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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-
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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
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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.
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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
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