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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1974)
t Page 2 s.iiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiniiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiHiniimig THE BATTALION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1974 i {ZcLih OX d d\fot /mj. Rod. | ^iiiiiiii!niiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiMiimii'<(iil Bill Davis, MSC president, requested my presence before the MSC Directorate meeting Tuesday night to answer questions concerning the publicity given to MSC events. The committee chairmen complained that advance coverage of MSC events in The Batt was inadequate and, since the MSC spends student funds. The Batt is obligated to tell students how those funds are spent. There is a gross misunderstanding somewhere. The Battalion is not “another MSC activity” and obligated to perform a public relations function for that group or any group on campus. When MSC activities slip into the category of “news” in the opinion of Battalion editors then those items will be reported--and their placement in the newspaper will be based on their relative news value compared with other stories. Since A&M students and the campus community are The Batt’s No. 1 concern, MSC events, which are provided for this audience, often rate highly. However, if MSC committees or any other organizations feel slighted publicity-wise, advertising space is available at reasonable rates. * * * It has been brought to my attention that two sections of the Student Government Constitution are in conflict. In Article I, Section IV, the judicial chairman is named as a non-voting member of the SG Executive Committee. However, in the judicial section (Article IV, Section II) members of the Executive Committee are banned from serving on the Judicial Board. Therefore, the judicial chairman can’t serve on his own board, even though Article IV specifically names him as a Judicial Board member. 'ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR HEARST . . . YOUR DAUGHTER IS OBVIOUSLY A CRIMINAL!' Listen up Objection raised to subsidy for Sbisa improvements CADET SLOUCH by Jim Earle Editor: I understand that of the $46 board increase, $7 will go to the renovation of Sbisa Dining Hall. As a dormitory student who uses the Duncan Dining Hall facilities, I object to having to pay for the renovation of Sbisa. The reason given for the reno vation of Sbisa was that it is not as comfortable as Duncan or the Commons. I agree that Sbisa is not as comfortable as the Com mons, but neither is Duncan. I have on occasion eaten at Sbisa and found it no more or no less comfortable than Duncan. I prefer Duncan’s family-style serving. However, it would be to my advantage to eat at Sbisa, be cause I could go back for seconds, I could have a choice of drinks, and I could eat at times other than 7 a.m. and 6:20 p.m., which are the only times breakfast and supper are served at Duncan. At Duncan, we get exactly what is put on the table for us, no more, no less. On Thursday, March 28, turkey pot pie was on the menu for dinner, but they ran out half way through the last meal period, so everyone who came in after that time had to eat something else. On that same night, ham burgers were on the menu. When we got ready to eat, we had 16 pieces of meat and 12 hamburger buns for a table of 8. I gave up one of my buns so the person sit ting next to me got one. When we have eggs for breakfast, there aren’t enough to go around. Not only has the quantity of the food served decreased, so has the quality. On Tuesday, March 26, I was eating my breakfast, and was going to take a swallow of my coffee, but instead was greeted by the sight of a dead fly floating in it. My appetite for the morning was ruined. The glasses have also been dirty lately. I can understand the problems raised by the rising food costs but I can’t understand why Dun- 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. 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. r school to 5% led on request. Addn The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Stati Texas 77843. ess: ;ion, Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association lerwise credited m 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 Rod Speer Managing Editor Will Anderson Assistant to the Editor Greg Moses News Editor T. C. Gallucci 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, Brad Ellis, Hank Wahrmund, Norine Harris, Sally Hamilton, Julia Jones. Makeup Bob Chaney Photographers Roger Mallison, Alan Killings- worth, Steve Ueckert, David Spencer. MV UfL is ORE Is this you? All of life can get to be one big deadline for un important things. And then, all at once, the really important deadline hits us. What then? Maybe this is a good time to take a little time to think about life’s deadlines now while the school deadlines have you thinking about things like this. Join us Sunday. Take a little time now so that the deadline won’t catch you without having prepared! Bible Class: 9:30 a.m. Divine Worship: 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPEL 315 N. Main — 846-6687 Hubert Beck, Pastor can Dining Hall users are the only ones who can’t have seconds. I don’t really object to an increase in the board payment as long as I get some benefits from it, but as far as I can see, we at Duncan are paying for a nicer Sbisa when the users of Sbisa already have many advantages over us. I have no complaint against the Com mons because those who use that facility are paying more for the luxury of living and eating at Krueger-Dunn. Darrell D. Vogt ★ ★ ★ Morality Editor: I am aware that the issues of “Pink Flamingos” and censorship have been severely overworked in the past weeks, almost as much as the elections, may they rest in peace. However, Mr. Koldus agreed (Tuesday’s Batt) that he banned the film because it is “morally objectionable.” A univer sity is no place to have someone’s morality rammed down your throat (go away, Linda Love lace). In addition, Mr. Webb thinks that students would glad ly usurp freedom of choice of en tertainment if they were to be given some, because they saw a lurid film. This is questionable, since the movie’s content was so thoroughly outlined in the Batt. Anyone going to the movie would have been well warned. My only wish is that literature comes to life, and the man who shot down the “big bird” is compelled to wear it around his neck (Coler idge finally came in handy). I liked Mr. Jones’ closing test- monial about attending church (Tuesday’s Batt) and am impress ed that he derives inner peace from doing so. I seem to have grown dependent on “Pepto-Bis- mol,” sorry about that, Sbisa. Richard Burnett bulletin board THURSDAY MARINE BIOLOGY ASSOCIATION will meet at 7 :30 p.m. at Building E behind the Cyclotron to discuss a fieli eld trip to San Marcos. STUDENT "Y” ASSOCIATION will pr. sent the Piney woods Singers at 7:30 iapi ro’ "D” (between ASSOCIATION will nt the Pin< p.m. at the A PENTAGON AREA HOMETOWN CLUB will meet in t .......... * *rv / >...+ Lounge Dorm 6 and Dorm 8) at 7:30 5rgar anyone living in the Maryland or Vir- m. This is an organizational meeting, and anyor ginia area are invited to attend. FRIDAY MUSLIM STUDENTS ASSOCIATION will meet in Room 402 of the Rudder Tower at 8 p.m. Dr. Muhammad Ishaq peak on “Industrial Potential of will the Is amic World.’ SATURDAY SCUBA CLUB has planned a dive at Travis Lake. Meet at the dive locker at 8 a.m. or consult the map at the dive locker. Plans are being made to ive take an air compressor. Contact Don na Cox, 845-7032 ; or Gary, 693-3136, for more information. Sartor, READ BATTALION CLASSIFIED IT’S TIME TO REFORM CAMPAIGN FINANCING John W. Gardner, Chairman Common Cause Former Secretary of Health, Education and Weltare “Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to take a single dime from anybody?” said Senator Philip Hart of Michi gan. He had in mind the uncomfortable, sometimes de grading, experiences that political candidates have when they go hat-in-hand to potential donors for contributions. The costs of political campaigns have gone sky-high. And monied special interests are always glad to meet those costs in behalf of the candidate. The inevitable result has been corruption, scandal and public mistrust of the political process. Today in most districts and states, candidates can't run for public office unless they are rich, or unless they are willing to put themselves under obligation to sources of funds. That isn’t the kind of country we started out to be. There are honest contributors who give out of con viction, and there are honest politicians who don’t repay gifts with political favors. But let’s face it: most large political gifts are made with the intent to buy influence, buy votes, buy politicians. The first principle of free self-government is account ability of government to the citizen. Elections are the chief means through which citizens enforce that account ability. But if the winning candidate feels that his first obligation is to his big campaign donors, public account ability is destroyed. Here are some of the necessary ingredients of reform. 1) There must be low ceilings on individual or com mittee gifts. 2) There must be limits on spending — although these must not be set too low or they will handicap challengers. 3) There must be full public disclosure of all gifts and expenditures. One of the most powerful forces for clean government ever discovered is the light of day. 4) There must be an independent enforcement com mission with subpoena powers and the power to go to court. It is shocking but true that no federal campaign financing law has ever been seriously enforced by the Justice Department. Many are now beginning to see that there is one further necessary ingredient if we are to have a responsible and competitive political system — namely, an element ot public financing in campaigns. Money for campaigns need not come totally and ex clusively from public funds. The bill recently debated in the Senate permits a role for money from private sources, although it places a ceiling on the size of gifts. It encour ages small private contributions by providing that they will be matched up to $100 each with public funds at the primary level. No candidate in the primaries will receive any federal matched funds unless he or she has demonstrated the ability to raise small private gifts up to a specific thresh- hold amount. This will screen out frivolous candidates or candidates with no constituency. There are legitimate questions as to the mechanics of public financing, but these questions can be dealt with. The real question is whether we intend to put behind us once and for all a system of campaign financing in which money can buy political outcomes. There is much more to do. And the time to do it is now. The American people are tired of being bilked and manip ulated. It’s time to give this country back to its people. For additional information, write Common Cause, 2030 M St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. This space is contributed as a People Service by The Van Heusen Company V A shot against cancer? One day the scariest thing about cancer may be the needle that makes you immune to it. The theory: build up the body’s defense to fight off a disease natu rally. Dramatic research in this di rection is going on right now. Scientists are working on mech anisms to make the body reject cancer. And the promise for the future is staggering. Wouldn’t you feel good knowing American Cancer Society you contributed to the research? Feel good. Please contribute. Your dollars will help further all our cancer research. We want to wipe out cancer in your lifetime. THIS SPACE CONTRIBUTED BY <E PUBLISHER AS A PUBLIC SERVICE,