m Page 2 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1974 By WILL Listen up A plan to stop fining students for overdue books faded from sight during the summer, said Mike Gris wold, a senior accounting major. “Last spring, there was a lot of talk about it,” Gris wold said. “Students were supposed to get a system similar to what the faculty has. “It seems like over the summer the administration just forgot about it.” The proposal to change the system for students originated last year in the Library Faculty Council, said Richard Puckett, assistant director for public services. The proposal hasn’t faded because a study is underway to determine its possibilities. The Library Faculty Council is made up of faculty representatives from the colleges and three students, Troie Ann Pruett, Mary Ellen Martin and Fred Schlem- mer. Faculty members may check out books for 30 days, he said. Advanced research makes longer withdrawal necessary. They were previously allowed to check out books for the term. “If a faculty member keeps a book over 30 days — if it’s extremely overdue — his name is put on a list,” Puckett said. “He is not fined but he may not check out another book until he has returned the other. ” Puckett said students may check out books for two weeks. An increasing fine is charged for overdue books. A testing phase is needed before the student system could be changed, he said. “We want to see if enough students respond. If it appears successful, the fines could be lifted. “We’ve been testing through the summer. The test may end Nov. 1 or may go through the whole month. ” The test has been fairly successful, he said, and he produced a couple of graphs. They showed the number of overdue books for both faculty and students to be well below last year’s rate. There are slightly less than 900 books overdue. “We would like to see it down to nothing,” he said. “Then there’d be no need for fines. “If a student keeps a book more than two weeks under the proposed system he will have his name placed on a list similar to the faculty. Until he returns the book he cannot check out another. “There is also the possibility his grades will be blocked. ” Puckett does not support the new system. “I’m sure it would remove the motivation to get books back on time. I wish we had no fines, but what other motivation is available to us? I don’t know of any other school that uses a similar system.” If a book was in high demand and very helpful to a particular course, a student could check it out for the whole semester without penalty, he said. He could avoid checking out any more books, ignore the notices and then turn in the book at the end of the semester so his grades would be released. He would not be charged. “The library wouldn’t lose any money without fines,” he said. When the library budget is figured, esti mated fines are counted as assets. If fines were not col lected, the library would simply get a larger allocation from the University. “If the gradual drop in overdue books continues, the program may be used,” he said. The decision lies with the new director. Dr. Irene Hoadley. She is now at Ohio State University and will arrive Nov. 1, he said. The fines system works so poorly and causes so much red tape a new system is needed, said Mary Ellen Martin. “I think it will work. The graphs make me very optimistic. ‘Monaco flooding reached 1 1 /2 feet’ Editor: Please read the article in the Oct. 10 Battalion, concerning the flood in the apartments at Monaco I. First, for the residents in the back section of the complex (nearest the creek), water in the apartments was not a mere 2 inches, but between 10 inches and IV2 feet in height. The water to the back of the section reached approximately 4 feet and up to 18 inches in the front section. Cars suffered more than just ruined carpet and ball bearings on the wheels. One resident found water up to the front seat of his truck, and another had water up to the hood of his car, ruining his en gine. Another found the gas ’tank of his car full of water. Concerning the replacement of carpet, only vacant apartments have had carpet put in, using those which were ripped out of apartments and dried. Incidentally, after five days, many residents ripped out their own carpet when they could no longer stand the smell. All other apartments have been without car pet for exactly 4 weeks on Oct. 11. The inconvenience of this situa tion has been no less than great. Mold is growing up the walls in sev eral rooms. Drapes have not been replaced or even cleaned. Warped wall paper, paneling, and doors have not been repaired. One resident’s window sill was ripped out because of the wall expansion. Most residents have not been able to even reach the manager as he is always “unavailable at the mo ment.” We would appreciate very much if your reporters would check with more than two residents before printing such misleading informa tion and we would like to see a revi sion of the article. Names withheld A further investigation of this sotry is underway — Ed. ‘Heroes’ cut Editor: I would like to make a response to the letter written by Ernie Sheffield in the Oct. 10 Battalion “Listen Up.” In his letter, Mr. Sheffield hailed draft dodgers as “the brave men who for conscience sake did not participate in military violence. ” He also condemned “those who put their faith in violence,” thus lump ing all members of the military as a group of killing. My answer to you, sir, is that if your “heroes” were as brave as you say they are, instead of jumping to Canada they would have offered to serve as members of such fine milit ary teams as the Medical Corp or joined VISTA or the Peace Corps. Then, instead of “joining in the viol ence,” they would have helped their fellow man as did many who were conscientious objectors to the war. Did your condemnation of the military include these men too? Also, contrary to what you be- 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. 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 guaran tee to publish any letter. Each letter must he 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 nationallyby 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, aVid once a week during summer school. Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per lull year All subscriptions subject to 5 c /( sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. 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 of 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 Copy Editors Cynthia Maciel, Carson Campbell. News Editor T.C. Gallucci, Steve Bales City Editor Rod Speer Special Assignment Reporters Teresa Coslett, Mary Russo, Jim Crawley, Paul McGrath, Tony Gallucci, Mark Weaver, Gerald Olivier, Joe Matthews, Steve Gray, Jack Hodges, Judy Baggett, Barbara West, Wendy Wetzel General Assignment Reporters Dave Johnson, Kanaya Mahendra, Jim Peters, Chirra Reddi, David White, Cindy Taber, LeAnn Roby, Roxie Hearn, Debi Holliday, Rose Mary Traverse, Ron Amsler, Robert Cessna, Richard Henderson, Daralyn Greene, Scott Reynolds, Sandra Chan dler Photographers Douglas Winship, David Kimmel, Jack Holm, Glen Johnson, Chris Svatek, Gary Baldasari, Rodger Mallison, Steve Krauss lieve, members of the military do not put their faith in war. In fact, there is no larger group of war- haters than soldiers. Having known many military men, and being a contract ROTC cadet, I know this to be true. This is true of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose quote you used to illustrate your point, yet he was Commander-in- Chief of Allied Forces in the war against Hitler. Therefore shouldn’t you condemn him too? Granted, there were a few men whose belief against war forced them to leave their country, but most of your “heroes” ran because they simple didn’t want to get kil led, and for no other reason. In gen eral, your praise is misplaced — in stead of “lauding” cowards who re fused a very generous plan of am nesty, you should praise those who chose to remain behind to fight, and die, and protect this country so you could write your little letter without fear of being jailed or shot. Mark Lyons ’77 Passes hassle Editor: I think the practice of checking shuttle bus passes every day is a waste of valuable time for both the student and the driver. Although most passengers have their cards out and ready, there’s always a few who don’t. While anxi ously waiting for the bus to hit the road so they won’t be late for class, some forty-odd people get to listen to one guy explain to the driver that he left his wallet back at the apart ment, and then maybe watch some girl scavenge through her purse for the magic pass. And if they don’t come up with it, the driver will usu ally let them ride anyway. What’s the reason for checking passes everyday anyway? I believe a random check once a week or so would cure the free rider. Beth Krugler Bike storage Editor: I am writing to ask why our bikes must be moved out of the dorm. I am a resident of the first floor of Leggett Hall. Recently I was in formed that the University told the RAs not to allow bikes in the half So I tried to keep it in the room but there was not enough room for coex-. istence. It is a silly policy because there is plenty of room for all the bikes of the residents of our floor underneath the stairs and behind columns. 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