opinions editorial opinion Don't waste time One man's garbage is another man's treasure so goes the adage but Penn sylvania legislators seem to disagree now that the time has come to decide where they will store the low-level radioactive waste from neighboring states. Three-and-a-half years ago, Pennsylva nia entered into the Appalachian Compact, an agreement with Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia that provided for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste from each state in a single location. Under the guidelines of a federal man date, Pennsylvania was designated as the initial location for the disposal facility be cause it is the largest producer of low-level waste among those states. Thus far, no site has been agreed upon. Before the disposal facility can be con structed, the site must be licensed and regulated by the Department of Enviro mental Resources and approved by the Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives. At this moment it appears that legislators are dragging their collec tive feet on the issue. The committee is still debating measures for preventing non-compact states from dumping their waste at the site and the WHATEvEP. HAPPENED To CAD oeT - A6T - E gyro -- n o L I t 44 , moirrif wArEieitio , you) , giutome V reader opinion Anti-American It appears that the list of qualifications necessary to become a Collegian editor in cludes an almost total ignorance of history and a virulent anti-American, anti-Reagan ideology. Your editorial opinion published Oct. 22 was so full of inaccuracies and errors, that it truly stuns the mind. First of all, the Reagan administration has not "paraded U.S. forces through foreign waters forcing the Ayatollah Khomeni to play his hand. - The U.S. Navy has maintained a constant force in the Persian Gulf since 1949 The Persian Gulf. and surrounding land area, have long been considered a vital area to our national interest and to that of our allies. This was the basis of the Carter Doc trine in the late 19705. The U.S. naval forces are not in "foreign waters," but are maintaining the open pas sage of petroleum through international wa ters in accordance with international waters. Your unfavorable comparison of the pre sent Persion Gulf situation to the Korean and Veitnam wars shows an ignorance of both the history of those conflicts. and of the present conditions under the communist rule of North Korea and Vietnam. Today, while South Korea makes slow progress toward participatory democracy and has a booming economy, North Korea and Vietnam stand as probably the two most oppressive and totalitarian states in the world. The Reagan administration invaded Gre nada to save American lives from harm. Today there is democracy in Grenada, where once there was a Stalinistic dictatorship. The Reagan administration retaliated against Libya after the cowardly murder of Ameri can citizens. Libya, after years of promoting terrorism, now stands quiet. Anyone with an elementary-school intellect most recent plan still has significant flaws, according to the testimony given at a recent hearing here in State College. A federal mandate says that all states must enact legislation establishing a low level radioactive waste disposal program by Jan. 1, 1988 and establish operational sites by 1993. If Pennsylvania misses the Jan. 1 dead line, which seems likely, then the producers of the waste will have to pay $l2 million to dispose of waste in states that already have sites. The producers will lose access to those disposal sites at the end of 1988, and be left with nowhere to put their low-level radioactive waste. Priorities appear to be somewhat skewed in the decision-making process. As time runs out, the committee is still trying to determine policies that will apply to a site they haven't even determined the location of yet. It is unlikely that any community in the commonwealth will voluntarily offer a site for waste disposal, but a decision must be made in order to prevent the consequences of a missed deadline. The committee must take public input seriously and then make a decision on the site quickly. should be able to see that America's vital interests concern "free international waters" in the Persian Gulf. I am glad that the Collegian is willing to let any petty dictator, such as Khomeni, run the United States out of international waters. The Collegian once again stands at the forefront of unthinking anti-Americanism. No warning Be careful when you go outside today or you might accidentally break a law. Who knows, maybe it will be illegal to carry back packs on one shoulder. And when Mr. Police Officer stops you, don't expect a warning. Why should the police set a precedent by giving you a warning when they can write you a ticket or citation? After all. warnings don't create any revenue for the borough. If the above scenario sounds improbable, read on: Yesterday. I was riding my skate board down Calder Way. A police cruiser turned up the street and stopped me. The officer explained to me that riding a skate board in State College is now illegal. I tried to explain to the officer that I had been riding my skateboard to class for the entire semes ter without being bothered. Unfortunately. he was too busy writing a ticket to hear me. Naturally. the next logical step was to take the matter up with the District Magistrate. I explained what the circumstances were when I got the ticket. He then told me that the Centre Daily Times has been running almost two articles per week describing the new laws on bicycles and skateboards. I told him that I was really happy for the Centre Daily Times, but that I don't sub scribe to it. He then told me that there are a Edward C. Ewing junior-political science lot of laws on record that he doesn't know about which would be illegal for him to break. Sure . . the only difference is that it probably wouldn't cost him a cent if he did break them. The students of Penn State, on the other hand, should expect no mercy. I realize that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to laws. But is it too much to ask that a person receives a warning when the situation warrants it? State College police carry their citation books around like demigods wielding Thor's Hammer. The judiciousless administration of the laws by the police exacts a toll on both the image of the police, and more importantly, the students' bank accounts. So for every day henceforth, be sure you run down to the police station and make sure you aren't about to break any new laws. Especially since you can't expect any consideration from the po 'lice. Clark Updike senior-engineering science Central America On Oct. 22, we had the chance to witness Rick Wetzel's commitment to the U.S. back ing of the - freedom fighters" in Nicaragua. He also informs us that his stomach "turned" when he read about President Arias' recep tion of the Noble Peace Prize. One could comment laconically "too bad" about his feelings if they would not reflect such a widespread Western ( American? ) understanding of politics. The criticism that is being held against Arias' peace plan is that it has not brought any improvements yet. This is the least valid argument because this ambitious plan is trying to bring democracy to countries that are used to the alternation of dictatorships and their overthrow. First, it shows complete ignorance of these How the Dud Index works at smokey drinking establishments I had a revelation recently, one that you may find hard to believe. especially coming from a man known for his lack of fun. I call it my Dud Index. Well, I'm a changed man. If my word isn't good enough, let me tell you about how it hap pened. It was a rather usual day for me, a Thursday I think it was. I was watching an enthralling episode of Superior Court, depressing myself with cynicism, feeling powerless to achieve a deeper sense of con sciousness on this shallow planet. In short, I was feeling sorry for myself. At that moment, my phone rang. An omen? "John, how'd you like to join us for a few beers down at one of the local fun-filled, poorly lit, chokingly smokey drinking estab lishments? It'll be rockin'. We have fake i.d." Sure enough, it was an old friend with whom I hadn't spoken since one of the Phi Psi's a few years back, when a bunch of us classier guys got crazy and dressed up. - Well, I'd like to," I said, "but the world is such an unhappy place and it seems that all I can do lately is ponder how to make it better. I think I should stay home and work on it some more." "Maybe you need a break. Why don't you join us for a while? It's been so long since you've seen us wasted so bad that we pee in potted plants and our tongues swell to three times their normal size. Come on, it'll be fun." I don't know what it was, but a light shone in my eyes, a vision of a tall frosty one appeared, and I felt compelled, as if possessed, to say yes. I hadn't tasted alcohol in over two years, so the first sips of beer were rather pungent. By the time I sipped my way to a second bottle, however, I was feeling a little light headed and, for lack of a better word, fun. The bar was smokey and loud with the sounds of Huey, Bryan and an, Collegian Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1987 1987 Collegian Inc. Editor Chris Raymond Business Manager Glenn B. Rougier The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor holding final responsibility. Opinions expressed 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 publications, is a separate corporate institution from Penn State. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor. Business and advertising complaints should be efforts, when a democratic nation like the United States is supporting a civil war in Nicaragua, and undermines its sovereignity. Secondly, the United States hindered the Sandinista government from the beginning to develop a democratic and just society, by arming the opponents, the supporters of the former dictator Somoza. Therefore Wetzel is wrong when he claims that there was no real improvement in the people's lives. What about efforts to improve medical care, food supply (i.e. daily milk for school kids >, and the abolishment of a century-long dictatorship? What about the commitment of the Nicaraguans to the Sandinistas? This was of course years ago, when there was no civil war. But this is not a criteria to judge the improvements or worsening of living conditions. The Sandinistas were chal lenged to defend their legitimate government against underground rebels before they even had a chance to start a peaceful way to democracy. If the two superpowers, and the United States in this case, would finally dare to acknowledge the sovereignity of the less developed countries. and would not fight an ideological war at the expense of the rest of the world. then we will probably witness that the peace plan for Latin America becomes reality. Sodomy law In response to the headline article of Wednesday. Oct. 14, 1987. "Thousands pro test sodomy law," it is apparent that there are intolerable discrepancies. It is bad enough that in truth, the police wore rubber gloves to make arrests at the Supreme Court. This fact in your report is not Bon Jovi, as any worthwhile bar would be. Game 4 of the World Series was on the TV and over the ironic beauty of "Happy to be Stuck with You," I heard an argu ment that would have put a smile on the face of Socrates himself. ,k * a ; "Listen, Dick," said the first man to his co-drinker, confusing me as to whether he was calling him by nickname or body part. "what is it about you that insists on being so superficial as to demean this nectar of the gods as merely 'Less Filling'? Damn it, man, this stuff Tastes Great!" - Aw, please, Ralph," said Dick's intellectual mirror, confusing me as to whether he was calling him by name or by what he was about to do, "it tastes okay, but who are you kidding? The very fact that you can drink four cases of it over the course of one game illustrates my point brilliantly you can do that precisely because it is Less Filling." - Tastes Great." "Less Filling." "TASTES GREAT." "LESS FILLING." Compelling is the only word to describe this meeting of the minds. I was spellbound. Riveted. Nau seated. And then it hit me; how could I have been so ignorant and naive? This is what it's all about. I was working on my 17th broos kie by now and loving it. I lit up a Marlboro, barfed on the shoes of a fellow guzzler who was so banzaied that he didn't even notice, and I finally felt as though I fit in. I belonged. My friends and I were talking presented to the business manager. If a complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, grievances may be filed with the Accura cy and Fair Play Committee of Collegian Inc Information on filing grievances is available from Gerry Lynn Hamilton. exec utive secretary, Collegian Inc Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian encourages 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 typewritten. double-spaced and no longer than three pages. Students' letters should include semester 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 also 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 Daily Collegian: 126 Carnegie Building. All authors must be present with picture identification either University ID or photo drivers liscense Britta K. Martini graduate-political science The Daily Collegia Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1987 commodities and how it is such a great line of work because there are so many good-looking chicks. I was pretty well oiled and found a break in the discussion of Citicorp versus E.F.Hutton to thank my friend for inviting me to get blitzed with him and whoever the hell else was sitting at our table. I loved these guys. "You know." I garbled. "this is tne first time I've ever had FUN. And you know what else? I owe it all to you." i y ~-~ ~~~t "Don't thank me. Brode. It's the beer." "Yeah, I guess it's not who you're with that matters, as long as there's enough beer to get every one trashed. Beer is so important. It's even better at bringing people together than Jesse Jackson." Who?" To our right, a group of beer mates were reading from The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss. These representatives of Penn State's in telligentsia were apparently cele brating the Cat's 30th birthday with a commemorative drinking game, for every rhyme was punctuated by the celebratory "Chug-Chug- Chug" of its participants. I looked on with envy as Thing Two and Thing One gave such pleasure once again to these exemplary adults. Damn. To think that I've wasted almost a quarter-century dwelling on such burdensome issues as rac ism, sexism, and homophobia. Those things mean nothing when you're out having fun destroying public property and not getting caught. Beer is my god, and the bars of the world its temples. Join me: "Our Beverage, which art in 12- packs. . . " John Brodeur is a graduate stu dent majoring in counselor educa tion and is a columnist for The Daily Collegian. He reads his own column every other Tuesday with a beer in hand and another chilling in the fridge. a journalism problem but a statement about the ludicrous paranoia of the Washington. D.C. police faced with a non-violent protest. This is an issue in and of itself. The problematic issue which is evidenced in your article, however, is the second to last paragraph. The entire article reports events of a demonstration against an anti-sodomy law. Why then, is there inserted a totally unrelated paragraph about how there is no• cure for AIDS? Is this an attempt by the media to sensationalize an otherwise unexcit ing event a demonstration? Is this yet another example of an attempt to pigeonhole the AIDS disease exclusively with homosex uals? Let me point out, for anyone who would like to believe otherwise. that the entire week of demonstration in Washington, D.C. was not an AIDS issue. It was a civil rights issue. Information regarding AIDS or a lack of a known medical cure for it has no business in a report about a civil rights protest. I cannot know if The Daily Collegian has edited out any of Ms. Cassata's original re port which might have somehow attempted to relate the two issues. or if The Daily Colle gian simply condones this poor journalism of confusing two clear-cut issues. I am not expressing any personal opinions about political denomstartions, AIDS, homo sexualiyty or sodomy. I am, however, irate over the inclusion of this unnecessary infor mation which, in this case, makes an erro neous connection between public health and civil rights issues. Editor's note The article the letter writer is referring to was written by Associated Press Staff Writer Donna Cassata. Cassata is not a member of The Daily Collegian. E. Ann Sandberg graduate-theatre
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