PAGE FOUR
Editorial Opinion
Don't Think-lt's Compulsory
The University Senate, despite all
attempts to abolish compulsory ROTC, re
inforced the present compulsory program
by dropping the 23 year age limit and
making it official that students physically
unable to take drill must still take ROTC
courses.
There appear to be just three argu
ments for compulsory ROTC. None of them
are really valid.
One argument for compulsory ROTC
is the citizenship training it gives students.
Instead of making better citizens, most
compulsory programs seem to antagonize
many students. Antagonistic students
coupled with inexperienced or inadequate
instructors make the whole program seem
just a little ridiculous from the "citizen
ship” standpoint.
We also think that perhaps we might
as well throw many traditional democratic
ideals out the window if college students
must be indoctrinated in the American
way of life. This is inconsistent with an old
idea that democracy by nature can with
stand the force of contrary, ideas and
principles.
Make all students take more liberal
arts subjects but never make them take
courses which tell them democracy is great
and appreciate it or else.
We are not imbeciles yet. We are not
illiterate masses. If we take the proper
courses in political science, philosophy,
etc., we can figure out that democracy is
best and that this is a great country and
that we have certain duties to it. Demo
cracy cannot function if the population is
made up of unthinking followers.
The second argument, used by the Sen
ate Committee on Educational Policy in its
recommendation to retain compulsory
ROTC here, is that "the military services
regard the program as essential to the na-
Letters
TOCS T
TO THE EDITOR: In a fine
editorial in the Jan. 5 issue of
Collegian the question was
raised whether TOCS is a tem
porary phenomenon at Penn
State,' or —by implication
whether that organization will
be of '.service in the develop
ment of a better University.
TOCS arose spontaneously
because of a real need for ex
pression of faculty opinion.
Any association of scholars
should observe scholarly prin
ciples.
In a letter to the Centre
Daily Times Jan. 7 11. J. Fish
bein stated his alarm at a state
ment in the "Bookworm” col
umn of that newspaper: “. . .
nobody can rise from instruc
tor to eminence in the jealous
jungle of Penn State . . and
Fishbein called on TOCS to
inquire into a situation which
could inspire such a sialement.
What can be expected of
TOCS, in this respect and in
others?
In the first place, the “Book
worm" statement quoted by
Fishbein does not apply in the
slightest in the departments
which I know best at Perm
State: Physics or Chemistry.
It cannot possibly apply any
longer in the “Bookworm’s”
former department, the new
head of which is one of the
ablest, fairest scholars of whom
1 know.
Let us give credit where it
is due. Otherwise, why should
anyone take our criticism ser-
tional military establishment."
simply not true.
In a policy statement issued by assist
ant secretary of defense, Charles Finucane,
the Defense Department said compulsory
basic ROTC is,not needed to meet quality
standards in the military services nor is it
needed to produce the required number of
officers. The statement definitely favored
freedom of choice in ROTC programs.
A third argument, although it is rarely
openly admitted, is that it is “politically”
wise to retain compulsory ROTC. Ultra
conservatives and Communist-hunters
often prevail in conservative state legisla
tures which will give more money to
"patriotic” universities.
Some university administrators may
have political aspirations and the abolition
of compulsory ROTC would not make them
too popular with patriotic alumni, state
legislatures and the American Legion.
The wealthy schools and schools with
high standing like the Massachusetts Insti
tute of Technology can afford to stand up
in tire face of these forces but many state
universities lack the courage. And it is a
matter of courage because there must be
a way to lick this problem.
If, however, most universities bow
down to the flag-wavers and American
Legion lobbies, the American ideal of
democracy'is really in danger. A univers
ity must be the ground on which the bal
ance of reason and understanding, the
heart of a democracy, is established.
It is the future McCarthy's, other such
"patriots" and those who seek to stamp
out ideas contrary to their own who do
more to endanger traditional democratic
ideals than all the anti-ROTCer's, liberals
and socialists put together.
