. ..... . . Editor, The Battalion: I write this letter in response to Mr. Teipel’s lamentation of the demise of the “Old Army Aggie.” My intent is not to at tack what he has said so much as it is to present a view with a different and (I hope) more real istic perspective. I suppose that it might be in order at this point for me to state my ‘qualifications’ as a non-reg to speak about Aggie Spirit. I have more than a pass ing familiarity with the spirit Mr. Teipel speaks of, having been a member of the outfit which justly claims to be the last of ‘Old Army’—Spider D. My ring is inscribed “A&M College of Texas” and there’s a ‘64’ on top, and I point out that it has not been, nor will it ever be, defiled with the addition of a diamond. I’m an old Batt-man—was man aging editor one summer. Actual ly, I could probably fill the Batt with “spirit qualifications”—for instance, I got two other Ags together in Saigon in April of ’65 and we three held the first Aggie Muster in Vietnam—but that’s not my purpose here. Suf fice it to say that I think I know what -this spirit business is all about. Judging from his letter, Mr. Teipel is a member of this insti tution’s perennial group (there’s been one every year for the past 92 years) which bitterly bitches about Old Army going to hell, and steadfastly opposes any change as unthinkable deviation from tradition. He and his ‘se lect’ group smugly regard them selves as all that’s left of the “True Aggie,” and I imagine that the gouges made by their boot heels in dragging their feet as the leaders of this institution and student body try to bridge the Corps-Civlian gap are consid erable. To take his letter pretty much in the order it was written, I’d like to say the following: The Batt has not changed “in a few years from the student news paper to an administration rag.” What it has done is evolve into a university and community news paper, edited and operated by students practicing responsible journalism. Granted, it isn’t quite as exciting as the L. A. Free Press, but neither is it as irres ponsible. His comment about ‘academic excellence’ leads me to believe that anything I could say about that would be so much straw in the wind to him. About student body unity though—why not? Why do you think the idea is a farce, Teipel ? If you’ve paid any attention at all in your military history class es, you’ll recall that historically, it’s the unified groups who came out ahead. The second paragraph begins with what must be a list of things bugging Mr. Teipel, but the sen tence structure as printed is un grammatical and the intents' is unclear. There are four points here I’d like to comment on, though. “Civilians wearing part of the Aggie uniform”—it may well be that should Mr. Teipel investi gate, he’d find that persons wear ing those buckles or shirts or whatever, are at least as quali fied as he, or in most cases, a little more so, to wear them. Al though I don’t wear my old belt & buckle to yell practice, there are a number of us who would find it most interesting to be challenged by a man who’s been here perhaps SVz years, should we elect to do so. “Standing on the wood”—now here’s a legitimate bitch, finally. Standing on the seats in Kyle Field is a recognized senior privi lege, and the word simply hasn’t gotten out to all the non-reg LISTEN UP I the batt forum underclassmen. It is being worked on, though. “The Senior Boot Line”—that Mr. Teipel would deny the civi lian senior the right to partici pate in this demonstration of sup port for our team is utterly and absolutely indefensible. “The plea for a ‘Special Ef fort’ ”—well, J. R., here’s where I agree with you—not in your choice of words, certainly, but in idea. The day that the Aggie Spirit actually needs a call for a ‘special effort’ by the powers- that-be is the day that you can say with validity that the Sprit of Aggieland has truly died and gone to hell. (May that day never come . . .) But since you’re sling ing mud on the civilians, let me fling a small clod back at you at this point by saying that I can’t recall a single incident at A&M more cookie-pushing than the business of you guys ordering the underclassmen into the night to paper the campus with little note-paper “wreck Tech” signs. The observation was made that an Aggie T-shirt, attending a convenient yell practice, and an occasional howdy don’t make an Aggie. Okay, the civilian has no uniform to indentify him as an Ag. He wants to show that he’s a part of that group—that he has pride in his school. What’s wrong with the Aggie T-shirt you so disdain, Teipel? As for the “con venient” yell practice, do you pro fess the belief that all those troops would be there if they weren’t afraid of being raped blind by the class above them if they weren’t? Come on, Ag, who’s putting on who? The oc casional howdy is in the same vein—does that fish say howdy to the sergebutt out of a feel ing of goodwill and overwhelm ing love of his fellowman ? Be real . . . I believe his remarks that he finds it inconceivable how any one can be an Aggie without participating in the Corps of Cadets, and that “Aggie” means “Corps” come from a sincere be lief—and that’s unfortunate, be cause it’s out of step with the world around him. Several years back, there were a number of people in A&M’s hierarchy who were concerned about the future of A&M. At that time, the handwriting was on the wall—cut out this “route step” business and move toward an objective if you want to sur vive. A group of 100 Aggie Exes was appointed to the “Century Committee,” and their task was to evaluate where we’ve been, where we are, and where we want to go. And they fulfilled that task. They saw an unparallelled history as an outstanding land grant, all male, military, agri cultural and mechanical college. They saw also that at that time the college was in fact, a univer sity. A sort of slipshod, loose-at- the-ends, going-nowhere-in-parti- cular university, resting on the reputation of those who had gone before, and turning out rubber stamp graduates with rubber stamp minds into a world that doesn’t need any more rubber stamps. Well, they decided that A&M had a greater destiny than to turn out good soldiers, and they acted on that decision. So, we have a new name, new co education, new non - compulsory Corps, new facilities, new objec tives and a new vigor in moving toward these objectives. Things which stand between where we are and where we want to be are going to be changed—either modified or discarded. This is the fate of “Old Army” and “Spirit” as Pinky knew it, as Earl Rud der knew it, as Ed Cooper knew it, as I knew it, as Teipel knows it and as the Fighting Texas Ag gie Class of ’72 will know it and their children after them. To sur vive and grow, you adapt, that’s all. To maintain identity you re tain the essence of what you are, but all else must be flexible, or you begin to stagnate. Compare traditions to barna cles on a ship, if you will. A new ship has none, and moves pretty well. It lacks “character”, though. An older ship has some, and can make headway, but is hindered somewhat. A ship laden with them is crippled though, so you chip some off and you go again. Chip them all off, and you may find that they were holding the ship together! So, Mr. Teipel, why don’t you and the others who think as you do begin to consider what you’re concerned about from a more overall standpoint ? Pull your head out from where it is and stand above the herd for awhile— look around and see where every body’s going. Try to find out why there are so many headed that way when you’re headed this way. If you really want to get something done about it, there are far more effective ways than wailing in the Batt. Tom Harrover ★ ★ ★ Editor, The Battalion: From the tone of Mr. Teipel’s letter in the Oct. 18 Batt, I must conclude that his “The Aggie Spirit is a state of mind” is synonymous with “The Seventh Degree of Concentration” em ployed by Captain Shotover in G. B. Shaw’s Heartbreak House— not to mention other similarities that possibly might be drawn. I thank you for your space, and remain Tim O’Hara 303 Montclair ★ ★ ★ Editor, The Battalion: I am writing, as I am sure many other AGGIES are doing, to take issue with certain com ments expressed by Mr. Teipel in the letter printed in Friday’s is sue of the Batt. I am a freshman and a civilian. I hope Mr. Teipel will not throw his paper away upon reading this. First, I object to calling the Batt “an administration rag scarcely worthy of toilet tissue.” I live in Davis-Gary Dorm and I can testify that five minutes after the Batt is delivered, over half of the issues have already been taken. By 6:30 p.m., only a few papers are left. This is proof that many AGGIES de pend on the Batt to furnish them with the latest campus news. The Batt does a much better job of this than most school newspapers I have read. SECONDLY, AND this is the most important, I object to Mr. Teipel’s obvious definition of Ag gie Spirit as Corps Spirit. I be- Tonight On KBTX 6:00 News, Weather & Sports 6:30 Great Pumpkin Brown Charlie 7:00 Jim Nabors Special 8:00 Thursday Night Movie “Harum Scarum ” 10:00 News, Weather & Sports 10:40 Alfred Hichcock 11:10 Wells Fargo GOT A DATE FOR THE WEEKEND (OR WANT A DATE) BUT NO DOUGH Then see us for a personal loan Build your credit for future use UNIVERSITY LOAN COMPANY 317 Patricia (North Gate) College Station, Texas Tel: 846-8319 -||rc(T\v\rc-\L. Jhemi • Stationery, books, cards • baby albums • shower invitations • baby announcements • shower centerpieces • napkins, cups, plates etc. AGGIELAND FLOWER AND GIFT SHOPPE 209 University Drive THE BATTALION O-pinions expressed in The Battalion £ ‘u “* SS are those of the student Winters only. otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous The Battalion is a non-tax-supported, non- Crefn^^e^fio' ° f republication of a11 other profit, self-supporting educatio'nal enter- Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. prise edited and operated by students as Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school a university and community newspaper. ti®' 6 ° Advert,“sin K y “Iie furnish^SnTqu^Ad^rwfl The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building. College Station, Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Texas 77843. Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of Liberal Arts,: F- S- White, Co’lege of Engineering; Dr. Donald R. EDITOR JOHN W. FULLER Clarx, Co lege of Veterinary Medicine; and Hal Taylor, Col- »» _ -n lege Of Agriculture. Managing Editor Dave Mayes Sports Editor John Platzer u/ln. Batta * k :r- 8 £} u ?. ejn "ewspaper at Texas A&M is City Editor Mike Wright published in College Station, Texas daily except Saturday, XT t^.,. td v n i _ Sunday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September through INeWS Lialtor - tiOu Calmer May, and once a week during summer school. Staff Columnists John McCarroll, Mike Plake, Monty Stanley, Jan Moulden MEMBER Staff Writers Tom Curl, Dale Foster, Tim The Associated Press. Texas Press Association Searson, Steve Wick, Janie Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising A cdc-font ^ a ^ aC6 ’ Services. Inc., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Assistant Sports Editor Richard Campbell Francisco. Photographer W. R. Wright lieve that although Aggie Spirit originated with the Corps, it is not restricted to it. He defines Aggie Spirit as a state of mind, and I agree wholeheartedly. Lip service, whether by civilians or members of the Corps, is all too common. But among the non-regs as well as in the Corps there are those who swell with pride when they hear “The Spirit.” There are those who experienced an indes cribable feeling when they hear “The War Hymn.” And there are those who believe that a degree from A&M means more than a degree from any other university. I acknowledge that these three examples do not in themselves constitute Aggie Spirit, but they are ample evidence of its exis tence among the civilian student body. BECAUSE OF the efforts of such people as Hector Gutierrez and Bill Carter, who recognize the need for a united student body, the Aggie Spirit (suck it up, Mr. Teipel) is being rejuvenated. I submit that although I have been here a short time and can not possibly have experienced the full meaning of Aggie Spirit, I have had the seed planted in me. In four years when I receive my degree, I will be just as much, no more, of an Aggie as my friends in the Corps are. In conclusion, I wonder just how fully Mr. Teipel understands what the Aggie Spirit is. He stated that “Aggie — means Corps!” I submit that Aggie— means Aggie! Roger Miller ’72 “Maybe you’d be interested in investing in my enterprise to manufacture these little items—guaranteed to give more sleep during class.” ROW AFTER ROW !ElH F i VALUES ARE BIG u.s.No.l Rosssr CREArn'i U’H/re 5UOAn=Miuf\ che>/ce chuck ROAST $£ filCOA f<-/C£TD J BACON ^ 69 FRANKS bLAJ>£ CsUT 4 U£AN T&tiPCR km S'TE'H 45‘ “TQ’ REDEEM AT BROOKSHIRE BROS. 100 EXTRA TOP VALUE STAMPS With Purchase of $10.00 or More (Excluding Cigarettes) • One Per Family Coupon Expires Oct. 26, 1968. PEANUTS isy Duanes M. OTHMARfTHE U STDPENT IN ,-s FRONT OF ME? VK MA'AM...I KNOW WHERE HE LIVES.. IUTAKE HIM HOME. |‘M SOW, SNOOfV.. I DON'T BLAME YOO FOR BEING OFFENDED.. SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE REFERREP TO WO AS “THE FONNY-LOOKING KID WITH THE BI6N0SE" v/VtA