PAGE TVOCI
Checks Are Big Business
One Store
Has Cashed
$2OOO Daily
By DON SHOEMAKER
Cashing student checks is a
big business for State College
merchants.
So big, in fact, that the man
ager of one store said he has
handled as much as $2OOO a
day in student checks.
Another said he handled 1500
checks a week, averaging from $5
to $lO each. A third claimed he
received an average of $5OO to
$6OO a day in checks.
Despite the large amount of
checks that pass over the coun
len of borough stores each day,
few► merchants complained of
receiving an excessive amount
of "bad" chocks. One merchant,
who said he handled an average
of 500 $5 or $lO checks a Week,
reported only one per cent were
"bad."
The person who said he had
handled $2OOO a day in checks,
said that in the 50 years he has
been in business, he has not re
ceived more than $5O in• bad
checks. Merchants said most of
the checks returned by the banks
were written by students who sim
ply made a mistake and overdrew
their accounts. These are prompt
ly made good, they said.
Only one of the merchants in
terviewed said he had been over
loaded With worthless checks. Be
cause of this, he no longer cashes
checks. Although he had no idea
of the amount of money he had
lost, he said most of the checks
were for small amounts. "It
wasn't worth our time and ex
pense to track these people
down," he said, "so we just
stopped cashing checks."
The biggest complaint of the
merchants was that students are
reluctant to produce Identifica
tion when they cash a check.
Most merchants said they were
glad to cash checks as part of
their service to students. But, as
one put it: "We're taking a risk
everytime we cash a check, and
we have to ask for identification."
Eugene Fulmer, secretary of
the State' College Area Chamber
of Commerce, compared it to
buying a suit.
"When some one goes in to buy
a suit, he doesn't tell the clerk
to pick him a suit off the rack
and wrap it up. He trys it on, has
it fitted, checks the quality of the
seams and th efabric. By the same
token, when he hands the mer
chant a check to pay for the suit,
he can not expect the' merchant
to take it without checking its
quality. This is the reason mer
chants ask for identification."
A pamphlet, issued by the pub
lic relations department of Amer
ican Stores, has this to say:
'When a manager cashes a
check for a customer. in reality
he is advancing money in the
form of a "loan," until such
time as the check pays oft in
the ordinary course of busi
ness . .
"And since our managers are
not bankers, nor professional
check cashers, they have every
right to insist upon proof, satis
factory to themselves .
". . . Unless and until the man
ager is wholly satisfied of the
identity and good faith of the per
son presenting a check, he is en
tirely justified in declining . .
to go through with the transac
tion."
One local merchant pointed
out that when a student pro
duces identification, he is es
tablishing his identity and good
faith with the store.
"In this way he protects him
self against the very few people
that will take advantage of a
storekeeper," he said.
For these reasons, merchants
ask that students put their ad
dresses and phone numbers on
checks. All checks should be en
dorsed and the student should
identify himself by presenting a
•nitric""lation card.
Th.. `radition of the junior class
ed and publishing "LaVie"
was b: ken by the class of 1931,
wh - n the seniors took over the
project.
Work on Chapel
Expected to Start
Within 2 Weeks
Bids are expected to be re
ceived and a contract let for the
construction of the Helen Eaken
Eisenhower Memorial Chapel
within approximately two weeks,
according to Walter H. Wiegand,
director of physical silent.
The target date' for the corner
stone laying is June 11, Com
mencement Day, Wiegand said.
The chapel will be located in Hort
Woods near Pattee library.
The chapel will include a small
meditation chapel with seats for
160 people; a connecting unit
which will house program and ad
ministration facilities; and the
main chapel with seats for 2200
persons.
The three units will be ar
ranged in a U-shape around a
large reflecting pool.'
Hat Societies
Appliciitions
Due at HUB
Applications for membership
into Androcles and Blue Key, jun
ior men's hat societies, and Parini
Nous and Skull and Bones, sen
ior men's hat societies, are due at
the Hetzel Union desk.
The deadline 'for thejunior so
cieties is 6 p.m. today. The letters
should include the applicant's
semester, All-University average,
and activities. They are to be ad
dressed to Vernon Sones, presi
dent of Androcles, or Robert Mc-
Millan, president of Blue Ney.
Applications for membership
into the senior societies will be
accepted until sp.m. Tuesday.
The letters are to include the All-
University average of the appli
cant which must be at least a
1.0, his extra-curricular activities,
and his reasons for wanting to
Join the society. Applications
should be addressed to William
Wismer, president of Parmi Nous,
or Robert Smoot, president of
Skull and Bones.
Seely Appoints 4
To Traffic Court
Four additional appointments to
Traffic Court were announced
yesterday by Earl Seely, All-Uni
versity president.
They are Richard Kurt; Sam
uel Kahn, and Stephen Jordan, all
sophomores. Thomas Cross was
named freshman representative.
Seely said another sophomore
and another freshman would be
appointed at a later date. All-
University Cabinet must approve
the appointments before they be
come official.
Chess Instruction
The Chess Club will offer a new
program for free chess instruc
tion. All interested students may
also sign up at the HUB this week.
