opinions
editorial opinion • -
The real policy?
Well . . . we've got old Coke, new Coke,
Classic Coke, Diet Coke, Caffeine-free Diet
Coke, Caffeine-free Coke, and Cherry Coke.
Which one today? Which one tomorrow?
If University Faculty Senator Cara-
Lynne Schengrund, associate professor of
biochemistry at Hershey Medical Center,
has her way, the confusion of this question
may one day be applied to the University's
grading policy.
Last month, Schengrund asked the senate
to consider the possibility of not implement
ing the plus / minus grading system sched
uled to go into effect for Fall Semester, 1986.
Within the past few years, the University
has been trying to improve its academic
and physical stature, in order to compete
with colleges and universities across the
country. Because of this, many aspects of
the University are changing.
The new Nitttany Apartments complex on
campus is replacing the old Army bar
racks; a new alternative meal plan has
been adopted for residence hall students;
General Education Requirements may re
place Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
in more than name only; and the the Bi
otechnology Institute was constructed,
showing that the administration wants
Penn State to catch, and more importantly,
surpass its competitors nationwide.
Last April 30, in keeping with the trend,
the University Faculty Senate revised the
current grading system with the addition of
plus and minus grades.
The new policy calls for subdivisions
between letter grades from "A" to "C."
An A minus will equal 3.67 grade points, B
plus-3.33, B minus-2.67 and C plus-2.33. The
policy calls for no A plus, C minus, D plus or
D minus.
After many years of debate between and
among students, professors, and adminis
trators, the University finally took a step in
the right direction of giving more fair and
justified grades.
Surveys were completed by students and
professors; the senate's Undergraduate In
structional Committee gave an informatio
nal report to the senate last Fall; a forensic
reader opinion
Thank . God
Thank God we finally have someone to tell us where,
when, and how much we can drink. After all, college
students certainly can't make mature decisions on their
own. And everyone knows that alcohol use always means
alcohol abuse.
I'm really surprised that nobody thought of the pro
posed regulations sooner. After all, they all make so much
sense. (I don't know how I ever managed to pour a beer
without completing a bartending course.)
It's too bad the task force doesn't have recommenda
tions for tailgating yet. Let's hope we'll see them soon.
Thank God I'm graduating.
Feelings:
The harder I try, the worse I do. The more
I think, the more I am confused.
Each day I seem to reach towards some
thing; I must follow my routine, I must not
miss a trick, I must do. Is consistency an
illusion?
• •
•
For the past two years, I have been
metamorphasizing into a feeling-oriented
person. My process began when I had the
resident assistant couselor education
course; it's purpose was to teach us how to
express our feelings. We were graded on all
of this interpersonal-feeling stuff, so I think
I felt compelled to really express my
thoughts.
After becoming an RA who was only
able to express my feelings well enough to
receive a "B" in that class —I decided to let
loose and really be conscious of feelings. My
goal was to be totally in touch with my
feelings and make everyone understand
themselves. "Come on guys, mellow out
smell the roses slow down, stop being so
judgemental, and shallow. Love the world
with all your heart and soul."
But as my RA experience continued, I felt
Kevin Fischer,senior-finance
Sept. 25
By understanding them, can we understand our strengths, weaknesses,
Vl , d''‘`
session took place where differing .opinons
of the new grading policy were voiced; and
finally, a vote was taken.
Schengrund said the senate voted in favor
of the new plus / minus grading policy by a
58-53 vote and said only about one-half of the
senators were present for the crucial vote.
One reason behind the low attendance and
closeness of the vote, Schengrund said, was
that it was the last vote of the senate for the
academic year. She said that the decision
was made after an extremely long, heated
debate, during which many of the senators
left.
Because of the circumstances surround
ing the discussion, coupled with the fact
that there are 50 new senators who may not
hold the same opinions as last year's sen
ate, a revote could very well go the other
way.
The senate will meet today to discuss, and
possibly vote on, returning to the "old"
(classic) system. But, before reaching a
decision, the senate should remember that
the current system, according to the com
pleted surveys, displeased both students
and professors alike. A more fair and equi
table grading system was called for.
Both students and professors have waited
too long for the University to decide which
grading system is the best. The decision had
been made, but now, only five months later,
the senate may switch back to the classic
system. It does not make sense to tread
over the . same ground as last year's senate,
in order to affirm an already strongly
researched and student- and faculty-sup
ported decision.
The University should always strive to
better itself, but it should not allow itself to
become confused with unnecessary choices
especially after a well-researched deci
sion has been reached.
Scene: Penn State in year 2001: I"Hey Joe
. . . Which grading policy do you like? The
new one, the new old one, or the classic
grading system."
``Aw, last year I liked the new old one, but
this year I'll try the classic grading system.
Maybe next year . . .
Sorry!
I extend my sincere apologies to all of those who waited in
vain in front of Schwab Auditorium for the performance
of Harlem Heyday There had been a notice posted earlier
that explained the postponement of the show—the touring
company experienced vehicle problems at Cornell--but
someone, either out of malice or the mindless following of
sign regulations, took down the notice.
While I cannot compensate for the physical and mental
inconvenience caused to those who waited outside, you
can be assured that you will not suffer any financial
incovenience.
Please bring your tickets to the Paul Robeson Cultural
Center for this courtesy, consideration and for refund
procedures.
Lawrence W. Young, Director Paul Robeson Cultural
Center
frustrated. No one was able to give up their
ways and follow their real feelings." How do
you really feel?"
I decided to stop reaching to others for
awhile; I withdrew into my own little world
and explored and experienced life, but I
never understood why I felt all alone for a
good portion of my journey.
When I met people who needed love and
an understanding ear, I sat ready to help
them see how much they had to offer the
world. "You're experiencing life, that's
neat; life will work out for you."
Each time I share love, I feel myself
saying, "You're good don't worry. Look
in this direction." My direction would be
better for it is the ideal way to live; it's full
of love and self-awareness. Love yourself
and then humankind will be so beautiful!
My house thought I was a nice RA (didn't
you?), but I think they thought I was out of
touch with reality.
I didn't understand, all that I wanted was
to give love. I just wanted to show them
their goodness and help them enjoy life in
the right way. Peoples' apathy towards
growth and fullfillment frustrated me. What
was wrong?
Well, I think I've come to a cool realiza
tion: I can't change anyone. I can't expect
people to see and enjoy life the same way
that I do yes, we're all a little different
and some of us are extremely different. If I
accept who I am, maybe I can accept who
others are and enjoy the goodness or
uniqueness in them.
Those others included relationships with
guys.
I would date someone and never feel they
were able to relate to me. I just put up with
their wants. If they acted, dressed, or
thought a certain way I bought into it all.
I wanted to feel accepted and acknowledged
for my good qualities. Tired of trying to be
someone I wasn't, I would back off.
Did you ever see Woody Allen's movie
Zelig? I felt like Zelig the cameleon he
changed according to his environment. I
realized there was a part of me that this guy
I was dating didn't even know. But, I
thought,"What don't I know about this per
son?" Life was always going too fast: phone
calls, snuggling, kissing, dating I felt
overwhelmed by my inability to relax.
Ding-a-ling: "Hello. No Stacey's not here
now. No, I don't know where she is." Boy,
that's really it. I mean, I wasn't answering
the guy's phone call even when I was in the
room; I wasn't answering anyone —myself
included. Where's Stacey? (That's my mid
dle name by the way.)
I've got to be perfect. Perfect —what's
that mean; do I have that ability? I always
think I do. I want to be thin and healthy, I
want to have lots of humility and love and
peace, but also an old stone house with a
garden and a creek, and a BMW 2002
creative yet organized. It's important for
me to be understanding of all people, yet
able to keep my distance from those who
are off-base. So who am I, really? What are
my strengths, my weaknesses (ouch), my
needs, my dreams?
/Fc!ssßiv6 Cc ,4 - 6,q,4 INC
\ l ,
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‘, \ .
'/./
daily Collegian
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1985
©1985 Collegian Inc.
Gall L. Johnson
Editor
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: Mark DiAntonio; Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian encourages corn-
Opinion Editor: Terry Mutchler; Assistant Opinion Edi• ments on news coverage, editorial policy and University
tor: Doug Popovich; News Editors: Patrick Collier, Bill affairs.
SUPERPOWERS
MichaerA. Meyers
Business Manager
Stress, love, my career oh golly, if I
could just see into the future and get things
squared away.
Since I've been at Penn State, life's been a
tension between stress and play. Work,
perform, do your thing.
"But what if it's not what I really want to
do?" Then I've wasted money and time.
Quizzes, tests, papers, speaches maybe
I'll end up with an ulcer and I won't even use
this information.
Money I'm 'spending so gosh darn much
money: my parent's money, my money,
money that I haven't even earned yet.
Play time I've got to have fun or I'll
freak out. Going downtown is my only outlet
sometimes. I'd love to go running and
release my tension by getting in touch with
the earth and nature, but sometimes being
healthy doesn't cut it. So, I sit drinking beer,
eating pretzels and chips, dancing 'til one
and the job is done. I'm broke, tired and
guilty. God it was fun laughing, singing, and
talking with friends. All of those people
were releasing tension —being wild and
free. Maybe this is a bad view though.
Should I look foward to all of this fun that's
taking place late at night? Drinking, dirty
bars, loud music, it doesn't sound very
condusive to good health.
Then, besides the weekend scene, where I
try to relax and enjoy watching people,
there's relationships and friendships. I feel
compelled to help people feel happy and at
peace. Why? What's my problem? That's
what my friend asked me this weekend.
After being confronted, I resolved that it
was not a problem that I had, but a part of
The Daily Collegian
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1985
/ ,
' /'
, ";,;.
/
V„
Ferrell, Anita Katz; Copy/Wire Editors: Bob King, Anita
Yesho, Phil Galewitz, Sue Graffius, Colleen Barry, Ron
Yeany, Lori Goldbach; Town Editor: Peter Baratta; Assis
tant Town Editor: Megan O'Matz; Campus Editor: Anita
Huslin; Assistant Campus Editor: Kim Bower; Sports
Editor: Chris Lindsley; Assistant Sports Editors: Mark
Ashenfelter, Chris Loder, Chris Raymond; Arts Editor:
Jeff Bliss; Assistant Arts Editor: Pat Grandjean; Fea
tures Editor: Amy Fellin; Science Editor: Nan Arens;
Graphics Editor: Tony Ciccarelli; Photo Editor: Jeff
Bustraan; Assistant Photo Editors: Dan Oleski, Gregg
Zelkin; Business Page Coordinator: Rich Douma.
Board of Managers Assistant Business Manager:
Karen Jaret; Sales Manager: Susan Shamllan; Assistant
Sales Manager: Dawn Kelley: Accounting Manager:
Cathy Reese; Marketing Manager: Roland Deal, Jr.;
Office Manager: Wendy Metzger; Assistant Office Man
ager: Amy Norris; Layout Coordinator: Corinne Salameh.
needs and dreams?
me that I needed to recognize. Although I
don't like to admit it, I feel it's my unwhole
ness that seeks to make others more whole.
I fear lonliness, loss, pain, boring nights,
meaningless days, sunsets unshared, moon
lights overlooked. I want to give and share
with others so that I know someone will
share my experiences with me. Although
my insecure feelings have fostered my
actions, I feel that's OK. In fact it's great.
Did you ever have a burning desire to help
someone solve a problem or help a friend
through tough times? Stop and think about
why you had this desire. Now, try and get in
touch with the feelings you had. I can
usually see how the situation related to my
own needs and feelings. Life's a heck of an
experience.
Last year I wrote: "It is hard to feel what
you feel, only when you do not feel what you
feel." This is where I'm at now: "It's hard
for me to always know how I feel some
times I don't want to." As much as I want to
have all of me in rhythm, I know it probably
will not happen often. I'll be stressed, con
fused, depressed, ecstatic, high, tired, cold,
analytical, and it will all be part of me.
That's neat. Each feeling is real and impor
tant life keeps going. And, the most
exciting feeling for me is when I find out
that you can relate to something I've shared
with you. Hope you enjoy your day.
Victoria S. Lachenmayer is a senior ma
joring in wellness and a columnist for The
Daily Collegian. Her column appears every
other Tuesday.
opinions
The Elderly
I passed the old man again today, sitting on a
"class of 1900," red bench in front of the Human
Development Building.
The sunlight glowed over his shoulder to illumi
nate the pages of an unknown book that he read
through thick bifocals. The transparency of his
pink skin was marred only by scattered brown
spots the ones that represent old age.
I
~~
Sunlight enhanced the raised veins in his hand
to produce what represented a road map. The
blue veins symbolizing major highways and the
tiny red ones, small country roads. They all lead
to the same place. "Home is where the heart is."
"Take me home country roads."
He seemed entranced with his book yet, upon
another look, he was aware and alert to his
surroundings. Students passed, chipmunks
played and squirrels gathered and scrambled for
their winter fodder. He belonged there somehow.
His passive body was but a facade to the active
mind that dwelled beneath a head scattered with
sparse grey hair. He sat serenely on that bench
as students rushed past disregarding his pres
ence. And in his mind he was young. Turning
somersaults, jumping in the Fall leaves that
scattered the ground and breathing the fresh
crisp air that foretold a harsh winter.
"You know that it's worth every treasure on
earth to be young at heart."
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COEOR YOUR
_dAy.
We forget what
(4-ir
they've done and what they still can do
In the midst of a college town where the
majority are between 18- and 25-years- old, he
seemed content and comfortable.
I was compelled to talk to him. To learn all the
knowledge, experience and history that must
have been driven home through those veins. To
bridge the gap of maybe a generation or so of
experiences. He sensed my stare and glanced
over the top of his bifocals. I quickly lowered my
head, as if against a strong wind, and walked a
little faster in response to his glance. Commu
nication is easier said than done.
Old age is probably the most frightening term
in our language. There are millions of advertise
ments, pills, books and paraphenalia that pro
mote "staying young." We invest in lifts of the
face, thighs, eyes, breasts, buttocks and many
other unmentional parts of our sacred young
bodies in the eternal search for the beauty that
we believe will follow. We buy fitness books and
Jane Fonda Workout videos. We eat bean sprouts
and vegetable salads because carbohydrates
tend to promote early death. We are a society of
young people desperately trying to stay that way.
However time does not stand still.
The Indians worship their old, calling them
wisemen. We, in turn, respect our ederly so much
that we place them in nursing homes when they
are no longer as mobile as before, or when
senility sets in and our young lifestyles and 9 to 5
workdays can't accommdate them. We set them
aside, forgetting how much they had brought to
our lives. Forgetting that they still have much
more to bring.
They say that there is a generation gap. I say
that there is no such thing. We isolate ourselves
from our elders by passing them off as not
understanding us and the way we think. We don't
give them credit for having lived under the same
situations we experience now. There is no differ
ence. We are selfish with our thoughts in this
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WITH THE Collegian ARTS
SECTION
respect. We don't believe that Grandpa could
ever have gone out on a date, driven a car or
played on a Varsity football team. We don't
believe that Gram was once homecoming queen
and that she met Grandpa at the Drive-In on a
Saturday night.
The truth is that they have done and been in the
same activities and situations as we have, we do
not give them a chance to talk about their past.
When they do get the chance they become like
little children in the candy store, you have to tell
them to get their hands out of the jars.
So many times do we avert our eyes or lower
our heads when an older person walks by or
notices our stare. So many times do we push
them aside when life gets the least bit rough and
they seem to just be another problem. Yet so
many times are they there when we need them to
help us solve our problems. Their wealth of
information comes from experiences analagous
to ours. Sometimes I wonder if they just sit back
and laugh at us young ones as we run •around
thinking that the weight of the world rests on our
shoulders, thinking that we have all the answers.
Babes in arms.
The old man still sits on that gifted, red bench.
I see him every other day when my class sched
ule takes me to that particular part of the
campus.
It's a mild Fall now and the temperature is
perfect for bench sitting, and mind somersaults.
There will soon be snow on the ground however
and the old man might be driven indoors by the
cold. I have 8 o'clock class on Monday and it
takes me past that red bench. I think I'll stop and
talk to the man maybe learn something for a
change.
Megan Culhane is a sophomore majoring in
journalism and is a columnist for The Daily
Collegian. Her column appears every Tuesday.
gas
COMPANY
reader opinion
Inhumanity
A very disturbing event happened at
a local fraternity party late Saturday
night. A student attended this party,
and while there got drunk to the point
of falling down. He was in a state of
drunkeness so intense that the serv
ices of an ambulance were deemed
necessary. The disturbing part of the
story, however, was not that the
student was drunk but that the frater
nity. brothers took him to a neighbor
ing fraternity's lawn in order to avoid
responsbility for getting him drunk.
The drunken student was picked up
from the lawn and taken to the hospi
tal by ambulance. He recovered there
and was released late the next day. In
analyzing this event, a certain
amount of inhumanity, or even total
disrespect for the life of another
human being might be detected. Or
might there be another reason behind
this event? Could it be perhaps that
the inhumanity and compassion nor
mally felt be these brothers was
driven out by a fear of a larger, more
powerful force? It appears this could
be the case. The larger, more power
ful force is the University's alcohol
policy, and it's effects are seen every
where. Dorm parties are conducted
in secret. Tailgaters hide in their
cars. Twenty-one-year-olds mys
teriously disappear on Friday af
ternoons. The atmosphere here
resembles that of Czechoslovakia in
the mid-1950'5. The University seems
to believe that by dictating it's mor
als on the student body they can curb
alcohol use. This has never been
possible and never will be possible in
a world of free thinking individuals.
The only thing the University has
accomplished with these policies is to
cause people to take greater risks not
The Daily Collegian Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1985-7
to get caught, resulting in possible
danger to involved students. Stories
like the one told here will become
commonplace, and maybe the next
time the victim will not be so lucky.
It's time for some major rethinking of
the alcohol policies here at Penn
State before it is too late to do any
thing about it.
Fred Murray, sophomore-business
Sept. 25
To Mr. Holland,
I think you miss the point of Mr.
Springsteen's work. I know you miss
the spelling of Mr. Springsteen's
name.
To Mr. Repsher,
Dear Bill,
Lighten up.
Glenn Taylor, senior-environmen
tal resource management
Oct. 6
Bogus
Your story and editorial comment
concerning the report of the Presi
dent's' Task Force an Alcohol im
pressed me as being quite inadequate
in view of the importance of the
alcohol problems in our university.
There is no doubt about the fact that
these problems are seriously damag
ing the repuatation of our university
and casting unfortunate reflections
on the character of our graduates. As
a vigorous advocate of student inter
ests, I hope you can use the influence
of your newspaper to urge the admin
istration of the university to take
positive action to reduce the abuse of
alcohol at football games and frater
nity and other functions.
Marsh W. White
Sept. 20