PAC?E two Tbe Dally Collegia!) Editorial Page Editorial! and columns appearing ia The Daily Codegiaa represent the opinions ed Um writee. Ht«jr maim no claim to reflect student or Unlrerslty consensus. Unsigned editorials ore written by the editor. Put NSA to Work Should new student leaders assume new posts “cold,” with no previous training or orientation? NSA thinks not. HOW STUDENT SELF-GOVERNMENT MESHES with the College administration and can operate in harmony with particular College offi cials was amply demonstrated to a score of next year’s student leaders Wednesday in a six-hour orientation workshop conducted by National Stu dent Association. Granted, shortcomings existed in the orienta tion program—first of its kind set up at Penn State —but these are indigenous to any first venture. Next year’s NSA-sponsored Cabinet orientation should be planned for an earlier weekend date not so close to final week. This will insure better attendance. ORIENTATION FOR INCOMING STUDENT LEADERS, which includes as a prime point meet ing College administrators socially, should also be made a formal calendar item, so those who benefit from it will expect it. Basic idea of the orientation workshop for new student leaders is good and offers a concrete way in which NSA can demonstrate its worth to Penn State students, the bulk of whom are still un acquainted with this two-year-old baby still undergoing growing pains. THIS NATIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION offers vast local research services, help in student government and contacts with other colleges that can be cultivated by Penn State student govern ment for the betterment of the College. Let All-College Cabinet put NSA to work next year—more so than in ’4B-’49, not only to justify the $lOOO NSA appropriation but also to show Penn State students that NSA is worthwhile. Remedy for Managers Of all the institutions at the College, the method of electing first assistant managers to the several athletic teams is probably most in need of cor rection. WHILE IT HAS NEVER BEEN OPENLY ADMITTED, it is practical knowledge among campus students, particularly those who have tried in vain to secure posts as first assistant man agers, that fraternity affiliation is far more im portant in determining success or failure in the yearly move-ups than is diligence to the tasks assigned. Under the present system, retiring firsts vote for the men who are to take their places. Quite naturally a fraternity man who is a first assistant manager will vote for a fraternity brother to as sume his position the following year regardless of the amount of work performed. Thus it is that one or two fraternities can secure a stranglehold on the managerships of the major sports and keep them indefinitely. WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE THE INDEPEND ENT STUDENT or pledge from some other fra ternity who is desirous of, or is required to, have a campus activity? The answer is obvious—hold ing the empty bag while a lesser-working member from favored fraternity is shoved into the post that should rightfully be his. The fault lies not with the managers who elect their own pledge or fraternity brothers to fill their departing shoes. Such action is natural and may indeed be imperative if a fraternity’s prestige is to be maintained. THE FAULT LIES, instead, with the method whereby the first assistant managerships are elected. Promotion to these posts should be placed in the hands of men who have no axes to grind or fraternity brothers to appease. One possible solution is to place the election in the hands of the team members themselves, who have first-hand knowledge of just how much work each managerial candidate performs. The greater number of men voting would eliminate the pos sibility of “packing” the positions. This is only one possible answer. Perhaps the authorities in charge of such matters can find a % better method. In any event, if the athletic coaches continue to call on candidates for managerships with the promise that sincere effort will be re warded, they had better get around to making ;ertain such effort actually is rewarded. Other wise there is the possibility, now being realized in some of the lesser sports, that “suckers” will 10 longer be around to perform the arduous tasks delegated to candidates for managerships. —Red Roth. Your Decision Not only newspapers, but individuals are prone to distort the facts bv selections made according to pre-conceived ideas. Some take particular de light in pacing through the New Republic or Daily Worker and seizing items which fit their particular political pattern. Others delight