r*
Law West Of Trigon An Injustice
In examining injustices in the Corps
judicial and discipline system, a likely and
worthy object of investigation is the hap
hazard manner in which Cadets are notified
of their charges and punishments.
Minor infractions, and some major ones,
of the Articles of the Cadet Corps are pun
ished by demerits, and, when enough de
merits are accumulated, the cadet is fur
ther punished by being required to “sign-
in” at the guard room during weekends.
The fault lies, not with the theory of
the system, but in its administration, and
the fault here can only lie with those who
are charged with making the system work.
In more than one case, a cadet has
signed in one or more weekends without
ever knowing the charges against him, much
less have an opportunity to defend himself.
In the past, when a superior “rammed”
a subordinate, it was customary for him to
inform the defendant at the time of the
alleged act what the charge was and what
action was to be taken. Under too many
circumstances now, the person doing the
“ramming” doesn’t tell the accused any
thing about the demerits or charge.
Another fault is the speed in which
demerits are processed. While there seems
to be little delay in putting a cadet’s name
on the punishment list, weeks often go by
before he receives his copy of demerits.
When this situation occurs together with
the one described above, it is easy to see
how a cadet may, though no fault of his
own, completely miss a sign-in period and
find himself even deeper in trouble.
This past weekend a cadet who had re
ceived no demerits found out Friday even
ing that he was to sign-in Saturday and
Sunday. He had not been told by anyone
of the cases against him, yet he was to serve
punishment.
What perversion of justice forces an
accused to serve punishment before he is
even informed of the charge? Under what
legal system did those administering Corps
discipline uncover this atrocity?
Equally a sham is the appeals system
of the Articles'— again, not in theory, but
in practice. Few cadets appeal demerits
under this system, and for good reason. It
is common knowledge that to appeal a
charge, no matter how well-founded the de
fense, is merely a hollow act that usually
results in a reprimand from the authorities,
or at best deaf ears. And this is usually
after the punishment has been served!
In more than one case, officers and ca
det officers have admitted the appealer
was right, but would not erase the demerits.
In one case the cadet officer who signed the
demerits hung up on the accused while he
was discussing the case!
Finally comes one of the most outlandish
wrapings of the Aggie chain of command
ever conceived: subordinates punishing
their superiors!
Only a couple of years ago the only time
one senior rammed a “senior buddy” was
under the direst of circumstances, and the
junior who may have tried to ram a senior
was nothing more than a harmless joke.
Yet today, juniors are ramming seniors, and
with apparent Trigon blessing.
Of course these juniors do not sign the
demerits themselves, and certainly do not
inform those they ram. They are staff
juniors, and have been instructed by their
commanders to issue demerits to seniors
and the commander will sign them.
If it is said the commander is the issu
ing agent, then he is ramming cadets on
hearsay, and this procedure should never be
condoned. Hearsay evidence is not per
mitted in any court, yet these commanders
sign demerits and officers in the Trigon
back them up.
If, on the other hand, it is said juniors
are the issuing agents, then this whole
practice shows through as the sham it
really is. It takes no explanation to anyone
with common sense why subordinates should
not be permitted to discipline their super
iors. What this leads to is more than
apparent, but if it is going to be condoned,
why not let fish ram sophomores and so
on?
The popular phrase among Corps Staff
Juniors now is: “The only thing higher
than a Corps Staff Junior is a Corps Staff
Senior.” The trouble with this is, under
the present warped system, it is too true.
There is no excuse for it.
These “men” are still juniors in a class
system that reserves the top spots for sen
iors. They are also NCO’s in a rank sys
tem that says they are subordinate to of
ficers. So, how does this situation exist?
Through the wishes of the commanders
who encourage it. Without their support,
perversion of the rank system could not
be tolerated.
CADET SLOUCH
by Jim Earle
Jack Williams Faces
Educational Challenges
One of the most difficult positions in
the state, that of commissioner of higher
education, has at last been filled.
Dr. Jack Kenny Williams, now dean
of Clemson University, South Carolina, will
assume his new duties August 1 and will
immediately be faced with some of the most
controversial decisions ever made concern
ing higher education in Texas.
The post pays $15,000 more than the
governer’s salary — $40,000 — and includes
an official residence, but nothing less than
this salary would be fair for a man of such
responsibilities.
The committee searched the nation for
six months, and can be commended for a
job well done in picking Williams. He is
both dean and vice-president for academic
affairs of Clemson, holds master’s and doc
tor’s degrees in history from Emory Uni
versity and has taught at both Emory and
Clemson.
As an out-of-stater he will bring fresh
ideas with Jhim and will have no previous
attachmentsPto any of the schools for which
he will be responsible.
“I believe in coordination of higher edu
cation more than any single thing about
higher education,” he said. “We either must
coordinate or we will enter a realm of
chaos.”
Only by appointing a man of Williams’
character, determination and experience
can Texas make the strides in education it
so deiigently seeks. It is a job well done
on the part of the selection committee, and
we sincerely beseech every Texan to give
his wholehearted support to this man as he
strives to lead The Lone Star State away
from any “realm of chaos.”
ball game! We’re instigating a new tradition! After every
Aggie run we’re let’s just keep it a surprise for
now!”
THE BATTALION
Page 2 College Station, Texas Friday, March 25, 1966
Dabbs Authors New Text
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VIC* f AVJL VUVXCIJ' , kKSKAOf
May, and once a week during summer school.
MEMBER
The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
EDITOR GLENN DROMGOOLE
Associate Editor Larry Jerden
Managing Editor : Tommy DeFrank
Sports Editor Gerald Garcia
News Editor Dani Presswood
Dr. Jack A. Dabbs has au
thored a newly-published text
book, “Spoken Bengali: Standard,
East Bengal.”
Material for the book was pre
pared by the modern language
professor ini East Pakistan under
A&M International Programs and
Ford Foundation sponsorship.
Bengali is the instruction medi
um in the world’s largest college,
the University of Calcutta, which
has over 100,000 students.
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Sunday Matinees & Holidays 2 P.M.
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DON’T FORGET TO SEE
BRENDA
LEE
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1966
7:30 P.M.
G. Rollie White
Coliseum
An MSC Townhall Presentation
This is your chance.
Student #7026941.
Drink Sprite and be
somebody.
MR.
Take heart. Take a dime.
Then take a bottle of Sprite
from the nearest pop
machine.
Suddenly it's in
your hand. Cold.
Biting. Tart and
tingling. You
cackle fiendishly
and rub your
together. (You
should; they're
probably chilled to
the bone by now.
You tear off to a
corner, alone, but
within earshot of
your fellows.
And then? And then? And then you unleash it.
SPRITE! It fizzes! It roars! It bubbles with
good cheer!
Heads turn. Whisperings. "Who's that strangely
fascinating student with the arch smile.And what's
in that curious green bottle that's making such
a racket?"
And you've arrived! The distinctive taste and
ebullient character of Sprite has set you apart.
You're somebody, uh...uh, whoever-you-are.
SPRITE. SO TART AND
TINGLING. WE JUST COULDN'T
KEEP IT QUIET.
REGISTERED TRADE MARK
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