Editorial opinion
Common sense
The current controversy to
increase the Centre County
court system from one judge
to two is a . battle between sta
tistics, politics and common
sense.
Statistics indicate that the
population of the county is
large enough to warrant two
judges. Politicians and local
lawyers say a second judge is
needed to combat overcrowd
ing in the court.
The current judge, R. Paul
Campbell, says no backlog of
cases exists in the county.
Therefore, he says, there is no
reason to subject taxpayers to
MR, Amcor NitU JUSf
Justice?
We see clearly where educational priorities are when the
Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania State University, Inc.,
as a mere formality, appropriates 4.5 million dollars to im
prove Beaver stadium, and, at the same time, we are told of
the necessity for program cuts, as the administration excuses
its failure to rehire Dr. Jo-Ann Farr because of lack of
funds. Of course, we are urged to write to our legislators,
encouraging increased or-and continued funding of this in
stitute of higher something
It is clear that so-called justice is not at all equal when we
read that our local government officials very seriously con
sider prosecution of the perpetrators of the Elmer Toad
mystery, while Richard Nixon and his cohorts make money
writing books as they serve Minimal sentences—if that—in
minimum-security prisons, of course, at their convenience.
Some of our legislators call for a fetal rights amendment to
the Constitution (Phila. Inquirer, 24 June, 1977), which would
prohibit all abortions. U.S. District Court judge Gerhard
Gesell rules that "an individual's right to privacy does not
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Air bags issue inflating again
as federal government wavers
About three months ago, Secretary of
Transportation, Brock Adams overruled
his predecessor, William T. Coleman,
and announced that he was re-opening
the possibility that the government
might require air bags as mandatory
equipment in all U.S. made automobiles,
thus inflating the controversial issue
once again.
The first time the Federal government
proposed mandatory "passive
restraints" ( air bags) was in 1969. In the
eight years since, the proposal has been
studied, re-studied, postponed and
postponed again.
And while the government vacillates,
thousands of Americans have needlessly
died and hundreds of thousands of others
have suffered serious, crippling injuries.
Hopefully, Adams realizes the urgency
of the matter and moves towards making
the air bag mandatory, equipment.
Highway accidents are a common
phenomenon in America. So much so
that there are few of us who haven't been
touched by the loss or injury of a relative
or friend due to an auto accident. The 55-
mile-per-hour speed limit and other
safety improvements have helped, but
the additional $245,000 another
judge would cost.
Campbell's explanation for
local politicians and lawyers
pushing for the extra judge
seems credible.
He says lawyers would like
the opportunity of "judge
shopping" that another judge
would bring, as well as the
"100 per cent increase" in the
chance of a local lawyer in be
coming the second judge.
The bill which would add the
judge has passed the State
Judiciary Committee and now
faces debate in the Senate.
Because the bill is based on
aIrXRSVAIP HOW
the annual death toll remains un
comfortably high. at 45,000 with an ad
ditional 400,000 being injured each year.
Since being patented in 1952, air bags
have •been installed in 12,000 cars, and
the results to date indicate they are
dependable and effective in frontal and
front-angle crashes, for which they were
designed. If all American cars were
equipped with air bags an estimated
12,000 lives could be saved a year as well
as vastly reducing the injury rate.
Bill
DePaolo
In addition, there would be a sub
stantial savings • in auto insurance
premiums. Richard G. Chilcott, a
representative of Nationwide Insurance
Co., has said that his firm is allowing
policyholders whose cars are equipped
with air bags 30 per cent off for personal
injury, medical payments and family
compensation. So what's holding up the
works?
' Wood!.
If.
II
1 I
Letters to the Editor
extend to homosexual conduct . .. " (The Militant, June 17,
1977, p. 24); exactly what "rights" are, and who is to be
privileged with these so-called "rights" is not at all clear to
me. Obviously, privacy is a privilege, to be extended only to
those who are the same as the persons who are writing and
interpreting the laws
Liberty and justice for all? No way. This country is rapidly
becoming a place where only some are free, and many are
more equal than others.
Farr fetched
In a tirade of insipid discourse, Jean C. Guertler has advised
students in a letter to the Collegian (June 29) to boycott
courses offered by the Department of Psychology on the
grounds that the disthissal of Dr. Jo-Ann Farr Was unfair both
to Dr. Farr and to her students.
I personally find all the uproar about Dr. Farr's demise both
ironic and not altogether unamusing.
Comparatively speaking, Dr. Farr was treated with kid
gloves by this University. At least she was told the truth and
guaranteed due process (in contrast to any number of other
tenure and promotion situations). She was hired for a specific
period of time and advised that her tenure with the University
beyond that period was in no way guaranteed. Dr. Farr agreed
to these terms. Her refusal of a part-time contract offer was
made, I assume, after a pragmatic examination of self
interest.
Yet, Ms. Guertler disparages those students "who will claim
that they 'can't possibly afford' to boycott psych courses;
apparently, the issue is not really all that important to these
people."
Apparently, Ms. Guertler, the issue is not really all that
important to Dr. Farr either, or she would have been willing to
make such a sacrifice.
statistical data and not court
performance or the number of
backlogged cases, a second
judge may not be needed in
Centre County.
Increasing the number of
judges might only increase
state taxes, not improve judi
cial services.
State • legislation in Centre
County and in all counties
should evaluate the situation
and suggest,a new criteria for
increasing the number of
judges.
An increase should be ac
cording to need, not statistics.
Let common sense prevail.
Secretary Vance: No wallflower
By BARRY SCHWEID
Associated Press Writer
No one has yet called Cyrus Vance the
"Lone Ranger" of American diplomacy,
which was Jimmy Carter's poke at
Henry Kissinger during the presidential
campaign.
Nor could Vance be properly accused
as Carter accused Kissinger of
being caught up in a "one-man policy of
international adventure."
But the secretary of state hasn't
turned out to be a stay-at-home
wallflower, as it seemed he might be
when Carter introduced him to the
nation last December and Vance said he
believed deeply in "delegating
responsibility to the maximum extent
possible."
He's logged 60,000 official overseas
miles in his first five months as
secretary of state not all that much
less than Kissinger's 87,000 miles over
the same span.
He has hit the same major ports of call
Jean C. Guertler
graduate-solid state science
Michael Anesko
college of arts and architecture
editorial assistant
Ironically it is the general public, who
haven't forgotten the horrendous buz
zzzzzzz of the safety belt interlock
system that prevented an engine from
starting until the seat belts were
fastened.
Indeed, Americans have made it clear
that they disdain government meddling
with their automobiles. And Detroit
couldn't agree with them more. Both
reserve the right to choose for them
selves.
Admittedly that freedom would be
forfeited if the Department of Tran
sportation mandated the air bag system.
It is, however, a small sacrifice to make
when one considers the thousands that
would be spared by such a measure.
Saving lives outweighs all other
arguments. Need we wait for the
tragedy to strike closer to home before
we realize it? So onward, Adams, let's
get the air bags off the shelf and on the
road where they will do the most good.
See story on page eight for recent
developments in the air bag con
troversy.
SCALPEL ..
SPONGE II
SUTURE 111
'RION
ait4lC
Nowagoots7
as Kissinger the Middle East,
Moscow, and, in August, Peking as
well as the minor ones: Iran, Spain and
Organization of American States
session's.
But he hasn't attracted anything near
the acclaim and criticism of
Kissinger, who had the overreaching
habit of operating the State Department
out of his hip pocket.
Carter has parceled out authority over
foreign affairs to Vance, Zbigniew
Brzezinski, Walter Mondale, Andrew
Young, even to his own wife and
carefully retained a lot for himself.
And unlike Kissinger, who held on
tightly, Vance has subordinates like
Philip Habib and Anthony Lake on the
road occasionally.
The comfortably battered brown
fedora he wears and the shrinking press
sign-up list for his trips tell it all: Vance
is not the sort of fellow who generates
excitement.
Kissinger couldn't leave the press
Radically amazing
Amazing. I write one letter urging my fellow students to
E strengthen themselves by co-operative political action and I
find myself rebuffed on every side by leftists espousing
revolutionary doctrine. But I should've expected this because
these "revolutionaries" or "crusaders" don't really give one
damn about society or even our student body. •
What do they holler for? To find their own identity, they use
us as their guinea pigs for attention-seeking devices. When
they riot or when they picket, who pays? Sure, we do by losing
out credibility with our legislature and our society in general;
they often think that a small minority of the lunatic fringe are
repsentative of us and the student rights cause.
I'm sick and tired of Eichman and his "comrades" ruining
these noble causes by self-righteous excesses, but I know they
won't listen. They're too glad that violence and disruption will
gain them the notoriety that they feel will motivate govern
ment' to hear the cries of a decadent society.
Sure, folks; sit back and let them represent you while they
bust windows and skulls for the "good of the people."
I do agree with you on one thing, Eichman: Society has to
start fighting its way into the political process. They can begin
by shaking off the violent shackles of phony saviors such as
these revolutionaries and they can start taking interest in
civic affairs.
I know that's tough when you don't have anything to eat; I
only hope that they can resist the bloody, egotistical motives
of the revolutionaries.
Eichman says that we should "fight in any way you know;"
I urge my fellow students to find progress through peace. Am I
too unenlightened or naive to understand why a policeman's
death should be appluaded while a pauper's death should be
pitied? I thank 'God for my "half-dead mentality," Eichman;
at least half of it still respects human life
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alone on long flights. Back to their
compartment he would bounce,
amusing, informing and also polishing
his image.
He would speak off the record or
through a "senior official" who
couldn't be held accountable, of course,
if things turned out differently than
reporters were led to believe. •
Vance permits a quick round of
questions and responds "on the record"
for attribution. His comments are
lawyer-like, careful, without the scope of
Kissinger's and not remotely as colorful
or quotable.
It's a little early for an assessment.
Bul ,- so far, he has not left a personal
impact on any of the major foreign
policy issues nuclear weapons
limitations, the Middle East, relations
with the Soviet Union and China.
This summer may mark a turning
point.
In July he is due to tour the Middle
East, trying to nudge Israel and the
Jeffrey Imm
sth-political science
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JEFFREY HAWKES SCOTT R. SESLER!
Editor Business Managett
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pocKETKNIFE „I
STRING II
COAT HANGER,
Arab states closer to a settlement.
In August he will be in China, trying to
enhance the accommodation • with nig
Communist regime in Peking that
Kissinger helped initiate.
In September, at the United Nations ill
New York, he will try to reach
agreement on weapons controls wild
Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A"
Gromyko.
And somewhere along the way he and
Gromyko will have another whack at the
arms problems.
All in all, considerably, more activity
than one would expect from a man who
declared when he was named to the job:
"I , have had some experience in
negotiating , in the past and when
necessary I would expect to do that.
"But, I would hope in the first in
stance, and in many instances, that this
could and would be done by the people
who have been picked as negotiators,
and that it would be unnecessary for the
secretary of stale to get involved." .z