opinions
editorial opinion
Appetizing decision
College students have a long history of
complaining about the food they are served
in the dining halls. But Penn State com
plaints have centered on a lack of meal plan
options.
After years of being fed pressure from
students groups, officials from the Office of
Housing and Food Services have decided to
listen to students and adopt a new meal plan
finally meeting the needs of the large
majority of students.
The new plan, which will take effect
beginning Fall Semester 1986, is fairer and
more economical for students.
According to food service statistics, the
averagestudent eats 12.5 meals a week, and
that is the number of meals students pay for
under the current plan. Realistically
though, individual students eat between
zero and 21 meals a week in the dining hall.
The unfairness of the current plan lies in the
fact that, by ignoring the differences in
students’ eating habits, the University is
forcing students who eat fewer meals to
subsidize those who eat more.
Persons who are constantly missing
meals and eat out end up paying twice
once for their prepaid meal and a second
time for dining out.
Under the new plan, residents pay a base
price of $5OO, representing the non-food cost
associated with eating in the dining halls. In
addition, a system of points worth 1 cent
each representing the food cost will be
used. Students will choose from five options
the number of points they wish to buy. Then
as meals are consumed, points will be
deducted through a computer.
With the new system, breakfasts will be
worth 60 points, lunch worth 125 points and
dinners worth 185 points. Special dinners
will be worth 230 points.
If residents “spend” all of their points
reader opinion
As concerned students
Today students across the country are expressing their
disgust with South Africa’s system of Apartheid. Demon
strations consisting of sit-ins, lock-outs, and calls for
divesting of University monies, have gained national and
World-wide attention.
* Here at Penn State University numerous organizations
representing student concerns have spoken for divest
ment. In conjunction with this the Undergraduate Student
Government has been conducting a week of education in
order to inform ALL students about the vicious system of
Apartheid, and also the pros-cons of divesting.
The following are highlights which all students should
be aware of:
1) PSU invests about 6.6 million dollars in companies
which do business in South Africa.
' 2) The effect of American investment has been to
strengthen the economic and military self-sufficiency of
South Africa’s Apartheid regime (Report of Senate Sub
committee on South Africa).
' 3) PSU invests only in companies that have signed the
ETullivan Principles.
’ 4) The Sullivan Principles are only voluntary and make
no demand for change in the fundamental structure of
Items:
A potpourri of generic grace, the F word, women, high school and lost virginity
ITEMS: I don’t suffer pompous fools who
take ten minutes to say grace. One can say
“Thank You” just so many ways before it
wears thin. In the interests of those who
don’t like blow-hards before dinner, but still
like expressing thanks for what they have,
I’ve developed a generic grace. You can use
it for any religion. Here it is:
‘ ‘ God, let’s not get particular thanks for
everything. Amen.”
Short, sweet and all-inclusive. I also have
a gripe with those who constantly thank
God. That is honorable, but shouldn't you
take it to the limit? Shouldn’t you thank Him
for every breath, every bat of an eye-lid,
every step, etc. Literally everything, every
second of the day, regardless of its triviali
ty? Nothing is trivial when you think about
it. If you’re going to thank Him, thank Him.
And please, please, stop asking God to
help you. In the words of the Talking Heads,
“We’re not little children.” I encourage you
to pray for others, but not yourself. God
■M
during a particular semester, the Universi
ty will allow the student to buy more points
on credit. Students will be able to purchase
points in increments of $lO or 1,000 points.
There is little doubt that the new system
answers the needs of students much more
effectively. But, the new plan does have
pitfalls students will not be reimbursed
for unused points at. the end of each semes
ter, and the points cannot be carried over
into the next semester. Money paid for
unused points should be returned to stu
dents or the points should be credited to the
following semester. '
On the other hand, the plan will also
enable students to eat at any dining hall or
the HUBEateries at certain times during
the day. For students taking classes, study
ing or working in areas of campus away
from their residence hall areas, this plan
will be invaluable.
In addition, the new meal plan will offer
those not living in residence halls an alter
native to the usual University candy or soda
machine “lunch plan.” Off-campus stu
dents will be permitted to purchase meals
in the HUB and dining halls at a discount
rate.
And although previous alternatives
such as the bag lunch program will be
discontinued, it will be a change for the
better overall.
This plan provides alternatives.
. Clearly, the new plan is not perfect tto
plan is but it does take significant strides
in satisfying the needs of students. In the
last few years, many students have paid the
price for their University meal plan through
inconveniences. But now, at least the Uni
versity is feeding us a plan that we can
swallow rather than forcing one down our
throats.
Apartheid or demand Non-Whitd politics} rights,
5) There is no evidence of a tuition increase, if and PSU
divests.
