PAGE FOUR Editorial Opinion No Class Cuts? The problem of class cuts and compulsory attendance, long a controversial issue among students and faculty members, is now under study by a subcommittee of the University Senate. Lawrence E. Dennis, chairman of the administrative procedures committee, appointed the committee last week to "review the problem with an eye to reaffirming the present system or recommending a new policy.'' - Dennis said it usually takes about a month for such a committee to make its report. It is encouraging to see that the importance of the class cut problem has been recognized by the University. and that something is to be done about it. The committee should study the question well and see that it does not become lost in an administrative run-around—for the case for the elimination of penalties for class cuts is a strong A recommendation from the 1957 Student Encamp ment, stated the case well: "Through missing classes, the student misses essential information, and thus penalizes himself." The Encampment recommended that "no artificial penalties should be imposed on sophomores, juniors and seniors t,r unexcused absences from classes." Compelling a student to go to class is neither neces sary nor sensible. The University has no obligation to make a 'student learn--it has only to see that the infor mation is presented well, and there will be no worries about students absorbing it. Penalizing for class cuts is often used as a device by a professor who cannot otherwise draw students to class. But this is actually penalizing students for the deficiencies of the professor, a system which is hardly logical or defensible. There is perhaps reason for compulsory attendance for freshmen, as many freshmen might let their new found freedom wreck their academic careers. But after a student has had a year to acclimate him self to the University and its academic demands, he should be able to decide for himself whether or not a class is worthwhile. A system of unlimited class cuts for upperclassmen should be seriously considered, by the Senate—for a vol untary attendance system would both increase the re ponsibility of the individual student and raise the stand ards of the Univetsity. Are You Uncovered? Are you uncovered? We don't mean to pry into your private affairs, but we think you should make sure you have proper protec tion—insurance protection. Today is your last chance to make application for a policy under the student insurance program. And if you are "uncovered" you are taking a chance you can ill afford— a chance on your health, both physical and financial. For the student insurance program is one of the big gest bargains available—the costs of its plans are• con siderably more reasonable than non-student-operated programs. ralitortals are written by the editors and staff akereben of rho Dally Col!mien and do not necessarily represent the flews of the university or of the student bode A Student-Uperatea Newspaper 01Ir Battu Tuittgiatt Successo7 to The Free Lance est 1889 Published ruesday through daturds) morning during the University fear The Daily Collegian is a student-upernted newspaper Entered se seeund•class matter Jet, s 1934 at the State College Pa Post Mee ander the act of March 8 1879. Mail `lubseriptinn Meet la 00 per ter/tester WO Del MI ROBERT FRANKLIN FRANK VOJTASEK Editor niS " l 3 4''' Business Manager City Editor David Fineman; Managing Editor, Richard Drayne; Sports Editor, Lou Prato; Associate Sports Editor. Matt Mathews; Personnel and Public Relations Director. Patricia Evans; Copy Editor. Lynn Ward: Assistant Copy Editor, Dick Fisher; Photography Editor Robert Thompson. Credit Mgr.. Janice Smith; Local Ad Mgr.. Tom Buckey; Asst. Local Ad Mgr., Robert Pirrone; National Ad Mgr. Betsy Brackbill; Promotion Mgr.. Kitty Bur gett; Personnel Mgr.. itlickey Nash; Classified Ad Mgr., Rae Waters; Co• Circulation Mgrs.. Mary Anne First ■nd Murray Simon: R h and Records Mar.. Mary ilerhein: Office Secretary. Mita Johnson.- STAFF THIS ISSUE: Copy Editor, Don Casciato; Wue Editor, Diane Dieck; A.iirtant.• Elaine Miele, Judi Wharton, Amy Roaenthal, Pat Vargo, Dave An timay. John Itlaek, Kandy Slosson, Robbie Beatty, Edline Chun, Michael Messer. smith. Cotdelia Lewis. Brenda Penner. Joanle Fees, Mar/ Weakl7. THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA Letters Student Plans Protest Fast TO THE EDITOR: (Today) I shall begin a 3-day fast in sympathy for those suffering in the present racial strife in Little Rock, in Virginia, in England, in South Africa, and in State College (e.g. housing and beauty parlors). May I urge those involved to search their souls, to beg God guidance, and to accept his corn 'nand. And may I ask those not involved to write or talk to some one who is. I shall repeat this fast every month for a year. If prejudice still exists at the end of that time, may the good Lord bless the deeds it has caused and will cause. —Michael