i Editorial opinion
It looks like students who wan
to make up “F" grades will have
hard time starting next fall
Yesterday .the Universit
Faculty Senate got rid of the M-31
rule that allowed an F to be drop
ped from students cumulate
averages once a c?|jrse was takei
over
That's progress. The guide ti
the rule confused everyone wit
vague references to rule E-1 an>
E-15 which had to be followed
before the Course Repeat Notice,
which had to be taken care of
j before students could use rule M
! 3b Students without an academic
: map in front of them were lost.
Letters to the Editor
Difficulties
TO THE EDITOR: This letter is for all those hopeless souls
■ nr h.ive tried or will try to hitch a ride to or from campus. My
i.-t/.cr- 'o you is to forget it. or else buy a car. But if you are
■V,.' h ere are a few things you will be up against: «
' Ttie late for work" drivers these are the drivers who
• : really concerned about where they are going, just how
iV mey get there (Who cares if you almost run down a hitch-
. The late for class" drivers these are your friends who
u'd pick you up. but then stopping for you may prevent
’ err, from arriving at class 20 minutes early.
3 The I wouldn't pick you up if you were my mother" drivers
these are the scum of the earth drivers. They seem to get
.led' satisfaction from passing you up on extremely rainy or
■-■id davs
4 The I'm turning" drivers these are the ones that aren't
'mg 'where you are going, even though they do not know
. he'e you are going These drivers usually shrug their
holders, or put on their turn signals until they've passed you
,p ir.f course, when they think they are out of your view, they
urn off the signal, and go straight ahead)
Many students who were denied campus housing have had
gc-' apartments far off-campus: many of these apartments
not provide bus service. And most students cannot afford to
jj and run a car back and forth to campus, as well as pay for
"eir education. So, in appeal to those drivers who continually
ass up students (yes. you can usually identify the students
,e usually carry books), please thinßibefore driving on by next
Hopeless souls
O THE EDITOR: As a recent letter to the editor pointed out.
L-re will be a major change in the University calendar system
year that is going to present some difficulties for
•udents It is not unusual that difficulties are presented for
"udents at Penn State.
On March 4 of last year, the Faculty Senate voted over term
: -eak to recommend a six-day finals period. The thinking
: ‘.hind this appearing in a May 15 article in the Collegian was
•o improved integration of the courses." The subsequent
T andatory requirement that professors must give their final
'<^h^)s> XH ® EAu -'Y YaoFEB-TrtttT WftY.
K’EFvv.v.N wvy To -sc-E. <ao. 7
Student
By KAREN FRANKOLA
Collegian Staff Writer
So few students are registered to vote
m state College and even less actually
bother to show up on Election Day that
itsa shame to have to turn away
students who do make it to the polls
becau ye they are ineligible to vote.
In the precinct which includes North
and Atherton Halls 91 people voted in
last week's election out of the several
thousand students who live in these
areas. About a quarter of these voters
weren't students, but adult town
residents.
As Judge of Elections for this
precinct, I had to tell some 20 students
who did come to vote that they were
ineligible because of the residency
requirement. State law requires that a
Failing ~
it The new rule will not allow drop period is that transcripts will w~f /' 1
a students to drop F's from their include student’s grade status at tide’s 1 v ifl
cumulative averages. Instead, the the time they dropped the course. V j \ N \\
new grade will be averaged with The Senate has assumed, in ' f£r*="V; /\ A l
y the F into the total average. doing this, that students who drop 4\ \f \ WiY~ZI
This may seem like something a course in the eighth week of the - \ , \ y SJ \jA 1
of a hardship for students who term are doing so only because i "t Y Val l
[f have extenuating--reasons for they're flunking., What about a ! .I’-'H'j .•> - * X £
in flunking courses. But the Senate student failing a course, with a -' ’/p:-'- r 1 < J
has given students a way to drop chance to pass with a good grade :j / ~\j " r~ nn y jy i
:o courses before the actual F’s go on the final, but dropping the J, ,/{• / ] ' -j ■ . ' 1 '
th on the transcripts, because the course because of outside prob- ' < j : f'' ; '
id Senate also voted to extend the lems? I *if [ : --, **'•
drop period to the eighth week of
the term. It used to be that to drop
a course in the eighth week of the
term students had to sign away
their firstborn children.
