opinion Future shock Instead of herd-like registration lines through the Intramural Building, imagine long lines coming out of the offices of each academic college. And when you finally get to the front of the line, one person sits at a lone computer terminal trying to register for classes. This scene might become the norm if the University's planned switch to an adminis trative computer system goes into effect. The system, expected by the spring of 1984, would revise registration procedures as well as handle billing and record keeping. According to the University's plan, the system would make students' and adminis trators' lives much easier. Primarily, store students' academic records and con duct registration. For example, if a pink slip needs to be changed, the computer will print a revised one on the spot The University, hoWever, has not speci fied how many terminals will be available to each college or department. And therein lies the problem. John J. Romano, associate dean for un dergraduate studies in the College of The Liberal Arts, has said the registration plan k, ho needs State Stores? Pennsylvania's state-owned liquor and wine stores are often criticized for their poor hours, high prices and general mis management. With sluggish sales and low profits for the last financial quarter, the Liquor Control Board is considering closing less profitable stores, cutting business hours and hiking prices on less expensive liquors and wines. Those problems are partly the cause of the current round of partisan in-fighting among LCB members. LCB member Mario _ Mele, a Republican, recently blamed the Democrats on the board for allowing profits between June 30 and Oct. 19 to fall to $l.l 11'1i/lion, down from $8 million for the same period last year. And while Mele denied that his charges were politically based, Democratic board member Ralph Barnett attacked what he called "Mele's preoccupation to garner per sonal publicity against the organization." No matter what Mele's motives were, his point is well taken. The State Stores are mismanaged. However, the solution is not to improve the LCB's management, because the state - operated monopoly has too many inherent problems to ever be much good. For example, there is no competition. Government has proven itself to be a rather poor manager of other people's money. For another, there is too much politicking for would not be feasible if each college has only one terminal. However, Robert Dunham, chairman of the University student system committee, says he is not sure how many new terminals will be purchased, but hopes each depart ment will have at least one. Even though each department does not have a computer terminal now, the system will have the capacity to support additional terminals. But the University plans to pur chase just enough hardware to get the system going. And that probably would not include one for each department. The University has suggested that both colleges and departments should direct any extra funds they have to purchasing new terminals. Departments, however, should not be expected to buy their own terminals to meet this end especially with ongoing cutbacks in University funds. Computer registration is an idea the Uni versity must accept. But computerization should not be done if it can only be done halfway. the LCB to be able to run an efficient business. Lastly, there is no reason to have such a monopoly it is not as if liquor and wine are somehow a natural monopoly like utilities The obvious solution is to scrap the State Store system and allow private business to move in. It must be taken into account, however, that the state would lose a source of reve nue. LCB profits are deposited in the state's general fund and are part of revenues needed to balance the budget. And it must be remembered that the University receiv es an state appropriation this year's is $143 million. But compared with a $7 billion state budget, LCB profits look rather meager especially when the LCB pulled only a $l.l million profit between June 30 and Oct. 19. The LCB set a year-end target of $35 million profit, but Chairman Daniel Pennick said that if Christmas sales don't pick up the profit slack, profits will drop to $2B million by June. With the LCB struggling with such prob lems, it is time once again to . call for the obvious solution. As Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno asked Gov. Dick Thornburgh last year when the governor called to congratulate Paterno on his Fiesta Bowl win: When are you going to get rid of the State Stores? CARe TO SNIFF THE 1101 TI-E-CAP? reader opinion Economic decency There has been more controversy lately about the proposed regulations regarding "adult" book shops. I would say that those attacking, as yet, nonexistent busi nesses are overlooking a similar problem already present in State College. Upon entering a store which I formerly patronized (and probably several others with which I am not so familiar), one is greeted with several digest size magazines, unw rapped and readily accessible. Printed on the covers of these publications for anyone entering the store (including children) to see are pornographic pictures and lurid titles, "Bisexual Lust" being one of the milder examples. I believe that persons desiring such material should, in our pluralistic society, be able to obtain it, but if blatant pornography is to be printed directly on magazine covers, they should be wrapped, otherwise concealed or confined to the "adult" shops. I presented my case to the manager of this business last Saturday, and he politely tried to convince me that is was not economical for him to change the display, expressing regret at the loss of my patronage. Perhaps if others who feel as I do will take similar action, he (and the managers of other offending stores) will discover that decency, in the long run, is indeed economical. Brian P. Griffin, sth-physics Dec. 14 MX Op-ed Because of space limitations, The Daily Collegian will devote its Op-ed page on the MX missile in the Jan. 5 issue, instead of the Dec. 21 issue. NOTICE DUE To THE REFUSAL OF STATE sTDRES To Go pu Buc, AN D THE SUBsE,QuENT RtCES, m QUALITy OF witJE STOCK MAY NOT UP TO PRR. MGMT. 0 ~..•• ....... ./.'' dZ Collegian Monday, Dec. 20, 1982 Phil Gutis Editor t r i The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by Its Board of Opinion, with the editor ho ng final responsibility. Opinions expressed on t e editorial pages are not necessarily those of The Dal! Collegian, Collegian Inc. or The Pennsylvania State University. Collegian Inc., publishers of The Daily Collegian and related publications, is a separate corporate Institution from Penn State. Board of Editors Managing Editor: Sharon Taylor; Editorial Editor: Anne Conners; Associate Editorial Edi tor: Renae Hardoby; Assistant Managing Editor/Night Operations: Leslie Zuck; News Editors: Jackie Martino, David Medzerian; Sports Editor: Ron GardnenAssociate Sports Editor: Elaine Wetmore; Assistant Sports Editors: Liz Kahn, Greg Loder; Photo Editor: Barb Parkyn; Assis tant Photo Editors: Eric C. Hegedus, Renee Jacobs; Arts Editor: Debbie Krivoy; Assistant Arts Editor: Ann Fisher; Assistant Managing Editor/Campus: Dina DeFabo; Cam pus Editor: Brian Bowers; Assistant Managing Editor /Town: Lisa Hill; Town Editor: Suzanne Cassidy; Graphics Editor: Vlada Raicevic; Copy Editors: Caroline Churchill, Susan Crescimanno, Ron Crow, Paula Froke, Anne Gallagher, Jennifer Glidden, Cheryl Sacra, Marga ret Ann Walsh; Weekly Collegian Managing Editor: Gene Grygo; Weekly Collegian Assistant Managing Editor: Mary Burke; Office Manager: Cindy Deskins. Board of Managers Assistant Business Manager: Judy Smith; Office Manager: Kimberly Fox; Assistant Office Manager: Colleen Waters; Sales Manager: Sue Beninati; District Sales Managers: Jodi Shubin: Jon Kaplan; Lay out Coordinator: Karen Rader; Creative Director: Randy Rigdon; Co-op Coordinator: Sue Kiser; Marketing Man ager: Barry Reichenbaugh; National Ad Manager: Donna Streletzky; Assistant National Ad Manager: Lynn Mc- Laughlin. The Daily Collegian Monday, Dec. 2 EA.A.4 4 . ee6Sl•Ft C.dl4ictotinc , , ©1982 Collegian Inc. Paul Rudoy Business Manager • 1 BEHREND COLLEGE 0 VALLEY EE:SPORT. Have a Class . Summ6r at home work and. play, studi Class schedules locations will aval announcements PENN Commonwealth •NEW KENSINGTON FAYETTE . ~~ DUBOIS• but continue your at a Penn State labile in February. Watch for Colleg Educational pus MONT ALTO nearby. STATE • • HERSHEY MED. CENTER 1111111111111111 ftlift • KING OF PRUSSIA APLTOL -------- . ----- ----------J lan • WILKES-BARRE SCHUYLKILL• for all be The Daily Collegian Monday, Dec. 20, cyst WORTH ALLENTOWN BERKS z • ---- , 1 ../ --- / DELAWARE COUNTY n the
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