Page 6- THE BATTALION -SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1941 Aggieland’s rf Feeler” This slender steel structure is the new antenna erected for radio station WTAW, whose efficiency has increased the signal strength of the station 25 per cent. Ask My Wife H(rw Much Gas We Need-She Drvies the Car We satisfy every type of motorist—in the better gasoline values, finer service, lower prices we offer them. Whether they drive up front (or as in the case above), from the back seat, motorists will find a quality about our service that guarantees smooth er driving, economical motoring. Aggie Service Station Clyde Park, Owner and Operator College Station, Texas A&M’s Radio Station, WTAW, Is the Only Non-Commercial Station in Texas Operated By Rosser As Service to Public Of the State of Texas By Mike Speer WTAW, the only non-commer cial educational station in Texas, is maintained and operated by A. & M. College as a public service. The program policy of the sta tion is administered by John 0. Rosser, a native Texan who got into radio via the newspaper route. He came to A. & M. from New York City. Broadcasting daily from radio studios located on the second floor of the YMCA building, WTAW is powered by a recently installed new 1000 watt radio transmitter that has an approximate satisfac tory range of 60 miles in adverse weather conditions. In clear wea- their reception can be obtained in regions 150 to 200 miles away from College Station. Replaced by the new trans mitter the old transmitter, 500 watt maximum capacity, will be used as an auxiliary and for prac tical study in the school of elec trical engineering. New Antenna Increases Efficiency Adding further facilities and in creasing the efficiency of WTAW’s 225 foot antenna, sometimes re ferred to as a “radiator,” has been erected about one mile northeast of the campus at an approximate cost of $6,000. Two 500 watt red light globes that can be seen from 40 to 50 miles away on clear nights, flicker constantly from sunset to sunrise as a warning to low flying airplanes. The lights are operated by an electrical timer that automatically switches on at sunset and off at sunrise. The chief aim of the program department of the radio station is to furnish information to the pub lic. In this connection, at least two regular programs not carried on WTAW’s own frequency are heard over thi*ee of the most in fluential stations in the Southwest —WFAA, WBAP, WOAI and K PRC. These stations comprise the Texas Quality Network, and it is on their wave lengths that the familiar Texas Farm and Home Program is heard every week-day morning at 6:15. In cooperation with the State Department of Ed ucation the college radio studios also produce one vocational guid ance program a week, as a unit of the Texas School of the Air. Student Training Offered From the student standpoint, work at WTAW constitutes ex cellent practical training for a possible radio career. Student tech nicians and announcers from WT AW have frequently secured ex cellent jobs at commercial radio stations; and since they have ob tained their training “the hard way”—by actually performing the tasks called for in all types of broadcasting—they give a good account of themselves. A typical day’s program over WTAW (“local” as distinguished from “network”) calls for a wea- WTAW Director John O. Rosser ther report, announcements of lo cal interest, a writeup of the high lights of the day’s news in Bryan and College Station, as well as other programs in the public in terest. In addition to the regularly sche duled broadcasts, WTAW often makes arrangements to present outstanding special events of cam pus life, such as oi'ganization dances, military reviews, and other activities of a suitable nature for broadcasting. The most recent ex ample of this type of variety was the annual Cotton Pageant and Ball, presented each year by the Agronomy Society. Interviewers moved about the floor of Deware Field House, where the pageant was presented, and interviewed students and their dates so that those who failed to attend could get a radio view of the elaborate procedure. For such broadcasts, student announcers are used when ever possible. Orchestra Program Is Popular A popular feature with the ca dets is the weekly Friday after noon broadcast by the Aggieland Orchestra. Under the direction of Ed Minnock, the orchestra has de veloped its own distinctive style of radio variety show. According to Minnock, “We specialize in swing, sweet music, and com—with a slight prejudice in favor of that item.” A typical “gag” on the Ag gieland’s program was the band’s decision to barbecue Minnock at the end of the current school year. Trumpetman Henry Baushusen un dertook the task of feeding the band-leader the balanced rations recommended by the Animal Hus bandry Department for producing prize beef. Doghouse - player “Shug” Barnes took a leaf from Home Demonstration Agents and broadcast a series of appetizing recipes, with Minnock as the main ingredient. Round-Table Broadcast The serious side of radio also comes in for its share of atten- CONGRATULATIONS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES Come in and visit with us when you come to A. & M. AGGIELAND BARBER SHOP ! Across from Post Office North Gate g illillllllillliillllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllJllilllllllllllilillllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllUlllllllllllllllllillUlllllllllIlllllOUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUlS GREETINGS To High School Graduafes For 23 years we have been making uni forms for A. & M. students. The symbol, “Made by Mendl & Hornak”, has become one of dis tinction and satisfaction on the campus. We invite all High School Graduates en tering A. & M. next fall to come in and see us. All work guaranteed. MENDL & HORNAK UNIFORM TAILOR SHOP NORTH GATE There’s More ^ ^ ess, ° n °f 12-week Defense Course Finds Employment for 69 Than Sports At Aggieland A&M Has Nation’s Largest Ag School And Vet Med School By Tom Vannoy Fresh in mind is the nationally famous football teams represent ing the “Fighting Texas Aggies” in gridiron battles