The daily collegian. (University Park, Pa.) 1940-current, March 06, 1972, Image 2

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Last Chance
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS can take
advantage of a free ride, to Bellefonte
today, to register to vote. It’s their last
opportunity to be registered 8y the
Centre County commissioners, who
have been taking students for a ride all
year.
So far' the commissioners have done
their best to discourage students from
registering. With the backing of state
officials, students registered in Centre
County Fall Term only to be deprived
completely in many cases of their due
franchfse. Some made it onto the voting
rolls by court order, ■ while others
surrendered in a feeling of utter
frustration.
Again this term students are turning
out to register, but find the board
throwing up considerable roadblocks.
Proof of residency lies with the student.
Accepted as proof are marriage r
licenses, Pennsylvania drivers licenses
with local addresses, local credit cards,
county or schpol tax receipts or forms,
Bell Telephone credit cards with-local
addresses, or a combination of a twelve
month lease with local savings and
checking accounts.
STUDENTS WHO lacked such
“proof” were turned down this term.
J h eft sea re conning studen ts on v lisi ta ti o n
$ ByRODNORDLAND
Collegian Senior Reporter .
Youpeople out there have been conned by
the University with the unwitting cooperation
of this newspaper.
The delegated con-man is Charles C.
Spence, director of residence hall programs
at the University. The victim is you, the
student especially if you live on campus.
And the name of thereon game is: take-the
visitation-away„-but-make-the-kids-think-it’s.-
for : their-own-good.
But don’t worry,- that’s not' all that the
scheming higher-up bureaucrats who pull
Spence’s strings have in store for you. The
plan, it is becoming quite clear; is to make
you into, puppet-people, kind of
enitities a bureaucrat is capable of un
derstanding.
The plan includes taking away your fought
for visitation rights, instilling fear and
paranoia in your numbers to induce con
formity, and in general devolving the student
community into the paternally-ruled, yessuh
nosir; button-down nursery school it was five
years ago.
The pattern has been emerging more and
more since President Oswald quietly phased
out his “fireside raps” with students,
probably having realized students were
astute enough to see through' his big ears
(remember how Oswald was going to listen?)
into a head filled with obfuscating,
procrastinating and people-manipulating
intentions. •
First, a former undercover informer
(narc) was put in, charge of the “drug
education” program. This drug education
has taken its toll: witness violations of the
University’s previously stated policy of not
calling police on campus; witness increased
drug raids (three, two weeks ago) in the
dormitories; and witness reports of students
being urged to dime on their roommates.
Now, since the beginning of this term, the
When the chance to appeal the decisions
in Bellefonte came up, only' a small
portion of rejected students managed to.
make the trip. Simply by wearing down
the patience of ' perspective student
voters, the commissioners succeeded in
keeping students off the voting rolls. <
If students are going to overcome
man-handling by the -commissioners,
they ■ will have to - play the com
missioners’ game from the start.
Register for the vote with whatever
proof of residency you may have. If you
must, appeal, don’t stay away because
the game has become monotonous.
Between the time of possible rejection
by the board and the time of the appeal,
some-acceptable form of proof may be
obtained.
Registrants have until April 10 to
appeal the decision on their cases. Even
if the appeal fails, possible court action
could place a rejected name back on the
list. Last year’s decision to place names
back on the rolls came only days before
the election.
STUDENTS SEEKING a ride to
Bellefonte today may go to the Hetzel
Union Building between 9:30 and 11 a.m.
or 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Register to vote in
Bellefonte today; don’t allow the
commissioners to take you for a ride.
heat has been on for visitation. For the past
several months, policies forcing residents to
stand guard duty in their lobbies.have been
shoved down students’ throats by ad
ministrators with the complicity of eager
to-please-the-mahstuh dorm councils and
resident assistants.
