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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1965)
Stanford Coed Takes First-Hand Look At Viet Nam War EDITOR’S NOTE: Hope Selby of Bryn Mawr, Pa., a 20-year- old English major at Stanford University, visited Saigon after a summer of teaching English to Chinese children at one of Hong Konk’s rooftop refugee schools. She came to Viet Nam because she was curious about the war in which Americans are playing an increasing role. Here are her impressions of some of the things she found. By HOPE SELBY Written for The Associated Press SAIGON — The merchants of Saigon roll down the heavy shut ters in front of their shops from noon until 2 p.m. each day. The city sleeps in the midday hfeat and for a few minutes it’s hard to believe there is a war going on, until you take a second look around. I visited Saigon long enough to take that second look. I never saw a battle and I never read a casualty report, but I came to feel the presence of war. All you have to do is walk down the street and you know it is there. I knew the war was there when I stopped to admire the elaborate iron grillwork over the windows of restaurants and stores, and then realized the grillwork was there to prevent grenades or other explosives from being thrown inside. I saw it along the bare wide pavements, where sidewalk cafes have been removed to avoid plac ing inviting targets in front of Viet Cong terrorists. I saw it even among the silks in the windows of tailoring shops, where signs saying “we make military uniforms” stood beside emblems and patches embroidered with the names of bases in the jungle. I heard it in the special slang used by the military and the press. It is language in which the Viet Cong often is called “Charlie,” an American soldier who is killed is “zapped,” and then referred to as a “friendly casualty.” And I learned that the initials “BLT,” which I had always used at home to order a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, here meant Battalion Landing Team. The troops in the city brought the war closest. Vietnamese and Americans in all kinds of uni forms speed through the streets in jeeps and other vehicles. GIs on leave were relaxing in cafes, reading American comics in the Sunday papers. Pilots in gray flight suits were lounging in hotel lobbies or looking up num bers in the special inch-thick book reserved for military listings in the country. It the soldiers hadn’t been here, the city might have looked just as I had always imagined a former French colony would. The decaying effects of French domi nation were everywhere—in the peeling yellow paint on former administration buildings and in the acrid smell of Gauloise cigar ettes found in taxis and elevators with walls of open grillwork. But it was clear that Ameri canization had taken over. It is found in the restaurants adver tizing pizza and hot dogs and in the slang of the bellboys who use expressions like “no sweat” and “rack out.” Despite the military activity I found the city surprisingly alive in other ways, with little curtailment of daily life that I had always imagined would exist in a war zone. There was the vitality of the Vietnamese women throwing building bricks up to men perched on second-story level wooden scaf folding, and in the kids playing below them on the sidewalks. There was warmth in the freckled-faced GI who spoke halt ing Vietnamese to a child reach ing up to touch the insignia on his uniform, and in the soldier who picked up a little boy and sat him on the seat of a motor cycle parked at the sidewalk. There was humor, too, such as that of one resident who de scribed different reactions to the war. “There are two types of opin ion,” he said, “That of the war hawks and that of the peace doves. Perhaps I represent a third, that of a chicken.” But when night fell on the city, I felt the atmosphere change. Suddenly the Vietnamese who by day had been ordinary people talking on the sidewalks now looked mysterious in the dark shadows of doorways and cigar ette stands. I noticed for the first time that almost every other door led into a bar with neon lights and loud rock ‘n’ roll coming from within. I saw American Military Police on the streets with Viet namese police in their white uniforms. None of the Vietnamese police seemed to be directing traffic and I learned that the other Vietnamese in the city call them “ces mommes auxtetes folles” — those with crazy heads. The Americans call them “white mice” because of their uniforms. Police and armed military guards were everywhere in the downtown part of the city, standing on the corners, in the shadows, the occasional flash of light glinting dully from the bayonets fixed to their rifles or the submachineguns cradled in their arms. After the 11 p.m. curfew, the heavy shutters were rolled down again over the fronts of the shops. But this time, even though there were few lights on the streets, the .city seemed wide awake and waiting. Che Battalion Texas A&M University Volume 61 A&M Research May Help Solve Fuel Cell Problems C c c c Basic research at Texas A&M may help solve the fuel cell prob lems that almost caused early termination of the Gemini-5 man ned space flight. Physics professor Charles F. Squire, one of the scientists who pioneered the study of cryogenics (low temperature physics) says the principle of the fuel cell is not new — he made a working model on his laboratory bench 30 years ago. He describes a fuel cell as a reaction chamber in which vapor ized liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen combine to give off energy. He says it is similar to a battery but does not “store” power. New reactants must be added continuously for uninter rupted energy. “Generation of electricity from liquid gases at low temperatures is a workable process,” Squire asserts. Fuel cells are light weight and reliable but he is quick to add that the procedure is far from being perfected. “A great deal of fundamental research, such as we are doing at A&M, will be necessary to fully understand the nature of matter at supercold temperatures,” the former MIT professor points out. Squire was asked to prepare detailed, theoretical data on fuel cell storage tanks prior to the recent manned flight. His stud ies for NASA centered about malfunctions and accidents in space and their effects on the astronauts and their capsule. Squire and seven Ph.D. candi dates operate A&M’s cryogenic laboratory. They routinely pro duce “buckets” of air, oxygen and nitrogen converted to liquids at temperatures of minus 300 de- slows the motion of atoms, they are able to observe and record atomic behavior in new ways. Squire feels that A&M’s stud ies will continue to advance the frontier of knowledge about cry ogenics. The group at A&M re cently gained international at tention for new measurements of liquid argon, a rare atmospheric gas. Certainly a major product of the laboratory is young scient ists. Squire expects A&M-train- ed cryogenic physicists will work on complex problems of the fu ture both within industry and the space-related government agenc ies. The associate dean of science was one of the first six U. S. scientists to explore the super cold. A post-doctoral fellow un der Sir Frances Simon of Great Britain’s Royal Society in 1937, Squire made several discoveries that earned him worldwide ac claim. “Little was known about low temperature physics then,” the professor remembers. “From a laboratory phenomena, cryogenics has grown into a $1 Vi billion business in less than 30 years.” He listed some of the principal uses of liquid gases: enrichment of blast furnace air, creating higher temperatures for steel pro duction; fuel for rockets, such as the Titan boosters used in the Gemini program; and liquid fertilizer, made from liquid nitro gen and hydrogen. “The uses for cryogenic liquids are not nearly exhausted,” Squire surgical technique, using a hol- believes. He points to a new low probe cooled with liquid nitrogen. This bloodless proce dure already shows promise for eye operations, he says. Other uses for supercold fluids will un- do\i\Aed\y he discovered, includ ing the use of fuel cells to power automobiles as well as space ships, he predicts. Campus Construction Rises l,s Space Center, Cyclotron Kickoff Expansion Program Construction is booming these days at Texas A&M, but the activity is only a limited pre view of things to come. Two major projects are under- L way, with others to begin in a matter of days. They are the $1.9 million Space Science Cen ter, which will house space re search facilities and the Data rPocessing Center laboratory, and the $6 million cyclotron, largest in the South. Both sites are being excavated for foundation work. President Earl Rudder said $25 million will be spent on new construction at A&M within the next three years to meet rising demands for ex cellence in space age education. This expenditure will push the value of A&M’s physical plant past the $100 million mark. Construction has started on a $2.5 million addition to the Bio logical Science Building. The facility will contain 95,- 337 square feet and will house parts of the zoology and micro biology divisions of the Depart ment of Biology, part of the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, the Departments of Wildlife Sciences and Electron Microscopy and the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Work will begin soon on the $3 million enlargement and mod ernization of Cushing Library. The Space Science Center will be a 5-story, 80,000 