Editorial opinio
Sometimes it's best to tear
something down and start all over
again. .
That's just what the Un
dergraduate Student Government
did when it sponsored the Student
Leaders' Conference this past
weekend. This coalition of student
leaders from 25 schools across
the state is trying to pick up where
the defunct Pennsylvania Student
Lobby left off.
The PSL was an aborted at
tempt at student lobbying because
the large universities and the small
colleges had few problems in com
mon, and everyone seemed to be
out for their own gain.
Not so with USG's student
leader conference. The idea to
organize separate lobbies for
state-related, state-owned, private,
OIL COMPANIES PLt6J4 Fi2e
Letters to the Editor
Th►e buying game
TO THE EDITOR: I am writing In reply to your latest escapade
of mudslinging against Tony Dorsett.
On Dec,. 6, Sheila McCauley, a very mixed up young lady,
wrote a column which said many ambiguous things about Mr.
Dorsett. Ambiguous in that she stated one thing but
maliciously implied somethiqg totally different. The best
example of this that I found said, if I may quote the article, "I
mean just for signing up with Pitt for four years, he gets a new
car. And yeah, they figured out a way to do it legally." First.of
all Miss McCauley, who bought Mr. Dorsett the car? Sedond,
and I think most importantly, if "they" did it legally there is
really nothing more that can or should be said on the subject.
Another point I would like to bring up is your mention of Mr.
Dorsett's "mental magic." First of all you mention that Mr.
Dorsett's English teacher said certain things concerning his
English grade. Since this teacher obviously said these facts to
you personally, why did you not print the name of the school
where she taught him in your column? For the moment let us
take it for granted that this mishap of grades happened at Pitt
or Mr. Dorsett's high school. Wouldn't this switching of grades
that you mention, and I quote, "somewhere between her grade
book and the computer grade printout, Dorsett's F became a
C," be enough to substantiate an inquiry concerning Mr.
Dorsett's eligibility to play football? Also wouldn't this bring
about the same type of inquiry against the athletic program
with which he was involved with at that time? Shouldn't
someone report this to the NCAA? I guess since this English
teacher told you' this that she had access to Mr. Dorsett's
records, or obtained them illegally. I can't believe that a school
of the caliber of Pitt would allow this to happen, so I have
deduced that this grade switching escapade did not happen at
Pitt but at another school, maybe his high school?
I would like to conclude by saying that I find it quite in
credible that anyone living as long as you have in this land of
plenty called America, could believe that Mr. Dorsett has been
treated any differently than any other Heisman Trophy winner.
I believe every big name college or university plays the buying
game, some play it a little better than others. You must know
that!
Bth-individual and family studies
EDITOR'S NOTE: The grading incident did happen at the
University of Pittsburgh.
Puppy industry: it's a dog's life for man's profit
Few of us today are hard-hearted enough to resist the
pleading brown eyes of a pet store puppy. Temptation
generally takes charge, coercing us to pay the price and absorb
all the warmth our grateful companion can possibly bestow.
Yet few of us are hard-headed enough to find out what
horrors our new family member had to experience on his way
to the pet store. The sad fact is that most pet shop puppies are
products of puppy mills merchandise manhandled by
wholesalers more concerned with profits and quantity than
benevolence and quality.
The breeding, transportation and distribution of puppy mill
puppies Is a multibillion-dollar industry. It is a savage, callous,
inhumane business which lacks regard for the health and well
being of its "livestock." Puppy mill puppies are produced,
packaged and consumed like anything else on the market.
They might just as well be heads of lettuce; there are no
differences in how the two are handled.
Puppy mill sadism has been thoroughly and accurately
documented by Lee Edwards Benning in his newly published
book, "The Pet Profiteers." According to Benning's exhaustive
research, most puppy mills are in the Midwest, particularly
lowa, , and are chicken-turned-dog farms. This Is because
puppies reap higher profits than eggs. They also fit nicely into
the same cages.
Benning writes, "A tour of such a dive (puppy mill) would
seem to be in order. The first stop, a USDA-licensed kennel, is
a converted chicken coop containing 110 dogs. At first glance,
the floor appears to be covered with white, fluffy, high-piled
wall-to-wall carpeting. Then the carpeting moves. Mdggots.
Hun&reds of thoudVnds of them."
New start
and other types of schools is more
functional and will keep one major
lobby from becoming bogged
down with dissension.
These separate lobbies will
have common focal points lob
bying
for a lower drinking age and
the decriminalization of marijuana.
Some of these lobbies will even
have a full time staff, which is a
more realistic and efficient way of
structuring a student lobby. A lob-'
by run by part time students never •
seems to get off the ground.
The only problem with the lob
bying effort to lower the drinking
age may be the suggested student
letter-writing campaign which will
be initiated "when the time is
right."
Similar attempts in the past
have been exercises in futility. Too
David E. Mosley
Holiday symbols
TO THE EDITOR: In reply to William Butler's letter to the editor
of Dec. 10, concerning Christmas and the winter solstice. The
religions of the world, in the course of their evolution and
spread into new countries, have absorbed much of the culture
and customs of those countries e.g. Islam in Sub-saharan
Africa and Buddhism in Asia. This was also true of Christianity
during its early centuries of spread throughout Europe. Many
customs of the indigenous animistic beliefs were instilled with
symbolism of the new ideology, thus evergreen trees came to
represent eternity and an eternal God. It is also believed by
some that the date of Christmas was deliberately chosen to
coincide with the solstice to aid missionary work.
The customs of the world's major religions may be beautiful,
pleasant or comforting, but the essence of these faiths are
their beliefs and moral standards. Catholics believe that faith
is a gift, but that salvation is also dependent on a good life. It
is often Inspiring to see people with little or no faith meet this
challenge through the use of their intellect and emotions to
develop admirable sets of personal ethics. -
Unhappily, many atheists fail their ethical standards as
'religious' people do their moral ones. Were it otherwise, the
world would have fewer wars, less crime, and a more equitable
distribution of wealth. The investigation of scientific principles
is a marvelous pursuit acceptable to all but the more traditional
sects of Christianity. Nevertheless, I would be hesitant to
endorse the governing of social interaction along the lines of
"soundly-based scientific concepts" without a great deal more
study of such concepts. I believe the last country to attempt
such a venture was Nazi Germany.
Ridicule of deeply-held beliefs is uncivil, and only fosters
antagonism. Mutual respect and consideration permit diversity
and enhance co-operation.
Press freedom
TO THE EDITOR:
"For better or for worse, editing is what editors are for."
Chief Justice Warren Burger In CBS et al, v. Democratic
National Convention.
Maggots, however, cause only part of the agony experienced
by puppy mill• puppies. Pups are crammed into fitted cages
with barely enough room to move. No room to run. There they
stand on wire-mesh: coarse wire two Inches square or large
enough to allow feces to fall through. Six feet below on the
ground the feces and urine stack up, emit a pungent odor and
serve as a breeding ground for rats, snakes and yellow Jackets.
. . .
•
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John
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117 '-'': 1-',. . **, ' 7431 r Harvey
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The gagging odor alone, Benning points out,. is over
powering. For the caged pup it is inescapable. It is hell from
birth.
Puppy mill pups find no refuge in the weather. In their open
cages they must withstand the prairie dust and wind, heat and
snow. Lucky pups can shield themselves behind rusted oil
drums attached to their wire crates. Unlucky pups must huddle
together for protection. Their shivering Is a display In terror, a
pitiful reminder of our abusive treatment.
Because millers maximize profits, health services for pups
are neglected. Notorized health certificates which come with
pups are ordered wholesale (20 for $1). Few puppies visit a vet
often students have written form
letters which are ultimately ignored
by Harrisburg.
It is also commendable that
students may concentrate efforts
with other citizens groups to pass
a bill which helps to preserve the
Appalachian Trail. It's good to
know that all of the students' lob
bying interests are not only,
student-oriented but public-;
oriented, too.
Perhaps the most challenging
problem the lobbies will study will
be the budget problem. If they'
could make as much progress on
lowering tuition as they could on
legalizing alcohol and
decriminalizing marijuana, we
would have not only fatter wallets,
but probably more respect in the
legislature, also.
From the Edito
You've come a
I guess it was In 1965 that my parents
gave me my last doll. She was a Madame
Alexdnder babydoll who had black hair
and a sweet face.
At the time, I was a little wary of her
and of dolls In general. I was on the
verge of being too old for dolls. I
remember trying to coax my parents into
letting me wear nylons for Christmas.
Because I wasn't sure I had outgrown
this last doll, I never named her — . she
became a nameless cuddle that I held
when I read The Secret Garden on rainy
days.
I guess most of us remember last toys
In a special way. For one thing, last toys
have a habit of hanging around. My last
doll sure outlived Chatty Cathy and
Barbie. She also outlived a hard plastic
doll I begged for and finally got, who
came with a hairdressing salon. I used to
put pretend lipstick on her until I got
Pat Mulligan
graduate-man-environment relations
hold of the real thing one day and
smeared her whole face with It.
