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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1965)
Cfoc Battalion Texas A&M University Volume 61 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1965 Aggie Opinion Election Slated On Exes’ Plan By GERALD GARCIA The Student Senate voted Thursday night to hold a stu dent opinion election concerning non-compulsory military train ing and coeducation. They also criticized the A&M Executive Council for not allow ing dates to stay in campus dorms. “The Senate Executive Com mittee expressed the desire to take an opinion of students con cerning the Exes’ proposal so WASHINGTON UP)—Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara described the Viet Nam crisis as “grave but by no means hope less,” and expressed doubt the Red Chinese would step in with a major attack. Despite Peking’s militancy, Mc Namara said in a report Thurs day to the House Armed Services Committee, the Red Chinese “have shown great caution when con fronted with a determined display of military power.” Both Peking and Moscow, he added, can be expected to stir up as much trouble as they can “whenever and wherever they can do so safely, without a ‘head-on’ collision with U. S. military power.” And he made clear that he saw no alternative than for the United States to remain in South Viet Nam, supporting the government against Communist guerrillas. He described the war as a key to stemming Communist expansion not only in Asia but in other de veloping nations. A Red victory in South Viet Nam, he said, would greatly in crease Peking’s prestige, would be claimed as proof of the success of its hard-line policy and would strengthen Red China’s hand in its leadership battle with the Soviet Union. Leaving the committee room, McNamara told newsmen that greater efforts will be required of South Viet Nam in the coming year, including a boost in its mili tary force. This may require a small increase in the number of Americans sent there to help with training, as well as more combat equipment, he said. it could be presented to the board at their spring meeting later this month,” said Frank Muller, Stu dent Body President. Jay Jaynes offered a motion “that we have a student opinion poll on the resolution passed by the Former Students Association concerning the idea of a non- compulsory Corps and improving or expanding the existing co educational facilities.” “I suggest two possible ques tions: (1) Do you favor a non- Looking into the future, Mc Namara saw a most disturbing prospect in Peking’s determina tion to produce modern nuclear armaments. Although it may be a slow road for the Red Chinese, McNamara said, “There is no reason to sup pose that the Chinese cannot in time produce medium-range and even long-range ballistic missile systems and arm them with thermonuclear warheads. “Given the hostility the regime has shown, this is a most disturb ing long-range prospect,’ he said. A&M Freshman Named To Finals For State Honor A Texas A&M freshman, Gary G. Kemph of San Antonio, has been named one of 12 finalists for “Young Texan of the Year.” Kemph, a liberal arts major, is in the H-13 unit of the Corps of Cadets at A&M. A graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon G. Kemph, San Antonio. Winner of the title “Young Tex an of the Year” will be announced at a dinner Feb. 27 in Austin. The Troy V. Post awards of $4,000 in college scholarships will be re vealed at the dinner. Recognition of the “Young Tex an of the Year” is a youth appreci ation program co-sponsored by Post, a Dallas banker-insurance man, and more than 200 Optimist Clubs throughout the state. compulsory Corps? (2) Do you favor unlimiting coeds? The second question was a- mended and will be presented in this way at the Thursday elec tion: To what degree do you favor co-education (1) no coeds, (2) limited, or (3) unlimited? The election will be held in the Memorial Student Center in front of the Coffee Shop from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1-6 p.m. “In order that we get a better balance of the student reaction in the election, the Election Com mission will have different vot ing machines for the Corps and Civilians,” said Charles Wallace, commission chairman. Regarding dates on campus, the Senate received a list from the Executive Council why their proposal was turned down. The list read in part: Dorms are not attracted for female use; it would cost the school; Bryan- College Station has plenty of faci lities to handle the girls; trouble in finding housemothers, and Denton closed theirs — the little house they used to have. The Senate had worked almost tree months to have dates stay on campus during special weekends. The student solons unanimously adopted a resolution voicing, their disapproval of the Committee’s decision. The resolution read: “The Sen ate expresses its complete dis approval of the uncooperative and untimely action taken by the Executive Council in ruling that student dates cannot be housed in the University dormitories and furthermore we ask that the Ex ecutive Council reconsider its pre-' vious decision.” Muller said 33 students had al ready signed a list in the MSC Student Programs Office wish ing to keep their dates on cam pus during a big weekend. In other business, Don Warren asked that the civilians be al lowed to elect a yell leader be cause Jim Benson was graduated in January. He proposed that Darrell Smith, the runner-up in last year’s elec tion, fill the position and that this procedure be followed when future Yell Leaders graduate in January. Warren’s motion was defeated because Smith would only be able to serve in two more games this year. The Senate also appointed a committee to study all the educa tion bills in the Texas legisla ture and to report at the next meeting. McNamara Says Chinese Not Expected To Attack Or Enter Viet Nam Crisis BROTHER, SISTER CHAT . . . Mrs. Betty Lord consults brother at trial recess. Jury Deliberating In Coffey Murder By GLENN DROMGOOLE and TOMMY DeFRANK BRYAN — An all-male jury began deliberating the fate of accused murderer Rudolph G. Cof fey Jr. late Friday morning fol lowing final summaries from state and defense attorneys. The state is seeking the death penalty for Coffey, 21-year old Florida youth charged with the shooting death of Elgin Police Chief J. M. Mumford, Nov. 15, 1963. State attorney D. N. Vance charged Thursday in 85th Dis trict Court that Coffey was guil ty of murder with malice and should be punished accordingly. “If there was ever a case of malice aforethought in the Unit