i I
Colimms
• Editorials
• News Briefs
Che Battalion
Page 2
College Station, Texas
Thursday, March 31, 1966
• Opinions
• Cartoons
Features
Cadet Court Questioned
Senate Inquiry Urged
The recent controversy concerning the
administration of justice through the
Cadet Court has caused many to wonder
about how just the whole system really is.
While no one has argued that the sys
tem itself is not a good one, there seems
to be widely divergent opinions as to how
fairly this system has been put into ef
fect.
Noting that such controversies are
handled on a Federal level through some
sort of Congressional investigation, it may
be wise to apply this precedent to the local
problems at hand. While there are charges
flying back and forth concerning the fair
ness of the court, only an impartial investi
gation will ever be able to clear the air once
and for all.
The Student Senate could — and should
— hold such an investigation.
Those directly involved with the court
and in the higher echelons of the Corps
would likely be too concerned with defend
ing themselves to hold unbiased views, as
would be the officers advising the Corps.
A group of lower-ranking Cadets would, on
Reynolds'
VC
ap
the other hand, have a tendency to be pre
judiced by inherent mistrust and envy of
“the powers that be.”
As in national life, only a civilian body
has the impartiality and manpower to
handle such a task. On our campus, the
student government fills this bill.
The Student Senate has, as its juris
diction, all aspects of student life, covering
both the military and civilian members of
its constituency. A court which has the
power to sentence a student to a year’s
conduct probation and severe liberty re
strictions should certainly be the concern
of the Student Senate.
To those who doubt the Senate’s author
ity to hold such an investigation, we can
only say that until the Senate at least tries
to exercise some power, it will never have
any.
We sincerely urge the Student Senate of
Texas A&M to take such steps, or at least
bring it to the floor for discussion. This
could be a golden opportunity to test the
true worth and power of that assembly, to
break fromits reputation as a body “full of
sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
This may also be the time to consider
a civilian court system, where civilian stu
dents could be tried for charges by their
student equals. Cadets accused of non-mili
tary offenses would also be subject of such
a court.
- By Mike Reynolds
Who are those souls that wander around cam
pus with that far away look in their eye?
Step up to one of them and ask the magic
question.
“How long?”
“Well, it’s about 60 days. If you don’t mind
round numbers. Of course I can tell you that
it is 57 days, 15 hours and thirty-three minutes
until the event.”
This race breed of walking computer is better
known as a graduating senior. He may be identi
fied by the aforementioned glazed appearance of
his eyes, a string with 57 knots in it, an admission
ticket to the Graduate Record Exam or an acute
fear of the Richard Coke Building.
The tension usually starts building as the
young man runs into the Fiscal Office at 12:01 on
March 1 and badgers the cashier into accepting his
graduation fees just one minute late. The eight
dollars disappears down the little bottomless hole
in the vault and the applicant is handed a slip of
paper that states he has paid three dollars for a
diploma and five for the Graduate Record Exam.
From March 1 on, any note of summons to the
Coke Building, or even more, to the Registrar’s
Office, brings a cold sweat to the senior’s forehead.
He has heard so many stories about the people that
are just one hour short or they still haven’t paid
for a book they lost when they were a fish. They
couldn’t all be fabrications. They just couldn’t.
Then the GRE rolls around and the men leav
ing school, never to return again, greet the Sat
urday as one day wasted. They could care less
what they make and usually determine their ans
wers by the flip of a coin. The April crowd is
usually limited to this group since anyone really
interested in getting into Grad school took the
quiz in November. But the test must be taken and
the grade recorded for all future generations to
marvel at. Besides, staying on campus one week
end can help save money for the blowout after
graduation.
Two weeks before dead week, the graduating
seniors can be identified by the pile of books
upon their backs as they struggle with the “final”
that they aren’t supposed, to take, but most pro
fessors hate to let you get away so easily, so ... .
The graduating senior is the one that goes
up to the professor every day for the next two
weeks and asks, “Are you sure you turned in my
grade?” No matter what the answer, he doesn’t
stop asking. You can never be too sure.
Then, during dead week, the senior is the
bearded, bleary-eyed soul in the back of the
room with his feet propped up on the chair in
front and his face hidden behind a Batman comic
book. Around his neck is a sign that says, “In
case of emergency, take me to East Gate.” He
will not sleep for the entire week, and will be a
reasonable critic of all the movies that happen
to be playing for the duration of the waiting
period. The profs ignore him, the other students
hate him, his parents are proud of him, his de
partment head is waiting.
“What happened to your basketweaving grade ?
You got an F.”
After words such as those are delivered, the
man on the floor is not a graduating senior. Do
not kick him. Pity him. You may have to live
with him next semester and put up with the whole
thing over again.
Editor,
The Battalion,
The misconceptions resulting from The Bat
talion’s editorializing of events surrounding the
case of the Corps of Cadets vs. Charles M. Martin
seem to necessitate some clarification of this
issue.
These misconceptions resulted first because
neither The Battalion nor any of those who
have voiced most of the disapproval of the handl
ing of the case have had all the facts at their
disposal. There was no Battalion reporter at the
trial, although Cadet Court rules do not prohibit
their attendance. None of the critics whose letters
appeared in Tuesday’s Battalion were at the trial
and none have read the record of the trial. It
would seem that persons seemingly so interested
in the case would at least have attended the trial.
Perhaps this indicates something about most of
these criticisms — they were totally unfounded.
The Martin case was handled like every other
Cadet Court case, and the Court arrived at a
verdict and sentence which it considered to be
just. The fact that the case was appealed should
in no way be taken as a disapproval of Cadet
Court procedural system, for it was this very
system which some are so quick to criticize, that
permitted such an appeal.
The appeal was handled fairly and a just
review was given the case by Col. Baker and
Maj. Walker. But this same review procedure
is followed in every Cadet Court case, and was
in no way unique to the Martin case. Had The
Battalion never voiced an opinion about the case,
the same action would, in all probability, have
resulted from the appeal.
The chief effect of The Battalion’s editorial
was to air erroneous conclusions and half-truths
to people who were not acquainted with the proce
dure of Cadet Court or the facts of the case. It
in no way aided Cadet Martin’s appeal, and if
anything, prejudiced it in the minds of some
who were aware of the actual procedure and
facts.
It is true, as far as I am able to discern,
that some court members should have disquali
fied themselves from hearing the case, and that
some of the specifications of the charges to which
Cadet Martin was found quilty were not proved
beyond a reasonable doubt. But the established
appelate structure provided, as it does in all
cases, a proper avenue to rectify these errors.
It would seem from this point of view, that
parhaps The Battalion should examine its policy
regarding the coverage of any future Cadet Court
cases. It is easy to draw conclusions and make
accusations on the basis of some of the facts,
but when all the facts are available, a greater
skill in analysis and reasoning is required. Per
haps The Battalion could find an editorial writer
possessing these skills. To do so would certainly
be advantageous to both alleviating the reputa
tion for irresponsible journalism which The Batta
lion is getting in many quarters, and to the other
wise innocent institutions and personages which
are subjected to scathing attacks based on emo
tional and often biased interpretations of part
of the facts, rather than mature evaluations of
all the facts.
Simeon T. Lake III
THE BATTALION
Opinions expressed in The Battalion
are those of the student writers 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.
Tie Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use Tor
dedication of all news dispatches credited to it or not
otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous
iblished herein. Rights of republieation of all other
are also reserved.
origin publis
matter herei
natter herein
Second-Clas
is postage paid at College Station, Texas.
News contributions may be made 1
or 846-4910 or at the editorial office, R
For advertising or delivery call 846-6416.
by telephoning 846-6618
:oom 4, YMCA Building.
in ; jjr. uavm rsowers, i^onege or j-ioerai Arts ;
Robert A. Clark, College of Geosciences ; Dr. Frank A. Mc
Donald, College of Science; Dr. «J. G. McGuire, College of
Members of the Student Publications Board are: Joe Baser,
lirman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of Lil
'la:
leg
I •
nd Dr.
The Battalion, a student
iblished in College Static:
chairman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of Liberal Arts ; Dr.
A
College of Science; Li. -.
Engineering; Dr. Robert S. Titus,
Medicine;
Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school
rear; $6.60 per full year. All subscriptions subject
i. McGuire, Uollege of
College of Veterinary
B. Wooten, College of Agriculture.
newspaper
Texas da
at
published in College Station, Texas daily except Saturday,
Sunday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September through
May, and once a week during summer school.
MEMBER
The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
Texas A&M Is
except Saturday,
nationally
Inc., New York City, Chici
Represented
by National Advertising Service,
ago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
EDITOR GLENN DROMGOOLE
Managing' Editor Tommy DeFrank
Associate Editor ... Larry Jerden
Sports Editor Gerald Garcia
News Editor Dani Presswood
Amusements Editor Lani Presswood
Staff Writers Robert Solovey, Mike Berry
Sports Writer Larry Upshaw
Photographer Herky Killingsworth
CADET SLOUCH
by Jim Earle Aggie Ah' FOUCe
Leads In Cadets
“Since you didn’t say what size to make the enlarge
ment . . . !”
Col. Raymond C. Lee, Professor of Aerospace Studies
at A&M, has recently announced that this institution has
received the largest quota of advanced Air Force contracts
in the nation.
Lee reported that 132 Aggie juniors will be contractec
next fall. Ohio State is the second largest AFR0TC school
with 120 Cadets to receive their commission agreements
in the autumn of 1966.
One point was made clear by Lee: This announcemen!
from the Air Force will have no effect on the Aggie train
ing program.
A hearty “well-done” should go to the Air Force detact-
ment here in Aggieland for their supurb job during ths
last two years. They have toughened the requirements
for contracts while lowering the classification needed to
take the qualification test from sophomore to freshman.
This lets the Cadet know a year earlier where they stand
with the Air Force and gives them another chance at the
test later.
At the same time, the scholastic requirements for con
tract have been upped and will be 1.1 next fall. This
insures the Air Force that the Cadets to whom they devote
their training time and money are more likely to leave
A&M as officers.
“The Air Force needs only 4,500 new officers in 19®
to meet authorized strength,” Lee commented. “This ceil
ing makes only the best qualified students eligible and
will upgrade the commissioning program.”
By continuing the A&M tradition of an officer-train
ing program stiffer than that of the normal R0TC sc
the Air Force detachment here will help keep the reputa
tion of Aggie officers unblemished.
FRYERS H? 29S
FRESH GROUND MEAT 2, b „ 89c JlJ - %
Swift’s — Sliced ' ^
BACON ,ur;: r Lb. 59c w*,
Fresh
PORK STEAK _ u,.59c
T n Rri«ikpt I Fresh—Pure
STEW MEAT , „ 45c PORK SAUSAGE
.59.
MELLORINE 8 i *1 0#
RC COLAS 12 K 49«
Grade A Medium
EGGS 2 Lz. 89'
SCAT DOG FOOD Can 5c
ROSED ALE SLICED PEACHES Flat Can 10c
SOFTEX PAPER NAPKINS Box 10c
BLUE SEAL OLEO 5-Lbs. For $1.00
Libby’s
CATSUP 4 $1.00
FRESH PRODUCE
^g|!|j|g|. California White
iJilL Potatoes
8 - 29 c
EAST TEXAS YAMS „5c
FIRM GREEN CABBAGE „5c
SUNKIST LARGE LEMONS , J9c
RED ROME APPLES lJ9c
MIX ANY 7 CANS
30(Oi Size—Renown
TOMATOES 7
303 Size—Renown
CUT BEANS 7
303 Size—Alma New
POTATOES 7
300 Size—Kitchen Kraft BLACK EYE
PEAS 7
Large 2 , /£ Size—Unde Williams
HOMINY 7
303 Size—^Alma
SPINACH 7
303 Size—Libby’a
CUT BEETS 7
303 Size—LeGrande Cream Style
CORN 7
$
F
0
R
Rosedale
Frozen
ORANGE JUICE
6 - 6-Oz. Cans $1.00
Nabisco
VANILLA
WAFERS
12-Oz. Box 35c
STORE HOURS 7 A. M. TO 9 P. M. — OPEN SUNDAYS
Winns
All Quantity Rights Reserved
"/OU CAN'T Lost AT WINN'S"
r SUPER MARKET
3800 Texas Ave.
SAVE
Big Bonus
Stamps at
WINN’S
PEANUTS
By Charles M. Schuli
PEANUTS
/ THl£ 15 THE
ONE MOMENT OF
THE YEAR I
this 1$ the i
RR5T TIME I
CLIMB UP ON
THATOL' PITCHER'S
MOUNP.. j
THIS THE MOMENT OF MOMENTS.,
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW 5EA^0N...
THIS IS A MOMENTTO SAVOR
TH006HTf(JLLV’..A MOMENT TO...
SETUP THERE AND PITCH,
YOU BLOCKHEAD]