Editorial opinion: Thus saith Mullen Letters to the editor Mullen's law TO THE EDITOR: We find it amazing that a man can be a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and still be ignorant of the basic principles of our country's Constitution. It seems that our legislature has such a man in Rep. Martin Mullen, who apparently has never heard of the concept of separation of church and state (or maybe he feels he has the omnipotence to ignore it). Mullen seems to feel that it is his God-like duty to dictate ‘‘morality” to the people of this state. He, along with 117 other representatives, has reinstated a law making fornication a summary offense and adultery a misdemeanor. We are not advocating fornication or adultery, but as Christians we believe that Christ burdened us with the freedom to determine morality on the basis of faith rather than have it legislated to us. Perhaps Mullen is incapable of coping with this freedom and therefore needs a 'aw to deter him from temptation. We also find it amazing and ironic that at a time when crime is on the uprise, women are frequently raped in our streets, and even murder has ceased to be sensational, our legislators spend their time passing laws prohibiting victimless "crimes" PATRICIA J. STEWART Editor Successor to the Free Lance, est. 1887 Member of the Associated Press Editorial policy is determined by the Editor. Opinions expressed by the editors and staff of The Daily Collegian are not necessarily those of the University administration, faculty or students. Mail Subscription price: $17.50 a year. Mailing Address: 80x467, State College, Pa. 16801 rf-wMTi he^mnasek,! I UASJUST IF -/ W NEED A tKRETAM, CHAKUE OROIdN...t Kristina a real and believable farm wife. Through empathizing with Kristina, the audience becomes totally involved in the film. The death of her baby daughter, Anna, evokes your compassion and the same helplessness and grief Kristina is experiencing. Starving, Anna had sneaked into a shed and ate half a large bowl of porridge. The grains swelled to twice their size and burst her stomach. All Godfather Audiences are coming out of the theater saying "The Godfather” was overrated. The sad thing is that they were built up to a point of expectation that couldn’t possibly be fulfilled and ended up disappointed with a film they might have otherwise enjoyed. To be fair to the film makers of "The Godfather," they have created a powerful story, well worth the price of admission, only to have it dampened by the over zealous efforts of the publicity men. The story centers around the Corleone family, one of five families controlling the Mafia in New York during the 1930’5. Don Vito, the aging head of the family, can see the sands of time slipping through his fingers and knows that before long one of his sons must take his place as the Godfather, the head of the family. While the five families clash in a Betty Youndt [4th-pre-medicine] Debby Newcome [4th-pre-medlclne] By STEVE IVEY of the Collegian Staff By ROBIN MOORE of the Collegian staff interests of Old Main in direct op position .to the interests of the student. Contrary to Jinks’ opinon issues such as women’s inequality, tuition increases, racism and violation of privacy by the Campus Patrol cannot be dealt with through a submissive attitude: the fundamental interests of the students and those of the Old Main bureaucrats are in direct con flict. The time is over when USG can politely ask to represent the student, and the time is over when USG can serve as an agency to rubber stamp University decisions. USG must actively fight for the students it represents. We deserve more than the privilege of bicycle storage and central test files, and the fact of the matter is that unless more important issues are dealt with many of us students won’t BE here next year. The Students’ Rights Party does not have the support and well wishes of Old Main, because unlike the present USG sellouts we are not working for those who would retard or restrain any effort for students rights, but we are working against them. The Students’ Rights Party will fight the tuition hike. A tuition strike, taking the University to court and REVIEWS Kristina could do was to nurse her new baby while Anna slowly and painfully died. Without a doubt, Ullmann’s acting makes "The Emigrants" an enjoyable and emotional experience. She protrays emotions perfectly ranginq from a mother's fright after being told a story about an American family eaten by a crocodile, to horror and shame for having lice, to angelic contentment of being pregnant. “The Emigrants" abounds with ex cellent camera work showing spec tacular shots of forests, the ocean and sunsets. Troel, who also photographed and edited the film, captures the beauty of an unspoiled wilderness the way few other directors can. His devotion to perfection garnered "The Emigrants” an Academy Award nomination for best picture. To the emigrants, the America of 1844 is the land of opportunity and the land of milk and honey. While all the myths of 'pioneer America are present in the film, so is the reality. • At one point Kristina’s brother-in-law says "Americans are the most honest people in the world," adding that "they hang thieves, usually before they can confess." The food given the emigrants on the American riverboat is diseased and no better than slop, while the wealthy power struggle which places them on the verge of gang warfare, Don Vito dies of natural causes while playing with his grandson in the garden. His youngest son, Michael, steps into his father’s shoes. He is farsighted enough to realize that his