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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1977)
Page 2 Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Thursday, September 22, 1977 Keep the tower Easterwoocl Airport’s air traffic control tower is inefficient. At least that’s what the Federal Aviation Administration says in a recent report suggesting that federal funds be cut off from the Easterwood tower. That decision would be a major mistake, since it would probably force the tower to close. The FAA report lists Easterwood’s tower among 73 in the country which, according to a cost-vs-benefits formula the FAA uses, aren’t paying their way. That formula some how weighs the smoother operations and fewer de lays and accidents which the tower provides against the tower’s annual operating and maintenance budget. One would think from the report that Easterwood Airport is dying of neglect. But nothing could be further from the truth. During the last year the airport’s traffic jumped from 88,000 to 104,000 flights in or out of the airport. Between commercial and private flights, and those connected in some way with Texas A&M University, Easterwood has become a pretty busy place. On paper the FAA cost-benefit formula may seem practical. X-number of flights, X-number of dollars, over X-period of time. But there’s a hitch. The airport business is like every other-— customers always seem to come in bunches. At times Easterwood has very few planes landing. But then there are times when half a dozen or more planes all want to land at the same time, in addition to those airplanes “just passing through.” That makes for real problems during bad weather. The traffic controllers in the Easterwood tower can now keep airplanes separate by instrument navigation — without the tower, pilots would be coming into the field virtually blind. Even discounting the safety problems, closing the tower would put a significant transportation crunch on both the local community and Texas A&M. The airport would probably lose its commercial flights. Private flights would also be discouraged from landing at Easterwood — at a time when both the community and the University are drawing more air traffic. Any move to close the Easterwood Tower would be both an expensive and dangerous mistake. L.R.L. Slouch by Jim Earle “I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MY DENTAL APPOINT MENT IN LUBBOCK THIS WEEKEND, BUT IT CAN WAIT!’ An affair to forget Investigation ‘dogged’ The time had come, the deed is done, now it’s best forgot. That may be the best summary of Bert Lance’s resignation yesterday. It was time for Lance to resign. He had tried without success to convince Congress and America of his innocence during last week’s televised hear ings, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary. People just stopped believ ing what he said. Lance took the initiative, finally, to leave for the sake of all concerned. In office, lie could never hope to escape the criticism that has embroiled him in recent months. And that criticism has rubbed off on his good daddy Jimmy Carter and right now Carter has his hands full hunting support for his Panama Canal treaties. That’s not to mention the countless other national concerns that Carter has had to leave unattended. America is ready for a rest. Even Washington’s political cartoonists and columnists have become stagnant rehashing Lance’s trials and tribulations. The Bert Lance affair wasted enough of America’s time. Now it needs to be forgotten. We’ve got better things to do. L.R.L. Leon Jaworski’s approach to his task as special counsel for the House Ethics Committee investigation of alleged South Korean influence-buying might be summed up in the old saying, “It’s dogged as does it.” His em phasis — and he says this also reflects the wishes of the House leadership — is expected to be on thoroughness rather than on rushing to wind up the probe quickly. Welcome as a speedy resolution of this sensitive matter would be, the concept of solid, careful preparation before bearings are undertaken must be applauded. The prospect of the investigation running into 1978, an election year, is naturally a source of concern for members of the House. The shadow of possibly scandalous revelations to come will increase the hazards of standing for re-election — unfairly, in the case of the presumable large majority of congressmen not implicated in the alleged payoffs and acceptance of gifts and favors from South Korean operatives. The conclusion of the affair already has been delayed too long. The Willimantie, Conn. Chronicle ‘Non-socialism’ tough test for Sweden By PHILLIP M. STONE United Press International STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Sweden’s first non-Socialist government in more than four decades marks its first year in power this month but has little to cele brate. It’s been an unhappy 12 months. The krona has been devalued three times, inflation is raging along at 13.5 per cent, the trade deficit is headed for $3.3 billion, industry has swallowed up huge government subsidies just to survive and the sloc k market—already low—dipped another 25 percent. Major companies announce layoffs al most daily. Should one win a job-creating overseas contract it is big news. Newspapers publish stories of the so- called “English sickness” as a preview of what may be coming. For all this, Sweden is still one of the world’s richest countries. A British jour nalist asked in his newspaper, “If this is the Swedish sickness” then how do we catch it?” But for Sweden accustomed to living the good life and telling other countries how to solve their problems, facing up to their own falling fortunes is a new and frighten ing experience. In announcing a 10 percent devaluation earlier this month. Premier Thorbjorn Falldin said: "Not since the ’30s have we seen so many crises and bankruptcies hitting even the large-scale companies as in the past year. This trend is an imminent threat to employment and must be broken.” It was not a situation Falldin envisioned last September when his Center Party to gether with the Conservatives and Liber als ousted the Social Democrats in national elections. Even then, Swedish industry was in trouble, but Social Democratic party leader Olof Palmo said he was bequeath ing the non-Socialists a “well-laid table.” Other political observers suggest rather that he left office just when things were yuvim. getting worse. The new leaders for the most part adhered to the Socialists’ economic policies, hoping the European recession would bottom out. It did not. The Social Democrats, in an effort to protect jobs, paid companies subsidies and urged them to keep producing at full steam. The thinking was that hard times would be temporary and once they ended Sweden could start exporting its excess goods. But the recession is still here and the warehouses are still full. LANCE HASTO RESIGN/ WE CANNOT HAVE SOMEONE. INFLUENCING ECONOMIC F0LICY WHO HAS RUN UP $4-50,000 IN OVERDRAFTS,CAN WE? GENTLEMEN! LETS GET BACK T6 BUSINESS.... ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. OF THE PROPOSED FEPGEAL BUDGET WITH THE 61 BILLION DOLLAR. OVERDRAF...ER.. DEFICIT SIGNIFY SAY1N&AYE. Letters to the editor Rising prices have made matters worse. One study showed an increase in labor costs over the past two years of 40 percent—double the growth rate in most industrial countries—and a drop in exports of 15 percent in the same period. The government regularly announces rescue plans for such diverse industries as shipbuilding and textiles. One problem is foreign competition. Swedish products have always been ex pensive but now other countries are pro ducing high quality goods at lower prices. “Sweden’s technological lead in the world has been reduced,” the government lamented recently. Recovery will not come easy to a people used to receiving higher social benefits each year. The government recently warned no substantial improvement in the standard of living can be expected next year or in 1979. And how does the businessman—the man most likely to have voted for non- Socialists—view the situation? A retired Stockholm industrialist com plained many of his stocks had declined 75 percent in value. “I have no love for the Socialists,” he said. “They are responsible for the ridicul ous taxes we have now.” But I have to think that if the Socialists were in government during the last year they would have done a better job.... “If things do not get better within eight to 10 months then it will be a catastrophe.' Scalpers hoarding student tickets should be stopped Editor: I would like to voice a few comments on the ticket situation for the Texas Tech game. Many students who wanted to go to the game were unable to get tickets. Many of these people had already made ar rangements for transportation to Lubbock and lodging there. There seem to be two reasons that stand out as to why many students were denied tickets. First of all, Texas Tech sent us only 2,500 tickets. Surely some of these were given to our band and their dates, which only seems fair. Of the remaining tickets sold, a very large number were not even in the stands but on the grass. So, it appears that Texas Tech was not very hos pitable. The second reason is much more impor tant. The sole purpose of selling student tickets is that students may go see the game. The purpose is not to allow a few greedy, self-centered, unthinking people to make a buck. There were many, many instances of people rounding up as many coupon books as they could and buying the same number of tickets. These same tick ets are now being sold for prices ranging up to $50. Camping out for tickets for one self and companions is great. However, camping out for tickets to make money is totally unnecessary. This practice should be stopped. I do not claim to have the solution. However, I do know this: anyone who purchases tickets with the intention of making a profit is not a true Aggie, and there is no place for such people or prac tice at Texas A&M University. Scott P. Stringer ’78 Tommy Ascol ’79 Refund due? on this campus could at least respond with a friendly reply. Due to the attitudes of A&M females, which are induced by these odds, the A&M men become the real “meat on the rack.” The women can pick and choose as they want with the criterion being only physical appearance, excluding personality and character. If the women on campus want to be “re spected as sensitive human beings,” they should show some of the same considera tion that they wish to receive. K.C. ’79 D.T. ’79 M.V.V. ’79 S.H. ’80 Editor: If only student fees can pay for the con struction of dorms, then when are the stu dents going to be reimbursed for the dorms “renovated” into offices? — Kee Nethery Respect-two ways Editor: In response to the letter, “Words Do Hurt,” (Battalion, Tues., Sept. 20) we male Ags on campus do agree, words can hurt. The lack of words can hurt to an even greater degree. Words such as thank you, hello and please seem to be sadly lacking in the on-campus female vocabulary. The women on campus would like to be, “respected as sensitive human beings.” So would the men. It is a familiar occurrence for many male Ags, after giving a friendly hello, to receive a cold silence in return. Even though the male to female ratio at A&M is 2 to 1 it would see that the females 'NOTHIN' TOWOPRYAEOUT, F0LK5;DUT...I5THEREA PR. KISSIN&ER CN WP? " Top of the News Campus Miller must okay pass-fail P.E. Ki lim tz A proposal passed by the Academic Council Tuesday suggesli that required physical education courses at Texas A&M Universitjl available on either a regular grade or pass-fail system has tobesip by President Jarvis Miller before being implemented nextspiij According to the new proposal, a grade of S may be given who make a C or above in the required P.E. courses with the bn A1 not affecting their overall grade point ratio. A grade of U given for grades below C. There is no distinction between aDm ia ' r 11 under the U grade. vc> * no cl ire c~ 1 Alim c: me o i * spe Will i 1 mf'i Yell practice will be at the Grot Yell practice for the Texas Tech-Aggie game this week willbeati Grove on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. State Injunction against Lo-Vaca liftei The 8th Texas Court of Civil Appeals ruled Wednesday aZm County judge exceeded his jurisdiction by preventing Lo-1 Gathering Co. from shutting off gas to Crystal City. The court that two suits filed against the Houston-based utility companybv South Texas city and a resident, Mrs. Bernardo Macias, were bit ference” with an earlier decision rendered by the appeals court appeals court also removed an injunction placed on Lo-Vacil Zavala County Judge Jose Angel Gutierrez. Law on massage parlors lifted A federal judge temporily barred Harris County from enforcirt new ordinance regulating massage parlors until the law canbeteli in court. U.S. District Judge Carl O. Bue Jr. issued the terapoii restraining order at the request of 22 massage parlor operalorsa masseuses who contend the law violates their constitutional rijll j ^ Bue, who ruled immediate enforcement would put many of theuK of business without a hearing, has scheduled trial of their conipli for Oct. 25. Nation Judge s daughter found dead The daughter of the judge presiding in the Don Bolles murderti This in Tucson was found shot to death Tuesday in her apartment. Pi Miarr said it was an apparent suicide. However, officers said theinveslji tion into the death of Lynn Thompson, 24, a student at theUniveni ists u of Arizona law school, was continuing. Her father, Judge Hmi Thompson, left Phoenix for Tucson, apparently postponing the Ini M ax Dunlap and James Robinson, accused of first degree murdt: Bolles’ death. Colorado farmers call for strike A group of Midwestern farmers have circulated more than handbills calling for a farmers’ strike unless they are given cent parity prices for their agricultural products. “Unless our mauds are met by midnight, Dec. 13, 1977, we will be forced at P ei implement the following measures: we will not sell any farm pro! nets; we will not produce any more agricultural products andweti not buy any agricultural equipment or production supplies handbill says. World Voters defeat nude swimming nyne-- \V ist fs blac Ga Engl Leav an ti endl Hi air Frar damn uver eNoi ep i illiair unc em, PPY-’ The icon illiair Spei this c udo e s rb pi; ?! pi; plain i re is glish Any iguag eorv. The irn E er, w lis w uld 1 in ted Even rican lite i id. e“Af] collo Ame “It’s arnec illiair hr, 1 ance ■ced eyha They etaph e the aek s andar Som< luble ‘ars, ; Municipal voters voted Tuesday for the San Diego City Count! take the no-swimsuit option away from nudists at Black’s Beack, nation’s only beach where sunbathing in the buff is legal. Proposi D, directing the council to outlaw nude swimming, passed 86, 70,884. The voters’ decision meant the apparent endofthecil three-year experiment with a nude beach. Power failure strikes Quebec A “small white porcelain gizmo” blew out on a major power line Quebec’s far north Tuesday, plunging much of Canada’s mostpf lated province into darkness for up to eight hours. Hundreds off sons were trapped in elevators, air traffic was halted or divertedi several hours and police cars screamed through Montreal street response to burglar alarms tripped by the on-again, off-againpe flow. But there was no evidence of the looting that plagued New? City during its blackout July 13-14. Police free 6 in labor camp raid Police have raided a labor camp in Australia where elderly pen* were forced to work as slaves. They were kept filthy, parasite-ridd and forced to live on meager diets. Police Tuesday described col tions at the camp in the outer Brisbane suburb of Belmont as I “worst case of human degradation” they had seen, calling the sem “bush concentration camp.” Six men were rescued in the raidTuo day, all suffering from parasites and malnutrition. Weather Clear, partly cloudy and warm through Friday. High toda: low 90’s, low tonight low 70’s. No rain today or tomorrow The 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 Re- gents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supportinp. enterprise operated by students as a university and com munity newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. LETTERS POUCY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to Iteinp cut to that lenpth or less if I on per. The editorial staff reserves the ripht to edit such letters and does not puarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be sipned, show the address of the writer and list a ttdephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Buildinp, Collepe Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and I^os Angeles. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester:$ school year; $35.00 per lull year. Advertisiii? nished on request. Address: The Battalion. IW Reed McDonald Building, College Station. Tw United Press International is entitled euW use for reprcxl lie tion of all news dispatches uvin Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein^ Second-Class postage paid at College Station. B MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism t'ongr Editor jam’ Managing Editor Mary Aliev Editorial Director lav Roy Lndj Sports Editor News Editors Marie Homey or. CjnJ Reporters Rusty Cawley. ki>i Clcnna Whitley. Damdl Lmfonl. Photographer The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from Scpteml>er through May except during exam and holiday- periods and the summer, when it is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Student Publications Board: Hoh ffogr Joe Aircdondo; Dr. Cany Halln. Dr. Joh Robert Haney: Dr. Charles MriUimllessri Phillifi.s: Rebel Rice. Director of Sluth'Hl Donabl (.*. Jidinson. Production Coonl'm Sherman i WES kil