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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1975)
Page 2 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1975 Bombs or books? NSA says books, Teague says no bombs SG waits By WILL ANDERSON Most students will remember a charming little country called Viet nam. When the U.S. withdrew its forces from a combat role there, it had an effect on American college campuses. The draft ended; an amnesty program was designed for those who had e- vaded the draft. A&M’s Corps stopped singing jodies about nap aiming “chinks” and turned their attention to “camel jocks. ” A letter was left in the Battalion office this week which suggests the Corps may soon start singing about the jungles again. The letter noted that President Gerald Ford had re quested $300 million in additional military aid to the Thieu govern ment of South Vietnam. The letter included a brief UP1 story. The clipping quoted National Student Association President Ka thy Kelly as saying that thousands of American students were drop ping out of college “because of inadequate financial assistance while our country spends millions of dollars on the Thieu government. This is an absurd and immoral set of priorities and so the NSA will fight for full funding of education programs and no funding for the In dochina war.” The letter asked if TAMU is a member of the NSA and to what extent Aggie representatives would participate in the NS As efforts. I called NSA headquarters in Washington D.C. and spoke to Chip Berlet, editor of the NSA mag azine. He said increases in both tui tion and inflation had put many stu dents in a financial bind. “The National Committee on the Financing of Post-Secondary Ed ucation did a study,” Berlet said. “It showed that for every $100 dol lar increase in tuition, 2.5 per cent of the student body must drop out. ” Berlet said the Thieu govern ment was corrupt and jailed stu dents and other Vietnamese who did not support it. This includes many neutrals who do not care who is in power, he said. “The president of the Vietnamese National Student Union (a counter part of the NSA) is a neutral and has been jailed for three years,” he said. “It seems ridiculous for the U.S. to send money so Vietnamese students can be jailed. The Federal Student grant pro grams have never been fully fund ed, Berlet said. He said money could seldom be better spent than on education. Berlet said the NSA is urging students to write their senators and congressmen. John Nash, Student Government vice president for external affairs, says TAMU is a member of the NSA. He is “somewhat sympathet ic” with the NSA s goal but said he would require some direction from students before the Student Senate could be presented with a plan for formal action. Student Body President Steve Eberhard said he would want to see information from the NSA about 'ANYONE CARE TO GIVE AGAIN TO VIETNAM . . . ?' their goal but that he thought it had potential. College Station is in the Sixth Congressional District, represent ed by Olin E. “Tiger” Teague ’32. I called the Congressman’s office and asked his press secretary, John Howard, two questions; What is Teague’s stand on mili tary aid to Vietnam and would he support an increase in student grant funding? Howard reached Teague on the floor of the House of Represen tatives and called with the Con gressman s reply: “ T am not inter ested in sending more money to Southeast Asia to pour down a rat hole. If anyone can convince me it will do some good or end the con flict I might support it, but right now I see no way I can support the aid to Southeast Asia. Teague supports aids to educa tion, but just because money is not spent in Asia does not mean it will be spent in the U.S. on ed ucation, Howard said. That is “another bill, another consideration and another issue.” Students are strongly encouraged to write their congressmen to ex press their opinions. For those who vote in this district, Teague’s ad dress is: Olin E. Teague 2311 Rayburn Building Washington, D.C. 20515 I also suggest that a referendum be taken on this campus to express students feelings and to give the Student Government some idea of what action, if any, it should take. After all, fee increases are not un known at TAMU and, in any case, Vietnam was never really that charming. Curious? Join the Batt fir's VERY inPRESSIviA LOOKING, DR. VREW. HAVE YOU CHOSEM SOMEONE TO PILOT V IT FOR OS? J If you are the curious type, The Battalion may have a place for you. There am openings for city and campus reporters, photographers, critics and artists. We also have an urgent need for a campus editor; Journalism 203-204 credit is preferred for this position, but not necessary. Come to the staff meeting Wednesday, 5:30 p. m. or call 845-2611. The Battalion printed the follou'inf’ queetionnaire at the end of last semester to tlelenm whether the University Center uxu meeting the needs of the University Cummuni/y. Hi appreciate the response. See accompanying article for comments. Total response: 379 University Center Questionnaire Mow frequently do you use the University Center? Daily: 17% Once a week: S% 2-3 times a week: 11% 4-5 times a week: 9% Never: 0.5% Other (specify): 3% What activities or services do sou come to the Center for (please list)? Post Office: 26% Relax: 8% Bookstore: 30% Snack bar: 16% Kccreution: 7% Cash checks: 6% Meetings: 2% Browsing library: 9% Work: 3% Student programs: 4% How do you like the overall design of the new Center? (Please Ire specific concerning (hoy things you like and don't like.) Liket 23% Dislike: 77% See story for comments If you hud the opportunity in previous sears of using the old Memorial Studcnl Centti isseen i u . . * .l.. . .t. t u (MSC) how would you compare the ness MSC to tin' former? Much better: 9% Better: 14% Comparable: 11% Worse: 52% Do you find the new Center a comfortable facility? Yes: 32% No: 68% Other (specify) (a) Do sou like the furnishings in the MSC part of the complex? Yes: 8% No: 92% Other: Please state your reasons. See story for comments (b) Do you like the furnishings in the Theatre Arts Center of the complex? Yes: 70% No: 30% Other: Please state your reasons. See story for comments Do you have any comments about particular pieces of furnishings that you like or ciislib? (List pieces with reasons below.) See story for comments Are there any functions important to the Iniversits com inunits or a segment of il (hat (he new Center has neglected to consider? (Please explain or list the necessary space.' See story for comments Personal Data about Respondent What is sour classification? Undergraduate: 71% Graduate: 21% Special Student: 0.02% Faculty: 1% Staff: 1% Other (specify): Visitor - 1% Sex: Mule: 82% Female: 18% Age: Under 20: 150 or 40% 21-24 yrs: 148 or 40% 25-30 yrs: 50 or 14% Over 30 yrs: 24 or 6% College Affiliation (Science. Lib. Arts, etc.) Not compiled totally, in descending order by college: Arch. Tied with Science, ihcn followed by Lib. Arts, Eng., Ag. Do you live: On campus - 42% Off campus THE WEDNI 7 I a i i If y« l thin cam "Me Sup Dal 307 357 58% CS paving, drainage to be improved A BIRD’S EYE VIEW By GERALD OLIVIER College Station could receive a- bout $497,000 of federal funds in the next three years to use on pro jects in low income areas. The act requires citizen participation in the allocation of this money. A Monday Koehler into four neighborhoods. Each of these has met separately over the past two weeks to discuss problems in their areas. four to live years with all streets in the areas paved. , THE initial thrustTs^ [SUPPLIED BY A GIANT SPRING, UNDER TENSION WITHIN THE LAUNCH PLATFORrA, AND IS RELEASED USINCr JHAT LARGE SUTTQNy 1 GlNCE l'VE HAD TO SOileT) it underground inn using THE ''PlN-BAuu PPxINOPLE OF tAOTION" TO BOUNCE IT OUT OF THE TUNNELS.^ LOOKS GOOD VREKTW I'LL GO FINISH THE preparations- for’ VP RE-LAUNCH CEPsEnONlES^ night meeting at the A&M Con solidated High School auditori um will give rep resentatives of these areas a chance to deter mine project pri orities. The low in come areas of the city have been divided by City The residents of the four neighborhoods have agreed on the first priority item — street paving. The need for better drainage runs a close second, with a host of com plaints concerning inadequate wa ter pressure. Mayo has said new roads, with curbs and gutters, would help solve the drainage problems. Project director Al Mayo of the city planner’s office said Wednes day those attending the meetings tend to think only in terms of the $71,000 available for next year. The result: kill two birds with one paving project. Spend the money for a comprehensive street program and fix the drainage at the same time. If the money is spent for expensive storm sewers, the drain age would be great, but the street would still be full of chugholes. cy fund for a variety of projects in cluding cleanup campaigns. There are several street sections which could be improved with the $50,000 remaining. The money would pay for the paving of either Sterling Street, Pasler Street, Thompson Street or Park Place — frooni Texas Avenue to Anderson Street. Planner Bill “The city can’t pave many streets for this amount,” he said. But, he suggested, they could begin a com prehensive program, finishing in If everyone agrees that street paving is the best use for the money, the next problem is where to begin. Of the $71,000 available, the city hopes to use no more than 10 per cent for administrative costs, according to Mayo. He would like to see 10 per cent go into a contingen- City officials hope that neighbor hood residents will not fight over the first load of concrete — every one will benefit in the long run. If citizens don’t agree on which street to pave, the city will decide for them. It’s all up to you. Go to the meet ing Monday, voice your opinions and don’t lose sight of the long range goal of the project — better living conditions for everybody. Ijlisten (Jfcll Cops not properly equipped Editor: Last week about 10 cars, one of them mine, were vandalized and burglarized on the freshman park ing lost west of the university across from Wellborn Rd. I was missing a passenger window, tapedeck and tapes, plus my front windshield was smashed for no apparent reason. 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 Assouat.on the university administration or the Board of Directors. The The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, by students as a university and community newspaper. September through Hay, and once a week dunng summer school Editorial policy is determined by the editor. —— Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per LETTERS POLICY full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished^ on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 2.17, Services Building. College' Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are station. Texas /7843. . subject to beingcut to that length or less if longer. Theeditorial The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guaran- news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local tee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, shou' the nevvs of spontaneous origin published herein. Right of repnJduction of all address of the writer and list a telephone number for verifica- Station. Texas. tion. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion. Room “ttlnt Editor ..'..' .... WiH Anderson 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Managing Editor LaTonya Perrin “ “ ' Assistant Managing Editor Roxie Hearn Sports Editor Mike Bruton Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsev, chairman; Dr. Glen Johnson Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Alhanese, Dr. H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, Steve City E ^j 0r Rod Speer ERerhard, Don Hegi, and John Nash, Jr. News Editors Barbara West Douglas Winship Reporters . . T. C. Gallucci, Tony Gallucci, Paul McGrath, Robert Cessna, Gerald N-Tvorc^r.^ J*J' v * er ’^ oseMar vTrave ; -so. Steve Gray, Judy Bagge,,. Abn Klllingswonh, Sayeeful Islam . Macy Jeanne Quebe, Cathryn Clement, Robin Schriver, Cindy Maciel. My first reaction was extreme anger towards the A&M campus police for not patrolling the area more often at night. Naturally, when I spotted a campus police car I started cussing out both of the pat rolmen for wasting all their time giv ing parking tickets instead of really protecting A&M’s students. Both patrolmen got extremely upset with my barrage of language and had me sit in the back of the car while we went to inspect my car. From talking to them I realized it’s not entirely the fault of the police force on campus. Instead, the major responsibility for this van dalism rests on the administration. The police department on campus has two cars to patrol this univer sity. Those two policemen told me there was an excess of policemen but that the university has only given the police two cars. They told me I would be much wiser to yell at the administration, not at the police. won’t have to worry — everything’s already been stolen from my car. realize the depth of the University s plan. Of all the money we feed into this university for parking^and building use fees, it seems logical to me that the administration could at least hire someone to protect that iso lated parking lot at night and give the campus police better facilities to help ensure that this vandalism doesn’t happen again. I love Texas A&M and wouldn’t settle for another university, but I feel our bureaucratic administration just doesn’t give a damn about the students tl^it support it. If they re ally do, the administration should try shifting their spending priorities from such extravaganzas as the new MSC lounge to practical matters such as law enforcement on this campus. Jeff Edwards u Many of my friends said that the “WALL” is a superfluous, ridicul ous, expensive, unneeded waste of money. They also griped with the same unenlightened enthusiasm about the gaudy fiir couches and the new over-decorated room at the student center. My ignorant friends claimed that because of the school s squanderous spending we, the stu dents, are being strapped with the tripled building use fee. Ain’t it great? If they don’t, the same incident will take place again, but at least I Dear Editor: I want to write a letter to brag on the Texas A&M’s wonderful inflation-recession fighting cam paign. It was a revelation to me to My shortsighted friends failed to see the significance of the program ( ) Our great school has a plan to keep the local unemployment down by creating useless jobs, while cutting inflation by taking away all our money. You sure can’t spend what you don’t have! Ain’t it great! John C. Hayre PEANUTS (JELL0, CHUCK ? LET ME 5PEAK TO MY £X- (UATCHD06, (dlLL YOU? P(?06A5lY SOME POOR 6IKL LOHO lOA£ THE VICTIM OF A LOVE AFFAIR...