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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1973)
Page 2 College Station, Texas Thursday, October 11, 1973 THE BATTALION Student and Government Help— Guilty and Gone While most Americans are stunned at former Vice President Spiro Agrne’s resignation, there must be one who can heave a sigh of relief: Richard M. Nixon. Yet a bitter taste will remain. For the resignation only partially cleansed the tarnish of the Nixon Adminis tration’s Republican image. The darkest is still to come, with the upcoming decision on the Nixon tapes. We believe it was ‘The better part of valor” for the former “veep” to resign—not out of sympathy for the man as a representative of American government—because of the humiliation of his position as a man. For such a proud man, his hasty exit was truly a re versal of form, but his realization of “Who needs me around here?” was the only logical question a collared politician could come up with. Nixon had already given him the kiss of death in last week’s Presidential press conference. By informally admitting he was guilty of the 38 pages of crimes the Justice Department had on him and realizing he could save the nation years of trouble and money, he took down one roadblock to answering the Nixon tapes dilemma. Unfortunately, for the United States, his resignation temporarily halted the formal clash between press freedom rights as given in the First Amendment and the right to a fair trial as provided by the Sixth Amendment. With his resignation the courts dropped the subpoenas against mem bers of the press whom Agnew had charged with providing his trial and sentencing in the press. Although the courts have never confronted the free- press-fair trial conflict head-on, they have repeatedly up held the right to prior restraint-—most notably in the 1971 Pentagon papers ruling. Sooner or later, we must have a decision on this issue. His resignation does show that the former “Veep” wasn’t “railroaded” by the press because the Justice De partment had plenty of evidence to prove press accusations weren’t trumped up. And it leaves unchallenged the 5-4 Supreme Court rulling in the Brandsburg case which can compel reporters to divulge sources who have been possibly involved with criminal activities. Replacing Agnew won’t take long (says Nixon), but there is incredible speculation in Washington for possible new faces. Among the names most commonly mentioned are John Connally, Nelson Rockefeller and Ronald Reagan. Of the three, we would endorse Connally because he’s Nixon’s Mr. Clean, he carries himself well with the public and shows a certain ability to function wisely on his own. Undoubtedly, we are unable to research his full background to search for those “hidden skeletons” said to be hanging around his financial closet in the oil business. This is Mr. Nixon’s task, as it should have been with Agnew. In lieu of events within the recent months, the public really has no choice or voice in a replacement, since the decision is in the hands of a particularly irate Democratic Congress. Nixon survived the Agnew problem and he’ll probably survive the tapes decision, but America will be slow in re covering from its Agnew and the havoc indiscriminant politics has wrecked. Consumers Beware The Better Busines Bureau of Brazos Valley has issued an alert that local residents—particularly students and pro fessors—may be approached by a salesman taking orders for hand calculators which he cannot deliver. Some 300 students and professors in Austin have lost $154 each in such transactions and the salesman is reported ly headed toward Bryan-College Station. The company which makes the calculators indicated the salesman operating in the Austin area has no connection with the firm and cannot deliver the promised product. Anyone approached individually to buy a calculator should contact BBB at 823-8148. Cbe 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 Services. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. 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; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the 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 Photo Editor Rodger Mallison Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Ass’t. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie Problem Solvers Named for Apartmenl By BARB SEARS Many student tenants feel pow erless in a disagreement with landlords. They are frustrated when trying to deal with the manager, for no matter how often they complain, they never get any results. Most students don’t have a thorough knowledge of the laws and don’t know how to obtain a solution to their problems. There are many levels of as sistance available in this commu nity from student-oriented groups to the courts. A tenant with a problem is first advised to con sult the Student Government Fair Housing Commission (FHC). This group is composed of students who have experience in dealing with apartment complaints. It has a background of legal knowledge, as well as access to a lawyer for advice on difficult or unusual sit uations. Feel free to call any of the names listed at the end of the column. The FHC has published both a review of the apartments in the area (based on a survey of off- campus students last year) and a legal guide for tenants. Apart ment managers of the area have all had some kind of contact with the FHC and many times a phone call or a letter is sufficient to clear up a problem. In fact, there are several managers who call on the FHC to double-check apart ments when student tenants move out. That way, the Commission will be familiar with the situation should a dispute arise. Many students have been as sisted by the Better Business Bu reau. The BBB has several full time staffers who have handled apartment complaints for a long time. For those living in the Univer sity’s Married Student Housing, there is an Apartment Council elected from the area, and repre sentatives present suggestions to the University. The FHC also has two members who live in the Mar ried Student Housing. If it is a health or sanitation problem, the County’s Health Of fice can be contacted by calling the County Court House. One ten ant who complained of the smell and litter from a poorly main tained garbage areas was able to get the situation corrected in this manner. Listen Up Agnew: A Crook is Editor: Former President Harry S. Truman was once quoted as say ing, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” In resigning his vice-presidency, Spiro Agnew not only got out of the heat, but also restored some credibility to the second-highest office in the land. Visions of pow er, wealth and grandeur may on occasion cloud a man’s image as he sees himself, but a crook is a crook! Agnew should never have jeopardized himself and the vice presidency by accepting his elec tion as this nation’s number two man. Another government office that might be useful is the Public Works Office of the city. It is supposed to check houses and apartments to insure that local housing code are followed. For instance, roofs and windows must be weathertight and without cracks and holes; plumbing fix tures must be in good sanitary working condition; doors to the outside must have screens except when the building has central air conditioning and heating; there must be heating units capable of maintaining a room temperature of 70 degrees in rooms and bath rooms. There are a number other such requirements which any buildings constructed after the creation of this housing code must follow. The Public Works Depart ment is available to investigate and enforce these regulations. Some managers simply need to be contacted by a lot of tenants. This can be done informally or by establishing a Tenants Union with a large membership of apartment dwellers. Recently, one person was dis turbed over the lack of response from the manager of the French a Crook In the quest of power, some men can rationalize almost any thing to themselves. Men of this thinking haven’t the right to hold any public office or responsibility. Let us hope that criminals will always be refused the right to public office. Steve Ueckert ’76 Quarter. Apparently, there i; parking lot in such bad shaped it cannot even be used. In s; of six months of complaint; nothing has been done. Ther dent wanted to have a rente and demand that the parking!,! be repaired. Although the idea might I been a good one, it could net| be successful unless a group of the tenants organi and carried through on it. 1 because the landlord might i respond by agreeing to fix t parking lot, he might instead j cide to evict the “trouble-makeni for non-payment of rent. If ttici were a lot of tenants invdhil however, it is unlikely he wo;l take action against them. Should none of these pat solve the problem and if the t ant is confident that he is in S right, he may want to go tot! Small Claims Court. Students* have had to wait more tham month for their security depoi: refund have an excellent case e der the new law which require; refunds within a month ate the tenant moves out. To file a complaint in the Cowl costs $5.00 and one doesn’t neel an attorney. The place togo;| the third floor of the CounrB Courthouse. The judge of m Court in this area is well-knonl for his fairness in apartmentdul putes. Fair Housing Commission: Kevin Rogers 6934&il Harry Sundberg 693*381ll Jackie Heyman 846-3621 Marvin Bridges 8464)61; Carol Silverthorne 845-71iL Chris Lawson 845-41!:| Molly Brewer .8464tt| Barb Sears 846-Olsl MSC BARBER SHOP ■ in- " - ^ LAKE VIEW CLUB Located in the new part of MSC across the hall from 3 Miles N. On Tabor Road bookstore on first floor. Saturday Night: Tommy Overstreet and the Nashville Express Hours 7:30 a. m. - 5:00 p. m. Monday - Friday From 9 - 1 p. m. Shine man available. STAMPEDE Every Thursday Nile (ALL BRANDS BEER 35*) We’ll meet with college seniors and graduate students on 46 campuses this fall. We’re listening. To what new engineers and computer science graduates have to say. About their goals. About their professional responsibility to Spaceship Earth. We’re also talking. About the opportunities at Boeing this year. And the years that follow. Frankly, we want the brightest graduates in the country to be inspired by our work and the Boeing environment. To feel a compatibility. And to rank Boeing as No. 1 job choice. Before we get together, you should know a little about us. Naturally, much of our business is related to the airline industry. Jetliner orders have come faster than we ever predicted. Orders from the 727-200 have passed the 1000 mark. We’ve sold ten 707s to China. The 747 continues to be queen of the sky. And now the 747SP. We’re also looking into a new jetliner now labeled the 7X7. Boeing is involved in a number of defense programs, space proj ects, development of a short takeoff and landing (STOL) air craft, and missile and helicopter production. Boeing Computer Services, Inc., is concerned with general business and financial systems, medical systems, automated manufacturing techniques, inven tory management, scientific and engineering problem solving techniques and computer operat ing system. We have also started programs on: 1) people movers to help unclog traffic problems in cities; 2) hydrofoils to move people and freight over water faster; 3) re duction of aircraft noise; and 4) pollution control processes that have application in desali nation and as treatment of indus trial waste. We are also at work on programs that can lead to a better understanding of this planet’s natural resources. If this sounds like the kind of equal opportunity employer you’re looking for, please stop by your placement office and sign up for a personal interview. Our interviewer will be on campus next week interviewing AE, EE, IE, ME and CS graduates. Getting people together There's a rumor going around that says Lou buys used books—we started it. LOUPOT'S Across From The Post Office