Page 2
College Station, Texas
Thursday, September 20, 1973
THE BATTALION
Self-Restraint Needed
Midnight Yell Practice—a tradition that has come to
mean a lot for those upperclass Ags with freshman dates.
We hate to see it halted, but it could be if the attitude of
certain students doesn’t end.
Having a few beers or drinks before this Aggie ritual
has always been a tradition in itself, but chaotic events
in which people are hurt such as last Friday night’s practice
should never occur even once, especially here.
Some seemed to feel it was their duty to break through
the band’s bass rank (rear rank) simply for the fun of taking
off their white helmets used to protect themselves in such
situations. No concern was shown for the women, band
dates and band members that were being hurt.
Students managed to hospitalize an Ag by kicking him
hard from behind to the extent that he was barely able to
attend the A&M-Wichita State football game that following
afternoon.
To him we apologize for those who were responsible, as
we do to Bandmaster Maj. Joe T. Haney’s secretary for the
injuries and bruises she sustained while trying to march
beside the band.
Stopping to think about why these bass players are
there with helmets would result in the realization that the
bandsmen cannot see the drum major or keep its ranks
straight to march to Kyle Field for all the people blocking
eyesight and the hysterics.
According to Mike Phillips, combined band commander,
if such behavior continues on the part of students, the band
will discontinue marching in order to avoid a combat situa
tion at yell practices. The same problem is also occuring
as the band marches to the Student “Y” after the football
games.
If you must drink before yell practice, do it in modera
tion.
An ounce of prevention is worth a “quart” of Cure.
Drive Carefully, Friendly
With students leaving as early as today for New Or
leans and Baton Rouge to party and attend the A&M-LSU
football game, we think it wise that you be reminded to
drive carefully and drink cautiously when considering driv
ing.
It’s a sobering thought to realize that we have already
had Silver Taps for four students thus far in the first two
and one-half weeks of school. (Two were killed over the
summer months.) Although they were felled for various
reasons other than driving while intoxicated, we have to
be honest in saying we don’t want to see the ceremony
held again this semester.
Remember that statement in whatever you do, because
an early listing on the Aggie Muster roster is frequently an
unnecessary thing to happen.
A Foot in the Graveyard?
President Nixon may retire from office before the end
of the year, because of a physical breakdown. He has
virtually no other “honorable” exit from the shadows that
are growing around him. The next phase of the Watergate
investigation may be more shocking than the first, and show
“laundering” of campaign funds through Mafia channels.
The economy is in trouble. Public opinion has soured.
Discussion of the President’s health is now in the open.
Columnist Nicholas Von Hoffman writes, “The impression
is gaining that Nixon is dysfunctional.”
The 25th Amendment provides the President may send
Congress “his written declaration that he is unable to dis
charge the powers and duties of his office.” Before he was
President, in conditions of stress, Nixon suffered severe
psychosomatic illness, and was treated by a New York psy
chiatrist. The pneumonia that sent him to the hospital
this summer is a typical response—among some people—to
high stress. This may be coupled with a suicidal “death
wish.”
Nixon is being urged to nominate as Vice President, if
Agnew has to step down, either Governor Nelson Rockefeller
of New York or Secretary of State William Rogers, an old
friend.
—Tristram Coffin
Editor, Washington Watch
Listen Up—
Unanswered Questions Thought Fool
DOCTOR
AND
PATIENT
LAWYER
AND
CLIENT
PRIEST AND
PENITENT
A MATTER OF CONFIDENCE
€bt Battalion
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of
the editor or of the writer of the article and are not
necessarily those of the University administration or
the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit,
self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a
University and Community newspaper.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words
and are subject to being cut to that length or less if
longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit
such letters and does not guarantee to publish any
letter. Each letter must be signed and show the address
of the writer.
Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion,
Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas
77843.
Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim
Lindsey, chairman; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr.
H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, J. W. Griffith, L. E. Kruse and
B. B. Sears.
Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising
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The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is
published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday,
Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, September through
May, and once a week during summer school.
MEMBER
The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school
year; $6.60 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.
to the use for
to it or not
he paper and local news of spontaneous
origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas.
EDITOR MIKE RICE
Managing Editor Rod Speer
News Editor T. C. Gallucci
Women’s Editor Louie Holzem
Sports Editor Kevin Coffey
Ass’t. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie
Editor:
I must be stupid. I’m a senior,
but for the life of me I can’t un
derstand some of the things that
occur at an otherwise excellent
university. Can you answer the
following questions for me?
1. Why doesn’t Sbisa dispense
toothpicks anymore?
2. Why doesn’t Sbisa open its
doors according to the posted
schedule? (Is it true Sbisa hired
an efficiency expert?)
3. Why doesn’t Sbisa serve may
onnaise when serving hot dogs?
4. Why do drunk cadets and
drunk civilians break out car win
dows at midnight yell practice ?
5. Why do people fight in the
street during yell practice over
white helmets?
6. Why do band members hit
cars with their instruments?
7. Why are yell leaders “blood
thirsty” and why do they want
the other team to hurt on every
play?
8. Why do yell leaders praise
the band and cut down the civil
ians regarding degree of spirit?
(What is spirit?)
9. Why do non-seniors stand on
the benches in Kyle Field?
10. Why did whoever is respon
sible allow themselves to purchase
cheap quality fiberglass seats for
Kyle stadium? (How do you get
fiberglass out of your clothes and
off your skin?)
11. Why does at least one Uni
versity Policeman think he can
push a student around physically
when he feels the student is in
violation of the law and not ex
plain to the student why he is
doing what he is doing?
12. Why is the fish pond dry?
13. Why did “INROL” (the
freshman handbook) steal a pho
tograph from a photographer and
print it without the photograph
er’s consent?
14. Why isn’t there a student
lawyer as so popularly believed ?
15. Why are subjective records
kept on students in the office of
dorm counselors, in the office of
the Vice President for Student
Services and in the student be
havior file?
16. Why don’t people realize
that Legett is spelled with one
“g”?
17. Why does at least one uni
versity official make unannounc
ed tape recordings of conversa
tions ?
18. Why is such a good place to
study and learn such a bad place
to live?
19. How can I get out of here
with an education, and no psycho
logical scars ?
Doug Kirk
★ ★ ★
Editor:
I wonder if the bookstore is
here to serve the students 100 per
cent or only 50 per cent.
It seems quite happy to sell
you a new book at a very good
price. But they do not seem to
want to buy back any books sold
previously. This past summer the
store would not even sell books
for a while.
The service is bad. If you need
something between classes you
might as well forget it. It is not
uncommon to wait 15 minutes to
get checked out, and this is after
the registration rush.
We have seen other bookstores
in operation on other campuses
and never have I encountered one
as poorly run as the one at good
ol’ A&M.
Oh, well, one more “service”
by Aggies for Aggies.
Charles F. Frost
If you think the service is that
bad, have you tried consulting the
management on your problems to
see what its story is.
If you had bothered to ask,
you might have found that the
present operation is just barely
a bookstore operation due to the
fact that the store is the equi
valent of one month behind in
operations due to late equipment
shippings which have disrupted
a smooth work system for em
ployes.
A portion of the equipment is
still being awaited.—Ed
★ ★ ★
Editor:
It looks like three or four Wi
chita State players got hurt. A
couple even looked like they might
be laid up for awhile. I wonder
if that’s enough “blood” for some
of our yell leaders (cf. Midnight
Yell Practice, 9/14/173
John Nash
★ ★ ★
Editor:
We recently read a letter in
your column concerning the line
up for the Town Hall series. We’re
hoping Steve Tanner, whoever he
is, wrote the letter in a satirical
vein.
Roy Clark is anything but the
“young people’s favorite” as can
be evidenced by the “talented”
company he keeps on “Hee Haw.”
Mac Davis is imaginative, but is
certainly not crazy. And “Watch
ing Scotty Grow,” etc., are really
“rock and rollers” about like the
Blue Danube Waltz.
It’s unfortunate that the com
mittee members of the Town Hall
series didn’t hold up their a
of the grapevine with Skj
Phillips. His sellout, standij
for-weeks concerts certainly]
fleets the writing talent this J
sitive man possesses and liJ
to his audience. There are|
voices of his caliber. Shawn f
lips being replaced by Dobiedi
(an adequate performer) is]
replacing the Boston Popst
Grandpa Jones and his wifrl
Carolyn and Randy MartiJ
Three points should be led
at before criticism is aimed]
fired:
1. Shawn Phillips was i
booked because he won’t hi
the United States.
2. The Town Hall group]
over $7,000 last year on peril,|
ances due to poor turnouts ti|
outstanding list of perform
(The Elton John concert I
for instance, was the only]
that didn’t sell out last year]
him.)
3. Ideas are already beinp]
cussed for having fewer cm
with more quality—meaning
expensive bands.—Ed.
Bulletin Board
TONIGHT
Cepheid Variable Science Fic
tion Committee will meet in Room
402 of the MSC Tower at 7:30
p.m. An auction will follow.
Rio Grande Valley Hometown
Club will organize in Room 231
of the MSC at 7:30 p.m.
MSC Radio Committee will is
sue cards at 7:30 p.m. in Rooms
N and O of the Student Programs
Office.
Association of Students from
Mexico will elect officers in Room
407 of thte MSC Tower at 7:30
p.m. The meeting will be confin
ed to Sections A and B.
Academic Affairs Committee
of the Student Government will
organize in the SG Office in the
MSC at 5 p.m.
Sociology and Anthropology
Undergraduate Club will kill
picnic at Hensel Park, site)]
6:30 p.m. Those interested!
bring own food, but bevenj
will be provided for a 50c per;]
son contribution.
All girls interested in wort
on the Bonfire will meet ini
404 of the MSC Tower at '|
p.m.
TAMU Horseman’s Assi
will meet in Room 215 of!
Animal Industries Building
7:30 p.m. The program wilj
elude the judging of a helterd
and a pleasure class.
Student Chapter of the .
can Institute of Architects!
meet in the Architecture Am
rium at 8 p.m. All students:
joring in Environmental
are urged to attend.
pS constitutional amendments
SPECIAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 6, 1973
NUMBER ONE
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 8)
Article III. Sections 5. 24
and 49a and Article VIII,
Section 6 of the Texas Con
stitution are amended to:
Provide for regular
annual sessions of the Leg
islature. The regular session
in each odd-numbered year
would be for a period not to
exceed 180 days. The reg
ular session in each even
numbered year would be for
a period not to exceed 60
days and would be limited
to consideration of fiscal
matters and any emergency
matters submitted by the
Governor. The 60 day ses
sion could be extended by
the Governor for a period
not to exceed 30 days;
Provide an annual salary
for members of the Legisla
ture not exceeding $15,000
per year and a per diem not
exceeding $18 per day for
each day of each regular
session or special session;
Provide that no appro
priation of money shall be
made for a longer term than
one year and direct the
Comptroller to make annual
estimates of anticipated rev
enue rather than biennial
estimates.
The wording of the pro
posed amendment as it will
appear on the ballot is as
follows:
“The constitutional
amendment to provide
for annual regular ses
sions of the legislature;
and to provide an annual
salary of $15,000 and
per diem for the mem
bers of the legislature,
effective in January,
1975.”
NUMBER TWO
ON THE BALLOT
(H.J.R.7)
Article XVI, Sections 50
and 51 of the Texas Consti
tution are amended to:
Include within the scope
of homestead protection the
real property of a single
adult person which meets
the other requirements of
homestead property, and to
provide that a family home
stead may not be aban
doned except with the con
sent of both spouses.
Presently a single adult
person is not entitled to
claim a homestead exemp
tion and a married man can
abandon a family home
stead without the consent
of his wife.
The wording of the pro
posed amendment as it will
appear on the ballot is as
follows:
“The constitutional
amendment to include
within the scope of
homestead protection
the real property of a
single adult person which
meets the other require
ments of homestead
property, and to provide
that a family homestead
may not be abandoned
except with the consent
of both spouses.”
NUMBER THREE
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 13)
Article VIII, Sections 1-a
and 1-b of the Texas Con
stitution are amended to:
Extend the $3,000 ad
valorem tax exemption to
the residential homesteads
of unmarried adults.
The wording of the pro
posed amendment as it will
appear on the ballot is as
follows:
“The constitutional
amendment to extend
the $3,000 ad valorem
tax exemption to the
homesteads of unmarried
adults.”
NUMBER FOUR
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 1)
Article XVI, Section 59,
of the Texas Constitution is
amended by adding a new
Subsection (e) which:
Provides that no law
creating a conservation and
reclamation district shall be
passed unless a copy of the
proposed law is delivered to
the commissioners court of
each county and to the gov
erning body of each incor
porated city or town in
whose jurisdiction said dis
trict or any part thereof is
or will be located. Each
such commissioners court
and governing body may file
its written consent or oppo
sition to the proposed law
with the Governor, Lieuten
ant Governor and Speaker
of the House of Representa
tives. Each special law cre
ating such a district must
comply with general laws
then in effect relating to
consent by political subdivi
sions to the creation of such
districts.
The wording of the pro
posed amendment as it will
appear on the ballot is as
follows:
“The constitutional
amendment establishing
certain requirements rela
tive to the enactment of
laws creating certain con
servation and reclama
tion districts.”
NUMBER FIVE
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 12)
Article XL Section 7 of
the Texas Constitution is
amended to:
Provide that all counties
and cities bordering on the
coast of the Gulf of Mexico
are authorized to levy a tax
to pay for bonds issued for
the construction of sea walls
and breakwaters upon a
majority vote of the resi
dent property tax-payers.
Counties and cities are pres
ently authorized to levy
such taxes and this amend
ment only changes the re
quired vote from a two-
thirds majority to a simple
majority.
The wording of the pro-
posed amendment as it will
appear on the ballot is as
follows:
“The constitutional
amendment authorizing
counties and cities bor
dering on the Gulf of
Mexico to issue bonds
for the construction of
sea walls and breakwaters
upon a vote of the resi
dent property tax
payers.”
NUMBER SIX
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 26)
Article V Section 8 of
the Texas Constitution is
amended by adding a new
paragraph which:
Provides that the district
court, concurrently with the
county court, shall have the
general jurisdiction of a pro
bate court and in a probate
proceeding shall also have
the jurisdiction otherwise
conferred on it by law. It
also provides that the legis
lature may increase, dimin
ish, or eliminate the jurisdic
tion of the district court or
county court in probate
matters, may adopt rules
governing the filing, distri
bution, or transfer of cases
and proceedings as between
the courts having jurisdic
tion of probate matters, and
may provide that all appeals
in probate matters shall be
to the courts of civil ap
peals.
The wording of the pro
posed constitutional amend
ment as it will appear on the
ballot is as follows:
“The constitutional
amendment stating that
the district court con
currently with the
county court shall have
the general jurisdiction
of a probate court, and
providing the jurisdiction
thereof, and further pro
viding that in any pro
bate proceeding the dis
trict court shall also have
jurisdiction otherwise
conferred upon it by law,
and further providing
that the legislature may
increase, diminish or
eliminate the jurisdiction
of the district court or
county court in probate
matters, and further pro
viding that the legislature
shall have power to
adopt rules governing the
filing, distribution and
transfer of all such cases
and proceedings as be
tween district courts,
county courts, and other
courts having jurisdiction
thereof, apd further pro
viding that the legislature
may provide that all ap
peals in such matters
shall be to the courts of
(civil) appeals.”
NUMBER SEVEN
ON THE BALLOT
(H.J.R. 6)
Article III, Section 49-b
of the Texas Constitution is
amended to:
Provide for an additional
$100 million in bonds or
obligations of the State of
Texas for the Veterans’
Land Fund. This arftend-
ment increases the present
$400 million authorization
to $500 million;
Remove the present pro
vision which permits buying
of land only by those vet
erans who served between
September 16, 1940 and the
date of formal withdrawal
of United States troops
from the armed conflict in
Viet Nam. This amendment
would allow all veterans
who serve after September
16, 1940 to buy land from
the Veterans’ Land Fund,
provided they are otherwise
qualified;
Provide that, in the event
of the death of an eligible
Texas veteran after the vet
eran has filed with the
Board an application and
contract of sale to purchase
through the Board the tract
selected by him or her and
before the purchase has
been completed, then the
surviving spouse may com
plete the transaction.
The wording of the pro
posed amendment as it will
appear on the ballot is as
follows: •
“The constitutional
amendment to provide
for an additional $100
million in bonds or obli
gations of the State of
Texas for the Veterans’
Land Fund.”
NUMBER EIGHT
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 29)
Article XI, of the Texas
Constitution is amended by
adding a new Section 5(a)
which:
Authorizes and requires
incorporated cities, towns,
and villages, regardless of
population and notwith
standing the constitutional
limitations on total tax
rates, to levy such annual ad
valorem taxes on the tax
able property in the city,
town or village as are neces
sary to pay the principal of
and interest on, when due,
the general obligations here
inafter issued by the city,
town, or village. The legis
lature is empowered to limit
by general or special law the
total principal amount of
general obligations which
may be issued, but unless
and until the legislature acts
to do so, the limitations
established by statute with
respect to the total principal
amount of bonds which
may be issued by independ
ent school districts shall
apply as the rate limitation
on cities, towns, and vil
lages.
The wording of the pro
posed constitutional amend
ment as it appears on the
ballot is as follows:
“The constitutional
amendment to authorize
cities, towns, and villages
to levy such ad valorem
taxes as are sufficient to
pay the principal of and
interest on their general
obligations hereafter
issued subject to the re
strictions provided by
law.”
NUMBER NINE
ON THE BALLOT
(S.J.R. 25)
Article VIII of the Texas
Constitution is amended by
adding a new Section 2C
which:
Allows the Legislature,
by general law, to exempt
all real and personal prop
erty used by non-profit
water supply corporations
or cooperatives from all
property taxes. The exemp
tion would apply only to
such property as is reason
ably necessary to conduct
the business of a non-profit
water supply corporation or
cooperative.
The wording of the pro
posed constitutional amend
ment as it will appear on the
ballot is as follows:
“The constitutional
amendment authorizing
the legislature to exempt
from property taxes cer
tain property used by a
non-profit water supply
corporation or a non
profit water supply co
operative.”