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