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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1976)
’age 4 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1976 Rep. Presnal addresses engineering conference Researchers analyze findings d P The state-wide service mandate of Texas Engineering Extension Service programs were emphasized Monday by Rep. Bill Presnal and sTexas A&M officials. • s; ‘‘The land grant status of Texas has been largely ignored by rt the public, and Legislature,” Pres- nal said at the annual EES staff con ference. It has led to duplication of prog rams at increased taxpayer expense, he said. EES has a long history of training, and the flexibility to con duct short-term programs that do not require prolonged existence. At other institutions or agencies, the House Appropriations Commit tee chairman noted, such programs live past their usefulness. Also addressing EES staff at the day-long Labor Day conference were Engineering Dean Fred J. Benson, EES Director James R. Bradley and Dr. Bill Grusy of the Texas Education Agency, partner in some EES programs. Benson charged that Engineering Extension Service staff be extra per ceptive to “assess public needs in your travels about the state. Archeologists study cave THE PANTRY For the very best in natural foods, vitamins and protein supplements. 3525 TEXAS AVE. 846-6897 RIDGECREST SHOPPING CENTER IYE ACCEPT FOOD COUPONS To provide it, he continued, “may require taking risks. But if we are not making a mistake or two, we re probably not doing much. OPEN HOUSE AT barker photography Dean Benson complimented the EES staff on the past year, calling it successful from the size of prog rams, new training and inauguration of the West Texas Regional Training Center at Floydada. Presnal stressed that EES in- ■ structors can enhance extension programs by reminding the public of A&M’s land grant status, “through which the Legislature will get the me sage. Bradley called for increased pro ductivity, the only route of con tinued EES growth in the face of budgetary limitations. From this humid campus on the Gulf Plains, Texas A&M University researchers are reaching across a gap of 300 miles and 8,000 years to explore the way early man lived among the rugged canyons of dry West Texas. Texas A&M’s first archeological field school is over, but some of the 19 students who enrolled for it this summer are finding their work has just begun as they start analysis of information and materials from a site near Del Rio. Described as one of the best in structed field schools, the program offered student supervision by three A&M faculty members (including school director Dr. Bruce Dickson), four graduate student assistants and a professional archeologist from A&M. The school was held in conjunc tion with a six-week excavation of a cave by other A&M researchers working under a $54,900 National Science Foundation grant. The NSF aid is the largest single grant ever awarded A&M an thropologists. The studies have been financed in past years by the Winship Foundation of Corpus Christi, National Geographic Soci ety and Texas A&M Research Foundation. Evidence suggests scores of na tive Americans inhabited the cave, some as long ago as 6,000 B.C. During excavation, the team reached bedrock in the cave, which at the deepest point was 10 feet below ground level. In some in stances, cultural material was reco vered in levels all the way down to bedrock, said Dr. Harry Shafer, ar cheological team leader. During the digging, there were some unexpected finds, Shafer ad mitted. One of the most spectacular was discovery of a widespread layer of cactus pads near the bottom of the other deposits. “We really have no explanation for it at this time,” said Shafer. “Was it a work area, flooring, bed ding; or, was it simply a device to keep the dust down? We don’t know right now. FRIDAY SEPT. 10 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. FOOTBALL POSTERS 405 UNIVERSITY DR. UNIVERSITY WANTS YOU We need students interested in organizing, advertising and “The field school proved a defi nite educational benefit,” said Dr. Vaughn Bryant Jr., who directed botanical research and assisted in the archeological effort. “Five years after establishment of our program, we were pleased to be able to offer a field school. It was great to see all those students able to transfer classroom theory to prac tice. That opportunity should put them miles ahead,” he said. ‘‘We anticipate future field schools the same general region,” said he pair. Actual excavation was only part of this year’s expanded study, how ever. While some sweated in the dusty cave, other scampered up and down sheer canyon walls research ing the flora and fauna exploited for food and tools hy ancient inhabit ants. A widened search for other ar cheological sites resulted in location of additional places of ancient habi tation in the general area, even though it is unknown whether the same band or others were responsi ble for the material left behind. In trying to