in the clinching facts or the conclusive statistics found on the pages of Time or the daily newspapers. NEWSPAPERS ARE APT TO BE BIG BUSI NESS. however. Small papers must, for financial reasons, depend upon press associations for all but local news coverage. As big business, it is not surprising that the majority of American news papers are devoted to the interests of big business. The paper which has unlimited news space is rare, and so the process of news evaluation and selection is necessary. Publishing one item, and not publishing another, lays the newspaper open to criticism from anyone who happened to have q interest in the unpublished item. The criticism s justified only to the extent that newspapers do consistently present one-sided accounts. But fortunately, the press in America is free. There is room in our country for liberal and radi cal publications, and while there is, our demo cratic institutions are not in danger. This is not to say that there will not be changes. Even with the preponderance of the conservative, status quo, press, the march of progress will not be impeded forever by retrogressive publishers. There is no solution, except to hope that through the unimpeded clash of ideas the truth will emerge. It will be difficult to discover, especially for a people already confused ,by the complexity of modern civilization. But newspapermen, both right and left, are seeking the truth in their own ways. Neither point of view has a monopoly on truth, so the people must sift the facts and decide for themselves. If they fail to do this, it is not the fault of the press. DL Safety VaL Barrage of Propaganda TO THE EDITOR: The common man is being increasingly subjected to a confusing barrage of propaganda and counter-propaganda. Apparently he does not understand the issues. The issues are of interest to him only if they have a bearing on his personal pursuit of happiness. Consequently every crusading tries to convince him that his life, liberty and freedom to pursue happiness are all contingent upon the success of its particular program. This has produced a confusion of issues. Who can know what to believe? The average per son has a harassed feeling, a feeling of frustration and helplessness. Fortunately competing interests can not neglect the common man. In a political democracy where the people retain the monopoly on power, it is necessary for interested groups to persuade rather than to coerce. However, persuasion often involves deception, which is more effective and more dan gerous than coercion. You and I do not want to be in the position of the cat pulling chestnuts out of the fire for the monkey. We can only make intelligent decisions when we have the facts. The following are a few suggestions which may be worth remembering in our search for facts. Beware of any individual or group who appeals to your emotions or prejudices. The daily papers are, with a few exceptions, not good sources of facts without prejudice. Some of the radio analysts are not related to pathological liars. I have refer ence to the manner in which they conceal incon venient facts, report half truths*and distort truth. Find out what is meant by the terms of democ racy, totalitarianism, capitalism, socialism and communism. Get definitions which are as concrete as possible. To do this look for scholarly unbiased sources. The handy, easy-to-read pamphlets which have amusing cartoons to make their predigested and purified messages easier to understand will probably not present objective messages. It might be profitable to read a few pertinent books. Discuss these things with each other. A few hours, even many hours, spent now in an honest and sincere search for truth may pay divi dends by adding 40-50 years to your life. My appeal is for a sincere search for truth on the part of every individual. The emphasis is on the method to be used rather than the conclusions which may be drawn. Collegian Gazette Friday, May 13 COLLEGE HOSPITAL Discharged Thursday: Robert Suravitz, John Gausch, Helene Krebs. COLLEGE PLACEMENT Arrangement, for (nterriewe .hould be made in 201 Old Main Cronheim and Weger, May 16, June grads in Architectural Engineering. Joseph F. Finch and Co., May 18, June grads in IE and ME. Positions open for management engi neers and junior development engineers. AT THE MOVIES CATHAUM—Night Unto Night STATE—So This Is New York. NITTANY—Words and Music. (Hl|p Daily Collegian SucceMor lo THE FREE LANCE, hi. 1887 Published Tuesday through Saturday mornings inclusive dur tng the College year by the staff of The Daily Collegian of The Pennsylvania State College. Entered aa second class matter July 5. 