Editorial opinion
This' Saturday, thousands of
students will be caught up in the
spirit of the new football season.
But some who have more bold
ness than brains may try to test the
limits of University policy and the
campus police by openly defying
the no-drinking policy.
Despite the crazy schemes and
success stories about other
universities changing their dry
look, students are not going to
change Penn State's policy by
taking matters into their own
hands.
Open drinking bouts and report
ing tailgaters who possess
alcohol won't accomplish a thing,
Unfortunately, most students are
more interested in seeing what
they can get away with rather than
working at the legislative level
towards getting the state-wide
drinking age lowered.
The idea . to hold drinking parties
in East Halls will only result In
hangovers, probable property
Carter wins
kosher vote
• Some people fault Jimmy Carter for his teeth. I don't mind
them, inasmuch as I have several myself. •
Others dislike him because he's from the South. Most of
those people probably weren't reading the Collegian when we
announced the end of the Civil War.
A great many people dislike the former Georgia governor
because he is a Jesus Freak. And I'm afraid I was among the
doubters, at least until early this summer when I saw the light.
Before we get to the Miracle of Schwartz, a bit of explanation
is in order. I am Jewish; you'll note that the religion shares the
letters "s" and "I" with the Baptists.
And that is all the two religions share. To many Jews,
evangelical Christians bring back bad memories, memories of
mass conversions of Jews. Many of those conversions were
quite literally painful, and somewhere along the line many of
us got the hotion that we were unloved.
To put it more bluntly, there were Many, times in our history
when we were given the options of (a) becoming Christians, or
(b) becoming dead people.
Now along comes Jimmy Carter. He talks about love a lot,
an issue ranking right up there with hiring the handicapped
among controversial issues of the day. He talks about getting
this country moving again, a policy acceptable to Jew and
gentile alike. .
,
All of which is well and good, but then he has to ruin it all by
talking about being reborn. To be fair, Jimmy Carter hasn't
played up his religion for the most part, it is a media issue,
born out of the same fervor that has brought us endless stories
about Miss Lillian, Plains and softball with FBI agents.
Still, the threat of a born again president is enough to send
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Annie Seybert (6th
theraput lc recreation)
"Students could probably
overcome it and prove that it's
people that make parties and
not alcohol."
Take
damage and an even more stub
born administration.
Students and RAs who want to
form a coalition to expose drinking
at tailgating parties, hoping to in
furiate alumni into pushing for
change, found their plans went
limp because the same plan that
was supposedly so successful at
Michigan State University was
subject to different laws.
Although we supported this
idea at first, it seems highly im
practical in light of this new in
formation.
At Michigan State, the Board of
Trustees is elected by the people
and can initiate university or
dinances that carry the weight of
state law. If you were caught with
alcohol anywhere at any age on
the Michigan campus, except In
the married students' quarters,
you could get 90 days, $lOO or
both.
opinion of the drinking
Donna, Knoell (4th land
scape architecture) "It's really
ridiculous of student
government to change it,
because they won't be able to
change it. It' unfortunate the
RAs have to enforce it. They
won't be able to change It
because It's breaking the law.
The fault is with the law."
it easy
But Penn State's drinking policy
carries none of those serious
droves ofJewlsh voters Into the Republican ranks, a miracle in
Itself.
I was in a bit of a quandry myself, until Carter changed my
mind with a comment he made to a group of New Jersey
rabbis. Concerned with a lack of Jewish support, Carter told
the rabbis that the Jews should be the last people to
discriminate against a man because of his religion. -,
It was one of the only comments made by any candidate in
this election year that made any sense. And it was driven home
later in the summer by another story I read, this one about a
school board election in the South. A local church sent out
surveys to the candidates in the race, demanding to know
whether they were born again Christians. If they were, they
apparently were fit for office.
The point is simple. If the Jews, Catholics or any other
religious group in this country reject Jimmy Carter because of
his religion, they've got to admit that that Southern church was
right to use that criterion in choosing a school board.
The religious issue is a silly issue. There are enough reasons
to vote for or against Jimmy Carter without resorting to the
church he goes to or the God he prays to. We can't afford to
cho6se presidents by their religion or their race or their sex
anymore. It isn't right and it isn't smart.