A match will be held. on May
30 with the newly formed chess
club of Altoona Center.
ft Grows and Grows . . .
'Week' Adds to Fund
Four years ago, Ralph Egoif, a
member of All-University Cabi
net, contacted Herbert R. Kinley,
administrative assistant, to work
out an idea of what could be done
with $lOOO profit from the Spring
Week carnival.
Together they wt-d-ked out a
plan which was to become the
Penn State Student Scholarship
Fund, the only fellowship con
trolled by the University that is
supported by funds donated by
students for other students.
Today the fund has grown from
the initial $lOOO to $11,300, and
at least three scholarships of $lOO
each are awarded yearly.
Scholarship Purpose
The purpose of the scholarship,
as set down by Egolf and Kinley
and approved by All-University
Cahmet and thq, Board of Trus
tees, is to aid "needy students of
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNIMVAMA
WH Council
Conducts
Nominations
John Carlson, sixth semester
pre-medical major, and Frank
Simokat, sixth semester electri
cal engineering major, were nom
inated for the presidency of West
Halls Council Monday night in
the first round of nominations.
President James Kennedy,
eighth semester chemistry major,
announced that nominations would
be reopened at next week's meet
ing. Elections will be held at that
time.
Only the president will be
elected. The other officers will be
appointed by the new president
to serve until elections can be
held in the fall.
James Anderson, social chair-
Man, announced a tentative pro
gram for the remainder of the
semester. The program includes a
mined dinner folloWed by a rec
ord dance from 6:30 to 9 p.m. May
5 in Waring lounge, a record
dance from .9 to 12 p.m. May 14
in Waring lounge, another record
dance from 8:30 to 11:30 May 20
in Waring lounge, and a dance
with an orchestra or combo from
9 to 12 p.m. May 21 in the ball-
I room of the Hetzel Union Build
ing.
Council decided to donate $5O
toward the Association of Inde
pendent Men-Leonides fish-fry
picnic May 7 at Holmes Field. The
picnic is open to independent stu
dents. No admission price has
been set yet.
On a motion to have teas on
Mother's Day in the area's four
small lounges, Kennedy cast a tie
breaking vote in favor of the mo
tion. The council had voted at
last week's meeting to hold an
area tea in Waring lounge. The
dormitories will be open for par
ents and guests on Mother's Day.
AIM Elections
Set for Tonight
The Board of Governors of the
Association of Independent Men
will elect officers at 7:30 tonight
in 203 Hetzel Union. Candidates
for the four offices will also de
liver their nomination speeches.
Nominations were made last
week, but nominees for the posts
of secretary and treasurer will be
accepted tonight since only one
person was nominated -for each
office.
Nominated for the presidency
are Robert Cole, a town independ
ent, and Bruce Lieske, treasurer
of AIM.. Seeking the position of
vice president are Raymond Rub
ner, a town independent, and Nel
son Sidel, Pollock representative
at-large. Leonard Richards, pres
ent secretary of AIM, has no op
position for his return to office,
and Harry Martini, president of
Pollock Council, is the only nom
inee for tha post of treasurer.
good character who are required
to work part time to continue
their education and who have
Applications for fellowships
from the Penn State Student
Fellowship Fund will be avail
able in the near future, accord
ing to Herbert A. Kinley, ad
ministrative assistant.
At least three scholarships of
$lOO each will be awarded to
needy students.
Full details will be announced
later.
made contributions to student ac
tivities."
Kinley said he feels. that it is
"one of the greatest scholarships
because it is a scholarship fund
being donated by the student
body." He added that all persons
receiving the award to date have
been students "compelled to earn
31 Groups Enter
ugl
yMan Contest
Thirty one groups have entered "ugly men" in the annual
Ugly Man contest to be held May 44.
John Brunner, contest chairman, announced yesterday
that the parade will take place May 3 and start at 6:13 p.m. at
Foster / avenue and Locust line. It will proceed to Beaver,
west to Allen, south to College, .west to Burrowes, north to
Pollock, east to Shortlidge, and
will disband at the corner of
Grange and McElwain Halls. Each
entrant may have a maximum of
four cars representing him.
The voting will be conducted
with a penny-a-vote system at a
booth on the Mall. Five judges
will select tie winner from a list
of seven finalists who have com
piled the most votes.
According to Brunne r, the
thewill base their scoring on
the amount of effort the candi
dates put into their campaigning.
The committee has suggested that
the candidates work up a skit or
other means of publicity that will
berlixl. presented during the voting
pe
The following points will be
given toward Spring Week: 20
or the entry, 25 for a finalist,
and 100 for the winner.
This year, $lOO from the fund 1
will be set aside for Christmas,
baskets and other relief projects'
of Alpha Phi Omega, .rational
service fraternity, After expenses
ate substracted from the proceeds,
the remainder will go to Campus
Chest.
Entrants are; Jerry Donovan, /Cap
Sigma; Karl Schwensfeler, Beta Theta Pi;
Howard Guenther, Sigma Chi and' ;eta
Tau Alpha; John hfeMahon, Theta kappa
Phi; William Banfield, Sigma Pi; William
Mats, Delta Chit Edward Plan Pi Kap
pa Alpha and Mama Sigma Dig a ;Allen
Schneirov. Phi ibpsilon Pi ; Ran all Weal:-
Orli, Phi Gamma Delta and Kappa Alpha
Theta.
Herold Aetrich, Beta Sigma Rho and
Thompson Hall; Franck RIO, Lambda
Chi Alpha; Lamont Smith, Theta Chi and
Phi Mu; Has Simm Association of • In.
dependent Men; Richard Gordon, Phi Sig
ma Delta and Alpha Tau
..Omega.
George Grouse, Phi Kappa ifigmat U
tak! Collura, Theta Chi; William wunner
Sigma
Alpha Epsilon and melts Gamm a,
John Greiner, Delta Sigma Phi and Delta
Delta Delta; Robert Kitelml. Pi Kappa
Phi and Atherton Hall; Thayer Potter,
Phi Delta Theta and Kappa Kappa Grimmit
David Leathern, Alpha Gamma Rho; Ron.
al4 Weidenhammer, Alpha GM Rho and
Theta Delta Chi.
Jams. Garrity, Delta Upsilon and Chi
Omega: John Goodrich. Sigma Phi Dial
lon ; Alec Deliesov, Phi kepis Psi; WV.
Ram Hamilton, College Co-operative; Don,
aid Bell, Sigma Nu: Burne Dancer, Alpha
MWOI/I Phi and Delta 411 Delta; Norman
lvin, Phi Sigma Sigma and Aeacia;
Dilworth Smith, Kappa Delta Rho ant
4/Pblt Gamma Delta; Frederic. and Law.
rence Cohen, Alpha .Poleilott Pi -and Sig
ma Delta Tau,
4 Traffic Violators
Arrested by Police
Three students were arrested by
Pleasant Gap State Police for
auto violations from March 16 to
31. One student was arrested by
Bellefonte police fo r speeding
iduring March.
The three are: John Mt, sixth
semester forests major, speeding;
Marcus Herrold, graduate student
in agricultural education, speed
ing; and Arlynne Obertier, fourth
semester arts and letters major,
no current operator's license.
William Eggers, eighth semester
business administration major,
was arrested for speeding by
Bellefonte police.
almost 100 per cent of their ex
penses:'
Fund Grows
Since 1951, the scholarship fund
has been enriched by Spring Week
carnivals, All-University Cabinet
gifts, and student organizations.
The latest organization to donate
to the fund is Traffic Court.
Money from fines collected will
be turned over to the fund, ac
cording to KinleY.
Recipients of the awards are
chosen by All-University presi
dent, the dean of men, the dean
of women, and the comptroller.
THE PERFECT PIZZA
SALLY'S
WE DELIVIR AD 7-2373
lIRDNISINW. APRIL 27. 1955
Ag Hill League
Starts Second
Softball Season
The Ag Hill softball league, a
unique project among student
councils at the University, started
its second year last night.
The league is composed of 12
teams from Ag Hill clubs, each
having a separate team. It is the
only athletic orgeniaation of its
type formed by I student cOundil
at the Univeraity.
Williamßarkley, league com
missioner, said the league has two
divisions. The tournament is
played by single elimination with
one loss eliminating a team.
The teams will play every night
for about three weeks, Barkley
said. League champion is deter
mined by a three-game playoff
and the winner recedes a trophy.
No See charged for entering
a team, Barkley said, but the
schedule for this year has been
filled.
}fort Club and Forestry 13 mom
bers of division A will play to
night. The time will be set by
the team captains.
Draft Deferment
Forms Are Due
Applications for the Selective
Service System College*
Qualifi
cation Test must be in the mail by
midnight, May I), according to
Sara E. Case, secretary in the
dean of men's office.
To be eligible to take the teak
an applicant must
1. Be a Selective Service regis•
trent who intends to request oc
cupational deferment as a student.
2. Be satiefactorily pursuing a
full time college course, graduate
or undergraduate, leading to a
degree.
3. Not have previously taken
the test. •
The Selective Service test i lest
for this academic year, will be
given May 19. Application blanks
are available in the dean of men's
office.
Skies to Clear;
Mercury to Rise
The damp spring weather is ex•
pected to leave this afternoon, ac
cording to the University weather
station. This morning is forecast
to be cloudy, and slightly wann
er temperatures are foreseen.
Today's high mercury reading is
expected to be around 52, while a
low of 44 degrees is forecast. Yes
terday's high was 47, and the low
was 45.
Data for today's forecast was
compiled by James Anderson,
eighth semester meterology major,
student forecaster for the station.
WDFM Engineer Wins
Ist Place in Competition
James Raleigh, director of en
gineering for campus radio sta
tion WDFM, recently won first
place in a competition sponsored
by the Pittsburgh sub-section of
the American Institute of Elec
trial Engineers.
Each contestant submitted and
gave an oral presentation. Three
other colleges participated in the
competition.
Raleigh received a prize of $5O.
Cobalt was used by the an
cient Egyptians to tint pottery
blue. •
MOTHER'S DAY
CARDS
NITYANY CARD & GIFT SHOP
348 E. College opp. Aak Hall