Editorial opinion It's the principle... Carter NBC interviewed Its 1,978,635 th voter this morning, a trigger-happy president, It is the prospect of a trigger-happy discovering once again that most Americans can't makeup vice president succeeding him. Dole alone Is reason enough to their minds about the candidates. It looks as if the networks, vote for Carter and Mondale. which have been interviewing reluctant voters since the New ' Still, I will not be happy voting for Carter. Not because of his Hampshire primary, will not have reached all 210 million of us . religion; or his choice of interviewers, or any other gaffe he has by today, although Tom Pettit gave it the old network try. made, but rather because I sense he lacks a vision of America Although lam not one of the uncommitted (I have been a which transcends single Issues or controversies. less-than-wholehearted supporter of Carter from the first), I must admit that voting will be an 'unpleasant duty this year. I expect I will close my eyes, hold my nose and pull the lever as quickly as possible. Then I will gather with frien'ds for a "consoling election night party," as one of them described it, and drown my sorrows For me there is no choice I will not help return Gerald Ford to the White House. Ford is no Mr. Nice GU) , and no amount of media Image-making will convince me that the man who brought us the Mayaguez can be trusted for four more years. In the White House, even benign - mediocrity is In tolerable and Ford's' predilection for secret wars and secret agency investigations is anything but benign. More Important In my decision Is my utter contempt for Ford's running mate. If there is anything more frightening than Letters to the Editor Irresponsibility , TO THE EDITOR: On November 2, we Pennsylvanians will send, people to Washington to represent our Interests. One such person has already represented us for 13 years Representative Albert Johnson. Here is a short report on what he has done on matters concerning the environment over the years: 1) Voted against the appropriation of more funds for solar energy research; . 2) Voted against the establishment of fuel efficiency standards for American autos and appliances; • 3) Voted to limit the liability of nuclear plants in case of accident (s,lightly alarming when you realize that Pennsylvania has 11 plants in operation, under construction, or planned); ' 4) Opposed protecting parts of 'the upper Allegheny River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. These, and many other examples of Johnson's en vironmental irresponsibility exist. Is this truly a representation of our interests? It is an important matter the natural en vironment is not' only something luxurious and beautiful to look at, but a vital part of the flow of life. I do not like to live a game of seeing how long we can survive while the health of our environment is flailing and falling. Some people seem to think that it is dispensable, and can be passed over if personal (monetary?) interests prevail. We have a hand in seeing that the above does not continue to occur or does by voting. Communication TO THE EDITOR: Michael Imsick has done It again! After his first column extolling' the virtues of students who disregard walkways and go where they please, I wondered what would be next. , The triviality of your editorial page reached a new high In last Thursday's Collegian when Mr. Imsick ridiculed the Catholic Folk Mass. The thing that * irritated me was Imsick's total laqk of knowledge of what the Mass is about. What the Mass is not about is a folk-rock concert (though many Bob Dylan tunes have been adapted for church use). Mr. Imsick's argument about the dullness of Mass is typical of those who go to be entertained. "I don't get anything out of it, what's the point?" is the standard line. Again, the Mass is not meant to be entertainment. It's morning. It is a worship service where people both individually and as a groUp com municate with God in the highest form. Perhaps had Michael Imsick studied the readings and thought about their meaning before the Mass, Instead of waiting for Judy Collins to take the stage, he would have seen the relevande of the service. A student who goes to class unprepared and expects the Instructor to educate him without putting in any effort himself will not profit from the experience. So it Is with Mass. Students, believe it or not, do pray at other times during the week; the Mass is the culmination of those prayers, together with the physical reqeption of Christ. On your honor TO .THE EDITOR: I was rather surprised at your editorial of Monday, Oct. 25 in which you bemoaned the deficiencies of the honors programs at Penn State. You seem to think that the more academically-minded students deserve more con -sideration than is being shown them now. As you put it, "Only a few students find honor at Penn State." The Collegian is in a position to aid these students btit It doesn't. I have been told by a member of your staff that the forensic team's activities are "not important enough to print." The Collegian rarely covers exhibits at Zoller Gallery or recitals at Music Building recital hall. I have never read'anythlng in the Your choke Elisabeth Hildebrand Boaisburg resident Brian Golden 2nd-broadcast Journalism u=:zi Kathleen N 4.'‹ Pavelko • What Carter 'has Is some ideas and good intentions with which I happen to agree, but behind these specifics there is , no general understanding of Americans as a people and the United States as a nation. • It Is not enough to favor alternative energy development, Collegian concerning the activities of the Lion's Paw or the honorary fraternities and sororities on campus. University Readers gets little attention, as do the lectures sponsored by Phi Alpha Theta. You called honors students "our main defense against classification as a football school." The Collegian; with Its rather limited coverage In the area of academia, is,one of our main reasons for such classification. USG defense TO THE EDITOR: As the USG Senator who sponsored a resolution this past Monday night to enable . the Judiciary committee to Investigate the discipline system, I today feel compelled to defend myself and the committee even before we have collected a single datum. The editor of the Collegian terms the investigation "an exercise in futility;" she says of the committee, "It may only be doing students a disservice in the longrun;" whereas she acknowledges