PAGE FOUR Pabllalittf TiMdftj tiirongti Sttarday Mornings daring ttia University rear, lha Dally Collegian la a stadent* operated newspaper- Entered as eeeond-elass matter Jaly I, 1914 at the State College, Pa. Peat Office andev the act of ftterdi S, IST9. MIKE MILLER, Acting Editor STAFF THIS ISSUE: Night Editor: Ed Dubbs; Copy Editors: Mike Moyle, Marnie Schenck; Assist ants: Anne Friedberg, Elaine Huberman, George French, Ford Minsked. Ad Staff: Sue Brown, Jackie Schenberg. Too Independent to Not long ago a few of our readers were con cerned with the quality of social dancing at the University; now the issue seems to lie with the type and quantity of dances. It was recently reported that there are too many Association of Independent Men spon sored dances—that is, in relation to the dance attendance, according to the social chairman, Harold Dean. His suggestion was to have more social events and dances. In a meeting of the Board of Gov ernors Wednesday night, Mr. Dean advised that AIM should continue to sponsor the im portant social events, but the living areas and the individual dormitory units should sponsor a greater portion of independent social func tions. This seems to mean several dormitory unit dances should take the place of one big AIM dance—for the purpose of encouraging better attendance. In the opinion of Mr. Dean, social functions would enjoy greater success if they were held at the level of the dormitory unit because a student would be more inclined to attend a dance sponsored by his own dormitory than a dance sponsored by AIM. Before elaborating on the problem and Mr. Dean’s suggested solution, we should list what we think are the main reasons students attend dances—not necessarily in the order of their importance. 1. Because they like the orchestra. 2. Because some women feel their social rating fluxuates as do their “Big Weekend” bids. 3. Because they just like to dance. 4. Because they feel obligated to attend. 5. Because they will be fined if they do not attend—in the case, of some fraternity and sorority dances. Mr. Dean's suggestion in essence—to vary the sponsorship which would seem to necessi tate an increase in the actual number of dances 'Childish Politics' TO THE EDITOR: I would like to take this op portunity to say a few words on the present political conditions at Penn State, especially those concerning Campus party. As you know I was one of the co-founders of Campus party. Along with a few people I worked very hard to build what I thought would be a good political party at Penn State, which was and still is very much needed. Now, much to my sorrow, I feel that I was only re sponsible for creating another "monster-like" organization which seems to thrive in all the dirt and unmanly characteristics of "old-day" political parties. If this is the case I apologize to the student body. But I feel that there is still hope. May I suggest that those who plan to attend Sun day’s meeting for the purpose of electing new officers try to cloak themselves in the air that ALPHA DELTA SIGMA INITIATION DINNER, 6:15 p.m.. State College Hotel CAMPUS PARTY CLIQUE MEETING, 7 p.m., 10 Sparks HILLEL FOLK DANCE GROUP. 2 p.m., Hillel HILLEL FRESHMAN MIXER, 2 p.m., Hillel PLAY TRYOUTS (The Innocents”), 7:15 p.m., ittle Theater, basement of Old Main Mid-East Tinderbox Plays Into Reds’ Hands By WILLIAM L. RYAN AP Foreign News Analyst The United States faces a grave dilemma in the Middle East, and many regard the problem as the natural result of American overemphasis on Maginot line thinking. The United States, such ob servers argue, for a long time v/as obsessed with the idea of forming a Middle East Defense O r g a n i zation embracing the whole area. This not only hand ed effective propaganda am munition to the Russians, but it also caused aggravations v/Uhin the Western camp it self. It was easy for Soviet propa ganda to identify the idea of MEDO with colonialism, with a threat to the sovereignty of na tions in an area newly emerg ing from colonial status. The Russians pictured MEDO as a devise to expand Western con trol of the area's natural re sources. chiefly its oil. It also pictured the attempt to build a military alliance as an invita tion to war on the soil of the Middle East. Many in France had serious misgivings about MEDO. These Sty? lath) CoUrgian tHMm t* THB FREE LANCE. ML ISIt ROGER VOGELSINGER. Acting Business Manager Safety Valve... Gazette •.. French feared it would under mine the traditionally privi leged position of France in Sy ria and Lebanon. Thus in Syria there grew up an alliance be tween pro-French elements and Syrian leftists against Ameri can policy in the Middle East. The coalition was so powerful for a time that it held the fate of the government in its hands. The only reason for such power, which was out of pro portion to the numerical, strength of the coalition, was the apparent need of the pro- French elements for allies to stand off pro-British and pro- American elements. Gains were made in the long run by pro- Soviet elements. The Israeli attack on Syrian military positions near the sea of Galilee -did little to help the United States out of its dilem ma. but it went far to strength en French sympathies for Sy ria. The attack may have dam aged Israel herself, since it raised fear in London and Washington over prospects for peace if Israel were to acquire additional arms. The United States dilemma is the heart of the Middle East problem: How to restore the THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA Dance? held—does not seem to us to solve the problem. In our list of reasons we can see but one advantage a living unit dance would have over the usual association dance. And that it would stimulate a feeling of obligation in, say, dorm 10 residents to make an appearance. For if no one in dorm 10 attended the dance sponsored solely by dorm 10, what would the general student body think of dances in general spon sored by dorm 10—moreover, what would peo ple in general think of residents of dorm 10? Social obligation to independent affairs has never had a very great unifying influence, and we feel even this obligation would fail to get the independents to go to unit dances. The sponsoring group has very little to do with dance attendance. For instance, do more juniors go to the Junior Prom than other class members? Or do any students refuse to at tend the Junior Prom because they don’t like juniors? Which brings us around to the core of the problem, should there be AIM dances, regard less of the level of sponsorship and relative size of the event. If the main problem is to get the people to attend these disputed AIM dances, should not the Board of Governors, or in particular the social committee, determine the need or de sirability of having dances at all. The reason for having dances should be analyzed. If it is mainly lo entertain the inde pendent, and he turns down the opportunity to be entertained, the Board of Governors should not trouble itself with the apathy. If it is to gain publicity for AIM, it is a waste of money. If it is to make money .another field of en deavor should be looked into. If it is lo spend money, no one should com plain. surrounded the people at the final meeting of the Campus Party last spring. Try lo get above the childish politics that were so apparent at the last meeting and think of student government and what would be best for its success. On your actions rests much of the reputation of Penn Slate and its student government. —Jack McMeekin EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. McMeekin was clique chairman of the Campus party last spring. Too Old to Learn? TOTHE EDITOR: A fair criterion for a rule is its constructiveness. As far as I can see, nothing constructive has resulted from the compulsory dress rule in the Nittany-Pollock area. In gen eral, the age level in the East area is beyond the age of easy indoctrination. University Hospital Joseph Beres, James Bizzack, Richard Doherty, Francis English, William Frantz, Judith Gropper, Lenore Hamilton, Joan McDonald, Jean McGeary, Katherine Oswald, Theo dore Paletta, Roger Richards, William Schweikart, Walter Shanks, Faver Snyder, William Thomas, Robert Merrell, and Rachel Milligan. military balance and yet avoid an arms race that surely would lead to a big “little war.” If the United Stales met Is raeli requests for the sale of arms lo offset Egyptian acquis ition of Communist weapons, there was no guarantee the Is raelis would restrain them selves from launching preven tive attacks before the Arabs got too strong. The Galilee at tack increased such fears. But if the "United States does not give arms to Israel, there is no guarantee, either, that the Arabs will not attack in concert when they are trained and ready with their new Commun ist arms. The Soviet Union has no such problem. The arms go to Egypt, the Russians claim, in a purely business deal having nothing to do with politics. The Rus sians contend this proves they are without sin and the West is the devil. The Arabs, so long as they are on the receiving side ol’ the arms argument, go along with this reasoning. Once again, the lesson is driv en borne to the West that Mag inot lines are no defense against the determined political attack that overleaps them. Briltttlal* nnaml Ik. Tl.wp.hMa *< th. Triton, not ■•eCMarllr th* p.Uef of th. papat, th* at.ri.at bod?