Cernusca and Mientus take office GEORGE CERNUSCA AND MARIAN MIENTUS were sworn in last night as the new president and vice president of the Undergraduate Student Govern ment. Cernusca was elected last Thursday by a margin of twelve votes. -Collegian Prosecution in Boyle trial rests case after testimony MEDIA. Pa. (APi The prosecution in the murder trial of former United Mine Workers President W.A. “Tony” Boyle rested its case last night after the key witness testified that Boyle had ordered the assassination of Joseph “Jock” Yablonski. “We're in a fight. We’ve got to kill Yablonski. take care of him...," William Turnblazer quoted Boyle as saying on June 23, 1969 at a meeting in UMW headquarters in Washington, D.C. Turnblazer, the first person to link the 72-year-old Boyle directly to the killing, said the meeting took place less than month after Yablonski announced his bid 5 to unseat Boyle. The defense was to begin presentation of its case today. Charles Moses, chief defense counsel, has said Boyle would testify in his own defense. Yablonski and his wife and daughter were slain Dec. 31, 1969 as they slept in their rural Clarksville home in south western Pennsylvania. Turnblazer, 52, of Middlesboro, Ky., was president of the union's District 19 at the time. He said that in addition to himself and Boyle, the meeting also was attended by Albert Pass, 52, also of Middlesboro, secretary-treasurer of the District. “Pass said if nobody else will kill him (Yablonski), District 19 will," Turn blazer testified. "And what did Mr. Boyle say?” Special Prosecutor Richard Sprague asked. . “As I recall, he said ‘fine.’,” Turn blazer replied. Turnblazer has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the Yablonski’s civil rights and has three state murder warrants against him in the case. Pass and seven others have been convicted or have pleaded guilty to murder charges in the case. The government claims Boyle ordered the killing of his union rival and diverted $20,000 in union funds to pay the gunmen. Turnblazer said he had given the FBI a statement last August. That statement reportedly was the Penn State handicapped face architectural barriers F-ditor's note: This is the second of a two-part story examining the problems of handicapped students at the University. By ANNS BRUBAKER Collegian Staff Writer Sidewalks with curbs but no ramps and buildings with stairs but no elevators are no problem for most students, but for handicapped students getting around Penn State they are big problems. According to John Doolittle, who runs the adaptive physical education program, most schools traditionally set up architectural barriers against the handicapped. “Through force of habit and ignorance most universities don’t plan their campus with the handicapped student in mind,” he said. “In other words, people have the in tellect to be accepted, but once they’re here they find it’s impossible to get into a building. Or they get in the building and there’s no elevator to get them to a second-floor class,” Doolittle said. Robert Stefanko said he feels the University has realized the physical planning problem on campus for a long time but has chosen to ignore it. Photos by Ed Paisa basis of murder indictments returned a month later against Boyle. Turnblazer, in response to a question from Sprague, said no agreement had been made with him in return for his testimony. At one point, Sprague asked if he could identify the man who gave the orders for Yablonski’s death. “Yes Sir,” Turnblazer replied and pointed to Boyle sitting at the defense table. Boyle appeared to sit forward in his chair and stare at the witness during his testimony. During cross-examination, Moses read excerpts from Turnblazer’s testimony last year at the trial of one of the men who was later convicted of murder. Turnblazer admitted he had lipd then about his own involvement because at that time he was trying to protect himself. Moses asked if Turnblazer had been prosecuted for perjury, for making false statements to Labor Department of ficials, or for embezzlement of funds. Each time, Turnblazer replied: “No sir.” Turnblazer’s testimony conflicted with previous statements by Boyle. Thomas W. Henderson Jr., a iformer U.S. Justice Department employe, read into the record portions of testimony given by Boyle before a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh in 1972 and at the murder trial of William Prater in March 1973. Prater, a former UMW field representative in LaFollette, Tenn., was convicted of murder in the case and later confessed his involvement. Boyle, in testimony read by Hen derson, said the suggestion for creating a research and information committee within the union was first made by Pass at the union’s 1968 convention in Denver. The government contends this was a phony committee set up in 1969 to provide union funds for the triggermen in the murders. Prater and others had testified they first heard of the committee on Sept. 30, 1969, not 1968. “It’s a disgrace that fairly new buildings like Boucke are inaccessible to the handicapped only because they lack a small ramp,” Stefanko said. Some older buildings like Carnegie, Sparks and Pattee Library are almost inaccessible to handicapped students. In other buildings, loading ramps normally used for deliveries are the only means of access for the orthopedically handicapped. Once inside the buildings there are other problems. No elevators, inadequate bathroom facilities, light switches and drinking fountains at awk