Page 2
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday
October 11, 1977
Handle with care
Slouch
by Jim Earle
f p/i
The head of a national agricultural organization who has accused the gov
ernment of overreacting to the problem of DBCP, a pesticide suspected of
causing sterility, has underreacted to the problem.
After a dozen male workers at Dow Chemical Co.’s DBCP plant at Mag
nolia, Ark., were determined to be sterile and some workers at other plants
learned they have abnormally low sperm counts, the government issued
restriction of handling the pesticide. The result has been a near halt in its
production.
The solution, suggests Robert K. Phillips of the National Peace Council,
could be recruiting older people and those who don’t intend to have children
to handle DBCP.
Since it wasn’t — and still really isn’t — known the pesticide could cause
sterility, it’s possible there are other side effects from it.
The government should do some more testing, and as Phillips also
suggested, look at other alternatives, before haphazardly giving the DBCP
handling job to anyone else.
The Tulsa Tribune
TT HAD TO COME; A SOLUTION TO THE PARKING!’
Carter taking Mondale under his wing
By HELEN THOMAS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — President Carter
and his aides are going out of their way to
stress the importance of Vice President
Walter Mondale in the White House
coterie.
The buildup began when budget direc
tor Bert Lance resigned after being ac
cused of questionable banking practices
while still a private citizen in Georgia.
Carter, tearing a page out of Lyndon
Johnson’s book, telephoned two reporters
to emphasize his rapport with Mondale.
Talking to reporters, Mondale also has
made it clear he is an “insider” in Carter’s
Georgia circle of aides, even though he is a
Midwesterner from Minnesota.
The vice president has said he often
meets five and six hours a day with Carter
and also has a weekly lunch with him. He
said he has access to the president and is
not afraid to give him candid advice. He
said he did so frequently during the heat of
the Lance affair.
But Mondale is careful not to say what
advice he gave Carter.
Mondale, with an office in the White
House, sits in on all policy meetings, has
access to the cable traffic and handles
other chores for Carter. He does so with
some humor and without the messenger
boy aspect of the job that has been forced
on others.
Carter is quite correct when he says the
expanded role he has given Mondale in his
administration is unprecedented.
Presidents in the past have studiously
ignored vice presidents, often disliked
Washington Window
them and usually dispatched them on
rid clir
round-the-world diplomatic missions with
not too much focus on foreign policy objec
tives.
Sometimes the relationship has been
hostile as in the case of John Nance Garner
and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Garner
likened the job to a “pitcher of warm spit.
Some vice presidents become contro
versial and have to be dumped as in the
case of Henry Wallace in Roosevelt’s third
administration.
Roosevelt did not exactly cotton to his
last vice president, Harry Truman, and
Truman was not privy to some of the na
tion’s most important secrets, including
the fact that the United States possessed
the atomic bomb, when Roosevelt died
during World War II.
In the Eisenhower era, White House
aides closed ranks to lessen Vice President
Richard Nixon’s power during Ike’s many
illnesses.
When John Kennedy was president, his
close aides spread rumors that he was
going to scuttle LBJ.
Johnson sent Hubert Humphrey around
the country and around the world when
Humphrey was vice president, all to pro
mote the Johnson administration. In the
process Humphrey lost much of his own
identity. His strong defense of Johnson’s
Vietnam War policies cost him much of his
popular following at the time.
Vice President Spiro Agnew did the
White House bidding during his vice pres
idency, including spearheading a cam
paign against the press orchestrated by
President Richard Nixon’s cohorts. But
Agnew remained an outsider and was not
brought into many of the top policy
making meetings.
President Gerald Ford tapped Nelson
Rockefeller as vice president and appeared
at first to work closely with him. But Ford
dropped Rockefeller fast after deciding he
was to liberal to be accepted by the GOP
in the presidential race.
Nevertheless, Rockefeller remained
loyal to the end, although he had lost
much of his influence.
In comparison. Mondale has it made.
He has an easy amiable relationship with
Carter, who calls him “Fritz” and “my
chief staff pe rson.
But Mondale is not completely a free
agent. He follows the administration dis-
creetly and does not step on any toes. He
also is professional enough to know the pit-
falls and moves in his own sphere without
treading on the territory of top Cartel-
aides.
The vice president no doubt fits into the
mold of a confidante, but when the chips
are down Carter still feels more at home
with Georgia men who made the long
march with him to the White House. He
relies on them most of all—much as he
admires Mondale.
Beware the Aggie water fountain
By CLAY COCKRILL v . ’
Battalion Staff
While working on a newspaper story in
the Plant Sciences Building, a certain Bat
talion reporter decided he needed a cold
drink.
However upon searching for a water
ji I:|;i iar'
drinking fountain: Extending from floor ,tb
ceiling was a one inch steel pipe. At waist
height and attached to the main pipe was a
basin with a faucet handle.
Humor
fountain down the main hall of the third
floor, all that could be found was a strange,
pipe-like contraption strapped to the wall.
The mechanism at least looked like a
But there were several peculiarities
about this water fountain. In the basin
where there should have been one water
nozzle, there were four arranged in a cir
cle. About seven feet directly above the
basin a large shower head extended out
from the main pipe. Attached to the
shower head was a lever with a sign which
read, “pull.”
Admittedly perplexed the reporter
nonetheless needed a drink and decided if
he were careful surely no harm would
come. Bending down to the basin he care
fully turned the handle only to have his
face drenched with four high pressure
streams of water.
Confused and with a face dripping wet,
the reporter was by now convinced that
this must certainly be some kind of a joke.
Unfortunately curiosity got the better of
him. Stepping aside to avoid further dilu
tion he cautiously tugged on the shower
head handle, releasing several more gal
lons of water onto the floor.
Embarassed, he quickly went for towels
to clean up the mess, but by the time he
got back several smiling students and pro
fessors had already assembled,.
“Taking a bath?” asked a professor.
“Not exactly. But could you tell me
what a combination shower and face
drencher is doing in the middle of a hall
way r
The professor explained that it was a
safety facility used by persons who had ac
cidentally spilled acid or other caustic sub
stances on themselves while doing lab
work.
He said the last man who had made the
mistake of thinking it was a water fountain
had made this comment: “That’s just like a
water fountain you’d expect a damned
Aggie to design.”
Letters to the editor
Police adding ‘drag races’ to evening duties?
‘ Editor:
We would like to comment on the prac-
tices of the University Police Department.
'■. Wed. Sept. 21 at 7:56 p . m. we witnessed
» two K.K. three-wheel buggies, license
' XY4-797 and cart #199 (which didn’t even
» have a plate on the back) racing side by
1 side down the road adjacent to the band
l practice field towards to the back of the
commons.
It seems very ironic that the campus
. cops issue three to four books of tickets
l each day for parking and moving violations
* and yet they can take the privilege to race
'. down the streets of our campus.
* Not only is it dangerous to the person
: driving the buggy, but also to innocent
* pedestrians who may be crossing the
* “dragstrip.
» We feel that the conduct exemplified by
► the campus police is extremely out of line.
* Finally, we feel that those who are going
l to break the law, should not be allowed to
* enforce it. We feel that this outrageous ac-
"• tion shown by the K.K. must be corrected
► or the entire traffic control system has no
*• value.
—M.B. “81
—BAY. “81
My problems began when I realized it
was the last day to pay my $5 parking
ticket before it increased to $10. I had
neither cash nor checkbook and my only
alternative was to find my sister in the li
brary and borrow some money.
Four floors and thirty minutes later, I
found her and explained the situation.
After examining the ticket closer we dis
covered the officer had recorded my
license plate number incorrectly. I de
cided if the ticket was going to cost me $5,
they could at least get their technicalities
correct.
I, like many who question, merely
wanted an answer.
Thanks to the Student Services for
providing one.
—Marguerite Braden
Greeks dont belong
quittal. This is better than a mistrial,
which would have cost the state more
money. The state, which is you and me.
I do not condone Denson and Orlando’s
misconduct, but I do not condone a harsh
sentence to make them examples for other
police officers, either. The trial was a fair
one, and Denson and Orlando deserved
the sentence they received.
—Patricia A. Price
I went to the station to explain the situa
tion and was told curtly that if I wanted to
discuss a ticket I had to see some man — I
didn t catch his name but somehow landed
in the right line. When the person in front
of me came out, he told me I was wasting
my time going in there.
I decided he hadn’t used the right ap
proach. I walked in the office, smiled and
told the man “Howdy.” Evidently he
wasn’t an Aggie...
Editor’s note: University Director of
Traffic and Safety Tom Parsons asks that
next time you see a policeman doing
something you don’t consider proper or
anytime you have a complaint or a com
ment about the University Police, call him
at 845-2345. As the University supervisor
for the police force, it’s his job to run
down such complaints and correct any
problems.
Ten minutes later I was back at the front
desk saying “How do you appeal a ticket.”
The form to appeal a ticket looked time
consuming and my next class started in fif
teen minutes, so I asked if I could take it
with me. She looked at me like I was one
of those dumb Aggies that t.u. tells jokes
about, and said it had to be filled out right
then. I completed the form to the best of
my Aggie ability and returned it th the
lady. Then she informed me it would be
read before the board and “dismissed” me.
Editor:
I am writing this letter in regard to
Sororities and Fraternities. I feel that the
Greek organizations here at A&M are
strictly second class. They are low quality
and simply do not belong here. We, the
Aggies, have a common bond which is
more than Sororities and Fraternities
could ever hope to provide. The spirit of
Aggieland is carried by all Ags, not only to
other Ags but to everyone, everywhere.
As far as I am concerned, I would rather
be an Aggie than anything else in the
world. How about a big “WHOOP” for the
Ags.
—Virginia Harwood ’81
‘Howdys’ vanishing
Torres trial fair
Artful runaround
Editor:
If there were an award for passing the
buck or excelling in the art of run-around,
our “friendly” campus police would take
top honors. I realize they listen to com
plaints all day and don’t have time for sim
ple questions, but Artoo Deetoo would
have had more tact than the KK last Wed
nesday.
I was fifteen minutes late to class and
spent the rest of the session wondering
“What board? Who is on it? Do I get to say
anything?”
Becoming more furious by the minute, I
went to Student Services in the YMCA
and talked to John Koldus, vice president
of Student Services. He answered my
questions and said with humor that getting
the “shaft” once in two years is not such a
bad record.
The lesson here is that all people who
ask questions are not necessarily angry and
do not deserve the discourteous response I
received from the University Police.
Editor:
Since the jury has reached a verdict and
passed sentence on the two ex-policemen
involved in the Torres trial, all I have
heard about is the misjudgement of the
jurors concerning Denson and Orlando
and the ridiculously light sentence that
was passed. How could those jurors possi
bly convict them of involuntary man
slaughter when the state failed to prove
that Torres was pushed into Buffalo
Bayou? The jurors had to be convinced
beyond a reasonable doubt that Denson
and Orlando were guilty as charged, and
the state failed to do so.
Editor:
Are we dead? Why do we go around like
zombies.
Walking from G. Rollie to the SLAB is
no thrill when I say hello to six people and
get six blank stares in return. . . espe
cially when it occurs three out of five
morning of the week! I thought “Howdys”
were a part of this campus!
I realize that some days we just don’t
feel like the day was worth getting up for.
A “Hello” can make our day and someone
else’s so much better. We just need to put
forth the effort of saying it.
Glum faces were not meant to be a part
of this campus. We are the best, and we
can show it. Let’s cheer up and be the
friendly people Aggies are supposed to be!
—Gail Zieschang ’81
Correction
I think that the jurors decided right
again, when they convicted Denson and
Orlando of negligent homicide as a com
promise between jurors in favor of in
voluntary manslaughter and those for ac-
Monday’s Battalion incorrectly
reported in Top of the News that the
Baylor football game would be
played Oct. 10. We goofed — that
date is Oct. 15.
Also, in a photo accompanying
Liz Newlin’s story on “Aggie war
fare,” the band member pictured
with Kirk Stumberg is Tom Rhein-
lander. The Battalion regrets the
Top of the New
Campus
Student government filing opens
CHICACt
Spt that a n
Iri six Ne
iis week s J
TUical As:
Filing for election candidates for freshman and off campus repre-
sentatives to the student government will begin at 8 p.m. Wednes.
day Students wishing to run for a position should go to Room 216Ao(|
the Memorial Student Center and fill out an application. The
will take place Oct. 27.
Cotton Maid race seeks entrants h
The 1978 Maid of Cotton will serve as the international goodwill
ambassadoress for the American cotton industry for the year. Applb
tions for Maid of Cotton competition are available in the Student
Activities office, Room 221, of the MSG. All applications must be
mailed to the National Cotton Council no later than Nov. 12. Late in
November, finalists will be chosen from the applications and photo
graphs. These finalists will be invited to participate in final judging,
to be held in Memphis after Christmas, based on beauty, personality,
background and training. For more information call 845-1134.
Hill’*
State
Man dies avoiding alleged killer,
Unite:
HOUSTO
bver a time
[a former w
»d Monc
idmitted ki
use she re
Ann Kur
Bid Mrs.
rital all;
voiced hin
arriage be
|o kill her
A detaile
lith Hill
shed in a
Two persons died, a police officer was wounded and a house
burned in an 8 hour seige that ended early Sunday in Houston.
Charles Lee Wilson, 34, and Betty Faye Patterson, 24, died altei» tonsl
Wilson barricaded himself inside an apartment about 5 p.m. Satui- d
day. Officer John Campos was hospitalized with a leg wound. Accord
ing to Charles Johnson, a neighbor, Wilson said he was tryingtostay
away from “some dudes that were trying to kill him ”. When polks
arrived, Wilson apparently thought they were imposters. He fired
several shots at them, apparently killing Miss Patterson, identifiedas
his girlfriend. Wilson was shot early Sunday when he fled the build
ing which had caught on fire.
