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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1964)
Che Battalion Final Exam Schedule Set Date and Hour Series Aug 21, Friday, 7 a. m Classes Meeting 7-8:30 Friday, 10 a. m Classes Meeting 9-10:30 Friday, 2 p. m Classes Meeting 11-12:30 Volume 61 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1964 Number 63 T Soviet Scientists Tour Plant Science F acility SOVIET SCIENTISTS STUDY LAB TECHNIQUE Left to right Yu T. Khutornoy, A. A. Vasi- kisson, and lab technicians Marianne Peter- lev, I. P. Lupashko—Stalskiy, Dr. Perry Ad- son and Jacqueline O’Hara. Governor Selects A&M University To Receive Funds To Start Research Institute A&M University will receive federal funds to establish a water resources research institute, Uni versity officials learned recently. Gov. John Connally notified Senator Bill Moore and State Rep. David Haines, both of Bryan that lie had designated A&M for the institute. Legislation recently signed into law by President Johnson author- lies funds to establish a water resources research institute in each state. A&M will receive $75,000 the first year for the institute, $87,500 the second and third years, and 5100,000 annually thereafter, Rep. Haines said. The institutes are to stimulate, sponsor, provide for and supple ment present programs of water resources research and training of scientists. Lr. Ernest T. Smerdon, who came to Texas in 1959 from the University of Missouri, will head the institute. Smerdon emphasized that in con ducting research all existing Uni versity facilities will be utilized to the fullest. Only i n such cases where spe- mal facilities are not available at University will there be any Jeed to use additional equipment, Smerdon said. The federal bill is designed to enlist the competence of university facilities in needed water research work, and, at the same time, to develop and train additional scien tists and engineers,” Smerdon added. Smerdon went on to say that it was important that adequate re search be initiated as soon as possible if the population of Texas is to be assured of adequate knowl edge to deal with the ever decreas ing resources of fresh water. “By training engineers and scien tists we hope to increase the ef ficiency of water utilization by industrial, private and agricultural consumers,” Smerdon said. Faculty, Staff Awarded Grants A&M University faculty-staff members have been awarded $31,- 500 worth of grants from the Na tional Science Foundation, Cole man Loyd, NSF coordinator at A&M, announced. The funds will be used to sup port undergraduate research pro grams involving departments of physics, chemistry, oceanography- meteorology and biochemistry-nu trition. A $10,500 grant has been ap proved for the 1964-65 year for the Physics Department. Prof. Joe S. Ham will direct the research studies, involving nine students. Richard M. Adams, administra tive scientist for oceanography and meteorology, will head re search projects involving six stu dents next summer. The work is supported by an $8,400 NSF grant. House Passes Bill Blocking Apportionment For States WASHINGTON — (A*) — The | is rural vs. urban control of the House passed Wednesday night a legislatures. far-reaching bill that would strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over apportionment of state legis latures. The vote was 218 to 175. The legislation—aimed at block ing redistribution of seats in both houses of state legislatures ordered by the Supreme Court on an equal population basis—now goes to the Senate. A filibuster is already underway there against a milder proposal originated by Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois, the Republican leader, on the same subject. But the Sen ate bill would only delay the court- ordered reapportionment. An underlying issue in the fight In a series of rulings, the Supreme Court has held that fed eral courts have the authority to step in and direct the reapportion ment of the legislatures where necessary and that the upper as well as the lower chambers of these bodies must provide representation on the basis of population. Most of the upper chambers have given rural areas equal representation with more populous areas. The house bill was introduced by Rep. William M. Tuck, D.-Va., and was rushed to the floor in an im pressive power display by Rep. Howard W. Smith, D.