PAGE FOUR Editorial Opinion The Board of Trustees: Responsibility to the State A look al the make-up of the Board of Trustees shows us that one-third of its membership comes from agricultural and engineering societies in the state. This would, perhaps, be balanced if the rest of the board represented other academic interests of the Uni versity—but in fact these are not represented at all. The actual tally sheet is as follows: Agricultural and Engineering Societies of the state elect 6 representatives each. The Alumni elect 9 members. The governor appoints 6 members. Five people sit by position. The above figures and the University’s well-advertised but rather nebulous link with the state government in Harrisburg lead to one major conclusion. As we stated last month, the Board of Trustees should be reconstituted in a manner that would make it definitely responsible lo the state and thereby (we would hope) to the people of the Commonwealth. We were pleased io see that Senator Jo Hays takes a similar view of the situation. He recently advocated a switch lo a board that would be entirely appointed by the governor. Hays is in an influential position in the State Legis lature with respect to education. He is chairman of the Senate Education Committee and was a member of the Governor’s Special Committee on Education. We would see, however, certain dangers in any such proposal which may allow political plumbs to come into educational prominence. For the University is a public educational institution and must therefore be protected from the not always altruistic aims of politicians. Rather, the board must be selected in a manner that would make it responsible to the public, not the politicians. To alter the composition of the trustees would require an act of the legislature. Ideally, discussion of such an act might bring the legislature to realize that this University is not a step-sister of the state. They might even begin to consider it in the same perspective as the administration, student body and citi zens like to see it—an actual branch of the Commonwealth government. This does not have fo mean political domination for public and political are by no means synonomous. But it might mean that the University would gain stature and respect in the state which professes to support it. It might mean that granting its requested budget would not l)e a grotesque nightmare, but simply a matter of con rsc. It might even mean that the government of the stale would be entitled to be proud of the accomplishments of the University. As things stand now however, anything this Uni versity undertakes brings a battle for funds, out of which politicians make phony speeches and political hay. Obviously a revamping in the constitution of the Board of 1r us tees is demanded if there is to be meaningful representation and state responsibility. A Student-Operated Newspaper 57 Years of Editorial Freedom Site Saihj (EoUegian Successor to The Free Lance, est. 1887 Published Tuesday through Saturday morning during the Lnirerslty year. The Daily Collegian is a student-operated newspaper. Entered as Herond-class matter July 5. 1934 at the State College. Pa. Post Office under the art of March S. 1879. Mail Subscription Price: $5.00 ■ year Mailing Address - IJ<>« 2fi|. State College, Pa. Member of The Associated Press JOHN BLACK Editor City Editors, Lynne Cetefire and Richard Leighton; Editorial Editors, Meg Telrhhnfts and Jopl Myers: Mena Editors, Patricia Dyer and Paula Dranov; Personnel and Training Director. Kaien Hyneckeal; Assistant Personnel and Training Director, Susan Eberly ; Sports Editor. James Karl: Picture Editor, John Braugc. J,<>raf Ad Mgr., M arc* Downer: Assistant Local Ad Mgi.. Martin ZonUj Nation*' Ad Mgr., Phyllis Hamilton; Credit Mgr.. Jeffrey Schwartz.; Assistant Credit Mgr* Ralph Friedman; Classified Ad Mgr., Bobble Graham: Circulation Mgr., Neat Keitx: Promotion Mar.. Jane TrevaskU: Personnel Mgr.. Anita Doll: Office Mgr* Marry Grrss Persons with complaints about The Daily Collegian's editorial policy or news coverage may voice them in the letters to the editor column or present them. In person or in writing, to the editor. All complaints will be investigated and efforts made to remedy situations where this newspaper Is at fault. The Daily Collegian, however, upholds the right to maintain its Independence and to exercise its own judgment ns to what it thinks Is In the best Interest of the THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. UNIVERSITY PARK. PENNSYLVANIA WAYNE HILINSKI Business Manager Majority Rule Raises'Revolt' TO THE EDITOR: I’m not very coordinated when I crawl out of bed, but when I read The Daily Collegian on Thurs day morning I nearly organized a personal revolt. On the front page 1 saw the quote, "The inconvenience of a few cannot be allowed to in fluence the policy of the large majority." This noble statement was made by no less than Harold Read, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Calendar and Class Schedule. Everyone knows what he helped to do to our Thanksgiving this year. What does he think the large majority was in favor of? I realize there is no connec tion between the administra tion and Harold J. Read, but I should also make note of the bit of'information in the rec tangle below his quote. This warned Ihe students not to try to conduct any business on Friday because the admini stration