ward heights, all add up to frustration. Classrooms with permanent chairs pose another problem. Many hand icapped require a moveable chair to write on, “and the hassle building bureaucrats cause over moving chairs from one room to another is un believable,” Gene Sarson said. Getting around outside of class is also difficult for the handicapped. With all the hills and curbs with no ramps, the campus is really an obstacle course, according to Dr. John Hargleroad. “The lack of a public transportation system this fall really caused hardships The transcript also quoted Boyle as saying he had discussed the committee with Turnblazer. Turnblazer said no one had discussed such a committee with him in 1968 and that, in fact, there was no such com mittee. Turnblazer said that after the mur ders, Pass repeatedly urged him to stick with the original story about the com mittee. He quoted Pass as saying: “We all ought to keep our story together... he, Tax return shows Nixon one-third of WASHINGTON (AP)—An estimate of President Nixon’s forthcoming tax return for 1973 shows he will have to pay more than $lOO,OOO from his income of $300,000. Nixon will owe a $40,000 balance with his return despite regular withholding from his salary for some of his tax bill, the estimate finds. That would be one-more heavy bill atop the $467,000 he already has agreed to pay for back taxes and interest from 1969-72 and a $243,660 mortgage and interest payment due in July on his San Clemente, Calif., estate. The estimate-of Nixon’s 1973 tax return was prepared by The Associated Press in consultation with a professional tax expert after complex revisions in Nixon’s four previous returns were completed last week by the Internal Revenue Service. Nixon’s 1973 return and final payment normally would be due April 5. But his accountant says he has obtained an extension of the filing date due to the IRS findings. J The estimated calculation of President •SSSSfSJSSfS for those with temporary handicaps like broken legs as well as permanently handicapped students,” he said. Winter is an especially treacherous time, according to one handicapped student. “The University staff shovels the snow but leaves the ice on the sidewalk. For a person in a wheelchair or on crutches ice is very dangerous,” ■she said. However, according to John Miller, director of planning and new con struction, Penn State has begun to remedy the architectural barrier problem. Under a state law passed in 1965 all new public buildings must include certain features making them accessible to the physically handicapped. These regulations, however, apply only to those buildings constructed after the law’s enactment. Miller said there is currently no plan to go back and modify the older buildings to conform with the regulations. “We just don’t have the money for those kinds of repairs, and it’s really not a top priority,” he said. However, Pattee Library is one of the buildings to benefit from these new regulations. According to Charles Ness, assistant director of public relations for Pattee, the new section includes an University Park, Pennsylvania Published by Students of The Pennsylvania State University Pass, myself and Mr. Boyle, that we discussed the committee in 1968.” “Why did Pass tell you to stick to that story?" Sprague asked. “Because that money was used for the murders," Turnblazer said. Turnblazer saids that in May 1972 Boyle had been told that David Bran denburg, one of the miners selected for the committee, “had been picked up and had been taken before a grand jury.” estimate and Mrs. Nixon’s 1973 return places his taxes for the year at $109,310, and his income at $303,723. According to White House figures, $67,940 already has been withheld from Nixon’s paychecks for taxes, and he also left $l,OOO with the government from a 1972 tax refund to be applied against 1973 taxes. That would leave a balance due of $40,370. The calculation was based on personal financial data the President made public Dec. 8, findings of the IRS announced by the White House, a 994-page document concerning Nixon’s taxes released April 3 by the Joint Congressional Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, and county property tax data in Florida and California. Cloudy and cool today with a few morn ing snow flurries and some sunshine possible late in the day, high 38. Tonight partial clearing and cold, low 28. Wednesday partly sunny and milder, high 48. entrance ramp and suitable bathroom facilities on each floor. Added to the hassles of getting to and from classes arid in and out of buildings, physically handicapped students also must contend with housing and food services. Otto Mueller, assistant vice president for housing and food services, said there are no facilities for physically hand icapped students. “If they have ex tensive problems and can’t handle themselves, there is no place for them at Penn State,” he said. Other administrators are more positive. “Usually if a student notifies us of a specific request in advance, ac commodations can be made,” Hargle road said. Students with orthopedic handicaps or cardiac conditions can be given ground floor rooms. Students with companions can be roomed together. Other hand icapped students sometimes can be given private rooms. “The main problem is we just can’t guarantee a physically handicapped student the kind of accommodation he may need,” Hargleroad says. According to West Halls Coordinator John Eakin, while dining hall workers Tuesday, April 9,1974 Vol 74, No. 