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Che Battalion
Vol. 68, No. 57
College Station, Texas
Wednesday, January 8, 1975
Board appointments, costly payoffs
Former Students Executive Director contends
Board of Directors’ appointments
ire costly political payoffs, said
Richard “Buck" Weirus, executive
director of the TAMU Former Stu
dents Association.
“When Dr. (Jack K.) Williams
(president of TAMU) calls me to find
out who an appointee is . . . some
thing is wrong, ” said Weirus Satur
day at a Student Government reun
ion. "The president should he con
sulted."
Three terms on the A&M board
expire Jan. 15. Ford D. Albritton,
Jr. of Bryan, L. F. Peterson of Fort
Worth and Joe H. Reynolds of
Houston will be reappointed or re
placed by Governor Dolph Briscoe.
"I have not really consulted Gov.
Briscoe about the appointments,”
said Williams. “I talk to Mr. Briscoe
about a lot of things but not about
the board appointments. Those
nine people on the Board of Direc
tors are my bosses.”
Within the first two months of the
year, Briscoe must make appoint
ments or reappointments to about
600 board, agency and commission
places where terms of members are
expiring.
Before 1975 is over, he will have
placed more than 1,700 people in
major and minor jobs.
Duringhis four-year term, he will
make enough such appointments to
“control” every appointive state
agency. That is to say, the people he
selects will be in a majority of seats
on the regulatory, licensing and
administrative bodies.
Nearly all the gubernatorial ap
pointments are subject to confirma
tion by the State Senate.
Three University of Texas system
board of regents members will come
to the end of their present terms
January 13. The most controversial
of the three, Frank Erwin Jr. of Au
stin, has stated he does not seek
another term. Jenkins Garrett of
Fort Worth and Dan C. Williams of
Dallas also face expiring terms.
State Highway Commissioner D.
C. Greer’s term expires February
15. Briscoe has stated he will reap
point Joe Christie chairman of the
State Insurance Board January 31.
Other agencies with powers
reaching into all segments of
economic life of the state have vac
ancies coming up which Briscoe will
fill early this year.
A<&-M’s dollar impact
exceeds $100 million
A&M’s economic impact on the
Biyan-College Station area totaled a
record $118,7<X),(X)0 for 1974, re
vealed a survey conducted by the
institution.
TAMU President Jack K. Wil
liams noted the 1974 total repres
ents an increase of more than 18
percent over 1973, when the
institution’s economic impact ex
ceeded $100 million for the first
time.
The sharp increase is attributed
to the university s enrollment
growth and expanded research ac
tivities. TAMU’s 2,943-student in
crease, for a total of 21,463 last fall,
is expected to place the institution
among the nation’s enrollment
leaders for the third consecutive
year.
TAMU also joined the ranks of
the National Science Foundation’s
list of the top 20 institutions in re
search and development expendi
tures. It was included on the NSF
list on the basis of research activities
(Photo by David Kiniinc!)
Inside looking out.
Construction on the infamous North wall
began during the Christmas holidays. This
area, located at Northgate, will be complet
ed soon followed by the remainder along
University Drive.
Four counties responsible
for most of Texas’ oil spills
AUSTIN, Tex. (AP)—Nearly all
of Texas oil spills in the past two
years have been off the coast of four
counties—H arris, J efferson,
Orange and Galveston—a special
report noted Tuesday.
"’on. A.R. Schwartz,
D-Calveston, released tin* report in
connection with his proposal to set
up a $50 million fund to protect
lexas coastal waters.
Schwartz filed another bill to
ullow public ownership of any
superport that is built in the Gulf of
Mexico to handle huge tankers ear
ning foreign oil.
Gov. Dolph Briscoe and Lt. Gov.
bill Hobby have urged private
companies to applv for a superport
license, but Schwartz said, “The
onh private interests’ which intend
to apply are the 11 oil and petro
chemical firms which comprise
Seadock, Inc."
The Seadock scheme is simple a
monopoly, and the Bill of Rights of
the Texas Constitution states, ’. . .
monopolies are contrary to the
genius of a free government and
shall never be allowed ... in the
State,’ ” Schwartz said.
Rep. Larry Bales, D-Austin, said
of the Briseoe-Hobby statement: "It
is evident that the people of Texas
have once again been taken for a
ride by the large oil corporations
and it is evident too that the big oil
lobby has enlisted the support of the
two highest elected officials in Texas
in their efforts to gouge the public
out of excess petroleum profits. ”
Schwartz’s bill would permit a
public body to sell revenue bonds to
develop the offshore port, and the
bonds would be repaid with the fees
of oil companies using the port.
“We must not place our coastal
resources in the hands of special in
terest corporations with only a profit
motive to guide tham when the pub
lic interest is at stake for all time,
he said.
Today.
Inside
Loan defaults p- 2
Frank Zappa P- 6
Ag basketball p* 9
Weather
Fair to partly cloudy and
mild, Wednesday and
Thursday. High both days
72°. Low tonite 46°.
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totaling $33.6 million for 1973. The
university completed the 1973-74
fiscal year with a volume of $37.2
million and is running alxmt $2.2
million ahead of that pace for the
first quarter of the current fiscal
year.
TAMU’s 1974 economic impact
figures include a payroll of $75.5
million for the more than 5,600
permanent Texas A&M University
System employes residing in
Bryan-College Station. This repres
ents a gain of approximately $11.7
million.
Students contributed more than
$33.8 million to the local economy,
up approximately $5.6 million.
Food and housing account for the
major expenditures, along with clo
thing, school supplies and recrea
tion.
Visitors attending athletic events,
conferences and short ctnirses at the
university accounted for approxi
mately $4.6 million, an increase of
about $600, (XX).
A&M in ’75
What should it he
in the new year?
Ihree-hundred and ninety-four
students returned to classes Mon-
( l a > (Jan. 6) as the College of Veteri-
"ary Medicine opened its spring
trimester.
The remainder of the student
)() dy begins class in two weeks on
Jan. 20.
A record 20,500 spring enroll-
nient is estimated by registrar
Hubert Lacey, a figure that would
overshadow even the fall enroll-
Ine »t last year by 2,()()().
A new mark was set in the fall
semester of 1974 as 21,500 pupils
signed up for A&M courses.
V eterinary students have been on
holiday break since Dec. 13 and
oow are in the trimester that ends
April 18.
Spring recesses are planned for
A&M classes in mid-March.
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Corps Arch
Construction will soon be completed on the arches
at the entrance of the Corps area quad. The
project is part of the beautification work being
done to coincide with the 1976 Centennial cele
bration.
By ALAN KILLINGSWORTH
and GREG MOSES
Writing about Texas A&M during vacation isn’t easy.
The students evacuate and the student life dies. So we made
a spot survey of those faculty and staff and few students left
on campus. The question: “What things about Texas A&M in
1974 would you like to see changed in 1975? What things
should remain the same?” We walked around campus,
dropping in offices and stopping a few of the people who
passed. We made no appointments because we wanted the
answers to be spontaneous. The answers:
Steve Swanson, graduate. Geology
I wish that the library would stay open longer. They also
need to have more people that will work the North entrance.
I’m not sure why they have to barricade the entrance.
Andy Hajash, graduate. Geology
I don’t think that the library should close during football
games. I’d like to see the North door of the library remain
open. There is a need for bike paths and more motorcycle
parking.
Beverly Royse, secretary, Petroleum Engineering
My husband is a student and the increase in the building
use fees was a big blow to the cost of tuition.
Lanell Corley, secretary. Cyclotron
I kind of hate to have the wall put up. It’s gonna block
my view of the outside. They should use the money for multi
layer parking.
Dave Torgerson, senior scientist, Cyclotron
I want A&M to beat Texas. “The Battalion’ should
improve its editorial content.
Alton Hassell, graduate. Chemistry
Tuition is my pet peeve. They claim that tuition is low,
but the overall bill is high.
Ray Skowronski, graduate, Chemistry
There needs to be a better working relationship between
the Student Body and the Student Senate . . . There needs to
be more campus news and less national news in the Batt.
Lee Kassell, first year vet student
Move the building use fees down . . . Work out the park
ing situation. There are a lot of sources not being used.
P. T. Eubanks, professof, chemical engineering
Double or triple the parking on campus . . . The‘faculty
salaries are not keeping up with inflation. The faculty in the
last four or five years has lost the buying power. With 10 per
cent inflation we get a 5 per cent pay. increase.
Donald Garrett, instructor,
mechanical engineering
I really think that there is a little discipline left here in
the classrooms and in other activities. There is still respect for
higher authority. I think that it’s a good institution.
Fred Norcross, library doorman
The double price of the parking stickers is pitiful. I’m a
senior citizen and I pay $48 a year for only a half day of use.
Maybe this might help some. I don’t know.
Richard Andrew, student worker, library
Why does the school make poor use of its funds? Why
build a wall and increase building use fees? . . . Why has
candy gone up to 20 cents and the quantity gone down. It
must go to President William’s slush fund.
Bret Holland, graduate, zoology
I would like to see some intelligence in spending money.
The wall, the mall, and the University Center.
Tony Bourgeois, associate professor, psychology
This university is so lovely and smooth. I can’t think ol
anything that would enhance the situation. How can you
improve on perfection?
Steve Gouge, graduate, history
You got an hour? The main thing is building use fees
especially since they waste money on the things like the
University Center. There should be more concern for the
students in their spending procedures. The upcoming bond
issue is useless to me because I will graduate in August.
T. H. Williams, director,
English Language Institute.
We need more classrooms.
Dr. Anne Marie Elmquist, department head,
modern languages
We need more classrooms ... I like the University
Center. Not the furniture though.
Candy Johnston, secretary, modern languages
There is not enough parking.
Susan Drugan, clerk, housing office
What the administration does, they say it’s for the
students but it’s not . . . The wall, I mean, most of the
students don’t want a stupid wall ... I don’t like the idea that
the employes can’t criticize the administration without losing
their jobs. It’s like having a guardian.
Carol Hanson, student worker, housing
The university’s faculty is stretched too thin. The
students aren’t getting the quality teaching they need. They
can’t meet the needs of the growth . . . There should be bet
ter concerts. Everyone that is rude should keep their mouth
shut . . . There is too much priority given to the Corps of
Cadets.
Glenn Jennings, manager, housing
I m looking toward a better housing operation to offer the
students a better and a complete service.
(Photo by David Kimmcl)
R. A. Lacey, registrar
The greatest thing was the tremendous growth in stu
dents. We led the nation. We expect 1975 to be another great
(See CAMPUS, page 2)
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