1? AGE Four,
Published Tuesday through Sat
urday mornings inclusive-during
the University year by the staff
3f The Daily Collegian of the
Pennsylvania State University.
Entered as second-class matter JULT *. /934 at the State College, re. Peat Office an
DAVE JONES. Editor
Managing Ed., Marshall 0. Donley: City Ed., Chuck
Obertance; Copy Ed., Chia Mathias: Sports Ed., Sam Pro
copio: Edit. Dir., Dick Rau: Wire-Radio Ed., Bill Jost:
Photo Ed., Bruce Schroeder: Sot. Ed. Lynn Kaltanowitz:
Asst. Sports Ed, Dick McDowell: Asst. Soc. Ed., Liz Newell:
Feature Ed., Nancy Meyers: Exchange Ed.. Gar Vollmer:
Librarian, Lorraine Gladus.
STAFF THIS ISSUE: Night editor, Len• Goodman, Copy editors, Phil Austin, Peggy McClain; Assist
ants, Bob Dunn, Frank DiPipi, Nancy Fortna, Sue Conklin, Barbara Weinburg, Ann Saylor, Marilyn
Pysher, Sally Sykes. Ad staff, Fay Goldstein, Anne Sherman.
A Few Inequities in the Grading System
Honor Society Council has named a corn- points. If a student fails many of his cour.ses,
mittee that could help eliminate the gross in- he may receive a minus. average. How is it
equities 'in the grade point system. possible for a student to flunk more credits
The council is conducting a study of the Penn than he has taken?
State grading system with an eye toward mak- Another fallacy in the grading 'system is that
ing it less stringent. The council has figures it provides for a degree of 'failure. Why should
which show the University grading system 27 one student be penalized more than another
per cent more strict than any other school in merely because he flunks a course with a lower
the nation. grade? This is what is being done with bar-ones
Students have for some time complained about and bar-twos. The idea behind this division in
the practice of giving bar-ones and bar-twos. failure was' probably to provide incentive to
When the Penn State freshman goes home for the failing student. It is questionable what price
the first time after entering the University, his we must pay for incentive..
friends
friends are often amazed that a student here The present grading system is too .unreason
can have a minus average, able. A Penn State student's all-College average
Many colleges have instituted the four-point may look anemic next to that of a student from
grading system, with a "zip" and no credit for a university where flunking a course does not
those who fail a course. At Penn State, a stu- subtract from the overall average.
dent may pass a course and yet-•get no grade It seems the grading system might well be
for it. It seems illogical that a student who changed to the four-point system employed at
passes a course cannot receive a passing grade, other institutions. Under this plan, a "one"
Grades are designed as a measurement of at- would be equivilant to "D," arid a zip would be
tainment in a course. It is possible a student failure. This would not make the .grading sys
may attain nothing, and thus get a zip. But tern too liberal, because the percentage-of-fail
how is it possible a student may learn less ure regulation would still stand. This rule pro
than
nothing and get a bar-one? vides students failing
,50 per cent of their. credits
The Penn State grading system penalizes a be dismissed.
student in one course because he fails another In 'line with such a change in the grade sys
course. The student who ieceives a "two" in tern, further changes would be needed. The
one course and a bar-one in another has his necessary average for the dean's list, for in
achievement in the first course reduced because stance, would be boosted to 3.5 from the 2.5
of the failure in another, and unrelated, course. where it now stands. And requirements for
What is the reasoning behind penalizing a stu- other scholastic awards would be similarly
dent in history because he has failed a course raised. ~
in math? The failure should be enough of a Honor Society Council, in its consideration
penalty, without taking credit from him in an- of this matter, has uncovered a problem of great
other subject. concern to the student body. Its action must be
It is impossible to understand how a student closely watched. And student organizations
can have a less-than-nothing average. Some would be wise in supporting the council's find.
students actually owe the University grade ings, as long as they are within reason.
Judicial System: Good Idea, Slow Start
In an effort to improve the Penn State judicial
system, Tribunal is instituting a new procedure
under which counselors will be appointed to
advise, or speak in defense of, a student being
tried. Under this plan, the counselors will act
only in an advisory capacity unless a student
requests a formal hearing. In this case, the
counselor may speak in the student's defense.
This is a step in the right .direction. Tribunal.
up to this time, has been acting as both prose
cutor and judge in discipline cases. While fry
ing to act in both capacities, Tribunal may be
influenced in recc:immendind disciplinary meas
ures. No matter how fair a judicial body tries
to be in a decision, there is likely to be some
prejudgment if that body also acts as prose
cutor.