reconstruct what life was like in West Texas 8,()()() years ago, researchers and field school students conducted food gathering expeditions and food pre paration experiments to see what the nomads may have preferred. Although barren by many stan dards, the West Texas canyon coun try would have been a veritable garden for what most of the first Americans ate. Sotol, hackberry, cactus tunas (fruits) and pads, agave, persim mon, walnuts and some flowers are in abundance and can be easife gathered. But food preparationJf fered with each plant and learned that fact the hard way, j® as the people they study M learned it 80 centuries before. One m cmts of the major accompli^ from itht v< the field school shown no infestation nti summer exploration of the sitem | e( ] recovery of more than 1,000 eopn> I w litc'.s, fossilized human excrement Ijcs which can be analyzed todetermi* L what the cave-dwellers ate, hoi 1, a they prepared it and if they ’ testinal infestations. Preliminan tests have thus far. Texas A&M has been acclaim the world’s leading institution this field of research and the cons tent recovery of so many coprol resulted in the best samplingof North American archeological sik say the scientists. Artifacts, refuse and conn can show how the cave was used an | re ' how long it was occupied at anyoul time. | ( This summer s study of theuij .r] and adjacent region has been a most extensive since ex plural® began there three summers ago. “When finished, this project »i be the most intensive document tion of any archeological site u fest explored in North America, Shafer and Brvant. ise as! Shale oil may top roads j< jpu lorei Rue scheduling FREE UNIVER SITY CLASSES. OR If interested in teaching FREE U Course Contact: a Judi Stearman Call 845-1515 Texas A&M University engineers are doing their homework on the sources of and materials for tomor row’s road surfaces. Almost daily, U.S. petroleum en gineers are reaching further and further into each barrel of crude oil to produce everything from clothes to food. Asphalt, the once cheap road building material from the bottom of the petroleum barrel may soon cease to exist, either inexpensively or plentifully. A new source, from the one to three trillion barrels of oil trapped in western shale layers, is under investigation. Samples are being tested by Professors Bob M. Gallaway and Jon A. Epps of A&M s Texas Transportation Institute in a project sponsored by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). The duo head a team that is punching, dunking, freezing, and roasting samples of three grades of shale oil supplied by the ERDA re search center in Laramie, Wyom ing. “We re doing the preparatory work now,” said Gallaway. “All in dications are that asphalt from pet roleum will be diminished soon and a similar material from shale oil will appear. We are doing the testing now that will allow up to put it into rapid use; it’s just a question of time. ” Four grades of shale oil asphalt, with different viscosity (thickness) ratings, combined with two types of aggregates (limestone and river gravel) will be used in the series of tests. These eight sample types will be characterized by standard specifica tion tests together with special qual ity and durability tests to evaluate their physical properties. Dr. J. Claine Petersen, of the Laramie Center, said that if we re ally went to work today there could be petroleum production fromsm oil in as little as five years, but,rigi now it s “more a matter of polifii and economics than one of tecW ogv. II said that a technically son process is presently in operatio and has been for vears Russia and France. As to the quality of asphalt mai from shale oil? “That’s what the tests at Aft! are to find out, Petersen saicl iity boo ions Ai iai Iney OB touil shed ‘ H owever, the Federal Govenprof. ment has been working with ski oil for thirty years, and abm twenty-five years ago they mail some roads in Colorado with slial fe th oil materials. They are still inilipjara today. ” Standard design tests will be pet j. formed on these asphalt-aggrep mixtures together with specifJffl tests to determine stiffnen, strength, durability and water® ceptibility. ton: McDonald's I® MCDONALD’S INTRAMURAL HIGHLIGHTS AA f McDonalds fl ■ I., Skill Levels, Checkout IM Changes Trying for Increased Participation -‘J :j?< r #« September Entry Deadlines Near The Intramural program has gone through a lot of changes over the summer. One of the major changes is in the IM Office itself. In addition to a remodeling job, the equipment check-out procedure and location has been changed. It is now located at the northeast door of DeWare Fieldhouse. This office is not only for equipment check out, but also for handball/racket- ball court reservations. They may be reserved by any student, fa culty, or staff member for one hour up to 24 hours in advance. ID cards are required to use any IM facility and reservations may be made by calling 845-2624, Monday thru Friday, 8-5. Another change in the format of • IM activities is the creation of skill level classifications. Each division, except the Fish, will be subdivided into three classes. Class A will re quire a high skill level with highly competitive teams and individuals. Class B will include teams and in dividuals of moderate skill level, while class C will not emphasize competition and will be mainly composed of teams and individuals who are playing for the fun of play ing. * ♦‘X* % * * * k * * * *■ %.y* *•** »*>• *«»«. > ** ^' Flag Football A i#e r* - . If lll+i ?T ’ t r * it 4 As each team or individual en ters an event or sport, they will declare which class they wish to participate in. Only the class A teams and individuals will compete for All-University Championships and T-shirt awards. Class B and C members will compete for Class Championships and certificate awards. The divisions of IM com petition will remain the same as in previous years, including the Corps, Fish, Men’s Dorm, Wo men’s Dorm, Men’s Independent, Women’s Independent, and Co-Rec divisions. Robert Reeves, a senior in 1-1, urges one of his freshmen on during the tug-of-war competition on “Fish Day”. The 1976 IM Flag Football sea son will officially kick-off on Monday, September 20, at 5:00 p.m. Play will continue in a Round Robin Tournament with single elimination playoffs. All games will be played between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and between 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. The games will be played under official NCAA rules with special TAMU IM adaptations, and all game equipment will be furnished. A copy of the rules may be picked up at the IM Office in DeWare Fieldhouse. The new system of skill levels will be in effect, so you can choose how competitive you want to be, You have to hurry, though, be cause the entries will close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14, in the IM Office. Team managers can pick up their schedules at a mandatory meeting Thursday, September 16, at 5:00 p.m. in room 267 of G. Rollie White ^kny team not having a rep resentative at this meeting will be dropped from the roster. Tennis Singles Fi Official Jobs Now Available in IMs Fast-paced volleyball action was undertaken by the Corps Freshmen last Saturday in the annual “Fish Day” activities. The idea of the class system is not to eliminate competition, but to offer enough different levels of competition that anyone can par ticipate and be competing against individuals or teams of equal skills. The awards system and points sys tem have also been redesigned to keep teams from “sandbagging ”. With these new class systems and an improved check-out and reservation system, the IM Office expects Intramurals to have its best year yet. This can only happen if you, the students, staff, and fa culty of A&M participate. So, come on out and join the action and the fun! Male and female IM players are urged to help the IM Office by of ficiating. The IM Office has several openings for officials in football, volleyball, basketball, and softball. Starting pay is $2.26 per hour with experienced officials earning $2.50 or $2.75 per hour. There will be a meeting for all This ad is sponsored by McDonalds on University drive and is prepared by the IM Of fice, DeWare Fieldhouse. Stories and Photos by Paul “Poogie” Nettell. those interested in football officiat ing on Wednesday, September 8 or Thursday, September 9, (attend one) at 7:30 p.m. in room 267 of G. Rollie White. The first Volleyball meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 5, at 7:00 or 8:00 p.m., also in room 267. This is an excellent opportunity to earn a little extra money (about 8-10 hours per week), as well as learn more about sports and sportsmanship. No officiating ex perience is necessary as the IM Of fice will train you for the job. If you have any question regarding of ficiating, see John Meyer in the IM Office, DeWare Fieldhouse, or call him at 845-7826. Entries for Tennis singles com petition will close on Tuesday, September 14 and play will begin on Monday, September 20. Players can enter at the IM Office and can pick up their schedules on Thursday, September 16, also at the IM Office. Tennis courts may be reserved for practice by calling the IM reservation office at 845- 2624. All entrants must supply their own rackets and balls and any player injured during competition must forfeit if he or she cannot con tinue play. Serves will be decided by the toss of a coin or a racket spin and play will he conducted under USTA rules. The competition will be single elimination with matches consist ing of the best two out of three sets. Games within sets will be four point games with no deuce; the first player to four (or forty) will win. As with all other IM sports, the competitors will be divided into skill class levels. So come on out and show your stuff! September Calendar Sport Football Tennis Singles Bowling Golf Singles Handball Singles Badminton Entry Deadline September 14 September 14 September 21 September 21 September 28 September 28