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THE BATTALION
THE BATTALION
Published evei'y 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.
Entered as second-class matter at the post office at Bryan, Texas, under
the Act of Congress March 3rd., 1879.
Member of National College Press Association
All undergraduates in the College are eligible to try for a place on the
Editorial Staff of this paper. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors who are
interested in journalism for its own sake, are urged to make themselves
known to some member of the staff.
EDITORIAL STAFF
L. W. JOHNSON Editor-in-Chief
J. M. GARCIA Managing Editor
J. E. TEAGUE Associate Editor
Y. B. GRIFFIS Associate Editor
P. A. DRESSER Sports Editor
T. A. KETTERSON Associate .Sports Editor
(Staff not yet completed)
BUSINESS STAFF
LESTER HANKS Business Manager
J. A. REYNOLDS Circulation Manager
ADVICE TO FRESHMEN
Just what has been your observation and conclusion as concerns col
lege men? Why have you decided to matriculate in this institution of
higher learning? Do you believe that by well-applied and constructively
placed efforts you shall be able to erect a foundation that will stand you
in good stead when responsible positions and executive duties fall to your
lot? You are new, both to college life and to college routine. It is well
that you place ample faith in the advice of older men about you; men who
have undergone the trials and tribulations in the past, and have emerged
from the melee successful. They can start you on roads which, coupled
with your own conscientious application, shall make abstruse problems to
seem quite concrete. Do not allow the psychological aspects of mediocre col
lege man’s mind to govern your mental reactions which register contrary
to those happenings taking place about you. Often you will not be in a po
sition to assert your opinion or bring about a transition because of the
extensive rule of authorities; often you will withdraw to seclusion because
of the excoriation of your associates. But every man has a right to his
own conclusions and his own opinions. If you cannot put into effect every
idea which comes to your mind, then at least by practicing your mental
capabilities along the line of convictions, you are obtaining experience
which shall make your struggle for success just a bit easier in the future.
Success begins in the find. One may consider A. and M. and its sur
roundings as a world of its own, apart and separate from the confusion
which goes on about us. There are a definite number of honors to be won
each year by students in this institution. One might say that the material
realization of these honors comes during the student’s last year in school.
The struggle for success even here might be likened unto the great fight
in which we shall all participate after leaving the institution: the two are
similar in a great many respects. If a student is successful, and is de
serving of his victory, he has shown himself capable, outstanding, and in
possession of unusual abilities. Does it not stand to reason that he shall
be victorious also in the business world, granting the fact that his plan
adoption and application are the same in comparison as they were in col
lege ? If he fails, he has only himself to blame. Included with this general
ization is the fact that the battle here is during the formative period of his
life, and therefore takes on new importance. It is a serious matter, and
should be well thought out before the student enters the ranks on an equal
basis with other students. We cannot lay out a plan; every case is differ
ent. It is the problem of each individual student to figure his method of
procedure, to gain the academic training, friends, and to follow his campus
activities in such a way as to constructively prepare himself to cope with
the difficulties which lie beyond.
CONSERVE THAT WHICH WE NOW HAVE
With his high school days over, there should come into the mind of
every young man a reaction—a realization of the duties and obligations
that bind him to civilized society. It is not infrequent, however, that we
find this reaction bent or leading forward in the direction of these things
which approach the barbaric stage of destruction.
From time to time in the past, our institution has hopelessly suf
fered from the effects of such mental unbalance in the minds of some of its
average and eager searchers of knowledge. The college makes supreme ef
forts to provide the best of living conditions in order to insure the com
fort and welfare of its students. It fails at times, forced by the careless
attitude of cadets, who, in their efforts to fulfill the part of mediocre hu
man beings, do not realize the responsibility and trust put upon them.
Every year many thousands of dollars are spent in remodelinig, repainting,
and replacing property which has either been totally destroyed or else has
been left in a deplorable condition. This fact is enough to make us under
stand the reason why the college is not in a position to entrust to our care
property that is valuable.
