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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1975)
Fee hike raises questions By BILL SHEEN Either the recent rise in the Building Use Fee is the biggest rip- off since they started charging for school, or it is the most valuable addition to Texas A&M since the football team. Your view likely de pends on whether you’re paying it or administering it. The rise of $4 in the BUF will pay for the $25 million bond sold last fall by the university. Counting the principle and the interest to be paid, it will cost the university $65 million over the next thirty years. Now the ques- ( Editorial ) Back Tack Move the track The Battalion was assured on Dec. 4 that the university and the three local governments (Biyan, College Station and Brazos County) would ask for a feasibility study on relocating the railroad tracks west of campus. Monday night. College Station Councilman Don Dale fudged on his promise to raise the question at the CS Council meeting. He said he was waiting for a reply to a report which College Station prepared for the governor’s office. The city report said, “The existing railroad bisects the community and is a serious physical barrier to other transportation modes. Financial help must be forthcoming for the solution of the railroad problem.” We suspect Dale didn’t do his homework. The governor’s office can’t help pay for the relocation until a feasibility study is completed. Glen Cook, executive director for the Brazos Val ley Development Council, said the BVDC would do the study upon request from the university, Bryan, College Station and Brazos County. Four letters asking for a feasibility study — it seems like a simple start toward solving a complex problem. An entire agricultural campus will be built across Wellborn Road along with a coliseum and intramural complex and parking. These additions will cause quite a bit of traffic between the existing campus and the other side of the tracks. If that track stays where it is, Cowtown College will have trains rumbling and whistling through campus. The Northgate wall may be an inconvenience, but it doesn’t block roads and it is harmless. Besides, it would be nice to watch movies at the outdoor Grove Theater without trains passing on the other side of Wellborn Road. Four letters — that’s all we wanted a month ago. That’s all we were promised. President Jack K. Williams told the B-CS Chamber of Commerce this summer that he would like to see the track moved. We support Dr. Williams on this issue and we urge citizens of College Station (which includes 16,000 off-campus students, like it or not) to contact the following people and ask them to do something now. O. M. Holt, mayor of College Station, City Hall, 846-8868. Julius A. Skrivanek, mayor of Bryan, City Hall, 823-0071. William R. Vance, county judge. County Courthouse, 822-7373. tion arises, does a 200 per cent rise in he BUF necessarily re flect poor plan ning as most stu dents seem to think? Was the bond necessary to finance pro posed new build-! ings? Is there something (such of the MSG or the wall) which might have been done away with to reduce the size of the bond necessary for improvements? Was there suffi cient warning to the student body that their BUF would triple so that they might make plans (Heaven for- certain aspects bid!) to attend a less expensive uni versity? Here is what I have been able to find out. In order to create better repayment rates the bond was sold to competitive bidders who sub mitted sealed bids. So the bond probably couldn’t have been gotten much cheaper. (The law requires that this system be followed any way.) But were there inappropriate spendings by the university? Most students point to the interior of the MSC and the wall and say yes. Why? Well, $3.3 million is being spent on the interior of the MSC, $27 million on the total project, and $300,000 is going to Mr. William Pahhnann who is decorating the place. The point that many make is that were paying Mr. Pahhnann $300,000 to make us look like a bunch of extravagant hicks. Now, I doubt if many students would argue that the MSC should not have been built altogether, but serious argu ment can be made that it coidd easi ly have been built more efficiently. In the final analysis, it comes down to the fact that most people don’t seem to believe that they got their money’s worth. The same goes for the wall. Elimination of the wall would have been easy. The aesthe tic loss to the campus would have been minimal. And we would have been $485,000 to the good. But why even belabor the point? Well, money saved on the M SC and the wall could easily have been spent on the three new needed buildings which the bond finances. (The Soil and Crop Science and En- tymology Building will cost $9 million to $10 million, the Animal Science and Food Science Center $10 million to $11 million, and $5 million of the $7.5 million addition to the Architecture Building will come from the bond). ves the- matter of warning. H*| was first reported in the Balti I just before the Thanksgiving] days. The decision was maJel September. Why the delay? Each meeting of the Bod F Directors sends out a sumnsj] ■ important decisions and discusS The resulting saving to the stu dent can only be based on value judgments. But some money could have been saved. 1 asked several top administrators in business affairs where the university could save money. They said no money is being wasted at Texas A&M. But then their lack of vision may be one reason why we are saddled with an unwanted $4 rise in the Building Use Fee. Another important point invol ved in this whole controversy invol- The September summary cm niently failed to report the ing rise. The Battalion stafll pened upon the news, died® out, and reported it, the point that had the Board of Directors a little harder they could have ten the news out three monthsi lier. So, it seems that the BoarJ Directors does make mistak think it is important that soma keep an eye on them. A vetyli administrator who resideson cond floor of the Adminisra Building told me it wasn tanyoli business what the Board did.] here to get an education, he Well 1 in getting one. MeamvM I intend to keep an eyeouthelim | of Directors. Me Me ll§38l White elephants Coasters and Co. By Rodney Hammack 111 e\ Fe tHIv 111 ^ OVGF Editor: To better express the theme of the new MSC furnishings, these benches should be upholstered in white elephant hide (Just joking, Mr. Pahhnann. Please don’t). Many think.the MSC is not the only exam ple of such a trend in expenditures. to repeat old mistakes, thereisajl thing which I would liketosefjl leave behind for good. Thatistll practice, engaged in by some.of*| tempting to Counter an adveran I argument by referring him to 4 I topological properties of Route6 I Ree The students are now feeling the burden of such spending, but where are the benefits? A&M has offered to Texas the highest quality of edu cation at the lowest student cost, one of the finest educational offers in the world. Why do we now de viate from such an ideal? Never has a practice done 41 University more disservice. A son who thinks that the purpose Koute 6 is to provide an exitn for anyone who might disagreewi him has no understanding of il source of the strength of a M University — the people whomJ comprises. All policies and projects must be more carefully examined for then- true value to students, the Univer sity and the people of Texas. Let’s iot buy any more white elephants. James Gill “President Williams? I have a long distance call from a Mr. Irwin Allen of Disaster Flicks, Inc. in Hollywood. He wishes to speak to you about filming his next epic on campus .. Dear Editor: As we enter the new term at a time when we traditionally vow not Each person at this Univerall has brought here, via Route6.!il own experiences and his own b| que store of knowledge. TointiiJ date him into leaving again isl deny to the rest of us the privilcsol benefiting from what he niightkJ had to say. Johnnie B. Linn 11 FROM HERBERT BARRETT fl Time For BflCH THE ONLY ORGANIZATION OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor MEMBER or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of The Associated PresS/ Texas Press Association the university administration or the Board oj Directors. I he Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College by students as a university and community newspaper. Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. September through Klav, and once a week during summer school LETTERS POLICY Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per tull year. All subscriptions subject to 59? sales tax. Advertising rate furnished^ Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are ' bn"requ?st. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial' Station, Texas 77843. staff reserves the right to edit such letters ami does not guaran- j The Associated Press is enhtled exclus.velv ,o the use for reprodiK tion ot all tee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local address of the writer and list a telephone number for verifica- news of spontaneous origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all tion other matter herein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room I — — _ 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Ass'^t'Edi'to;;.‘:.WillA^e^ • — ~ Managing Editor LaTonya Perrin Sports Editor Mike Bruton Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsey, chairman; Dr. Photo Editor ( l< n J h Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. U. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, Steve City Editor °< P eer Eberhard, Don Hegi, and John Nash, Jr. Reporters . . . Teresa Coslett, T. C. Callucci, Tony Gallucci, Paul McGrath, Robert Cessna, Gerald Olivier, Rose Mary Traverse, Steve Gray, Judy Baggett, '' ■ 1 " Roxie Hearn, Alan Kill ings worth, Sayeeful Islam. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc., Photographers . . . Douglas Winship, David Kimmel, Chris Svatek, Jack Holm, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Gary Baldasari, Steve Krauss. THE CLASS OF 1978 OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESENTS The Freshman Ball SAMUEL BARON, flute ROBERT BLOOM, oboe NORMAN HARROW, bass-baritone BERNARD GREENHOUSE, cello LOIS MARSHALL, soprano SETH McGOY, tenor CHARLES TREGER, violin HELEN WATTS,contralto YEHUDI WYNER,p/ano Embrey’s Jewelry We Specialize In Afffie Rings. Diamonds Set- Sizing— Reoxidizing- All types watch/jewelry Repair Aggie Charge Accounts 9-5:30 846-5816 2i The! folio *fupfnam\n TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - TOWN HALL OPERA & PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY (OPAS) RUDDER CENTER AUDITORIUM FEBRUARY 5, 1975 - 8:00 P.M. Tickets & Information - MSC - 845-2916 f Eddie Dominguez K f UI n k Joe Arcinie 9 a 74 Gre 9 Pri ^ Hiri ' It you want the real (thing, not frozen or canned ... We call It “Mexican Food Supreme.” Dallas location: 3071 Northwest Hwy. 352-8570 PEANUTS WITH MUSIC BY “DIAL0GG SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1975 ADMIT ONE COUPLE $4.00 TICKETS ON SALE IN MSC BOX OFFICE RUDDER TOWER MSC BALLROOM 8-12 SIR, fOUR FRONT POOR UAS WIPE OPEN 50 I (0ALKEP IN... I AL50 THINK THAT ALL WUR FURNITURE IS SONS... I I U)A‘S LUCKf THAT TOUR NEU) UATCHP06 DIPN'T 6ITE ME, hllM ? IF I EVER SET OFF THIS WATER0EP, CM 60NNA &ITE THE WATCH PPG' fifEEL) I KNOU) THEY HAVE, MARGE* HELP ME GET OFF THIS WATER BED/// STOP 60UNCIN6,SIR! I CAN'T HELP YOU'!