A
age
Page 8 THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1977
K Hawks, owls stir air
51
around poultry center
By SUE MUTZEL
Powerful bodies wait with long,
sharp talons gripping their perches.
The fearless, glaring eyes miss
nothing.
These are hawks which are part of
an experiment involved in trying to
breed birds of prey in captivity.
About seven Texas A&M Univer
sity students are currently involved
in this program, with Dr. Roy C.
Fanguy of the poultry science de
partment as their head.
“The project started out to in
crease the number of young per pair
of birds,” said Fanguy. “Now we’ve
got what’s called a pre-project.”
The “pre-project” is a result of
the difficulty of breeding birds of
prey in captivity.
“Its pyschological,” Burt Loess-
berg, a junior bio-medical science
major with the experiment, said.
“The psychology controls the
physiology.”
“We are trying to stimulate their
reproductive cycle artificially to see
why the birds won’t breed in captiv
ity,” Loessberg said.
Artificial stimulation being used
consists of breeding naturally with
an artificial light cycle and the use of
hormones. Follicle Stimulating
Hormones (FSH) and Lutenizing
Hormones (LH) are used in the
females and testosterone is used in
males.
“I was of the opinion when we
first started that all we would need
is a light cycle,” Fanguy said. “I was
surprised.”
Galliform birds, such as chickens,
respond to the light cycle. The
hawks don’t.
The experiment started in the
spring of 1975.
“It was funded initially by a Uni
versity Mini grant,” Loessberg said.
A Mini-program Grant is a Texas
A&M University wide program to
fund small projects with grants of
usually $500 to $1000, Fanguy said.
The birds are located at the poul
try science center. The poultry sci
ence department has given the ex
periment about six buildings to
work with.
Most of the hawks are Red-tailed
because about 80 per cent of the
hawks in this area are Red-tailed,
Fanguy said.
“We work with birds that are
really no longer fit to live in the
wild,” he said.
Most have flown into wires, been
hit by cars or have been shot.
Injuries include partially ampu
tated and broken wings, broken legs
and impaired vision.
The birds are donated from zoos,
from people who find injured birds
or from falconers.
There are 17 birds in the experi
ment. There are two barred owls,
four Kestrels or sparrow hawks and
11 Red-tailed hawks.
The hawks’ weight is checked
every day to adjust food levels. The
poultry science department
supplies the food which consists of
chicken and any unlucky mouse or
rat that enters the birds’ cages.
One female is responding, ac
cording to Loessberg. She is nest
ing, very aggressive and receptive
to males. However, no eggs have
been produced.
Wm
■
m
i
V
Jama, a young female red-tailed hawk, communi
cates with A&M student Bert Loessberg from her
perch on his arm, Loessberg, a junior biomedi-
Sophomores dip and sway
to rock and country tunes
A young hawk peers suspiciously at visitors from his aerial
perch. Students who handle the birds say they are well-
behaved, but still maintain the fierce independence usually
developed in the wild. Battalion photo by Steve Reis
MSC offers caning class
A worthless, junky chair frame
can be transformed into a valuable
collector’s item in fifteen hours with
the use of rattan cane strips and
wooden pegs.
Chair caning originated in the In
dies during the 16th century. Cane
was used because it offered better
ventilation for chair seats than solid
wood did.
Most people now cane as a
hobby. Others have made it a voca
tion. If done professionally, the pro
cess would cost approximately $15.
Costs for the do-it-yourselfer are
approximately $8.50.
February 7 through March 7 the
MSC craft shop is offering a course
in chair caning on Monday nights
from 7 to 9. Students pay $7.50 and
staff, faculty and wives pay $10 in
fees.
Scott Stepan, a junior landscape
architecture major from Houston,
teaches the course. Stepan took the
course last semester. He became
the instructor when the other one
graduated.
Sellers stars
To prepare a chair frame for can
ing, quarter-inch holes are drilled at
least half an inch from the inner
edge of the frame and half an inch
apart. Any refinishing and repairs
should be done before the caning is
started.
Pliability of the brittle eighth-
inch cane strips is essential when
working with it. They are soaked in
water for three minutes. If soaked
longer, discoloration of the cane will
result.
If the frame is square, caning be
gins at one end of the back rail. On a
curved frame, work begins in the
middle of the back rail moving to
ward the ends.
To provide a decorative border
strip, a piece of cane is threaded be
tween the corner holes. It is binded
at each hole with a loop of one of the
underside strands.
Caning is not limited to chairs. It
may also be used for table tops and
wall hangings, Stepan said.
Materials for caning may be
bought at any antique shop.
By MICHELLE SMITH
Imagine the $10 million Zachry
Engineering Center transformed
into a huge dance hall, ablaze with
lights and electrified by the sounds
of Ted Nugent’s “Hey, Babe.”
Last Saturday, more than 1300
members of the Class of ’79 danced
past midnight and proved that
engineering isn’t the only thing
Zachry has to offer.
“The sophomore ball is a special
event that comes once a year. The
night is a combination of the person
you’re with, certain things on your
mind and the way you feel at that
stage of your life,” said Don Rohel,
assistant programs coordinator at
the Memorial Student Center.
Rohel sponsored the dance and
believes most people go to see and
to be seen.
“There are not many occasions to
dress up in College Station,” he
said.
“Ray O’Connell, chairman of the
planning committee, was the man
who pulled it all together,” said
Rohel. “He came to the forefront
last October when we started, and
has been working hard ever since.
O’Connell said it is nice to dress
up in a formal atmosphere and have
a break from academic pursuits.
For many students, the evening
began with stuffed deviled crab at
the Captain’s Table or Chateaub
riand at the Mansard House. Lisa
Santos, a freshman chemical
Bumbling inspector strikes again
By SHEP GRINNAN
Peter Sellers is back again as the
disaster prone detective. Inspector
Jacques Clouseau in the Blake Ed
wards’ production “The Pink
Panther Strikes Again.” In the tradi
tion of the other panther films, this
one is excellent.
“The Pink Panther Strikes Again”
is the fourth in the series of panther
films. The first was the classic “The
Pink Panther” starring Peter
Sellers, David Niven, Robert
Wagner and Claudia Cardinale. The
Clouseau tradition was carried on in
“A Shot in the Dark,” where Her
bert Lom made his first appearance
as the Clouseau-persecuted Chief
Inspector Dreyfus. In “The Return
WM
of the Pink Panther” and “The Pink
Panther Strikes Again,” the eye-
twitching Dreyfus and bumbling
Clouseau continued their hilarious
adventure.
The movie begins with a
normal-behaving former Inspector
Dreyfus talking intelligently with
his psychiatrist. Dreyfus had finally
been driven mad by Clouseau and
put in a mental home three years
before. However, Dreyfus now ap
pears cured, and he waits for a san
ity hearing to determine if he can be
released.
Unfortunately for Dreyfus,
Clouseau, the new chief inspector,
comes to wish him luck and renders
Dreyfus insane again by giving him
fm
W-
A;
s.
m
Herbert Lom, as a former chief inspector, grasps Inspector
Clouseau (Peter Sellers) when he learns about another of the
latter’s big blunders. “The Pink Panther Strikes Again,” is
playing at ABC Interstate Theatre through release by United
Artists, a Transamerica Company^
a “bimp” on the head with a croquet
ball, among other blunderings.
At this point in the movie, one of
the most enjoyable portions begins:
the credits. Enjoyable, because
they are accompanied by the ani
mated Pink Panther cartoon pro
duced by the Richard William
Studio. Like the credits in “The Re
turn of the Pink Panther,” these are
great. The inspector and the pink
panther enter a movie theater and
the panther somehow gets on the
screen and parodies Hitchcock’s
“The Sound of Music,” “Singing in
the Rain” and a recent smash hit in
volving a large fish with sharp teeth.
Then the movie begins with faith
ful Cato (Burt Kwouk) and Clouseau
kung-fuing themselves to death. In
fact Sellers and Kwouk both use
Bruce Lee’s style of Kung Fu fight
ing wifh martial art sticks swung
with gusto.
The movie continues with
Dreyfus’ escape from the asylum
and his consequent kidnapping of
Dr. Fassbender and his daughter.
By this kidnapping, Dreyfus hopes
to create an apparatus to put the
doctor’s theory into practice, and
thereby control the world and force
its secret agents to kill Clouseau.
Like the other panther films, this
one emphasizes sight gags of every
sort, ranging from sneak attacks by
Cato to torture by scratching
fingernails on a blackboard. Also in
cluded are the stumblings of former
President Ford look alike and the
pontificating of a Kissinger twin.
“The Pink Panther Strikes Again”
is terrific entertainment, and prob
ably the best of the series since the
original. This is because of the
reuniting of producer Edwards,
animator Williams and stars, Sellers
and Lom. This reunion, paired with
the satire of a mad scientist, James
Bond type spoof creates a laugh-
filled night of entertainment.
engineering major, and sophomore
Doug Welsh celebrated the occa
sion with 16 other couples at Tokyo
Steak House, after a peach daiquiri
party.
Wearing their Class AA dress uni
forms, members of A&M’s Corps of
Cadets brought their girls and
danced to the 1959 version of
“Johnny B. Goode”—Chuck Berry
style. There was lots of whooping
and stomping to the country-
western songs, especially to Waylon
Jenning’s “Good-Hearted Woman.”
Jerry Jeff Walker probably didn’t
have dancing in chiffon gowns in
mind when he wrote “Up Against
the Wall, Red-Necked Mother,”
but hundreds of pretty girls swirled
their skirts to the kicker beat.
Lakeview just couldn’t compete.
“There were foxy ladies
everywhere,” said Robin Hood, a
19-year-old accounting major. “I
had a great time, but I think once a
year is enough for this kind of
dance. If there were any more, it
would ruin the special attraction”
Hood said.
Hood thought the lover’s lane that
formed along the darker hallways of
Zachry was very interesting.
“People were just lined up back
there and I think they were having a
real good time” Hood said.
Rohel said Texas A&M is one of
the few schools that still has class
dances.
“I believe they promote unity
within the class and everyone likes
to get together with their friends,”
he said.
Ron Lastovica, sophomore class
president, said, “You can’t go any
where and find this quality kind of
band, a free cheese bar, cookies and
all the Coke you can drink for
$5.00.” Lastovica was pleased with
the large attendance.
Gary Brown, the drummer of the
four-piece Houston band Fox River,
said, “We’ve played at Texas A&M
for the past three years and we’ve
never seen a crowd this large at a
dance.”
“The band is fantastic,” said Mark
Poindexter, a mechanized agricul
ture major from San Augustine.
Poindexter helped with refresh
ments as a favor to Lastovica, but he
seemed to be enjoying himself as
much as the sophomores.
“The girls sure look prettier than
they do when I see them on cam
pus,” Poindexter said. “I think
someone imported a few of them.”
Scott White, a sophomore Corps
member, had his tickets, had or
dered his date’s corsage, and had
made dinner resrevations. His uni
form was back from the cleaners and
everything was ready to go. Unfor
tunately, the night before the
dance. White was playing basketball
and broke his right ankle. White
fest^d all day and by Saturday night
he was determined to attend the
ball. m going to dance anyway, it
might be to just one song and a slow
one at that, but I’m going to'dance.”
cal science major, says he enjoys working with
the birds.
Battalion photo by Steve Reis
Dirty Harry battles
entire gang of villiaii|
in new Eastwood flii
There probably won’t be toO many
more movies about Inspector Harry
Callahan’s' one-man war on the vi
cious criminals of San Francisco.
After all, eighteen people were
killed in “The Enforcer,” the third
and most recent Dirty Harry movie.
He’s beginning to mak§ an appreci
able dent on the population of San
Francisco, even if it is fictitious.
In his latest escapade, Harry is
once again played by Clint
Eastwood. No one else is capable of
being such a tough cop and still re
taining a heart of gold.
Although Eastwood did a superb
job once again in portraying an hon
est police inspector who is perse
cuted by his superiors for being a bit
violent in his methods, one begins to
wonder for the first time in three
movies just how long this could actu
ally go on. By real-life standards,
Call all an would have been out of the
police force by the end of DJ
Harry, the first film.
But that’s show biz; I guess,
“The Enforcer” contains e«]
ounce of the blood and gore t
diences have come to expect!
Dirty Harry movies, but these!
writers are beginning to geta|
carried away. ; •
In Dirty Harry, Inspector I
ban was up against a single vicil
killer. In Magnuin Force, hehatll
three vicious vigilante cops. In!
Enforcer, he is at war-with an enl
vicious terrorist strike force. w|
next? Communist China?
The Enforcer does havet
glimmer of ingenuity amidstt!
mass of movie- cliches iii the for |
Inspector Kate Moore (Tyne D
Although the role itself is abito
now (woman cop assigned tot
macho cop as partner), Daily M 1
it a new attractiveness.
— John W. T;[|
Artist finds Aggies
By MARIANITA PADDOCK
Duane Littell never thought he
would be teaching pottery in an
Army barrack, but he doe^.
His studio is a simple room with a
kiln in the far right corner and a pot
ter’s wheel to the near right.
Clumps of earth-smelling clay are
plopped onto tables throughout the
room.
Littell, 33, is a tall, rugged man
who thinks A&M students are
“more friendly than back East.”
As A&M’s new aftist-in-residence
he teaches clay potting in Barrack J,
located behind the Reed McDonald
building.
“The purpose of an artist-in-
residence is to stimulate interest
from practicing artists,” Littell said.
“It’s a program to get potters to
gether and also to incorporate fiber
areas like weaving or macrame,
Littell said.
The artist-in-residence program
is funded by the College of
Architecture and Environmental
Design, in which each artist teaches
for a semester in his speciality.
Littell was a pre-law student
when he took some art courses and
became interested in clay,
ceramics, and glass blowing. He
graduated from the University of
Northern Colorado in 1969 with a
Master of Arts in art education. He
also holds a Master of Fine Arts
from State University of New
College of Ceramics at Alfred J
versity, with emphasis on cera
and glass-forming. • .
Students in his Art 208classlti
texture design, a process
creates a raised surface on pc
The 16 students include tea®
artists and freshmen in envisj
mental design. Among their (
tions are vases, pots, eups anaffl|
als. • t
Students say they enjoy won 1
with Littell.
“His class is easy' going
really structured in any wayI* 1 ;
doesn’t make you do the worK |ll |
style,’’said Brad Foster, a seni(!I l
environmental dessign.
Rocky, once a loser, hits hard
By GLENNA WHITLEY
Muscle-bound, dreamy-eyed Syl
vester Stallone has written and star
red in a movie that works beautiful
ly, in spite of itself.
“Rocky” is a small masterpiece of
a movie. Despite the many cliches
(including the plot ), the film is ab
sorbing and believable.
Stallone plays a fourth-rate
boxer reduced to breaking thumbs
for a loan shark. Rocky is a loser.
But his life is turned around by an
announcement by the world
heavyweight champion, Apollo
Creed (Carl Weathers), that an un
known will be given a chance at his
title.
Creed, clearly modeled after
Muhammad Ali, is a clown and a
poet. He chooses Rocky, “The Ita
lian Stallion,” for his big Bicenten
nial New Year’s fight in Philadel
phia.
So begins the fairy tale. Perhaps if
anyone else had written and starred
in it, it would have come across
musty and silly. But John G. Av-
ildsen’s direction and Stallone’s
street-wise dialogue and mere pres
ence manage to overcome the
cliches.
Innocence makes this film
endearing. Rocky is a strong arm
collector who doesn’t want to hurt
anyone, who talks to his pet turtles,
Cuff and Link. He’s a hulk of a man
with infinite tenderness.
Talia Shire plays Adrian, a shy
girl with glasses who works in a pet
shop. The old cliche of plain-
girl-is-beautiful-without-glasses is
almost ignored in a touching and
sensual love scene in Rocky’s
crummy apartment. Rocky loves
her, and because of him, she begins
to like herself.
Burt Young is good as Paulie, Ad
rian’s brother. Burgess Meredith,
with his ancient pixie’s face, is excel
lent as an ex—pug who runs a fight
ers’ gym.
The photography is good and
even beautiful in spots. Rocky s
early morning training runs
through Philadelphia’s ghettoes are
particularly effective visually.
Rocky takes the challenge serious
ly,. even when Apollo Creed enters
the ring dressed as a black Uncle
Sam. He’s too innocent to realize
that he’s been had.
The bloody,, torturous fig^’
climax of the film. .Suspensei* 6
up well, the audience is h 1
cent behind underdog ^ oc I
the sloppy editing" of the n? J
quences takes a little excitei neri |
of the battle. ..
Still, the movie isn t about* 11
It’s about one man’s atten'Pl
prove himself, to regain‘'i* 1
esteem. ,>/ "’1 |
And it work,s beautifully
KANM album
ist
HITS
ZZ Top Tejas
Boston Boston
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band Night
Moves
Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life
Joni Mitchell Hejira
Linda Ronstadt Greatest Hits
Rod Stewart A Night on the Town
The Steve Miller Band Fly Like an Eagle
Streisand-Kristofferson A Star is Bom
George Harrison Thirty-three and a Third
Al Stewart Year of the Cat
Elton John Blue Moves
Doobie Brothers Best of the Doobies
Electric Light Orchestra A New World Record
Wings Wings over America
FADERS
Foghat Night Shift
Dave Mason Certified Live
Boz Scaggs Silk Degrees
Lynyrd Skynyrd One More from the Road
Led Zeppelin The Song Remains the Same
Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac
Frank Zappa Zoot Allures
Eagles Greatest Hits
Phoebe Snow It Looks Like Snow
Linda Ronstadt Hasten Down the Wind
Stanley Clarke School Days
Gordon Lightfoot Summertime Dream
Kansas Leftoverture -
Ted Nugent Free for All
Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive
RISERS
Gary Wright The Light of Smiles
Leo Kottke Leo Kottke
Jimmy Buffett Changes in Latitudes, Changes
in Attitudes
Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live
Kiss Rock and Roll Over ,
David Bowie Low
Steve Hillage Steve Hillage
Tomita The Planets n. |: |
Stephen Stills Still Stills — ^" e *
Stephen Stills
Beaverteeth Beaverteeth
Genesis Wind and Wuthering
The Enid In The Region of S um ' ncr
Larry Coryell The Lion and the S a "'
Average White Band Person to W 10 "
Burton Cummings Burton CumtnioP
NEW ALBUMS
Johnny Cougar Chestnut Street ,
First Cosins, Jazz Ensemble f° r
Jazz y ' -
Nat Adderly Hummih
The Pretty Things The Vintage ^ ears
The Trogs The Vintage Years
Bonnie Kolac Close-ups
Flora Purim 500 Miles High .
The Al Gafa 'Quinteto Leblon B> al 1
Joe Ely Joe Ely
tht •