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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1966)
• Columns • Editorials • News Briefs Cbe Battalion Page 2 College Station, Texas Friday, January 14, 1966 • Opinions • Cartoons Features Tommy DeFrank What Next For The In this semester of noncom- pulsory membership in the Corps of Cadets, the first since 1958, the freshman mortality rate will likely prove a damaging indict ment. No doubt the faculty and other opponents of the Corps will glee fully gobble up the statistics on dropouts and boast that the Corps is finally on its way out. Except this time they may be closer to fact than we hope. Corps planners have projected an average of anywhere from 10 on up past 20 freshmen will leave their units and depart for more desirable areas. One outfit in the Second Bri gade will probably lose well over 20, leaving its freshman strength at less than 10. Similar casualty rates are in evidence throughout the Corps as freshmen depart in droves for a variety of the same old reasons freshmen have been giving for years. One fish said he was leaving because the Corps was too “Mickey Mouse,” yet in the same breath he admitted if it were not in such condition he would still leave. Another noted he wants to get out of the Corps to make some grades, a common but sometimes misguided reason. But the best of the bunch, and again a common alibi, is the old saw about “I’m just not ready for the Corps yet,” as if they can go to another school and acquire those necessary characteristics required for Corps membership. But regardless of the ridicu lousness of many of the reasons given by departing fish, the sim ple fact remains that they are leaving enmasse. Many upperclassmen fear the large dropout percentage will re sult or help result in extermina tion of the Corps as it now oper ates in favor of a two-day or modified Corps. This has been the route fol lowed by most of the other land grant colleges which have gone from all-male, military to coedu cational status and then volun tary ROTC membership. Texas A&M lost its military college rating this past fall, per haps an omen of what might fol low. It is difficult to think the Corps would ever be dissolved in its entirety, unless the ROTC program is abolished, but a two- day Corps is a possibility for a future date that might not be so many years in the future. In previous years the Corps has become increasingly softer on freshmen with the aim of —Criminal Code Analysis—. Part 4 BY GLENN DROMGOOLE Battalion Editor The most sweeping changes—and probably the most needed— provided by the new Code of Criminal Procedure were in trial methods. Discarding old procedures right and left, authors of the revised code implemented a new guide in criminal trials, parts of which are beneficial to defendants and parts more advantageous to prosecutors. Speedier, less expensive courtroom proceedings should be a major result—a savings not at the expense of justice. Among the major changes are: —Examining trial. A defendant, pleading innocent, may waive an examining trial in all cases except where the state is asking the death penalty and may ask to be tried by the judge. Also, in capital cases where the prosecution does not intend to seek the death penalty, a defendant may plead guilty before the judge, thus saving time and expense of a jury trial for a trade-out. —Prior convicitions. When the indictment or other charges are read to the jury, prior convictions may not be read. A definite ad vantage to the defendant, this article ascertains trial for a specific incident. However, this first trial determines only guilt or innocence. A second hearing is provided under the new code, during which a person’s previous criminal record and his background may be ex amined. The defendant may choose either the jury or presiding judge to set his punishment in this second trial. The second trial will enable juries to determine whether they are dealing with habituhl offenders or a first offense. —Juries. Several drastic changes in Texas’ jury system were instituted in the 1966 code. Jurors may be questioned in a group by the judge instead of individually. During the trial they may separate and go home, and this presents a potential problem once again of publicity influencing a decision. At their homes, jurors see themselves on television, read the trial proceedings in newspapers and may receive outside opinion. This could definitely be a handicap to fair trial, but would not be especially advantageous nor detrimental to the defendant. Also if a juror becomes ill during a trial, the other 11 members may proceed with the case. —Testimony. Husbands and wives may testify against each other in child beating and desertion cases, enabling easier