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Xi Batty Collegian
Sitooossoo to ESTi Vitali LilaCa, sot. 1887
Published Tuesday through Saturday asormala.ga bselusive
Suring the College year by the staff of The Daily Collects's
of The P.nutaylvaltis State College.
Entered ae second-class matter Jail 0, 1934, at the State
Colliers, Pa.. Poet Office ander the act of March 3, 1879
Collegian editorial represent the viewpoint et the
writers, not necessarily the policy ei the newspaper. Un•
signed editorials are by the editor
Dave PeUnits
Editor Franklin S. Kelly
Business Mgr.
STAFF THIS ISSUE
Editorial staff: Night editor, Bill Jost; Copy
editors, Nancy Ward, Mary Lou Adams; Assis
tants, Shirley Musgrave, Dick Anglestein, Bill
Snyder, David Bronstein.
• Advertising staff: Virginia Bowman, Vinee
Drayne.
DIR Can Be Proud
Of Its Fine Record
Among the 390 students who were graduated
from the College in January, 47 had formerly
been enrolled in the Division of Intermediate
Registration. A great deal of praise can be given
to the division and the students enrolled there
for attaining such a record.
Originally, 256 students were enrolled in DIR.
Only 17 per cent were in the lower two-fifths
of the class. The purpose was to give guidance
and help to students who were having trouble
deciding on a curriculum which would aid them
after graduation.
Too often, backwardness and secrecy are as
sociated with DIR. The aim of the DIR is still
the same: to help those students who are hav
ing scholastic problems assimilate themselves.
A student is placed in DIR for various reasons:
if his average drops below a certain point; if he
is changing from one school to another, and if
he wishes to have additional vocational guid
ance before deciding upon a curriculum. Special
tests and interviews are given to determine
where the student, should be placed.
The Division of Intermediate Registration is
doing a fine job in helping students who would
not have been able to graduate without such
help and guidance. It •is an institution which
can be looked upon with pride by everyone• on
campus.
Collegian Reviews
Are Misunderstood
The Daily Collegian reviewed another two
shows this past weekend, and once again much
criticism is flowing into the office - regarding
the "Roberta" review in particular.
Although we do not pretend to be polished
literary critics, the observing public (particu
larly those involved in the dramatic produc
tions) should realize that a sincere effort is
made, at all times, to be fair.
It is significant to note that if and when pre
sent actors and actresses on the campus enter
the professional stage, they will be subject to
the criticism of many more critics. There will
always be areas in which the stage performer
will disagree with what a critic has said.
The unfortunate thing regarding Daily Col
legian reviewers is that it seems the students
do have a certain amount of pity for the per
formers. All is fine until a review says some
thing slightly critical.
It must be remembered, too, that like all
signed columns appearing in any newspaper.
Daily Collegian dramatic reviews are the opin
ions of the individual writers. This does not
mean that the Daily Collegian is taking an' edi
itorial stand.
Opinions of any dramatic performance will
vary. The Daily Collegian reviewers never have
and never will seek to give unfavorable criti
cism unless they believe that it is in order.
It has often been said that those who have
learned to take criticism—constructive criticism
—have learned the real value of being an artist
or a performer.
With these facts in mind, it is hoped that
dramatic performers on the campus will soon
learn to understand Daily Collegian reviews
and reviewers in the proper light. Much time
and effort go into the preparation of a review,
which is done for the sake and experience
for all persons involved.
Beautiful Women
There must be beautiful women all over the
place!
That's probably what John Wayne will be
thinking when he starts trying to pick five final
ists for the 1953 Miss Penn State contest. But
then, looking at beautiful women is most likely
old stuff to this long-time movie favorite.
With a record-breaking total of 72 entries in
the contest, and with Mamie Eisenhower sched
uled to crown the winner, it looks as though this
year's Spring Week is well on its way toward
topping all previous efforts. -
All we need do now is hope that the present
spell of cold winds and snow flurries gives
way to a week of warm, sunshiny weather in
honor of the events and that John Wayne
doesn't by some freak of nature get hold of a
copy of "Modern Spleen."
—AI Munn
—Mimi Ungar
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE .COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
Safety. Vatv6.-----
Criticizes Fee Plan
TO THE EDITOR: In the light of the recem
editorial shots exchanged by Line Warrell and
Dave Jones, I would like to clarify briefly the
stand of the Engineering Student Council on the
Interschool Council Board's fee proposal. The
proposal, as it now stands, would assess each
student 25 cents per semester, the funds to be
,distributed on the basis of the number of stu
dents enrolled in each school. The well-publi
cized purpose of the additional , assessment is
to equalize th e student activity fee for all
schools.
