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GOP chairman
likely candidate
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v By PETE BARNES
Collegian Staff Writer
' Mimi Barash, who announced Friday
that she was no longer a_ candidate for
1 the Republican ticket in the 34th District
t,
State Senate race, indicated yesterday
l'ithat Centre County GOP. Chairman
Eugene Fulmer would receive the
Party's nomination for that seat.
"Information from, more than one
impeccable source told me that he had it
in his hip pocket," said Barash, a
University trustee and the owner of
4 f -Barash Advertising, Inc.
• Forty-three Republican conferees will
convene tonight in Philipsburg to choose
a, candidate for the State Senate post
vacated Jan. 4 by U.S. Representative
Soseph Ammerman. Barash said
Fulmer had enough votes to get the
*,nomination on the first ballot.
, In giving her reasons, for dropping out
of the contest, Barash said that although
she received enthusiastic popular
support from many people, she had not
"caught fire with the local Republican
leader Ship." She added she felt par
" licipating in a race in which she did not
have a chance would not be worthwhile.
Barash said that in a meeting with
Fulmer two weeks ago, she had asked
him for his endorsement.
"Mr. Fulmer said that he was not at
liberty to commit himself to one can-
Alidate or another; he was totlly non
committal." she said. '
Fulmer has been under heavy
criticism lately from leaders and
members of his party concerning his
selection of conferees from Centre
County to the District convention
' *tonight, according to recent stories in
41 the Centre Daily Times. Fulmer
maintains that as head of the party in the
county. and hi accordance with the state
GOP by-laws, he has the sole power and
authority to choose the conferees. In
aildition, he has declined to release the
I conferees' names.
Barash said it is safe to assume that
House drops Fineman ouster
HARRISBURG (AP) The House,
heeding the impassioned plea of a
„ colleague. voted yesterday to retain
Herbert Fineman as Speak& despite
.his indictment for allegedly, taking
kickbacks.
The vote was 86 to 109 to defeat a
resolution that would have ordered
the st at e's_most powerful legislator to
step down as Speaker. He would have
kept ' his status as a legislator
regardless of the vote.
It came after the House recessed to•
permit party caucuses on the historic
resolution. When the members
returned 2 1 _ hours later, Majority
Leader K. Leroy Irvis made his plea
for the"no" vote.
"We have been asked to overturn
the elect ion of the Speaker . . . on the
basis of an unproven accusation,"
Trvis said. .
Behavior modification: personality-shaper or killer?
•
By JAMES DePIETRO
Collegian Staff Writer
Editor's note: The following is the first of a two-part story on
behavior modification for children.
One little boy walks by a table, stubs his toe and continues
playing as if nothing had happened.
Another little boy walks by the table and stubs his toe as
hard as the child before him, but begins to cry and holler.
1" What is the difference between the two children?
A behavior technologist would suggest that the first child
may have had a history of not being reinforced for crying and
fussing when he bruised himself.
The second child, he would say, may have a history of
receiving affect ion and attention whenever he was hurt.
In other words, one child has been taught to cry and holler
%%Olen bruised because he has been rewarded with attention
and comfort to do so. The other child, by not receiving rein
forcers. was taught not to fuss
The principle behind the behavior technologist's ex
planation is that behavior is essentially strengthened or
weakened by the events that follow it. Pleasant or rewarding
consequences increase the probability of behavior occurring.
Unpleasant and non-rewarding consequences reduce the
probability of the behavior recurring.
Therefore, by controlling the consequences that follow
behavior, behavior can be influenced and controlled, they say.
Behavior technology is being used increasingly in the United
States. Seldom does a month go, by that magazines such as
Good Housekeeping, McCall's or Reader's Digest don't
have an article on how to lose weight, quit smoking or have a
better sex life using behavior modification techniques.
On a more serious- level, however, behavior modification is
used effectively in prisons, hospitals and in classrooms.
At Penn State. one of the pre-schOols the University operates
for research and teacher-training purposes uses behavior
modification. ( The pre-school includes handicapped as well as
non-handicapped children.)
Unquestionably, behavior technology works. To explain how
well it can work, behavior technologists have a ready list of
examples. They can even make a pigeon peck at a lever 10,000
times for one grain of weight.
. Other examples using rats and pigeons have shown equally
amazing results. But there is a discrepancy as to what these
'results show.
As Muzafer Sherif, professor emeritus of psychology, said,
'."These experiments only tell us what you can do with rats and
the
daily
Fulmer was holding the names to benefit
himself.
"Fulmer has (the nomination) and is
hiding it," she said, and added she was
disturbed by the lack of representation
in the selection process.
In a formal statement released last
night, Fulmer denied that he had.
assured himself the nomination.
"At no time have I asked any of our
delegates to support me nor have I asked
any delegates from the other counties to
support me to be the Republican nominee
for (State) Senator," he said. Fulmer
said later he never even considered
himself a possible candidate, but that he
never ruled himself out, either. .
He indicated that on the eve of the
convention,, he was still looking for a
candidate. (
"I have been trying to get some
qualified person," he said.
The problem, he said, was that there
were no people who wanted to spend
$50,000 on an election that would lead to
an $18,700-a-year post.
Asked if he would accept the
nomination' if selected tonight, Fulmer
said, "We'll wait until that takes place."
Rep. Walter F. DeVerter of the 82nd
district, who also is a possible GOP
nominee for the' Senate seat, said
yesterday that he would "play it ear"'
at tonight's convention and that "it
would be an honor to be selected."
In reference to the controversy
surrounding the selection of conferees,
De Verter said he thought the process
was not structured well.
"There must be clarification to what
occurs in the process," he said. He
added that conferees' names should be
made available for discussion and
consideration far in advance of a con
vention.
Barash said De Verter would be a
more democratically selected candidate
"if he could swing it," but expressed her
doubts as to hii chances of receiving the
GOP nomination.
Rep. Martin Mullen, ' D-
Philadelphia, who had' seconded the
resolution earlier in the day, said,
"Because of the high office he holds,
we're asking him to step aside. If we
don't ,do that, we're setting a
precedent. I think that's a bad
precedent. ,
"We're not prejudging his guilt or
innocence." said Mullen, who un
successfully' opposed Fineman for
Speaker in 1974.
Fineman would not talk to repor
ters after the vote was taken but
made a statement through p press
aide. it said:
"This vote is a reaffirmation that
our constitution is alive in this state
and nation and that a Speaker, no less
than any other citizen, is entitled to
constitutional guarantees."
A supporter of the resolution told
In one of his own experiments, Neisworth was able to
reduce the length of a child's asthmatic attacks from 90
minutes each night to about five minutes. He did so by
rewarding the child for not coughing and not rewarding him
with comfort or attention when he did cough.
A three-year-old girl who could not be separated from her
mother and cried uncontrollably when left in the preschool,
was trained within a week to stay in class all day. By using a
kitchen timer and having'the mother not return until the bell
rang. Neisworth was able to increase gradually the time
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The Daily Collegian yesterday that
the drive to oust Fineman had failed
because of "pressure from outside
sources."
The supporter said he had heard
that Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo
and other city officials were behind
the pressure. He said the Rizzo
faction thought that if Fineinan was
forced to vacate the Speaker's post,
aid to the city would be hurt.
' Labor leaders also were suspected
of applying pressure, the supporter
said. He indicated that no further
action would be taken against
Fineman until the putside pressures
were taken off some members of the
Assembly.
Zeller said he had introduced the
resolution because he believed the
House could be demoralized if
Fineman remained as Speaker.
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pigeons. They tell us nothing about human beings."
Behavior modification becomes controversial precisely at
this point. What will be the effects for human beings?
John T. Neisworth, associate professor of child development
and director of the behavior modification pre-school program,
said that behavior technology is powerful enough to create a
sane society.
To support the theory that behavior technology is the most
powerful tool we have today to control behavior, Neisworth
cited examples of research such as these:
At the Kennedy Center for Juvenile Boys, those who go
through the behavior modification program have a recidivism
( relapse) rate of about 25 per cent. Those in the standard
institutional program experience an 80 per cent recidivism
rate. .
- , v4;;IVA,
• •••• --
University Board of Trustees President William K. Ulerich told the Undergradu- through. He said he feels that a student lobby could help the students gain attention
ate Student Government Senate that tuition may increase if state funds don't come for their cause. ,
Ulerich tells USG tuition increase likely
If y KATHY O'TOOLE
Collegian Staff Writer
The University Board of Trustees President William
K. Ulerich said last night that a tuition increase is likely
unless the University receives the $l2l million it
requested from the state.
