RAGE FOUR
ale Battg Collegian
„Successor to THE FREE LANCE, est. 1887
Published Tuesday through Saturday mornings inclusive
during the College year by the staff of _The Daily Collegian
of The P4.l.maylvania State College.
Entered as second-class matter July 5, 1934, at the State
College. Pa., Post Office under the act of March 3, 1879
Collegian editorials represent the viewpoint of the
writers. not necessarily the policy of the newspaper rn
signed editorials arc by the editor.
Dave Peßrute Franklin S. Kelly
Editor '`Qi3* . Business Mgr.
Managing Ed.. Andy McNeillie; City Ed., Dave Jones:
Sports Ed., Jake Highton; Copy Ed., Bettie Long': Edit.
Dir.. Jim Gromiller; Wire Ed., Chuck Henderson: See. Ed..
Ginger Opoczenski: Asst. Sports Ed., Ted Soens; Asst.
Soc. Ed., LaVonne Althouset Feature Ed., Julie Ibbotson:
Librarian and Exchange Ed.„ Nancy LuetzeL
STAFF THIS ISSUE
Night Editor: Dick McDowell; Copy - Editors:
Chuck Obertance, Chiz Mathias; Assistants:
Len Goodman, Mike Feinsilber, Herm Weis
kopf, Iry Weiner, Joe Obestor.
Ad Staff: Alison Morley, Virginia Bowman,
Frank Kelly, Jack Harry.
Spies' Conviction
Should Be Upheld
When New York Judge Irving S. Kaufman
declined to r view the case against convicted
traitors Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, the only
path left open to them was to appeal to the
President for clemency. Right now, all over
the country—indeed all over the world—de
monstrations are being held on behalf of the
Rosenbergs.
In Washington, pickets asking Presidential
clemency for the atomic spies are marching
back and forth in front of the White House.
In Paris, London, and other foreign capitals,
similar demonstrations are being conducted.
As far as the general public is concerned,
Judge Kaufman was right when he said that
Rosenberg's crime was "worse than murder."
In New York City, the average man on the
street took one look at the pamphlets titled
"Save the Rosenbergs" being handed out,
muttered something under his breath, and
immediately discarded the paper.
In making his decision, Judge Kaufman said
he had found no new evidence to warrant -com
muting the death sentence for the two spies.
In addition, he said the Rosenbergs had shown
no signs of remorse over their deed.
The judge also complained about the abuse
to which he had been subjected because of the
case. However, the judge did agree to stay
the execution, which was scheduled for Jan. 14,
in order to give the Rosenbergs an opportunity
to petition the President for clemency.
We believe that Judge Kaufman's decision
was The wisest one he could have made. Death
for traitors is prescribed by law, and it's
about time the United States began to crack
down on such people as the Rosenbergs.
Just as those who want to "Save the Rosen
bergs" urge citizens to write to the White
House, those citizens who believe the traitors
should die should inform the White House to
that effect. We wonder what those people who
are defending the Rosenbergs now will think
if and when the first atomic bomb drops on
this country.
Keep Chapel Fund
For Local Project
Just before the start of the Chrigtmas vaca-` 44
tion the Chapel fund committee heard Leopoldo
Ruiz discuss ways in which the Chapel offering
could 'be used to assist Silliman University in
the Philippine Islands, Ruiz will become pres
ident of the university April 1.
Under the Ruiz plan, the funds could be
used to provide for a young instructor study
ing here a year, to help finance practical ex
tension experience for some students from Sit=
liman, or to buy books, laboratory equipment,
audio-visual aids, or other equipment needed
at the university.
These undoubtedly are very worthy uses
for the funds, but in the' minds of the vast
majority of students the money should go
'toward a campus project, particularly the
construction of a small chapel on campus.
Late last spring, a vote was taken after a
Sunday Chapel service as to what use the
money should be put. The general category
of a campus project received the largest
number of votes. '
The Chapel funds amount to approximately
..$5OOO a year. This amount seems small indeed
to the vast amounts being spent abroad every
year by the United States and the World Stu
dent Service Fund, represented on campus by
the Campus Chest. On the other hand, the
amount seems far more significant when con
sidered from a local angle.
