opinions
editorial opinion
Misplaced priorities
A year ago tomorrow, America lost its
Miss to Penthouse and now our conception
of Madonna is no longer immaculate.
At a time when South Africans are fight
ing for their rights, nuclear threats are
made, innocent men and women are used as
political bargining chips by terrorists the
news of Madonna's indiscretions make
headlines.
Why? Why should it be news?
Because people are interested.
With front-page articles and headlines
reminiscent of the gossipy tabloids littering
the sides, of checkout counters, it seems
people have shown more interest in a public
display of dirty laundry than real issues.
Last week Penthouse and Playboy mag
azines released pictures of Madonna in the
buff, and although she was reported saying
that she does not find the photos important,
many people think the contrary.
On July 23, 1984, Vanessa Williams the
57th Miss America surrendered her title,
rather than damage the image of the Miss
America Pageant, as people rushed to
newsstands to see her stripped of more than
just her title.
Without question, some people have and
will continue to argue that these matters do
not belong in major national newspapers,
and without question, others will contend
they do.
So far, the Madonna expose has taken the
front pages and centerfolds of newspapers
7 1 gik 1 = '' 1 r'
"THE PEKITAGO4S $286 Si 1.-1-1 ON A6N-1120W
Live Aid:
The concert only proves that both
"They came together to feed the world."
Dick Clark summed up the whole day with
that statement.
Over 100,000 people in Philadelphia, 72,000
in London, and as many as 1.5 billion around
the world united, if only for a day, and tried
to save the world.
Some estimates of the amount of money
raised go as high as $7O million. AT&T, who
provided a toll-free number for people to
call and pledge donations, said that phone
lines were flooded with calls for days after
the event had ended.
Bob Geldof, the originator of the idea
behind Live Aid, gathered the greatest rock
n' roll entertainers around, and reunited
some older ones from another era.
Though most of the people involved in the
production tried to deny any similarities
between Live Aid and Woodstock, the com-
~~
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and magazines across the nation for the
past two weeks.
And although there are more important
news stories on more crucial matters con
cerning the future of our nation, public
interest in the story behind Madonna strip
ping for all to see has become important
because enough Americans want to see it.
Playboy and Penthouse executives are ben
efitting from Madonna's full coverage only
because millions of Americans buy the
issues.
When people want to know about trivial
items, the press is doing its job in letting the
public know the details.
But no matter what newspapers or the
public consider newsworthy, Americans
must not allow their priorities to be set by
scandalous ravings of issues that, in the
end, are unimportant.
Although the harsh reality of war, famine
and discrimination are not ,the happiest or
most entertaining of news items, these
problems must remain in the foreground of
our thoughts and actions if they are ever to
be solved.
What people want to know that Madon
na stands proud with or without clothes is
entertaining and to some extent news
worthy. But such an issue should not over
shadow more vital issues.
What people need to know —what's
happening in South Africa, what has been
decided in Geneva or what will result from
the hostage's release is news.
parisons were impossible to avoid. Bob
Dylan and Joan Baez, two figures who
symbolize the activism of the 19605; per
formed at Live Aid.
Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The Who and
several other bands who played at the 1969
event in New York, were also in Philadel
phia for this show.
But what took place on July 13, 1985 was
more than an effort to help the starving
people in Africa. It was the event that will
go down in history as our generation's reply
to the criticisms dealt to us concerning our
apathetic attitudes and self-absorbed life
styles.
Philadelphia officials publicly com
mented how pleased the city was that drugs,
violence, and pandemonium were almost
non-existent during the event.
In an age that has seen concert goers
trampled to death and drug use reaching
higher proportions in younger people, a
peaceful gathering of 100,000 rock music
fans is an occasion to be proud.
Our generation has born the weight of
some harsh criticisms. Many of them are
well earned.
We believe drunken drivers should be
prosecuted but view driving drunk as an
unfortunate consequence to a Friday night
out and so we persist in doing it because we
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idealism and hope are very alive in today's society
don't want to pay for a taxicab home.
We'll spend $25 a week on pot or veg out in
front of MTV for three hours at a time but
when a professor suggests we should buy
the study guide for his class we say we can't
afford the extra $lO.
Yes, we have deserved many of the eggs
thrown in our face. And for a while we didn't
even think to duck when they were thrown.
But Live Aid has opened a door for us that
we thought was closed.
We survived the "me decade" and the
defining of a new sector known as the
"yuppy" and issued a statement to the
world proclaiming, "Idealism is alive. We
care about the rest of the world and we want
to help."
The 1970 s was not an easy tome for us.
Watergate, OPEC, Iran, skyjackings. We
had to face a plethora of issues that our
parents' either didn't face until they were
older or never had to face at all. And being
exposed to these issues at a young age
influenced our outlook on the world.
We're a little more cynical about the
problems that our parents' say we should be
concerned about. We worry more about how
much tuition is going up than about the
nuclear waste site being proposed for Penn
sylvania.
We're a lot less serious about many things
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reader opinion
What a gift
It must be Christmas at Penn State as the administration
is bestowing its students with numerous gifts. One day
before the bill arrives, I hear that tuition is to increase yet
again. As I read through the bill, I thank my lucky stars
that I am not a science major. Today I open my Weekly
Collegian to find yet another surprise - the administration
wants to convert Beam Hall into office and classroom
space! I congratulate the timing of your decisions - most
of the students are away earning money for school next
fall. I also congratulate your successful avoidance to
student input. However, all things aside, what do you, the
administrators, intend to do with 400 students that will be
displaced pending a convsersion of Beam Hall? Maybe we
could convert Old Main into a dormitory again, and shift
the administration to Beaver Stadium?
What do you think?
It's summer time and there are many hot issues
facing Happy Valley. If you would like to speak out and
voice your opinions to faculty, staff or students, write a
letter-to-the-editor with your gripe.
The Daily Collegian's editorial editor welcomes the
opinions of students, faculty, staff and area residents
about issues and topics of interest to the Collegian's
II Board of Managers Assistant Business Manager:
da th il e y Collegian Karen Jaret; Sales Manager: Roger Kuhlman; Account•
ing Manager: Michael Glldea; Marketing Manager: Sarah
Boughton; Office Manager: Wendy Metzger; National
Advertising Manager: Roland Deal Jr.; Layout Coordina•
tor: Corinne Salameh. '
Gall L. Johnson
The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by
its Board of Opinion, with the editor holding final
responsibility. Opinions expressed on the editorial
pages are not necessarily those of The Daily 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: Terry Mutchler;
Assistant Managing Editor: Jeanette Krebs; News Edi
tors: Christine Kay, Patrick Collier; Sports Editor: Mark
Ashenfelter; Assistant Sports Editor: Rich Douma; Photo
Editor: Jeff Bustraan; Arts Editor: Pat Grandjean; Graph
ics Editor: Tony Ciccarelli; Science Editor: Nan Arens;
Copy Editors: Pete Baratta, Phil Galewitz and Colleen
Barry; Contributing Editor: Bill Cramer.
Monday, July 22, 1985
019 8 5 Collegian Inc.
Michael A. Meyers
Business Manager
and we have a unique way of justifing what
we see as our faults.
For example, the fact that the Reagan
Administration is heading dangerously to
the right doesn't bother a lot of us because
we're satisfied with the relatively low un
employment and interest rates, two eco
nomic factors that determine what we may
be doing in the future.
More than any other generation, we are a
product of an environment that underwent
rapid changes before we were ready to deal
with them.
Just when we thought we were beginning
to understand the workings of the political
process, the government of the early '7os
threw a wrench into our engine.
Elementary school taught us about hones
ty and our great political system of checks
and balances. Then, from our living room's,
we witnessed the courtroom drama of cor
ruption in government and the first presi
dent to ever resign.
We are a generation that holds grudges.
All politicians are suspect and cheating at
any level of business doesn't surprise us.
We marvel at the technology of the corn
puter, age only to hear about new ways to
commit crimes with them.
Our preoccupation in the "me" syndrome
The Daily Collegian
Monday, July 22, 1985
We, the students, are not so misguided that we cannot
see a good idea from a bad one. These past two years have
been productive in many ways - such as improvement of
Dorm Contract Acceptance. ARHS has done much to
improve student life on campus. Orientation has, also,
improved by student input to hopefully better aid fresh
men. Even the new Dining Hall system has been prevent
ed from cutting its own throat (by not letting the dining
halls be open to any student thereby causing complete
chaos in areas such as West Halls) by student input.
Occassionally, we students do come up with feasible
ideas; and its about time the administration acknowl
edges our ingenuity as students who are capable of
matching the administration's strange solutions. You
never know - we might come up with a good one!
readership. Letters-to-the-editor should be typed, dou
ble-spaced and must be submitted with the author's
name, phone number, semester and major. They must
be presented with identification in 126 Carnegie Build
ing. The Daily Collegian reserves the right to edit
letters-to-the-editor. All letters become the property of-
Collegian, Inc.
So, instead of just complaining at dinner about what
issues and problems are facing Happy Valley, do •
something constructive write a letter-to-the-editor.
Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian encourages com•
ments on news coverage, editorial policy and University
affairs. Letters should be typewritten, double-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 Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for length
and to reject letters if they are libelous or do not
conform to standards of good taste. Because of the
number of letters received, the Collegian cannot guar
antee publication of all the letters it receives.
Mall letters to: The Daily Collegian; 126 Carnegie Build
ing; University Park, Pa. 16802. Names may be withheld
on request. Letters may also be selected for publication
in The Weekly Collegian.
Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be
presented to the editor. Business and advertising com•
plaints should be presented to the business manager.
is overiealous at times, but we're not totally
responsible. We've been brought up with
books like, "Looking Out For Number
One," and movies like, "Rocky," that ap
plaud the struggle of the individual.
Even our universities are partly responsi
ble for the direction we have taken. We're
continuously shown the virtues of integrat
ing mathematics into any discipline but
given only 12 credits of electives in which to
learn about culture, philosophy, or any of
the other courses that help to make us
better people.
Live Aid is our first attempt at making
our world a better place to live. If you saw
the end of Live Aid, when all the performers
gathered onstage to sing,"We Are The
World," and if you felt the roar of the crowd
as they joined in, then you were part of an
event, a unified effort that our generation
has not experienced before.
Ride the momentum that Live Aid has
provided us with. It was just the boost that
our generation has needed.
And to the 172,000 people who gathered at
JFK stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley
stadium in London: Thank you.
Michael Kutner is a senior majoring in
finance and a columnist for The Daily
Collegian. His column appears every Mon
day.
•
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Alison Jones, senior-history
July 17
Soc. Sec. 'goes computer'
By CHRISTOPHER CONNELL
Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE It's a scene fa
miliar to anyone who has been in a
bank, stock brokerage or travel
agency recently: Customers sit
across from staff members who
handle an entire transaction on
desktop computer terminals.
But this scene takes place in a
Social Security office, and the
agency's leader says it is the first
step toward better, faster service
that the public can expect nation
wide by 1988.
The agency has begun taking
benefit applications directly on ter
minals at its main downtown office
here and in York.
The equipment will be installed
in 18 more offices from Brooklyn,
N.Y., to Wenatchee, Wash., by late
autumn, and in all 1,350 Social
Security offices within three years,
Acting Commissioner Martha Mc-
Steen said.
The agency, under fire a few
years ago from congressional in
vestigators for being too timid 'in
joining the computer revolution,
embarked on a five-year, $5OO mil
lion modernization program in
1982.
McSteen said the public is al
ready realizing benefits. It takes
only 10 days, down from three
weeks, to issue new Social Security
cards, she says, and there are
fewer disruptions at headquarters
in suburban Woodlawn, where gi
ant computers keep track of the
earnings of 123 million Americans
and pay benefits to 37 million oth
ers.
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"There has been a real major
change in the way Social Security
does business, and we're still in the
process of vastly improving our
record-keeping process," said Mc-
Steen.
The downtown office is in an
imposing brick warehouse where
Social Security's records were
stored from 1936 to 1960. Today, it
is outfited with modular furniture
and ergonometric chairs and 43
terminals. The staff numbers 45.
The manager, Velma Seabrooks,
a veteran of 28 years service, said,
"I wanted this to happen long be
fore now. They told me this kind of
system was coming 20 years ago."
McSteen said, "We were sur
prised that the people who came in
to file claims really felt more com
fortable with the terminal ... than
perhaps we did as employees using
it for the first time."
So far, there has been no sign of
"fear or resentment or distrust
from the public" about the fact that
"the most confidential information
about (them) is going into a com
puter somewhere," she said.
"They seem to be very accustomed
to that sort of thing."
Wanda Jones, a claims represen
tative, said the staff was panicked
at first about switching to the ter
minals, but that soon subsided.
Now she sings the system's
praises, saying, "It really makes
(work) a lot easier. No more trips
to the computer room."
It also will eventually eliminate
the jobs of data review technicians,
who used to take written applica
tions, encode them on computer
forms and send them to Social
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Security's master computers.
The Reagan administration
wants to eliminate 17,000 of the 75,-
000 jobs at Social Security through
attrition by 1990, claiming modern
ization means fewer workers.
Although Social Security prides
itself on an accuracy rate exceed
ing 99 percent for paying retire
ment benefits, McSteen said there
was a chance for error each time a
clerk had to retranscribe a per
son's earnings or other data.
Under the old system, 25 days
were needed for a local office to
retrieve a person's entire earnings
record from Social Security's main
computers. "Now, we're getting
earnings records in 10 or 11 days,"
said Jones.
Shirley Lawrence, a data review
technician, said, "The earnings
reports are requested right away
now instead of giving them to the
different clerks. Sometimes we did
it that day and sometimes we did it
the next day. Now, they're request
ed even while the applicant is sit
ting there." The agency plans to
find other work for the technicians.
The color terminals flash in red
whenever a claims representative
makes an error, such as entering a
Social Security number wrong the
second time.
- The program takes each appli
cant through a series of questions
about their birthdates, marriages,
military service, whether they
worked for the government even
whether they were Japanese
American internees during World
War 11. (Internees get military
service credits on their Social Se
curity record.)
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Lebanese face effects of war
By RIMA SALAMEH
Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon Conflict day
in and day out not only takes its toll of
dead one in 40 of Lebanon's 4
million people in a decade it also
takes a heavy toll in the mental and
physical well-being of those who sur
vive.
Drug addiction, drunkenness, di
vorce and depression have reached
record levels, experts say, as side
symptoms of the tensions and trau
mas born out of the conflict that
explodes in streets, neighborhoods
and countryside villages.
Widespread drunkenness and alco
holism and an upsurge in divorce are
accepted by sociologists and mar
riage counsellors as unfortunate but
predictable results of prolonged
stress.
On the basis of interviews with
patients and studies in this capital,
Dr. Adnan Sabbagh, a psychologist at
the American University of Beirut,
offers grim statistical pointers to the
extent of other social ills:
• Thirty-five percent of newly de
livered babies are born physically
deformed or mentally retarded be
cause their mothers "couldn't take it
anymore" and turned to tranquilizers
such as valium during pregnancy.
• About four-fifths of teen-agers
smoke cigarettes as opposed to 2
percent before the outbreak of civil
war in April 1975.
• Forty-five percent of adoles
cents regularly use heroin or other
hard drugs, a fivefold increase in 10
years.
A professor of nutrition and pathol
ogy at the American University, who
spoke only on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitivity of his prac
tice, .told The Associated Press,
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"Many teen-agers, mostly (militia)
fighters, came to me for treatment.
These were really drug addicts. They
were badly involved with strong stuff
heroin. Most of them were unedu
cated. I couldn't go into details (about
their problems) with them."
But he noted that fewer cases
reached him in the last year because
some religious leaders, who frown on
drink and drugs, have sought to
transform Lebanon, whose popula
tion is 60 percent Moslem, into a
fundamentalist Islamic state.
Militiamen needing rehabilition, he
said, now fear that doctors will report
them to their leaders. "If these peo
ple had come to us, they could have
been.treated," he said.
War psychosis cases include rich
and poor, country peasants and urban
professional people, Christians and
Moslems, the experts say.
Mirvat Awada is typical of some
Lebanese who suffered from war-in
duced unemployment, which is be
lieved to have hit about half of the
work force.
"My husband couldn't afford to
rent a house," she said. "He couldn't
find a job, so we slept at my family's
home for a while, then at his parents'
house until there was a time when he
couldn't take it any more. He began
drinking and became alcoholic.
Thank God we don't have children."
She divorced him.
"I feel very sorry for both of us, but
this is how the war has affected us all.
... And I'm not the only one."
For some young lovers marriage
prospects are dashed.
"I had a job and planned to get
married," said Wassim, 40, an engi
neer who lives in the southern port
city of Tyre and, like others inter
viewed, asked not to be identified by
his full name. "But my fiancee left
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The Daily Collegian Monday, July 22, 1985-5
the country in 1981. She couldn't take
it any more. One day she and her
family left for good to Egypt. That
was the end of my plan to raise a
family, to have a family of my my
own. I've never dated anyone else
since."
Wassim, who now lives with his
mother and younger brother, added,
"This war has touched everyone one
way or another.
Young children are the innocent
casualties of war.
Three-year-old Saadeh still suffers
from intestinal and breathing prob
lems after her parents spent several
weeks in a Tyre bomb shelter after
Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982.
"It was terrible," her mother, Mar
iam, recalled. "We lived in the dark,
breathing the smoke from nearby
smouldering buildings and exploding
shells."
Some . Lebanese have unwittingly
cashed in on war psychosis.
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