Democracy is a precious thing and
therefore expensive. It demands constant,
intelligent vigilance and sound reasoning.
Not Temporary
iously? Recent appointments to
department headships at Penn
State have in the main been
examples of great wisdom and
discretion on the part of the
central administration.
Where errors in appoint
ments may have been made,
I suspecl ihaf college members
have pressured a weak dean
into a position which was dif
ficult for the central adminis
tration to counteract.
The department is the key
unit in a university—particu
larly in ours, where college
structures are anomalous.
Every member of a university
should insist as a scholarly
responsibility that his own de
partment head and dean should
be persons of scholarship, com
petence and fairness.
My own department head is
absolutely unexcelled in these
respects in any university I
know.
Where a department head is
weak or otherwise inadequate,
or a dean—and such conditions
of course exist—then mem
bers of department concerned
must urge replacement, indi
vidually or jointly. This is an
absolute duty of a university
man.
But I have no right to urge
any change in a department
head or dean outside of my
own department or college;
and TOCS as an organization
has no such responsibility.
Further, it is the responsi
bility of every scholar to insist
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN, STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
that the central university ad
ministration is competent,
scholarly, understanding of and
devoted to highest aims and
traditions of a university.
The influence which TOCS
should and can have within
Perm State should be viewed in
terms of these responsibilities.
Members of TOCS can en
courage a scholarly atmosphere
throughout the university; but
outside of iheir own depart
ments, scholars must exert in
fluence vertically in the ad
ministrative structure, not hori
zontally.
Among the activities in
which TOCS can engage is the
development of a university
wide forum for faculty opinion.
This would provide many bene
fits, only one of which would
be to encourage individual fac
ulty members to air problems
witnin their own areas of re
sponsibility. Such a forum is
being arranged.
The purpose of TOCS as an
organization is not to war with
the central administration, or
to interfere in departmental
problems. It is to clarify the
purposes of the University, and
to educate its members and the
entire community—of which
the student body is of course
an essential part—to the end
that this institution of itself
achieves greatness.
It can be done.
—Ray Pepinsky
Research Professor of Physic*
Director, The Groth Institute
~|
/oh, 011*7)
riToor!!
Letters
Let Your Voices Be Heard
TO THE EDITOR: Quoting
from an editorial in the Decem
ber issue of Life Magazine:
“That all men are responsible
for each other’s crimes is a
theological proposition. Its po
litical corollary Is . . . every
citizen is responsible for all the
injustice of his community.”
These words are not only an
indictment of the American
community in general but ap
ply specifically to the residents
of the State College Area. This
indictment not only applies to
townspeople but to students as
well.
We the students who are the
future leaders of our country
should be the most concerned
with seeing that the injustices
of our community do not carry
over into the next generation.
In the recent past the stu
dents have been found gener
ally apathetic toward any ef
forts to wipe out the injustices
practiced in the State College
community. Cries have been
heard: “It is not my fight,”
“State College is not our com
munity,” and “Don’t make
waves.” But even worse, the
majority are not even con
cerned enough to comment.
The fight against injustice
Today
AIM, 8 p.m., 203 HUB
AWS Judicial, noon, 212 HUB
Biological Sciences Seminar, 4:15 p.m.,
109 Armshy
Camera Club, 7:30 p.m.. 212-213 HUB
Chem Phys Student Council. 6:45 p.m.,
214-215 HUB
Chess Club, 7 p.m., HUB cardroom
Flying Club, 8 p.m., 214, 215 HUB
Graduate Mining Seminar. 3:20 p.m,,
304 MI
IV Christian Fellowship, 12:45 p.m.,
21S HUB
Pi Lambda Sigma, 7:30 p.m., 218 HUB
Phi Delta Kappa, 4 p.m., 212 HUB
Phi Sigma Delta, 9:10 p.m., 212 HUB
Psychology Colloquia, noon, HUB dining
hall A; and 8 p.m. 112 Buekhout
Editorials are written by the editors and staff member*
of The Daily Collegian and do no! necessarily represent
the views of the University or of the student body.