Our investments in South Africa are morally and
financially bankrupt. As a State University in a State
which espouses Virtue, Liberty, and Independence we can
no longer justify investing in companies which contribute
to the repression and death that plagues South Africa.
We the UNDERSIGNED Senators of the Undergrad
uate Student Government urge the Btudent body to take
part in upcoming events which will express our dismay
with with the University’s present policy. Also we must
send a clear defined message to Dr. Jordan and the Board
of Trustees that Penn State Students demand DIVEST
MENT NOW!!!
gives you strength, use it. Praying for self
improvement seems very selfish next to
praying for world peace. Some people use
God as the middle-man between them and
their potential strength. He won’t slap your
hand for taking cookies from His jar without
saying pretty please.
• • •
ITEM: Red peppers, Pepsi, broccoli, string
beans, Nardone’s frozen pizza, apples, veg
etable oil, peanut butter. If I don’t write
these items down somewhere, I’ll forget
them when I go to the supermarket.
• • •
ITEM: I hope to make a career out of
reviewing movie critics.
• • •
ITEM: Society’s ills can be traced to one
horrifying source: The F Word. This word is
so dangerous that people born before the
big-band era can’t call it by it’s true name.
So they call it The F Word, branding it with
a single letter. My, what danger when
mentioning one letter of an alphabet con
jures up dark visions of an obscenity used
only by sailors who hit their thumbs with a
hammer.
“Gladys, I don’t know about movies these
days. Seems like all they are is girly films.”
“Harold, you’re absolutely right. They
don’t make movies like The Bowery Boys
Go to College anymore. And they all have
... They all have ..
“The F Word'.”
“Oh yes, Harold, yes! I can’t even bring
Andy Ahlberg, East 3 Senator
John Cllsbam, Town Senator
Steve Black, Centre Senator
Kate Lane, Town Senator
Scott Seifried, Town Senator
Laurie Swercheck, East 2 Senator
Helena Davis, East 2 Senator
Alan Berson, Nittany/Pollock Senator
Larry Colorito, Centre Senator
Joe Tentiluccl t Town Senator
Bept.lo
myself to say it!”
Don’t worry, I won’t write it. I may have a
rough sense of humor, but I am a gen
tleman. Besides, I’m a good Catholic boy,
add there must be millions of passages in
The Bible about not using The F Word.
• 4
ITEM: LOST: One virginity in the gazebo on
the HUB lawn, late Friday night. Is a family
heirloom and very dear to my parents. Will
offer large reward for returning it un
harmed.
ITEM: A woman is like an eight ball on a
cleared pool table, poised on the edge of a
comer packet. An unimaginative man will
hit the cue ball as hard as he can and hope
the backspin works.
There is a fine art to putting in the eight
ball gently. The cue ball must kiss it lightly
into the pocket, but have enough backspin
not to scratch. Kiss it too lightly and one
may miss it all together. Playing eight ball
without using unnecessary force requires a
deep understanding of equilibrium.
• • •
ITEM: I’ve just been looking through my
high-school yearbook. I graduated from
North Schuylkill in ’B2 with a nice haircut.
They needed someone like me to write the
yearbook, because it’s trite. The captions to
the pictures are sickening, thank God I’m
not diabetic. And George Charlock bams it
up all over the place. But you know what
really sticks out in my mind? It’s bizarre,
r.'* -— j -
-IV
PENN SISIE PROUO
dally Collegian
Gall L. Johnson Michael A. Meyers
Editor Business Manager
The Dally 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' Dally 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: Mark DlAntonio;
Opinion Editor: Terry Mutchler; Assistant Opinion Edi-
• o •
PSD
" INVESTMENTS
Friday, Sept. 13,1985
©1985 Collegian Inc.
but I honestly believe that the rock group
REO Speedwagon exists only to have pre
tentious high-school girls write their hit
singles in the “Favorite Song” part of the
yearbook.
RELATED ITEM: In the big class picture
on pages 8-9, my friend Schwamy is stand
ing next to me. His shirt is fluorescent blue,
and his right hand is missing. The day the
picture was taken, his shirt was White, and
he had His right hand.
Sue different picture of the class were
taken that day; in each one, Schwamy made
an obscene gesture with his right hand. He
batted a thousand and had to pay the school
a lot of money to touch up the photo. He was
bitter at the time and swore painful death on
our class president. Considering all the
intellectual achievements and lasting im
pressions of my high-school years, I must
say my proudest moment was standing next
to Schwamy in that picture. What a pro
found statement he makes on the value of
high school.
ITEM: FOUND, the born-again word of
Jesus, at a difficult time in my life requiring
me to grasp onto anything powerful. Smells
fishy and has very little common sense.
Can’t keep it long, because my friends can’t
stand listening to it. Please, if you lost this,
take it back before my mind is gone.