ed States, this is it,” Vance as serted. “There is only one proper pun ishment in this case — because Rudolph Grady Coffey Jr. killed the police chief ... in Elgin — death,” he concluded. Defense counsel A. W. Davis made no attempt to justify the shooting but based his summa tion on the premise that no per son has the right to pass judge ment on the youthful defendant. “It is not our place to take the life of any man, woman or child on the face of this earth. Twelve men good and true . . . can in no way have the right to do this,” Davis said. “A tremendous tragedy took place in Elgin, Texas, Nov. 15, 1963. Do not compound that tragedy with an action which solves nothing,” he appealed. Prior to the summations Cof fey’s sister, Mrs. Margaret Vaug han of Orlando, Fla., had painted a bleak picture of Coffey’s home life and Davis used her testi mony as a basis for much of his Students Must Get New Voting Cards Students, both Civilians and Corps, will need a voting registra tion card before being allowed to vote in future student elections, announced Charles Wallace, Chair man of the Election Commission. The cards will be handed out to all students starting Monday and running through Friday at all hours except noon in the phone section by the Student Programs Office of the Memorial Student Center. Students will need to show their ID cards before receiving regis tration cards. Number 138 SOLEMN DEFENDANT . . . Coffey keeps head bowed during proceedings. Ex-Con Returns To Penitentiary After 29 Years Verdict Trial argument. “While not excusing him or his act . . . unless you’ve been there . . . in a broken home abundant of alcohol consumed by a mother and father who never said a kind word ... I doubt that it’s poss ible for you or me to know what we’d do under similar circum stances,” he claimed. A weeping Mrs. Vaughan re vealed that her parents were both alcoholics and that her father “never said a kind word to us.” She further testified that her mother left home and the child ren, were sent to Arkansas to live with relatives. A legal battle erupted Thurs day morning when prosecuting attorneys attempted to submit a confession made by Coffey in Austin the day following the alleged shooting. After nearly three hours of testimony Judge John M. Barron ruled that the confession was admissible as evi dence and could be considered by the jury, which had been removed from the courtroom during the hassle. t The defendant took the stand for the first time Thursday and testified that he was roughed up and struck on the head during his interrogation. JACKSON, Mich. UP) — James R. Jones, who spent 29 years as a free man after escaping from a southern Michigan prison farm, received a word Thursday that his half brother will “do anything I can” for Jones. Jones is in southern Michigan prison. He was returned from Texas recently when his wife turn ed him in after an argument. The state parole board is ex pected to take up his case shortly. Wednesday night a man named Robert Calfee at Sand Tanks, Ariz., called the prison inquiring whether Jones, 49, might be his half brother. He said his half brother would have two abdominal scars from gunshot wounds and the letters JRJ on one arm. A prison official questioned Jones Thursday and he said he did have a half brother and showed the scars and initials. Jones said he had divorced himself completely from his family in 1931 “so as not to cause them any embarrassment.” A prison official called Calfee Thursday and Calfee said he would do anything he could for his half brother. He said he might fly to Jackson to visit him. Calfee operates a motel, gas station and restaurant. piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiM andid Commsnts CDn Ourront Crises 1 Students Voice Approval Of Religious Emphasis Program Question: Should the University continue to sponsor Religious Emphasis Week? DAVID KINARD Sophomore, Reagan I believe that Religious Emphasis Week is a fine thing and the student body should support it more enthusiastically. In some way the university should bring the services back again next year. There should be more publicity for it and students should know more about what the speakers will talk about. I really didn’t know what they were going to say just from the title of the talks. LEROY SHAFER Sophomore, Trent Religious Emphasis Week is a good function—a function that should be supported by the Uni versity. However, I believe that there should be much more stu dent participation. The program should be brought down to the level of the students instead of being something that is pushed down on us from above. Many students still don’t know the pur pose of the week. MIKE JACKSON Junior, Houston I believe the university should continue the Religious Emphasis program. I further think that the student body should support it more. There is a lot of good to be had from it. I attended two myself and I was very pleased with them. There is much to be gained and we need a program of this type for our students. , TOM HARGROVE Junior, Rotan Religious Emphasis Week is a good thing but it doesn’t have enough support. It should be continued for those who want to go should be able to and it cer tainly doesn’t hurt those who don’t. The faculty cannot push this down the students’ throats; the interest has to come from the students themselves. That’s the main problem—lack of stu dent participation. FREDDIE ENGELBRECHT Sophomore, Harlingen I think that we ought to continue RE Week. I know last year I didn’t attend it but this year I went one night and I’m sorry that I didn’t go to any of the other services because I really gained something from that one night. We should find a way to get more people to go than have been because the services are really worthwhile. BOB BENSON Sophomore, Merkel I definitely feel the Religious Emphasis Week should be con tinued, but the University par ticipation should be a lot greater than it is. If everyone would strive to attend these services at least once they would go back again throughout the week and in this way participation would grow each year. The program is bound to die from lack of interest if the crowds don’t start getting larger. ham McQueen Senior, Longview Religious Emphasis Week is a good thing. I’d like to see a re turn to the day sessions which we had before RE Week was dis continued several years ago. Even though many students spent this time in the coffee shop, student attendance was much greater than it is today and I feel day programs would in crease the presently poor atten dance at the services.