Editorial Opinion
A number of important government seats are
up for grabs in Centre County this year, and
voters will be called upon to decide who should
fill them.
State College Borough Council will lose three
Council members Richard Kummer, Allen
D. Patterson and Wallis Lloyd. Of those whosd
terms are up, only Councilwoman Mary Ann
Haas is seeking re-election. Four additional
candidates will run for the four open seats.
University students should have a special
interest in this election, for one of the five
candidates, John Tobin (6th-community
development), is a Penn State student.
In the past year, Council has decided issues
such as residency limits in downtown apart
ments, garbage collection fees (which in
directly affect rent costs), parking and the
much-debated human rights ordinance. These
are issues that affect every student at the
University, but because there are no students
Two fateful words
Carter takes a trip
Two nasty four-letter words, Iran and
OPEC, make President Carter's current
trip to the Middle East the most fateful
of his presidency.
The tumult of the Iranian Revolution
has unleashed forces of Islamic revival
that have thrust the Middle East back
onto the front page. Additionally, The
Arab Energy conference Monday issued
a decision that may tie future supplies of
oil to efforts by the west toward the
creation of a Palestinian state. In other
words, we may have the next Arab oil
embargo without benefit of an ac
companying Mideast war if the
president doesn't bring home a signed .
peace agreement.
The fall of the Pahlevi regime in Iran
removed the strongest American ally in
the Persian Gulf, and Israel's single
greatest source of oil. And the tender
embrace of the Ayatollah and Palestine
Liberation Organization leader Yasser
Arafat in front of the new PLO mission in
Tehran signalled the creation of a new
staging center for terrorist activities
throughout the Middle East.
The victory of extremist Islamic
forces in Iran troubles Egyptian
president Anwar Sadat. Since his
magnificent • mission to Jerusalem in
November, 1977, he alone has held out
for moderation against a chorus of calls
for military action against Israel. The
continuing stalemate since Camp David
has weakened Sadat's position and no
doubt led him to demand the concessions
of Israeli Prime Minister Menachem
Begin which Jimmy Carter un
successfully tried to browbeatingly
extort earlier this week.
The Islamic revival also troubles
Saudi Arabia, and this worries the
Carter administration. The Saudis have
always been a moderating force in the
Arab world, bankrolling Sadat and
mitigating potentially destructive price
hikes within OPEC. But Camp David,
with its non-consideration of the
Palestinians, bothered them, and they
showed their displeasure with en
dorsement of OPEC's 14.5 percent price
hike in December, and more recently by
abruptly cancelling crown Prince
Fand's state visit.
Although the ruling House Of Saud has
always enjoyed good relations with the
holy men of the country's predominant
Sunni sect, they are not blind to the
Marxism springing up around them in
Dues
Iraq, Iran and the Yemens. They per
ceive the President of the United States
as a weak leader, despite his sending of
Naval vessels to the waters off Yemen
Tuesday. For domestic tranquility's
sake, they may cast their lot with ap
peasement of the more . extreme Arab
states of Iraq, Syria and Libya.
The Palestinian question itself
irritates even the most patriotic of Arab
States. There are large concentrations of
Palestinian refugees within all Arab
league countries. These blocs represent
a potential for trouble, as was amply
evidenced by the Palestinian activity in
the Iranian revolution.
Thus, Jimmy Carter can accomplish
much with a final resolution of the spirit
of Camp David this weekend. A peace
agreement between Israel and Egypt,
with an accompanying framework for
the creation of an independent
Palestinian state, would remove the
most powerful military component from
the Arab fold.
It would also set the stage for a
theorized Israel-Egypt-Saudi Arabian
alliance . to safeguard western interests
in the region in the Post-Shah era.
An Egyptian-Israeli peace would be a
victory for the forces of moderation
favored by Sada t and the Saudis. It
would also aid in splitting off the Saudis
from the more radical elements of
OPEC. Since the Saudis produce one
third of the cartel's oil, independent
Saudi action could blunt the effect of any
OPEC pricing decision, simply by
manipulating output.
With its two largest members not
complying (Saudi Arabia and Iran) with
price decisions, and with Mexico coming
on as a•world exporter, the extortionary
power of OPEC would crumble. A more
economically sound determination of
world supply and price would do won
ders for the American balance of
payments problem, and would once
again make American technology
something of value in the international
community.
But all of this is contingent on a suc
cessful Middle East visit by President
Carter. Jimmy Carter has been here
before; Camp David was a last ditch
effort, too, and moved the Middle East
closer to peace than it's ever been. And
although on the whole the man from
Georgia has been a woefully inept
leader, he can rescue his own political
fortunes and the future of international
energy trade with a diplomatic success
this weekend.
What are his chances? As one senator
said, "If Jimmy Carter didn't have
assurance already from both sides that
this will go, he'd never make this trip."
Judging from Carter's track record,
let's hope you're right, senator.
Brian Golden is a 10th term broadcast
journalism major.
on Council, it cannot be said for certain that
student input is paid its due.
Centre County government is, on the whole,
fairly accessible and not terribly formal, and
its members have often proved themselves to
be open to suggestions. One need not feel
removed from its workings, and students have
ho one to blame but themselves if their voices
are not heard. Yet in the past, attempts to in
tegrate students into local government have
usually been unsuccessful.
The time is ripe for students to make the
difference that everyone is sure we can make.
Primary elections for not only the Borough
Council seats, but for county commissioners
and positions on the school board and many
other areas of local government will be held
May 15.
There will be frequent opportunities for you
to register to vote before the primary.
Take that opportunity its the first step
towards making the difference.
Of course, besides Pennsylvania's ultra-high prices
and generally poor selection, there is the fundamental
question of whether Pennsylvania should be entitled to
have a monopolY in any business. Why liquor instead of
gasoline? Surely, Pennsylvania could make much more
by taking over petrol sales and tacking an 85 percent
tax on its raw cost. The fact is, while Pennsylvania
might have the legal right to monopolize on liquor, it is
ethically wrong for it to do so. Unfortunately, raising
ethical issues with Harrisburg is like shouting at
someone whose ears are closed.
I'd like to take this opportunity to ask everyone, in
cluding my fellow students, to assess his feelings
concerning the resolving of worldwide hunger, both
domestic and foreign.
Hunger in the world is increasing, and the outlook in
many poor countries is cause for alarm. Self-reliance
for these poor countries is the necessary way out of
hunger and poverty.
Although aid from the United States has saved many
lives, it has sometimes discouraged some aid-receiving
countries from increasing their own food production.
This can happen especially when we do nothing more
than simply give food to a nation. It may be tempting
for any nation to use the power it can wield resulting
from its food-producing capacity in light of a world food
problem to manipulate needy nations; but because
much of what we, as a nation, do on the international
level will eventually affect us here in our sheltered land
of America, we should not abuse our God-given
resources.
Our aid programs need to be better organized and
consistently focused on self-reliant development. This
kind of aid is important and you can help make it
happen.
What can you alone do? Write to your congressman.
It will alert him to your concerns. Tell him your views
what you think is important! Our legislators are the
ones to whom we have entrusted the power which we
collectively have.
From the editor:
Since being named editor of The Daily
Collegian in January, I've had my ear
bent time after time about all the things
that are wrong with the Collegian. ,
Students, faculty and administrators
have talked to me about inexperience,
inaccuracy and poor journalism. In
certain cases, they have valid criticism;
in other cases, they do not.
Admittedly, the Collegian has its
faults and its problems, just like any
other newspaper or organization. But
because of a newspaper's important and
visible role in a community, excuses and
reasons for mistakes are often not ac
cepted, and rightly so, considering the
great responsibility a newspaper has.
It may be difficult to accept, but
mistakes are a by-product of im
provement we try to learn from our
mistakes to make ourselves better. We
work to improve the paper and to
decrease the likelihood of mistakes in
the future.
How naive?
The front Page story titled "Pa. Liquor monopoly
may end or change," in the Feb. 15 issue of The Daily
Collegian causes me to write this, in reference to
comments made by Richard Lester, Liquor Control
Board Supervisor for Centre County.
Lester states, "Prices aren't that bad; there's not
that much difference from other states." How naive can
a person be? Or uninformed? All he has to do is pick - up
a copy of any issue of The Washington Post and do some
comparitive shopping. He will quickly see that hard
liquor prices are generally 30 to 50 percent lower there
than here. I don't call that a "little difference."
In addition to price, there is the issue of selection.
While Lester states, "We carry between 2,000 and 3,000
items. A private individual couldn't afford that," the
fact remains that across many private outlets, the total
offerings are much, much greater than Pennsylvania's
system can ever hope to have on hand. That's a real
benefit of free enterprise, rather than monopoly. Again,
Mr. Lester, glance at the Post and see if you can't find
some brand names that aren't on the Pennsylvania list.
You'll find many.
The way out
How we hope to answer our critics' cries
Starting Monday, the Collegian will
Dennis Roberts
Associate Professor of
Educational Psychology
Feb. 15
publish a weekly feature called "In
terview." These will be transcribed
interviews with personalities of student
interest and concern, such as ad
ministrators, faculty members, student
leaders, sports personalities, govern
ment officials, speakers the list is
endless.
"Interview" 's purpose is two-fold.
First, it will give readers valuable infor
mation and insight into personalities of
student interest and concern.,
But what's more important, it will give
David Wollover
9th-agricultural economics and rural sociology
March 6
Selfless
I am in complete disagreement with the article which
recently appeared in The Daily Collegian concerning
the remarks of former Secretary of Education John C.
Pittenger, criticizing the branch campus system of
Penn State University.
I cannot agree that the Commonwealth campuses
were initiated solely from political motives. On the
contrary, they were instituted for purely selfless
motives to provide a sound education for deserving
and worthy students who otherwise would not have been
able to receive such an education. In this, the
University has succeeded admirably.
-- Sol Lubin
President, The Penn State Club of Wyoming Valley
Feb. 26
They also serve
It happens every year. The Daily Collegian forgets
us, the dance marathon committee forgets us, and
many of the dancers don't ever realize we were there.
We're WEHR, the East Halls Radio, Station who, with
the financial backing of the Student Bookstore,
provided music for the dance marathon during the "off
hours" late night and early morning.
Who needs a "thank you" anyway? So we've been
doing this same job for the last few years in the dance
marathon without thanks from anyone. So we were'
given only a few days notice this year and had to rush to
get together our equipment and sponsors. So our name
wasn't even included in the half-page ad in the
Collegian thanking businesses and radio stations . . . so
what? It was all for a great cause and we were proud to
help.
As advertising directors of WEHR, we would at least
like to publicly thank all those who helped us on such
short notice. Thank you, WEHR engineers, technicians,
dics-jockeys, advertising personnel, board of directors,
and East Halls residence association for performing a
true public service. .
All out
Upon returning from term break one must consider
whether or not to submit a dorm contract for the
coming year. One thing that should be pondered is how
poorly Food Services operated on the last few days of
winter term. If the service across campus was as bad as
it was in Findlay Dining Hall then we pity those that
also had to remain until Tuesday morning.
Following are examples of mismanagement and
disregard for students. On Sunday night, it was decided
to have only one diriing hall open instead of the usual
two. As a result, there were exceptionally long lines and
the hall was forced to stay open 15 minutes after the
Pet
6 eut/K4-12..
Mark Hintz
' 9th-advertising
Diane Bonifanti
6th-advertising
advertising directors, WEHR
March 5
these people the opportunity to talk
without the • apprehension that usually
accompanies a newspaper interview.
Because the question and answer session
will be transcribed word for word, there
will be no misquoting and no statements
taken out of context ; just the person's
thoughts and views, completely on the
record.
In another effort to try to improve the
Collegian, primary sources for certain
stories will be sent story evaluation
forms following the publication of a
story. The forms ask questions such as
"Were you quoted correctly?" and "Do
you think you were treated fairly in the
article?"
But the forms, which in the past have
been sent out irregularly and returned
with low frequency, will be of value only
if they are returned.
We are trying to improve the paper
in other ways, too, primarily by working
more closely with reporters, to give
them the experience they need to
dinner. Throughout the last few days, there
shortage of sugar dispensers, with only one on e,b o
two or three tables, and the food on the printed min E
was different from the meals actually served. Fink n
at the last meal served on Tuesday morning, therei F .
no cereal at all, no milk except chocolate, ancfilE
orange juice was watery.
These may seem like petty grievances but witiL_ s
pressures of studying for finals upon us, we wish
eat our meals quickly and hassle-free. We didn't ex
to wait in line for nearly half an hour, and whey { '
0
finally got to eat we found that the food vd
available. Hopefully, with the increased room i
board charges for next year, Food Services will b
more efficiently and with more awareness of , :
students' needs. Stephen 1'
Hey, sis!
It is now over or should be. The incredible ord,.
applying for a dorm contract is now history. It shout
noted that while we were waiting, a letter was recd
by our parents which stated, in regard to dorm
tracts, "Everyone, with the exception of freshmen i l
now apply on a first-come first-serve basis."
This is not true. Members of sororities did not ne;: ,
wait in line. Their rooms were guaranteed. They ne
only to submit their contracts at any time durinqy
prescribed period. Why are some students freed :
the ordeal of applying for dorm contracts while
others were resigned to submit to the rules?
dath4collegial
Pete Barnes
Editor Business Mana
Hawn OP EDITORS: Managing Editor. Harry Glenn, Editorial K -•
Andy Ratner, Jim Zarroli; New, Editors, Bruce Becker, Gina C ^ ;
Copy Editors. Corliss Bachman, Vicki Fong, Tim Konski, Allen R
Jim Wilhelm, Mary Ellen Wright; Photo Editors. Chip Connelly, Jo • -
Assistant Photo Editor, Dave Kraft, Sports Editor. Jerry Micco. :4,,
Sports Editors. Denise Bachman, Jon Saracen(); Features Editor
Ellis; Arts Editor. Joyce Gannon, Issistant Arts Editor, Diana Yo •
Graphics Editor, Della Hoke; Office Manager, Lorraine Ryan
BEAT COORDINATORS: Consumer-Business, Betsy Long; F;
Administration, Amy Endlich; Local Government, Paula IL •
Minorities, Tammy Walro,Studeut Government,Jim McCanney; i
National Government, PaulSunyak.
BOARD OF MANAGERS: Sales Manager, Steve Kornblit ;
Manager, Dave Niderberg; National Ad Manager, Tony Frank; Ass
Sales Manager, Marc Brim nstein; Issistant Office Manager. Kim S
Assistant National Ad Manager, Kathy Matheny.
LAYOUT COORDINATORS: Cindy Bond, Terri Gregos, Cathy Nom
CO-OP COORDINATOR: Nancy 'Punt •
The Daily Collegian encourages comments on news cover'
editorial policy and campus and off-campus affairs. Lq
should be typewritten, double spaced, signed by no more'
two persons and not longer than :30 lines. Students' le
should include the name, term and major of the writer.
The editorial editor reserves the right to edit letters, a
reject them if they are libelous or do not conform to stan
of good taste.
;Th
become better journalists. For exams
a news team of reporters I t"
photographers will be making trip?
Harrisburg once a month and
Washington once a term.
On the feature side, the Collegian F
publish a "Weekend" page e
Friday, beginning tomorrow, which
list everything there is to do at
University over the weekend, inei4
movies, sports, exhibits and sp;
events. A "'•
It
I've mentioned a few of theri t N e •
i
visible changes readers will see di
Collegian, and it would take anon L
column to discuss other changes. II
The important thing to- remerd
though, is that some of these cha4 l ,,,
were made because of criticism..
" I
newspaper can ever hope„ to; (
without it. Criticism from you,
reader —we want it and need it. 1
Pete Barnes is a ninth term polillhe 1
science major and is editor of The I,
Collegian.
9th-manageq
Joseph R. Romanl
9th-electrical enginee,
MaV
t;
Tom I
9th-fin,;
Ma
Marjie Schlessiir