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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 26, 1940)
'age 2- THE BATTALION The Battalion STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the city of College Station, is ■niblished three times weekly from September to June, issued Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; also it is published weekly from June through August. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at College -u.ation, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 8, 1879. Subscription rate, $3 a school year. Advertising rates upon ••eyuest. Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc., • t New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San rancisco. Office, Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone a ■ 1444. Hob Nisbet .,1 Editor-in-Chief oeith Hubbard Advertising Manager George Fuermann Associate Editor Hub Johnson : Sports Editor Tommy Henderson Circulation Manager Phil Golman , Staff Photographer I'ote Tumlinson Staff Artist 1. B. Pierce Editorial Assistant T. R. Vannoy Editorial Assistant TUESDAY STAFF 'ill Clarkson Managing Editor ! ack Hendrick Assistant Advertising Manager Junior Editors l.ee Rogers E. M. Rosenthal Sports Staff ">ob Myers Assistant Sports Editor lack Hollimon Junior Sports Editor Reportorial Staff Jack Aycock, Don Corley, J. M. Ruling, Ralph Inglefield, Tom Leland, W. A. Moore, J. M. Speer, Jack Decker. Soard of Directors: Attention A. & M. HAS A REPUTATION for its many tradi tions and its fine customs. Among the best known and most beloved by students and ex-students has been the practice of the school of allowing students to take guests into the mess hall free of charge for meals. It was not a custom that brought newspaper publicity but that is not the only medium of good will. Rather it was a custom that fitted in harmoni ously with the general Aggie atmosphere. It creat ed a feeling, unconscious perhaps, but still a feeling in the minds of visitors that A. & M. is the finest echool in all the land. Last summer a hotel and restaurant consultant, Sven Johnson, an “expert’', made a study of the en tire dining hall system and among his other recom mendations he stated, “It is considered an unsound business policy and an inequitable policy to the stu dents as a whole to give students’ guests free meals.” Now in the first place, Mr. Johnson is not an Aggie nor an Aggie-ex. He knows nothing of the customs of the school nor the feelings of the students nor the good will created by the customers, lie says the practice is an unsound business policy. Are the mess halls a business venture? in case they were a business venture, the good will of visitors, and not of the students themselves would be worth more than the small amount saved by the charge of these meals. Mr. Johnson goes further to say, “This privi lege has been abused extensively.” On this point The Battalion wishes to differ. Upon what authority does he issue such a statement? Where did he get his facts? Where is his evidence or proof? He pre sents none! On the other side, the students of the school do not feel that their fellow students are abusing the privilege. This is evidence by the ex pressed desire by unanimous vote of the senior, unior and sophomore classes (the freshman class has not yet organized) to request the repeal of the ruling. It is admitted that some may have few more guests in a year than others, but the difference is •iot as great as Mr. Johnson might imagine. He is an exceptional student who has no guests during the year. Too, guests are matters of circumstance. The boy who has many visitors one year may have but few the next year. The count will come closer to being even than would be expected. Most visitors are members of the family or a girl friend, and in either case the cost of the meal inadverdantly comes from the same pocket. If it is not the 30 cents per meal, it is the dollar or so per year that is paid from the same source. When unexpected guests show up and a student is “broke” he is surely on a “spot”. He will have to dig up money for the ticket or ask his guests to pay for their own meal. Such a situation is em barrassing both to the student and to the visitor. Mr. Johnson says, “It is recommended that guests be just as welcome as ever, but that a charge of 35 cents (the Board lowered the recommendation to 30 cents) per meal be made during the regular school session.” We doubt if an invitation to duck dinner with admonition of “you bring the duck” or paying the price would be a very welcome invita tion. In a report on the subject by J. C. Hotard, Su pervisor of Subsistence, says, “Places occupied by guests, with few exceptions, are those which are va cated by students who leave the campus on the week ends. It is seldom necessary to increase production and add tables to accommodate guests.” The free meal practice is referred to numerous times by Mr. Johnson and others as unequitable and unjust. That feeling, it seems, was the fundamen tal motive for the passage of the resolution to charge visitors. The Battalion cannot emphasize strongly enough that all students being visitors and all students want the privilege renewed. The question is somewhat psychological. Even though a student might not bring many guests into the mess hall the satisfaction of knowing that he has that privilege is worth the slight increase in maintenance. It adds something to any student’s ego to be able to invite his friends to eat with him, “just any old time.” To dull the effect of the blow to the students, a statement was released from Mr. Hotard at the same time as the announcement of the added charge dealing with new savings the dining hall system would make and the reduction of maintenance. We do not criticize Mr. Hotard for trying to lessen the headache that was wished on him, but the state ment of saving is falacious of the face of it. It was claimed that the daily price of meals to the students would be reduced from 69 cents to 63 cents. It was