Editorial opinion
Bad company
Herbert Fineman will remain
Pennsylvania's most powerful
legislator despite the fact that his
last name may not be a reflection
of his character' Fineman, Speaker
of the House, has been indicted
for accepting kickbacks.
A resolution which would have
ordered Fineman to step down
from his post as Speaker was
defeated in a House vote Monday.
Although an indictment does not
convict a person of a crime, it is an
indication that there is enough
evidence to support a trial. Evi
dently it does not bother the
House that someone who may
even be suspected of a crime will
hold such a prominent position
amongst the lawmakers of the
state. In fact, it is if not disgusting,
ironic that the lawmakers them-
Far out world of sixties
Back in the late sixties, along with Nixon, Haight-Ashbury,
Iron Butterfly and student activism a particular idiom
developed among the nation's young people.
It was an amalgam of revitalized beatnikese, . black jargon,
Newspeak, nonsense and computer language 'and it had a
special charm and appeal. Sad to say most'of the words and
phrases that made up this idiom have fallen into disuse, the
victims of changing times and concerns. Although, some linger
on, the vast majority have gone the way of the Monkees and
flower children. They wouldn't fit in today, anyway, but they
were fun while they lasted.
Whatever happened to "far out" (and its variants "farm out,"
and "really way out there")? What a great phrase It was: its
indefinite meaning made it applicable to virtually any
situation. Positive or negative, anything and anyone could be
far out. Like much of the late sixties'slang, its function was
more to indicate kinship and camaraderie than to describe
anything. Mere mention of the phrase, along with sufficiently
long hair and sufficiently old jeans made the speaker one of a
well-defined group.
And if something or someone actually transcended the
realm•of far out, the logical place for it to be was "outasite,"
another utterance of near-universal ,application. A gorgeous,
Letters to the Editor
Different drummer
TO THE EDITOR: I would like to extend my sincere ap
preciation for Cathi McDaniel and Sue Quenzer on their letter
in Friday's Collegian. I have also expressed in letters to the
Collegian that the artistic atmosphere in State College is of
such lirrtited scope as to make the residents who live here
much too ignorant of the different musical varieties and
personalities that exist in the "outside" world. I would bet my
whole record collection of 100 albums that at least 75 per cent
of the University's population 'have never been properly ex
posed (by that I mean have heard enough to at least remember
their names) of people such as Patti Smith, The Modern
Lovers, Graham Parker and so many others who have much
musical praise from many critics in the rock genre.
Hell, Mr. C's has only been open for about six months and
the disco sound had already been losing popularity at least six
months before that. Much of the musical stimulation still
comes from promoters of "soft" rock! I do not want to deny
"soft" rock listeners of their music, but I do think that no style
of music should dominate in an area of people, such as it does
at Penn State, as to almost exclude any other form of music
from adequate exposure and therefore not giving people even a
chance between a choice of disliking it or liking it.
Science as scapegoat
TO THE EDITOR: Is science going to solve our social and
personal problems? This question was asked in a recent letter
to the editor. I won't attempt a complete answer to this
question because this is only a letter, not a book. However,
certain things should be clarified. First, science and fascism
are not synonymous. Science itself is nonpartisan. How it is
employed by people is political. There is nothing political
about the fact that a certain atom splits into two other atoms
and releases so much energy. If someone uses this fact to
make an atomic bomb and threaten worldwide destruction,
then that is politics, not science.
Will science ease the pain of living? What pain are •you
referring to? Cancer is painful and science is trying to cure it.
selves are sheltering such a per
son.
Fineman would retain his status
as a legislator unless he was con
victed. But until a trial is held, it is a
miscarriage of justice to allow a
person of questionable ethics to
keep a powerful position. Rep.
Martin Mullen (D-Phila.) was
correct when he stated that
keeping Fineman as Speaker
would be setting a bad precedent.
Fineman says that the vote to
retain him as Speaker reaffirms
that the Constitution is alive and
that a Speaker, just as any other
t citizen, is entitled to constitutional
guarantees.
Graveyards from Mount Vernon
to Monticello must have rumbled
over that one. Although Fineman
has the constitutional right to keep
his job as legislator until proven
Jeffrey Slott
11th-general arts and sciences
guilty, the House could still choose
to remove him from prominence
within the legislature. •
The power behind the vote to
retain Fineman as Speaker seems
to be emanating from the office of
Philadelphia's favorite mogul,
Frank Rizzo. It seems that Rizzo
and other city officials fear losing
financial aid for the city if Fineman
loses his post.
The fact that one man and a few
cohorts can sway so much opinion
in a body of legislators reduces the
House of Representatives to a real
travesty.
Fineman may be safe as long as
the pressure is kept on the
legislators. Unless, of course, they
might, as a collective body, begin
thinking for themselves, and voting
accordingly.
micro-minied go-go girl and a cruel, hippie-beating nark could
both be outasite in the same sentence without any loss of
credibility.
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"Stranger in a Strange Land" brought us "grok" and
"grokking." A nice, primal, gutsy word, that one. Because I
didn't read the book until 1973, I always had trouble with grok.
Someone would deliver a completely cogent sentence, then tie
it up with the half-hearted inquiry "grok me?" or, more simply,
"grok?" I didn't: I alternately thought the speaker meant "pass
the grok" or, if that seemed inappropriate, "my name is grok."
At least "dig it" was easy to• understand and use. It, too,
could be plugged into most any situation. Syntax didn't have
anything to do with its effectiveness: "I Just saw, dig it, Tiny
Tim on Laugh-In." "Dig it, I Just saw Tiny Tim on Laugh-In." "I
J i ~ t '
,
The fact that billions of dollars is spent to put a man on the
moon while people are starving in Appalachia and the inner
cities is painful, but scientists don't appreciate the money,
politicians do: It is painful to watch wildlife die from pollution,
but scientists and engineers are working to clean up the en
vironment and keep it clean. What of social scientists? Aren't
they working to ease the pains of society?
Nor does science put everything in its place more than
religion does. Saying that this particular reaction is subor
dinate to these specific initial conditions is no more restrictive
than saying you are subordinate to God. In many cases science
is no where near that concrete about things. Science does try
to nut a natural order on the world, but certainly religion does
also.
To say science is blameless is ludicrous but to say religion
will cure everything is equally 'unreasonable. What is
necessary is an awareness and attempt by people of all
backgrounds, education, and philosophies to understand the
problems and to work collectively toward the solutions.
Unfortunately people don't often make this attempt. They
usually look around for a scapegoat and science and
technology appear pretty well suited to many people.
John Wesley Dudley II
11th-physics
Not all the same
TO THE EDITOR: I would like to comment on a letter appearing
in the Friday paper entitled "Fathers and Sons" which dealt
,with a father's misgHtings about allowing his son to pledge a
fraternity. Being a pledge myself, I feel well qualified, in my
observations.
The major problem in this father's letter is in referring to his
son as pledging a "fairly representative'Vraternity. Most likely
this father has little knowledge of fraternities and has un
fortunately associated his son's with all others. The fraternity
in question obviously has a distorted view of the pledge
program which is meant to be a learning process, a time to
become acquainted with the house itself and the brotherhood.
Pledge duties are a necessity as they develop respect for: the
house, but it appears as though this fraternity has turned
pledging into a period of servitude.
Evidently this student did not rush fraternities long enough
to discover contrasts and comparisons and is consequently
"Roots's blossoms in television wasteland
The seeds for a new age of television
programming sprouted and broke
ground In the wake of the phenomenal
success cultivated by the recent mini
series "Roots."
One hundred-thirty million Americans
planted themselves in front of their TV
sets to watch all or part of the 12 hour
saga of Kunte Kinte and his progeny.
When the official Nielson figures were
released last week, the all-time top 10
was dominated by six episodes of
"Roots," joined only by "Gone With The
Wind" and Super Bowls X and Xi. The
concluding episode lured 80 million
viewers to become the most popular
show in the history of the medium.
The series received normal
_advance
publicity and mixed reviews from critics
who called it melodramatic, prejudice
against whites and an Injustice to the
novel it was based on. But the show
accumulated larger audiences with each
consecutive showing, as impressed
viewers made it a topic of coffee break
and classroom conversation across the
nation.
"Roots" Is based on 12 years of
research by author Alex Haley who
traced his family lineage via British and
U.S. records. The story mirrors the
gone but not forgotten
just saw Tiny Tim on Laugh-In, dig it?" It was a pretty handy
term, like "oh wow," which was really just an expanded
consciousness version of "gosh" and a soul-mate of far out.
Some of the words and expressions were ultra-functional
gems of simplicity. "Do•your own thing" became the rationale
for all kinds of aberrant behavior. "Trashing" a car, just as one
would expect, meant reducing a car to trash. To "torch" a
building involved no more than setting it afire (usually in the
name of a worthwhile protest).
But others were baffling. The revolutionary cry "off the pigs"
which, I eventually discovered, meant "destroy,the police"' had
a lot of people confused. Many thought it was the command
for competitors at a pig rodeo to dismount. And "grotty" is one
that I'm still not sure of.
It was, so they say, a period of consciousness-raising,
whether through drugs, liaisons with the local guru or com
muning with nature. Feeding your head could be a mind
bending experience, if not a stone bummer. Back then, nearly
every gathering gave off "vibes" of some sort, and most people
picked them up with no trouble at all. It could really be a heavy,
cosmic trip. But now all the vibes seem to have dissipated and
no one picks them up anymore, although Lionel Hampton still
plays them pretty well.
Involved in something he doesn't like. However, the policies of
this backward fraternity should not be generalized to en
compass the majority of the other fraternities which offer
excellent opportunities In academics, service activities,
athletics, social affairs and personal growth for its
brotherhood and pledges.
Counter to culture
TO THE EDITOR: I am responding to those persons who chose
the performance of the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Feb.
5, as the site for venting their objections to the treatment of
Jews by the Soviet government. My purpose is not to challenge
the question of Soviet policy towards Jews. Rather, I address
the decision to use this cultural event as a stage to gain
recognition and sympathy for the demonstrators' cause.
I found the distribution of literature,.use of a bullhorn (quite
unlike those played inside University Auditorium on that
evening) and verbal repetitions of the protestors' position to be
misplaced as well as lacking in empathy for the feelings of the
orchestra members attempting to present a concert. Fur
thermore, the actions of the demonstrators could do additional
harm by tending to clog the avenues of exchange that 'have
opened between the United States and the Soviet Union, and
effectively work against themselves in trying to have a measure
of influence on Soviet domestic policy.
I find it difficult to imagine that there is not a more ap
propriate and operative forum for this issue than the occasion
of this visit by guests of the United States and the University.
Aimee Daily
Bth-biophysics
Facing reality
TO THE EDITOR: I would like to respond to Tom Maguire's
accusation of blacks alienating "obeisant" white allies. To
begin with, I haven't seen many "obeisant" white allies to
alienate. But hidden behind Maguire's prolific verbalizations
was the basic racist paranoia of many so-called "white
liberals." The fear of an independently organized black
movement. Since these "allies" know that they can't play
conditions of slavery in America as
experienced by four generations of
Haley's ancestors. One reviewer wrote
that white people have been making
movies about slaves from "Birth of a
Nation" to "Gone With The Wind," but
surely so many of us never had such a
stunning comprehension of what slavery
must have felt like until, we saw "Roots."
Patrick
Jardel
The initial impact of the - program
triggered shock, anger, tears and
disbelief in both black and White circles.
It cultivated an interest in early American
and black history. Inspired viewers
began digging into history books and
attic trunks, hoping to exhume their own
family roots. Commentary ranged from
the angry third grader who "hates the
white man for what he did," to the
relieved adult who was glad the show
wasn't broadcast during the hot summer
because, "You - can bet there would have
been some wild riots." Perhaps the best
The Daily Collegian encourages comments on news coverage, editorial policy and campus
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Kent Hollinger
2nd-industrial engineering
illustration of the general concensus
blacks are saying, "thank you for
presenting our history," while whites are
replying, "thank you, we didn't know."
Most important, the public Is saying
thank you.
Special thanks go to the producers
who took their chances creating
"Roots." The idea of presenting a 12
hour show, for prime time viewing, on
eight consecutive nights, with a
predominantly black cast, acting out
a controversial theme would have been
considered comical five years ago.-
However, the success of "Roots" proves
that the newfangled can be the new
fashion.
When one show can rivet the attention
of two-thirds of the nation, producers
will , obviously take a serious interest in
its effects on future TV trends. The
mentality of boob tube addicts and the
writers and producers who cater to them
must be changed. Television Is
outgrowing its adolescence. Complex
world problems like the treatment of
blacks as portrayed in "Roots" are by far
more intellectually stimulating than
Sonny and Cher's superficial spats. The
success of the mini-series suggests that
audiences are giving more thought to
Campus unrest and general dissatisfaction With the way
things were going spawned a few more, choice bits. Much was
blamed on the "generation gap." It probably still exists, but no,
one can really tell for sure. Supreme devotion to the Movement
was required of everyone anything less was a cop-out to the'
Establishment.
The whole world of drugs, which in 1970 was still the new
world of drugs, gave us a number of picturesque words aria'
phrases. "Copping a lid of Gold" became a popular sport:,
"Snorting snow" was for the rich and the "Pertussin Buzz" for ,
the poor. Good Owsiey or sunshine could blow your mind (a,
pretty nasty term, but fairly accurate). Now, the novelty and,
much of the ritual has worn off and big business has taken!
over. So it goes: ,
Most of the old jargon is gone, as is much of the culture it:,
identified. It's fun to remember it, though, and it's good to hear;','
it on the street now and then. A lot of us took it pretty
seriously but the all-out, hell-bent activism of the period has;
largely been replaced by a combination of apathy and con
structive, goal-oriented action. The Haight has been replaced
by the Watergate and Fillmore West by Don Kirshner's Rock,
Concert. Time marches on.
Requiescat in pace, dig it?
"Captain America" with these organizations, they Immediately
shout "reverse racism." These patronizing idiots believe that
they can rid themselves of guilt-ridden consciences by
economic, political and theoretical domination of the black
movement.
They fail to see the role they can play by going into
predominantly white communities and organizing action
against racism with educational programs and group support.'
Instead these "liberals" want to go into Watts, Harlem or any
other black community to try to tell black people about black
people. Blacks recognize the fact that whites can be op
pressed. But whites should also recognize the fact that Blacks,
Indians, Puerto Ricans and other groups are the main targets
of oppression. That's why we need movements headed by
' Blacks, Indians, Puerto Ricans and other groups. Finally I
believe that these "liberals" would be better off to just stop
crying "black racism" and start facing reality. The reality is that
with the silent majority's aid, racism and poverty still exist for
multitudes of blacks today;
Harrison Woods, ,
president, Student Coalition Against Racism'
the C
da ly ollegian
SHEILA McCAULEY
Editor
BOARD OF EDITORS: EDITORIAL EDITOR, Deann . a Finley;
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, Anita McKelvey; FEATURES EDITOR, Janie
Musala; SPORTS EDITOR, Brian Miller; ASSISTANT SPORTS
EDITORS, Tom McNichol, Pete Dougherty; PHOTO EDITOR,
Randy Woodbury; ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS, Julie
Cipolla, Eric Felack, Ed Palsa; GRAPHICS EDITOR, Lynne
Maimed
NADINE KINSEY
Business Manager
what Is being fed to them by the net
works. They are willing to sacrifice a diet
of cops and robbers in order to digest
serious programs.
Television producers are ready to cash
in on the success of "Roots." Don't be
surprised if a spinoff entitled "Branches"
is quickly created nobody expects
overnight miracles. But, the fact remains
that by paying so much attention to
"Roots," Americans have demonstrated
an urge for serious programming.
Producers now know that large
audiences will take the time to watch an '
in-depth series that offers intelligent
themes. The public can become involved
with controversial problems that are
treated tastefully by television.
Television can be both educational and
entertaining and still make a buck. It can
stimulate emotions and serve as a forum
for national discussion.
The format germinated by "Roots"
hopefully will encourage similar
programs to expound on themes of
crime, war, women, prisons, poverty and ,
politics. Nobody expects "Gone With
The Wind" or the Super Bowl to be taken
•off the air, but it Is time to weed out the
poorer programs so more shows like
"Roots" will have room to blossom.