convictions in these offenses. The old code forbade one spouse from testifying against the other at any time. —Severance of defendants. The new code lets judges decide whether two or more defendants in the same case should be tried jointly or separately. Previously, they had to be tried separately. ★ ★ ★ These are the major provisions. It remains to be seen whether the code has gone too far, or far enough, in the field of individual rights. At first glance, it would appear to have outdistanced even the Supreme Court in some areas. On the other hand, many of the changes were a long time in coming—they were overdue. Prosecution may be more difficult, but the United States has always held to a policy of “innocent until proven guilty.” Therefore, the burden should be on the state. Pre viously, too much of it has rested with the defendant. The code has its weaknesses, its loopholes, its ambiguities, its question marks, but it is also up to date with federal procedures, pro gressive and protective of rights guaranteed by the Constitution to men and women, rich and poor, black and white, intelligent and ignorant. THE BATTALION Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the student tvriters only. The Battalion is a non tax-supported non profit, self-supporting educational enter prise edited and operated by students as a university and community neivspaper. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Joe Buser, chairman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of Liberal Arts ; Dr. Robert A. Clark, College of Geosciences ; Dr. Frank A. Mc Donald, College of Science; Dr. J. G. McGuire, College of Engineering; Dr. Robert S. Titus, College of Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. A. B. Wooten, College of Agriculture. May The Battalion, published in College ^ Sunday, and Monday, and holida: and once a wee newspaper at Texas A&M is Station, Texas daily except Saturday, .<!£> UcLiiY , ana honaay periods, September through k during summer school. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication 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. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. News contributions may be made by telephoning 84S-6618 or 846-4910 or at the editorial office. Room 4, YMCA Building. For advertising or delivery call 846-6415. Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 2% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 4, YMCA Building, College Station, Texas. EDITOR Managing Editor Sports Editor News Editor Photographer GLENN DROMGOOLE Gerald Garcia Larry Jerden Tommy DeFrank Herky Killingsworth REMEMBER YOU AGGIES IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR BOOKS FROM US IN SEPTEM BER WE’D LIKE TO BUY YOUR BOOKS NOW, ALSO YOUR ROOMMATES. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO GUARANTEE YOU A MARKET FOR BOOKS PURCHASED FROM US. USED BOOKS AT MINIMUM PRICES. BE RIGHT TOO! LOUPOT'S Corps? exterminating the illegal physical hazing associated with A&M for so long. In this aspect it has been suc cessful, since hazing, while still existing, does so at a bare mini mum. But the Corps has gone too far by coddling incoming freshmen in an attempt to keep them in after the first two years. Now that the Corps is non- compulsory, many fish are leap ing at the chance to get out, not realizing how easy they now have it in the Corps as com pared to past years. Many fish claim they leave be cause the Corps is not what they expected: that is, they expected more discipline. That is a flimsy excuse and holds little water for most of those who try to pass off their displeasure on it. What, then, is the matter with the Corps ? Probably nothing, except that perhaps military training ap peals to fewer and fewer young men of this generation. The Board of Directors might have made the Corps compulsory for one year instead of the form er two, and likely the dropout total at the end of the school year would be considerably lower. Every fish, at one time or an other, is ready to throw in the towel, but somehow the vision of an easier sophomore year and the thrill of Final Review have changed many a mind. Many of those who now hold positions of authority as seniors would not be around today if they had been allowed the chance to get out after one semester. Texas A&M’s enrollment will probably stretch upward while Corps enrollment becomes small er and smaller, until another, more meaningful decision on the status of the Corps will have to be made. The door has been left open for the death knoll of the Corps to be sounded, and only time will tell if the Board’s decision was judicious for the Corp’s survival. At the Movies with Lani Presswol Movie-hopping while trying to find my seat and balance three bags of popcorn and four cokes at the same time: “Boeing - Boeing” held forth quite a while at the Palace Thea ter in Bryan. There are two items worth mentioning about the show, Suzanna Leigh and Jerry Lewis’s straight performance. Not completely straight of course because this is a comedy, but for a change he plays a normal human being, if there is such a thing. It seems that Lewis and Tony Curtis are foreign correspond ents, although neither ever sits down at a typewriter. Curtis has three stewardesses on his string, all working for different airlines, all with different schedules and all believing to be his sole fian cee. When the airlines simultane ously develop faster planes, the schedules change and Curtis winds up with girls coming and going and narrowly missing each other over and over. This story line in its basic form came in before talkies did and this is one reason the show drags in spots. “Boeing-Boeing” is nothing to get excited about, but a scatter ing of belly laughs makes it bet ter than today’s average comedy. Suzanna Leigh comes on strong as the blonde, blue-eyed English stewardess . . . Currently making the Cinera ma scene in Houston and Big D is “The Battle of the Bulge.” Cin erama’s curved screen puts you mighty close to where the action is and in this flick there’s plenty of it. Germany’s last big offensive push in World War II is unveiled in an exciting, thoughtful pro duction. The emphasis falls upon the tank warfare and the scenes of German and American tanks in combat may be the finest of their type ever captured on film. Henry Finda plays a gutty and imaginative American colonel whose warnings that the Nazis plan to attack go unheeded. Fon da is Fonda and that means a good job. Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews, James Mac Arthur and George Montgomery, among others, all perform adequately as U. S. servicemen. Robert Shaw steals the show, however, as the ruth lessly brilliant leader of the Ger man tank force, one Colonel Hessler. He comes across con vincingly as a steely “war lover.” “The Battle of the Bulge” rates as a fine motion picture, not only for its excitement and realistic action, but also for its revealing characterizations of men on both sides of the front. . . . One of the nicer cinematic sur prises of last year, “The Cincin nati Kid,” has already passed through this way but a belated mention of it is in order. If you like a show that holds you in its grip from the first scene on, see this one. Steve Mc Queen plays The Kid, a pretty fair hand at five-card stud who has drifted down New Orleans way. He takes on The Man, Edward G. Robinson, and their climactic poker game is unveiled with col or and a sense of authenticity. Karl Malden, Ann-Margret e; Tuesday Weld all performil in this taut, entertaining f f ture. . . . Remember all the fanfareak I “The Victors” not too farktl; If you missed it the first till around, you can get anolt shot at it in the M.S.C. Ballral Friday night at 7:30 for35ct[| The film seeks to show! futility of war for the victoil well as the loser and nimki several international film sitsl in its cost. . . . Speaking of second-run 1 first-rate shows, the “Moii That Matter” series is still« tinuing. These films are nd for their significance as well their entertainment value i can be seen free at the I Foundation on the first Wefa day night of each month. Its most recent offering 11 “On the Waterfront”, with Hii Ion Brando. Earlier presentatiil this year have included “1| Hustler” and “On the Beach",.! Read Classifieds Dai LET’S TRADE DON’T LET YOUR BOOKS GO OUT OF DATE. GET FULL VAGUE BY TRADIM? AS SOON AS YOU NO LONGER NEED A BOOK. TRADE FOR WHAT YOU NEED FOR AS LITTLE AS 95c PER BOOK. Loupot's Loafer. IPHEFilMMSE THE CHEVROLET WAY It’s our Turbo-Jet 396: the V8 strong enough to run your Chevrolet and its automatic transmission, power steering, air conditioning, power windows, AM/FM Multiplex Stereo radio. And more. Without even breathing hard. Reason is, a Turbo-Jet V8 breathes deeper. Breathes freer. Delivers more usable power whenever you need it—like for safer passing. Works more efficiently. Where the smaller engine hurries, a Turbo-Jet V8 just loafs along. You try it, at your Chevrolet dealer’s. And nowhere else. We offer two Turbo-Jet 396 V8s for ’66. You can order 325 hp in any Chevrolet; 325 or 360 hp in a Chevelle SS 396. There’s also a 427-cu.-in. Turbo-Jet (up to 425 hp) available in Chevrolets and Corvettes. All kinds of cars, all in one place... at your Chevrolet dealer’s Chevrolet • Chevelle * Chevy II • Corvair • Corvette jEB^j^SSI PEANUTS By Charles M. ScM 40011 NEVER HIT ME BECA05E 400 CAN'T ALL THROW TOGETHER / PEANUTS HA! VOU ) MISSEP cT AGAIN! J 4 ; oo em aren't organized ! 4'0U HAVE NO TEAMUOORK l Mo-'