PAGE FOUR
Editorial Opinion
Party Fate
in the Balance
Political
Hangs
This is a vital year for campus political parties.
By the end of. 1963 either they will have begun effec
tive reconstruction of themselves and student government
or they will have come even nearer to failure than they
are at present.
Wc call on party chairmen, party members and all
students who have faith and interest in the potential
effectiveness of student government to prevent the latter
alternative.
Since 1959 when ihe Class of 1963 entered this Uni
versity there has been a drastic decline in ihe efforts and
effectiveness of campus political parlies. Membership in
parties has declined. Interest in party projects and stands
has declined. Healthy party influence upon student gov
ernment has declined. Political parties have become solely
instruments of electing people to office. In our estimation
many times their goals have been selfish and not directed
toward the good of this University and the student body.
In talking with one party chairman this fall, we were
informed that party platforms serve no purpose on this
campus because they are merely a list of hastily conceived
projects designed solely to impress students. Many, if not
most, recent party planks have never been carried out.
If this attitude is allowed to prevail, parties may as
well throw in their charters. They will never accomplish
anything. .. .
However, within the concept of a party system there
lies, in our opinion, the answer to effective 'student gov
ernment. The opportunities for parties composed of ener
getic and informed students are boundless.
Many problems exist at this University. Many things
need to be done. The members of the USG Congress can
not be expected, as individuals, to be the "idea men" for
the entire campus. They can do research, persuade and
legislate. But they cannot read the minds of students who
never voice opinions.
Parlies could be havens for the expression of ideas and
opinion. As strong organizations, they could conduct much
of the research needed for effective Congressional legisla
tion. With dedicated leaders and members, parties could
provide invaluable training grounds for prospective USG
activities. By training and accurately informing interested
students, parties would also solve-.the all-too-frequent
problem of a lack of capable candidates to represent the
student body.
But, all of these activities are subordinate to the main
role of political parties—electing members to USG. Re
search and training are worthless in themselves. They
must be aimed at electing party men to office who are
courageous legislators intent on doing things for the good
of the student body.
It behooves all parties to nominate party men for all
vacant USG offices and to lead the campaign of these
party members.
All of these avenues and many more are open to
campus political parties. Their carrying out will require
year-around effort and strong organizations. We feel it
can be done. We feel it-must be done.
Once again we say to students, active and inactive:
Do not sit back and criticize. There is much to be done
and you must do it.
A Student-Operated Newspaper
58 Years of Editorial Freedom
©hr Satltj (EuUeman
Successor to The Free La nee, est. 1881
PnhHshetl Tuesday thrnueh Saturday mornlne during the University year. The
Daily Collegian Is a student-operated newspaper. Entered as second-class matter
July 6, 1831 at the State College, Pa. Post Office under the'act of March 3, 1879.
Mail Subscription Prior: 86.00 a year
Mailing Address Box 261, State College, Pa.
ANN PALMER
Editor
Member of The Associated Press -
City Editors, Joan Molinn and David Bolhach: 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 Director,' Saralec Orton i News and Features Editors, Donnan Beeson and
Sandra Yaggl.
Local and Classified Advertising Co-Managers: Jane Sllverstein, Jean Buhl:
National Ad Mgr., Barbara Brown; Credit Mgr., Ralph Friedman; Assistant
Credit Mgr., Harry Rauch; Promotion Mgr., Barry Levitz; Circulation Mgr.,
Phil Guest; Assistant Circulation Mgr., David Spirt.
Persona with complaints about The Daily Collegian's editorial policy or news
coverage may voire 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 •iv. ' ■ : ns to who! H thinks Is in the best Interest of the
flnlo ■
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. UNIVERSITY PARK. PENNSYLVANIA
HERBERT- WITMER
Business Manager
for the record ; : —; ;
Pomp and Circumstance
—-— ——by carol kunklema
This reporter was among the
crowd of 12,000 spectators who
clutched their passes bearing the
seal of the State of Pennsylvania
and burrowed their way into
Harrisburg’s Farm . Show Arena
Tuesday.
