—Editorial Opinion
Like lemmings to the sea,
hopeful dormitory residents
will soon be lining up to turn
in their dorm contracts for
next year, hoping against
hope that they are among the
first 8,800 students submitting
contracts, thus guaranteeing
themselves rooms.
The death race to the three
housing stations where con
tracts may be submitted
Waring, Findlay and Pollock
dining halls although shor
ter than the usual two-day
session will be just as in
tense. Although the system of
being assigned a space on a
first-come, first-served basis
is fairer than the previous
policy of special con
sideration given to present
dormies, well, there's got to
be a better way.
Residential life at the
University can best be com
pared to the opposite sex
you can't live with the dorms
and you can't live without
'em. Especially on contract
submitting day, it seems
everyone wants to live in the
dorms, yet those who are now
snug in their building block
shoeboxes consistently com
plain about their living con
ditions.
This paradox will be
demonstrated late the night
before the March 8 deadline,
The Golden Rule
In 1976 Jimmy Carter promised to reform the
Federal Income s Tax system, if elected. He
.; stated there would be a fairer system, one that
'' would be less complex. Very little :change has
tr
, come about in his two years in office. The tax
F laws are still very unfair, and extremely com
plicated. The laws tend to favor the wealthy. One
. example is the tax law concerning income from
investments. If you worked part time during the
year and put some of the money you earned,
t along with some money from a student loan in
the bank, then you must pay tax on the interest
from this money. If you have your money in
: vested in stocks, you need only pay tax on the
. amount of interest over $lOO. if, on the other
hand, you bought municipal bonds, of which
there is usually a minimum dollar amount that
must be purchased (sometimes $10,000), you
don't have to pay any tax on the interest. How
many people do you know who own stock in
corporations or own $lO,OOO of municipal bonds.?
The Federal Income Tax laws contain an
enormous amount of loOpholes that favor the
rich. There are legal deductions which also seem
to favor the rich. Some of these deductions fall
into the categories of charitable contributions;
contributions to political candidates, unreim
bursed business expenses connected with em
ployment ( this covers a multitude of sins), and a
category termed investor's expenses.
This country is run by the super rich. They see
that their interests are protected. Although
President Carter seems sincere in trying to
• reform the tax laws, he doesn't get much help
• from the Senate. Approximately 30 percent of
the senators are millionaires or wealthier, and
quite a few can almost make that claim. These
individuals are looking out for number one. They
want to protect their millions.
The solution to the problem lies with the
public. The people of this country must not be
fooled. It seems like our society has been
socialized into thinking that the political leaders
know more than we common folks, and we
should trust their judgment. We are led, by mass
media, which is controlled to a great extent by
the super rich, to believe that big business has
the best interest of the people in view. We must
not let the super rich control us.
Well-paying
I am writing in response to Mark Harmon's
article, "Satisfying a Big Maxine Attack," which
appeared in the Feb. 2 issue of The Daily
Collegian. I agree that our prostitution laws are
"silly." Prostitutes have always been a part of
society and probably always will be.
In many types of societies, prostitutes have
enjoyed high social status with great respect
( e.g., ancient Greece, the ancient Middle and
Far East, and Cyprus). Prostitution was an
accepted norm of scoeity, but recent morals
have changed this attitude. Even though "call
girls" are involved with many high-class
politicians and executives, most people think of
them as "trash" and societal deviants. This is
only because our society has programmed us to
believe that sex without love is wrong, for
everyone.
Prostitution is a victimless crime, and per
sonal to the two people involved. With the proper
health regulations, it can be beneficial and
advantageous. The prostitute has the op
portunity to work when she wants to, earning a
relatively good income, doing something she
enjoys! Her client is able to satisfy sexual needs
he may not be able to have fulfilled by his wife,
when those students sub
mitting contracts will begin
queuing up by the thousands
in anxious anticipation of
what the following morning's
contract assignments will
hold in store for them.-
With this incredible
demand . for on-campus
housing, one would think that
the University's physical plan
for the future would include
Gerald R. Avillion
Bth-biology
Feb. 6
Death race
t=,--
girlfriend, etc., without any obligations or
commitments.
Since prostitution arises in response to societal
restrictions on sex, it will continue (legal or
illegal) as long as these restrictions exist. I do..
not. condemn _ or condone prostitutibp.,.lt can be.,
harmful and it can be beneficial. I do think thdt
anyone who chooses to partake in this activity
has the right to.
Prejudice
In response to Thomas Palchak's letter
"Consider this" (Feb. 6), I would like to ask
what is "human nature" and does such a thing
actually exist? After reading Palchak's letter, I
have the impression that he believes prejudice is
something each and everyone of us is born with.
What a poor and ignorant excuse for the in
justices that man has inflicted upon his fellow
man! If it is . inborn, why do some men devote
their entire lives to the abolition of it? If it is
present in everyone, why is it looked upon with
disgust? I argue that prejudice is not and never
has been "human nature," rather, it is a product
of society, having been passed from generation
to generation. Where it all began, I have no idea,
and where it will all end, no one knows.
I also argue that "oppression" most certainly
is in existence today. Although it is not so evident
in the actions of men as it has been in the past,
"oppression" still runs rampant in the minds of
men.
To totally wipe out all prejuaice and op
pression, would involve a complete overhaul of
the attitudes and beliefs of mankind, and the day
that I or anyone else finds a way to do just that,
will be the last day that I open the newspaper to
read such infuriating opinions as those of
Thomas Palchak.
It's about time
I am writing this letter in response to Thomas
Polchak's letter (Feb. 6). I think Tom fails to
realize why affirmative action programs were
set up. No, there are no white studies programs
or a white caucus here at Penn State. They are
not needed.
True, opportunities should be based on merit,
and not race, creed, or color. However, since
blacks have been oppressed in the past, they
should be given a chance to reach a state of
equality. This is where affirmative action
becomes effective. Affirmative action is
designed to help blacks develop their talents so
they can compete successfully in "democratic"
America. Blacks have been held back for too
long. It is about time that the government steps
in and gives blacks a chance to reach the
educational level ascribed to whites.
Stuart G. Rothenberg
3rd-liberal arts
Feb. 7
Biting the hand
The Penn State students are caught between
on- and off-campus bureaucracies. The Penn
State Administration is cutting down on already
severely limited dorm space. They've increased
their income by putting two people in a room
built for one, and four in one built for two. Does
the administration have any idea what the living
and studying conditions are like in such
situations? Obviously not. They are now plan
ning to tear down two Nittany dorms, thus
11%%,,.,iii6ii(t(
\ • „141 I
- \t t4 .' ; 1111111(
A.. 00
Itil/
014,
Le4 l
w o o
: A it e
125/:11,
.c--
ie'l
additional housing facilities.
Instead, two Nittany dorms
will be lost to make room for
the indoor sports complex.
The "official" excuse for
the lack of a building plan
points at the projected lack of
college students in the 'Bos.
Although projections show
University-wide enrollment
dropping, the same projec
tions show University Park
Letters to the Editor
Karen S. Poster
6th-advertising
Feb. 7
Lori Smith
2nd-computer science
Feb. 6
111
111
limiting space even further. What are they going
to do with the ousted students start letting
three people share one dresser and one closet??
But students who don't like the University
, dorms ,have ,the :option to move .off .campus,
right? Wrong! ~ • •
Now the State College Borough is proposing an
amendment to limit the number of unrelated
persons who may live together in an apartment
or converted 'house from five to three. The
reason? Supposedly because of the excessive
noise level. Do these businessmen actually
believe that two fewer occupants will effect a
significant drop in the noise level? In their hurry
to make a few fast bucks, both the University
and the State College housing administrators
seem to have forgotten one key consideration:
Where are the students, who are literally the life
of Happy Valley, supposed to live?
Myths
I am writing in reference to the Human Rights
Ordinance which is currently being debated in
State College. I am in support of this resolution,
and particularly dismayed at those who opposed
equal rights for homosexuals at the Feb. 5
Council meeting. Homosexuality is unjustly one
of the most stigmatized forms of sexual
variance, as the myths that enforce this situation
simply do not check out in society.
Homosexuals are not necessarily effeminate
in the case of men nor masculine in the case of
women. Gays do not harass people on the street,
are not a public nuisance, and are not
irresponsible citizens. It seems that by far, the
greatest fear of "normal" people is the menace
that homosexuals pose to the young, when in
fact, over 90 percent of child molestation is
heterosexual. As of now, too much emphasis is
placed on sexual preference, and not on the
individual's ability and character. Until this
conflict is resolved, prejudice and stereotyping
of homosexuals unfortunately will exist in our
society.
Jeff Winokur
Bth-individual and family studies
Feb. 7
Of from & of
As The Daily Collegian editorials have
demonstrated, a tolerance of criticism and of
dissenting opinions is fundamental to "freedom"
in this country. They have printed a wide range
of letters which have criticized the paper for
discrimination. Although minorities have been
given freedom "of" the press, freedom "of"
assembly, freedom "of" speech, freedom "of"
the individual to make a fortune, etc., in the
United States, they are still discriminated
against.
Our democracy is primarily concerned with
liberty (freedom "of"). But to alleviate
discrimination, our society will have to pay more
attention to equality (freedom "from"). That is
freedom "from" hunger, freedom "from" want,
freedom "from" unemployment, and freedom
"from" exploitation by individuals who have or
want to make fortunes. A few Wastern European
countries have begun to provide this equality but
have traded off liberty. Only when our country's
philosophy of democracy includes both liberty
and equality will it provide true freedom.
Don Grant
11th-health planning and administration
Feb. 6
~tll! • - 1, - 1 11
Ilt i`
1 4 3:
'',4cris)Ver
•() .
arrn
016.-
enrollment remaining
relatively stable.
Arthur E. Goldschmidt, a
Faculty Senate committee
chairman, pointed out the
need for more dorms at a
senate meeting Tuesday. It's
about time the University
listened to Goldschmidt and
others so the lemmings won't
have to rush to the sea every
year at dorm contract
renewal time:
Lisa Plasko
2nd-nursing
Clare Conley
2nd-liberal arts-engineering
Feb. 6
'ickot«ti , ' \, \ , k doll
tolll y,
)1
iii
( 11 1 1
i tiot, 2 L:
I I / ' '' l 1
11 \liilti 1
i t ( qto I 1 (II
"‘ 10%1111111 I QIII'
Ilitt4lllltllllllV' l itl
NlNlll l lll‘llllr o
f. 1,6
i
:'~s; ,
Who's guilty?
I disagree with the logic of Bruce McKinley's
Letter to e the4Editor concerning the payment for
:an, elevatoi: .
in Pinchot Hall. In his letter, Mr.
McKinley suggested each student pay 81 cents to
cover the cost of refurnishing the elevator. If we
students were to pay this estimated amount,
wouldn't that mean we were all guilty of this
crime? After all, who would ever agree to pay
for something which they had had nothing to do
with? I wouldn't.
Also, by paying for this unlawful act, wouldn't
we, in a sense, be letting the real criminal off
"scot free"? After all, he would only be requried
to pay 81 cents instead of what he would other
wise be expected to pay.
Unfortunately, this would probably influence
him to do something else destructive. Are we
supposed to continue paying for all these
"mysterious" crimes?
I, for one, do not intend to pay for something
which I had nothing to do with.
Reinforced
Michelle DeMars' Feb. 5 letter shows a
startling lack of consciousness. Perhaps she
takes any attack on racism as a personal attack
on her. Michelle, the issue of oppression of any
minority is much bigger than the both of us, and
much bigger than The Daily Collegian, or even
Penn State University.
Dynamism
Normally in this space The Daily
Collegian graciously prints my ad
mittedly fictitious accounts of the
political realities of the day.
But today I'd like to talk theory. If my
colleague Mark Harmon has the New
Dynamism, then I'd like to offer some
thoughts on "The Renewed Dynamism"
a return to the principles and prac
tices that made this country great.
The basis for anyone's political beliefs
should be what he or she sees as the
proper government role in the lives of
the citizenry. You can't show me an
example in human history where big
government and individual freedom
have flourished simultaneously. Sure,
Great Britain and the Scandinavian
countries for a long time held out against
this inevitable conclusion. But look at
the problems in Great Britain today, and
see that most of the Scandinavian
countries have cut back on their social
welfare outlays, while in Sweden the
architects of great society-utopia were
voted out of office in the last election.
