opinions
editorial opinion
Stalemate at the summit
In the aftermath of last week's economic
summit in Venice, the prevailing sentiment
among most observers appears to be one of
disappointment.
Without question, the 13th annual gather
ing lived up to its billing as a grand parade
of the world's most influential leaders, but
to the disappointment of many, not one of
those leaders succeeded in leaving his mark
on the world's most pressing problems.
After three days of- discussion, the seven
leaders departed Italy leaving nothing of
substance not for lack of anything con
crete to discuss but rather for their
failure to agree on anything substantial.
Oh, they agreed that AIDS has become
"one of the biggest potential health prob
lems in the world" and they agreed to call
for the dismantlement of the apartheid
regime in South Africa, but they refused to
take any concrete steps to combat those
evils. They decided that declining economic
growth rates and serious trade and econom
ic pitfalls were problems but they were
Worthy
Words
Are you angry at a recent editorial,
article or column printed in The Daily
Collegian and are your friends are
thoroughly bored with the fact that
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last three nights in a row.?
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tor and let others in Happy Valley
know what's on your mind.
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reader opinion
Mandatory tests
Drug testing of professional athletes is a subject of
controversy in our society. In light of the recent admis-.
sions of drug use by such talented athletes as Dwight
Gooden and Lawrence Taylor, it is time that all profes
sional sports adopt policies of mandatory drug testing.
Professional athletes are ascribed a high status in our
society because of the nature of their profession.
By taking drug tests professional athletes would be
delivering a powerful anti-drug message to the public,
which could prevent many people from getting involved
with drugs.
Although athletes may not realize it, drug testing would
also eliminate any unnecessary danger from professional
sports. There is enough risk of injury in professional
sports without the presence of illegal substances. When a
professional athlete uses illegal drugs immediately prior
to competition, drug use is no longer a victimless crime.
The victims are teammates of the drug user, opposing
competitors, and the paying fans who are deprived of
seeing fair athletic competition. Drug testing could keep
potentially dangerous athletes out of competition while
preserving the quality and fairness of the game.
I am in favor of drug testing for athletes because of its
many benefits. Drug testing could help individuals who
would not voluntarily seek help for a drug problem. The
knowledge that drug testing exists may also prevent some
athletes from even experimenting with drugs.
All athletes at Penn State are asked to take a drug test,
Discrimination
Breaking down stereotypical barriers is the first step to solving a problem that affects us al
Well it's that time again. What time you
ask? Time for the news division to be crazy
enough to allow me to write a column. I
guess it's been long enough since the last
column to forget about my writing creden
tials (or lack thereof).
On with the column.
Over the last semester as business man
ager of the Collegian and as a student, I
have had many different experiences with
'people. Some good. Some bad. I was told
that I would never succeed in business.
Clients have called me things that I cannot
print. Also, it has been said that I have "sold
As one observer aptly pointed out, the
summit's economic conclusions were sim
ply "policy objectives without commit
ments." The same can be said for ' the
statements on international politics.
Sadly those measures were indicative of
the direction the summit has taken in recent
years. Britain's urbane foreign secretary
Geoffrey Howe conceded this year that the
summit simply provides a useful forum for
"international group therapy." French
President Francois Mitterrand concurred
adding that "propaganda has edged out
utility" as its primary purpose.
Perhaps next year, , that will all change.
Maybe then, the Summit Seven will recog
nize the futility of those objectives and they
will leave for Toronto with conviction and a
genuirie interest in problem solving. If not,
maybe they should carry out their corre
spondence by mail.
"Man can will nothing unless he has
first understood that he must count on
no one but himself; that he is alone,
abandoned on earth in the midst of his
infinite responsibilities, without help."
Jean Paul Sartre
Please Write
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nationally or internationally.
All letters should be typed, doubled
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If you believe a topic merits more of
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Author or authors should include
which many feel violates an individual's privacy. As a
team member, I will be tested sometime in the future.
Although the test may be an infringement on my personal
rights, I will support the drug testing program because it
can be of benefit on a large scale.
Phony
In the June 7th issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer there
was an article about the new Penn State logo which was
brought on by a terrible crisis the school was having for
fear of losing its identity tolts image.
According to a Mr. Roger Williams, who titles himself
the executive director of University relations, "Identity is
a bit firmer concept than image image can be oscillat
ing and shimmering!"
As a long-in-the-tooth alumnus, who lived long enough
to finally see the school called by its proper name "a
University" instead of "the cow college," I "oscillate and
shimmer" at the thought that some phony "corporate
identity-making" outfit bilged Penn State out of more
than a few thousand to point us in the direction of the Dark
Ages again! If you look at the Lion on the new logo he's
pointed that way and the old cat ain't happy about it!
Might not the money have been better spent on student
aid or somescholarships?
out." The few comments that have been
complimentary are the reasons why I still
come to the Collegian office each morning.
No matte? what was said, I was able to
gain something positive from each experi
ence. Whether I learned more about myself,
the individual I was speaking with, or peo
ple in general the fact is that I learned.
Recently, I had another experience in
which a similar outcome occurred.
A good friend of mine and I had just seen
the Celtics blow a 16-point lead to the Lakers
in the final seconds of game four of the NBA
Finals. Patrons soon began filing out of the
bar and since I had lost the bet as badly as
the Celtics had lost the game; I made my
way past elated, dejected, and drunken fans
to buy another pitcher of Bud.
As I sat back 'down at our table my friend
and I tried to figure how and why the Celtics
choked.
We soon exhausted that subject and
moved into an area of conversation familiar
to the both of us and to Penn State: discrimi
nation.
We both agreed that: 1) the problem at
unable to agree on which policies to pursue
only that action would be necessary "if
future growth is insufficient."
name, ID number, local address and
telephone number on each letter.
Writers should submit their letters in
person to the Collegian office in 126
Carnegie during business hours, 8:30
a.m. - 5 p.m.
Due to a large volume of letters, we
cannot guarantee that all will be
printed. Opinion Editor Meg Culhane
reserves the right to edit letters for
length and also hold letters that are
judged libelous or in poor taste.
Claudia Karabedian
freshman-division of undergraduate studies
image
Samuel Gallu
Bucks County, Pa.
Penn State is wide spread and (2) occurs at
both ends of the spectrum (that is, all
persons experience it to some degree or
another).
At Penn State, everyone is assigned a
label. For example, when we first enter the
University we are deemed freshmen and
when we leave we are identified as alumni.
Well, the basis for these labels is fine
when d6ling with thousands of people.
Grouping them aids in effectively managing
and running Dear Old State.
Perhaps, you are now saying, "so what,
he's a freshman, I'm greek, she's fat but
where does discrimination come into it?"
This is the point that is difficult to explain.
My friend and I debated back and forth for
about an hour trying to get to the bottom of
the issue. As I said it is difficult to relate the
point, but I will try.
It seems that here, at this University,
everyone judges one another by using an
established label. Attached to each label are
a number of assumed characteristics. When
a Connection is made between a person and
a label, the qualities that belong to the label
daily Collegian
Monday June 15, 1987
©1987 Collegian Inc.
Chris Raymond
Editor
Glenn B. Rougier
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.
Board of Editors
Managing Editor Jane Kopacki
Are you interested in becoming a columnist for The
Daily Collegian for Summer Semester 1987? If so; then
we are interested in hearing from you. You don't have
to be a journalism or English major to write for us, but
you must be currently enrolled as a student at the
University.
Columnists will be expected to write proficiently on
national and local issues currently capturing the'
public's attention. What we want are ORIGINAL, well
written, well-researched and insightful columns (not
old high school term papers). They can' range from
humorous to political (or can be politically humoroug,
whichever you prefei): We ask that you be able to
present these issues in new and different ways that will
are automatically attached.
A problem occurs when the person mak
ing the connection refuses to associate with,
or give a person a chance because of their
own perceived prejudices of that person.
Too many times people will refuse to speak
with someone because of a stereotype. It
happens to all of us, whether you're at a
party, a bar, in a classroom, or on the
street. When you bypass an opportunity to
talk with someone because of their looks,
clothes, or whatever, you have automatical
ly assigned these stereotypes to the person's
exterior characteristics.
Because this stereotyping occurs in the
most basic circumstances, is it any wonder
that there is such a problem with discrimi
natiOn of minorities at this campus? If we
have difficulty getting past whether or not a
person is greek or independent, freshman or
sophomore, fat or slim, how are we ever
going to eliminate the discrimination that
occurs with blacks, women, and other mi-
norities?
If people would try and ignore their in
stant indicators, perhaps this University
114 e. Sivial:_ ,