These were volunteer programs but few
knew that, and outright attempts were made
to hide that fact. In South Halls, for instance,
an authoritarian area, coordinator, Art
Constantino, had the lack of decorum to
admit, “We had planned to try before the
Student' Standards Boards anybody
who refused to sit” and watch the doors. In
other words, if you didn’t “volunteer,” you’d
get shot, figuratively speaking. There were
similar coercive attempts in other halls.
Now we get back to Mr. Spence. In the Feb.
28 Collegian, he announced that' extra
“security receptionists” will be placed in all
women’s dorms and men’s dorms in East
Halls and Beaver. Reason: to curtail what
has been called in this newspaper * ‘the recent
wave of thefts.”
I have called Spence a con man, because I
do not believe he is a dumb man. Yel the
reasoning behind this further escalation of
visitation curtailment is decidedly stupid.
In asserting that increased dormitory
thefts justify the gestapo door watching
programme, the University is arguing from
\yhat it knows —or should know —to be false
premises.
First of all, this so-called wave of thefts is
largely the creation of The Daily Collegian.
The University’s figures show a 250 per cent
increase in reported personal property thefts
from dorms for Falll, 1971 as compared to
Spring, 1971 hardly a very valid com
parative base. It is no coincidence that The
Collegian’s coverage of campus thefts has
increased similarly: there are twice as many
reporters on police beat this year than there
were last year, and they are writing twice as
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WOODSTOCK JUGT
FROM THE OTHER ENP OF
THE DO6HOOSE
much copy. Last year, because of the im
portance of the large -scale off-campus
arrests, on-campus petty thievery often was
not covered in our news columns. But to the
reader who is not privy to this information,
he is misled by a false appearance of in
creased campus crime.
.Another important thing to consider is that
the 250 per cent statistic reflects reported
thefts. TTere could well be just as many or
even fewer thefts this year than last, but
various factors could have made more people
report the thefts. One such factor is news
coverage: more people read' about other
people reporting thefts to campus patrol, and
they start reporting thefts more often. The
result, again,is the false appearance of in
creased crime.
But more important than this is the
university’s obscurantist attempt to link
thefts and visitation policy. The only
evidence of a causal relationship between the
two comes from the unfounded assertions of
administrators the same administrators
who vigorously opposed open visitation a few
years back.
Neverthelss, administrators themselves
must realize visitation is not to blame the
facts are all against it. In Spence’s lobby
guard program, the guards are being put in
all women’s dorms from 9 p.m. on and also in
East Halls, mens dorms from 11 pm. on.
Using the University’s statistics, the only
Significant increase in thefts was in East
so why the guards in women’s dorms all over
campus?
Besides, the amount of. theivery in
women’s' dorms in East is negligible: Fall r '
Term there were only seven reported thefts
from women’s halls compared with 105 thefts
from men’s halls. Yet the University puts its
heaviest security” in the women’s areas,
the ones which least need it!
That fact in itself pretty well lays bare
Spence’s intentions. But there is more. There
University Calendar
Monday, March 6, 1972
SPECIAL EVENTS.
Lecture by Dr. Louis Dupree, American Universities Field Staff associate and ad
junct professor of anthropology at Penn State, on “Bangla Desh: The Reasons
Why.” 8 p.m.. Kern Graduate Building auditorium, sponsored by Middle East
Studies sub-committee of the College of the Liberal Arts.
AWS “Focus on Women” program, 8 p.m, HUB reading room. “Employment Op
portunities for Women after Graduation,” with Mrs. Elizabeth Nuss, Placement
Service; Mrs. Katie Byrd, EOP and DOC counselor; and Mrs. Jeanne Driscoll,
student aid and placement.
Film, “I Am Pablo Neruda,” readings from the works of Neruda, and musical'set
tings for his poems, 7:30 p.m., Simmons Lounge; sponsored by Circulo Iberico.
INTEREST GROUPS
Eco-Action Division, PSOC, 8:30 p.m., Room 303 Boucke.
Archery Club, 7 p.m., White Building range. .
Squash Club, 7‘p:m., White Building courts. ... '
Free University, 7:30 p.m., HUB'lounge.
a ”
MEETINGS
Interfraternity Council, 7:30 p.m., Delta Phi fraternity. s
a '
SEMINARS L
Management Sceince and Organizational Behavior, 1:30 p.m., Room 105 Boucke. Dr.
Lavfrence Hrebiniak, oh “A Comparative Organizational Study
of. Effectiveness and Efficiency in Psychiatric Inpatient Department.”
Organic Chemistry, 8 p.m., Room 310 Whitmore. Dr. Gordon Hamilton, on “Models
for Some .Enzymic Redox Reactions.”
Statistics, 4 p.m., Room 2l7'Willard. W.L. Hall,.University of Rochester, on “Mar- '
tingales and Statistics.”
Environmental Pollution and Plant Pathology, 11 a.m., Room 213 Buckhout.
Letters to
Time to get settled
TO THE EDITOR: I feel that there-is an immediate urgency
to clarify the misconceptions of Central Penn.PIRG that were
set forth in -Doug Struck’s recent editorial.
Struck seems to have lumped PIRG together with other
unsuccessful student interest groups, and ' accordingly,
doomed.us to fail also. However; contrary to Struck’s opinion,
we are well organized and do have goals which we are aiming
for. In addition, PIRGs in Minnesota and Oregon are presently
functioning smoothly and efficiently with enthusiastic sup
port of students and community leaders. Moreover, a vjigf*
amount-of- new PIRGs-are continually being formed on
campuses across the country.
PIRG’s four main proposed goals, consumer protection,
environmental quality, racial and sexual discrimination, and
occupational health and safety are, admittedly, not
specifically.defined. However, there is a purpose behind this
reasoning.
The students can certainly see the areas which we plan to
explore, and from these,can'pickforthemselves which they
would like to investigate extensively. PIRG is not a
bureaucracy, but rather, an organization, designed to utilize
the aid and experience of competent professionals to probe
into areas which no one has previously ventured, simply
because they have not-had the organization, massiveness, and
student assistance that PIRG. has. '
Numerous organizations are eager to see PIRG formed, a
few of them being GSA, Panhel, and OTIS. PIRG would have
the power, numbers, and professionals to aid these
organizations. PIRG in no way would stifle them, but rather,
would offer its staff and work together when similar problems
arose.
PIRG, like any other organization, must have time to get
settled. Although it might be nice, Mr. Struck, even we cannot
produce results before we are funded and staffed with
professionals. We are presently proceeding on this course of
action through a massive petitioning drive. It might be in
teresting to note that the students thus far have not had a
are two main kinds of dormitory thefts
coat rack rip-offs and bedroom rip-offs and
lobby guards will not abate either type.
The coat racks- will still be equally
uqguarded and besides, anyone who leaves
variables in his coat is a damn fool. As for
thefts in rooms, let’s face it: your fellow
residents are the culpable ones. Who else?
Pictures thief walkingonto a floor and trying
doors until he finds an empty room, and you
have pictured a' thief with no brains and a
short -career. u
But to.further insult our intelligence,
Spence has paraded out an opinion poll-,
citing that “80 per cent” of the students favor
“security receptionists.” Spence made an
abysmal when he said 80 per
cent : the real figure, based on his’ poll
results, is 28 per cent!
Respondents were asked which security
measure out of a list of five they would prefer
the greatest amount was 28 per cent in
favor of the option of security receptionists.
But'that question was outright dishonest,
slanted and loaded: the other options would
have hampered student freedom to a much
larger degree. With that kind of unscientific,
bastardized, polling you could prove popular
support .for repeal of the Bill of Rights.
, But just for,the hell of it, let us grant tlie
validity of Spence’s poll (forgive me, Dr.
Gallup). As we have already seen, before the
poll was taken people had been misled by
newspaper coverage, crime reporting, and
administrative chicanery so the most such
a poll.can offer is a measure of how extensive
this misleading has been.
