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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1974)
Page 2 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1974 iiniiiiiniMiniiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiinmiiiiiiiimiiimniiiiiiiinmiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiinimunniiimmiiiiiinimiiiiiiiiiminiiiiiiimiinmuiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiifliiiiiiiiiiiiiimuii!; Listen up L Editoi k yVot&i | Kunstler accusations draw respons hf Rad Spam* The question arose in my mind, could the National Student Lobby have an effect upon government like the Dairy Lobby, or is it a grandiose exercise in idealistic futility? The nearly 900 students that attended NSL’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. last week were impressive in numbers and vocalism but their contribution to furthering the interests of students across the country is another matter. The student lobbyists were interested this year in increased funding for higher education—through abolishing the “means test” as a standard for getting Guaranteed Student Loans, having the work-study program funded to its $470 million limit, closing the tuition gap between private and public colleges, and the like. (The group is making post-secondary education its number one priority to avoid overextending itself and diluting its influence.) To accomplish these goals the students were to meet with their local Congressmen during two days of intense lobbying. I observed and participated in the lobbying efforts of the Texas delegation. The group met with Sen. Lloyd Bentsen and after ample picture-taking and small talk we did learn he did not significantly oppose any of NSL’s positions on its high priority list (which includes different schemes for increased educational funding, a youth and senior citizen stand-by rate for airplanes, buses and trains, and a full minimum wage for youth and students). Congressman George Mahon, who represents the Lubbock area and heads the House Appropriations Committee, heightened the fanfare and managed to avoid talking about the issues almost entirely. The Texas delegation was to meet Mahon on the House floor and this time the students toured the House chamber, sat in on an Appropriations subcommittee hearing and experienced more small talk and picture-taking. With Sen. Tower and Congressman Teague, the delegation had to satisfy itself by talking with their respective legislative assistants, as the two were too busy to meet with the students. When the conference delegates met for a final debriefing session it was evident that other state delegations faced similar problems in trying to communicate with Congressmen. Despite the difficulties in lobbying in a short time span and the internal problems partially illuminated in last Wednesday’s Editor’s Notes column, the student lobby has and can continue to have its influence felt in the hallowed halls of Congress. If nothing else, the lobbyists helped make Congressmen aware of the student as a voting member of society that is concerned with the legislative process. During the two days “on the Hill” youths with buttons reading “Student Lobby” swarmed the Senate and House Office Buildings and the Capitol. Every member of Congress received a checklist of NSL’s high priority issues with explanations of the student positions. Different combinations of Texas delegates met with at least nine Texas Congressmen and four legislative or administrative aides to further explain those positions. In addition, NSL and State Lobby representatives gave testimony before the House Special Subcommittee on Education that was hailed publicly by committee members. However, the greatest effect of the NSL Conference will not be realized in Washington, but on the state and local level. The conference emphasized the importance of local lobbying and organizing efforts to achieve benefits for students. It also provided an opportunity for students from different states to compare problems and the means attempted at solving them. Student political efforts in the late sixties were united in a common cause against an unpopular war, and too often that effort took the form of violence or destruction. In the seventies the students have the vote but are not united as a cohesive force, as was evident in the 1972 Presidential election. Organizations like NSL provide a means of channeUng the student voice in a common direction without deviating to lawless tactics of expression. Editor: I strongly agree with Mr. Kunstler’s defense of the right of free speech. However, since the preservation of rights ulti mately depends upon their being exercised wisely, it seems to me that the freedom of speech entails two responsibilties: the responsi bility for one to be accurate in the presentation of “facts” and the willingness to publicly apol ogize for making false accusa tions. Sunday night he made several assertions that were blatantly false. I will comment on three of them. First, he accused Congress man Teague of “vetoing” past SCONA speakers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Having, been personally associated with the last four SCONA’s, I can cat egorically say that Congressman Teague never made any effort to veto speakers for those programs. My predecessors suggest the same is true for 15 other SCONA’s. I resent hia slandering a man who has dedicated countless hours in 19 years to see that SCONA pre sented diverse viewpoints. Although Mr. Kunstler com mented to me personally after his speech that the assertions of “several people” was the only ba sis for his accusation, is is re grettable that he did not mention this point in his speech. Neither did Mr. Kunstler make any effort to substantiate whether or not these people were inr a position to accurately judge Mr. Teague’s ac tions. Such a failure is unjustified coming from a lawyer whose ca reer depends upon the substan tiation of fact. Further, while I appreciate his comment to Steve Kosub and me that we could apol ogize for him to the A&M stu dents for having accused Con gressman Teague of vetoing speakers, it seems that apology is his to make. Only then would I believe he exhibits the courage that he accused others of not having. The second “fact” Mr. Kunstler presented, and I question, deals with his assertion that President Williams censored his appearance at SCONA 19. To whatever ex tent he attempted to influence SCONA’s decision to cancel your appearance, I feel Dr. Williams acted unwisely. Yet, the students that talked with him adamantly deny that he ever threatened the use of his authority in vetoing Mr. Kunstler’s participation at the Conference. A fine distinc tion ? Possibly, but one that a lawyer should recognize and be willing to admit. He did neither. Finally, Mr. Kunstler stated as “fact” that last year’s SCONA 18 Committee chose, for political reasons, not to sponsor Ralph Na der. As Chairman of that Com mittee, let me suggest that he call Mr. Nader’s secretary to find out that she, not us, canceled his speech. It was not until two weeks before the Conference that she finally called us to say Mr. Nader could speak—long after our financial resources had been committed to other speakers. I will continue to argue that 'THERE WILL BE NO RECESSION. THERE WILL BE NO RECESSION. THERE WILL BE NO RECESSION. THERE WILL BE NO RECESSION . 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, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. 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, Randy Ross, T. Chet Edwards, and Jan Faber. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association 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. Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school year. All subscriptions subject to 6% ling rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. year; $6.50 per full sales tax. Advertisii The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for iws dispatches credited to it or not nd local reproduction of all other's origin matter herein Second-Cl; >11 ne otherwise credited in th< origin published herein. Right of ws of spontaneou reproduction of all othe paper published herein. Right herein are also reserved. ass postage paid at College Station, Texas. Editor Rod Speer Managing Editor Stephen Goble Assistant to the Editor Greg Moses News Editor Will Anderson Photo Editor Gary Baldasari Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Ass’t. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie Staff writers Vickie Ashwill, LaTonya Perrin, Mary Russo, Tony Gallucci, Cliff Lewis, Mark Weaver, Brad Ellis, Hank Wahrmund, Kathy Young, T. C. Gallucci, Norine Harris, Sally Hamilton. Photographers Rodger Mallison, Kathy Curtis, Alan Killingsworth. free expression should be a vi able practice and not a hollow platitude at Texas A&M. Initial ly, I was one of those that sug gested SCONA 19 and A&M need ed what some might call “radi cal” speakers and that attitude remains unchanged. However, I believe no one has the right slan der individuals and programs on false premises. Mr. Kunstler act ed irresponsibly in doing such and should apologize for that reason. It is a shame that the eloquence of his ideals tnust be tarnished by the inaccuracy of his “facts.” Sincerely, Chet Edwards Lighter side Editor: I am glad that someone finally took a lighter look at streaking. Kevin Coffey is the first person that I have seen who saw it as just something harmless. If half of what I saw in your paper on this matter is true (i.e. probation, secret meetings, etc.), the administration showed gross over-reaction again. I can only hope more people look at the issue through lighter eyes as did Mr. Coffey. If what I saw in the Friday column of Coffey’s was an inten tional slap at Nixon (coach Mil- house) I must tip my hat again to Coffey. William Irwin /More Kunstler Editor: I wish to extend my thanks to the TAMU chapter of the