Vol. XXII, No. 4
November25, 1975
CABRINI COLLEGE, RADNOR, PA.
Maggie Kuhn: "Out of their rocking chairs. by EddaPitassi A dedicated revolutionary is coming to Cabrini College. Maggie Kuhn, founder of the Gray Panthers and one of the most ¡ active senior citizens in this country, will be appearing on Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the Mansion Dining Room. Ms. Kuhn believes in young and old people working together to challenge a system and a political structure that has becom~ apathetic. While students have helped expose many of the social problems of our technological society, a growing number of them are now witnessing the disgrace of nursing homes without nurses and retirement homes that charge exorbitant admission fees. Institutions serving the aged rarely permit self-determination and democratic participation. Residents are treated like children and are forced to live by rigid rules and regulations. In a world of liberation movements, Maggie Kuhn wants liberation from the stereotypes of old age in order to free older persons from an inferior status. he- ants old 1)eople to "repl'Ogra-m" themselves and adopt new personal and group life-styles to help one another. When Ms. Kuhn retired from her job in 1970, she was faced with the problems of many retirees: loss of a job, decrease of income, and little contact with associates. She met with various liberation groups and exchanged ideas and strategies and decided it was time to actively remind everyone about the needs of the American senior citizen. She and her action groups are engaged in projects to battle a society that
considers old people inferior and incapable. When older -people ,etire, they pass from activity and productivity to a life of restful leisure. Some have planned other careers or interests to keep them attuned to everyday life. Millions more, however, are not so fortunate. When they leave their jobs, or are obliged to retire, they retreat into a pattern of "deadly" leisure that brings on loneliness. Ms. Kuhn and the Gray Panthers are fighting to change this attitude. On December l, 1973, The Gray Panthers joined the Retired Professional
Action Group, one of Ralph Nader's Public Citizens groups. froth groups had attracted old and young people. Both groups had worked on such issues as the rights of patients in nursing homes, the regulations and reform of private pension systems, the elimination of age discrimination , and the training of older people for public-interest work. National priorities are currently defined to include health care, food and nutrition, inflation and unemployment, housing, transportation, and mandatory retirement. Ms. Kuhn and her group were very influen-
Fifteen Students Win Activities
The Financial Aid and Scholarship Committee (F ASC) has announced the first annual recipients of the Cabrini Activities Awards. The recipients for I 97 5 - 19 7 6 are Theresa Alberici '76, Mary Ann Brophy '76, Loretta Bullock '78, Raymond Crew '77, Anabelle Fernandez '76, Martha Heid '76, Maureen Larkin '78, Frances MacDonald '77, Mary Clare Moran '76, Thomas Nerney '77, Lorraine Ostrowski '76, Mary Beth Senkewicz '76, Susan Snyder '77, Lawrence Sudgen '76 and Teresa Torpey '77. These awards, ranging from $300 to $600, have been awarded based upon the student's sustained pattern of quality performance in several areas of college activities. These awards are in addition to other forms of financial assistance and will take the form of tuition reductions for Spring 1976., Gerald Satlow stated. The method of selection used by the F ASC is as follows: each member of the F ASC, which consist of the following people , Dr. Dorothy Brown, Academic Dean; Gerald Satlow, Financial Aid Coordinator; Mrs. Estelle Oristaglio, Director of Admissions; and Dr. Joseph Romano, Transfer Student Liaison Officer ; review the applicants and ranked each one. (Mr. Lawrence Sugden, the fifth member of the committee, did not participate in this phase of the process.) The four sets of rankings were combined and those achiev;no the hiohA~t
tial in having the SEPT A fares for senior citizens reduced in the state of Pennsylvania. Ms. Kuhn understands the importance of establishing a good image for older people . She feels the play and relaxation "Leisure Worlds" stifle the physical and mental vigor that ought to be maintained throughout life. She states that such "Roman-circus" efforts do not contribute to the mainstream of life. She wants older people to find work in community activities that society considers worthwhile. Her "mobilization for aging" tries to bring together church bodies , private foundations, business, industry , labor, and government agencies. She wants career counseling and new !esting programs to uncover and demonstrate the great variety of skills and experiences of old adults. Mind and body working together preserve not only life but also a healthy sense of one's worth and ability. Ms. Kuhn opts for a variety of living styles in retirement communities, with a mixJure of ge, ethn_ic,and cultural groups . She wants to see the retirement home become a "co mmunity service home ," helping many instead of serving only a few. She would like to see them as lively, inviting places , with libraries, employment, placement, and counseling centers. Through this interaction of old and young people, she sees a sound and wholesome environent that will encourage and reassure, not demean and inhibit . In a recent interview, Ms. Kuhn said she Continued on page 4
Scholar _ships
by MaureenLarkin
Five choralensemble members are among the 15 Activities A wardswinners.
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In evaluating an applicant each member of the committee considered three major factors : sustained performance over time, quality performance and participation in more than one of seven major areas. Listed as the seven major areas were: SGA, athletics, theatre, clubs and organizations, publications, non-SGA committees and any other club which did not fit into the first six categories. The Cabrini Activities Award is the result of one phase of an overall appraisal and modification of the college's financial aid program. These programs have three major objectives which are: to offer incentive to students to increase their levels of performance, to assist students who have unmet financial need and to attract students to Cabrini. The idea of Activities A ward was conceived during the winter of 197 5 - 1976 when the F ASC met to consider the establishment of athletic grants . The committee concluded that the creation of Activities Awards which encompasses a broader range of activities, would be more consistent with the college's philosophy and its financial aid objectives. Members of the committee agreed that quality performance in a variety of areas, in addition to athletics, merited recognition. Application forms for the 1976 - 1977 Activities Awards will be available in the beginning of February by request from the Financial Aid Office. Aplications must be totally completed and submitted by May 1, 1976.