OAGf PO'J 9 Editorial Opinion Honor in a Muddle A year ago tire Women‘s Student Government Associa tion set up a committee to implement an honor code for coeds. Since that time the committee and WSGA have promised, cajoled and bribed to convince ‘‘honorable young wo men that by signing the code they would be “accepting responsibility." The result of a year’s campaigning has not only been the recruitment of a meager 90 signees out of about 3000 women, but also a violent reaction against the code by many women The honor code is a failure. It is a failure for two major reasons. First, it is incompatible with the present WSGA regulations which allow no flexibility for added responsi bility. Second, the committee was aiming for a vague utopia without clearly defining this goal or the means for attaining it. The only means for “added responsibility" would be to revamp the svstem of enforcement of WSGA regulations. This would mean that doors would not be locked at curfew hour, there would be no blackmark system, and when signing out, coeds would state only the destination—not the time of departure or return. Only in this way would there be the responsibility for reporting infractions of rules. And this is definitely not feasible where there are two groups—those who have signed the honor code and those who have not. Even if there were one group, such an informal system would hardly be successful in a dormitory of 500 women. Most successful honor codes have involved a small group of women living in separate quarters. We seriously question whether the committee fully realizes the implications of its project. The goal—that of added responsibility—is certainly commendable, but by now too many Carrie Nations have dived in and have lost sight of what they are doing. The fact that they don’t know what they’re doing is evidenced by the statements made in yesterday’s Col legian by Sue Whittington, honor code chairman, and Sue Smith. WSGA president. WSGA and the committee have worked on the code about one year and have been able neither to attain a tangible program nor to shift the burden of responsibility from the housemother to the coed. This is a sign of either lack of leadership, lack of substance, or both. Miss Whittington and Miss Smith said: “We are not trying to establish the honor code as a moral censor. Rath er we are trying to give every Penn State coed the privi lege of self-responsibility.” If this pathetic it would be humorous. Moral censure is involved whenever extra material privileges are given to the more “honorable" group. Giving coeds the "privileges of self-responsibility" Is non-existent because the honor code is forcing women to obey regulations which they had no part in forming. There is no question of should I or should I not. for if a rule is disobeyed, the coed is expected to withdraw from the code. Many women were strongly against the code because they did not wish to declare their honor. Others would have been willing to Join if there had been a successful implementation. If anyone still feels a burning need for an honor code, the present muddle should be dropped and a new begin ning made. This would mean a long-range and well-plan ned program—not one developed by the hit and miss method dith hopes for a miracle. Edltarlab «r* writtm by Cfea adlUrv and it%ff member* Tk* ©ally C*tler«*a da Mt Oftf nrily rapreaest tto at tha (Jatvtnit? at «f Uu ttudent body. A Student ~Operaied Newspaper uty? iatlu (Collegian Successor to The Free Lance, est 1887 rurM.j S.t.rd.7 oornia* dorta* th. Lnl..r.it. rear Thm Dailr Celle* ier. u a (tedent-eperatrd aeaepaper Entered u •rrond-clau matter *. rn« at the state Celine Pa Poat Offiee outlet the art of March J, 1871. *latl Soharriptian Prim »3«» per tern eater - 83.01 per rear ED DIIVBS Editor STEVE HIGGINS. Bus Mgr. Memartn* Edita,. Jed, Barkteea: Cit» Editer. Robert Franklinr Sparta Editor Vinca Carom: Cap, Editor. Manac Beattn JUaUUnt Cop, Editor. Ralph Ma*no. AaaUtanl Sporta Editors. Matt Mattheara sad Loo Proto; Make-up Editor (eiaa, Phillip*. Ptistocraphr Editor lleorce Harrison. Anal ttaa M*r. ts»e Morteoasa; Loral Ad. Mrr. Harilm Eliaa: Aul Local Ad. M*i. Knee Ana Lankalea: National Ad H*t. Joan Wallace: Promotion «•- Martanne Meier: Petaosaei Her. Lntn Glajabara; Cleeri/ied Ad M*r stare tfilbtria: ce-Cirraletiea Mere. Par MjernicfcJ and Richard Lippe- Reaearch and Record* tier.. Berber* Well: Office Secret*r, Marlene Marka. STAff THI» IsslE: Nurh: Editor, I.rr.n Ward; Copy Editor. Mac Maxwell- W:re la- E>an*. Anuttnt,. Phyliia Weetcett. Don Casciato. Elaine Miele. Rittr ( -.l*. O, . St.irek. Helen McC'a«ertj, John Root, Bari Grecnwald. Saaie o»nd i'eTUsM THE DAILY COLLEGIAN STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA Letters DTS Fraternity Extends Thanks TO THE EDITOR: Fires are tragic, and the one at the Delta Theta Sigma fraternity had n 3 terrifying aspects. Fires are destructive, and our fraternitv suffered a heavy physi cal loss. The members and piedges living in the house lost personal property of both material and sentimental value. However, in this experience we of Delta Theta Sigma have found that fires also are