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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1969)
Pag-e 2 College Station, Texas Thursday, December 18, 1969 THE BATTALI^DN Robinson’s Crusoe By Bob Robinson Snowflakes were starting to fill the twin beams of light that pierced the darkness ahead. The forecast on the radio had been correct. It had said flurries of snow mixed with rain, possibly turning to ice. Bill slowed down slightly and switched on his interior light so he could see the time. He turned the light off. 3 a.m. 50 miles to go. The neon lights of the all-night cafe flashed by him, gone almost before they were noticed. Bill slowed down and then, thinking better of it, speeded up again. He was tired and needed some coffee, but the snow was getting worse and he wanted to get home before it was too bad to drive in. Only 30 miles to go. Bill swerved his car to the right, barely missing the large headlights that just passed him on the left. He had been drowsing. He knew he should pull off to the side road and sleep, but . . . Only 20 miles to go. It is Jan. 5, 1970. At 10-15 p.m. the hall lights of the dormitories on the Texas A&M campus were switched on and off several times, and then left off. Several thou sand students began quietly to leave their rooms and walk to ward the Academic Building . . . Jim has just dropped off one of his riders in Texarkana. Spir its were high as the other three lived in western Tennessee and they knew their trip home for the holidays was almost over. Spirits were also high because all three had accepted an offer of a drink at the one Aggie’s home before continuing the trip. The one drink turned into two, and then three. Jim had assured the Aggie’s parents that the drinks hadn’t affected him and that he would pull off to the side of the road if he got tired. . . . the organ music from the Memorial Student Center settled heavily on the campus, which was growing darker as, one by one, the various buildings went black. The students gathered in ones, twos, and threes around the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Not a word was spoken . . . A car carrying students to west Texas for the holidays was speed ing along Highway 21. It had been raining and the road was slick, but at least visibility, which had been hampered by the rain, was good again. The road at that time of day wasn’t very heavily traveled, so all three looked forward to being able to make good time. One of the students was telling the other two about the engage ment he had bought and was go ing to give his girl for Christmas. Another, the one in back, had just told his buddies about the coed he’d met just before the holidays. He was looking forward to seeing his parents again, but for once, he wouldn’t gripe too much about the holidays being over. The car traveled swiftly around a curve and almost immediately came upon a tractor being fol lowed slowly by another car wait ing to pass. The driver was going too fast to slow down, so he deciced to go around both vehicles. It wasn’t until he got in the other lane that he saw the pick-up truck bearing down on him. Only the student in the back seat was wearing his seat belt. . . . the music stopped and for several seconds, not a sound could be heard except for the rustle of a breeze through the branches of the trees surrounding Sully. Then, almost as if it was imag ined, the slow, funeral cadence of the Ross Volunteers became audi ble, then louder, as it came closer In 1968, we killed over 55,000 people on the nation’s highways. In Texas alone, a record number of 3,481 people died. 216,972 were injured. Col. Wilson E. Speir, director of the Texas Department of Pub lic Safety, estimates that 87 peo ple in Texas alone will not live to see the end of the holiday sea son. In the last 14 years, seven Ag gies died over the holidays as a result of a traffic accident. Every time someone gets be hind the wheel of a car, three things are required: perception, decision, and performance. If the time needed for, or the correct ness of, any of these actions are impaired, the possibilities of an accident are magnified. . . . precision movement fol lowed sharp, but softly spoken commands. The order, “fire," was heard and seven shots pierced the black sky in unison and echoed off the surrounding buildings. Twice more the command was given and twice more volleys of seven rang out . . . Sgt. Paul Allen of the Depart ment of Public Safety headquar ters in Bryan had this to say: "Most of the time students are in a hurry to get home for the holidays and will take unneces sary chances. The vehicles are heavily loaded and carry a lot of weight that they (the students) are not used to driving with. The whole center of gravity of the car is changed. The braking system is not as effective. “I suggest they take these fac tors into consideration and drive accordingly.” ... a deafening stillness hung in the air several seconds, then the slow, mournful sound of four silver trumpets played Taps. Three times Taps was sounded; first north, then south, and final ly, west . . . Eighty-seven are expected to die between the start of the Christmas holidays and the end of the New Year holiday. Only the persons driving can do any thing about it . . . “We urge each individual driv er to accept the challenge of proving our estimates are too high. Many holiday accidents can be prevented if Texans will drive safely and realize that no one is immune to a traffic crash.” said Speir, Texas Department of Public Safety. . . . Silence again reigned. Silver Taps was over, though not the feeling of sadness in each Aggie's heart as he walked quietly back to his dormitory. There was something no longer quite mght about the last couple weeks, the Christmas season, the season of joy and happiness. An Aggie was gone . . . The house was dark. The Christmas tree stood dark and forgotten in the living room. Friends and sympathizers had left long ago. A mother was weeping silent ly. A sad, quiet father was doing his best to console her. Neither of them could under stand why their son hadn’t been a little more careful, taken a lit tle more time on the trip home. Editor: In response to Professor Dou glas’ letter of Dec. 12, I would like to present the following list of speakers which Political Forum has presented in the past and speakers to whom invitations have been extended and allow you to decide for yourself if the program of Political Forum is designed to “warp the minds of students and faculty to the left.” CONSERVATIVES These have spoken: Bill Pres- nal-D, Bill Moore-D, Henry Gro- ver-R, Bill Bass-D, George Bush- R, W. S. Heatley-D, Olin Teague- D, and Mrs. S. W. Kowierschke-R and David Crews-D. These have been invited to speak: Strom Thurmond-R, Rus sell Kirk-R, Leroy Collins-D, Will D. Davis-D, John Tower-R, Howard Baker-R, John Connally- D, Ben Barnes-D, Dan Gumey-R, Barry Goldwater-R, and Andrew Hacker. MODERATES These have spoken: W. T. Mc- Donald-D, V. E. (Red) Berry-D, B. H. Dewey-D, Cliff C&rter-D and Mrs. Walt Rostow-D. These have been invited to speak: Winthrop Rockefeller-R and Margaret Chase Smith-R. LIBERALS These have spoken: Barbara Jordan-D, A. R. Schwartz-D, Bob Eckart-D, Wych Fowler-D, Ralph Yarborough-D. These have been invited to speak: Mark Hatfield-R, Shirley Chisholm-D, Harold Hughes-D, George McGovem-D, Edmund Brooke-R, Jesse Unruh-D, Albert Pena-D, Birch Bayh-D, Kenneth Keating-R, and Don Gladden-D. (I do realize that classifications of this type are rather arbitrary but these classifications would be those of a substantial number of political observers.) Tommy Henderson Student Senator Vet Prof Attending Rijswijk Symposium Dr. Stewart McConnell, associ ate professor in the Veterinary Microbiology Department at the College of Veterinary Medicine, is participating in a symposium this week at Rijswijk, The Nether lands. Dr. McConnell received a special invitation to present a paper en titled “Monkey Pox—Prevention and Control.” Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the student writers only. The Battalion is a non tax- MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association supported, non-profit, self-supporting educational enter prise edited and operated by students as a university and community newspaper. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should be typed, double-spaced, and must be no more than 300 words in length. They must be signed, although the writer’s name will be with held by arrangement with the editor. Address corre spondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. The Associated Collegiate Press Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 4 1 /4% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all new dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. 1969 TP A Award Winner Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsey, chairman ; H. F. Filers, College of Liberal Arts ; F. S. White, College of Engineering; Dr. Asa B. Childers, Ja. College of Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. Z. L. Carpenter, College of Agriculture. The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M is ished in College Station, Texas daily except £ nday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September d once a week during summer school. iblis! pu Su May, an except Saturday, through Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services. Inc., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San 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 Mechanical Engineering Shamrock EMPLOYMENT SERVCE OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT YOU, THE ’70 GRADUATE • College Division • North Gate 331 University Dr. 846-3737 ★ “EMPLOYERS PAY FOR OUR SERVICES.” A division of ERC On Flying Saucers Project Blue Book Ends Last Chapter By Frank Carey AP Science Writer WASHINGTON <A>) — Dr. Ed ward U. Condon, chief of a panel which recommended an end to the flying saucer hunt, says “there’s no reason why the government should spend a lot of money checking up on lights in the sky.” Neither national security nor science were being served, the Air Force said in announcing an end Wednesday to 21-year-old project Blue Book, which kept voluminous files on reported sightings of unidentified flying objects. Hundreds of thousands of dol lars were spent on Blue Book in addition to the $539,000 for the Condon panel’s 18-month study. The University of Colorado physicist, in a telephone inter view from Boulder, Colo., said though there are “plenty of kooks” who claim otherwise, “no body has produced a shred of solid, credible evidence to support the idea that these UFOs repre sent visitors from outer space.” However, Condon emphasized the panel’s January report, “also said that if any scientist came up with a clearly defined, specific proposal for study, and he was professionally qualified ... he should be supported.” What now if someone wants to report a UFO ? The Air Force said it had no specific recommendation, but the viewer could pass on his informa tion to a scientist, check signals with the local air base, or call the police department. A member of the House space committee, Rep. William F. Ryan, D-N.Y., urged that investigation of UFO’s be the responsibility of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency. The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, a private group, announced that the end of Blue Book means, “Congress can now discuss the possibility of turning over UFO investigations to a civilian, fed eral or private scientific organi zation.” Phi Delta Sigma Aids Toy Drive Phi Delta Sigma pledges and the Bryan-College Station Jay- cees are cooperating in a Christ mas toy drive for orphans and underprivileged children. The pledges have worked two nights a week for the past two weeks sorting toys. The drive will end Friday and the toys will be distributed dur ing the holidays. Snack Bar, Cafeteria Announce Hours The Golf Club Snack Bar and the Memorial Student Center Cafeteria will be open on a holi day schedule, according to Fred W. Dollar, director of food serv- ices. open ja: The snack bar will be daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, and the cafeteria will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 29-! 31, it ' viU LET US ARRANGE YOUR TRAVEL... ANYWHERE IN THE U. S. A. ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD Reservations and Tickets For All Airlines and Steamships — Hotels and Rent Car Reservations -Call 822-3737- Robert Halsell Travel Service 1016 Texas Avenue Bryan GOLF CLUB SNACK BAR The Golf Club Snack Bar will be open each day from 10:30 to 4:30 p. m. during Christmas and New Years Holidays. Hnppy Holidays ! ! B. L. “BOB” RYCHLIK, C.LU. PROVIDES MORE THAN A POLICY! The College Career Plan is available exclusively to C ol 1 e g e students by specially trained College Representatives! B. L. ‘•BOB” RYCHLIK, C.L.U. SUITE 220—BRYAN BLDG. AND LOAN BLDG. BRYAN, TEXAS 77801 TELEPHONE 823-0031 COL. LEGE CAREER PLAN MNMMMMMli A /In mnnoan 'micabln .# UFE INSURANCE COMPANY EXECUTIVE OFFICES WACO, TEXAS -FAITHFUL PROTECTION SINCE I9W' te Te VA S 1 lirman Jffairs C league, 1 £ duration itove w State Ft WA1 One day . if per w Mir C 90c i p.m. WO toinc, full lird ae WING - i.Mrs. M Wd S, eli Rei rjinc. Eli ICS. UST: R< » in cas i, 846-7101 OST: Ferr irinif Seal -<626. 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