the
daily
collegian
editorial opinion
Despite a lack of captivating is
sues, this year's race for State Col
lege Municipal Council has
developed into a politically interest
ing one. The council Democrats, who
hold a slim voting majority, have
three seats on the line. The two
Democratic incumbent candidates,
having been appointed to council,
are running their first campaigns.
As a way of pooling their strength,
the three Republican candidates
have chosen to run as a team with
the full backing of Mayor Arnold
Addison, who is running unopposed.
And for the first time ever in a State
College municipal council race, a
legitimate third-party candidate is
listed on the ballot.
After considering the seven candi
dates, their positions on the issues
and their past performance in com
munity affairs, The Daily Collegian
offers its views on who could best
serve both students and the commu
nity at large.
Ray Boyle, the Consumer Party
candidate, has taken more stands
and stronger stands on issues close
to students than have the other can
didates, but has not courted the
student vote. Instead, he has shown
a sincere enthusiasm to represent
the entire community and, in compa-
=reader opinion
Transition
On the whole, I enjoyed reading Tim
Beidel's review of Bob Dylan's concert at
Rec Hall. I especially liked his concept of
Dylan (in italics), a "force all its own,
understood by all those '6os children and
'7os stragglers who know exactly how it
feels."
• Two of his comments, though, need a
:little qualifying.
Beidel says, "Dylan's musical style
, now seems stranded in a transition be
tween hard rock and reggae-influenced
. music." He's right, but I think the first
.half of his sentence should be em
:phasized. Dylan's music is "stranded in
:transition." It always has been and it
.always will be. Dylan is an artist who
:constantly revises his art to fit his cur
rent moods and outlook. He is transition
personified. Right now, he's playing rock
and a couple of reggae versions. But as
for next year, who knows? Dylan has
made astonishing changes before (he
:went electric before shocked folkies at
:the Newport Folk Festival in 1965), and
lie will make them again.
And the "titular overanalyzation"
which Beidel says may result from Dy
lan's song selection and order at the Rec
Hall concert has alivays been a problem
for him. His songs are so baroque and
f MOM! CIO THE
)10 ED - ED HOUSING'
HEAD PLAT!
opinions
open to interpretation, no one analysis of
his music can be correct.
I do think Dylan's recent adherence to
Christianity has magnified this problem.
For instance, the chorus of "Like a
Rolling Stone" "How does it feel?"
may now seem like a question addressed
to born-again Christians. Similarly,
"The Times They Are A-Changing" can
'now be read as a foreshadowing of
Judgment Day. But then, Dylan is one
superstar of pop culture who has• never
ben worried that his changes may alien
ate his fans. He is one of the few creators
of pop culture, unafraid of risk. Probably
the most devoted Bob Dylan fan would be
one who is always waiting to see what
mask he will wear next.
Randall Anderson, graduate-journalism
Oct. 27
God and Dylan
Dear Tim Beidel,
We'd like to clear up your misunder
standing of Bob Dylan's change from
"playing a god" to "playing for God." In
many of Dylan's old songs, he admits
that he doesn't have any answers. This is
easily seen in his songs "It Ain't Me,
Babe" and "Blowin' in the Wind," two
songs which you mentioned in your arti-
rison with other candidates, has
shown more willingness to make his
positions clear.
Boyle is just about the only candi
date not to reiterate the catchwords
"fiscal responsibility" when talking
about State College's future. Unlike
any other candidate, he speaks of
improving the town's environment
not just for businesses, but for peo
ple also.
Boyle is the only candidate who
doesn't think building parking lots
should preoccupy the State College
Municipal Council. Instead, he says
the Centre Area Transportation Au
thority should be given greater sup
port a stand on behalf of students,
senior citizens, and anyone who
doesn't own a car or doesn't want to
depend on one.
He is the only candidite to stress
the importance of environmental
issues: he wants to start a municipal
energy commission and recycling
program, to help busineSses and
residents save energy and re
sources.
If Boyle is elected, he may not
sway an otherwise conservative
council, but he will force other mem
bers to publicly state their views on
sensitive but important issues
housing quality, rent .controlrrezon
ing which would otherwise be
._.. THE BLACK
SCHEDULING"
RIB TWISTER!
Endorsements
Ray Boyle is the only council can
didate whom we endorse without
reservations.
Lewis has also come out in favor of
strengthening requirements for con
verting homes into apartment units,
and supports the municipality's op
erating Centre Cab as a service to
the community.
She is known on council as a sensi
ble voice (of which, unfortunately,
there are few), contributing con
structively to debate. We endorse
her candidacy, though not as whole
heartedly as Boyle's.
James Deeslie, a Democrat ap
pointed to the council in spring 1980., '
has shown an interest in the commu
nity beyond the commercial inter
ests of the business community.
He has been a strong advocate of
cle. You also made the statement "where
is the answer? The answer is out there,
it's you and me." Now that Dylan has
fOund the answer, I think he's making it
pretty clear that we're not the answer,
but rather the answer is in the Lord our
God who loves you and me.
You may "worship" Dylan, and people
who don't know the Lord, may "worship"
him, but let me assure you that Bob
Dylan and other Christians are worship
ping the Lord. Dylan's not "basking in
the adoration of near-worshippers," but
rather, God is basking in,the adoration of
Bob Dylan.
Mary Savage, 11th-art
0ct.28
Times change
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'
Come gather around people wherever
you roam;
and admit that the waters around you
have grown;
accept that soon you'll be drenched to the
bone. '
If your time to you is worth saving;
you better start swimming or you will
sink like a stone.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'
—Bob Dylan
?cm 4 7 1 10; 8 4t.
THE DA IL}' COD aUiAtl
NO FINALLY,THE
1U CANT STAY
THE CORMS
TER THENCITRE
ME SAME "
soDYSLAMI
dealt with outside of council meet
ings.
Felicia Lewis, a Democrat, was
appointed to the council in Feb
ruary. She has said she wants to use
some of the federal community de
velopment block grants, which State
College is eligible to receive because
of its new status as a Standard .
Metropolitan Statistical Area, to up
grade housing conditions in the area
perhaps the most crucial issue for
students who now live in substan
dard housing.
The voice on the stereo wails, the same
as it has for almost twenty years. The
message: THE TIMES THEY ARE A
CHANGIN'. I stop and reflect, "It is true,
as true now as it was when it was written
Come writers and critics who prophesize
with your pen;
keep your eyes wide open the chance
won't come again.
Don't speak too soon for the wheel's still
in sin, •
there's no telling who its naming, be
cause the loser now will be later to win.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A• CHANGIN'
It doesn't take much to realize that we
live in a world of increasing instability. If
you read the news you hear of conflict
from Poland, to South Africa, to Beirut,
to El Salvador to Cambodia, etc. You
know, but do not experience, hunger in
the Third World. You have' seen assassi
nation and the insanity that goes with it.
You feel the squeeze of inflation. The
problems continue, but are solutions in
sight?
Come Senators, Congressmen please
heed the call. •
•
Don't stand in the doorway, don't lock up
the hall.
Endorsing political celibacy
Why worry about choosing the best of two evils?
Tomorrow is Election Day, and by now you have proba
bly heard from the political Pollyannas who come out
shortly after Halloween each year in order to remind us to
vote. Their argument runs something to the effect that in a
democratic society it is essential that every citizen vote.
They claim that it matters not. who you vote for but only
that you vote. They tell us that voting is a duty as well as a
right I can still remember an elementary school teacher
telling my class that people who do not vote should have to
live in Russia until they learn to appreciate this country.
cce. oriAoL
Implicit in this argument is the belief that there is
something inherently noble in the act of voting itself, but
before felicitating your fellow citizens for exercising their
suffrage, would it not be more noble still to display at least
a rudimentary interest in what they voted for?
We should not forget that Germany had some very good
government under Frederick the Great and Bismarck, nor
should we overlook the fact that Ludwig H did more for the
arts than the National Education Association ever shall. It
was not until the western nations imposed democratic
government on the German people that they were cursed.
with a string of incompetents which only ended with the
electoral triumph of Hitler.
If we have the opportunity to elect public officials of the
caliber of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln or Dan
Flood, then it is indeed a worthy endeavor to make a
yearly pilgrimage to the polls; however, given the present
state of both major parties and their current crop of
candidates, I suspect that when tomorrow's voters open
their ballots, they will be staring at the other side of
Buridan's ass.
That is to say, if you will let me do so before jumping to
zoning ordimances,. the municipal
sign ordinance, and housing codes as
a way of keeping the downtown area
livable.
Deeslie said he favors using SMSA
funds to strengthen the Centre Re
gional Code Enforcement office a
much-needed move considering the
condition of many buildings that
house students. Deeslie has also ad
vocated raising the housing code
standards.
Deeslie has not been afraid to
defend unpopular moves he's made,
such as supporting the preposterous
and ill-fated municipal , "bong law"
as well as its operating Centre Cab
company.
On a council with few voices raised
on behalf of student concerns, Dees
lie's occasional support is welcome.
John Dombroski's views are cer
tainly not what many students would
like to hear: He supports providing
more downtown parking space
although he says local businesses
should have a hand in paying for it,
dropping municipal support from
Centre Cab, and lessening the effects
of borough housing codes and zoning
ordinances.
However, Dombroski, a Republi
can, has shown his interest and con
cern for the community by regularly
speaking out at municipal council
For he that gets hurt will be he who has
stalled.
The Battle outside raging will soon shake
your windows and rattle your walls.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
Does our system really have a way to
solve these problems?
Or is it being, overcome? Which is the
rule in international reactions, reconcil
iation or force? Can Reagan and the
questionable budget cuts bring us out of
the "Recession"? THE TIMES THEY
ARE A CHANGIN'.
Come Mothers and Fathers throughout
the land;
Don't criticize what you don't under
stand,
your sons and daughters are beyond your
command.
Your old road is rapidly aging,
please set out a new one if you can't lend
a hand.
d t a h 4 c ol i egian
Monday Nov. 2, 1981—Page 2
Paula Froke
Editor
meetings and has been the most
candid, open-minded and indepen
dent of the Republican "team" can
didates.
We have difficulty, however, giv
ing full endorsement to either Dees
lie or Dombroski, though both have
qualities that could benefit the coun
cil.
We have chosen not to support
Democrat Grove Spearly and Re
publicans Ralph Way - and Gary
Wiser. Spearly's positions may not
be drastically different from those of
Lewis and Deeslie, and Wiser's are
similar to Dombroski's, but neither
has shown evidence of strong lead
ership qualities in interviews and
candidates night discussions.
Way, alone among seven candi-
I dates, failed to attend candidates
nights sponsored by the League of
Women Voters and the Undergrad
uate Student Government, and de
clined to be interviewed concerning
his candidacy.
The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is
determined by its Board of Opinion, with the
editor-in-chief holding final responsibility.
Replies to these endorsements are welcome,
and must be delivered to 126 Carnegie by 5
p.m. today in order . to appear in tomorrow's
Collegian.
hasty conclusions, that we have an inversion of a medieval
philosophical problem known •as the "Dilemma of Buri-,
dan's Ass." •
Buridan was a 14th-century philosopher who claimed
that if a donkey were placed between two equally desirable
piles of straw, the animal would starve to death becaus?.
an inability to decide between the two. Although this thesis
may not be literally true, it remains, nevertheles, a valid
metaphor for expressing the impossibility of making a
rational decision when confronted by two equally attrae.
tive alternatives.
Now let us preserve our metaphor and ask ourselves, if
the same ass were confronted with two equally undesirable
situations such as death by a saline injection on the the one
hand, or from exposure to radioactive waste on the other,
would it be to the animal's discredit if the beast remained
immobile and opted for neither fate?
Carrying this over to a human plane, if my butcher were
to present me with two equally maggot-infested pieces of
meat, would I be obliged to remain a carnivore? If the only
two free women at a party were Bella Abzug and Phyllis
Schlafley, would celibacy be unthinkable? And if the only
two radio stations in town were featuring the "Greatest
Hits of Terry Beard" and "The Bro Cope Hour" in
identical time slots, would silence not be golden?
Now on a political level, let us say that .we have two
political parties, Watergate and Abscam, and both parties
are running a slate of equally ambitious crooks, equally
convincing hypocrites, and equally incompetant boobs.
Would abstention from or participation in the farce be the
greater desecration of your right to vote?
Should there be any doubt in your mind, try the following
test. Pick up a sample ballot•and as you read each name
ask yourself: Would I co-sign a loan for this person? Would
I permit this person to arrange mail-order marriages for
my children? Would I bet $lOO on Pitt still being Number
Two tomorrow because this person told me to?
If your answer is no to all three, then I suggest that you
spend tomorrow contemplating the bliss of political celi
bacy. •
Sean de Hora is a graduate student in history. His column
appears on Mondays.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
Dylan points out that great change in
the future is something we all must
accept. Our present way of life is no more
sacred of eternal than those that have
gone before." The world is turning: New
ideas and trends will triumph whether
we like them or not. We must "start
swimming or sink like a stone." Keep it
in mind when you wander in tradition or
past expectations. Reject the steady
state.
The line is drawn, the curse is cast.
The slow now will later be fast
as the present now will later be past.
The order is rapidly fading. The first now
will later be last.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
Josh Novak, 7th-history
Oct. 28
Debby Vinokur
Business Manager
01981 Collegian Inc
reader opinion
Right to life
left who can consistently extend their
beliefs to accept these premises. The
Robin Wien wrote to the Collegian that presence of our organization is a humble
"Pro-lifers for Survival links contradic- yet convicting piece of evidence in sup
tory ideas by 'voicing anti-abortion doc- port of that belief.
trine through the peace movement.' " As
a member of that organization I would
like to defend and clarify our position.
Robin seems to have misunderstood our
inspiration.
We as members of pro-life and peace
groups who have found that our outcry to
defend human life could be consistently
extended to .either side: pro-life Reaga
nites who could no, longer advocate a
defense system which would drop nucle
ar bombs on the born and unborn, and of
course, leftists like myself who became
convinced that a fetus is a meaningful
life in need of defense.
I see Robin would legitimize abortion
in part by economic arguments. Will we •Reuben Sairs, State College resident
deal with economic injustice by eliminat- 0ct.23
ing its potential victims through the not-
so-free-to-choose, strapped mother, or by
attacking the real enemy: class exploita
tion and injustice? Maybe you otherwise
end up exploiting the women you seek to
defend.
Of course our argument rests on two of crowd enthusiasm at Penn State home
premises: 1) fetal life is meaningful life, football games. These articles have tried
and 2) all life is precious, and not to be • to explain this problem in three ways: 1)
sucked out of the uterus or bombed. We By pointing out that Penn State alumni
believe there are many on the right and are educated football fans who enjoy
ejIEN ONE PAY THE BRAVEAND HANDSOME HUNTER CAME UPON A
CLEARING IN At WOODED GLADLSODDENLY HE RAISED HIS TRUSTY
RIFLE AND TOOK CAREFUL Mist RAM( WWI HE DROPPED
BAMBI AND BAMM MOVER tit KAM( BMW. HE GOT
THUMPER AND WM, II GAM, 61.44,15CAM01
We work on both sides. We do not work
for or against legislation, or shout at
women entering abortion clinics. We
calmly present our beliefs and evidence
in educational formats.
The connection, you see, lies not en
tirely in who kills what and how, but with
people who have found their beliefs tragi
cally inconsistent if drawn out on the
typical left-right scheme. Obviously, it is
not a binding connection to people who
believe that a fetus is not meaningful life,
and/or would defend themselves by
bombing Soviet society's most vulnera
ble members.
Don't be afraid
During the past month, there have
been many letters written about the•lack
Nittany Lion football without making a
lot of noise, 2) By telling us how the shape
of Beaver Stadium disperses and loses
the sound, and 3) By reminding us how
hard it is to be enthusiastic when Penn
State has the game well in hand by the
end of the first half.
