dug up and graded. And that old baseball diamond has outlived its usefulness. A new armory there - would he an excellent strategic point of defense, since the north side of the 'campus is wholly helpless against attack at present. Then too,lt would add to the efficacy of our military training. No one questions the advantage of this because it builds MAN HOOD. So we're for the new armory. FODDER, FUEL, AND FOOLS It is about time that somebody came to the defense of the student body. Undergraduate dailies have warn ed by the printed word and speakers haver thundered from rostrums that the average student in American colleges and universities refuses to think or• even take cognizance of current problems that confront the world. ,•` This bodes ill, they have admonished. That was ten, twenty, fifty years ago. Only recently the Doily Cardinal, University of Wisconsin undergraduate daily, howled in characteristic tenor, "This almost universal lethargy among univer sity students if: ominous. When even university stu dents refuse to think, what -hope can be held out for democracy?" And still the world goes on; sometimes the problems are solved, more often not. True, the average undergraduate refuses to think . . But the world at large errs grossly in contending that it is his fault. Rather, the fault lies, fundamentally, with the American college and university, s in home training, in lack of lofty ideals, in, a- cynical attitude, and in a multi-phase of complex and interrelated causes. •In his attitude he is a typical bovine-brained American - citizen, who likes to - be lead around by the nose as long as he individualiydoes not behOho cost of less-capable ex 7 ecutvies' blunderin'g:'s io; - COOg ' reirtl , ..„ In college there is no reason for him to think. Memorize? Yes. But not real thinking. He must ful fill a certain standard of requirements as to courses and proficiency in them, 'With even such a slight task, he, being an American citizen, tends to cast one eye toward the material requirements. The other, for the time be ing, remains fixed upon his ideal of actual knowledge of the subject matter and culture—real education, but eventually, in one, two, or three years, he goes blind. Those who howl lousiest for undergraduate action contend that American prestige suffers, that America falters where others lead. -But they err again, for edu cation will do more than any one other thing to bring about a weakened America. The more educated citizens, the harder becomes the management of -a country. When people stop following the leader, chhos reigns. Wars would be an improbability if people thought dur ing a crisis, rather than acting on mob-psychological principles. Still, there must be fodder for cannon, fuel for industry and big business, and fools for mouthlpiece positions. Probably the only thing that will make the average student actually think for himself is to remove the American college and university from "grist mill" meth ods. Evidently somebody has seen the handwriting on the wall, for Boston University, on January 11, an'" nounced that traditional A, B, C, D, F grades would be supplanted in the Education School with "honors," "satisfactory," and "doubtful." Dean Wilde feels that the system will tend to take the emphasis away from the value of grades, and stress the more essential need, which is knoWledge of the subject matter. Meanwhile, Penn,. State, proud of her leadership in speech clinics, adaptive physical education for cripples, and the abolition of direct athletic subsidization, etc., but still clinging to her antiquated honor point system, fears to take a step in the right direction. OLD MANIA You may have lost patience with tuxedo collars, freshmen as marks for loans, and your appetite for social functions, , during Ye Senior Ball weak-end but we got educated musically to the point where we know exactly what the score is. It all happened through one of the Collegian's struggling sophomore reporters who cane to us with a tale full of trade secrets, etc. It seems that Bert Lown (the fellow who played for the Ball in case you don't remember) w?s regaling the lads at the local lodge of Phi , Sigma Delta. One of the boys, after applauding three or four orchestral anecdotes, de cided to ask a few questions. OW suspect the Col legian sophomore of being the interrogator.) At any rate, one of the boys ups and asks, "Well, Mr. Lown, just where do you find the inspirations for your compositions? , (It seems as though Mr. Lawn is credited with 'Bye, Bye Blues,' 'The Pagan Love ' Song; and several other once-popular ditties.) "Well," prefaced Mr. Lown, not to be out-welled, "Sometimes you can write a song and sometimes you can't. One can't just sit down and rattle off a popu lar song, one must be in the mood; one must sense the creative urge that characterizes the artist at work etc. etc." Mr. Lawn even compared himself to an author by saying, "You must feel like creating music just as an author must feel like writing before he can create literature." Mr. Lown was about to disgress further on the business of artistry et al when the lad interrupted again. This time he wanted a specific example of the artist at work, so to speak. "Just how di,d you write 'Bye, Bye Blues,' Mr Town?" he wanted to know. At this point everybody stole up good and close , and prepared for something akin to a confession story or a major revelation. It was going to be even bigger than Bernreuter on sex. "First," quoth Mr. Lowe, "you always have to face the fact you are not permitted to steal more than two-and-one-half bars of music going front wards." .This was interesting, but the general reaction was `so what?' Then came the great secret. "Take 'Bye, Bye Blues'," Mr. Lown continued; "that tune is.merely 'The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise' written backwards; there's no law against that!" Well, we were educated. Since the lesson we have tried Mr. Lown's recipe and hope to have a lalu of a torch song from the reverse of 'Nearer My God 'To Thee' ready for Broadway by the middle of next week. Incidentally, we have discovered that the in verse technique is aided by an occasional hand stand. * * * * PUBLIC NOTICE, This is to inform those interested (and thor„e who know the gentleman) that the black derby hat, so con scientiously carted about by Avon 'king Burke, Phi Psi gallant, (a gen'mun o' the ole' south, suh) was manufactured 'at Isjuiblier 1, Bond,. Street, Piccadilly. Square, London, by the Official Batters To His :Majesty, the Kiug of England. We make this an 'nouncement for the benefit of the Burke, the public, and the hat, which we hope will hence remain atop the Burke curls and not in the Burke hand as an anti- American advertisement. IiMMMM=I no rs 131 La Belle Fletcher responds to Boots Frizzell's dating invitation, 'L9I have to ask my mother' . . ißoncone and Quinn subbing in igr. Lown's outfit for a brief space Friday night . and the latest song , title gag: 'I gutter rat to sing the blues' .... 'Fish' i Mateer rushing flan refHls at, the : unusual .. that dope shouting.JCayios!!.,4ftbe 'Wrestling snatch t • . . . : and quite so,• the Burgoons were in ; town . And •Why doesn't Dean 'Whitmore take 'down his Xmas tree? .... Bill Hansen dashing across Locust Lane today with tomato juice for buxom ins port who just 'will not go home. —THE MANIAC Val :entino - s:'t 5c.,-10.9--''ls:;-:...g.:5:d... Freshmen English Books MY . ANTONIA FIFTY MODERN WRITERS HUMAN BONDAGE MODERN PLAYS MODERN SHORT STORIES THESE OUR MODERNS ONLY YESTERDAY GIANTS OF THE EARTH ARROWSMITH GROWTH OF SOIL DICTIONARIES Westclock • Alarm Clocks THE PENN: STATE COLLEGIAN Letter. Box To the Editor: For the past several weeks I have been rending with much interest the editorials in your paper on "An A merican Youth Movement?" Your an alysis of the situation of American students and of the prospect for the development of their present organi zations is quite clear. Indded, it is be cause of your evident interest in this subject that I am taking the liberty to present a few thoughts for your consideration. First, wish to quote from. your editorial of January 25th: "Likewise, the National Student Federation of America 'does not give very real pro mise at the present time of leading youth' out of the darkness Yet the N. SIT. A. has the best chance for leadership.. The delegates to its conventions are truly representative. They have had training in leadership and administration which the radi cals lack. If these abilities should be Coupled with a more liberal view point and a less superior attitude, the opportunity for progress would be much greater." Granted that the first part of your statement is true, that does not pre judice in the least the challenge which appears in the second portion. Although the present situation of the Federation may not be all that it should, this does not say that the or ganization lacks the real means for a rousing American students to thought ful action and of affording adequate expression for their efforts. We, the officers of the N. S. F. A., are fully cognizant of this fact and are willing to admit that the Federation has only begun to scrape the surface of its large storehouse of possibilities. -Fi nancial limitations and other circum stances have prevented us from ac complishing all that we should have up to the present time; however, a new day may just be dawning for our efforts. The recent student sessions in Wash ington furnished us with sonic evi dence of youth's 'awakening to the situation about it. In spite of the re ports of the press, the fact remains that these student meetings • did take some very progressive and commend able stands on certain matters. Amer ican young people have had as far to come ,to get up the ranks of action that many spectators have lost sight of what little progress they have made in recent months. Moreover, a number of incidents have been occur ring since the Washington meeting adjourned that-afford ample evidence of youth's grewing interest in public affairs. Witness the work that has been done. by student leaders to set up a Laboratory for Leadership in Public Affair; in Washington. Wit ness the recent efforts made by a number of campus leaders to clean up the politleal conditions - in their respective eitiES=tbe most notable case being that. of the Tulane student body 'in New 'Orleans. Look at the wholesale protests . that havb been coming from the college ranks against the R'. 0. T. C.. Examine your-current college publications and you- will find niuch discusst ion What: form, an American Youth:. movement• should take. Thus, its • goes without 'further proof that the! masses of our young people today 'ai•e definitely more in terested in public action than ever before. The • chief- question for considera tion, therefore, not so much—Are American Students. Active? but rather —How Will The Students Express Thefnzelves? . This' will doubtless be through an adequate - organization. This: organizatitn, we of. the N. S. F. • • Dr. Grare.-S , Dad - son , Osteop4thiO'Ph3isician' Ileallibloon Apartments No. 3 • PONE 111624 112 E. Nlttany Are., Slate College HAMMERMILL BOND 500 Sheets 250 Sheets 100 Sheets The Athletic Store A. believe, will be the National Stu dent Federation of America. Quot ing from your editorial again, we find this: "The N. S. F. A..bas the best chance for leadership." It ap pears then we are agreed that the N. S. F. A. is the organization to shoulder the burden. Realizing this situation, the "offi cers of the Federation' have begun work on a plan whereby we hope to so enlarge the activity and influence.of the organization that it will be well to afford American youth the outlet for expresion and action that it has been needing for some time. Of, course, we are confronted with grave obstacles 'nevertheless we are . firmly resolved to make available the mach inery for which all of us have been looking. Our new program will carry the Federation not only to every corner of the campus but to every group of American youth which is interested in a "better social order." We are determined that our union shall be all-inclusive in its member ship and liberal in its conception. All feelings of superiority and self-com placency will be chucked aside; the interests of all will serve as the guid ing principle. Beginning with the Federation's central headquarters in New York and the Nation'al Labora tory for Leadership in Public. Af- . fairs in Washington and going on down to the local youth group, we 1 in tend to reorganize and enlarge our activity to such an extent that the Federation just can't help becoming the voice of the younger generation. The details for this general pro gram of expansion are now being ! studied and developed. A report on the new plan should be forthcoming shortly. You ma,', therefore, rest as sured that the organization which you have designated as having "the best chance for leadership" on this occasion is definitely at work and shall have telling results very soon. The purpose of this communication, consequently, is' to• inform you 'at FRATERNITY PAPERS NAME CARDS DANCE PROGRAMS STATIONERY ANNOUNCEMENTS INVITATIONS The Nittany Printing and Publishing Co. Between the Corner anxl the Movies Before "the Easter Parade" . Comes Lent—and * During Lent COOK'S Will Have .FRESH . DAILY 204 b. Sub (1 Ream), ON CO7OP CORNER Penn State of the work that is being clone within the N. S. F. A. and to ' ascertain if you and your fellow stu dents are interested in going along with us on this project. After all, it is going to take the 'aid of every far-sighted campus to put this plan across properly, and we intend to start soliciting every possible source of aid for assistance hat as soon as "the formula for expansion is ready. Do you think that we could interest you? Your recent series of editorials has opened the way for action on year campus. The National Student Feder ation is •anxioas to see.you follow a long the pathway you have made. Sincerely yours, John A. Lang President, National . Student _Fed eration of America:. To the Editor A vicious rumor has een, eirep cit ing that a laudatory article, "jour nalism Comes of 'Age," appearing" in the January issue . of the Alumni News was written by none other than the head of that dePartment. Because many COLLEGIAN readers, May have or will read that article.l feel that it is someone's duty to ask' that the ru mor be cleared-up. • To those 'of us Who know. Professor Banner- andphave ivorkeil*:nrotind him there can be little 'doubt' of the au thoiship of • the'• article. Professor Banner never- could:lnm misrepre sented the facts 'in the situptinn..by such over-drawal,... as has the writer of that article. It is difficult to con ceive how anyone knowing the facts could have laid on . sa lavishly • the (Coutinucg on page four) "W -1 A ULLER NEEDS A FRIEND" - X// Placed on the tnarkera year ago, this pipe mixture ynafie many, friends before it had • a line of advertising. Aged in the wood for years BRIGGS is mellow, packed with ' ' .1 flavor, biteless . ! Srou try a tin and let • genial BRIGGS speak for itself? • $l.OO 60c 25c Monday Evening, February 12,1934 COAL _All Gone? You can order in the morn ing and we'll have it in your cellar before noon.. 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