But the bad part of the revised
Rudy Massa
7th-pre-medicine
((«
voters
voter must reside in his election district
at least 30 days before the election.
Centre County Commissioners define
an election district as a precinct; so
their official policy is one can’t vote if
he's moved into a new precinct and
hasn't filed for a change of address.
There is something of a controversy
occuring now about whether an election
district should be defined as a precinct.
It- seems especially unfair to students
since they move so frequently within the
borough of Stale College, but from one
precinct to another.
But while Centre County’s in
terpretation stands, you are required to
go personally to the courthouse in
Bellefonte to file for your address
change if you've moved to a new
precinct. The next filing period opens
Dec. 5.
As long as it’s now more difficult
to make up a failing grade, the
least the Faculty Sppjjte could
have done was to e. v ' hd the drop
period without unfair grade
status clauses onjlpof it.
exam specifically during this period is apparently a further
attempt to improve the academic quality of Penn State.
This curious logic in itself warrants an explanation as to how
pushing ahead the finals currently given on the last day of
classes to the following week improves the academic quality of
the institution. However, there appears to be another reason
tied up in the implementation of the semester system ten
tatively scheduled for th Fall of 1977.
The six-day finals period represents a transition to the two
term semester system in which an extended finals period of at
ieast a week would be necessary. Thus, it was described last
year as “the only way we can test the feasibility of the six-day
exam period," in preparation for this switch.
Obviously, any degree of thinking reveals that one thing has
nothing to do with the other. Trying to implement a finals
period geared toward a semester system while we're still
operating under a term system is going to cause some
problems, the least of which will be financial.
Assuming money grows on trees, the added time residing at
Penn State will cost an additional $l6 per term. In other words,
on top of the tuition rise, a student can figure on paying
another $4B to cover the cost of room and board for the
privilege of staying around to take finals on what used to be
vacation time.
The planned extension of examination periods was hardly
met with approval last year. Out of 197 students surveyed by
student representatives, 197 voted against the longer finals
period This would appear to be an overwhelming majority
against the proposal. The comments at that time included, “ill
timed, ridiculous, and term-system sabotage." No doubt these
feelings haven't changed much since last spring.
Interestingly enough, a poll taken last year of the student
body at large presented to the Collegian on Dec 11, 1975,
indicated that 82.7 per cent favored retention of'the term
system as compared to 16 per cent who preferred the two-term
semester system. With over 80 per cent of the students against
the semester system and a modest 100 percent opposed to a
six-day final period, it seems a little unusual that both may
become a reality shortly. (It should be noted here that there
were many faculty members opposed to both the six-day finals
period and the semester system change.)
Regardless of public opinion, and of logic too, it appears
that some major’changes can be expected next year in the
calendar system affecting current students with the exception
of seniors and they are probably glad they will be missing all
the excitement
aaaoa 1
\woo
Besides these students who had
moved, there was another group that
were unable to vote in my precinct.
About 15 people came to the wrong polls
and I hated to tell them they had to go to
another precinct, figuring they might
feel they had made enough of an effort
and not bother to vote at all.
If you don't know where you're
registered to vote, there's a very easy
way to find out. Call the Commissioner's
office at 355-5512; give them your name,
and they'll tell you what precinct you
should vote at and where it’s located.
The office is open all day on election
day if you have any questions about
voting.
Because they were unaware of some
facet of the election process 28 per cent
of the people who came to vote in my
precinct last Tuesday couldn’t cast their
ballots. This doesn’t have to happen next
spring if people know they have to file
for their change of address or call the
Commissioner’s office if they need some
information.
Ben Gelber
3rd-secondary education
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Explanation needed
TO THE EDITOR: Three weeks ago the Star Trek society
submitted to WDFM’s Half A Radio Comedy Hour a script,
"Lost In Star Trek”, a comedy based on STAR TREK. Their
leader, William "Doc" Holland agreed to talk it over at 7 p.m.
