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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1954)
Battalion Editorials Page 2 . THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1954 Silver Taps Ceremony Belongs to the Students After the last two Silver Taps ceremonies. The Battalion has received letters to the editors protesting the behavior of some per sons just prior to or during the ceremony. The writers ask that instructions on proper behavior be published for the benefit of everyone, especially the freshmen. Instructions on behavior at Silver Taps not only cannot be published, but shouldn’t be published. Each student should feel what is right and what is wrong behavior. Silver Taps is merely a gathering of individual Aggies who meet at a pre-arranged spot to pay final re spect to a departed schoolmate. The firing of the rifles and the sounding of taps is the outward expression, but we like to feel that each Aggie standing there feels a personal loss and tries to show it by giving the occa sion everything it deserves. The “tradition” of the ceremony in volves only a few basic requirements of be havior which we shall list, although we be lieve that those who haven’t been told ex actly what to do learn rapidly just by ob serving others. Approximately ten minutes before the scheduled time for Silver Taps, the students turn off their room and hallway lights and quietly walk to the west side of the Academic building. Without written instructions each student knows he is expected to neither talk or smoke until the three rifle volleys have been fired and taps have been sounded three times. After the final bugle notes, each student silently returns to his dorm. For the few minutes required to complete Silver Taps, full cooperation by all students will keep the ceremony an occasion of quiet dignity and solemn beauty. At Other Schools NOT TWINS—La Merle York, 18, left, and Bette Butler, 18, share a milkshake at University of Houston, where both are freshmen home economics majors. The pretty coeds look like twins but are not even related. La Merle is from Houston and Bette is from Arlington, Va. — (AP Photo) Cadet Slouch by /awr,s ^ ar/c Letters to the Editors To Place A Classified Ad Phone 4-5324 The Battalion The Editorial Policy of The Battalion Represents the Views of the Student Editors The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechan ical College of Texas, is published by students four times a week, during the regular school year. During the summer terms, and examination and vacation periods, The Battalion is published twice a week. Days of publications are Tuesday through Friday for the regular school year, and Tuesday and Thursday during examination and vacation periods and the summer terms. Subscription rates $9.00 per year or $ .75 pel month. Advertising rates furnished on request. Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Station, Texas under the Act of Con gress of March 3, 1870. Member of The Associated Press Represented nationally by National Advertising Services, Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Fran cisco. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republi cation of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Bights of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved. News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444 or 4-7604) or at the editorial office room, 202 Goodwin Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Boom 209 Goodwin Hall. BOB BOBISKIE, HABRI BAKEB Co-Editors Jon Kinslow Managing Editor Jerry Wizig Sports Editor Ralph Cole, Don Shepard News Editors Nora Burge Woman’s Editor Kerstin Ekfelt Assistant Woman’s Editor Betsy Burchard. A&M Consolidated Correspondent Maurice Olian A&M Consolidated Sports Correspondent John Huber , Advertising. Manager Larry Lightfoot r Circulation Manager Tom Syler, Bussell Reed, Ken Livingston Circulation Staff (Editor’s Note: The Battal ion prints all letters received that are signed and are not libelous or obscene. We would like to request that the length of letters be kept to not more than 250 words.) Dear Batt: In recent days, much has been said about the cadet corps at Tex as A&M college, about its position, role and value in the various phases of student life on the campus, about its desirability — indeed, about its very existence as an active part of the Texas A&M sys tem. “Are ‘they’ going to disband the corps?” is becoming a frequent question. If the corps is done away with, then how is the college going to be rearranged to fit the needs of the differently constituted student body which would then exist ? If we are to keep the corps, what is to be its nature and purpose in striving to give Texas taxpayers the most in returns from their investment in the A&M college and in attempting to give the students at A&M the best return fdr the investment of the best years of their lives in an attempt to receive a college education. Will the corps continue to be the body which car ries on the rich traditions and the “undying” spirit of A&M, which puts the “Aggie” in A&M, which produces men instead of doughnut- dunkers to form the fighting back bone of our armed forces, and which holds the prestige of Texas A&M up to the high plane where it has always been accustomed to stand ? If the corps is disbanded, will the burden of these responsi bilities fall upon some other group and be successfully borne—or will Texas A&M college spirit simply go where “ole Army” has already gone ? In my opinion, the answers to most of these questions which are so vitally important to the wel fare of our school, state and nation are obvious. In times like these, when Russia seems ready to do battle at the drop of a garrison cap, our country needs men such as are molded by the corps of ca dets at Texas A&M. Destroy the corps and similar groups and Bus sia will find Uncle Sam sitting down with his legs crossed, his hands in his pockets and his rifle disassembled when war comes-—and the hard fact is that war is re garded as highly probable in the eyes of many military experts Surely we should be prepared to be good civilians; simultaneously, however, we can—and should—pre pare to be good soldiers, also. Take the corps fi'om A&M and with it will go the “Aggie” from A&M. Although the famous Aggie spirit may still be present in some obscure, watered-down form, A&M’s place as one of the finest major colleges in the world may well made a sharp, wide and pei‘- haps permanent downward spiral. If, notwithstanding the previous arguments, the board of directors, the chancellor, the president, the sundry faculty groups, the ultra- non-regs, prospective coeds, propo nents of corps-unhappiness, dissat isfied cadets themselves, area mer chants, certain influential state senators (especially the local one), Governor Shivers and others in po sitions of power and “pull” decide in favor of a policy which encour ages an immediate enrollment of maximum quantity rather than the sounder, saner, far-sighted proce dure of developing sustained en rollment of men of maximum qual ity over a long period of time by means of improved facilities and curricula and by the sustenance of a cadet corps which at the very least respects the “new Army” traditions, then please spare our school the further humiliation of having its students mis-called “Ag gies;” if this is the chosen course (maximum enrollment at any price), please let those students who attend this college be known as Texas A&M “Tigers” or by some more appropriate term such as the ‘Housecats” or simply, the “Pussies.” If I did not have a deep belief in the value of the corps and the traditions of Aggieland which are so closely associated with it, I’d not even be here on the campus today, much less would I write a letter of this nature. A&M has something to offer in the way of training, fellowship, and a “blue print .for living” which no other college or university in the world cant boast. The privilege of speak ing to and being spoken to by fel low members of a great world-wide fraternity such as Texas A&M college is one to be cherished high ly, taken seriously, and guarded viciously. As the corps goes, men, so goes the Muster. Will it continue to be an “Aggie Muster” in the true sense of the words, or must we call it a “Tiger Ball,” a “Housecat Brand,” or simply a “Pus$y Gath ering?” Give this question some deep and serious thought—-it de serves it. L. E. Sheppard jr, ’57 Editors: I am a member of the class of ’54 and still an undergi'aduate stu dent, therefore I still consider my self a member of the twelfth man and an Aggie at Texas A&M. I consider A&M the greatest school on the face of the earth, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I have always felt that there was no other col lege anywhere that could compare to A&M. The many traditions, cus toms and habits of this school of ours have always meant a lot to me and always will. I shall never forget the great fun and fellow ship I have had with my many Aggie buddies. I remember the first yell prac tice and all of the new experiences that I had during - my first year at A&M. At the time I thought that it was merely something that all Fish had to go through to be come better men. Later all of these things that I once dreaded began to grow intb a part of me and then they suddenly became as much of my life as eating or sleep ing. . Last night I stood there listen ing to Silver Taps for two of our departed fellow Aggies and re membered all of these old things that are now in the past. Don’t get me wrong, I still think A&M is the best. I have heard people say every year, “Old Army Has Gone to Hell.” I don’t go along with that school of thought. I agree that there have been changes each year, but all these changes, I believe, are necessary. Without changes we would be in a pretty bad shape. I think consolidation of - the corps is one of the best things that has happened in several years. I would like to offer one sugges tion. There was some talk last year about writing a book of all the traditions, customs and habits of the Aggie life at A&M. I would like very much to see such a book written. As far as I know there may be such a book out now, or maybe it is now in the process of (See LETTERS on Page 4) SMU Investigates , Fraudulent Forms By JON KINSLOW Battalion Managing Editor Colleges throughout the state were in full swing of the school year this week as football more- or-less took a back seat to other sidelights of campus life. Southern Methodist University The post office department and the SMU dean of men were con ducting an investigation regarding fake forms that had been sent to incoming students at the school. The forms, which used the name of the university “without authority, asked detailed information about the student’s family, high school activities, physical characteristics, etc. Other events on the Hilltop in clude freshmen objecting to the wearing of beanies. One girl claims the caps “sometimes don’t go with the colors she wears.” And the Pipes for Ladies craze has hit the campus. Originating at the Uni versity of Texas, this latest fad for colleges was hailed by one pipe smoking Ponie princess as being “just like women’s suffrage.” University of Texas Speaking of feminine pipe-smok ers, another problem has risen at UT — holsters for carrying pipe and tobacco (for those who actu ally smoke their pipes). Among the designs are belt pouches, the “conceal in the handbag” model, and the garter pouch for wearing slightly above the knee. Maybe they’ll design a cartridge belt to hold matches. Art classes! in the Land of Bevo have a veteran model. However, this model is a war veteran who needed a job and answered an ad in the UT paper. Also, the UT paper gave a big spread to the fact that Texas’ athletic depart ment has a $600,000 budget for the year. A few more dollars might beat Notre Dame next time. Baylor University A campus poll of 100 students showed those interviewed favored segregation 62 to 33 with five students giving no opinion. The students, however, favored admit ting Negroes to the Baylor grad uate school, but were against de segregation of public schools. A large headline at the bottom of the Baylor Lariat, BU newspa per, Friday said, “Rally, Bears! Boost the Band!!” From here, it looks as if they should have boost ed the football team Saturday, too. University of Arkansas Those who remember the delays in construction of the G. Rollie White coliseum can be sympathetic with Arkansas officials. Work on a new field house and animal sci ences building stopped recently be cause union workers of one com pany refused to work with non union men of another company. The college may possibly bring court action to try and get con struction going again. In the football realm, the Hogs played their 500th game last Sat urday. Apparently, they thought this anniversary was a good time to bowl over favored TCU, so they did. 3 T S C W Red faces were the order of the day recently at TSCW. A fresh man at Baylor “regretfully” re fused a $50 scholarship to our so- called Sister school. It is just as well, though, because the award was offered to Billy Mack Herod, and TSCW officials should easily agree that he wouldn’t quite fit into the campus life there in Den ton. The whole mixup was a result of a misprint by the Texas Educa tion agency who had him recorded as Milly Mack Herod. North Texas One way to avoid passing legi's-. lation that is controversial is just not to show up. Although not fol this reason, the North Texas Stail college student senate did fail io appear at a meeting in sufficient numbers to constitute a quorum. A special meeting was promptly called for later in the week. We certainly agree with one co ed columnist at NT—she suggests men " have equal rights with the ladies. She says a few years ago men gave the females equal rights, but women (who bit the hand that fed them) now claim full rights. The author later states, though, that women should continue to let the dumb men do their work for them and leave it up to their sons to do any revolting. What’s Cooking THURSDAY 7:30 — The East Texas A&M hometown club will reorganize in room 128 of the Academic build ing. Attendance is urged. Southwest Texas hometown club will meet in room 2-C of the MSC. The Lavaca county A&M club will hold a meeting in the Aca demic building. The Golden State club will hold a meeting in the lounge of Puryear hall. The Port Arthur club will hold election of officers for the com ing year in room 110 of the Biology building. The El Paso A&M club will meet in the Academic building. The Waco - McLennon County club will hold election of officers in room 301 of Goodwin hall. FRIDAY 7:00—The Aggie Chess club will organize for the coming year at the MSC. Plans include a general tournament, the selection of a team to represent A&M, instruction for tyros, and a good time for all. Masters, woodpushers, and tea#ips invited. Should Fi'iday be incon venient, please contact Joe Mc- Dorough, Milner, room 3. * SATURDAY 5:30—There will be a pre-game supper at the U of H BSU center. After the game, a social (spon sored by the Lilly Jolly School of Nursing) will be held at Memorial Hospital. Reservations should be made at the BSU center by Thurs day. LI’L ABNER By AI Capp P O G O By WALT KELLY