opinions
editorial opinion
A united front for divestment
For those of you keeping score, add yet
another name to the list of nominees vying
for the “Acronym of the Year” award.
The newly formed BAAD (Black Alumni
Advocating Divestment) now joins BSCAR
(Black Student Coalition Against Racism)
and the hopefully.now-defunct ARRMS (As
sociation for the Recruitment and Retain
ment of Minority Students) in the quest for
the most creative arrangement of letters to
represent a group’s name.
But don’t let the cute title fool you; BAAD
may kick up enough dust to make the the
University Board of Trustees choke on its
decision not to divest all holdings in South
companies.
BAAD has vowed to fight the University’s
minority recruitment efforts and discour
age alumni from donating money to Penn
State because of the University’s non-di
vestment decision. The group even plans to
form an alumni alliance with political lead
ers in Harrisburg that will block state
appropriations to the University.
These are very formidable goals, espe
cially for a group that is only a few months
old and whose core consists of only seven
University alumni. But many great ideas
have humble beginnings.
Within BAAD lies a great opportunity to
expand the divestment campaign from the
front of Willard Building where the shanties
once stood to the homes of Penn State
alumni who may believe it is time for the
University to place its moral responsibility,
ahead of its fiduciary one.
However, the real potential of BAAD and
other pro-divestment groups, such as
BSCAR and the Committee for Justice in
Seat belts laws
Education instead of legislation
is needed to protect more lives
Some state legislators are pro
posing a bill that would make it
illegal to drive a passenger vehicle
in Pennsylvania without wearing a
properly fastened seat belt. Viola
tors would be fined up to $2O.
Should our state government
pass stich a law? Definitely not!
If it did, the next law that legis
lators propose could make us quit
smoking or lower our calorie in
take.
Both smoking and overeating
like not wearing a seat belt are
hazardous to our health.lt’s for
our own good, they argue, but so
are a lot of other things.
We’re supposed to be adults or
at least responsible for our own
well-being. Do we need the govern
ment to play “mommy” for us as
well?
We can all use good information
and advice. A state-sponsored pro
gram educating us about seat
belts, not a law, would serve us
better.
The government should adver
tise the Highway Users Feder
ation information that says only 15
percent of Americans use their
seatbelts regularly, yet that alone
saves 1,800 lives a year. The feder
ation predicts that about 10,000
lives would be saved if 80 percent
of the people would use seat belts.
The government should publi
cize the study done by doctors at
the University of Colorado Medi
cal School which showed that in
car crashes with identical condi
tions severity, car size, road
conditions, etc. the unbuckled
occupant was five times as likely
to die and three times as likely to
be injured as the person wearing
the seat belt.
Educating instead of legislating
will eliminate the inadequacies in
the seat belt law. For example, the
safety belt bill states that violators
would not be fined unless they
were stopped on another violation
like speeding.
If, when they appeared before
the magistrate or judge, they were
acquitted of the first charge, the
charge of not .wearing a seat belt
would also be dropped. Many peo
ple still might choose not to wear
seat belts and will not be fined.
Other states’ safety belt laws
contain so many conditions and
exceptions that their laws become
weak and hard to enforce.
California's law is void if air
bags aren’t also made mandatory.
Nevada’s law doesn’t take effect
unless the federal government
permits a 70 mph speed limit.
Texas is still arguing over who's
included in the law. Its legislators
South Africa, lies in the concentfation of
their efforts into a massive, well-coordi
nated all-or-nothing campaign against the
University’s steadfast refusal to divest.
In other words, BAAD should not consider
itself just another organization fighting for
a common goal; it must realize its vitality
as an integral piece in the total divestment
puzzle. It must be willing to work with other
groups to create a united front.
BAAD and other groups have many com
mon goals. If they worked together they
could, for example, further hamper the
University’s already losing effort to recruit
and retain black students.
And if they convinced enough alumni to
vocally criticize the trustees’ decision, they
could have a devastating effect on one of
Penn State’s lifelines for financial support.
Don’t be fooled: The abhorrent system of
apartheid still exists and the atrocities
remain. Blacks in South Africa are still
being repressed and are still fighting and
dying for their rights
And now, with the formation of BAAD and
the united efforts of other pro-divestment
groups, perhaps the divestment struggle at
Penn State will gain enough momentum to
break the Board of Trustees’ stoic non-di
vestment stance.
If the group can garner enough support
from Penn State graduates, the board may
realize that a majority of people associated
with Penn State not just a few students,
professors and the daily student newspaper
want the University to divest all stocks in
companies doing business with South Africa
and finally take a strong stand against the
morally unacceptable policy of apartheid.
>4
,J* ( '
have adopted the Bubba Amend
ment which first excluded then
included pick-up truck drivers.
Pennsylvania has already made
amendments to its bill. Legis
lators here have debated over
who’s included and how much of a
fine should be exacted on viola
tors.
Problems with a saftey belt law
keep appearing. A state legislator
said a seat belt law may have a
negative effect on driver saftey.
The driver, wearing his seat belt
and thinking everybody is wearing
theirs, may drive faster and care
lessly.
Why not, the driver thinks, I’m
protected. Other drivers are pro
tected. It’s like owning a “piece of
’the rock” we’re all insured
safety.
Right now other states’ seat belt
laws have shown success. Manda
tory seat belt use is attributed to
the decrease in serious car acci
dents.
But also right now people are
conscious of seat belt laws be
cause the laws are new. They’re a
popular item everybody’s doing
the “buckle-up.”
What about in a few years when
the popularity diminishes? Is it
possible because of how hard it
is to enforce the laws and how
weak they are that people will
forget about them and stop using
seat belts like they did their hula
hoops?
Education is more permanent
technique. Practice and learning
why it’s important to wear a seat
belt will cause more people to
remember to wear one than will a
law demanding its use.
Court costs, stipulations and
exemptions make a saftey belt law
unappealing and still don’t guar
antee saftey belt use.
Education has a positive effect.
Tell people the facts, show the
technique, and they’ll get the mes
sage: seat belts save lives!
Nancy Janosky is a junior ma
joring in journalism and a column
ist for The Daily Collegian. Her
columns appear every other Tues
day.
reader opinion
Penn State fan
On Oct. 11, I recieved a parking
ticket while attending the Penn State-
Cincinnati game. I don’t mind the
ticket, but I dislike being singled out
for being from Ohio. The lot I was
parked in had probably 25 or 30 cars
with Pennsy vania plates with expired
meters, but no tickets. Just a coin
cidence, I guess.
We had Pennsylvania friends who
parked in the same lot and they were
not ticketed. They came with us and
left at the same time.
My son attends Penn State and is
paying out-of-state tuition, which is
considerably more than in-state. Do
campus police treat all “out-of
staters” like this? I hope not!
We have become Penn State fans
and expect to remain so in years to
come. All Ohioans aren’t the same.
Donald P. Britton
Vincent, Ohio resident
The truth
Rep. Bill Clinger before you go
screaming unfair pol iticfcing.you
should re-examine your campaign
and past records to see if you have
been reading the correct documents.
This letter is in response to your
radio advertisments which demand
an apology from Bill Wachob on the
charge that he lied about you receiv
ing campaign dollars from the oil,
gas and chemical industries.
“He has insulted me and my fami
ly,” Clinger cries. Oh come now, do
you really think that your family was
the target of Wachob’s statement? I
do not believe that the voters see any
correlation in your outcry either.
It is true you have received more
than $lOO,OOO in campaign contribu
tions from big oil, gas and chemical
daily Collegian
Tuesday, Oct. 21,1986
©1986 Collegian Inc.
Anita C. Huslin
Editor
- William G. Landis Jr.
Business Manager
The Daily Collegian’s editorial opin
ion is determined by its Board of
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 related publica
tions, is a separate corporate insti
tution from Penn State.
Complaints: News and editorial com
plaints should be presented to the editor.
Business and advertising complaints
should be presented to the business
manager.
political action committees.
This says something to me if
these big industries are supporting
you, you must be supporting them!
And this is in fact very true: since
1980, Clinger, as a congressman, has
voted against a special tax on oil
companies that would have forced
them to pay $3.1 billion for toxic
waste cleanup, against a tax reform
package to close massive oil and gas
industry loopholes, thus allowing
many companies to escape paying
income taxes, and for widespread
exemptions in the Oil and Gas Wind
fall Profits Tax.
Anyone who has difficulty believing
this only need check the Congressio
nal Record or Federal Election Com
mittee documents.
What has Clinger’s votes to protect
out-of-state companies accomplished
for us? Well, it has cost the govern
ment and taxpayers billions in reve
nues. Not a very good record for a
man who tells us that reducing the
deficit is his top priority, is it?
Clinger’s supporters have tried to
equate the damage by pointing out all
the PAC contributions Wachob has
received for his campaign.
These contributions, however,
came from such groups comprised of
teachers, senior citizens, environ
mentalists and steel and iron work
ers. These are the people that
Wachob represents and supports.
Wachob does not represent Texas
he represents us the people of
Pennsylvania. So maybe in some
respect, Clinger was right Wachob
did fail to tell voters the entire truth.
He forgot to mention whose side
Clinger is really on.
Kenneth Hong
sophomore-economics
frfk,
m
SDeye
What's wrong?
Mr. Clinger, why do you support
The Freedom Fighters so bold and
nice,
As to giving them more dough, I
wish you’d think twice.
You’ve jumped on the anti-drug
wagon, I see,
Loss of freedom for all, will this
effect me?
That fatherly image is mighty con
fusing,
When you send missiles a’cruising.
You’ve wrapped yourself up in red,
white and blue,
Is a coating of patriotism all you
have going for you?
You’ve voted against sanctions, for
them, and abstained too,
It makes me wonder what’s wrong
with you!
Deceptions
Bill Wachob recently said he was
“not familiar” with what the U.S.
Nuclear Weapons Policy is now or
had been for more than 30 years. I
thought I’d seen it all, but surprises
were still to come.
Shortly prior, the Wachob cam
paign gave up its futile attempt to
make students think Bill Clinger had
been cutting student aid. It had been
made public that as a congressman,
Clinger had voted in favor of every
one of the 12 Education Appropriation
Bills that came to the House floor,
and that these votes resulted in major
increases in student aid.
Now I find one of the most poorly
written and deceptive letters I’ve
ever seen, appeared word-for-word a
second time in The Daily Collegian.
The Daily Collegian
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1986
Hoping to lose the reader from the
outset, it opens by curiously denying
that anyone has tried to attack Cling
er on student aid, and then quickly
uses misleading rhetoric and two
outright lies to do just that, and not
very well, I might add.
.More specifically, it claims that
GSLs have been cut by Clinger even
though his votes have led to a 38
percent increase in their funding. In
fact, reasearch funding to Penn State
is up by more than 30 percent. Pell
Grant appropriations are up by al-*
most as much and the Pell ceiling has
been raised to $2,400. He has voted on
our side every single time.
Despite the fact that Joshua First
denies it in his letters (Sept. 26 and
Oct. 8), Clinger has lobbied, and lob
bied hard for HR 4243.
I’m including some documentation
of this, let’s see First do that. Clinger
has fought for fiscal responsibility,
but has been adament in his demand
that we not balance the budget on the
backs of the elderly, students or vet
erans.
Jessica Stern
non-degree student
Further, because Clinger has eight
years experience, seniority and posi
tioning, and because he is known for
not haphazardly throwing money
around, these lobbying efforts carry a
lot more power than similar attempts
by Wachob ever could. Anyone who is
not naive to the way politics are
conducted realizes this.
Once it was revealed to the public
and student body that Wachob had to
resort to deceiving students in order
to gain their support, he was forced to
abandon these attempts.
I ask you, the reader, and Wachob,
why did he find it necessary to begin
with? What is he trying to hide?
Boh Hyneman
sophmore-foriegn relations
■ ■
opinions
Please
write
The Daily Collegian welcomes
letters from students, faculty,
staff and area residents concern
ing issues and topics of interest to
the Collegian’s readership. With
the semester approaching the
half-way point, many important
issues confront the University.
Authors must present letters to
the editor (no more than 1 Vi
pages, double-spaced) or forums
(up to three typed pages, double
spaced) to the Collegian in 12G
Carnegie Building during office
hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Students’ letters should include
the semester and major of each
writer. Letters from alumni
should include the author’s major
and year of graduation.
All writers should provide their
address, phone number and so
cial security number for verifica
tion of the letter. Letters should
be signed by no more than two
people. Names may be withheld
on request.
The opinion editors 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.
Due to the number of letters
receive, the Collegian cannot
guarantee that all letters will be
published.
I aspiring lawyers I YVIIV A R. ihha’s Qi ih / PSU WATERSKICLUB
On Wednesday, Ocotber 22. Mr. Robert Clodfeker from Wake R| , t va rt n tta listen A* Important Meeting:‘Shirts Are In!!
Forest University Law School will be on campus from 9:00 a.m. until DUI ya 1 Ho lwl 1 (X-tras Available)
12:00 noon. *7 * Election of Officers
If you would like an appointment with Mr. Clodfelter to discuss jfißjlllß) f r wor , mno u/oimmo
law at Wake Forest University please contact the Political Science J nveryone welcome
Department at 865-7515, or in room 107 Burrowes Building between * f Meeting Tues., Oct. 21 /8:00 PM
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Bad dreams:
An excursion to 1988 when down and out actors run for the U.S. presidency
It used to be that well-known celebrities
would retire to comfortable condo’s in Malibu
or impressive mansions in Beverly Hills. With
the occasional exception of a Barbara Walters
interview or a guest appearance on “Fantasy
Island,” these stars of the past would lead
relatively quiet lives.
But all this has changed. Today many
celebrities set their sights on America’s most
respected home the White House.
Yes, Hollywood is “going Washington” at
an increasingly alarming rate. Ronald Rea
gan was the first to trade the limelight for the
political spotlight and recently Clint Dirty
Harry Eastwood, and Fred Grandy, widely
known as Gopher on “The Love Boat,” have
followed in his footsteps. Eastwood has been
elected mayor in Carmel, Calif., and Grandy
is running for office in lowa.
This trend is understandable, due to the fact
that politics these days are 95 percent acting,
yet just because they are understandable
doesn’t mean they’re acceptable.
In our TV-dominated society, a person who
has had a great deal of public exposure has a
distinct advantage over a lesser known oppo
nent. Clint Eastwood could be a die-hard
Communist, but unknowledgeable citizens
might still vote for him based soley on the fact
that he’s famous.
This trend really has me worried, political
elections may soon become popularity con
tests. The presidential elections are just two
years away. One has to wonder what over
glamorized, underqualified celebrity will run
for office, or, if he’ll win.
These thoughts were weighing heavily on
eesestealz!
my mind the other day as I watched the
newsin one of the HUB’S crowded dining
areas. The previous night of intense procrasti
nation had left me exhausted and Dan Rath
er’s voice was effectively performing as a
sleep aid.
I dozed off just as Rather was giving an
update on possible presidential candidates for
1988. Much to my dismay Rather’s report
continued in my dream.
Due to the success of former actor and
current president, Ronald Reagan, several
prominent celebrities have announced their
intentions of running for the presidency.
Pat Robertson, of “The 700 Club” fame, has
officially announced that he will be a presi
dential candidate in 1988. Political analysts
agree that Robertson may be a front-runner,
due in great part to his extraordinary talents.
These talents range from faith healing to
controlling the elements (last year Robertson
took personal credit for Hurricane Gloria
missing the Virginia coast.) Rumors are also
circulating that Robertson is faster than a
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steam locomotive and is able to leap tall
buildings in a single bound.
Robertson is projectecd to do well in hurri
cane prone areas and is expected to monopo
lize the vote of street corner preachers.
Jerry Garcia, lead singer of the Grateful
Dead has also ascending on a long strange trip
towards the Oval Office. Garcia is expected to
select longtime pal, David Crosby, of Crosby,
Stills and Nash as his running mate.
Garcia’s campaign will primarily be based
on a complex plan which would focus on
divesting American funds in South Africa and
in turn investing them in various businesses in
Colombia and Brazil.
While Dead Heads are campaigning vigor
ously throughout the United States, sceptics
are questioning how Garcia will fair on his
mandatory drug test. When questioned on the
subject Garcia replied, “hey man, I just say
snow. I mean, no.”
A woman is also beginning to generate
support in her quest for the presidency. Vanna
White has made it clear that she has inten
tions on running for the highest office in the
nation. White, and running mate Pat Sajack,
have already mapped out a tough, no non
sense, foreign policy that will primarily be
based on the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ concept.
Each vowel will cost world leaders one
political prisoner, and contestants will com
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vacation-summits at exotic resorts. White has
stressed that she would continue doing the
grueling job she knows best turning those
letters as Pat shouts em' out.
My already turbulant dream suddenly
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The Daily Collegian Tuesday. Ocl. 21, 1386—9
turned into a full-fledged nightmare. You
guessed it Ronald Reagan runs for a third
term. He mumbling “to really comprehend
Star Wars you gotta sec the movie.”
Meanwhile, Rather calmly explained that
Reagan had the constitutional amendment
reversed which prevented any president from
serving more than two terms.
I woke up screaming “no, no, it can’t be, it
just can’t be!’’ I sat there in a pool of cold
sweat staring up at a sea of strange faces.
In an attempt to explain myself I blurted
that “we need to elect people who have vast
political experience. Someone who has spent
time studying the Democratic system, and
has comprehensive knowledge of both do
mestic and foreign affairs. We need a presi
dent who will respect the rights of individuals,
while also being able to cater to the needs of
big business. Just because someone is a
celebrity does not mean they will perform
well in the political spectrum. Political elec
tions must not turn into popularity contests.”
The group looked at me with a mixture of
confused and concerned faces. I vaguely
heard hushed whispers. “Wow, I think this
guy’s delirious.” “Yeah, 1 know, doesn’t he
realize this is the 1980 s.”
A sympathetic woman patted me softly on
the head and cooed, “Oh my, what you just
said does sound awful, but just relax and
remember it was only a dream, just a terribly
bad dream.”
Scott Westcott is a junior majoring in En
glish and is a columnist for the Daily Colle
gian.
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