opinions editorial opinion Here's something to worry about According to statistics compiled by people with nothing better to do, Ronald Reagan is destined to die in office. Every president since 1840' . who has been elected on years end ing with "0" Harrison, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Harding, Franklin Roosevelt and Kennedy has died in office. Reagan's goose, it seems, is cooked. Now a new bit of trivia has come on the scene that should give the doomsayers more reason to spread gloom. In the book "Picture Stories from the Bible," out of print for more than 30 years and republished this year, the character of Abel looks almost exactly like Reagan. And all. Bible-readers know that. Abel met a most untimely death at the hands of his rotten brother Cain. The book's publisher, Mark Le vine, said in Tuesday's New York Times that the resemblence is no coincidence. "I checked with people famliar With comics 30 years ago and found out that artists, in order to get facial expressions, often 'mod eled their characters after movie stars," Levine said. "It's most prob able, given the resemblence, that Reagan was the model for Abel." Well, the Secret Service will prob ably not step-up security for the president when brother Neil visits. But if Reagan happens to slip on a banana peel and crack his head open, or gets iced by a steel exec utive's distraught son, this bit of trivia will cause the little old lady in tennis shoes who has the National Enquirer article about . the every-20- year presidential death syndrome 'pasted to her wall to scream just a little bit louder, "See! . . . see! . . . I told you so! !" Weird bedfellows Some people will go to any lengths to get what they want. , Undaunted by the state House Health and Welfare Committee's rejection of his anti-abortion legis lation, Rep. Gregg L: Cunningham, R-Centre County, continues to fight to make Pennsylvania the toughest Friday Dec. 4,l9Bl—Page 2 Paula .Froke Editor BOARD OF EDITORS: Managing Editor, Phil Gutis; Editorial Editor, Becky Jones; Associate Editorial Editors, John Allison, Tom Boyer; News Editors, Cindy Deskins, Dave Medzerian; Sports Editor, Mike Poorman; Assistant Sports Editors, Ron Gardner, Pete Waldron; Arts Editor, Elaine Wetmore; Assistant Arts Editor, Judd Blanch; Photo Editor, Stelios Varias; Assistant Photo Editors, Janis Burger, Renee Jacobs; Graphics Editor, Lynda Cloud; Wire Editor, Maryann Hakowski; Copy Editors, Cindy Cox, K.E. Fishman, Karen Konski, Jackie Martino, Iris Naar, Leslie Zuck; Campus Editor, Joyce Venezia; Assistant Campus Editor, Sharon Taylor; Town Editor, Justin Catanoso; Assistant Town Editor, Mark Featherstone; Features Editor, Scott McCleary; Weekly Collegian Editor, Neil Axe; Assistant Weekly Collegian Editor, Laurie Penco. • cwirecvavalavOzwer //voi Topics =Collegian p, , ~....,0 0, .......P.,....„„... state in the nation to get an abortion. (No one really expected him to give up.) First off, the bill has been watered down. Several of the more contro versial proposals were cut, including requirements that color photographs of aborted fetuses be shown to wom en seeking abortions, that the fe tuses be issued death certificates and that the fathers of the fetuses be notified. In addition, a mandatory 72-hour cooling-off period has been shortened to 24 hours. More interesting, however, are the tactics of tacking the proposals onto a bill that already has passed the Senate .as amendments to a bill that would outlaw "tough man" box ing matches in order to save them from a death in committee. Now, the amendments must be passed by the full Senate but will not go back to committee. Attatching a defeated bill to anoth er bill isn't unusual in politics. But in this case, the nature of the combined bills takes on weird humor. "Tough man" boxing and abortion control, like politics, make strange bedfel lows. You cad, you beast Skunks are cute, furry little crea tures that stink when rubbed behind the ears. But a few of the local buggers .have gone off and gotten rabies, making them more than no fun at parties. The danger to pets, some wild animals, and eventually to humans, is real. Women who live nearby should be particularly aware. Skunks have vo racious sexual appetites and spend much of their free time seducing females as evidenced by Warner Brother's famous skunk, Pepe Le Pew. Women should report to the authorities immediately any crea ture who comes on with the line, "Ma cherie, come with me to the Casbah." He's carrying a social dis ease that penicillin won't cure, baby; remember those movies about big needles being stuck in your stom ach? The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion with the editor-in-chief holding final responsibiliO. 01981 Collegian Inc. Debby Vinokur Business Manager RgsER DAILT coIiE6IAN reader opinion Use this space The e Daily Collegian prints nearly all letters, provided they are one-page, typed and double spaced. Please bring letters to 126 Carnegie between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. with proper identification Prove me wrong There is one thing which Michael Brone in his Nov. 11 letter to The Daily Collegian fails to consider. While I am quite sure he was faced with discrimination as a white within a predomi nantly black high school (yes, we blacks discrim inate also), I would maintain that his referring to himself as a "minority" is not completely justi fied. Mr. Brone, yoll were a minority at your high school, but yod were not a minority within the entire social, legal, and political system. You faced discrimination until the last class bell rang. You did not experience it for a lifetime in every conceivable social setting, nor did your parents or their parents before them. Being a "minority" is not simply based on numbers; discrimination is not a single incident. For blacks, women, Chicanos, and a host of others, they are, sadly, a way of life. Stepping cautiously down from my soapbox, I would now like to point of an area where Mr. Brone and I find 'agreement (to a degree). It is quite true that some blacks have a "chip on their shoulder" and even that we sometimes allow our attitudes to imprison us. The problem, however, Mr. Brone, is you seem to assume said "chip" and "attitude" materia lized from nowhere. They did not they are the product of generations of discrimination and racism. If you had been slapped in the face all your life, wouldn't you be somewhat tentative, perhaps even resentful, of those who had done the slapping, despite their promises (perhaps quite truthful) that you would no longer be struck? The implications of all this are that both whites RITENCLI! QIINSE FOR INa and blacks have a responsibility to make the system, and more directly, the University, work. Whites must come to understand that black attitudes toward them are not simply unjusti fied, paranoid reactions, • while blacks must realize that all, indeed the vast majority of whites, are not insensitive racists. Both groups need to make deliberate, overt efforts to under stand, and, more importantly, interact with the other. To borrow from the wisdom of another minority, the American Indian, "We must each walk a mile in'the other man's moccasins." In closing, perhaps the saddest part is that the vast majority of you, black and white, will ignore the sentiment of this letter; a smaller number will in a moment of temporary inspiration vow to change, but will not; and few if any will make a long term commitment to change. For my sake, for the sake of each other, but most of all, for yourselves, please piove me wrong. Ken Williams Jr., graduate-clinical psychology Nov. 15 Ms the season An open letter to all Christmas tree thieves: THOU SHALT NOT STEAL A CHRISTMAS TREE. At least you better not unless you are willing to risk a permanent criminal record if you get caught. Because, after having had quality ornamental trees cut down and stolen from my and my neighbors' yards during previous Christmas seasons, I will not hesitate to prosecute under criminal law if you are caught during or after such an act. One additional point: Isn't it contradictory to celebrate the birth of Christ by stealing a Christmas tree? Thomas L. Smith, class of 1954 State College resident Dec. 3 . Wine and football Some time ago when Penn State was consid ered the top football team in the country, Gov. Dick Thornburgh took an occasion to call coach Paterno and congratulate him. It was widely reported in the media that the first remark made by Mr. Paterno in response to the governor's statement was, "Why haven't you got rid of those State Stores yet?" It seems to me, now, several weeks and a number of losses later, that a letter from some State Store employees is in order. Therefore, if you so desire, you are free to print the attached letter, which I have sent to the perhaps slightly humbler coach Paterno, as an "open letter." Dear Joe, This is just a short note from some of your friendly and supportive State Store employees, who, in your time of adversity; want to let you know that we gill support you. We would not.want to respond to those people who would wish you any bad luck, Joe; we believe you can take care of that department yourself. We would not want to respond either to statements in some quarters to the effect that you are a, what do they call it?, a choke artist! Not us, Joe; your record is eloquent in that regard and needs no gratuitous comment from us, Joe. We would not want to respond to others who say it isn't a case of "choking"; it is just that the team isn't any better than that, and mind you, Joe, we would not say this but they say a team is only as good as its coach. We would not respond either, Joe, to those who say that the old Chinese proverb "an army of 01.11J1" Think about it. Think seriously about it VOSPotP*- 41 0 ft. 016.... • * ~„........._...---- ....--...........11... O....ftft No 0v....—...... Wt. =l2 11==1 NO MY GRAM An Fue... I'M NOT LONELY.. t#TipIOMELiFE :5 GOOD'. IT'S JUST THAT seury dArIE BACK TO REAk UP Lido" AND LAW RAt KiliknArsd lionsled by a sheep will be defeated by an army of sheep led by a lion" applies to Nittany Lions also. Hey, Joe, we're not saying that! We would not respond either, Joe, to those who say that the only award the Penn State coach ever earned was the "mouth of the year" award. Mind you not us, Joe! As I said, we're the friendly and supportive guys down at the liquor store just trying to help out our fellow travelers. We like you and the Nittany Lions and we realize that the feeling may not be mutual, Joe, but that's all right..We are certainly not going to say any unmeritorious negative remarks, Joe, because in the scheme of things that binds us all together, a football team or a bottle of wine just aren't very important. Gary R. Frantz and Fred C. Stair South Bethlehem State Store employees Nov. 22 Ticket 'em Mr. Bowers' article in today's Daily Collegian is wonderful to see, but your readership should be informed of certain facts that affect its successful application. The article discusses many of the problems that occur in pedestrian's, cyclists, and autos sharing the same spaces, especially under high-density and/or poor visi bility conditions. The conclusion, that pedestri ans should try to follow Pennsylvania state laws in traveling in this area is, unfortunately, is not only wrong but extremely dangerous to pedestri ans who attempt to follow that suggestion. It is true that Motor Vehicle Code defines a runner as a pedestrian, and that cars are sup posed to yield to pedestriaps in crosswalks where there is not traffic control signal, but the local (State College) law feels otherwise. To quote police officers: "A runner is not a pedestrian." (What is he?) "Something else." "If a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk, it is almost certainly his fault, and if he survives, he should be ticketed." "Crosswalks have no legal meaning or func tion." "People are not supposed to run off a curb into a crosswalk." The people with whom I was speaking were the chief administrative officers of the State College Police Department. They were not beat cops, and this is the attitude of those charged with enforcing the, law. They are very much opposed to making any changes in the "this road is mine" mentality of local . drivers. I might add that two local police officers have tried to kill me in crosswalks; they set an extremely poor example for local drivers. The only car that I have ever seen willingly stop for pedestrians in crosswalks is my own. The cars behind me get furious! They honk; they go around me in whatever illegal way that they can find. They cuss at me as they pass. What? You so-and-so! You're stopping for a decrepit old lady? What the dickens for? (to paraphrase) Run her down if she needs to cross the street. The law in State College is for the rich and the propertied. Think of this before you step into any street. Bill Riesser, instructor-industrial engineering Dec. 3 Groovy, man Why doesn't the University Concert Commit tee get hip for once in its useless life and get The English Beat, The Specials or someone we can really groove to. Instead of worn out rock and roll stars like Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, etc. P.S. Obviously, the UCC has a different utility map than some of us. William F. Popovich, 10th-agricultural business management Nov. 4 The • Daily Collegian Friday, Dec. 4 Quotographs A weekly look of University life ... . . . ,• c\ C _ E ro.. X _. ' • 6.4 A l. fi W f li " .. V ' , 4 . . womE n ? I. v . • . . N • Hour-long Classes of Strenuous Exercise Daily • morning - noon - evening classes. . . • 10-week membership only $4O . . . - . • • attend as many classes as you wish . . WINTER CLASSES BEGIN MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 AT 9:00 P.M. • One Free Trial Visit • • begin your membership at any time . . • locker room / showers available • 6 . Get a friend to join and get 6 extra weeks FREE For more information, call . 4/6 TIANIV or stop in. NVASTICS ‘ 238-8995 SCHOOL ' . OM South Piof. trnme Pe* Cants. ftwetris.• 11101 . • . . . . Antoinette Petro, 11th-economics: "I like the se mester system better because with 15 weeks you can take off a week, say to go hunting, and you're not one tenth of a term behind." Heather McKnight, 2nd-petroleum and natural gas engineering: "I would rather see the long break during Christmas, because (that way) over break you don't have the classes you started hanging over you. Right now, under the term system, how much will you learn in (these) two weeks? When you come back you have to recall everything anyhow. It is easier to start fresh after Christmas." Bob Fromkneckt, 6th-civil engineering: "I started summer term. Under the term system, I would go two terms and be finished. Now I'll have to go a second semester or cram it all into one. I'll probably end up taking off spring, taking an extra long summer break and finishing up the next year." Question: How do you think the new semester system will affect you? For example, the next few weeks are known as "blow-off" weeks now and under the semester system they'll be finals weeks. Peter Cutrone, 6th-petroleum and natural gas engi neering:"When I come back (after Christmas) I won't remember a damn thing, and I'll have to learn it all over. I'd like the four weeks off (under the semester system) to.work and have a lot more time at home. The department better do it (the turnover from terms to semesters) right so that I can graduate on time." At GE's .Advanced`Microelec tonics Operations, we don't care if you get your ideas standing on your head, lying in bed or simply working in your lab. What we care about are those ideas. That's why we're building a team of the most creative thinkers in their fields-a team that will help us establish technological leadership. AI GE, you'll get stimulation from working at the leading edge of the most exciting new program in microelectronics. You'll work with the very best professionals from a wide variety of disciplines-professionals with more 1 ',' " 51 1: •- , L l .ll lk *** • 4 ~ ,t;',A i- l 'iiil r Beethoven used ice water to stimulate his brain. At GE,we have better ways. Linda Thompson, sth-liberal arts: "I'm pretty used to the term system we have now; but I do like the (idea) of a 15 week system in terms of going to classes and studying a subject longer. I'm an advocate of really understanding the material, as well as getting good grades." than 50,000 patents to their credit. You'll have an actual say in the design'and production of real prod ucts for tomorrow's world. Products like, aerospace systems, medical programs and all kinds of consumer products. And you'll work in an environ ment in which creativity flourishes: Our brand new $6O million state-of the-art GE Microelectronics Center in North Carolina, as well as our other established facilities. In addition, we'll help you con tinue your education. In North Caro lina, for example, three major uni versities in the Research Triangle Park area have established the Advanced Microelectronics Operations General Electric Company • • Join the technological renaissance. Doug Murray, 11th-marketing: "I've heard both good and bad reasons for changing over. I see a lot of bureaucratic problems. I would have trouble switching over because the classes would be spread out, and it would mean concentrating longer on more work." e-tts "" .! 7; 't om Sys, • •. • Cindy Popowicz, graduate-counselor education: "I sort of like it the way it is. You get everything done before you go home for Christmas. You play catch up in January but I'm used to it that way. A lot of teachers get their first test out of the way (before Christmas break), then there's nothing to do over break anyway." The Daily Collegian Friday, Dec. 4, 1981-3 Microelectronics Center of North Carolina. With apologies to Beethoven, we think all this beats pouring ice water on your head. Technical recruiters will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 19-20. Contact your campus Placement Office to make an ap pointment. If you'd just like to discuss your future in microelectronics, call our toll-free career hotline any time: 1-(800) 334-8529. Or, if you prefer, send your resume to: GE Microelectronics Center PO. Box 13049 Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709 An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F
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