Editorial opinion
Happy Valley the name
students from some by-gone era
affectionately tagged the Penn
State community. It conjure? up
images of peace, serenity, com
placency, bliss.
And isolation.
As we know all too well, making
a weekend exodus home is
sometimes next to impossible.
There are the ride sheets. There
are the buses. And, as a last
resort, there are our thumbs.
But for University ad
ministrators, the logical way to
travel to and from Happy Valley is
via the air. Trustee meetings,
budget hearings and legislative
sessions can't afford to wait for a
Penn State official to wind his way
down Central Pennsylvania’s back
roads in the family Oldsmobile.
Within the past few weeks, the
Collegian has published a series of
articles on the University airport.
'Crater,'
You’re ' traveling through sinpther
dimension ...a dimension not of sight or
oftsound but of mind ...
America’s Viking I space probe arrived
on the planet Mars last week. The
landing was hailed as a significant step
forward in space exploration by
scientists and also by science-fiction
writers invited to be on hand at the
Viking control center, the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, in Pasadena, California.
“I’m sure we’ll find primitive life of
some sort,”. Ray Bradbury, author of
"The Martian Chronicles,” said.
Gene Roddenberry, creator of the
popular “Star Trek” television series was
also at the control center as was George
Pal, producer of cinema .science-fiction
that includes “War of the Worlds,”
“Destination Moon” and “When Worlds
Collide.”
“I have a feeling Viking is going to find
some kind of life on Mars not the kind
we know, but something primitive and
strange,” Pal said.
Sure enough, strange things have
been • happening. Even before the
spacecraft landed it was running into
difficulties it couldn’t find a parking
space.
When Viking finally settled on the
Martian surface it sent back pictures that
seemed to show an old automobile
muffler among the rocks. As if the
thought of landing' in a Martian junkyard
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Sir John's toy
TO THE EDITOR: I read, with much admiration, the letter from
Kerry in July 23rd’s paper. I haven’t seen those sentiments
stated so well in quite awhile.
But Sir John’s new toy is not the only issue. Every day
around here such travesties are forced upon us. Campus Patrol
(Reich?) is also at it again in the past week, one person has
been falsely arrested for assaulting a Patrolman, and one
person was busted for one seed and some pipe residue (they
did have two seeds but lost one). And then there's the crack
down on dorm parties and the pot informers in the .dorms
don’t kid yourselves, of course they’re there.
I ask you," people, do you really believe all this is for your,
own good? These are only some of the things happening. I
haven't even mentioned the ever-present housing ripoff (town
and campus) or any of the other “little" things you may never
hear of because no one will tell you.
People, if all this doesn’t outrage you, doesn’t offend your
sensibilities, then you and this crazy place deserve each other.
O ■ .
'Plane' facts
The information was not easy to
compile.
Collegian reporters met with
closed-mouth employes, whose
unwillingness to talk only increas
ed the Collegian’s suspicions and
curiosity.
But even after the harsh words
and the abruptly-ended phone
calls were over, there is still
something that University ad
ministrators do not understand.
The Summer Collegian does not
condemn the University for owning
and operating several aircraft; we
realize that Penn State is indeed
“equally inaccessible from all parts
of the state" and that planes are
needed to deliver stc.ff members to
vital destinations safely, ef
ficiently and in the least amount of
time.
But there are certain things that
do bother us.
'Raygun' in Mars
isn't mind-boggling enough, other
pictures showed graffiti-like scribblings
on a couple of large rocks.
Viking program 'director Carl Sagan
was quick to discount the theory that
what seemed to be the letters “B” and
“G" and the number “2” were fragments
of a suggestive proposition and its
accompanying phone number and in
stead attributed the seemingly familiar
shapes and figures to shadows on the
rocks and viewer’s imaginations.
■ 'ft
This explanation seemed a little too
neat so i called a friend of mine, Zeke
Linke, who was the technical adviser on
the sci-fi classic, “The Three Stooges on
Mars,” and who was among the science
fiction luminaries invited to spend time
at the Viking control center.
“Zeke,” I said over the phone, “what’s
really going on out there at Viking
control? I have a feeling we’re not getting
the whole story." '
“It’s all very hush-hush,” Zeke said.
“Security is very, very tight around here
but maybe you should know.”
“Know what?" I asked.
Why, for instance, did the
University recently purchase a
second Navajo aircraft, valued at
$249,535?
The University already owns
one Navajo, as well as a Piper
Aircraft. And from a money-saving
point of view, the Aztec is
definitely the better bargain, since
while the Navajo costs $92.93 per
hour to operate, the Aztec costs
only $45.46.
Yet when the University pur
chased its second Navajo, it traded
away the more economical Aztec.
