IQ i Cbe Vol. 67 No. 58 m m \4fr & S College Station, Texas Cloudy and wet Wednesday, December 15, 1971 Nixon favors a devaluation of U. S. dollar 845-2226 DRIVER RICHARD PETTY went to victory Sunday in the fighting for the lead several times. (Photo by Hayden running of the Texas 500 at the newly opened Texas World Whitsett) Speedway south of College Station. Petty won only after Adams wins council election angra do heroismo, Azores UP)—President Nixon an nounced today his readiness to devaluate the dollar as part of i revaluation of world currencies. In a communique concluding their summit conference here, the American chief of state and Pres ident Georges Pompidou of France said: “In cooperation with other nations concerned, they agreed to work toward a prompt realignment of exchange rates through a devaluation of the dol lar and revaluation of some other currencies.” The agreement could mean an end to the international monetary crisis. Devaluation of the dollar would mean a new price for it in terms of gold. Since the ’30s Washington has said an ounce of gold was worth $35. Meantime, the free market price of gold has reached around $43 an ounce. Devaluation would not mean that the dollar had any less value in domestic trade in the United States. The main effect would be in dealing with central banks of other countries, many of which maintain hoards of dollars as reserve currencies. With other principal currencies revalued—the trend has been up- A “Free University” at A&M is being planned by the Student Senate and the MSC Council. The “Free University” will be a program of Liberal Arts type courses which will be taught at night by A&M professors, ac cording to Layne Kruse, Student Life Chairman of the Student Senate. No credit, grades or ex aminations will be given and at tendance will not be required. “It gives the student a more well-rounded curriculum without pressuring him,” Kruse said. A general meeting of all those interested in taking a course will i>e held the first week in Febru- nry- At this time the instructors, along with the students, will de termine suitable meeting times and places. The “Free University” is of- aring 10 courses and may ex pand to include a course in judo and one in music appreciation. Gourmet cooking, taught by ward in such currencies as those of Japan and Germany—the ef fects on trade could be beneficial all around. At least that is the hope of governments and their banking authorities. The Nixon-Pompidou statement said the realignment of parities for the world’s principal monies “could be accompanied by broader permissible margins of fluctua tion around the newly established exchange rates.” No figures were mentioned. Nixon started back to Washing ton after the communique was announced. At the same time, the dollar dropped in Paris and Switzerland in relation to French and Swiss currencies. “Nobody wants to buy,” one dealer in Paris said. The dollar was offered on the commercial market there at 5.51 francs, down from a floor level of 5.5125 francs maintained 1 lately. Nixon emerged from the meet ing and told newsmen before de parting for Washington that “significant progress on the prob lems of the international mone tary situation” was made. Pompidou, speaking after Nix on, said: “I think we have well prepared the next meeting of the Bill Fore, will examine the pleas ures and pitfalls of good eating. Candlemaking, decoupage and ceramics is a general course on handicrafts in which students bring their own work to class and receive advice from experts. Albert Schweitzer’s Philosophy of Life explores his love for na ture and how it reflected on his way of life. The course will be taught by Dr. Manuel Davenport. Philosophy Discussion will be a free-wheeling discussion group led by Randy Purham which will have films and outside speakers. Topics will range from ethics to politics to contemporary moral issues as well as the classical problems. In Revealing Revelations, Pas tor Hubert Beck will give the student a non-denominational look at a controversial book of the Bible, Revelations. Dr. R. D. MacFarlane in Chem ical Theology will give an inter- Group of Ten and that we will have brought constructive ele ments to the solution of the prob lems.” The Group of Ten is made up of the 10 richest non-Communist nations. It meets this coming weekend in Washington. The joint statement said: “The two presidents are also aware of the importance of trade for a lasting equilibrium of the U.S. balance of payments.” Pompidou confirmed that France, together with govern ments of other member countries of the European community, is preparing the mandate which would permit the imminent open ing of trade negotiations, the statement added. The announcement said the mandate would permit the im minent opening of negotiations with the United States in order to settle short-term problems cur rently pending and to establish the agenda for the examination of fundamental questions in the area of trade. This appeared as a concession by Europeans to U.S. demands for lower trade barriers on a number of products, especially agriculture products. pretation of existing religions of the world in light of the quan tum theory. The question “Is God a Wave Motion?” will be examined. Political Idealogy in the Post- Industrial Society will be a dis cussion led by Dr. Elis Thermos of political trends that are now developing in America. Aliena tion, the conflict of generations, communism, socialism and ethnic movements will be explored. A course in Reading Skills will be offered to give speedreading training for improvement in study skills and better compre hension and retention. In addition two courses from environmental design professors will be taught. They will include subjects ranging from art to self-awareness to metal work and handicrafts. Suggestions and new ideas concerning the “Free University” are welcomed at the Student Senate office, 845-1515. Homer B. Adams, a College Station businessman, won the vacant seat on the College Station City Council in the special elec tion Tuesday. Finishing second was Mrs. Clara L. Sandstedt, third was Bruce N. Clay, and fourth was Robert A. Knapp. Clay was the first TAMU stu dent to ever run for a City Coun cil spot. Adams received 447 votes with 268 from Ward I, 145 from Ward II, and 34 from Ward III. Sand stedt received 338 votes with 189 from Ward I, 143 from Ward II, and six from Ward III. Clay re ceived 191 votes with 108 from Ward I, 66 from Ward II, and 17 from Ward III. Knapp received a 98 total with 63 from Ward I, 35 from Ward II, and none from Refrigerators are available on campus University approved refriger ators may be ordered by students living in dormitories capable of having the additional load. The refrigerators, which will rent for $40 a semester, may be ordered by calling Joe Hughes at 845-1108. Hughes emphasized that the orders must be placed now as they will order only as many as requested. A $10 deposit will be taken. The only dorms allowed refrig erators are civilian dorms 14-22. These are the newer ones. Corps dorms and older civilian dorms will have to wait until their elec trical capability is increased. University National Bank “On the side of Texas A&M.” —Adv. Ward III. Adams is 48 years old and the owner of Adams Transfer and Storage Co. He has received a B.S. degree from TAMU in ac counting and has served one term on the city council already. The election was held to fill Pakistani political leaders con ceded Tuesday that West Paki stan had lost control of the tide of battle in East Pakistan as the guns of India’s advancing forces set fire to Dacca. Radio Pakistan said Indian bombs struck the house of the provincial governor, who resigned and sought Red Cross asylum. In Karachi, heads of the sev-< en political parties that consti tute Prime Minister Nurul Amin’s United Coalition, said: “The sit uation at present is that there is no liaison between West and East Pakistan.” They appealed to President Nixon and Communist China’s premier, Chou En-lai, “to urgent ly arrange for practical help to Pakistan” in its war with India. With fighting reported seven miles from Dacca, the Indian navy said it had given Chittagong a devastating air and sea pound ing and set ablaze parts of the city. East Pakistan’s most impor tant port. In New York, Justice Abu Sa- yeed Chowdhury — head of an unofficial delegation of the Ban- gla Desh rebels — called the resignation of government offi cials in Dacca “a great moment of the birth of a new nation.” He added: “Dacca has been lib- the vacancy left behind by James Dozier, who was forced to resign because of a court ruling that state employees may not hold public office. Dozier is a profes sor at TAMU. The election was marked by two different conflicts involving erated.” The U.N. Security Council, sty mied three times by Soviet vetoes of cease-fire proposals, continued its efforts to act. Britain and France took the initiative in com promise negotiations. Inside beleaguered Dacca, Lt. Gen. A. K. Niazi, East Pakistan’s military commander, claimed he would fight to the last man if necessary “for the sacred soil of Pakistan.” A doctor there said more wounded were flowing into hospitals “than we can deal with.” An Indian spokesman said 47 Americans remained in Dacca. Radio Pakistan was silent on the fighting around Dacca, but reported Pakistani air raids on the western front, 1,000 miles across India. India said two Pak istani planes were shot down on that front over Srinagar, capital of the Indian State of Kashmir. A New Delhi spokesman reported an Indian plane was shot down in a dogfight over Srinagar. Defense Minister Jagivan Ram told the Indian Parliament “it is our hope” that East Pakistan will be conquered soon, but gave for the first time a breakdown of what the cost was in 10 days of the fighting. The totals were 1,978 of the Friday — Cloudy. Northerly winds 5-10 mph. High 52°, low 46°. Saturday — Partly cloudy. Northerly winds 5-10 mph. High 63°, low 38°. TAMU students. Bruce Clay, a senior in business, was initially not allowed to run in the election because he had no real property, a requirement for candidates in the College Station charter. Clay filed suit and the city officials placed his name on the ballot. Indian forces killed, 5,025 wound ed, 1,662 missing and 41 war planes lost. He did not have fig ures for Pakistani losses except for more than 4,000 troops cap tured and 83 planes shot down. Indian troops were marching on Dacca from the northwest, east, northeast and backed by tanks, against a thinned Pakis tani army, bleeding from casuals ties and with whole units cut off. Indian intelligence sources said 15.000 to 20,000 Pakistani troops may be in Dacca, their numbers swelled by stragglers. About 80.000 Pakistani troops are be lieved to be in the province. An India spokesman in New Delhi said Indian advance units were six miles from Dacca, but an Indian army spokesman in Calcutta declined to say how close the nearest troops are to the capital. A dispatch pooled by foreign correspondents in Dacca re ported two correspondents went to the front at Demra, seven miles to the southeast. They found a ferryman crossing the Lakhya River carrying a Pakis tani rear guard with Indian shells throwing up geysers in the water. Mukti Bahini, the Bengali guer rillas fighting for independence, were operating close to Dacca. Free university planned; 10 courses to be offered Indians advancing on Dacca, battle going against Pakistan New Engineering Center to house 7 acres of facilities The new Engineering Center will be the “everything” building for many engineering students be ginning next semester. The center, which is located in the northeast corner of the campus, has 373 air-conditioned rooms, two lecture halls and an auditorium. The impressive $10 million structure will house seven acres of teaching and research facilities. Each floor of the five- leveled building is larger than the area of a football field. The cen ter is currently the largest build ing on campus and will be larger than the new Oceanography and Meteorology Building. The Engineering Center is more than just a place to go to attend class. Between classes students can relax or study in the spacious third floor lounge. A vending machine area can be found there as well as on the first floor. The auditorium, which can seat 350 people, will be available for general campus usage much like the Memorial Student Center Ball room. The auditorium features padded chairs, carpeted walkways and a revolving stage. The two smaller lecture rooms have seat ing capacities of 131 each and have wood - grained detachable desks similar to those in Nagle Hall’s lecture rooms. From the outside the center can be identified by a fountain and sunken maroon-paneled windows. The inside is characterized by tall doors, high ceilings and a tremen dous rotunda-like area. Offices in the center are spac ious and have such conveniences as movable electrical outlets. Of fice and classroom walls are con structed so that bookcases and blackboards can be easily attached and removed. In the building’s basement is a 81-space parking lot. This lot as well as 46-space lot adjacent to the center will be used by the faculty and staff. The halls of the center are striped with bold colors. The colors are a code which indicate to which engineering department certain classes, laboratories and offices belong. Other features of the building include a nuclear reactor, a three- floor deep well and two-ton hoist that will be used by the Chemical Engineering Dept, and a human factors laboratory which will study human responses under cer tain stress conditions. On Monday the Engineering Research Foundation and the Electrical Engineering Dept, of ficially moved into the center. Certain engineering activities at the Research Annex are scheduled to follow on Dec. 22, the Nuclear Engineering Dept, on Dec. 23 and the Mechanical Engineering Dept, on Dec. 27. The Texas Experi ment Station in the current En gineering Building, the Chemical Engineering Dept, and the In dustrial Engineering Dept, will also be relocated in the new cen ter. Dean Fred J. Benson of the College of Engineering will have his new office in room 204, ad jacent to the offices of the Ex periment Station. The mass relocation will hope fully be completed in time not to interfere with next semester’s classes and labs which will be conducted in the building. C. H. Ransdell, assistant dean of en gineering, feels that the move “will present no shock for the students.” None of the buildings presently used by the College of Engineer ing will be tom down. Their space will be used by other col leges of the university. Accord ing to Pieter Groot, administra tion service officer, the allotment of space from the old buildings will not be officially determined until later this week.