the
daily
collegian
editorial opinion
Bricks and mortar
University is more than labs and buildings
Here's some good news, but is it
good enough?
The state Senate appropriatiops
committee has voted to allocate
$13.4 million to modernize and reno
vate Buckhout Laboratory, Mineral
Science and Mineral Industries
buildings.
The money would go to an easy-to
see use. When improvements are
complete, state legislators could
drive through University Park, point
to Buckhout and see the fruits of
their constituents' tax dollars writ
ten in brick and mortar. They could
feel proud. They should.
As Sen. J. Doyle Corman, R-cen
tral Pa., said, the money f9r renova
tions is greatly needed to keep the
University in its leadership role in
mineral since and mineral indus
tries education. After the appropria
tion, the labs can be up-to:date.
Students anti faculty members in
mineral sciences and mineral indus
tries would be able to carry out all
sorts of outlandish and wonderful
experiments because of the im
provements. And that's good. That's
what a university is for. Experimen-
tation. Knowing by doing.
But what about improvements in
knowledge that can't be made by
enlarging faucets or putting holes in
walls? What about the inundation of
information that the University has
A game becomes a nightmare
At the Homecoming game tomorrow,
it is inevitable that people will be hurt by
debris thrown by rowdy "fans."
Last Saturday, while Penn State was
throwing footballs at Temple, what
seemed like 40,000 of the 80,000 specta
tors were throwing marshmallows, pret
zels, cookies and bottles at each other.
Twenty people• were treated by the De
partment of University Safety, some for
assorted ailments, some for the by-now
commonplace inebriation and five
who needed first aid after being hit by
flying cookies, marshmallows and a bot
tle. One suffered a scratched cornea,
another a bruised cheekbone. One man
had to have his head shaved to remove a
marshmallow.
And those were just the people who
sought help.
Howard 0. Triebold, manager of the
safety division of University Safety, said
he can't remember so many fans need
ing medical treatment at once. John E.
Rideout of University Police Services
said police don't look forward to working
opinions
missed out on because there wasn't
enough money to fill Pattee to its
rafters?
If a legislator were to propose
allocating several million dollars to
improve the academic atmosphere
at the University, his colleagues
and/or constituents might wonder
exactly where the money would end
up.
And when it came time for that
legislator to run for re-election, he'd
have a hard time showing the results
of the money allocated through the
bill he had sponsored. Cost-benefit
calculations just don't leave room
for such intangible expenditures.
But the University's contribution
to the state comes in a multitude of
subtle ways, not just through the
obvious things like coal drilling. So,
while one certainly cannot complain
about money given to industry-re
lated fields, neither can anyone af
ford to watch the Legislature ignore
the University's . equally pressing
need for improvements in education
at large.
Perhaps our state legislators
should be more bold, more lofty.
Maybe they should try to promote
thinking, not just the brick and mor
tar that keeps the cold out.
The Daily Collegian's
,editorial opinion is
determined by its Board of Opinion, with the
editor-in-chief holding final responsibility.
Topics
at football games anymore. And who
knows how many fans have started stay
ing home from the games because they
literally fear for their safety.
People around the world react to the
recent events in Egypt as an indication
of our society's condition. People at Penn
State don't have to look much farther
than the stands of their football stadium.
A startling revelation
Surprise, surprise: Academic Assem
bly may have input into the University's
budgetary process.
According to Chris Hopwood, assem
bly president, the group didn't know that
until University President John W. Os
wald said so during as recent Student
Advisory Board meeting.
Hopwood said he previously thought
the assembly might have some input into
the budget process, but said, when he
voiced the idea to administrators other
than Oswald, "it went thud."
The first.step toward exercising power
is knowing you have it.
-reader opinion
Respect
I am extremely angry that many professors
are so ignorant of the importance of the Jewish
High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur are the most significant days in the
Jewish calendar. The whole spirit of these days
is one of seriousness and solemnity, and much of
our time is spent in synagogue.
Professors frequently schedule exams and
activities on these days, and once this fact is
brought to their attention, they are often reluc
tant to alter the schedule or make special allow
ances.
Not only should Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur be acknowledged they should also be
respected.
Would anyone consider scheduling an exam on
Christmas Eve?
Jacqueline Budney, Bth-elementary educatio
n/early childhood
Michael Selditch, 7th-architecture
Karen Hasher, 7th-business administration
In tune
"A political party should have a political
ideology. The Democrats don't have one." That's
how Tom Ortenberg interpreted the article by
the Collegian on Young Democrats. Well, I'm
afraid foi. you, Mr. Ortenberg, that the Demo
crats do have an ideology. As I stated in the
article printed by the Collegian, the party is
coming up with positions that are more in tune
with the basic tenets of the party and the mood of
the country.
What are the basic tenets of the party? Protec
tion of the worker in his working environment;
protecting the worker from the ups and downs of
the economy while striving for a strong econ
omy; protection of our natural resources, espe
cially clean air and clean water, encouraging
private industry to develop alternative energy
resources, maintaining a strong human rights
policy abroad and at home, maintaining a strong
quality military, striving •to reduce world ten
sions between the United States and the Soviet
Cd ace- - et . '
C.c...4(6,e.)
MEM
Union, ensuring that the needy receive adequate
food, shelter, and medical care, and making
higher education available to those who want it.
So you can see that the Democrats are a party
with an ideology. We do offer an alternative to
the present administrative policies. Also, we do
feel winning is important. Something I'm sure
we'll see more of once people understand what
conservative Republicans like President Reagan
really want to do in this country.
David White, 7th-accounting
President, College Young Democrats
Oct. 7
Gregg's right
Rep. Gregg L. Cunningham's (R-Centre Coun
ty) decision to ask the media to treat his town
meetings as "off the record, for background
only" is neither new nor a supression of the
press.
At a town meeting'l attended in July, he made
this same clarification and explained that he did
so to encourage those constituents present to
speak their minds on the issues. There are quite
a few people, myself included, who didn't feel
comfortable speaking up on controversial issues
with the knowledge that it may be reported by
the media the next day.
The town meetings held by Cunningham are
held in order to establish better communications
A 'useless' major
What good is 25K without enjoying learning?
During the past three years, I have become an
expert in evading the common question, "What's
your major?"
Not that I have anything to hide. I don't consid
er being in the College of The Liberal Arts
comparable to membership in the Ku Klux Klan
or the Josef Stalin Fan Club.
But judging from the looks of horror and shock I
encounter when I tell people I'm a political
science major, some people must see a connec
tion.
And whenever I am forced to admit my major,
my confession almost always creates a bewil
dered silence and prompts another question:
"What are you going to do with political science?"
My answer is even more shocking than my
major probably nothing.
I could traumatize people even furthei * if I
mentioned that my second major is history, which
is considered even more useless than political
science. But I rarely reveal the part about being a
history major for fear of creating a riot.
I am not the only liberal arts major who used to
live in mortal fear of being asked about my
chosen fields of study.
But now that my graduation is only weeks away
and my BA in useless studies is almost in my
possession, I suddenly find myself less defensive
about my choice of majors.
Instead of avoiding the question of my major
and the silent disapproval it so often provokes, I
now boldly counter with a question of my own.
Why is everyone so hostile to anyone who
majors in a field of study that doesn't guarantee a
$25,000 a year job with an important corporation
right after graduation?
I only ask the question for shock effect since
I've already developed a theory about the answer.
The majority of students at the University
choose majors that will guarantee jobs after
graduation. In fact, many students are so ob
sessed with the job market and their future salary
that their choice of major is completely deter-
. •
•••„' • '
*:: • ~,f ,".•''
between himself and the people he represents.
He is not required to hold such meetings and
they are not subject to the state Sunshine Law.
They are not billed as a media event or a press
conference.
At the meeting I attended, Cunningham sai*
that if anyone from the media was present he
would be glad to remain after the town meeting
and answer any questions. The media was also
free to ask questions of anyone present after the
meeting. I know of no other representative in the
state who is as accessible to the media and his
constituency as Gregg Cunningham. •
I personally am very glad that Cunningham is
attempting to encourage open and frank dis
cussions at the town meetings by making his
constituents feel as comfortable as possible.
Jolene West, State College resident
Oct. 5
dtandeycollegian
Friday Oct. 9, 1981—Page 2
Paula Froke
Editor
mined by these considerations rather than by
interest in a given field of study.
Unfortunately people who suffer through term
after term of classes they hate tend to be frus
trated academically I mean.
And when these frustrated people are con
fronted with anyone. who refuses to waste four
years preparing to make $25,000 a year and
instead studies something useless but interesting,
the reaction is often envious hostility.
Not that I condemn anyone who chooses a
major that proves lucrative as well as interesting.
Architecture is a wonderful major for people who
find it a fascinating field. The same is true of
accounting or business or engineering.
But I am tired of being condemned for being a
political science and history major by people whOr
aren't happy with their own majors and want me
to be as miserable as they are and as practical
and greedy.
I didn't come to Penn State seeking misery, and
I wasn't practical enough to consider money the
most important factor when I chose my major.
My father didn't see it that way at' all. Hedik
encouraged me to take engineering despite my
pathological hatred of math and my inept scientif
ic abilities. And to my surprise everyone agreed
with him.
At the time I patiently explained to him that I
could not spend four years of my life taking
courses I hated out of fear that liberal arts might
not provide me with immediate employment. 4
How radical. What nerve. But I never felt like
much of a revolutionary until I arrived at Univer
sity Park.
Suddenly I faced chorus after chorus of crit
icism from my fellow students for choosing a
major on the basis of anything other than con
crete dollar considerations: Are my values they /
ones that should be questioned? I don't think so.
I don't regret my choice of majors . and I'm not
worried about finding a job once I graduate.
Because even if I end up waitressing instead of
reporting for The New York Times, I'll be able to
say I did what I wanted for the past 12 terms,
enjoyed almost all of my classes and will actually
miss the academic part of college life when
graduate.
Unfortunately, many people who graduate from
Penn State can't say the same.
Lynda Robinson is a 12th term political science
and, history major and a copy editor for The Daily
Collegian.
. ,
01981 Collegian Inc
Debby Vinokur
Business Manager
•
Cunningham controversy
Abortion bill confused with sponsor
Gregg Cunningham kept his abortion
.control act legislation at arm's length
from the media throughout the spring. At
his weekly pi.ess conferences, he would
haul the thick stack of papers out of his
briefcase, say "Here it then whisk it
out of sight.
In doing that, he seemed to enjoy
creating an aura of suspense around the
controversial piece of legislation. But
then again, Cunningham is not one to
pass up an opportunity to promote him
self along with his proposals.
In late June, when he introduced the
bill with fellow conservative, Rep. Ste
phen Freind, R-Westmoreland County,
* the suspense created hardly seemed
overplayed. It's righteous, it's moralistic
-and it's enough to leave what Cunning
ham refers to as "the hard left" 'demand
ing his removal from office.
Many people are outraged by it simply
because of their personal feelings toward
Cunningham without knowing exactly
what the bill contains.
Although it is often difficult to distin
guish where Cunningham begins and his
legislation leaves off, one's argument
against the bill should contain more than
just slanderous remarks about its prime
sponsor.
The following is what your local legis
lator intends to make law, for all Pennsyl
vanians:
• After a woman decides on an abor
tion, she must be counselled by her
doctor and made to wait at least 72 hours
(recently lowered to 24 hours) before the
operation, unless in the case of an emer
gency. During that time, her doctor is
instructed to provide information on the
adoption alternative.
The doctor is also instructed to show
her "detailed colored photographs" of
the fetus in various stages -
.of devel
opment during pregnancy, and also col
ored photos of aborted fetuses after
seven different abortion procedures.
•_ A female who is a minor and still
living under the control of her parents, or
a female 'deemed incompetent cannot
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have abortion without parental consent
or court approval.
•. A woman, or her doctor, must notify
the child's father of her intentions at
least 'lO days before the abortion. .His
consent is not necessary.
• If a doctor determines a baby is
potentially able to live outside the moth
er's womb (the amount of time may
vary), abortions are prohibited except if
the mother's life or health are endan
gered. If those two criteria are met, the
doctor must choose a method that would
most likely see the baby born alive.
