New liberal McGovern stirs reform By MARTY JOYCE Collegian Columnist Election reflections with a bitter pill The election hangover is gone and it is now time to sober to the future. It was a bitter but temporary defeat with a certain air of optimism prevailing. All great social reform movements suffer initial setbacks. Time is necessary between the introduction of reform and its realization. William Jennings Bryan saw the defeat of many populist proposals, but it was no demise. The populist sentiment was later in corporated into law and reform prevailed The Progressive Movement ushered a new period of attempted reform which provided an intellectual softening for Franklin D Roosevelt's New Deal of the '3o’s Henry Wallace's Progressive Party of 1948 presented reforms which were realized in the ’6o's Civil rights, in creased social legislation and direct farm subsidies became reality years later George McGovern in 1972 proposed a New Liberalism. The Democratic Party for the last 30 years has been surviving on the New Deal program of the Roosevelt Administration. It attacked the problems of poverty by providing for the poor; social security and minimum wage increases were integral to this old liberalism The old liberals constantly voted in creases in defense spending and put the United States in the role of the world’s policeman George McGovern redirected priorities through a dynamic liberalism for the Democratic Party. He didn’t totally reject the old deal but focused on new ways to achieve the same goals. PAUL H. SCHAFER Editor Term Break “COSTA del SOL" SPAIN December 12 - December 20 YOUR CHOICE: 1) FLIGHT ONLY New York to Malaga and return on above dates COST: $159.00 Per Person plus $3.00 tax 3) OPTIONAL LAND PACKAGE a) Round-trip transfers airport to hotel in TORRESMOLINOS, SPAIN b) First class ORO HOTEL (or similar) with private bath, basis double oc cupancy e> Continental breakfast daily COST: $4O Per Person plus above air OPEN TO PENN STATE STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF (Limited amount of space - register now!) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: PENN STATE TRAVEL IJSI 116 W. College Ave. 237-6501 HHi State College, Pa. Social welfare is no longer a process of simply providing for the poor, but of attacking the rich and vested interests. The US must no longer police the world but must concentrate on domestic conditions. McGovern’s liberalism is before its time. Like previous social movements reform must first be introduced and suffer the consequence of rejection until the time is ripe The foothold has been established and the young and devoted McGovern people will see the reform to actuality. What scared George Meany was not the McGovern candidacy, but how a corps of dedicated workers could propel an unknown senator to the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. They could do it again with a can didate who espouses the fundamental principles of the McGovern candidacy. For the many involved it was a mass education in grass roots organizing. They are now veterans of one election and their interaction with the old party regulars will result in a shift to the left in the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, with Spiro Agnew carrying the Republican banner in 76, there will be a shift to the right in the Republican Party. The 1972 election has been a training and testing ground for the new workers of Democratics. Contrary to the predictions of the old pols, they won’t be leaving the party after the McGovern loss. They’ll be working their principles in coming elections local, state and national. They have the experience and the voting power to realize reform. In future elections the McGovern canvassers and the old ladies who stuff the envelopes will be working side by side in pursuance of reforms initiated in the 1972 presidential campaign. JOHN R. MYERS Business Manager This defeat is a bitter pill to swallow but will lead to a cure of the illness. Defeat is accommodated for the short run. McGovern pioneered the reform movement with a new liberalism and a new direction for the Democratic Party. There is reason for optimism. McGovern himself cited this note of optimism in his concession speech: “The presidency belongs to someone else, but the glory of these devoted working friends and their dedication to the noble ideals of this country sustains us now and it will sustain our country. We will shed no tears, because all this effort, I am confident, will bear fruit for years to come.” There are four more years of Richard Nixon to come but the workings are underway to undermine the Republican Party. His victory is only half a victory a victory for the present. The McGovern loss is an investment in future reform. McGovern is confident that this effort “will bear fruit for years to come.” McGovernites will remain the