PAGE FOUR Editorial Opinion Land-Grant Orphan There is a student, there is a tree and there is Abraham Lincoln—all on the Henry Varnum Poor mural that winds along the center hall in Old Main—celebrating democracy in education—the Land Grant Act. Coming in the second year of a cleavage of principle In this nation, coming when we were indeed "half slave and half free," the Land Grant Act was to furnish proof that democracy was not only cold theory, but the oppor tunity for professional and practical fulfillment, through education, for the nation's youth. One complex and contradictory century has elapsed since the hope was launched and the states began work, since the tree and the torch were combined to offer practi cal and theoretical knowledge to the American people. Passing through Old Main—looking at the mural with a young man and the lean, bearded Lincoln and the tree— we remembered a story that is attributed to that President. "If you call a tail a leg," he said, "how many legs has a dog? Five? No; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." Just so, when the legislatures of the various states accepted the terms of the land grant act, they accepted the duty of carrying out that act. We quote from the Pennsylvania State Legislature, act of April 1, 1863, "...'And the Faith of the State is Hereby pledged to carry the same into effect." But calling a university the responsibility of the state doesn't insure that it becames the responsibility of the state. Only the people of the state can do that. Only the people of the state, the private citizens and their elected officials can enforce the responsibility. Here in Pennsylvania the people of the Commonwealth call this University a state institution. They send their sons and daughters .here, they accept the state money that supplements each student's tuition. And in Pennsylvania the elected officials call this a state institution. Once in a while they come and look at it, or come to a "inference being held here, and then they go back to Harrisburg and tell everyone how picturesque it is. We know very well how 'picturesque it is. We also know very well that it is not, in actuality, a state institution —for the Commonwealth has continually abrogated its responsibility to the people, the land-grant act and to this University. It takes remuneration in money, not long titles, to maintain an outstanding faculty. How can the possessor of a fine mind peruse the academic if he is worrying about the price of tea in Weis' Market? And it is indeed a disappointing tribute to the espou sals of this Commonwealth that our President must be a financier, and our students, conservation experts. If there has been one rallying point between faculty, administrative and student efforts at Penn State, it has been in attempting to pressure that very careless and negligent'state legislature to assume its responsibility to this University. The life of this University, which has exhilarating potential to be truly great, depends on the politicians who manipulate strings and sums to their own advantage. We may laud and celebrate the theory of the land grant all over the nation. We of Pennsylvania must work in order that our state accepts its burden of faith and supports its own University. We said last year when we were begging for funds that we felt like a stepchild of the state. In the reflection of the ideals of Mr. Lincoln, we feel more like an orphan. A Student-Operated Newspaper 57 Years of Editorial Freedom 01 Elaitg Tatiegtan Successor to The Free Lance, est. 1887 Published Tuesday through Saturday morning daring the University year. The Daily Collegian Is a student-operated newspaper. Entered as second-class matter July J. 1934 at the State College. Pa. Poet Office under the art of March 3. 1879. Mail Subscription Price: $9.00 a year Mailing Address Boa 301. State College. Pa. Member of The Associated Press JOHN BLACK WAYNE HILINSKI Editor 460' Business Manager City Editors, Lynne Cerefice and Richard Leighton: Editorial Editors, Meg Teichholti and Joel Myers; News Editors, Patricia Dyer and Paula Dranoy; Personnel and Training Director, Karen Hineckealt Assistant Personnel end Training Director, Susan Eberly; Sports Editor, James Karl; Assistant Sports Editor, Dean Billick; Pictuze Editor, John Dengue. Local Ad Mgr., Marge Downert Assistant Local Ad Mgt, Martin Zonist Nation' Ad Mgr.. Phyllis Hamilton; Credit Mgr., Jeffrey Schwarts; Aulatant Credit Mgr.. Ralph Friedman; Classified Ad Mgr., Robbie Grahame' Circulation Mgr., Neal genet Promotion Mgr.. Jens T khit Personnel Mgr. Anita Hell: Onto Mgr., Marcy Gress. THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. UNIVERSITY PARK. PENNSYLVANIA Conflicts Found in 'Final' Tests TO THE EDITOR: All of us, of course know that our finals are just tests this year. That is what the University claims. But what about the student who has all four finals, I mean "comprehensive _ tests" on one day. It seems that there has been a huge lack of insight on be half of the University in even bothering to go out of their way to alleviate this difficulty. Also with the high rate of cramming needed to meet the deadly - two and three tests a day with which most students have been plagued, I feel that there has been a great loss in the true educational process. Now what about the student who has four "comprehensive tests" in one day? Some in structors have been told that they must have a class the last day of the term, so they are compelled by some mysterious force to give their comprehen sive test on that day. What is wrong with having a discussion in that period. Expecially provoking is the in structor who must give his test on the last day while he states that Monday's class is for review and one doesn't have to come to class if he doesn't feel that it is neces sary. Another factor: the instruc tors say they cannot do any thing about the system and it is the fault of the scheduling office; however, if one talks to the head of the scheduling office, one finds out they can not do anything, it's all up to the instructor. Another sweet remark one might receive is that a student should not schedule all of his or her classes on one day. It hust so happens some students ave to work their way through college and in order to do so must work a couple of days a week. Everybody seems vaguely sympathetic but it is always the other person's fault, and neither the faculty nor the ad ministration can see anything that can be done. DON'T THESE PEOPLE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER? Peace Corps 'Thank You' TO TIDE EDITOR: On the oc casion of our departure from Penn State, the Peace Corps Volunteers wish to express their gratitude to the faculty and students for enriching our