We see, then, that using such a poll to
justify stern security measures is un
warranted a priori reasoning reductio ad
absurdum. We must conclude either that
administrators are very stupid, or that they
are trying to put one oyer on us the latter
conclusion is by far the more valid one.
Now: You ... have .
you going to take it?
skeptical attitude towards. PIRG, this being conclusively
demonstrated by the fact-that 90 per cent of the students ap
proached thus far have been willing to sign our petition.
As our numbers continufe to swell each day with student
volunteers, it will become quite apparent to the few remaining
skeptics that PIRG will soon become a.reality at'Penn State.
Stephen Straley
<2nd-pre-law-State College)
Sad state of affairs
Individual rights
TO THE EDITOR: In the past few months I have been
following the situation that Wells Keddie has come to face. I
admire,j'espect and support Keddie’s fight because he is also
fighting for the rights of students.
• In this fight many issues essential to both faculty and
students have been raised. Those issues concerning students
are recognition of rights and the intimidation these students
must suffer because of the fight for thisTecognition. The issue
facing faculty is simply said; how secure is your position if
you are politically concerned? ; “
Silence on the part of both students and faculty has caused a
setback in the advancement of individual rights. The in
dividual’s voice is his only protection against a similar in
cident occurring in the future.-
Wells Keddie’s fight is not only personal. He is' fighting for
the overall review of his case, the similar cases that others
must faceln the the rights of students to determine
who shall teach them. / r '~*
Keddie’s case, in my opinion, has much bearing on future
decisions concerning tenure, as well as individual rights; riot
only is the concern and struggle for securing those rights, but
a fight also to be able to exercise those rights.
Student negativism
TO THE EDITOR: It is disheartening to witness the
degeneration of student idealism, so hopefully strong a' few
years ago. It has degenerated not only into apathy but into a
negativism.
In attacking the Central Pennsylvania Public Interest
Research Group in The Daily Collegian’s Wednesday issue
Doug Struck epitomized this negativism, bound in suspicion of
organizations which make “an emotional pitch for public
consciousness.” He was generally correct in stating that an
organization is being set up before specific goals are selected,
that people are '.to be hired before their jobs are specifically
defined, and that students are being asked for money before
being told how it will be used specifically.
But these apparent shortcomings do not indicate
disorganization; rather, they indicate,the vital openness of the
whole idea of a group of dedicated (who else would work for
$5OOO yearly?) and powerful professionals controlled by and
integrating the energy of interested students. And Doug,
consult Max Weber on the meaning of “bureaucracy.”
PIRG demands no monetary, commitriient, as refunds will
be made upon request. But I pity those of you who cannot
accept “an emotional pitch for public consciousness.”
Craig Slater
(sth-sociology-Pittsburgh)
been ... conned. Are
the Editor
TO THE EDITOR: I noticed that on page two of the March 1
issue of your newspaper, you put Port Allegany, Pa. in New
York State. When, you. get a chance would'you please move
Philadelphia to Colorado, put Pittsburgh in Utah, and slip
Erie into the lake. Thank you
Eric Walker
associate justice, USG Supreme Court
Sailtj (Enllpgtmt
Successor to The Free Lance, est. 1887
Member of.the Associated Press
ROBERT J. McHUGH DRUEHAYDT
Editor Business Manager
Opinions expressed by the editors and staff of The Daily
Collegian are not necessarily those of the University
Administration, faculty or student body.
Mail subscription price: $13.00 a year.
Mailing Address— Box 467, State College, Pa., 16801
Editorial and Business Office Basement of Sackett
(North End)
Phone 865-2531
Business office hours: Monday through. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4
p.m.
SAREE
DRESSES
From India
Easy to wear
Tailored Sarees ’
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237-4622
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moyer je\Afelens
216 East College Avenue, State College, Pa.
David Karially
(sth-French-Port Allegany)
moyer class
guaranteed
long long