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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1966)
Che Battalion COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1966 Number 318 KAY ARNOLD . . . David Miller BEVERLEY BROWN ... Charles Kluge ROSEMARY MAUK . . . William Galloway CAROL CATER ...John Gay NANCY RHODES ... Frank H. Markey DONNA LEBLANC . . . Butch Pavelka ' JANNA DURARD ... Roland Smith PATTI DYE . . Rick Graham JANE RAMSEY . . . Don E. Allen NORENE DALTON . . . James Dalton Suspended Hazing Upperclassmen Charged With Freshmen Beatings Eighteen upperclassmen from Company E-l were sus pended from Texas A&M Thursday after violating uni versity regulations regard ing physical hazing. Seven seniors, including the commanding officer, four juniors and seven sopho mores were dismissed after they admitted beating fresh men in the unit with brooms. Dean of Students James P. Hannigan announced the sus pensions after consultation with Col. D. L. Baker, Com mandant of the Corps. Cadets affected include George L. Eastman, James A. Dimock, Louis S. Trapo- lino, William J. Singleton, Miro A. Pavelka, Angel Saenz Jr. and Oscar E. Pena, seniors, and juniors Olin V. Harvey, Eloy Garcia, George B. Davis and Joel Aldape. Sophomores suspended are Daniel L. Bailey, Matthew Dikeman, Michael C. Feehan, George J. Kacal, Roger D. Payne, Link E. Summers and Sanford T. Ward. The disciplinary action is effective at once but all stu dents will be permitted to complete this semester’s course work. SOME OF the students in volved were expected to file appeals today with the Uni versity Appeals Committee. THE SUSPENSION order carries with it automatic dis missal from the Corps of Cadets, and all students were to have moved into civilian dormitories immediately. “We are extremely disap pointed with this outbreak of hazing in the Cadet Corps,” Hannigan said. “The university cannot and will not whitewash illegal activi ties on the part of irrespons- Senior Ring Dance, Vanity Fair Top Weekend Activity SHARON ANN LANE . . . James E. Neely WHITNEY VICKERS . . . John S. McMath By ROBERT SOLOVEY Battalion Sports Writer Twas the week before finals and all through the campus not a creature was stirring — except graduating seniors, who are pre paring to celebrate their last big weekend of activities at A&M. Festivities begin at 7 p.m Fri day with the annual Press Club Banquet and continue at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with the Senior Ring Dance and Banquet. The Press Club will select six finalists and six runner-ups in the Vanity Fair competition in the ballroom of the Memorial Stu dent Center to highlight the smorgasbord and special appreci ation awards. Semi-finalists from which A&M journalists will make their selec tions will include Kay Arnold, Beverley Brown, Carol Cater, Norene Dalton, Patti Dye, Janna DuRard, Sharon Ann Lane, Donna LeBlanc, Rosemary N. Mauk, Jane Ramsey, Nancy Rhodes and Whitney Vickers. The 1965-66 student publica tions editors will be awarded watches for their service during the past year. Keys and citations will also be presented to staff members. Humorist Newt Hielscher will be the guest speaker at the Senior Banquet preceding the 8:30 p.m Senior Ring Dance in Sbisa Hall Saturday. The banquet will be in Duncan Dining Hall. For more than 15 years Hiels cher has appeared as guest speak er or master of ceremonies before various conventions, banquets, and sports and service meetings. He spoke at a recent A&M football banquet and has enter tained audiences throughout Tex as and Louisiana. Hielscher has been billed as a comedian with “an enjoyable pace” and “the humorist with a message.” After appearing before a group in Louisiana an official remarked: “The best performance I’ve seen by an after dinner speaker’ When a man can command the attention and interest of that size group, after an already long program, he has something to be proud of.” Seniors will reverse their rings and allow the year to face out ward at the Senior Ring Dance. Buddy Brock and a 24-piece orchestra with a female vocalist First Bank & Trust now pays 4%% per annum on savings cer tificates. —Adv. will provide the music. The theme of the dance is “Our Years at A&M.” The ballroom will be decorated in the Aggie tradition, with rep resentations of such symbols as bonfire, senior boots and Sully. The dance will end at 12:30 a.m. Pictures will cost $10.50 with $1 for extra prints. The Vanity Fair finalists will appear in the 1966 Aggieland and will be presented at the Senior Ring Dance. Seniors can also take advantage of the Senior A-Go Groad which will be at the Bryan Country Club at 8:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are available at the door. Battalion Presses Honor Dead Week The presses will slow down next week as the Battalion comes out only two times. Giving staff members an op portunity to rest and study for finals, papers will be produced Tuesday and Thursday of dead week. During Final Week the Bat talion will come out but one time, June 2, and the first summer is sue will roll out June 9. ible groups. “The more responsible leadership element in the student body, both Corps and civilians, must exert their influence to eliminate these practices which hurt A&M far more than they imagine at present.” The suspensions vary in severity, with juniors receiv ing the harshest punishment and sophomores the lightest. SENIORS eligible for graduation May 28 will not be permitted to receive their diplomas but may apply for reinstatement and enroll ment in absentia no earlier than the second summer ses sion. If their applications are approved they may re ceive degrees in August 1966. Juniors will not be permit ted to apply for readmission until the spring semester of 1967, while sophomores can not attend summer sessions and must reapply for admis sion in the fall. Each case will be judged on its own merits. All students under advanc ed ROTC contract had their contracts terminated but may reapply for a contract upon their acceptance for re admission into the univer sity. The hazing incident was brought to the attenion of Department of Military Sci ence officials through an anonymous source Wednes day. Baker and two other officers went to the unit’s dorm and inspected freshmen and found several with sev ere bruises. First Brigade unit com manders were ordered late Wednesday to turn in to the Commandant’s office lists of all freshmen with bruises apparently received from brooms. Some units in the brigade did report cases of SEVERAL other units, in cluding the combined band and some Air Force squad rons, conducted freshman in spections Thursday night with similar results as those found in the First Brigade. Company E-l is housed in the north dormitory area, the scene of water fights and friction between Corps and civilian segments of the stu dent body earlier this semes ter. University regulations call for suspension or dismissal of students who participate in acts of physical hazing, in cluding the use of a board or other instruments. 