opinions
Good riddance, no-fault
When Pennsylvania legislators drew up a
"no-fault" auto insurance plan a decade
ago, they had no idea what kind of a monster
they were creating.
But today, it has become obvious that the
current no-fault automobile insurance sys
tem isn't serving the people of this state as it
was designed to
What no-fault has done, since its 1974
implementation, is effectively drive insur
ance rates through the roof.
Senate Bill 942, if approved by Gov. Dick
Thornburgh, would eliminate the current
no-fault system and give motorists more
choice in accident coverage while encourag
ing the reduction of insurance premiums.
But Thornburgh said the bill had some
majors flaws. Tuesday, following negotia
tions between state lawmakers and Thorn
burgh's administration, the Senate, in a 41-7
vote, passed a "companion bill" designed to
win Thornburgh's approval.
The companion bill would increase man
datory first party coverage from $5,000 to
$lO,OOO for medical and rehabilitative ex
penses, preserve the current system of
objective review of new policies and rates
by the state's insurance commissioner and
drop the current $750 threshold for damage
suits by accident victims.
For Pennsylvania motorists, this trans
lates into many advantages. Now motorists
would only have to buy the coverage they
feel is necessary, as long as the set manda
tory coverage guidelines are followed.
Also, the Catastrophic Loss Trust Fund
would pay medical bills exceeding $lOO,OOO
but not more than $1 million, meaning
motorists would not need any more than
Op-ed reminder
This is a reminder that an Op-ed page devoted to the
possibility of a totally barrier-free environment for
disabled students, faculty and staff within the Penn
State system will appear, Thursday Feb. 16 in The
reader opinion
Live in future
Universities are supposed to educate its students to
operate in the future, not in the past.
As for computer literacy, the letters by Voigt and
Berner prove that lack of foresight and stupidity (or
ignorance) are not the exclusive providence of liberals,
conservatives, or even University professors.
• The argument that people want to learn what they need
to learn is only valid for the small fraction of the popula
tion that is self-motivated. This is unless subsistance
survival (as practiced in all backward and uneducated
countries) is all that's needed. Why else would school be
.compulsory (in the U.S.A.) till the age of 16.
Why are high school or college diplomas demanded by
employers? We all know why. Most people are lazy and
don't want to learn more than they must, which is less
than they need, and much less than would be desirable.
Eric White, graduate-chemistry
- Feb: 9 •
Volunteerism
: - .After reading the editorial section of Feb. 8, I was
f this assumption is wrong, then vote for Reagan in 1984
Assuming, of course, that no Democrat or
third-party candidate could ever defeat the
invincible Ronald Reagan in the 1984 Presi
dential election, it might be practical for
Americans to consider the impact of four
more years under the Reagan presidency.
With a generally consistent ideology, such
an impact would be fairly simple to predict
especially in the areas of foreign relations
and America's economic future.
r
.4....
The most important characteristics in
Reagan's previous foreign policy and the
most predictible ones for the future are the
emphases on large military expenditures
and military involvements. As we all know,
Reagan's budgets have contained record
increases for defense spending. The 1985
budget proposal is no exception, containing
the largest peacetime increase in defense
spending, 13 percent, at the expense of
education and other social programs.
Additionally, this administration has be
come militarily involved in Central Ameri
ca (with a $l9 million covert operation in
Nicaragua), in Grenada, and in Lebanon.
c ; G h ‘
'i 2Zi . 7 , ,
$lOO,OOO personal medical coverage. The fee
for the loss fund would be a flat $5 per
policyholder.
Other aspects of the bill would require a
minimum of $15,000-$30,000 liability cover
age, require all but retired motorists to
have a $5,000 work loss coverage and re
quire all motorists to have a $1,500 funeral
expense coverage.
All this would effectively bring fair cover
age to motorists, and also cause insurance
rates to decrease.
But the bill also has a clause that has
raised many questions.
Under the bill, the threshold barring law
suits for "pain and suffering" under $750
has been repealed, meaning a person in an
accident can sue the party who hit them,
regardless of the conditions.
Proponents of the bill say this will not
increase the number of lawsuits because a
"preclusion clause" would not allow for
collection of medical expenses already paid.
Supporters say this will make small claims
unprofitable.
But one can only wonder if this legislation
will spawn a flood of lawsuits from discon
tented motorists involved in accidents.
The time is overdue to change the state's
ailing no-fault insurance program, but not
at the expense of our already backlogged
court system. Gov. Thornburgh should urge
the state legislature to fully discuss what
impact this legislation will have on the court
system before he
. implements this bill.
If not, nickle and dime lawsuits may
throw yet even more detours into our justice
system.
Daily Collegian.
Those interested in contributing can submit either a
forum (3-5 pages of double spaced type) or a letter
(maximum of 1 page double spaced type) to the
Collegian office in 126 Carnegie. Deadline for material
is noon, this Wednesday Feb. 15.
struck dumbfounded with irony. For the first time, as far
back as I can remember, each article addressed one basic
theme: concern for and about fellow human beings.
While some people may choose to disagree with with
me, I felt good after reading each article. When President
Reagan first took office, he stressed volunteerism as one
of his main goals to help put OUR country back on the road
to recovery. Although each one of the articles to some
degree dealt with volunteeris"m, one article stood out
among the rest. It is this article which I would like to
address.
Cory Colton, I feel compelled to thank you for sharing
the tragic story of Lisa's final hours with the Penn State
community.
During the fall of 1982, I had the privilege of teaching
several lab sections of Health Education 303. For those of
you who have never heard of this course, HLED 303 is a
basic first-aid/CPR course offered for two credits.
While I may never know if any of the students in the
sections I taught will ever have to use the techniques I
helped them learn, I feel good in my heart that these
individuals may remember what to do if and when it
becomes necessary for them to take action.
Except for Mr. Colton, I personally do not know anyone
who helped Lisa on that fateful Friday morning. I am,
And there is no indication that the use of
military action, especially in Central Amer
ica where Secretary of State George Shultz
has just reaffirmed America's support for
the region, will subside.
So what? one might ask. Does this nec
essarily indicate that these policies will
continue? Or perhaps such expenditures
and such action are necessary? The answer
must be a resounding "no" to all such
questions. Certainly this trend will continue,
because military expenditures and military
action are linked. I'm not arguing that a
larger defense budget causes greater mili
tary action (although it certainly allows it),
rather that Reagan's basic beliefs cause
both.
Maintaining that communism, or any
threat of communism must be halted, Rea
gan and his advisers place Pershing ll's in
Europe, pass up Salt II arms reduction
negotiations, and wage war where they
perceive a "red" influx. In addition, they
must better America's international posture
through increases in military spending.
These policies will most assuredly continue.
As for the necessity of these policies, that
factor is questionable also. Will there be a
communist invasion of Mexico if Secretary
of Defense Caspar Weinberger doesn't re
ceive the necessary funding for the Defense
Department? Only time will answer this
one.
However, the most obvious example of the
lack of necessity for at least part of such
policies is Reagan's current withdrawal of
the Marines in Lebanon. Other military
actions are proceeding, so one could sur
mise that the "necessity" for a "military
solution" in the Middle East still exists.
However, if this administration removes the
Marines because of political pressure from
House Democrats, then how important was
their role in Lebanon anyway? Most impor
tantly, was it worth the sacrifice of 264
American servicemen?
At home, the most important problem has
continued to be economics. During the 1980
election, Reagan asked the American peo
ple, "Are you better off now than you were
four years ago?" The same question might
be asked today, and the answer, while a bit
muddy, is "no."
The way in which Americans perceive
their standard of living has increasingly
become connected with the rates of inflation
and unemployment. In 1980, when he consid
ered the issue, Reagan and his economic
advisor Murray Weidenbaum argued that
inflation and unemployment were up from
the last presidential election. Therefore,
Americans were worse off. Well, not exact-
ly.
One little-mentioned item was that sala
ries had gone up as well. In fact, they had
gone up higher than the rate of inflation.
Thus, for those with jobs, their economic
situation was probably just a bit better in
1980.
