opinions Follow a leader In 1985,26 University students were raped and 10 other rapes were reported in Centre County, according to Donna Hastings, coun seling coordinator at the Women’s Re source Center in State College. From January to June 1986, 17 Penn State stu dents and 'eight Centre County residents reported being raped. Those statistics illustrate unnecessary tragedy and should persuade University officials and women to take every precaur tionary step possible to prevent such inci dents. The Undergraduate Student Government’s Department of Women’s Concerns is one organization doing just that. The department is expected to distribute a map next semester showing well-lit areas on campus to help students choose safer pathways when walking at night. While co director of the department Jane Moyer said the map will not guarantee safety, it will highlight better-lit routes; which will im prove the odds of avoiding any type of harassment. Assuredly, a map is not going to solve the dilemma. But, combined with the escort service and continued educational plan ning, the map is a constructive way to increase awareness in the areas of rape prevention and sexual assault. Assistant Director of University Safety daily . Collegian Thursday, Dec. 11,1986 ©1986 Collegian Inc. Anita C. Huslln 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 Dally Collegian, Collegian Inc. or The Pennsylvania State University. Collegian- Inc., publishers of The n Collegian and related publica , Is a separate corporate insti tution from Penn State. Board of Editors Managing Editor Jeanette Krebs Opinion Editor Jill Graham . Assistant Opinion Editor Alan J. Craver Editorial Writers Damon Chappie, Donna Saber ' News'Editors Bob King, Donna Higgins Copy/Wire Editors Sonya Baum, Rich Douma, Sheldon Jones Terry Mutchler, Megan O’Matz Town Editor Phil Galewltz Assistant Town Editor Thompson Holland Campus Editor Celeste McCauley Assistant Campus Editor Nancy Funk Sports Editor Mark Ashenfelter Wa> ted Farewell: Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors, ridiculous. Emer son There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m the luckiest man in the world. Not only do I have good health, happiness and a girlf riend who makes each day like Christmas Eve for a 6-year-old, I have a president who consistently gives me something to write about. Now, I realize that if you’re a Reaganite, I’ve probably rubbed your conservatively cut fur the wrong way at some point in the Assistant Sports Editors Rob Blertempfel, Matt Herb Magazine Editor Chris Raymond Assistant Magazine Editor Mark Brennan Arts Editor Pat Qrandjean Assistant Arts Editor Jill Kosko Science Editor Kathl Dodson Graphics Editor Tony Clccarelli Photo Editor Crlsty Rickard Assistant Photo-Editor Dan Oleskl Board of Managers Assistant Business Manager Amy R. Norris Accounting Manager Lori A. Spossey Assistant Accounting Manager K. C. McClbre ■ Office Manager Laura Karp AaBistant Office Manager Curt Sayers Sales Manager David M. Profozlch Assistant Sales Manager Joe Palastro National Sales Manager Kathleen J.Heilman Layout Coordinator Nancy George Marketing Coordinator Kristy M. Burgess Complaints: News and editorial com plaints should be presented to the editor. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. II a complaint Is not satisfacto rily resolved, grievances may be filed with the Accuracy and Fair Play Commit tee of Collegian Inc. Information on filing grievances Is available from Gerry Lynn Hamilton, executive secretary, Collegian Inc. Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian en courages comments on news coverage, editorial policy and University affairs. Letters must be typewritten, double spaced and no longer than one and one half pages. Forums must also be type written, double-spaced and no longer than three pages. So, you want to be be famous? You could very well get your name and photograph in this newspaper on a regular basis if you apply for a Spring Semester columnist position. Columnists will be expected to write interesting, well-written and researched columns for the editorial page concerning issues pertinent to the University community. You missed the early application The questioning columnist moves on, but many questions remain unanswered Thomas Harmon said, “We think we’re doing everything that’s reasonably possible to make women aware. Unfortunately, in terest among female students doesn’t occur until after (an incident).” While University Police Services should consistently strive to address the problem of rape, Harmon’s point is well-taken. All students not just women need to be aware of the severity of the problem and more importantly they must be willing to take action before an incident occurs. Harmon pointed out that a woman who is raped or assaulted should report the inci dent immediately to police services. Wheth er or not a woman chooses to press charges if the assailant is apprehended isn’t the immediate concern, Harmon said. He said prosecution plays, an integral role in alle viating the problem, but medical attention takes precedence. No one can logically argue that medical attention shouldn’t be a priority, but for men to realize that women will not stand idly by and allow this crime of violence to continue, prosecution is necessary. Everyone needs to follow the lead of the Department of Women’s Concerns and con tinue taking a part in preventing rape, and the department’s efforts in providing pro tection against this crime are a step in the right direction. last two years. Surprise! Guess what I’m about to do again. But this time, please indulge me. Try to understand the sheer elation I’m feeling now that Bonzo has stepped in a pile of presidential poo-poo with this Iranian arms deal thing. You see, the big guy did more than just damage the credibility of our foreign policy and taint his image as one of the “great” leaders in history. He proved me right! For two years, I’ve been using The Daily Collegian to warn you that, sooner or later, Nancy’s guy is going to screw up in a large way, and then where will we be? It wasn’t enough to make you listen when he lied to us about U.S. involvement in Central America or his ignoring the gravity of South Africa’s impending self-destruction. No, most of you wouldn’t listen. And even if you choose not to listen to me now, hear the words of Vice President George “I believe we can win a nuclear war” Bush concerning the arms deal with Iran: “Mistakes were made.” Indeed. Students’ letters should Include se mester standing, 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. Letters should be signed by no more than two people. Names may be withheld on request. 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 guarantee publication of all the letters it receives. Letters may al3o be selected for publication In The Weekly Collegian. All letters received become the property of Collegian Inc. Letters and forums from University Park and State College: Please deliver any submissions In person at the office of The Dally Collegian; 126 Carnegie Building. All authors must be present with picture Identification either Uni versity ID or photo drivers llscense when presenting the letter or forum. Mail other letters to: The Daily Colle gian; 126 Carnegie Building; University Park, Pa. 16802. About the Collegian: The Dally Collegian and The Weekly Collegian are published by Collegian Inc., an Independent, non 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 Dally 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 Unlve/slty news. deadline, but you can still get a head start for Spring. Over the holidays, come up with two original columns (3-5 pages in length) and watch for the deadline in the Jan. 12 issue of the Collegian office in room 126 Carnegie for further details. Questions should be directed at Opinion Editor Terry Mutchler or Assistant Opinion Editor Jim Higgins in the Collegian office or by calling 865-1828. For two years, I’ve been expressing my frustration and dissatisfaction with the man we elected to sit in the most important titular office in the world’s greatest coun try. Yes, believe it or not, I love this coun try; I don’t necessarily love all the people in it, and our president happens to be one of the latter. Let’s face facts Jimmy Carter may have been a weak president, but in 1980 we elected an idiot to replace him. But hey, everyone makes mistakes. It’s time to pick up the pieces and move on. So we screwed up. So what? We have to be optimistic. Eight years of idiocy in the White House ought to buy us a century of sensibility. My time as a Collegian columnist will end with this column. So when it comes time to question the president in the future, you’re on your own. This is, so to speak, my “last waltz" through the opinion page. At times, it’s been frustrating, especially when my pleas for prudent decision-making and the consideration of alternative points reader opinion Connotations Dear Mr. LaVerghetta, This letter is in response to your “Man talk” letter which appeared in the Collegian on December 5.1 would like you to consider that the world has always been dominated by women instead of men. You would now be called “our chairwoman Robert LaVerghetta,” or “Con gresswoman Robert LaVerghetta,” or three years ago you would have been a freshwoman at college? Ridicu lous, isn’t it? Exactly. Yet women are still referred to as congressman, chairman, etc. You minimize its signifi cance because you are not affected by it. In your letter you say that the connotations associated with ‘chairman,’ ‘congressman,’ etc. “exist solely in their (feminists) biased mind,” and that feminists’ “objection to their use is extremely narrow-minded.” But then you also say that the word gunman “subtly suggests that men are solely responsible for violence and aggression.” Which point of view do you wish to advocate? How is it that these words have connotations when they refer to men, but not women? ‘Gunman’ subtly suggests a man being involved, but so does ‘chairman.’ The connotations of these words are not even the entire issue, but the fact that your disregarding one-half of the human race is. You also say that “while feminists would label such words as ‘chairman,’ ‘congressman’ and ‘spokesman’ as sexist, ‘doorman,’ ‘trashman’ and ‘gunman’ are not objectionable.” What studies do you base your evidence on? I believe that if we are to neuter language (and we should), it needs to be done fully and completely, i.e. gunman/gunwoman, chairman/chairwoman. I agree with you that eradicating gender-based termi nology will not indicate true equality, but it is a step towards the consideration of women. Presents/grades ‘Twas the night before finals And all through the dorms were desks covered with textbooks papers and forms. All the students were tired and very upset because Christmas was coming and they hadn’t shopped yet. The season was passing Michele Volansky senior-foreign service of view have fallen on deaf ears. But it’s been worth every prank phone call, every death threat and every sneer from that short guy in the dining hall. If I’ve helped even one person see that Ronald Reagan is more than just a robust; cute old man who likes horsies and jelly beans and spending money to kill faceless people in other countries, I’ve succeeded in my attempts. To me, Ronald Reagan symbolizes and reflects the lack of conscience that so many other Americans lack. He is the personifica tion of the confusion of concepts that hurt us all. Witness the way people on this campus interchange and equate the words liber alism and communism, humanism and atheism, caring and weakness. Reagan has not served his country as much as he has served to perpetuate the jingoistic belief that to question or disagree with your country’s actions is tantamount to plotting against it. It is because I love this country that I question our leaders, who, by and large, are not very good ones. The DaiJV Colie Thursday, Dec. 11, 1986 it was really a drag and all of th'e studying caused their spirits to sag. Finals at Christmas is really no fun “We hate all this shit,” declared everyone. At three in the morning, when they finally gave up papers all over a drained coffee cup when exhausted they finally crawled into their beds while equations and theorems danced in their heads and at this late hour when all hope had passed it was the time for Saint Nitt and he had to work fast. Down from the mountain he came in his sleigh. It’s his job during finals to give all an “A.” He entered the buildings he crept through the floors performing his magic at all of the doors. And when they awoke, thanks to Saint Nitt, they knew all they had to every last bit. Now they could party, and he heard them exclaim, “how the hell did I do it?" when their grades finally came. Self-sufficient Within the past year, petroleum prices have dropped to their lowest in well over a decade. This has give rise to the illusion that the energy crisis is over. The U.S. is still in a vulnerable position with respect to energy. Low prices and fossil fuels can’t last forever. There is still a need for the development of alternate energies, such as solar energy, to help put the U.S. in a position of energy self-sufficiency. As a writer, I feel an obligation to be true to myself, my conscience. As a columnist, I’ve tried to appeal to your sense of con science, because it is one of the things that connects us as human beings. That’s part of the reason why being a columnist came easy for me. I took the easy way out by writing about that which we all have in common. Unfortunately, I ran head first into difficulty by writing for people, no more or less fallible than I, who often chose to ignore their conscience. A lot has changed in two years some of it good, some of it bad, and for me, one part of it great. My wish for you is to not only experience and grow with the changes to come, but to facilitate them. Questions breed answers, but silence breeds igno rance. I have found peace and happiness. I wish the same for you. Smile, it’s almost Christmas Eve. John Brodeur is a graduate student and a columnist for The Daily Collegian. Carol Mangan senior-elementary education Josef Wicker Freshman, engineering opinions 10 [ian Scientists Just what you’ve been waiting for it’s time for the Scientists vs. the Humanists. They’ve been throwing beer bottles at, or better yet, killing each other for the past 350 years. In keeping with this illustrious tradition, I will let the two sides battle it out, here, in my very column. It’s hard to tell who’s winning; that depends on who you ask. Who’s losing? That’s easy, we all are. Is it possible that I have been hallucinating about the animosity here? It wouldn’t be my first hallu cination, but I can find no other answer to why a particular group of engineering students, on finding out that there was a philosophy major in the same room, began to laugh and make derogatory com ments about the discipline of Phi losophy in general. I’ve also met people who, on finding out that I would like to go to medical school, have launched an hour-long crusade designed to make me see the evil of my ways, and to renounce any form of scien tific thought. I find science fascinating (enough to make it one of my two majors). Like it or not, when you think about brain injuries, you re alize how little control we have over our personalities. Small brain lesions (which can be produced by a hard hit on the head) in the right areas could prevent you from being able to read or write. Move the lesion over a bit and you <iould lose a large part of your memory. The amount of chemical reactions in our bodies is staggering. Throw one wrong chemical into the chain and poof, goodbye! By looking at human beings from a scientific perspective, I have evoked the hostility of many hu manists I have no doubt about this. Of course there’s more to us than that, but many humanists seem to want to deny the influence Save 20% On All Sheaf for Pens! Free Engraving On AH Sheaffer Writing instruments on Dec. 12 SHEAFFER, FASHION NEW Color G Now you have more fashionat choices than ever! SHEAFFER Fashion Pens now come in 12 subtle shades, presented in t) exciting color collections. Thi a Fashion Pen for every mood, every style! Fashion Pens arc _• quality, refillablc SHEAFFER twist-action ballpoints. High lights are 23K gold electro plated. And each Fashion Pen comes with a designer pen pouch and coordinating gift box. Look for the new Fashion Pens display at Term State ‘JJooKiptore Owned and Operated by the Pennsylvania Stqte University versus humanists of our biology on our minds. Go ahead, it will still be there. I also share many aspects of the humanist position. In case you haven’t noticed, I have very strong feelings toward free thought and the individual. The idea that socie ty is more important than the indi vidual is bull, as far as I’m concerned. Historically, science is responsible for that one, but sci ence always did (and does) love to wallow in its own self-importance. Hey, scientists, did you know that the revolution on which mod ern science is based Copernican physics did not derive all the proofs of its theories using the (beloved) scientific method? Galileo, who supplied the proofs for Copernicus’ ideas, believed so strongly in the correctness of the theory that he altered existing data and created some of his own “facts” in such areas as dynamics and optics before he had all the evidence in. (If you don’t believe me, check out Against Method by Paul Feyerband). Whether he turned out to be cor rect or not is irrelevant; he com mitted the cardinal sin, as anyone who has taken Chem 14 knows, “thou shalt not make up thy data.” The developer of the scientific method didn’t use it; kind of like finding out the truth about Santa Claus, isn’t it? Humanists, you worry me. You are the ones who pride yourselves on your open-mindedness. Talking to you about open-mindedness in the area of science is like talking to a fundamentalist about religion or telling a beauty pageant winner about beauty tips get the idea? Some of you humanists probably feel we’d all be better off without science and that all scientists are unfeeling slime. Science has en abled nations to feed their popula tions, prolonged life and hds allowed us to care for our sick. You *t • I ISERA-TEC BIOLOGICA 8-7 MON. THRU THURS. 120 S. Allen St. (Real 8-5 FRIDAY 237-5761 Sera-Tec will be closed from Dec. 19 thru Jan. 5. Reduced hours 12-8 thru 12-12 and 1-6 thru 1-9. don’t see that there is humanism in science. I’ve heard you attack psychiatric hospitals for their abuses on the human being in the name of sci ence (I can’t argue, but I’m not trying to). But some people would be much worse off if they were not inside one. Humanism could (and should) play a very important role in keep ing science from getting out of hand on its rational principles forgetting about us individuals. Time out. I’m getting tired of listening to my split-personality fight with itself (although it is more interesting than a presidential de bate). Let’s not be so serious. I’m graduating next week and have no idea what I will be doing for the next year so I have plenty of time to be serious. We are only held back by our selves and what we think our limi tations are. Play around with this: you can do anything if you truly believe you can. What you are now incapable of doing is only a result of lack of true belief in yourself. The only reason I can’t fly is that I don’t truly believe I can. No matter how many times I say to myself “I can fly,” the doubt still exists, therefore, I will never fly. Since I’m leaving Happy Valley (and chances are that you’re not!), I’ll force on er, impart on you my philosophy of life experience everything you can. Experiencing isn’t necessarily limited to events or one-nighters. A good conversa tion or a good idea is an experi ence. So is letting yourself feel. I’ll probably miss this place but new experiences were getting harder to come by. That’s when its time to fly. Abby Felgus is a graduating se nior majoring in psychology and pre-medicine and a columnist for The Daily Collegian. ThERE is a Uttle biT of Hawam in State ColUqE Warmup at tNe Sußf Club ToNiqkT FEATURINq: PipeliNE PizzA A Hawahan SpEciAlTy - Topped wrrh PiNEAppIE ANd CANAdIAN BACON From 8-11 pM 2 slicEs/75<£ ANd For Your Addsd Pleasure: Sex on The Beacli - All Day & NiqkT Just $1.75 iiurtcLUD L Enter on College Ave. or Calder Way - across from Old Main. E YOU OVER YOUR <AD IN CHRISTMAS BILLS? Let Sera Tec Help!!! Earn $27 Your First Week By Donating Plasma. Clip out this ad and receive $l5 on your first donation. Coupon Expires 12-18-86 (g>ntß» rtii The Daily Collegian Thursday, Dee. 11, 1986 —11
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers