PSU'S social control agent (top cop)
By PAUL GLUCKMAN
'•
Collegian Staff Writer
After watching Theo Kojak operate for years, it seems that
' David Stormer does not satisfy the picture of the macho cop.
But Stormer, 37 years old, doesn't seem to mind. In fact, in
his third year as director of University police services,
Stormer's background and record probably would raise the
eyebrows of even the most cynical: those who believe that
cops are all muscles and no brains.
Stormer, a State College resident who is married and has
three children, received his master's degree in criminal
justice in 1972 from Michigan State UniVersity. In the past he
has taught . 'two years of evening classes in police ad
ministration at Ohio State University.
"The fact ,that I'm liberal doesn't ne
cessarily mean I'm lehient. But a liberal
policeman is anxious to work with the .
community, not just maintain order."
Since arriving at the University in 1973, police services have
"been many 'important changes, perhaps because of Stormer's
two previous directorships of college police forces.
The department's image was softened somewhat with the
shedding of the traditional military-type police uniform in
favor of the blazers that University officers wear today. In
addition, a career development program within the depart
ment was organized, and a baccalaureate degree was
Soda's variety
v suits everyone
"Things go better with
Coke," or so the Univer
sity's Housing and Food
Service Operations seemed
to think when soda
machines were installed in
residence hall dining
rooms.
According to Otto
Mueller, assistant vice
president of Housing and
Food Services, "We had an
opportunity to install soda
more economically than in
past years. NOw students
have a_ wide range to
choose from , excepting
alcoholic beverages."
• In addition to giving
' students more variety, soft
drinks might help the
University save money.
Chris. Tomasch repre
"sentative to the Resi
dence Hall ' Advisory
Board, said that with rising
milk prices, soft drinks
have become a cheaper
alternative.
At first I thought this was
terrible," T/imasch said,
"but it's what the students
want. I like soda better
myself even though it
causes cavities."
Also contributing to the
change, Tomasch said, was
a problem the dining halls
had with mixing juices.
"Last year students
complained that at times
they were too strong or too ,
weak," she said.
Why was Coca-Cola
chosen? It was cheaper
than other brands. "The
rent of the machines in
cludes the carbonation, so
the University will just
have to buy syrup,"
Tomasch said.
established as a minimum requirement for employment with
University police.
, Stormer himself seems to prefer a different police lifestyle.
He doesn't regularly call himself a "cop," but in duscussing
his role on campus, chooses the term "social control agent;"
reflecting his belief that the officer's job should not be solely
confined to maintaining order.
"I don't agree with those people who would probably always
say, 'Let the police handle it.' They shouldn't have the police
doing all the work for them. My job is to assist my community,
helping people to help themselves." he says. .
Stormer says the fact that he's a public servant largely
determines how he will perform on duty. Police, he says, are
in the position to enforce what the community thinks;
it's not their place to discuss personal opinions of the job or to
allow feelings to interfere with performance.
"I don't concern myself," he says, "with how severely a
suspect I arrest should be punished. That's up to the court. If I
perform my job well, and the procedures of the court were
fair, then it's certainly not my place to do anything about it
should someone be treated too leniently. I may not like the
court's decision, but who am I to say something about it? I
must abide by that decision."
Nevertheless, he does speak openly. While he says he wishes
people did not have to label themselves "liberal" and '•con
servative," he admits he's probably a liberal on the job, a
conservative at home. "The fact that I'm liberal doesn't
necessarily mean I'm lenient. But a liberal policeman is
anxious to work with'the community, not just maintain or
der."
Death
JOHANNESBURG, South
Africa (AP) Police gunfire
killed nine persons including
an eight-year old boy during a
wave of .violence by mobs of
mixed race and black
Africans that swept the Cape
Town area yesterday.
The deaths brought to at
least 19 the.number of persons
killed in three days of
demonstrations and rioting
against the white-minority
government. Police said six
who . died yesterday were
killed when officers fired on
looters of three liquor stores
in Manenberg township.
Armed police escorted
white motorists in convoys in
the Cape Town area._ •
Unrest mounted after a
night of widespread violence
in which police counted five
persons killed, 12 injured and
30 arrested.
Meanwhile in Zambia, the
U.S. assistant secretary of
state for African affairs,
William Schaufele, arrived to
discuss U.S. peace initiatives
for southern Africa with
toll hits 19 in S. African riots
Zambian President Kenneth
Kaunda. He told airport
reporters there is still time
for a negotiated solution to
the racial crisis of 'southern
Africa, "but not much."
Schaufele said shuttle
negotiations by Secretary of
State Henry A. Kissinger
were now a strong possibility
and he was discussing with
African leaders "whether he
Kissinger comes to Africa
and what capitals he will go
to."
The eight-year old South
African died in Manenberg
township for coloreds, as,
people of mixed race are
officially called, where police
opened fire on a mob that
smashed and looted a liquor
store.
Two men were shot dead in
the Sherwood Park district
where hundreds of colored
youths rioted, setting fire to a
liquor store and wrecking a
beerhall. A wounded youth
also died in the hospital.