"The psychological or emotional im
pact upon the mother of her unborn child
surviving the abortion 'shall not be a
factor in the determining of danger to the
woman's life or health."
•' An aborted fetus must be issued a
death certificate and buried according to
state law, which means buying a casket
or arranging for cremation would be
necessary.
• Nurses and medical assistants are
granted permission to refuse to partake
in an abortion operation if they are
personally opposed to .it without fear of
disiplinary action.
-• No state-owned hospitals or health
facilities can be used to perform abor
tions, unless the mother's life is in dan
ger or the pregnancy was caused by rape
or incest.
• No state funds will be provided for
abortions unless the mother's life is in
danger, or again, if the pregnancy was
caused by rape or incest. To qualify for
aid, rape victims must report the crime
within 72 hours. An incest victim has 72
RUST
24c 0 0
CAMEL
LODEN EACH
z i t,6ll U :
4
238-4050
hours after she finds out she is pregnant
to report her assault. She must also
identify "the partner of the incestuous
act."
According to its Cunningham and Fr
eind, the bill respects the right of women
to choose an abortion as well as their
right to privacy as stated in a 1973
Supreme Court decision.
That is a dubious point. What good is a
constitutional right when it's filled with
qualifications and obstacles? The Consti
tution guarantees us freedom of speech,
but that right would be practically use
less if we had to wait three days to voice
a criticism.
And where is the right to privacy when
in the case of incest, the victim must
reveal the identity of her partner?
No, the bill is not outlawing abortion
outright. It is simply trying to make
them as difficult and painstaking as
possible to come by. •
That's where the futility of the abortion,
argument comes to light. The more diffi
cult an abortion is to come by safely and
legally, the more many women will be
forced to find unsafe, illegal ways of
obtaining one.
Then what is accomplished? In at
tempting to protect the rights of the
unborn child, the life of the mother is
placed in jeopardy.
The arguments can go on indefinitely.
But the only way of accomplishing any
thing is to argue the content of the bill,
not the content of Cunningham's charac
ter.
The bill, which was narrowly rejected
last week by the House Health and Wel
fare Committee, needs to be modified
and made more realistic. Criticisms
aimed at Harrisburg legislators, not at
Cunningham, could ensure that these
changes are made.
Justin Catanoso is a 10th-term journa
lism major covering state politics for
The Daily Collegian. His columns appear
on Fridays.
r
N E
II II
111
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Osama Jadaan, 9th-civil engineering: "He did absolu- Chuck Dietrick, loth-marketing: "lie's the one that
tely nothing. All this business is just garbage. It's fair made it (peace) possible .. . I think there's going to be
for the Israelis and not the Palistinians who are at the a lot of confusion for a long time before'we see how the
center of the problem. He's just keeping peace for his vice president is going to stand up to the other Arab
country. I'm glad they got one of the traitors in the countries."
Middle East."
Paul Lesliner, 10th-marketing: "I think it (Sadat's Laurie Gallagher, Ist-advertising: "Sadat was impor
death) is definitely going to cause trouble. Someone's tant to the Middle East because he's the only one to go
going to get into government who doesn't promote out on a limb to promote peace."
peace and they're going to have to start at point one
again." ' .
UNIVERSITY CONCERT COMMITTEE
D prZ'V
Tuesday, October 13, 1981 8:00 p.m.
Eisenhower Auditorium
Ticket applications available at HUB desk, Oct. 2-5
Applications will be , accepted at HUB desk
Remaining tickets will be sold starting Oct. 9, J a.m.
Quotographs
A weekly look of University life
Question: Do you think Anwar Sadat was a peacemaker?
ST. PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
250 E. College Ave., State College, PA 16801
Sunday Worship - 9:15 & 10:45 a.m.
Students/Young Adults Class - 10:30 a.m.
The Rev. Robert Vowler,
Senior Minister, preaching
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 6& 7 •
presents:
IC ~,,-
_ . 2 2 ...; -• i i
'..'' ---moov. , •—: , - • f
The Daily Collegian Friday, Oct. 9,
Tickets: $5,6 , 7