Viewpoint
The Battalion Wednesday
Texas A&M University November 9, 1977
Rusty Cawley^
An election without personality
Apathy is alive, well and living in Brazos
County. It’s thriving in the rest of the state
as well.
Out of 35,684 voters registered in the
county, 2,769 bothered to vote in Tues
day’s constitutional amendment election.
That’s less than 7 percent.
County election officials predicted a
light turnout after the absentee balloting
totaled 29 votes. They were right.
The issues were vague. To bring elec
tronic banking to Texas. To sell additional
bonds for the Veteran’s Land Fund. To
change the name of the State Judicial
Qualifications Commission to the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Who understood these issues? Who
cared? Not the voters of Brazos County.
• \ T
College Station turned out 5 percent of
its registered voters. That includes 2 per
cent of voters registered at Texas A&M
University’s Memorial Student Center.
Talk about two percenters. They’re the
ones who voted.
Bryan did better, but not much. Seven
percent cast ballots.
As for the rest of the county, smaller
towns such as Millican, Wellborn, and
Edge, 5 percent cast ballots.
Statewide, it was pitiful.
The question is who to blame. The news
media can take their share of it. There was
an election summary here, an editorial
there. But the media were as bored as the
public. They tried to act as if this election
mattered. It didn’t work.
State leaders must also take their share,
even though they did attempt to lend
some importance to the issues. Gov.
Dolph Briscoe publically endorsed all
seven amendments. He and other leaders
saw the implications of each amendment.
Somehow, they were unable to convey
just what those implications were.
Finally, blame must rest on the public
itself. Voters find it difficult to get
enthusiastic over issues they don’t under
stand. The information was there, but the
voters either wouldn’t or couldn’t com
prehend .
The American voter has succumbed to
political laziness. He’d prefer to decide on
issues the way he chooses between politi
cal candidates, weighing personality
against personality.
But issues have no smiles to flash, no
hands to shake. And they don’t kiss babies.
They are cold, hard and indigestible.
And for voters, it seems too much to bear.
Two-party system
Fiction and factions
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
United Press International
WASHINGTON — One of the reasons
American politics often confuses its own
citizens may be the insistence of politi
cians that it is a “two-party system.”
That is a confusing claim because any
one who looks at American politics can see
at least four parties and very little system.
The labels may differ, but in real terms
there are two Democratic parties and two
Republican parties. These parties-
within-parties attempt to unite during
election years, but the plaster usually
cracks as soon as the votes are counted.
Washington window
For a period after World War II, politi
cal scientists, who yearn for the kind of
logical order that can be demonstrated in
chemistry or physics, were able to neatly
divide the Democrats and Republicans
into “congressional and “presidential
parties.
The congressional, sometimes called
“regional” Democrats and Republicans-
were the conservative wing; the presiden- .
tial or “national” parties were home for the
moderates and liberals.
Those classifications fell apart during
the 1960s. In 1972, the “liberal” Demo
crats found their presidential candidate in
the Senate. In 1976, the “conservative”
Republican presidential aspirant was a
former big state governor.
In the 1972-76 period, political obser
vers tried to keep the Democrats straight
by referring to “regular” or “old line”
party members as opposed to “New Poli
tics” or “reform” Democrats. Because
there were liberals and conservatives in
both groups, those labels were useless in
trying to describe the bitter divisions that
followed the party’s 1968 and 1972 defeats.
Jimmy Carter came on the scene as a
politician identified with neither wing of
the, party, a situation that allowed both
Democratic factions to join him in a shaky,
but successful coalition in 1976.
Carter’s problems with a Congress
dominated almost two-to-one by Demo
crats may be the sign that his party is re
verting to the congressional-presidential
divison of the 1940s and 1950s.
Meanwhile, the moderate-conservative
Republican coalition that Richard Nixon
used to rout the liberals in 1968 and 1972
blew up with Watergate, and the GOP re
verted to a conservative-liberal civil war.
There are some who felt the Republi
cans, who now qualify as an endangered
species, would unite to avoid extinction,
but there is new evidence that the suicidal
instinct still is strong.
Last week, Carter nominated Samuel
D. Zagoria to fill one of the Republican
seats on the Federal Election Commis
sion, whose six places are equally divided
by law between the “two parties.
Zagoria was not one of the people rec
ommended for the job by House Republi
can leader John J. Rhodes or Senate GOP
leader Howard Baker. Rhodes expressed
outrage, telling the Washington Post that
some Republicans felt the appointment
might cost the GOP 25 House seats as a
result of unfavorable FEC rulings on elec
tion laws.
Is Zagoria some bloodthirsty partisan
Democrat? Not exactly. He is a former
adminstrative assistant to Sen. Clifford
Case, R-N.J. and a registered Republican
of 20 years standing.
But the conservatives dominating the
GOP congressional leadership consider
him a “liberal and therefore unsuited for
a Republican seat on the election commis
sion.
mrvj'Ha&rwi-
Yell leaders’ job includes speaking on issues
By DALE W. FOSTER
To Vic Cooper “81:
(and other Aggies)
I don’t write too often, but was
prompted to do so in order to clear up
some things. This answer is in regard to
your letter of Nov. 1 to The Battalion.
Please don’t take it as any chastisement of
you and any opinions on football or grass
that you may have, since you are entitled
to your personal beliefs, whatever they
are.
But, concerning the yell leaders and
traditions, you seem to have an incom
plete perception of the scope and nature of
their duties. I trust that this is due to your
status as a freshman, i.e., a relatively new
recruit (you have to admit) to the great
legions of Aggies, past and present.
We are all in a continual state of de
veloping and growing, and you are no ex
ception, having much to learn. This is a
process, particularly in regards to the
“Spirit of Aggieland, through which
Letters to the editor
every Aggie has to go, earning member
ship in the elite group.
And yes, Aggies are an elite group. Their
fraternalism (throughout life), pride, and
ability to “gut-it-out in overcoming tre
mendous odds, make them such.
Back to the issue in question, the Aggie
Yell Leaders and their jobs go far beyond
the limiting characteristics in which you
Readers’ forum
seem to place them. I used the word jobs,
as it takes a high degree of personal dedi
cation and sacrifice to put in the amount of
both time and money that they do.
The yell leaders are here to provide
leaderhip, guidance, and direction to one
of the most important facets of Texas A&M
University life...that of its traditions, and
the comaraderie and “espirt de corps” that
go hand-in-hand with those tradtions. This
is a plus benefit of Aggieland, an extra
education that provides a well-rounded
background for most A&M graduates, the
ones that are proud to be recognized as
Aggies and extol it.
These Aggies regard their experiences
at Texas A&M as a vital key to success in
life. That is why there is no such creature
as an “ex-Aggie,” only Aggie-exes (ex
student). The A&M former student is a
continuously involved Aggie (with moral
and financial support), and that in itself is a
rich heritage and a proud testimonial.
Since many students, particularly in
professional and graduate areas, come to
this hallowed institution solely for the
purpose of a quality academic education
(for which I laud them), this “total educa
tion” concept does not apply to every
body, though readily available to any and
all. It is a matter of individual choice, and I
praise the decision of those who choose
A&M for its academics only. But, I know
that they are missing something, too.
You see, you’re not an Aggie at birth or
by heredity, location, or background, by
Student government "taking care’
Editor:
I am writing in response to a front page
story in your Oct. 25 issue entitled, “Stu
dents not willing to pay.”
I wish to say that I think that it is won
derful to have a student government to
take care of me; to insure that I won’t lose
precious minutes walking through this
beautiful campus but get to take a noisy,
crowded shuttle bus ride instead.
Even better than that, I won’t have to
buy a ticket to pay for the cost of these
rides. My government is going to see that
all students are forced to pay for my rides
to the west side and around campus in the
form of increased student service fees or
the use of book store funds or maybe from
other sources such as the tax payers in
general.
I guess I should feel guilty about all the
students and the tax payers who will never
ride these shuttle runs but who will pay
my way. I don t want to pay what they
would cost. Since the student government
wants me to have this necessary educa
tional service, there really isn’t any choice.
I know that there are many students
who are tired of having governments at all
levels using their powers to tax or set fees
to force them to pay for my bus rides and
other necessities, but they are just un
enlightened concerning modern educa
tional needs. Everyone knows that if this
service were provided free it would be
used by students like me, but if it cost us
what it costs to provide this service then
we would never take it.
Our government knows that what we
need is more maroon and white buses puf
fing out lots of smoke and noise so I can
save three minutes walking across campus,
have more energy to jog to keep in shape,
and so I can sell my bike to pay my student
service fees.
—Mike I. Duke ‘78
‘Not solely by color
Editor:
In George Rooney’s recent letter, (Bat
talion, Nov. 7), he declares that Allan
Bakke has no reason to “make such a fuss
about the 16 spots out of 100 unavailable to
him” since he was unable to gain admit
tance to the UC Davis medical school in
one of the top 84 openings which he “was
not able to secure regardless of the color of
his skin.”
However, as UC Davis has admitted in
court, he would have gained admittance in
one of the 16 lower openings had it not
been for the color of his skin. Now, the UC
Davis medical school receives federal as
sistance, and Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 says, “No person in the United
States shall, on the ground of race, color or
national origin, be excluded from partici
pation in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subject to discrimination under any pro
gram or activity receiving federal financial
assistance.” The law seems quite clear to a
layman such as myself, but of course the
Supreme Court must decide this case.
In any case, Mr. Rooney has stated un
equivocally that racial discrimination is
proper and necessary for the good of soci
ety. Apparently, he embraces a belief near
and dear to the hearts of the Ku Klux Klan,
but differs only in the fine point of whom
one may rightfully discriminate against.
I personally remain unconvinced that
any person has a right to a medical degree
(or anything else) solely by vitrue of the
color of his skin. UC Davis’ special admis
sions program did not include disadvan
taged whites.
So Mr. Rooney, if there are not enough
of certain minorities in medical shcool,
please find a solution better than illegal
racial discrimination. The problem of low
test scores among the minorities will not
be solved by ignoring it, as UC Davis has
done.
—Robert Lacy ‘78
Equal space for all
Editor:
Reading Monday through Friday these
articles people write in the Battalion can
really be depressing. Of course, everyone
is going to have a gripe about something,
and I myself am always saying,“I’m going
to write the Batt about this! after waiting
for thirty minutes for the shuttlebus.
I enjoy reading about the positive at
titudes students have about our unique
University. Wouldn’t it be a nice change
to get off everybody’s case and devote a
little time strictly to letters about the neat
things at A&M? This ain’t a bad school,
Ags.
—Donese Smith ‘79
being a c.t. or non-reg, or even by having
attended classes here. What makes a per
son an Aggie are their attitudes and per
sonal motivation in support of fellow Ag
gies, Texas A&M University, and school
traditions.. .where A&M has been and
where it is going—physical, emotional,
spiritual, social, and financial support. In
other words, total commitment and doing
your part within environmental, time, and
money constraints.
And, believe it or not, that definition-
of-sorts leaves a lot of room for variances
(even outright diabolical differences) in
opinion on specific issues. There is always
room for diversity of ideas.
As to the leadership and direction that
the Yell Leaders are entrusted to provide
the University community, let me say that
they are supposed to be (and usually have
been) at the forefront of maintaining Aggie
traditions, always ready to openly speak
out for those traditions. They are the
elected guardians of the eternal Aggie
Spirit.
This Spirit of which I write includes the
two actions, that have become traditions,
to which the Yell Leaders were making
reference. (Traditions, by nature and defi
nition, are developed after a period of con
tinued practice.)
It has been traditional, official policy
and otherwise, (for at least the last 15
years), not to walk on the MSC grass, out
of respect for the Aggies memorialized in
the building on those grounds. I was the
graduate student representative on one of
the MSC Councils (1973-74) that did set an
official policy discouraging use of the
grounds.
Also, it has been tradition to support the
football team (and all A&M athletic teams)
at all times, through good times and bad.
As an undergraduate (1968-72) at A&M, I
and other Aggies rejoiced at even occa
sionally outscoring the other team. Natur
ally, we always won.
What A&M does not need are “fair-
weather Aggie” fans (fair-weather and
Aggie are mutually exclusive terms) nor
any more arm-chair quarterbacks. There is
a big difference between constructive
criticism and a “two per-cent” attitude.
So you see, maturing Aggie Cooper, the
Yell Leaders were not out-of-place. They
were just doing their jobs by speaking out
on matters that concerned their positions
and related duties. No apology is neces
sary. May all Aggies do their annointed
jobs as well! Gig’em Ags,
P.S. I will continue my practice of assum
ing any given student at Texas A&M is an
Aggie until he (she) proves differently by
their personal denial, poor attitudes,
and/or actions (or lack of such).
Foster is a 1972 graduate, now residing in
College Station. This commentary represents
his own opinions and not necessarily those
of this newspaper.
Top of the Newspe
Campus
Moody College to add to campus
Construction and planning dominate the agenda for the Moody
College Board of Visitor’s fall meeting at Texas A&M Friday and
Saturday. Moody College President William H. Clayton said tie
advisory group is expected to center its discussions on the construc
tion of the new classroom and laboratory building and small-boat dock
approved at the last session of the legislature. The facilities will be
built at the college’s Mitchell Campus on Pelican Island in Galveston.
A&M debaters win tourney
Texas A&M debate teams won top honors at the annual San An
tonio Jr. Varsity Debate Tournament Nov. 5. The Texas A&M debat
ers ranked higher than the other 12 colleges and universities par
ticipating by winning 14 out of the 16 rounds held. One of the teams,
freshman Mike Shelby and sophomore Becky Parks, was undefeated.
The San Antonio tournanent is the third one this term in which Texas
A&M students have placed in winning positions.
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Cotton Maid race seeks entrants
The 1978 Maid of Cotton will serve as the international goodwill
ambassadoress for the American cotton industry for the year. Applica
tions for Maid of Cotton competition are available in the Student
Activities office, Room 221 of the MSC. All applications must be
mailed to the National Cotton Council no later than Nov. 12. Lutein
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.
Local
C.S. city council to meet
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The College Station City' Council will meet Nov. 10 and plans to
have a public hearing on rezoning a 1.61 acre tract adjacent to the
East Bypass and directly across from the Ponderosa Motel. The area,
now in the agricultural open district, may be changed to the general
commercial district. The application is in the name of Margorie
Eimann, 1015 Winding Road, College Station. The council will also
discuss airport improvements and consider bids for police cars, elec
tric system materials and the construction of the Municipal Building
Annex and Central Fire Station.
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Damage high due to rain loss
Lack of rainfall has caused $135 million in damage to crops and
livestock, said Reagan Brown, Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Al
though we have had good rainfall in parts of the state, about athirdof
the state is below normal rainfall levels. Brown said Monday. The
agriculture commissioner said Lee County' had received only 3.5
inches in the past five months compared to a norm of 16 inches. The
county had suffered crop damage of $2.6 million because of reduced
yields, he said.
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Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says former CIA direc
tor Richard Helms acted properly by giving a congressional commit
tee evasive information about American involvement in Chile. Kis
singer spoke to a foreign policy symposium at the University of Texas
Tuesday. Kissinger called Helms a patriot and said he regretted the
former CIA chief was found guilty of giving Congress false informa
tion about the overthrow of the Chilean government of Marxist Pres
ident Salvador Allende.
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Georgia asks for experts
Gov. George Busbee has asked President Carter to send federal
experts to determine the cause of an earthen dam rupture that sentan
82-acre lake sweeping down a mountain gorge onto a small Bi
College. Tom Perdue, Busbee’s administrative assistant, sai
Monday that it would be up to Carter to decide whether the state or
federal government would lead the investigation into the early Sun
day disaster. The death toll for the disaster stood at 38, with one
probable victim still missing and presumed dead. “We lost 11 bridges
in north Georgia over the last two days. This dam held water for 30or
40 years and there was no reason to think it was going to collapse,
Perdue said.
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World
British firemen threaten strike
1 he British government is vowing to call out troops if the nations
32,000 firemen carry through on their threat to strike unless they ge
30 percent pay increases. The threat goes against the governmen
policy of holding pay increases to 10 percent. Leaders o
firefighters union voted Monday to strike next week unless they ge^
pay increase from $92 a week to $120. Newspapers denounced tn
firefighters decision. “Would you refuse to rescue children.
Daily Mail asked in a headline splashed across its front page-
answer with a roar from the firemen was YES,” it recorded.
Carter approves gas pipeline
President Carter Tuesday gave final U.S. approval for const !y c ^
of a 4,700-mile pipeline to carry Alaskan natural gas through air
) the lower 4ft selected trie J
to the lower 48 states. Carter, who personally selected u Jj
U.S.-Canadian Alcan pipeline route, signed a resolution of i *PP rl [j
passed by the Senate and House last week. The privately fi n ^ n .
project will cost at least $10 billion. Possible completion may de )
1983.
Weather
Sunny and cool today and tomorrow with northwesterly winds
20-30 mph. High today mid 60s. Low tonight mid 30s. High
tomorrow low 60s. No rain.
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The Battalion
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the
editor or of the tvriter 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
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Angeles.
nished on request. Address: The Battalio • ^
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United Press International is entiU‘< 1 .[(-ilitrJd
use for reproduction of all news lt | ), rr j n rr> rl 'j[
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from
September through May except during exam and holidax
periods and the summer, when it is published on Mondays
Wednesdays and Fridays.
Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester $33 25 per
school year: *35.00 per full year. Advertising rates fur-
ui iepruuuciu/ii wi «** . .. .
Second-Class postage paid at College a 1
member
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congre . iji^
• J‘ ini
Editor “ " A | jce y'oo&n
Managing Editor
Editorial Director 1 paiiM
Sports Editor ’ Can’ll
News Editors Marie. Home) f
City Editor Kin
Campus Editor g e i|i(
Copy Editor Glean*"n
Reporters .i., r |, W# 1 *
Liz Newlin. David Bogga"- • Kt ,„ lirt^
Photographer
Cartoonist \
Choir*.
Student Publications Board: Bob ^\\\ lb**
Joe Arredondo: Dr. Gary Halter. \r)i .
Robert Harvey; Dr. Charles AfrCrtNJ < ss - putficmjf
Phillips: Rebel Rice. Director of
Donald C. Johnson.