PAGE FOUR Editorial Opinion A Face-Saving' Device? for several years now we have been told that this University is moving forward at a rapid pace . . . that by the end of the decade it will be one of the top ten uni versities in the nation . . . and that this is being caused by a forward-looking and progressive faculty, and Board of Trustees. We have our doubts. 1 ' The faculiy may meet these requirements, but the. Trustees did not during the past. weekend. The Trustees cast this University’s lot with that group which ‘‘lets the other fellow do .it first” when they tabled a motion to abolish compulsory ROTC. (In this case they wouldn’t have even been taking the first step since several other major universities have already abolished compulsory ROTC.) The Board's official reason for tabling the motion was a desire to wait to see what action the U.S. Congress takes on a bill to change the present ROTC set-up. The change proposed by the Defense Department would establish and give priority to a two- year voluntary ROTC program. But, schools could maintain their four year program either on a voluntary basis or with two years of compulsory training as Uiis University now has. The bill was drafted by and has the full support of the Department of Defense. No action has been taken on it by cither house of the Congress. Congressional action is a slow process. No one can predict how or when the Congress will act. - • - We could be waiting for congressional action on this bill ton years from now. And in the meantime; while the Truj.ros wait, Penn State students will be forced to take cc.uv::/; which neither the University Senate or the Depart ment cf Defense believes they should be required to take. Wc realize that this school has a long history of excel lent and faithful service to the armed forces of this coun try. Its ROTC program has been one of the best, both in training and number of- officers graduated, in the nation. This leads us to believe that the Board’s action was one of “saving face’’ rather than one designed to do what was best for the future and the students of the University, Tha faculty did ndi believe elimination of compulsory ROTC would be harmful to the University. And members of the faculty rely on the status of this University for their future jobs and personal standing within' the academic world. The Board of Trustees must shed its conservative views. It must be progressive, looking with favor upon new, bold, and perhaps eVcn daring moves. Such actions are necessary if this University is to move into its pre dicted category of one of the top ten universities in the United States. We Want Froth Unless there .are any other unforeseen delays, the Committee on Student Organizations Will decide this morning whether to approve the charter of the new Froth. We have stated .our opinion backing all efforts for a new Froth many times, We can only reiterate our stand that a good, clever humor magazine, which the new Froth promises to be, will be a valuable addition to this Uni versity. A Student-Gverated ftetuspaper 58 Years of Editorial Freedom 2il|c !athj (Mrntan Successor to The Free.'Lance,- est. 1887 Published Tuesday through Saturday morning during the University year. The Dally Collegian is a student-operated newspaper. Entered as second-class matter July 5, I*3l at the State College, Pa, Post.Offiqeiumler the act of March 3, 1879, Mail Subscription Prioe: $6.00 a year Mailing Address 80x'261,' State College, Pa. Member of The Associated Press ANN PALMER Editor City Editors, Joan Mehaij and David Bolbach; News and World Affairs Editor, Kay Mills; Editorial Editor, David Runkcl; Sports Editor, Dean Biltick; Assistant Sports Editor, Jim Bukata; Photography Editor, Den Coleman; Assistant• Pho tography Editor, Bill Goodman; Personnel• Saralee Orton;’ News and 1 Features Editors, Donnan Beeson and Sandra Yaggl.’ Local and Classified Advertising Co-Managers: Jane Silversteln, Jean Buhl; National Ad Mgr., Barbara Brown; Credit Mgr., Ralph Friedman; Assistant Credit Mgr, t Harry Rauch; Promotion Mgr., Barry Levits; Circulation Mgr., Phil Guwt; Assistant Circulation Mgr., David Spirt. Persons with complaints about The Daily Collegian** 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 ana efforts made to remedy situations where this newspaper la at fault. The Daily ’Colttglan, however, upholds the right to maintain its independence and ts tterrise it-, nnn judgment as to what It thinks U In the best interest of the univers-lt n whole \ THt DAILY COLLEGIAN, UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA HERBERT WITMER Business Manager. Letters to the Editor Music Major Offers Defense For 'Squeaks' TO THE EDITOR: From Philip Currie’s letter in Friday’s Col legian, it is perfectly obvious that he has no idea of the purpose of the student practice rooms in Car negie. Students in music education , are required to achieve a certain degree of proficiency in a number of instruments. For most of the instruments, only a rudimentary knowledge is neeassry, and learn ing to play these instruments is as least as painful for most of us as it is for him to hear. The squeaks and honks Currie hears come from the same people who are quite pleasant to hear on their major instruments. All stu dents, however, must achieve a somewhat advanced performing ability in both piano and voice. This brings us to the-next point: practice conditions are generally poor in the music department, and the pianos are terrible. Effort is being made to correct these con ditions, of course, but the condi tions exist nevertheless. In this same vein, the listening equipment in the-music’ library is less .than mediocre. One well-known faculty member used the term “scandal ous. ” _ Currie’s rather inane suggestion to-eliminate music students learn ing to play new instruments does nothing to help the situation; rather it annoys people like me. Perhaps it relieves his frustration at being given office space in one of our few practice rooms. —John Pennington '64 Wharton Presents Formal Reauesf For Froth Charter TO GEORGE L. DONOVAN: It is my understanding that Merle E. Campbell ( dean of student affairs for Commonwealth-campuses) and George S. Zorelich (head of the art department) have agreed to serve on the Board of Directors'of tire new Froth and further, that Zoretich has agreed to appoint an advisor from the art department. Our committee (USG Froth Committee) is unanimous in the approval of the substitution of the dean of Commonwealth campuses and head of the art. department. We hope your committee will agree with us that they should fill the open' board positions and that you will be able to approve this constitution this morning,' We also urge that in your state.- menl to the Administrative Com mittee on Student Affairs you will see fit to ask fhaf all due consid eration be given fo the student desires to gain final approval and chartering. We further urge that this deci sion be made sufficiently early to allow this new Froth to begin publication this academic year. We feel that it would be exceedingly difficult for the new Froth to realize the high standards expect ed of it without the benefit of an experienced staff. —-Dean W. Wharton * Student body, president WDFM Schedule TUESDAY, JAN. *9, 196* 4:15 The Philadelphia: Barber,, Adagio, for Strings; Mozart/ Violin* Con certo 4 - , •If :00 Dinner Date:'relaxing’dinner music '• B':00 This Week at the t United > i . 6:15, y.- 1 f • 6:20 Contemporary Classics: Hovhaneas, Prelude and Quadruple Fugue; \ Presti, The Masks; Delius.Appaiacia (Part 1); Grofe, .Grand Canyon Suite 7:30 Highlight: Greek Week interview; Fred Good and Jean Kennedy- ' 7:40 Sports Parade:’Joe Grata ; 8:00 Sound of Folk* Music:’live'and re» ■ ‘ corded talent 9:00 Meet the Professor:' Lorene Jochem* interviews Dr. Broderick discussing the dating habits of youth, 9:16 Mostly Music: Show muslc -10:00 Symphonic Notebook:^Brahms,-Sym phony l; Barber, Symphony 2; • Mahler, Symphony 4 - Soph Questions Suggestion To Punish Probationers TO THE EDITOR: I have just read Joseph Melusky’s “solution” to the academic probation problem on this campus, and it is easily seen that Melusky did not think very deeply. He suggests barring students from “dances, sporting events, etc.” by placing “some . sort of distinguishing characteristic o n their matric cards.” Perhaps we should brand these people with an “F,” for failure, analogous to the way they branded Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter; or maybe the University Book ' Exchange could sell T-shirts and sweatshirts with the individual’s ,name and previous term average on the front. These suggestions would eliminate tedious paper work at registration. How ridiculous! Each student has paid for the opportunities at this University, and it is entirely the student's