The occasion was the inaugura
tion of William Warren Sci’anton
—the 103rd governor of this Key
stone State, The setting the tra
ditional and sol
emnly official in
auguration cere
mony, The mood—
more typical • of
American football
fans who come to
gaze at a sensa
tional new player
Signific a n 11 y,
the crowd in
cluded its appro
priate unpropor
tionate share of
Republicans, a kunkleman
fewer number of Democrats and
a dash of reporters and photog
raphers insuring that the oc
casion would live up to the true
ingredients of a spectacular pro
duction.
In this arena-type seats, spec
tators leaned forward, anxiously
and curiously, awaiting the en
trance of the star performer. Those
on the dirt, floor, originally in
tended for the showing of live- - ”
,stock, sank their heels into the
earth and craned their necks over
the equally curious gathering
around them.
Those politically inclined intro-
Letters
'The Low Cost of Education'
TO THE EDITORt Perhaps it
would be unfair to charge that
this institution, supposedly dedi
cated to education, is in reality
dedicated only to separating stu
dents from their money. How
ever, I’m afraid that this is the
case. -
From my first weeks at Penn
Slate, when my registration cards
included a demand for a contri
bution to the class fund, I have
been subject to unreasonable
pressures on my pocketbook. In
English I and 3 I was told to buy
several books -which were never
used. Zoology 25 necessitates the
purchase of an expensive dissect
ing kit which is little used.
Various and'' sundry clubs and
organizations imply that one
must join their dues-paying ranks
in order to have a happy exist
ence here. Some local merchants
and even the after-hours food
peddlers in the dorm dining halls
charge more than standard prices
for their products.
Many of us here are from
families of small means, and can
not afford to maintain ourselves
at the expensive level which
seems to be expected of us. The
University administration and -
the faculty must realize that there
is a need for a fairer treatment
of its students.
A few things which might ba
New Mail Ruling
Hit hy GW Student
TO THE EDITOR: I was just in
formed. by my girl, that I am no
longer to put Pennsylvania State
University on her letters. If I do,
I am liable to get them returned.
Why is this? Does she no longer
attend the Pennsylvania State
University? Did she flunk out?
Something like this would re
quire a lot of explaining; espe
cially if it happened to some
one's Aunt Tillie who writes only
once a year.
Since the University is assum
ing ..the authority of the United
States Post Office,. T wonder if it
has any of the Dag Hammarskjold
error stamps to sell?
•—James S. Pringle
Gr;::gj Washington University
duced the fervor-of a party con
vention. Intent on claiming recog
nition due the winning side, they
waved banners which boasted:
“We helped win a majority of
2500 votes for our district.”
They bellowed their victory
cheers, and those who considered
themselves too refined for such
vocal display, reduced' their boast
to that of sporting Irish green top
hats or grasping bamboo canes.
Many of Ihose.in the crowd who
rated free passes and chartered
buses to attend the affair pinned
blue ribbons on their shoulders
lopped by a badge of the smiling
Scranton.
Meanwhile, , energetic photog
raphers hopped from press table
to platform to ground in an effort
to capture the glorious moments
on film. To retiring governor
David L. Lawrence, they taunted,
“Give us a smile, Davey!” and to
the new members of the front
page set, they pleaded, “Look up
here!”
Finally, the new governor en
tered, and the crowd hastened to
attention. The familiar anthem
"Pomp and Circumstance” was
blown and drummed on the in
struments of the Valley Forge
Military Academy band.
With the governor-elect was his
wife, who added to the' colorful
festivities with her brilliant
orange suit. The faces of their two
young sons shone both with pride
for their father and from the
diligent grooming they must have
received; their teenage daughter,
tall and lithe with a slight Bug-
looked into are as follows; (1)
free laundry facilities, (2) lower
prices at snack-bars, (3) more
careful consideration of the mini
mum books and equipment need
ed in courses.
This state university is sup
posed to be providing low-cost
education for the people, and it’s
time it began to do that.
—Robert A. Lewis '65
Junior Disputes
Rossmctnn's Views
TO THE EDITOR! I take excep
tion to the “mental ■ exercise”
which appeared in the letters to
the editor column of Wednesday’s
Collegian mocking both do-good
ers and doers of good. The mere
fact that a person is unable to,,
solve his own troubles has no
bearing on whether he can help
another, who may have difficult
ties of an entirely different na
ture.
Furthermore, being “too far
away ... to offer . . . peace of
soul” can be an advantage, as a
more unbiased and analytical
viewpoint can be adopted.
If the premises put forth by
Mr. Rossmann were true, our na
tion’s army of college guidance
counsellors, marriage counsellors,
and even psychiatrists and psy
chologists would be looking for
new jobs.
In short this letter sounds like
the immature whining'and moan
ing of a childlike person whose
mind has been scoured by a few
well-meaning friends. " '
—Steven Schwartz '64
WDFM Schedule
THURSDAY, JAN. 17 -
4:15 The Philadelphia: Debussy's La Merj
Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre; Boro*
din's Steppes of Central Asia
5:00 Dinner-Date: relaxing dinner music
0:00 News Analysis: news of the day
summarized
0:15 Wealherscope: Joel Myers
6:20 Concert Hal!: Ravel’s Bolero, La
Valse and Pavanne; Smetena'a
.Mouldou; and others
7:30 Highlight: USG Report on Btudent
government
7:40 Radio Moscow: Weekly feature from
Russia; The Cuban Crisis
7:55 News
8:00 This is the Subject: “Value Judg*
ments in Science” by Robert B.
Lindsay, physicist and dean - of
Brown University Graduate School
8:55 Sports News
0:00 Harlequin: Humorous readings by
University Readers
9:15 Mostly Music: popular and .jazz
10:00 Classical Canvas: Franz Liszt;
Piano Concerto No. 1, Les Prelude*,
Psalm No. 8, Variations on Themes
by Bach
THURSDAY. JANUARY 17. 1963
gestion of a Jackie Kennedy hair
do, added her admiring glances
to those of her brothers.
Appropriately, Mrs. Lawrence’s
attire was more restrained, sug
gesting the contrast of the old
and the new. She wore a simply
cut light blue wool suit and al
lowed only a‘flowered silk hat to
mark the gaiety of the hour.
■ The flag of the governor un
furled as Scranton repeated tha
oath that would bind him to the
people. The crowd waited for the
next words which would desig
nate him as their Spokesman and
administrator for the next four
years. He did not disappoint
them. He spoke of progress, of
faith, and of economic advantages.
He urged them to walk proudly
as citizens of the state. He left
them with the feeling that there
is still hope of a Messiah. And then
he was silent, awaiting the formal
closing words of the Bishop of
Harrisburg.
Bui the crowd was not to be
ignored so soon. From the floor
arose a chant of desire. "We want
Scranton!" they cried, and re
fused to silence their request. Un
appeased but calmed by the
ominous appearance of slate
troopers, they allowed the bishop
to read the words from the scrip
ture. '
A triumphant exit began as the
strains of “Battle Hymn of the
Republic" began and the crowd
burrowed their way out into the
below freezing air for the inaugu
ral parade. With pinched faces
and stiffening toes, they viewed
the passing units of reserve forces,
high school bands and army tanks.
Thm they turned their atten
tion to inaugural ball prepara
tions.
Yesterday the mood in the state
capitol was still a vibrant one
but for a different reason. The
new man began his job. He began
to work for the people, and it is
his ability rather than his charm
that must maintain the people’s
confidence and good will.
For he knew that the vibrance
of their mood would depend only
on how well he accomplished
for them the stated intentions
and platforms of the campaign
which had brought him 1 to the in
augural platform.
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