The Exigineerin.g Student Council. however,
cannot comprehend the logiC of a plan that
would increase fees merely for the purpose
of equalization with no
.definite projects of
expansion for the programs of the various
school councils. In other words, it seems as
though the ISCB's , plan advocates the collec
tion of a new fee without first determining
a use for . the increased income.
It is realized that at least one school council
consistently operates at a deficit and that all
of the councils (including Engineering) would
be able to use the money. Also, the Engineering
Student Council has not been able to formulate
a more equitable plan which would meet the
needs of other councils as well as the require
ments of the administration. However, it is still
the opinion of the students of Engineering, who
next year will constitute the largest school at
Penn State, that the present proposal is putting
the cart before the horse.
—Robert 8.. Watson, President
Engineering Student Council
Upholds Frosh Dinks
TO THE EDITOR: Since All-College Cabinet
passed the resolution that . incoming freshman
women will wear green dinks instead of bows,
many comments, pro and con, have been heard.
Certain powerful factions on campus have taken
a dim view of, the situation and expressed def
inite opposition to dinks for women.
As ex-bow wearers, we would like to pre
sent a few arguments to help these pro
ponents of the ancient status-quo realize that
the bow went out with the horse and buggy.
Bows are very sweet and feminine if the
wearer has the long curls or the upsweep of
the Gibson Girl era, but for the modern, wind
blown coed, they are completely out of place.
Many a green bow went flying with the wind
as coeds trodded from Ag Hill to Mechanical
Engineering.
In first grade, big bows and Mary Jane shoes
were quite in vogue, but on skirt and sweatered
girls in their late teens, dinks and saddle shoes
are more the fashion.
At the end of the first week, the crisp, -femi
nine bows were a wet, dirty mess. Is there
anyone who wouldn't admit that an unfem
inine (?) dink would make a girl seem more
lady-like than one of these messy creations?
We; who will always remember the three
horrible weeks of green bows, hope that the
reactionaries on campus will not be able to
use their influence to change this welcome
proposal.
Disagrees With Review
TO THE EDITOR: This letter is directed to
your "critic,"
_Edmund Reiss. After reading his
review on "Roberta," I've come to the conclu
sion that he is unfit to be 'a reviewer of thea
trical productions.
Mr. Reiss was most unfair to. Joe Goldstein,
who portrayed the role of Johnny Kent, Amer
ican football player. If Mr. Reiss had carefully
read and understood the "Roberta" plot, he
would have realized that Jo's "fidgity" move
ments, "half-hearted gestures" and "puzzled
cow-like looks" were a MUST in his role. The
part called for someone who could portray the
muscular football player who, when faced with
a dressmaking business and several designing
women, would be flustered. In this role, Joe
did an exceptionally good job.
May I suggest that before. a criticism of a
show is written, the reviewer should become
familiar with the story, the characters, and
the characterizations entailed.
Gazette ...
April 22, 1953
ALL-COLLEGE F 0 0 D COMMITTEE, 7:15
p.m., Old Main.
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL
ENGINEERS, 7 p.m., 105 Agricultural Engineer
ing. •
CHESS CLUB, 7 p.m., 3 Sparks.
PENN STATE GRANGE, 8 p.m., 100 Horticul
ture.
PERSHING RIFLES, 7 p.m., Armory, Class A
uniforms.
.COLLEGE HOSPITAL
Walter Back, Brinah Bank, Rogers Bender,
Robert Dankanyin, Norman Fleekop, David Gay
ley, Marvin Goldberg, Basil Hadjiyannis, John
Harapas, Patricia Hennessy, Fritz Pfefferkorn,
Richard Pinney, James Seton, .I.ordan Smith,
Abing Sorriatmadja, and Paul Wilson.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
Asbury Arlington Hotel. New Jersey, will inter
view. women, April 24.
Boy to work on farm for room and board.
Boys wanted for waiters and dishwashers.
Boys wanted for counter work, 'evenings. Must
-
' have car.
Camp , Nokomis, New York, will interview men
and women. April 23.
Students!. wives .for evening , counter. work.
