Downtown businesses would rather have the controversy end over sportswriter Chino Wilson's Jan. 28 column in The Daily Collegian than be stirred up again by the actions of the University Student Advisory Board.

But USAB is dissatisfied with the Collegian and is looking for a way to show it, so members passed legislation last week encouraging student organizations and businesses to reduce advertising in the Collegian until spring break.

Many businesses would just like to see the controversy die out, said Norm Brown, president of the Downtown Business Association.

USAB's proposed letter to downtown businesses about withdrawing advertising just brings the controversy over the Collegian to light again, he said.

State College Borough Mayor Arnold Addison spoke to the Downtown Business Association last Tuesday about ending the stir over the column and getting the town back to normal.

Although he understands student leaders' desire to do something, USAB's letter won't help, Addison said.

"I don't think it gets us anything," he said.

But USAB members say they wanted to send a message to the Collegian.

"USAB is sick and tired of the Collegian in general," said Tim Finn, Interfraternity Council president, adding that USAB's actions were not just because of Wilson's column.

Student leaders think the Collegian slants and twists stories to make them negative, Finn said, adding that leaders want the truth and both sides of stories reported.

Student leaders think the Collegian often does not represent the facts fairly, agreed USG Vice President Merryl Werber. Leaders have a feeling of negative reporting and selective coverage, she added.

But some students don't agree that the Collegian slants stories.

"Overall, I think it's a fair representation," said Pete Schnabel (junior-molecular and cell biology).

The Collegian doesn't have a radical slant to its general news coverage, agreed Deb Girlock (senior-social work), adding that student organizations can't afford to withdraw advertising from the Collegian.

The Collegian doesn't slant its articles but often picks stories about controversial subjects that cause discussion, said Scott Langbein (freshman-civil engineering).

Many of the student organizations don't think they get enough coverage, Finn said, listing the Graduate Student Association, Organization of Town and Independent Students, Panhellenic Council and the Penn State University Veterans Organization as groups with complaints.

Since the administration has no control over the Collegian and letters to the editor haven't changed anything, USAB wants to hit the Collegian where it hurts -- in the pocket, said USAB President E.J. Shaffer.

"The Collegian has ways to send messages -- this is our way," Werber said.

But the Collegian will continue to operate the way it has for the past 105 years despite USAB's pressure, said Collegian Editor-in-Chief Isabel Molina.

USAB is trying to bribe the Collegian into giving them more positive coverage, Molina said, adding that the Collegian is not a public relations firm for student organizations.

"We're not here to publish a USAB newsletter," she said.

Most organizations want event coverage, which the Collegian has moved away from in recent years since most students aren't interested in that, Molina said.

Finn was also upset that letters to the editor from student leaders are not always printed, he said.

But the opinion page is a forum for everyone, and student leaders can't always expect to get their letters printed, Molina said, adding that the Collegian's policy is to print only one letter from the same student. However, exceptions are often made for student leaders, she said.

Less advertising just makes newspapers smaller and means less coverage for everyone, said Wendy L. Frank, Collegian business manager.

"If the community decides to pull their advertising, they're only hurting themselves," Frank said.

Wilson's column has hardly affected advertising until now, she said. Only three businesses have pulled their ads so far because of the column and nothing new has happened since the USAB meeting, she added.