PAGE TWO
The Dally Coll eg! an Editorial Page
Editorial* and eolutan* appearing ta The Daily Collegian represent the opinion* of the writer. They make no elaim te reflect student or Pnfreratty Mttnnna. Unsigned edltaflftla am vftttM kf the gfHt*
A Milestone
A milestone in student government-administra
tion relations was passed last week when members
of both groups met to discuss the delegation of
authority to All-College Cabinet, and to attempt
to delineate its fields of action.
Student government should be strengthened and
become more effective as a result of the meeting,
since the results were more far-raching and basic
even than the promoters of the meeting had hoped.
Cabinet’s forte is the beneficial influence it
exerts upon both the administration and the stu
dents, according to James Milholland, acting
president.
Various speakers augmented this view-point by
explaining that student leaders who become well
known and respected by deans or officials in
pleasant times are in a better position to obtain
assistance when needed to solve problems, than in
dividual students who are comparative strangers.
Among the major handicaps of effective student
government is student apathy and lack of concern
about it, until it does something unpopular.
Students can strengthen their own government
in at least three ways. First, by active participa
tion; second, by learning the candidates and their
qualifications and voting intelligently; third, by
expressing their opinions to Cabinet, school and
dorm council members.
Several valuable suggestions for future action
developed from the spirited give-and-take of ideas
at the conference. Included were such topics as
training of student leaders, increasing participa
tion in elections, assuming responsibility in main
taining campus beauty.
Although the word “government” may be a
misnomer, in the strictest sense, still the existence
of student government is important and worth
while.
It can be truthfully said that the “power” and
“authority” of Cabinet are neither absolute nor
final, but that power is real and significant.
Mature and reasoning students, possessed with
a sense of responsibility, can and have accom
plished many things for the welfare 'of all stu
dents, and for the benefit of the College.
. Signs of increasing student awareness in self
improvement seemed to have impressed the ad
ministration. Student respect for Cabinet must be
gamed and kept by definite and significant action.
Happy Family?
Once upon a time an abundance of that stuff
called “class spirit” permeated the Nittany Valley.
All Frosh passing through the area were infected
with it during the course of class meetings and
upperclass hazing, and were never completely
cured of the wonderful disease of unity. Year on
vear, Homecoming found the symptoms intensified.
Mysteriously the wonderful disease is being
wiped out. Its last vestiges are viewed by the old
timers, who cry into their beverages, “It hain’t
the same.”
How has it been-“cured”? You can’t exactly put
your accusing finger on one incident or individual.
The old class spirit faded into the backstage when
student leaders and student publications substi
tuted in its once revered place, a pandora’s box of
world problems, which they pretend to be able
to solve.
Of course it is wrong to ridicule the noble at
tempts of a more mature post war mind as it
attempts to better the condition of the world in
general. But are such things as class yells, class
meetings, impromptu rallies, dance queenships,
and hot campus political campaigns too sopho
m’2E*c and mundane to demand interest?
, .There are many who preferred the past “one
'-ig-happy-family” status to the present condition
in which Penn State attempts to mold itself into
a Panacea for all the ills of the world.
_We re getting too big,” is one explanation.
. r. et i s the of a few thousand additional
Apa e +u tS res P° nsibie f °r the change in atmosphere?
rea, J y the cause of the de-emphasis on
the lighter side of college? Might any of them be
such typically collegiate things as a
Whos Dating Who” column in their college
wnplri I ?°. t . hey really prefer reading constantly of
world-shaking drives to the occasional reading of
simple human interest items, such as a pin-ball
tournament at Grahams?
lahPV 51 ls , th ? road back to the good old days? The
initial route is through more and better class meet-
M ll4ll StUd ® nt Union is realized, the
mammoth classes can be accommodated by alpha
betical divisions into, say, Schwab, 121 and 10
the'lwL loo * W f should stop tryin * to change
«ie shape of this planet, and start making Penn
education ** “ factory with cold assembly line
3Hf* Uatly Collegian
Btttmor to THB FREE LANCE. Ml. 1887
Published Tueeday through Saturday morning. Incluaive dur
ing tha College year by the itaff of The Dally Collegian of The
Tonnaylvania State College. Kntered aa aecond claaa matter
July 6. 1934, at the State College. Pa.. Poet Office under the
*ct of March 8. 1879. Subscrip ions —B2 a semester. 84 th*
school rear.