Tuesday. Monday at 11:30 p.m. he called and said he wanted
to do the final recording instead. Just like that, on 20 hours
notice. Well, despite tests the next day we recorded it arid were
told it would be broadcast at 6 p.m. that Saturday.
It was not broadcast, which made us look bad since we had
advertised it on WQWK. We were informed that the tape had
been misplaced and that it would be put on Wednesday night.
This time we advertised in the Collegian and told all our
friends. It was not broadcast.
We were told by WDFM that Mr. Holland had decided the
tape lacked sufficient fidelity. We were told unofficially that it
was not Mr. Holland but some unknown official who, five
minutes before airtime, decided it was technically unfit. We
were also told that the show would have to be retaped and that
they would handle the advertising next time.
Last Tuesday night a friend and us saw Mr. Holland per
sonally* he informed us that the technical difficulties had been
resolved and that it would be aired the next night at 10 p.m. We
promptly told our friends and fellow members.
There was no Collegian announcement. It was not broad
cast. The announcer at WDFM told us that during the recording
one of the tape channels had failed. If this is true then how did
it get within five minutes of airtime a week previously? Or was
that the technical difficulty? But Doc said it was resolved.
How could Mr. Holland and his crew have had that tape for
two weeks, readied it for broadcast twice, and still not know
there was an unresolvable technical flaw in it? Or perhaps he
simply misled us! Or perhaps there is nothing wrong with the
tape and someone has been playing games with both Mr.
Holland and the Star Trek society.
We no longer care. The society has been humiliated. We
have invested time and money in an undertaking which has
been grossly mishandled. If there is a sane, logical explanation
for this fiasco, we challenge Doc or WDFM to give it. For
further information please contact us or come to 265 Williard,
7.30 p.m. Tuesday.
Paranoia
TO THE EDITOR: In reply to Mr. B. David Schwartz’s letter of
11-7-75
First, I fail to see the need to politicize a simple dinner. It
would seem to indicate a high level of paranoia. If anything,
the meal was conceived with the intent of putting politics
aside, to propagate international friendship. Symbolically, it
indicated a sharing, the communal breaking of bread.
Secondly, while it might be true that the “masses" of the
Third World are uneducated, this does not necessarily mean
they are ignorant or incapable of thought. I happily note that
you are Ist term, maybe there is still time for you to discard
your narrow childhood prejudices. The people you seem to
slander appear to hold a much more sophisticated view of
Israel and Zionism. These are perceived as nothing more than a
new rationalization for imperialism. Perhaps your studies will
allow you to understand their abhorrence of this policy.
As to the "legitimacy" of these, while formal recognition by
one state of another might constitute “legitimacy" in Inter
national Law, it does not constitute moral sanction. It is this
which is debatable within agiven culture.
Finally, .being a student of both history and politics, and
believing I have at least "moderate intelligence," I beg to differ
with your closing statements.
1) While I agree that there has never been a "sovereign state
of Palestine,” as defined above, this has been due largely to
the efforts of present and former imperialists. Also, the very
concept of "sthte” is a fairly recent (1648) concept of Western
origin.
2) Your apparent equation of "nation" and “state" seems to
defy the way this term is used by contemporary political
science. I believe most recognized scholars in this field
(Deutsche, Verba, Schwartz, etc.) would agree with the
definition of the first as a given group of people sharing a
common culture. You therefore either imply that the
Palestinians lack this, or don't know what you are saying.
3) Lastly, your statement dealing with the possibility of a
Waiting
By JOHN B. ROWLEY JR
Collegian Columnist
When I first came to Penn State, I
didn't understand' the purpose of club
breakfast. I had reasoned that the
university could not understand why
everyone wasn't up at 7 a.m. for break
fast. "They must think we’re all at club
meetings and so they're saving us a few
snacks,” I inaccurately concluded. Now,
of course, I have been enlightened as to
the real reason for club breakfast. Maybe
there are still a few who don't un
derstand, however. For those people
please allow me to explain.
