The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, September 10, 1975, Image 2
Page 2 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1975 Silver Taps: Old Main, 1898 By DON MIDDLETON and JOHN ADAMS In the stillness of the night the steady approach of the Ross Volun teers is heard by all who stand in respect for their fallen comrades. The quiet is shattered by a twenty- one gun salute and the mellow notes of taps — Silver Taps. Aggietoons illiilmii TODAY (TOLL CHLCY FOR- BlCVCLC R£6lSTRATIOWS. HORL COM6S A BIKO-Yoo JUST WATCH THIS FIRST Tine, nme. Excuse ne. cjould t You rriroD stoppiwg AILD LeTTlWC- us... “1 This ‘most sacred of Aggie tradi tions is the one we hope we do not have to observe with any frequency. The unique ceremony, relatively unchanged through the years, has remained dear to all Aggies. Among the masses of students and the bus tle of university life, the individual as a comrade in spirit is not forgot ten. The Silver Taps ceremony was first held in 1898 in front of Old Main, where the Academic Build ing stands today. Until 1912 when this massive building burned, the “Farmers ”, as the students were known then, would pause a few moments in memory of deceased cadets. With the playing of taps all was quiet campus-wide in honor of the student. After 1912, Silver Taps was held in front of Goodwin Hall and at other locations on campus. The Academic Building was completed in 1914, and with the formal dedica tion of the Ross Statue in 1919, Silver Taps was moved back to the vicinity of the main flag pole. Students, on the night afterword was received of a cadet’s death, would gather silently in the dark of the evening. The Corps bugler then blew the notes of taps. Before long, notices were posted at the base of the flagpole giving the name, hometown and date of death of the Aggie, as the students became known in the mid 1920 s. The flag was lowered to half-mast through out the day. In 1930 Colonel R. J. Dunn, the director of the Aggie Band, com posed a special arrangement of taps to be played by two buglers. At this time the buglers mounted the rotunda of the Academic Building to play: Soon, the notes of Silver Taps were followed by the now-familiar 21 gun salute. In the still night air the crack of the rifle vollies echo throughout the campus followed by the rush of wind as birds around the Academic Building fly from their tree-top perches. Their flight and the silence that ensues leaves those who stand with a feeling that the departed Aggie is not alone. As the years passed, the number of buglers was increased to six. Three times, soft and sad, they play the solemn notes of taps. With the last note, the students quietly go their separate ways. Silver Taps will be held tonight for Steven Ray, Steven McGuirr and Toby Cote. Silver Taps in 1935, with lights on to take the photograph. Courtesy of University Archives. Equal rights for bikers! PABST-FALSTAFF HAS RELOCATED! 101 LUTHER W. 846-7231 Across from The Peanut Gallery COLD KEGS Still the best price in town! ASK ABOUT FREE POSTER & STREAMER SERVICE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION. FREE PARTY KITS AVAILABLE. SCHAFFHAUSER DISTRIBUTING COMPANY the MAtKCfi MBACIPEMST" STRIKES Km- American Cameer Society This space contributed by the publisher. * Editor: I would like to defend myself as one of those bated bicyclists men tioned in your article “Dodge Those Bikes! ” (Sept. 5)That “two-wheeled terror is the ouly means of trans portation for off-campus students, since there are no parking spaces for cars. The bicycler’s biggest problem is pedestrians: those who do not look ahead anywhere but the ground in front of them; those that walk four abreast; those that stop dead in their tracks to form a chit-chatting roadblock. 1 can’t begin to count the number of times I have been hit by a pedestrian and thrown in a heap. Bicyclists receive little more re spect from cars. We are expected to follow traffic rules, yet we are not given equal rights on the streets. There is no such thing as a left turn for a hiker. Bicycles, especially 10-speeds, are hard to maneuver through erra tic walkers and around sharp curves. Hand brakes do not work as well as human feet or power brakes. Often the ground is out of reach from the seat of a 10-speed, making sudden stops difficult. On wet or muddy pavement, bikes easily skid out from under the rider, and brakes become useless. Curbs are a major problem: bikers bang their expensive Absolutely true ! unpeniasly false/ unquestionably true ! Reasonably true / few 10- iRKefutably true l UNP£f?STANPABLY false/ INTRINSICALLY FALSE/ INHERENTLY FALSE / CHAKMIN6LY TRUE l Che 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. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. 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 guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Bob G. Rogers, Chairman: Dr. Gary Halter: Dr. John Hanna: Roger P. Miller: Dr. Clinton A. Phillips, Jeff Dunn, Tom Dawsev, and Jerri Ward. Director of Student Publications: Gael L. Cooper. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. 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, and once a week during summer school. Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per hill year. All subscriptions subject to 5% 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* (c) Second-Class |x>stage paid at College Station, Texas. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Editor b"";' B,e f 1 ,IO ' e Assist.,Ml Ed *'" ie Mill,aKii,K Editor ‘ ’ ' Cits Editor Campos Editor Special Section Editor .Sam > "' so Sports Editoi . , I’liotograplp Director f at ° TIE REB U01 3606 COLLEGE AVE. DANCING BEST PIZZA IN AGGIELAND NO COVER CHARGE BEER & SET-UPS GAME ROOM Wednesday Special: $1.00 Pitcher BEER (8-12) saSHUGART COUPON Gibson Discount Center 1420 Texas Ave. Fri & Sat Sept. 12 & 13 9 WALLET SIZE LOR PORTRAITS .994 [ iFliMl * Extra charge L8 X 10/ for rtFFFQ OFFERy **.+ *■+ GROUPS speeds over them, but must dis mount at every curb. There are not enough bike racks for this most logi cal form of transportation, and no place to hide, for the sidewalks be long to walkers, and the streets be long to the cars. My bicycle is my only mode of transportation here at A&M, my most valued possession. It is all I’ve got to get to 8 o clock classes on those freezing, rainy mornings. My bike and 1 demand equal rights with pedestrians and motorists. Laura Holmes Surprise help Editor: This week I was a victim of the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the distribution of stu dent football tickets. To make a long story short, I didn’t get my tickets when I was entitled to. 1 called the ticket office expecting to get a “son s-there s-nothing-we- can-do answer. However, much to| my surprise, the ticket office man-1 ager, Mrs. Euleta Miller,j apologized for the mistake and of-; fered to take care of it. She took time to find me tickets for the game and insure that 1 was satisfied. I’m glad there are people like Mrs. Miller here. She restored imj faith that students still count at TAMIL Boh Kings here Allen Academy is opening an additional section in each grade of the middle school (grades 6-8). Limited vacancies in other grades (K-12) If you are looking for a private school for your son or daughter to improve his or her academic achievement, write or call Director of Admissions The Allen Academy Box 953/ Bryan, Tx. 77801 (713) 823-0066 This man is special. JERRY H. BIRDWELL, JR. 822-1559 Jerry Birdwell is a specialist in the Optional Retirement Program, HR-10, and other tax shelters to provide future financial security for faculty, staff and all professionals. He understands the problems and opportunities peculiar to your profession, and would like to be of service to you. .leffepsnn standard 3200 So. College Ave. P. 0. Box 3667 Bryan, Texas 77801 The Houston Post Aggie Special Vi Price Fall Semester (includes final week) £ £ The Best-First » j Call: 846-0396 822-4351