The_Rambler_1976-10-01

              8TA11E UNlVcH;)iH
COLLEGE OF TECHNOL-Qei
FARMWGDAlf, NY 1173
HRRARY/SFRfAl P n r -'
F i i l i i ly im Miidatiry Actiiity Fit as iistrilitH by thi l.U
Volume 47
Number 3
October 1, 1976
Why Not Vote?
by Karen Trinidad
The 26th Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution in 1971
loyvered the voting age to 18.
This change made 25.7 million
people between the ages of 18
and 21 eligible to vote for the
first time. The youth vote was
expected to total around 18
million in the 1972 Presidential
election. Instead it was a
disappointing 12 million.
It seems that most young
people have no interest in their
government. A smaller
percentage of younger people
than adults vote. In the 1972
elections, 47 percent of the
eligible youth were counted
while 60 percent of the adults
voted.
The attitude of young voters
hasn't changed in four years.
This year it might be even
worse. The reasons they don't
v o t e very f r om being,
u n a c q u a i n t e d with the
candidates and the issues,
finding the time to register, and
just [#ain lack of interest.
Most Farmingdale students
do care about their right to
vote. When asked if they'd be
concerned 'if this right Was
taken away, only 20 percent
said no. "It would be nice to
think that your vote would
mean something, but you're
only a peanut among millions,"
said Randy Biegelman (a
student).
The thought that one vote
won't matter is . a common
feeling. However, one vote can
make a difference as shown in
the 1974 New Hampshire
senatorial race, when Louis
Wyman was declared winner
over John Dunkin by just two
votes. The election was held
again and the candidate who
looked like a loser the first time
around won a surprising
victory.
There doesn't seem to be
much enthusiasm toward ^he
u p c o m i n g P r e s i d e n t i al
elections from most of the
people questioned. Although
85 percent said that they are
planning to vote, this was just
to exercise their right as neither
of the candidates appealed to
»hem. Gary Fosburg com-mented,
"There should be a
ballot that says you're
disenchanved with both
parties."
Many students never gave
politics a thought. Some vote
the way their parents do.
Others realize that their neglect
to keep up with the campaigns
is the reason for their lack of
interest. This just adds another
excuse. "I'd rather not give my
vote to someone I know
nothing about," admitted Terri
Menna.
It was a sorry situation when
in 1974 the U.S. voter turnout
was only 45 percent. The way it
looks, America's youth isn't
going to improve the situation.
If the apathy spreads, our
democratic system will suffer.
Edmund Burke said "All that is
necessary for the forces of evil
to win is for enough good men
to do nothing."
E A LT
MAINTENANCE
EE
The week of October
5th through the 9th, 1976,
w i l l be of special
importance to the Long
I s l a n d p o p u l a t i o n.
During this period, the
State University at
Farmingdale has invited
fifty health agencies to
participate in "Health
Maintenance Week" to be
held on the College
Campus from 2:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m.
Knowing the impor-tance
of this event, the two
County Executives, Mr.
Ralph G. Caso of Nassau
and Mr. John V.N. Klein
of Suffolk have officially
declared this period as
"Health Maintenance
Week" in their respective
counties.
The agencies that are
Stevenson Named
New Assistant Vice President
Dr. William Stevenson of
Bellmore has been appointed
Assistant Vice President of
Student Affairs at State
University of New York at
Farmingdale. This announce-ment
was made by Dr. Charles
W. Laffin, Jr., President of
Farmingdale and Dr. Paul
BedeU. Vice President of
Student Affairs Division at the
College.
Dr. Stevenson received his
Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business t t Bloomsburg Sute
College in 1961; he obuined his
Master's Degree from Temple
University in 196S and was
awarded his Ph.D. also from
Temple in the area of
Educational Administration in
1972. Dr. Stevenson helped
start two community colleges,
G l o u c e s t e r Community
College in South New Jersey
and LaGuardia Community
College in New York City and
served as Dean of Students for
these schools. Prior to
accepting a position at
Farmingdale, Dr. Stevenson
was involved in student-oriented
a r e u at Pratt Institute
slated to be on the
Farmingdale program
will encompass every
aspect of healthy living. In
addition to the invited
guests, the College's own
curriculums will take part
in this unique educational
endeavor.
Farmingdale's Nursing
Department will take
blood pressure and urine
tests, the Dental Hygiene
area will explain the need
for oral prophylactics and
c a v i t y prevention.
Lectures are also planned
by many other curricu-lums
in the areas of
environment, better
working conditions,
nutrition and pet care.
This e d u c a t i o n al
experience will culminate
on Saturday, October 9th,
at the College's annual
Homecoming when all
festivities will begin at
10:00 a.m. The activities
for this day will include:
kiddie rides, student
floats, barnyard animals,
a magic show, a chicken
barbecue, the crowning of
the Homecoming Queen,
a puppet show and many
other family-oriented
forms of entertainment.
The days when each
agency will apear on
Campus appear inside this
issue. The dates once
again are October 5th
through the 8th, starting
at 2:00 p.m. and ending at
6:00 p.m. and October 9th
from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m.
Student Leaders Attend
Training Conference
by Debby Beitch
in Brooklyn.
An avid sports buff, Dr.
Stevenson wrestled during his
collegiate days. He ran and
coached track and played semi-pro
Softball for two years.
A l o n g with being a
professional coin dealer. Dr.
Stevenson and his wife, Ruth,
have won nunierous awards as
dog breeders and are antique
dealers focusing in porcelain,
copper and brass.
Dr. Stevenson has written
many articles for the business
and educations fiekls.
On September 17th, thirteen
student leaders and two staff
members left Farmingdale for
the weekend to attend an
Orientation/ Leadership
Training Conference.
The trip was mandatory and
c o s t each person $50.
Represented at this conference
were S . G . A . , C.U.B.,
RAMBLER, ISLANDER,
W.A.T.C. and LD.C.
Although the evenings were
free for enjoyment, the days
were spent in various sessions
run by Mike Mitura (Director
of Student Activities) and
K a t h y F a r r e l l (S.G.A.
Secretary). The sessions were
designed so that each student
leader would be better able to
handle the business as well as
the social aspects of their
respective organizations.
Although many people went
to the conference knowing only
a few people, everyone left
knowing everyone. This was
accomplished during the free
time.
According to everyone who
went, the weekend was a huge
success and was well worth
their time and money.