PAGE FOUR
Editorial Opinion
Practical Aid to Adjustment
The tenor of administrative comments made yester
day on the feasibility of a Thanksgiving recess are evasive,
vacuous and illogical and seem to be better arguments
for a recess than against it.
Dr. Robert Bernreuter, special assistant to the presi
dent for student affairs, said students have a "big invest
ment" in their grades and a recess would be too great
a "risk" on their part.
Certainly the students have a "big investment" in
their grades. That is exactly why they need the recess to
study and catch up for finals. Therefore, not having a
recess would impose the "risk," rather than the other way
around.
Dr. Bernreuter further introduces the "practicality
versus sentimentality" issue.
Is it really so impractical for students to seek some
class-free time for study and general absorbtion of the
ideas, principles and information that have been hurled
at them for nine weeks?
We think not. Furthermore, one of the chief philo
sophical objections to the four term plan, on this campus
and others that have adopted similar schedules, has been
the total elimination of digestion time.
The nature of mental work follows no precise time
table, but often necessitates time to organize and investi
gate principles in an atmosphere that is less pressured
and slower-paced than the classroom.
But since this doesn't fit into the term plan, it is
said to be "impractical.'
Dr. Bernreuter said, "Most of us haven't learned to
make the transition to this new type of program. I think
most students are finding that the pace required is too
great to take a break then, especially right before final
examinations."
Because the pace is too great is exactly the reason a
break is needed. And the time is just right for the explicit
purpose of preparing for final examinations.
Dr. Bernreuter seems to see students as something
like steelmills. If you bank the mill's fire for an hour it
takes days to get that mill going again.
The mind may be analogus to a muscle, but not to a
machine or a foundry.
Simply because the pace is great, simply because
final examinations are so close, simply because human
beings, are not machines—a recess would be invaluable,
We think, however, there may be more subtle points
in these evasive statements that only beg the question
than is at first apparent.
Many members of the faculty and Administration
may be against a change in schedule because of a contra
dictory form of inertia. This means that initiation of and
adjustment to the plan has disrupted many concepts ana
procedures for both these groups as well as for the
'student body.
The faculty and administration therefore are hesitant
to disrupt the schedule once again, especially since this
would cause them inconvenience.
In this case we will reemphasize that the student
body regards such a recess not as the other half of the
coin (i.e. convenience) but as a practical measure to aid
their adjustment to the term and to air their academic
consumption before final exams.
A Student-Operated Newspaper
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O'lle Dalin Totirgiatt
Successor to The Free Lance, est. 1887
Published Tuesday through Saturday morning during the tiniversity year. The
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July 5, 1934 at the State College, Pa. Post Office under the act of March 3. 1879.
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Mailing Address Boa 2GI, State College. Pa.
JOHN BLACK
Editor
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WAYNE HILINSKI
Business Manager
-t4"°:7. - 't , . ,
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. UNIVERSITY PARK. PENNSYLVANIA
Since Russia launched Sputnik I in October 1957, an inflated image of Russian mili
tary strength has been growing among the peoples of the world.
This false illusion has convinced many people - that the world will soon be destroyed
or enveloped by Communism. ..
If Russia had the ability to take over the world while preserving herself, Communist
leaders would unleash World War 111 without hesitation. However, Russia does not"
possess this ability.
Letters
Soph Labels
Myers' Critics
'Uninformed'
TO THE EDITOR: Concerning
the reply of three misinformed
students to Joel Myers' article
about t 1 outcome of a U.S.-
U.S.S.R. nuclear war, I would
like to extend some of Mr.
Myers' points that were criti
cized without sufficient knowl
edge of the facts.
First of all, Russia is known
to have no more than about 46
to 50 ICBM's capable of reach
ing the U.S.
Second, of the few that might
get through, how many would
hit the target effectively? Rus
sia's missiles are huge and
powerful, but are not known
for their accuracy.
Then comes the factor that
was overlooked or not appre
ciated by Mr. Small, Miss Ru
bin, and Miss Small. There are
over 70 nuclear-equipped mis
siles and air bases operated by
the U.S. that literally surround
the U.S.S.R.—each capable of
laying waste to several Russian
cities before their missiles
would ever reach the U.S.
Don't count the Polaris subs
out of the running, either. Be
fore Russia could ever hope to
attempt a full-scale nuclear
war, these bases must be de
stroyed.
With a limited ICBM stock
pile, and no operational bomb
er of any threat that could com
pare to the B-58 "Hustler," any
sort of full-scale war would be
sheer lunacy and plain suicide
for Russia.
If any of my points wish to be
argued, I refer you to Major
Alexander DeSeversky's recent
publication, America, Too
Young to Die.
The information I used was
extracted from a series of
articles featured in the Pitts
burgh Press by Major DeSever
sky. Many other interesting
facts are revealed about Rus
sia in his hook. I suggest Mr.
Small, Miss Rubing, and Miss
Small review the book before
drawing any more conclusion,
—George M. Ballog '64
Campus Beat:
Crazy Weather,
Confused Frosh
For the past several weeks
everybody has been talking
about the heat. First it was in
connection with all the hot
weather we were having. Now
they are talking about the lack
of it in some of the classroom
buildings.
During customs a Fresh was
asked where he lived. Not to
be outdone by the upperclass
man who stopped him, the
Frosh politely replied Stalag
38. He later explained he
meant Nittany 38.
One of the most missed ques
tions during the early part of
customs was who was the dean
of admissions. Very few fresh
men could remember that it
was he who delivered the main
address at their convocation
during orientation week.
Poor losers were the few
students who thought they
were doing the right thing by
hanging Rip Engle in effigy
on the Mall after the Miami
loss:
snowed
A False Image of
She has at her disposal terrible weapons which could
large sections of the world.
However, the present distribu
tion of weapons does not give
her the ability to destroy the
United States while escaping
annihilation herself.
Both Russian and American
leaders realize that the U.S. has
a decisive weapons advantage,
but both have
found it expe
dient to propa
gate an inflated
picture of So-
viet strength. N e o ff
To maintain o t ot
the momentum t
of Communism,
Soviet leaders
have channeled
much oftheir
scientific facili
ties into rockets
and spectacular MYERS
feats in order to impress the
peoples of the world. They have
succeeded.
If the United States is to
maintain its military superior
ity and embark on a more of
fensive diplomatic policy, the
American public must be fed a
steady diet of Russian gains
and American failures.
Under the portrait of over
inflated Soviet strength, Com
munist leaders act out a
psychological play which is di
rected at the peoples of, the
world, The acts of that per
formance pass alternately from
scenes of improving relations
with the West to gestures aim
ed at increasing tensions.
The greater development of
the Soviet strength image dur
ing past months has caused the
frequency and amplitude of
these oscillations to increase.
Having just passed the point
of worst relations, Russia will
undoubtedly accelerate her bid
for "co-existence," and as rela
tions between the U.S. and Rus
sia improve, Khrushchev will
probably begin to promote an
other Summit conference.
Summit conferences fit neat
ly into the Communist "show,"
because they allow Khrushchev
to command an unearned posi
tion as world leader,
Inevitably, Khruschev is the
man who calls for the confer
ence. He is the man upon
whom progress depends. He is
the man who ultimately tor
pedoes the conference. All of
these seemingly wasteful ac
tions serve as a psychological
victory for the Communist
world.
E==l
—Prof Wayne
The apparent control and
power exhibited by the Soviet
leader at the Summit conveys
an image of Soviet strength far
beyond its merit.
The fact that Russia is not
really the strongest power on
earth causes disturbances to
become superimposed on their
cycle of actions.
Th e propaganda setback
which Russia suffered as a re
sult of her decision to resume
nuclear testing was one of
these small-scale disturbances.
Khrushchev's overplaying in
the Berlin act forced Russia
into a show of strength, so the
Communists aren't forced to
give ground in the forthcom
ing negotiations.
Unfortunately for the United
States, erratic and ill-designed
foreign policy have often aided
Russian psychological maneu
vers.
The U 2 incident, instead of
being used to point up glaring
deficiencies in Russian de
fenses, was turned into a show
of apparent U.S. weakness and
indecisiveness.
The Cuban invasion, which
Russian propaganda machines
have convinced a large portion
of the world was executed by
U.S. troops, is being used by
the Communists as an example
of U.S. military weaknss.
And the Summit conference,
(Continued On page five)
TUESDAY. OCTOBER 10, 1961
Strength
by lee! myers
reign mass destruction on
Letters
Soph Foresees
Lonely Recess,
Requests Help
TO THE EDITOR: When Mr.
Read and his committee review
the calendar, perhaps it would
be wise for them to consider
a problem which wilt be arising
in a few months.
I refer to the period known
to most American college stu
dents as Spring Vacation.
When we go home in mid-
March for one generous 10-day
recess, we will find our friends
and sweethearts who attend
other universities too busy
studying for their finals to
spend any time with us.
We will spend our ten days
at home while our friends are
attending classes.
A minority that will be af
fected is the group planning to
go to Fort Lauderdale. The
beach will be rather empty with
no one there but a handful of
Penn Staters and year-round
residents.
I suggest that our between
term period be shortened by
several days. These can be com
bined with the 3 1 / 2 extra days
in the latter two terms to give
us a spring vacation that will
coincide with that of other
colleges and universities.
—Steve Monheimer '64
Junior Questions
Seating Policy
TO THE EDITOR: Athletic re
ceipts football receipts in
specific— have furnished funds
for such projects as Stone Val
ley, The Ice Skating Pavilion,
etc. I feel that these receipts
are necessary for a better Penn
State.
However, hasn't someone for
gotten the "real" purpose of
athletics? (i.e.) to give the stu
dent a place to blow steam off
via non-destructive acts.
What I am driving at is that
I have a friend who will be
here for a weekend. We wish
to see the football game, but I
have to buy two, not one,
tickets if we are to be allowed
to sit together. Why is this so?
—Curtis H. Bonser '63
(Editors Note: Because your
friend, a non-student, cannot
take the room to which a Uni
versity student is entitled.)
Gazette
TODAY
Agriculture Student Council, G :30 p.m..
217.218 HUB .
Angel Flight Pledgee, 6 :20 p.m., Pi
Beta Phi suite, Pollock 2
Aff sedation of U.S. Army ruehintt
ivoker, 7:30 p.m., Alpha Zeta
Bank Exchange, 6:30 p.m., HUB assent•
bly hall •
Candidates for Basketball Manager,
p.m., 241 nee Ball
Collegian Credit Staff, 4 pan., Colle,
friar' Office
Greek Week Exchange Dinners, 7 p.m..
213 111111
Journaliant Club„ 7 :30 p.m., Delta Zeta
:mite, Pollock 2
Itieral Arta Lecture Series, 7 :30 p.m.,
HUH assembly hall
Liberal Arts Reception, 8:30 p.m., HUB
main lounge
Liberal Party Steering Committee,
P.m., 212 1 1 11J1t
Marine, R a.m:,WI ground floor and
2ta HUB
Navy, 10 a.m.. HUB ground floor
Panllel, 6 :30 p.m., 203 HUB
P.S. Bible Fellowship, 12:15 p.m., 211
HUB
USA, 9 a.m., HUB cardroom
VCA, 8 a.m., HUD first floor