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r
Viewpoint
The Battalion Thursday
Texas A&M University October 13, 1977
Aggie jokes, anyone?
Among the problem areas addressed by a Pentagon study of West
Point—declining academic and football excellence, excessive hazing of
freshmen and overemphasis on class rankings—we were especially in
terested in the concern expressed over the lack of humor. A sense of humor,
of and by itself, is not going to improve academic performance or win wars.
But a career officer who can appreciate the humorous aspects of life and,
perhaps, smile at small human failings would, in our opinion, be a superior
officer.
Armies, after all, depend upon humans who lack a guarantee of infallibil
ity, and any change that would make the Point a little less dependent upon
machine-like precision should make its graduates better able to function
outside the academy. We have no recommendations as to how West Point
can infuse humor into its curriculum, but we wish it success in its attempt.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Ralph Nader out to save sports fans
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — The biggest sports
thrill of 1977 thus far was not produced on
the playing fields, courts or other areas of
athletic endeavor.
It was Ralph Nader’s recent announce
ment that he is forming a new consumer
organization to protect the interests of the
fans.
The Tighter Side
“The players have their organizations,
the clubs have theirs and it’s time the fans
had their organizations,” Nader declared
in his best rally-around-the-flag manner.
And sports buffs everywhere felt their
spines tingle.
It has long been evident that fans have
not been getting the recognition they de
served. Like interior linesmen, most of
what they do goes unnoticed. Take profes
sional football, for example.
About the only way a fan can be sure of
getting on television is to dart out on the
field and tackle the referee, or display a
big banner featuring a caricature of How
ard Cosell.
I’ve seen fans of all-pro caliber sit
through entire games without once getting
a chance even to wave at the camera.
It’s true that some television crews
make use of portable cameras to pan over
the crowd occasionally. But I’ve noticed
that when they zoom in, almost invariably
they zoom in on a pretty girl.
In other consumer campaigns, Nader
has been fairly successful in eliminating
sexism. That would be a good place for
him to start in his new crusade. He should:
1) Negotiate with the networks for
greater fan exposure, and 2) demand that
the cameras be zoomed in without regard
for sex, age or size of bosom.
One fan, a veteran season ticket holder,
told me he was having increasing trouble
getting psyched up for the games.
“Football, above all else, is an emotional
game,” he said. “If you go into the grand
stands emotionally flat, chances are you
won’t kibitz up to your potential.
I’ve noticed the fans this year seem
slower to react to the big plays. Their tim
ing is badly off. Once, for instance, they
continued to cheer for a big gain that
ended in a fumble.
In years past, a perfectly timed groan
would have welled up from the crowd
even before the fumble was recovered by
the other team.
One expects such inconsistency at col
lege games, where the fans are younger
and more mistake-prone. But by the time
they become professional fans, they ought
tci have developed workman-like effi
ciency.
About a third of the season already is
over and some fans are just now rounding
into top condition. Unless Nader can do
something to improve their lot, the situa
tion will continue to deteriorate.
Eventually, it could reach the point
where the fans have a losing season even
when the home team wins.
Top of the News
Campus
Coleman murder trial set
The trial of capital murder suspect Walter Joe Coleman has been
scheduled to begin March 27, 1978 Coleman is accused of the
lanuary 12 robbery and shooting of Larry T. Baugh. Baugh was a
graduate student and English lecturer at TAMU. The announcement
was made Wednesday by 85th District Judge W. C. Davis. The delay
is due to a full court schedule. Neither the defense attorneys nor the
district attorney had asked for the delay. Judge Davis said a motion to
restrict press coverage at the trial was still being held under advise
ment. Coleman, who had his bail lowered from $20,000 to $15,000
during an October 6 hearing, is being held in the Brazos County jail.
State
Bexar county food stamps drop
For the first time in three years, monthly sales of food stamps in
Bexar County have fallen below $4 million, according to the regional
administrator of the Texas Department of Human Resources.
Raymond G. Cheves said the number of households issued food
stamps decreased approximately 2,500 from a year ago to a total of
35,056 in September. He said the stamps amounted to $3,9 million in
comparison to $4.7 million issued in September, 1976. Cheves cred
ited the decrease in food stamp use to a gradual, steady upswing in
the economy and his department’s stringent investigation of the food
stamp fraud.
Nation
Carter signs ailing cities grant
President Carter, calling areas of urban blight "a disgrace to our
great country,” Wednesday signed legislation the authorizes $14.7
billion in grants to ailing cities, especially in the Northeast and Mid
west.
Carter said it was “a very happy” occasion for him because such
fiscal relief is urgently needed for large aging urban centers. The bill s
allocations are spaced over a three-year period for fiscally pressed
communities.
“There are some devastated areas where American citizens live
that are a disgrace to our great country,” Carter said in an outdoor
ceremony.
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Local check requirements too
Editor:
I am appalled by the hassle that local
stores give students when they go to write
a check for merchandise purchased. I do
realize that there is quite a large sum of
money lost each month from insufficient
checks, but that does not compensate for
the rudeness the check writer must with
stand.
I am a non-resident student at Texas
A&M; therefore, I have an out-of-state
driver’s license and car. When attempting
to write a check at a local store, my check
was refused on the basis that I did not have
a Texas driver’s license. I do have an ac
count at a prominant local bank, a Texas
A&M I.D. card, and a bank card from my
hometown bank. These previous items
were of no value to the store clerk. When I
questioned the requirements for writing a
check and explained my position as a resi
dent, I was given an uncivil explanation
which had no substantial reasoning.
If a student gets this much hassle for a
check, it seems worthless to have a check
ing account. I can understand local mer
chants having certain standards for pur
chases by check but these standards must
not exceed the point of offending it’s cus
tomers.
—Gwendolyn Sue Gates ’81
PE not clear
Editor:
Now that the Physical Education de
partment is going to convert its grading
system to pass-fail, isn’t it about time the
department clarifies the P.E. require
ments for non-P.E. majors?
It seems as though the department is
pushing “Concepts” as a requirement for
graduation. However, last year when sign
ing up for a physical education course, I
was told I could wait a semester before I
would have to take “Concepts”. When I
signed up again for a P.E. course, there
was no mention of the required “Con
cepts . I consulted my advisor and was
told as long as I had four semesters of
P.E., I would be meeting the graduation
requirements. This came as good news to
me, because I personally find sport-
oriented classes more valuable than lec
tures on health. I know there are many
students with the same sentiments and we
would appreciate a clarification directly
from the Physical Education department.
—Callier Luther ’80
Batt sports praise
Editor:
When it comes to college football I am a
real enthusiast! I am very glad to see the
Battalion devoting up to two pages to
football, as well as the other sports here on
campus. I am disappointed, however, that
it is not keeping up with the results of the
SWC games. Most of all, I am annoyed by
the fact that the Battalion gives little or no
notice as to how the top twenty teams have
fared after a week of major contests. What
point can there be to telling us that Texas
A&M has been outscored in one game, if
all the major northern college teams are
undefeated?
It is evident that you are doing your
very best to show an avid support for the
football team and I can willfully accept
that. But I find it a necessary job to inform
us as to how our rivals are doing.
The sportswriters in the Battalion are
some of the best in the State, and I am
sure they realize their importance to the
success of the paper. They should also
realize that they are being a little too
biased by writing only about the Aggies. I
would like to commend you for the article
in the October 3 issue of the Battalion
which included the scores of every SWC
game played the preceding weekend. I
sincerely hope to see more articles like
that in the near future.
—Donald Tiemann
Class of ’81’
Cruelty shocking
Editor:
It is my belief that both the United
States and Texas A&M University were
founded on the ideal of freedom, and the
protection of this freedom is and always
will be the utmost objective. We think and
act freely, and we readily assert to others
the need for this freedom.
Monday I was walking down Houston
St. towards Northgate, I cut the corner at
Houston St. and University Drive and
noticed a large blue-black bird on the grass
about ten yards from the sidewalk.
What I saw was deeply depressing. This
bird no longer had the freedom that his
so-called “superior beings” so readily ar
gue, fight and die for. He was lying on his
back with his disordered wings lying
haphazardly over his stiff body. His out-
streched legs were bound closely together
with a white postage cord wrapped twice
and tied tightly. He was dead.
Was that a free man’s expression? Even
if it were only the spiteful action of a child,
what does this tell us of his teachers? Have
they forgotten to teach the child that the
Slouch
privilege of freedom demands humanity?
I know such cruelty is not representa
tive of either this country or this univer
sity. But the thought that even one person
could be so cruel to anything thoroughly
disgusts and shocks me.
—Tim Raven
No second class Ags
Editor:
Poor Virginia Harwood! Her letter,
which appeared in Tuesday’s Battalion and
put down Sororities and Fraternities, only
proved how small-minded she is. I cannot
honestly believe she had the gall to sign
her name to that piece of junk.
If she were a real Ag, she would not put
down other Ags. Why not put down the
Corps, the Marching Band, or the
Zepheid Variable club? In a sense they are
much like Sororities and Fraternities.
They all share a common bond.
I see Sororities and Fraternities as just
another way to prove how spirited and
close Aggies really are.
Virginia — nobody at A&M can possibly
be second class!
—Gail E. Smila ’80
Ticket limit needed
Editor:
The situation for the distribution of
football tickets for our out-of-town games,
in my opinion, should be changed. By al
lowing each person who waits in line to
receive ten tickets, some who really want
the tickets are unable to get them. This
also allows people to buy ten tickets while
only needing two or four, and to sell the
rest for triple the price.
In dropping the limit, groups can still
by Jim Earle
UNTIL YOU GET YOUR CALCULATOR FIXED, I THINK 12 PLUS
5 IS 17!”
strict
obtain their tickets together by sending
two people out to get them. Limiting each
person to four tickets would allow many
more people who camp out to receive
tickets.
The situation is a difficult one to resolve,
as there will never be enough tickets for
everyone. I believe that reducing the
ticket limit to four would better the situa
tion and allow a fairer chance for all.
—Laine Cummings
Taking sides
Editor:
This letter is just to let off a lot of steam.
I just got through talking with a guy on his
way back to “his side of campus.” From
that comment you might have guessed
that I live on the South-side in the Com
mon s dorms. After exchanging the usual
friendly how-are-you — what’s going-on
comments, I asked him where he was go
ing. Back to “his side.” I answered with a
mildly teasing “Excuse me, thinking he
was just joking. He apparently was not.
The conversation continued with the fol
lowing comments: 1) everyone is a snob
over there, 2) South-side girls always
“flush” their mixers by not showing up, 3)
only rich kids live over here — “what kind
of people would pay that much for a dorm
anyway,” and 4) we (North-side) know
what goes on with the guys and girls living
so close. Aside from being personally in
sulted, the above remarks are absolutely
ridiculous. Why? 1) North-side friends
visit the South-side as much as we visit
them. Face it — everyone’s busy and it’s
not like living next door. 2) Girls’ atten
dance (or lack of) may be owing to a lack of
publicity rather than a purposeful scheme
of “let’s blow their party.” By the way it’s
usually our party (together) with the girls’
dorm paying the agreed percentage. 3)
South-side dorms are still cheaper and
more convenient than off-campus housing.
4) Finally, that is a new rumor on me.
When is this conflict going to die? I’m
tired of hearing “Oh, you’re from
Mosher.” We are all Aggies, aren’t we? I
set my priorities on that and not where
someone lives.
—Charleene Ward ‘80
Peace & Quiet?
Editor:
Trying to find a relatively quiet place to
study in the library is not very conducive
to learning.
The past several times I have been to
the library I have had to play a musical-
chairs like game because of incessant chat
ter in neighboring carrels or extensive
conversation carrying over from in front of
the elevators, where students seem to
congregate for the purpose of socializing.
Besides the verbal distractions, other
noisy activities such as eating (Cheetos or
apples naturally) or cleaning out a spiral
notebook are annoying when trying to
study.
These habits are disturbing to say the
least when attempting to absorb Political
Science. The library has a lounge adequate
for snacking and relaxing, while our cam
pus offers a student center geared for stu
dent get-togethers. Let’s use our facilities
in the way they are supposed to be used.
—MHchelle Scudder ’80
Enterprise makes perfect landing
Enterprise, America’s space truck of the future, underwent its
toughest test yet in California Wednesday, plunging in a steep power
less glide from more than 20,000 feet to a perfect desert landing in
little more than two minutes.
The delta-winged craft dropped swiftly on a more than 22 degree
glide path to a touchdown 2 minutes and 40 seconds after it blasted
free from the Boeing 747 mothership that carried it aloft.
Rest ordered for FBI designate
George
Kathy G
Federal Bureau of Investigation director-designate Frank M.
Johnson s personal physician said Wednesday time and rest should
remedy the small hernia that forced postponement of Johnson s con
firmation hearings this week.
Dr. J. J. Kirschenfeld said an “inguinal hernia” found in Johnsons
left groin will not require surgery, unless there is persistent swelling
or pain. You usually do nothing.. .time will take care of it,” he said.
Kirschenfeld also ordered Johnson to bed for several days before he
resumes a rehabilitaion program for surgery performed in August to
repair a weakened artery in his abdomen.
World
Israel agrees to peace talks
Israel agreed to go to a renewed Middle East peace conference at
Geneva on the basis of a joint U.S.-Israeli “working paper’ and chal
lenged Arab nations to follow suit in Jerusalem Wednesday. The
paper was drafted in a marathon six-hour meeting of President Car-
ter. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Israeli Foreign Minister
Moshe Dayan last week in New York. Although the provisions are
secret, it is believed to call for Israel to negotiate with a single all-
Arab delegation at Geneva consisting of Palestinian representatives,
but no members of the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Arab
nations have refused to go to Geneva without the PLO and their
acceptance of the U.S.-Israeli document was far from assured.
North Yemen s leader assassinated
In London Wednesday, unknown assailants assassinated Nortj
emen s moderate leader, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Mohammed el Hamad 1 ,
who led the strategic Red Sea nation toward improved relations vvi
ru hng Command Council that was headed )
Hamadi said criminal rancorous murderers” had slain both the 3-
year-old president and his brother, Lt. Col. Abdullah Mohammed el
ama i, a top military official. The Council announced a new chair
man, Lt Col. Ahmad al Ghashmi, to “fill the vacuum” left by the
slaying ol the country’s “great martyr.”
mph. High both days near 80. Low tonight low
O,expressed in The Battalion are those of the
editor or of,he u-riter of,he article and are no, neceLrii
those of the University administration or the’ Board of Re-
Rents. The Battalion is a non-prof,,, self-support ina
enterprise operated by students as a university and con-
",„n„y newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the
The Battalion
nished on request. Address: The Battalion,
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Editor
MEMBER
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:
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