Applying the same criteria today, we see
a different situation. Inflation is predicted to
go up to a rate between 4.7 and 4.9 percent,
lower than the 1980 levels. However, wage
increases will probably continue to be less
dal; Collegian
Monday, Feb. 13, 1984
©1984 Collegian Inc.
Susan M. Melle
Business Manager
Alecia Swasy
Editor
The Daily Collegian's editorial opin
ion is determined by its Board of
Opinion, with the editor holding final
responsibility. Opinions expressed
on the editorial pages are not nec
essarily those of The Daily Colle
gian, Collegian Inc. or The
Pennsylvania State University. Colle
gian Inc., publishers of The Daily
Collegian and related publications,
however, thankful that there are people here at Penn State
who cared enough to help someone they had never met
before.
Although reality tells me we live in a fast-paced and all
too-often apathetic society, having read Cory's story, I fell
hopeful that WE can someday become a caring and
peaceful nation once again.
As Harry Chapin once wrote, "Oh if a man tried to take
his time on earth, and prove before he died what one
man's life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to
this world." While you're thinking about what I've said,
why don't you sign up for HLED 303.
Oh, and while you're at it, VOLUNTEER FOR SOME
THING TODAY TOO! It'll make you feel one-heck-of-a lot
better!
Mark E. Field, junior-health education
Feb. 9
Punished, not cured
Jane Ilumenuk graduate-political science
Two points in Chris Reilly's column on castration must Feb. 10
MISS GRAMM], CALL THE
POLITBURO - WE NEED A
NEW PREMIER,
is a separate corporate institution
from Penn State.
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than 5 percent, because of pay cuts for blue
collar workers and fewer raises for white
collar workers. Thus, Americans with jobs
are in a worse position today because when
inflation was higher, their wages were high
er also. Consequently, Americans with jobs
will just be keeping up with the rate of
inflation.
For the unemployed (at least those that
the government's statistics count), the situ
ation has also gotten worse. In 1980, the rate
of unemployment was 7.5 percent. Today,
by government figures, it is 8.4 percent,
although it is projected to decrease this
year.
So what can we expect in the next fews
years? It's an interesting question. From a
purely economic framework, the answer
depends upon the economist. Yet, if we
additionally consider this Administration's
philosophy and this nation's present eco
nomic situation, some predictions can be
entertained.
First, at least from the outward signs,
Reagan and his team think the economic
situation is vastly improved. The presi
dent's Task Force on Food Assistance is one
such example of this optimism, with their
conclusion that there is no evidence of
"rampant hunger" and consequently no
need for more food assistance.
However, this optimism has little basis in
reality. The problems of America's stan
dard of living are still here, after the supply
side magic of Reagan's economists. More
than two million people in this country have
no place to live. Also, in direct contrast to
The Daily Collegian
Monday, Feb. 13, 1984
Features Editor: Grace LoMonaco;
Graphics Editor: Tony Ciccarelli;
Copy Editors: Dina Defabo, John
Holt, Patricia Hungerford, Christine
Kay, Marcia McGrath, Marcy Mer
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Pupach; Weekly Collegian Assistant
Editor: Laura Dunhoff.
Complaints: News and editorial
complaints should be presented to
the editor. Business and advertising
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the business manager. If a com
plaint is not satisfactorily resolved,
grievances may be filed with the
Accuracy and Fair Play Committee
of Collegian Inc.
be answered
First, he assumes that "many, women will disagree
that castration is cruel and unusual punishment."
Second, Mr. Reilly also offers treatment by Depo-Proe
ra, a drug which lowers hormone levels and thus, perhaps,
sex drive, as an alternate treatment for rapists.
Now, is rape a crime committed by incurably horny
men who used their victims for sexual pleasure, or one of
violence and hostility against them. Research has shown
that 1) rape, if indeed a "pleasure" must be an incomplete
one, because there is often no ejaculation; and 2) in
psychological tests, rapists score differently than the
average man only on tests of violence in fact, on some
tests, they come out as better sexually adjusted.
Depo-Pruvera is, thus, useless as a response to rape. It
is an experimental treatment for a non-existent illness.
Rape is not a condition to be cured, but a crime of
uncontrolled violence and hostility against a specific
group of human beings. It must be punished (though not
by castration), not cured.
the president's poverty task force, the Har
vard-based Commission on Hunger reported
last week in its study, "The American
Hunger Crisis," that because of inflation,
unemployment, and governmental policy,
there has been an increase in hunger in the
past five years. The conclusion directly
refuted the other task force by saying that
there was an "increased finding for , federal
programs that affect hunger."
Considering some of the methodological
problems of the first report, such as count
ing medical benefits for illness or operations
as available food income and defining
"rampant hunger" as a necessity for in
creasing federal aid programs ( finding
mere hunger is not enough), I would tend to
find the second report a bit more reliable.
Even if not true, I can't escape the thought
that as far as my crystal ball shows, this
administration is going to become more
complacent about the economic situation of
America, especially towards her poor and
homeless and, therefore, make no progress
in the next five years.
Thus, in the most important issues which
this country faces, the next five years hold
little hope of improvement . . . unless one
thing happens. Prove the basic assumption
of this column wrong and defeat Reagan in
1984.
Linda Menghetti is a senior majoring in
political science and a columnist for The
Daily Collegian. Her column appears on
alternate Mondays.
CCCIP
opinions
The facts are. . .
Upon reading Carol Frank's col
umn on Feb. 8, I thought it was nec
essary to try to confuse her
arguments with facts.
Ms. Frank states: "Except in cases
of consent or hot pursuit, a person
cannot be searched unless the officer
has gone before a magistrate, shown
probable cause and been served a
search warrant." In the case of stu
dents in public schools, this is not
true.
Allow me to quote Michael W. La-
Morte concerning school search and
seizure: "Policemen must have prob
able cause to search someone. This is
a higher standard than reasonable
cause, which has been required by
those courts upholding searches by
school officials" (School Law: Cases
and Concepts, Prentice-Hall, Inc.,
1982, page 139).
Therefore, to conduct a search, a
school administrator needs only rea
sonable cause, NOT probable cause
as Ms. Frank suggests.
To further understand this area, I
recommend that Ms. Frank examine
two court cases: State of Washington
v. McKinnon (88 Wash, 2d 75, 558 P.2d
781) and Bellnier v. Lund (483 F.
Supp. 47). I would also suggest to Ms.
Frank that now is the time that she
learn responsible journalism and re
frain from writing about topics which
she obviously does not understand.
Joe D. Stedt, graduate-psychology
Feb. 9
Moving?
I cried while reading Cory S. Col-
The Computer Science Club
presents: IBm
demonstrating The PC Jr
on Wednesday 2/15 at 7:30 in 325 Whitmore
*refreshments following * R 296
ton's letter Feb. 2 a very moving
account of the death of a young wom
an and the valiant attempt by some
strangers to save her life.
But, as I am obviously an incurable
malcontent (by some standards —not
mine), I couldn't' help but question
the moral of the story. Cory would
like all us socially aware realists to
"Remember. . .the story of the dying
girl who drew a bunch of strangers
together, in a moment of humanity
and love."
But does this mean that I have to
suffer or die (in public, no less)
before I may receive attention or
inspire some love? Thanks, but no
thanks! I think I'd rather not sacri
fice my life for just one fleeting
"moment of humanity."
I think I'll stick around for a while
and keep •on being aware of all the
garbage that's faced by my co-work
ers, friends, and family. I'll keep on
making noise about things like abuse,
neglect, opportunism; alienation, dis
crimination, bigotry, poverty and ev
erythig else that stinks in life.
And though I can't say how I would
react in an emergency situation, I do
think it's safe to say that I will contin
ue to try to be the concerned, atten
tive, and considerate human being
I've always tried to be on an
everyday basis.
I only hope that "Lisa" had been
treated with as much care throughout
her entire lifetime.
Barbara J. Weaver, State College
resident
Feb. 8
: A v "
Valentine's Day
Specials
Heart Cake, tastefully decorated
Heart Cookies, suitably inscribed....
'ream Puffs & Eclairs, a bakers dozen
'ort 55t, Valentine S
nal # 040....., 1
otoeeetate- Ca,
Muslim students' ad inconsistent at best
I was reading the Feb. 8 issue of The Daily
Collegian with my usual fervor, and I had just
gotten my daily dose of Bloom County when my
eye wandered to the bottom of the page and
encountered a paid advertisement by the Muslim
Student's Association (Persian Speaking Group).
Paid advertisements obviously appear everyday
in the Collegian, but this was more of a proclama
tion than an advertisement.
Across the top of the ad were the words "In the
name of God, the compassionate, the merciful,"
followed by, in much larger type, "The Fifth
Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution."
Hmmm, this could be interesting, I thought to
myself, and I read on. The first four paragraphs
were innocuous enough, citing facts concerning
the economic recovery in Iran following the
Shah's overthrow in 1979; more schools, electrici
ty, industrial revival, and the betterment of
social welfare under the Khomeini government.
That's all well and good, but some inconsis
tencies began to show up despite all the patting
on the back.
"Imam Khomeini's speech in January of last
year marked the beginning of a new, stable era,"
read the ad, contrary to "western reports" that
61,
iuta
Model: Joe
Perm: Jan
Cut: Joe
tell of a "perceived lack of freedom." What about
the executions of hundreds, if not thousands, of
ex-government officials opposed to the Imam?
No mention of that. How about the former Irani
an general gunned down Tuesday in Paris by
professional assassins? Obviously this new found
fredom does not apply to those in exile.
"Politically, the Islamic Republic is more
stable than ever," the ad reads, "Coup attempts,
ethnic troubles, economic sanctions, and full
scale war have all, astonishingly, strengthened
the country." A strengthened country indeed.
With Khomeini sending children into battle
against Iraq, a lot of strength, or blind obedience,
must be required.
The ad goes on to say that "the West embarked
upon a massive and coordinated misinformation
campaign designed to discredit Iran," and
added, "Whenever a bomb explodes, the West
blames it on Iran, yet all the the sophisticated
intelligence agencies of the West cannot produce
even the weakest document to support its claim."
If that's so, try explaining why Iran, in commu
nication with its diplomatic offices in Syria,
authorized $25,000 to bomb an unidentified target,
or the documented ties between the "Islamic
Holy War" faction, the ones supposedly responsi
ble for the bombing of the Marine headquarters
in Beirut, and Iran? Looks like a smoking gun to
me.
The attack continues, with a statement that 25
percent of the CIA budget is allocated for disin
formation and destabilization campaigns. Says
who? I doubt that the CIA releases figures like
that. I'm interested in learning where the Muslim
Students' Association got their information.
Libyan hit squads were the next topic, and the
ad states that no such squad ever existed, quoting
ACCOUNTING MAJORS
Applications are still being accepted for
those interested in pledging
BETA ALPHA PSI
Attend next Pledge Meeting for details
Wed. Feb. 15, 7:.30 p.m.
205 Boucke
THE"
, f (1141h114*4 4%. *
The Daily Collegian Monday, Feb. 13, 1984-9
Jack Anderson as saying that the Administration
was instead planning to send a hit squad to Libya
to "do away with Qaddafi." I hardly consider
Jack Anderson a reliable source for the plans of
the Administration.
The final sentence of this ad shot any credibili
ty it may have had straight to hell. ". . .God helps
those who advance his cause." Does this mean
that God advocates political executions, the tak
ing of American hostages for over a year, and the
killing of small children in a war that is blessed
by government leaders? I know that mine does
not.
`Coup attempts, ethnic
troubles ... and full scale
war have all, astonishingly,
strengthened the country.'
—Muslim Students' Association ad
It is obvious that these students, some of whom
are undoubtedly guests in this country, have
taken advantage of First Amendment rights to
attack our system of government, but let me ask
these students one question: Would the Iranian
government allow an American to print an ad
critical of the Islamic Republic under the title
"The 208th Anniversary of the American Itevolu
tion?" People who live in glass houses . . .
Chris Reilly is a senior majoring in journalism
and a columnist for The Daily Collegian. His
column normally appears on alternate Mondays.
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