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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1965
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All-Male Substitute Bill Gets
Senate Committee Approval
Measure Would Prohibit
Full Coeducation At A&M
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By TOMMY DeFRANK
Staff Writer
AUSTIN—Sen. Andy Rogers’ bill to prohibit com
plete coeducation of A&M cleared its first legislative
barrier Wednesday night as the Senate Committee
on Military and Veterans Affairs approved the
measure on a voice vote.
Approximately 150 students, several of whom
spoke in favor of the bill, looked. on as it was
adopted despite opposition by A&M President Earl
Rudder, various university and former student offi
cials and two campus leaders.
The lone dissenting vote was cast by Sen. Walter
Richter of Gonzales, who argued that the bill’s
approval would set a dangerous precedent by re
stricting the authority of a college board of
directors.
“Society would be better off if we allow our
boards the privilege of making their own mistakes.
I don’t think they would make any big ones. We
should give them authority without having the
Legislature interfere,” Richter contended.
Watered - Down Su bstitute
The bill was a watered-down committee substitute
for Rogers’ SB 290, which barred women completely
from attending classes during regular sessions.
Rogers said that the substitute was necessary in
order to comply with a 1958 court decision regard
ing the legality of refusing to admit coeds to a
state-supported school.
“This bill is the best we could get and still be
constitutional. There’s no use passing an unconsti
tutional law which a court would knock down,” he
explained.
The substitute upholds the present university
policy of allowing wives and daughters of faculty
members and wives of students to attend classes,
and also admits persons who are pursuing an
academic goal which could only be reached at A&M,
or who are pursuing an A&M graduate degree where
undergraduate requirements could not be fulfilled
at another school.
In his opening remarks Rogers declared his
intention was to enhance the university’s service
to the state and not to incite a quarrel over school
tradition.
No Gig- 9 Em-Aggies Bill
"I am fully aware that this is a public tax-
supported institution and its primary purpose is
to serve the taxpayers in whatever way is best.
This bill, as far as I am concerned, is not an old
school fight for a bunch of traditions or a Gig-’Em-
Aggies approach.
“We are very sincere in our attempt to make
A&M one of the best possible institutions to serve
the general public of the State of Texas,” Rogers
said.
Sterling C. Evans, chairman of the Board of
Directors, testified that passage of the measure
would hamper the school’s progress.
“To take this (bill) and tie down the Board
forever and say no to changes which perhaps would
be necessary . . . would be a serious handicap,”
Evans asserted.
“We have a great future and we certainly hope
this Legislature will not try to hinder the Board
in making decisions that would be desirable,” he
added.
Rudder maintained that such a measure would
damage the university’s goal of continued upgrading
of the faculty.
“If we try to take authority away from the
Board, you will have a difficult time getting profs
to come to A&M ... If you pass this bill, I've got
faculty members who would leave tomorrow.
“Leave the authority to run the university in
the hands of the people whom you approved as the
governor’s appointees,” he appealed.
John H. Lindsey, past president of the Associa
tion of Former Students, and incoming president
John Younger explained recent resolutions passed
by the organization. A 1963 resolution expressed
wholehearted support of the Board, while a reso
lution passed early this year asked the Board to
consider possible changes in policy regarding com
pulsory military training and coeducation.
Neil Keltner, commander of the Corps of Cadets,
supported the decisions of the Board and claimed
that the present coeducation status had not harmed
the Corps.
“I can see where limited coeducation has had
no detrimental effect on the Corps,” Keltner said.
Student body president Frank Muller testified
that he had recently visited Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, where coeducation has been established,
and he found no indication that coeducation had
damaged that school’s corps. He also doubted that
full coeducation would create a serious influx of
female students to A&M.
Both students admitted they were speaking as
individuals and not for the student body.
‘Biggest Brainwash Job 9
Students speaking in favor of the bill, included
Larry Jerden, junior from Smyrna, Tenn.; Stephen
Tubre, junior from North Highlands, Cal., and Joe
Bush, Temple iunior.
Rogers, a 1946 A&M graduate, ended his case
by claiming that the public has been led to believe
that the school will suffer if coeducation is not
implemented.
“The biggest brainwash job in the last 10 to 15
years has been conducted to convince people the
school will die and have no growth unless it goes
coed . . . There is no evidence that says you’ve got
to have coeds to have quality and growth,” he
charged.
“I was well-pleased by the serious attention given
by the committee to the bill and I was naturally
quite pleased by the vote. I was also quite pleased
by the manner in which the students conducted
themselves. Several members of the committee
told me they voted for the bill because of the quality
of A&M students represented here tonight,” he
claimed.
