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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1973)
Page 2 College Station, Texas Thursday, October 25, 1973 THE BATTALIC A1SC Policy: Take Off Your Hats, But Be Careful! By DON WEBB A recent informal polling of the Student Senate and other representative bodies indi cated that a majority of students favor the continuation of two traditions with respect to the Memorial Student Center. Recent action taken by the MSC Council and a resolution being considered by the Student Senate on Oct. 24 made it necessary to examine why they are threatened and by whom. Of these traditions, the hat policy, re questing that gentlemen remove their hats upon entering the MSC, was a policy until last March. The other, the tradition of not walking on the MSC grass, has never been an official policy, since the grounds were not declared part of the memorial when the build ing was dedicated. The hat policy was reenacted on Oct. 15 by the Council because of a belief that most Batt Comentary GPR Reports Costly The mid-semester grade point resolution being con sidered by the TAMU Student Senate is perhaps the most worthwhile of the legislative issues undertaken by the Senate thus far this semester. The bill calls for grade point reports to be mailed only to freshmen, students on scholastic probation and students having a grade of “D” or “F” in a course. Freshmen should have these reports made available because they are valuable guides to understanding what the grading system is all about, often pointing up a needed change in study habits. The bill goes too far in asking that all students on scholastic probation and having a grade of “D” or “F” in a course also be mailed reports. These students, most are adults, should be able to take care of themselves and their grade point ratios without the help of a costly report. As the resolution points out, the mailing requirement tends to produce undue pressure on students during what has become mid-semester quiz week, a tradition, not a Uni versity policy. By simple posting grades in the halls of academic areas, University professors could single-handed ly save the TAMU pocketbook much money and many stu dent headaches. Students with low grades or who are on scholastic pro bation should already know where they stand with their grades because of final grade reports, contact with their major departments and the University Regulations hand book. According to the bill’s sponsor, John Tyler, 70 per cent of the TAMU faculty advocates reform of the mid-semester grade reporting system and a three-fourths majority has indicated its disrespect for the current policy by posting and mailing ‘blanket” grades at mid-term. Since these grades are frequently used as a basis for determining various scholastic awards and admission to graduate school, such an ill-used system is definitely cursed and should be modified. There is another proposal coming from the Academic Programs Committee, a sub-committee of the University Academic Council. The group is comprised of vice presi dents, academic deans, the dean of admissions and records, the library director, Corps commandant, department head and other associates. Student Government President Randy Ross is the lone student representative with direct input to the Council, and that is a non-voting privilege. The APC proposal calls for all students, regardless of age, who have less than 30 hours of college credits, to re ceive mid-term reports and their next of kin (usually parents) to receive a GPR report. The idea has merit, but we don’t believe reports should be sent to all with less than 30 hours credit. Nothing should be sent to those entering their third semester of college. University workers would indeed be flooded with re proved open document law to mean that any parent, stu dent or appropriate campus administrator may be given free access to grade points records at all times if requested. University worker would indeed be flooded with re quests from freshmen parents for grades and could save themselves much trouble and money by making a blanket decision for freshmen reports. But, he fact remains that the law states that parents or next of kin must first re quest this information and that any attempt to automatical ly send reports to guardians is a clear violation of procedure. It is interesting to note that two state schools have no mid-term grades at all, while six, including the University of Houston and SMU have mid-terms posted by profs. Seven Texas schools issue reports on a selective basis and A&M is one of only four schools that issue mid-term grades to everyone in all classes. TAMU administrators and faculty, in their efforts to cut as many costs as possible, should consider mailing re ports to only first and second semester students. Moves in any other direction would insinuate that stu dents who have recently gained rights as adults, shouldn’t really be treated as such. 'NO, YOU CANT HAVE THE TAPES—AND DONT INSIST, OR YOU'RE FIREDI' 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 Greg Moses News Editor T. C. Gallucci Photo Editor Rodger Mallison Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Ass't. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie students favored it. The Senate is now con sidering a resolution that would ask Dr. Jack Wiliams to declare that the grounds around the MSC portion of the University Center are part of the memorial, which might lead to an official policy against walking on the grass. However, there are problems involved with these policies, and those students who cause the problems must change or they will bring about the demise of these traditions. These traditions came into existence when TAMU was small and word got around easily. There were far fewer visitors than at pres ent. Thus, most people approaching and entering thd MSC knew of the traditions or saw signs which informed them. Those that did not, have frequently been treated very rudely — yelled at, and sometimes even threatened. The classical examples are a three-star general who was told by a fish to take off his damned hat, and an A&M dean who was rudely told to get off the grass by some students who had not noticed that he was standing on a block of concrete sur rounded by grass. The point is this: even when there were far fewer visitors on campus than at present, there have been dozens of cases where guests of A&M, who had no way of knowing our traditions, have been treated so rudely that some of them have vowed never to return to what they had believed was a friendly cam pus. One bad impression or experience can obliterate a dozen good ones. A&M has literally thousands of visitors per year and can expect many more thousands with the 1976 Centennial coming up. We simply cannot continue to allow students to treat our guests so rudely. Such students not only ignore the fact that the visitor does not know the rules and frequently does not see warning signs, but they are forgetting that these same visitors will generally be happy to comply with traditions, and even be favor ably impressed, provided they are approached calmly and politely. One fact should be remembered. The hat policy states that gentlemen are asked to remove their hats. In a public building like the MSC, supported by student fees and many other sources of funds, there are no legal grounds for forcing people to remove their hats, nor for forcing them to leave the build ing, should they refuse to do so. Moreover, there may be circumstances, such as religious convictions, or a sociil son, under which a visitor feels obligitj wear a beanie, turban, or hat. Thesep are not to be bothered in any way. Itisn quite ironical that those students who; favor hat and grass traditions are tie; that impose the greatest danger to J While the Corps of Cadets is quite V0«if( in this respect, it may not be the onlyi ment of the student body that is invtf For all of those students who would 4 see these traditions, which are twoofAi finest, continued, the following skill kept in mind. There are two ways these traditions* be changed. The first is for a majority!! students to decide that they should kt continued. This is not likely in the nes ture. The other way is for students, k few of them, to continue to be rude to students or visitors , and guests of tin; versity. Thus, the responsibility forcon ing these traditions is placed squarelyoi hacks of those who support them. Don Webb is a TAMU senior, presidft the 21th MSC Council and Diredorste, meml>er of the Corps of Cadets. Listen Up— Married Student Housing ComplimenteJ Editor: I think Mr. Bales’ letter con cerning the “barracks” was un fair. Cats nots only leave fleas, but hair, too. My husband is al lergic to cat and dog hair and it’s impossible to remove it from an apartment where cats were kept. Cats also serve as transmitters of a number of diseases and para sites especially harmful to small children. The print forbidding this in the terms of occupancy is no smaller than the rest. Workers do sometimes walk in on people. It’s an understandable mistake. I’ve found that latching the door keeps this from happen ing. I think the management should be complimented. When we report something needing repair, we al ways get same-day service. The repairmen and office personnel are polite and friendly. We should appreciate the mar ried student housing. Some uni versities don’t bother to offer this. If it were not for the “bar racks” many of us couldn’t af ford to go to school. Carolyn & Bill Hayes ’76 ★ ★ ★ Editor: Re: Dwight Fortson’s letter on the Aggie Band, in Oct. 23’s “Lis ten Up.” Since you did not understand the reason the band was playing, I must assume you aren’t a former LAKE VIEW CLUB 3 Miles N. On Tabor Road Saturday Night: Johnny Wallin & The Country Empire From 9 - 1 p. m. STAMPEDE Every Thursday Nite (ALL BRANDS BEER 35*) student at A&M and therefore must have been from Texas Tech. It is a tradition at A&M that after each game we have a yell practice and students sing three songs which the band plays. This explains why our band was play ing. I can’t understand why you are appalled by this. We were appalled by the lack of consideration shown our band while forming up at half-time when it was showered by paper cups and other objects. No consideration was shown the band after the game when Tech fans were anxiously leav ing the stadium. As for our reputation, I would suggest that you check on the reputation of your own before making remarks ours. I was raised in the I area and I say that with tin sible exception of one school A&M), Tech has the wore sports program in the conk Larry Jones ’75 ★ ★ ★ Editor: Re: “Listen Up,” Prof* Klemm on Oct. 19. Every “rude and unduly ing” student in my experim a teacher at all levels has neatly dressed, well shodiK you except a driblet of tobr the corner of his mouth, cb Jack Bryant MSC BARBER SHOP Located in the new part of MSC across the hall froi bookstore on first floor. Hours 7:30 a. m. - 5:00 p. m. Monday - Friday Shine man available. COLUMBIA ARTISTS presents THE EXCITING YOUNG GUITARIST CHtySTOPHEQ PAflhENlNG CLASSICAL GUITARIST “HE IS A GREAT ARTIST ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT GUITARISTS IN THE WORLD.” Andres Segovia UNIVERSE CENTER AUDITORIUM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5 l973 ^ Tickets sod I n f„ rraation: . ’ 73 ' AT 8:00 P M. Presented by Texas Center B ox Offi ce o 4{ - C0LUMBM WTISTS MMUGIMENT M.C.. P ers0Ml Di ^"'versity Town Hall . OPAS 5 ' 2916 "•i Mafalf/iss West 57th Street, New York, N. Y. 1001