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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 1977)
Page 2 The Battalion Texas A&M University Viewpoint Monday September 26, 1977 A cheap shot Writer paints misleading picture "Facing third-and-6 from the Tech 44-yard line, Allison tried des perately to avoid the Aggie blitz but safety Carl Grulich stormed into him. Allison lay on the turf ivrithing in agony while Grulich danced joyfully to the sideline.” —Sam Blair, Dallas Morning News sports writer With those words, Sam Blair nailed one of Texas A&M’s finest players to the wall on the front page of literally thousands of copies of the Dallas News’ . Sunday sports section. An experienced journalist, Blair recreated a scene for his readers that was true to the eye and undeniable in print, yet unbelievably cruel in misrepre sentation and intent. There was no doubt about what happened on the playing field Saturday night when Texas Tech’s first-string quarterback, Rodney Allison, faded back to pass on that third down. Carl Grulich caught Allison behind the line on a salety blitz, throwing the Raiders for a key loss. Grulich did, indeed, “dance joyfully to the sideline’ as the Aggies’ punt return squad took the field. But the cheap shot was unmistakable. A slick piece of writing, Blair cannot * be faulted by facts, but his intent was abhorrent. It is all too clear that Blair ; had it out for the Aggies in his inference that Carl Grulich reveled in the injury of Allison, when in fact Grulich said, “I didn’t even know he was hurt until I got to the sidelines.’’ The game was hard-fought and tempers were high. Those certainly were not love taps exploding on the turf of Jones Stadium. But insinuations as ! deep as that which Sam Blair attributes to Carl Grulich are below the charac ter expected of a veteran sports writer. The credibility of the Dallas News’ sports department as well as the paper, itself, is to be seriously questioned i with such tacky and inexcusable reporting. For Blair to use his position on such a large paper to vent whatever vendetta he holds against Texas A&M is both unprofessional and immature. Calls to members of the Texas Tech football team and student body show no belief of intentional injury on the part of Carl Grulich. Certainly there - was no adverse reaction by those in attendance at Saturday’s game that belied Grulich’s look of concern as he turned back to the field after the play. The fact is, it would have taken a pretty low human being to derive pleasure * in seeing another in pain. Carl Grulich, who is working to establish a Fellow- * ship of Christian Athletes chapter on campus, doesn’t figure in that catagory. It is only the irresponsibility of people like Sam Blair that turns such an ■t unfortunate circumstance into an ugly memory. y.A. Winds achanging ■t Mark Rudd has come in from the cold. One of the organizers of the Weatherman group, which took its name from v a line in a Bob Dylan song, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which C way the wind blows”, Rudd evidently decided that the wind was not blowing [Z his way. So at age 30 — the dividing line in the theology of the New Left between innocence and corruption — Rudd, seven years in hiding surrendered last 7* week to authorities. Although he and other Weatherman members went underground in 1970, ► ' vowing to act as “vandals in the mother country “, Rudd faces relatively minor charges: bail jumping and a variety of other misdemeanors. In that <■' year, a Detroit jury indicted Rudd and other defendants for conspiracy to bomb and kill; the charges later were dismissed. But the heroics of the young revolutionaries, who saw themselves con- ;' ducting a guerrilla operation against a totally corrupt system, took its toll. Three members of the organization were killed in 1970 in an explosion in a ‘I Greenwich Village townhouse that they had converted into a bomb factory, and the Weatherman underground claimed responsibility for many bomb- ings. The Vietnam war, which inflamed students of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, is over and nearly forgotten, and the rush of history has made Rudd and his fellow radicals relics of an era. Yet some elements of life defy time’s swift passage, and endure all its vicissitudes. On hearing of Mark’s surrender, his mother, Bertha Rudd, said: “Tell him we got a pot of chicken soup. ” Los Angeles Times Tetters to the editor -TUfcRG' THAT OUGHT TO TAK6 Of THOS^ FkfSTS/ The American They used to call it the American Way. Or the Free Enterprise System. The enterprising young man discovers something people want very badly, finds a way to “corner the market” and retires young and prosperous. Some enterprising Aggies took that theory to heart this last week. The product? Student tickets to the Texas A&M-Texas Tech football game. And how does one corner the market in football tickets? Well, these folks gathered up from their friends every student ticket coupon book they could, then waited in line, some for a day and a half, to get 20 or 25 of the 2,000 student tickets for the Tech game. The going price for tickets to that game last Thursday was $50 per ticket, for the same student ticket that cost $4 at the tieket office. Now they call that scalping. But consider the economics of the matter. The businessman (or scalper, if you prefer) spends 24 hours waiting in line and $100 for 25 tickets. Then he sells those tiekets at $50 each, collecting $1,250 if he sells all 25 without being severely thrashed by out-raged Aggies. That figures out to $1,150 clear profit for 24 hours waiting and a few hours selling. That’s a profit margin at which even oil companies would drool. Infuriating? Yes, if you stood in line without getting a ticket. Immoral? Maybe, if you’re moral enough not to pay the price. The staunchest defender of free enterprise might have second thoughts after coughing up $50 a head for tickets that weren’t that good to begin with. There is a solution. If people refused to pay those sky-high prices for scalped tickets, the scalper would be out 24 hours of sleeping on the sidewalk, plus the cash he laid out for those tickets. A change in ticket distribution might cut down on scalping, but only if distribution were so strict that everyone had trouble getting tickets. The system being used for the Mich an game this weekend is an example. No student can buy more than one tieket and that ticket is mailed to the stadium in Ann Arbor for him to pick up there. So is you don’t like the prices, don’t buy. That’s the American Way. But don’t preach morality with a $50 ticket in your hand. L.R.L. The great microfilming rumor never dies Editor: We live in a community with the high est average educational level in the state, that being 6.5 years. This is not surprising considering the high quality education we receive from Texas A&M University. Stu dents and teachers enter the academic community of TAM U for a variety of rea sons including this educational prowess. Many enter because of valued tradition in their families, and others come here be cause of the availability of money being given to the school due to a state constitu tional provision, thus assured of high academic growth. A new addition to the library, for instance, is being constructed to meet the demands of the growing stu dent body and colleges. It is with these facts in mind that I must speak of a problem within our present li brary. Stories abound that the library ad ministration has allowed numerous mate rials to be transferred to microfilm and mi crofiche, and that these materials, despite the fact they may be of high historical value, are being shredded after their costly transfer. I understand that some gifts given by dedicated Aggie Alumni are being rejected, this being destructive to tradition as well as to education. I have also been informed the library has sold highly valuable material including stacks of original musical scores by a variety of well known classical artists at ridiculously low prices. Such acts are appalling, but likely be factual, as they have been reported to me by members of the TAMU faculty. Never theless, I don’t expect many people to be lieve me because of course, being intellec tually independent, one can not believe everything one reads. I only ask that this situation be considered and questioned. If it is true, the results are devastating and as such, the possibility must not be ignored. —Dana A. Wolf Editor’s note: In fact, “acts” to which you refer did not happen. In “Microfilm plan to be investigated,” a story in last Monday’s Battalion describing the mi crofilming program, director of the li brary Dr. Irene Hoadley said, “Nothing has been taken off the shelves, not one volume.” Rumors about books being destroyed in the library have been running wild. Slouch Hoadley said last night. But the mi crofilming plan is still in the planning stages. As the story last Monday ex plained, an ad hoc committee of faculty members and administrators is reviewing the concept of microfilming periodicals and journals in the library. Until that committee makes a report, probably late by Jim Earle this semester, nothing will be microfilmed or removed from the library’s shelves, she said. Keep off the grass Editor: I can see it coming. Someone is going to write a great, big letter about how he, or she, got bent all out of shape when some big, nasty Aggie told them (impolitely, no doubt) to get off the grass. The reason you are asked to do such things isn’t because it’s some kind of Corps regulation, or because “it’s a tradition. It’s because the Memorial Student Center and other memorials are acknowledgements of the sacrifices made by Aggies in defense of our country. I realize that many people who are al lowed to attend this University don’t understand or don’t care about such things. But I’d like to ask these people to please show some consideration towards Aggies, to whom these things are impor tant. After all, it’s our University. Sure, it’s tedious to have to walk those few extra feet when you go around the grass. Sure, it annoying to have to lift up your arm to remove your hat when you enter the Memorial Student Center. Sure, it’s irritating to have to stop drinking for a while just because you’re in Kyle Field. But think of those whom you antagonize by your apathy. Maybe the loss of human life doesn’t af fect you, maybe you disagree with war, maybe you disbelieve in nationalism. But there are those of us to whom these memorials are sacred. Occassionally, the language used by some of us may offend you. But such things are said in anger and are regretted later. Can we help but be emotional? So go to a little extra effort. Not because some Aggie said so, but because you are fouling something that all Aggies hold dear. —Michael A. Porterfield ‘78 “These pass-fail courses are good, but what we really need are pass-pass courses!” Top of the News * Campus Regents to hear fund proposals Construction again dominates the agenda facing the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents which meets here Tuesday. Re gents will consider only one contract—for renovation of Texas A&M s agronomy building—but will have before them six requests for ap propriations for future projects. Included are funding proposals for plans and specifications on expansion of Kyle Field, plus a program of requirements for a medical sciences building. In other business, re gents will be asked to approve a $1 increase in Texas A&M’s Beutel Health Center fee to help cover salary increases and other expenses at the center. If approved, the fee will be $15 per semester, effective with the start of the spring semester. Federal offices have career day Federal Career Day will bring a large number of government rep resentatives to Texas A&M Tuesday to present information on gov- eminent employment. The meeting will lx* from 7 to 9 p.m. in 302 Rudder. Don Borgeson, administrative officer of the U.S. Depart ment of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, and Mona Rush ing of the Houston office of the U. S. Civil Service Commission heada group of participating officials. Brcx hures on availability of work with various agencies and information on how to apply and qualifications for various positions will be given. Rushing will advise students on the PACE exam. State Hill blasts Briscoe's record Gov. Dolph Briscoe has failed the state in his commitment to public education and has done very little to control the state budget, Attorney General John Hill said yesterday. Hill, a candidate for Bris coe’s job in the 1978 race, made the remarks in Austin on the weekly television interview show, “Capital Eye. Hill said, “It is clear that he has done very little to address the individual needs of utility bills, high property taxes and he has not given us really good strong leader ship in energy policy and farm policy and these big areas where Texas ought to lx? a leader that’s listened to.” Garbage bag now in Davis trial A plastic garbage bag, described by Priscilla Davis as the one her husband used when he shot her, has been introduced by the prosecu tion as the same bag a darkly clad gunman wore over his hands during a shooting spree last summer that killed two persons. In Amarillo, Police Detective G.L. Nichols said Saturday pieces of the bag were found near the victims, and prosecutor Joe Shannon Jr. said later testimony “will establish the pieces of plastic matched holes in the bag.” Nation Court must tackle gay issue The Supreme Court, which for years has avoided issues dealing with homosexuals, must now decide whether it will intervene ini dispute between a “gay lib” student group and the University ol Missouri. The controversy yielded a flurry of contradictory opinions in lower federal courts, but the final result was an order requiring the university to recognize gay liberation organizations on its Columbia and Kansas City campuses. In its Supreme Court appeal, the univer sity said such formal recognition would likely bring about on-campus violations of the state sodomy law and “cause students with latent homosexual tendencies to become overt homosexuals.” Carter to back Concorde —kindoj President Carter’s decision to approve Concorde supersonic trans port flights throughout America was an attempt at balancing domestic political reality and the demands of international diplomacy. Flat rejection would have been a direct slap to Britain and France, but unqualified landing rights here would have been political suicide, particularly for a President who deplored the noisy Concorde while seeking office. Carter chose a middle ground, in favor of permanent federal clearance for Concorde to fly anywhere in the United States,so long as its noise does not increase and it observes a night curfew; but giving individual American cities ultimate power over Concorde flights. World Moscow gets first snowfall Moscow chalked up its first snowfall of the season Saturday and hada brief flurry of mixed snow and hail Sunday. On Saturday afternoon Moscow had a half-hour snowfall that melted immediately because temperatures were in the low 40s. Sunday’s 10-minute hailstorm briefly rimmed sidewalks and streets with the first white of winter. Moscow weathermen predicted the first freeze of the season before the end of September. Weather Partly cloudy and hot th is afternoon and even ing with south erly winds 10-16 mph. No precipitation expected today or tomorrow. High both days mid 90s. Low tonight mid 70s. The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the ivriter 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-supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and com munity 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 Letters to the Editor, The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver- I tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los | Angeles. The Battalion is published Noonday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per spmester; $33io? school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rales nished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room:' Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 7^ United Press International is entitled exclusively^ use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited I ! Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein resen Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TN 7$ MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Jamie Ab Managing Editor Mary Aliev W’oodb Editorial Director Lee Roy Lesehpc Sports Editor Paid And News Editors Marie Homeyer. (’and Mn Reporters Rusty Cawley. KimT)* 1 Clenna Whitley, Danvil Untinil. Liz V- Photographer Ken Student Publications Board: Bob C. Rogvn, Cluinfi Joe Arredondo; Dr. Gary Halter. Dr. John W. Hn* Robert Harvey; Dr. Charles McCandlevs; Dr. Clinlm 1 Phillips; Rclx l Rice. Director of Student Publicotv Donald C. Johnson. Production Coordinator: 11'. W Sherman „