SCONA’s Controlled Society: Panacea
Or Path To Hell?
By MIKE RICE
Editor
To control a computer and its
output, a person is required to
put in the necessary information
for it to be useful and controls
to guide and tell it what it can
and can’t do.
Much of the same thing is hap
pening to humans today from the
minute they enter grade school
(possibly pre-school) to the day
they leave college to use what
has been “indoctrinated” into
their very existence.
If it is true that knowledge is
being controlled, the first ques
tion which should arise is to what
extent is it being controlled and
for what purpose. A second ques
tion, even more important, would
be, “How can the strength of the
controller be broken?”
Although there is no single an
swer to these complex and per
haps confusing questions, stu
dents fortunate enough and in
terested enough in them will take
the time to investigate “The Con
trolled Society” issue facing the
eighteenth Student Conference on
National Affairs at A&M start
ing Wednesday.
The flow of information be
tween all parts of society must
be sustained if people living in a
fast-paced civilization are to be
able to successfully confront the
pressure and problems of the
times. Today’s civilization does
face problems of enormous scope
and complexity.
Some problems are in areas
where our expertise and technol
ogy can be applied with easily
recognizable results such as in
aerospace and military actions.
In others, the benefits are not so
easily realizable.
Leadership is the broad answer
to these problems and those at
tending SCONA XVIII will, in
all probability, be the leaders of
tomorrow, at least that’s what
SCONA workers hope.
“Students attending SCONA
should be asking themselves what
they are looking for in the world
around them,” says SCONA
XVIII Chairman Chet Edwards.
“This is a question that can only
be answered by the individual.
SCONA XVIII will hopefully
provide the fuel or drive to make
that decision.”
The speakers delivering ad
dresses desire in some way to in
fluence their way of thinking
(control?) while at the same
time making room for the diver
gent thoughts of others.
Such men as Nicholas Johnson,
commissioner of the Federal Com
munications Commission, will
warn of governmental controls
and holds on information in order
to keep the masses in check.
On the other side of the coin,
Minnesota Senator Walter F.
Mondale, the much-talked about
possible Democratic nominee for
the President’s office in ’76, will
share his views on controls with
in society.
Remembering that information
is necessary to control a comput
er, SCONA delegates will also
have to take note of the amount
of information government agen
cies have on each individual in
order to control his behavior.
Arthur R. Miller, law profes
sor at Harvard will lecture on the
government’s assault on privacy,
how it is done, and how obtained
information is retained for fu
ture controls.
Patrick Gray III, acting direc
tor of the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation, will probably stand
on the other side of the fence
with Miller, since the control of
crime in a “free” society some
times requires privacy invasion
of seemingly innocent individ-
individuals.
Psychologically and biological
ly Dr. Jack Michael, Dr. Paul
Saltman and Dr. Kollo May
should provide better insights
into what society is doing to it
self by shaping behavior and
“programming” information for
predicted actions and thinking.
These speakers will be food
for thought and consumption.
Persons attending SCONA XVIII
will have to determine for them
selves how much information is
usable and how much is worth
less for the “free” advance of
society.
Che Battalion
Vol. 67 No. 213
College Station, Texas Friday, February 9, 1973
845-2226
‘Miles For Mankind 9 Endorsed
Senate Tables Buses; Passes Housing
By VICKIE ASHWILL
Staff Writer
Following more than an hour of
debate the Student Senate tabled
the shuttle bus issue 41 to 24
with one abstention Thursday
night.
Senators were expected to ei
ther accept the proposal as is, ac
cept it with amendments or to
completely reject the issue. Sena
tors produced arguments concern-
ALMOST TWO INCHES of snow provided Aggies with
fun and excitement Thursday night, capping off what
started to be a sloppy day in the rain. A Friday high of
49 was expected to melt most of the snow followed by a
chilling temperature of 23 overnight.
47 Making Spring Leader’s
Journey This Weekend
A&M students will make a
culturally-enriching visit to Hous
ton this weekend through the Me
morial Student Center’s Spring
Leadership Trip ’73.
The two-day program will in
volve 47 students, Liberal Arts
Associate Dean and Mrs. Charles
McCandless and J. Wayne Stark,
MSC director.
They will attend performances
at the Alley Theater, American
Ballet Theatre and the Houston
Symphony Orchestra, among oth
ers, through efforts of former
student families interested in
TAMU students gaining a broad
er outlook on life.
More than half of the cost for
the weekend will be covered by
contributions from the former
student families, noted the trip
chairman, Mark Cuculic of Hous
ton.
The agenda includes a fashion
show at Neiman-Marcus, a visit
to the Museum of Fine Arts, the
Alley presentation of “The Hos
tage” by Brendan Behan and the
American Ballet Theatre’s pro
duction of “Les Sylphides,” “Sea
Change,” “U n f i n i s h e d Sym
phony” and “Fancy Free.”
Sunday they will tour the
Hyatt Regency Hotel and attend
the Lawrence Foster-conducted
Houston Symphony concert and
Windmill Dinner Theatre produc
tion of “The Owl and the Pussy
Cat.” The concert will feature
the world’s No. 1 violinist, Isaac
Stern.
Meals will be at the Melange,
Warwick Club and Galleria Side
walk Cafe.
Participants will include mem
bers of the Student Senate, Grad
uate Student Council, MSC Coun
cil and Directorate, Residence
Halls Association, Corps of Ca
dets, Student Y Association, In
ternational Student Association
and four representatives from
each college.
Annual Sophomore Events
Topped By ‘50s Frolic 9
A&M Sophomores have a party weekend planned Friday and
Saturday around the annual Sophomore Ball.
The Class of 1975 has scheduled two events for its members,
announced President Louis Gohmert of Mt. Pleasant.
A Friday night “50s Frolic” and the formal Saturday ball were
planned around the Saturday afternoon SWC basketball game between
A&M and Arkansas.
A Friday party at Indian Lake will feature four hours of recorded
music of the 1950s and early ’60s. It will be highlighted by several
contests, such as dancing, best-dressed and sardine-swallowing, a
collegiate pastime of that period. Attire will be dress of the ’50s.
The Saturday Sophomore Ball at Duncan Hall will be highlighted
by the crowning of the Sophomore Sweetheart, to be voted by class
members from five finalists. “Krystal Blue” of Houston will furnish
music.
Couples can attend both events for $8, Gohmert said.
Arrangements were coordinated through the Sophomore Council.
ing the $66,000 to be extracted
from the student service fees and
the $18 user fee versus the park
ing fee.
Discussion over two buses on an
inner-periphery route created a
conflict among the senators and it
was suggested that the two
buses be disposed with complete
ly.
“I don’t think you’re going to
get $24,000 worth of benefit from
two buses when you could be using
the money somewhere else,” said
Layne Kruse, Student Govern
ment president.
“When I see $42,000 (excluding
two on-campus buses) coming
from the student service fees, I
also see 16,000 students paying
for a service only 3,000 students
use,” said Fred Campbell, chair
man of the rules and regulations
committee. “I do not see how these
figures can possibly justify the
entire program.”
Senators endorsed the resolu
tion asking A&M President Jack
K. Williams to do all he can to
open up lower-cost housing for
women on the civilian side of the
campus for the fall semester 1973.
Also included on the proposal
to be sent to the administration
is a friendly amendment present
ed by Tom Locke (Keathley-
Hughes). This amendment states
that “be it further resolved that
the Student Senate recommend
the policy of coeducational bous
ing in dormitories as an alterna
tive to the eviction of the stu
dents involved.”
The Resident Hall Association
and White, Utay, Davis-Gary,
Hart, Walton, Krueger, Law, Pur-
year, Dunn, Keathley and Hughes
have approved the resolution.
“The remaining dorms have not
yet been formally contacted, but
there are no negative votes from
any dorm council thus far,” said
Campbell. “The remaining dorms
will be contacted as soon as pos
sible for the consideration.”
The resolution concerning the
hiring of a pre-law student ad
visor to be available to pre-law
students was accepted by the Sen
ate after much debate.
The resolution requests that
the academic vice president of
A&M publicly and officially des
ignate in the University catalogue
a University official to provide
academic counseling every semes
ter, service as a clearing house
for LSAT and LSDAS informa
tion, service as an informative
clearing house for current law
school announcements, maintain-
ance of an up-to-date collection
of law school catalogues, and ful
filling other duties deemed nec
essary.
In other action the Senate en
dorsed the Student ‘Y’ Associa
tion and community project “Miles
For Mankind.” The ‘Y’ is work
ing toward a total contribution of
$10,000 with 50 percent for world
McCreary Explains Tax Crisis
University
“On the side
National Bank
of Texas A&M.”
Adv.
County governments can’t ig
nore the political realities of cop
ing with the ad valorem tax crisis
or developing land use policies if
they want some voice in future
decisions.
Jack McCreary, board chair
man and general counsel of
Southwestern Appraisal Co., Aus
tin, and Dr. A. B. Wooten, direc
tor of the Texas Real Estate Cen
ter at A&M, gave this advice
Wednesday during the 15th an
nual County Judges and Commis
sioners Conference here at the
Ramada Inn.
McCreary explained that the
hassle over ad valorem taxes in
volved more than the financing
of public schools. In predicting a
system of uniform and equal tax
ation of property, he pointed out
that some county officials might
tend to discount their roles in de
termining exactly what kind of
revisions will be made. If this
would happen, federal guidelines
might be set down.
Besides Texas, 39 other states
have committees studying the
problem of revision. McCreary
noted that the Rodriguez Deci
sion of 1971 didn’t declare ad
valorem taxes unconstitutional
themselves. Rather, the actual
unconstitutionality dealt with
distribution of wealth.
The lawyer described a case
involving the Ft. Worth Inde
pendent School District which
showed disparities of taxable val
ues ranging from three to 100
per cent of fair market value. In
Alabama a federal court found
variations in taxation values
running from 6 to 26 per cent.
The court ordered that all assess
ments be made uniform within
one year.
“If Texas is to continue to use
property taxes for local govern
ment, there must be a uniform
and equal system of taxation,” he
remarked. “The cost of govern
ment has gone up. It costs more
to do business now and some
body has to pay for it. Last year
in Texas 53 per cent of the bond
elections concerning taxation
were defeated.”
McCreary said that ad valorem
taxes are here to stay because
there doesn’t seem to be any suit
able alternatives. He described
revenue sharing as at best a
means of easing money tightness
but not a cure-all.
“Sit in on meetings of the leg
islative property tax committee
and see what’s going on,” he
urged more than 600 county of
ficials in attendance. The five-
member committee is studying
possible alternatives to property
taxes.
Closely linked with the taxa
tion and valuation of property is
the rising costs of land and the
departures from traditional land
use.
Wooten reminded the judges
and commissioners that there is
no longer any relationship be
tween the price of land and the
net agricultural income that can
be realized from that land.
“We are in an era of recrea
tional use and rural living,” com
mented the director of the Texas
Real Estate Center. “More and
more of our land is being diverted
into these uses.”
A piece of federal legislation
called the Jackson Bill calls for
each state to have a plan for land
resource management. Among
the things to be outlined are lo
cations of facilities such as major
service, 30 per cent for the Bryan-
College Station area for a teen
age workshop and 20 per cent for
university projects such as reno
vating Hensel Park.
Kruse made two appointments
at the meeting. Videl Gonzalez is
now an off-campus graduate sen
ator and Sam Bays is a senator
for graduate agriculture.
The Senate supported a copy of
the Texas bill permitting gradu
ate students to choose their own
retirement plan, rather than hav
ing mandatorily join the Teach
er Retirement System of Texas
(TRS).
A referendum will now be held
to decide whether or not the Stu-
(See Senate, page 2)
Ticketing Starts Monday
For Unregistered Bicycles
For those still avoiding the “rush” to register bicycles. University
Police Chief O. L. Luther announced Thursday that his department will
begin Fining bicycUsts Monday for riding bikes without having them
registered.
Luther said he would like to remind students that the registration
fee has been reduced to $1.50 from $3. Anyone having paid the latter
fee earUer in the year may get his refund by contacting the University
Police in the YMCA Bldg.
University Police officers began issuing tickets for bicyclists
committing moving violations two weeks ago while at the same time
ticketing the same who also didn’t have bikes registered.
Luther said tickets were voided for both violations if students
registered their bikes after receiving tickets.
Students are reminded that all bicycles operated or parked on the
campus at any time must be registered with the University Police within
48 hours after arrival on the campus.
Rudder’s Rangers Sponsor
Special Running Program
utility plants and airports.
If the state doesn’t put a plan
into effect, federal funds for ac
tivities such as construction of
highways and airports and main
tenance of soil and water conser
vation programs will be limited.
Each year a plan isn’t in effect,
the percentage withheld will be
come larger.
“County officials will have to
implement and operate these
plans,” predicts Wooten. “They
will be the managers of the coun
ty’s natural resources. In a sense
they will be both the planning
agency and the regulatory agen
cy. Presently county govern
ments don’t have the authority to
do these things, but they should
keep informed and make some
inputs into the state plan.”
Rising land costs are, of course,
requiring larger investments, but
the sources of financing are
changing, according to Wooten.
Presently individual sellers han
dle most of the financing. In
surance companies, which used to
serve as a source for 20 to 25
per cent of farm mortgage cred
it, now account for only about
seven per cent.
By BURT OWENS
Rudder’s Rangers are sponsor
ing a physical fitness program
called “Run for Your Life.”
Completion of the requirements
set up in this program results in
a special physical achievement
ribbon for corps members to
wear on their uniform.
Developed by the Army, this
program was adapted for the
Aggie ranger company by Sgt.
Maj. John McDonald. It is be
ing offered corps-wide on either
an individual basis or can be en
tered by whole outfits. It is
stressed that participation be
strictly voluntary.
The purpose of the “aerobics”,
or running, program is to devel
op the heart, lungs and circula
tory vessels, and thus reduce the
chances of coronary attack.
There are three stages of de
velopment in the program set up
according to degree of physical
fitness. The preparatory phase
is for people who have been lead
ing an inactive life. The condi
tioning phase is for those who
have been in an active program
but cannot walk/run a mile in
8% minutes.
Anyone who can run a mile in
8% minutes without undue fa
tigue is in the sustaining phase.
The goal of the sustaining phase
is to run a minimum of seven to
ten miles a week.
In order to receive the physical
achievement award, the partici
pant must complete 50 miles
within the time limits set up for
each phase and pass the basic
physical fitness test. When he
completes 100, 200, 300 miles,
an Arabic numeral 1, 2, 3, etc.,
is awarded to put on ribbons. A
person who qualifies for a second
and succeeding years will win a
bronze star for his ribbon.
The sponsors of the program
suggest students see a physician
before entering. Anyone with a
history of high blood pressure,
excess weight, or abnormal elec
trocardiograph readings cannot
participate.
Phone System
Aiding Student
Info Center
Students having complaints or
needing information can now call
the campus operator to find out
who can help.
The operator (dial ‘7’ from cam
pus or 845-3211) has a list of
Student Government committees
with brief descriptions of each
and how to reach them.
“Instead of asking the guy
across the hall who may not
know, students can now get
straight information,” said Bill
Darkoch, who compiled the list.
“I started the project around
the middle of last semester,” said
Darkoch. “It took three weeks to
make up the list and another
three weeks to coordinate the
service with the campus oper
ators.”
The Student Government Infor
mation Center, as the list is called,
is very comprehensive with 40
committees that cover a wide
range of services to the students.
A list of the committees is lo
cated on page 240 of the student
directory.