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
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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
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and Publishing Co.
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204 b. Sub
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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)
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