Editorial opinio Decisions, decisions No decisions have yet been made concerning a replacement for State Senator Joseph Am merman after he resigns to represent the 23rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. No decisions have been made as to whether Ammerman's con stituents will be able to hold a special election to choose his suc cessor. Meanwhile, back at the capitol, Lt. Gov. Kline "is probably more concerned about Christmas now than about the special election," according to Centre County coor dinator in Harrisburg, Jim Pianco. Being in the Christmas spirit is certainly understandable right now, but don't deck the halls prematurely. Is this really why HEY CHARM, YOU Gar SOME MA►L7OO! WRO IS YOURS FROM? IT'S PPom NW BANK. THEY CLAIM THAT I'M CaePOrziAWN 1 cco) o ,f, sis . • I,p ;;;,...\Ol ..„yin: SPCA an aid for strays The next time you get that "I -need-a friend" feeling and something wild' within you insists a puppy is the sole cure, keep In mind that money is not the absolute answer. For while $2OO or more may buy you love at any pet store, $5 is all you actually need. At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as far as can be reasoned, one may buy the same love. At the'SPCA in Tusseyville, 30 canines await new masters or death. There, with patience, a dog lover can obtain the right dog and save a life. Some SPCA pups have been aban doned, orphaned, victims of cruelty. Some are old, some pups, some mutts. And some darest I offend debutante dog owners pure bred. Norman Hoover, SPCA kennelman, says 10 per cent of all SPCA dogs are pure-bred. Pet store owners and local breeders have no monopolies on blue bloods. Numerous owners are willing to part with them. There are advantages to buying SPCA dogs. For instance, SPCA pups are well cared for by full time kennel men. Some pet store pups are products of puppy mills. They are pictures of 111- Letters to the Editor Cement jungle TO THE EDITOR: Ah, West Halls the land of milk and honey, • where the quiet and the studious live and study in spacious rooms, in dorms framed by neat, symmetrical quads edged in lush grass and tall shade trees. That's the cliche image of West. Unlike the purely functional architecture of East, Pollock, and parts of Centre,.West remains as a trace of the "ivy league" style in a university where older forms of architecture are continually replaced by featureless brick and cement boxes. But even West may be "updated." According to Otto Mueller, vice-president for Food Services and Housing, worn sidewalks in the center quad between Waring and Thompson are to be replaced. That's fine. But in addition, because of grass torn up by students not using the existing sidewalks, the University is considering alternatives to the bare paths. One is to cement in the quad totally. And in case you're unfamiliar with this form of "landscaping," just check the patio between the HUB and the Terrace Room, the latter being one of Penn State's finer examples of "fortress" ar chitecture. Great expanses of cement are fine for pillboxes, but wouldn't suit West Halls very well. Already a plan is being considered to cement in part of the quad alongside Thompson and build bike lockers there. This would leave the area with the kind of aesthetic harmony seldom seen since the subtle blending of Sackett with the renowned classic, Hammond Building. Almost anything: chain link fences or thick TO OUR READERS: The Collegian is currently screening prospective columnists to contribute to the editorial page on a weekly basis. Ap plicants should submit trial columns per taining to student interests, local, national or international issues to the editorial editor, 126 Carnegie. Put your research and creativity to use in well,. written form, and submit the columns by Dec. 22. Decisions Kline has put off a decision about holding a special election? It was estimated that the earliest possible special election would be in April, 1977. In the meantime, the people in this district would not be receiving their rightful represen tation in the legislature. The longer this decision is put off, the longer citizens of this district may go without represen tation on issues concerning the University, such as budget allocations, the always impending tuition increase and other issues on which students may want to lobby. Being a state senator seems like a rather harried job no sooner is a person elected for a two-year term, when he or she must think about running for re I GAT ea. oveßommk THERE ARE STILLIAEE. CHECV6 IN MY CHECI<BOOKk 2 WI, 1 . . ( Z l ' 0 0 0 % Ire i health. Down on these puppy farms they are tightly caged into open-aired crates, amidst unsanitary environments, with little food and less care. In such a purgatory, diseases breed. Yet, ac cording to Lee Edwards Benning In "The Pet Profiteers," health services are often neglected by penny-pinching millers. John g! Harvey 's k IRV Also, according to Benning, pet store puppy health certificates are often forgeries bought by millers. "Few puppy mill puppies visit veterinarians before they are sold," he writes. In contrast to puppy mill pups, SPCA pups are treated humanely. They are freely able to roam in large cages. Their pens are cleaned daily, their food Is a (,) ViLf'pip rum, VANIDWE CAILy cex.LZ6u l / 4 4 4::', 1 . 10 176 shrubbery to act as barriers perhaps, would be better than a total sidewalk. So West residents, let the administration know how you feel, and in the meantime, use the sidewalks. Back to basics TO THE EDITOR: Attention, all malnourished and hungry dorm students: are you tired of the same old crap? Do you wake up each morning only to face another day of disgusting meals? If the answer to these questions is yes, would you like to join us for a peanut butter and jelly campaign? This should be available at every meal, not only breakfast, but also lunch and dinner. Food is wasted continuously by the food service by serving such 'desirable' dishes as tuna-fish casserole, taco dogs, sweet and sour crap, roast beef a la commode, potatoes aurotten, jello w.t. (without taste) swiss misteak, and please spare the ribs. Peanut butter and its complement, jelly are all-American foods which provide good taste and nutrition. We do not accept the argument given by a Pollock area food supervisor that peanut butter et all meals would require the addition of a soaking station in the diswashing system. This problem is minor when compared to the benefits of peanut butter and jelly Money used to buy food that is wasted and not eaten should be used to buy peanut butter and jelly, which would be ap preciated and eaten by everyone. Brotherhood TO THE EDITOR: I write this letter in response to William Butler's letter of Dec. 10. I am a Christian who sees human beings as born in the image of God and believe that they are born not only as a biological animal, but with feelings, rationale, and a soul which differentiates humans from other biological animals. Mr. Butler admits that he is quite content to accept himself as a biological animal and does not see himself as having any superiority over any other form of life. He claims himself as an atheist and an advocate of science. I have never met a election. Waiting until April to elect Ammerman's replacement would mean a loss of almost half a term for that person. Leaving the decision for the primary election's voters would delay a• replacement further until May. Consequently, trying to ac complish something in the remaining year would be almost pointless. It is the people's decision as to who will replace Ammerman. It is up to Kline and a meeting of the State Democratic •Executive Committee as to how soon they will be able to make that decision. This is a responsibility of both Kline and the committee, and it deserves the most immediate at tention that they can give to it. It's their decision. Just one more for the road I suppose if I hadn't come down with a whopping case of the flu this past summer, I never would have subjected myself to the alcohol vapors and sterilized 10-foot needles for swine flu shots in the HUB Ballroom. Imagine lying flat on your back at death's, door with a fever of 127 (never knew- how to read those crazy ther mometers). Mom was bound and gagged and forced to accompany dad on one of his business trips to Los Angeles, and everyone else over the age of 10 had departed for surf and sunshine visiting friends at the Maryland shore. Being in one of my rare saintly moods, I con vinced anyone who felt guilty about leaving that the three holy terrors will remain wide-eyed and bushy-tailed in my care. But as I struggled to my feet and entered the.kitchen to prepare dinner for the little dariings'(flu germs love it when abundant. SPCA pups seem in good health and happy by the time they leave. Unfortunately, they often must leave via the high altitude route. This lethal elimination is necessary due to over crowded tendencies and that fate befalls dogs unwanted after two months. Although Hoover refuses to say how many SPCA dogs must be put down annually, figures in "Animaldom," a Pennsylvania SPCA publication, Indicate the number is astronomical: According to that brochure, 53,874 dogs were delivered to the SPCA last year. Of those, 5,619 were placed in new homes and 1,024 returned to their owners. For the rest of the 47,231 dogs, time simply ran out. The multibillion-dollar puppy industry continues to produce instant puppies while billions of ,dogs are instantly put down. It seems a waste of natural resources. One need not spend good money to buy a good dog. One need not subsidize an industry when one could subsidize a humane society. One need not rely on a pet store to buy a pet. . Save your money. Go to the SPCA and save a dog's life. Carol Trotman sth-medical technology Marc Gamerman 3rd-biology Scott Dugan sth-English writing you stand up this lets them rush to your head and play funny tricks on your mind), I discovered the remains of a half gallon of lime sherbert ', an empty box of Sugar Smacks and a crayoned note: We made dinnner. See you later." Too sick to worry abolit them being offered candy by some stranger and whisked away in a black sedan, I turned on the TV and became a prisoner of Walter Cronkite and all the gang at the Democratic National Convention. This : ‘MR \INAcLiliiERE's A DEuvERY vokRING KEW_ FoR you' biological being, except for human creatures, who claim their atheism or expound on theories of biology. Mr. Butler, like Christians, has claimed himself as more than just a biological animal. Christmas is a time of brotherhood and a time to celebrate the birth of the savior Jesus Christ. Christians do not force any person to celebrate it. I do not believe that the celebration should occur except for those who celebrate it for the birth of Jesus. The exact date of the birth is not known, as is the case in many of our holidays. The date is insignificant. Christmas Is a Christian holiday with Christian importance. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday with Jewish importance. If Mr. Butler does not find Christmas Important and does not recognize it for what it is, I do not understand why he finds It necessary to criticize it. Religion has suited the needs of man and has answered questions for man long before scientific theories were originated. In the evolutionary process when man began to question his environment, it was religion that was founded first, not scientific theory. This is evident in the cave drawings. Later man founded communities based on common religious beliefs. - Science has never been able to replace religion and it is my belief that it never will. It is foolish not to recognize science, just as it is foolish not to recognize religion. They must coexist in this world. I see cooperation and brotherhood not so much as a Christian Ideal, but more as a necessity for survival. Patricia Kishpaugh sth-law enforcement and corrections Traditioh of faith TO THE EDITOR: Being a student of both science and Christianity, I found the letter of Dec. 10, "Winter Solstice," of considerable interest. Just exactly when Jesus was born, I find of little importance either to my religion or to science. I seriously doubt that any contemporary Christian scholars assert that Jesus was born on any particular day of the year since we are even left in doubt as to which year He was born. (Note: contrary to the Gospel writers, Quirinius' governorship and the census of Augustus were 10 years after the death of Herod the Great.) People of the first few centuries after Christ seldom celebrated birth dates of great men, rather their death dates were celebrated, as the former were largely unknoviin. What is important is not the particular date, but the com memoration. As for the problem of equating colored lights, etc., with one's love toward God, that may be the ideal of some, but not little treatment seemed to do more for my case of terminal flu, than all the aspirin and Pepto Bismol - in the house. With these horrible memories so fresh in mind, I made a special effort last term to get myself down to the HUB Ballroom. After signing away any and all responsibility for possible side effects (which sounded almost as bad as the real thing), I was told to "Roll up your sleeve!" The sweet smell of Isopropyl alcohol filled my nostrils as a nurse who looked deceptively •like my grandmother said, "Hi honey!" JAB "How you doin'?" . Doug Root Before I could respond I was ushered through the white draped jabbing area, given a very foreboding piece of paper that told me what would happen to me, and was sent merrily on my way. As a newly-annointed convert, my heart went out to all the poor infidels who would be suffering the plague of the swine. Even 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 mall, the Collegian will contact the signer for verification before publication. Letters cannot be returned. that of the Christian Church. The Dec. 25 is also celebrated by, many as a secular holiday. Many Jews who recognize little significance in the birth of Christ celebrate that day t decorating and exchanging presents, independent of their, religious holiday. Some of the non-religious traditioni associated with Christmas have grown as methods cif' celebration for a particular group, as an expression of good' will in their culture. They are not necessarily directly con— nected with the birth of Jesus, but merely methods of creating'', a desired mood on a day away from the usual routine. The values of these methods of celebration are not my concern, titt • colored lights can no more be equated with the birth of Christ: than fireworks and picnics can be equated with the signing cif the Declaration of Independence. Few would deny that the world could be a better place ft ; more people practiced Christian ideals. The conclusioT however, that "I could never see Christian ideals coming out because of the rejection by Christians of scientific fact," is illogically drawn. Mr. Butler assumes that all Christians refect scientific fact. This is an untrue assumption! Perhaps anyone doubting this should read some recent church statements concerning evolution and genetics,. or try the works of Paql, Ramsey, Charles Curran, Daniel Callahan, and Tellhard de Chardin. If you would like to see Christians expressing love toward' God on Dec. 25, go to a church service, perhaps there,`; something can be learned. If you want to hang colored lights or decorate a tree do that. if you'd rather not do any of these dii whatever you'd like with you "winter solstice," but please alloWr me and other Christians to do whatever we'd like without the harassment of being told what we believe. ,II re • dtaiZollegian SHEILA McCAULEY Editor NEWS BEAT COORDINATORS: TOWN, Jay Bookman, USG; Kathy O'Toole, ADMINISTRATION, Bob Frick, CONSUMER, Karen Egolf, ARTS, Kathleen Pavelko, GENERAL ASSIGN: MENT, Dan Burnett 4• BOARD, OF MANAGERS: Sales Coordinator, Owen Morris; Office Coordinator, Scott Sesler; National Ad Manager, Nancy Todd; Layout Coordinators, Hope Goldstein, John Zurcher ' Y.« the word itself sounds horrible. From what muddy barnyard did these germs first emerge? . . But now my confidence in the medical. minds that have masterminded OA program is shaken just a bit. I am nor told that because of recent discoverieW one jab of the 10-foot needle is no:t enough. Which means that I must talk myself into again entering the HUB Ballroom. The unbelievers who sit unprotected, living on borrowed tin laugh and tell me that I'll probably ha% to go back a third time. They say I'll have so much of the stuff in me that I'll be visited by the swine flu germs and they'll think it's a family reunion and stay for a couple of weeks. I stand protected by the U.S. govern ment, and confident that I'll have *ia last laugh. I hope they all get it over Christmas break, or mid-terms, or final 0 Or . . . „., Business Manager; Todd S. Swavely Bth-biology Let NADINE KINSEY
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers