COLLEGIANIOO YEARS
AprillBB7•April 1987 ,
Protesters resist military taxes
By W. THOMPSON HOLLAND
Collegian Staff Writer
Among some State College tax
payers who waited until the last
minute to mail their tax returns
yesterday, Rita Snyder stood in
line at the local post office and
quietly announced that she was
withholding $lOO in federal income
tax from the United States govern
ment this year.
Snyder, who said she will with
hold a portion of her tax in protest
of a 38 percent increase in military
spending since 1982, joins a grow
ing number who go against the
traditional fanfare of tax day on
April 15.
In front of post offices and Inter
nal Revenue Service headquarters
in about 80 U.S. cities and towns
yesterday, taxpayers waged "war
tax resistance," said Kathy Le
vine, a staff member of the Na
tional War Tax Resistance
Coordinating Committee in Pat
chogue, N.Y.
Levine's group, a coalition of 100
war, tax resistance groups, esti
mates that 63 percent of every
taxpayer's dollar is finding its way
into funding the U.S. military and
national defense projects such as
the Strategic Defense Initiative or
"Star Wars." Meanwhile, social
services are significantly under
funded or cut altogether, Levine
said.
"I've already paid about $6OO in
income tax from one job," Snyder
said. "But with this $lOO, of which
some 50-plus percent will go to the
military, I cannot in good con
science.— plan to pay this. . . . I'll
be doing my ovt , n withholding."
Although Snyder is not a mem
ber, volunteers of the Centre Coun
ty Campaign for a Nuclear
Weapons Freeze distributed leaf
lets against military spending in
front of the U.S. Post Office at 237
S. Fraser St., all day yesterday
and Tuesday.
Among other things, the leaflets
asked citizens:
e Enclose a letter of protest
Group remembers
lost PSU professor
By LISA NURNBERGER
Collegian Staff Writer
At noon yesterday, about 50 stu
dents gathered together on the steps
of Pattee to share their sorrow and
stimulate student awareness for what
they call "a tragedy that has hit
home" the mysterious disappear
ance of University Professor Boris
Weisfeiler.
"People should realize that we're
not removed from these things," said
Dorothy Kielkopf (junior-political
science), adding that Americans are
not directly affected by political op
pression and torture, and often don't
want to think about it.
But the 1984 disappearance of a
University professor has caused both
University and State College interna
tional groups to begin a campaign
aimed at creating a congressional
investigation to uncover what has
happened to the professor.
Weisfeiler, a Soviet Jew, disap
peared while on a hiking trip in Chile.
Many suspect foul play in his disappe
rance and fear that he has been taken
prisoner in an interrogation colony
which has reported torture cham
bers.
At yesterday's vigil in recognition
of Weisfeiler's disappearance, the
Penn State Undergraduate Amnesty
International Campus Network and
the State College Amnesty Interna
tional, in conjunction with the Under-
inside
• Legisl;ators seek Super Tuesday Page 5
• The Flyers have found new way to beat the New York Rangers... Page 10
correction
Due to a news editor's error, we ran the previous week's weather,
forecasting snow, Monday in place of the correct forecast from meteorol
ogist Ross Dickman. The Daily Collegian apologizes for any inconve
nience the error might have caused.
weather
This afternoon and tonight cloudy and dismal with periods of rain. High
56. Low tonight 46. Tomorrow continued dreary, with occassional rain
showers. High 58 Ross Dickman
the
daily
with their tax returns to their
representatives and senators or
President Reagan. ,
• Support the World Peace Tax
Fund Act, a congressional bill that
would create a conscientious ob
jector status for taxpayers, mean
ing people could prevent their tax
money from going to the military.
• Refuse to pay a 3 percent
federal excise tax on telephone
service.
• Refuse to pay either their
entire income tax, the portion of
the tax that would be devoted to
the military, or a symbolic
amount such as $l.
`l've already paid
about $600.... But
with this $lOO, of
which some 50-plus
percent will go to
the military, I
cannot in good
conscience —plan
to pay this.'
—Rita Snyder
• Contribute the withheld tax
money to social service agencies
or pool the funds with other tax
resisters.
A Pittsburgh IRS representa
tive, Warren- Schrum, said that
several priests arouqd Pittsburgh
came to the IRS headquarters
there and noted that they would
withhold a portion of their income
tax due because it was going to
defense.
"Our position is that everyone
has to pay their fair share no
more, no less," Schrum said.
"We'll do anything to make them
pay what they owe under proce
dures established under the law."
Local campaign member Don
ald Ealy said three out of every
four people to whom he presented
Please see TAXES, Page 18.
graduate Student Government's
Department of International Affairs,
began circulating petitions request
ing the investigation.
The petitions, which will also be
circulated tomorrow along in front of
Old Main and Friday in the HUB
basement, will be submitted to U.S.
Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa, and John
Heinz, R-Pa.
"Students have forgotten about Dr.
Weisfeiler," said Kielkopf, adding
that his disappearance is a relatively
recent event and should not be forgot
ten.
Carl Rupert, coordinator of the
State College Amnesty International,
spoke from the steps of Pattee to the
solemn students gathered at the foot
of the steps. Behind Rupert, students
held signs asking questions like:
"Professor Weisfeiler: "Dead or Al
ive?"
As Rupert explained to students
why campus groups are calling for an
investigation, the crowd grew and
passersby stopped to listen.
In a quiet voice, Rupert told stu
dents, "Boris Weisfeiler disappeared
in Chile more than two years ago. The
Chilean police claim that he drown,
but I (don't believe) this claim" be
cause unanswered questions remain
in the contradictory police report.
Most importantly, Weisfeiler disap
peared near an estate called Colonia
Dignidad, which a 1976 United Na-
Please see CHILE, page 3
olle • ian
Sharyn Bertrand (senior•advertising), one of many students paying income
taxes at the last minute, licks a stamplor herl9B6 income tax form at the
campus post office yesterday afternoon as the information comes due.
Others withheld portions of their income taxes to protest military expendi•
tures.
•
Sick tree
John Yohn, a University arborist, points out the damage done to this tree cut down between Davey and Chandlee Laboratories by Dutch Elm disease.
Carter, Hoffman acquitted
By CAROLYN LUMSDEN
Associated Press Writer
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) A jury found Amy
Carter, Abbie Hoffman and 13 other protesters inno
cent yesterday of charges stemming from a demon
stration last fall against CIA recruiters at the
University of Massachusetts.
The six-member jury announced the verdict to a
courtroom packed with 130 spectators about three
hours after they began deliberations. Hampshire Coun
ty District Court Judge Richard Connon cleared the
chamber after the reading of the first verdict was
greeted with thunderous applause.
"The people of Northampton, a jury of six in North
ampton, have found the CIA guilty of a larger crime
than trespassing and disorderly conduct and decided
we had a legitimate right to protest that," the daughter
of former President Jimmy Carter said as she left the
courthouse.
"I don't know what is in the future, but I am sure I
am going to be involved in this sort of thing for the rest
of my life," she added.
Carter said her . father had called her Tuesday night
to wish her luck, and she would have been willing to go
to jail if the verdict had gone the other way.
"It feels very good, very good," Hoffman said
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Collegian Photo I Dan Oleski
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afterward. "I am proud of what we did. It's good for
the country. It's good for democracy."
Prosecutor Diane Fernald had argued that Miss
Carter deliberately blocked buses and other protesters
refused to leave a university building to publicize their
demands that the school ban CIA recruiters.
The defense had argued that the protesters broke
minor laws in an effort to put a stop to graver law
breaking by the spy agency.
"I think (the jury) was saying students have a right
to protest against illegal CIA covert actions, against
their dirty little war in Nicaragua," said Stephen
Schlang, an attorney for the defendants.
"If there is a message, it was that this jury was
composed of middle America," said District Attorney
W. Michael Ryan Jr. "It was a great jury for us. They
weren't kids. There were a couple of senior citizens.
And they believed the defense. Middle America doesn't ,
want the CIA doing what they are doing."
Miss Carter, 19, was among three defendants accus
ed of disorderly conduct at the Nov. 24 demonstration.
Hoffman, a leader in the student movement of the
19605, was among a dozen defendants accused of
refusing to leave a school building. If convicted, the
defendants could have been sentenced to a maximum
of six months in jail.
Hoffman suggested in his closing arguments that the
CIA was the true offender.
Thursday April 16, 1987
Vol. 87, No. 170 18 pages University Park, Pa. 16802
Published by students of The Pennsylvania State University
©1987 Collegian Inc.
Sloan goes for
business control
By VICTORIA PETTIES
Collegian Staff Writer
In an attempt to keep the Under
graduate Student Government out of
debt, USG President Todd Sloan has
appointed himself as chairman of the
USG's Business Board of Directors.
Sloan's decision will change the
traditional structure of the board,
which used to be chaired by a non-
USG student with business experi
ence. In the past, the USG president
was just a member of the board.
The board is the governing body of
USG's Department of Business and is
reponsible for allocating unrestricted
funds within USG.
A non-USG student traditionally
chaired the board to allow the chair
man to spend more time on the board
than a USG member could, and to
have the chairman represent an apo
litical view.
One reason cited by Sloan for ap
pointing himself as board chairman
is strengthening the board with mem
bers who are familiar with the inner
workings of USG.
Also, by keeping a close eye on the
board, Sloan hopes to keep USG out of
debt. In the past, USG debts have
totaled more than $20,000, this is the
first year in recent times that the new
executives are not inheriting a debt.
But Steve Lauser, board member
and USG Appropriations Committee
chairman, said University students
might misinterpret Sloan's decision
as sign that he is seeking power over
the board.
However, "as chairman (Sloan)
has no more power than any other
member on the board," Lauser said.
"The chairman is only responsible
for ensuring that items on the agenda
are addressed and directing the flow
of the conversation to the topic."
Board members, including USG
•Vice President Bonnie Miller, Senate'
President. Joe Scoboria and Treasur
er Marcia Strackhouse, support
Sloan's decision to become chairman.
Sloan's decision strengthens the
board because it eliminates "another
level of bureaucracy within USG"
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and simplifies the board's structure,
board members contend.
They said some past chairmen
were not in the USG office enough and
were not familiar with the internal
workings of USG.
Also, because all members will
work in USG, communication be
tween board members will improve,
they said.
Board members also include the
director of the Department of Busi
ness and two elected representatives
from the senate, one of whom is
Scoboria.
Although board members are con
vinced Sloan's decision is a good
move, former USG executives ques
tion whether Sloan's decision will
hinder the effectiveness of .the board
because of a shift in the balance of
power, time constraints placed on the
president, and the loss of a person
who is apolitical and has business
experience on the board.
Former USG President Dave Ros
enblatt questioned whether Sloan's
decision will create an imbalance in
the "sharing of powers between
board members."
Rosenblatt said that during his
term, several executives revised the
board's bylaws to stress the impor
tance of a joint sharing of powers.
Please see SLOAN, page 5
L':;
..i A
Students
alarmed by
false calls
By RICK WOODWARD
Collegian Staff Writer
False fire alarms are pulled as
many as five times a week in resi
dence halls, and when this happens,
students may choose to ignore the
alarms and remain in the building
a violation of state law.
. In West Hall's Hamilton Hall, as
many as four alarms occurred be
tween 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. last week.
After the first alarm, many people
refused to leave, said Ken Brennan
(senior-real estate).
Last semester in Hamilton Hall,
there was at least one alarm a week,
he added.
The state requires residence halls
to have at least one fire drill per
month, said University Fire Protec
tion Engineer Tom Hand.
The number of false alarms has
decreased dramatically since 1985-86,
Please see ALARMS, page 3
Collegian Photo / Neil Kohl
Todd Sloan