The Battalion
\o\. 71 No. 25
6 Pages
Wednesday, October 5, 1977
College Station, Texas
News Dept. 845-2611
Business Dept. 845-2611
Inside Today:
More on the inauguration, pgs. 12
and 13
Early settler s cemetery now ne
glected, p. 3
Bellard blames himself, p. 14
Miller inaugurated; strategy revealed
ate I
ICO,
it O'Mi
iiMi.i!
By LIZ NEWLIN
Battalion StafF
[dent Jarvis Ernest Miller mapped out his strategy for
istering Texas A&M University and stated his determina-
, look out for the university’s best interests, even if it
(opposing President Jimmy Carter.
jer spoke at his inauguration as the 18th president of Texas
Tuesday morning in G. Rollie White Coliseum. Repre-
Kves of the university, state, nation and world congratu-
vjjller and wished for his success.
He H. Wells, chairman of Texas A&M Board of Regents,
ed Miller with the full authority of president and sym-
d this action by placing a gold medallion around Miller’s
|ler received a standing ovation from approximately 8500
in the coliseum. In his 25-minute inaugural address, Mil-
dged "diligence and dedication to serving national goals”
promised “we will not be silent when we believe we are
ler directed some of his remarks to President Carter and
Texas A&M’s consistent stand on energy as an example of
(niversity’s determination.
this sense, we will be your loyal opposition, seeking the
:erm well-being of our great nation and Texas,” Miller said,
te and federal policy-makers have weakened strong institu-
and fostered the development of wasteful competition. Mil-
id, because they “often do not recognize the unique
ilities” of land grant institutions. “So,” Miller said, “a
oi reassessment of the role of the land-grant institutions is in
f. ” He said these colleges must lead in seeking new ways to
unicate effectively, operate efficiently and cooperate more
ively with other institutions of higher learning,
illersaid accountability and responsibility are the new chal-
s facing the faculty and university. He said higher educa-
was given high priority in state budgets in the past and
al support has recently been extensive.
ith the pressure of inflation and the growing demand for
government services, higher education. . . is facing closer
scrutiny,” he said. “Pulolic demands for accountability and re
sponsibility can best be met with innovative, responsive pro
grams to insure that wise use is made of all resources and that
people are served effectively, responsively and with concern.”
Demands for accountability must not be allowed to disrupt the
system of study which, he said, has characterized great scholarly
institutions and provided new ideas.
Miller said one of the major problems at A&M is the “absence
of enough unstructured activity to facilitate generating new
ideas.” He said increased attention must be given to targeted
basic research which is vital to achieving desired goals.
This administration,” Miller said, “will resist encroachment
into its responsibilities from outside groups and from govern
ment, particularly the federal government.
Punitive, restrictive measures from Washington, often out of
phase with reality, in the long run do a disservice to intended
beneficiaries and divert scarce resources from priority areas,” he
added.
“This administration will resist encroachment into its
responsibilities from outside groups and from gov
ernment, particularly the federal government. Puni
tive, restrictive measures from Washington, often
out of phase from reality, in the long run do a dis
service to intended beneficiaries and divert scarce
resources from priority areas.”
Miller said the installation of a new president spotlights the
challenge to universities of how to reconcile tradition with inno
vation. Change, he said, is one of the principal factors affecting
the university and has become impossible to anticipate.
“Perhaps this lack of ability to predict the courses of the future is
best illustrated in the case of the food and energy crises, where
less than 10 years ago, a group of well-known scholars attempted
to predict developments to the year 2000. It is interesting to
note that no mention was made of either the food or energy
problems,” Miller said.
WJ
HES
HE Kl
fALEI
Clyde H. Wells, chairman of the Texas A&M
Board of Regents, places a gold medallion around
Battalion photos by Jim Crawley
the neck of Jarvis E. Miller, investing him with
the full authority of the presidency.
Variety of people, clothing, food
Resent at inaugural luncheon
By KIM TYSON
Battalion Staff
fe t! K USa n d pounds of beef, 3,500
I g a ii’ Salons of jalapeno peppers,
led untko ea and lo0 loaves of bread,
EVIL (U i 1 .“’200 people equals the bar-
^ fej-rj, nc eon following the inaugura-
Tuesday^^ University’s 18th pres-
ifetTtQ a pi^ non ' Aggies from Corpus
|m Gov n Pas £ attended. Dignitaries
•hn' D °lph Briscoe to the State
neet« e fj W ^ ed arou nd the blue and
e tent dn 1 nkin g tea from paper cups,
as A l vvf VlS ocate d at one end of the
■ A «M main drill field.
aAtti
e ran S e d from suits and dresses to
i r .R.n S ant checkered shirts of the 3C
At v, 6 Workers -
Nrar end <d dle serv ing tables were
itheiml an ^ rnen t s representing colleges
irtj(,,.] f Vers {ty and made by students in a
ire ad Urt , ass - A cow skull and barbed
ad °med the Colleg
;es of Agriculture
and Veterinary Science floral display,
while a calculator and T-square were used
On the business and architecture cen
terpiece.
