V
The Battalion College Station (Brazos County), Texas
PAGE 2 Wednesday, December 4, 1957
An Editorial
Z?oes A&M Really Need
Compulsory Corps?
In light of the Board of Directors recent action making
military training compulsory for the first two years, those
interested in the progress of A&M and the future of Texas
young men might ask:
Is the main function of A&M to mass produce mili
tary officers in West Point fashion or “to teach such
branches of learning as are related to agriculture and me
chanic arts”?
The latter is directly quoted as the main object for
establishing land grant colleges under the Morrill Act qf
July 2, 1862. That act placed only minor emphasis on teach
ing military tactics.
Therefore, A&M’s primary purpose is not to become
another West Point but to provide training for Texas young
men in the agricultural and mechanical arts.
Each board member should ask himself if he has
hindered chances of ambitious, intelligent Texas young men
to pursue studies in agricultural and mechanical arts.
Since A&M was established for the specific purpose
and we like to think that no other college or university in
the state can provide as thorough training in those fields,
why restrict any qualified young man from attending A&M
merely because he does not wish to participate in Corps
activities?
If academic education is the main goal of A&M, why
didn’t you give more regard to the top A&M educators’
opinion that the non-compulsory system was the’best?
If making A&M another West Point is your goal, you
are overlooking the major objective of the land grant col
lege.
Since the Morrill Act did mention training in military
tactics, and if you feel it important, why not provide means
by which a student may take military tactics but be re
quired to wear the uniform while participating only in the
theory classes and at drill ?
It has already been discovered, and as board members
you have probably learned, that students not in the Corps
of Cadets have averaged higher grades.
You may also be aware that some engineering com
panies are concerned because Civilian students are getting
more liberal education than Corps students. Civilians are
not using the three semester hour elective during the jun
ior and senior year for military or air science courses but
are taking other courses.
A point which has been brought out time and again
but which has evidently been lost in the shuffle is the
value of the non-compulsory system to the Corps of Cadets.
There are few who advocate disbanding the Corps. Of
course such a move would be entirely unnecessary and un
wise.
There are those, however, who think that because en
tering students do not have to remain in the Corps of Ca
dets, the truly dedicated cadet is the only one who remains
in the Corps. <
As a result, the Corps has the most dedicated men and
those who do not prefer military training may find their
niche in Civilian life. It they cannot adjust to either situa
tion. they ultimately leave school.
Perhaps the Board is not familiar with just how'much
progress the Civilian student body has made in its 4-year
lifetime. If it is not, it should be in order to make an intelli
gent decision.
Corps leaders have probably indicated they feel the
Corps would be stronger if military training were compul
sory the first two years. It may make them stronger in num
bers but they’re kidding themselves if they think quantity
will bring with it quality. The basic problems will still exist
whether there are 3,000 or 6,000 cadets.
There is some merit to the agrument that two years
of military training won’t hurt anybody. But the decision
must be left with the student after he evaluates what he
wants from his college career.
The Board would do well to respect the opinions of such
men as former acting President D. W. Williams and the
deans and department heads of the college. These men have
been closely connected with both Civilian and Corps students
and know the problem well.
Though it would probably be difficult to reconsider
the decision, the best interests of future A&M students and
young men of Texas might be best served in this manner.
Reaffirming our belief in the future of A&M College
and forever striving for a better Aggieland, The Battalion
places its confidence in the Board of Directors and respect
fully requests it to reconsider and return A&M to the non-
compulsory system in the interests of future Aggies.
m
WJ
er J
THE PLACE TO BUY RECORDS
North Gate
&
College Station
THE BATTALION
The Editorial Policy of The Battalion
Represents the Views of the Student Editors
The Battalion, daily newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Texas and the City of College Station, is published by students in the Offic- of Student
Publications as a non-profit educational service. The Director of Student Publications
is Ross Strader. The governing body of all student publications of the A.&M. College
of Texas is the Student Publications Boatd. Faculty members are Dr. Carroll D,
Laverty, Chairman; Prof. Donald D. Burchard, Prof. Robert M. Stevenson and Mr.
Bennie Zinn. Student members are W. T. Williams, John Avant and Billy W.
Libby. Ex - officio members are Mr. Charles Roeber, and Ross Strader, Secretary.
Tne Battalion is published four times a week during the regular school year and
once a week during the summer and vacation and examination periods. Days of publi
cation are Tuesday through Friday for the regular school year and on Thursday during
the summer terms and during examination and vacation periods. Subscription rates
are ?3.50 per semester, $6.00 per school year, $6.50 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 S, 1870.
Member of:
The Associated Press
Texas Press Association
Represented nationally by
National Advertising
Services, Inc., a t New
New 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 (VI 6-6618 of VI-
6-4910) or at the editorial office room, on the ground floor of the
YMCA. Classified ads may be placed by telephont (VI 6-6415) or at
the Student Publications Office, ground floor of the YMCA.
JOE TINDEL ZZZ 7ZIZZ ZZiditor
IfTTtf MAN ON Campus
by Dick Bibler
cure
"SftT PIPJA Nonce THAT NEW CHICK SfKVlNG TH 1
PESERTS?"
Letters to the Editor
Editor:
The Battalion
Your editorial concerning the
Honor Code and the Corps of
cadets versus the civilian stu
dents stinks as far as I’m con
cerned. I personally feel that you
are abusing your rights as editor
of The Battalion for printing such
material as this. You have con
tinually fought a one-man battle
against the Corps since you took
your position last year as editor.
I guess that my respect for the
Texas Aggie must rank higher
than yours. I figured that Ag
gies have always had respect and
honor, and that it would be im
possible to “force” honor upon
those who already had it.
And as for your civilian bud
dies, they can eat crow in my
book. I’m not speaking of the
veterans, fifth-year men, or the
Corps upperclassmen, who had to
leave the Corps for various rea
sons.
It’s the “boys” that come to
Aggieland and never join the
Corps; or even worse, the “fish”
that joins the Corps, can’t take it,
and leaves to join a very lonely
group, the “non-regs.” If I had
to leave the Corps of cadets, I’d
also leave the entire school sys
tem. To me, the only thing that
keeps me here is the Corps. If
I were a non-reg, I’d be better
off in Austin with some sweet,
iATERIXO 5? 0
® • P
—special
'ccasiond
★ OUTFIT PARTIES
★ CLUB BANQUETS
MAGGIE PARKER
DINING HALL
W. 26th & Bryan TA 2-5089
200 Congress TA 3-4375
CIRCLE
Wed nesday-Th ursday-Friday
Also
^WEDNESDAY
s
m
ELIA KAZAN’S
production of
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’
boldest story?
0L
WAffNE?* Bros, starring
ill. MAIDEN • CARSOLl BAKEr
FI i Wil l API! S!»™ScreenP13V&y 0i?eetec!B?
S.U IinLLnUII Ttf IVtSSEE WIIU4MS - EU4K4ZJW
4 NEWTOWN Production
young thing to keep me com
pany.
I personally feel, as a junior,
that the Honor Code isn’t being
forced down my throat. A lot of
people don’t understand it, and
it’s certainly going to take a lot
more preparation and indoctri
nation before it is brought into
effect. But it isn’t impossible!
If this Honor Code flops now,
it’d be spread across every paper
in the state, and possible the
country. Wouldn’t that look
great? “Texas A&M students feel
they can’t live up to an honor
code.”
You’re fighting* a losing bat
tle, Mr. Editor. I feel that this
Honor Code is for the Texas
Aggie Corps of cadets. If the
non-regs feel they can live up to
it, they’re invited to join. If
not, cie la vie!
Jack Teague, ’59
Everyone has heard of flag
pole sitters. But who ever heard
of a flagpole sacker?
Well, there was one in the new
area last night—peacefully bag
ged out, wrapped in a red blanket,
at the foot of the flagpole.
Now, if it hasn’t been stolen
in all these years, chances seem
pretty slim. Maybe this night-
watchman need night-watch no
more.
★ ★ ★
Charles Wilson, junior vet stu
dent, had this to say yesterday
regarding the board’s action on
compulsory Corps.