father's way of life is coming to an end, and that massive underworld control will soon be a thing of the past. Despite this, the Corleone family must still fight for survival, and we see Michael transformed into his father’s role as the Godfather. One of the lasting impressions created by the film is that Don Vito, the head of a family responsible for a generation of killings, is a moral man. Indeed, the entire Mafia superstructure is not pic tured as a vicious predator gobbling up lives and riches, but as a wounded animal fighting for survival in a world where the roles of good and bad had become slightly muddled. The Mafia comes across as a cor porate business. Before the trigger was pulled, the victim always was made to understand that it was just a matter of policy. ’’Nothing personal. Just organizing Pennsylvania students into an autonomous statewide Student Union are just a few of the weapons available to students. Unless definite action is taken the students' burden of support of the University will continue to increase as state and federal contributions decrease. Since 1969 the portion of the University’s budget paid for by tuition has increased almost 25 per cent, from 17 per cent to 20.8 per cent. During the same time the state’s contribution has decreased from 46 per cent to 40 per cent. This shifting of the burden is particularly clear in next year’s an ticipated seven million dollar budget increase, which will be paid mostly out of increased tuition. As Oswald noted, only one seventh of the increase will go into academic programs. The rest will be funneled into programs which the state requires but refuses to fund in spite of the fact that students pay for about one third if we include room and board of the University’s expenses. Students have only one out of 36 members oiOhe Board of Trustees where the decisions about how the money is spent are made. Students must have a significant vote on all University governing phone hours 237-8086 THE 10 - 5:30 Mon - Fri PATHFINDER 6:30 ', “sol Camping Equipment & Practical Footwear 202 S. Allen St. Outdoor Equipment For Everybody; Sleeping bags - $8 to $l3O Tents - $l2 to $3OO Backpacks -.516 to $65 From: The North Face, Sierra Design, Gerry, Kelty <£ Camp Trails Plus: Climbing equipment, stoves, boots (Vasque, Redwing) Knives (Buck, Puma, Gerber), compasses & everything else IMAGINABLE Americans on board eat steaks, fresh fruit and milk. One of the babies dies from eating the ship’s food. Once the emigrants reach America, their poverty is constantly contrasted with wealthy established Americans and the helpless slaves. A strong religious flavor prevades “The Emigrants." Both the comforts and hypocrisy of religion are shown. The village deacon tends to the spiritual needs of his flock and on the side sells them church-distilled liquor. They get drunk on it and “commit the sins of vivlolence and fornication." Ulrika, one of the three village whores, put the churchwarden on the spot by accusing him of lechery and calls the deacon a “pot-bellied parson wallowing in his own lard." Danjel, one of the emigrants, is a fanatic fleeing Sweden to escape religious persecution. On board the ship taking them to America, he said that the lice infesting the emigrants and their seasickness were tests by which God measured their faith. Unfortunately the only one who did not have lice or get seasick was Ulrika, the whore! “The Emigrants" is a simple, but beautiful, film. It does not attempt to answer deep philosophical questions. Instead, it attempts to entertain you. It succeeds beyond measure. business.” Possibly it was that cold, bloodless practicality that kept the Mafia alive. Marlon Brando portrays Don Vito, giving the character an aura of quiet and awesome strength. Brando’s gravel voiced characterization gives the im pression that any moment he would explode. Al Pacino deserves mention for his artful depiction of Michael’s metamorphosis from an Audie Murphy type war hero to the head of the Corleone family. The photography contrasts the musky elegance of the Mafia leader's quarters with the stark violence of the streets. When violence was depicted, it was realistic and well-placed within the folds of the story, giving the movie a sophistication beyond the usual gangster shoot em’ up. Despite the shootings, the beatings and the chokings, the film sketches an almost compassionate portrait of the Mafia. To truly enjoy "The Godfather," it should be viewed over a steaming bowl of lasagna. bodies. The days of student "input” are over. Students must have decision making power. We are discriminated against in town by both landlords and business men. The SRP will aid those ripped off by landlords by working for a tenants’ union and if necessary a rent strike. By organizing student workers, as other schools have done, wages can be increased and working con ditions greatly improved. A realistic approach toward our health problems is needed. The Health Review Board in existence now is doomed to fail in the same way that similar boards before it have failed. A legal counsel hired by USG we can’t expect a lawyer hired by Old Main to fairly represent the student interest is needed. He would not only represent individual cases but would work with the Tenants Union, Student Workers Union, etc. THE CHOICE IS YOURS! Either the impotent, bootlicking behavior which is characteristic of the present USG will continue or USG will be forged into an instrument capable of defending the rights of students! EITHER JINKS OR CERNUSCA! On April 18 and 19 vote STUDENT RIGHTS PARTY! Monday: a statement by James Cory,