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• MICHAEL BAKER, JR., president of the University Board of Trustees, flew home from his home near Pittsburgh to Uni-
Baker replies versity Park yesterday to discuss a letter sent to the trustees by student leaders calling for University President John W.
Oswald's resignation. Baker (left) and Oswald (right) held an afternoon press conference where Baker made a 50-minute
reply to the letter.
Trustee reviews Oswald letter
EDITOR'S-NOTE: A copy of the letter mailed to the
University Board of Trustees by student leaders asking
for University President John W. Oswald's resignation
is printed on page 3.
By DEANNA FINLEY
Collegian Staff Writer
A letter asking for University President John W.
Oswald's resignation was reviewed by the President of
-the Board of Trustees who disclaimed the letter's
charges as "either false or misinterpretation of facts."
Michael Baker Jr., president of ,the Board of
Trustees, said at a news conference in Old Main
yesterday, "Students did this believing they were
doing the right thing, but they have been misinformed
and to some extent, I think they have been duped."
The letter, written by former Undergraduate Student
Government Senator Doug Ford, was signed by Ford
and 29 other student leaders.
The letter id students were concerned about what
they thought were, lavish furnishings and en
tertainment for administrators, Oswald's refusal to
meet with members of USG and Oswald's intent to
thwart PennPIRG.
After a 50. minute dissertation by Baker in Oswald's
defense. Oswald said his reaction to the students'
action Was "much surprise, some disappointment, but
certainly not anger." Oswald said he was disappointed
that student leaders, some•of whom he has only come
to know and work with during the past three weeks,
didn't discuss the matter with him prior to taking
action.
In reference to his rapport with USG - ' and other
PennPIRG petitioning to conti
By MIKE SCHWARTZ
Collegian Staff Writer
Students for a Pennsylvania Public
Interest Research Group need 100 more
'signatures to haVe half of the students on
this campus signed up.
At a meeting last night Pete Hladish,
petitioning coordinator, said, "We are
trying to make up for the branch cam
puses which have been a little slow by
getting more signatures up here."
Hladish also said petitioning will
continue until the end of this term. He
said there will be tables set up in front of
Pattee tomorrow.
Those who have petitions out Sow,
Hladish said, may return them to the
OTIS office in 20 HUB.
After the meeting, Kyra Goidich,
president of Students for PennPIRG is
behind the letter calling for the
resignation of University President John
Oswald.
Court denies ACLU injunction
Candidates for next week's primary
elections and their workers do not expect
to be allowed to campaign in some of the
campus residence halls.
Common Pleas Court Judge R. Paul
Campbell yesterday rejected the local
America Civil Liberties Union's
( ACLU) request for a preliminary in
junction against the University's dorm
canvassing policy.
According to ACLU attorney Virginia
Eisenstein, Campbell ruled that "there
wakno clear right ,to an immediate in
junction, no impelling reason therefore
and no immediate and irreparable
harm."
The ACLU now has the option of
House authorizes refugee aid
WASHINGTON ( UPI) Responding
to White House urging, the House
yesterday quickly voted to authorize
$507 million for resettlement of South
Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees,
then began considering an appropriation
to provide the actual funds.
Before the authorization vote, the
House reversed a decision by its
Judiciary Committee to authorize "such
funds as are necessary" and sulsslituted
instead the $507 million figure. The vote
was 353-54.
BUD'
U II 202 PATTER
I C
legiBn
the
daiF,
4 4r
.airat
student organizations, Oswald said, "I don't intend to
give up on students, although I am puzzled as to how to
deal with a group who has dealt with the issue based on
misinformation."
.
Baker commented on Ford's statement that
University administrators have given Penn State an
"affluent and wasteful" image in Harrisburg.
He said he feels Penn State does not have a bad
reputation in the state capital, and cited letters in
support of Oswald from Lieutenant Governor Kline,
State Budget Secretary Mclntosh, and House
Representative Ben Wilson.
In reaction to part of Ford's letter which said that
this administration has "used threats and intimi
dations as a .way to deal with students," Baker said,
"It's utterly ridiculous. It shouldn't be honored with an
answer."
Baker said he condoned Oswald walking out of a
PennPIRG meeting a few weeks ago because he said
the presence okßalph Nader's representatives at the
Iti
meeting (lid no eet Oswald's agreement to meet with
only elect ' stu ept representatiges.
Oswald ':as mit been able to gree with PennPIRG
supporters on a funding system for., the potential
organization and Baker said the Board of Trustees will
not take action without Oswald's recommendation. The
issue has come to an impasse, Baker said, and he is
fearful thil all of their work will "go down the drain."
Much of the 90-minute meeting was spent justifying
students' complaints of lavishi:,:sf, the part of the
administration.
Giving parties and dinners for visiting guests is "a
direction the Board has asked R. Oswald to go," Baker
"Students for PennPIRG is no more
behind the letter than any other student
organization named on the letter,"
Goidich said. "PennPIRG, which is not
yet in existence, is completely separate
from the Students for PennPIRG."