A Student-Operated News paper
56 Years of Editorial Freedom
Satltj <£nUcotan
Successor to The Free Lance, est. 1887
Published Tuesday through Saturday mornini during tho (Jniraratty year The
Dally Collegian i, a atudent-operated newspaper. Entered at teesnd-elast natter
July t, 1934 at tha State College. Pe. Post Office under the act of March (, UTS.
Mall Subscription Pricer 13.99 per semester 45.09 per year.
JOHN BLACK
Editor
Member of The Associated Press
and The Intercollegiate Press
City Editor i Carol Blakealee; Assistant Editor, Gloria Wolford t Sports Editor,
Sandy Padwe; Assistant City Editor and Personnel Director, Susan Llnkroum:
Feature Editor and Assistant Copy Editor. Etalne Mielet Copy Editor, Annahell*
Rosenthal; Photography Editor, Frederic Bower: Make-up Editor, Joel Myera.
Local Ad Mgr., Brad Daria; Assistant Local Ad Mgr., Hal Delahcr; National
Ad Mgr., Bessie Burke; Credit Mgr,, Mary Ann Crans; Ass'l Credit Mgr., Neal
Keitx; Classified Ad Mgr., Constance Kiesel; Co-Clrculatlon Mgre., ftosiland
Abes, Richard Kitzinger; Promotion Mgr., Elaina Mlchali Personnel Mgr.,
Becky Kohudict Office Secretary, Joanna HuyetL
STAFF THIS ISSUE: Headline Editor, Karen Hyneckeal; Wire
Editor, Joanne Mark; Night Copy Editor, Sandy Yaggi. Assistants:
Ed Kaliss, Carmen Zetler, Carole Kismaric, A 1 Sharp, Peggy
Rush, Arlene Lantzman, Sandie Pohiman, Kitty Bassett, Steve
Monheimer, Phyllis Hutton.
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 11, 1961
{m\
/ M J
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\ /V I
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/NOT\
/ KNOIOINS \
tf HOd) TO PURR I
( 15 A 6REAT I
[HANDICAP! /
-ii. —i I,
and prejudice is not an easy
one. It is not the type of fight
which can be started next year
or only in certain places. In
order to fight injustice we
must erase it whenever and
wherever it appears.
The time has come for the
students to let their voices be
heard. It is not necessary for
students to riot to let the world
know that they are opposed to
the wrongs of their society.
There is room for people in
both active and inactive roles
in this fight. Whether you join
one of our organizations which
are working in this field on
the local scene or just talk
about it to your friends let
your voices be heard. Express
your views in letters to the
Collegian or similar publica
tions.
Let the town know that stu
dents at Penn State can think
and express opinions on the
important issues of our day.
Not everyone is capable of
direct action on issues that con
cern them but this should not
be any excuse for hiding one's
head in the sand and hoping
that, if they are ignored long
enough, the problems of our
time will disappear.
—Aaron Konstem
DARE President
GAZETTE
Quarterdeck Society, 7:30 p.m., Phi Mu
Delta
Special Orientation Committee, 9 p.m..
212 HUB
Sports Car Club, 8 p.m.. 218 HUB
TIM movies, 12:30 p.m., HUB assembly
hall
Women** Chorus, 6:30 p.m., HUB as
sembly hall
Blair Bice, William L. Brown, Ju
dith Ann Davis, George Dennison, Su
san Florence. Thomas Freeland. John
Gander, David Greenblatt, Roberta
Gush, Robert Hauck, James lacone,
Rosalie Isaacson, Elaine Lotito, Leon
ard Miller. Eleanor Morris, Robert
Myers, George Parker, Mary Jane Van
Gilder, Judith Weiaer, Carole Went*
and Ursula Witlenbroek,
HOSPITAL
CHESTER LUCIDO
Business Manager