"We hate to see it," Ulerich told the Undergraduate
Student Government Senate. "But right now we're
competing with private schools for state funds."
Ulerich said he was very interested in recent at
tempts to form a student lobby.
"Lobbying is a good thing," he said. "It may not be
effective right away, but eventually you'll have some
input." .
But he said he had reservations about taxing students
to raise money for the lobby. ,
"1 think there are enough students here to finance it
through voluntary contributions," he said.
Ulerich said he did not know how the Board of
Trustees would react to a student tax.
"I would think you could get it before the board, but I
wouldn't speculate on how it would turn out," he said. "I
don't even know if you're legally able to do it," he add
ed
Ulerieh said he did not know why the University's
internal budget was not open for public inspection. . •
. He also said the bbard's charter would first have to be
changed if there were to be democratically-elected
student trustees.
"This would open the way for other power groups to
come and try to get representation on the board," he
said.
Open board meetings are "the best thing that ever
happened," even though there is little public at
tendance, Ulerich said. The board is very interested in
meeting students, he said, although small campus
groups sometimes come to the board with problems
before going through other channels.
"We're not always as informed about the hot issues on
campus," he said. "These groups might get publicity,
but they don't get a lot accomplished."
There currently is a trend toward lower enrollment at
Penn State that probably will continue until the mid-'Bos
before picking up, he said. He also said this enrollment
Senior citizen homes approved
By KAREN LYNCH
Collegian Staff Writer
State College Municipal Council last
night passed . resolutions allowing for the
construction this year of 12 to 18 low-rent
senior citizens homes on Bellaire
Avenue in State College.
Builders will use borough funds for
planning and materials. Some borough
property will be used and an adjacent lot
will be purchased.
The housing program eventually will
pay for itself with rent received from oc
cupants, according to Carl Fairbanks,
Jr., borough manager.
The manpower to build the homes will
be supplied free to the borough by Centre
County Homes, Inc., which will be
refunded by the federal government.
There is a possibility that 25 per cent of
the units will be federally ftlnded so that
lower income senior citizens can be
accommodated, according to council
man Dean R. Phillips.
between the ringing of the bell and the appearance of the
mother:
One child, who when left alone became violent, was
trained to control his behavior. A researcher stayed with the
child constantly. With one arm, he prevented the child from
being violent and with the other he fed bits of food each time
desired behavior was expressed.
Behavior technologists say they have put the principles of
behaviorism into practice. Although behaviorists do admit the
importance of genetic and biological components in behavior,
a cardinal point of behavior is explained by interaction with
the environment, technologists say.
Behaviorists concern themselves with what can be em
pirically tested and observed. Concepts like drives and needs
have no place in behaviorists' world. To them, drives and
needs merely rename the mystery. Consequently, behavior
technologists have revived the old heredity vs. environment
argument that has baffled people for centuries.
The implication of behavior technology is that man can
structure environment to achieve any behavior desired.
Behavior technologists suggest that we now have the tool to
arrange environments to make man what he wants.
To do so has been a persistent desire since the earliest of
times. Previously, though, everything was contingent on
people looking to the same star, praying to the same God, or
possessing the same feeling in their hearts. Behavior
technology presents a new kind of utopian thinking absent of
religion or politics. It is a scientific vision that science has
made possible.
Critics of behavior technology say the vision of behavior
technologists is a rejection of the qualities that sets' humans
apart from animals. They say the world of the behavior
technologists is a world without freedom, dignity and values.
They attack behaviorists as being the new missionaries. But
more precisely, they feel there is a danger in it.
"This stuff is outright conditioning," said Joseph C. Flay,
associate professor of philosophy and member of the Com
mittee to Review Research on Human Subjects.
"What I object to most," Flay said, "is that when I review
these experiments what I see is the middle-class values of the
experimenter being used as the norm as what should be best.
That's playing God. And that's my major argument against
.them. They decide on certain values as norms and then they
modify behavior, but all it is, is their simple-minded middle
class values on how to eat and how to behave. Science should
• not play God. This is not just another theory other researchers
. t
One member objected to the location
of the homes.
.
Councilman Richard Kummer said in
the summer the site is "far from an
attractive location due to the aroma
from a nearby sewer plant."
But Councilman Ingrid Holtzman said
the units will be air conditioned and
there will be no need to open the win
dows.
The sewer plant is on University
property, and according to Fairbanks,
"there have been attempts at odor
control with some success."
Phillips said he does not think the odor
problem outweighs the advantages of
the location.
Councilman Arnold Addison said he
was concerned that no costs were
specified in the resolutions.
"The project does not depend or rest
on subsidies," said Phillips. The project
itself will compensate any cost to the
borough "at little cost to senior
citizens."
Ten cents per copy
Tuesday, February 8, 1977
Vol. 77, No. 118 10 pages University Park, Pennsylvania
Published by Students of The Pennsylvania State University
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;
drop probably would not result in lower admission
standards. However, he added, "If things get worse we
may have to cut out whole programs." •
In formal action, the Senate passed a resolution
recommending that the Board of Trustees look into the
possibility of a research project at the Hershey Medical
Center concerning the use of marijuana for medical
purposes.
Bill Cluck, president of the Penn State Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said recent
research at UCLA indfcated marijuana may help
relieve symptoms caused by glaucoma, a leading cause
of blindness.
According to Cluck, 11 of the 13 people involved in the
research project experienced an easing of pressure
inside the'eye when they smoked marijuana regularly.
One person involved in the experiment, Bill Randall,
was arrested for possession of marijuana when he
• returned to Washington, D.C., Cluck said. He argued in,
court that he smoked marijuana because of medical
necessity and eventually won the case, he said.
can try or not try."
"You see," Flay said, "there is an ideological basis to this.
And that ideology has as one of its basic values that efficiency
of operation is the highest value there is. That might be
maintained. but it is nothing which can ever be scientifically
proven."
Flay has frequently disagreed with the goals of the behavior
technologists and with the very idea of behavior technology.
"These people try to suggest that they are the good guys and
we are the had guys the old philosophers. I say that's not
true. This is not the only way. There are other alternatives,"
he said.
"You know, I wouldn't give this theory two thoughts except
that this stuff really does work," Flay said, sitting back in his
chair. "If I had my way, I'd stop what they're doing on
campus. To me this stuff is dangerous."
Strangely enough, despite all the fears about behavior
modification, some critics say that behavior modification is
not all that different from what teachers have always done.
Teachers always have praised students and rewarded them
with things such as gold stars or privileges in the classroom.
Words like "extinction," "schedules of reinforcements," and
"shaping" all are just part of the old repertoire of teachers.
Now, critics say, it simply is being packaged to appear new
and different. In an age in which people seek solutions, this is
simply another one of the all-inclusive packages.
"Americans love gadgets," Muzafer Sherif said, hesitating
at first even to talk about the subject of behavior modification.
"This theory is simple-minded and will not last. The probleth
is that the academic marketplace encourages quick and easy
packages like this."
"Behavior modification has always been practiced by
teachers," Neisworth said. "But it's like with folk medicine:
some things worked and some didn't and no one knew why.
With behavior modification, we are getting down to the func
tional analysis of behavior. We have been able to isolate
those variables which make a difference."
Unfortunately for behavior technologists, the public
imagination is filled with horrific images that movies like "A
Clockwork Orange" and books like "Brave New World" have
provided about a technology of behavior. The sound conjures
up visions of robot-like behavior from sad selfless people. Or
worse, a kind of totalitdrian tyranny that the 20th century
person carries in the imagination like a bad dream.
Tomorrow: The University's pre-school practices behavior
modification techniques and teaches others how to do so.
BEM
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In other business Fairbanks said local
bars and businesses will he given one
week more to comply with occupancy
limits. At the end of the week, the limits
will be enforced, he said. Fairbanks
added he is "very pleased" with the
safety improvements made in local
establishments.
Council also approved a proposal to
change the name of Calder Alley to
Calder Way.
Weather
We can look forward to a slow
moderating trend over the next few
days. Despite this morning's frigid
temperatures, the mercury will recover
to 25 this afternoon under bright sun
shine. Skies will become cloudy late
tonight and tomorrow. The low tonight
will be 13, and the high tomorrow near
30.
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