- .r th. UaWmltf. —Jackie Hudgins —Paul Christopher Littl " I wish he could be like other proto an’ just laugh at the wrong answers." the cobbler's bench On Shopping The Christmas buying rush has been underway for some weeks now. But with only seven more shopping days left until Dec. 25, stores are staging a last-minute burst of sales manship. Take the other day for instance. I dropped into one the local druggerys with no other purpose in mind than buy a can of shaving cream (the kind that fizzes when you press a button) Now in the old days, a drug store was just that—a place where you went to buy pills, toilet arti cles, and the like. But no more: this is the age of super-markets and one-stop shopping centers. The old time pharmacy, with its bottles of colored water in the windows and the romance that went with it, is past. So after pushing my way past the toy counter, the camera coun ter, the home appliance counter and encountering crowds of peo ple, I finally found the shaving soap—stacked on an inconspicuous counter to the rear. "A can of shaving soap, please," I said to the clerk. "With menthol added?" she asked. "No," I replied. "But the menthol makes your face feel cooler," she protested. "No," I replied firmly, be fore my will-power had a chance to the temptation. Reluct? ntly, she put my pur chase in a bag and handed it to me. For a moment, I thought I had won. But the young lady was not easily discouraged. As I turned to go, she called: “I’m sure you must need some razor blades!” “Uh-uh ’’ I mumbled, “two box es at home.” "Well, how about a new ra *or." she wanted to know, pull ing a new super dooper auto matic safety raior from the showcase. “No thanks, already have two,” I said. For a moment, she was discour aged. Then the inspiration—the pitch.* “Razors make a good Christmas gift,” she said, “how about one for your father?” “We’re modern at home—use electric razors—have several,” I mumbled incoherently. Before she had a chance to re mobilize the attack, I beat a hasty retreat. I figured I was safe. But I made a mistake. Or. my way out, I stopped to buy a pack of cigarettes. Now this in itself was harmless enough, but it happened that the vitamin counter was next to the tobacco counter. The clerk gave me my ciga rettes but while she was reach ing for my change, she noticed a large bottle of vitamins on the SATUROAY, DECEMBER 17, 1955 >n Campus By DON SHOEMAKER opposite counter. Again, the gleam. “Say,” she commented, “you look kind of run down. How about a bottle of these vitamins so you can be in shape for the holidays?” Special today: only $3.50 for 100 . . . say, are you sure you’re not sick?” "No, just a student ... al ways look this way," I replied. Once again. I headed for the door. I was just about to leave. But this time it was my turn to have an inspiration. I headed back to the razor counter. The clerk spotted me. “I knew you’d reconsider,” she said con fidently, “you want the new sup er-dooper automatic razor?” “No thanks," I replied, “how about one of those electric mod els?” Her eyes gleamed. This was more than sho had bargained for. Instead of selling just safety razors. she could really make a killing on the electric model. But I was the real winner. Never again would I have to suf fer the ordeal of buying another can of shaving soap.' McKee Hall to Hold Yule 'Going-away' Party McKee Hall Unit 111, second floor, will hold a “Christmas Go ing-away” party from 2 to 4:30 p.m. today in the McKee recrea tion room. Girls from first and second floor Thompson Hall have been invited. Refreshments will be served and prizes awarded to the winners of novelty dances. This Weekend On WDFM tl.l MEGACYCLES 7:15 Siam On 7:20 ............ News and SporU 7 :30 .......... ...... Musical Marthon 8:00 ... ......... Hubsapoppin 9 :00 ..... Hi Fi Open House 10:85 Siva Ott 7:15 Sign On 7 :20 1 Newt* and Sports 7 :S0 Third Program 10:3* Sign Off Monday 7:15 Sign On 7:20 New* »nd Sport* 7:80 Music My Friend 8:15 A* You Believe 8:80 Showcase 9:00 I 111-I—III- In on the Wall 9:15 ■ New* 9:50 : Brmpkonlc Notebook 10:30 ■ ’ Sion Off By Bib Tomorrow
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers