Editorial Opinion
The Undergraduate Student Government
intern program in Harrisburg is in many ways
a breech birth. When first examined, it’s all
backwards and not going anywhere, but with a
push in the proper direction, it’s a baby full of
promise.
That baby promises better communication
between our state representatives and our
campus representatives. It also promises an
invaluable learning experience for anyone
qualified to hold the position. These benefits are
well worth a few labor pains.
Organization can help ease these pains. The
intern idea has run into problems since the USG
Senate denied $2BB requested by the would-be
intern, Mark Robbins, for transportation to and
from Harrisburg. But at the senate’s Feb. 12
meeting, Robbins, professing disgust over the
attitudes shown toward the idea by some
senators and their delayed response in setting
up a program, told the senate he didn’t want the
In a daze
When it comes to abortion-arguing, I
frequently find myself (after the smoke has
cleared) a little dazed. For one thing, there is
this one little missing logical link that confuses
the heck out of me.
Mark Jackson and several other “pro-lifers”
seem to lean towards, or state outright that 1)
abortion is murder of a human being, and 2)
abortion is okay if the fetus was conceived as the
result of a rape.
Hold it! I don’t understand. Do the conditions
under which the biological rendezvous occur
constitute the humanity of the fetus? Is it murder
to abort a fetus conceived non-forcibly, but not to
(he one from a rape? Even when trying to look
from the pro-life point of view, I fail to see this. I
think this completely shatters their whole
argument.
Nothing special
I-would like to comment on Mark Jackson’s
aftfcle on abortion in The Daily'Collegian Feb:
12£ „ . - ■
The fact that Mark Jackson was put up for
adoption does not give him special insight into
the abortion issue. These circumstances do not
give him “an unusual view.” Although he can
look back with thanks that his parents decided to
bear him, how many of us will ever know if our
parents struggled to decide whether or not to go
through with a pregnancy?
Jackson speaks of the views of the pro-lifers,
and then states: “On the other side are those in
favor of abortion.” No one “favors” abortion.
The word favor implies approval. Individuals
who support a woman’s right to terminate a
pregnancy accept abortion; they don’t condone
it. Actually, in all “pro-abortion" groups,
abortion is not considered a method of birth
control at all, but an option a woman must have
when an accident occurs.
Jackson also states: “‘There are no cir
cumstances, with the possible exception of rape,
which justify this decision (to take away
another’s life).” Abortion after rape is a main
inconsistency in the pro-life stand. Would not the
child of a rape-induced pregnancy be an innocent
human being, also? Or do the unfortunate cir-
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Audrey Allison
2nd-liberal arts
Feb. 13
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internship.
The USG could use the time it has before it
can find another qualified intern to clear up
some of the ambiguities in the program and
prevent the same problems from reappearing
for the next intern. Better organization and
clarification of goals and methods will reduce
the problems left for the next time around.
For instance, Robbins was supposed to find
information about apartments for future in
terns in Harrisburg. During his own stint in
Harrisburg, however, Robbins was to have
commuted from State College.
In the stall until USG and the Political
Science Department can get the program on its
feet and running, these matters can be taken
care of, preventing another funding fiasco just
before the program is about to start.
A lot of sweat has gone into the intern idea so
far. It would be a shame to let it die just
because of a few cramps.
Letters to the Editor
cumstances behind his conception negate his
rights?
Obviously, this is not the case. Under this type
of thinking, we are speaking of degrees of guilt.
A woman who is raped and becomes pregnant is
less guilty than the woman who becomes
pregnant because her contraceptive fails. The
“innocent” raped woman is allowed an abortion
while the other is “sentenced” to go through with
an unwanted pregnancy. Obviously the unborn
child’s rights are not an issue here. Under this
type of thinking, what society feels is right is
more important.
One more point. Jackson, in the beginning of
his article, states: “Both sides are now lining up
for the showdown that will decide the fate of this
(abortion) issue.” Not true. Abortions wifi
continue, illegally and dangerously, even if the
Supreme Court reverses its 1973 decision.
Scenario
This letter is in reference to Mark Jackson’s
editorial concerning abortion. Indeed I agree
that his story is unique, and there is no doubt as
to the gratitude that he feels for his' biological
mother concerning his life or death. Yet he fails
to recognize the position that his mother might
have been confronted with, if she had decided to
take the alternate route.
Mark, picture yourself as a 19-year-old, am
bitious, career-minded, college female working
towards a creative, successful future. Suddenly
one day you are told that you are pregnant, and
are no longer concerned with only one life; yet,
now your responsibilities have been drastically
doubled. A new life has been created and you
must decide its existence or destruction.
You are now faced with a difficult dilemma
involving the destruction of a life either your
own or that of your unborn child. Should you
choose to preserve the life of your unborn baby,
then your future, filled with shining hopes and
desires may perish in return.
Think of what’s more important to you, Mark
your life or the life of something created ac
cidentally. A child should be the product of
mutual love and want, not just an unfortunate
mistake on the part of a careless teenager.
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Patricia A. Allison
sth-horticulture
Feb. 12
Ruth Stoolman
2nd-liberal arts
Feb. 13
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No whales here
There are no whales in State College. No baby
seals or nuclear power plants either. Yet there
does exist a severe environmental problem
within our backyards which deserves our at
tention. Spring Creek is its name pollution is
its current fame.
Years ago, cold springs beneath Tussey
Mountain created a fertile artery of water that
meandered 24 miles northward to Bald Eagle
Creek, providing a home for thousands of native
brook trout. Recently, treated sewage effluent,
cannery wastes, silt, and the toxic chemicals
called Kepone and Mirex have leaked into Spring
Creek, creating an embarrassment to a county
that prides itself on its clean environment.
But efforts are underway to revert the plight of
what was one of the nation’s leading trout
streams. The sewage effluent will soon be spray
irrigated onto agricultural land. Trout
Unlimited, with the help of Glenn Hawbaker,
Inc., diverted a tributary to Spring Creek so that
storm drainage no longer enters the creek. The
cannery has been closed. Strict laws prohibit silt
errosion from nearby farms.
However, a problem not yet solved is the
Kepone-Mirex pollution: While these chemicals
are no longer produced, they continue to leak ,
into the groundwaters from lagoons used for
their disposal. Nease Chemical Co., the firm
apparently responsible for this rape of nature,
has yet to provide any abatement plan to end this
pollution.
Although the Department of Environmental
Resources says it plans to prosecute Nease, the
Environmental Hearing Board may prevent this
by granting Nease Co. another extension.
Meanwhile, DER refuses to release current
testing results regarding Kepone contamination
of nearby drinking water wells, which was
discovered over a year ago.
We must generate public support for a quick
solution to this problem. The DER must be en
couraged to use any legal means within their
power to force Nease into action. If Nease Co.
and the Commonwealth continue to stall, as has
been the case for the past few years, the citizens
of this area should consider filing a class-action
suit.
Eco-Action and the Undergraduate Student
Government Senate will be sponsoring lectures
and workshops concerning Spring Creek during
the next two months. 1 hope any person con
cerned with the future of this important
waterway will find the time to become involved.
As the Pennsylvania Dutch say, “Late it is
already.”
chairman, USG Spring Creek Committee
Feb. 13
Fire and rain
After hearing a lot about how good Alpha Fire
Co. has been in the past, I think the record should
be set straight. The basic motto of a fire com
pany is “Service to the community,” but after an
incident on Jan. 23, their motto is anything but
that. Instead, it must be “Service to our mem
bers and screw the community.”'
On the day in question, my basement apart
ment was flooded with about an inch of water. I
called the Alpha Fire Co. and talked to their chief
and asked if I could use a piece of machinery
they have in their department. This is their
Water-Vac machine and it is used to clean up
excess water after there has been a fire. The
chief of their company stated that this piece of
machinery was being used by the members of his
company and that there was not anything he
could do for me.
I was stunned to hear such a remark from an
official of their company and the community.
The fire company I belong to in West Chester
believes in the motto “Service to the com
munity.” There have been several nights-during
heavy rains where volunteer members of our fire
department would spend the entire night
cleaning up basements. The only thing a person
had to do was to call the fire company and
request help. They would then be assigned a time
when they would be by.
In the first edition of The Lantern I read a
disturbing statement about the Pinchot elevator
fire which the people who live in the dorms
should be aware of and should take some action
to resolve this matter.
I quote “Alarms for the fire had to be turned in
verbally by the RA because the fire department
does not respond until they have confirmation of
a fire,” said Peterson.
The delay of valuable time of perhaps five to 10
minutes in the confusion df the fire could cause
the death of a student and could cause more fire
destruction than if the fire department had an
Jim Neely
immediate response. In the West Chester Fire
Department, an automatic fire alarm from a
hospital, nursing home, school, industrial
buildings and college dormitory at the West
Chester State College automatically becomes a
general alarm in which all three fire companies
respond immediately. Also 'neighboring fire
companies are alerted in the event that more
equipment is needed. Quick action is required in
these types of situations to get the job done with
minimum destruction and no lives lost.
I feel that the Alpha Fire Co.should review
their Standard Organizational Procedures and
set their priorities according to the needs of the
community.
Like kids
Having neither read Pam Winterhalter’s letter
nor yet experienced Gentle Thursday, I am
perhaps unqualified to comment on her
suggestions to add balloons and games to the
festival. Still, I am surprised to see the reaction
•against such ideas in Friday’s issue of The Daily
Collegian; and especially the reasons given for it.
- I remember college life in the early ’7os, where
Gentle Thursday originated, and at the
University of Virginia in 1971. Yes, we did such
radical things as camping out on the lawn to
oppose university expansion. We also had the
first Happy Day,,and, strangely enough, people
enjoyed free balloons and kites and chicken
fights and trampolines and water balloon fights
and watermelon-eating contests and, yes, the
free concerts, too. The competition was about as
serious as our annual cardboard boat race.
I am sorry to hear such fun was out of step with
the times and was a result of our desire for
rigidity and success. I am embarrassed that it
"sounds more like a boy scout jamboree than a
college festival.” Would you believe that we
enjoyed it so much we didn’t care? Perhaps you
can understand that in between marches on
Washington and bouts of worry about our draft
status, we didn’t mind remembering for a day
that we were kids.
Can it be that in today’s atmosphere of com
petition and self-concern we’ve totally forgot
ten? We all have a lot of years ahead of us as
adults, when we can sit and listen to music, but
our days as kids are numbered.
The music is great sharing blankets and
togetherness is half of the college experience. At
U. Va. our student activity fees sponsored
several free outdoor concerts a year and that
would be great to see here. But how can it hurt
Gentle Thursday to share a little childish fqn
besides and forget for a day that we have to act
like college students?
Ice crunch
The economic crunch has hit the University.
One of Penn State’s solutions is to quit heating
the stairways in the towers. Now instead of two
doors being exposed to the subfreezing tem
peratures of the far East, 20 are.
Perhaps the University believes the cold and
snow in the stairways will prevent fires from
running rampant. More likely someone will slip
on the stuff and only after a subsequent suit,
rather than concern for human safety will the
heat be turned on.
I would refrain this complaint, had my con
tract read: heated rooms weather permitting.
When will the University start delivering what
the students think they are paying for? You’d
think that with so much dorm damage the
University would come to the conclusion that
students are dissatisfied.
Ted Metrose
ilth-petroleum and natural gas engineering
Feb. 12
To your health
A friend of mine recently had an accident late
one night in which she hurt her ankle. She was in
a lot of pain and there was a possibility that the
bone was broken, so we took her to Ritenour
Health Center.
Arriving there, we found the emergency en
trance locked. Once we managed to get my
friend into the building, we found that not much
could be done for her because there was no
doctor available. The only things she received
were a pair of crutches' and instructions to return
the next morning before 11 a.m.
Being a freshman in East Halls, my friend
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Gary Rostron
(!(h-architccture
Feb. 6
Mike Kardauskas
Bth-engineering science
Feb. 10
found that getting to Ritenour before 11 a.m. witty ’
an injured ankle posed quite a problem. This
only one among many that she was to face in the' (1
next week.
Another major problem was obtaining a meal. 1
We were sent to three different officesbefore we.j;
realized that getting a sick tray from the/
cafeteria was more hassle than it was worth. "7
Even though my friend had to face the pain q4’7
the injury, transportation problems, hassles witp h
meals, and the impossibility of getting to classes"'
because of the icy conditions (not to mentipn ; •
living on the 10th floor of a building
frequently broken elevators), she is currently
recovering from what turned out to be a very>/
severe sprain. It was our first encounter with the;'
bureaucracy of Penn State, and we are dreading
the thought of dealing with the next one.
What I wonder about now are the people whoi.
are handicapped or permanently disabled. When' >
I notice, the numerous public buildings with 7
endless steps, and the classrooms with no ramps, 7
it seems to me that discrimination of the hans7
dicapped exists in this country. In the first half of >
this decade the U.S. spent 34 percent of its budget
on national defense and only 7 percen on health. .>
Maybe the values and priorities of our govern- /
ment’s spending need to be recpnsidered. ;
t •• 1 LynnCaru£oj £
2nd;rehabilitation education
1 Feb. (3
Never at noon
Jeanne Peterson expressed a concern in The
Daily Collegian on Feb. 7 about the noontime'
service at Ritenour Health Center, which has
probably puzzled many students. She suggested
staggered lunch hours for the physicians, which
certainly seems to have merit.
Unfortunately, the solution is not as simple as
it sounds. Many of the supportive areas, e.g.,
physical therapy, laboratory, X-ray, pharmacy 3
dentistry, etc. are staffed by one person so are*£
closed for an hour. We tried staggering hours fpr %
physicians and nurses but found it to be very ‘t
frustrating for a patient to be seen and then have £
to wait an hour for another service. We also had *
students returning to see a particular physician |
only to find that he or she was out to lunch.
After several months’ trial, we found, it toov*
frustrating for the patient and returned to the ’i
present schedule of curtailing activities for an
hour. There is a skeleton staff, including &
physician, available for emergencies over the 3
noon hour, but it is not feasible to try to offer •<
complete services. ‘
Dr. John A. Hargleroad II j {
University Health Services director
Feb. 8 V
Ball and chain
As a resident and taxpayer of State College, L *
am absolutely outraged by the expensive, vin- jl
dictive games being played by our local
magistrate, Mr. Clifford Yorks. Case in point: ’
Two weeks ago, a Penn State student spent his ;
second three-day stint in the Centre County Jail, i
sentenced there by Mr. Yorks. His offense ?
Riding his bicycle at night without a light ■&)
(which, in fact, had just shorted out)! Does the ;
magistrate really feel the sentence was com- •_
mensurate with the crime? How does Mr. Yorks •
get away with squandering the taxpayers’
money, throwing the student into a jail intended ‘.
for actual wrongdoeers? Why not reduce the fine
if the defendent can’t pay, or at least reduce the ; ;
sentence to one day in jail? Can Mr. Yorks ;;
tually believe that a three-day sentence is a •
better deterrent to the crime of having one’s $l6 i
generator light short out in the rain? (Look out, .!
bicyclists —it looks like you should be carrying );
an extra generator-light assembly with you on
the streets).
If Mr. Yorks has an axe to grind with the -Cj
student population, let him find another way to ]
grind it, outside of the courtroom (and hopefully j'.
outside of State College). His responsibility to V
the citizens who put him there and pay his wages ?;
is to administer justice. Sometimes, it is <;
necessary to spend the community’s money to , '-
incarcerate a criminal but not to support the -ft
unjust whims and games of the local magistrate. ):
Karl Wagener £
State College resident
r Collegian
Dave Skidmore
Business Manager C
OPINION IIOAUO: Bob Frick, Colleen Gallagher, Mike Men- ;•
trek, Jerry Micco, Lynn Osgood, Patty Rhule, Dave Skidmore.' ■
Editor
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Feb. 10 .•
Judy Stimson s