We’ve been told that the Navajo
is better suited for meetings in the
air, since it is equipped with con
ference seating. But we’ve also
discovered that on the average not
more than two persons travel in
the craft anyway.
It has been said that charity
begins at home. So does austerity.
Reagan
Next month a new television game show will make its
debut on all of the networks for a one week run. Called
"The Republican National Convention," it will combine
the frantic trading of “Let's Make A Deal” with the high
priced bidding of “The New Price Is Right.” But you
—won’t find Monty Hall or Bob Barker giving away
washing machines to suburban housewives. Instead, it
will be Ronald Reagan trying to beg, borrow or steal the
Republican presidential nomination from the
Republican primary voters. ,
Reagan, in his latest move to subvert the democratic,
process and make a deal for the presidential
nomination, has somehow seduced U.S. Senator
Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania (and former Ford
delegate) into accepting the bid for the vice-presidential
spot on the ticket if Reagan wins. Reagan said the
choosing of Schweiker was an attempt on his part to be
more open and honest with delegates of the Republican
convention.
It is open all right. It is an open attempt to buy the
Pennsylvania delegation. Reagan hopes that by
selecting a well respected member of the delegation of
a pivitol state, he will be able to swing enough of the
delegates, committed and uncommitted, to himself to
wind up with the nomination. But in doing so, a lot of
horse trading had to go on behind the backs of the
American people.
To get the vice-presidential nod, Schweiker had to
trade in something. But instead of Monty Hall asking
for a string of rubber hotdogs or a placard with a witty
saying written on it in exchange for the chance to win
the 1- big deal of the day, Reagan has ektracted a handful
of delegates and Schwelker’s reputation as a honest,
intelligent man in exchange for. the chance at the
second-highest office in the land. Reagan has tried to
Everywhere, I-hear people talk of revolution and the need for
change. A lot of you believe in this but feel powerless. Do you
have any idea what kind oiforce you’ll present if you’re united?
Remember the occupation of Old Main several years back?
Student unrest isn’t gone it’s spreading. I’m sure the
powers-that-be (the Wicked Witch of the West, maybe?) don’t
mind that you think yourselves powerless. We have power, but
we just aren't organized well.
We can use what we learned in the last ten years about
unrest, violence, and change to work from the inside out this
time,.and make changes that will stick. Very often around here,
I'm reminded of T.S. Eliot and “The Hollow Men”. But I can’t
stop believing that the spark is still alive. It's our only chance.
Change is not instantaneous, but we've got to start sometime.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Do what you can. Look for
others who want the change, and unite to do something about
Oh, by the way, Kerry. If the monstrosity files over you, call
me. I’ll help
“We’ve found life on Mars," Zeke said
“You’re kidding."
“I’m serious,” Zeke said. “We've talked
with one of them. We have pictures too.”
“Well, what do Martians look like?" I
asked eagerly. "Do they have antennas?
Do they have green' blotches? Can they
bend their pinky finger?”
“Actually, and this is a disap
pointment to all of us," Zeke said with
resignation, "the one we’ve been talking
with looks like a cat.” -
"A cat!?" ■
“Yes, one that smiles and disap
pears,” Zeke said. "We've only seen one
and he keeps fading.out and reappearing
in different positions at the oddest
times. We're sure it has nothing to do
with the t.v. camera or the reception.”
"So what’s happening on Mars?” I
asked.
“According to this Martian, nothing is
happening,” Zeke said. “He said they
were in the middle of an election year.
He looked rather bored by it all.”
“I can see why,” I said. “Their year is
687 days long."
“We asked him to take us to his leader but he wouldn't start a war.”
but he said the leader was out trying to" "That’s a relief. Did this Martian have a
sway uncommitted Martians to vote for name?” I asked,
him and therefore didn’t have time to “He called himself Crater," Zeke said,
attend to affairs of state," Zeke said. “What did Crater say about the graffiti
“That’s atough break," I said. on the rocks?"
"Actually we were lucky,” Zeke said. "He wouldn’t give
"If we had come to Mars early next year, i number ’’
'toy, iil -avy tottso is WP x cant e.\
CARTES "TO Boy TrtVt) cne / '
'deals' for Pa. backing
election
a new cat might have been in power, our
Martian connection tells -us, and he
might have shot down the Viking. As it
is, this character is making an issue out
of our landing site."
“Why?"! asked.
“It seems we’ve landed in one of the
Martian canals and this cat, name of
Raygun, said that ' the canals are
sovereign Martian property and any
attempt to take over the canal by us
would be met with armed force. He
threatened to blow us out of the solar
system."
"Long distance war the next best
thing to being there. No wonder Viking
command is keeping this from the
American people,” I said.
\
“Actually," Zeke assured me, “the
chances of war are slim. An Air Force
general in the control room suggested-
that we sell a few atomic bombs to the
Martians but the Martian we were talking
to refused and said they had been
through all that before.”
"If he was the leader he said he would
well, he didn’t say what he would do,
Issues and answers
TO THE EDITOR: .Tom Gibb’s cartoon in Monday’s Collegian is
the latest in this paper's crusade to portray Jimmy Carter as
having no or vague positions on issues. Unfortunately, these
attacks do not say specifically on which issues Carter does not
have positions. This technique of. attack is similar to the ‘‘big
lie" approach of McCarthyism. The late Senator refused to give
specific names of Communists in the State. Department as
specific - falsehoods could be refuted; Instead, he kept'to
statements that there were many Communists (always un
named) in the State Department, assertions impossible to
disprove because of their generality
On which issues do members of the Collegian staff feel
Jimmy Carter does not have clear positions? l am willing to
meet in the Collegian offices, my office or at home with-any or
-all members of the Collegian staff to explain Carter’s position
on any issue. If I am unable to find Carter’s position on any
issue, I will write or call Atlanta immediately to find out his"
position.
Karen A. Perkins
7th-horliculture
Mpndi
THIS WEEK'S
BRD
justify his selection as being more than just a political
ploy by saying he believes Schweiker has "basic beliefs
compatible with my own.” Considering that Schweiker
is one of the most liberal senators the Republicans have
and Reagan is so far to the right that some people fear
he is a leftist, Reagan’s statement is about as hard to
swallow as a peanut butter sandwich on week-old
bread.
Schweiker listed himself as a Ford delegate until last
Monday, when the big switch was announced.
Previously he had openly supported President Ford’s
bid for rerelectlon. On May 5, Schweiker urged the
President to “accentuate the positive” in his ad
ministration in order to stop Reagan's drive. And
Reagan, as recently as July 10 said, “I don’t believe in
the old tradition of picking someone at the opposite end
of the political spectrum because he call get some votes
you can’t get yourself.” *
So much for honesty.
Politically, Schweiker is committing suicide, if he
believes that Reagan will give him anything more to do
than in a figurehead role, you’ve got to wonder about
the intelligence of the man Reagan wants to.put one
heart beat away from the presidency.
But the Schweiker deal isn’t the only one that Reagan
has up his sleeve in order to divert democracy to his
own.personal course. For example, .previously It had
been reported and confirmed by Reagan staffers that a
plan was under consideration to have delegates
committed to President Ford because of the primary
Certainly it is legitimate for members of the Collegian or
«?-
iLE%
Chet
' Wade
us the phone
EN get JIMKy
results but who were really supporting Reagan, abstain
or not’ vote in the first or second ballot. That would
assure that Ford couldn't take the nomination and thign
the undercover Reagan supporters could legally change
their vote to Reagan during later ballots.
Politically, it is a beautiful piece of maneuvering. B&t
it denys the mandate given to the delegates by the
people of their state. What Ro,nald Reagan is saying t#
thbse people is that they have no right to choose tf\e
nominee of their party.
Perhaps the only thing thjt could result in the new
game show’s demise is that it resembles a great deal
that popular series from the summer of 1973 "Sam
Ervin and the Watergate Hearings.” For those of you
who don’t remember, Senator Sam and his. boys hqpV
great fun in revealing all of the tricks and treats Richard
Nixon and his gang at the White House had in store for
the people of the country.
During the run of the show, political deals were
uncovered, complex plans to keep the American people
from having their mandate carried out were revealed aijjl
the reputations of men who were considered honest aiyl
intelligent were destroyed. , «
There is an outside chance that the American pubitc
grew- tired of these sorts of-things back In .1973 afld
won’t stand for the same thing again this summer.
Maybe this time they will stand up for what they believe
is right and won’t let some third-rate movie actor trade
some political deals for 4 a nomination to the highest
office in the land. Because if they don’t, there is goad
possibility that the old television formula of copyin{£a
winner will again prevail. And once again the people of
America will have to sit in front of their television sets
and have a senate Investigating panel unravel the
workings of their government for them. “
Oh, how I hate re-runs. . . *
HffTiEfe.../*
anyone else to disagree with Carter’s stand on any issue. Such
disagreements are the essence,of democratic politics. What<is
not legitimate, however, is to caricature any candidate who hfcs
hundreds of pages of position papers,as lacking positions pn
issues. Again, this letter is an open invitation to anyone who
feels that Carter is unclear on any issue to come to speak wftlry
me to discuss Carter’s stand on that issue.
P.S.: It is indeed possible to have both a nice smile and good,
clear positions on issues! -
JANICE SELINGER
Summer Editor
Robert E. O’Connor
Assistant Profess'or
NADINE KINSEY ,
Business Manager