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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1968)
--r... A\v.. / Editor, The Battalion: I wish to thank the people who voted for me last Thursday, plac ing- me in the run-off election for Senior Representative to the Stu dent Senate. Now I would like to ask these people to help complete the job that they have started. The issues that have come to my attention this week are the same as last. I do not feel that Student Senate is the place to question the necessity of enforc ing traffic regulations on cam pus. If rules are not enforced, chaos will result. The Student Senate is not the place to ques tion the integrity of Col. Dollar or other University employes. These men are state employes, responsible to their superiors, and should not be subjected to un due irresponsible criticism by the Student Senate, which is sup posed to be representative of our mature student body. Another point was the electing of the editor to the Batt. Just over two years ago, a single irresponsible person caused us to lose the pri vilege of having a student publi cation. I do not feel we can al low this to happen again. I feel electing the editor for the Batt would be opening the door for an unqualified person to achieve this important position and pos sibly through some irresponsible act cost us this important post. These are my stands on these issues brought up this week. I would hope these stands adequate ly answer any questions that you have on how I will represent you in the Student Senate if I am elected Thursday. If I am going to win, I need your vote. I don’t think we can afford to have the Student Sen ate lose the respect it has gained over the past few years. Vote for Arthur J. “Buzz” Erickson tomorrow in the typewriter room of Francis Hall, and vote for a stronger student government through responsibility. Thank you very much. Your candidate for Student Senate, Arthur J. “Buzz” Erickson ’69 Dorm 9 Room 101 ★ ★ ★ Editor, The Battalion: Tomorrow’s election of a Senior Representative for the new Col lege of Business Administration I Listen Up the bait forum I individual, but he \VilT be the per sonal representative of all Sen ior Business majors. We recom mend to you Bob Edgecomb as Senior Representative of the Col lege of Business Administration. Bob Edgecomb is an unusually qualified student leader. Through his work on the Memorial Stu dent Center Council and Director ate, he has shown his ability and interest in working for the stu dents at Texas A&M University. Bob’s campaign slogan, “Through Student Action Comes Student Power,” demonstrates his under standing of the type of repre sentation necessary to make the Student Senate a powerful tool for the student body. Tomorrow in Francis Hall we will be voting for Bob Edgecomb as Senior Representative for the College of Business Administra tion. Seniors, if you want a working Senator who will not only debate but will push for Action, cast your vote for Bob Edgecomb. David T. Maddox ’69 Vice President, Student Senate P. Wayne Gosnell ’69 Issues Chairman, Student Senate Ron Hinds ’69 Parliamentarian, Student Senate Phil Callahan ’69 Student Life Chairman, Student Senate Benjamin J. Sims ’69 President, MSC Council & Directorate Charles D. Slovak ’69 President, Marketing Society ★ ★ ★ Editor, The Battalion: As a candidate for Senior Busi ness Representative to the Stu dent Senate, I believe that im mediate action should be taken in the following areas: 1. POLITICAL SPEAKERS on campus are a must. The Administration should take a more liberal point of view and allow political speakers to speak at A&M. A mature college stu dent should be allowed to hear a speaker in order to form his own opinions rather than re ceiving edited and sterilized news. 2. COMPUTER REGISTRA TION—Is this the administra tion’s way of forcing the stu dent to take classes taught by unknowledgeable and out-dated professors ? 3. A PUBLISHED STUDENT EVALUATION of all profes sors. 4. A PASS-FAIL GRADING SYSTEM should be installed at A&M. This system would al low an individual to take up to 18 hours of non-major elec tives for cultural development without fear of receiving a bad grade. 5. MESS HALL —Does Col. Dollar make cents? Compulsory Board is unfair. What happens to the profits? 6. BATTALION EDITOR should be elected by popular vote. Why are there no stu dents on the student publica tion board? 7. ROLL CALL VOTE by the Senate on all issues so that everyone can know how his senator voted. 8. A REVISED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM is neces sary. Why are the “KK’s” more concerned about writing tickets than they are about directing traffic ? 9. A NEW BUILDING for the new College of Business Administration is needed if this very important college is to continue growing. I believe that only through student action will come student power. When you vote this Thurs day for Bob Edgecomb—you will be casting your vote for student government. Thank you for your considera tion and your votes. Bob Edgecomb ’69 ★ ★ ★ Editor, The Battalion: This i^ in direct answer to Cadet J. R. Teipel, Co. E-l, Eng lish major, class of 1966, who in all honesty and sincerity does, I believe—and I am sure I speak for a great many Aggies—deserve a worthy response. This letter is not meant to be an instrument to destroy the spirit of unity that literally thousands of military and civilian Aggies have endeav ored to strengthen. It is not meant to be an intellectual retort full of “witticisms and points of logic.” Its sole purpose is to make it known that there are many Aggies who have the true spirit of Aggieland. “ . . . The Mint has begun to print more counterfeits than the genuine article.” Who is the Mint, Sir? The administration of our fine school ? Must we believe that we are being formed by the hands of these people? Of course not, Mr. Teipel—just as you do not believe that you are being made to order by that organization of which you are such a zealous member. It bothers me, Sir, that I must consider myself a “coun terfeit,” created by “the Mint.” What is the Aggie Spirit, Mr. Teipel ? The answer lies, I am sure, in your very own state ment: “The Aggie Spirit is a state of mind ...” This is exactly the point (which you then contra dicted) that struck me with such a blow, that I could not finish my evening meal as I read your letter. My pride (or should I say our pride) was shaken as I read the words that all but said I was not a true Aggie because I was not in the Corps of Cadets. But then again, the Aggie Spirit is a state of mind! Sir, to say what you said in your letter would be to utterly destroy everything the Aggie Spirit stands for. You have told me, in essence, that our civilian yell leaders are not true Aggies; you have told me that some of our best athletes have taken the guise of counterfeit Aggies, unworthy to continue the traditions of one of the most re spected schools in the United States and the best in the state of Texas. You have made—by your obvious feeling—our student government representatives t o feel as aliens to the functions of their school because they are not a part of the Corps. The Aggie Spirit, Sir, is some thing which must be felt deep down inside — it can never be forced upon a person by regimen tation (which is the reason you cannot truly say all Corpsmen are true Aggies.) A true Aggie—no matter what his role might be— must feel that Spirit inside him to want to “whip out,” to greet a fellow with “Howdy!” He must want—not be forced—to attend campus events; to back the team as the Twelfth Man. He must truly feel the words of our Found ing Father, Richard Coke: “ . . . Let honor be your guiding star in your dealings with your su periors, your fellows, with all . . . Stand by the right even to the sacrifice of life itself . . . Learn that death is preferable to dis honor.” This, Mr. Teipel, is the Aggie Spirit, the kind of Spirit not many schools in our country can proudly boast. Sir, to say that we are not Aggies because we do not par ticipate in the Corps would be to say that we are not Christians because we do not attend an organized church regularly. Again, each person must feel the Spirit inside of him. He must want to do what is fitting and exemplary of that name! He must not be forced into it. True, the Corps of Cadets were the first Aggies, but they are not now the only Aggies. Mr. Teipel, please understand that I do not disagree with your main statements about “counter feits”: civilians who wear part of the Corps uniform or under classmen who violate the impor tant privileges of the Senior Class without deserving those privileges. The only thing that I am in violent disagreement with is the fact that you have made many of those who feel Aggie Spirit feel as aliens. Your state ment, it seems to me, fully de^ picts those of us on this campus! who are along for the ride — the Two Per Centers — the true Counterfeits. My question put directly, Sir, is this: Must I walk among my fellow students here on the campus or on the streets back home, feeling that I am con sidered a Counterfeit — an alien — to this great school ? Let it be known to all who read this letter that I am not trying to sever the relations we students enjoy as part of the Twelfth Man. I am not contrary to the Corps of Cadets. Rather, I salute them and everything they stand for. The Corps is an integral part of the Spirit of Aggieland — but not the only part. It is solely my intent to join in with all true Aggies say ing: We are the Aggies—the Aggies are we, True to each other as Aggies can be, We’ve got to fight, boys, We’ve got to fight. We’ve got to fight for Maroon and White . . . We are the Aggies—the Aggies are we, We’re from Texas A.M.C. —Marvin H. Mimms, Class of ’26 Bill A. Ashworth Jr. ’70 Most sincerely yours. The right of quotation is not extended. Either my letter has to be printed as is or not at all. (Ashworth’s signature was followed by 34 others. — Ed.) ★ ★ ★ Editor, The Battalion: This letter is an answer to Mr. Teipel’s letter appearing in the Oct. 18 issue of The Battalion. Dear Randy, I’m writing this letter as the response which you seemed to expect from “many intellectuals.” Well, as I’m sure anyone who knows me will agree, I am not the intellectual you expected, and I am not very witty: but I did take English 210, and I’ll do my best to retort with points of THE BATTALION Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the student writers only. The Battalion is a non-tax-supported, non profit, self-supporting educational enter prise edited and operated by students as a university and community neivspaper. The Associated Prees is entitled exelusiyely republication of all new dispatches credited otherwise credited in the paper and local news fterwise en origin published he he— ! - to the use foe to it or not news of spontaneous blication of all other papei Rights of repu eserved. econd-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. matter herein are Second-< year sale; Members of the Student Publication: Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. David Bo s Boa Colles rd are of : Jim Liberal $6.50 taxH 'ion 77843. are $3.50 Mail subscriptions r; $6.50 per full sales tax. Advertising The Battalion, Room 217, Serv >er semest year. All subscriptio: nished ter; $6 per school ect to 3% furnished on reques' rvices Building, Coll subjee est. Address: Station, rman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of .Liberal Arts ; F. S. White, College of Engineering; Dr. Donald R. Clark, College of Veterinary Medicine; and Hal Taylor, Col- clark. College o lege of Agricultu The Battalion, a student newspaper ublished in College Station, Texas daily Texas A&M is except Saturday, published in College Station, Texas daily except Saturday. Sunday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September through May. and once a week during summer school. MEMBER The Associated Press. Texas Press Association Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Service*. Inc., New York City, Chics Francisco. cajfo. Log Angeles and San EDITOR JOHN W. FULLER Managing Editor Dave Mayes Sports Editor John Platzer City Editor Mike Wright News Editor Bob Palmer Staff Columnists John McCarrollj Mike Plake, Monty Stanley, Jan Moulden Staff Writers Tom Curl, Dale Foster, Tim Searson, Steve Wick, Janie Wallace, Tony Huddleston Assistant Sports Editor Richard Campbell Photographer W. R. Wright logic. First, I admit that some of the things that have happened so far this year have seemed rather in keeping with high school spirit rather than Aggie Spirit, and that some traditions have not been upheld. But, I’d like to ask you: What have you done about it, Randy? Have you been one of those who yelled as gruff ly and commanding as possible, “Get off the G— D— wood, non- reg!” This is what I’ve observed time and time again this year. People are funny alright; but, you know, most people respond in much the same manner that they are treated. All a person sees when somebody suddenly “chews him out” is contempt. This helps no one. YOU REFER to a f rat-rat rush week to build Aggie Spirit. Again I ask you: What have you done to help the students on this campus understand what Aggie Spirit is ? Did you spend most of the summer working out plans to better involve your fellow stu dents in campus activities? Did you come early to school so you could talk to all the new students as they arrived on campus? Have you spent hours upon hours each week trying to organize the hall (dorm) in which you live into an organization which will one day become a vital part of a civilian student’s life? Have you spent even more hours telling new students in your hall (that don’t have to come listen) what Aggie Spirit means to you, and what A&M offers its student body? Well, I know quite a few who have been doing just that; and you say they are not Ag gies! Granted, some of these leaders were briefly in the Corps, which by your classification might make them Aggies; but they chose not to stay in the Corps. Others have never been in the Corps. I spent four good years in the Corps, so if that qualifies me to say so, I’m here to tell you that these men do have the real Ag gie Spirit. Now of course this offers no excuse for what has happened, but it does show that something is being done about it. It shows that some people care enough about A&M and the Aggie Spirit that they are using their head for something besides a Senior hat rack. Again I ask: What have you done to help the situation?— oh yes, you wrote that beautiful letter in the Friday, October 18 issue of The Battalion. RANDY, WHAT do you sug gest that we do with the 10,000 students who are not in the Corps and do not intend to be ? Tell them Highway 6 runs both ways! ? Don’t kid me, you don’t even use that phrase in the Corps any more. I’m saying that there are people who are doing something. But anything of real value re quires a lot of hard work—and a touch of patience. I think that something is being accomplished in this area, but it is not going to change this campus overnight; and it certainly won’t come any sooner with people writing let ters like yours. You said many men have walk ed these same grounds before us for a century with pride, honor, and respect. Randy, we are doing the walking now, and “resting on the laurels” of our predecessors will get us nowhere. It is out of respect for those men who have been before us that I can see nothing but contempt, shame, and disappointment in the attitude expressed in your letter. My ex perience as Corps Chaplain last year taught me that there is a lot of work to be done in the Corps, too. If I were to general ize as much as you did, I would say that the Corps does not have long to exist because your atti tude will kill it. Thank goodness, I know this attitude is not that of most of your leaders. I just hope that those fightin’ Texas Aggie Fish don’t listen to those with this attitude. I hope they have enough sense to listen to the real leaders of the Corps, for whom I have great respect. Clarence Daugherty ’68 THE BATTALION Page 2 College Station, Texas Wednesday, October!! CADET SLOUCH by Jim En* A ]> a^ re< th< As Ini sci wa cil. an: Gr Gr nor Ag Ch 1 cul sec Fit wa ser der ics ‘Windy days seem to give him the most trouble!" About That Mail If you brought in a Listen Up letter Monday hasn’t yet seen print, have patience. We’re getting tot in more or less the order we received them, except tha! campaign letters for Thursday’s Student Senate elec: had to take preference because of the time factor invoke Actually, there probably wouldn’t have been any pro! if it weren’t for our regrettable failure to post a letter length at the start of the year. Be forewarned, t that the following policy applies to all letters, begin!, with those we receive Monday: Letters should be typed doublespaced, if possible; they must be no longer than! words; and, as we’ve said earlier, they must be signed, though we’ll withhold the author’s name at his request,! ters will be edited only for minor corrections and not length. ATTENTION ALL FRESHMEN jou is pre Coi 1 ; Last chance to have your picture taken for week thru Friday, October 25. the 1969 Aggieland this UNIVERSITY STUDIO North Gate Here are seven bold Texans. They believe what was good enough for Texas in 1908, 1928, or 1948 isn’t getting the job done today. Their goal: Make Texas Number One. Their pledge: responsive, responsible government. PAUL EGGERS Governor DOUG DeCLUITT Lieutonant Governor MILLARD K. NEPTUNE Land Commissioner THE ACTION TEAM FOR TEXAS! (Pd. Pol. Adv. by Texans for Action Government; Doug Johnston, Houston, and Charles Wyly, Dallas, Co-Chrmn.) YOUR HELP IS NEEDED MAIL TODAY TO TEXANS FOR ACTION GOVERNMENT 502 LITTLEFIELD BUILDING, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 I believe in two-party government. Here’s _$1, $5, $10, NAME ADDRESS CITY PEANUTS Charles M. Sr