square foot sand-colored masonry and glass building. It is adjacent to the Data Processing Center near the System Building. The Cyclotron is being con structed on the northwest side of the main campus to give stu dents ready access to library fac ilities. Soon to be constructed is a $3.5 million U. S. Department of Agriculture livestock toxico logy laboratory, and $700,000 is earmarked for a USD A cotton pathology laboratory on campus. A new laboratory for electron microscopy also is in the plan ning stage COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1965 The constant breeze off the Gulf of Mexico is refreshing but it can make wearing a hat perplexing. Nan Freeman holds on with both hands while wading on Corpus Christi beach. (AP Wirephoto) Night School Slated Night and Saturday classes are being offered this fall by Texas A&M to accomodate people with full-time jobs who want to con tinue their education. Courses are offered at under graduate and graduate levels. Night classes in education meet from 5 to 8 p.m. Other courses begin at 7 p.m. Saturday classes meet from 9a.m. to noon. Graduate education courses in clude counseling, educational lead- ship, curriculum and instruction, administrative behavior, human development, college teaching, tests and measurements, elemen tary school organization and ad ministration and educational media. The elementary school cur riculum is the only undergrad uate offering in education. Undergraduate courses include freshman history of the United States, basic engineering graph ics, publicity and public rela tions, and sophomore national government. The public rela tions course may also be taken for graduate credit. Other offerings include a grad uate course in American his torical writing, a biochemistry and nutrition seminar, and an honors colloquium for freshmen. Registrar H. L. Heaton said registration begins Sept. 17. Deadline is noon, Sept. 18. | Nationally Known Scientist iTo Head New A&M College A second member of the Na tional Academy of Sciences will join the Texas A&M faculty, President Earl Rudder announced Wednesday. Dr. Clarence Zener, director of science at the Westinghouse Re search Laboratories in Pitts burgh, Pa., becomes the first dean of the College of Sciences Jan. 1. Rudder called Zener a national leader needed in the forward movement of the sciences at A&M. “We welcome this scholar to our academic community,” Rud der said. “Dr. Zener will make outstanding contributions as Tex as A&M upgrades its faculty in moving toward excellence in all of its programs.” Dr. Horace R. Byers, inter nationally known meteorologist and National Academy member, is the first dean of A&M’s College of Geosciences. The Board of Directors and the Commission on Higher Education authorized establishment of the College of Geosciences and the division of the College of Arts and Sciences last spring. Zener was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1959. He received his A.B. de gree from Stanford in 1926 and his Ph.D. from Harvard three years later. He was a Sheldon traveling fellow in Germany, 1929-30; National Research fellow at Princeton, 1930-32, and a fel low at Briston University in England, 1932-34. Zener taught at Washington University in St. Louis, City Col lege of New York and Washing ton State University before join ing the Watertown Arsenal in 1942 as a physicist. He later served as senior physicist and principal physicist at the arsenal, then went to the University of Chicago. After six years as pro fessor of physics at Chicago, he was named associate director of the Westinghouse research labs in 1951. He became acting direc tor in 1955, then spent six years DR. CLARENCE ZENER as director of research. In October, 1962, Zener was elevated to director of science. His long list of honors will add the Albert Sauveur Achievement Award of the American Society for Metals in ceremonies at De troit October 19. The scientist was Campbell lecturer in 1960 after being the Institute of Metals lecturer for the American Institute of Metallurgical and Mining Engineers in 1955. The Pittsburgh Junior Cham ber of Commerce named him “Man of the Year in Science” in 1959. He had been the Bingham medalist for the Society of Rheology in 1957 and two years later was awarded the John Price Wetherill Medal by the Franklin Institute. The War Department’s Excep tional Civilian Service Award went to the new A&M dean in 1946. Zener’s extensive publications have found a wide audience in academic and industrial ranks. Dr. and Mrs. Zener have two sons and two daughters. The former Jean Zener is the wife of an associate professor of chem istry at Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va. Robert Zener is a lawyer in the appelllant sec tion of the Justice Department. Thomas attends law school at George Washington University; Ann is enrolled at Oberlin Col lege. Number 200 Teague Urges Quality Hike In Education Associated Press Regional Service WASHINGTON — Expanding science and technology has con fronted many congressmen with the opportunity and necessity to acquire knowledge not formerly associated with their positions. Rep. Olin (Tiger) Teague, D., of the Bryan-Corsicana district and South Dallas under the re districting for 1966) attests to the validity of that statement. So can Rep. Bob Casey, of Houston, site of manned space program headquarters. Teague, the No. 2 Democrat on the House Science and Astro nautics Committee, recalled his days at Texas A&M, 1928-1932, to emphasize the need for study to act intelligently on space legis lation. He thumbed through a book sized document dealing with the preparation that went into the recent Gemini 5 space flight and said: “I’ve done more home work on the space program, so far, than I ever did in college. “We hear the top scientists testify in hearings, and we visit aerospace industrial plants, see ing every step in the production of rockets and capsules from the raw metal to the finished thing, but it still takes hours of reading late into the night.” Teague, now 55 and hefty, would like for the alumni of all Texas colleges and universities to put more emphasis on scholar ships. “If these former students would spent one-tenth as much on im proving the quality of education as they do no sports, Texas would be much better off,” he said. “The future of our nation as a world power and of our state as an economic force depends on education. I’m convinced that we cannot continue to be a leading nation or a leading state unless we keep abreast in the production of brainpower.” Teague is personally acquainted with practically all of the astro nauts, several of whom he con siders as friends. He was at the Houston Space Center during the Gemini 5 splashdown and has wit nessed several lift-offs from Cape Kennedy. One of the many photographs in his office is a color picture of Astronaut Edward H. White II “space walking” during the Gimini 4 flight, and one of James A. MvDivitt, his companion on that space journey. White in scribed his picture thusly: “To Chairman Teague with apprecia tion for your understanding and support of the Space program.” McDivitt wrote: “To chairman Teague with best wishes and many thanks.” Teague is chairman of the manned space flight subcommit tee. Casey, the seventh ranking Democrat on the House Science and Astronautics committee, is a lawyer and was a judge before entering Congress. “It requires a lot of study to act responsibly on the legislation we handle, all right,” agreed Casey, “but it’s fascinating. “The caliber and dedication the scientists and engineers we hear makes you want to learn more about the subject.” Stock Market Discussion Turns Out Surprise Party For Dr., Mrs. W. B. Davis Dr. W. B. Davis, head of the Department of Wildlife Manage ment, went to the Ramada Inn Wednesday night to discuss stocks, but was surprised with a “Liberation Party” instead. Ninety friends, relatives, fa culty and staff members sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” when Dr. and Mrs. Davis stepped unknowingly into the banquet room. Davis stepped down Wednesday at his request as head of the department in order to devote more time to research and teach ing. He joined the A&M staff in 1937 and became head of the department in 1942. Often called a financial wizard for his successes in the stock market, Davis was given an elec tric calculator. He also received a box of cigars. Mrs. Davis was presented a cut glass vase. President Earl Rudder praised Davis for demanding high stand ards of his students and for pro viding a great service to the uni versity through the years. Rud der noted that Davis’ research findings had been published in more than 130 scientific journals. Dr. Harry Kunkel, associate director of the Texas Experiment Station, also lauded Davis for a highly productive research career. “He is in the middle of things in modern science,” Kunkel said. “Dr. Davis is a scientist beyond all doubt. But he is also a hu manist, a gentleman and a won derful friend.” Master of Ceremonies Ed Cooper, assistant to the presi dent and former student of Davis, narrated a slide presentation fea turing the honoree. Davis is a native of Rupert, Idaho, and earned his Ph.D. at the University of California. He is president of the American Society of Mammologists and is a member of numerous profes sional societies. His colection of veterbrates includes 7,000 birds, 8,000 mammals, 18,000 reptiles and amphibians, and 20,000 fish. Other entertainment for the banquet included two skits, both concerning Davis’ exploits.