ITEM: Everywhere I go, people have faces
I, »
%♦ „ v
1 - r
•V * ’ V
* *
(: * . ’
* *i
. .
%
**.■*"'
tor. Doug Popovich; News Editors: Patrick Collier, Bill
Ferrell, Anita Katz; Copy/Wire Editors: Bob King, Anita
Yesho, Phil Galewltz, Sue Graffius, Colleen Barry; Town
Editor Peter Baratta; Assistant Town Editor: Megan
O'Matz; Campus Editor: Anita Huslln; Assistant Campus
Editor: Kim Bower; Sports Editor: Chris Lindsley; Assis
tant Sports Editors: Mark Ashenfelter, Chris Loder, Chris
Raymond; Arts Editor: Jeff Bliss; Assistant Arts Editor:
Pat Grandjean; Features Editor: Amy Fellln; Science
Editor Nan Arens; Graphics Editor: Tony Ciccarelli;
Photo Editor Jeff Bustraan; Assistant Photo Editors:
Dan Oleski, Gregg Zelkln; Business Page Coordinator:
Rich Douma.
Complaints: News and editorial complaints'should be
presented to the editor. Business and advertising com
plaints should be presented to the business manager. If
a complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, grievances
may be filed with the Accuracy and Fair Play Committee
of Collegian Inc. Information on filing grievances is
available from Gerry Lynn Hamilton, executive secretary,
Collegian Inc.
• • •
• • •
The Daily Collegian
Friday, Sept. 13, 1985
- - -
P"'
• •
•' —».
like pigs. That’s an observation, not an
insult. Even skinny people. It must be the
food we eat, the lives we lead, I don’t know.
It’s mostly in the eyes ... beady buttons
constantly shifting.
It’s hard trying to look people in the eye
on the street; it’s even harder when you
actually do. If eyes are the windows to the
soul, we need Windex.
• • •
ITEM: No man is an island, but some men
are peninsulas.
• • •
ITEM: Life’s greatest tragedy is when the
truth is spoken, and it doesn’t matter. I
must have read that somewhere before, so
if I inadvertently ripped someone off, let me
know. I feel like an Elvis impersonator.
• 9 •
ITEM: “Hey man, you must do some se
rious drugs to write like you do.”
“No. If I were on drugs I couldn’t even
pick up a pen, much less write with it.”
“You write straight? That’s frightening.”
“Yeah, but it’s not as frightening as an
imagination so dull it clings to normalcy,
and not as sad as someone so blind to imply
something so callous and thoughtless with
out a hint of guilt.”
William S. Repsher is a senior majoring
in English and a columnist for The Daily
Collegian. His column appears every Fri
day.
iL-iu- ••• _.
.. 1
* I
V=r
»T~
V
opinions
Pure Bliss
If ignorance is bliss then the Collegian Board of Opinion
must be thriving in pure utopia.
Evidently, the Board of Opinion has no conception of
why the University Student Executive Council exists or
what its purpose is. To begin with, it is NEITHER a super
student government involved in setting policy for the
students of the University NOR a pwer-hungry group
concerned only with appealing to as many students as
possible to gain popularity. Instead it is a “ ... forum for
consulting with and advising the president of the Univer
sity on: 1) Matters of University Policy whose broadest
impact is on students and 2) Other matters of interest to
the students.” It is an organization which gathers togeth
er and coordinates concerns and opinions brought forth
by other student bodies. But most importantly it provides
”... communication between the president and the
student body as represented by the student leadership.”
It is not USEC’s responsibility to make a stand on a
particular issue but instead to act as a forum of opinions
for the administration and vice versa. It is through the
diverse opinions brought forth that a clear realization of
student views can be formulated. In the future, a little
research and reality can go a long way farther than a lot
of ignorance.
Devin A. Malone, junior-industrial engineering
. CCSG representative on USEC
CCSG student representative to the Board of Trustees
Sept. 12
Name calling
It is sad that a major collegiate newspaper such as The
Daily Collegian must lower itself to name calling and
such a lowly state of professionalism in the editorial
entitled “Student Leader?” published on September 12.
Slander of someone is against the law and it is time that
the Collegian realizes that. In defense of Laurie Maser,
may I say that she exemplifies the qualities of a strong
leader. She is a leader chosen by leaders and how much
loftier of a position is there than that in itself.
In the same context, the pressure that goes with that
position is so intense that very few could even begin to
deal with it: To get eighteen student leaders together with
such a diverse field of positions from InterFratemity
President to Academic Assembly President and to have
them agree on major issues seems a little foolish. So Ms.
Gail Johnson, Editor, one who must profess free speech
and thought, why ask such a silly question? Why ask for a
common position? Lori cannot be expected to even
attempt such a role. No human can.
A good leader will not speak for all the opinions of his or
her constituents and we should respect Laurie for that
choice. When pressured by administration to give a
collective student opinion, she is strong enough to say the
hardest word and that word is no. She will not let Old Main
put the students in one box and label it “Student Opinion.”
That takes integrity.
Danger does not lie in discord, as written in the
editorial, but stregnth lies in free discussion. Thought.
Reflection. It is the basis of this country. Don’t ask for a
dictator.
Finally, Laurie’s decision to pass off the analysis of
General Education Requirements to Jay Clarke of Aca
demic Assembly only shows delegation to a person, a
leader of a group whose energy in relation to academic
principles can be utilized. What a wonderful idea to use
delegation. My goodness, perhaps Reagan should appoint
a Cabinet with the same purpose. Oh, what a foolish idea!
Delegation? Does that really mean that she is less
qualified or only more of a person who is not interested on
power but in the leadership role to truly lead students?
Thanks Laurie! Good job!
Sandra L. Churchin, President, Engineering' Under
graduate Council
Sept. 12
Thank you
Thank you for the fine articles about blues artist, Jesse
Graves. Had it not been for the Fri. Sept 6 write-up, I
would not have known about his visit to Cafe 210 West. The
review by Pat Grandjean is a sensitive and accurate
portrait of the performance, music and audience of Jesse
Graves. The blues, like other African contributions to
American culture, is an emotionally compelling art and
Graves did offer the best of the living blues: rawness,
energy and honesty.
It is exciting to hear live blues here in our somewhat
isolated, and predominantly White, Happy Valley. We are
fortunate to have the band “Body and Soul," but a
traditional blues performance is a definite rarity. I
wonder whether there might not be other blues freaks out
there who are getting a bit depressed listening to their
favorite records all alone or playing without the excite
ment of a real blues jam.
We all have a lot going on in our lives, but I think I could
make room among my family and work for a Happy
Valley Blues Society. Please discuss the possibility with
fellow blues fans and let me know what you think (865-
9162). I would love to work with you to keep the blues alive
and well.
Jeffrey A. Kurland,associate professor of anthropology
Sept.ll
Not the answer
As concerned Penn State students and future alumni, we
are confused by the recent actions of University officials
and borough council members. Why have these parties
taken such a hard line against the oldest Penn State
tradition, tailgaiting?
W.T. Holland's Sept. 11 article stated that the main
concern of police was younger alumni and students on the
south end of the staduim. What is the difference between
an underage Penn State student enjoying a dorm tailgate
on the south -side of the stadium, as compared to the
underage friends and children of alumni and State Col
lege residents enjoying a tailgate on the north side of the
stadium? The fact of the matter is “busting tailgates”
THE UNIVERSITY CONCERT COMMITTEE
< • PRESENTS
THE
KINKS
SEPT. 15 th RECHALL 8 PM
RESERVED SEATS $l2
TICKETS ON SALE EISENHOWER BOX OFFICE (9-4 pm) - -
and REC HALL NIGHT OF SHOW
0273
'
tjrj tr r,o ni'-iT'.,r,! *>
‘i-- ’■ . ■ L ■
..
■■ . • -i •*
• • \
- . V.
-is:■ • ,Vf •
•! ARTISTS SERIES: fIRTtSTS SERI
Vi s'lqecJ Season Subscription 198;
ill*sB6J 12 Events , 198 w,
|c*j Season i each Season,
Which is the least expensive
a movie, a pizza, or a night at the Artists Series?
Believe it or not, the Artists Series is the least expensive item in
this picture. A student can get a 12 event subscription to
the Artists Series for as little as $3.50 per event, a total of
only $42.00. That is less peir event than a movie or a pizza. This
season features the Houston Ballet, Cyrano de Bergerac , the
Vienna Symphony, and the Broadway musical On Your Toes.
Bargains like this don’t come along everyday.
Stop by the Eisenhower Auditorium box office from 9am
to 4pm weekdays or call 863-0388 for a full brochure.
Today Is your last day to subscribe!
“Stop! That’s not the way the script goes.”
...
For Visa/Mastercard orders call 863-0255.
The Daily Collegian Friday, Sept. 13, 1985—11
will not prevent underage drinking, it will only add fuel to
the fire of the growing unrest among students, the
University, and the borough.
A final word to the two parties involved. First, the
borough council should remember that a very large
portion of the State College economy is generated by the
students of the University, so don’t bite the already
battered hand that has fed you for so many years.
University officials should keep in mind, especially in the
first year of a five-year fund raiser, that happy alumni
are generous alumni.
Paul Formkcllo, junior-telecommunications
Stephen Dodge, sophmore-industrial engineering
/ $\
• t
-
John Stagliano, junior-economics