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
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*. 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.
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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
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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-
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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. <s:3'} pm*. HUB Cardroom
New* and Views. 5:15 p.m., 11 HEc-
Ne»man Club Fraternity-Sorority Com-
mittee. 6:30 p.m.. lit Boucke
Marketing Club, J. W. Holdsworth oa
“Selling for \Ve*t Virginia Paper/* 7:30
P m., Beta Theta Pi
Outing Club Main Group, 7 p.m., HUB
Auditorium
Outing Club Field & Stream Diruion, 7
p.m.. .317 WiJJ*rd
Young Democrats. 5:15 p.m., 217 HUB
Sigma Alpha Eta. 7 p.m,. Speech Clinic
■Spring Week Publicity, 6;io p.m., 21S HUB
Vtaper Serrice, Re\. Donald Mcllvride in
charge, 4 :30 p m.. Chapel
WRA Official* Club. 6:41) p tn., White Hall
Interviews
Gimbel Brothers: Mar 13; But Adm, La,
Home Ec.
Minnesota Mining St Mfg Co; Mar 13; BS
in ChE. Chem. EE. lE. ME: MS in ChE,
Chem ; a]*o Jr in above fields for summer
employ ment-
Colgate Palmolire: Mar 13; BS in ChE.
lE, ME, CE. EE. Chem. Aectg; M 3 in
lE. ME, CE. EE. Acetg.
Carnation Co: Mar 13-14; BuaAdm. Aectg.
LA. Agr. DSci. lE. Chem.
Proctor & Gamble: Mar 13-14: LA. Bu*
Adm. Ed, Pay. interested in aales nigmt.
career.
Hamilton Standard (Dir of United Air
craft); Mar 11; BS St MS in AeroE, EE.
Math. Rhys, Eng Sci. lE. ME. Metal.
Woodward & Lothrop: Mar 13; BS & BA
in LA, BuaAdm, HomeEe; also Jr. in
terested in retailing as a career for mai
mer employment.
C»r»cr Oil Co (HID only): Mir 15: B 3
& MS in ME. Pn*. ChE; MS in Math,
Chem. Pby*.
S-ift & Co (re.earch labs): Ma- 13- BS
in Chem. Bac-_ ChE. EE. ME: MS in
Chem. U»ri. ChE. EE. ME. Ph>-». 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/