Editorial opinion Let us in on it Manna from heaven is keep ing the University open during the current budget crisis. It might as well be, for all students know. The University refuses to divulge the names of the sources of the Univer sity loans. Although another state-related university, Temple, has told students where their money has been coming from, Penn State does not agree such a move could be beneficial. But the University should consider this: If the borrowing process is not strictly competitive, it's on! To cut down on crime, the government should unionize criminals.. With strikes, work-stoppages and squabbles over union rights and jurisdiction, the crime rate would drop considerably. On board a 747 bound for London, a man enters the cockpit carrying a machine gun, points it at the pilot and says, "I'm taking over this plane." "Can I see your IBT card please?" asks the pilot. "My what?" "Your IBT card. You are a member of the International Brotherhood of Terrorists, aren't you?" "No . . ." "Well, I'm sorry, but I can't do as you ask. This is strictly a union airline, we can accept only union terrorist demands, see?" He pointed to a sign on the instrument panel which read, "Only union hijackings honored." "Why should I join a union?" "You can hijack any plane you want,' and you've got the union to back you up. Remember those terrorists who got killed in West Germany a couple weeks ago? The only reason the authorities interfered was because it was a non union job. Plus, you get a subscription to "Terrorist Monthly." Here, I happen to have this Root job Doug Root is -to be commended for his column ( Nov. 2) concerning Jeff Hawk, his death and the Collegian's coverage of it. As Root so perceptively notes, a newspaper can easily lose track of all the matters which truly interest its readers. , A college paper's charge is to cover all aspects of its com munity, remembering that a university is a community apart in many ways from the town in which it is set. The university community is a loosely bonded group of different persons brought together through the,common purpose of giving and acquiring knowledge. Living and its ultimate conclusion dying are part of that knowledge. Root explains that metropolitan papers, ignore this daily living and dying process - 7 and the subsequent personal pain suffered. But, it should be added, even mass circulation papers are finally realizing that the electronic media con tinually beat them to the breaking, headline news. These papers are exploring the less sensational, more personal sides of living in a community, even an urban one. In some excellent metro papers and in medium- and small-circulation dailies here and there across the nation feature writers, using techniques popularly described a few years ago as "new journalism," focus on individual human life. Sadly, many other papers of various size readerships still cling to the idea That coverage of government and politics is essentially the end-all and be-all of journalism. Balance between the affairs of institutions and the dealings of people is the key, of course. Thanks, Doug, for reminding us all that a journalist's duty is to be a chronicler—of all aspects of community. Incentive needed 11though much publicity has been given to our current Financial problems at Penn State by the college newspaper and other sources, I am almost ashamed at the concern being shown by the general student body. The Collegian has gone to great lengths, as an agency of the mass media should, to alert the public on many social problems and specifically those of student interest. It has fully conveyed the financial problem we are having and must overcome if we are to continue our education at the present rate. More response to this problem is necessary by the students than just sit-ins at Pattee Library or other temporary projects. Such incentive must be taken as shown by the student rally that went to Harrisburg and spoke with our representatives. Most people do not understand that our government is not a true democracy but a representative democracy. No true democracy has ever existed for if it were a true one every citizen would have an equal right to participate in our decision making process. Therefore, it is an elected representative who casts the final vote and not the individual. So we can sit around awaiting a chance to vote on the matter but it will never happen. Instead we should start putting the pressure on these representatives by continuous campus actions, writing letters, and not only sending more of our student government leaders to represent us, but possibly closing down the college for a day and taking several busloads of students to Harrisburg ( as Temple is planning). Several moves by the student body is not enough to show our legislators we mean business. It is only by a small social movement with a majority of the 30,000 students showing their dissatisfaction of the present conditions and responding to our representatives that will accomplish anything. And that responding must be now. Students' right In this vast society known as the United States, there is a very large minority group which is exploited and ignored. This minority consists of over one-fourth of the U.S. population. They are from all types of backgrounds black, white, all costing students money in the long run and added expenses are the last thing they need right now. • Of course, there is no evi dence of any conflict of in terest, because no one except the administration and the un specified banks know which parties are involved. If University officials have not done their homework and shopped around for the best possible terms for these loans, that would be a serious breach "of responsibility. Again, there is no evidence that this has, in deed, occurred. zed felons make offer Zena Beth McGlashan Assistant Professor, Journalism David A. Van Buren 7th-biology copy which has a couple of good articles, one on how to smuggle hand grenades onto a plane and another one with a picture story do how to blow up a major metropolitan art museum. You also get invited to their annual convention in Havana." "What kind of dues do you have to pay to belong?" G‹Acibi - f ,,` "A quarter of a million dollars in gold and 15 PLO prisoners being held in West German jails. Now, the in-flight movie is about to start, so why don't you go back and sit down?" After the hijacker left, the co-pilot turned to the captain and .§aid, "You were taking a chance, how did you know he wasn't going to - shoot you?" "He'd have been in a lot. of trouble. If he had, Letters to the Editor ethnic groups; upper, middle, and lower class; and the primary members of the largest socialization agency. They are even exploited by former members of their own group. They are students! Not just college or high school students, but all students from kindergarten to graduate school. Students are exploited by their parents, educators, mer chants and politicians. Parents exploit them by refusing to pay higher school taxes. Educators use them for financial gains and cheat them by going on strike for long periods of time. Merchants have successfully exploited them by capitalizing on items necessary for education. Politicians use them by withholding needed appropriations until new programs are instituted, or until other bills ( totally unrelated) are pushed through Congress.. Politicians also cheat them by forcing the closing of schools and by reappropriating school funding so they can go home. Students do not have civil rights, voter rights (in most cases), equal rights amendments, substantial lobbying power, unions or professional organizations to back them up. Student governments are relatively new and have limited power. Student lobbyists and trustees are a new phenomenon. Although, these new student organizations may help the student plight, they should not be necessary. Schools are meant to offer an education to those who desire it, not to be used as a tool for political or economic manipulation. Students should be allowed to the same right as those ex ploiting them an education free from worries about their school closing, majors being dropped, overwhelming tuition increases, closed libraries and dropped extracurricular ac tivities. All students ask for is an education! Childhood's gate In response to Marty Smith's article on children today, I have only tears, along with a few memories of an unknowing child ready to love the world. Pollution I was pleased to read Bob Frick's article concerning the pollution of Spring Creek. Hopefully, it is now apparent that pollution and overpopulation are not external to us, but are serious local problems. It is an inevitable biological fact that every living species must exploit its environment in order to survive. But in our modern industrial society, there is one major difference: we do not respect nature. We consider ourselves rulers of creation and write off exploitation as "progress." Yet, even if in dustrial and chemical controls are enforced, as Frick points out, there is the ever-impending growth of the population. It does not take the insight of a skilled scientist to realize that population cannot increase indefinitely in a world with limited resources. The only logical result of population growth is increased pollution of the natural environment and depletion of natural resources. Population control and en vironmental conservation cannot be discussed separately. Unless some controls on population are taken seriously, we might as well kiss our fresh air and clean, sparkling creeks goodbye. Allen St mall A proposal has been made to create a mall ,on S. Allen Street, the central shopping area in downtown State College. The congestion of the area would be significantly reduced by the construction of a mall. It would be an attractive addition to the downtown area and would extend the campus mall into the community. On Nov. 30, 1977 the Borough Council will decide whether or not to allocate money to begin construction of the mall. Some council members oppose the current plan because it involves 'three phases of development and they feel that the full mall should be implemented in one step. However at the present But if it has not, then why not clear the air? . With all the problems this University is having during this budget crisis, secrecy is the last thing anyone needs. Administrators, students, and faculty from this Univer sity are working together to try to get the appropriation. with groups from all the state related universities trying to present a united front in Harrisburg, everyone ought to know what everyone else is doing. It's time to clear the air. I'd have reported him to the National Labor Relations Board!" Meanwhile, in an alley in State College, a woman is being attacked. 'Just as a man is grabbing her around the throat, Old Main's bells start to ring. The man loosens his grasp and walks away. As he gets to the end of the alley, another male form appears. "Evening, Mike." "Evening, Dan. She's back by fife garbage cans." The newcomer puts down his lunch pail and walks up to the girl. She cringes. "Hi," he says. "I'm the rapist working the graveyard shift, but you don't have anything to worry about. Our local is having a work slowdown tonight. We're protesting the lack of good-looking girls roaming the streets of State College alone at night. "No more rapes until our demands are met, so you're tree to go." And at that very moment in New York, Mr. Harvey Pritzker is returning home from the office after working late when a man comes out of a doorway and sticks a gun to Pritzker's back. "Your money or your life!" the trite criminal demands. Pam Gabel 4th-science Nick Rossi 11th-management Margaret Cleary Ist-nutrition CMOS 15 0771 d .11a on' mANDI YOiME TIYAN IV PD PO Ma( AT rile Ma' 7711 t• kW VII RIIY6S/D( JUNO WAIF rai KNOW ausr WA' 7711 HILL ARE YOU 60410 TO Assfir Youffiz, ? time, 80 per cent of the merchants on the street will not sup port a full mall. The plan to be voted on is fully supported by the merchants. The future of the mall rests on the Nov. 30 meeting. If resistence by some council members continues, it is unlikely that the money will be allocated to begin construction of the first phase. The plan would then have to wait until next year's budget hearings and could end up filed away with the previous unsuccessful plans. This proposal cannot be allowed to stagnate. If you want to see a mall on S. Allen Street, go to the Municipal Building for the Nov. 30 budget hearing at 7:30 p.m. in the council room and show your support. Show that you have a voice in your community. Alaska action Eco-Action would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in Alaska Week. Over 1000 people signed the petitions, and nearly 100 people wrote a •personal letter to their congressman expressing their concern for the future of the wilderness lands in Alaska. The petitions will be presented to Congressman Ammerman. Please let us know what kind of responses you get. But we still need your help. The Alaskan land problem is far from being solved. By December of 1978, large tracts of Alaskan wilderness that are now in reserve will no longer be protected. Logging, oil and mineral interests will then be able to exploit and ruin the land. The bill, H.R. 39, would put over 100 million acres of this land into national parks, wilderness systems, wildlife refuges and national forests. Anyone who would like to help gather support for H.R. 39, please contact Eco-Action. "If everyone who respects wilderness values offers a small contribution of time and effort in support of this goal, it can be achieved. It would make all the difference for Alaska's caribou, grizzly bears, and awesome, quiet beauty." Your help would be greatly appreciated. Education costs The U.S. Senate will probably support the $4.7 billion tax credit bill proposed for families who wish to send their children to school. This tax credit applies to families and in dividuals who reside in the upper middle class; those who have incomes of approximately 2010 30 thousand dollars. And to those of you who aspire to be very rich, don't worry. Those tax loopholes, tax shelters, and large inheritances are still there for you and only you. If you are the benefactor of a large inheritance or a successful business, you won't need an education. Even if you decide that a higher education would be an asset, you could purchase the best one on the market. This wealthfare system allows the wealthy to attend quality private schools. But what about the members of the working, lower, and underclass? The only way for them to overcome poverty is to obtain a higher education. The problem is that these poor minorities receive such a bad quality of secondary education, that it qualifies them for pumping gas, but not for college. America's answer to the social immobility of poverty-locked minorities has been through , affirmative action. Implemen tation of this policy has been through the quota system. Quotas are the poor's primary tool to achieve upward mobility, just as tax credits and big money are respectively some tools for the middle and upper classes to maintain their status quo. Presently, the quota system is being challenged by cries of reverse discrimination: Bakke supporters want to eliminate the right of minorities to climb out of the gutter; the right to an education. Why is it that the ratio of white to black medical students is rising, not falling? Why is black unemployment still at 14.5 per cent, 2.5 times higher than white unem ployment? Unfortunately, the system is still based on an inequality of opportunity. Eliminating quotas is a perpetuation of this inequality of opportunity. no cash, no crime "I don't have any money, you'll just have to shoot me." "What?" "I'm broke. No money, no jewelry, no credit cards, you'll have to kill me." "I can't." ,"Huh?" "I'm a member of the UAW (United Assaulters of the World) not the UMW (United Murderers of the World). It would be against my contract for me to kill you. I'll have to call in a professional murderer. Could you wait here while I make a phone call?" Needless to say, Mr. Pritzker, being a Republican, and a member of management, showed his disrespect for unions by running to the nearest precinct house. A businessman, steeped in debt, finishes splashing gasoline over the floor of his store. As he runs out the door, he tosses in a match. From* an alley across the street he watches flames envelop his life's work. Suddenly a car roars up, four men jump out and seize him. "Are you the police?" he asks helplessly. "No, worse for you. We're the NLRB. Unless you're a member of the AFL (Arson and Firebug League), you're in big trouble." Janet Murdock Allen Street Mall Committee Michelle Rose Altman 13th-biolOgy Kurt Westby 7th-sociology and German JenifenCourtright Scenes such as these would become common. A bank robbery could not take place without a representative from each of a number-of unions present: a member of the UMW, the HUA (Holder-Uppers lof America),o the CIO (Criminals International Organization) and if member of the Teamsters to drive the getaway car. Crimes of this magnitude would soon require so many people they would no longer be financially worthwhile. For' months no one would be robbed whilp muggers were on strike demanding each person be required to carry $2OO in cash, 4 credit cards, and a watch worth no less than $lOO when fenced. Before long, the burglars would walk out in sympathy, and take the safecrackers brotherhood with them. Soon the federal government would have t 6 step in since the crime rate would have dropped drastically to the point where police depart ments would have to lay off men because there would be no one for them to arrest. Unem ployment would sky-rocket until the FBI would have to start hiring scab crooks to take up tlid slack. Walt Meyer is a 7th-term advertising major Poverty problem This is in reference to Daniel Tiemeyer's letter of Wed• nesday, Nov. 2, asking that we eat less beef to free up grain for the hungry. First, not many people eat cattle feed corn, barley and grain sorghum. Second, the grain saved wouldn't necessarily get to hungry nations unless our government bought it and shipped it there. Then it has to be distributed to those who need it. Donated grain disrupts the market of the nation receiving the grain and reduces incentives for local farmers to increase production. Third, we eat all the beef that we raise we don't store it or destroy it so if you ate a little less beef, somebody else would eat more and cancel you out. More important, cattle eat grass and other forages thatynan cannot eat. Cattle convert these forages to meat and milk thy man can eat. Only about 10 per cent of our beef animals are being grain fed at any one time. The balance are on grais. Cattle enter the feed lot from a year to 18 months old and weigh 500 to 800 pounds. Grainfed cattle are "finished" in feld lots; their early weight was from grass. Even if a campaign to eat less meat were entirely successful in eliminating livestock production altogether, how would we get farmers to raise food grain (wheat) instead of feed grains? We already have wheat spilling out on the streets of Kansas because there's no place to store it and nobody to buy it. And next year, in order for farmers to get government help, they will have to cut wheat production 20 per cent. No, we don't have a food problem have a poverty problem. The world fight against hunger and starvation are political, economic and distribution roadblocks getting available food to those who need it. There may be• several reasons for not eating beef, but •to save grain to feed the hungry is not one of them. Harold Neigh associate professor of agriculture economics extension Carnivore I would like to know where Mr. Tiemeyer (Nov. 2 Collegiari) has gotten the notion that it is the responsibility of the United States to feed the world's hungry peoples merely due to the fact that, in his esteemed opinion, he considers our ap• preciation of meat and its production in the United States to be wasteful. Granted, it takes approximately seven pounds of grain o produce one pound of beef but this does .not necessarily represent waste; after all, we are the most affluent society in today's world and can certainly afford to please the palate o f the majority of our people. ..1. Therefore, I ask you, do you intend to deny many Americans of their desired meat just so a good deal of our grain supply can be foolishly squandered overseas in a futile attempt to save the world's starving hordes. Are you familiar with the excellent distribution facilities that exist fOr the trang portation of imported food supplies in the Third World. Look at India as an example. Take a good, long look at all of that lovely grain sitting on the docks in Bombay, helping to expand the local rat population. No doubt you would suggest also that we give up half of our automobiles to these nations so that they could store the grain in the trunks and on the bad seats. This grain could be back here where it belongs where it could be doing some good. You can think this over when you sit down to your gourmet meal of lowland, glutinous rige this evening. 7th-earth and mineral scien c e . 111 da th e r y collegian Jeffrey Hawkes Editor Business ManagOr 9) BOARD OF MANAGERS: Sales Coordinator, Alex N. Bpreil Witt; Office Coordinator, Judy Stimson; National Ad MO alter, Judi Rodrick; Layout Coordinators, Terry Dolingf Hope Goldstein. R.J. CerwonNa Scott Sestet
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