True, a student may speak in his own defense.
But some students, because . they do not fully
understand Tribunal procedure, fail to take ad
Bloodshot Eyes
Penn State is not the only academic insti
tution with blood in its eye.
The Associated Press reports fraternity men
af the University 'of Pennsylvania have started
to pay their fines in blood, too. In a decision
by the Interfraternity Council, fines assessed
against member fraternities for violating coun
cil rules will be payable in blood—at the rate
of one pint for each $5 of fine.
This seems in the same pattern of the recom
mendation of the Association of Independent
Men's Judicial Board of Review. It was that
each of 34 residents of one dormitory be re
quired to give a pint of blood as punishment
for a beer party.
At the rate of the Penn fraternity regulation,
it would be considered an expensive party.
At $5 a pint for 34 pints, that's $l7O for one
half keg of beer. •
Well, it may be a good idea. At Penn it is.
Half 'the blood goes to the Red Cross blood
bank and the other half to a boy badly burned
in a futile attempt to save a younger brother
from . burning to death in a fire.
Today
CHECKER CLUB, 8 p.m., Temporary Union
Building.
INFIRMARY
Thomas Claypoole, Joseph Comfort, William
Corrigan, Arnold Dalton, Donald Daum, Clair
Fletcher, Carl Goldberg, David Grove, Robert
Haslett, David Howell, Thomas Kidd, Emmett
Kimmy, Jeannette Kohl, Donald Mayer, Joseph
Mijares, Dean Moyer, Joseph Russo, Jane
Schrope. Carolyn Stehly, Catherine Stewart,
Carl von Wolffradt, Archie Williams.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
Camp Delwood in the Pocanos will interview
students who are interested in counselors'
positions on Feb. 16. Interested students may
,
Tllr Butlg eatirgian I Celle
v i editorialsrenewing
the viewpoint of the writers,
net steeeeseeil, the pellet' of the
newspaper. Unsigned editorials
ere by 'the editor. '
Successor to THE FREE LANCE. eat 18112
—Diehl McKalip
Gazette ...
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE - COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
VINCE MAYNE. Sustains 14W.
Asst. Bus. Mgr.. Mark Christ; Local Advertising Mgr.,
Robert Carruthers: National Aihr, Mgr., Dave Burke:
Circulation Co-Mgrs., Vraak Creasman, °ism Miller
Promotion Mgr., Rath Israel; Personnel Mgr- • Patient*
Ungethnein: Office Mgr... Gail Shaver: Classified •. Adv.
i‘frr.„ Jean Geigsr: See., Carol Sawing: Besmirch • and
Records , Mgrs.. Virginia Bowman. Francis Crawford.
vantage of this opportunity. Tribunal would be
able to get a clearer picture of a case if there
were someone to advise a student - on his rights
when appearing before the, group.
Tribunal also might gain more respect in a
student's eyes if a procedure could' be estab
lished similar to that' used in court. As the situ
ation now stands, hearings are held in an in
formal and somewhat haphazard manner. If a
court procedure could be established, hearings
could proceed in a more business-like manner.
But such a move needs support. Applications
for counselor positions were made available be
fore the Christmas holidays. So far, only four
applications have been received by- Tribunal.
This sounds like the same old cry against stu
dent apathy, but if students want to make im
provements, they must be willing to support
moves to get them.
Late Permissions
Spririg Week plans will receive a boost if the
Senate committee on student affairs grants
women two 12 o'clock permissions for Spring
Carnival, as recommended by Women's. Stu
dent Government Association.
The special permissions would enable women
to aid the men in cleaning up after the carnival
closes the first night, in preparation for an early
start the next day, and in dismantling carnival
booths the second night. Otherwise, the burden
of the work would fall fully upon the men who
are co-sponsoring carnival booths.
The permissions would also permit women to
visit other booths during the evenings, a chance
they may not have if work at their own booths
is crowded into fewer hours.
The later permissions would also enable coeds
not taking part in the carnival to spend more
time at the• event, thus making it more of a
financial and social success.
Colleges are places where pebbles are polished
and diamonds are dimmed.—A. Lincoln
sign up for appointment at the employment
•
office. •
Camp Wenonah in Naples.. Me. will be here to
day to interview students interested in-camp
counselor positions. •
PLACEMENT SERVICE
LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY . representa
tives will visit the campus Jan. 13 to interview Ph D. can
didates in Physics, Math. Chem. -(lnorganic or Physical) and
Metal. expecting to receive their degrees in 1954, M.S.-can
didates in Phys., Math., Chem..(lnorganic or Physical) and
Metal. who have completed at east one semester, and.grad
uates in the above fields who wish'to consider summer work.
