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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 1974)
Page 2 THE BATTALION FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1974 Listen Up MSC Council control over programming defended The MSC Council has recently been the object of a number of vocal critics. While I believe much of their judgment is based upon misinformation about the MSC, there are only two requests I would make of them: 1. That they be consistent in their standards. 2. That they consider the im plications of their arguments. One standard in question ap pears to be whether or not the governing body of an organization should have the right to make final decisions in its operation. I find it somewhat hypocritical that the Battalion editor could argue the MSC Council should not re view the actions of its own com mittees, yet at the same time de fend his own power to review, change and “censor” articles written by his reporters. I also find it rather inconsistent that some student senators suggest total autonomy for MSC commit tees while retaining their right to review and/or disregard the pro ducts of Senate committees. It is indeed convenient for critics to apply one standard to the MSC and another to their organiza tions . . . self-reflection is painful at times. The implication of giving MSC committees and sub-committees unchecked power in their use of student service fees is interest ing. For example, the annual ex penditure of nearly $200,000, which includes $33,000 in service fees, by the Town Hall committee could be dictated by the whims of its chairman. If the Great Is sues committee wanted to spend its entire $16,000 budget on gu rus and evangelists, no one could stop it from doing so. Of course, the Council could impeach these committees’ chairmen, but little good it would do 19,000 students whose money was already commit ted in contracts. It seems that the students of A&M deserve better checks and balances on the expen diture of their money. In regards to the specific rejec tion of “Pink Flamingos,” I can only say that it was a judgment decision based on reviews and ad vertised comments about the film. Although I personally voted in favor of showing it, this was not because I thought the film would be educational. Rather, I felt its showing would vindicate the Coun cil from its recent criticism. While Mr. McNutt certainly has ,the right to suggest the film, which included a man and woman having intercourse while pouring chicken blood on their bodies, may be educational because it shows “what is going on in this world,” the MSC Council must have the right to consider such films in re lation to its objectives. No human judgment is com pletely objective; but unless the students of A&M are willing to allow the unchecked use of their services fees, the MSC Council must continue to exercise prior restraint in the infrequent cases where it questions one of its com mittee’s programs. Chet Edwards VP of Committees, MSC Council Streak incident Editor: I am an animal. At least, ac cording to President Williams, anyone who comes en masse to ASK ME ABOUr THE CIA INVOLVEMENT IN WATERGATE// . /, his home to ask a question is do ing “a great harm to the univer sity and is an animal.” I was with approximately 1,000 other Ags in the mall in front of the Academic Building. I must assume that everyone there had come to see a streak and were not offended by nudity. I saw no one there being forced to watch. About 11:00 the lights came on and groups of people started to leave. About that time one poor old streaker was unfortunate enough to get caught by the KK. We started for the “Y” well be hind most of the crowd and came around on the southwest corner. The crowd was all facing away from where we were. A guy was standing there in white shorts and a helmet. Some man in a white shirt (no uni form) grabbed him and tried to drag him into the door. He re sisted. They struggled and the man got a necklock on the guy and dragged him toward the door. A man in a suit came out and together they got the guy inside. My question is, why was this guy dragged inside? He had on shorts. Maybe he didn’t have anything on under them but I was naked under my clothes, too. It was because of this incident that I went over to President Wil liams’ home. The students were peaceful, but vocal. We had a le gitimate question as to what would be done to those streakers caught. We were told to disperse and that we were “doing great damage to a great university.” Why is quadding and stripping and dumping someone outside of town condoned as “good bull” but streakers get suspended? I enjoy the quadding and the streaks (haven’t been in on a “dump”) as a welcome break from the books. Could the Batt possibly find out what happened to the guy in white shorts, whey he was drag ged inside the “Y” and whether charges were pressed; or at least let me know how to go about it myself? Alicia Wisener What happened to “the guy in white shorts” is explained in a page 1 news story. According to Dean Powell, streakers are no longer being sus pended, but receive conduct pro bation.—Ed. ★ ★ ★ Observations Editor: Several observations from an out cast “leftist:” 1. Larry McRoberts’ call for a boycott of vending machines is based on the wrong premise. He says that the monies received from sales is excessive and unne cessary for the A&M Board of Directors to have to spend.” I hardly think so. Rather he should say that he is jealous of the use of funds without his consent, and that I can understand. Mc Roberts, has been infuriated by the spending of funds to improve the third level of the Kyle Field press box which he and most peo ple will never see. But those who do see it, former students with money (and lots of it), state leg islators and others can do more good than McRoberts may ever do for the future students of Tex as A&M. I don’t support the high price of drinks, but I do support Dr. Williams in his earnest de sire to make this a better place for students who follow our own self-interest seeking class-mates. 2 Mike Greiser, ‘the only civ ilian candidate for SG president” makes a mockery of present stu dent government and any poten tial it may ever have by boast ing his ignorance of the present system. Mr. Greiser, change for the sake of change hurts every one, especially change based on ignorance. Modifications in our present SG should be asked by one who knows what’s going on around him. You obviously don’t. 3. Wally Reinke, another candi date for SG president, believes picketing the administration for its “rape of the students" is one way of helping SG out of its pre sent state of inefficiency, as he called it. Mr. Reinke, also boasts his inexperience in dealing with student-administration issues by saying the Senate’s role is to rep resent students, not to rule them. If you’ve ever been to a Senate meeting, Mr. Reinke, you’d dis cover the Senate can’t even rule itself, much less the students whom you claim have become martyrs at TAMU while search ing for truth and justice. students are beginning J out for their own selfish causes which only 8erv * those around them. Foil ' then all we now believe \1 surely go down the drain, Surely, the present syst ( J Perfect nor are the pel ; positions within the system i if candidates want to help r 1 of darkness,” find a way to' 1 municate better with the sti* throughout the year rather ii hearing from them once a, at election time. The Bah* could be made much nj useful sounding board for Scj example, but it takes the iniJ of those in the system to rj one. I 3406 ! 4. Two points for the Hi| Council’s disapproval of “pi Flamingos.” Did we really n J here or do w e need to test f limits of just how far we ear.;] with new-found committee fe dom, which now, in additioi] financial reasons, needs to L restricted? Thank you ArtsFi sub-committee for showing yJ adulthood. It seems that more and more, Mike Rice CADET SLOUCH by Jim Earlt Streakers Faculty forum Parking system called loo inflexible! (Continued from page 1) crowd wanted to hear,” said Johnson, “and I was trying to quiet it. I didn’t feel that the mob’s tactics would work.” Johnson asked the president what was going to happen to the streakers, and what appeals they could make. Williams said he was awakened by the crowd and was unfamil iar with the situation. The mob demanded that the streakers be freed from punish ment, and someone asked if the university regulations could be This is the first contribution The Battalion has received this semester in the Faculty Forum column. We encourage all faculty members to write for this column. By DONALD L. WOODS Texas A&M continues to grow at a phenomenal rate and the parking of vehicles on campus has far outstripped the ability of the university to provide additional parking space. At the present time, the parking fund, generated entirely from vehicle registration fees, is depleted and a sizeable fraction of the expected income for the 1974-75 academic year will be needed to complete parking facilities presently under con struction. With an expected en rollment of 21,000 this fall, up some 13 per cent from the fall of 1973, an additional 1,500 vehicles will come to the campus. The problem then is to accommodate more vehicles than can be parked in the space available. The luxury of convenience which we, the stu dents, employes and faculty alike, have enjoyed for so many years must yield to the necessity of ac comodation. We are no longer a sleepy, little campus, but a major university. A frequently heard comment by faculty and students alike is that parking on campus is a right. Af ter all, “I pay $18 per year and that entitles me to park!” This simply is not true. The university has made every effort to accom modate the desires' of the campus population, but it is under no ob ligation to provide parking for anyone. Campus parking is a priv ilege and not a right. True, the funds used to construct most cam pus parking areas came from ve hicle registration fees, but only because this was the only possi ble source of funds due to legal constraints. The only thing constant is change. The cange for most peo ple will be giving up a few of the privileges we have enjoyed in the past. A plan that would eli minate numbered parking areas in favor of a limited number of parking zones is currently under consideration. This plan, if ap proved, would maximize space utilization at the expense of in dividual convenience. The priv ileges once accorded students and faculty can no longer be afford ed. A proposal involving a radical change or eliminating the dupli cate registration permit privilege due primarily to abuses by facul ty-staff members and their fam ilies is under study. Some chan ges in this area should be expect ed. The concept of individual re served parking spaces, long a sta tus symbol for some faculty-staff members, is under attack from all sides. Severe restriction on indiv idual reserved parking spaces or possibly even elimination of such spaces in the near future is pro bable. The time has come to shed the parking policies of the past. The present system is too inflexible to adapt to a constantly chang ing demand. A new approach to parking space allocation will be required to accommodate the in creased enrollment expected next year. Rather than being critical of the university administration for a few personal privileges lost, let us be appreciative of their ef forts to accammodate us all. Donald Woods is a research en gineer for The Texas Transpor tation Institute and serves on the University Traffic Panel. changed. “I don’t think there is a uni versity regulation against streak ing,” said Williams. He added, “But this is no sanctuary against state law.” The president went to bed and Johnson urged students to dis perse. “Let’s not hurt the guys that are in trouble,” he shouted. He was aided in his pleas by Howard Perry, assistant vice pres ident for student services. The mob became stubborn and adamant. “I’m embarrassed by the stu dents’ reaction,” Perry told re porters. “Coming to the presi dent’s house like this is a dis grace to the university and the state.” The crowd gradually grew smaller after Perry and Johnson left the steps of the president’s house and everyone was gone from the president’s lawn by mid night. overcoat, raincoat, umbrella, bathing suit, snow I shoes suntan oil — maybe something will be for th’ weeken(l|| Q|^ weather!” Cbe Battalion Where I Stand Pd. Pol. Ad by Bob Bell Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the ivriter of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a University and Community newspaper. The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, September through May, and once a week during summer school. the views of Bob Bell candidate for mayor of College Station LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to ptiblish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the ivriter and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school full year. All subscriptions subject rtising rate furnished The Battalion, Room 217, Services Bui! year; $6.50 per full year, sales tax. Advertisin Texas 77843. er semest< .ibscription on i ilding. All subscriptions subject to 5% rate furnished on request. Address: ■ess: College Station, City Goals and Objectives: to the use for to it or not of spontaneous ht of reproduction of all other erein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. otherwise credited in the paper origin published herein. Righ matter herein are also reserve! There are some very basic goals which College Station needs to achieve and I am pledged to support these goals: Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsey, chairman; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, Randy Ross, T. Chet Edwards, and Jan Faber Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising vices. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Editor Rod Speer Managing Editor Stephen Goble Assistant to the Editor Greg Moses News Editor Will Anderson Photo Editor Gary Baldasari Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Ass’t. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie Staff writers Vickie Ashwill, LaTonya Perrin, Mary Russo, Tony Gallucci, Cliff Lewis, Brad Ellis, Hank Wahrmund, Kathy Young, T. C. Gallucci,, Norine Harris, Sally Hamilton, Julia Jones. Photographers Roger Mallison, Alan Killings- worth, Steve Ueckert. 1. An active beautification program for city owned lands, roadways, and public areas. Individuals will be encouraged to participate in a city-wide beauti fication program. INSURANCE — HOME LOANS BUSIER-JONES AGENCY Equal Opportunity Housing 1200J(illa Maria — 823-0911 FARM & HOME SAVING ASSOCIATION (Nevada, Mo.) 2. Parks and public recreation areas are not adequate. An expanded program of year round recreation for citizens of all ages is needed but College Station needs to provide parks, public meeting facilities, and perhaps it will be possible to erect a community cen ter which will include a public library within a few years. A study by local citizens must begin imme diately. SANDWICHES SUBMARINES “Where no two sandwiches are alike!” Situated Right at Northgate 3. The most efficient use of city personnel and the most effective allocation of city funds must be given first consideration. The rapid growth of College Station means decision and plans made now will have greater impact on the direction of tomorrow’s city. ^Resamt js>anhfrtttl| jiHjoppe His son, Matthew, attends College Station Public Kinder- £ ar ten and^his son, Michael, attends French's Wee Aggie- Best quality and flavor sandwiches and subs available—anywhere, anytime. 329 University Dr. 11 a. m. til 1 a. m. 846-6428 J Vote for flob Bell for Mayor of College Station, Tuesday, OUT-A-SITE SALADS CHEESECAKES Advertisement published in compliance with Texas Election Code Article 14.10 (B). Student Publications Dept., Published The Battalion, College Station, Texas. The Aggie Cinema presents: Sunflowers are familiar to millions, rjn one ever saw them the way Vincent Van Gognai 0 ] So with the Olympics: a recurring spectacle familiar to people around the world. This is | chronological record, no summary of winners and losers. Rather, it is the separate visions of eight singular film artists. This is VISIONSirEISIt ALSO SKYJACKED with: Charlton Heston & Yvette Himieux PC James Brotif* March 29 & 30 University Center Theater 1st feature 8:00 2nd feature 10:00 $1.00 AND AT MIDNIGHT ‘ARTS FILM SERIES presents THE DEUILS also in the Theater for $1.00 (Fri. only) with: Vanessa Redgrave by Ken Russell Oliver