Two persons were reported
wounded after police fired on
Stormer argues that the drinking age should be lowered to
18 since it's the age of majority for many other activities such
as voting.
And he's frank on the subject of homosexuality, specifically
within the police department: "As far as what I view a
homosexual to be that is someone with effeminate
characteristics I would doubt such a person would be in
terested in working for us. However, I'm sure many police
forces have them.
"I don't know what I'd do if I found out one of my men was a
homosexual," he says, "I would think I'd have to look at all
the facts." He also fears a homosexual would face certain
difficulties even if not dismissed from the department. He
says there is the possibility such an officer could be "com
promised," therefore hindering his job.
"I don't know what I'd do if I found out
one of my men was a homosexual. I
would think I'd have to look at all the
facts."
In any case, Stormer insists the decisions of the day rest
with the community.
"Society must make the distinction of what social behavior
is acceptable and what isn't," he says. "What was acceptable
as good business practice in the 40's and 50's, for example,
today is branded as being deceptive advertising.
demonstrators in the
Riversdale district, and about
200 colored staff members at
the Cape Town's Somerset
hospital, ranging from
cleaners to doctors, staged a
march through the streets in
sympathy with riot victims.
Police turned them back.
Bus services were
disrupted over a wide area,
and a bus was reported to
have been set on fire in the
150 more die in Beirut fighting
BEIRUT, Lebanon (UPI) Fighting flared across Beirut
yesterday following the return of Interior Minister Camille
Chamoun from Damascus with a Christian-Syrian "un
derstanding" on ending the 17-month civil war.
The fighting, mostly scattered and indiscriminate shelling
of residential areas, claimed an estimated 150 lives in the past
24 hours, according to hospital and militia sources.
Sniping and scattered shelling continued along the "green
line" dividing Christian east and Moslem west Beirut, Arab
League troops manning a buffer zone between the two zones
partly withdrew because of the heavy fighting.
Chamoun, who held talks in Damascus Wednesday with
Syrian President Hafez Assad, told reporters before returning
to Lebanon that they had reached a complete "un-
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Cape Town district of
Retreat.
Around the university town
of Stellenbosch, 25 miles
inland, hourly convoys
escorted by armed police
protected motorists from
stone-throwing colored
hidden in bushes along the
narrow, winding Banhoek
mountain pass.
The continued racial unrest
followed Prime Minister John
MONET WYETH PICASSO VAN GOGH DALI
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But thefts, and not alcohol violations, are the major campus
security problem, according to Stormer. And more than half
the thefts reported are committed by students, though the
numbers vary from year to year.
Stormer insists the best help the police could find is in
working for a community that cares. "Crime is not a police
problem, it's a community problem. Law enforcement has
nothing to do with 95 per cent of the people who are law
abiding, but they shouldn't say 'Let the police handle it.'
That's a cop-out."
Vorster's warning Wed
nesday night that unless the
rioting stopped immediately,
the authorities would take
further steps to restore order.
Vorster said he was
prepared to do what he could
to rectify "legitimate
grievances," but he rejected
again any move toward a
political system that would
give blacks representation in
an all-white parliament.
derstanding" on how to resolve the Lebanese war.
He said they discussed "the necessity to cooperate and put a
final end to all destructive elements, whether they operate
against Lebanon from within or against Syria from Lebanon"
and the measures Syria "has taken and will take" toward this
end.
Chamoun's remarks in Damascus seemed to rule out
chances of a compromise settlement which Arab League
mediators have been trying to arrange. They also lent
credence to rumors and press reports in Beirut that Syria may
be contemplating another major military push.
Sources close to Chamoun confirmed that military action
was discussed, but said it was ruled out until after President
elect Elias Sarkis takes office.
LAST DAY TODAY
The Daily Collegian Friday, September 10. 1970-
talks shop
He suggests• the University community would be sym
pathetic to a case such as a homosexual officer fighting
dismissal from the force.
"In the past I've sent people to jail for possessing just small
amounts of marijuana," he says. "Today such an offense
would probably be called a mindemeanor rather than a felony.
Society's ideas change. Certainly the police should change
along with them."
Currently, dorm students face a new drink
ing enforcement policy, toughened in light of several violations
during the summer. But Stormer says the change has resulted
in "no additional workload."
"The basic liquor policy remains no different than the . one
begun in 1972," Stormer says. Possession of alcohol is
restricted to persons over 21 in their dorm rooms. And the
policy at this year's home football games also remains un
changed. No alcohol is permitted in Beaver Stadium. Those
found in possession will be turned away from the stadium, be
asked to surrender the liquor' to police (to be picked up after
the game), or be required to empty the liquor into the gar
bage.
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At least 315 persons have
been killed in nationwide
racial violence since it
erupted in Soweto, outside
Johannesburg, on June 16.
Near Pretoria, South
Africa's administrative
capital, a crowd of about 100
young blacks jeered Judge
Petrus Cillie, who is probing
the riots for the government,
as he arrived for an on-the
spot inspection•
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