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}