the
daily
collegian
editorial opinion
In the land of No.l , academics take a back seat to football
The football team lost. We're not No.l. We're
N 0.6 the fifth No.l team this season to lose a
game and tumble from the top of the heap.
So what. It's only a game.
But it's more than a game.
It's a game that makes enough money to
support each of the 30 other intercollegiate
sports programs at Penn State.
It's a game that paid for expansion of Beaver
Stadium, construction of the indoor sports
complex, resurfacing of University tennis
courts and upkeep of the University golf
courses which are used by everyone, not just
the athletic department.
It's a game that draws thousands of people
into State College every football weekend
and thousands of dollars into the. State College
economy.
It's more than a game. It's an identity
Football is Penn State.
But should it be? This is a University, after
all, and it ought to be known for academics.
That is why we're here isn't it?
Ask anyone on the street who has the No.l
architectural engineering program in the
country and you'll probably get laughed at.
=reader opinion
Treat for children
They came'skipping up on the porch, laughing
and yelling; "Trick or treat!" at the top of their
lungs. Then, smiling broadly, they held open
their bags secure in the knowledge that the
helpless homeowner was morally obliged to treat
them:
Living in a private home downtown, I was
privy to the onslaught of Halloweeners Saturday
evening. All the traditional costumes (ghosts,
witches, vampires) came out as well as some
new age outfits (Darth Vadar was popular). I
was especially intrigued by the bizarre, often
unrecognizable creations. A young boy wearing
a red suit and a bright blue afro wig informed the
that he was a punk rocker, although he admitted
his hair was "my stepmother's disco wig." I
wonder if his contrasting styles were intentional.
Many costumes were highly imaginative.
Elaborate facial makeup attested to a flair for
the dramatic. One well-read prankster called
herself "the woman of the Dark Sonnet, from
Shakespeare." Then too, some were very down
to-earth. A little girl in a dress and makeup
simply said, "I'm a lady." •
Overall, the scene was the same as I've always
remembered it, a chilly autumn night, complete
with wild disguises and take-home candy.
T4icks, on the other hand, are also a part of the
festivities. In my neighborhood we rarely re
sdrted to trickery. But when the Halloween spirit
moved us, we were very proficient at the tradi
tional dastardly deeds.
Children in masks, going door to door for
candy may seem far removed from Penn State's
weekend Halloween celebrations, but the chil
dren seemed to be enjoying themselves as much
as any of us Saturday night.
Daniel Johnson, State College resident
Nov. 1
Inconsiderate
The answer to the article, "Can't They Read,"
is obviously NO. Upon walking into Waring
Dining Hall today, we noticed that we have some
inconsiderate supervisors. Up until today, the
dining hall had an equal number of tables in the
no-smoking and smoking sections. Today, how
ever, the ratio changed in favor of the smoking
section.
These inconsiderate supervisors, including
Miss D. Sublusky (assistant dining hall supervi
sor), moved the no-smoking sign to include their
favorite tables. Why can these supervisors be so
inconsiderate and privileged? We did respect
them until their show of sarcasm. We get more
respect from the custodians of West Halls, whom
we have the utmost respect for.
opinions
Foolish pride
What must we do to get them to use ashtrays,
not dinnerware? We personally don't enjoy the
thought of eating food out of old ashtrays. How
would you like to drink out of a glass we spit
chewing tobacco in? We're sure they wouldn't
like it.
If these supervisors would like, we would
personally tutor them in recognizing ashtrays
and obeying signs. We feel it would benefit us all.
As Rodney Dangerfield would say, we "don't
get no respect."
Rodney M. Moyer, 7th-economics
Brian J. Rhoads, 10th-ceramic science and engi
neering
Oct. 29
Right to know
I am shocked and appalled by the recent
senatorial passage of the AWACS deal. Not
necessarily because of the factors involved in
AWACS, but rather because it raises some doubt
over American democracy. The event was called
a Reagan victory. To me, it looks more like a
confirmation that undemocratic forces are hav
ing an influential impact on the American politi
cal system.
Our government is of the people, by the people,
and for the people, according to our Founding
Fathers. Congress was created to represent
effectively . and, most important, democrati
cally all American citizens. The AWACS vote
seems to be but a rebuttal of this basic American
principle.
For as we knew two weeks before the actual
Senate vote that most senators disfavored the
deal. Then we observed how President Reagan
contacted his opponents and uncommitted ones,
attempting to make them (the representatives of
the people!) aware of his "rationale" for selling
the arms to the Saudis.
We then heard the news: Reagan got what he
wanted, again. Doesn't it make you wonder what
means he used to convince his opponents some
of them totally opposed to the deal? What did
Reagan do to persuade them? Doesn't this de
serve great attention? Shouldn't the public
know?
Did our congressmen sacrifice their views
assumed to be the voice of 'their constituents
against simply going along with President Rea
gan's personal view? Do they fear opposing him,
even though opposition might be a constructive
act of representing the people of the constitu
ency? For our sake as Americans in a great
democracy, let us find the answers to these
questions.
We have a right to know.
Richard C. Pelletier, 4th-economics
Oct. 30 „
(For your information, Penn State had the
No.i architectural engineering program,
according to the most recent Gourman Report,
rating undergraduate programs.)
But ask whose football team was ranked
No.l in football last week, and you'll probably
be asked if you've been dozing in Siberia for a
month.
College libraries, too, are ranked. But the
fact that Penn State's library system dropped
from 54th to 59th in one ranking last year has
few people outside Pattee crying over their
beer. (Notre Dame dropped in the ratings last
year, too, and their fans don't seem to care
either). Libraries just aren't as exciting as
football; the Associated Press doesn't put out
weekly library rankings; and 85,000 people
don't turn out every weekend to sit in the
stacks.
Yes, football is what makes us "Penn State
Proud." •
If we didn't have football, we'd be apathetic
about everything.
The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by its
Board of Opinion, with the editor-in-chief holding final
responsibility.
IS CALLS FoR
FLYING AT
SUPERSONIC
PEEPS, XRAY
ISION AND
DEFENDING
IRON, JUSRC6
AND THE
AMERICAN WAY,
Seniors screwed
We are greatly disturbed by an incident that
occurred at the PSU-WVU football game. Upon
entering the senior section we found that 150
seats in the front area were reserved for the
fraternity and sorority participating in the Bah
loon Derby. It has been our understanding from
publicized ticket information in the Collegian
that there are no reserved seats in the student
sections, especially the senior section which
already can't accommodate all of the senior
ticket holders.
We were appalled at the behaviondisplayed by
participating members of the Balloon Derby. We
noticed the total lack of consideration for fellow
students who had been in the stadium since the
gates had opened. The abusive language and
actions of the members disturbed the students
and alumni seated nearby who had paid 'their
money to watch the Nittany Lions, not other
fans! Unfortunately everyone was distracted
through the second quarter. Those of us who
choose seats in the front are there for a specific
purpose to watch the performance of our No. 1
football team, not to drink or party in the
stadium. We do our drinking at the tailgates!.
The police were summoned to the area, not to
confiscate the alcohol, but to remove seniors who
had legitimately entered the stadium by showing
their tickets and IDs to the guards. The senior
ticket holders singled out as examples were five
black women seated in the area. Blatant racism
is inexcuseable. We find it hypocritical for the
students who cheer enthusiastically for our tal
ented black athletes on the field to be the same
people who made racist comments to those
women who were told to leave.
In the future, better arrangements should be
made. We know that all the greeks were not
seniors and not all of them necessarily had game
tickets. There is no guaranteed student seating
in Beaver Stadium, so groups should have to find
their own seats.
In conclusion, ourselves being sorority women
at PSU, we realize that the actions of a few don't
represent the philosophy of the entire group.
Unfortunately, alumni and other students will
probably only remember the actions of a few
obnoxious members. That type of rude behavior
counteracted the good intentions of their philan
thropy.
Nina M. Llorens, 10th-sociology
Ann M. Staron, 10th-business logistics
Oct. 29
Useless?
This letter is in response to a statement made
=Collegian
Wednesday Nov. 4, 1981—Page 2 01981 Collegian Inc
Paula Froke Debby Vinokur
Editor Business Manager
BOARD OF EDITORS: Managing Editor, Phil Gutis;
Editorial Editor, Tom Boyer; Assistant Editorial Edi
tor, Becky Jones; NeWs Editors, Cindy Deskins, Dave
Medzerian; Sports Editor, Mike Poorman; Assistant
Sports Editors, Sharon Fink, Ron Gardner; Arts Editor,
Elaine Wetmore; Assistant Arts Editor, Judd Blouch;
Photo Editor, Stelios Varias; Assistant Photo Editors,
Janis Burger, Renee Jacobs; Graphics Editor, Lynda
Cloud; Wire Editor, Maryann Hakowski; Copy Editors,
Cindy Cox, Karen Konski, Jackie Martino, Iris Naar,
Lynda Robinson, Leslie Zuck; Campus Editor, Joyce
Venezia; Assistant Campus Editor, Chuck Hall; Town
Editor, Rosa Eberly; Assistant Town Editor, Margaret
Ann Walsh; Features Editor, Scott McCleary; Weekly
Collegian Editor, Neil Axe.
BOARD OF MANAGERS: Sales Manager, Paul Rudoy;
Assistant Sales •Manager, Monique Rura; Office Man
ager, Michelle Forner; Assistant Office Manager, Mi
chael Conklin; Marketing Managers, Sue Largman,
Mark Pulos; National Ad Manager, Owen Landon; Co=
op Managers, Donna Dauterich, Jodi Shubin; Creative
Director, Tracy Meyer; Layout Coordinators, Susan
Largman, Holly McAllister, Barry Reichenbaugh, Jodi
Shubin; Special Projects, Mary Beth Johnstone.
by Bro Cope during one of his routine sermons at Furthermore, it was through their knowledge
the Church of Willard. of astronomy that the three wise men were able
Commenting on the sinfulness of college stu
dents, Cope said, "That's it. Go to class, fill your
head with useless knowledge, go home, get
drunk, go to bed with your girlfriend, die, and go
to hell."
Besides the obvious stupidity of this remark,
there is one additional discrepancy which I
would like to point out. How can Bro Cope, a
devoted Christian, call knowledge useless? Even
he should be able to see that the two terms are
incongruous. There is no such thing.as "useless
knowledge." From a Christian point of view, this
fact should be even more obvious.
Just how does Cope think churches are built?
Do they just appear out of thin air? Or by some
act of God? No. They are the products of many
hours of scrupulous labor by engineers, ar
chitects, builders, and may other professionals
who studied years to learn their trades.
PLO hasn't given world
reason to be recognized
A poll taken last week by NBC News and the
Astociated Press shows that most Americans
reject, the Palestine Liberation Organization's
efforts to project itself as a legitimate rep
resentative of the Palestinians.
According to the poll, 6 out of 10 Americans
believe the United States should not formally
recognize and directly negotiate with the
PLO.
Many world leaders'have claimed there can
be no real peace in the Middle . East without
the PLO's participation. However, the truth is
that the PLO is one of the major impediments
to peace.
There . are a number of myths concerning
the PLO. The first myth is that the PLO has,
in recent years, become a moderate group
promoting peace in the place of their old
terrorist actions.
The PLO has never been, and is not now, a
moderate group. Time and again, PLO mem
bers have refused to alter the Palestinian
Covenant, which spells out exactly what they
stand for.
According to Harvard professor David
Landes, that covenant provides that a Pales
tinian State would consist of the boundaries
that existed during the British mandate.
Speaking to a Senate Committee in 1977,
Landes said the covenant provides that,
"Jews who were living permanently in Pales
tine until the beginning of the Zionist invasion
will be considered Palestinians." This date
o was originally fixed at 1947 but was later
changed to 1917. As a result, Landes said, 90
percent of the Jews living within those bound
aries could be expelled from their homes by•
unspecified means.
Another myth about the PLO is that it would
be satisfied with an independent Palestinian
State on the "occupied" West Bank. As Pro
fessor Landes's testimony points out, this
position has never been accepted by the PLO.
The calls by Arab leaders to establish a
Palestinian State bring up an interesting
~~
~~~td~
to locate the baby Jesus. It is no easy task to
follow the North Star halfway around the world.
Finally, if it weren't for the ancient scholars,
the Bible as it exists today would never have
been transcribed. Without their efforts, it is
doubtful that the "word of God" would have
remained intact over the centuries.
As a Christian, Bro Cope should realize that
knowledge is truth, and only by knowing the
truth can one truly find God.
So, Bro Cope, the next time you pick up your
Bible, or enter a church, take a minute to thank
the people who made it possible. And the mext
time you get the urge to call knowledge "use
less," remember that without knowledge, you
wouldn't have any scriptures to spout off.
Lisa Miller, 4th-aerospace engineering
Oct. 29
question. Why was such a state not set up by
the Arabs 'themselves before the West Bank
was captured by Israel? It seems most Arab
leaders are concerned more with making the
land Arab soil once again than with the moral
injustice suffered by the Palestinians.
Yes, the Palestinians have suffered injus
tice. Many of them who live in refugee camps
are short on both food and proper shelter.
However, while much of the world has put sole
blame for the conditions of the Palestinians on
the policies of Israel, many of the Arab
countries must share in the blame for their
situation.
Israel is guilty itself of helping the PLO gain
the stature it has among the Palestinians. If
Israel had been willing in the past to negotiate
with moderate Palestinians, the PLO would
not be as strong as it is today. Instead, Israel
ignored the Palestinian problem, allowing the
PLO to rally Palestinians around it by saying
that Israel was not interested in negotiation.
Israel made a mistake. Today when it looks
for non-PLO Palestinians to come to the peace
table, .few if any step foward. This mistake
may be the result of a unique position that
Israel finds itself in.
Every day the citizens of that tiny country
live with the thought in the back of their mind
that they are very vulnerable to possible
attack by hostile neighbors. A well-coordi
nated, unified *assault could destroy Israel.
This reality sometimes causes Israel to act
in extremes. A cat with its back to the wall
comes out fighting. Should Israel now be
expected to put itself in a position of weakened
security because of past mistakes? Accepting
the PLO as a negotiating partner would do
exactly that.
Solving the Palestinian problem is essential
to a lasting peace in the Middle East. Negotia
tions toward this end should involve all legiti
mate parties that are affected by the problem.
The PLO however has never accepted peace
and should therefore not be included.
Yasser Arafat stated the PLO position
clearly when he made a visit to the United
Nations several years ago. Carrying a weap
on, in violation of the U.N. charter, Arafat
said that peace in the Middle East would be
decided by the gun. Such an attitude does not
deserve formal legitimization.
Jeff Goldsmith is a 9th-term community de
velopment major. His column usually ap
pears on Tuesdays.
=reader opinion
Unfounded slurs
Ordinarily, I would not dignify with a reply the
a Oct. 27 letter written by "Concerned but sus
. pended." However, I'll make an exception in this
case, because of the totally unfounded slurs and
• inaccurate charges she makes against the Penn
State Equestrian Team, (affectionately known
as PSET), Actually, my first reaction to the
letter was a. desire to correct it in red Ink for
grammar, structure and content and return it for
a rewrite, but that action could be construed as
tacky.
Having coached the PSET since its inception
some 10 years ago, and watched it change
gradually from a serious club status to a serious
team status, I feel qualified to explain how the
situation has been misrepresented.
In the 1980:81 season, many of the shows in our
region were limited in the number of riders they
could accept; and according to PSET policy, the
co-captains and I selected those who would
Booze law trades one right for another
By ROD BEARD
6th-prelaw
In response to your editorial of Oct. 23, titled
"Drunken Justice," I would like to express my
comments.
Given that enforcement of the University's
alcohol policy at Beaver Stadium has, at times,
given rise to some gross injustices, I would
further argue that unfairness is contained in
much more than the mere enforcement of that
policy; inequity (not to mention stupidity) lies in
the policy itself.
It seems to me that the ultimate purpose of this
policy is to prevent innocent bystanders attending
football games from being injured by people
(students? horror of horrors!) who prefer to
get a little blitzed prior to the games. The logic
behind the policy is as follows: 1) drinking causes
drunkenness,' 2) drunkenness causes injury to
innocent (sober) bystanders and 3) if drinking is
stopped, then innocent bystanders will not be
injured. The reasoning is straightforward enough.
It's just too bad that the premises aren't entirely
true. Drinking (lops not always cause drunken
ness, and drunkenness does not always cause
injury to innocent bystanders.
But this is the type of argument through which
the policy-makers justify their decisions. Shoddy
isn't it. What's even worse is that in their decision
they effectively deny some people of a certain
right (the right to consume alcoholic beverages
prior to games) in order to protect a particular
right of some other people (the right to attend a
public football game without the threat of physi-
cal injury). C'mon, take away one person's right
to protect that of another? This is an' ongoing
trend around the University, as well as through
out today's society, and there's something wrong
with it!
This trade-off is a zero-sum game. One person
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compete, the primary requisite being skill. This
situation evolved into a new team policy. By
majority vote of members, it was decided to
select a varsity status squad to compete at all
shows, and a J.V. or reserve squad to compete at
shows which had no limitations on the number of
riders. Everyone contemplating PSET mem
bership was apprised of this policy, former
members and prospective members. Since the
policy was Adopted Spring Term, effective Fall,
Ms. C-B-S had sufficient time and opportunity to
dispute it and institute a change.
I find it interesting that she did not do so until
immediately after her suspension from the
PSET. That action was taken in accordance with
a long-standing and wise rule in the PSET
constitution, which is filed with and approved by
the powers-that-be, regarding conduct which is
potentially hazardous to oneself, one's horse,
other drivers of cars and assorted bystanders.
She is, incidentally, the first PSET member to
ever be suspended from the team, for any
reason.
wins while another loses; one group is satisfied
while the other is not. I would argue that the
problem of drinking at football games does not
have to culminate in the present dilemma.
Now that I have, to a certain extent, criticized
the foundations of the existing policy, I feel
obliged to produce an alternative. In this propo
sal, I recommend waging an attack on what I
believe to be the real problem disorderly
conduct and threat of injury to others. The mat
ters of drinking and drunkenness should not even
be of concern to the University administration.
Why should I, or anyone else, care if someone is
standing outside Beaver Stadium drinking a
beer? That person is not infringing upon any of
my rights. Even if that person gets plastered,
enters the stadium, and quietly passes out, he/she
is still not encroaching upon any of my rights
(unless, of course, he/she happens to be in my
seta). No real problem arises until a person,
drunk or sober, becomes disorderly and threatens
the safety of those around him/her. Only at this
time should action be taken by the authorities.
One may argue that it is a well known "fact"
that drinkers get drunk and drunks are more
liable to cause trouble than sober people, and
therefore drinking should be prohibited. Would
that same person also argue that people who
carry pieces of paper are more liable to litter than
people who don't carry paper, and therefore
possession of paper should be outlawed? I should
hope not! Littering is the problem, not the posses-
forum
"REPEAT OF A SELL OUT"
_•, . WOOL KNIT TIES
• 5." EACH • •
WITH THIS AD .
MICHAEL'S CLOTHING CO.
FRASER ST. gentle i4 e4
MINI MALL 238-4050
. OPEN DAILY FROM 10-5
As to the personal charges against me for
unconcern, cowardice, and absences, my only
reply is that I am neither University-employed
nor -affiliated, only -approved, and that the
PSET is not the mainstay of my livelihood.
Because of business commitments, I've never
been able to attend all the shows or meetings, to
my chagrin. After working with the team during
the week, I like to watch and am rather proud of
the members competing and putting into prac
tice what they are learning and perfecting. And
they're doing a damn fine job of it, too.
Any questions?
Jane R. Flynn, Bellefonte
Oct. 28 •
Just have fun
On the subject of eligible males at Penn State,
and females, for that matter, I think the basic
idea is to have fun, enjoying and not worry about
sion of miscellaneous papers
But, you may ask, what good is authoritative
action after harm has been done to a person? The
idea is to prevent injury to innocent bystanders. I
would answer that prevention is an attainable
goal. The ancient Mayan• Indian knew that if he
was found guilty of stealing a loaf of bread, he
would be bricked-up in a wall and left to starve.
This may seem to us a "cruel and unusual
punishment." But the Mayas didn't have much of
a problem with thievery. Could we learn some
thing from such savage folks? I think so.
Let's say that a person attending a football
game knew that if he/she was found guilty of
causing a disturbance, hitting someone .with a
chicken leg or otherwise endangering the well
being of 'others, he/she would lose all athletic
privileges, be expelled from the University or be
harshly punished in other respects. Would any
body in their right mind risk possible expulsion
from college in exchange for the thrill of throwing
a chicken leg? I think not. And, of course, if a
person was not in his/her right mind, they would
have to be dealt with by the authorities.
The case made is really quite simple. The
current policy regarding alcohol at the stadium
does not directly address the true concern. It
attacks the problem in a roundabout manner
whereby certain persons' rights (to drink) are
infringed upon. This deficiency could be alle
viated by means of a more direct approach to the
matter wherein only the troublemakers need be
dealt with (possibly severely). In this way those
who can drink and subsequently handle them
selves in an orderly fashion would not be prevent
ed from so doing; while at the same time others
would not have to fear for their personal well
being. It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game.
having someone on your arm all the time. Of all
the thousands of single people here, EVERY
ONE of them is right for someone. But there are
only a few people that YOU will probably feel
that you are compatible with. After all, you are
different from anyone else on this earth; you
can't expect to find a perfect fit that easily! Life
is too short to spend it with someone who doesn't
fit with your lifestyle and goals. So, sit back and
relax; be happy; if you enjoy life while you can,
everything else will fall into place too!
Nancy Moyer, 11th-microbiology
Oct. 24
Misrepresented
A "concerned member' now suspended" from
the Penn State Equestrian Team recently com
plained in the Collegian that "Winning is a fine
goal, but when it causes a member to change
their riding to win . . ." She made it sound as if
this pressure to win was the reason for her
suspension. She was suspended for drinking
while at an Intercollegiate Horse Show, not
because she didn't win. The desire to win usually
inspires an athlete to perform better, not to get
drunk prior to competing.
"Concerned but suspended" also complained
about the lack of caring on the part of the PSET
coach. This is pure garbage!
The PSET is fortunate to have one of the most
talented and respected coaches within the Inter-
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The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1981-3
collegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). She
is not a faculty member and is not paid for the
time that she spends coaching the team at horse
shows. The team members pay her for their
individual practice sessions each week and that
is all. The rest of the time she spends instructing_
the team at intercollegiate competitions and
weekly team meetings is purely her donation.
Furthermore, the PSET coach serves on many-
National IHSA committees and has played a
fundamental role in improving and promoting
the IHSA. In the four years that I was a member
of the team, she also alllowed us to use her
horses and facilities to host two Regional and a
National IHSA show. Hardly signs of lack of
caring if you ask me!
Kathy Johnston, 13th-chemical engineering
Oct. 29
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