loyal opposition but will not be submissive. The war continues, prices rise, domestic legislation is vetoed there are still four more years of fighting and the fighting will continue until Richard Nixon and his like are disposed. “The loyal opposition does not rally to the support of policies we deplore. We do love this country and we will continue to beckon it to a higher standard.” There is an optimism an optimism which began with an obscure candidate a year ago. McGovern made a highly commendable effort. He realized, however, with his strong sense of history that there would be one, temporary setback in this reform movement. He realized his program had to suffer this one defeat for it “will bear fruit for many years to come.” The bitter pill has been slallowed, reform moves on. McGovern has con ceded only one victory and stands firm in his conviction. He has seen the potential and is confident in what will transpire. “The Democratic Party will be a better party because of the reforms we have carried out. The nation will be better because we never once gave up the long battle.” Optimism. For, this effort “will bear fruit for years to come.” Letter policy The Daily Collegian welcomes com ments on news coverage, editorial policy or non-campus affairs. Letters must be typewritten, double spaced, signed by no more than two persons and no longer than 30 lines. Students’ letters should include the name, term and major of the writer. University Mennonite Fellowship 112 Chambers Bldg. 10:00 a.m. Sunday DURGER KING j • wall-10-wall brollad baaf bwrgar pura basil) as road on a giant to ax lad bun 9$ with criap tattuca. lomatoaa, picklaa, onions, kalchup and mayonnaiss 801 l up youf alaavst 1 It takas two hands to handla a Whoppao Home of the WHOPPER! A MEAL IN ITSELF 4fcCTt/A 521 University Drive-AMPLE parking : -I Bronson riding easy By EARL DAVIS Collegian Film Critic In motion picture circles these days, we’re being treated generally to either one of two (excluding the sex pot boilers) main dishes for our cinematic appetites: a new black superhero every other week or a new flick that purports to have something to do with the Mafia. Last week we had (still have) “The Valachi Papers,” and now we’ve got “The Mechanic” featuring (believe it or not) the most popular screen actor in Europe these days, Charles Bronson. Playing “The Mechanic” of the title, Bronson is cast as a hired hit man adept at any and just about all conceivable means of extinction, protection and annihilation. He makes the mistake of Open to all but students The University has a file on you By DOUG STRUCK Collegian Senior Editor In various offices scattered about campus, grey-green file cabinets stand demurely behind a secretary’s cluttered desk. In the sliding metal drawers of the cabinets are rows and rows of stiff cardboard folders, each tabbed with a neatly typed name. One of the names is your name, and that folder contains information about you. The contents of the file may be seen by administrators or by faculty. Your in structors might read any notes and comments in the folder. Future em ployers, institutions or organizations might be sent information with or without your knowledge contained in the file. But in almost all cases, you will not be allowed to see your own file. If there is outdated data in your file, you don't know it. If incorrect or misfiled information is being disbursed to interested parties, you are innocently unaware. If there are damaging charges or biased reports in the file, you are unable to challenge them. If there are personal criticisms, you do not have a chance to explain or deny them. You do not have the opportunity to defend yourself within University taking, under his wing the son of a mobster he’s murdered. Under Bron son’s tutelage, the son learns the tricks of the trade not well enough. British director Michael Winner almost succeeds in making Lewis John Carlino’s original screenplay work, but is defeated due to the general lack of snap and crackle energy, not to mention interest, in both the situation at hand and the actors playing in it. Jerry Fielding’s music is, well, out of the ordinary, to say the least. Bronson has elevated the art of Mount Rushmore acting to the point where Clint Eastwood looks positively over flowing with life. He is, in a word, uninspiring. The same if also true for Jan Michael Vincent, as the apprentice records, because it is the unwritten policy among University offices that students may not examine their personal files. There is no good reason for the closed drawer policy. The rules are motivated by a reluctance to recognize the rights of students as individuals and by stubborn insistence that information in the files must be absolute truth: the University cannot make mistakes. If there are charges or innuendos within the files, they must be true, ac cording