builders. New friends have been made, coopera tion has been created, and faith and confidence have been strengthened. Even before the heat of the fire had cooled, warm hearts through out the community were respond ing to the needs of the stricken fraternity. Food, clothing, books and other gifts have been given to the DTS boys. And so we take this opportunity to express publicly the deep ap preciation of the alumni associa tion and the active members and pledges of the chapter for all that has been done to relieve the ser ious situation the fixe caused. Our thanks go to the men of the Alpha Fire Company who fought the fire for several hours in bitter cold, to the State College Police for their cooperation, and to the dean of men's staff at the Univer sity for quick action in providing housing for the homeless mem bers. Then there are the cleaning and laundering companies who offered free services but requested no publicity; the other businesses that gave help; the fraternities who helped to feed and clothe the boys; and the hundreds of in dividuals who have made gifts of various kinds. We thank them all. Our thanks also to the Centre Daily Times, Collegian, and Radio Station WMAJ for all their co operation. It is gratifying to know, that in spite of the hectic world in which we live, folks can still find time to help in an emergency. The members of Delta Theta Sigma are very appreciative for all the help that has been received. —Active Chapter and Alumni Association of Della Theta Sigma (Frederick A. Hughes, President, Alumni Associa tion Gazette AII-UnHerMty Cabinet, 7 p.m.. 203 HUB Alpha Lambda Delta* 5:3') p.m.. 223-216 HUB American Rocket Society, Dean Merritt A. Wi2}>am«»n on “The History of Rocket*/* 7 p.m., 10S Mech. Eng. Book Exchance, all board*. 7:30 p.m., 214 HUB Book Exchance, new Candidate*, 7 p.m.. 214 HUB Bridge Class. -». Biol. Ag-BioChem; PhD grads in PH Hamilton Standard (Dir of United Air. craft): Mar 13: BS A MS in AeroE EE Math. Pby., ChE. lE. ME. Metal. >e» Tork Life In* Co: Mar 13: Bu*Adm. LA. anyone interested in insurance; Maui for aeturial work: also Soph. Jr. Sr m above fields for summer employ ment. Jones & Lanihlin: Mar T; BS 4 M 3 in Metal. Chrytler Missile* Operation*; Mar 12* Mr EE. AeroE. Phys. Dean's List Omission The name of John Legorv 361 was omitted from the Chemistry and Physics dean’s list given to the Daily Collegian. Little Man on Campus "Oh my—l'm in for it again lonite—it looks like he's had another bad day at school." Tempered Topics And W/io Created Rock 'n Roll? Teen-agers are constantly in the news these days. Be it a teen-age rumble or a teen-age hop, it’s sure to make the newspapers. But this news interest in the youth of the nation is not novel. Yesterday the headlines blared of the shiela and shebas of the Charleston Age. Today they scream of the delinquent cool cats and dungaree dolls of the Rock 'n' Roll Era The why and wherefore of the news value of teen-agers has been explained by many as the interest and/or attempts of adults to recapture their youth. Others say adults want to read about teen-agers in order to find out just what makes their b e - b o p off spring tick. (Perhaps psy chologists can find some sort of teen-age Oedipus com plex in the fact that the boys seem to be interested in older women—as witness the two popular s o n g s—“ Diana" and “Oh, Julie!”) Whatever the answer, there is no deny ing the fact that teen-agers and their goings-on make good hot news copy. The highest rated daytime television program is a teen age dance show, “American Bandstand.” Eminating from Philadelphia and m.c.’d by Dick Clark, the show spotlights teen-agers as they dance to the pulsating rhythms of rock ‘n’ roll music. The kids dance the hop, the stroll and the calypso and also get a chance to see top recording stars in person. The program, now in its sixth ■ssKssasKr 1 i THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27. 1953 By Ralph Manna year, attracts both teen and adult audiences. Teen-agers also rally lo the star-studded rock 'n' roll shows at New York City's Paramount Theater. And now recording stars tour the country so that teen-agers from Maine lo Cali fornia have a chance oi see their idols. - “O.K. sure,” say adults, these shows keep kids off the streets and let them get to gether for a dance or some en tertainment. But what about this rock ‘n’ roll? Isn’t it im moral or something? Adult sympathizers of rock ‘n’ roll say it allows teen-agera to let off steam. Some say it symbolizes the teen revolt against this mixed-up world caused by the goofing of the parents. Others say it symbol izes the rebellion against the strictness of adult society. To these theories, most teen-agers say “baloney.” Teen - agers recently inter viewed by Mike Wallace, tele vision reporter, said rock.'n roll does let them let off steam —but not against a mixed-up world. In interviews conducted tor the New York Times, Gertrude Samuels found that teen-agers like rock ‘n’ roll because of its “different beat,” its pulsating Thythms and because it u “easy to listen to.” Rock ‘n’ roll makes you want (Continued on page fine) . NOT ALWA\S \ YOU KNOUL/