• Much has been said about the poor state
of 'Christian morals in the United States, par-
ocularly among college students. If this is
the case. what better use could this annual
$5OOO have than to be put toward a medita
tion chapel here at Penn State or for im-
provement of our present Chapel programs.
And with the current controversy over the
percentage of Campus.Ch - 27t I —'ll'2; given to the
Penn State Christian Aszo:' . n, perhaps some
arrangement could be made so that the PSCA
could get the use of some of these funds.
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
Students Evaluate
Their Instructors?
If you're ever in need of a good topic for
argument, try this one: "Should students be
allowed to evaluate .teacliers?"
Quite a few colleges permit it, and they find
such evaluations helpful in keeping close tab
on what goes on in individual classrooms.
We've heard only passing mention of it at
Penn State to date, but it could become the
topic of the day if one of the political parties
•would choose to stake its popularity on the
issue.
At any rate, officially or unofficially, it's a
broad topic for discussion.
The University of Nebraska has a system
for grading instructors consisting of about!
30 questions dealing with the ability of the
instructor, his knowledge of the subject, per
sonal appearance, etc.
In practically all cases, forms are out
anonymously by students, then evaluated by
department heads. Though anonymous ballots
might seem cruel in some cases, a sensible
analysis we would think could determine which
criticisms to disregard.
What is looked for is a criticism by a large
number of students on the same question. This
eliminates individual prejudices which crop up.
But then there is the other side, too. There
are arguments that an evaluation program of
instructors would• tend to make them more
lenient, or would not consider teacher ability.
but' rather personality as a deciding trait.
An evaluation • program could be helpful.
but certainly not decisive. If nothing else.
it would arouse department heads to inves
tigate -when instructors show up poorly.
One student from San Francisco summed up
his feelings thusly: "The best way to grade a
teacher is to think back on what one has
gotten out of his course about a year after
he has taken it. At that time, when one is
free from the teacher's lectures, it is easier to
give a more accurate evaluhtion." And cer
tainly if a student has gotten nothing or com
paratively nothing from a course, his opinions
should be worth something.
Problems are not solved by turning a deaf
Sullivan" Award
- One of Penn State's all-time great athletes
had another honor heaped upon him and upon
his Alma Mater as 1952 drew to a close.
Horace Ashenfelter, the FBI agent who copped
the biggest upset of the • 1952 Olympics, was
voted the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award,
the highest honor that can be won by an ama
teur -athlete.
Ashenfelter, who never ran in steeplechase
competition before 1952, received- first choice
of 154 out of 538 sports authorities voting.
for his victory in.the 3000 meter steeplechase
event in the 1952 Olympics.
Observe Frosli Rule
Fraternity preference lists are now in the
hands of all fraternities, and freshmen who
indicated an interest in a particular fraternity
last fall can now expect to be contacted and
rushed.
However, freshmen should remember to keep
in mind regulations regarding fraternity pledg
ing.
IFC will soon set a date after which first
semester freshmen may be pledged, but until
that time it is illegal and can result in social
probation for a violating house.
There is a definite reason for this rule. It is
designed to protect freshmen—to give them an
opportunity to rush more than one house, and
to avoid railroading.
The regulation was established to protect the
freshmen, and the freshmen should realize
that it is designed to protect them.
First semester freshmen cannot move into
fraternity houses until their sophomore year,
anyway. The few weeks from now until the
legal pledge date will not do them any harm.
Yet it will give them additional time in which
to make their all-important decision.
Gazette ...
Wednesday, January 7, 1953
CHESS CLUB, 3 Sparks, 7 p.m.
WRA BOWLING CLUB, White Hall, 7 p.m.
WRA MODERN DANCE CLUB, White Hall
dance room, 7 p.m.
COLLEGE HOSPITAL
Audrey Austin, Donald Austin.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
Boy to work from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. six days a week
" 'Tis an qid maxim in the schools,
That flattery's the food of fools;
Yet now and then your men of wit,
Will condescend to take a bit."
—Cadenus and Vanessa
"Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is
the key to it." ~ —Fuller
—Jim Gromiller
-J. G.
-J. G.
Little Man on Campus
"At home for two weeks Christmas vacation—you'd
think they didn't have a smoke th' whole time."
WISE AND OTHERWISE
Old Enough to Fight
But Not to Vote
Senator Albert R. Pechan, author of Pennsylvania's infamous
Loyalty Oath Act, plans to introduce to the state Legislature a
proposal that would lower the legal voting age in this state from 21
to 18. If the .Legislature, which convened yesterday, approves the
proposal, a constitutional amendment would be necessary.
"I feel very strongly about our
young people having a voice in
their government," Senator Pe
_ chan said. And' then he backed
his strong feeling with a poorly
arrived at, timeworn, and hollow
logic: "If they are old enough to
fight, they are old enough to
vote "
Senator Pechan, in his in
terest in youth's voice in gov
ernment, has overlooked one
important thing. Pennsylvania
has no absentee voting law, so
any fighting man away- from
his home on election day, re
gardless of his age, cannot vote.
Since most fighting men in this
state cannot vote without such
a law, extending voting rights
to those under 21 would only
be extending an empty right.
If Senator Pechan and his legis
lative colleagues are sincerely
interested in youth's voice in
government, they will enact
such a law. Without this law,
Senator Pechan's proposal is
hollow.
But even 'if Pennsylvania had
an absentee voting law, there
would be no justification to lower
the legal voting age to 18. Sen
ator Pechan is proposing some
thing which at first glance seems
good, but which upon deeper
investigation proves not only stu
pid, but dangerous.
The idea that a man old
enough to fight is old enough
to vote is completely wrong,
primarily because the qualities
of a good fighting man and an
intelligent voter are of • little,
if any, similarity. And to send
to the polls an .unintelligent
voter is bad business.
Those who share Senator Pe
chan's view on this question have
failed to consider that, although
it takes a good deal of courage
to be a good fighter, it does not
usually take a great deal of in
telligence. In fact, the best soldier
is the one who most willingly
submits to the dictates of- his
leader, regardless of motives. In
direct contrast to a good fighter,
a -,good voter does not need a
good deal of courage but does
need a great deal of intelligence.
And the voter who willingly and
blindly submits to another's dic
tates, regardless of motives, is
using his voting privilege to his
detriment and the • detriment of
his countrymen.
WEDNESADY, JANUARY 7, 1953
By Bible
f •
\'‘‹
NO,
F-30 /,
By DAVE JONES
To follow the logic that a
man old enough to fight is old
enough to vote would be folly.
By that token, "old enough to
fight, old enough to vote; old
enough do vote, old enough to
assume majority." And not only
would an 18-year old be old
enough to assume majority, but
he would be obligated to as
sume all responsibilities of a
voting citizen. A man cannot
assume only privileges and
leave others to assume his re
sponsibilities.
The fact is, men under 18 1 / 2
will not be drafted. Local draft
boards have barely touched the
19-year old bracket to date. The
sharp criticism afforded when
18 1 / 2 wasp set as the draft -age,
along with draft boards' reluc
tance to draft men of that age,
indicate the feeling_ that such
men are not old enough ACT fight.
Under Senator Pechan's logic
then, this feeling also indicates
such men are not old enough to
vote either.
Regardless of the reasoning
behind Senator Pechan's 'pro
posal, the idea is still bad. Col
lege men and women are gen
erally considered above average
both in intelligence and moral
conduct. Yet, just last year men
and women from 18 to 21, and
many over 21, participated in
a childish and disgusting wave
of panty raids across the na
'tion's college campuses. This
action demonstrated these
above average men and women
are not yet ready to take on the
responsibility of voting. Adult
thinking is simply not, present.
It is unfortunate the right . to
vote must be determined by
chronological age. There are some
16-year olds capable of voting
intelligently, and there are citi
zens 60 years old and beyond, who
are too illiterate or dumb to ever
cast an intelligent ballot.
' This situation of unintelligent
voting is bad enough without
making it worse. But if chro
nolog i c a 1 age must be the
standard for determining voting
capability, as it seems it must,
then that age had better be 21
and not 18. That will give the
human animal at least three
more years to ferret out a more
intelligent decision—something
this country could use once in
et. while.