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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1970)
«-an On Political Candidates €ADKT * LOUC " Page 2 Speaking at A&M There are more than 400 candidates in this state running for governmental offices in either Austin or Washington, D.C. In the past, it has been the university’s policy that these people, being political candidates, could not speak to an audience housed in an A&M campus facility. The reasoning behind this ruling was explained by a spokesman for the administration to the Student Senate on Oct. 31, 1968. The university, he said, is bound by a state law which states that “no appropriated funds shall be used for influencing the outcome of any election, or the passage or defeat of any legislative measure.” Dean of Students James P. Hannigan clarified the policy somewhat Thursday, noting that candidates may speak on campus if they are running unopposed, or if candidates running for the same position appear on the same platform at the same time. Although upheld by this year’s senate, the legitimacy of the administration’s stand has been the object of student concern for some time. Some have said that such a rule is rather silly which forbids, as in this election year, a U.S. senator, the governor, lieutenant governor, and even a local state representative from speaking on campus. Others have said that the candidates in the recent city elections, some of them university employees, should technically have been kept from speaking to students in small groups or in classes. Still others are quoting University of Texas Board of Regents Chairman Frank C. Erwin, Jr., who said this in allowing Abbie Hoffman to appear on the UT campus earlier this month: “The University has long permitted student organizations to use Gregory Gymnasium for invited speakers, and the federal courts have many times held that under such circumstances, a public agency, such as the University, cannot refuse the use of its facilities, no matter how strongly the regents and officers of the University disagree with the known views of the speaker or with the remarks he is likely to make.” And we fail to see how the dean’s recent interpretation of the policy has changed things that much. The rule that opposing candidates must speak on the same day to the same audience seems to be a little difficult to put into practice. Witness the difficulty Political Forum has had this year (and in years past) in trying to arrange convenient times, dates and places for programs featuring only one speaker. And what if one candidate has to cancel at the last minute? Do we then “disinvite” the other? We see no reason why opposing candidates could not speak on different dates. We also fail to see a real distinction between candidates that are running unopposed and those that are in races that are contested. A candidate who is running unopposed must still get elected. He must still persuade voters to cast ballots for him and not some write-in candidate. Conceiveably then, “appropriated funds”—if this is indeed a criterion—could still influence the outcome of his election. To date, students have heard one political candidate speak on this campus this election year. H. J. Blanchard, running unopposed for re-election to the Texas Senate spoke on pollution April 22. A large number of A&M students will be voting this election year—many of them for the first time. Because democracy is vitally dependent upon an informed electorate, we believe A&M students should be allowed to see and hear and judge for themselves political candidates as they appear on campus. We urge the university to allow political candidates to speak on campus whenever it is possible to get them here. Otherwise students will have to wait until after Saturday’s primary to invite the losing candidates, and—for all practical purposes—until next November to even approach the rest. Editor: I have suddenly become quite concerned about a matter stem ming from the recent arrest of Earl Brown who attempted to speak to a crowd of student on campus. I often like to expound my views to other people, you know let off a little steam when I get ‘up-tight’ about something. Well my problem is this. I shy away from addressing crowds since I am not that anxious to enforce my opinions on other people. But suppose I am talking to a student, by chance, about contemporary problems and suppose another student stops to listen to the conversation. Then another stu dent stops to listen and maybe he has long hair. Well I think you are beginning to understand my problem. Even though the likelyhood of this happening is quite remote, I am a little con cerned. I would like the administration to clarify just how many people would be allowed to stop by and listen. You see if I got arrested for something like that it would interfere with my studies and in this academic atmosphere I don’t (do) anything to interfere with my education. Doug Goodgame ’70 Among other things, the letter asked for an organization for black students and courses rele vant to the black man. First of all, if the courses offered by this university aren’t “relevant to the black man,” what are our black students doing here ? I presumed that the purpose of each course was to make us better men (or more qualified), not better white men, black men, etc., etc. Secondly, the demand for an organization for black students is clearly racist in the worst sense of the word. Until a few years ago most of our schools were either white or black student or ganizations, but we’ve come a long way in those years. Such an organization would be a giant step back to segregation on our campus. Let those who demand black or ganizations examine themselves. How do they feel about white organizations? For instance, the Ku Klux Klan. Gary Aven ’71 University has a standing policy of not allowing political speakers on campus. This is all fine and dandy and rosy except that I still cannot see why one candidate is allowed to speak and not the other. I was also told that Ralph Nader has been denied permission to speak here a number of times. Jerry Kirk Editor’s Note: See Story, page 4 ★ ★ ★ Editor: The Reelection Committee has rejected the complaint of “Moon- Man” Mac, published in Wednes day’s Batt. Under the existing rules, he has no right to protest or petition, since he was neither a candidate or a member of this Editor: In answer to the recently pub lished letter by Elroy Mills and Paul Greer “in protest of this university’s inaction on the griev ances of black students,” I want to say that I agree whole-heart edly with the administration. Editor: While perusing Thursday’s Batt, I discovered that A. J. Pope Jr., a candidate for re-election to the Texas Supreme Court, is scheduled to speak on campus Monday. This set me to wondering why Ralph Yarborough was not allowed to speak on this campus recently. Checking the bluebook I found that such speakers must “be granted permission to appear on campus by the Executive Com mittee of the University.” Fellow students also told me what I could not find in the bluebook—that the group. This nit-picking point was brought up by Clark Kent, Super man-elect. Our present No. 1, Dudly Dunlittle, wrote the rule himself and said that it was his intention to keep out such campus agitators. (Note: The names have been changed to protect the guilty.) Rudy de la Garza Kanfin man's cologne, with the Spirit of Sweden. TOWNSHIRE / BRYAN. TEXAS. 77801 Che 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 newspaper. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association The Associated Collegiate Press criptions er full y LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than 300 words in length. They must be signed, although the writer’s name will be withheld by arrangement with the editor. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77813. Mail subscriptio year; $6.50 sales tax. The Battalion, Texas 77843. are $3.50 per s ibscri semester; $6 pe >ject 1 r school The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news 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 e. College ot r>nginee College of Veterinary Medicini College of Agriculture. ; Ur. Asa tl .nd Dr. Z. L. Carpenter, The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is allege Station. Texas, daily except Saturda 3ept< May, and once a week during summer school. published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, September through Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services. Inc.. New York City, Chic; Francisco. licago, Los Angeles and San EDITOR DAVE MAYES Managing Editor David Middlebrooke Women’s Editor Cindy Burleson News Editor Pam Troboy Sports Editor Richard Campbell Assistant Sports Editor Mike Wright Staff Writers Hayden Whitsett, Bob Robinson, Chancy Lewis, Janie Wallace, Fran Haugen, Randy Murdock, Billy Buchanan, Gibril Fadika, Tommy Thompson Sports Writer Clifford Broyles Columnists Roger Miller, Mike McClain Photographers Jim Berry, David Gawthorpe, Mel Miller, Robert Boyd Sports Photographer Mike Wright onamrocK Career Opportunities Await 4 Aggie’ Graduates Career Opportunities for colleg-e graduates with the nation’s leading employer are available through our office. Visit us Monday thru Friday. . EMPLOYMENT SERVICE ♦THE EMPLOYER PAYS FOR OUR SERVICES* North Gate 331 University Dr. ». 846-3737 “A Division of E.R.C., Houston, Texas’- College Division THE BATTALION College Station, Texas Friday, May 1,191)1 Bulletin Board MONDAY Engineering Technology Wives Club will meet at 8 p.m. in the Brazos Room, First Bank and Trust, to elect and install offi cers. THURSDAY Recreation and Parks Socielj will meet at 6 p.m. in I Park Area 3. TRY BATTALION CLASSIFIED “I’m beginning my campaign for the run-off!” COFFEE LOFT 1 block East of Post Office Saturday, May 2 — Lou Mitchell Dallas Folk Singer Segle Fry Folk Singer Chequered Flag, Austin Will Perform 50per person 8:00 p. m. “Both Are Exciting Performers” We keep"TB5nkm|s hours at the Bank of A&M Drive-in windows open 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 5 days a week (we have to close sometime) ok RE-ELECT An Attorney General Who Stands For Effective, Impartial Law Enforcement CRAWFORD MARTIN has demonstrated his experience and legal ability In serving as an outstanding lawyer for the people. ATTORNEY GENERAL Democratic Primary (Pol. Adv. Paid for by Th* Crawford Martin Commlttaa—Billy Martin, Chairman) •Yiday, BO Acct. An. S An. S An. S Chem. Chem. C. E. C. E. C. E. Ed. H Ed. 3( Fin. 3 Fin. 4 I. Ed. I. Ed. I. Ed. I. Ed. I. Eng I. Eng M. E. Ocean, Physic Physic Phil. 2 P. E. Pol. Si Pol. S< Pol. S' Pol. 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