-Va., chair- Three Russian scientists are currently touring A&M + plant sciences facilities under a program jointly sponsored by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Soviet Em bassy. A&M President Earl Rudder, when asked to comment upon the presence of the Russian visitors, expressed surprise and said that he had not been aware of their being on campus. He further stated that Chancellor Harrington had not in formed him of their visit. Chancellor Harrington was not available for comment. The Russians, A. A. Vasilev and Yu. T. Khutornoy, agronomists, and I. P. Lupashko—Stalskiy, interpreter and ^agricultural economist, arriv ed at A&M from a tour of other land-grant colleges and universities in the U. S. The scientists confered with Dr. L. S. Bird and Dr. D. W. Rosenburg, head of the A&M De partment of Plant Sciences, regard ing techniques for evaluating cot ton varieties for resistence for combinations of disease including wilts and to observe laboratory and field research activities. Until their scheduled departure on Saturday, the Russians will con tinue touring various A&M facili ties. On Wednesday the group con ferred with entomologists Dr. Per ry Adkissin and Dr. Knox Walker. “The Russians appear to be greatly interested in the organi zational structure of the extension service,” said Walker. “It seems that they are mildly surprised that the American farmer cooper ates with governmental agencies at all on a voluntary basis.” “We explained to them that the American farmer knows he can trust the various agencies through past experience. Consequently they readily accept our recommendations concerning crop treatment,” con tinued Walker. Entomology, a division of plant sciences dealing with methods of treatment of insects by insecticide and related research, appeared to greatly interest the Russian visi tors, and they frequently asked questions. The language barrier was ef ficiently hurdled by interpreter Lupashko—Stalskiy. However, mi nor difficulties did arise when dis cussing temperatures. The Rus sians use the centigrade scale and a conversion table was hurriedly consulted. Weirus Appointed Exec. Secretary Richard (Buck) Weirus, who 22 years ago worked his way through college here, has been named ex ecutive secretary of the 40,000- member Association of Former Students at A&M University. Weirus, director of the associa tion’s fund-raising program for three years, will take over the key position Sept. 1 as a result of action by the Association of Former Student’s 20 - member executive board. The board, headed by John Lindsey of Houston, had accepted the resignation of J. B. (Dick) Hervey as executive secretary. He was named vice-president of Col- ‘BUCK’ WEIRUS lege Station’s University National Bank last week. Active in the association for years, Weirus received his bach elor’s degree from A&M in 1942 after earning college expense money as a student janitor, waiter and Aggieland orchestra drummer. He also taught at A&M Consoli dated School in College Station while attending A&M as an under graduate. Weirus completed his bachelor’s degree in industrial education. A colonel in the U.S. Army Re serves, Weirus served as an adver tising executive for an Austin publishing firm until his appoint ment to the association in 1961 as director of the development fund. The 44-year-old Aggie earlier received extensive experience with the state adjutant general’s office as a staff assistant, organizing national guard units and directing a training program for state em ployees. Weirus, a graduate of San An tonio’s Central Catholic High, serv ed as an army artillery captain in Europe during World War II for four years. During his college days, Weirus also found time to compete as a member of A&M’s swimming team, and participated in the Singing Cadets and Aggieland Orchestra. He is a past president of the San Antonio A&M Club and served as vice-president of the association, representing District 8. ‘Ranger’ Indignant; Writes Classic Letter To Soundoff . •—Usually letters to Sound- | a re published on the edi- ! " na l P a Se. We think this letter such importance, however, o* are Putting it on page &ear Sir: Most of the time, which is 99.9 tlie Aggies treat me d ecently. I have no com- othp S ^Uhout a doubt, the only °f th ^ eo *d e w ^° have as free run _ ampus and its buildings as I are the janitorial staff. i came of the idea of renting my Old Aggieland wouldn’t be the sides for advertising spafce. The same without my familiar stocky Battalion even ran a cartoon pie man of the Rules Committee. Smith invoked a little-used House rule to snatch it away from the House Judiciary Committee. The House voted 242-148 to take up the measure, foreshadowing its passage. Much of the debate dealt with the rules committee’s unorthodox procedure. Rep. Emanuel Celler, D.-N.Y., chairman of the judiciary committee, said it made the Rules Committee “the poohbah or panjan drum of House proceedings.” Smith, in a fiery speech that brought him a standing ovation from most members, told the House: “If we don’t have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and say to the court ‘thus far, and no farther,’ this country is in a bad way.” He called the Supreme Court’s reapportionment decision “the most drastic assault on the constitution that has happened in my time,” and said Congress had a duty to save the nation from becoming a dic tatorship. Dr, Dan Announces Retirement Following 38 Years At A&M body, my drooping jaws—and my fierce look; the look which tells the world, “I’m proud to be an Aggie!” Yet Monday morning my ears sagged, my legs faltered, and my stub of a tail didn’t have enough energy to even faintly wag. The .1 per cent of the time that Aggies don’t treat me decently came. Recently much joking and fun \ . v ft i ‘ R ANGER’ MEETS THE PRESS a V erv U know w h° painted my hide and caused me to get ^ unnecessary bath, don’t you?” turing this humorous idea. Several fun-loving Aggies couldn’t resist the temptation and painted signs on my sides. I love a good joke just as much as the next Aggie, and I went along with them. But Monday morning I was shamed beyond barks. A KK arrested me as I was coming out of the basement of a campus build ing (where someone had dog- napped me). Think of the outrageous indig nity suffered by me, the most im portant canine on campus, (next to my female friend, whose name also begins with “R”). Arrested! Like a common criminal! Oh, the shame of it all! I howl every time I think about it. Humiliated by being taken in police car to headquarters. They gave me the third degree. But as much as I growled the answers they still couldn’t understand. They couldn’t hear me trying to tell them who painted the filthy, obscene words on my doggy sides— who disgraced the general’s dog who caused me to get a very un necesary bath—and who brought dishonor to the name of A&M. But you know who you are, don’t you? Sincerely, Ranger. Asst. Commandant Ordered Viet Nam Major John Vilas, Adjudant and Assistant Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at A&M has rec eived orders to report for 12 months duty in South Viet Nam. Vilas arrived at A&M in May ’62 and was assigned to advance section of the Army ROTC In structional Unit. Soon afterward, he became adjudent and then As sistant Commandant under Col. Denzil Baker, Commandant. Select Freshmen To Benifit From New A&M Syllabus Perhaps 100 young men across the state have tentatively passed ! first semester of freshman English before they ever attend a class at A&M University. Suc cessful classwork in the second half of the freshman course will confirm the advantage. The students benefit from a new program at A&M, a program des cribed as one of two in Texas. Professor Lee J. Martin said the new program involves stu dents making a score of 500 or higher on the English achieve ment portion of the standard en trance test and writing a satis factory paper. “Before this we allowed ad vanced sUnding by examination, but very few students took the examination,” Martin said. One of A&M University’s best known professors, Dr. Daniel Rus sell of the Agricultural Economics and Sociology Department, will re tire August 31. Dr. Dan, as his many former students and other friends call him, has spent 38 years at A&M teach ing and researching the often in tangible complexities of sociology. The portly, amiable educator has been busy the past few weeks bringing his office affairs to a conclusion and sifting through a mountain of notes, records, books and mementoes which have accu mulated over the years. One of those mementoes is an age-yellowed newspaper in which an article describes the professor’s major extra-curricular accomplish ment A&M’s Project House sys tem. The system, a story in itself, began during the blackest days of the depression in the early 1930’s. Enrollment at A&M and other schools was falling drastically be cause students couldn’t afford much of the expense of attending college. Russell figured costs could be cut by having student groups pool their money and rent vacant houses in the area, bring farm produce from home, and buy groceries and other supplies wholesale. “House mothers” were hired to cook and keep house. The plan enabled many thousands of Aggies to finish their education. Soon an entire community of cooperative housing sprang up. The well known Project Houses on the campus’ south side is an out growth of Russell’s eforts. The system was so successful that it was copied by other colleges and universities. The student’s grade for Eng lish 103 is determined by the quality of the written paper as marked by a member of the Eng lish faculty. Grades of “A”, “B” or “C” allow a student to skip 103 and register for 104. '** -X _ mmm -rm^ES ‘What’s It Like Down Under Sport?’ who has spent the first four Zoo, in Los Angeles—and draws an equally months of his life riding about in his moth- inquisitive look from mama Mathilda. The er s poueh, peeks out for his first good look pair are great Tasmanian gray kangaroos, at the world about him—the Griffith Park