“I can hardly wait until I’m
an ‘Ex.’ I’ll be like all the rest—
anti-non-reg and anti changes in
the school in general. If it was
good enough for me, it’ll be good
enough for my grandchildren.”
★ ★ ★
With compulsory compulsion in
the air this week, several students
have voiced their opinion thusly:
“If we’ve got to have some
thing compulsory—and we get a
choice—let’s have compulsory
girls.”
WEDNESDAY
^Rodan The
Flying Monster”
Before you roll out a chilled ball
of pastry, be sure you flatten it
slightly.
SALE! 1/4 OFF
SPORT JACKETS
regular price
$12.95
8.95
7.95
REDUCED TO
$5.95—$4.95
Leon B. Wiess
Next To Campus Theater
- * * * .
.titUUN uMlUM? VtAKS rKt.l
THROUGH FRIDAY
“Band of Angels”
With Clark Gable
plus
“Attack”
With Jack Balance
PALACE
STARTS TODAY
jOitES
In Hie -under of STcKEOPHONIC SOUND
Hear all of Pat’s and Shirley’s new song on our new
4-track streophonic sound equipment. Feature time. 1.21
3:21 - 5:21 - 7:21 - 9:21.
QUEEN
Last Day
‘HOLIDAY FOR
HENRIETTA”
Arts String Quartet
Show Here Friday
By WELTON JONES
Admirers of chamber music
and particularly of classic string
quartet will have a chance to see
one of the better such ensembles
performing in the United States
at this time, when the Memorial
Student Center Recital Series
presents the Fine Arts String
Quartet Friday at 8 p. m.
Far more permanent than such
groups, the Fine Arts Quartet has
been performing together since
1946. In addition to concert tours,
they have been featured in radio
and television programs and on
Decca and Mercury records.
Each member of the group is
active in other facets of the music
world. All are members of the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
with the exception of Abram Loft,
second violinist, who is a music
professor at Columbia University.
The group consists of the tradi
tional first violin, second violin,
and violincello. Leonard Sorkin
is first violinist; Loft, second;
Irving Ilmer, violist and George
Sopkin, ’cellist.
The quartet has appeared ex
tensively in concerts across the
nation and are planning their
first European tour this Spring.
A recent nation-wide mail vote
conducted by Dave Garroway on
his television show “Today”, dis
closed that the group was the
most popular musical organiza
tion to appear on the program in
the six years of its history.
Included in the quarter’s re
pertoire are the complete quartet
cycles of Beethoven, Bartok,
Brahms and Shostakovitch; the
single works of Mozart, Haydn
and Schubert; the modern com
posers Britten, Prokofieff, Mil
haud, Williams, Villa-Lobos and
many others, both modern and
contemporary.
The four instruments used by
the group were all made before
1729, and Ilmer’s Viola, a Caspar
Da Salo, was made in 1560. First
violinist Sorkin plays one of the
few remaining Stradivarius vio
lins known to exist.
DO YOU HAVE VACANT
SPOTS ON YOUR WALLS?
Is there a Discord in the Decor of your
Den?
Is There a Lack of Luster in your Living
Room ?
Is there a Cold, Bare wall in your
Boudoir?
Is there Space to Sparc on the walls of
the bed room reserved for Special guests?
If your answer to any one of the above
questions is, “Yes”, we have an easy and in
expensive solution to your problem.
Read Friday’s Battalion—get all the de
tails of our Gigantic Print Sale, and shop
The Exchange Store early Monday for the
opportunity of a lifetime.
We sent a buyer to New York to per
sonally select the prints of famous water
colors and oils which will be on display in
The Exchange Store starting Monday, Dec
ember 9.
These are offered to you at from Vs to
DlOth of their publication price.
Mark your calendar to shop The Ex
change Store Monday.
^Jlie ^xchan^e +S>L
ore
In Its 50th Year of Serving Texas Aggies
P. S. We also have a large stock of Mat Board
in a wide range of colors and a large selection of
Unfinished frames.
LIT ABNER
DO YOU, JACK S.
PHOG BOUND, SENATOR
BY COURTESY OF THE
SQUEEZ E BLOOD
LOAN COMPANY—
By A1 Capp
* :
* I