The daily collegian. (University Park, Pa.) 1940-current, August 27, 1986, Image 7

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    opinions
editorial opinion
The party's over
Penn State has been called a "profes
sional party school," with a reputation
for rolling out a keg for every occasion.
Well Penn Staters, the party's over.
On May 1, the last day of Spring
Semester classes, University Presi
dent Bryce Jordan lowered the boom :
Penn State will crack down hard on
alcohol consumption on University
property.
Whether or not the administration
intended to sneak the policy announce
ment past students who were busy
preparing for finals and the end of the
semester, Penn State students must
realiZe that this policy will have far
reaching effects on their social lives.
The University's new alcohol policy
was developed out of 15 months of work
by the President's Task Force on Alco
hol. The policy says students under 21
cannot possess or consume alcoholic
beverages anywhere on University
property specifically in the resi
dence halls.
In addition, undergraduate-regis
tered student organizations, including
fraternities and sororities, can no long
er serve alcohol at any function on
University grounds. This includes serv
ing alcohol at organization-sponsored
tailgates. Most significantly, the Uni
versity will no longer be responsible for
daily Collegian
Wednesday, August 27, 1986
©1986 Collegian Inc.
Anita C. Huslin
Editor
William G. Landis Jr
Business Manager
The Daily Collegian's editorial opin
ion is determined by its Boarp of
Corporate America:
Modern-day raiders threaten the job security of graduating college students
Corporate America . has assumed a defi
nite trend since the late 19705. Double digit
inflation and prime lending rates above 15
percent have taken a nap, money is cheap
with prime resting comfortably at about 7
percent, and the age of the leveraged
buyout is here.
It seems that we hear about one company
being swallowed up by another almost ev
eryday; more and more of these takeovers
are hostile. When I say hostile, I mean that
the company being acquired is not for sale,
but rather a proxy fight for control of the
company is being fought.
So why, as college students, should we be
interested in this recent phenomenon? After
all, even after we graduate and enter the
enormous world of business, we won't have
any impact on the decisions about company
takeovers anyway.
Many college students are looking for the
highest paying job with the most benefits,
the most security and the most room to
grow within the company. But as many will
soon find out, there are more criteria that
must be considered when looking for em
ployment in corporate America these days.
On the subject of job hunting, more senior
executives are cautioning graduates of the
alcohol-violations that occur off-cant
pus.
Despite the immediate outcry / from
the greek community, the new policy is
fair and calls for minimum regulation.
The facts are simple: The University
must comply with state alcohol laws
and something had to be done about the
liability and insurance problems plagu
ing Penn State.
Severing liability ties with the greek
system is particularly appropriate be
cause the University has neither the
authority or the ability to enforce any
regulation off campus.
Greek organizations have enjoyed
protection under the University's
broad wing and benefited from liability
insurance coverage without being sub
ject to excessive regulation.
It is doubtful that the greek system
would be willing to accept much more
interference from the University. Con
sequently, if greeks want to drink, they
must accept the legal responsibilities
that go with it.
But responsibility for the new alcohol
policy's success does not rest exclu
sively with student organizations. In
the policy announcement, Jordan
stressed new alcohol awareness pro
graths and more non-alcoholic on-cam
pu s social activities. The
administration has suggested these
Opinion, with the editor holding
final responsibility. Opinions ex
pressed 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 [elated publica
tions, is a separate corporate insti
tution from Penn State.
About the Collegian: The Daily Collegian
and The Weekly Collegian are published
by Collegian Inc., an independent, non-
•
•
'k )
future takeovers of seemingly invulnerable
companies. But how the hell do we know
what company is vulnerable or not? And for
that matter, not everyone is willing to work
their tail off six days a week for an up-and
coming firm.
James P. Schadt, president and chief
executive officer of Cadbury Schweppes, is
ono of many topguns of American firms that
is concerned about the future of this coun
try's youth.
"When looking for employment in a large
company, one has to look at the same
aspects of the company that a future share
holder does," he said.
"If college students are looking for the
company that pays the most, then they are
profit corporation with a board of direc
tors composed of students, faculty and
professionals. Students of The Pennsyl
vania State University write and edit both
papers and solicit advertising material
for them.
The Daily Collegian is published Mon
day, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday dur
ing the summer, and Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during
the semester. It is distributed on the
University Park campus. The Weekly
Collegian is mailed to Commonwealth
campus students, parents of students,
alumni and other subscribers who -want
to keep abreast of University news.
hu4, k
-a
new programs, now it must follow up
and get them rolling.
With the exception of the new under
-21 club, the Asylum, that opened on a
temporary basis during Spring Semes
ter, there are few University-spon
sored non-alcoholic social activities at
Penn State.
The University's "Diversions" pro
gram, which included events like free
movies and concerts this summer, was
another attempt to provide students
with non-alcoholic enterainment.
Similar programs that do not involve
drinking are also offered during orien
tation week. Unfortunately, these pro
grams disappear once classes start,
leaving students to find other, more
inebriating forms of recreation.
The administration cannot push the
alcohol problem aside simply because
the University has accomplished what
it set out to do get the liability
problem out of its hair. The Universi
ty's policy talk must be followed up
with action. Action designed not only to
fulfill the University's needs, but the
students' as well.
This editorial is based on a previous editorial
that appeared in The Daily Collegian on the first
day of the Summer Session. We are repeating the
information to ensure that all Penn State stu
dents are aware of the implications of the new
policy.
sealing their own fate because that compa
ny may well be paying them too much."
Schadt adds that if companies are paying
employees too much, their cost of producing
their products or services is so much that
they cannot effectively compete with a
small, lean company where employees are
not paid as much, work harder and produce
their product for less and grow faster than a
larger company.
A better understanding of the reason why
takeovers happen can aid college students
by better equipping them with information
to make right decisions to find out where job
security really exists.
Richard Galley, a partner and senior vice
president with Furman, Selz, Mager, Dietz
and Birney, a Wall Street brokerage firm,
mapped out the reason why these takeovers
unfold.
"The party who is doing the taking over
thinks that they can earn a greater return
on the assets the company currently pos
sesses than the existing management is
reaping."
Since companies borrow nearly 90 per
cent of the money needed for takeovers, the
future return must be substantially more
than the cost of borrowing.
reader opinion
Police state
The new cruising law in State Col
lege is both absurd in itself and an
example of a disturbing trend in
America.
This law is futile, acts to lower
public respect for the police and
deprives Americans of yet another
freedom.
The cruising law is a perfect exam
ple of a law that cannot be fairly
enforced. The police have already
admitted that they will pick on con
spicious automobiles I guess its
just their tough luck!
Instead of patroling the streets to
prevent break-ins, robberies, drunk
driving, etc., the police will waste
their time and the public's money on
preventing the heinous crime of
cruising!
The Daily Collegian is looking for a few good column
ists for Fall Semester 1986.
Columnists will be expected to write opinionated,
well-written and researched columns for the editorial
opinion page concerning controversial issues or topics
that are currently capturing the public's attention
either locally or nationally.
Applications are now available in 126 Carnegie
Building. All former columnists must reapply if they
want to retain their position.
Please pick up an application for further details.
The deadline for all applications is Wednesday,
September 3, 1986 at 5 p.m.
" HOW WOULD N 401.1 LIKE. lb BE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO
The futile attempt to enforce. this
absurd law can only lower the image
of the police. ,
I have recently returned from Ger
many and although one barely no
tices the police, the crime rate is
much lower the news is not filled
with murder, rape and shoot-outs.
The police have a low profile and,
consequently, are highly respected,
because when they make an appear
ance, people know it's serious busi
ness.
In America, our men in blue hide
behind trees and bushes waiting to
pounce on hapless motorists, under
age drinkers, prostitutes and pur
chasers of pornography.
These "offenses" are impossible to
prevent didn't we learn anything
from the failure of prohibition? Pro
hibition made the Mafia in the United
Help Wanted
More often than not, the company is
totally restructured and several divisions
are sold. And yes, thousands of people get
fired in the process. This becomes nec
essary in order to help pay off the debt
incurred by the acquisition.
It is easy to see that corporate raiders
think they are doing nothing but good. Their
best argument is that they are helping
American companies become more effi
cient and better able to compete in the
global marketplace.
In actuality, most of these takeovers are
thwarted by either the Securities and Ex
change Commision or the existing compa
ny. But in the process, corporate raiders
can exact huge sums of cash from these
attempts. Their large number of shares
either have to be bought back by the compa
ny at a premium price or they end up taking
control of the company.
The intense amount of attention focused
on efficiency has been heightened more
than ever before. During the 19705, medio
cre companies could survive in the market
place by simply jumping on the bandwagon
of inflation and raising prices. With infla
tion practically nil these days, companies
The Daily Collegian
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1986
40 • ~,,,
,5r%0n 4 AFRICA ? t‘
States. If we were to regulate what
we can't prevent, we would deprive
organized crime of lucrative busi
nesses and create additional revenue
for the state.
Instead, we must now worry less, in
our zeal to find a good parking space,
we are arrested for cruising!
But, most of all, the cruising law is
another freedom lost. The law exists
to protect us citizens from harm in
order that we may enjoy our lives and
the privilege of being an American.
When we can concentrate more on
what we can do instead of what we
are or are not "allowed" to do, there
will be a greater observance of the
laws that exist to protect our freedom
and safety. Otherwise, we are in
danger of living in a police-state.
Questions should be directed to Opinion Editor Jill
Graham or Assistant Opinion Editor Alan J. Craver in
the Collegian office or at 865-1828.
The Daily Collegian is also accepting applications for
an editoril cartoonist. You must demonstrate profi
cient drawing ability along with a perceptive grasp of
current events and the ability to comment on them on a
regular basis. Applications are now available at the
Collegian in 126 Carnegie Building. The deadline for
applications and drawing samples is Friday, Sept. 5.
are being pressured to tighten their belts.
No longer can you be competitive with high
prices, someone will always sell it cheaper.
So it seems that in our fight for employ
ment in the upcoming years, we need to
better consider all possibilities. With com
panies that seem relatively secure being
caught in the` vacuum of takeover bids
everyday, we must think about these facts
when considering whether to dedicate a
large portion of our lives to an organization.
As a concerned college student, I can only
hope that our nation's youth does not lose
their courage and faith in the American
way. Rumors from parents regarding job
security and company loyalty only stem
from their experiences in the marketplace.
Remembrances of their parents going
through the depression have slanted their
views of modern times.
Times change, and like Schadt said, "the
real job security lies in the hard working
people with the loyalty to the job, not to the
company."
Maik S. McWhirter is a freshman major
ing in political science and a sports writer
for the Daily Collegian.
n.~CTiug .t~v76
Duane A. March
8.P11.-ancient history
• • •
Farewell:
Ring closes up shop and goes on his way to The Real World in Danville, Illinois
My father always told me that when it's
time to say goodbye, the best way to do it is
short and sweet. One of his favorite tech
niques in getting around painful, awkward
farewells was to make a big scene in the
office several days prior to his departure
and say something to the effect of "Now
hear this! I do not I repeat not want a
going-away party held in my honor. Is that
understood?"
Now I should point out that my father is
not a bombastic, unfeeling ogre. He is a soft
spoken, deeply sensitive man whose insight,
intelligence and sense of humor draws oth
ers toward him. It is that very sensitivity
that moves him to take such great pains to
avoid saying goodbye. He knows that if he
lets his guard down against the feelings of
sadness that accompany farewells, chances
are good that he might change his mind
about leaving in the first place.
This column, then, by right should be
equally aloof and understated as my fa
ther's farewell policy.
Then again, I ain't my dad.
This summer, some man from Illinois
woke me out of an afternoon nap to offer me
a job scribbling in his newspaper. It seems
he'd seen my scribbles in The Daily Colle
gian and thought he'd like me to make a
mess of his editorial page, too.
I said fine, and so, at 7:30 a.m. on Tues
day, September 2, I'll walk through the
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Stretch your job-search horizons,
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collegian production 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
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doors of the Danville, Illinois Commercial
News and officially return to that dreaded
void we like to call The Real World.
Funny thing about this getting-a-job stuff,
though. As soon as I decided to go to Illinois,
the national pastime suddenly became tell
ing me how lucky I am and how happy I
should be.
It is to laugh.
People don't seem to realize that I've
already been a part of the real world ; Hell,
that's why I went back to grad school in the
first place. I had a decent job that was
paying decent money. I was living at home,
so saving money was no problem. My par
ents had a VCR, a microwave, cable, air
conditioning, an always-full refrigerator,
and a spare 10-dollar bill every weekend. I
had everything a 22-year-old could want.
Everything, that is, except freedom.
See, while you're at college, it's difficult
/ f/d6
to appreciate just how much freedom you
have. Now, I'm not talking about freedom
from your parents or anything like that;
that kind of freedom is probably the only
thing college students never take for grant
ed.
Instead, I'm talking about things like the
times when you just don't feel like going to
class or when a beer sure would taste good
or when you think a couple hours of basket
ball would be just the ticket to help you get
rid of some of that extra energy you've been
carrying around.
I'm talking about the freedom to see your
best friends any time you want or cut out for
the weekend or watch MTV all night. You
know, the kind of freedom that matters.
I'm also talking about the kind of freedom
that allows you to delude yourself long
enough that you believe you could one day
become anything your heart desires.
When I walk past the Undergraduate
Student Government offices in the HUB, I
see future members of Congress. When I
pass a Steamin' Norbert's cart, I see some
one headed for Merrill Lynch or Price-Wa
terhouse. And when I walk into the
Collegian offices, I see future members of
the staff of The New York Times.
Okay, so maybe these are delusions of
grandeur. All I know is that it was the
prospect of deluding myself about one day
becoming an editorial cartoonist that
brought me to Penn State in the first place.
And let me tell you that I've never had as
much fun in my life as I've had deluding
myself at University Park. I've been ironi
cally referred to as "omniscient," had my
work termed a "dilatory diurnal diatribe"
and had some women claim that I can't
appreciate the beauty of a black woman (I
just love mentioning that), and believe me,
I've never been happier.
Now, as the frontier of The Real World
creeps closer, I can't help but think back to
all of the things that I wish I'd done while I
was here. And I certainly can't think of any
better way to express to you the importance
of those things to me than a bona fide,
imitation "Late Night with David Letter
man" Top-Ten list.
Call it "Top Ten Things Ring Would Like
to Have Done before Leaving Penn State."
Here goes Paul, do we have music to go
along with this? (Cue the muzak version of
"I've Loved These Days" by Billy Joel).
10. See what Bryce Jordan's sneakers
reallylook like.
9. Wear black and sit on the wall on College
Avenue.
8. Do a cartoon on how utterly ridiculous it
is for anyone to have to pay for a
bluebook.
7. Pet a cow at the School of Agriculture.
6. Spend my life savings on a watch at the
Penn State Bookstore.
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—Our 82nd Year—
The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1986-1
5. Look up dirty books on LIAS.
4. Down a few beer bongs with Joepa.
:. Conduct research confirming the fact
that reading The Centre Daily Times
can give you zits.
2. Collect a couple of grand from Sera-
Tee because I have some wonderful new
type of plasma.
(Here it comes, cover me Paul)
1. Do a cartoon so astoundingly astute that
the Board of Trustees calls an
emergency meeting to completely di
vest Penn State's holdings in South
Africa.
Well, I guess the time for dreams and
delusions is about over and I guess I've gone
far enough against my father's style of
saying goodbye, so I'll get going. There are
just two more things I want to say.
First, for all of its imperfections, Penn
State truly is a special place. To those of you
lucky enough to be staying on here, I say
enjoy it while you can because one day you
might end up in Illinois.
And second, keep on reading this paper,
and especially this page. There are some
terrific people here working pretty damn
hard for you. And besides, reading anything
else is probably bad for your complexion.
Rob King was a graduate student major
ing in journalism and the editorial,cartoon
ist for the Daily Collegian.
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