Gov. Briscoe shook hands and smiled
with new President Jarvis Miller as a cool
breeze whipped through the tent. Sitting
at the main table were Miller, Briscoe,
their wives. State Senator Bill Presnal,
members of the Board of Regents and
other honored guests.
Because the crowded tent had seating
for only half the guests, people kept mov
ing and talking.
“It’s a great affair,” Briscoe said.
“There’s been a tremendous turnout. It
gives him (Miller) the support of ex-
students and students of this great state.”
Following the luncheon, the Corps of
Cadets was reviewed by Miller, Briscoe
and three Corps leaders, Col. James
Woodall, Col. Kenneth Durham, and Col.
M. H. Ivins.
As the Aggie Band played the “Ballad of
the Green Berets, ” a Corps unit passed by
and the seniors flipped their white-gloved
hands in salute. Col. Woodall briskly re
turned their salute.
Miller’s wife and four daughters, wear
ing corsages, smiled from the red, white
and blue draped grandstand.
Briscoe and Miller squinted in the
bright sunshine to watch the Corps march
past.
Students and visitors filled the grand
stands, while others lined the field to poke
out their cameras trying to get pictures of
those on the reviewing stand.
Newsmen from Houston television
channels 2 and 11 and a horde of camera
men from around the state recorded the
event.
The review was typical: the Corps staff
first in line, followed by the Aggie Band,
then each company with the Parson’s
Mounted Calvary finishing.
“It’s been a great day,” said Alma Mil
ler. “We’re so thrilled to have so many
friends and relatives come.”
We feel this support, we need the sup
port.
“The contemporary world is also characterized by all forms of
violence, much senseless and pointless,” he said. “This violence
appears to have implications profound for the future of our soci
ety as we know it,” Miller added.
“Emotion, rather than reason, tends to prevail,” said Miller,
in the areas of environmental quality, energy, economic policy
and business ethics. Miller added another trend in society is
toward conformity and security to avoid risk and uncertainty. He
said A&M will not bow silently to this pressure.
“Our aim is responsive evolutionary change, both in terms of
traditional programs as well as in new thrusts,” Miller said. He
said his emphasis will be on enriching and upgrading current
programs but added there are “vast new areas to be developed.”
He cited new programs in graduate and adult education as
examples.
“In traditional undergraduate programs, we will seek ways of
enriching the educational experience of students through con
cern for development of the total person,” Miller said.
“We will seek more effective working relationships with the
private sector and with federal and state agencies,” he said.
“Exchanges of personnel and faculty will be sought to provide
program enrichment, both in teaching and research,” he added.
Miller said the university will seek to developed and expand
research activity, particularly in business, management, educa
tion and health. He said human nutrition is a global problem and
one that “cries for assistance” from A&M. He also predicted
A&M "should be able to develop and implement significant new,
innovative health care programs in this state.”
“We pledge strong and aggressive programs aimed at de
velopment and wise use of our natural resources —- soil, water,
marine and energy. But above all, we will concentrate our efforts
on contributing to the well-being of our most precious resource
— our human resource.”
Miller promised former students he would “emphasize those
strong, positive traditions of A&M which have made A&M
graduates unique and distinctive, while adapting to changing
circumstances and needs.”
Gov. Dolph Briscoe congradulated the regents on finding the
“very best person” for the presidency.
In Dr. Miller, the regents have once again turned to a son of
A&M and to one who has brought great distinction to himself
and this university by the merit of his actions from the time he
received his undergraduate degree here in 1950 to the present,”
the governor said.
“We pledge strong and aggressive programs aimed
at development and wise use of our natural resources
— soil, water, marine and energy. But above all,
we will concentrate our efforts on contributing to
the well-being of our most precious resource — our
human resource.”
Briscoe noted Tuesday was the 101st anniversary of the official
opening of Texas A&M College, the state’s first public institution
of higher learning.
He quoted Gov. Richard Coke, who participated in that event:
“In time these halls will become classic and strong men of Texas
will, after we have been gathered to our fathers, meet in these
halls and chant the praises of their alma mater.’”
As some in the crowd whooped, Briscoe concluded, “Over the
years, the spirit of Aggieland has proved Gov. Coke’s prediction
to be most accurate. ”
Briscoe said, “One reason for A&M’s greatness can be found in
the bold and imaginative concept on which it is based — the
concept of an institution devoted to teaching, research and ex
tension service.”
University of Texas President Lorene Rogers represented 225
colleges and universities in greeting President Miller. She said a
college president is expected to be many things, including a
“devotee of opera and football, equally.” A sense of humor, Ro
gers said, is vital. She also passed along some advice given to her
when she assumed presidency last year. “When the going gets
tough, hang in there,” she said.
A representative of the Coordinating Board of the Texas Col-
(See Miller, page 4)
Police agencies get grant
By GARY WELCH
Law enforcement agencies in the Brazos
County area are benefitting from more
than $85,000 in grants approved last June
by Gov. Dolph Briscoe. The grants, ob
tained through the Criminal Justice Divi
sion of the governor’s office, satisfy two
areas of need pointed out recently by the
Brazos Valley Development Council.
Claude Stewart, director of criminal jus
tice programs for the BVDC, said recently
onfession ‘forced’man says
By SCOTT PERKINS
januarv^v! 156 ^ ° k ca P ita l murder in
UniJl shooti ng death of a Texas
'edTue^ rs ' t y § ra duate student tes-
lective forr^ ^ u*- 3 College Station police
crinie ^ dni t0 S *^ n a con f e ssion”
J Valt er T 0 p r ,
* yan man f ° ,eman > the 18-year-old
lar 8 e , told *u atln ® trial on the murder
8t Wac a/ ) :< 1 )Urt in a Pre-trial hearing
Active r l u' d ° k k)e * n g beaten by the
a ^ e a stat^i° ^ ^ ^ ea ger, if fie failed to
'jry Baugh nt adrnitt ing that he killed
Saad ^ ea ger had previously be
aten and threatened him during question
ing involving a 1976 burglary.
“I knew what I could expect of him if I
didn’t talk to him,” Coleman said.
Coleman said the alleged incident took
place in an office with no one else present.
He said Yeager lost his temper with him
when he denied being involved in the
burglary, slapped him, and “grabbed me
by my shirt, and threatened me with a
pen.” Coleman said that Yeager had held
the pen under his throat.
Yeager, when asked during his tes
timony if he had put any object to Cole
man’s throat, replied, “I sure did not.”
Yeager said Coleman had agreed to coop
erate on his own.
Coleman had also told the court that he
had seen another suspect in the burglary,
Steven Dent, with a bloody nose after
Dent had been questioned by Yeager.
Yeager denied hitting Dent. He said
when he returned to his office where Dent
was being held, he found Dent behind the
desk. Yeager said he thought Dent might
be trying to get into his desk, and he used
a “body block” to knock Dent over the
desk. He said Dent didn’t have any in
juries as a result of the scuffle.
Yeager was also the detective who ques
tioned Coleman about the shooting of
Larry Baugh, and later arrested him,
Coleman said the 1976 incident with
Yeager, combined with his fear of the de
tective, caused him to make and sign the
statement in which he confessed to shoot
ing Baugh. When asked if the statement
he made was a “free and voluntary act”,
Coleman said it was not.
The pre-trial hearing involved a motion
by the defense to suppress evidence from
being entered in the trial, specificly the
“confession.” District Judge W. C. Davis,
was expected to rule on the motion today.
the grants consist of $6,655 for 1978 police
officer training and $79,244 for high speed
telecommunications equipment for a
seven county area including Leon,
Grimes, Washington, Robertson, Madi
son, Burleson and Brazos counties.
Stewart said the officer training grant is
used every year to finance officer training
at the Law Enforcement and Security
Training Division of the Texas A&M En
gineering Extension Service.
“The money is used for a 240-hour cer
tification course for police officers,
Stewart said. “State law requires that an
officer complete this course within his first
six months as a police officer.”
Some 20- and 40-hour specialty courses
are also financed by this grant, he added.
Stewart said the communications grant
is being used to upgrade law enforcement
teletype systems in the same seven county
area.
The Brenham police department is re
ceiving its first teletype, Stewart said, and
the Heame, Navasota, Bryan and College
Station police departments are being up
graded from slower teletypes, as are the
Leon, Washington, Burleson and Madison
county sheriffs offices.
“The new teletypes will be high speed
printers with cathode ray (television
screen) displays,” he said. “All messages
sent or received are shown on the screen. ”
Each teletype is hooked into crime in
formation computers in Austin and at the
national level, Stewart said, They can be
used to check criminal records and license
plate numbers, to track stolen property
and to exchange and disseminate informa
tion.
“For example, if a car looks suspicious,
as if it might be stolen, an officer can call in
a license plate check to the dispatcher,
who can query Austin and have an answer
in seconds,” Stewart said.
Also, an officer can simply check a per
son’s driver’s license and by using the
same system can have that person’s com
plete driving record, including any war
rants issued against him, he said.
Stewart said all the new teletype sys
tems are now in operation except those in
the Brenham and Navasota police depart-
men ts and the Washington County
sheriffs office. But those systems should
be in operation by Thursday, he added.
The grants are made in areas identified
by the BVDC’s yearly law enforcement
and criminal justice plan, Stewart said.
The plan names programs to be carried out
to improve law enforcement efficiency in
this area.
Local governments then make applica
tions to the Criminal Justice Division of
the governor’s office, Stewart added,
which approves those grants deemed
necessary to improve efficiency.