the system itself as•being "not perfect." Actually, since we have been working .diligently for about three days as I write this, such criticisms may be a bit premature, though• not out out of character for the editor. Ms. McCauley is paranoid about student awareness to such a degree that she must put it dofivn long before it starts. The last paragraph of Thursday's editorial says of we "disciplinary reformers": "They are probably not willing to accept the consequences that go along with it" ("the real world"). This is the same editor who told us to "take it easy" on the alcohol issue and give up trying to bring the University into the twentieth century, and the same editor who accused Tony Carona of selling out in taking a staff position while the UPI charged the administration with "backing down." Sheila told us not to vote in the USG elections last spring, and not to participate In tuition rallies. If the editor has a place for suggestions, might I suggest a follow-up story on Ray Weber's appeal for justice? - Bag the bus, TO THE EDITOR: As a service to the State College community, I would like to recount the following incident. Early last August I had to make a round trip to the Philadelphia area by way of our town's only commercial transportation . services the Greyhound bus lines. Never having traveled long distances by bus, I was aghast at the irresponsibility that was exhibited in the baggage transfer at the Harrisburg change-over. If I hadn't been watching from inside, the bus would have departed without my suitcase. My expressed anxiety was reacted to with nonchalance. I was instructed to load my own baggage. This was on the way to Philadelphia On the return trip, I was by no means so lucky. When I got off the bus in State College, I was one of three passengers whose luggage had felled to make the relatively short trip. This I could not believe. All of my clothing and some valuable photography equipment were contained•in the suitcase. The attitude I encountered at the State College Greyhound' Office was 'patronizing and unconcerned. They accepted no responsibility whatsoever and refused to make any telephone calls in an effort to find the baggage. Indeed, I was informed that any communication between bus stations would have to 'be made by letter. Well, here it is almost three months later and I have just received reimbursement for their mistake. However, the check amounted to only one-half of the total value of the contents because photography equipment is one item that I am only now informed is not covered by their Insurance. Will this unfortunate series of events preclude any future dealings I have with Greyhound? How can.it? I am a student without a car or even•the wherewithal to fly home. My only About half of all voters are 'coming down with a severe case of the election day blues— a 24- hour bug that makes them feel as if they have no t choice. Many voters may feel that not voting registers their total distaste for the choices on the ballot. But their negative vote of disapproval for all candidates becomes lost among the non•votes of those who merely stay home because of apathy and complacency. Less than half of the nation cares enough to come out to the Polls; less than half of that 50 per cent is the margin that elects . our leaders; this is an unfortunate comment on public interest. As young Americans, most of our accurate memory of politics is tainted by Watergate and Vietnam. We may feel as if all politicians are alike and that nothing we do can make a difference. But we must try. Tom Heltzenrater USG Senator, South Halle I come from 'a broken home. My mother is a left of center Democrat and my father Is a practical, issue-oriented real live Republican. The two 'minds meeting in an after-dinner political discussion are not unlike Godzilla ex changing ideas with the entire Japanese Navy over coffee lots of fireworks hut very little communication. Yet somewhere along campaign trail '76 I became convinced that all my formative years spent digesting my evening meal around such phrases as "Humphrey will end the war" and "Don't blame me, I voted for McGovern" were beginning to pay off In return for oc casional indigestion. • Watching the behavior of the two candidates for president has not put me on unfamiliar ground. Thanks to the openness of my parents I at least have a sense of history and a sense of per spective that sorts out the issue from the non-issue, the good point from the cheap shot. Perhaps it is good that days begin to get shorter the week before Nov. 2. Mud throwing and cheap shots tend to replace -constructive debates on plat forms and philosophies. In general, the last week of a campaign does no real good in informing the potential voter, it merely serves as a catch-all for worried gets a lukewarm social programs or a sound fiscal policy. Even if all of these could be achieved, America would still lack the unifying, healing force that can come only from a national political figure the president. I have no Illusions that Carter will be a great leader. if he becomes only an honest administrator my vote will have been justified. But it seems to me that Americans and the office of the presidency itself demand more than a mere caretaker. "We need a leader" sounds like a trite campaign slogan, yet a single person able to articulate our common beliefs and goals is the most important national need today. Doris Kearns, in her fine new book called "Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream" describes the consensus Americans ,felt in the first three years of Johnson's presidency. After the first anguish over the assassination had passed, Johnson truly led the country by •identifying ,national goals. Equality' of opportunity and the eradication of poverty became banners under which all of us could Join. Tragically, it was Johnson himself, the politician of consensus, who destroyed, In Vietnam, our national solidarity. alternative is to do business with an outfit that, in a ,very short likes this fact. However, to provide more financial aid to Et, time, I have come to despise. A competitive, mewls of travel , specific group of students, black students, is a blatant form of* would certainly check the arrogance which Greyhound's reverse discrimination. This is" just as bad as the monopoly has seemed to foster in our town. . discrimination everyone agrees is wrong. Financial aid should Jeffrey T. Leonardo be increased totally, not for one