131 6 pages owes income Weather Cernusca vows unity, openness By ANNE BRUBAKER Collegian Staff Writer Pledging unity of purpose, cooperation and openness, George Cernusca was inaugurated as Undergraduate Student Government president last night. Cernusca, addressing a joint session oi the USG Senate and Academic Assembly, said that this year USG cannot allow the optimism brought by a new administration to turn into cynicism. “Tonight we begin a new USG ad ministration...Tonight'also marks an ending. It marks an ending of amy division, any animosity and any ad versity from the campaign whicfuwe have just completed,” Cernusca said. Cernusca said he plans to continue working with the Pennsylvania Student Lobby. Cernusca also said one of the major concerns of students should be the quality of their representation in Harrisburg and Washington. “Whether it is formally mandated by this senate or not, many of the senators and I will be actively engaged in in suring that we have quality represen tation by aiding in the election of Yates Mast as Congressman and Marianne Van Dommelen as state represen tative,” Cernusca said. “This will be the year that USG comes of age. Never again will we have to apologize for our student government. This will be the year that we give student government a new direction,” he said. In his outgoing speech, former USG President Mark Jinks said he hopes all the senators will work together this year. “With everyone working together I hope USG can really get a lot done and Oh Henry! A GRINNING HANK AARON shows off No. 715. the home run that broke Babe Ruth’s record. The immortal blast came at 9:07 p.m. last night in Atlanta. See story page 7. are available to help disabled students during meals, food services cannot provide for students with special dietary problems. “Usually these students are allowed out of their dorm contracts and move into apartments where they can provide for themselves,” he said. “Penn State isn’t exactly a haven for the handicapped,” Eakin said. “It’s unfortunate there isn’t a central office to handle their problems rather than forcing them to run all over campus.” Doolittle said he doesn’t feel centralization is a major problem. “If this were a campus with a large, wheelchair population like the University of Illinois, centralization would be necessary. But Penn State is. attended, mostly by so-called normal students and the majority’s needs demand most attention,” he said. Doolittle said his adaptive physical education program is aimed at teaching the handicapped student some sport he can enjoy later in life as well as during his college career. This skill sometimes can help the student decome better adjusted to University life. “We have one boy with braces from the waist down who through get someplace this year,” Jinks said Former Vice President Frank Muraca said he pledged his full support to the new administration. Muraca, who received a standing -ovation from the joint assembly, said, “I ask that all students on campus rally around George and Marian and give them their full support to make USG a more viable and working institution.” In other business, the senate passed a bill creating a Bureau of Town Affairs and a Bureau of Residential Life. Paul Stevenson, one of the bill’s sponsors, said these bureaus are to be created for political advocacy, not for service advocacy. “It is not our purpose to step on the toes of ARHS (Association of Residence Hall Students) or OTIS (Organization of Town Independent Students) but to complement these organizations. These groups are not political organizations, and political advocacy is something both town and dorm students need,” Stevenson said. Dave Brumbaugh, president of East Halls Residence Association, said he was “shocked and insulted that the senate has proposed such a bill.” “The senate must realize what the reaction of OTIS and ARHS will be to this bill. You have been talking about unity and going places. With this bill the senate will alienate two of the most viable organizations on campus,” Brumbaugh said. The bill passed the senate 22-4. In other action, the senate voted to override Jinks' veto of the marijuana bill. By a vote of 19-7, the senate decided to send the results of a poll stating that 85 per cent of the USG senators had smoked marijuana to Pennsylvania legislators. adaptive physical education became interested in archery, and is now treasurer of the archery club,” Doolittle noted. So-called normal people’s reaction to handicapped students is a. problem almost as great as architectural barriers, according to Doolittle. “Most people’s reactions stem from fear. They’ve had no experience with the handicapped, they don’t want to say anything cruel, they’re uncomfortable and they just wish the person wasn’t around,” Doolittle explained. “Usually most University officials are anxious to get handicapped people out of the office because they sort of clutter up the place. I guess they believe in the saying ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ ” he said. “It’s time the University community realized there are people under the handicap, and that these people are qualified and deserve an education in an integrated academic setting. These barriers must fall,” Doolittle said. Stefanko agreed. “After all, we handicapped have been adapting to the normal society of Penn State for years. It’s about time the normal society started adapting to the handicapped.” AP wirephoto
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers