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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1954)
Battalion Editorials Page 2 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1954 An A&M Honor Code: To Be or Not To Be? The student engineer’s council has come up with the best suggestion so far for an honor code for A&M. They haven’t proposed the definite word ing of a code, but they have taken the first step toward getting some such code adopted school-wide, by each school’s council. This is the factor that makes this idea the best one yet—everyone, in every class, would be bound by it. It is obviously impractical to have an honor code that is in effect in one class but is not in effect in the next class. It’s like asking a student to be honorable between 9 and 10 a.m. and allowing him to run wild between 10 and 11. The engineers’ proposal would also have every member of each class bound by the code. It is even more obvious that one stu dent should not be attending class under an honor code while the man next to him is not bound by the same code. The engineers’ proposal is to be discussed by each school’s council before anything is done and a definite code must be drawn up. But let’s look at this honor code in a dif ferent light: woidd ah honor code, even a perfect one, work at Texas A&M? Those who propose an honor code for A&M are pointing to the success of the hon or code at such colleges as West Point and the University of Virginia. If it works there, why not here, they say. But these, colleges each have only about half the enrollment of A&M. Also, their student body is more selective than A&M’s. In other words, they to some extent chose the type person who will attend their col leges. A&M, on the other hand, is open to al most anybody who has a high school educa tion. This is good, because it means that a college education is available to everybody. But it also means that A&M is more liable to get within its student body the type of person to whom honor means little or noth ing. Then, even at these colleges with highly selective entrants, the honor code doesn’t always work perfectly. A notable break down in the system was the West Point cheating scandal of a few years ago. This leads to another factor in the work ing of an honor code. These other colleges have long-standing traditions of the honor code. All incoming students there know before they enroll that they wall be expected to live up to the honor code, and the upperclassmen at their col lege drum into them the principles of the code. The faculties and alumni also em phasize the tradition of honor. A&M, unfortunately, has a long-standing- tradition of minor cheating being condoned, or at least not openly condemned, by the students and even a few professors and for mer students. Incoming students here are not taught that cheating is bad; in some cases they are taught that it is part of being “an Aggie”— “you can do anything you can get away with.” This is partly because of the “rough, tough, fightin’ Texas Aggie” tradition, and partly because of the terrific emphasis on grades here. Many students have not been strong enough to make the “honorable” de cision in a case of a vital passing grade ver sus honor. (The School of Veterinary Medicine here i has a workable honor code within its school, but the students there are selected and in structed to the same degree as the colleges mentioned above. A&M’s School of Agri culture has an honor code described as “strictly voluntary”, with individual mem bers in each class deciding whether or not they will subscribe to it.) Tliis is not to say that A&M could not develop an honor code tradition; possibly it could, given enough years and given the whole-hearted suport of the students and faculty. In time—much more time than many students realize—a good honor code could become so engrained in the way of life here that it would be an integral part of it. First, it will have to overcome all these difficul ties. But it could never come into being, or even be given a fair trial, until someone started it. So congratulations to the engi neers’ council, and may we wish them luck. THE RECORD SHOP . . . at SHAFFERS suggests for Christmas Giving or for Yourself — WEBCOR MIDGE A 3 SPEED PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH For Only *29.95 COMPARE THESE FEATURES — Flip Over Needle, Pastel Colors, Compact, Portable Case SHAFFER S BOOK STORE North Gate Across From Post Office Citizens Can Help Veterans’ Drive College Station people, as well as A&M students, can pai’ticipate in the collection of apples and oranges for the patients at the Temple Veterans Administration center. Each classroom in the Lincoln and Consolidated high schools will have someone in charge of collects ing the fruit and getting it to the collecting area in the Memorial Student Center Dec. 15. Anybody else that wants to do nate can bring fruit to the Center that day. The corps of cadets and other students will donate their breakfast fruit that day. This annual project was started three years ago^ by P. L. (Pinky) Downs jr. Two Seniors Get The Battalion $950 Scholarships The Editorial Policy of The Battalion Represents the Views of the Student Editors The Battalion, newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station, is published by stu dents four times a week during the regular school year. During the summer terms The Battalion is published twice a week, and during examination and vacation periods, once a week. Days of publication are Tuesday through Friday for the regular school year, Tuesday and Thursday during the summer terms, and Thursday during examination and vacation periods. The Battalion is not published on the Wednesday immediately preceding Easter or Thanksgiving. Subscription rates are $3.50 per semester, $(5.00 per school year, $7.00 per full year, or $1.00 per 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 N ational 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. Rights 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 Publication Office, Room 207 Goodwin Hall. Two engineering seniors are among 13 students in the nation to receive scholarships for the 1954- 55 academic year from the Califor nia company. They are Albin J. Zak jr., of 507 Nall Lane, Bryan, and Paul O. Roberts jr. of 1219 Lovers Lane, Arlington. Selections, based primarily on the student’s scholastic standing and personal qualifications, were made by the department heads. Zak is majoring in petroleum engineering, and Roberts in civil engineering. Each scholarship amounts to $450 cash award plus tuition and re search expenses to a maximum of $500. New Dorm Officer First Lt. James Terry, an air force officer, will be dormitory 1’s new tactical officer. Terry, a BOB BORISKIE, HARRI BAKER ... Jon Kinslow Jerry Wizig Don Shepard, Bill Fullerton : 1952 graduate of A&M, was a two- year Tetterman in track while he was here. Married, his home wax Co-Editors Managing Editor ..-Sports Editor News Editors l originally Mesquite. Cadet Slouch SL.OUCU . m GLAD voo cams im e (Tills COKiCSLe^KiOE. t vou U&V&M * T TOO SAiE-L-L. YUit> COOfiC’Se.* . .. E.TC . ETC . .. O \ BiAUt si Aar Mill & by Earle se&’uoow CfcyiTrfTi fbovUruiVi ooeW -1 IS VMM E Hi VCv : !. I 1 BO*; CIST TU* cotac$~P r? P-O WOO 0*4 , L STEVIE m cov^caf m “Wm*. 0OMT KXIOV4 WMAT YU sav SAtD T TMCT COM^efeENCCj kUt'TA WpOtTM * clw ce^oer— PO i M r S - f. / ^ ^ . ~, *********-ia** : ex... ..AskiO- X YV'- Wh at’s Cooking TUESDAY 5:45—APS, at the foundry. 7—Aggie Players, room 2B MSC, will allow members to attend Town Hall, refreshments. 7:15—Permian Basin club, cabi net room, YMCA, movies — 1939 Aggie football games. 7:30 — Student Weather club, room 23, Old Science building, movie—“Fronts and Air Masses.” Lions Club Doing Good Tree Sales Christmas tree sales are boom ing for the College Station Lions club at Walton drive and highway 6 south at the East Gate, Bob Wood, committee chairman, said yesterday. All trees were sold out before closing time both Friday and Sat urday, Wood said. Px-oceeds from the trees will go to crippled children of Brazos county, Boy Scout troop 450, and for A&M Consolidated high school scholastic awards. Profits thus far are about $60. Horticulture Show 1 Sells 200 Boxes FRIDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 17 About 200 boxes of grapefruit were sold at the horticulture de partment’s annual show last week, acording to L. E. Spangler, assist ant professor of horticulture. The Junior Class of S.F.A. Presents Spangler said people had' been calling to buy more fruit, but “we’re sorry; we don’t have any more.” ‘“One Foot In Heaven” MSC To Sponsor Caroling Party t — Starring- — The Memorial Student Center REBECCA SHAWN GWINN THOMPSON house committee will sponsor a Christmas caroling party Wednes day at 8:30 p.m. in the main At 8:00 O’clock lounge. in the * The Singing Cadets will begin the party by singing several songs, and the group will then go to the S.F.A. AUDITORIUM front steps to sing carols. The party is open to anyone in the College Sfation-Bryan area, ac cording to Richard McGlaun, com mittee chairman. Price 50c LFL ABNER I WANT TO LAUNCH TINV IN SOCIETY IN A SMALL WAV. SO, COULD VOU BRING VOUR SMAL DAUGHTER TO DINNER-? By A1 Capp LI’L ABNER C^-WHV DON’T VOU SHOW SABRINA THE GARDEN, DEAR ? - HAIN'T MUCH OF A (-/tyALONE GARDEN. — NO < WITH A TURN I PS — UEST ) E-BOV. r . r - FLOWERS^— ,—W > CM -SCARED-) By A1 Capp f-AH'D PUT MAH ARMS ROHM'HER, ' AN' CONTORT HER, BUT, AH'Ef SC A REP.'S IT'S TH'F-ruST T/ME AH EVAN P/H ALONE WIT A G-GAESS-) LOGO By Walt Kelly MILWAUJCggMOg/ JN VIS/Big 0fJG — IT /V\U<5T YgAP?S £INCg I HAVgN T ££EN VOLi" YOU'C?g A SI6HT PG2 I'M ON MV WAV TO T2VA6 AS A £OUL-W2£VIL X GOTTA pg£-l\\/ez TdlS 0OWU TO THEi ANNUAL CHILDREN'S MJi-R BOWL 6AME. "'I'M BAPIY" I'M W2APINT TWgf2£ PO(2 NEXT - TWE WAV A WEEVIL, TRAVELS VOU GOTTA GIVE HIM peal rmg«- ee2 you. BOH vovAee. By Walt Kelly I SEEN LOOKIN' <OVE£ MV WINTER SEASON SCHEDULE" --IT LOOK AE IP I GOT CHRISTMAS BOCKBVEARLY. fcjAu- \C ATfeji 3UT IT SEEM A LOT EAI?LIEt2 NOW THAN IT PIP SIX MONTHS AGO "'0ESIPES IP you GONNA SING CAROLS YOU'LL GOTTA CHANGE VO'COSTUME "WHO EVER HEAR OP A CHICKEN SING IN' CAROLS ?