John Platzer
Veep Challenges Critics
(We take you now to the north
east room of the Memorial Stu
dent Center where the vice-presi
dent of bonfiz*© activities, Fallen
Centerpole, is about to address
his fellow Aggies.)
Tonight I want to discuss the
importance of the Aggie bonfire
to the American people. No op
eration depends more on the in
telligent judgment of its workers.
No operation has a more profound
influence over Aggie spirit. No
where in our school are there
fewer checks on vast power. No
where should there be more con
scientious responsibility exercised
than by the bonfire workers. The
question is . . . are we demanding
enough of our bonfire ? . . . And,
are the workers on this project
demanding enough of themselves ?
When the work is completed—
a task that we spend weeks in
preparing—the height, the width
and even the general appearance
is subjected to instant analysis
and querulous criticism. This
criticism comes basically from
two directions. The right and the
left.
It is obvious that these minds
are made up in advance. One
critic twice questioned the amount
of spirit exhibited by this year’s
bonfire. Another challenged the
ability of the Aggies on the grid
iron. A third asserted that “these
bonfires just don’t compare with
those back in the days of ‘old’
army.”
The pux*pose of my remarks to
night is to focus your attention
on this little group of men who
not only enjoy a right of instant
criticism to every bonfire except
THEIRS, but more importantly,
wield a free hand in selecting,
presenting and interpreting the
“Aggie Spirit” to the Nation.
What is behind the Aggie bon
fire? Some say that “a spirit of
university masochism prevails,
encouraged by an effete Corps of
impudent snobs.” This I resent.
Some of the best people on this
campus are in the Corps and they
aren’t encouraged. Of course, as
they say, “if you’ve seen one
Corps, you’ve seen them all.”
These people who have a com
parison to make as each bonfire
is constructed are known by many
names. At times they are known
as two percenters. Other times as
“Sip lovers.” And at still other
times as former students and
exes.
Some have even suggested that
Aggies channel their energies in
to the building of such things as
a playground instead of a bon
fire. That’s right, a playground.
What do they want us to do?
Show our desire to “swing the
hell outta t.u.”
Tonight, I have raised ques
tions. I have made no attempt to
suggest answers. These answers
must come from Aggies. They
are challenged to direct their en
ergy, talent and conviction to
ward improving the quality and
objectivity of their bonfire. They
are challenged to structure their
own civic ethics to relate their
great freedom with their great
responsibility.
I Listen Up the batt forum I
Editor:
Since Bob Peek has taken up
on himself the task of free lance
crusader for the motoring press
via editorializing in The Bat
talion, something should be said
in defense of Texas International
Speedway and its management.
They successfully accomplished
the enormous task of construct
ing the facility in less than nine
months. The vast majority of
their personnel were local people
and did an outstanding job. The
race itself was sanctioned by the
FIA and SCCA and the SCCA
conducted it, which includes
establishing procedures under
which the race was run. I’m sure
there were security problems and
unhappy journalists, including
Mr. Peek, but would you believe
these exist at old established
tracks and races like the Grand
Prix at Monza, Italy, or the Nur-
burgring in Germany ? I assure
you they occur.
The press, in general, is a great
inconvenience to the drivers, crews
trying to work in th'eiz* cars and
race officials. These officials must
remain calm while trying to con
vince some journalists the opti
mum positions for shooting as
signments may be the middle of
the track or the apex of the most
TONIGHT
Aggie Christian Fellowship will
hear the Rev. Hai’old Wells and
Col. Logan Weston present a pan
el on the “Christian View of War
fare” at 5:30 p.m. in Room 145
Physics.
Pennsylvania Hometown Club
will plan a Christmas party at
8 p.m. in the MSC Birch Room.
Hillel Club will meet at 7:30
p.m. in the Hillel House.
Garland Hometown Club will
elect officers at 7:45 p.m. in the
Dorm 1 Lounge.
Sailing Club will meet at 7:30
p. m. in Room 110 Architecture.
THURSDAY
Houston Hometown Club will
dangerous corner, however, some
one, like the driver or the journal
ist, is likely to be killed. The
real pros, like Bernard Cahier,
have vast experience at getting
their stories and will do so under
the most extraordinary circum
stances. Seldom, if ever, are even
allowed the free access to the
course you indicate. It just is
not safe. Who is to decide what
is safe and what isn’t ? It cer
tainly can’t be left up to Johnny-
One-Time Photographer.
I talked with several drivers—
Jack Brabham, Pete R e v s o n,
George Eaton, Bruce McLaren,
Dennis Hulme and others and the
concensus of opinion is the track
needed running in for several
races to improve conditions. TIS
ran one shake-down race several
weeks ago and the NACAR driv
ers had conducted a number of
hours in tire testing prior to the
Can Am. There simply wasn’t
time for more. The drivers said
they would return if there is a
Can Am at TIS next year. Eaton,
in particular, said the track
would become a good one. None
specifically complained about
dust and rocks. I looked over
about ten cars after the race and
didn’t see any unusual chipping
meet at 7:30 p. m. in Room 308
Physics.
Panhandle Hometown Club will
plan for a Christmas party at
9 p. m. in the MSC Art Room.
San Angelo-West Texas Home
town Club will distribute tickets
to the Christmas pai*ty and dance
at 7:30 p. m. in Room 2D MSC.
Brazos County Post 4692 of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars will
have a business meeting at 7:30
p. m. at the Post Home.
....Brazos Ornithological Society
will hear A1 Folweiler discuss
identification of woodpeckers in
Bryan-College Station at 7:30
"p. m. in the Flame Room of the
Lone Star Gas Co.
from loose rocks or other ob
jects on the track.
Admittedly, it was hot. The
only comfortable crew around
was Red Adair’s, whose line of
work is considerably warmer
than Texas weather. It’s really
unfortunate the TIS manage
ment didn’t arrange for a domed
speedway with a constant 72° F.
temperature, 20% humidity, and
a steady 2 m.p.h. wind.
Incidentally, a high ranking
member of the Ferrari crew said
their engines failed due to lack
of enough development time
conflicts with your “dirt in the
fuel” statement.
There are various forms of in
excusable ineptness, Mr. Peek,
and yours is a failure to consid
er the facts and logical reasons
which produced these things you
complain about.
Your Bush League reporting is
far more obvious than the faults
of Texas International Speed
way’s management.
John M. Bozardt, ’61
★ ★ ★
Editor:
It is time for someone to point
out to Professor Davenport that
his recent attempt, via Listen Up,
to start a logic revival here is
quite unnecessary. It is unneeded
because we have something far
superior, namely Tradition. And,
of course, when Tradition holds
full sway there is no need for
logic. Possibly, after a few more
years of contemplation at the feet
of Sul Ross, Professor Davenport
will accept these self-evident
truths.
Unfortunately he may have al
ready “hooked” some persons on
the lesser good of logic. Realiz
ing that these persons may not
be able to quit “cold turkey,” I
will take time, while preparing
Professor Davenpoz*t’s hemlock, to
present them with a small prob
lem: Which is more important?
1) Discussing the future of our
country. 2) Gathering wood for a
bonfire. For which activity are
classes cancelled?
J. J. Malone
Assoc. Professor of
Mathematics
Bulletin Board
€bt Battalion
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Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim
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EDITOR DAVE MAYES
Managing Editor David Middlebrooke
Sports Editor Richard Campbell
Assistant Sports Editor Mike-Wright
Staff Writers Tom Curl, Janie Wallace, Jay F.
Goode, Pam Troboy, Steve For
man, Gary Mayfield, Payne-
Harrison, Raul Pineda, Hayden
Whitsett, Clifford Broyles, Pat
Little, Tim Searson, Bob
Robinson
Columnists Monty Stanley, Bob Peek, John
Platzer, Gary McDonald
Photographers Steve Bryant, Bob Stump
Sports Photographer Mike Wright
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“I’m just a freshman and haven’t worked on a Bonfire,
but I can’t see how these guys can be getting ready for
it! All they’re doing is sortin’ medical supplies!”
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