All that I ask of Carter or any other candidate is that he
follow the Constitution. That means separation of church and
state; that means no prayer In the public schools, no aid to
religious schools, no effort to use the government as a huge
revival meeting.
Carter has pledged to keep God out of the government and
the government out of God. We can ask no more.
Dennis Marriott (12 Kevin Cadle (10 .ohysical
computer science) "It's rather education) "I don't know a
difficult to go against state whole bunch about it. It's not
rules and difficult to enforce good and not worth it. People
policy when it differs from pay to come here and It's their
state law. They should home. They should be able to
concentrate on changing state do what they want; just
law before changing dorm having \ s alcohol isn't
policies "
repercussions. Students, alumni
and visitors who are discovered
with alcohol inside or outside of
the stadium are merely asked to
return it to their car, to turn it in at
the police booth and pick it up after
the game or to dispose of it. No
overreaction. No drama.
Don't be fooled,, with so-called
success stories. According to ,
David Stormer, director of univer
sity safety, Michigan didn't lower
its drinking age statewide until_
years after the experiment at
Michigan State University.
This change in Pennsylvania law
is going to take time, but if stu
dents want to see it come about
they had better ignore the crack
pot schemes. Administrators and
legislators will sit and smirk as the
overreacting students proceed to
prove how incapable they are of
handling their rights. Choose a
responsible plan of action at the
legislative level.
Work for it. Don't destroy it.
Jerry
Schwartz
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destructive, but can lead to it.
The policy isn't going to stop
anything." , •
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RAs caught in middle
By DOUGLAS L. ROOT
7th-journalism -
I am going to brave the 400-pound
hamster lurking in the hall, stand up to
the ugly possibilities of losing my
privileges to the RA executive washroom
or being forced to give back my decoder
ring for blabbing the passwords and
secret hand shake of the RA
organization, and probably disappoint
'one particular editor and many curious
students who have the dramatic idea that
Resident Aisistants are by nature and
role unable to take a stand, express an
opinion or an idea.
If there has - ever been a time when I
believe RAs have strained their vocal
chords and expressed not only
viewpoints, but criticism of University
policy, it has been during this school
year. Of course, there are some RAs who
tend to overemphasize or exaggerate
their positions and begin to get the
feeling that their jobs are always on the
chopping block. It is a shame that the
possibility of an RA subverting the
alcohol policy had to be dealt with by
those in authority with such extreme
statements as: "We could have you (RAs)
all replaced within 48 hours." You see,
the definition of subversion is very
diverse, left largely up •to Individual
interpretation. The results are that some
Will fedi:that% they can• t speak lout While,'
others will,be more cautious. •
The thing to remember is that most of
us were chosen for the Job, not so that
we'd blend in around a residence hall
floor, or that we'd make good "yes"
persons for the 'University to shuffle
Letters to the . Editor
Slumber party
TO THE EDITOR: On Tuesday night we had the pleasure of
participating in a "mass slumber party" with several hundred
other Penn State seniors. The many bodies strewn over the
hallways of Boucke Building looked like the Battle of Get
tysburg (or should we say the bread-lines of the depression.)
Surily the Student Placement Center could have operated in
a more organized and efficient fashion. We found It appalling
that we actually spent an entire night in Boucke simply to go
through a two-minute process for scheduling interviews. • ,
.. ,
Wednesday was an equally bad experience, as we found it
difficult to remain awake In classes.
We hope that the "Placement Center realizes that there is a
drastic need for a well-pliinned system:
Students simply should not have to be subjected to such a
disorganized, unpleasant procedure '
Craig VaJda (Bth—biology) "I
doh* believe It's right at all.
Too much like reform school.
We should be able to make Our
own decidions about alcohol.
In any state around Penn
sylvania you can get served for
beer. In Pennsylvania It's like
the Middle Ages when, it
comes to'alcohol. Last year it
was okay because there were
wa s to ! et around it."
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where they will, but chosen because we
had things to say, ideas to contribute,
and a willingness to make decisions and
take on responsibilities.
