PAGE FOUR
Editorial Opinion
1962 in Retrospect
As sure as New Year's Eve means "cheer," horns,
hats and music, the New Year itself means resolutions—
both new and renewed. The Daily Collegian is one of
many organizations striving for the betterment of The
Pennsylvania State University. Our way of doing this
is to provide the students of this University with a news
paper which wilt be of true service and value.
During the year 196.2,,. we made suggestions, we cru
saded, we praised and we criticized. We experienced the
envigorating sensation of seeing suggestions for a better
Penn State being put into effect and experienced bitter
disappointment at events which, in our opinion, degraded
the University.
We would like to review what we consider to be
main issues of the past year, our stands on them and in
some cases, a general outline of what progress we believe
must be made in the coming year.
Perhaps the main issue concerning Penn State last
year did not occur at University Park, but in Harrisburg.
For there the University's budget request and Penn
State's entire position as a university were debated. We
strongly supported the University in its request for in
creased state funds which was eventually drastically cut
by Governor Lawrence and the state legislature. We also
urged that Penn State be officially designated as THE
state university of Pennsylvania. While at the end of the
year we could safely say there was a general verbal agree
ment among the state's political leaders that Penn State
was so designated, we urge that this verbal agreement
be made formal through an act of the legislature.
Students' rights were increased greatly last year, due
chiefly to the actions of the University Senate. In an action
last January, the Senate moved to eliminate discrimina
tion in campus organizations.
This fall, the Senate voted to recommend to the Board
of. Trustees that ROTC be made voluntary. A third Senate
action was less dramatic but just as important for it set
up a standard discipline code and made the discipline
committee a distinct and separate court of appeals for
students.
We vigorously approved the changes in each of these
three areas. We believe they have and will greatly im
prove the status of students on this campus and better
prepare them for life after graduation. We urge that in
the years to come the discrimination decision be accepted
with grace and embraced by all students. We urge the
Board of Trustees to accept ROTC on a voluntary basis.
We view, the discipline progress as only the beginning of
the democratizing of this University's discipline system.
In contrast to the beneficial steps taken by the Uni•
versify Senate was the unfortunate decision by the Ad
ministrative Committee on Student Organizations which
banned Froth magazine and in doing so eliminated a vital
channel for student expression. We hope that this year
the committee will show some faith in student intentions
and approve the new Froth charter which is before it at
this time.
Student government began 1962 with the initiation
of its new constitution. In its final form the document
had our full support and we maintain that it gives USG
the necessary broad base for participation In the wide
scope of student activity. -
Student government held three elections in the past
year—one with and two without political parties. The
Daily Collegian has continually stressed its opinion that
political parties, used to the best advantage, provide for
the most active, interested and informed student govern
ment. We renew our stand on this matter and will con
tinue to support strongly the use of the party system on
this campus.
The area of town housing had many ups and downs
during 1962. The State College Chamber of Commerce
set up its own housing list, independent of student gov
ernment's. list, on which landlords who discriminate
against certain races, religions or creeds, can be listed.
This undercut USG's housing list, which was revamped to
improve its service to students and landlords.
We opposed the type of list maintained by the Cham
ber of Commerce and hailed the. improved service of stu
dent government's list. We continue to hold these beliefs.
Also, the borough of State College established a hous
ing code which sets minimum standards ,for downtown
rooms. We felt this code was a step in the right direction,
but we await enforcement before we will comment on its
effectiveness.
During 1962 The Daily Collegian also initiated a
"Lion's Roar" editorial . column to pay tribute to those in
dividuals or groups who perform outstanding service to
the University.
Last year, "Rovs" were given for Dr. Monroe New
man, who led the fight in the Senate for the adoption of
the anti-discrimination bill; to Albert Diem, former vice
president for business, who set an admirable example for .
everyone when he resigned rather than give up . his prin
ciples; for James C. Coogan, former director of public in
formation who gave his life to promoting Penn State; for
the University Senate, for approving voluntary ROTC;
and for the 1962 football team for its outstanding record
this fall.
With the beginning of 1963, we yenew our resolution
to publish a newspaper which will accurately present the
news and one which will; to the beSt of "our" abilities,
interpret the news: For A Better. Penn State. •
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN, UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA
Now that it's all over but the
thank-you notes and disposal of
the Christmas tree (which is good
for a discount on appliances at
one Harisburg store), it's time for
a post-Christmas analysis.
Christmas has its nice aspects—
carolers in the snow, Santa Claus,
Christmas dinner and a religious
story which should make a war
worried world pause to consider
for a few moments.
Christmas is good for the econ
omy. Department store sales go
up, unemployment deer eases,
newspaper advertising revenue is
greater—if newspapers are pub
lishing. It is a merry season for
unions since a strike before
kaleidoscope
Life is a game of Twenty Ques
tions, or so it seems at this point.
Every year people have new
queries to pop out of their grab
bags of goodies.
Theoretically, these are ideal
conversation openers and no
a majority of the askers are sin
cerely interested
But by . the 99
time you hear
question, you b
gin to wonder.
We can 10 o
back through °I
lives and remen
ber some of ti
pet phrase
There's really ne
er been any le .
up as the first oy
entered the wor,
when we did
"Boy or girl?" MESS MILLS
Then there's the poor tot who
Is continually bombarded with
"How old are you?" The kid can't
possibly be more than 3 and you
know it.
Christmas holds wonder for in
terrogators as well as children. The
latter probably list what Santa
brought them so many times that
they'd tire of the man in the red
suit if h,e weren't so generous.
Parents are rich sources of
strictly rhetorical questions such
as "Will you keep quiet?" or
or IF
tz_ 2-
tit
. ~
Mt( MOTHER DON'T RAISE ME
TO BE A 64 - SLOPE !
qui suit?
An Un-Ame► - ican Idea
ble's
Christmas usually brings fast re
sults. •
Children like Christmas, since
they like bright
ages to open
But some al
pects of Christrru
reach the heigl
of the ridiculous
Have you evr
shopped for tl
person who h
,everything? T h
whole idea is sill
If he has ever'
thing already, Iv)
buy him anythi
else?.
OR
However, no one MISS TON
ever suggests that you don't buy
A Game
by kay mills
"Where did you get that?"
Their friends always want to
know if junior likes school the
inevitably doesn't and doesn't
care who knows it) or what he
wants to be when he grows up.
The long lost relatives want to
know how much you've grown
since they last saw you, but you
can't remember because you don't
have the remotest notion when
that was.
School proves a common point
of contact, so we may have heard:
"Is high school really tougher than
junior high?" "What's your favor
its subject " or "Whatcha doin'
Saturday night?"
Questions grow up with their
objects so we find: "Have yon I ap
plied to college yet?" "Where are
you going to school?" and "Where
are you working this summer?"
In terms of sheer repetition,
however, we college students have
our elders and kid brothers beat.
What about "Do you like Penn
State?',' "Where're you from?"
"What's your major?" or the in
evitable "Do you know . . . ?"
game?
As a senior, I almost decided fo
prepare a brief statement of my
post-graduation plans for distri
bution to my questioners during
the term vacation. Blank paper
looks so forlorn, though.
The last of the Twenty Ques
tions concerns that most nebulous
future. We will undoubtedly face
less frivolous problems; in short,
the crucial questions undoubtedly
lie ahead. My parting probe is:
Are we ready?
~~.'.°i~?;~.~.? 3? Y? a~"i~`^`.C.~ybati ~y a'.a:.,rl>nc:si~'lz?'l.."~3..i~i"~.
LETTER POLICY
Letters to the editor must
carry the full name of the
author and identification of
the author will be verified be
fore any letter is published. In
most cases, letters over 400
words will not be published.
The Daily Collegian-re
serves the right , to edit any
letter.if it is deemed necessary.
The decision to publish or re
ject a letter lies solely with
the editor; letters containing
obvious misstatements or lack
ing- in good taste or fair play
will be rejected.
WiflrAMMV2.of.irMltig*.i.StM>l.
Tilt Bugg Tolignian
Successor to The Frie Lance; est, 1887
. •
Published Tuesday through Saturday morning during-the University year. The
Daily Collegian is a student-operated newspaper. Entered as second-class matter
July 5, 1034 at the State College, Pa. Post Office dhder-the act of March 3, 1879.
Mall Subscription Pripet 86.00 a_ year'
Mailing Address Box 261, State College. Pa
ANN PALMER
Editor 0,1
City Editors, Joan Mehan and David liolbach; News and World Affairs Editor,
Kay - Mills; Editorial Editor, David Runkel; Sports-Editor, Dean Billick; Photog
raphy Editor,Den Coleman; Assistant Photography Editor, Bill Goodman; Per
sonnel Direc tor, - Saralee Orton; Nova - and 'Features Editors, Dorman Beeson and
Sandra Yogic'. ' • • -
Local Advertising Co-Managers; Jean Ruhl; Jane Silverstein; National Ad
Mgr., Barbara Brown; Credit Mgr. - .-Italph Friedman; Assistant Credit Mgr.,
Harry Rauch; Promotion Mgr., Barry— Levitz; Classified Ad Mgr., Catherine
flaunter; Circulation Mgr., Phil Guest: Assistant Circulation Mgr., David Spirt; -
Personnel and Office Mgr., Lynn Murphy. _
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1963
by scrooge orton
him anything. It's just not kosher.
The Wall Street Journal recom
mends that he be given a small
metal box with eight flashing red
lights to place on his desk. What
does it do? Nothing except sit
there and flash red lights. After
one year it will be worn out, and
there's no way to repair Fits
in nicely with planned obsoles
cence.
If's nice to have Itixiary items,
but must manufacturers fax their
brains to invent electric ice
crushers and jewelled corkscrews?
It's not that my mother isn't
happy with the gilt hand holding
a magnifying glass which she re
ceived for Christmas. If looks
rather nice sitting on the desk
where it will undoubtedly remain
all year, untouched. Still
_if would
seem that the giver could have
used the money more than mother
can use the magnifying glass.
Consider -the problem of buy
ing a gift for a man who owns all
the clothing he can use, If he
doesn't smoke or drink, you can
eliminate the sterling silver jig
gers and the 5-pound ash trays,
and settle for an electric tooth
brush or an alligator wallet (of
which he probably has five al
ready).
I propose a month-long gift.
giving period so that all useless
gifts received could be rewrapped
and given to other friends.
Better than that let's limit
Christmas giving to children
under 12 who never get anything
they can't use in some way. Just
call me Scrooge.
Letters
Soph Questions
Term Values,
Vacations
TO THE EDITOR: I would like
to know exactly what values the
term• system has. It seems to me
that we laf e trying to cram a
semestes work into , a ten-week
period. 'The extra 25 minutes
added to each class period seem
to be a hindrance rather than an
aid.
Professors think they have - all
the time in the world and waste
half the period. with jokes and
other deviations. Students are
bored. and restless after an hour
of note-taking—but there are still
15 more minutes,
Courses still have the same
amount of outside readings and
library research, not to mention
the regular textbook. Study is
More concentrated and thus con
stant cramming is in effect. This
may be good for an "A" on a
bluebook, but how much knowl
edge is retained after a week, a
month or a year? -
We don't pick up any extra
credits this way. In fact, we get
nothing - out of it except two extra
- weeks of Christmas and no
Thanksgiving or Easter vacation,
Surely there must be some bet
ter way to run . this university
than under the term system.
• —Mary I. Sullivan '6II
A Sti . ident-Operated Newspaper
58 Years of Editorial Freedom
Member of The Associated Press
HERBERT WITMER
Business Manager