Rogers explained he would wait until the “most
likely time” to bring the bill before the full Senate.
He also said he intends to wait until action is taken
on a similar bill introduced in the House by Rep.
Mack Edwards of Pattonville.
The bill was referred from the Education Com
mittee to the Committee on Military and Veterans
Affairs after Rogers complained that the commit
tee’s chairman, Sen. Bill Moore of Bryan, had re
fused to grant him a hearing. Moore did not attend
Wednesday’s hearing.
ROGERS (LEFT) WINS MOMENTARY TRIUMPH AS EVANS, RUDDER, COOPER WATCH
. . . A&M officials glumly see Senate committee approve all-male substitute bill.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 290
The full substance of the bill approved by
the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Com
mittee Wednesday night:
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT relating to the eligibility require
ments for attending Texas A&M University;
amending Article 2607, Revised Civil Statutes
of Texas, 1925; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS:
Section 1. Article 2607, Revised Civil
Statutes of Texas, 1925, is amended to read as
follows:
“Art. 2607. BRANCH OF UNIVERSITY,
(a) Texas A&M University, located in Brazos
County, and by the Constitution made and con
stituted a branch of The University of Texas,
for instruction in agriculture, the mechanical arts,
and the natural science connected therewith, shall
be managed and controlled as herein provided.
“(b) Except as otherwise provided by law,
to be eligible to be registered as a full-time under
graduate student in a fall or spring term at Texas
A&M Universtiy, a person must
(1) be a male person; or
(2) be the wife of a male person registered
full-time in a fall or spring term at Texas A&M
University; or
(3) be the wife or female child of a member
of the faculty of Texas A&M University; or
(4) be intending to enroll in a class, pursue
a course of study, or use facilities not offered at
any other state-supported college or universtiy,
or be seeking an academic goal which for any
reason can only be achieved at Texas A&M Uni
versity; or
(See Bill No. 290 on Page 2)
AFTER SENATE DEFEAT
Bill Opponents
Leave Hearing
In Sore Mood
Opponents of the limited co
education bill given Senate com
mittee approval Wednesday night
left the hearing displeased, dis
gruntled, and in some instances,
downright disgusted.
John H. Lindsey of Houston,
past president of the Former
Students Association, was among
those unhappy over the commit
tee’s action.
“I am extremely disappointed
by the decision. I’m displeased
with the restriction that the com
mittee is intending to put on
the Board of Directors. If they
put this one on they could put
another on at a future date.
The Board is much closer to the
A&M situation than the Senate,”
Lindsey claimed.
“This bill would take policy
making away from the Board.
It would preclude any decision
to be made for 20 or 30 years
to come. It is much broader
than just this coed issue, and
I would hope that the Senate
would not accept it,” Sterling
Evans, chairman of the Board
of Directors, commented.
Rep. David Haines of Bryan
announced afterwards that he
would oppose the bill if it goes
to the House.
“This matter should be left
strictly to the Board, and I’ll
back them up all the way. They
are the closest to the scene and
see the overall picture best. They
have been delegated authority
for the school and they should
have complete authority,” Haines
asserted.
“I think the committee is set
ting a dangerous precedent. We
came down here knowing that
the bill would pass through the
committee, but that doesn’t mean
it will pass the entire Senate,”
said Neil Keltner, Colonel of the
Corps.
“This substitute bill maintain
ing the status quo is deceptive.
It’s still leaving the power to
run A&M in the hands of the
Legislature instead of with the
Board,” Keltner added.
Former W. Virginia Governor Tells Of Downfall
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Discovered In Chicago Driving Taxi Cab; Attributes Drinking As Cause
EDITOR’S NOTE — A report
er recently found William C.
Marland, 46, fromer governor of
West Virginia, driving a cab in
Chicago. In the ex-governor’s
own account, he tells how drink
ing caused his downfall, how he
literally lost himself in a big
eity and how he found himself
a gain before the newsmen did.
By WILLIAM C. MARLAND
Writer For The Associated Press
CHICAGO UP) — When I stepped
down from the governor’s office
in West Virginia in 1957, I opened
an office in Charleston where I
practiced law and engaged in in
dustrial development. The next
year I campaigned for the Demo
cratic nomination for the U. S.
Senate, and I was unsuccessful.
My thoughts then turned to
industry and I accepted a posi
tion as director of sales for the
Western Kentucky Coal Co. I
came to Chicago in that capac
ity Jan. 1, 1959. I held the posi
tion until July 1961.
Shortly after I arrived in Chi
cago, within seven or eight
months, my drinking had resolved
itself into a 24-hour-a-day pro
position, with all the attendant
evils and a significant reduction
in ability to handle by duties.
I neither cared then nor since
as to why this had taken place.
The important thing was that it
had. I made sporadic attempts
to go on the wagon, with little
success. Finally, it was clear to
all concerned, including me, that
my association with that company
should be terminated. So it was.
Immediately thereafter, I
sought refuge in the alcoholic
ward of a mental institution. As
the days passed - surprisingly
enough, rather swiftly - I seemed
to gain some capacity to think
through my problem in a some
what better fashion than ever
before. At the end of 30 days
I was able to walk out of the
hospital with some conviction and
hope that there might be a chance
for me to arrest the march of
this disease called alcoholism.
As the days, weeks and months
rolled by, I was gratified to know
that my hope was neither un
founded nor illusory. My first
attempt at employment was in a
position that entailed considera
ble travel.
Traveling has always been an
occasion for rather excessive
consumption of alcohol. But now
I was able to spend many days
on the road in hotel rooms con
ducting my affairs without even
the slightest help from John
Barleycorn.
This gave me added confidence.
While not without an occasional
thought or even tempetation to
have a drink, I found it more
and more easy to resist the idea
and the temptation. However, I
was not yet able to do the job
satisfactorily and I quit late in
1961.
My next position was in my
chosen profession - the law - in
Chicago through the winter and
spring of 1962. And during that
winter and spring my ability to
do without alcohol increased con
siderably. But still, to me, my
character and personality left
much to be desired if I was to
compete in the give-and-take of
business affairs.
There was a tendency to
shrink from such contacts. Im
patience was a very dominant
characteristic. It was at this
time that a firm conviction set
tled upon me that I must, as it
were, begin from the beginning.
However, there was the practi
cal problem of maintaining, or
helping to maintain, a livelihood
for my family - my wife and four
children.
It occurred to me that a cer
tain anonymity and retirement
could be achieved best by han
dling a taxi on the streets of
Chicago.
Naturally, my character re
belled at the idea of what many
would consider such a menial po
sition. But, more and more, the
value of this type of job was
apparent. I qualified as a public
chauffeur and went to work in
the summer of 1962.
At first I was somewhat afraid
of a new and strange job, so
completely divorced from any I
had ever had, and my ignorance
of the mechanics of such a job—
which I now know are not incon
siderable. But, since the car did
roll when I pushed on the gas,
the new taxi driver began rolling
around the streets.
I was gratified and happy to
notice, after the first two or
three weeks, that this job could
be done.
This new-found elation was
short-lived because the more pro
ficient I became at the mechan
ics, the more irritated I became
at the mistakes anyone makes at
any job every day. I usually
magnified my own out of all pro
portion to the seriousness.
For a year, at least, it was a
tossup as to which side of my
character would win. But after
about a year I began to discover
that I was consciously consider
ing the advisability of doing the
right thing rather than intuitive
ly doing the wrong thing. Now I
said “considering.” I was still
somewhat distant from the goal
of automatically doing the right
thing.
At this particular time my idle
moments were devoted to intense
thinking of a reflective and ana
lytical nature. Meanwhile, the
actual job of driving a cab had
value to me as a therapy.
And I must admit the more or
less independent life of a cab
driver appealed to me more and
more. My plans for returning
either to my chosen profession
or my former way of life were
suspended indefinitely.
I also found it interesting at
the time to write many of my
thoughts in essay form and to
read them over. This continued,
and almost imperceptibly a
See Story
...Page 3
change in my whole personality
took place.
Meanwhile, the business of
whisky on occasion of irritation
or momentary glimpse of pros
perity faded further and further
until it seemed to have no part
in my conscious picture. I would
say that its threat, while always
recognized, lost its potency. It
was like an unarmed bomb. It
seemed to have lost its capacity
to gather enough strength to
plant its own fuse.
This neutrality persisted until
about six months ago, when my
thoughts began turning more and
more to a positive attitude and a
stronger and stronger desire to
leave the neutral zone.
Finally, on Jan. 1, 1965, I took
an extended leave from the Flash
Cab Co., with whom I was then
associated. I spent several weeks
in quiet contemplation of what
direction my future should take.
I also discovered that my confi
dence that I could operate on
another plateau had congealed.
So, when I returned to my cab
driving, my thoughts were pri
marily on the mechanics of leav
ing that for something more
challenging.
Hot Checks Cause Little Alarm At A&M