Last year, a group of seniors, serious in purpose and earnest in ef
fort, formulated a plan whereby living quarters would be greatly improved
this year. The college authorities, after a careful consideration, approved
it, with the result that the largest part of the old furniture in the dormi
tories has been replaced by some of higher quality. We are now in the
position of the little child who craved the moon and finally obtained it,
but was asked by his benefactor: “Now you have it, what are you going
to do with it?” We should now preserve what we have in the best condi
tion which our common sense and manners of conduct dictate to us. We
should prove ourselves worthy of faith and trust in our actions and demon
strate the civilized portion of our nature. Should the plan come out a suc
cess, the high-ups will not hesitate in furnishing us with everything neces
sary to our well-being.
AN ENIGMA CONCERNING THE 1930 LONGHORN
(By M. T. HALBOUTY, Editor-in-Chief)
It seems that the year 1930 will be one of complete transition for all
major activities in all large colleges and universities throughout the coun
try and the Texas A. and M. College is also to be included in the list, re
gardless of the outcome. The transitions at this college have been very
conspicuous in the past two years and the passing of many old traditions
has also been noticeable, and at the same time excoriated. However, these
changes cannot be stopped.
We perceive and we act. Our new possessions alter our ways of living
and insensibly we take on new habits and customs. We call it progress.
The motive power is TRANSITION. A restless spirit must grasp us be
fore we act to changes; we must be involved in the very essence: the
power of the movement. Our college needed something to make it different
than it has been in preceding years and the Class of 1930 has that dis
tinction of being different than any class gone before it; making the col
lege different than any college and at the same and proper time it created
that spirit of restlessness: that spirit of transition and futurization. Since
the admittance of the Class into the college, the old order of A. and M. has
gradually changed into a new and mysterious uneasiness. In other words,
the class has “commenced at the commencement.” It realizes that without
changes no institution can progress, and that same Class is thankful that
it has made the college restless, for a contented institution is a dead in
stitution.
The writer seems to be digressing from the original subject, but grad
ually the nail will be driven into the wall. The 1930 Class is entering into
the final lap, and the hardships are becoming very difficult with each turn
of the wheel of time. The responsibility to lead will be great; much greater
than some anticipate. But to lead and become leaders is very essential and
we must lead with that same spirit that we created: it belong to us.
The spirit of transition and futurization is more than approbated by
the editor of the 1930 Longhorn, and the annual that the populace and
students will see next spring will be one of changes and disorganizations—
as compared to the past types—that it will undoubtedly illuminate the con
servatives into making insipid strictures concerning the changes. Nothing
can be done. Nothing will be done. The plans are made and many swelter
ing months have been spent in arranging them; they are perfect to the
one who planned and arranged them—the editor. There are no regrets
now. There will be none later.
The 1930 Longhorn will be changed and so changed from the old order
and type that hardly will the old student realize that it is a Longhorn,
that is annually published by the Senior Class of Texas A. & M. College,
he is looking through. The art motif v/ill be of a fantastic type and the
order of books will be no order at all. New scintillating schemes will take
the place of the old slatternly ideas. The annual will portray the same
spirit that now exists in the 1930 class. It will be a book of characteriza
tion— the characterization of a restless class. The 1930 Longhorn will be
different than any annual or Longhorn published: different—like the Class
that is publishing it.
The editor cannot go into details of the changes now, and probably
will not later on. Eight and one-half months are not long to wait; fur
thermore, the suspence will not be fatal. The plans will not be splurged
until the annual is issued, for it would take all the color of sui'prise away.
Nevertheless, be prepared O students of A. and M. and ye people of Texas,
for such a Longhorn as that of the year 1930 will never greet your eyes
again, and how you will receive it is very interesting to imagine—how
ever, the editor is very optimistic, and very audacious to state that the
purpose of a gray-hairing job will not have been spent in vain in develop
ing aspirations for a greater A. and M. of Texas. May our aspirations be
filled with the spirit of transition, for without transitions we are like
the dead: immovable!
A PLEA
As the time for the formal opening of the school draws near, there
is one important question concerning our spirit and morale which must be
answered. That question is: “Do we or do we not want school spirit and
unity in our college?”
Of course you all know that A. and M. has as fine a school spirit as
any college in the U. S. and as we who have been here for three years can
see thaet if our school is to keep its good name and reputation as an
institution prominent in moulding the characters of gentlemen, it is neces
sary for us to pull together for the re-dedicating of some of our school