All students living in the University
residence halls and the RA supervisory
staff are, by now, keenly aware how
every RA must feel about enforcing a
policy like the one on alcohol that is
regressive by nature and so blatantly out
of tune with other Universities across the
country. I don't think it Is any secret that
our jobs this year as Resident Assistants
are something to be desired. Many of us
spent the greater part of last year going
through an exhausting set of• interviews
and if that wasn't enough, spent 10
weeks or. Spring Term taking a three
credit course designed to make us ef
fective in counseling and Inter-personal
relations. ' .
So, what happened when most of the
RAs who, like most other students, had
put Happy Valley out of sight and mind
for the summer, came back to find their
job description changed radically from
dorm resident, counselor, and friend to
that of the campus heavy? We screamed.
We argued. We yelled. We tried to
persuade. Eventually we stopped
arguing.
There was no one in any position In
this Univers who could do .anything
constructive / to relieve the, burden of,
enforcement that had been placed
almost squarely on our shoulders. Do we
as Resident Assistants feel that we can
blame , people in the 'Division of
Residential Life such as Drs. Murphy
and Uperaft? 1 can only speak for myself.
Matt Ohrnstain
10th-accounting
Erin L. Spire
11th-accounting
Anne, Hynes (10—geological
science) "It's the RA's Job. I
Can't see the University being
in violation of,the state laws.
The party planned in East
Halls is ridiculous."
Correction
Wednesday's editorial incorrectly stated that open canvassing,:
will allow commercial organizations to solicit buyers for theirs
products in the dorms. Open canvassing will allow students to,'
go door-to-door seeking support for ideas. ti
47.
clT,Collegian
SHEILA NIcCAULEY
Editor
Business Manager
BOARD OF EDITORS: EDITORIAL EDITOR, Brenda Turner;
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, Deanna Finley; • NEWS EDITOR,
Pamela Reasner; ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, Phil Storey;
STATE-NATIONAL EDITOR, Leah Rozen; CONTRIBUTING
EDITOR, Jerry Schwartz; COPY EDITORS, Mike Joseph, Jim
Lockhart, Charlene Sampedro; OFFICE MANAGER, Laura
Shemick; FEATURES EDITOR, Janie Musala; SPORTS
EDITOR, Brian Miller; ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS, Tom
McNichol, Barb Parmeri PHOTO EDITOR, Julie CipollEi;
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS, Eric Felack, Barry Wyshinski;.
GRAPHICS EDITOR, Lynrie Maimed.
policy?
Photos
Interviews by
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46. A.
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Barbara,lsleVimin (9th
english literature "They have
to do it. Kind of unfair to
people living on campus. But, of that one chugging incident
they have to do it to keep lin the summer. I'm not totally
people out of trouble because against, the policy because
of the chugging incident. If ' underage drinking is against
kids had more sense about the state law. The policy gives
alcohol, they could be you a second choice."
trusted.".
Yet, I have the feeling that most RAs
are viewing things from the middle,'
we who have this perspective can only
sympathize with these men. We leave
the name-calling and ignorant behavior
to narrow-minded students and badly
misguided USG presidents. Surely no
one person can be blamed for such an
extreme policy. It is a sobering fact that
the 21-year-old drinking law is what It is, 4/
a law If, the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania. The courts do not ignore any
law, no matter how small or miniscule it
is considered to be by the population.
The alcohol policy, in more than one
way, has served to severly limit the));
opportunities of the RA In getting a good
relationship going with people on the
floor. No matter what is said to the
contrary by any University official fn any
capacity, we as RAs have been crippled.
Some sensitive students see our
position and sympathize with us. Othero
will take the view of a student whom one
of my RA friends met at a party last
weekend downtown. My friend was
asked if she would "really" write up an;
underage student for drinking in the:
residence halls. Her response was that
she didn't have any choice in the matter
and that she had given her word that she
would. The student, glared at. her and'
then retorted; "I hate you." " --,. , ,!‘
Please don't hate us. Change must
come about, and it will if we can direct
our energies to the places where things
happen, like the state legislature. Let us ,i t ,
not.quibble among ourselves. It can onl y'
serve to move us backward.
by Doug Henry
Janice Mas i cicili'
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Lynn Palmero (Ist—history)
Moll; I think It's sort of stiff,
i crashing down a lot because
NADINE KINSEY