Editorial opinion
The Sour Grape Bowl
At 6 p.m. on Nov. 19, a funny
thing happened. The telephone
in the office of the Penn State
Athletic Department did not
ring.
It can be argued that this is
not at all unusual. The
amount of time that the tele
phone does not ring far out
weighs the amount of time
that it does. But there was
more to it than that.
It was then that the Orange
Bowl Committee was ex
pected to telephone the anx
ious Nittany Lion football
team and notify them of a bid
to play in the New Year's Day
football classic. But as you all
know, the call never came.
Sportswriters across the
country began typing at a
ebate reveals students slitting their own throats
I hate losing any kind of argument
Therefore, when I entered into a heated debate
with a very close friend of mine recently, I made
sure I had the upper hand, and that there'd be no
way in hell I'd lose,
The subject was the state budget and Penn
State's lack of funding an area that I'd written
editorials, news stories, news analyses and
columns about for the last year. It should have
been a piece of cake.
"Why shouldn't Penn State students be urged
to write their legislators?" I began. "What
better way to bring pressure on the legislature?
Isn't lobbying by the people through letters and
through their legislators one of the basic tenets
of democracy? Are you knocking democracy?"
A superb opening, I thought to myself. I've
cleverly reduced the argument to -"him against
democracy." I snickered quietly to myself.
Carter vs. Washington:
Making those Ins meet
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON (UPI) 'Some
Carter-watchers are saying the
president has all but abandoned the
"outsider" stance he took during the
1976 campaign and is now playing the
old established inside game.
It is good we have seasoned ob
servers to point these things out. For
changes such as this are not always
apparent to the untrained eye.
In case you can't tell the-outsiders
from the insiders, the following
scorecard may be helpful. It shows
typical differences in the way inside
and outside presidents approach
various Washington institutions.
FOREIGN CRISIS
Outsider Depends on reservoir of
good will, mutual regard for human
rights and traditional spirit of
cooperation to produce amicable
settlement of international issues.
Insider Sends 7th Fleet on
maneuvers in home waters of
recalcitrant countries.
DOMESTIC CRISIS
Outsider Makes emergency
appearance before joint session of
Congress and recommends com
prehensive crash program dealing
with every facet of problem.
Insider Appoints presidential
commission to study problem and
report back next year.
CONGRESS
Outsider Tries to overcome
congressional opposition to ad
ministration programs by taking his
case directly to the people.
Insider Overcomes congressional
opposition by threatening to close mil
itary bases in home districts of key
lawglvers.
APPOINTMENTS
i ider Assigns trusted aides to
r list of best qualified potential
Out:
compi
furious pace, trying to justify
the decision to disappointed
fans. Theories poured forth
from those machines like rain
from the State College sky.
But in the end, it all boils
down to this: The spirit of fair
competiticin has once again
been abused by politics and
bureaucracy. It is not the best
team who wins, but more of
ten the team who plays its
cards right.
In order to have the Pitt-
Penn State game televised for
a national audience, the date
of the game had to be moved
back one week. This was done
despite the fact that the bowl
bids would be given at the
same time as usual . . . the
week of Nov. 19. The agree
"Of course I'm not knocking democracy," my
friend Rip began. "Nor am I knocking a little
urging from the Undergraduate Student
Government or your paper to get people to write,
but the idea is being carried to far!" .
64*
"How can you take democracy too far?" I
parried. Again reducing the battle to its element.
Snicker.
nominees regardless of political
affiliation, sex, race, religion or
ethnic background.
Insider Fills vacancy with
someone least likely to offend any
major pressure group.
CABINET
Outsider Holds regular cabinet
meetings to get benefit of members'
views on national issues and consult
them on formulation of ad
ministration policy.
Insider Never forgets a face but
has trouble remembering some
cabinet members' names.
ment was presumably
reached at a time when Penn
State was confident of an in
vitation to the Orange Bowl.
As a result of this erroneous
conjecture, the Penn State
football team will be traveling
to the pleasant but all-too
minor Fiesta Bowl in Tempe,
Ariz.
There is more to the bowl
bid fiasco than a few bruised
egos. Penn State will receive
close to $260,000 for playing in
the Fiesta Bowl. But even that
money coupled with the
$250,000 in television rights to
the Pitt-Penn State game
6: pal only half of the million
dollar prize that the Orange
Bowl would bring.
There is a half million dollar
Rip stood up and began pacing nervously, his
fists clenching and unclenching angrily.
"Don't you see?" he said. "One editorial should
have been enough. The news stories can carry it
from there. Any one who can't see the urgency of
the situation by just skimming the headline's is
either blind or illiterate."
"What's wrong with telling them over and over
again?" I asked.
Rip smiled. "Simply, this. You're wasting
space by being repetitious and by using inane
little ways to try goading them into spending
three minutes to write a letter."
He paused a moment and took a breath before
starting in again:
"The USG is sponsoring letter writing contests
between different dorms. Contests! Christ! Why
don't they just reward each letter with a free
tootsie pop or an autographed picture of Grant
Ackerman?
Easy guide to PSU stereotypes
As the new term started, the Daily
Collegian decided to publish a helpful
guide to Penn State stereotypes, but
since some of the material was thought
to be offensive to some, the proposal was
rejected. But, were it to have been
printed, the following is what it might
have contained. The opinions expressed
are not necessarily those of this
newspaper, or this columnist.
Pre-med majors: Want to do their part
for humanity ... . by becoming business
majors after two to four terms.
Business majors: Ex-everything else
majors who have given up their
idealistic notions in favor of getting a
job.
Fotestry majors: While most people
sitting outside of Willard between
classes watch girls go by, they watch the
trees grow.
Ritenour: A health center with Dr.
Hugo Z. Hackenbush as administrator,
and Dr. Larry, Dr. Curly, and Dr / Moe
as staff physicians.
VICE PRESIDENT
Outsider Uses the Veep as his
right hand man, assigning him a
prominent role in decision-making
process and keeping him abreast of
all important developments both
foreign and domestic.
Insider— See Cabinet
MEDIA
Outsider Recognizes that press
must play adversary role and feels
that frequent media contacts help
reporters do better job of keeping the
people informed.
Insider Cancels semi-annual
news, conference and has press
secretary issue blast at media bias.
bruise there that may smart
for a while.
There is one solution for
coming seasons.
The bowl bids should be de
layed a week.
It is. too late to propose an
amendment at the NCAA
convention this year. But this
is a solution that should be
discussed before the bids are
given in 1979. There has been a
lot of talk in recent years
about finally solving the prob
lem, but little has been done.
The example of Penn State,
now playing in a less presti
gious • bowl than the. lower
ranked Pitt team should in
spire the NCAA to make the
necessary changes. •
Physical Education majors: Jocks
whose biceps are bigger than their
brains.
Rec Parks: One step below Phys Ed.
Their toughest test is being taken into
the wilderness and expected to survive,
on their own, for two whole periods.
During this time they are expected to
start a fire armed only with 15
Collegians, four packs of matches, a Bic
lighter and two gallons of kerosene.
Nuclear engineers: Next to studying,
their most frequent pastime is studying.
Letters to the Editor
Greeks: Pro . . .
It has come to my attention that many people have
stereotyped the titles "fraternity" and "sorority" to describe
two groups containing elite, high-classed, snobbish women
and men. I have had contact with both of these organizations,
and feel it is wrong for people to have views such as these.
These organizations are gatherings of people who share
common interests, be they scholastic, professional, or ex
tracurricular. Yet, people feel that the individuals involved
are trying to alienate themselves from other college students.
To an extent this is true, but one can always say the same
about people that go out for sports or any other ex
tracurricular activities. These individuals are trying to ex
tract themselves from the social norm to which they belong.
Fraternities and sororities are so diverse and individualized
that any student can find one which would satisfy his or her
individual interests and needs. So people should not use the
excuse that they could never join such groups because they
could not find one to suit them. OpportUnities are numerous
for one to increase his or her social sights, not only among
college friends but also in the community. Also, where else
could a student find such a large congregation of people who
share the same interests?
Community relationships extend from raising money for
charitable organizations to inviting families living in the
neighborhood to the house to meet the brothers and sisters. On
the weekends, the college student has the same opportunity to
visit a house where entertainment and refreshments are of
fered. Why turn down an opportunity to be served without the
hassle of an LCB or proof of age?
These are a few examples of "non-anti-social"
organizations. So if someone mentions that they associate with
fraternities and sororities, don't smirk and think to yourself:
"frat rat." And 'don't think they are trying to be high and
mighty. They may have found the social group to which they
can really relate.
... and con
This letter is in reference to the article on the increase in
fraternity and sorority membership.
It has been stated in numerous books that a college com
munity, like any community, is a social system. Within this
social system our university has developed a stratification
system . . . a way to rank students according to their parent's
social status. The Greek way seems to be a perfect example of
r
4
"It should be obvious that the petty politics
being played in Harrisburg are an insult to the
intelligence of people of Pennsylvania. It should
be obvious that by not writing letters or
protesting at the state capital, Penn State
students are no better than lambs being led to
the block . . . the block being a monstrous tuition
bill or cutbacks in academic quality or both."
"But you can't blame the paper or the USG for
making an effort!" I retorted.
"I'm not blaming either of you. There are even
a couple of people in both your offices that see
things the way I do. One USG bureaucrat even
called the whole student body 'assholes' for not
getting militant about the 'shit they're taking.'
, "Who I am blaming is most of the students who
would rather get stoned, bombed, laid or study in
their dorms, fraternities or apartments and wait
while the bozos in Harrisburg take their
They also enjoy jumping oil' tall
buildings and lying on railroad tracks
waiting for a train to come.
Physics majors: Like nuclear
engineering, they enjoy beating
themselVes, preferably with leather.
Journalism and Advertising majors:
Intellectual, hard-working, dedicated
individuals who are never wrong. They
are also very humble.
DUS: Five notches below liberal arts,
and three below Rec Parks. In other
words, about ten notches above ROTC.
Theater majors: Like to practice
acting a lot. Their best performances
come towards the end of the term when
they must convince a prof to pass them
in spite of the fact they haven't heard
one lecture all term because they're too
busy dreaming about Hollywood.
Psychology majors: Enjoy psycho
analyzing fellow students. At a party
they'll point out a blonde in the corner
and say, "She's a Freudian delight," If
"Freud" and "sex" are really
Annette Conroy
4th•horticulture
Nov. 1
‘
MP-WA' FEAR. HELP HAS ARRIVED . 1 '
how students have become stratified
The Greek system, as the American system, has managed
to categorize individuals into classes. Both have classes that
range from the upper to the lower. Depending on the house and
the social fees many students find themselves excluded from
the possibility of membership. In this same way some of our
parents are excluded from many clubs due to their oc
cupation, income and education
Many fraternities and sororities choose their members not
by the student's personal qualities, but instead by their
parent's social situation and class. The oneness of brotherhood
and sisterhood is due mainly to the groups solidarity of social
rank. The house no longer must fit the student's evaluation,
but the student must fit the house.
This is not to say that the Greek way is wrong, but instead to
shed light upon the fact we have become products of our
parents social classification and that we are no longer in
dividual students working together to accomplish a• mutual
goal. We can only be individuals as far as our class permits us.
How can the Greek way be an alternative lifestyle? It only
brings people closer to losing their individualism and bounds
and stratifies them to others like themselves. It can close the
alternative roads to learning about different lifestyles, which
is important for a well rounded education.
Is it unrealistic to wish that for at, least four years of our
lives to'want to be thought of as people instead of products of a
specific social class? To associate with people not because of
who they are, but what they think and feel.
Do we live in such a shallow society that we can no longer
see each other as people, but instead as dollar signs. If what
we are living is termed the "American Dream" then it has
become nightmare to me
=Collegian
Jeffrey Fawkes
Editor
BOARD OF MANAGERS: Sales Coordinator, Alex N. Baron-
Witt; Office Coordinator, Judy Stimson; Assistant Office Co
ordinator, Kurt Strause; National Ad Manager, Judi Rodrick.
Layout Coordinators, Terry Dolinar, Hope Goldstein; Billing,
, Patty Bartlett. I
vacations, breaks and recesses with PSU footing
the bills. Do you realize how much interest we'vb
paid so far?"
"N
-n-n-no. How much?
"Over a quarter of a million dollars. Where do
you think that money's coming from, President
Oswald's pocket?" Rip became so incensed he
stormed out the door. I was compelled to follow.
"But still," I argued, "shouldn't we do
something! I mean, somebody has to."
"Nobody has so far. Quit tending your herd
and go do something else. Find another cause,"
Rip said coldly.
"But . . ." I began.
"Let it go. Let them sink," Rip said. We picked
up nur pace.
"I hate losing an argument," I said. Rip just
snickered.
Bob Frick (Bth-journalism) is a layout editor for
The Daily Collegian.
synonyms, that may be true.
Liberal Arts: I believe the local
colloquialism is "Liberal Arts Faggot."
General Arts and Sciences: Super
liberal arts majors, also known as
"Nothing" or "Time and Space"
majors, both titles well-earned. Spend
much time avoiding the library; have a
phobia about books and studying.
Agriculture: Hicks.
Architecture: Enjoy designing things,
particularly ways to avoid the tougher
architecture courses.
Animal Sciences: Well, whatever
turns you on.
Engineers: Have calculator, will
travel. Can be spotted by the Texas
Instrument on the belt and the glazed
look in the eye.
Archaeology majors: Like old things.
Particularly a friend's term paper from
last year, the answers to last term's
final, and so forth.
Walt Meyer is an eighth term ad
vertising major.
T. Sarah Robinson
6th-sociology
, . Nov. 9
Scott R. Sesler
Business Manager