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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1977)
Page 2 The Battalion Texas A&M University Monday November 14, 1977 Reader s forum Internal shuttle buses — boon or bomb? By GAIL JOLLY I am writing in response to Mike Duke’s outburst against Student Government in Wednesday’s Battalion (Nov. 9). In his let ter, Mr. Duke makes some very wrong as sumptions about the Student Senate’s re cent recommendation concerning the internal shuttle system. Please give me the pleasure of putting him in place. Mr. Duke, I was appointed a member of the ad hoc committee to study the shuttle system by President Williams in the Spring of ’77. The committee met twice and then presented Dr. John Koldus with a report concerning the feasibility of the system. At the time only the veteri nary campus, the west campus and a cen tral point on the main campus were con- Pro sidered. Therefore, the people benefiting from the service would be primarily Ag majors and Vet students. Student Government was requested to study the option and through a subcom mittee the final recommendation was drafted and voted on. In preparing the recommendation, several hearings were held and every organization that could possibly have some input on the matter was contacted and students were encouraged to attend. A few represented were the Ag Council, Engineers’ Council, Graduate Student Council, Collegiate FFA and the OCSA—all outstanding or ganizations. Through the efforts of these concerned students, a study and report were prepared and are in the Student Government office for your reading plea sure. From the original ad hoc committee re port, Student Government went one step further to allow all students access to the shuttle if they need it. You seem to be under the mistaken notion that this is a door-to-door taxi service. The whole idea is to make accessibility to and from ex treme points of the campus faster and easier. Traffic congestion on the Main campus could be partially alleviated when students are encouraged to park in peripheral park ing areas provided with a bus. It will also be a great boon to those of us who have to battle long walks in bad weather. Frankly, I think the merits of the system far outweigh the slight increase in your student service fees. We are not raising prices because we want to give you a bad time—we have to pay them too. So look on the bright side Mr. Duke. Student Government is made up of Aggies for Aggies. Please don’t go around per petuating half-truths when you haven’t the vague notion of what is going on. So stick with your jogging and keep your bike and be glad you can help your fellow Ags. I sincerely hope I helped those I rep resent. Gail Jolly is a sophomore student senator representing the College of Veteri nary Medicine. By JENNIFER PHILLIPS I see that it is finally necessary to take pen in hand and write about the proposed new intra-campus transport system. I’m all for some kind of cross-campus transport sys tem, but do we have to use shuttle buses? Any person who has had experience with shuttle buses knows that that type of transport is going to cause a mess. Just look at the pros and cons of the matter: Pro: The transport system will decrease the amount of time to get from the Vet School to the main campus. Con: (a) Shuttle buses are being used. As a veteran shuttle bus rider, I know through experience that shuttle buses are the most unreliable mode of transportation ever conceived in the minds of modern man. The breakdown rate is unbelieveably high; even if the buses aren’t completely broken down, there is always something wrong with them (i.e. bad clutches, bad mufflers, bad timing and God only knows what else). (b) Oh yeah, what happens when the bus breaks down on campus? Are the cars supposed to sprout wings and fly over the bus? There’s barely enough room for two cars to pass each other on these narrow streets; the problem doesn’t need to be compounded by a defunct bus in the mid dle of the road. (c) I see that someone has timed the walk from one side of the campus to the other (all they had to do was ask any stu dent; they could have been saved the ef fort of making the hike). Has anyone taken the time to drive the bus from one side of the campus to the other? The campus police have been praying for an answer to the traffic problem — they even eliminated the 8 a.m. stop in front of Zachry and at the stop sign (all you North Routers and police know what I’m talking about) to Con keep the traffic flowing smoothly. Pray tell, what’s it going to be like with shuttle buses making stops all through campus? (d) How much are passes or per ride fees going to be? Everyone knows that buses don’t eat grass, so it must run on either gas or diesel, right? Who is going to pay for all the fuel the bus consumes in these stop-go trips across campus? I, for one, don’t want my student service fees going to pay for the fuel and upkeep of those wheeled monstrosities. I realize the fact that we need some type of intra-campus system and believe the buses would work well for trips to the Vet School, but for cross-campus runs I think we should resort to some other method. I’m sorry I don’t have the answer up my sleeve, fellas, but we have thousands of brilliant minds here at A&M and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind suggesting a few al ternatives to the shuttle bus system. It would be better in the long run if we had to pay a large sum now for a quality, economical and sensible transport system than to pay a little now and have to con tinually face these inevitable problems. . Jennifer Phillips is a sophomore wildlife fisheries science major. Rusty Cawley The ultimate Two-percenter’ quiz This is the Texas Ai?M University two percenter examination. It is designed to help you understand the two percenter and his twisted mind. Choose the BEST an swer. You have 90 seconds. 1. You can tell a two percenter from a true Aggie by: a. the length of his hair. b. the whites of his eyes. c. the flowers that wilt in his path. d. you can’t, because they all look alike. 2. Two percenters: a. walk on the MSC grass. b. dash madly across the MSC grass when no one is looking. c. make funny faces at the grass. d. have a burning desire to walk on the grass, but don’t because they know they’ll be stomped into fer tilizer by a hoard of true Aggies. 3. All two percenters are: a. homosexuals b. rapists c. murderers d. all of the above e. any of the above, depending on the phase of the moon. 4. Two percenters: a. attend every yell practice. b. attend only midnight yell prac tices. c. attend no yell practices. d. attend, but stay sober. Humor 5. The Aggie offense runs: a. the Wishbone T. b. The C.T. c. The Power I d. on every down. 6. Two percenters: a. write letters to the Battalion. b. write sports stories for the Battal ion. c. edit the Battalion. d. are part of a communist plot to take over the Battalion and rule the minds of true Aggies everywhere. 7. Tony Franklin: a. placekicks for the Aggies. b. flys kites. c. appears on the $100 bill. 8. When you say “Howdy to a two per center, he: a. says “Howdy” back. b. looks in the other direction. c. turns and runs. d. propositions you. 9. Two percenters: a. laugh at Aggie jokes. b. tell Aggie jokes. c. are Aggie jokes. d. know most Aggie jokes personally. 10. Famous two percenters include: a. Blackboard. b. Jack the Ripper. c. The Boston Strangler. d. Sports editor Paul Arnett. 11. Two percenters are called two per centers because: a. they make up two percent of the A&M student body. b. you can buy two for a penny. 12. Two percenters should be: a. drawn and quartered. b. hung from the highest tree. c. shot at dawn. 13. The Twelfth Man is: a. an Aggie tradition. b. just before the Thirteenth Man. c. just after the Eleventh Man. d. a new defense the Aggies will have to employ to beat Texas. 14. When two percenters die, they: a. go to Heaven. b. go to a suburb of Heaven. c. apply to Heaven, but are turned back by Sul Ross. d. are recycled. 15. The author of this quiz is: a. a two percenter. b. a two percenter. c. a two percenter. d. a two percenter. Readers!^ Forum Guest viewpoints, in addi tion to Letters to the Editor, are welcome. All pieces sub mitted to Readers’ forum should be: • Typed triple space • Limited to 60 characters per line • Limited to 100 lines Tetters to the editor Drawing the line on campaign coverage Editor: I wish to point out the grave injustice which both you and the upperclassmen of the student body have caused the Class of ‘81. Is it not part of the canon of ethics for journalism to which the Battalion sub scribes that the function of the newspaper is to inform its readership on issues central to their interests? And is not the election of officers for the Class of ‘81 an event worthy of attention? I do not mean carrying a notice of filing, polling or run-off dates. I had hopes that the Battalion would at the least provide a brief sketch of the goals and qualifications of the major officers, but as the elections grew nearer it became quite evident that I would have to judge the candidates by their posters, signs and advertisements in the self-same Battalion. I would also like to point out that none of the candidates made any attempt to speak publicly to the Class of ‘81. Beyond the oversights of the Battalion, I also fault the former freshman classes for failing to demand or even ask for their rights as stu dent voters. If what I have said is substantially incor rect or unfair I will happily retract my statements. There is always next year’s elections. M.J. Triola, ’81 Editor’s note: The Battalion makes every attempt to inform its readership on issues central to their interests. Although the freshman class elections are impor tant to a large number of students, we cannot give Class of‘81 candidates cover age without giving all other classes the same treatment during spring elections. Candidates for yell leader, Student Gov ernment executive offices and local gov ernment offices are profiled in the Battal ion. Others are not. Mary Alice Woodhams ‘Ask i? receive" Editor: In response to M.H. ‘79 et. al.(Battal ion, Nov. 8), concerning the situation of dateless men at the SMU game. May I say that I too prefer going to the game with members of the opposite sex. May I ask where are you? Do you keep yourselves locked up in your room hoping X by chance someone will call? Who says we (guys) have to do the asking? I for one would not be offended if a female were to call and ask! (This is not to say I wouldn’t decline the offer). You say you would rather go with a guy than your roommates-then why do you plan weeks ahead of time to go together? Also, if you are so eager, why did you not include your names in your signatures? (phone num bers could be discovered by truly in terested parties through student search). Are you embarrassed to have people know this is your viewpoint? Or could it be there is only one of you? Any one can make up initials! If you do not enjoy sitting with your roommates, get out and do something about it! Don’t just sit around! Where’s your good ol Aggie spirit? My message to you is “ask and ye may receive. David Nissman, ‘81 No cowtrails please Editor: Re the Memorial Student Center grass: The building is the memorial, not the grass. But Aggies long have made it a prac tice to stay on the walks, simply to keep “cow trails” from being pounded in. To borrow from the ecology freaks, grass— not bare earth footpaths — photosynthe- size. , — John West ’57 “ CAN I BORROW A HAMMER? " Top of the News or State Meir warns Jewish leaders Former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir Saturday in cautioned American Jewish leaders to beware of Middle East peact plans that include international guarantees. “When peace is made between countries, why do you need guarantees?,’ Meir asked lit 46th annual assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations. Simcb ^ J Dinitz, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., echoed Meir’s position.He said American guarantees would not be an adequate basis for Israeli security. Traffic deaths increase Traffic deaths in Texas so far this year are 11 percent higher than to the same date in 1976, the Department of Public Safety reported Through noon Thursday, there had been 2,982 persons killed in tral fic as accidents this year, compared to 2,697 to the same date Iasi year, an increase of 285 deaths. The number of accidents involving fatalities was up 12 percent, totaling 2,617 through noon Thursday compared to 2,327 to the same date in 1976. Surprise witness testifies One of the prosecution’s first rebuttal witnesses Saturday disputed crucial testimony, offered by a surprise defense witness in the capital murder trial of Fort Worth millionaire T. Cullen Davis in Amarillo Texas. The estranged wife of Arthur U. Polk, 33, Saturday s;iid she never heard her husband say he was present at the Davis mansioi Aug. 2-3, 1976, the night two persons were killed and two otlien wounded. However, Paige Polk, 22, admitted she did not know\vk her husband had done that night because she had taken a sleepingpl after an argument with him and went to sleep. Davis, 44, is accused in the shooting death of his stepdaughter, Andrea Wilbom, 12 attorneys rested Saturday in his 12-week capital murder trial. By BEVE raduating offers, juni es to tie homores n ir phone ruing toi (it next sei janta fori The scroll up on mo morial Stu trybody a it for Chri for the itee at Trs [lie coni® le for dee ristmas w by Jam sign profes [he MSC s remodle The theme the “All Inch rofi An autogi at 4:30 ices of the ess will shmidly,' ember am g house’s His work of Trai istrated b ho will als Schmidly 2.50 fron Nation i Black wins mayor s post A quiently triumphant Ernest Morial, the first black elected as J New Orlean s mayor, Sunday said a broad range of support, from al economic groups and ethnic backgrounds helped him win the job. He I pledged not to forge their help. “We must put everyone togetherto] solve the problems of this city,” Morial told reporters, hours after he | defeated white councilman Joe DiRosa. Morial, 48, a lawyer an former judge, captured 51.5 percent of the vote Saturday to defeatj Joe DiRosa, a three-term white councilman. The campaign wnsj marked largely by quiet references to race and a last-minute courtj battle to block Morial from the election. ‘Screw 9 trial to end Publisher Al Goldstein says he is uncertain about the verdicttm will receive on federal obscenity charges but will welcome the end of I the trial. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Monday in Km J sas City, Kan. and the federal jury is expected to receive the case] Thursday to decide if Goldstein’s Screw magazine and a newspaper* called Smut are obscene. Closing-arguments were delayed after! Goldstein had to undergo minor surgery involving a tube he [ coughed out of his throat. EEOC leaders criticize Carter Leaders of nine Hispanic American organizations denounced plamj for reorganizing the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission,] (EEOC) and urged the appointment of an Hispanic to the commission] in a letter to be mailed today to President Carter. In addition, I Yzaguirre, National Council of La Raza national director, who sig the letter, charged “the Carter administration’s failure to appoint art] Hispanic to the commission is obviously one of the causes of EEOC'il insensitivity to Hispanics. A vacancy has existed on the commissions since the September, 1976, resignation of Raymond Telles,[ Mexican-American former mayor of El Paso, Texas. Bulldozers clear fire remnants Bulldozers and cranes worked Sunday at a railroading crossing to clear the remnants of a tank car explosion and fire that burned ouM control for more than 12 hours Saturday. No injuries were reported in the accident, which occurred in Hamburg, La. Avoyelles Parish sheriff F. O. Didier and residents of the small central, Louisiana community near Marksville said damage and casualties would have| been much worse if the wind had been stronger. Weather Partly cloudy and mild today and tomorrow with southeas terly winds 12-18 mph. High both days mid-70s. Low tonight upper 60s. No rain. The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer 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 tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday 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 semester; $33.25 per school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates fur nished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room® Reed McDonald Building, College Station. Texas United Press International is entitled exclusively®^ use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited#* Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reset® Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX; MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Jamie Ai^ Managing Editor Mary Alice WooA** Editorial Director Lee Roy I.esdipfd Sports Editor Paid _ News Editors Marie Homeyer, Carols City Editor Rusty (S Campus Editor . . . Kimfy* Copy Editor BethCA** Reporters Glenna WhAl Liz Newlin, David Boggan, Mark Photographer Ken Her? Cartoonist DougGnfc Student Publications Board: Boh G. Rogers, Chit* Joe Arredondo: Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. John \\ Ho* Robert Harvey; Dr. Charles McCandless; Dr. C/intaf Phillips; Rebel Rice. Director of Student Publicitif Donald C. Johnson.