deserves a vacation since Veteran's Day is on Satur day. Somehow, I just can’t find the proper words to describe this. —Terry L, Miner '63 Better Lighting Asked by Grad TO THE EDITOR: Congratula tions are in order to Gail Rad cliffe for writing a plea for better lighting. I am afraid that I am about to join the ranks of those who are going blind because of poor lighting. Educators teach us the value of proper lighting, but do not practice what they preach. I live in Grange Hall, a sup posed graduate student dorm; however, the lighting is some of the poorest I have seen any where. Not only are we not al lowed to have or furnish lamps of any kind, we are also frowned upon for wanting too large a bulb in existing equip ment. 1, too, think the University should survey the lighting situ ation to see what can be done. —William C. Anderson Graduate Student Jill) 1., Ml 'ry\ •Aft B <-% Letters to The Editor Thornmeyer Challenged On Film 'Clean Up' TO THE EDITOR: We are sorry that we were not at the EUB church on Sunday to challenge the validity of Mr. Thornmey er’s statements, and those of the film, but we do not agree with the evidence he cites to “clean up the film.” First, the committee’s job is to investigate and to recom mend laws; not to propagan dize with films. Second, one of the basic dif ferences between our, democ racy and communism is that we have civil liberties which are stated in the Bill of Rights and supported by our judicial system. We understand this to mean that: • People are to be allowed to Blackmon Defended TO THE EDITOR: In the Fri d^Vj.Nov. 10, issue of The Daily Loilegian, a Miss Gwenelh Lea Martin condemned Frosh Bill Blackmon for screaming Com munism and subversion with out any apparent reason. We whole-heartedly stand behind Mr. Blackmon in his attempts to reveal the truth concerning “Operation Abolition.” We are thankful that there are a few such as Mr. Black mon who have the courage to stand up against the ominous red shadow that threatens to engulf our nation. If the enemy were to invade us today, we are certain that any true American would at The Right to Choose TO THE EDITOR: The stu dents who supported Thanks giving Vacation have been called sentimentalists and run ning home to mama-ists; the students who opposed the va cation, coldly practical and heartless. While it is certainly true that every student here should be here for the sole purpose of getting every ounce of educa tion, we come to a basic ques tion. Does any group of people or single person have the right to keep others from observing tradition, especially National and International tradition? TODAY PSOC Canoe Trip, R:45 a.m., Hoc Hall P.S. Bible Fellowship, 1:30 p.m„ 217 PSOC Rock Climbing Trip, 9:30 n.m. v HUB Ren Hall Family Finance Workshop Seminar, PSOC Work Party, 10 n.m., Rec Halt 10:30 a.m., 1:15 pm., 212-213 HUB Student Films, 7 p.m., HUB assembly ISA Project Joey, 2 p.m., HUB ball- hall r<>om MONDAY Office of Student Aid, 9 a.m., 21S HUB Alpha Phi Omega, 7 p.m., 212-213 HUB Student Films, 7 p.m., HUB assembly Bridge Club, G:3O p.m., HUB card room hall ICCB, 9 p.m.. 213 HUB TOMORROW Navy ROTC Yearbook, 7 p.m„ 215 HUB “Cold War Strategy,*’ 7 p.m., Slavic P.S. Bible Fellowship, 12:15 p.m., 212 Center HUB Emerson Society, 0:30 p.m., Eisenhower P.S. Bible Fellowship, 7 p.rn., 211 HUB Chapel, small lounge P.S. Science Fiction Society, 7 p.m., 217 Folklore Society, 6:30 p.m., HUB ball- HUB room Spanish Club, 7 p.m., HUB assembly Kappa Alpha PI, 2 p.m., 213 HUB hall (m> mH Revise? inn fp/t/on contains VITAL INFORMATION NOT FOUND IN EDITIONS. YOU HAVE JUST REAP tj.) Gazette CAm?U* COMW SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 11. 1961 speak in their own defense; not just through questioning, for a skillful inquisitor can make yes or no seem like guil ty or very guilty. • People are allowed to face their accusers. The HUAC does not allow anyone guilty or not guilty to exercise these rights. Also, is it logical to say that anyone whose ideas differ from those of Mr. Thornmeyer, Mr. Hoover and the committee are communist inspired? No, we do not believe Mr. Thornmeyer is a communist, nor are we. But we do believe that the strength of democracy lies in the fact that citizens recognize and criticize its weaknesses. —Arthur Ravetc '62 least attempt lo repel this at tack. But when they come at us one at a time through tho back door, disguised as heme folks (though their objective is the same and the lies which are their weapons are altogeth er as deadly) we are reluctant to rally. Americans who figure Amer ica is worth dying for, better get to work. With the selfless ness of our dedicated enemies, we had better hold hands, close ranks, shift gears, and get on the offensive. The enemy is not at the gale; the enemy is inside the back door. —John Gilliland '65 —Sam Yost '65 If we take Thanksgiving tra dition as gobbling down soma poultry and yellow pie then there is no damage done. But, if we consider Thanksgiving as a time to give thanks with our loved ones, whoever they may be, then our tradition is being destroyed. The answer lo our question is yes, of course, the Armed Serv ices have been keeping people away from home for years, why shouldn't colleges? It’s good to see useless quali ties such as tradition fall by the wayside in our progressing society. •—Ronald Poisker '65
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers