Page 2 THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1976
DNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1976 ^ ~m
Shuttle bus service disorganized
Editor:
After seven days of late shuttle bus
service in as many days of school, I
feel it is necessary to bring attention
to the poor service off-campus stu
dents are receiving.
Students pay $15.00 per semester
to ride shuttle buses from their
apartments to campus. Because
there are not adequate parking
areas, day students have no choice
but to ride these buses and pay the
fee.
The stated policy for the east bus
route is that buses arrive every 10
minutes from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m.,
every 15 minutes from 9:30 to 5:30
p.m., and every 30 minutes from
5:30 to 9:30 p.m. I have not been
privileged with timely service as
this, but have waited as long as one
hour at the designated bus stops only
to be passed by three to four buses
which are loaded to capacity. Many
off-campus students have evening
labs from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and con
sequently have absolutely no shuttle
bus service to get home afterwards.
Obviously there is a lack of organi
zation somewhere. The $15.00 per
person should provide ample funds
to purchase and service these buses.
Students are tired of waiting an hour
and being late for classes. This not
only angers a person, but also inter
feres with his education.
66 per cent of the TAMU students
live off-campus and that majority
certainly deserves better service
than is presently provided. F igures
as of September 4, 1976 show 18,241
students living off campus. If just
half of these students purchase shut
tle bus passes, $547,230 are paid for
the transportation system.
A re-evaluation of scheduling
could alleviate this mass confusion
for day students and allow us to get to
class on time. Education is our prime
directive and class attendance is es
sential. I hope this problem is soon
solved and the ulcers can begin to
heal. — Laura Brockman
Ed. Note: The Battalion is
exploring the shuttle bus situation.
A report will be forthcoming tomor
row.
and more relaxed if we all had a smile
and a friendly word for each other.
Maybe it’s not the “thing to do”
where you’re from to speak to a
stranger on the street, but when
have Aggies ever cared what the rest
of the world does? A&M is unique,
largely because Aggies have always
had a genuine interest in and con
cern for each other. In a world where
more and more it’s becoming every
man for himself, a place where a
premium is put on friendship and
caring is a special place indeed. All of
us need to recognize the value of
what we have at A&M, and I urge
you to help keep that attitude of con
cern for the individual a part of the
Spirit of Aggieland.
If you’re a “city slicker” and don’t
feel that “howdy” fits into your voc
abulary too well, try a “hi” or a good
morning” or a “how’s it going next
time you see an Aggie. Anything is
better than the stony-faced.
Slouch
BATTALION
WilSPRlWT
EPlTOE
“Bemember that news item where we asked for suggestions as
to how The Battalion could be distributed better? Most of the
responses were rather forthright about what we could do with
them!”
straight-ahead stares I’ve been se
eing so much of lately!
— Debbie Lightfoot
Band wants field
Editor:
As a member of the Fightin
Texas Aggie Band” I feel it is in our
best interest to tell the student body
the way the band feels about its drill
field.
Most everyone knows it has been a
tradition for only the band to walk
across the drill field. Anyone who
violated this tradition would be
soaked with water by several Aggie
Band fish. Several of these incidents
occured last year concerning some
non-band members. The band was
reprimanded and told that none of
these practices would continue or
the band would suffer the consequ
ences. As a result of this it is now a
privilege for all seniors in the corps,
any student or professor to walk ac
ross the drill field and not be sprayed
with water. This action was not met
with any great amount of enthusiasm
to say the least. But the band is wil
ling to accept its part of the agree
ment. We are asking that you please
stay off the drill field because we are
in the middle of a very strenuous
practice schedule and would like to
keep the drill field in good shape.
The band is very proud to be a part
of this great university and all the
traditions that go along with Texas
A&M University. We also realize
that many of the students and faculty
did not know of the traditions of the
drill field until it was too late. But
because we do not want our drill
field turned into a parking lot we will
refrain from these former practices.
Soon there will be signs posted
around the drill field asking that you
not walk across it out of respect for
the Aggie Band and what it repre
sents. Wayne Nelson
imp**
niomowm' ■
Say liowdyr
Editor:
When I came to A&M two years
ago, the thing that struck me about
Aggies was how friendly they were.
You couldn’t walk down the street
without hearing “Howdy! from
everyone you met. Now, speaking to
a stranger practically sends him into
a state of shock! Of all the changes
that have come to Aggieland re
cently, this is the one I most regret.
I realize the campus population
has grown by 10,000 in the last two
years, and that life here is getting
more frantic each semester. But it
doesn’t take much time or effort to
say “Howdy,” and it sure would
make the place seem a lot smaller
Cbe Battalion
, 7 Mail subscriotions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per school year.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or „ _ full y ear A n subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax. Advertis-
of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those oj the ing rates furnished on request. Address; The Battalion, Room 217,
university administration or the Board of Regents. I he Battal- Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843.
ion is a non-profit, self supporting enterprise operated by stu-
dents as a university and community newspaper. Editona Rights of reproduction of a ii mat ter herein are reserved.
policy is determined by the editor.~ Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas.
LETTERS POLICY Editor . Jerry Needham
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are Managing Editor Ric tar i uncK j
subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial Campus Editor Aitken
staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guaran- City Editor Paul Arnett
tee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the Sports Editor^ • ‘ • v er
address of the writer and list a telephone number for venfica- Photography Director
f j nn News Editor r \ y n i
Addre* correspondence to Listen Up. The Battalion. Boon, Reporters . Paul McGrath. Lee Roy Leschper, LeAnn Roby
217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Bob G. Rogers,
Chairman, Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. John P. Hanna, Dr. Clinton A. Phillips,
Represented nationally by N.t.on,! Educa.tonat Adrerttstng Sery.e-
es, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. J
mmmmr jr *
i
HAMBURGERS
ONION R |NGS
' K :
Back
to School
with Sonic.
Sonic is having a back to school sale,
buy a regular hamburger of your choice, french
fries and a 204 soft drink for only $1.00 with
this coupon.
Offer good Monday - Thursday at the Sonic
Drive-Ins listed below.
Drive in to Sonic today and let us serve you a
real hamburger — with "the speed of sound .
Sonic brought the drive-in back to town. The
food will bring you back to Sonic.
Sonic back to school special
Regular hamburger/2GC soft drink/french fries
ttNI-l IMNAAK
(WITH THIS COUPONI
Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday only
REGULAR SI 35 VALUE/OFFER GOOD THRU SEPTEMBER 30. 1976
Redeemable at Sonic Drive Ins in Bryan. College Station. Marker Heights. Killeen. Temple and Waco only.
BRYAN/914 S. Texas Ave.
COLLEGE STATION/104 East University Drive
The ft
at hav«
adent c
of the
obtain
iould aj
Stud
ganizal
udent
creations
Aggie Ba
jAggie Sp
Flying C
Nine s
:eived
■eatures
eekend
1th Wor
inK
IliiilliRNXiH
Let your voice count
The si
ipheid
nd Fan
anquets
lovies, i
The Texas A&M Student Senate
holds its first meeting of the new
year tonight.
Many people in our country today
are looking upon governments as in
effective means of guiding public
and social policy and are not exercis
ing their right to get involved in the
democratic process.
But true democracy is based on
the will of the majority of those rep
resented and operates on the as
sumption that the electorate is in
formed.
With this in mind The Battalion
will publish the list of student
senators, the constituency they rep
resent, and where they can be
reached as soon as a current list is
compiled by Student Government.
The Battalion will also publish
during the semester a tabulation of
how each senator votes on controv
ersial issues provided that Student
Government takes votes on these is
sues in such a way that the vote of
each senator can be recorded.
The individual senators have a
duty to responsibly represent their
constituency, but just as important
ly, the individual student has a re
sponsibility to inform his sen:
about his feelings on issues.
With the backing of a majori
the student body, Student Cove
ment would be in a position
quest of the administration m
input into the actual policies o(
University.
It seems at times that
Government decides issues wl
are of little direct importance to
students and this is a problemwli
must be approached. Butin’
meantime, we should workonf
ting involved in what wehaveMoj
we request more.
Carter’s base of support
leaves Ford with uphill battl
WASHINGTON —- As the fall
campaign begins, it may be useful to
attempt to cast the current political
balance — not because it will predict
the November presidential outcome
but because it provides a base from
which to measure the changes that
are certain to come.
The current public opinion polls
need to be regarded in the same light
as one viewed polls before the first
primary in New Hampshire. They
measure, with accuracy, a contest
that is bound to change after the first
presidential debate on Sept. 23.
The current polls show that after
both President Ford and Governor
Carter got quick dramatic lifts from
their own conventions, Mr. Ford has
settled back into a 15-point deficit.
He trails Carter, 52-to-37 per cent
with 11 per cent undecided, in the
latest Gallup Poll.
That deficit is embarrassing for an
incumbent, but not inherently ir
remediable. However, it probably
minimizes Carter’s real advantage —
in political terms — as the race be-
gins.
| Since public opinion is volatile, it
is worthwhile to look at those mea
sures of strength which are less tran
sitory. Three are of particular impor
tance:
Party—Despite the increasing
proclivity of voters to split their tic
kets and ignore party labels, party
strength is still one important vari
able in the election. The Democrats
are the larger party, claiming the
adherence of 46 per cent of the vot-
David S.
B voder
ers in the latest Gallup measure
ment, compared to 22 per cent who
call themselves Republicans.
The Democrats also appear to be
more unified behind their candi
date. It remains to be seen whether
Mr. Ford can enlist the enthusiasm
of the Ronald Reagan conservatives,
who provide much of the vital volun
teer effort in Republican campaigns.
Further, the Democrats are
better-regarded by the public, being
trusted to do a good job on the major
problems by twice as many people as
those who give the Republicans an
advantage in that regard.
Interest Groups—The involve
ment of business, labor, agricultural
and professional groups in politics is
an important adjunct to the efforts of
the two parties. Carter enjoys a sub
stantial advantage here.
He enjoys the broadest labor sup
port of any recent Democratic can
didate, even though he was not the
original choice of many union lead
ers. George Meany and the old-line
AFL-CIO unions, who sat out the
TipTtqp
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STEREOS ALBUMS 45’s TAPES
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CUSTOM RECORDING & BROKEN TAPES REPAIRED
1972 election, are in line for Carta
along with the so-called “coalitio:
unions, including the UnitedAi
Workers, which operate indepf
dently of Mcany’s leadership. I
In addition, Carter inherits!;
support of the building trait
unions, traditionally Republican!*
now seeking political revenS
against Mr. Ford for his veto oil
common situs picketing bill.
The shift of the building trai
from the Republican to the Dei
cratic side of the ledger leaves (
the Teamsters among the maj
labor blocks outside the Cart:
camp.
A second important shift, alsoi
Carter’s favor, is the mobilization
the education professionals as apdi
ical force in the presidential elect#
for the first time. The endorsemei
of Carter by the 1.87 milliol
member National Education Assod
ation is a significant political i
velopment. The teachers have p®
ved themselves potent campaign/
in state elections, having 1m 1
know-how and leisure time. H»
will likely be important in theprei
dential campaign.
Farm organizations are divided)
their political leanings, but
Ford’s problems in the farm W
were acknowledged by his select**
of Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas as
running mate.
Finally, business—traditional!
the greatest source of Republic/
support—is more hamstrung politi
cally in this election than in any if
cent presidential contest.
The federal campaign finance ad
has barred direct private contribu
tions to presidential candidates,a»
business giving through other cl#
nels is inhibited by the eontini/-
cloud of Watergate. With spend '
ceilings on the presidential race,
traditional Republican advantage;
the campaign treasury has 1 "
eliminated by law.
Electoral Base—Despite i
disclaimers, the Ford campaif
realistically must concede
states to Carter. Most c.
South—and perhaps all—plus sip
normally Democratic states as \H
nesota, West Virginia, Massack
setts, Rhode Island, New Yorl
the District of Columbia are p
bly out of the President’s reach
That Gai ter base approaches $
electoral votes. By comparison, bl f
Ford’s base is hard to establish, *
Reagan campaign manager.
Sears kept pointing out. Ifonent-
sumes that he secures his boniest#
of Michigan — today a
— and that Dole delivers
normally Republican farm
mountain states, his base woul
be only in the lOO-electoraW'
range.
To win, Mr. Ford would have®
add to his base either Texasf
Florida in the South, plus virt
all the “swing states” in the miu
,band from New Jersey, Penns)'
vania and Ohio to Illinois an
California.
That is a large order. The Pr#
dent needs virtually all the breaks! 1
win a close victory, while Cart f!
realistically is at worst a narrowlo#
and has the potential for a very W
electoral college win.
(c) 1976, The Wasnington Post