THE BATTALION
Page 2 College Station, Texas Tuesday, October 5, 1971
Steve Hayes
CADET SLOUCH
by Jim Earle
An interview with the ecology Skulki
‘We’re undefeated in conference play!”
Editor’s note: This is an inter
view with A&M’s ecology Skulk
er. The interview is real, the
Skulker is real and the final copy
has been approved by him. We
would tell you who he is but we
don’t know ourselves.
But more important than the
reality of the Skulker are the
thoughts expressed below.
Throughout the entire four-part
series of this interview the Skulk
er comes back time and again to
ideas held by The Battalion.
We hope that you will read
this and the next three parts of
the interview and think about
what they say.
After shutting off the alarm,
I dressed and tried to walk calm
ly to the car. It was only the
greatest amount of self-restraint
that prevented me from running,
as if I were a cub reporter on my
way to my first assignment. As I
drove along Texas Avenue, I only
casually thought of how nice the
quiet was, for I was preoccupied
with more important matters . . .
an interview with the Midnight
Skulker, yes, the same Skulker
who struck out at the consciences
of tree-slayers everywhere.
Through a series of secretive
messages passed on through knot
holes on campus, I had been be
nevolently granted an interview
with the hero of all those persons
concerned about saving the envi
ronment. I had heard of his leg
endary feats of prowess, and I
Listen up
hoped that I would someday get
a chance to meet the Skulker. He
was my hero, too.
I parked my car off-campus,
for I didn’t want to take any
chances of offending the Skulker.
Through the darkness I approach
ed the tree which had been desig
nated as the point of rendezvous.
No Skulker. Had he seen my car ?
Had I thoughtlessly stepped on a
plant? Had I forgotten to brush
my teeth ? Spray under my arms ?
Perspiration began to roll down
my ribs. Somehow I had missed
picking the journalistic plum of
the year by unwittingly offend
ing the Skulker. Sullenly, I drop
ped my body against the base of
the tree, and looked to stars I had
forgotten were above me. Despite
my bitter disappointment I felt
the tranquillity that only solitude,
quiet, and clean air can give. I
understood the Skulker, wherever
he was, a little better.
“Nice, isn’t it?” the voice came
from the other side of the tree.
My pulse began to beat wildly.
I tried to speak calmly. “Huh?”
was all I could say.
“I said, ‘Nice, isn’t it?’”
“Uh, yeh, uh, I mean, yes it
is.” My stammering brought on
a self conscious silence. Should I
have addressed him as “Sir”? My
professional aplomb had deserted
me completely, just when I needed
it most. In desperation I bit my
finger.
The Skulker finally broke the
silence. I couldn’t. I was still bit
ing my finger. “Isn’t there some
thing you wanted to ask me. I
mean if that’s all you’re going
to do, just sit there, well, I’ll be
going. It’s nice, but I’ve got
things to do. Trees to plant, seeds
to sow, signs to paint. The night
is only so long you know.”
I took my finger out of my
mouth. Despite the dryness of
my throat I tried to regain any
professional ability that I may
have had, and speak. I finally
managed to say: “Help!” “Wait.”
I heard the Skulker sit back
down. Confidence returned. I
began my interview.
“Skulker, many people are
wondering who you are. I sup
pose that’s like asking the Lone
Ranger to remove his mask, so
perhaps, I should ask, what is
your cause?’ ” I chuckled at my
clever comparison. The Skulker
only cleared his throat. I stopped
chuckling. I wanted to bite my
finger again.
“You’re correct,” the Skulker
tactfully stated. “I cannot reveal
myself, although I do have a nom
de plume—Tree Savior, or TS
for short. Normally I do not talk
about my activities. I’ve been
sent here from Save Our Trees
(SOT) headquarters with spe
cific orders. I hasten to add,
however, that I am allowed to
work on non-tree projects in my
spare time.”
“Well, what are you fighting?”
I said. “Anyone with a cause is
fighting for something or against
something.”
“I’m fighting attitudes in an
effort to make your town better,
to enhance and to save the natu-
Respect asked for flag si those letters!
Editor:
The past few days I have got
ten to the Academic Building
about the time they are raising
the flag. I have seen people just
keep on walking although they
are raising the flag. It makes me
mad to see people fail to show
respect to the flag of our great
nation.
We live in a nation where we
can go where we want and do
what we want where and when
we want to, as long as, we do
not tread on other peopled rights.
I think in respect for that kind
of freedom it is very little to ask
of people to stop and salute our
flag out of due respect.
The United States flag is a
symbol of our freedom, govern
ment, and, more important, the
men who have fought and died for
this country. In the past, when
our fighting men have seen our
flag raised it has given them a
greater desire to win. We here
at A&M have a similar symbol,
the Memorial Student Center. The
MSC is a symbol of the Aggies
who have fought and died in this
country’s wars. When we go into
the MSC, we take off our hats,
if we are wearing hats, out of due
respect. We do not walk on the
MSC grass out of respect for what
the MSC stands for. Now is it
that much more to ask that we
stop to salute our nation’s flag
when it is being raised ?
Gail L. Browder ’74
★ ★ ★
Editor:
Pertaining to “Listen Up” of
Tuesday, Sept. 28, and my letter
to the Editor.
I am not writing an apology,
but writing to clarify what should
have been written previously. I
realize these differences occur
every year, but I cannot help the
way I think and I am sure I
would think different if I were
a civilian.
My reasoning has Kyle a me
morial through tradition. By my
definition, a tradition is not
something put on paper, but in
the heart. It is our common bond.
Clapping, up to now has not been
called tradition, but I am not say
ing that it could not be.
In rephrasing my biased state
ment, I would like to say that an
Aggie is an Aggie, no matter
who, what, where, or how, civi
lians and Corps alike. I admit my
statement was most biased in
structure, and was just plain
stupid, on my part. But no mat
ter what, I will stay just one of
the boys in their khaki playsuits.
Mark Richardson ’74
If we can go by the trends set in the past few weeks, it seems
safe to say that Listen up is going to prove one of this year’s most
popular columns.
This doesn’t bother us at all. We like the letters for the most part,
even when we disagree with them, and are disappointed when we don’t
get any in the afternoon mail.
But one thing that does disappoint us, even more than no letters
at all, is receiving letters that are unsigned, partially signed, or signed
with a psuedonym.
Just why this happens, we’re not sure. Our masthead, which runs
at the base of this page everyday, states that all letters must be signed,
typed, and not more than 300 words in length. If a letter writer feels
that he or she has a good reason not to sign their name we will run it
without a name, but first we must know who the writer is and just what
the reason is. This is easily taken care of by signing the letter, stating
that a name shouldn’t be run, and leaving a phone number we can call
to find out why a name shouldn’t accompany a letter.
So be good to us. Sign those letters, and if not, let us know why.
Nixon seeks court injunction
to halt striking dock workers
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. <A>) _
President Nixon will seek within
the next few days a court injunc
tion to halt, at least temporarily,
the West Coast dock strike and
may expand the move to include
strikers at Atlantic and Gulf
coast ports.
Announcing the move early
Monday evening, Press Secretary
Ronald L. Ziegler said Nixon
would act formally to begin in
voking Taft-Hartley labor law
provisions after flying back to
the White House later in the eve
ning.
Nixon’s first step will be to
appoint a five-member board of
inquiry to look into all negotia
tions involving dock workers and
the maritime industry. He will do
this in an executive order.
Once the board reports, Zieg
ler said, Nixon will direct the
Justice Department to seek a
court injunction that would at
least halt the 96-day-old West
Coast walkout for a cooling-off
period of 80 days.
The big question, Ziegler said,
is whether Nixon will seek a
nation-wide injunction or act on a
selective basis, meaning a move
against the West Coast strike.
The walkout in Atlantic and
Gulf ports began just last Fri
day and obviously has not yet
come close to having the eco
nomic impact of the Pacific strike.
Ziegler said Nixon decided to
use Taft-Hartley procedures after
being informed late Monday after
noon that negotiations in the
West Coast strike had reached an
impasse.
The press secretary said Nixon
received this word from director
George Shultz of the Office of
Management and Budget.
Ziegler said Nixon already has
decided that an anti-strike in
junction will be sought, at least
on the West Coast. He said: “The
President feels that the situation
at this time is of such serious
ness that he will take Taft-Hart
ley action.”
Bulletin Board
Tonight
Lincoln Union Club will meet
in the Birch room of the Memo
rial Student Center at 8.
Wildlife Biology Association
will meet in room 113 of the Bio
logical Science building extension
at 7:30.
Solid Waste Committee of
SCOPE will meet in room 433 of
the Library at 7:30.
Electrical Engineering Wives
Club meets at the home of Mrs.
C. W. Allworth, 1812 Shadowood,
at 7:30.
Wednesday
Laredo Hometown Club will
meet in room 3C of the MSC at
7:30.
Port Arthur Hometown Club
meets in the Military Sciences
building at 7:30.
Thursday
Student Senate will meet in the
Library Conference room at 7:30.
Midland Hometown Club will
meet in the Birch room of the
MSC at 7:30 to organize and elect
officers.
Model Airplane Club meets at
8:30 in room 202 of the Physics
building to hear Dr. David Norton
of Aerospace Engineering speak.
Pakistan Students Association
of America will meet in room 2A
of the MSC at 8:30.
SUMMER CLEARANCE IS STILL IN
PROGRESS ON SELECTED GROUP
OF CLOTHING
0 REG° PRICE
The Exchange Store
Cbe Battalion
PEANUTS
PEANUTS
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of
the student writers only. The Battalion is a non-tax-
supported, 7ion-profit, self-supporting educational enter
prise edited and operated by students as a university and
community neivspaper.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor must 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 77843.
Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is
in College Station, ’ " ' " '
and holiday per
week during summer
published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday,
Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, September through
May, and once a week during summer school.
once
MEMBER
The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
The Associated Collegiate Press
Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per
au su
$6.50
â– ear; $6.50 per full year. All
ale - * J
The Battalion, Room 21
Texas 77843.
per semester; $6 per
subscriptions subject
school
to 5%
li
si
IT'S THAT WElRP UTILE kIP
FROM CAMP^ANVlJAk, LUHT DON'T
YOU COME OVER? I'M SETTING
SOME OF THE SANS TOGETHER TO
PLAY “HA HA, HERMAN "
p«
tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address:
College Station,
7, Services Building,
PEANUTS
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, Jr.,
College of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. W. E. Tedrick, College
of Agriculture; and Layne Kruse, student.
Servic
Franc
Represented nationally by National Educational Advertis : ng
Inc., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San
The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for
reproduction of all news dispatchs credited to it or not
otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneo
origin published herein. Rights of republication of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas.
EDITOR HAYDEN WHITSETT
Managing Editor Doug Dilley
News Editor Sue Davis
Sports Editor John Curylo
Assistant Sports Editor Bill Henry
CMON, SNOOPY.,
WE'RE GOINS TO
PEPPERMINT PATTY'S^
HOUSE.
SHE'S INVlTEP US OVER FORA
GAME OF l 'HA HA, HERMAN "
V
ral resources of the area at the
same time. I’m fighting the ac
cepted idea that your cities must
get bigger forever: that by at
tracting new industry to your
cities everyone benefits; that you
continue to use, abuse, and mis
use the environmental wealth of
your area without changing it,
I’m trying to convince people
that some commercial signs are
just plain obscene and many
others are not needed — they
cause visual pollution, they use
ALLEN
Oldsmobile
Cadillac
SALES - SERVICE
“Where satisfaction is
standard equipment”
2401 Texas Ave.
823-8002
AGGIE PLAQUES
Plaster Accessories
Finished - Unfinished
Working Area
Free Instructions
GIFT - A - RAMA
Redmond Terrace
College Station
resources, they usually J
electrical energy, and Jj
struct your view of thejL
scenic beauty of yourljvJB
I’m fighting the V JH
American Way of Lif e
based on the formula: Sti; 1
finds . . . Industry applies; I
Man conforms. I keeps®
evidence that man i 5 ra J â– 
seek alternatives to the “in]
doing things.” I pausedtof
of what he had just said, ^
going on with my questions!
Continued tomorrow, J
Pawn Merchandise
For Sale
Tape Recorders
Mech. Drawing Sets
Guitars & Amps.
Cameras, Radios
TAPES
Buy - Sell - Trade
PAWN LOANS
On
Anything of Value
TEXAS STATE
CREDIT CO.
1014 Texas Ave.—.Brvai|
822-5633
You Can Get A FREE ORDER
FRENCH FRIES Willi A Whopper!
Or A Whaler And A Large Drink
Note: You Must Show Your I.D.
oh
what a web
insecurity weaves
financial anxiety
invest
the answer
insurance
the way
our program
costs less now
means security later
call us
today
stop by
soon
we're here
on campus
for you
come
PROVIDENT
MUTUAL
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF PHILADELPHIA
Gordon B. Richardson
Campus Representative
707 University Drive, Suite 23
846-7027
will
845-
Call In For Orders
846-8007
By Charles M. Schulz
5IR, 15 CHUCk
THAT ROUNP-
HEAPEP KIP I
MET AT CAMP
STOP
CALLING
ME “51k -
0NE THINS that
W| LL6ET ME TO WALK
CLEAR ACROSS TOWN
A ROUSING GAME OF
11 HA HA, HERMAN" 1
" ^
'
V .:#A•: .TT. c T vit-:-