CAMP DELWOOD in the Poconos will interview students
here on Feb.'l6. who are interested in counselorecpositiotts.
Interested students may sign up for appointment at 'the
employment office.
NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO. will visit the campus
on Jan. 14 to interview Jan. graduates for positions as
trainee in life insurance sales. Also, :trainee position for.
cashier in Johnstown—must be exempt from'draft.
the net at Mitre& 2. 1170
—Don Shoemaker
—Nancy Ward
Little Man on Campus
~_ -
"If'ya ask me, all that blue hook will ever measure is
Short .. 'C hange
At this time of
.year, finals and, grades the chief topic of
cussion among. students. All through the year, Communism is
subject for discussion. in world affairs.
The Daily Kansan of the University of Kansas had this to
in comparing the two: .
Teachers may be divided into five classsifications
1. Those who give you 3's
g o o d', red-blooded, 100 per cent
Americans
•2. Those who give you 2's
have good standing in the com
munity, vote the Republican
ticket.
3. Those who give you l's--cau
tion, there may be infiltration
here. These are common, ordinary
men with the usual weaknesses.
4. Those who give you zips--
definitely socialistic, have shady
pasts. A thorough investigation,
should begin with these men.
5. Those who give you -l's (and
-2's)--catch these quick. They're
not only tainted red, they have
definite ringleader tendencies.
A weird-looking pile of tree
limbs, scrap lumber, and metal
dubbed "The Incuriosity. Bed
room" has startled motorists stop
ping for a second unbelieving
glance.
An inhabitant of Aberdeen,
Miss., said he built the 50-foot
high traffic-stopper •because he
"didn't have anything else to do."
The curious structure resembles
a giant-sized pile of jackstraws,
with tangled metal and. spires. It
looks like a slight breeze would
blow it down but the builder vows
the "thing" is as" strong as steel.
Auto hub caps, license plates,
gourds, and advertising signs dec
orate the "building" and literally
scream for attention when the
wind blows.
Sykes said he decided to call it
"The Incuriosity Bedroom" be
cause "I got a bed up there in the
top and I sleep there in the sum
mertime."
Times have certainly changed.
The council of Rockville, Conn.,
weeded from the city charter 40
ordinances considered obsolete or
unnecessary, including one pro . -
hibiting operation of a wheel bar
row at more than ten miles per
hour.
Marquette University medical
students have ' been swallowing
thermometers to aid in research
on the cause of ulcers,
The idea being - that teuipera
ture of the stomach, tells • what is
happening to the supply of blood,
which in turn indicates the for
mation of ulcers.
Of course, in order to be di
gestible, the thermometers were
put inside .. ,capsule.
A doctor at Tulane says smok
ing will not necessarily give you
lung cancer for. he went on to
say, it. may cause a heart attack
first.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1954
FRUSTRATION."
By GUS VOLLMER
There is so much to read about
the bad effects of smoking that
the best thing to do is to give up
reading.
At the circus, a very studious
looking Harvard man went 'to the
camel enclosure, carefully se
lected a straw from among the
litter and placed it on the camel's
back.. He waited a moment and
then stalked on muttering "That
wasn't the one." .
And now for a few quickies:
A Chrysanthemum called by any
other name would be easier to
spell . . Money does .not grow
on trees but limbs have a way of
attracting it . . . Opportunity
knocks only once but. temptation
bangs on the door constantly.
Boston University
Fires Professor
Boston University has fired a
professor named by the FBI last
November as a link in a Commu
nist espionage ring , in high U.S.
government officials.
Prof. Maurice Halperin wa s
dismissed "for the good of Boston
University" after he failed several
times to appear before a school
review board assigned to consid
er his "fitness to teach."
• Reached in Mexico City by the
Boston Herald, Halperin said:
"It is very much to be regretted
that Boston University his suc
cumbed to the ways of hysteria,
manipulated by unscrupulous pol
iticians. It has done a disservice
to its own good name and to the ),
cause of academic freedom."
Trabue Supervises
Safety Ed Conference
Marion R.' Trabue, dean of the
College of Education is conduct
ing the annual meeting of the
national commission on safety ed
ucation which opened yesterday
and will continue until tomorrow
in Washington, D.C. The commis
sion •is a branch of the National
Education Association.
Tonight on WDFM
:25 - Sign on Prevue
:30 Marquee Memories
Record, Prevue
•—__.- Just for Two
- Semi-Popsl
News ,
-- Dance Party'
• of
E':Eil!M
By Bibier
, ,eU,,',