You Should Know the Answers
What is Purpose of MSC? What Does it Do?
Today The Battalion presents the first in a series of articles de
signed to give the student greater insight of what the Memorial Stu
dent Center has to. offer him. The writer and the editors hope, through
this means, to both answer the questions in the minds of Battalion
readers concerning the MSC, and provide a basis for better under
standing.
The next article in this series will deal with MSC clubs and com
mittees and a. third will explain how the MSC' is financed.
By BILL AABERG
Battalion Staff Writer
W HAT is the nature and purpose of our Student Center?
Through what means does the Center endeavor to ac
complish its purpose ?
These are questions only vaguely understood by most
students, but they are questions the student, who is the
prime recipient of everything the Center does, should be
able to answer. To better benefit from the facilities of any
student center one must know how the center can help him
and how he may aid his center in its work.
Suppose you were visiting in your hometown on a week
end and you mentioned the MSC to some of your friends. If
they asked you point blank, “What do you mean ‘Student
Center’?” what would you tell them? Could you define the
MSC?
A Definition for MSC
Many English professors tell us you can’t really use a
word unless you can define it. This might be applied to the
MSC. A good definition of a “college union” is found in Edith
Humphrey’s handbook on campus community centers, “Col
lege Unions,” and reads as follows:
“The term ‘college union’ implies an organization and a
building. The organization, ordinarily composed of students,
faculty, and alumni, is an informal educational medium for
individual and group self-discovery and expression through
a broad program of social and cultural recreation adapted to
the leisure-time interests and needs of the college commun
ity. The union building is the community center—the physi
cal instrument for implementing the objectives of the organ
ization and for facilitating a community life.”
Even now, with the MSC in its “kindergarten” stage,
Humphrey’s definition applies to our building and organi
zation.
One of the main purposes of the Center is to transform
A&M from a “place of learning” to a “home of learning.”
MSC Is Part of Aggie Living
When the building first opened, students marveled at
its plush beauty and were very proud, but the fact remained
the Center was a building with a name, but not a heart.
However, as time has passed, what was once just a build
ing with a name has become a part of Aggie living.
As one senior put it while in the coffee shop between
classes, “I don’t see how we did without it for three whole
years.” The MSC has become a campus home for Aggies.
In our campus home may be found many direct recrea
tional and educational facilities such as the browsing library,
piano room, music room, photography facilities, dancing in
structions, club meeting rooms, and many other things which
may occupy our leisure time. There are other benefits de
rived from the Center, indirectly.
One of the most important of these comes from the na
tional and inter-national meetings and conferences held on
our campus in the Center.
MSC Makes Us Known
Many top executives, who ordinarily have little or noth
ing to do with interviewing and hiring college graduates, at
tend such meetings and notice our friendly “Howdy,” our
school spirit, and become acquainted with the type of grad
uates produced at A&M. Here is an example of just such a
thing.
The president of one of the. largest manufacturing
companies in the world attended a conference here recently.
He was on the campus only a short time but was so im
pressed that he instructed one of his executives, an Aggie-ex,
to interview some graduating seniors and to try to get at
least three prospective A&M graduates lined up for positions
with his company.
In the Center the students see exhibits that ere educa
tional and entertaining by means of the window exhibits in
the corridors of the main floor. Some stop to examine, others
merely glance, but all have the chance to samples of art,
photography, pottery and ceramics, and industry that they
otherwise would see only by attending special exhibitions.
An average five thousand people pass the exhibits daily.
The front desk of the Center was planned and designed
to function as an informatiion center for the campus and
is already acting in that capacity to a great extent. On hand
at the desk are telephone directories of several large cities,
a Texas Almanac, campus directories, campus guides, and a
daily and weekly schedule of events. The desk also handles
incoming mail for clubs which regularly hold their meetings
in the Center. The MSC aids the college students and stu
dent family financially by employing 110 students and stu
dent wives who earn approximately $6,500 monthly.
Beauty—For a Better Graduate
Many thousands of dollars were spent to make the MSC
noticeably luxurious. This was not done just to make a show
or to spend more money. Modern beauty and luxury were
emphasized to help produce a more suave, debonair graduate
who will be equally adapted to meet all classes of people any
place, anywhere.
Although more students are coming to realize the bene
fits of the Center, those who do not understand why the
Center was built or what it is for are still too great in
number.
A pamphlet explaining the functions and policies of the
MSC will soon be made available to students and others.
Reading the pamphlet will help the student, through a better
understanding, to enjoy the benefits of the Center.
We see the MSC in the light of recreation for our leisure
time, a meeting place for the student clubs, a place for edu
cation through the varied exhibits and the many clubs in
which a student may learn a useful hobby, as an aid in fu
ture employment, and as a means for building greater person
al self-confidence.
Battalion Editorials
Page 2 MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1951
WHAT A HEADACHE THEY’RE.BUILDING
New Voice for A&M Students
rTHE BRYAN Chamber of Commerce last
week took what may prove to be a very
significant step toward improving relations
of the A&M student body with the Bryan
community.
The Bryan Chamber has named the pres
ident of A&M’s Student Senate an honorary
ex-officio director and invited him to attend
the group’s meetings twice monthly.
In a letter to The Battalion, N. Leslie
Kelley, Jr. manager of the Bryan C of C,
said, “I can assure you that it is the most
sincere desire of the Bryan Chamber of
Commerce to cooperate and work with the
students of Texas A&M College, and we hope
that the President of the Student Senate on
our Board of Directors will assist in main
taining a harmonious and favorable under
standing that will last through the years.”
We thoroughly agree with Manager Kel
ley and the Bryan Chamber of Commerce.
And The Battalion encourages Student
Senate President Bill Parse to take every
advantage of this move to better relations
with Bryan.
Since it will likely be impossible for the
president to attend all the meetings, we sug
gest that a suitable alternate be appointed
so that the student body will have a voice
in all matters affecting A&M College.
Thank you Bryan Chamber of Commerce,
we appreciate your interest and the oppor
tunity to be represented.
Bagley Hall Needs a Nameplate . . .
Arts-Sciences Week
LETTERS
All letters to the editor must be signed
by the writer and free from obscene
and libelous references. Letter writers
wanting their name withheld must make a
personal request to the co-editors. No
unsigned letters will be published.
General Palmer Pleased
By ‘Howdy’ Custom
To the Cadet Corps:
It was a great pleasure to be
with the Cadet Corps last Saturday.
(Military Ball Weekend). I was
very impressed with the fine series
of events which I was privileged
to attend.
Your custom at A&M of each
cadet coming up and introducing
himself in a friendly and gracious
manner, is one of the best things
I have ever seen anywhere*. 'I
would like to see it spread to every
school in the United States.
All young men should be taught
to go up and speak politely to
older guests and high-ranking vis
itors. I am so often embarrassed
by the shyness and awkwardness
of gatherings where I am invited
to appear, that I can appreciate
the value of this gracious custom of
yours.
W. B. Palmer
Major General
Commander,
2d. Armored Division
Thoughts and Afterthoughts
Newsweek Story
Classes A&M As
Big ‘Tin 9 College
By DAVE COSLETT
A GGIELAND’S got callers a ’cornin’.
That’s the word from last week’s issue of Newsweek
which foresees “heavy pressure” on all military colleges dur
ing the next year or so.
The magazine, in an article entitled
“West Point Producing Soldier Statesmen
| As Military Colleges Face Biggest Boom,"
sees enrollment gains at A&M and similar
colleges unlike anything known since the
critical days of 1942.
The article itself is concerned mainly
with new methods of training at the three
academies—West Point, Annapolis and the
Coast Guard Academy. It mentions eight
other military colleges only slightly.
These eight it calls the “tin colleges,’’
explaining, “In Army slang they are called
‘tin’ to differentiate the ‘brass,’ or top officer personnel,
which traditionally comes from the official schools.”
Condescending that the civilian schools are especially
recognized by the Pentagon for their strict military training,
Newsweek names them. They are A&M, VPI, Clemson, The
Citadel, VMI, Norwich University, Pennsylvania Military Col
lege and North Georgia-College.
Commenting’ further on the eight, the magazine lias this to say:
“The ‘tin’ colleges, whose enrollments now total some 13,000, could
expect the pressure on them to get heavier. Since the schools require
virtually all male students to take ROTC and live a military life in
uniform, the recent Senate draft bill grants the ROTC men of these
eight colleges the same deferments as service-academy students. The
House bill, up for an early vote, contains the same provision. And the
100 regular and 400 reserve Army commissions that usually go
these eight schools will be more than doubled this June.”
An especially significant point in the article concerns
student drop-outs. The Coast Guard Academy has a 50
per cent mortality rate, Annapolis 25 per cent and West
Point 20 per cent. “At the eight tin colleges,” the articles
says, “drop-outs are much lower, with Texas A&M’s 11
per cent usually high.” Deans, please note.
The articles concludes, “Training for peacetime governmental ser
vice as well ias possible war command has put a tremendous respon
sibility on the military academies and colleges, Out of a wave of ap
plicants they had to choose not only the good men. They.had to pick
the best—-and give them the best education for all eventualities—to wit,
‘Operation Statesmen’.”
Cadet Colonelcy Has Heir Apparent
Coslett
Any mention of West Point quite
naturally brings to mind ideas of
military aristicracy. Seems we have
a new slant on that locally. And
it rather perplexes those on o u r
staff with a bent for inventing un
usual titles.
Most of you readers probably
remember an introduction in one
of our September issues to Mrs.
A. D. Martin, “The First First
Lady of the Corps of Cadets.” The
title seemed most apt for the only
young bride ever to claim A&M’s
Cadet Colonel of the Corps as her
spouse.
But now Col. Martin has to com
plicate things by becoming a
father. You may have noticed the
announcement in last Thursday’s
Battalion. Alfred DcLoach Martin,
III, invaded our commander’s
household during the,Spring holi
days—March 24, to be, exact.
Wc’rc not- begrudging a new
father his Just pride v - mind you.
We just want to know what titel
this new arrival rates. Best sug
gestion we’ve heard is “Heir Ap
parent to the Cadet Colonclship,"
It might pay to put those quad
ruple diamonds in safekeeping after
Final Review, A. D., II.
Eye Strain and the Switch to Khakis
IS IT Bagley Hall, Building M, or Textile
•‘Building?
The Board of Directors have made it of
ficially Bagley Hall, but most students still
call it the Textile Building and a large card
board sign on the door reads “Building M.”
At its last meeting the Board named the
building Bagley Hall in honor of John B.
Bagley, who headed the Textile Engineering
Department here for over 30 years. The de
partment was abolished in 1939.
The Board of Directors on recommenda
tion of President Harrington have seen fit
to honor Professor Bagley by giving the
building his name.
To carry out the wishes of the President
and Board of Directors The Battalion sug
gests substituting a sign reading “Bagley
Hall” to replace the one now over the door.
And work should be progressing on some
sort of permanent name plate for the build
ing.
Enters Second Phase Truman to Ask
ECA Be Kept
The Battalion
Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions
"Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman"
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CLAYTON L. SELPH, DAVE COSLETT Co-Editors
John Whitmore, Dean Reed Managing Editors
Andy Anderson, Bob Hughson Campus Editors
Fred Walker '... Sports Editor
Joel Austin City Editor
Vivian Castleberry Women’s Editor
Today's Issue
Dean Reed
Andy Anderson..
Fred Walker
Joel Austin
Managing Editor
Campus News Editor
... Sports News Editor
City News Editor
Arts and Sciences Week enters
its second phase tonight with a
speech by Felix Larkin, general
counsel for the Department of De
fense.
Friday night, Professor T. V.
Smith of Syracuse University dis
cussed “The Real Issue With Rus
sia.” His speech, sponsored by the
Arts and Sciences Department, was
made before a large audience of
those attending the Texas Confer
ence of College English Teachers
held Friday and Saturday in the
Ballroom of the MSC.
At a luncheon Saturday, Profes
sor Smith spoke on “Philosophy
Politics and Poetry.”
Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld of
New York discussed “The Place,
of Religion in Civilized Society,”
yesterday at 4 p. m. in the MSC
Ballroom. His talk was sponsored
by the Department of Religious
Education.
Tonight at 8 in the MSC the
“Great Issues Course” will pre
sent Felix Larkin, general counsel
for the Department of Defense
who will speak on “Our Curreiit
Defense Problem.”
“The School Plant,” a discus
sion to be held in the Assembly
Room of the MSC Wednesday night
at 7:30, will be sponsored by the
Departments of Education and
Physical Education in conjunction
with the Architecture Department.
In addition to the discussion, a
movie and several exhibits show
ing the building needs of public
schools will be shown.
A banquet Wednesday night in
the MSC sponsored by the Busi
ness Administration Department
will honor W. C. McCord, presi-
Bible Verse
dent of the Southland Life In
surance Company. McCord will
speak at the banquet which will
begin at 7:30.
Approximately 150 of Texas’ re
ligious journalists will bo here
Thursday to participate in the
Church News Conference, spon
sored by the Journalism Depart
ment.
Sessions for the conference will
begin a 9 a. m. in the MSC and
will last throughout the day. Lynn
Landrum, editorial writer for the
Dallas Morning News, will climax
the day with a speech in the Ball
room of the MSC.
The Regional Meeting of the
Texas Academy of Sciences will
head Friday’s activities. The meet
ing will continue through Satur
day and will be held in the new
Science Building.
Arts and Sciences Week will
be climaxed Sunday afternoon
when the Singing Cadets present
a concert, especially designed for
the Student Body, in the Ball
room of the MSC at 2:30.
As A part of the week’s cele
bration, there is a display in the
MSC of. rare books, manuscripts,
photographs and articles . of gen
eral interest illustrating the heri
tage of Texas.
The display is presented by the
School of Arts and Sciences and
the Department of English.
Biggest change on the campus,
today, of course, is the switch to
summer wardrobe. With that comes
the inevitable eyestrain to deter
mine whether that cap braid is
gold or plain black. Best solution
to that is the universal greeting
urged before on these pages.
And, with the return to khakis,
we enter a new month—the next
to last one of this school year.
Don’t ask me where the other
months went. I haven’t figured that
out, cither.
At any rate, it won’t be lon^
Until we can ascertain the truth
in the Newsweek predictions. Those
of us, however, who arc in the last
stages of Ross Hall “formitus” will
have to rely on the returning ones
for the scoop on that. Someone
has plans for us—plans that in
clude a little mixing with that “top
officer personnel.”
Let’s hope wc
“brass” corroded.
don’t find the
Washington, April 2 —- UP)
President Truman said today
he will recommend to Con
gress that the Economic Co
operation Administration (E-
CA) be maintained on a “con
tinuing basis to help carry out the
programs essential to the security
of the free world.”
In a statement hailing the third
anniversary of the Marshall Plan,
the President said economic recov
ery in Western Europe has been
“substantially achieved.”
“However,” he added, “with the
pi’esent threat to world peace, new
tasks have been imposed upon us.
The free nations are now combin
ing to convert their resources into
military strength to preserve the
peace and defend our freedoms.”
A new ECA policy, announced
Saturday by administrator Wil
liam C. Foster, calls for supplying
Europe not only money and mate
rials for rebuilding it's economy
but also for expanding its capacity
.for producing arms and military
supplies.
Under existing laws the big Mar
shall Plan agency is scheduled to
close out next April. It's operations
have cost the United States $11
billion.
For
M
O
M
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A GIFT SURE TO MAKE MOM HAPPY—
A Photograph of Your Self
VAN DYKE STUDIO
Call Us NOW! for an Appointment
BRYAN, TEXAS
LI’L ABNER
A Little Child Shall Lead Him
By A1 Capp
THAR'S TH'GREAT BE6ATSBY
AN'HIS FAMB12VA r --///tfC'’-THAR'S
A COUPLE. O'TH'OLDER CHILLUN
AH DON'T RECLECT/r-BUT ONE
THING 'BOUT THET FAMBLV-YO'
KIN TRUST ANYONE OF 'EM/?"
PSST. r . r -HE TH/HKS WE'RE
OVE QT 'EM/r-SO. HE'LL BE
purr/ )N OUR HANDS.''S-
WE GOT PLENTY O’ EXPENSE
MONEY FOR PIS JOB-SO BUY
A HAMBOIGER STANP/AN'GlT
T. M. Fontaine, Carter Phillips Editorialists
Leon McClellan, Jack Fontaine, Ed Holder, Bryan
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Newton. Joe Price, Pete Hermann. Wesley Mason.
B. F. Boland, Ivan Yantis, Sid Ragsdale. Bill
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bors, Bob Sclleck, Bill Streich, Curtis Edwards,
Howard Henri Staff - Wrjtara
Dick Kelly Club Publicity Co-ordinator
A ND WHEN they were come to
Allen Pengelly Assistant City Editor -^the place, which is called Cal-
Jimmy Ashlock, Joe Blanchette, Ray Holbrook, Joe vary, there they crucified him, and
Hollis, Pat LeBlanc. Sports Statf Writers the Malefactors, 0116 011 the right
Sam Molinary, Bob. Alderdice Staff Photographer hand, and the other on the left.
Sid Abernathy ’. ....Page Make-up Thon vairl “Fntlipi- for.
Joe Gray Photo Engraving Shop Manager . f/ 1 bal ? J ?£ Uh 'i 1 atne f’ , 0r ,
T.om Fontaine. Johnny Lancaster, Charles McCullough, give tiieni; wr they kllOW'UOt What,
R. R. Peeples, R.' D. Witter Photo Engravers they <Jo.” And they uairtctl his rgi*
Autrey Frederick. AdyerUsiug Mpager eut an< i ca& t lots.'
—Luke. 2o;
Rugsell Hagens, Bob Ha^nie Advertising Representatives