Rosenbloom Ctistoms Board Writes Thanks TO THE EDITOR: The Freshman Customs Board wishes to express its gratitude to the staff of The Daily Collegian for its support of Freshman Customs. We feel your coverage and in terest greatly aided the spirit which prevailed throughout the Customs period this year. Your assistance to the Customs program is evidence of your suc cessful work "For a Better Penn State." —Helen Skade, John Nagy, Jane Kleinfeld, George Ben ham, Louise Bederka, Joan Pipal, Richard Feldman, Lewis H. Brown, Donald Clagetf, Jane Sinclair. Nancy Navikas, Rich ard Haber. Sandra Shish. Gazette TODAY AIM, 7 p.m., 203 HUB Chess `Club, 7 p.m., 7 Sparks Christian Fellowship, 12:45 p.m., 218 HUB Civil Air Patrol, 8 p.m., 208 Wil- lard Episcopal Holy Communion, 7 a.m., Hibbs IFPCPA, Junior and Senior Boarders, 7:30 p.m., Delta Chi Mineral Industries Student Coun- cil, 8:15 p.m., 216 HUB Mt. Nittany Philatelic Society, 7:30 p.m., 120 State College Jun ior High . School Pennsylvania School Study Coun cil, 9 a.m., HUB Assembly Hall; 3 p.m., 214-216 HUB Penn State Grange, 7 p.m., 204 Weaver Pershing Rifles, 7 p.m., Armory State Future Farmers of America Conference, 1 .p.m., 217 ;•IUB; 7 p.m., 214 HUB UCA, 7:30 p.m., 216 HUB UCA Social Commission, 7:45 p.m., Eisenhower Chapel Li- brary Women's Chorus, 7 p.m., HUB As- sembly Room Young Republicans, 7 p.m., 202 Willard . Enrollment Ends For Ugly Man Registration for the Ugly Man Contest will end - at 5 p.m. today. Application blanks and contest rules are available at the Hetzel Union desk. Alpha Phi Omega, men's na tional service fraternity, sponsors the contest annually. Both fraternity men and inde pendent men are eligible. At tempts will be made by Alpha Phi 'Omega to supply automobiles for freshman units. Contest finals will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Hetzel Union ballroom. Individual campaigns may start at any time. Campaigning is con fined to the Mall between the hours of noon and 1 p.m. Walker, Dennis to Talk On Classroom Television President Eric A. Walker and Lawrence E. Dennis, vice presi dent for academic affairs, will discuss the use of television in teaching at the annual meeting of the American Council on Edu cation on Oct. 9-10 in Chicago, 111. • Little Man on Campus by Dick Sibist oday's denrionstration will be on 'How to Set a Broken Arm." Behind the News Video Lecturers Rival Bob and Ray By this time, most freshman have been exposed to an educational method they never encountered in high school—the television course (known to the Romans as lectorum eyestranum). Although of ancient origin (the Russians, I think, claim to have invented TV in 8.C.), television transmission of courses has become popular only recently. - Popular with the profs, that is Some students, used to the professional shows emanating from Hollywood and New York, tend to sneer at what they call "Penn State's ama teur hour." They hken the video courses to commercial television be fore commer cials were: filmed, when we saw such bloopers as, t h e cigarette peddler w h broke into a fit of cough ing and ex cused himself with: "Pardon me, I guess I've been smoking too much." FRANKLIN Students have watched pro fessors play around with the answering system panel, try ing to figure out which lights belong to which rooms; dis play a list of answers before giving quiz questions, and fran tically beckon cameramen to focus on exhibits. One professor, to illustrate his lecture vividly, rushed on and off camera in different costumes. Another "show" ev • - • . ..• • )EANUTS, GET AUJAY FROM ME.SNOOPY THIS 15 A NEU) COAT! 4 Ile 1 - ) 4ltit; re. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1958 By Bob Franklin en uses two profs it's been likened to a deadpan version of Bob end Ray. Despite their more ludicrous aspects, television courses do have some definite advantages: they can bring lectures by bet ter profs to more students; they probably save the Uni versity a tidy sum in profes sors' salaries; they enable stu dents to get a close look at experiments which they could never see in large lecture halls. In one of these experiments last year, two mice were sub jected to electrical shock treat ment. One, untrained, was sup posed to do nothing. It did. But the trained mouse, who was supposed to dive into a nearby hole, instead leaped out of the experiment area, causing a scrambling of pro fessors, a tangle of TV cables and a general uproar all over the ground floor of Sparks Building. A Saturday Evening Post article by Corey Ford has called television a matter of "giveaway, thataway and Gar• roway." Considering the Uni versity scene—many of the TV students who are not sleeping are cutting—we'll add _"geta• way." One student gets so lonely in a TV course that he invites his friends in for class! CET ALOAY I SAID!YOU'VE GOT DOG HAIR ALL OVER YOU! 44,,, 1 4✓0t tit",
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers