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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 1974)
Page 2 THE BATTALION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1974 Listen up Man at Ball Meaning of token economics given By WILL ANDERSON Editor: I applaud the editor and reporters of the Battalion for their interest in ciidl liberties issues. Unfortunately the recent stories on the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and token economies contained several misleading statements about token economies and incorrect statements about my own research in token economies. Token economies are reasonably complex institutions and there are quite often substantial differences between programs which go under the name of token economies or be havior modification programs. The legal issues surrounding token economies and other behavior mod ification programs are quite com plex and are only now beginning to be litigated in the courts and discus sed in the law journals. I cannot do justice to either explaining token economies or the legal issues sur rounding them in any reasonable amount of space and suggest that those interested in understanding the basic rationale and structure of token economies begin by reading The Token Economy by T. Ayllon and N. Azrin (Appleton-Century- Crofts, 1968) and those interested in the legal issues begin by reading Wexler, David B. “Token and Taboo Behavior Modification, Token Economies and the Law” California Law Review, 61 (1973): 81-109. With respect to the token economy at Central Islip State Men tal Hospital where I have done some research, the token economy pro vided supplementary goods and services for the patients and did not charge tokens for goods and services that would have been provided free without the program. The token program did not deprive patients of their usual rights such as room and board but added goods and services on the ward that would not have otherwise been available. Our ex periments were not designed to study the effects of inflation on economic behavior but rather in volved increases in the prices of some goods with simultaneous de creases in the prices of other goods. The experiments were designed with the full knowledge that changes in economic conditions could adversely affect patients’ be havior and we restricted our changes in economic conditions to those the psychologists running the program were confident would not have adverse effects. As an addi tional safeguard the cooperating psychologists were on the ward every day and were quite prepared to modify or abandon the study if what we were doing was damaging to the patients. The results of our studies have provided us with a bet ter understanding of economic be havior and a better understanding of token economies. The latter has proved useful in suggesting ways to improve token economies and to make them better vehicles for pa- ifLET THE OTHEKS ALMp* STRUbfaLE FOH GAS.... ALL I NEEG UO IS ADU> A Little mud it's Going? ll punch You our if'n You don't get THEPvE , BUDDY-BOY?J txdn’t worry ; bud! THE CHANCES OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG ARE ONE IN...ER..TW0. START IT UP! 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. Editor ial policy is determined by a majority of the editorial board. on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. LETTERS POUCY 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 guaran tee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verifica tion. 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, Steve Eberhard, Don Hegi, and John Nash, Jr. 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 $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 59c sales tax. Advertising rate furnished CANOE ON THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER OCTOBER 5 & 6 OUTDOOR REC COMMITTEE — CALL 845-1515 tient therapy. As a member of the ACLU I am actively concerned with seeing that individual rights as defined in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution are guaranteed for all citizens. Token economies and be havior modification programs can, and at times have, abused the legal rights of individuals in these prog rams (see Wexler). It is not possible to rely on good will of people work ing in these programs (including my colleagues and myself) to insure that individuals rights are not abused. Part of the process of determining what individual legal rights are is by arguing cases in court. While I am not aware of the particular argu ments in the Virginia ACLU case, and may well disagree on specific points with that case, I strongly support the principle that the oper ation of token economies must be in conformity with the law. If this means that a particular token economy program must be aban doned or radically altered, or that particular studies not be conducted, then I suonort the law. Dr. John H. Kagel Dept, of Economics Slouch Jim Earle “This is to relieve you of the effort required to think up an excuse for missing Friday class. We’ll hold class on th’ train to Kansas!” No clearcut solutions were found for Randy Myers’ complaints about Sbisa Dining Hall’s new meal system. The system includes a computer, a wrought iron cage and turnstiles at the west entrance of the dining hall. Students line up outside the door and must give their ID card to an attendant at the door. The card is put into a computer and returned to the student who then passes through the turnstile to get into the serving line. Myers, a sophomore management major, noted that the board plan costs more this year and asked how much the new system was costing him. “The computer is prog rammed so no one’s ID will be used more than three times a day. If they have that information, can we get a refund for meals missed? Can someone on the five day board plan who doesn’t eat breakfast eat on the weekends?” When it’s cold or rainy more people must line up outside, Myers said. “This system is supposed to save money by cutting down on stolen food,” he said. “Well, it’s demeaning and angers students so they’ll steal more just to get even.” Myers questioned the economy of switching from disposable glasses to plastic glasses that had to be washed. He also asked if bad food was why Col. Fred Dollar, director of food services, no longer ate in Sbisa. The new system cost a few thousand dollars. Col. Dollar said. “At other schools these systems have more than paid for themselves the first year. Rising board fees are mainly inflation. The wrought iron cost only a few dollars. “Our biggest student complaint was about students eating by using someone else’s ID, stealing from those students who had paid for a board plan. This will cut down on that and that saves money which will be used for food. ” Dollar said refunds would, “upset the apple cart) “There is a miss-meal factor figured at each school. When a student eats more often than that factor, he eats on the house because we don’t charge for every meal served.” Computing board rates from these factors is simply playing the averages, he said. Two extra attendants will take IDs during bad weather so students should get in as fast as they did before, Dollar said. “I’m not saying everything is 100 per cent, though. We ll plug the loop holes as we find them. “We put in the system because of student com plaints about theft. It has worked at other places and I think it will work here.” Dollar said there was no choice in the switch from disposable glasses because they were getting so expen sive and so difficult to get consistently. He does not eat at Sbisa as frequently as before because he is required to follow a special diet. NEW ! 48-year-olc I turned the p rubber-tippi was admittei after four yi | wheelchair. Unable to I tis Brewer’v I here in the I muraled coi ! "It’s a ver said Brewer ; to his chest t I feel it was v Brewer w a nerve dis myelitis, wh tions below 1 | ability to n terms his a deal. Brewer, \ cases that 1 was a studei Social Rese; ken. Marrie his wife Be son Scott. Prior to h at a variety newspaper vestigator. “I would ; ample,” the ters at the A State Suprt [ ceremony t many who h set a fine e) Sidney T 19 THI5 WHERE 5HE THREW IT P0U/N? CAN YOU 5EE IT ? Have You Heard About 0PAS? What Is OP AS? The Opera and Performing Arts Society — a functioning committee of the MSC Town Hall Committee What Will The 74-75 OPAS Premiere Season Include? 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 ot all other matter herein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. Editor Greg Moses Assistant Editor Will Anderson Managing Editor LaTonya Perrin Sports Editor Mike Bruton Photo Editor . Alan Killingsworth News Editor Hank Wahrmund Copy Editors . Cynthia Maciel, Carson Campbell. News Editor T.C. Gallucci, Steve Bales City Editor Rod Speer Special Assignment Reporters Teresa Coslett, Ray GrasshofF, Richard Henderson, Paul McGrath, Tony Gal lucci, Mark Weaver, Gerald Olivier, Joe Matthews, Steve Gray, Jack Hodges, Judy Baggett, Barbara West, Wendy Wetzel General Assignment Reporters Dave Johnson, Richard Kotrla, Kanaya Mahendra, Jim Peters, Chirra Reddi, David White, Hazel Campbell, Steve Uekert, Cindy Taber, Linda Lea, LeAnn Roby, Roxie Hearn, Debi Holliday, Rose Mary Traverse, Ron Amsler, Robert Cessna, Mary Russo Photographers \ . . . Doug Winship; David Kimmel, Jack Holm, Steve Ueckert, Glen Johnson, Chris Svatek, Gary Baldasari, Rodger Mallison. Soviet Georgian Dancers & Tbilisi Polyphonic Choir Leipzip Gewandhaus Orchestra Isotom in-Stern-Rose Trio The Dance Theatre of Harlem Bach Aria Group Alicia De Larrocha Where Is All Of This To Be Held? In the three-auditorium complex in the University Center. Why Should I Get Involved in OPAS? To get involved in continuing a great new cultural program at Texas A&M. To get first option on season tickets. To get my name listed in OPAS programs and brochures. To receive invitations to after-performance parties and the Opera Gala. How Can I Become A Member of OPAS? A contribution of $5.00 to $19.00 makes you an associate member. A contribution of $20.00 or more makes you a member. A guarantee of $50.00 or more makes you a member. How Can I Buy A Season Ticket For OPAS? Buy them at the MSC Boxoffice in the Rudder Tower. Town Hall 01 0( The Ho overwhelm to extend a tion progra The pr through fis The nun rehabilitate Rehabilitat doubled i Earnings ji million to : Nationw estimated 300,000 An provided a the deaf, th the mental We sp wiches from ot importe Ml Finest Mexicf Uniqui author goodc station CA Full s St N/ C< A co: withj have great CR Dinini week dinne