While all of these explanations appear
to be soundly based, I feel that they
overlook the major cause of the problem
a passive student body. With roughly
20,000 students in attendance at each
home game, the alumni should not be
needed to make noise, even if Beaver
Stadium does not have the acoustics of
Eisenhower Auditorium. Of course there
is always the first half blowout theory.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, Penn State was
leading a fired up West Virginia team by
three points at the end of the first half,
hardly a blowout. Did that generate the
enthusiasm that the players have been
hoping for? No. Even with the score that
close, the primary concern of the student
body was how to stretch their alcohol
throughout the second half in order to
ward off the cold. If everyone , stood up
and cheered a little bit, we would all stay
warm.
Penn State is the number one football
team in the nation; however, we will
have to fight to stay on top,' especially
when Alabama and Notre Dame come to
town. Let's not lose a game and a possi
ble national championship because we,
the student body, were afraid to stand up
and cheer.
Mark A. White, 4th-chemical engineering
Oct. 27
All people
What is wrong with the students on this
campus? In the past week or so The
Daily Collegian has run a letter from an
anonymous female who is evidently dis
satisfied with the men at University
Park, and countless letters from. irate
engineers, nerds,. Hare Krishnas, and
gays.
It is my observation that many of the
gentlemen on this campus would like to
find a nice young lady (I'm one of those
gentlemen) and many of the ladies on
campus are looking for a gentlemen.
Fine. Now what is the problem?
You must realize I use the terms "la
dies and gentlenien" because I feel that
the large majority of the students are
gentlemen and ladies. And, although a
few of the men are nerds, engineers, and
sex fiends, or whatever class you want to
fit them in, there are also an equal
number of females in these categories.
Let them find each other and let the
ladies and gentlemen find each, other.
The only way to do this is if we were all
to look at each other as people 7 individ-
uals with our own qualities and unfortu
nately, faults we could find someone to
have a wonderful relationship with.
So, instead of looking at people and
putting them into a stereotypical mold
(whichever one it is) look at what they
are. And while we are doing this let's
look at ourselves; we may be surprised.
Philip J. Candreva, 4th-architecture
Oct. 23
Super effort
The Interfraternity Council commu
nity relations effort is super, in not only
establishing a liaison with neighbor and
government, but in providing a continu
ing dialogue with this office.
The recent announcement of the de
tails of what is involved in making this
relationship solid is not only appreciated
by neighbors but by the total community.
It is a real class effort.
Arnold Addison, State College mayor
Oct. 22
Demeaning
As I walked pait the Student Book
Store on College Avenue the other day, I
was a bit disturbed by the current win
dow painting adorning a large area of
glass. • It was an advertisement for a
haunted house which will take place at
Crow House this coming Halloween
weekend. Like many greek-sponsored
events, it will benefit a charity, always a
worthy and noble thing to do. •
My dismay was not caused by the idea
of a haunted house, or by the charitable
motivation involved. What upset me, and
still does, was the larger-than-life picture
of a woman with large mammary glands,
a slit in her dress exposing the entire
length of one thigh, and whose wrists
were bound in manacles. This was the
dominant focal point in a picture in
tended to advertise a haunted house.
I spoke to Mrs. Adams, in the Student
Book Store, regarding this painting. She
was helpful and a bit concerned, but it
had never occurred to her to first ap
prove the designs which frequently adorn
the store's windows.
I spoke to several people at Alpha Chi
Rho (Crow House), which along with
Alpha Phi is sponsoring the entire event.
Chris Hartman signed up at the
bookstore in order for his organization to
do the window painting, but stated that
he was not involved in the design or
painting itself. Dave Reagan, who is the
director of the haunted house, stressed to
me the charitable motive, which I find no
fault with, but was unable to explain why
a woman in chains was an acceptable
.
way of advertising the event.
I spoke to the creator of such fine art,
Jim Eichelberger, who is also a member
USG Student Senate
As representatives of the student body, the USG
Senate would like to know your feelings on a varie
ty of University issues that directly concern you.
Please list the following issues from 1 (highest
priority) to 10 (lowest priority)
Tuition increases
Availability of summer jobs
University disciplinary policy
Suitability of graduate students as instructors
The conversion from term system to semester system
Preferential treatment given to athletes and athletic facilities
On campus living options
Lack of faculty and "weeding out" in major areas of study
Downtown and apartment housing concerns
Please list any other comments, suggestions or
gripes:
Survey boxes will be available at the HUB desk, the
lobby of Willard, and Pattee Library at the desk
until Friday, November 6.
U• 288 08L
Act takes vets' aid,
reclassifies benefits
By JOHN MOYER
Political affairs vice president
Penn State Veteran's Organization
On Oct. 1, 1981, the Omnibus Recon
ciliation Act went into effect. Among
the many facets of this law were
several that reduced student aid.
These aid cuts affect many students,
but possibly the cruelest cut of all
deals with veterans.
forum
By the simple act of designating
veteran's benefits as financial aid
rather than earned income, for the
purposes of calculating Guaranteed
Student Loan eligibility, the student
veteran's ability to continue his edu
cation has been drastically reduced.
Previously, veteran's benefits were
not considered as part of the stu
dent's Financial Aid Package, which
allowed most vets to obtain up to $2,-
500 a year in low-interest loans.
Veterans, more so than "traditional
students," are independent of their
families and this borrowing ability
has provided the necessary funds for
many vets to continue their educa
tion.
Under the recent change, the aver
age veteran's bOrrowing power has
been reduced in the neighborhood of
$l,OOO per year. We feel that this
arbitrary reduction is. contrary to
the law's intent.
Title 38, U.S. Code states that
educational benefits for veterans
of Alpha Chi Rho. His voice escalated
rapidly as I queried him over the phone.
My criticisms were rebuked with cries of
rage, but I received no answers when I
questioned why a woman bound in chains
was the focal point of his design. I ac
knowledge that she was flanked by two
green alligator-like creatures who held
her chains, and that a bat and some other
organism of unknown origin were over
her head, but their impact was much less
almost negligible.
What kind of view of womankind is
this? Women will remain in the shackles
of discrimination when conceptions of
this kind are perpetuated. The painting
by Jim Eichelberger is a fine example of
the degradation of women which is some
times so commonplace that it seems
The Daily Collegian Monday, Nov. 2, 1981—
were established to "Provide educa
tional assistance to qualified and
deserving young people who might
otherwise be unable to afford an
education." Benefits are provided to
"restore lost educational opportuni
ties to those servicemen whose ca
reers have been interrupted or
impeded by active duty in the mili
tary." When we entered the military
sevice, we understood that if we
desired to continue our education
upon the completion of active duty,
the financial means to do so would
be made available to us. Now we are
being told that this money is not an
earned entitlement at, all, but the
same as "gift aid."
In worse shape yet are those stu
dent vets who entered the service
after Jan. 1, 1977, and who have
participated in the "contributory"
program by assigning up to $lOO a
month from their pay to a fund
designed to aid them in educational
expenses upon completion of their
service. This person is now being
kindly told that this money, HIS
PAY, was not earned or saved but is
"gift aid."
As student veterans, we feel that
this change wrongly penalizes those
who,have served their country. Vet
erans, before the congressional bud
get slashing ax falls on another of
our "benefits" we must band togeth
er as a group and represent our
concerns. If you care, help fight for
what is ours. If we don't speak now,
our legislators will interpret out
silence as consent and we will make
ourselves and future veterans a
prime target yet other cuts.
irrelevant. Well, I say that it is far from
irrelevant, but that it forms and nurtures
a false and demeaning notion of what
women are all about.
Karyn Reott, 10th-biology
Oct. 28
Proud trash
To the thousands of people who feel
compelled to party and be PENN STATE
PROUD on football weekends, judging
from the vast amounts of garbage strewn
about our beautiful campus and town,
you certainly aren't leaving much to
PROUD about.
Sandy Alexander, 9th-biology
Oct. 27 .