Lew Stone
Editor
STAFF THIS ISSUE
Managing Editor
News Editor ...
Copy Editor
Assistants
Ad. Manager
Assistants
—Jo L. Fox.
Business Manager
Vance C. Klepper
DottU Wcrlinlch
Murray Saaman
Charlotte Seldman
. .... Dorothy Lalne
Ellon Sperbor, Joe Coppa
. Ruth Edolatein
Norman Boriaclt,
June Bny4«r, Marion Goldman
'Ach, won't this peaco EVER ondl'
Our 'Civilized' Era
Nothing could be less civilized than the sight of society’s raising
a constant hue and cry over the wanton murder of some of its mem
bers and then gaily doing nothing about it. Such is the case with
traffic accidents, one of the leading causes of death and maiming in
our modern, “civilized” era.
Always, preceded by loud lamenting, we hear the plaints of
those who wish us to drive more safely, that the little children
might live, that old ladies might pass through their superannuation
without being ground under the wheels of the demon juggernaut.
The liquor manufacturers implore us not to mix drink and driving.
The automobile manufacturers urge us to operate their products
with caution and responsibility.
But what do the automobile manufacturers do about designing
and producing safe vehicles?
This is a hurried world—so the manufacturers produce and sell
automobiles capable of speeding over 100 miles per hour. The fact
that few drivers, even given a suitable highway, can control an auto
at that speed does not deter them. The fact that modern highways
are unsafe at such speeds concerns them not. A fast car has a
strong selling attraction, and the higher the sales, the higher the
profits.
Not only are the modern cars too fast, they also are structurally
designed for danger. For example, the Montreal Star claims, "Many
drivers have found the seats too low and the hoods too long. It is
impossible to see enough of the road in front of the car.” In addition,
the American Medical Journal has stated, “Automobiles should be
redesigned to stress safety rather than speed and appearances. This
suggestion has often been made, but has religiously been disregarded
by automotive engineers and manufacturers.”
Slanted windshields look nice, but are not conducive to good
vision. Chromium trimming also is pleasant to the eye—except when
it produces glare that unnerves the driver. The new look in auto
mobiles may sell cars, but it does little to provide safety for the
driver, his passengers and the pedestrians. In some new models, ac
cording to a Pittsburgh newspaper, it is impossible to fit chains to
the tires in bad weather. Truly, we have created a Frankenstein
monster.
The Medical Journal concluded, “If we are to become more
civilized, we must place the value of human life above the prestige
value of speed and appearance in motor cars.”
So, when do we become civilized? When do we stop moaning,
with fancy verbiage, about safe drivers and start demanding safe
automobiles?
The Bes
At Christmas time—
You all are glad
To get back home
To Mom and Dad.
The question though—
Is what to get
To make them happy
And you can bet—
They’ll look for something
Very nice
So when you buy
You best think twice—
And get the present
The very thing
That the greatest joy
At home will bring.
Now here’s a thought
And gift as well
So please pay heed
When you we tell
Use the utmost care
When you drive home —
—L. D. Gladfelter.
Present
The life you save
May be your own
Be sure to drive
Most carefully.
For good things on Earth
Are very few—
So be careful always
What you do.
Lest Death your holiday
Should take
And cause your dear ones’
Hearts to ache.
The most precious present
You can give
To those you love
Is just to live
And keep yourselves from
Harm each day—
And arrive home safe
For Christmas Day.
—Capt. Philip A. Mark,
Campus Patrol.
WEDNESDAY. D:
DL Safety Valve
Clarification
TO THE EDITOR: The statement of policy
which appeared in yesterday’s Collegian under the
heading, “Objections to Another Barber Shop,”
was the opinion of the executive committee of the
National Association for the Advancement of Col
ored People, and not mine alone.
Furthermore, since our article was not sub
mitted with the intention of quarreling with aw
group which has the same objectives as we have,
it may be regarded as a statement of NAACP
policy on the vital question of discrimination in
State College barber shops.
To that extent, the heading was misleading, so
this letter is an attempt to eliminate any ihiscon
ceptions in the minds of Collegian readers.
—William Meek, President. NAACP.
To formulate fdfoac
TO THE EDITOR: You will recall that when I
spoke at the forum last week, I threw out the sug
gestion that the students should get together (a
representative group of them) and discuss some
of the points I raised in regard to sexual behavior.
These points were as follows: (1) Do you believe
that premarital sex relations can take place and
have the kind of society you want to have? (a) Do
you feel that premarital sex relations are com
patible with being a good parent and a good citi
zen? (3) Do you accept the fact that there can be
no privileged group in premarital or extramarital
sex relations, and that each person’s behavior in
this regard contributes to the sum total of our
morals and customs? If you agree to this, what
would be your suggestions in the way of setting
up a code of behavior for the undecided to follow?
I think it should also be made plain to the Stu
dent body of a college that some of them already
are the parents of today and that many of them
will be the parents of a very near tomorrow. Con
sequently, as long as a great many people are con
cerned about sexual behavior, it seems important
for young people on the verge of social responsi
bility to formulate their ideas on this important
matter. This could serve as a record and to make
it even more valuable, the same people could after
twenty-five years of living and maturing in the
social structure return to a discussion of the same
topics and their deliberations of twenty-five years
ago and decide, or try to decide the wisdom of
their previous formulations. After all, I think col
lege students should consider themselves a group
of responsible people. They may have more wis
dom after twenty or twenty-five years of living
but that still does not say that they have not a
great deal at present or should have a great deal.
Consequently, I will be sorry if there is not some
follow-up along these lines on the matter of the
Kinsey Reoort and its evaluation by many people
of whom I am only one. One of the best books
evaluating the report for those who wish such
opinions is a Signet Book called “About the Kin
sey Report” and edited by Donald Geddes.
It was a pleasure being with you the other night
and I hope something will come of this forum
discussion.
—O. Spurgeon English, M.D.
Collegian Gazette
Wednesday, December 8
STUDENT HANDBOOK, 304 Old Main, 7 p.m.
HOME EC CLUB, Living Center, 7 p.m.
IFC, 405 Old Main, 7:15 p.m.
SKULL and Bones, 418 Old Main, 7:30 p.m.
AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Alpha Tan
Omega, 7:30 p.m.
College Hospital
Admitted Monday: Martin Friedman, Donna
Haley, Sally Lees, Luba Meshberg and Richard
Schmick.
Admitted Tuesday: James Jubelirer, Mary Con*
ahan, Nessa Posner, James Shaffer and Eleanor
Trunick.
College Placement
Boy Scouts of America, December 8, eighth
semester men interested in working as field ex
ecutives.
Institute of Textile Technology, December 10,
seventh and eighth semester men In Chem Eng,
Chem, Commercial Chem, Physics, and ME.
Joy Manufacturing Co., December 13 and 14,
eighth semester in EE and ME. Should have in
clination for design and development in heavy
machinery.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., December 14,
eighth semester men, accounting.
Army Security Agency, December 13 and 14,
eighth semester students in EE.
Hagan Corp., December 15 and 16, eighth semes
ter men in EE, ME, Sanitary Eng, Ceramics, Chem
Eng, and Chem.
Long Island Lighting Co., December 18, eighth
semester, in EE and ME for public utility work.
Piaseck Helicopter Corp.. December 17, eighth
semester men in AE and ME.
Supplee-Wills-Jones Milk Co., December 17,
eighth semester men in Dairy Husbandry.
Sperry-Oyroscope Co., December 13, eighth se
mester, EE, interested in communications.
Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Co., December 16,
eighth semester ME, EE, Mining Eng, Architec
tural Eng, CE.
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., December 16, eighth
semester, lE, EE, ME, Chem Eng, and Ceramics.
Training program in industrial engineering. Will
lead to factory technical assignments. Few open
ings in maintenance.
At the Movies
CATHAUM—Three Musketeers.
STATE—Red River.
NITTANY—Kisa of Death.