Nation
Mascara may cause blindness
The Food and Drug Administration, citing several injuries, said
today it believes mascara and other cosmetics intended for use near
the eye should contain preservatives to prevent infections which
could lead to blindness. The problem involves microorgmiisms which
can get into cosmetics via the applicator which comes out of the
container when the product is being used, it said. If the cornea of the
user’s eye is scratched, the bacteria can cause an infection which
could result in blindness. The announcement was a notice of in
tended rule making, meaning that the agency will propose a rule on
the matter at a future date. It said that the subject would bead-
dressed as part of the package of rules spelling out good manufactur
ing practices for all cosmetics.
onaire As
jwed to he
lacked com
Robinson
Jiought by
lill, his gr
lill, 17, ar
firs. Myra
bought
to avenge t
Hill, th
|ie oilman’:
Joan Rol
19, 1969, of
fcas shot to
ilic foyer of
Kurth
ecause Rol
oshow Hill
ave prevt
larriage
ould he h
inancial car
Amtrack announces five-year plan
Amtrak issued a new 5-year plan calling for major improvements
and developments of high-speed passenger train corridors outside the
East, including Chicago-Detroit and Los Angelos-San Diego. A re-
structuring of the Amtrak system also is envisioned, based on a study
to be completed next year, which could result in abandonment of
some routes and the opening of others. The five year plan estimates
an average annual operating budget of $695 million and an average
capital budget of $210 million. This does not include any new routes,
which would cost more. Congress may balk at the price tag, however.
Amtrak has already been forced to make allowances because Con-
giess so far has refused to increase its operating budget beyond the
$488.5 million already appropriated for this fiscal year.
World
Train crash kills at least 40
amages.
State D
;sher rule
he critical ]
iality prov
,nd wife un
Kurth tol
or the reco
ion by the
low he kilh
je crashed
ibutment.
He said
divor
|vay to tern
old W. Rol
ittorney.
He des
hings he h
aid he ha
very kinc
And had gi
n cream pi
He saic
ibout it. H
him;
A passenger train from Calcutta to New Delhi, India, slammed into
a freight train stopped at a station 350 miles southeast of New Delhi
early Monday killing at least 40 persons. Another 150 persons were
reported injured. The spokesman said the passenger train’s engine
and two cars immediately behind it were telescoped by the impact.
our sleeping coaches were badly damaged, officials said, and it ap
peared many of the passengers were killed in their sleep.
Nobel peace prizes awarded
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced two Nobel peace
prizes Monday. The 1977 peace prize went to Amnesty International,
ttie independent organization that campaigns worldwide for civil
rights for its struggle against mounting violence, terrorism and toi-
ture throughout the world. The Committee, which did not give any
\A7-iV e ^ >r * ze t ^ V ear > awarded the 1976 prize retroactively to Betty
r liams and Mairead Corrigan of the Northern Ireland Peace
Movement. I he women have been waging a drive for peace in
violence-tom Northern Ireland.
Biko s autopsy results reported
The autopsy on Steve Biko shows the South African black leader
suttered broken ribs and burns in addition to critical brain damage
c ac P° lice cust °dy, the Johannesburg Sunday Express says
Aincan newspapers previously reported the 30-year-old Biko
suttered brain injuries while in police custody, but the Express said
Sunday the autopsy also found evidence of other injuries. The gov
ernment says Biko died after a hunger strike, but delayed the release
a “ topsy y e P ort several times and it now may be delayed
another two weeks. Biko died in a police cell on Sept. 12. His death
sparked noting throughout South Africa and raised an international
LirtM- h WHS t>e twentiet h person to die in police custody since
Weather
Most |y cloudy today turning clear and colder tonight. Win*
will be out of the north 12-20 mph. High today high 60s. Lou
tonight m.d-40s. No rain expected. Qn l ° aay 9
The Battalion
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Editor
Managing Editor Mary AlKt ' wl
Editorial Director L< ' 1 ' B ‘ ,y p.,,,!
Sports Editor ..J
News Editors Marie Homeyef* ‘ ,
City Editor 1)*
Campus Editor
Copy Editor c j,„n."^
Reporters V ".. n u vkl^
Liz Newlin, John W. 'yj^lcPaH^
Photographer
Cartoonist
to
1
i
DiiWt ll
hill’*'
ho-.! yean ini.'^r Ad~;:^ t f C-
Student Publications Board: Bob C ^ || (I .
Joe Atredondo; Dr. Cany Halter. Pi J" 11 " ( .) jl# i
Bolu rt Haney; Dr. Charles MeCandlr**: w p
Phillips; Rebel Biee. Director of Sta<lc"l
Donald C.'. Johnson. Production i.ooi<li ,,tl
Sherman
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