particular group of students graduate-counselor education Just to raise the level of enrollment to a "quota level." It is'my understanding that Penn State was established as a "reasonable cost" school of higher education provided for The use by any and all students who 'meet the educational requirements that the University has set. For those financially in need, there are many forms' of. , financial aid available regardless of race, creed, color; or national origin. This also means that financial aid is not increased according to race, creed, color or national origin. If this financial aid is provided on the basis, then it would appear to me that blacks and other minority students have elected not to attend Penn State, which is their right. ' ilI If more financial aid was ghien to blacks specifically, you would in essence be taking that choice away from them. Would you consider that fair? In summary, as was noted in the editorial opinion, "It is time to accomodate black students by providing"the things all students need.", ' Foot in mouth Barbara Watkins sth-Journalism TO THE EDITOR: I write this letter In reference to a Jerry Schwartz article which appeared in the Collegian Oct. 27. Jerry spins a tale of being "accosted" in the name of hoof and mouth disease. It seems that many of Jerry's articles start , out by belittling his subjects. He then goes on to say that he does not mean ,to ridicule them. There seems to be a bit of in consistency there Jerry. If In order to get your readers' attention you need t 6 be "cynical," then maybe you ought to re-evaluate your writing talents. In reverse TO THE EDITOR: Recently, much has been said about the low levels of Minority enrollment at. Penn State. I have a few comments on the issue related to an editorial opinion the Daily Collegian on Oct. 26: I believe everyone recognizes that there are too 'few minority students enrolled at the University. However, some points must be noted. Mention was made In the editorial that in the opinion of some black students, a basic reason for the situation was the Inadequacy of financial aid to blacks. This is sheer madnes's, for financial aid is inadequate totally. , We all recognize, that for too long, blacks were discriminated against and to some degree still are. No one Little gained in final ,blitz Last gasp Carter's chances of defining a national consensus are slim Carter and' the party hierarchy have spent more time and money in this last week , than at any other period in the campaign trying to convince the crowds that staying at home in this election is as 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 name, term and major of the writer. - .. . Letters should be brought to the Collegian office, 126 Carnegie, in person so proper iden tification of the writer can be made, although names will be withheld on request. If letters are received by ma 11,.. the Collegian will contact the signer for verification before publication. Letters can not be returned. " - Michael Morgenstern 10th-rehabilitative education POVE s 1 ....I'M DONE Eer'ry, „,7 ", / , campaign managers to spend gargan tuan sums of money on a closing media blitz that will tend to distort ,both can didates' stands on the issues doing no one any good. ,: • In the campaign's last days, both the Ford and Carter machines have been concentrating on the same vote-heavy territory: New Ydrk, NeW Jersey, and Pennsylvania, all now • leaning slightly to Carter. Both candidates face hectic, grueling schedules. Ford, for example, has hit nine states in one five-day stretch and will not return to Washington until after he has cast his ballot in Grand Rapids today. , : '. ij4litit 1 S :S 4 ; ''''''V44,•.t." , j ' Is l 4 ,: ' 1 indeed. A southerner whose most innovative Idea Is to reorganize the federal bureaucracy Is not the Inspiration we need. . •. We need a person of deeply-held principle, someone capable, of looking beyond (and above) day-to-day crises to see ar greater whole the future of America. The Nixon-Ford 'administrations were characterized by "situational responses and ethics," as the political scientists would describe it: dealing _ with each domestic and foreign probleM as it arose, without a consistent policy about how every problem should be handled. Too many years of this crisis management have left use without a sense of self. Americans do not know what America stands for or believes in, if Indeed she believes In anything at all. . , What disturbs me,about Carter, is that I sense he doesn't I know eithei. , Although we can survive withoUt a leader (albeit not in defi ni tely),, we cannot prosper or advance. Despite my grim doubts about Carter's ability to lead, I will still register mlp ;. confidence in his potential leadership by voting for him today: Ford offers no hope at all. SHEILA McCAULEY Editor - , The Daily Collegian is published by Collegian, Inc., a private, non-profit corporation which bears legal and financial responsibility for' the newspaper. The Board of Director's of Collegian, Inc., is the controlling body of the corporation. # campaigns good - as voting for President Ford. In a working clasS neighborhood "in Tampa, Florida, Carter cried, "There are In dications that over half the American people are not going to votel They are saying, 'l'm a coward. I'm afraid of the future. I'm giving up on my nation.' If we don't participate, the Republicans will be there four more years." In this respect, the last week of this year's election had the potential to do some good rather than serve to further confuse the already confused. So, there will people moved to vote today; swayed and courted into the voting booth on the basis of some television gimmickry or last-minute campaign acrobatics. If you happen to find yourself as registered and in front of the voting booth today, make your, vote count by taking 'five minutes to get a• general idea where each candidate, stands on the Issues that matter most ta . you. Being politically aware is a matter of personal responsibility. The college student 'who votes without informing himself is the same as the student who tries to take an exam without studying dumb. P Doug Root But the college student who does nc4 vote at all is ,to be pitied, for he is Ignorant, and there is nothing with less potential than the ignorant student. vote at;z,CollOgian Alex N. Berenblltt 7th-promotions management 0 NADINE KINSEY Business Manager
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