The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, March 05, 1975, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    Page 2 THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1975
mrnmi
hliiiiiilWili!
I
!
It's Perrin's turn again
Student Government viewpoint evaluated
By MIKE PERRIN
Tom Walker critiqued my Feb.
25 column in yesterday’s paper. He
made several statements in that
critique which require clarification.
In my last column, I never argued
that the Student Government, “in
large part or as
whole,” is con
spiring against
the student
body. I observed X-
that the Necktie r
Party thinks that y i
six people have
overnment,
split up six po
sitions for next
year among themselves.
Since there are 70 senators and
six top positions plus nine Judicial
Board members plus an Executive
Director, which makes 86 people at
least, I fail to see where the report
ed conspiracy of six is a majority or
large part of SG.
I have always argued that people
are not evil, but that SG’s structure
makes it behave contrary to the best
interests of all concerned.
Blaming Student Government’s
lack of effectiveness on poor voter
turnout won’t wash. It won’t wash
because after arguing that SG can’t
be effective. Walker turns around
and tries to show how it really is
effective. Walker also ignores the
point that there are good SGs a-
round in spite of poor voter turnouts
everywhere. So Walker either has
to argue that poor turnouts make
poor SG or that SG is good. He can’t
argue both.
Passing the buck to the Admini
stration on Student Service Fees
won’t work, either. The SG makes
recommendations to the Adminis
tration and so far, the Administra
tion has always abided by those
recommendations.
He also tries to pass the $9.50 Ag-
gieland off on Student Publications.
This won’t work, either, since it has
to be approved by the SG before it
goes to the Administration.
Walker points out that the Batt
gets services fees. I lamented this
fact in a column last semester. Nei
ther I nor any student who works on
the Battalion voted on the Battalion
student service fee request.
But when Walker asserts that the
Executive Committee of SG serves
without compensation, he has to be
kidding. The Student Body Presi
dent receives money from Univer
sity National Bank and from the
Former Students. Several thou
sands of dollars are spent by SG
traveling around to conventions and
meetings. The Batt staff is taking 18
people to a convention this week.
Fourteen are paying their own com
plete way. SG officers also receive
other niceties — parking privileges,
dining privileges, private office
for the President, invitations to so
cial events, dinners with the Ad
ministration, and so forth and so on.
This type of patronage is compen
sation, although it is not labeled
paycheck. Except for the bank and
Former Students money.
Walker says that I should see to
it that the Senate is strong if I want
it strong. As a member of the Judi
cial Board, the only way I can do
this is to make sure that everyone
knows that their senator can be un
seated if he does not meet constitu
tional requirements in fulfilling his
office.
I guess that this information is
what Walker wants out. Anyone
who thinks that his Senator does not
belong to a committee or who does
not report his constituents’ views to
the Senate should contact Jerri
Ward, Judicial Board Chairperson
at 845-3051. A hearing can be called
and the senator removed if the
charges are true.
Walker says that he was at the
Board of Directors meeting. I didn’t
see where he made any student
input at that meeting. I didn’t see
him at the University Rules and
Regulations meeting the other day,
although I saw him at the service
fee allocation hearing last night. We
didn’t see each other at the Aca
demic Council, Thursday. All this is
meaningless since I can play the “I
went to a meeting’’ game as long as
anybody else. In my three years
with SG, I’ve been to a lot of them.
If another university has a good
idea, use it. But why can’t we have a
good idea of our own? If we’ve had
one, what is it?
I ask for more services and less
services fees because services fees
are a dull, political and stifling
method of finance; a little dynam
ism and you have OPAS — a little
salesmanship and you have Aggie
Cinema. Neither of these outfits
gets fees. A litde more imagination
would cure a lot of problems with
out forced outlays from students.
I easily accept that I have been
timid on the Judicial Board. But my
personal failures do not excuse the
other 85 members of SG. I believe
that the J-Board has been more ac
tive this year, what with injunctions
and writs of mandamus and throw
ing senators out. I mean, a lot of
people in the rest of the SG are wor
ried about the “monster’ that the J-
Board has become. And we did it
all in this one semester.
Student Government should
compromise, but as it is, we are
compromised right out of the game.
Compromise at the University of
Houston means a real student law
yers, discount pharmacy, day care
center, alcohol on campus and
waiver of building use fees for stu
dents with economic hardships. At
A&M, compromise meand “High
way 6 runs both ways” and “Suck it
up.”
'I WANT YOU ALL TO FEEL SECURE ABOUT AMERICA'S FOREIGN POLICY COMMITMENTS .
. . HAVE A CIGAR!'
Captain America comes to town
By ROD SPEER
The first order of business for
Cloud 9 is an apology to County
Judge Bill Vance for misinforma
tion and a misunderstanding re
sulting from a previous Cloud 9
column.
Two weeks ago this column re
ported that Vance told the local
chamber of commerce he endorsed
using funds authorized under the
Housing and Community Develop
ment Act of 1974 to build the Brazos
County Park. However, Vance was
talking about funding available un
der the act to
governments in
urban areas other
than cities —
money which the
county can seek
since it has a / J /
Standard Metro- \
politan Statistical i r ^
Area (an urban
region with more than 50,000 popu
lation) within its boundaries.
Vance’s funding source is totally
separate from grants available to
the twin cities, a confusion made
in the previous column. The cities
are using their grants to improve
low-income neighborhoods by
paving streets, improving drainage,
establishing neighborhood parks
and similar projects.
Again, Cloud 9 apologizes for any
; available un-
0
misunderstanding resulting from
the article.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Last week more than 500 local
businessmen attended the Bryan-
College Station Chamber of Com
merce annual banquet. I didn’t
think the event deserved a big play-
up in the news columns (The Eagle
ran a banner headline which read,
“American System Emphasized,”
referring to the banquet speaker’s
theme); however, observing the
three-hour dinner reveals some
thing about the political philoso
phy of local businessmen as well as
the business mood of the times.
The Chamber’s executive direc
tor, Pat Mann, said the organiza
tion paid approximately $1,000 in
fees and expenses for the dinner’s
main event. Dr. Kenneth McFar
land, a professional speaker who
tours the country preaching a con
servative political doctrine.
The local businessmen apparent
ly liked the man, his doctrine or
both. McFarland spoke at a cham
ber banquet 10 years ago and the
group was willing to pay the fee for
a second talk. The man received a
standing ovation and was interrup
ted several times with applause.
But the conservative philosophy
espoused by McFarland was not the
average conservatism seen today,
it was an extremist point-of-view
reminiscent of the Cold War days
in the Fifties and early Sixties, and
of the backlash to anti-war demon
strations of the late Sixties.
McFarland called today’s leaders
of Communist nations “internation
al thieves, murderers and outlaws.
He said the Communists, (not refer
ring to any particular Communist
nation, but to Communists in gen
eral) are still as much as ever bent
on world take-over and already have
half the world under their control.
He declared it was the military of
the United States that has saved
the other half of the world from
Communist domination. The 500
plus attending the banquet were
solemn when he discussed the cur
rent economic problems in socialist
England and announced that Eng
land will go to the Communists in
five years.
McFarland compared non-demo-
cratic countries to the Titantic,
where people think they are doing
fine until the proud ship hits the
iceberg and sinks. The United
States, he contended, is like a raft,
which never sinks. He said “the en
emy” (I presume he meant Com
munist sympathizers) is on-board
the raft. He added that sometimes
the enemy doesn’t realize he’s the
enemy, but thinks the enemy is
you!
He called on Americans to proud
ly display the flag, honor the armed
forces, teach the Bible in public
schools and “respect our institu
tions,” leaving out only motherhood
and apple pie.
He criticized “left-wing profes
sors from Far-out U. ” who are quot
ed in the national media telling us
things are bad, when they’re not
so bad.
The banquet program pointed
out that McFarland received the
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Award
for being America’s Number One
Air Passenger. In my opinion, that
qualifies him for flying out of town,
but not for flying in.
FINANCIAL
ACHIEVEMENTS, INC.
CASUALTY AGENCY
AUTO-HOME-MOBILE HOME-BUSINESS-BOAT
303 College Main 846-8791
College Station
i
Stop, look, listen
Freedom goes down the drain
STOP: Tom Adair, faculty member of the “Student” Publications
Board, has one more item to consider before the board adjourns.
Who are the likely candidates for editor of “The Battalion”?, he asks.
Will Anderson, assistant editor, and LaTonya Perrin, managing
editor, he is told. Two others are considering the job and more are
eligible. Anderson may have trouble with grades. “That leaves
LaTonya Perrin,” says Adair. He suggests the board waive, for one
year, the requirement that applicants need one year s experience on
The Battalion. The motion passes with one dissenting vote.
LOOK: Student Body President Steve Eberhard, a member of the
publications board, writes a letter to Rules and Regulations Chair
man Dr. Haskell Monroe. He tells Monroe that this year’s competi
tion for editor is narrowing:
“The rationale for the resolution,” writes Eberhard, “is simply
that under this regulation, there is effectively no competition for the
position of editor. For the past two years, there has been only one
viable applicant each year, and it seems that LaTonya Perrin may be
the only one this year. It is the feeling of the Board that there may be
other capable students who fail to meet only this one qualification,
and that some sort of competition would be healthy.
Rules and Regulations Committee rubber stamps the resolution
and passes it to the Academic Council.
LISTEN: President Jack K. Williams tells the Academic Council
that one candidate for editor will not be editor as long as he is
president of Texas A&M — even if no paper is published. Applause
follows from a section of people around Dr. Haskell Monroe, dean of
faculties. Williams’ remark is made during discussion following
Monroe’s presentation of the one-year waiver. Eberhard and Adair
also speak in favor of the resolution. One member of the council
questions the intent of the change. He wonders how the publications
board can insure an editor who knows how to run The Battalion.
Williams, chairman of the council, says he must approve the publica
tion board recommendation — be says he is a check against any
unwise choices the board might make. Dr. Monroe then assures the
council that the motives behind the resolution are pure. The motion
carries overwhelmingly, with a few muffled no’s.
That’s it! Three easy steps toward control and censorship of the
student newspaper at Texas A&M.
Rationales which simply favor open competition for a powerful
student position fall flat when one considers the timing of the
change. The motion is originally made after the names of the candi
dates for editor are known. And the exemption is made for this year
only. It s hard to pretend the resolution is in the best interests of The
Battalion. And it s hard to pretend we can trust Williams to consider
the best interests of The Battalion when he considers the publica
tions board nomination. He vetoes one candidate, before applica
tions were submitted. He has said a paper will not be published if
that candidate is selected. It is hard to pretend that the publications
board will not weigh Williams’ comments when it considers the
applicants.
Williams told the Academic Council that the present system
creates a danger of inbreeding. He’s right. There is a danger. But
there is also some assurance that an editor will know how to manage
The Battalion. The dangers in the new system are worse, especially
in light of Williams unfounded and irresponsible comments. What
assurance does The Battalion now have for its constitutionally
guaranteed freedom of expression? What Battalion staff member,
seeking the editorship, can write without fear that he (she) might be
stricken from the list of editor hopefuls because of that writing?
The Battalion has witnessed a decay in freedom of public expres
sion at Texas A&M. Two employees of the Housing Office were fired
because of a letter to the editor. One faculty member in a high
academic position resigned because of reaction to public comments
against policies of the Board of Directors and the administration
(until he (she) comments for the record we can give no more
details). During Christmas vacation, two Battalion reporters canvas
sed the campus to ask people what they thought of A&M. Too many
times they were told, “But you can’t print that or I’ll he fired.” It’s
hard to pretend that this is a great university in a free society.
It took a revolution and 200 years to make the presses of America
free. It took 10 days to snuff freedom of the press at Texas A&M.
Implications here cannot be overstated. The Battalion hopes the
university community understands these implications. But it’s hard
to pretend that many will give as much thought to these implications
as they do to the sex of people who lead cheers at football games.
I prc
.Today Tex;
un accident
Jd have n
| u ry a few ;
New type
lardrails an
feforcuttinj
L more thai
Irt TAMU
fexas Tran
TI).
“Guardrai
je structun
idges that
tal acciden
lid Dr. R. >
|ge of fatal
Le end of
eased in T
imber of n
mnd tran;
rails on bri
ridge rail.’
Their rep
y of fataliti
ry, good p;
f them at :
liles per h
Olson ni
lending
Breakaway
If curbs.
Craft!
to be
atloc
The Con
am is ad
lourses cu
A five-w
kill begin
elemental
un each J
[fod registi
A sectio
egin on
kith a ses
p.m. to 9
[inly. Reg
A six-
naintenai
ivith a $5
Beginn:
school is a
Ristration
Reserv
Sing Erne
|ty Educa
m
.V.WV.
|0CIETY Ol
p.m. in n
yearbook
|L PASO H(
I in Lounj
PIE-VET S(
Zachry fi
tog.
^SENIOR CL
room 50
hemistr
ture by 1
sityofN
Chemisl
try of M
meteoro
Stepher
room 2]
Cbe Battalion
We are your Off-Campus
Graduate Student Senators, and
we invite any questions or
comments you have regarding
Student Government.
Glen Brown
Payne Harrison, Jr.
Fran McNeely
Julie Reedy
marine
Thom
Culfc
D R. P. 1
Corre
Rates
w ater i
225 o
Conn
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.
Editorial policy is determined by the editor.
LETTERS POUCY
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 be signed, show the
address of the writer and list a telephone number for verifica
tion. v
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 nationally by 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 \lay, and once a week during summer school.
Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per
full year. All subscriptions subject to 5^ sales tax. Advertising rate furnished _
on request. Address: The Battalion, Room ^17, 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
Assistant Managing Editor Roxie Hearn
Sports Editor Mike Bruton
Photo Editor Glen Johnson
City Editor Rod Speer
News Editors Barbara West
Douglas Winship
Reporters. . .T.C. Gallucci, Tony Gallucci, Paul McGrath, Robert Cessna, Gerald
Olivier, Rose Mary Traverse, Steve Gray, Judy Baggett, Alan Killingsworth, Sayeeful
Islam, Mary Jeanne Quebe, Cathryn Clement, Cindy Maciel, Jim Peters, Mark
Schluter, Steve Ussery, B. Babji Singh, Don Middleton, Mike Kimmey, Jerry
Geary, Chris Askew.
Photographers Douglas Winship, David Kimmel,
Gary Baldasari, Jack Holm, Chris Svatek, Steve Krauss, Kevin Fotorny, Tom
Kayser, David McCarroll.
Artists and cartoonists Dr. James H. Earle, Nguyen Dziem,
Brad Foster, Rodney Hammack, Tom Brents, Scott Morgan.
Columnists Bill Sheen, Mike Perrin, John Vanore,
John Tim Cowden