Page 2
THE BATTALION
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, mS
Listen Up
End to Paranoid Actions Asked
CADET SLOUCH
by Jim, fit,
Editor:
The December 5, 1973 issue of
the Battalion carried a reprint of
an article from The Daily
Texan. The article had several
quotations “purported” to be those
of Mike Rice. Are these actually
your quotations, Mr. Rice, or mis
quotations by Herb Holland ? If
Mr. Rice does feel that the Rice
band’s performance was funny
and that tradition is overempha
sized here at A&M, he should
make his opinion clear in The Bat
talion.
Evidence for this belief seems
abundant. The A&M students ir
rationally attack the Rice band
for their satire of the “Aggie
traditions”. They then beseige the
Rice band in retaliation for its
“destruction of Aggie traditions”.
Rice apologized, despite the fact
that the Aggies were the ones
threatening the physical destruc
tion. This wasn’t enough for some
Aggies, though. They destroyed a
Rice tradition, physically, a tree,
to the approval and joy of many
other Aggies.
This same paranoid defense of
tradition and hatred for oppon
ents, such as other SWC schools,
surfaced again during and before
the UT-A&M game. At the time
that Aggies walked around the
MSC, brandishing clubs and de
manding the passer-by’s ID, sup
posedly “guarding” it from UT
students, other Aggies were raid
ing Rice. Still this was not enough
to show the Aggies’ hatred. The
next day, many Aggies cheered
when Roosevelt Leaks left the
game with an injury. One Aggie
football player was even “jumping
for joy” as Leaks lay on the
ground injured.
This type of thinking and action
is what Mr. Rice and all of us
can “do something constructive
about”. We must, for the sake of
the University and its students,
stop the kind of thinking that puts
tradition ahead of everything, in
cluding students and traditions of
other schools.
N. Medina
dents be they from TAMU, or
anywhere else. We hope there will
be no trouble at the TAMU-Rice
basketball games as a carryover
from the football game antics.—
Ed.
★ ★ ★
The fact that Holland took no
notes during the conversation gen
erally led to misquotations in the
article, except where tradition is
concerned. Point to be made clear:
the editor feels there was a gross
overreaction by many upset stu-
Editor:
After observing the distribution
of Book Store profits for the
1972-73 school year, I feel that
there are several members of stu
dent organizations that may feel
the same as I: left out.
Bait Commentary
Open Meetings
From time to time various University committees and boards
have held private meetings, many of them more secretive than private.
Nonetheless, all efforts were frequently made to keep group ideas from
reaching the eyes and ears of the Texas public.
On April 11, 1973, House Bill 3, more commonly known as the
governmental bodies open meetings law, was approved by both the
Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Basically, the bill goes to
great lengths to define what a meeting is, in addition to defining the
words deliberation, governmental body and a quorum.
The second part of the bill provides the real bite for those still
wishing to have closed door meetings by stipulating the exact
procedures under which they may do so.
Except as otherwise provided in this Act or specifically permitted
in the Constitution, every regular, special, or called meeting or session
of every governmental body shall be open to the public; and no closed
or executive meeting or session of any governmental body for any of
the purposes for which closed or executive meetings or sessions are
hereinafter authorized shall be held unless the governmental body has
first been convened in open meeting or session for which notice has
been given as hereinafter provided and during which open meeting or
session will be held and identified the section or sections under this act
authorizing the holding of such closed or executive session.
The legislature also amended past legislation to specify the
punishment for those found guilty of violating the new law. Persons
who “willfully call(s) or aid(s) in calling or organizing a special or called
meeting or session which is closed to the public . . . shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and on conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than
$100 nor more than $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for not
less than one month nor more than six months, or both.”
The same will apply to those who meet in numbers “less than a
quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations in contravention of this
Act.”
This piece of legislation complements well House Bill 6, more
commonly known as the public information act, also passed this year.
The two will be working to the benefit of Texans effective Jan. 1,
1974.
From indications at a recent meeting of the Texas Press
Association, newspapermen across the state are looking with eager
anticipation at the Jan. 1 date and are promising their readers some
results. This undoubtedly means newspapers will not be afraid to take
school boards, city councils, boards of directors and elected and hired
public officials to court on any matter not excepted by the bills.
Through this column, we are trying to insure that all University
officials know the law before it goes into effect. Surely, matters
affecting the public deserve to be brought to its attention.
It’s unfortunate that laws such as House Bills 3 and 6 weren’t
passed many years ago. It’s more unfortunate that these bills were
necessary at all.
Discrimination Out
In case you haven’t heard about it yet, the faculty representatives
to the Southwest Conference have changed the eligibility rule for
competition based on sex.
A statement issued by the representatives says that the SWC
“Shall be a regulatory body for participation of students in each
athletic activity in which the Southwest Conference declares a
championship.
“This opens championships and competition to any student
eligible for participation.”
The rule change does not provide for the creation of a separate
women’s division of competition, however. Women will have to get
separate championship eligibility declared on a sport by sport basis, just
as the men have had to do in the past. This means that if women want a
SWC championship for tennis, they’ll have to compete with demands
from the men for soccer, for example. Monetary renumerations and
losses will have to be weighed by the SWC for each sport added. SWC
women can, though, compete for scholarships.
Competition-wise, A&M women may be better off competing in
their own state and national organizations as they are now. But, most
people recognize the fact that there will never be much monetary
benefit from these.
If women in SWC schools want to compete for SWC champion
ships, they will have to work closely with their respective athletic
councils to show the need and demand. The minor point of the rule
change has been made. The ball of wax is now in their hands.
Cbe Battalion
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is
'““or <”• »/ ‘he wriur at the article artd are aot ISKr*
necessarily those of the University administration or May, and once a week during summer school.
the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit,
self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a _ MEMBER
University and Community newspaper. The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
LETTERS POLICY Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school
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and are subject to being cut to that length or less if The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station,
longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit Texas 77843.
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leer. Each Utter mast be signed and shorn the address t, S' SZ.
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Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, ori ?’ n published herein. Right of reproduction of all other
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77843.
——— ^ K1 . ^t 77- editor mike rice
Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim a j ^^ „ j e
Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. Assistant to the Editor Rod Speer
H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, Randy Ross, T. Chet Edwards, Managing 1 Editor Greg MoSBS
and Jan Faber. News Editor T. C. Gallucci
Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Sports Editor Kevin Coffey
Services. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Ass’t. Sports Editor Ted Bonskie
The $4,585.00 distributed to de
partmental and professional clubs
compared to the $29,005.00 for
non-departmental clubs does not
seem to be an equal distribution.
But who can define an equal dis
tribution. I have not been able to
discover how or on what basis the
Book Store Advisory Committee
makes its decisions. I believe that
professional organizations repre
sent the University throughout
the United States to a degree
equal to or greater than the Sad
dle and Sirloin Club or the Ross
Volunteers.
than for social and extra-curricu
lar activities ?
It’s hard for officers, sponsors,
and upperclassmen to promote
and encourage student involve
ment in professional organiza
tions when it’s quite clear from
the breakdown of funds that there
isn’t much support of professional
organizations.
I don’t think it is unfair to ask
for an equal distribution of the
Book Store funds, or at least an
explanation to students and stu
dent organizations of how the
funds are divided.
Sherman Click ’74
By TH
These departmental and profes
sional organizations are an inte
gral part of the education process,
much more than these social and
extra-curricular activities. Why
isn’t there more support from the
University for education rather
Bulletin Board
TONIGHT
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
will meet at 7:30 in Rooms 229 and
230 in the Memorial Student Center.
Dr. George Shelton, Dean of the Vet
erinary School will speak on the Future
of the Biomedical Science Program.
AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS CLUB will
meet in Room 107 of the Plant Sciences
Building at 7:30. Elections will be
held.
FREE UNIVERSITY-HUMAN SEXUAL
ITY will hold a panel discussion on
“love”. They will meet in Room 313
of Nagle at eight.
ACCOUNTING SOCIETY will meet in
Room 301 of the Rudder Conference
Tower at 7 :30.
PRE-MED-PRE-DENT SOCIETY will
hold a meeting in Room 145 of the new
Biology Building at 7:30. Dr. H. L.
Wade will speak.
RIO GRANDE HOMETOWN CLUB will
meet in Room 231 of the MSC at 7 :30.
STUDENT Y ASSOCIATION will hold
the annual Christmas Service at eight
by the Rudder fountain or in the Rud
der Tower Auditorium if it rains. The
New Tradition Singers will provide
music.
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
will hear Dr. George Shelton in Roon
229 of the Memorial Student Center a i
7 :30 p. m.
HUMAN SEXUALITY will offer a panel
discussion on love in Room 313 of Nagle
Hall at 7 :30 p. m.
ACCOUNTING SOCIETY will meet at
7 :30 p. m. in Room 301 of the Ruddct
Tower.
AG. ECO. CLUB will elect officers in
Room 107 of the Plant Sciences Build
ing at T :30
We agree that educational pro
grams are more advantageous and
representative. But, the most com
mon complaint around here is that
there is nothing to do. Taking
away Book Store dividends from
these would force extra-curricular
groups to hunt somewhere else
for funds, possibly to find none.
Perhaps a way out would be to
expand funding through the Stu
dent Services Fee for those
groups.—Ed.
★ ★ ★
Editor:
I feel that Mike Rice has per
sonally aggrieved me and a lot of
other Ags as well. When some
body starts to complain about the
‘system’, we in the Corps would
say to the unstable cadet get the
hell out of the Corps or get your
head pulled out. Since Mike Rice
is a non-reg, there’s not much
choice but to say to such a person
get the hell out of TAMU.
The Corps is the oldest tradition
of Aggieland. As a ‘fish’ in the
Corps of Cadets, I have learned
the history of TAMU, and matured
into the traditions because of ex
periences. That’s why at times the
Corps considers non-regs, out
siders, because non-regs like Mr.
Rice don’t know or understand
traditions because they are not
interested or could care less any
way about the history of the tra
ditions of our University. Rather,
they are here to tear down tra
ditions of A&M and build up their
own traditions.
To Mr. Riqe then, I and the rest
of the Corps as well as the civil
ian Aggies understand your mo
tives. You use the Battalion as
your only battleground and your
weapons satire against our pride
and love of TAMU. If that is your
‘thing’, non-reg, it is best for
you to get your words out of the
Battalion and suck it up! Because,
what you are asking for is a war
with “Old Army”, and a war you
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Robert W. Dally ’77
Traditions that must be fought
for aren’t really traditions. Free
dom to do as we please is guaran
teed in the Constitution and your
right of freedom of expression
was upheld when this letter ran.
Likewise, students at TAMU
should be allowed to create their
own experiences as they wish,
even to the point of ignoring what
has been layed before them by
their predecessors. The following
words should be a guideline for
all students, “You do your thing,
and I’ll do mine.”—Ed.
★ ★ ★
Editor:
In your response to a letter
published about homosexuality,
(5 Dec. 73), you made the follow
ing comments: “We do not con
demn homosexuality .... There’s
no reason a gay lib society should
n’t be initiated here.” I totally
disagree with such indifference
I do not believe that homosexual
ity should be encouraged or pub
licized by the initiation of any
gay lib society. I am not
in this view. If you don't be!i>
me, then read I Corihthians ii
10. I hope it is not too comm
tive for you.
I would like to commend ym
a few things though. Beta©
your responses to the gay led
and various past articles publ
in the Batt, along with yourra
ments against our consemt
campus and its tradition in,
This Really the Image of Ail
you have helped to stir up tl
Aggie Spirit that says “no"
liberalism and homosexuality,!
“yes” to our conservative cann
and that means preservingAjp
Traditions! This spirit Apja
have will never diminish oral
as long as there are peopleS
you around. Mr. Editor, I tkii
you, the Corps of Cadets tU
you, and the non-regs thank pi
Ricky Williamson il
Chuck Use ’76
A traditional spirit and atw
phere of friendship should
guiding light of all people, incl#
ing Aggies. Ed.
NE’
search
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severe
foreca
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7
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