A group calling itself Students for Real Democracy vented their beliefs in a news conference yesterday, stating that University institutions and organizations are controlled by businesses and fail to represent students' needs.

Along with calling for the dissolution of the Undergraduate Student Government, members also called for the removal of three University professors, who they claimed had ties to secret intelligence agencies.

The group's organizers, Josh Krummenoehl (secondary education), Edwin Wargo (secondary education), and Edward Yu (graduate-non degree), said disillusionment with several things on campus led them to start SRD the weekend before spring break.

Among the group's complaints, is the belief that USG serves as an unnecessary middleman between students and the administration. This prompted the group to attempt a write-in campaign in the USG presidential race.

"The student body does not need an elitist institution to represent our needs. We can represent ourselves," said Yu. "We are offering students a choice. You can either have USG decide for you, or you can decide for yourselves."

USG President Chris Saunders challenged this assertion. "We provide services for students. USG has been able to help speed along changes in the University which benefit students."

Saunders cited increases in student aid and the creation of course selector guides as two examples of how USG is directly helping students. He said USG is not elitist, adding that it recentlycreated a personnel department which ensures any student the opportunity to become involved in USG.

USG presidential candidate and former Academic Assembly President Erich May welcomed SRD's proposed entry into the elections. "If I felt USG was serving students needs, I would not have run. I hope they bring the things that are wrong with USG to everyone's attention," May said.

But May added that there is a real need for USG to represent student concerns to the administration and the State College Borough Council, and that dissolving USG is not the right approach.

Krummenoehl said SRD's ultimate goal of entering the race is to dissolve USG. The group needs 400 signatures and must meet all other election codes to participate in debates and other campaign functions.

Krummenoehl said the election of an SRD representative is the most practical way to dissolve USG.

Aside from the group's desire to dissolve USG, SRD has a broader goal of exposing "Corporate America's" influence on the University.

"(The administration's) interests are not the student body's interests," Yu said. "Corporate America is here at Penn State to do their research at taxpayer expense."

"In essence, the administration can never meet our needs because they will choose profits over student interests," said Krummenoehl. He cited the University Board of Trustees as a group that places business interests over those of students.

Donald M. Cook, a trustee and president of SEMCOR Inc., challenged the claim that the board puts profits above students.

"We try diligently to represent the best interests of the students. I was a student, my wife was a student, and I've had two daughters graduate from Penn State, so how could I put the interests of business above them?" Cook said.

In a news release, SRD called for the removal of three professors: Charles Ameringer, professor of Latin American history, Parris Chang, professor of political science and Arthur Goldschmidt, professor of Middle East history. The group believes the professors may be connected to U.S. intelligence agencies and claims in the release that because of this, they should "be forced to leave the University."

Ameringer said his only government service was as a reserve for the U.S. Air Force in the early 1950's.

"They are entitled to what they feel, but there is nothing disreputable about my service," Ameringer said.

In the mid 1980's Chang worked at Fort Bragg, NC.Chang, who was elected to the parliament in Taiwan, said he was an Asian specialist working in Fort Bragg around 1985 who educated personnel training to serve as American attaches in Asia.

"I think that these students need to learn to check things out before they make allegations," said Chang.

Goldschmidt said he never has been in any way involved with army intelligence, and called the charges, "utterly irresponsible."

"They haven't confronted me on this and I find it irresponsible and cowardly. I'm offended for not so much myself, but for my colleagues." Goldschmidt said.

SRD will protest outside The Daily Collegian tomorrow morning about what it said are "racist" and "fascist" views represented in the newspaper. Mike Abrams, editor of the Collegian, said the group is unfounded in its claims.

"We have a responsibility to present a diversity of opinions. Some I agree with, some that I don't," Abrams said. He added the Collegian works hard to be diverse in recruitment and in the opinions presented.

Members of SRD will march to theOld Main steps to protest the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies that recruit at the University.