Page 2 THE BATTALION T irbm ur> College Station, Texas Friday, March 17, 1972 JL CADET SLOUCH by Jim Earle come see us/ Team likes ‘Diamond Darlings’ ENGINEERING CENTER OPEN HOJS£ SATURPAY Editor: In comment to Miss Meyers’ lec ture to the students of A&M; we the members of the Aggie Base ball team do not take so lightly the implication that we “recruit ed” our Diamond Darlings as sex objects. It seems that Miss Meyers has also neglected to attend the last two doubleheaders when the Diamond Darlings performed. At least her statement concerning the hot pants was more fallacy than fact. If an injustice towards the wom en of A&M has been made, surely the irrational accusations about our 12 Diamond Darlings is that injustice. They’ve worked hard and have done a great job in creating a new winning spirit on our team. We the players, believe that the Diamond Darlings have become a tremendous asset and a worth while contribution as a part of the team. Jim Atterbury Karl Bystrom, and 18 other names that space will not allow us to run.—Ed. Editor: Tuesday, after a weekend of no “Aargh”s, I raced to the stack of Battalions to procure one of my own. I opened it eagerly. What!!! There was no “Aargh” Mutscher, associates five year suspended assessed sentences ABILENE, Tex. UP) _ A judge assessed Texas House Speaker Gus Mutscher and his two aides five year prison terms Thursday and then suspended the sentences. Dist. Court Judge J. Neil Daniel probated the sentences of Mut scher, his aide Rush McGinty and state Rep. Tommy Shannon fol lowing their conviction on bribery conspiracy charges. “Somebody’s got to hang,” Mc Ginty said afterwards. The “mob instinct” surrounding the trial dic tated that “somebody has to pay. So they call on us to pay.” “The main reason I was put on trial was because Frank Sharp was given immunity . , >. some body’s got to be hung,” McGinty said bitterly. “God knows I am innocent,” Mutscher told newsmen as he em braced his tearful wife, Donna, a former Miss America. “I am innocent . . . and I think I will eventually be completely vindicated,” asserted the silver- haired Shannon, seated beside his subdued, red-eyed wife. “I’m not looking for vindica tion,” declared McGinty. “All I want is justice.” The judge’s ruling thus ended the 14-day politically significant bribery-conspiracy trial of the powerful Texas House speaker and his legislative lieutenants. A predominantly female jury convicted the trio Wednesday of conspiracy charges stemming from the Texas stock fraud scan dal and its key figure, Houston promoter Frank Sharp. In light of the outcome of the trial, the defense gambled and lost when it chose Monday to offer the jury no new evidence in the case. It rested without calling a witness. The prosecution paraded 14 wit nesses to the stand, including Sharp, whom the defense elected not to question. The battery of lawyers argued that the state had failed to prove its case and told the jury repeat edly during its final arguments that the defendants guilt was never established “beyond a rea sonable doubt.” The defense said throughout that the deals between the de fendant and Sharp were just rou tine business. Chief Prosecutor Bob Smith of Austin offered no abjections to a defense plea for probated sentences, noting that Sharp’s three-year prison sentence was probated. Certainly his character is no better than the character of these defendants,” Smith said. “Sharp, portrayed by the state as a master manipulator who in turn became the manipulated, pleaded guilty to minor banking violation in return for immunity from prosecution. Despite the probated sentences, the defense said Thursday all three guilty verdicts would be ap pealed. The state alleged that Sharp offered the defendants bribes in the form of unsecured loans in exchange for banking legislation favorable to Sharp’s troubled Houston bank. The defendants used the loans to purchase stock in Sharp-con- trolled National Bankers Life In surance Co. and harvested hand some profits from their quickie investments. Gov. Preston Smith, who ve toed the controversial legislation, was among a number of other po litical figures who profited from Sharp’s generous loan-stock deals. “I am disappointed and des- tressed at the verdict of the jury, but I have not lost faith in our system,” Mutscher told a hastily assembled news conference at the Taylor County courthouse Thurs day. “I understand how the jury was persuaded that its verdict was right. They, like many good citizens of our state, have been subjected to an incessant deluge of publicity, for the most part adverse and critical. The speaker concluded a pre pared statement by vowing that “I am innocent and in time will be completely vindicated.” Both Mutscher and his wife wept again Thursday in an emo tional confrontation inside the courtroom. McGinty’s wife, Carol, a pret ty blonde, said through tears that “I don’t have any doubt in my mind that this is going to be reversed,” She said reversal in this case “is the only justice . . . every body in the House knows that Gus would never do anything wrong. Nor would Rush or Tom my.” Mutscher and Shannon side stepped questions concerning their political future. “I have a high regard for the office,” Mutscher said. “I'll have an announcement to make in the next few days.” Shannon said his plans also were uncertain. “I just need to stop and think . . . I’ve got too many things on my mind . . . I’m sorry I can’t say more than that,” he said. Attorney Richard “Racehorse” Haynes of Houston, who accom panied Mutscher to the news con ference, said news coverage of the stock scandals precluded a fair trial for the defendants. “When you put the focus of every lens in the land on a single topic you create a pressure that juries have a difficult time over coming,” he said. “You prevent a fair and impartial trial, and you disparage and assassinate citizens who are innocent.” AARGH! John R. Moffitt Cbe 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. 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. Members of the Student Publications Bo; ard Lib ers 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, of Agriculture; and Layne Kruse, student. l>. Lyxinuers, «jr., Tedrick, College Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. pulbhshi Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, Septem May, and once a week during summer school. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association The Associated Collegiate Press Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 6% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. use for or not 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. EDITOR HAYDEN WHITSETT Managing Editor Doug Dilley Nows Editor S ue Davis Sports Editor ... j 0 hn Curylo Assistant Sports Editor Bill Henry in its customary place on page 2. I looked on the fron I looked on the back. I looked -n the side. No “Aargh.” Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!! As you have possibly perceived I was distraught. No “Aargh!” Within a short time I inquired in to this matter. It seems that there was no room for the “Aargh” that had been prepared. I find it diffi cult to see, looking at the Tues day Batt, what exactly would have been more worthy of a little space than “Aargh.” When I heard that today there was no “Aargh” once again, I didn’t bother to even look at the Battalion. Unless the odious prac tice of discarding the good stuff that comes your way is discontin ued, I will encourage all my semi illiterate friends to deluge your office with pro-“Aargh” letters, besides feeling personally affront ed that you did not heed my own. Cindy Wilke See the letter below.—Ed. ★ ★ ★ Editor: You lied to me. You did, you did, you did. Tuesday when there was no “Aargh” in the Batt, I called you up. “What has become of ‘aargh’!” I exclaimed. “Oh, we just ran out of room today. It will be back tomorrow.” Ok. Good. I wouldn’t have to march on campus publications or anything like that.” Then we both laughed. But you lied to me. All the “aargh”-lovers are here by summoned to the Services building Friday night, after the dance-concert, to demonstrate for “Aargh.” A chant to cause Hay den Whitsett to have a wart on his belly will be held, and refresh ments will be served by the WCTU. Green armbands are op tional. Steve Goble Sorry about that. In our joy over the Mutscher conviction and the resultant effort to get it into The Battalion, we totally over looked Aargh! I have sinned and I pray to the science fiction club, who have jumped all over me, for forgiveness. Arrgh!, as you may have noticed, is back.—Ed. ★ ★ ★ Editor: The last t checked the fil ing office in the MSC no gradu ate student had yet filed for a position in the spring election. I feel that this is highly impor tant in light of the passage of the new Student Government Constitution. I have no idea how many graduate students voted in the referendum that approved the new constitution, but it puts graduate students squarely into student government. This year I have served as a senator representing the Gradu ate College. My election was not much contested because it took place at a Graduate Student Council meeting last spring with few visitors present. According to the old constitution the GSC elected eight senators to repre sent the graduates. This had its advantages, if you choose to call them that. Graduates did not have to worry whether or not anyone was representing them. The GSC took care of it. Also, it was easy for us to make re placements as senators left school and vacated seats. And we managed to have graduate senators at all meetings. That was the way it was this past year. This coming year will be dif ferent. Many student leaders, mostly undergraduates, fought hard to include graduates in stu dent government when they wrote the new constitution. They believe that all classifications of students, freshmen through graduates, should be represented as equitably as possible and that people living off-campus should be represented equally with those living on-campus. Due to the efforts of the many senators who believe this way and the stu dents who voted in the refer endum, graduate students are now guaranteed 17 senate seats, specifically alloted to them, with an opportunity to win 14 at-large positions plus any of the offi cers’ positions they may care to seek. And no one has filed for a seat that an embarrassingly few votes will win. I urge graduate students to run. I found the Senate an ex citing place to be. The senators are bright, energetic people in terested in the same issues as you are. They are willing to be challenged, to investigate prob lems and to discuss alternatives. The students have made room for you. Accept their invitation. I sincerely believe that your stay at A&M will be enriched if you choose to work with them. Dick Zepeda MONEY Loaned on Anything of Value BA iron Sports equipment Stereo equipment Guitars-Amps Jewelry-Tools Guns-Cameras Ps No credit record required! Come to see us. Get a pawn loan of $30 and receive $2.00 free on your first loan. Texas State Credit 1014 Texas Ave. Weingarten Center ROD SI If Writ* fhe mal [be stud ion of “ thology There long tha lean ge isibly fig :ting wh< litionshii TODAY FINAL DAY JUNIORS and SOPHOMORES PICTURES for 1972 AGGIELAND UNIVERSITY STUDIO North Gate 846-8019 NOTE: Bring Fee Slip A 01 SAL1 "Wher stand; 240: LICE Requi Stags a iiTAMU liymond ! lu Asses MSC 8:30 5 1:30 Mond; liyers nn iri forms iii 1971 A Pub MS C. A. C. Presents Another Special Attraction] Dll; “THE KINETIC AI to rr £ FILM SERIES Ush, u L ». Hon SERIES ONE-PROGRAM II 0 h »e. 1151 ;c use kon SUNDAY NIGHT MARCH lift Uda ' lent 19TH One iiita 8:00 M.S.C. BALLROOM = STUDENTS $1.00 ALL OTHERS . $1.50 SEASON TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED c A l “AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE” AI Doy turn Brin Cloth cepte Hard Playi Book nitun nume ditior PEANUTS And You're goins To have to 5TANP Ol/T 0V HOME PUT£, AND Kl£5 HEP! YOU fROMPED]' By Charles M. Schulz WAP 1 er w Min Cl $1.0( casset $50. I Pairlai ■ conditi BU r, B ■ 5 -Bn SP , Cl Start< from Most i Anu KoOume Rouho-