1934. rt the State College. Pa.. Post Office under the Act of March 3. 1879. Subscriptions $2 a semester. 44 the school year. Represented for national advertising by National Advertis ing Service. Madison Ave., New York. N.Y. Chicago. Boston Ives Angeiea San Francieeo. Editor Tom Morgan Managing Ed. Wilbert Roth; News Ed.. Jack Keen; Sports Ed.. Elliot Krane; Edit. Dir., Sy Barash; Society Ed., Commie Keller; Feature Ed.. Pauly Moss; Asst. News Ed., Duttie Wtrlin ich; Asst. Sports Ed., Ed Watson; Asst. Society Ed., Barbara Brown; Promotion Co-Mgr., George Vudasz; Photo Ed., Kay Benfer; Senior Board, Sylvia Oekner, Hubert Rose. Charlotte Seidman, Myrna Tex; Staff Cartoonist, Henry M. Progur. STAFF THIS ISSUE Managing Editor - Janet Ro*en New* Editor ... . Hill Boyles Copy Editor .. Stun Dealer Ad Managers __ Bill Schott, Sue liaiperiu AaaUtanta Clarice B. Lkiuh, John Delbor —Sian Degler. —Daniel E. Sell, Business Manager Marlin A. Weaver The Early 'Worm'- .(Q&tr ryatßs 12. With Commencement so near at hand, it seems fitting to tell the graduating seniors how they can best take the College with them even after graduation—by joining the Penn State Alumni Association and participating in its activities. Activities of the individual alumni members are coordinated and directed through the medium of the 57 District clubs, fostered by the Association to bring the College to the alumni, by means of campus speakers and College movies. OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE CLUBS are to stimulate alumni participation in local civic affairs, to establish scholarship funds, to encourage outstanding high school graduates to matriculate at Penn State and in general to enhance the reputation of the College. At the present time, 25 Alumni clubs, some consisting of both men and womfen, exist in Pennsylvania, with 20 operating in 12 other states and the District of Columbia. Eleven Alumnae groups perform in Pennsylvania, and one in Washington, D. C. Presidents and elected representatives of each of the District dubs, permanent class secretaries and the All-College, senior and junior class presidents comprise the 326-member Alumni Council, he Association’s governing body. AN EXECUTIVE BOARD, ELECTED FROM THE COUNCIL by Council members, serves in an advisory capacity, and consists of the Association president, three vice-presidents, executive secre tary and assistant executive secretary (both full-time jobs), the All-College president and 10 other members. Paid-up members of the Association (which is incorporated as a service group to the College) derive numerous, varied, direct advantages, probably most of them connected with continuing and expanding the associations originated during college days. Alumni Association publications are outstanding and comprise a strong link between the campus and the outside world. Alumni Mews, a magazine published seven times a year, contains informa tion concerning occupational fields and news about the College and alumni. RIDGE RILEY'S FOOTBALL LETTER, published after each game during the season, contains more “behind the scenes” informa tion than appears in any newspaper account or than most fans can observe from actually attending the contest. To many alumni, it alone is worth the price of membership. All alumni, whether members or not, receive the quarterly newspaper, the Penn Stater, and may participate in annual home comings and five-year Class Reunions, which are conducted by the Association. Alumni exert considerable influence in the affairs of the Col lege. They elect nine of their number to the Board of Trustees and five to the Athletic Advisory Board. The Alumni office handles the mailing of ballots and campaign literature for both elections. THE ASSOCIATION'S MAILING ROOM in the basement of Old Main is a continuous bee-hive of activity, from which more than 700,000 individual pieces of mail were sent to Penn State alumni. The Alumni office maintains a complete biographical and occu pational record of all alumni, and the only active alumni mailing list in existence. More than 10,000 address changes are made yearly. Alumni requests and problems of all kinds stream constantly into the Old Main office for solution and investigation. Among the biggest items attacked are football tickets, jobs and admission of children. At last two important projects are being worked on by Alumni committees—organization of a fund-raising campaign to build a Student Union building, and developing recreational facilities at Whipple's Dam. FRIDAY, MAT TS, ■ ’ ' • *•- v. By Lew Stone J >'■:s)■' h'S i}
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers