,V Pasre 2 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1973 Lease Line— Batt Commentary Women’s Athletics Interest in the future of women’s athletics within the Southwest Conference has spread quite rapidly across the state as student governments and media have been passing and talking about a petition asking for a fully funded program of intercollegiate athletics for women. We ran the petition yesterday and are running it each day this week to help circulate the form in preparation for next week’s Southwest Conference officials meeting in Dallas. The Battalion has been told by a member official that an item has been placed on the agenda for the three-day affair which, if approved, would erase the stipulation that men only can compete in official SWC sports events. We understand that the change would not specify that either male or female athletics programs be formed, but would leave creation of separate programs up to member schools. Presently, there are eight programs for men and none for women. Surely, the initiation of fully funded sports will be the largest problem, since current programs probably won’t be dropped and no funds are readily available if multiple sport athletics is desired. But, this is a problem that can be worked out later, along with the formal organization of a women’s athletics division in the schools, possibly with their own athletic directors. We know A&M has the people and the know-how to establish a good women’s program, as witnessed by the number of women participating in the Women’s Sports Association. Student Government also has a good source of input for innovative ideas through the student advisory committee of the Athletic Council of TAMU. Up until now, SG President Randy Ross hasn’t called even the first meeting of the student group, but indications have suddenly been that this group will meet soon. Dr. Charles Samson, chairman of the Athletic Council, says he would like for the group to meet soon so interaction on ideas such as women’s athletics can begin. He has indicated that the council’s decisions are frequently based on recommendations from students. The petition has been circulating well at other schools and there’s no reason it can’t circulate well among students here, including fellow athletes. We know the Executive Board of the WSA has taken a serious view of this petition. We hope that all interested students will make a concerted effort to circulate as many petitions as possible for the Athletic Council’s Friday meeting. Petitions should be signed through early next week, also, as they will be presented to SWC officials in Dallas Wednesday through Dr. Samson. Booths or tables set up at various points on campus might be a way for concerned students to get the maximum number of petition signatures. If you’ve been wondering for three years or half a year what student government at any university in the SWC is all about, this is definitely your show. If you care, you’ll make it a good one. Communications Better We believe that an action taken by President Jack Wilhams at Monday’s Academic Council meeting was a show of good faith to University academic and department heads. In a heretofore unprece dented move, Wilhams made a thorough review of agenda for the TAMU System Board of Directors’ for last week’s meeting, explaining each item in detail for members to digest. Williams then told AC members that all members of the faculty and administration would always be welcome to watch the Board’s operations at future meetings. Until the legislature passed House Bill 6 this year, the Board has always held a closed door, do-all-the-dirty-work meeting prior to its regularly scheduled, no-questions-asked meetings. Faculty have not been exactly welcomed with open arms. It’s too bad that this couldn’t have been voluntarily initiated much earher by the Board. We have also been discovering that University officials are slowly finding that giving out information doesn’t hurt as much as they thought it would. This is, as one person put it, quite a different picture from that of 10 years ago. We’ve got a lot of problems here, but it seems that more of them have been getting solved lately. Keep on truckin’ Dr. Williams. Everyone’s tasks seem to be getting done with more ease, lately, with your help. 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. Hiertb, W. C. Harrison, Randy Ross, T. Chet Edwards, and Jan Faber. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising: Services. Inc, New York City, Chicagro 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 6% 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 Assistant to the Editor Rod Speer Managing Editor Greg Moses News Editor T. C. Gallucci Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Ass’t. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie Variables Many for Apartment Moves By BARB SEARS Question: I want to move out of my present apartment because my roommate and I don’t get along very well. I signed a nine- month lease in August, but I want to move to an apartment within the same apartment complex. The manager won’t let me make that trade-off. What can I do? Answer: When you signed the lease, you agreed to live in and pay rent for a particular apart ment for nine months. The land lord can hold you to the terms of the contract and can even sue you if you move out early. This is one reason that the Fair Housing Commission always rec ommends three-month or semester leases for students. If the lease already has nine months speci fied when you go to sign it, you can insist that this be changed and if both you and the owner or manager initial it, then the change is valid. I urge student tenants to turn down an apart ment complex that will not allow you to sign a lease for less than nine months. There are too many variables that could change re garding living situations, includ ing your attitude towards the manager and towards your room mate and your status in school may change. Some student ten ants have dropped out of school and have been stuck with nine month leases. If you want to get your land lord to agree to let you move out of your apartment, you should find a replacement for yourself. Almost always, if you can get someone to move in when you leave, the landlord will let you off the hook. Otherwise, the only suggestion I can offer is for you to check over your lease and see if there might be some clause that your landlord has broken. If there is, then you can claim that your landlord broke the lease and you are thus justified in moving out. Question: I am moving into a new apartment. What can I do to insure that I will get my de posit back? Answer: First, make two copies of a checklist and have your man ager review the condition of your apartment and furniture with you. You should both sign the lists and each keep one copy. This check list will be your best protection against any unjust claims against your deposit by your landlord. Should your landlord withhold part or all of your deposit for false reasons, then this checklist will be excellent evidence in Small Claims Court. There are a number of things you should do when you move out of the apartment. It is expected that you leave the apartment clean, which includes defrosting CADET SLOUCH the refrigerator and cleaning the oven. You should get;] manager to go through the ment again with you and mj the checklist and give you his proval on the condition of j apartment. You are not liabls “normal wear and tear,” but unreasonable damage, such; spots on the carpet or torn .; h o 1 s t e r y, will be justifial charged to you. Remember, you must ras| your deposit back or notify tion from the landlord about t; ; much he is charging you wifc; 30 days after you move out. fc erwise, the landlord is liable; three times your deposit jh $100. by Jim Earlt Listen Up— CS Mayor Blasts Performance Editor: I have long been an admirer of Rice University, its student body, faculty and alumni. Unfortunate ly, events of the past few days have damaged irreparably this ad miration and respect. The half time performance of your University agents, the Rice band and the accompanying com mentary were both in extremely poor taste and irresponsible. Then to see a quotation of a story which appeared in the Rice Thresher under the by-line T. G. Kahuna is unbelievably inexcus able. I am enclosing a copy of a column which appeared in the A&M newspaper The Battalion which referred to the libellous ar ticle written by a representative of Rice University and published in an official publication of your administration. I take exception to the follow ing comments made by Mr. Ka huna : His reference to the Aggie Band, composed of 300 of the finest young men in America, as FASCIST. His accusation that AGGIE followers, which I represented for 17 years as Alumni Director, are obnoxious and ludicrous is pat ently untrue. His calling the City of College Station as the “Armpit of Amer ica’’ is an accusation unbecoming of the most immature journalist or reporter. College Station is one of the cleanest, crime-free Uni versity cities in America, and one which all of its citizens, includ ing the A&M student body, take great pride. His innuendo concerning the Honorable Dick Gottlieb is a re flection on a fine public servant and the people he represents. His reference to the AGGIE WAR HYMN is an insult to the people of the State of Texas who are the owners and beneficiaries of the oldest state supported Uni versity in Texas. The above matters are of such import that I am impelled to call them to your attention and the attention of your Board of Direc tors. Certainly administrative ac tion is not only indicated but im perative. J. B. (Dick) Hervey Mayor City of College Station Original copy of this letter sent to Dr. rNoman Hackerman, Rice University president—Ed. 6ET RENDS Loupot's Sale starts today! books & britches WED., - THURS., - FRL, - SAT. — NOV. 28 - DEC. 1 Across from the Post Office Records at Big Discounts! Save up to $3.00! Major label LP’s! Top artists! Many, many selections in this special purchase. Classics included! Hundreds of records! Come early for best selection! The Perfect Gift for Christinas!