claimed that the saving would enable each student 50 guests a year, more than any student normally takes per year. It w r as also claimed that the saving in this manner would mean that if the student did not choose to use his money in this way, he would have it to spend on other things. To anyone but a student of A. & M. that argument probably would sound logical. No one but a stu dent could see the falacies and know that their point was built on false promises. Isn’t it strange that the mess hall could get something out of nothing? Chemists and phycists have been trying for centuries to perfect a machine to do just that. Mr. Hotard should sell his idea to the government. We ask how the maintenance could be lowered more by doing away with free meals than was lost on the same act. The claim of using his money for visitors only if he chooses to do so is logical on the surface, but not so logical when studied more closely. The average student writes home on the first of each month for the amount of that month’s maintenance. He doesn’t include the amount that might have been charged the fact that there is a saving. Therefore he doesn’t have the extra cash that Mr. Hotard speaks of. The saving may be in evidence but it is not at the disposal of the student. Visitors’ meals still come out of his allowance which few families have raised on the strength of savings in the mess hall. In other words instead of using his money for other things as he chooses, the student is paying guest meals on money that he otherwise might use for his own amuse ment. That has a bad effect. As a matter of interest, many students have raised the question of finding any saving. None is evident in the monthly maintenance. They have also questioned the policy of charging 30 cents for a meal the mess hall claims to cost about 21 cents. Not only are we insulting our guests, but we are also profiteering on them. Our Board of Directors may have the opinion that college hoys are scatterbrained, thoughtless, irresponsible, hot-headed, non-thinking rascals, but we would like to contradict this opinion. Many level-headed, serious minded, clear-thinking boys as well as faculty members and our president concur on the request—nay, the plea—that this unseemly charge be removed from our backs. A. & M. students are not children to be ordered and scolded; they are men. As were the colonies taxed without repre sentation, so were our students charged without the opportunity to present their case. Since it is the student body that is affected by this charge, isn’t' it logical to consider their opinion in this matter? We repeat that every class that has organized has voted unanimously without coercion that the charge is repulsive. For years this college has been an object of ad miration from outsiders for the hospitality and friendship shown by the students. Many have ex pressed just such an opinion. Part of the “plan” for making visitors enjoy their stay on the campus has been to take them into the mess hall and let them marvel at the size of the thing. Both mess halls are larger than any other dining hall in the world. Aggies are proud of their mess halls. When a visitor could eat in the mess hall as “one of the boys”, what a thrill he got out of his experience. Countless thousands of people over Texas remem ber the mess hall above everything they saw on their visit to A. & M. Trying to charge for meals spoils the whole picture. It plain ruins the effect. Is our good-will not worth more than 30 cents? BACKWASH By deorye fuermann TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1940 The Denton County A. & M. Club in Denton. All Aggies with dates will sponsor an informal dance looking for a good time are invited Nov. 30 at the Mary Arden Lodge to attend. 0 “Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster. It’s not particularly unusual for a boy to be happy because of a girl. But it was at the Univer sity of North Carolina one day recently. Walking into class several minutes late with a smile on his face and a cigar in his hand, one of Dr. E. E. Ericson’s students startled the professor into stopping his lecture. “HAVE A CIGAR,” he said.” “I'VE JUST BECOME THE FATHER OF A BABY GIRL, 7 POUNDS, 2 OUNCES,” the late comer explained. “YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GIVE A QUIZ, ARE YOU?” And he took his seat. Point of View . . . Tom Rattan, executive assistant of the local AAA branch, is telling the story-of-the-week where the nation’s No. 1 game is concerned—the Aggie-Texas U. tilt Thursday. Tom, it seems, attended the freshman game between the Fish and the Yearlings last \ Thursday afternoon. Sitting directly behind him throughout the game was the Longhorn’s ace broken field runner, Jack Crain, and three other Texas lettermen. After the Yearlings had made several particularly outstanding plays, one of the varsity members pointed out that, “May be we’d better use the freshmen against the Aggies; they’re going pretty strong and might be able to whip the cadets.” “Hell,” Jack re turned, “the only way we’ll be able to beat the Aggies is to shoot ’em all in the back before they get here!” Man, Your Manners BY I. SHERWOOD Conversation INTERESTING CONVERSATION should be an ex change of thought, and it is not necessary to have any very special gift of cleverness to be a person with whom others are delighted to talk. We cannot all be expert conversationalists, but none of us need to be bores. Dangers to be Avoided — Certain subjects, though you are very sure of your ground, had best be avoided; such, for example, as the criticism of religious faith or politics. Be careful not to let an agreeable discussion turn into an argument. A tactful person keeps his prejudices to him self, and even when involved in discussion says quietly, “No, I cannot agree”, or “It seems to me thus and so”; he never says, “You are wrong”. Don’t hold forth on your favorite subject if others are uninterested. A person who monopolizes the conversation is definitely a bore. Even though you have a brilliant mind it is best to keep it in check—very often the most brilliant are the least enjoyable as talking companions. It is well for us to remember that a good lis tener is as popular as the ideal conversationalist. Telephone Conversation—Good manners on the telephone are very important because the person on the other end of the line judges you by the way you speak. When giving a number to the operator, add a “please”. After the connection is complete, and you recog nize the voice that answers, say, “Hello, John. This is Frank Lawton”. Don’t say, “Guess who this is”, or talk without identifying yourself. When the phone is answered by a person other than the one you are calling, say, “May I speak with John, please?” or Mr. Smith if you don’t know him as “John”. If he is not in, it is courteous to leave your name or number. Avoid saying, “I’ll call him later”. “Hello” is the accepted form in answering the phone, but it gives no clue as to who is answering. Say, “Hello, this is John Smith”. In social calls a man always gives both names without the “mister”. In business calls, titles are used. A man calling another says, “This is Brown of the Globe Adver tising Company”, but if a man is calling a woman on business, he says, “This is Mr. Brown of the Globe Advertising Company. If someone does not recognize you after you have answered never say, “This is me speaking”. Say, “This is he speaking”. Do not hang up without a proper “goodbye”. The Way of Things . . . Jack season this year.” Which brings up Page, Aggie senior w T ho was re- a couple of other superstitions cently forced to resign from col- w here “lucky charms” are concern- lege to begin active duty as a e( j i They’re Coach Homer Hill Nor- National Guard officer writes from ton > s an ci e nt gray suit and publi- Austin, “The ‘Tea Sippers’ are go- c j^y director Byron Winstead’s tie. ing crazy. Each They’ve both seen better days (the week after they su it an d tie), but they’re two items play a game the that the men were wearing when students go to the the victory streak started and since movies hopeful that that time they’ve been worn at they 11 see their every game, game in the news- ® reel. Everytime they see a South- God Bless Somebody, west Conference The various methods of rating g arne but it’s al- football teams smell just a little Fuermann wa y S the Aggies kit. Some of them smell quite a lot. and their opponent of the past No self-respecting skunk would weekend. Almost in a body, the smell as badly as one or two of audience rises and hisses, and hiss- the so-called systems. Last year es, and hisses—-but it’s the same there seemed to be at least a little story the following weekend, plus parallel feeling between the several more hisses.” . . . Aggie-ex Harvey “experts.” The end of the 1939 sea- S. Trewitt, who did his graduating son found the Aggies rated No. 1 in 1940, recently set some kind of in the nation by the Associated a hitch-hiking record between Dal- Press, the United Press, William- las and Detroit. He “highwayed” son > D r - Baker, Poling, Azzi Ra the near-1,200-mile distance in 35 tem , and several others. Only Litk- hours—four and a half hours quick- enhaus dropped the Aggies out of er than the busses negotiate the the national championship spot, distance ... If the thus far three- rating Cornell No. 1 and the Ag- day rain doesn’t let up in a big gies second. way in a hurry, Thursday’s game Brother Litkenhaus never has may as well be water polo as foot- thought much of the Aggies. Cur- ball . . . From the files of the Fort rently he rates the Cadets in the Worth Star-Telegram, November No. 7 spot, but most other sys- 26, 1920: “The University of Texas terns have the Cadets either first won the Southwest football cham- or second. One thing should be re- pionship by defeating Texas A. & membered, however—with the ex- M. college 7 to 3 in a Thanksgiv- ception of the Williamson system, ing Day game at Austin. The Texas which is housed in New Orleans, touchdown was the first time A. the ratings are compiled in the & M.’s goal lines had been crossed East, and naturally, therefore, pre- at Austin. The Texas touchdown judice and bias enter into the rat- was the first team A. & M.’s goal ings. None of the systems, inci- line had been crossed in three dentally, have home offices in the years.” Wonder if history really Southwest. does repeat itself? . . . The policy One of the systems, at the be- established this year by the North ginning of the season, blossomed Gate business houses of closing out with this paragraph: “We are- during home football games was n ’t picking the Texas Aggies to not only unprecedented, but it was do much this year because their a cooperative and fair move on star back, John Kimbrough, grad- the part of the owners which en- uated last June.” John spent half abled their employees to see the a day in the registrar’s office try- game. Backwash moves that the ing to get his diploma after read- policy be continued in years to ing that one. come ... The Lucky Penny: It’s the But there , s one rating that al _ one all-American guard Marshall wa y S holds water—as far as the Robnett gave his sweetheart, Edna cor p S j s concerned, the Aggie foot- Marie Rushing, at the beginning ballers don , t have to be champ _ of the season. Rob had 13 pennies j ons an yt b ing to be the nation’s one day. and gave them to me,” j team Edna Marie said. “I managed to spend ’em all but one and that’s the one I hold in my hand through- Experiments in the University of out all the Aggie games—it’s a Illinois college of medicine may sort of good luck penny,” she said, produce a means to combat severe “and I think it should get part of gas pains that follow surgical op- the credit for the Aggies’ victorious erations. Cold Weather Is Pipe Time A Complete Line of PIPES and TOBACCOS at CASEY'S In The “Y” Have you eaten our de licious sandwiches and chili? They are a treat. We feature our friendly service. 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