experience through ft continued spirit of friendship, hospitality and helpfulness. In every conceivable way we have been welcomed as a part of the University community— sharing in the concert and lec ture series, enjoying an excel lence of instruction, and par ticipating in the various social activities available to the stu dent body. For all these bene fits we are extremely grateful. With this expression of our most sincere appreciation, we leave Penn State confident of the reception our fellow corps men will soon enjoy. —Peace Corps Volunteers Gazette Childhood Ed. Ploy, 2 p.m., HUB Assem. bly hall Interrarsity Christian Fellowship, 7:80 p.m., Lutheran Student Center P.B. Bible Fellowship, 12 Hi HUB Letters to The Editor —Hope Pierce, '63 TODAY Timing of Protested TO THE EDITOR: The Uni versity's solution to the cur rent housing problem has aroused nothing but resent ment from those who are most directly involved we, the residents of Lyons Hall. Many doubt that Lyons Hall is the best choice for a men's dormitory. Is the space really that necessary, or is this mere ly another experimental step toward "co-educational" living? Will the new Lyon's boys use the Haller elevator by mistake as we often did; will the Haller girls appreciate men in the laundry rooms where they once had complete privacy? Perhaps an experiment as such would be more appropri ate at the beginning of a fall term, not ten weeks after the beginning of a.school year. As students, however, we have no voice in administrative policies, and, although we pre fer staying in Lyons Hall, we shall not question these things TO THE EDITOR: We, as resi dents of Lyons Hall, wish to protest the method of our move irom our present living quar tet's. It is not so much the mov ing, because we realize the necessity of opening more resi dence halls for men students; however, it is the timing of this decision. Our hall is occupied pre dominantly by freshman wom en. Most of us are going into finals with apprehension and some wonder. It is still part of our acclimation to Penn State: and here we are, preparing for finals as well as preparing for a change of housing. Although the actual moving On 'Banning TO THE EDITOR: Yesterday the Penn State Marching Blue Band received the word: no Gator Bowl trip. Needless to say I was rather astounded by the decision of the administra tion. I could think of only three possible reasons for not spon soring the Blue Band. One, the prestige value of the band is negligible, two, the band does not deserve to go, and three, the money for the trip is not available. If the value of the band is negligible, then I have heard many people complimenting and admiring an organization which delivers no prestige to the University. Obviously, the band does make a good impres sion on visitors to the school because other than band mem bers and their families have made these comments. Whether or not the Blue Band has earned the right to go to the bowl is a matter of opinion. For the two years during which I have been in the band, we have practiced on the golf course in all sorts of TO THE EDITOR: The Penn State Blue Band is not going to the Gator. Bowl on Decem ber 30. Even more ridiculous, many of the football players are not making the trip. What kind of an impression of Penn State will this present on coast-to-coast television? Do we want to convey to the entire country that we are too "cheap" to send the whole football team and the band to a major bowl game? The team needs someone to support them at the game, and very few Penn State students will be able to go. The Blue Band, which has already proved is can outyell the surrounding TO THE EDITOR: Hurrah for the autocratic, bureaucratic, despotic, mercenary, m oney grabbing administration. Since you are not sending the Blue FRIDAY. DECEMBER 1, 1961 Lyons Move by Residents further. What we do question is "Why the move during the final exam period?" The new term systein has im posed on us a time schedule that is rigid enough, and it seems to have left no extra time between' exams for pack ing and moving. With a little consideration perhaps we could have been informed earlier of the change that was to be made. We realize that we are per mitted to ,move after final exams; however, it is not that easy to change travel plans, especially for those who live far from the University or for those who are depending on rides, Dean Lipp has said that the Lyons girls were chosen for this change because they are the "most mature and well behaved" group on campus. Is this a reward for being mature? —Carol Turner, '64 2nd floor, Lyons Hail day can be after exams are over, there are still prepara tions and packing to be done beforehand—much more than the preparations for going home for Christmas vacation; everything must be cleared out so we can start over next term. We do appreciate the efforts of Dean Lipp and her staff in trying to facilitate the• situa tion in a less complex manner. Nevertheless, the question still arises of why we couldn't take time from studying to spend the traditional Thanks giving holiday with our fami lies if we can take time for a very untimely move? —Carole Jacobson '65 —Peg Scatarige '65 the Band' weather: rain, snow, etc. Last year, even with all this practic ing, we were accused of not having school spirit. This year, in order to over come this criticism, the band participated in every pep rally regardless of the size of .the enthusiastic crowd which at tended. I ask you to decide whether or not we have earned the right to the Gator Bowl. I believe there is little doubt there is sufficient money avail able fur the trip. If the $75,000 offered to Penn State for the Gothom Bowl is any indication of that to be received for the Gator Bowl, then I don't believe lack of money is really any obstacle to the trip. As usual, the administration must be thinking only of the money which they can hoard from the bowl, not what the bowl can do for the students. In my opinion, a band is almost as essential to the foot ball pagentry as is the team. It's a shame we can't even af ford to take the whole team to the bowl. —Douglas Lee '64 student section, would provide that much-needed support. I believe that the Athletic Association and even many of the faculty and students fail to fully appreciate the Blue Band. However, the band is respected and admired far be yond the limits of the univer sity. You would think that the powers-that-be would be proud enough of such an organiza tion to send it as a representa tive of the university to the Gator Bowl. —Richard Althouse 'SS Penn State Blue Band *Letter Cut Band to the Gator Bowl you stand to make $lOO,OOO in stead of only- $93,000. —James M. Lucas, 'BS
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