for the past two seasons. Perhaps unknown are some of the other abilities possess ed by Texas A. & M. These include the largest agri cultural school in the United Stat es, also the largest school of vet erinary medicine. It has the sec ond largest school of engineering, offering courses in chemical, civil, aeronautical, electrical, petroleum, mechanical, industrial, and archi tectural engineering. Texas A. & M. is the only men's senior college in Texas and is the oldest state supported school. In view of the present need for national defense, A. & M. offers military training for commissions in the army as an officer in the infantry, field artillery, cavalry, coast artillery, engineers, signal corps, or chemical warfare. It is the largest military college in the world. More officers from A. & M. served in this country’s fighting forces than any other school, in cluding West Point. A. & M. has the world’s largest dining halls, and a mess hall sys tem which is remarkable in its ef ficiency and economy. It has a “school spirit” which is renowned in addition to having the most famous band and yelling sec tion in the Southwest. Utterly democratic except for distinction in classes, which all col leges have, A. & M. has a reputa tion of being a school which builds men capable of doing their work well after graduation. Its traditions make life here interesting during school years and worth remember ing forever. Texas A. & M. has more dormi tories than any other college in the Southwest; consequently it is cap able of handling nearly every pros pective student. In addition to the dormitories, it has a widespread cooperative project house system, enabling hundreds of boys to at tend who could not otherwise af ford college. It offers a list of student activi ties run by students alone in most cases, which would be hard to equal anywhere. Boy Scout Work Can Be Continued After Entering A-M If an A. & M. student has had Scout training before his entrance here and desires to continue his training in the work he may do so by transferring his membership to an advanced Scouting organization. A. & M. now has excellent facili ties for advanced Scout work. Two Senior Boy Scout organi zations are operating at present on the A. & M. campus. One, a Rover Crew, available to men be tween the ages of 17 and 25, is sponsored by the Rural Sociology Department. This crew is the out growth of a Scoutmasters’ train ing school which was held on this campus in 1938. The second or ganization is a Rover Crew spon sored by the College Station Metho dist Church. Either of these crews is available to any Scout coming to A. & M. who is interested in continuing his Scout work here and wishes to do so by transferring his membership here. tion at WTAW, with occasional rouhd-table discussions by stu dents on topics of current inter est. A Sunday morning broadcast of transcribed symphonic music is a great favorite with the “long haired” music lovers. Arrangements with the English partment allow a few members of the classes in Public Speaking to study radio at first hand and re ceive a certain amount of credit for this work. Although “Radio” is not listed as a course in the catalouge at present, it is hoped that such a course will be added for the 1941-42 school year, Ros ser said. “The English Depart ment and the Dean are working on the proposition,” he said, “but it’s too early yet to make any def inite announcement.” By Jack Decker On phase of the extensive pro gram planned by A. & M. college for the purpose of training the youth of America in the defense of America was finished May 3 upon the completion of the 12- week Civilian Defense Training courses which began February 1. Gibb Gilchrist, dean of engineer ing at A. & M. college, who, is one of the ten members of the Advisory committee on Engineering Train ing for National Defense appoint ed by the President of the United States is sponsoring this program. Dean Gilchrist appointed Mr. J. T. L. McNew, head of the Civil Engineering Department, as local director of the program. Three Courses Offered The three courses offered were Materials Testing and Inspection, Engineering Drawing, and Camp Sanitation, all being badly needed in many different industries. Of the sixteen men originally enrolled in the Materials Testing and Inspection course, four took ^jobs before the completion of the course, and all but three of the re maining men had jobs waiting for them when they finished. Twenty eight men enrolled for Engineering Drawing, and out of that group thirteen men took draft ing jobs before complete the course and the rest reported for work im mediately upon finishing. Eight of the first thirteen men went to one aircraft corporation in California, two are working for the Dwight Boiler Works in Houston, and the other three went north to take drafting jobs. Nearly all of the twenty-five Camp Sanitation enrollees were sent by companies and returned to their jobs as soon as the twelve weeks was completed. Courses At Prairie View A. & M. is also offering three courses at the Prairie View Nor mal and Industrial College, a branch of A. & M., including a course in Power and Heating Engi neering, one in Internal Combus- (Continued on Page 12) iPlllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllM To The High School Students of Texas When visiting A. & M. College, we invite you to visit with us and breathe the old Aggie Spirit, and expose yourself to the true, tradi tional college atmosphere of Aggie land at . . . George’s Confectionery In the New “Y” EATS - DRINKS - SMOKES IIIIIH GREETINGS! HIGH SCHOOL GRADS We wish you much success in life and may the years before you bring happiness. We hope you se lect Texas A. & M. College so that we can be of service to you in the future. JUNIORS! Bring your mother to see these beautiful boots that you will want for next year. For many years we have made steady progress in making boots. This year’s boots will be of the highest quality and if possible even more comfort able. We urge you to order now to insure delivery before September. Holick’s Boot Shop North Gate College Station * i % * f T i < 1 1 / * < V * A t > : * / /