The phrase “club breakfast" first of all
is a very deceiving word. It is neither
designed for clubs, as I had once
thought, nor is it a breakfast. Why is
this? Simple. The university is punishing
students for not getting up early. They
The Daily Collegian encourages comments on news coverage, editorial policy and campus
and off-campus affairs. Letters should be typewritten, double spaced, signed by no more
than two persons and no longer than 30 lines. Students’ letters should include the namr
term and major of the writer.
Letters should be brought to the Collegian office, 126 Carnegie, in person so proper
identification of the writer can be made, although names can be withheld on request If
letters are received by mail, the Collegian will contact the signer for verification before
publication. Letters cannot be returned.
Edward Rutkowski
lOth-Aerospace Engineering
William Swallow
10th-Computer Science
for
decided that the best way to get
students up at 7 a.m. is to make fools of
them if they don't. Think of the fOy that
the administration gets everytTmp it
thinks about students getting up at
a.m. and, get this, waiting in line for a
doughnut. It is pretty hystericaMi-one
examines the situation on a full
stomach.
In the interest of promoting this
policy, I offer my own variations that will
make the student look even more stupid.
1) Only serve club breakfast on even
numbered days how many students
would remember if this were an even or
an odd date. Very few would. Imagine
then, students getting up, walking to the
dining halls and we don’t even give them
their doughnut.
2) Only serve students with odd
third world war reveals you believe "might equals right." This
lack of morality in politics, domestic and international, has
been used throughout world history to justify aggression
atrocities, and so on. If this is the best argument you can base
your thesis on, then I suggest you make an in depth, more
objective investigation of the problem. Your only alternative is
to wallop in the mire, with the supporters of Stalin, Hitler,
Hiroshima etc. For by your logic their methods used are
permissible.
Relish
TO EDITOR: We are unaware, as to whether David
Schwaijtz actually attended the dinner. If he did, we hope tnat.
even though he did not relish the wording of the menu, he.
nonetheless, found the substance palatable and agreeable to
his constitution.
Upon reading David’s letter of Nov 7, we found it rather
derogatory. We also felt that some clarification is needed
The people involved in the Palestiman-lsraeli conflict have
strong feelings upon the slightest mention of this problem
Often, little reason is needed to trigger off powerful emotions
Seeing the item "Palestinian Rice” on the menu, David
"discovered" the occasion as "another underhanded attack on
the legitimacy of the state of Israel.” He charged (implicitly)
the Internatronal Council as being pro-Palestinian and at
tempted to create a political issue over the menu. The item
Palestinian Rice" had no other function than to provide variety
on the menu and to reflect the cultural diversity of the in
ternational student community here at Penn State It was
prepared by a Palestinian according to a home recipe
Therefore, its name was well deserved
The International Council is purely a cultural body, with an
aim to promote understanding and relations among in
ternational students and Americans. Among the 900 in
ternational students at Penn State, there are both Israelis and
Palestinians, and we have always existed as a harmonious
group, never having held any political opinions or bias
Finally, we hope David may learn in his curriculum of in
ternational politics, that Africa. Asia and the Third World
consist of more than just uneducated masses. We also hope
that rather than aspire to become a political venom, he would
aim towards a broader horizon of international friendship
JERRY SCHWARTZ
Editor
Mailing Address Box 467. State College, Pa 16801
Office 126 Carnegie
Editorial policy is determined by the Editor
Opinions expressed by the editors and staff of The Daily Colli- :• i- 1
are not necessarily those of the University administration, faculiy '
students
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doughnuts
numbered meal tickets on even num
bered dates this system would ob
viously confuse the student even more
They would probably see that their meal
ticket is even and come on an even date
The variation adds to the confusion and
as the administration well knows there is
nothing quite so funny as a confused
student
3) Have students make breakfast for
themselves this suggestion appears
to be quite different from the others
Indeed it almost looks constructive as if
the university is saying "We want
students to learn how to cook for
themselves." Or even worse, "If students
don't like club breakfast, let them cook it
don’t worry, this isn't
the case at all. The administration would
only provide the ingredients for one
substance. Doughnuts.
i nr
James D. Donnelly
graduate-history
Jigmi Thinley
graduate-public administration
Josef Blunschi
graduate-geology
ROBERTA. MOFFETT
Business Manager