to the University. The student is guilty and will not be given a chance to prove his innocence. While other institutions are recognizing the serious possibilities of including false information in secret files, the University upholds its policy for-policy-sake. Closed student files are kept in Shields, most of the colleges, and in the Office of Student Affairs. Off limits files also are maintained in Placement and in many department offices. Exceptions to the no-look rule oc casionally are made, but they are rare and difficult to obtain. As one college record-keeper said, “It’s just always been our policy not to show (files) to students. I don’t know if there’s any reason for it.” The University denies keeping any UNIVERSITY CALENDAR Tuesday-Wednesday, November 21-22, 1972 OFFICIAL Wednesday, Nov. 22 Thanksgiving recess begins at 12:25 p.m. Classes resume Monday, Nov. 27, at 8 a.m. MEETINGS Tuesday, Nov. 21 Graduate Student Association, 7 p.m., Room 112 Kern. Tuesday, Nov. 21 College of the Liberal Arts Faculty, 4 p.m., Room 121 Sparks. Tuesday ’ Nov. 21 A.R.H.S. Council, 7 p.m., Room 215 HUB. Tuesday, Nov. 21 College of Education faculty luncheon, 12:30 p.m., Room 101 Kern. SEMINARS Tuesday, Nov. 21 Mathematics, 4 p.m., Room 102 McAllister. Prof. Atle Selberg, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J., on “An Extremal Problem with Application to Sieves, (Large and Small).” . „ T , Tuesday Nov. 21 Comparative Literature, 12:15p.m., HUB dining room A .John Moore, on “What Sponsor’s ‘Calendar’ is All About: A Reading of the ‘January’ Ecloge.” Tuesday, Nov. 21 Geosciences, 4 p.m., Room 26 Mineral Sciences. Movies: “Principles of Symmetry” and “Considering Crystals.” Tuesday Nov. 21 Engineering Mechanics, 3:55 p.m., Room 215 Hammond. Dr. Mete'A. Sozen, University of Illinois, on “Response of Reinforced Concrete System to Simulated Earthquakes.” .. Wednesday, Nov.22—Analytical Chemistry,9:3o a.m., Room 310 Whitmore. Elliott Plotkin, on “Gas Chromatography of Metal Chelates.” INTEREST GROUPS WRA Figure Skating Club, Tuesday, Nov. 21,1 p.m., Ice Rink. WRA Rifle Club, Tuesday, Nov. 21,7 p.m., White Building range. Graduate Student Association workshop, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m., Room 101 Kern. SPECIAL EVENTS Tuesday,Nov. 21 Experimental Theatre production of “Brecht on Brecht,” Bp.m., Pavilion Theatre. EXHIBITS Kern Graduate Building Ceramics by Jack Troy. Sculptures by Charlottee Darling Ehrhart. Museum of Art Retrospective exhibit of Hobson Pittman s art. Also in HUB gallery. Visual Arts Gallery “Supermud, ’72,” exhibit of ceramics. Chambers Gallery Crocheted and Woven space hangings by Mary Lou Higgins. Silver sculptures by Edward Higgins. Pattee Library Photographs by Tom Short, Circulation and Arts lobbies. Copper Kitchen / 114 S. Gamer Street Serving Lunch and Dinner murderer; Vincent conveys such an intense aura of smug obnoxiousness that the viewer looks forward to his demise. Keenan Wynn, as Vincent’s father is merely embarrassing, and Jill Ireland is making a career out of parlaying her real-life marriage to Bronson into cinematic reel-life portrayals of the love interests in his life (she essays the same role in “Valachi Papers”). The only good thing about “The Mechanic” is an ending that is one of the neatest and cleverest ones I’ve seen m many a movie, but it’s all to no avail What we, as an audience, need to do is care about the people we’re seeing on the screen, and we aren’t allowed to do that in “The Mechanic”. The people have no heart. And neither does the movie illicit information in the files, and one top official maintained “95 per cent” of the files contain only routine forms. But the danger iies in the potential for in justice present in closed files. For example, a professor with a deep personal dislike for a student could simply draft a letter accusing the student of dishonesty or deceit, and easily have the letter included in the student’s file. The student would never know why prospective employers shied from him. Even an honest error could be disastrous to a student's career. Con fused records are not uncommon, and are especially easy with individuals having similar names. But a wronged student could never have the mistake corrected if he could not examine his file. There is an obvious need for professionals doctors, legal advisers, or psychological counselors to keep personal notes for their own private referral. No one disputes this. But whenever a file is kept on a student which will be shown to other persons or distributed to outside parties by request, the student should have the right to examine the file. He should have the protection of being able to correct errors, refute one-sided reports and confront accusers. who made the salad? s one with all their dinners.
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