—Names withheld
—Judy Koenig
Little -Man On Campus
"Would you think it strange if .I ask that we sit in th' back seat—li's
just that that's the duly place I can carry on a decent con;;,ersation."
The Political Scene
(This is the last in a series of five analytical articles dealing
with student political organizations at the College and the cur
rent electoral race. The series is intended as an impartial discus
sion of a topic which touches on the lives of every' man , and
woman at Penn. State.
5. Ballots, Machines, and Percentages:.:'
The 11-day election campaign for the spring offices at the
College is ended, and the final tallying is underway as of today.
This column has tried to cover the issues of the election and to point
out the differences in organization in the : two parties, with an, eye
toward- benefiting both parties.-
This last column will pick 'up
a few last loose strands and make
a few comparisons with elections
of the near-past.
For one, thing: this year stu
dents will be encouraged' by the
system in use to split their tickets
when voting. As the voting ma
chines are set up, it is not pos
sible for a student to pull one
lever and be done, with th6-Whole
thing— he must vote. for . each
office separately—president, vice
president, and secretary treasurer,
and AA officers.
. .
In a national election, where
voting machines are used,' the
levers on the machines are de
signed in such a way as to allow
the voter to pull 'one larger
-handle which depresses. all the
smaller handles' in a electoral.
row, thus permitting "him' to
vote a straight ticket with one
easy movement.
There are a number of reasons
why this can't be: done during
College elections. Primarily, - there
is the difference in the. eligibility
of the voters. In a national. elec
tion every person, entering the
voting booth is eligible to vote
for every office in the election:
This is not so at Penn State. Only
sophomores, for example, ,may
vote for the junior claSs pres
ident and other junior class •of,
ficers. Juniors alone may vote for,
the officers to represent them in
their senior year. The eighth' se
mester senior is not eligible to
vote for any but All-College of-:
fices.
Obviously, with this 'division of
eligibilities, it would not' be - prac
tical to establish a one-handle fpr
all officers system. The system
Which is being used entails the
use of three voting machines,
one for sophomores, one for jun
iors, and one - for eighth semester,
seniors. Thus the voters are brok
en down into eligibility groups
and can vote only for their repre
senatives.
The voting machines them
selves present some interesting,
questions: What will their effect
be on the voting? Will they
draw a large vote? or, Will.
they hinder the speed of the
election?
When the idea of voting ma
chined first circulated around the
political circles at the College,
everyone .was jubilant. Here, they
WEDNESI34I7,- -Arlin,. 22,2.1953
By MARSHALL 0. DONLEY
said, was the answer to the per
centace vote dream. They were
sure the machines would draw
out a large vote, if only for curi
osity's sake, for, after all, many
Penn Staters have not used vot
ing machines before.
But let's look at the records:
in 1949 voting machines were used
in the spring elections at the Col
lege, Two .adverse effects •of the
machines „showed themselves. We
might wonder if the same effects
might not show themselves this
year. •
For ,ane thing, the machines
could not handle the volume of
voters fast enough; more people
tried to, vote than could push the
levers at one time. The- elections
committee came up with a - par
tial solution—one that might be
needed again this year—they al
lo*ed voters to use paper ballots
or the machines, whichever they
wanted; especially at between
class, rush hours when everyone
wanted to
,vote at once.
The' other adverse effect was
in a way an outgrowth of this
problem,. for the lack 0f.. , a
chance..to: vote kept the vote
doWn—only about 2700 stu
dents cast ballots in' '49. The
vOte, every year since then has
been larger without voting 'ma
chines: 3671 voted in 1950, 3602
in .'5l, .and (a record) 4152 . 1a5t
.
F'ercentagewise the figures have
been 1950 7 --42 per cent, 1951-41
per cent, and, 1952-44.3 per cent.
Earlier during the campaign
this year, politicians were talking
glibly of 80 .per cent vote. It has
since trimmed down to a "hope"
of: 60 or 70 per cent. A more, real
istic figure would probably. not
exceed ,40 per cent.
Let us hope•the voting machines
will not interfere with the desires
of students to cast their Votes: If
the balloting proc e s s
smoothly, Penn Staters will have
a .full opportunity to express their
will—the heavier the vote,. the
more important and lasting.'the
student . government organization.
Collegian Promotion'
Mary Adams has been named to
the new senior editorial board of
the Daily Collegian which will
take over publication of the paper
Monday. • `.
By Bibler