own prerogative how he uses them. It doesn't take much thinking to understand that every student who has paid his tuition' is entitled to attend any sports event or any such event as he pleases on ihe basis of his activi ties card. I .wonder if Melusky could ex- Misnomers at 'Big-U' Cited TO THE EDITOR: I am an upper classman, and it seems as though this vast store of'knowledge that I have received- at the Big-U has not been acquired in vain. I have observed 1 a few misnomers that I feel warrant correction in keep ing with the University’s policy of “change for the better”, (exem plified in the term system). • Old Main should no longer be called Old Main, but merely “Old Building.” For in the com plexities of office shifting, “Old Building” will no longer be of main importance and soon may house little more than a rusty bell, a malfunctioning make-believe noise-making device-which we like to think is a bell, cracking plaster Hazing Rules Termed 111-Defined' TO THE EDITOR: We feel, that violated. However, we feel that the issue of Alpha Chi Sigma’s the existing hazing rules are ill social probation needs some clari- defined and may, in the future, fication. The -headlines in the Jan. serve to restrict the harmless ac -24 Collegian read “Fraternities tivities of the very fraternities Punished for Pledge Hazing.” Ac- who passed them. cording to the recently passed IFC — Roger Long '63 rule on hazing, any pledging ac- President, Alpha Chi Sigma tivity outside the fraternity house is prohibited. Unfortunately, this ruling pro hibited Alpha Chi Sigma from carrying on a traditional, ritualis tic ceremony. (The IFC Board of Control report stated that the “ceremony was of a- con structive nature"). We. believed that such an infraction would be overlooked in our case because of the nature of the activity. We do not wish to appeal the decision of the Board of Control. The Board had no choice but to give out a punishment for a law MATS THE N (“POLLED" REFERS TO THEIf? MU /a-'hpS/Pawo ® EINS ' BRGD 'wmoyr HORNS Wj* l A “POLLED y A^v '( vepv)| IFULLV expected some remark VJNTER'ESTIN6 ABOUT “POLLED BEA6LES"J Msll? /- 2? Z?<?£fC/{Z. TUESDAY; JANUARY 29/ 1963 plain how any student could pos sibly be barred from going to a dance, to the HUB, to 'a movie, etc., on the basis of his so-called “solution,” and if this were pos sible, how is he so sure that the problem would be solved? Melusky says that he believes students with good grades should have priority over students with poor grades. If, by misfortune, Me- theories are put into effect, I can well imagine the headlines appearing in a future edition of The Daily Collegian: “Penn State Students Resolved into Caste Sys tem." I cannot accept Melusky's shal low thinking, and I must agree wholeheartedly with ihe editorial opinion expressed in The Daily Collegian, that the problem of aca demic probation is an individual problem. No amount of forced limitation on students' social ac tivities will keep students off the probation list. If a student does not want to study, he can find an infinite number of ways to waste time. More important, it should not be the University's responsi bility to force a student to study. I must commend Melusky for at least offering a solution to the problem, but if suggestions are going to the made, I would like to hear some 'that make sense. Albert F. Barbush '65 and a president (if he’s lucky). • Curtin Road which runs past Hort Woods deserves a new name because Hort Woods will be gone soon to make room for more class rooms and TV viewing j ; ooms. "Curtin Road” seems improper somehow without Hort Woods. (NOTE: Frosh, if you miss this subtlety—speak to an upperclass man. He'll tell you stories to keep you on the edge of your seat with interest.) Aerial Road or Closed Circuit Road-might be nice. • Concerning names of residence halls, might I suggest the map be given a half-turn to the right (or the printer slop drinking.) • But never change HUB, Home for Unloved'Beatniks. —Ralph Guokas '64 Campus Beat While most members of the ad ministration were in Harrisburg attending the Board of Trustee’s meeting the Old Main Tower clock stopped. I wonder if this was a matter of time stopping while the important decisions of the University'were made or just that some administrator forgot to delegate the daily duty of wind ing the clock. —Prof Wayne
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers