Editorial Opinion Director of University Police Services David E. Stormer, law enforcement officials and a host of others have a lot of good reasons for arming the Campus Police. To begin, not all University police 'would be armed. Only 33 officers who have had 480 hours of police training as called for by state law —would be allowed to carry the .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolvers. Described as a "small, defensive type weapon," the guns would only be drawn in the defense of life, Stormer said. Those officers have all had at least two years of college education in some sort of "soft" discipline, such as psychology or sociology. Standards If our University is to be respected among other college communities, should not it be our goal to set better standards? I refer to the present requeit of the police services officers to carry the .38 special, the gun carried by most police depart ments in the country. True peace officers need not arm themselves with a weapon of that magnitude, as the London bobbies have shown for years. I feel comfortable talking to a PSO without a gun. My feelings would probably change, although they should not, about a PSO carrying a gun because of that little sense of in security, never knowing when the bullets are going to fly. A gun would also present another barrier for incoming students to overcome. .Granted, under certain circumstances, a gun might be required, i.e., dignitaries, the escort of a convicted criminal, etc. But, for the everyday assignments of the PSO's, a gun would be unneccessary. This is a college community and should reflect the general attitude and quality of the students, faculty, administration and PSO's. I say "NO" to their request of guns, Sorry fellas, bticl don't want another Kent State. No solution Gun toting police officers at this campus would be about the last step to total institutionalization of Penn State. When one hears students talking about "getting out of here" it often seems as if they are speaking of getting out of a prison where they have been sentenced for an "education." Allowing campus police to bear firearms reinforces the feeling that one is in a prison. The few cases of aggravated assault on police officers in 1978 do not justify the carrying of weapons. Allowing a few officers to carry theni does not solve the problem. I doubt if anyone would deliberately attack those few who were armed. What will happen to the other officers when they are attacked? And how many of those assaults occurred during the strike this summer? If the most frequent assault of officers occurs with knives and clubs, as stated in the Collegian, then why not arm campus police with clubs, which don't seem to be so final as guns. , Oh, yeah? Being an avid reader of The Daily Collegian, I am appalled at the views expressed toward the journalistic quality of the paper. I suppose now, because of my unfamiliarity with journalistic practice, that there will be hose who will say I am not qualified to express an opinion of any merit or substance. 'ave paradise, put a skating rink on a parking lot Come Winter Term, Kurt Oppelt is going to find himself teaching ice skating in the south gym of White Building. Mr. Oppelt is an excellent skater (as evidenced by the fact the he earned a Gold Medal at the Olympics a few years back) and a good instructor, but I think this time the physical education department has overestimated his abilities. Teaching ice skating on linoleum is a little beyond his talents. 602J)f - Prityfrf This article could be entitled "The Ice Man Goeth," or, in the best Rocky and Bullwinkle tradition, subtitled "What's worse than a track team without a track? How 'bout a hockey team without iee?" (Penn State has both). Why have all of the ice skaters on campus been left out in the cold? Because someone in power has decided that we need indoor Astroturf more than we need a place to skate. I have no complaint with indoor Astroturf, after all, some of my best friends have indoor Astroturf, but why take away the rink before they build a new one? There are many rumors about the alternatives for skaters. Some people Police Services is, in fact, a professional police force staffed with officers that are more qualified than many police forces in the state. And while we're handing out kudos to the CPs, let's talk about the . area they might be patroling with loaded guns. It's known as Happy Valley. Rapes, assaults and robberies have all occurred on campus. But nowhere near the potential for violent crime exists at Penn State as at a ' university in an urban area. To date, violent crimes have been handled by the campus police without guns, or have been handled under the current policy of arming police only for the occasion. Without going into the Richard C. Miller 4th-mechanical engineering . Oct. 4 Debra F. Partridge University employee Oct. 3 (even those who. are supposed to know are unsure) say that the plan calls for freezing a parking lot. Others say that they're going to freeze a tennis court, which makes much • more sense, because, after all, how can anyone skate on a parking lot? There are also many conflicting opinions as to whose fault it is that all of the budding Peggy Flemings on campus have been put in cold storage. Somepeople say the indoor facility was Joe Paterno's idea. Others say Dick Harter wanted to get the track team out of his way in Rec Hall, so the track team was given the pavilion. (Note I said "pavilion" "Ice-Skating Pavilion" seems an obsolete term). Still other people are blaming Walt Bahr. Per sonally, I blame University President John W. Oswald. Why? Oswald makes a good scapegoat. Kurosh Ostovar blames Oswald for his being denied tenure. The Teamsters blamed Oswald for prolonging the strike this summer. The students blame Oswald and his doghouse for high tuition. Rep. Fred Trello blamed Oswald and his spending for the high cost of operating the University. And, after all, Oswald is ultimately respon sible for everything that goes on at University Park. When I get a bad chicken steak, I blame him. Almost Letters to the Editor So I suppose that makes me as qualified as those who dislike the quality of the Collegian, and who may disagree with what I'm about to say. First off, may I remind those readers that the name of the paper is The Daily Collegian, not The Daily World. Therefore, the staff of the Collegian is responsible for reporting college news first. Now for those of you who want to read about news outside of State College, I suggest you buy an outside paper. May I also bring it to your attention that the Collegian is a free paper to all students. So cherish it. There aren't many things left in this world one gets for free. Now if there are still those who are burned about the tragic air crash story (no pun intended) not .ppearing on the front page, let me ask you this. Was there any less information given because the' story appeared a - few pages back? I also hope it didn't tire your 'fingers to turn those few extra pages until you found the article. Let me finish by saying that if you don't like the quality of the Collegian, don't read it! Funny Congratulations-to Walt Meyer for reminding us that the most important aspect of the ability to laugh is the ability to laugh at ourselves. Good business Let's see, "societal values" are no basis for investment. Hmm, well that's pretty good! I say we get into drugs. On the other hand, prostitution has always been a safe investment. Perhaps . . . Immaterial It may come as a surprise to Rick Merritt, but all House of Representatives members are elected for two full years, and our terms are not up until Dec.-1, 1978. Whether needed legislation is passed six weeks before an election or one week after an election is absolutely immaterial. If Mr. Merritt had bothered to check_the records of the House and Senate for September, he would have found that nothing has been tabled until January. It is ironic that the "watchdog committee," which Mr. Merritt finds so unacceptable, has been editorially praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer; and the prime sponsor of that resolution, Rep. James P. Ritter (D- Lehigh) is singled out by that paper (Oct. 1) as "a prime force logistics of the time it takes to issue a revolver and get to the scene of a crime, we'd just like ask two questions: How often does a police officer on campus stumble onto the scene of a crime that requires the use of a gun? And, is it any faster to call an armed police officer who would then have to travel to the scene of a violent crime, once a complaint has been received, than to issue someone from police headquarters with a gun? In addition, even if only 33 officers carry guns, that's 33 potential accidents versus none. They may be only .38 caliber revolvers, but even a Gregg Cunningham Republican candidate for 77th district, Pa. House of Representatives Sept. 29 Bob Higbee 6th-mechanical engineering Oct. 4 (I'm also picking on him in the hopes freedom of the press than an idiot who that I will offend him to the point that ' flunked out of liberal arts). he'll have me thrown out of school. The Left without a rink, the hockey team is way this term is going, I think it would going to play its games in Mechanics be better to leave Penn State a martyr to burg. Where's Mechanicsburg? Only `...AND THEN, INNILE THE'RE R E-S LIRF4CINIG THE TENNIS COURTS,THEY CAN PUT TEMPORARY ONES IN ftT THE NEW ICE PAVILION!" „Ai i 111::;1111;11712•3 -: IL ...44111.zzam i l lin : iiii : II ! . „0 , , i •,,„ _..:, ,N,,, ~ .. ..,y . , 6 fisk ..•.....•„•, ~._ _........_ . .._ . _*„...„. 4 _.........., ..... .22 caliber hole will kill. And even if all the officers had doctorates in philosophy and could intelligently discuss the metaphysics of taking a human life, they should not carry guns when no real need has YET been shown to exist. There should be no argument that the Univeristy Police are qualified to carry firearms and are looking out for the safety of students and of themselves in their request to be armed. The burden of . proof, however, rests with University Police Services and .so far their reasons though good are just not good enough. against bitter oposition, in a yet uncompleted movement to make legislative expenses and payrolls Unaccountable." I was the third sponsor of that resolution, helped to draft it, and spoke for it against the opposition of both Republican and Democratic leadership. It passed unanimously last week, is now part of the House rules, and is an important first step. In addition, we passed, and the governor signed into law Oct. 4: . 1. Excellent legislation on political campaigning, 2. A sound ethics bill for elected and appointed officials at both state and local levels, , 3. Four-fifths of a package of laws necessary to aid in the prosecution of corrupt politicians and organized crime, and 4. Eighteen of the 24 equal rights amendments, which I introduced in March. • The Philadelphia Inquirer, in an editorial Oct. 1, called these reform accomplishments "gratifying" and concluded that when these are extended and completed they "will constitute the most significant movement ever in Pennsylvania toward making government responsible and responsive." Some of us have worked very hard toward these ends; and, election eve or not, these are darn good bills badly needed by our commonwealth, and I'm proud to be the sponsor or co sponsor of most of them. Tom Symczak 7th-music Oct. 5 No justice I think it's about time the University public found out the truth of the matter: what exactly is going on behind the scenes of the so-called "conversion" of the former ice pavilion to a fieldhouse? I am referring to the two previous articles printed by The Daily Collegian. There are a lot of facts left unprinted that perhaps the University doesn't wish to expose. Specifically, why weren't the students informed of the conversion of the ice rink to a fieldhouse early last spring while something could still be done? .. Last Spring Term there were rumors flying around the Ice Pavilion that the ice rink would be converted into a fieldhouse. A meeting was held with Robert J. Scannel, dean of the College of Health, Physic.4l Education and Recreation, in which the skating clubs, both hockey and figure, informed him of the requirements necessary for these skating activities. At this meeting, those present were informed that nothing said at that meeting should leave the room. Nothing was said 7 until this letter. Dean Scannel said we would be informed of the decision on the conversion. We were, on the day that the Collegian stopped printing just before finals, when it was too late to inform the students of what was happening. Then the conversion was started during term break so that even if the few students here during the summer wanted to do somthing about it, it was too late. Sneaky, huh? Joe Paterno was quoted in the Collegian as saying, "Everybody's going to be happy." I would like to know how he qualifies this statement! The hockey players and figure skaters enjoy a two hour ride, MARATHON'' Helen D. Wise Representative, 77th District Oct. 3 the 71 people who live there know for sure. If the hockey team thought their attendance was bad last year, wait till they see how many people flock to Mechanicsburg to see them play. As far as the intramural hockey teams are concerned, I suppose they'll be given playing time on the outdoor rink, and I'm sure they'll enjoy checking each other into the cyclone fence that surrounds the tennis courts. Or maybe they'll play floor - hockey in White Building. Or if they're really nice, maybe they will be permitted to play field hockey on the new Astroturf. Since hockey isn't really a sport, anyway, they really don't need a rink, only a room in Rec Hall where they can go and beat each other senseless with hockey sticks. And if all they want is teeth removed, I know a good or thodonist who can do the job, maybe not as cheaply as a puck, but with a little more style. It seems to me that it would have made more sense to wait until after a new rink was constructed to take away the old one, but what do I know, I don't have a master's in physical education or architecture. I suppose it would have been too easy to wait another year before giving the other sports teams an indoor facility, especially since this one probably won't be done until spring . one way, •to practice. The students are thrilled that they lost a facility. There will be no more skating classes for physical education. And most important of all, the children in the therapeutic skating program are thrilled about missing their therapy sessions. Again I ask, how does Joe qualify his' statement? As a former vice president of the Penn State Student Skating Club, and a member of the United States Figure Skating Club' for the past 10 years, I feel I am qualified in questioning this. conversion, as in all my years of competitive figure skating around the country, I have never come across such an in justice to so many skating enthusiasts as here at Penn State: Now can' someone please tell me, where is the righteousnes's' here?? Lighting needed Not too long ago there was a rape on campus just south \of , Willard. While I was walking home from a problem session in Electrical Engineering:.West one evening, it occurred to ria , that this rape could have been deterred, if not prevented, had the area been lighted. There is no lighting at all along the sidewalks between EEW, Sackett, and Willard buildings. Conserving energy is one thing, but this area is so dark that the walkway itself is in distinguishable. Perhaps a few lights in the area would make it a somewhat safer place to walk. I realize that bright lights are not going to solve the problem of rape, but every effort toward its prevention, no matter how small, is nevertheless significant in reducing the potential. Sue Ilaytmanek 7th-horticulture Oct. 5 =Collegian Dave Skidmore Editor BOARD OF EDITORS: Editorial Editor, Bob Frick; News Editor, Mike Mentrek; Assistant Editorial Editor, Patty Rhule; Assistant News Editors, Pete Barnes, Jerry Micco; Copy Editors, Matt Benson, Harry Glenn, John Martellaro, Andy Ratner, Diana Younken, Jim Zarroli; Photo Editor, Lynn Dudinsky; Assistant Photo Editors, Chip Connelly, Joe Tori; Sports Editor, Joyce Tomana ; Assistant Sports Editors, Gary Silvers, Rick Weber; Features Editor, Gina Carrol; Arts Editor, Joyce Gannon; Graphics Editor, Mark Van Dine; Contributing Editor, Jeff Hawkes; Office Manager, Vicki Butler. Letters should be brought to the Collegian office, 126 Carnegie, in person, so proper identification of the writer can be made, although names will be withheld, on request. Nancy Hoblack 11th-chemical engineering Oct. 111' Business Manageri after the hockey and skating season. But like I said, people who know a lot more, about sports than I decided there are more important things in life than ice. I have nothing 'against the indoor facility it's a great idea; and since football;' revenue pays for my raquetball court,:l,". can't begrudge them indoor Astroturf; but why take away the skating rink? •- • With the convoluted logic of this university, in the spring the tennis fans will complain that the the rink has deprived them of their playing area. To compensate, the phys ed department will probably take away some raquetball courts to build new tennis courts, and they'll build new raquetball courts in the Natatorium. Does it make sense? No, but neither does paying all of this money to build a temporary outdoor rink, , restore some ruined tennis courts and' then build an indoor rink. It's' the long way around. But the plans are so indefinite for the; building of an outdoor rink, that like the! outdoor track, it could be years in the! making. Right now, it looks like the only skating anyone will be doing around here this winter is on the patch of ice in front, of Sparks that the maintenance crew's''' always miss when they're salting. Walt Meyer is a last term advertising' . major. • Judy Stimsoo: Judi Rodrick
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