1966-67 DRUM MAJORS Lt. Col. E. V. Adams, director of the Texas Aggie Band, has named as drum majors for next year head William M. Hensley, center, Maroon Band Freeman J. Jarrell, left, and White Band Donald C. Burleson Jr. AN EDITORIAL A Good Time For Fairness The perpetual plague of the Corps of Cadets has once again reared its ugly head for the state’s inspection. The latest outbreak of physical hazing and the swift manner in which offenders were dealt with should make it painfully and perfectly clear that those charged with the responsibility of enforcing regulations intend to do just that. The application of justice, however, oftentimes is not administered in the most equitable manner possible, and the case in point is no exception. There can be no disputing the fact that the accused individuals are in fact guilty of physical hazing, and The Battalion cannot defend their actions. The regulations concerning physical hazing are well known by every individual in the Corps. The punishment for violation of the rules is spelled out in detail. And every cadet, even before he picks up a broomhandle or curtain rod or coat hanger, knows the consequences of his action if he is ever caught. There can be no place in the Corps of Cadets for per sons who thrive on physical hazing as an integral part of the ritual of Corps life, and such individuals should be punished when apprehended. But if punishment is to be rendered, it must be meted out to all offenders in proportion to the offense. The article to the left of this editorial lists the names of 18 cadets suspended for physical hazing. Some of these individuals are guilty to a disgusting extent and should be punished accordingly. Others have indulged in hazing to a small degree and still others are “first offenders,” yet regardless of the frequency of their actions all are technically guilty. Still certain inconsistencies cannot be overlooked. Many seniors will walk across the stage of G. Rollie White Coliseum a week from Saturday who have violated the hazing statute more flagrantly than any of the 18. Yet they will graduate on time while three seniors will not be permitted to join them. Many seniors-to-be, including some in command posi tions, will retain their rank although some would be dis missed from school at once if their actions were discovered. And if the Administration desired to rid the Corps of all upperclassmen who have practiced or condoned haz ing this year, there would be no shortage of dormitory space next fall. Those who are being made to bear the brunt of an evil much too prevalent throughtout the Corps are those who have had the dignity and decency to admit they are wrong. Many offenders will remain unscathed at the expense of these honest 18. Yesterday’s action leads us to believe that a rash of hazing has erupted on campus, but it is no secret that similar occurrences have been fairly regular at other times and in other units this year. Remaining pockets of hazing proponents must be eli minated if the Corps is to ever realize its potential, but this will take more than making examples of 18 cadets. In some units hazing is still considered an accepted principle and occupational hazard of life at Aggieland. Sophomores who were beaten as freshmen have been brain washed into believing such action is standard operating pro cedure. By their junior year they are encouraged by seniors who support hazing and participate with them. Each sub sequent class of freshman follows the example of the upperclassmen and thus physical hazing is perpetuated. The Corps has enjoyed a fine year thus far. Conduct at athletic events has been unusually good and the Corps has even been complimented by student bodies of other schools for its outstanding behavior at times this year. But the respect and good will engendered this year are now wiped out as media carry the story of another unfor tunate incident to the people of Texas and the nation. There must emerge in the Corps more leaders with enough maturity, responsibility and plain common sense to realize that the lingering remnants of physical hazing must be destroyed, whatever the cost. The battle must be won from within, and the victory is yet to come. Senate Passes Political Groups By JOHN B. FULLER Battalion Staff Writer The newly-elected Student Sen ate, meeting for the first time Thursday, unanimously passed a motion indicating support for the admission of political clubs on campus. The measure was introduced by Parliamentarian Dan Fischer who called for a stand by the new body “in order to keep this mat ter before the administration.” “There are thousands of stu dents in this University who want political clubs on campus,” said senior senator Dick Franklin in support of the measure. “We owe it to these people to repre sent their views here.” The motion endorses the ad ministration - proposed political forum “as a step forward in the interest of student education,” but stresses that the Senate does not consider it “the only alternative to political clubs.” Much of the meeting was de voted to a discussion of the water fight situation. Terry Aglietti reminded that the Senate Execu tive Committee had earlier dis cussed the problem at great length and were unable to reach a decision on what action might be taken. “I’m sure there’s a solution,” he said. “We just couldn’t come up with it. We need your ideas.” Dean of Students James P. Hannigan said the drownouts caused the largest amounts of damage suffered in the spring vandalism. “When expenses run to three or four thousand dollars for dormi tory repairs, these activities cease to be fun,” he said. “I’m sure there will be objections when we hand the student body a bill for that amount, but I’m afraid it’s likely.” Commenting on proposals to reduce Corps-civilian tension through intramural playoffs or administration - backed water fights, Aglietti said “any sort of planned activity would accomplish nothing.” “Water fights are purely spon taneous actions,” he went on. “A student doesn’t stop to consider the effects of what he’s doing; logic never enters into it. It just seems that people get these mo mentary urges during this part of the year.” Suggestions from several sen ate members generally favored reduction of the rivalry through persuading incoming students that “we’re all Aggies — Corps and civilians alike,” as Aglietti pointed out. Speeches to this ef fect by Senate President Barney Fudge and other campus leaders on All-College Night in addition to direction from unit command ers and civilian counselors, were named as possible methods of in fluencing the new freshmen. I