ACLU and Mr. Kunstler for Mr. Kunst ler’s speech Sunday night. I think it was rather foolish to attempt to prevent him from speaking at TAMU. Any time a controversial speaker gives a speech, someone is upset by it; but hearing the op posing points of view is of greater value. The topic of his speech was slightly surprising in its ap proach, but nothing he said was really unexpected. Everything that he said was fairly pre dictable considering his record. Mr. Kunstler denounced those in positions of authority for “per verting the minds of young peo ple” in attempts to hold power or obtain greater power. Yet Mr. Kunstler and some of his clients have also convinced young people when part of it is destroyed it amounts to just that much less that we know about prehistoric Indians. Mr. McReynolds would do far better to spend his time in an archaeology course, of which several are offered, or in joining one of the volunteer crews when the anthropology de partment conducts excavations in the area. I must also make an exception to the statement “that years ago the Apache tribe was warlike, so their arrowheads were quite crude while the Comanche tribe was ‘warlike’ but proud” and therefore, “their arrowheads have been worked more.” This is just so much garbage. For most of the last year I have been doing intensive research into the cul ture of the Mescalero Apache and into Apachean archaeology, in general. I can state with a CADET SLOUCH fair degree of confidence tl body knows what an ApiJ rowhead looks like or whitj manche arrowhead looks 5 can also say that the I were not prouder tliuj Apache or that the Apj Comanche were warlike, | tribes fought ma against extinction of thtjl ture and themselves, Wj proud of their heritage anil every right to be. To si[| one group was “warlike" t other “warlike but proud' j the same level as saying' are lazy and immoral.” It| ignorance and Mcl should know better thantl something like that wkJ knows it may be printed f newspaper. Hayden Whitsett Archaeological i Laboratory by Jim to do their will by telling them the “talisman magic” phrases that would elicit the desired response on the part of the young adults. Mr. Kunstler felt so strongly about freedom of speech that he gave of his time to talk to us about it. He felt a speaker might be “hooted” from the stage by individuals exercising their right to free speech. He did not take questions from the audience di rectly, but rather took the ques tions from cards. Since his speech was over, why were not questions allowed from the floor; unless to censor the questions or limit the individuals right to rebut his ans wers ? The reason Mr. Kunstler thought his invitation was recalled was that some people might re gard his ideas as dangerous. Pos sibly this could have been, if Mr. Kunstler had any ideas worthy of being called ideas. I went to hear Mr. Kunstler to get some thing to think about, instead I was prompted to write this letter. If Sunday night's performance was the best he could do, he should not be invited back. If he is capable of better, he should apologize for not giving us his best. Robert Buckert Arrowheads Editor: As a graduate student in an thropology I must object to the article on page three of last Wednesday’s Battalion that was headlined “Making arrowheads entertains students. I find most objectionable Mr.' McReynold’s statement that he does hunt for relics but that his own are prettier. I’m glad he is so impressed with his handiwork, I wish that he was impressed to the extent of giving up looking for the real thing. What Mr. McReynolds and other arrowhead collectors fail to realize is that by digging a hole in an archaeological site or by picking an artifact up off the surface they are destroying what amounts to an irreplaceable re source. Those few pieces of flint and bone are the only record of 99 per cent of the human occu pation on this continent. This is all the information that an ar- “Now that streaking has been outlawed, I thought we s chaeologist has to work with and try goldfish swallowing—in a way that would be a challet You may want to be a Bank of A&M customer after you graduate (even if you aren’t one now.) The selection of your bank when you came to College Station was based on a set of circumstances that will change dramatically after graduation. You’ve changed. And your banking re quirements have changed, too. You need a bank with world-wide connections and a staff of specialists to handle your affairs through the time of transition from student to professional. The Bank of A&M understands your situation. Our World-Wide Department was created to give A&M graduates a permanent banking home that is responsive to the special requirements of people on the go. After graduation, you’re going a long way. Drop in our bank and ask how our World-wide program can help you get there. The Bank of A&M Highway 6 South/College Station/Telephone: 846-5721 No bank is closer to Texas A&.M or its students. merrrber/fclic