4 THE BATTALION THE BATTALION Published every Wednesday night by the Students’ Association of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Subscription price $1.75 per Year. ALL ADS RUN UNTIL ORDERED OUT Accepted for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, author red October 18, 1922. All undergraduates in Ihe CoFege are eligible to try for a place on the Editorila Staff this pa^or. Freshmen. Sor'hom^ree. °nd Juniors who are interested in iournalism for its own sake, are urged to make themselves known to some member of the Staff. months; sometimes a year passed before the concensus of opinion among the student body swung into any given direction. Here, then, we find the contrast in Colonel Nelson’s case. We, speaking editorially, have not yet had an opportunity of coming into contact with our new commandant, but we are looking forward to that occasion, for those who have made his acquaintance are one in being loud in his praise. His personality has made an excellent impression on everyone, but most of all, it is his spirit of camaraderie and his ability to understand the viewpoint of the A. & M. cadet that has attracted the most favorable comment. All in all, the indications are that Colonel Nelson has made great strides towards obtaining the confidence and good will of the student body, and this before the corps has even started to swing into the routine of the year. For this we respect and admire him—long and well may rule “Bull” Nelson. The familiar clamor and disturbance is again to be heard on the campus W. C. MORR T S R. R. PEEPLES L. J. FRANKE P. C. FARRIS W. L. KENNEDY .... T. A. PJLKEY G. O. MOUNT J. M. HOLMES E. L. ANDREWS W. T. COLEMAN .... S. L. JONES J. J. LOVING R. H. SHUFFLER ... R. O. PEARSON R. N. LAWRENCE .. W. C. JOHNSON .... B. P. GREENWADE G. M. WRENN L. N. BOURLAND M. E. DIETERT .. J. E. FONTAINE EDITORIAL STAFF :. Editor-in-Chief Manaprinsr Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor News Editor Associate News Editor Associate News Editor Assistant News Editor Assistant News Editor Exchange Editor Associate Exchange Editor Literary Editor ..Associate Literary Editor ..Associate Literary Editor BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager Assistant Business Manager Circulation Manager , at the beginning of this, another year of college. Everywhere there are | happy greetings being exchanged as friends, parted for the summer, meet again. Almost overjoyed at the sight of the “Old Lady” and the rest of the gang, each old student returns to Aggieland. But most outstanding in all the groups are the strange faces of the freshmen. To them it is all somewhat of a misty dream—the most trying days, perhaps, of their entire college career. Probably the most outstanding occurrence in their life is now being experienced, for nothing is remembered more clearly by anyone than the beginning of his fish year. With the coming of the new year came new responsibilities and duties. The Senior Class of last year has given up its place to the class of ’28, and it is a challenge to each one to make a better class than ever before. The class of ’29 must replace last year’s Juniors, while to the Sophomore is left the education of the fish. Then with the combination of the Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen, the cadet corps is formed—the student body of A. & M., and it is to be remembered by every Aggie that it will take the co-operation of all ! to make this a banner year at A. & M. College. POLICIES AND PARDONS THE 7TH HOLIDAY In picking the Staff for the Battalion for the coming year I have tried to use my best judgment and pick men who are fully capable of performing and carrying out the duties that befall members of the Battalion Staff. If the task of issuing the Battalion is left to a few it will require a great deal of careful work and thought upon the part of each individual member of the staff to uphold his end of the burden. The policy of the Battalion as set forth each year tends to bring about a feeling of greater interest in the events of the College. It is intended to set forth constructive thought both by news and editorials that will interest the students from time to time in the events that are taking place on the campns ivnh Yn YYie W\es vVi \W caAeVs. \Y \s noY inYew&eA Ye bring about gripes and criticisms that cannot be remedied through the medium of the Battalion. Those questions are the ones for the Senior Class and Faculty to work out as best they see fit. It is the earnest desire and wish of the Battalion Staff that those mem bers of the student body who are aspiring young writers or who have some thing on their minds that they would like to submit to the “Bat” should do so without hesitancy. There will be a list of contributors for each issue given. In this way we hope to stimulate greater interest in the men to write for the Battalion whether they are members of the Staff or not. It is the official STUDENT publication and we hope it is used in this way and we in vite and urge you to use it at any and all times that you may see fit. THE EDITOR. A WORD TO FRESHMEN Like Fords, women, and cob pipes, Freshmen improve with abuse. That is the theory which prevailed at nearly all colleges until the past decade. Doubtless a few of the newly arrived Freshmen at A. & M. think that most upperclassmen here work on the above theory. Nothing is farther from the truth. The “hardboiled” attitude which upperclassmen take toward Freshmen here is not meant to put the fear ’O God into them. It is to teach them the first lesson of a soldier and a good citizen—the value of obedience. It is a hard lesson to many and the methods of teaching are sometimes necessarily a little rough. However, the Freshmen must always remember that his upperclassmen have his interests first in their hearts and that whenever he gets in any sort of trouble his upperclassmen are more than willing to help him out. It behooves the Freshman therefore, to co-operate with his superiors and to do all within his power to become a “Good Fish.” As soon as that is proven then he will be admitted with a life-time membership into the broth erhood of Texas Aggies. “BULL” NELSON We hesitate to speak for we feel that in this our first edition we should make an appeal to all loyal Aggies to meet the challenge that faces us. We hold this to be self-evident, that we come to A. & M. in order that we may become better citizens. Therefore, we believe it the duty of every one con nected with A. & M. to live up and co-operate with the forces that promote better citizenship. Furthermore, we feel that the various Christian groups working on the campus deserve our loyal support, for it has been said that the Christian Church, through its various activities, constitutes the greatest single force for good in the world. We appeal to the officials and faculty of the College to give their sup port to this most worthy cause. We need you in the Sunday School, Church and other religious activities as much as in the classroom or on the football field. To our fellowmen of the student body, if you have taken part in church activities at home, do so here and encourage others to follow suit. Do not take a religious vacation this year at A. & M. Take an active part in some phase of the church work. Keep the promise you made to Mother and Dad. To the Freshmen, we urge that you make use of the various church groups. You will find loyal friends there who will help you. It is there that you will form friendships that you will cherish through life. In closing we quote the following from “What Roger Babson Says” in the Richmond Christian Advocate: “I want to say one word to you laymen—namely, that we must give our preachers something besides money and criticism. We must give them our hearty support. The three greatest institutions or the three greatest forces in the world’s history have been the Church, Sabbath observances, and family prayer. For these three things the churches have stood throughout the ages. The future of America is wrapped up with the future of the Churches. Your children are safe, not because of policemen or judges, but because of preach ers and priests. Sweep away the Churches and the preachers, and America crumbles. Only so long as you back the Churches and preachers will America continue to progress along the pathway of her destiny. “Tell the preacher of your difficulties, freely make suggestions, and con tinually work for the better methods, but do it in a kindly and constructive manner. Preachers and laymen are each rowing different oars, but they are both in the same boat. With only one oar being pulled, there is a lot of splash but no progress. Let us see that both oars are being pulled. We are all facing a great problem, and we must all work it out together, each with confidence in the other, each with love for the other, and each unselfishly thinking of the generations to come with less thought for ourselves. A great problem is facing America, in the solution of which the Church must be the greatest factor. Let us laymen give the church more time as well as more money and insist that the Church shall efficiently function.” Colonel C. J. Nelson enters into his duties as commandant of A. & M. under perhaps the most auspicious circumstances that have ever attended the installation of any of his predecessors. The student body is in an ex ceptionally receptive mood, and they already regard their new commandant with high respect. In looking back over the installations of Colonel Nelson’s immediate predecessors, one is surprised at the contrast with his reception and theirs. Not that there were any manifestations of hostility present in the other cases—it was simply that the corps held its opinion in abeyance. The cadets adopted a policy of watching and waiting, prepared to be outspoken either in their praise or in their condemnation, but meanwhile holding a position of neutrality. Sometimes their opinions crystalized in a few weeks or PHYSICAL EDUCATION The Department of Physical Educa tion has many surprises in store for the Freshmen who indulge in P. T. Instead of having calisthenics, they will be permitted to choose some def inite sport and spend thei r allotted time in perfecting themselves at this sport. The year will be divided into three periods of three months each and a Freshman may participate in a different sport for each three-month period. Equipment will be provided for ten nis, volleyball, speedball, hand ball, and basketball. Basketball will be for those who intend going out for the fish basketball squad. The Freshman may choose his favorite sport and participate any hour that will fit his schedule. In addition to the athletic equip ment, the Freshmen will have 1,000 lockers, enough for an individual locker for each one taking P. T. Towel service will also be provided.