She said she doesn't want the Trustees
to be influenced by the letter in their
decision on PennPIRG. "I don't Want the
Trustees to think that? PennPIRG is
behind it, because it is not true."
.Earlier in the day, Hladish discussed
the finding propogals for PennPIRG. He
said Oswald had presented six funding
proposals to PennPIRG.
One proposal was a mandatory" fee
with no student refund possible.
"OregonPlßG is the only state which
(uses this funditig plan now," Hladish
said.
The proposal preferred by the
Students for PennPIRG is the man
datory fee with a student refund clause.
This allows students who don't want to
support PIRG to get their money back.
appealing the decision or proceeding to
the final injunction request," Eisenstein
saki:Yesterday's court action named
Penn State students Steven Brush (9th
political science) and Michael Mullen
(12th-accounting) as plaintiffs. Brush is
involved in the case because he said he
wants to work in the borough primary
elections.
According to Eisenstein, Mullen is
challenging the pplicy as a resident of
Pennypacker, one of the 20 dorms which , '
have banned canvassing, because he
wishes to be able to hear canvassers in
his building.
She said the ACLU was maintaining an
The bill was passed 381-31, with five
members voting present, and sent to the
Senate.
The amount was the lull request
President Ford made May 6 when it was
estimated 130,000 refugees would need
resettlement assistance. Current
estimates are that 115,000 persons are
involved, and the companion ap
propriation measure before the House
had been set at $405 million to reflect the
lower estimate.
The program would provide for such
' •
"This plan has averaged about 85 per
cent student participation," Hladish
said. "It also makes the professional
staff of PennPIRG accountable to the
Students. The students may get a refund
if PennPIRG doesn't show it's doing
anything."
Another funding plan proposed is the
"negative check-off," also called The
Minnesota Plan. Hladish said that by
this plan the PennPIRG cost would be in
a separate box on the tuition bill and the
student "would take some affirmative
action to have it removed from his bill."
This plan averages 60 to 70 per cent
student participation, Hladish said.
"The proposal which Oswald supported
is the "positive check-off," which
averages 11 to 15 per cent student sup
port, Hladish said. "There is a box on the
student tuition bill which the student
would check if he supported PennPIRG.
He would then add the PennPIRG money
to his total bill," he said.
"This is an unusual action," said
active interest in the case although the
ruling prevents a final injunction before
the primary.
"Chances are we're not going to
decide to appeal it,"? Eisenstein said.
"Unless the ACLU wants to fund an
appeal, we will proceed to the final in
junction.
"We fgel that this is a very important
issue and feel that just because we won't
get relief before the election, we still
have an interest in future elections,"
Eisenstein said.
Brush said he and Mulled - would still
remain as plaintiffs even i nner yester
day's developments.
resettlement costs as food and medical
care, shelter, transportation, job
training and employment services at an
estimated cost per refugee of $l5 per day
for three months.
Weather
Variable cloudiness, with' showers later
today. High 72. Showers and mild tonight.
Low 57. Some showers, cooler tomorrow.
High 64.
Mi
~~
said. "In the past administrations not enough time has
been spent in public relations. Entertaining is one of
the most misunderstood costs we have. You have
differences of opinion on what constitutes 'lavish'
entertainment."
Baker said that one Penn State visitor contributed
$500,000 to the university because of the impression he
received from Dr. and Mrs. Oswald. 'Baker said the
costs of entertainment for public relations have not
been audited, but - he estimated the costs to be $25,000 a
year.
He also said that fit was the Board'-
the President's home, and that it would )
Oswald's office was not furnished
"befitting the dignity of a university pr
Speaking on the tuition increase is-
"there is no man who has worked harder to
keep tuition down than' Dr. Osald." Baker
said the Board is no longer influential in the issue
because they have lost their bargaining power with
Harrisburg. "Consequently, the pseSident is alone
when he goes to Harrisburg," he said.
Student bo.4rd member Dion Stewa i rt said that the
Student Advisory Board ? and other l ,organizations
working wish Oswald have done themselves a
disservice by their letter-writing action
"They have essentially asked him to resign after
working with him, which puts us i an awkward
situation to give him advice," Stewa t said. Stewart
said he is trying to talk to student I ders to make
advances in student participation because "Oswald
has co-operated with us." i
Thomas "Doc" Sweitzer, students for
PennPIRG coordinator.; "Many people
won't know how to do it." He said it is
similar - to tax forms which have the
question of 'public support of political
campaigns.
Sweitzer said that with the "positive
check-off," PennPIRG would be more an
advertising group than a consumer
research organization. "There would be
a need to spend money to educate people
and we are not interestettilkbecoming a
public relations firm. -
The other two proposa emitted by
Oswald would have students collecting
money on campus, but aVerage less than
10 per cent of-student support.
