PAGE FOUR
THE COLLEGIAN
EstabDished 1910. Successor to the Penn State Collegian,
established 1904, and the Free Laney, established 1387.
Published every Friday during the regular College year
by the staff of the Daly Collegian of The Pennsylvania
State College. Entered. as second class matter July 11. 3934
at; the Post Office at State College. Pa. under the net of
Ifitircr 8, 1870.
sutveriptio - ns by mail only at. $1.4)0 a semester
Editor-in-Chief
Alice It Fox
Axlveriising Manager
Rosalind Becker
Editorial Staff---News Editor. Sereue F. Rosenberg; Service
E•ditor. !Ma M. lielfenti: Feature Editot, M. Jane MeChes-
Thri': Assistant Advertising Manager. Priscilla Serautz.
Editorial Assistants: Itembra itt C. Robinson, Arthur P.
Miller, Thomas IL Whemlley.
Ad% ertisinir AFSIStiI tll.B : ry n Vogel. Elaine Dliller, Ber
nice Fien bre:.
lIRPREORNTED FOR NATIONAL AOVERTIZING b,
National Advertising Service, Ine.
College Publishers RePresentatice •
4:e.0 MADISON AVE. 4 IC NEW Yon . N. Y.
CitteAco • BOSTON • Lc ►NG [LI S • SAN SNANomoo
Managing FAlitor ___. Ill4ell Hatton
•
Assistant Managing Editor Nancy Carastro
Sports Editor __ .._.... Rem Robinson
News Editors—Betsy Markle, Ruth Sprague. M. Weaver
Ass't. Advertising Manager Elaine Miller
Friday, December, 17, 1943
Elections Post-Morten
'After the election has been fought and won any
attempt to clarify an ambiguous:statement made
by a political party 3n the course of its campaign
might be condemned as .post-mortem.
_Since it is
-apparently too late to remedy any injustice which
could haye resulted in this particular instance, the
question then is what is the value -of a postmor
,terri. •
`., The ambigtiotia • statement with which Cabinet,
the Elections Committee, two political parties,
and ( an assortment of freshmen have been con
cerned during the past - few days is that made, by
a candidate at the fi eshnian elections mass meet
ing! After reasserting
,the party planks, the'can
diditte, in an effort to demonstrate how his bro
ther's are following promises with action, referred
to the big-named dance band currently undergding
its embroyonic stakes. under the direction of All-
College Cabinet. •
Said the candidate, "There has been a commit
tee appointed and action has been taken'in Cabi
net through the persistance of candidates from
the Key Party.'
It would*seem that the most charitable criticism
of such a statement is that it is presumptuous. It
ignores the efforts of members of the opposing
group who, according to the dance chairman, are
also putting in a bit! of time for the sake ot'a suc
cessful event, anti incidentally, for the benefit
of the students they represent.
Certainly the fact that the statement is a half
truth, a misrepresentation of the situation, should
have been obvious to those responsible for it. It is
undeniable that it had a definite effect upon
freshmen whb attended the meeting, and it is
probable that it influenced the voting trend. Had
it been made clear that only a part cf the big
dance credit is due the Key Party, the contention
could have been both forceful and legitimate as a
campaign issue. As it was, the statement was only
forceful.
Two sidelights of the controversy are rather
surpising. One might wonder why any Lion,re
presentatives attending the meeting did not
sist tipon clarification of . .he issue.on the spot. The
second question involves the failure of the Elec
tions:- Committee to arrange some penalty for an
obvious misrepresentation of facts. The explana
tion of the committee is that there is no provision
in the Elections Code whereby the offender could
have• been penalized. Such a post-mortem, then,
brings to light one more weakness of the code
which must be remedied at the next revision ses-
That the offense • should have occurred in a
freshman contest, involving persons relatively in
experienced in political maneuvers, is particularly
.unfortunate. Because of this inexperience it is
probable that the ambiguity was unintentional.
However, failure t 3 cons der beforehand the in
terpretation of the audience is hardly a valid ex
cuse. Although, apparently the freshman losing
candidates are to receive no compensation for
the injustice done them, it is to be hoped that this
will not be regarded as a lack of recognition of
the seriousness of the offense. Some provision
should be made in the next code to remove any
doubt that a repetition will meet with • sharper
punishment than a reprimand from the authori-,
Business Manager
Nan Lipp
Managing Editor
Lee H. Learner
Thanks, Penn State
And what will Penn State students say to their
children, when asked what they did in the Second
World War? Well, they might exclaim, "I was
very busy at college getting an education so that
I'd become a better citizen and be able to safe
guard democracy."
And they might e.t.a) add that they were so busy
getting an education that they couldn't take time
out for a little practical action that would apply
what they'd learned.
A lot has been written about the apathy of the
_majority of the "little people"' when it comes to
working for better and fairer government, But
facts and figures ore always more convincing
than theorizing or preaching. And. here .are the
facts about the apathy at Penn State:
Last week Collegian 'printed a petition to the
House of Representatives Privileges and Elections
Committee, asking that they squash the Senate's
bill which would hand soldiers' voting arrange
ments over to the state:.. instead of leaving the
plan to the Federal government. Collegian also
printed• an editorial, cxptaining'the facts and the
implications of the situation, and asking that stu
dents sign the . petition and turn it in at Student
Union, to be sent to the 'House committee.
Nine students thought it was worth their while
to sign those petitions and turn them in. There,
are 3311 civilian students- and approximately 2200
in uniform , on this campus. That's roughly .1 of
1% of the people at Penn State who are supposed:
to .be .learning how to 'fight for their rights and
'how .to guard them• on the home front. And that's
not democracy.
Perhaps that's why so many people find as many .
things wrong with the government-long after the
time for action 'has passed. A 'democracy can't be
run on the efforts of .1 of 1% of the people.
But there's no need - for theorizing or preaching.
These facts speak for themselves. L.H.L.
Spreading The News
Now that the PSCA has begun its series of news
summaries Thursday evenings in Atherton Hall,
students will no longer Inlve a valid excuse for the
compla'irit! that althOughthey-want'„to keep infor
med on current happenings, 'they cannot; seem to
find time for regular newspaper reading. Accord=.
ing to the plan of the Christian Association,' a pro
fessor will review and interpret news of the week
each Thursday during the' period between first
and second shift dinner.
Certainly in sponsoring these newcasts, the CA
is complying with a request long ago expressed by
students, particularly coeds. Professors, in giving
their time to prenare and discuss topics, have
shown that they are willing to do more than *be
moan the lack of knowledge of their average class
member. It would seen= that the only problem
should be finding space in an Atherton Hall lounge
for all who will want to attend discussions.
THE COLLEGIAN
Old Mania
Not moth in ,. the way of any- is a matter of marking off days of
thing has nicked the definite ten- the calendar, and then just wait
sion which has buried State -Col- ing for The Day.
lege now that Christmas vacation The only unusual thing we saw
all week was one poor student.who
LETTERS. TO 'EDITOR , spent an entire class period adding
In Order •to clarify an erroneous up little sums, tearing up viciously
rumor that . has been making its the impossible• bits of paper,' and
way about campus, the Key .Party muttering disconsolately while
feels that a proper interpretation gazing az .. a lean . wallet. Even
should be made. Christmas has its little problems.
The statement made at the However, our agents have been on
freshman mass-meeting was. mis- the job, and'haVe managed to come
construed to the effect that the forth with a few choice morsels
Key Party was sponsoring the in the way of what certain people
_forthcoming All-College ...dance. are• doing • • • ....... .
This is not authentic, ..and :in all ' Saw Second • Lt. • Rey - :Hothan;,.
justice to All-College:Cabinet; the 'Phisigmakapp alum, last. Weekend
Key Party feels that an d explana- •doi.Ag• the 'town with Ann
tion of the rumor is in order. lag. .. . AEPhi Ruth Goodkind
The correct story states that the journeyed to Ft. Benning to col-
Key Party is fully behind an All- lect a sparkler from Lt. Saul Han'-:
College dance, and is pushing the in, Garimra Sig alum. The AEPhi'S'
idea in full force. However, the
treked to Williamsport last Week;
inception of the All-College dance
end for the.big blowout.. ..
was formulated in Cabinet and • •
the dance is being sponsored by Frost, Theta Phi Alpha
the Cabinet
alum, tripped up , to Boston last
HORACE SMITH weekend to see Ensign Bill Rum-.
Key. Party Chairman Berger, Penn State alum,
••••• *--1 4. 4. • 4 . 1-•• ••••••<-. "-
w
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The Little Old Gentleman Wants
To Help You Make
Christmas Shopping
1 .1 4 Yes, it's time once more to go through that annual or
deal of Christmas shopping. Shopping need not be such
a task .. . there's no need to rush from store to store at
ri the laSt minute to pick up a few, much handled, leftover
w gifts. By starting your shopping early you can choose
w from a wider assortment of gifts, and you avoid- that
late rush: This year why not ease your mind of the
W, worry over Christmas gifts by getting them, off your
yi mind early. You'll find your Christmas vacation much
yi more pleasant and your friends and family really pleas
ed with their gifts. .
•
Male College Stores Offer High
Qualify :Gifts:.allow•Pticei:.
In State College you'll find an ideal' spot for shopping. g
All the stores are within easy walking distance . Otthe
center of town. You'll find that they carry the highest g
quality 'merchandise 'and- that it will cost you no. more
than in the big city stores. All the merchants - are will- 1
ing to help you make the wisest choice in your selec
tion of gifts.
BUY YOUR GIFTS IN STATE COLLEGE
==l!.=
FRIDAY, DECEMBER' 17,' 1943
By NITA M. BBLFONTI
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
,)4(1.-,HARPOt,i
Your
Easy
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