vf72—The year young people make a move into politics
itfhts attfl ^J JL JL JL
ights artj
deep 1 by DEBBIE BLACKMON
’ ™ u ^Bl972 is going to be the Year of
- ^“'^■oiitics in the United States,
r ana K;»B cross America the college cam-
ch. Tiir l (M seS) the student communities,
>cker nn&ave become fully-enfranchised
3 comingiRlitical forces capable of using
I B e direct route of the ballot box.
'^■he 18-year old, now, has been
fiddled with the responsibility to
thinkiiijfirislate responsive government
r, fi local, state and national levels
«m finch will look to the true needs
lit fed wishes of the American
flfiople. We no longer have to
"*'[||vors or for support. We can
■peal to representatives for
Rpport ourselves and our own
fididates who can look at the
lue needs and wishes of the
‘‘^[American people.
llirBPolitical pundits have been ar-
lll!i Bring for months now about the
ijlUfifluence that we are going to
five on the outcome of the pri
maries and the general elections,
later in November. They’ve
speculated on the local partici-
Ipation of “uprooted students,”
hd the real interest of the col
lege-aged American on the higher
level of politics. Many experts
have raised the fear that the New
Voters have so little practical
experience with the political
process that we are going to be
easily swayed by the most super
ficial considerations, if we are
“swayed” at all.
Many new voters have a hesi
tancy about coming into the direct
politics and all its dirty laundry,
but not all of us are going to
ignore the whole business and
hope it will go quietly away.
Those who feel they have a stake
in this mess of American politics
are going to do a lot of “swaying”
disconcerting established petty
politicians and petty politics. We
will be trying to support candi
dates who can continue handling
their duties competently, and
those who can replace our “city
fathers.”
Politicians involved in this
year’s “races” are going to stand
before 3,839,000 college-aged con
stituents and have to reason with
a lot of ideas, independent of
petty politics and band wagons.
I think The New Voters will
initiate a purer democracy in the
United States.
Responding to the enactment of
a Bill providing for the suspen
sion of the restricting system of
voter registration and eligibili
ties, over 1250 young Texans
gathered in Austin this summer
to call for constructive change.
Thirteen people from Texas A&M
went to the conference which be
gan as a “get rid of Nixon” and
“Get out of Viet-Nam” sort of
movement. But the conference
evolved into a forum of concerned
new voters interested in intensive
examination of voter registration
techniques and the laws they now
were responsible for. This is a
unique feature of the evolving
mode of thought of the new
voters. An overwhelming insist
ence on standing up for prin
ciples and insisting them out
loud, rather than depending upon
the traditional politics of the
“smoke-filled” room have distin
guished them from those who
have continually defeated true
democracy in the United States.
They declared nonpartisanism
and stood by it. Not for party
recognition but for the recogni
tion of principles of American
ideas of today. They have been
one of the many nationwide ve
hicles organizing for the educa
tion of the informed young citi
zens participating in basic demo
cratic decisions which will affect
their lives and their reputations
in our country’s politics.
In September, a major change
was made in the revised voter
registration restrictions for the
Texas Election Code concerning
the ability of the newly enfran
chised voters who live on a cam
pus to vote in their local elec
tions. As the result of a court
suit, the state decided that the
requirement that unmarried per
sons under age 21 vote in the
county of their parents’ residence
was unconstitutional. Students
aren’t entitled to any special con
siderations from the registrar’s
office, but neither are we to re
ceive any special discrimination.
This particular provision was in
serted by the House of Repre
sentatives in a conference com
mittee during the last session of
the legislature and was directed
at keeping college students from
voting in the town where they
attended school. Now with the
declaration of its unconstitution
ality, a college student under 21
can register and vote in the town
where he attends school. This is
the biggest victory that we new
voters have gotten. Out of state
students and out of county stu
dents at Texas A&M may regis
ter in Brazos County, if they tell
the county tax assessor-collector
that they definitely are making
A&M their permanent home. Any
student can determine this when
he is registering at the County
Court House in Bryan. He does
not have to be here during the
summer to be a resident. On ac
count of the student economic
impact from his local area, every
student should be active in his
local elections as he is directly
be Battalion
affected by its expenditures and
the local taxes he is burdened
with. He is affected by the
markup of retail prices of food,
sales taxes paid to the communi
ty, income taxes from his pay
check if he happens to work in
the community, and many other
municipal services every citizen
has to pay for. When a student
stops and considers that $78,000,-
000 was spent in the Bryan-Col-
lege Station area last year by
Texas A&M and connected indi
viduals, he will notice that some
of that came out of his pocket.
As a registered voter of College
Station, he has a say in all local
bond issues and specially created
sales tax issues. If you, as a
Texas A&M student don’t con
sider yourself a resident of Col
lege Station, because you plan to
skip this place as soon as possi
ble, you are going to find your
taxes being levied by your locally
registered businessmen.
Getting the opportunity to vote
and having a direct say with
grubby personalities and nifty
Cloudy
and
cool
stock scandals isn’t what some
people get excited about. The
chance to jump right in the most
questionable and 2nd oldest oc
cupation in the history of man—
politics—is something that is
part of the staunch American
guarantee—life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. A lot of
adults “don’t have the time” or
feel that their vote “won’t mat
ter anyway.” New blood, new
voters, and new issues are mak
ing this year’s elections special.
It will be a rejuvenating chance
for politics in Texas and the na
tion to be taken by the roots and
shaked out. For too long politics
have been controlled by a sti
fling, regressive group who have
become bogged down in the laws
that they administer. Now that
younger voters have been enfran
chised, we have the chance to
prove our maturity and abilities
in handling the government that
we have criticized, griped about,
and attacked. Together we can
work within the system to make
the system work for us.
Friday — Partly cloudy in the
afternoon. Southeasterly winds
10-15 mph. High 84°, low 64°.
Saturday — Mostly cloudy.
Afternoon thundershowers. South
westerly winds 15-20 mph. High
83°, low 68°.
No. 120
College Station, Texas
Thursday, May 4, 1972
845-2226
ocal politicos
tate positions
Ulllj;Aggie senior Mike Essmyer and
r I£^|Bryan chiropractor Ed Stephen-
I jMB n w '^ challenge incumbent Bill
; JWMpresnal for the District 28 state
| SSSKjBpresentative seat this Saturday
in local primaries.
11JP | Essrn y er > ex-Student Senate
Bee-president, said that the new
r| l/r|ate constitution should be flex-
UliIBle and provide for annual un-
IpSBHited sessions of the legislature.
I UEEssmyer feels the constitution
be a structural outline of
aSSlKlfit® government, contain a civil
bill and allow for more
tirf r xible count y an d local govern-
TlX F™! 8,
"He said citizens should be
eated and cured rather than de-
royed for their use of marijua
na. “The crime committeed for
is use should be lowered to a
aisdemeanor” he said.
His opponent, Bill Presnal, has
iad three and one-half years ex
perience as the state represen
tative from this district.
Presnal told the League of
Women Voters that he believes
a good constitution would have
a pay-as-you-go system of financ
ing and give more authority to
the legislature and local govern
ments.
In addition he said that the
executive branch should be re
structured.
“The first offense for the pos
session of marijuana should be
treated as a misdemeanor,” Pres
nal said.
Ed Stephenson, the third con
testant for the office, has had
seven years of college and is a
local chiropractor.
Stephenson told the League of
Women Voters the constitution
should guarantee equal rights,
freedom of the press, religion,
and speech for all and provide
News SummaryX
WASHINGTON <A>) _ Late
Wednesday the White House dis
closed that Nixon has selected
[Asst. Atty. Gen. L. Patrick Gray
III to serve as FBI director on
[an interim basis at least until
[after the November election.
A presidential spokesman ex
plained the appointment of a reg-
ilar director was being delayed
avoid the possibility of an
6lection-year political fight over
Hie nomination. Gray will not
leed Senate confirmation to fill
;he job in an acting capacity.
but had no comment.
KELLOGG, Idaho <A>> _ As
pumps sent tons of air under
ground, rescue workers began
probing the hot, smoky shafts of
the Sunshine silver mine Wednes
day in search of more than 50
miners missing in a fire that
killed at least 24 other men.
Mine officials said 58 men
were unaccounted for; 108 others
escaped to safety soon after the
fire broke out in the nation’s
richest silver mine shortly after
noon Tuesday.
Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey
narrowly defeated Sen. George
3. McGovern early Thursday in
Ihe trouble-plagued Ohio primary
Section for the state’s 38 at-
large Democratic National Con
vention delegate votes.
PARIS </P)—A critical session
of the Vietnam peace talks was
set for Thursday and uncon
firmed reports that secret con
tacts were already under way
between the United States and
North Vietnam.
A Paris newspaper said the
United States had proposed in a
secret exchange with North Viet
nam that a seven-day truce be
put into effect, apparently to be
followed by a general ceasefire.
U. S. officials here and in
Washington wrote off the truce
and cease-fire report as “com
pletely without foundation.” The
U. S. peace talks delegation
spokesman, Stephen Ledogar,
would not, however, comment on
reports that secret talks had be
gun. North Vietnamese officials
noted inquiries about the report
University National Bank
“On the side of Texas A&M.”
—Adv.
WASHINGTON <A>) — Presi
dent Nixon’s chief economist says
it is unlikely that wage-price
controls will be removed this
year.
Herbert Stein, chairman of
the Council of Economic Advis
ers, also told reporters Tuesday
that price controls “are consistent
with a very substantial increase
in profits this year” and that he
doesn’t find great anxiety among
American businessmen over profit
curbs.
Stein, who just returned from
Europe where he conferred with
economic officials from several
countries, said he found a “strong
feeling of confidence in the inter
national situation.”
WASHINGTON <A>)_With the
military situation worsening, Sec
retary of Defense Melvin R.
Laird ordered a top-level team
of logistics specialists to Viet
nam Wednesday to determine
whether Saigon requires more
American military aid.
Pentagon spokesman Jerry W.
Friedheim said the group will
consider both Saigon’s military
needs and what additional meas
ures may be needed to protect
the remaining U. S. troops.
a moral code for legislators.
Stephenson disagrees with
reducing the possession of mari
juana charge to a misdemeanor.
In the county commissioner’s
race, the Democratic party boasts
two candidates in Lester (Red)
Parsons and Bill Cooley.
The county commissioners court
decides where voting precincts
will be within the county.
In a recent interview Bill Cooley
said he could visualize two voting
precincts on campus if current
trends keep going.
“I recognize that the student
body is the largest single seg
ment of the population in Pre
cinct 1,” he said. “Without it,
very few of us would be in of
fice. I feel that voter registration
will grow faster than student en
rollment.”
He also said that the A&M
Consolidated voting box is over
crowded with 3,700 registered vot
ers. He added that one polling
place on campus and one near
North Gate for students who live
on the north side of campus
should be added.
His opponent, Parsons, has no
objections to a polling place on
campus, if it is in keeping with
the county election code.
Parsons, a heavy equipment op
erator for Brazos County, said it
doesn’t matter where the polls
are located, but that he thinks
A&M should be a regular polling
place.
“A&M Consolidated is too
crowded. The majority of those
who vote there come from the
A&M campus,” he said.
On the Republican side of the
elections, Howard N. Anderson
said that he is also in favor of
a campus polling spot. Howard,
a self-employed businessman,
taught for five years at A&M
Consolidated.
“I’m all for it,” he said. “I
think it would make it much more
convenient for students to vote.”
His opponent, James Carroll,
could not be reached for com
ment.
The polling area for A&M stu
dents is located at A&M Consoli
dated High School’s band room.
Graduate College
program Friday
A record 297 graduate students
will receive degrees at 7:30 p.m.
Friday in G. Rollie White Coli
seum.
Dr. George W. Kunze, Graduate
College dean, said 232 students
will receive master’s degrees and
65 will be awarded doctorates.
TAMU’s traditional undergrad
uate commencement exercises will
be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, also
in the coliseum.
Dr. Norman Hackerman, Rice
University president, will speak
at the Graduate College exercises.
MAKING WAY FOR THE NEW is the case of the demo- signed inline with the architecture of the eight-story build-
lition of Bagley Hall which has been occupied for the ing shown behind it.
past 68 years. A new two-story building has been de-
All you could ask for
Saunas and store in new dorm
By MARGARET SHAW
The 1972 fall semester will find
1,000 A&M students, at least half
of them women, living in a dorm
complex that has almost every
available service on campus con
tained in its three adjoining build
ings.
Named for former students,
C. C. Krueger of San Antonio
and J. Harold Dunn of Amarillo,
the 270,000 square feet of space
houses not only living areas but
study and recreational facilities.
Wider sidewalks,
circular fountain
to be added soon
Wider sidewalks and a better lighted ‘Academic Tri
angle’ are in the works for construction this summer with
completion scheduled for the fall of 1972.
The area between the Academic Building, Bolton Hall,
Nagle Hall, and over to Legett and Hart Hall on the sides
will receive new sidewalks, Paul Stevens, manager of tech
nical services, announced Wednesday.
Two new angled sidewalks will be laid in a washed-
gravel surface in place of the present ones. The areas around
the Sull Ross statue and the flagpole will also be repaved.
A circular fountain, 40 feet in diameter, is also being
planned for the area in front of the flagpole. This, how
ever, will come later, Stevens said.
Two plazas will be built along Military Walk. One will
be in front of Hart Hall and another in front of Legett Hall.
Each will have a rectangular depressed area with concrete
benches, noted Stevens.
A lighting pattern is being worked out for the area
to better light it, Stevens said.
“No trees will be affected by the construction,” he
stressed.
Quiet areas are provided by
carrels and typing rooms located
in several places in each wing.
The living area is designed in
a suite arrangement. Modular
furniture, designed especially for
the dorm by Bob Boyce, an A&M
designer, will be the main feature
of each room. Chosen from three
proposed sets of furniture by a
committee that included students,
it was tested by A&M students
before a final selection was made.
The pieces are black and white,
giving the residents a wide choice
of colors for accents.
Storage space was of prime
concern and each piece provides
maximum storage. Beds have
large drawers built in beneath
them and with the addition of
bolsters to the beds the room be
comes a sitting room.
A definite advantage of the
design is the uniform height of
all pieces which can be placed
side-by-side to make one long
continuous workspace. Units are
also stackable to increase floor
space.
Recreation areas are not lack
ing. The commons building be
tween the two dormitory wings
has game rooms equipped with
table tennis and pool tables. Also
in the central area is a complete
exercise room and four color tele
vision lounges.
Each wing has its own sauna
on the third floor, in addition to
lounges on each floor.
Post office facilities are in
cluded in the list of services for
the residents. The Exchange Store
is planning a branch for the dorm,
specializing in personal needs and
school supplies.
Residents will eat in the dining
hall located in the commons area.
A snack bar will be operated in
addition to the cafeteria.
Women residents will be placed
under an hours policy as fresh
men.Coed upperclassmen, with
parental consent, may participate
in self-limiting hours. However,
they will be required to sign out
at the front desk when leaving
for the evening. Women leaving
town must also sign out so they
may be reached in case of emer
gency.
Closing hours for those who do
not have self-limiting hours will
be 12 midnight until 7 a.m. Sun
day through Thursday, and 2 a.m.
until 7 a.m. on Friday and Satur
day nights. Exceptions may be
made for students by the head
resident.
Hours of visitation will be es
tablished by hall members within
the framework of the policy cur
rently in effect in civilian dormi
tories.
The rules and regulations will
be administered by a staff headed
by a complex director. Each wing
will have a head resident. Women
will have three resident advisors
per floor and men will have two.
As of May 3, there were still
limited spaces available for
women.
Dedication will be during the
fall semester 1972.