Unlike Baby Alive, a current favorite of
little girls, my last doll never defecated
on me after I fed her. When I shoved a
bottle into her mouth, I did not worry
about what would be coming out at the
other end.
. ,
4 € Sheila
fO- ' l 7 McCauley
.., ~, , , ,,: r,
1/4,,
And when I put her down I did not
worry• about her crawling away and
meeting a horrible end on some 'busy
street. Watching Baby Thataway
. \
"Liberty of the press is in peril as soon as the government
tries to compel what is to cfq into a'nevispaper." Zechariah
Chaffee in Government and Mass Communications.
The latest controversy between U SG and the Collegian has
now reached a point where the issue is more than merely
whether student government has done anything at all in the
past year. It has developed into a question of freedom of the
press. Who will determine what goes Info the Collegian, the
staff of the paper or the director of communications for USG?
I don't purport this letter to be impartial. I am doing a
master's paper on some aspects of freedom of the press and
feel very strongly that the minute the government tampers with
the media, we run the risk of hearing only what they want us to
hear. Yes, I want to hear what they have to say, but I don't want
them to control the medium *rough which we receive our
messages.
As an independent check on . government's powers, the
press, be it the Collegian or the New York Times, has the
responsibility to criticize an official) or a body, when it sees
fit. The editorial in the Collegian on Friday, Dec. 3 did just
that. USG responded on Monday, Dec. 6, with a retort three
times as long as the original editorial. The Collegian •is to be
praised for running the article by Grant Ackerman in its en
tirety. It was under no legal obligation to do this.
Now, USG is upset that the Collegian used its own, straight
news headline instead of the sensational one submitted with
the retort. If USG wants to write its own heads, let it start its
own paper. When the Collegian gives up editorial control of its
pages, we will all be the losers.
NO bah humbug
TO THE EDITOR: Concerning William Butler's cynical and
overall pessimistic view towards Christmas and mankind in
general I retort Bah Humbug! His rather morbid, scientific
classification of life is a misfortune indeed.
Christmas is a joyous til t s aidpg ,, religious as' well as
universal connotations. Persoit Ilit,W'relish the season where
smiles, gift giving and greetings abound. True, for most of us
this exchange of good will is generally limited to a few weeks,
but the very fact that we can break the "routine" is in itself
gratifying.
Being realistic, unfortunately the spirit of brotherhood that
before they are sold. After ; Wards, when riew owners discover
the pet's unhealthy condition, pups run up sizeable doctor
bills.
Feeding costs are also slashed by the miller. The bitch feeds
her pup up to the fourth week, when it Is sold to a broker. The
broker "crates" the pup and sends It to a pet shop.
There is no guarantee, of course, that the pup will survive
the plane ride to the store. Often crated pups become lost like
any other baggage. %
As Benning notes, "One Labrador puppy was lost in transit
for two weeks. Without food and water, he attempted to eat the
sawdust In which he was packed. He finally arrived at his
destination. DOA. They found him packed, literally, with
sawdust. His eyes, hls ears, his nose, Ns mouth, his
stomach."
It should be pointed' Out that not all pet store puppies
originate from puppy mills.. Many are bought from local
breeders who raise their pets with care and pride. Likewise, not
all puppy'mlllers are irresponsible. ,
John Ballenger, State College pet shop owner, said the
majority of his pups are bought from local breeders. He said
however, that he does buy pups from brokers.
Ballenger refused to say . from which brokers he buys and
how many puppies he buys from them. He also did not say
where the brokers got the pups.
Recognizing the travesty caused by the industry is simple
enough. Suggesting a remedy Is more difficult. Obviously,
there are only two sets of groupg as strong as the Industry:
consumer and governmental groups.
Federal and local governments, which conduct irregular on-,
long
commercials has given me many a
nightmare. One recurring dream has me
sitting up in bed at night after hearing
"something" In our cellar.
What I find In the cellar is Baby
Thataway, her motor come to life, and
her hard little plastic legs moving closer
arid closer and closer . . .
I fear no such thing with my last doll. I
know she sits in our cellar with utmost
patience. She will not come to Ilfe again
some night and make me scream.
,Neither would she herself ever
scream. I put her to bed at most unusual
hours and she never kicked, never
fussed. She certainly didn't yammer like
Hush Little Baby and her scolding little
brat of an owner seen on the television
commercial.
The last doll didn't make me jealous
like Barbie did, either. In 1965 I had
begun to notice clothes and I couldn't
The Daily. .polleglan 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 mail, the Collegian will contact the signer for verification before publication.
Letters cannot be returned. .
Jerome Silber
graduate-journalism
•
It
way, baby :A/
%(11
abide with a plastic form that came with
a queen's wardrobe. Not to mention a
car. Not to mention her own college. I,
hate to think of a pubescent little girl
trying to deal with Barbie and her,
townhouse, hot rod, hundreds of, neve,
outfits designed 'since '65 and, this Is tip
hardest, her teenage sister who grovF4
from puberty to womanhood with the:
twist of an arm.
I suppose some mothers see practical;
merit in Baby Alive and Growing Up;
Skipper. But I can't picture myself
Presenting Baby Alive with a "Here kid.
This is the real world. Real babies tire°,
dirty little buggers. It's time you knewa
that."
surrounds Christmas cannot exist all season long. The halting''
of wars, 'the Christmas bonuses, and the season sales are
short-lived. But the mere existance of such a time to look:
forward to, and to treasure past memories of, can and doceb:
continue.
Although flashing red and green bulbs, pine trees, carols:.
turkey dinners, snow, chimneys, and gifts are a big part of,l
Christmas, they are only ornaments on the tree. The feelings off
unity, harmony, contentment and peace of mind is then
essence. Too many people share Mr. Butler's robotlike view of:
Christmas as "an accepted anthropological concept f0r1,9
temperate zone climates to celebrate the winter solsticgt,
Open up and live!
Shame on his dismissal of Mr. Claus "as a mythical,
character." I believe a figure such as Santa Claus is vital to then
children (and some adults) of the world. Belief in fantasy is
both necessary and enjoyable to the young and old alike. Mari:
cannot live on fact alone.
As a non-Christian, I savor the spirit of the holiday andttle`,;
aroma of the yule log as much as my fellow Christian. Relietin; ,
has individual meaning; Christmas a universal one.
Try letting go. Taste snowflakes, window shop, smile aC 7
people, radiate warmth. That, Mr. Butler, is the true Christmas :1
spirit. Enjoy.
William Askinazi,
2nd-political sclenW
d t a h o e y Collegian
SHEILA McCAULEY NADINE KINSEr
Editor
BOARD OF EDITORS: EDITORIAL EDITOR, Deanna Finier
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS, Sally Heffentreyer, Joanne
McLaughlin; NEWS EDITOR, Pamela Reasner; ASSISTANT
NEWS EDITOR, Marty Smith; WIRE EDITOR, Dave Skidmore;,;
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, Jerry Schwartz; COPY EDITORS::
Jim Lockhart, Jeff Hawkes, Mike Mentrek; OFFICE
MANAGER, Laura Shemick; FEATURES EDITOR, danki
Musala; SPORTS EDITOR, Brian Miller; ASSISTANT SPORTA
EDITORS, Tom MCNichol, Barb Parmer; PHOTO EDITOR'
Randy Woodbury; ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS, Julie
Cipolla, Eric Felack, Ed Palsa; GRAPHICS EDITOR, Lynn
Maimed
site inspections of puppy mills, must initiate an intensive.
crackdown of the puppy mill industry. Laws which have beeri'„
enacted should be enforced to protect puppies from such;
inhumane treatment. r 4
Another, more idealistic approach would be for consumer
to withdraw economic support. Simply ask the pet store owner
where the puppy came from and refuse to buy the pup if hey
came from a puppy mill.
So often, however, the tendency Is to relieve the pup in the
window of his .misery. Yet buying one dog is subjecting a
thousand others to puppy mill torture.
The next time you press close to a pet store window and geA
that light-headed feeling when some sad-eyed puppy beckons, 7,
remember that if the pup was born on a puppy farm he has
cause for sadness. Remember that he could have been born in°,
a wire-mesh cage with little weather protection, food, health;
care and cleanliness.
Remember, too, that if the pup came from a puppy mill, he: -
understands brutality, persecution, debasement, cruelty,E: I,
depravity, inhumanity, perversity and despair. itt;
Remember that that same pup understands betrayal and thel
ways of the human creature. He knows of man's ability to:
squeeze monetary advantage out of the pup's natural beauty. ■
And remember too that despite the human creatures' abuge,q,
of him, that puppy mill puppy would, if given the slighteaq
chance, float Innocently Into your arms with boundless of-a
fectioriand4pyalty. ~ z
indeed, that puppy deserves infinitely more than we have'V
given. We must stop supporting the rights of the puppy , ,mill
industry and begin supporting the rights of the puppy.
Any robot worth its salt can do the,
things Baby Alive and Baby Thatawayg
do. A real babydoll should do nothing;
but sleep quietly, and ocasionally —:
very occasionally gurgle
Business Manager