the daily collegian editorial opinion In answer to student complaints about not having an effect on University policy, one administrator at Encampment used this meta phor: The University is' an ocean liner and the only peciple on board for long periods of time are administrators only they can view things in the long term. Students, by contrast, aren't capable of making decisions based on where the University will be decades from now. Students do make a difference in the course of the University, the administrator said. But just as it takes miles for an ocean liner to turn, it takes years for any organization as large as Penn State to change. So students are often gone before they see the fruits of their efforts. And as a result, they are often reluctant to make any effort toward long-term change or planning. In the next two years, the ocean liner that is Penn State will be hitting very choppy seas' . . . and students are going to , have to start making an intensive effort to weather the storm. In the same year, the semester calendar will turn the University's 'academic system around and the administration will, have a new president .to treader 7eclining • Well its happened again. Pink slips have come out and I failed .to. get any of the computer science courses for which I preregistered, I was wider the misconception that once you were :a senior. (10th-term) you had. some priority in scheduling, but I failed to note that the only people you have priority over are underclassmen in:the art department. Out of eleven preregistra tions, I have gotten all preregistered courses one time.. I've had to petition for required computer science courses. my last two terms, and it ap pe,ars that I will have to. do it again for winter claSses. • ' • 's • • • Pie Computer Science Department has be come overcrowded as evidenced by the depart- mint's decision to limit the number of students oupide the major. who Cali take computer sci ence courses; The cause, for such policies has ben the loss of professors in the department. :3Farriellandf : ortunets , 4310016. ~s:Nolgoootito.ooo444***kag I igO4I44IOOOI*.ROIRONOttOg2 VOWCiti**I*4O.IO4!iWVOPYAMPOO. 4**Y: that+ .k..too:*OPl**:olol*RiLWiria • A litterbug is rne . .slimiest 'sppcie.Or..,aggot There is a disease that is already growing and squirming its way like a tapeworm into the bowels of , the State College area, the Penn State campus arid into the hearts of many students and towns pepple alike. This disease cannot be cured by any type of medicine or therapy. The disease or . , if you will, sickness is known throughout the country .by the short and not-sc sweet term, litter. ~y~~ OK, now that the introductory crap is finished, let me just say that some of .the, supposedly educated and conversationally Intelligent people around here are no more than a bunch of litter bugs who don't .seem to , care. abOut beauty and safety, and are seemingly unaware of the smell produced by their rancid habit. Perhaps litterbug is too nice of a word for them. These people who insist upon discarding their trash on the ground are a bunch of maggots that cause the campus and town area to look like a festering gash infected with the scum that they seemingly enjoy creating for others. A Sunday morning walk through town finds many people wading ankle-deep in the wrath of a weekend gathering of maggots and their fellow worms. Why is this? It can't really be to hard to opinions opinion tiOality Long-distance navigation How to strengthen and broaden the student rudder on an academic ocean liner work under. With the rest of the University in a state of flux and at times chaos, the students' role will be, for what may be the first time, that of ensuring continuity. This time it will be the students, and not the administration, who will have perhaps the best opportunity 'to provide the transitions from the old and comfortable Penn State to the new and uncomfortable. If students, and particularly student leaders, don't have their collective act together during this crucial time, maybe no one will. But as , things stand now, whether student leaders do have their act together depends very much on their individual skill, background and personality. And even the most 'competent per son finds himself wasting incredible amounts of time simply learnin — g how "the system" works, while at the same time struggling almost in the dark to deal with the immediate, tangible piob lems that plop themselves at the office door. Then, when . their attempts at solutions. to• the short-term problems fall through, those student leaders are left with nothing but frustration. No real accomplishments; maybe 'even some set- Professors leave teaching positions beeause they are not interested in working on outdated equip-. ment and can receive larger salariei in industry. As a result, all students get the shaft. The real depression and anger sets in when talking to students in a few of the other'majors. Many haire gotten . all of their preregistered courses for the teat several terms.. Their depart ments are far from undermanned. Many stu dents have easy access to department heads and advisers. These advisers often know students on a first name basis. Until lately,. it has been a chore, in coMputer science, just to get a form signed, let alone to see an adviser who takes a genuine interest in the student. So you are left on your own to figure out what courses' to take and what courses will be valuable to your career. I hope this letter will arouse both. students and teachers and cause: them to raise a. little hell. There seems to. be some sad deficiencies in the • computer.science department's planning, along 'with Many, other departments. The computer field is playing a larger part in almost every . career field, and the computer's involvement is grpwing with every day. Students see this growth and are trying to use this foresight 'to . 'theif advantage' by taking computer science courses . or declaring computer science as their 'major. The department has grown every 'term, but faculty and funds for the department seem to be falling behind. I know money is tight all over the University, but it look's like the administration better step back and look at how money ana faculty memberi are apportioned. • Some . changes need to be ' .made. I'm .not advocating the cutting. out of any colleges or departments in the University, I would just , like to see some equality between the colleges and departments. I want to feel like I have the same chance to become involved in my major as any other student. I want my teacher to do his or her best possible job. Teaching overcrowded classes does not allow a teacher to work at a' peak level. Why should teachers in any major that is over crowded be forced to teach classes where the teacher knows that the quality is not the best? If no solutions to the problem exist, then the problem. should be spread among all of us, not just a selected group. Penn State has a good reputation nationwide for many of the school's walk up to a can and throw away that empty beer can or pack of cigarettes. , • What difference, does one pull-tab, cigarette butt or a little tin foil make, the maggots might say? When multiplied by the thousands .of people who religiously take time out to litter, it makes a big difference; Hey, I'm a party. kind of guy,. and I know that sometimes' there just isn't enough room in the trash barrels for that extra empty quart bottle or that freshly-crumpled cigarette pack. If there is a lack of room in•the cans for garbage, it seems . to me that there is more than enough , room to lay some of the blame on the administration. Why, when they catiallocate so much money for outfit ting the campus police with the latest and finealin equipnient, can they not spend a Small sum •of extra dollars toward the'purchase.of a .few extra trash cans down by The Wall? • Something here stinks. I don't want the people who clean up nfter these maggots to• lose their jobs, but with the amount of money that they earn from the. administration, the needed • trash con tainers could be' bought. • The folks who Clean up after these worms.do a pretty fah' job and I applaud the maintenance people for their diligence cleaning up the scum left behind by the maggots with such an amazing speed. But they cannot take the time to find every cigarette butt or little speck of garbage that is left behind. This crap piles up . and multiplies, like so many cancer bacteria, hiding in the grass of the Old Main lawn and behind the Wall, finding its way into bare feet and dog stomachs. The final and inevitable question arises. How can we make these worms disappear from our eyesight forever? We can't. Instituting the death major courses of studies. However, this reputa tion may soon fade unless some changes are made to clean up the departments. . Scott Tinsley; 10thconiputer science Nov. 9 Racial help A recent forum article by David O. Byrd of the Black Caucus raised some very, interesting and enlightening points about the integration issue which Penn State, as well as most other institu tions of higher learning, face: Therels little•that a university can do; aside from outreach' pro: giams, such as public school tutoring, to adjust the attitudes of incoming students. AS Mr. Byrd says, racial attitudes have 18 years to gel before college matriculation begins.. To try to change them in four years is a difficult, through not insurmountable, task. Mr. Byrd goes on to state that the University "perpetuates' the problem" by developing . separpte cultural and social pro- °Allocating . the resolution of a problem of this magnitude solely to the University is to oVerlook a major resource available to all.oouls inter ested in this problem. Many ethnic groups are . represented at Penn State by organizations affiliated with the Undergraduate Student Gov ernment or the Graduate Studnet Assnciation. To • not.usnthese would be a 'shame. • .. The suggestion I am' about to tender is offered not as a challenge to any individual group's right to exist, for I believe every .ethnic' group .needs representation, but Merely as a suggestion. Why not hold joint programs between representative groups, such as a Black Caucus-Hillel function? . (This is only one idea. Obviously, many combi nations of the existing groups are possible.) This would 1) help break down existing barriers and stereotypes, 2) still allow maintenance of ethnic identities, and 3) require little - time and input from University staff. And facilities could 'be reserved at the University, if at least one group is affiliated with USG or GSA. I don't pretend that this is the ultimate solution to the problem of racial ignorance and prejudice. However, it may be a way to get the tall rolling ~~~ a ~"', do by Suzanne Tyrol! penalty for littering 'would seem more than just; but with the speed of our court systems, prisons all over the country' would quickly become gigan tic stone and steel worm holes filled with garbage.: The only solution that I 'can see would be the formation of a coalition called Sons of SAM (Students Against Maggots). With any luck at all, the coalition could have its gutl, permits validated by the end of the term and the extermination of backs. A big part of the problem is that few members of student organizations have been at the Uni versity for more than two or three years, and there's little to provide student leaders with a sense of history --- what has succeeded and failed in the past and what, if any, progress has been made toward solving Penn State's perenni al questions. Or even, for that matter, what those perennial questions are. If any long-range planning happens to be done, it just happens, not by pattern but by chance. And in the cases in which student leaders have acted with foresight and have tried to plan -for the future, there has been no guarantee that the next year's leaders would build upon that planning. Student groups -- including, of course, the Collegian..-- need to escape the cycle of years to-years, and need to. begin thinking about decades. • . . What students need, as Undergraduate Stu dent Government President Bill Cluck pointed out at last week'o USG Eiecutive . Courici meet- .0. - O.IOI}BONEOF.YO : URGIECKS . FROrIIHESOCIAL.SECI).RiIYOFFICE,;; while the University. looks for long-range solu tions: . • • . Bruce Lubich, 'graduate-economics Nov. 9 . • Falsely accused • Recently theie have been several letters print ed in the Collegian questioning the reserving of seats for Balloon Derby participants as well as their conduct at the West Virginia game. As organizers of this event we feel a need to respond to the questioning put forth. Seating is reserved for Balloon Derby partici pants as well as for other groups that are on the football field prior to the game; this is done for several reasons. Firstly, by the time these peo ' ple come off the field, the stadium is already full and attempting to find a seat would be extremely difficult. Secondly, imagine the amounf of confu sion, anger, and other problems that would maggots could begin, gangland style.. . • So; if you or your. friends have slowly trans formed yourselves from students or townies into maggots who litter, be wary unless you want to take the $5 tour to the bottom of Whipple Dam. ReMember, Jimmy Hoffa was a litterbug too. Scott Fritsche is a /oth-term journalism major and staff writer for The Daily. Collegian: ing, is their own Plan for the 'Bos document. A document can endure longer than mem ories; tangible goals, printed on paper, can complement real people who try to work toward those goals. A complete ' statement of long-term student issues and objectives can also help an incoming University president be sensitive to the specific needs and concerns of students over the years. In a year when so much of student representa tives' energy has gone into building a new Student government structure such as the revised USG constitution —' planning for a student Plan; for the 'Bos might also help Stu dents - get into substantive • issues, and might help students get' a sense of common purpose. Finally, returning to the administrator's ocean-liner metaphor, a student Plan for the 'Bos rhight function as a sextant, helping stu dents see whether their effortS over many years can actually. change the course of this gigantic University.. . • .. . • .• The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion'is determined by. its Board of „Opinion, with the editorlin:chief holding final responsibility.' ' . •' . • , ' • • result if .these people had to scramble through the. stadium to locate. seats. Obviously, it is better• to reserve • spats in an effort to avoid Problems. ' . ' Both letteri pointed .out that the reserved seating took place in the senior section. We agree the senior section is crowded, however, the only direct access to the stadiuni from 'the fields is unfortunately located in the senior section. If seating were reserved in another section of the stadium; entrance would still have to be through the senior section. Reserving seats any other section would defeat the whole purpose of reserv ing seats. Upon entering the stadium, the participants of Balloon Derby found people not associated with their event sitting in the reserved area. About 20 people were wrongfully seated in this area. When the situation was explained to these people, the majority left without incident. However, nine people (black and white) were unwilling to leave and had to be asked to leave by the police. In our opinion, having those nine people removed by the police does not constitute racism, of which we haveheen wrongfully accused. This year, our Balloon Derby was organized and run in a similar fashion to those of past years. In the past, there has never been a problem with the reserved seating. It appears that the stadium is beComing more and more crowded With each game and reserved seating is now creating .prOblems: Reserved seating, , as occurred with Balloon Derby,. is an honest at tempt by the University and. the pardcipating groups to keep the stadium organized and prob lem free as possible. If there :are better ideas regarding more 'equitable procedures for such situa r tions, we are' all open to suggestions. Eugene J. Dorff, 12th -political science . . Balloon Derby Chairman Kenneth Albert, 10th-mechanical engineering Vice Preibient, Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity Noir. 9 • =Collegian Wednesday N0v..11, 1981—Page 2 p 1981 Collegian Inc Debby Vinokur. Business Manager • BOARD OF EDITORS: Managing Editor, Phil Gutis; Editorial Editor, Tom Boyer; Assistant Editorial Edi tor, Becky Jonm; News Editors; Cindy Deskins, Dave Medzerian; Sports Editor, Mike Poor Man; Assistant Sports Editors, Sharon Fink, Ron Gardner ;'Arts Editor, Elaine Wetmore; Assistant Arts Editor, Judd Blouch; Photo Editor, Steliod Vedas; •Assistant Photo Editors, Janis Burger,' Renee Jacobs; Graphics Editor, Lynda Cloud; Wire Editor, Maryann Rakowski; Copy Editors, Cindy Coi, 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; Assistant Weekly Collegian Editor, Laurie Penco. Paula Froke Editor • • reader opinion Re-examine With the apparent desire for the semester system I ask that students in favor of Block 45 re examine their motives. Having recently trans ferred from a university using the semester system, I have seen advantages and disadvan tages of both systems. I must say I prefer the trimester system. Ten weeks is more than enough time to cover a term and then go on. Furthermore, I don'l believe that the convenient location of winter vacation in the Block 45 system is a valid reason for its' enactment. Though it is convenient Winter vacation at the end of the term, a 15-week semester becomes quite monotonous, simply making the vacation vital to one's sanity. ' _ • - I do believe, however,' that Block 45 should be an issue decided by the students and if the semester system is *really what the students want, 'then Block 45 is what they should . get. I only ask that students carefully examine their motives that may decide their college 'careers for the extent of their study at Penn State. Curtis Zilbersher, sth-English writing option Nov. 10 Editor's Note: Apparently some peo ple have the semester calendar and the Block 45 plass schedule confused. 'Se mesters are on their way, like it or riot, in time for the 1981-84 academic year. The decision to scrap Block 45 in no way affects the decision to switch from terms to semesters, which was made /a.st spring. Block 45's demise means only that the University must choose another class schedule plan to fit the semester calendar. . . i-S-POA INp]AiSN ,I" (icuir • 131611 , 15 S WAS km CUSTOM *MONOGRAMING* * * $3.95 : 3-DAY SERVICE:. 1 ~ R .~-" ~._ 1 - * 114 EAST COLLEGE AVENUE * * STATE COLLEGE. PA.' 16801 * 234.2153 ******** * * * * * * * Unfortunate Well now, Haunted House has been over for about a week, and I have now reached the bottom of my list of priorities as co-chairman of the 1981 Haunted Crow House. • Regarding the letter from Karyn Reott con cerning the window advertisement at the Student Book Store, I find it rather 'unfortunate that she should take offense at the rendering' s of the woman. The original concept for the window was to have an Amazon-like female exhibiting con trol over the entire scene, somewhat reminiscent of the heroines one often.finds in "Heavy Metal" magazine. • . If Miss Reott was aware of the , tremendous amount of time and effort Alpha. Chi Rho frater nity and, Alpha Phi sorority put into our philan thropy; I believe that her criticisms would cease. All of our resources were taxed to the maximum, since the haunted Crow House fell °den acade mically severe time during the term: We needed a design for the window, and our new , brother Jim Eichelberger came up with one. I saw no need to censor his work. Suppressing creativity is not my idea of good management. The only flaw th9t I could see in the mural is that we may haie lost some definition and Contrast during the transfer from the drawing board to the window. In that respect we may not have done the woman figure justice. I guess the old cliche that, you can't please everyone all the time still holds true. Regardless, I'd like to once again thank the Alpha Phisorority, and our little sister organiza tion for making this a recordbreaking year for the Alpha,Chi Rho Haunted Crow House! David Reagan, 11th-food science Nov. 9 View imprisons • In response to Kevin Brockenbrough's ludi crous opinions presented in the Collegian on Nov. 3, I too would like to be heard: During my high school career, I was faced with the same situa tion he . now claims is so gauche. I 'went to a predominately black high school. It was 80 percent black, 10 percent Puerto Rican -7 with me belonging to the minority white segment. Yea, that's right I was white and a minority too. Hard to believe; huh? The key for me in eliminating "race retention" or "race detention," as he puts it, was not to worry or care whether or not I was a minority. If k wanted to do something, I went and did it. It was that simple. The fact that I was 5'9" and couldn't jam a bisketball didn't stop me. from Leaving an unwelcome environment By ANTHONY TYRONE NEAL Graduate-political science • After reading Kevin Brockenbrough's fo rum in the Nov. 3 i s sue of The Daily Collegian, I was inspired to write this letter of departure. I .was especially inspired by the line, "Who wants to be seen with one of 'you people?' " • I'm sure I'm not the first black student to leave Penn State for reasons stated in Brock enbrough'i forum. I'm also sure I won't be the last. Nonetheless, I had to write this letter to state the way I feel and address it to "who mever it may concern" or . "whomever is concerned." • I don't quite understand the dynamics of this situation. I've always perceived mfrself as an American. Yet, during my brief stay at Perin State, each passing day has played its part to diminish this weary trace of a per ceived heritage. This is the gist of a combina tion of reasons why I am transferring to a predominantly black institution of higher "grasping" at the end of this term. One might wonder what is the foundation of my perional disenchantment with Penn State. Well, the edifice of my disenchantment rests on the foundation of perception and reality. . I originate from , the southern United States. This factor afforded my long-distance percep tsion of Penn State via television and printed materials..l perceived Penh State as a large and socially sophisticated institution with an atniosphere conducive to "triangular learn ing." That is, for example,. learning among , •.• Attention . • • Penn State Tailgatert, Partiers IF' Co Co 7 H QAGIES . Stuffed 'with delicious meats and cheeses /orders must be in Thursday night by 10:00 p.m. with $lO.OO deposit • . Penn State Sub Shop 225 E. Beaver Don't be Railroaded 234-4 SUB forum trying out for the basketball team. (I got cut, by the way. Maybe . I should have yelled discrimina tion?) What I'm trying to denote is that whether you're black, white, Indian, etc., the University and its community of students won't retard you from doing something you want to do, but your "attitude" can. With statements like, "Only in America would it be .possible to bridge the void from here to the moon faster than we can bridge a cultural gap between two people," how can you expect to accomplish anything? Maybe you should knock that chip off your shoulder, be cause it's your attitude that imprisons you! The University is what .you make of it . . . skoal blood. Michael Brone, 7th-petroleum and natural gas engineering • Nov. 6 students and learning between students and professor's. I perceived this to be a norm for all students. However, personal experience has shown me that whan black American students are involved, there . is a severe strain oft the triangle, even to the point of its collapse. With this hurting factor in mind, I glanced at my clock and saw that it. was Nov. 3, 1981. How could it be, I wondered, that in this highly technically advanced "First World" society, prithitive issues of.race and articificial sepa ration still govern? How could it be? This is* the way I feel. • •Yet I'm not alone. I met a foreign student who wondered the same thing. He said that as far as technology is concerned, America is The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1981-3 LETTERS POLICY: The Daily Collegian encourages comments on news coverage, editorial policy and University affairs. Letters should be typewritten, dou ble-spaced, signed by no more than two people and not longer than 30 lines. Students' letters should include the term, major and campus of the writer. Letters from alumni should include the major , and year of graduation of the writer. All writers should provide their address and phone number for verification of the letter. The editorial editor reserves the right to edit letteri, and to reject letters •if they are libelous or do not conform to standards of good taste. • Opinions expressed in columns, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the writer and artist and not necessarily the opinion of the paper. Mail letters to: The Daily Collegian; 126 Carnegie Building; University Park, Pa. 16802. Names may be withheld on request. Letters may also be selected for publication in The Weekly Collegian. lUM ~~` what he expected. What he could not grasp; however, was how such a materially mature society could be so socially immature in regards to its citizens of color. • Apparently, the legacy of bigotry and fear is a visible ghost that haimts us all. Sometimes I wish the dignity of all human kind was the space shuttle. Then it would be a concern that would capture our most astute imaginations. We would persevere to enhance and protect it. Even if it' should , crash, we would rebtiild it and try to make it craih resistent.• • . Evidently, the answer lies within each one of us. Look,arourid and see if any.person on this camimi is. leis human than yourself. I think not. Blickhouse Tavern proudly presents KEN MATHIEU Tonight 10:00 'til 2:00 a.m. P7O THE Btl BRICKHOUSE iitt TAVERN nail) seit4
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