Page 2
THE BATTALION
■THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1941
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 published three times weekly from September to June; is
sued Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; and is pub
lished weekly from June through August.
Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at College
Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Subscription rate, $3 a school year. Advertising rates
upon request.
Represented nationally by National Advertising Service,
Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and
San Francisco.
Office, Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone
1-5444.
1941 Member 1942
Plssocided Collegiate Press
Don Gabriel Editor
E. M. Rosenthal Associate Editor
Ralph Criswell Advertising Manager
Sports Staff
Mike Haikin Sports Editor
W. F. Oxford ... Assistant Sports Editor
Mike Mann Senior Sports Assistant
Brooks Cofer Junior Sports Editor
Chick Hurst Junior Sports Editor
Circulation Staff
Gene Wilmeth Circulation Manager
Bill Hauger Senior Circulation Assistant
F. D. Asbury - Junior Assistant
Bill Huber, Joe Stalcup Circulation Assistant
Photography Staff
Jack Jones Staff Photographer
Bob Crane, Ralph Stenzel Assistant Photographers
Saturday’s Staff
D. C. Thurman Managing Editor
Jack Lamherson Assistant Advertising Manager
Charlie Babcock Junior Editor
Ken Breencn Junior Editor
Reportorial Staff
Calvin Brumley, Arthur L. Cox, Selig Frank, W. J. Hamilton,
Jr., N. W. Karbach, Jack Keith, Tom B. Journeay, Douglass
Lancaster, Tom Leland, Charles P. McKnight, W. B. Morehouse,
Richard F. Quinn. Gordon Sullivan, C. G. Scruggs, Benton
Taylor. John Holman.
Open Forum
Vital ProMem Confronts
The A&M Student Bodg
The cold light of dawn reveals another fresh
man gone. “He can’t take it” is the concensus
of his company. A student has difficulty in
passing his work. “A playboy,” murmur his
professors with Greek chorus precision.
The company Polly Anna develops mo-
rousness and a biting repartee. “Hm, not as
pleasant a fellow as we thought,” agree his
self-righteous critics. “Eighteen per cent of
student body on Dean’s team,” a Battalion
headline says. “A crying shame,” protest
disappointed parents.
Growing A. & M. Problem
There has been a growing problem which,
while not necessarily limited to A. & M.,
should be of vital concern to the students,
faculty, and administration here because by
its elimination we could increase the effi
ciency of turning out normal, well-trained
graduates.
Is it not strange that an institution that
is interested in administering large know-
lege doses makes no provision for the proper
mental functioning of the assimilating mech
anism? In full justice, this has not been the
result of deliberate ostrich-like evasion, but
of insufficient recognition that such a need
exists.
We need a special department which is
composed of men trained in human relation
ships to take care of the mental welfare of
the corps. Its function would be to ease the
strain between the student and his environ
ment. The department could investigate all
delinquent cases, all working students, and
all cases under undue mental strain so that
proper influence could be exerted to insure
good mental attitudes and freedom from va
rious types of worry. All the staff members
need not be psychiatrists, although one sure
ly should be on the staff.
“But is such a department really need
ed?” you might ask. Two cases, extremes,
perhaps, may be cited as proof that such a
department is needed.
Some years ago a student saw fit to
destroy himself because of financial diffi
culties. Perhaps no solution could have been
worked out, but there were strong possibil
ities.
Care in Treatment
Another student entered a department
office one night and began to wreck the fur
nishings, before he was caught and held by
a night watchman. When the head of the
department came, he exhibited rare judg
ment. He told the student to go to his room,
but to come by and see him the next day.
During the subsequent interview the depart
ment head dragged to light a persecution
complex. An adjustment of classes and some
thought cleared a situation which could have
been disastrous for the student.
We admit a failure when we permit a
student to return to his home without ben
efit of any attempts to help. His problems do
not magically cease with the purchase of a-
railroad ticket. No one can expect a student
to step from the debris of a short-lived col
lege career with the equaminity of a dime
novel hero. Humans reach greatness because
we are a bundle of failings, not because of
Victorian attributes.
All Male Enrollment Problem
The isolation of our campus, an all
male enrollment and our dormitory set-up
contribute to a system which is far from
normal. It is inconcievable to believe that
students can be torn from a great number of
varied environments and plopped down under
such a system without numerous casualties
unless some provisions are taken. As students,
we are taking the “break or make” tradition
too close to our hearts. The fact that we
have so many “breaks” in proportion to
“makes” is criticism enough. We should give
more consideration to the “break” proposi
tion. There is no basic reason for the ma
jority of resignations which cannot be cor
rected.
Student Failures
Recently a large number of students
have returned home because they failed to
pass the required number of hours. There
still are students on the campus, who have
failed in one or more subjects. What is the
reason behind these failures? Native intel
ligence ?
While a correlation may be drawn be
tween high school grades and subsequent
grades in college, there is sufficient varia
tion to assume that factors other than study
ing may be also causative. Admitedly, all
low grades are the result of insufficient
studying except in rare cases, but the crux
of the matter may be traced to those factors
influencing studying Other than sheer lazi
ness. The student may be in an impossible
situation, such as living off the campus and
depending on catch rides to college, or ex
cessive financial worries. True, if the student
is unable to make high enough grades to
stay in college, he should be sent home, but
he should have had the opportunity to try
under optimum conditions.
Corps Cooperation Needed
But the establishment of such a depart
ment as mentioned would not be successful
unless it had the fullest co-operation of the
corps. Under no circumstances should the
student feel under any social ostracism for
patronizing such a service, nor must he feel
any shame to admitting a problem. He must
feel that the department was established for
his benefit and must feel free at all times to
discuss any problem which may hamper him.
He must feel assured that his discussions
will be treated will full confidence and sin
cerity. He must realize that the welfare of a
sane society rests on a well-adjusted mem
bership.
Somehow and somewhere, the germ that
will create such a department is lying dor
mant. By sufficient exertion it may be made
to blossom. Think it over.
V. A. Yentzen, ’42
Quotable Quotes
“The present world turmoil is a phase in the
evolution of an epi-organism, or world state,
because two important problems are not yet
solved. One has to do with the progressive
extension of the integrating forces of society,
and their product, namely altruism, loyalty
and the feeling of being part of even larger
groups. Consequently there will be an ever
greater scale of conflicts between groups and
nations until one all-encompassing group in
tegration is achieved. The second problem
concerns leadership. Mechanisms for selecting
the leaders in present human societies - are
still extremely primative and subject to se
rious breakdown.” Dr. Ralph W. Gerard, Uni
versity of Chicago physiologist, predicts a
world state will evolve as a biological cer
tainty just as the parts of the human body
are integrated.
The World Turns On
By Dr. R. W. Steen
Two interesting articles appeared on the
same day early this week. One was a trans
lation from a German military magazine
which proved in a most scientific manner
that the Russian army was made up of
10,000,000 men. The other was a report from
the German news agency that
Russian losses in the war, kill
ed, wounded and captured, now
number more than 10,000,000
men. This is all a bit puzzling,
for available reports indicate
that there are at least a few
Russians holding the lines west
of Moscow while others have
just succeeded in driving the
Nazis out of Rostov in one of
the few reverses suffered by
steen the German army in this war.
The United States and Japan are engaged
in an all out war of nerves. The situation is
serious in the extreme, and actual warfare
might result at any time. The Japanese have
much to worry about. The people of this
island empire have suffered greatly because
of the war with China, and a war with the
United States would mean also war with
Britain. The Japanese can find little en
couragement in the constant arrival at Sing
apore of men and supplies, while the arrival
in the far east of several additional British
warships was certainly not welcome news to
the Japanese.
In spite of the odds against them the
Japanese may decide to fight. They place
great store in what they term their honor,
and the economic isolation which has been
forced upon them is damaging in the ex
treme. In choosing between war and economic
strangulation they may decide upon war as
the lesser evil.
The last Italian outpost in Ethiopia sur
rendered a few days ago. The surrender
brings to mind the bombastic outburst made
by Mussolini in 1936 when he modestly stated
to the Italian people: “Our peace, the Pax
Romana, is expressed in this simple, irrevo
cable, final statement: Ethiopia is Italy’s.
The head of the Government and the Ras,
defeated and fleeing, count no longer. No
forge in the world will ever be able to make
them count again.” That statement was made
five years ago, and Mussolini has doubtless
learned that a great many things can happen
in five years.
PRIVATE BUCK .-. By Clyde Lewis
COVERING
caps disMONs
WITH
i TOM VANNOY
“You don’t catch me sleeping, Sarge. I’m all set for this
‘gorilla’ warfare I been hearing about!”
BACKWASH
BY
Charlie Babcock
“Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster
Turnstile Click „, A f ort , p ? gra, r t was he,t !
the stage before the first show.
According to a recent survey Tli e master of ceremonies read sev-
made by the Associated Press, era i congratulatory telegrams from
every Southwest Conference school, friends who could not be present,
excepting 'Rice, showed an increase anc j among those were ones from
in total number of fans attending Dr. T. O. Walton, Aggie Backfield
home football games this past sea- Coach Marty Karow, and Governor
son in compari- Coke Stevenson, all of whom wish-
son with 1940. e d Kimbrough success in his new
A. & M. was field.
host to 97,784 cus- Then K i mbrough came on the
tomers at five stage< He smilcd and thanked the
games, whi e in aud j ence f or coming. Then, he
1940, it was only j 00 j. e d down at the first couple
84,036 for a like
of rows and spotted e fellow wh
had gone to' school with him, John
M. Arendale, a deaf mute. Big
John thanked the deaf boy for
coming. Arendale couldn’t hear
the third spot in the conference, him but he understood by read .
n u m b e r of con
tests. However,
the Aggies had
to be content with
ing Kimbrough’s lips.
• • •
first and second places going to
Texas and Rice, respectively.
Texas footballers played before
135,000 fans in five games, com- Xv6C0rClS
pared to 106,000 customers in four
games the year before. Rice drop
ped from 115,000 in seven games
in 1940 to 100,000 in
this fall.
e ® o
World Premier
The aerial battles in “A YANK
IN THE R.A.F.” are authentic,
and were filmed over Germany,
France, and England with the full
cooperation of the British Air
Ministry. The picture stars, Ty
rone Power, Betty Grable, and
John Sutton and will be shown
at the Campus tomorrow and Mon
day.
In addition to the battle scene,
interest in the story is kept from
lagging by the struggle between
Tyrone and John for the favored
spot in Betty’s heart. It all adds
up to make an excellent motion
picture that really lets the Ameri
can public know how the war is
being fought.
Betty is in a role that fits her
fairly well, that of a night-club
entertainer, with plenty of chances
to make the most of dancing and
eye-filling figure. Tyrone ferries
a bomber to England from the
States and runs into Betty with
whom he was acquainted here. He
enlists in the R. A.F. and compli
cations set in.
A light bit of romantic drama
in a vivid tropical slash of techni
color is “ALOMA OF THE SOUTH
SEAS” at Guion Hall tonight. Any
mention of romance in the South
Seas should immediately bring to
mind Dorothy Lamour of the fam
ed sarong. Costarred with her is
John Hall.
The story behind the picture
is not a whole lot as far as im
portance goes, but the scenery over
comes almost all the difficulties
that this would entail. If it weren’t
for technicolor, there just wouldn’t
be anything at all to “Aloma of the
South Seas.” In order to enjoy
it, such things as consistency, dia
logue, situations, and performances
must be overlooked. This is just
one more in Dottie’s long string of
Qampus
sarong-y romances.
Red Skelton makes his debut
in the motion picture world in
“WHISTLING IN THE DARK” at
Guion Hall at 1 o’clock this after
noon. He writes such perfect
crime stories that he becomes a
(See DISTRACTIONS, Page 4)
WHAT’S SHOWING
AT THE CAMPUS
Saturday — “UNEXPECT
ED UNCLE,” with Anne
Shirley, Charles Coburn, and
James Craig.
Saturday prevue, Sunday,
Monday—“A YANK IN THE
R.A.F.,” starring Tyrone
Power, Betty Grable, and
John Sutton.
AT GUION HALL
Saturday, 1 p. m. —
“WHISTLING IN THE
DRAK,” with Red Skelton
and Conrad Veidt.
Saturday, 6:45, 8:30 —
“ALOMA OF THE SOUTH
SEAS,” featuring Dorothy
Lamour and John Hall.
Monday — “FOOTLIGHT
FEVER,” with Alan Mow
bray and Donald MacBride.
—
W. J. Douglas, Jr.
INSURANCE AGENCY
General Insurance
Commerce Bldg
Phone Bryan 2-6605
If the Aggies hadn’t had Texas
university on the football sched
ule during the past five years, it
six games wou i d be ab i e t 0 bo ast of the fin
est record in football for that per
iod.
As it is, A. & M‘. must be con
tent with fifth place among the na-
John Kimbrough’s appearance in tion > s grid pows in the way of
Houston Thursday night, both on games won and } os ^ during the past
the screen and on the stage, caus- ba if. decade>
ed many to recollect fond memor- The AP ' ranked the first five
ies of the big boy when he was teams in America as fo ii ows: "
jarrin’ his way to
gridiron.
fame on the
Points
Team— W L T Pet For Ag
The Kirby theater officials hung Duke 40 6 x -870 1042 199
out the “standing room only” sign Tennessee 45 7 x . 865 12 08 196
at the first performance, with a Fordham 32 6 3 .842 804 214
large number of the capacity audi- Notre Dame ....3 5 7 2 .833 683 292
ence being young boys and girls A> & M 37 8 3 >822 902 253
who came to watch their hero per-
form. Many Aggies were in the y ■. 1 r'l m 1
crowd, but it remained for the IClailO COWS iravel
witticisms of the adolescent group Jn Style ill Trailers
to supply the color of the occa- Idaho has four dairy herd im-
sion. provement association testers oper-
In one scene where John was ating from comfortable and well
running across roof tops to cap- equipped trailers. In one end of
ture one of the many villians, a the trailer is a compact and ef-
voice, apparently from a girl about ficient milk-testing laboratory. The
ten, shrilled, “Oh Daddy, look at trailer is so wired that when it
John Kimbrough running just like arrives at a farm it can be con-
he did in the game.” That pretty nected with the power system. A
well sums up young America’s con- small motor runs the testing ma-
ception of Big John as a Texas chine and an electric plate heats
Ranger. the necessary water.
4-1181
LAST DAY
“UNEXPECTED
UNCLE ,,
PREVUE TONIGHT
11:00 P. M.
SUNDAY — MONDAY
TYRONE POWER
1 ■ BETTY GRABLE
Plus
World Today — News
Cartoon
COMING SOON
r JOHN KIMBROUGH
in ZANE GREY'S
LONE STAR
QUCCN
A. & M.’s
All-American
Kimbrough
Crashes Into The Movies
As The
“LONE STAR
RANGER”
ofm* a*
r>>k
Gifts of
JEWELRY
For this Xmas
The one gift that is lasting and there is nothing your
sweetheart, wife or girl friend would like better than
a gift of jewelry.
BRACELETS — LOCKETS — COMPACTS
With Aggie Seal
DIAMOND RINGS — SILVERWARE
WATCHES
C. W. VARNER, Jewler
North Gate
Bryan
GUION HALL
—MOVIE—
SATURDAY — 1 P. M. Only
Whistling in the Dark
with
Red Skelton & Conrad Veidt
SATURDAY — 6:45 & 8:30
love prize or the islands:
DOROTHY
LAMOUR
JON
HALL
j
w s ooT/f S fj'
Poromounf’j music.filled fhnll spectacle
" 9low ‘ n * reCM/coiORf
' A T>ar amounr Picture with
1YNNE OVERMAN • PHILIP pren k ATurDtur
FRITZ LEIBER • DONA D AKE n' MTHER,N£ ^WE
. UnflRt • Directed 6, ACFREB SANTEtl.' '
Selected Shorts