Photo by Randy J. Woodbury
idea to furnish
insult visitors if
in a manner
sident."
ue, Baker said
Slow Time THIS NIETAL TURTLE holds the old sun dial clock in front of Old Main
Ten cents per copy : -
Thursday, May 15, 1975 • 1 c•
Vol. 75, No. 172 14 pages Urdversity Park, Pennsylvania
Published by Students of The PSnnsylvanla State University
Cambodians
surrender
39 crewmen
By Associated-Press
WASHINGTON ( AP) Cambodia
surrendered 39 American freighter crew
men in the face of military force early
today after U.S. Marines recaptured the
ship seized by the Khmer Rouge govern
ment three days ago.
President Ford announced the return
of the full crew after a tense and un
certain day of troop landings, bombings
and false hopes.
Two helicopters were reported lost in
the operation and military officials
indicated the Marines took casualties.
Ford said the crew was unharmed and
the , ship was intact, but that' Marines
who landed on a small island off Cant
bodia still were under hostile fire as they
sought to disengage following return of
the crew.
The civilian freighter was seized
Monday about 90 miles off Cambodia but
within about eight miles of the small
island of Koh Tang, which Cambodia
claims.
The U.S. government immediately
demanded return of the ship and sought
diplomatic help through the People's
Republic of China.
But no diplomatic help was forth
coming in this clash with a Communist
government which had taken power in
Cambodiaonly days earlier.
Last night the White House announced
that Marines were landing from U.S.
ships which had rushed to the Gulf of
Thailand.
As hundreds of Marines stormed onto
the island, U.S. planes bombed Cam
bodian air installations on the mainland.
When Marines seized the freighter S.S.
Mayaguez, hopes rose that the crisis was
over. But the ship was empty, although
warm food was in the galley.
As the U.S. assault continued, a
Cambodian ship flying a white flag
approached the U.S. destroyer Wilson
and , handed over 30 of the ship's crew.
It l was not immediately clear how the
remaining nine were returned, but Ford
said in a one-minute nationally broad
cast and televised statement that all 39
were safe.
As the—day wore on, members of
Congress in Washington generally
supported Ford's decision to strike with
military force.
After the successful retrieval of the
ship and crew, more support was voiced
for - the President's action.
',Waking in measured and somber
tone - s", Ford said:
"At my direction. United States force
tonight (last night)., boarded the
American merchant shit: SS Mayaguez
and landed at theisland of Koh Tang for
the purpose of rescuing the crew and
ship which had / peen illegally seized by
Cambodian forees. They also conducted
supporting strikes against nearby
military installations.
"I have now received information that
the vessel has been recovered intact and
that the entire crew has been rescued.
"The forces that have successfully
accomplished this mission are still
3 COPIES
under hostile fire but are preparing to
disengage.
"I wish to express my. appreciation
sand that of the entire nation to the units
and men who participated in these
operations for their valor and sacrifice."
Ford's decision to use troops un
derlined a basic administration belief
that diplomacy held little hope for
-recovering the ship and its crew.
Sources said efforts were made
through China to convince Cambodia to
give in to the American demands, but
the Chinese never responded and both
Ford and Secretary of State Henry A.
Kissinger were convinced from the start
of the crisis on Monday that force would
have to be used.
During a series of three National
Security Council meetings Tuesday and
ydsterday the plans were shaped and a
numberof options considered.
One source said before the operation
began that Kissinger was determined
that if troops were to be used it would be
a strong, sharp blow.
So, when word was received of a
Cambodian radio broadcast last. night
offering to "evict" the Mayaguez, it was
ignored.
The orders then were issued for the
Marines to open their first combat in
Southeast Asia since U.S. forces with
drew from Vietnam in 1973.
As the crisis continued, a split
developed between Kissinger and
Secretary of , Defense James R.
Schlesinger. Kissinger wanted a quick
and punishing strike even if the crew
was put in danger.
The Defense chief advised caution for
fear of over-reacting. Kissinger's view
won out and the operation was put into
effect as soon as the Marines Could be
moved into position and the carrier
Coral Sea placed in the Gulf of Thailand
to provide support.
This came about 7 p.m. EDT and the
Marines, at first 135 of them, landed on
the island. After meeting strong
resistance, reinforcements were called
in along with air strikes against the
Cambodians.
A Pentagon spokesman later said the
Marine forces totaled "a couple of
hundred.-
Although newsmen, picked up hints of
the operation during the day yesterday.
the first real word came from the White
House at 9:18 p.m. EDT when
presidential spokesman Ron Nessen
read a statement that, at Ford's
direction, the Mayaguez had been seized
and the Koh Tang Island invaded.
As the battle developed. American
planes struck at the Cambodian air base
near the port of Sihanoukville.
During all of this. Ford sat in the or
nate State dining room 'of the 'White
House. hosting the Dutch prime
minister.
It wasn't until .word•-came from the
military commanders in the area that all
of the crew members had • been
recovered safely that Ford walked into
the White House briefing room to face
newsmen and the broadcast audience. -
t Photo by Ira Jolla