Jefferson and Lincoln, two pretty
perceptive guys, both said "That
government is best which governs
least." Give us government to do only
those things the citizens can't do for
themselves, like national defense (do
you know the home installation cost of a
cruise missile system?) or public words
like bridge's and parks, and currency to
facilitate the workings of the economy.
I submit that charity is not a function
of government. Any time you set up the
incredible bureacracy we now have to
administer the semi-welfare state to 230
million Americans, you're bound to have
social welfare funds lost on the octopus
middle man. That is the problem today.
Despite our good intentions, we have
more black poor now than we did when
Martin Luther King Jr. took up the
march for equality.
Yet we spend more now on social
welfare outlays than ever before, so how
can this be, you say? The answer is,
liberal America, those dollars you fork
Wendy Wright
2nd•anirnal productions
Feb. 5
GUNS AND PEAKUr 134.1111VZ
renewed '
over in taxes don't go to fund a great
humanitarian effort to equalize the
differences of birth they go to feed add
nurture an army of bureaucrats who go
home to Silver Spring and Chevy Chase
and Arlington each night to eat stefilr 4,
while the cases they handle at work aVvr:
sitting down to whatever it is you can get
on $lO worth of food stamps.
Don't get me wrong, the big 4-
porations don't pay their fair shale,
either. Senator Kennedy accurately
points out that if President Carter hadd't
4
crapped out on his pledge to elirnin e
the three-martini lunch last ye ,
there'd be two billion more dollars in t e
federal coffers to fund the social
programs which may finally puitz,
Kennedy into next year's presidential
race.
So what is my formula for attaining
the nirvana the liberals talk about but 1 10
little to effect? I say simply, let's put the
power of the individual determining Hs,
own destiny back in the hands of t . 6 4
individual, not the elites in Washington.
Government hasn't licked poverty, it's
only aggravated it; I say let free en
terprise
have a crack at pulling our
nation's poor out of the rut fil , ,
deprivation, by giving them the tools fo
do the pulling themselves.
We need people in government who
don't want government jobs, who dorl't
i
want history to remember them as t e
great saviors who cured povert
`
(They're usually on such an ego trip th
i y
can't see straight anyway.) ~
The people in Washington now are not
those people. They don't pay socilal
security taxes, and they have built-rn
escalator clauses to profit from the
inflation their fiscal policies spawn. :;.,
On Monday I plan to write about the / t
great American Abraham Lincoln arid
how he'd turn over in his grave if he saw
the likes of the people aspiring to canny
the republican mantle next year. For Zile
mean time, think about it, feltqw '
students who will one day bear the br),int
of the coast of inflation and defri l it
spending and broken promises fhr
utopia: Who knows better how to spud
your money, you or Uncle Sam? ~:.,.
Brian Golden is an eighth term broad
cast journalism major. i=
Blacks are not oppressed by the patholog "of
the ghetto; they are oppressed by the pathology
of the white community which declines to athilit
that a belief ferocious enough to allow human
slavery cannot be dissipated by a mere century.
In America, we listen to our leaders tell usThip.'
divestment will be "financial suicidd,"•'anitthe
we should have a "sense of humor," and laugh at
our oppression when we don't find anything
funny about racial slurs in advertisements.
Racism is being quietly reinforced, ansi:nbt
that . y
man people care enough to do anything ab i dut
. Ili
Racist fanatics are a real and very vitible
problem. But part of the problem is the lapger
group of people who are not racists, and :katio
think that racism is wrong, but who do nothittglo
stop it. And I suppose that parts of the 14rige
silent majority don't do much thinking at
, e 4t.
`iill
about anything past their own lives. ~ I .
Silence permits the tyranny of any minorityg
'
rule the majority.
Jean C. Guetapr
member, Homophiles of Penn S,t4e
Febt 5
attii;Collegiao
Dave Skidmore
Editor
BOARD OF MANAGERS: Sales Manager, Steve Korn')hi Wive
Manager, Dave Niderberg: National Ad Manager. Mak;
Schless:tiger, Assistant Sales Manager, Tony Frank, Issiswiir
Office Manager, Don Hanley: Assistant National Ad liana:4o.
Kathy Matheny.
OPINION BOARD: Bob Frick, Colleen Gallagher. Mike ).
trek. Jerry Micco, Lynn Osgood, Pally Mtnle, Dave Skidmore
ll]
Judy Stini§iin
Business ManAOr