Page 2
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Viewpoint
Wednesday
November 16, 1977
Saving Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Only recently seagulls were granted majestic, even mystical status as
free-wheeling philosophers who gathered their inspiration from the ocean’s
expanse.
Up and down the east coast of the United States, however, seagulls enjoy a
less mystical stature as the common scavengers of sanitary landfills. Grown
so inflated on public handouts, in fact, the lazy birds have even begun to
avail themselves of airport runways, an unnatural flight pattern which has
made the gulls a nuisance.
Now the U.S. Interior Department wants to declare this nuisance a capital
offense, and officials are going to spread a poison which will knock off the
birds by the thousands. Some people say that the plan is inhumane, and they
of course falsely anthropomorphize a bunch of birds — not to say second-rate
philosophers.
But regardless of whether it is impossible to be humane to birds, the
government can still be cruel. This project certainly qualifies as cruelty,
particularly when other chemicals could be used to sterilize the birds for
effective nuisance control. This would save the life of a whole generation of
seagulls.
Among them may be the one who knows which came first: the chicken or
the egg. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
e>|in7!>|i«K>TO9»=
Rusty Cawley
Dragging out
the education bandwagon
One thing has to be said for the United
States Senate: When someone comes up
with a sturdy bandwagon, everyone jumps
on it.
Senators Bob Packwood (R-Ore.) and
Daniel Moynihan (D-N. Y.) have come up
with a real, honest-to-God, chrome-
plated, steel-belted, four-wheel-drive
bandwagon. And suddenly everyone in
the Senate wants to carpool.
This magnificent machine is a bill that
gives taxpayers supporting students a tax
break. They could subtract one-half of the
tuition they pay, up to $500 per student,
directly from their income tax.
This applies to tuition paid to elemen
tary and secondary schools, prep schools,
colleges, vocational schools, technical col
leges, accredited business and trade
schools and graduate schools.
A nice idea, especially if you’re running
for re-election anytime soon. It’s bound to
benefit just about any taxpayer with chil
dren, as well as some who aren’t parents.
The bill covers anyone putting themselves
through school.
“We are facing an education crisis,’
Senator Packwood said during a press con
ference last week. “Education is becoming
a gourmet item, soon to be savored only
by the poor and the well-to-do.”
And the sen
ator has some
convincing data
to back his ar
gument.
It now costs
an average of
$2,790 for a year at a public college, and
$4,569 at a private school. Because of this,
Packwood said enrollment in universities
will drop 50 percent by 1984.
“The loser in this escalating tuition war
is, as in all else, the middle class taxpayer,’
Packwood said. "He is too poor to afford
the cost of college, too well-to-do to quali
fy for federal financial assistance.
“The American dream of a new home, a
family car, a vacation and a college educa
tion for their children has become a with
ering hope.
And I thought the American dream was
something simple, like a chicken in every
pot. I must be wrong. Look at the support
the bill is getting and the senators who are
giving it.
There’s Bob Dole, last year’s Republi
can vice presidential candidate from Kan
sas, and Richard Schweiker, last year’s
would-be Republican candidate from
Pennsylvania.
The war-hawk himself, Barry Goldwater
(R-Ariz.) and the happy warrior, Hubert
Humphrey (D-Minn.) stand side-by-side
on this one.
Texas Senators John Tower and Lloyd
Bentsen, who never seem to agree on any
thing, agree on this one.
And there are 42 more co-sponsors.
Why?
It’s been a tough year for the Senate,
with the sex-scandals just fading and the
Korean pay-off scandals just starting.
Surely the senators have the right to try to
capture the favor of the American people
just once more before special prosecutor
Leon Jaworski crucifies them.
But more governmental funding of edu
cation, no matter how indirect, isn’t the
answer. It’s another symptom a nation be
coming increasingly socialistic by the day.
Americans don’t want red-herring legis
lation. They want some real answers to
some real problems: shortages of job, fuel,
money . . . and faith in American govern
ment.
City Editor Rusty Cawley writes a weekly
commentary on local affairs, government
and politics.
More financial disclosure for churches?
By DAVID E. ANDERSON
UPI Keligion Writer
“Philanthropy has got to survive and its
not going to unless there is full disclosure
— and that includes the churches.
That is the blunt conclusion of Mai
Gross, a partner in the prestigious ac
counting firm of Price, Waterhouse and
Co., and the only top Certified Public Ac
countant who spends full time worrying
about accounting procedures, financial
disclosure and nonprofit organizations.
Right now Gross, who describes himself
as a “crusader on the subject, is the target
of much rancor by some religious organiza-
C ommentary
tions because he is chairman of the Ameri
can Institute of Certified Public Account
ants (AICPA) subcommittee on accounting
principles and reporting practices for non
profit organizations.
The subcommittee — it really is a com
mittee of CPAs from 11 top firms — has
issued a tentative set of principles and
practices for nonprofit organizations such
as trade associations, labor unions, con
dominium management associations,
museums and religious organizations.
Not surprisingly the set of principles,
which would be informally binding on
CPAs if approved by the AICPA, has
drawn a small mountain of comment from
interested and affected parties, not least
the churches and other religious organiza
tions.
The heart of the proposed set of princi
ples is to bring financial reporting by non
profit organizations into line with “gener
ally accepted accounting principles. In
particular, it would require that organiza
tions report on the “accrual basis” of ac
counting rather than the cash basis.
Accrual accounting means that in addi
tion to recording transactions resulting
just from receipt and disbursement of
cash, the amount owed to an organization
and its debts would also be listed in a fi
nancial statement.
The idea, says Gross, is to provide a set
of financial records that fairly reflect the
actual financial situation of the organiza
tion and that “can easily be understood by
a grandmother” who is deciding whether-
or where to send her $5 contribution.
A number of church groups have op
posed the tentative principles, saying that
religious organizations are unique and that
the principles would be burdensome. As
the Roman Catholic response said, con
stitutional law “sharply distinguishes
churches, for certain financial purposes,
from all other nonprofit organizations.”
“The reason why the churches are up
tight,” said Gross, “is that they see that
federal legislation is all but inevitable and
that disclosure is going to be a part of it.
“They’re concerned that a back-door
regulation will force them to disclose how
much money they spend in raising
money,” he said.
Acceptance of the AICPA accounting
principles would not mean that any reli
gious organizations have to disclose more
than they do now. If disclosure were writ
ten into law, however, the financial state
ments would be much easier to under
stand by the general public.
And that is Gross’ concern.
Disclosure generally would not have an
adverse impact on mainline churches who
solicit funds from their members. Instead
it would be directed at organizations
which engage in solicitiation from the gen
eral public through either direct mail
campaigns or television and radio appeals.
“We’ve got to protect philanthropy,”
Gross said. “It is an institution that is uni
que to America. But without some kind of
disclosure its credibility will be de
stroyed. ”
Mr. Inside & Mr
Outside in the White House
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Some Carter-
watchers are saying the president has all
but abandoned the “outsider” stance he
took during the 1976 campaign and is now
playing the established inside game.
It is good we have seasoned observers to
point these things out. For changes such
as this are not always apparent to the un
trained eye.
In case you can’t tell the outsiders from
the insiders, the following scorecard may
be helpful. It shows typical differences in
the way inside and outside presidents ap
proach various Washington institutions.
CONGRESS
Outsider — Tries to overcome congres
sional opposition to administration pro
grams by taking his case directly to the
people.
The Lighter side
Insider — Overcomes congressional
opposition by threatening military bases in
home districts of key lawgivers.
FOREIGN CRISIS
Outsider — Depends on reservoir of
good will, mutual regard for human rights
and traditional spirit of cooperation to
produce amicable settlement of interna
tional issues.
Insider — Sends 7th Fleet on maneuvers
in home waters of recalcitrant countries.
DOMESTIC CRISIS
Outsider — Makes emergency appear
ance before joint session of Congress and
recommends comprehensive crash pro
gram dealing with every facet of problem.
Insider — Appoints presidential com
mission to study problem and report back
next year.
APPOINTMENTS
Outsider — Assigns trusted aides to
compile list of best qualified potential
nominees regardless of political affiliation,
sex, race, religion or ethnic background.
Insider — Fills vacancy with someone
least likely to offend any major pressure
group.
Letters to the editor
Flag
Editor:
Last Friday, Nov. 11, the residents of
the North Area Community witnessed an
American flag flying from the flagpole by
Walton Hall for the first time in years. We
should all thank Bill Bradshaw of 216
Moore Hall for his perseverance in seeing
that this project became a reality. With
the help of the Moore Hall Council, Bill
purchased the flag and rope, cleaned the
flag pole, and prepared it for the initial
flag-raising. Although, using the flagpole
had been an idea floating around for years,
I commend Bill for again initiating interest
and personally seeing that the job got
done.
We hope that the other halls in the
North Area will join Moore Hall in the flag
raising duties so that this program can be
maintained. In the meantime, though, I
think I am speaking for everyone in the
North Area Community by expressing our
gratitude to Bill for his efforts. We are
CABINET
Outsider — Holds regular cabinet meet
ings to get benefit of members’ views on
national issues and consult them on formu
lation of administration policy.
Insider — Never forgets a face but has
trouble remembering some cabinet mem
bers’ names.
VICE PRESIDENT
Outsider — Uses the Veep as his right
hand man, assigning him a prominent
role in decision-making process and keep
ing him apprised of all important develop
ments both foreign and domestic.
Insider — See Cabinet.
NEWS MEDIA
Outsider — Recognizes that press must
play adversary role and feels that frequent
media contacts help reporters do better
job of keeping the people informed.
Insider — Cancels semi-annual news
conference and has press secretary issue
blast at media bias.
over dorm again
proud to see the flag flying in our area.
— Tom Murray
Two cents worth
Editor:
As with other topics in this column, the
Cyclist-Pedestrian topic seems to have
come to a standstill, but before it is closed
altogether I would like to get my two cents
worth in. I know from first hand experi
ence that it takes a lot of skill and patience
to ride a bicycle around this campus. All I
have heard about is the pedestrian get
ting the short end of the stick. I think it’s
time to speak up for the cyclist’s side.
First, I would like to ask one question.
Is it really easier to walk on the bike ramps
from street to sidewalk than it is to just
step up onto the curb? If it is, then we
need more ramps, some for pedestrians
and some for bicycles. If not, then why
must you walk on them? We can’t both use
them, and a couple of tires ago I found out
that it’s surely more convenient to ride up
a ramp than a curb.
You’ve got to remember there are some
of us who truly need a bike to get from
class to class on time. 111 admit, it’s no
tough job to get from the Academic Build
ings to SLAB in 15 minutes, but I’ll race a
pedestrian from a 1:00 PE class at Kyle
Field to a 2:00 Engineering class at Zachry
anyday. (Try it sometime).
But let’s compromise, we need no more
laws for bikes on campus. Pedestrians, just
give us our rights as cyclists; dont’ walk in
the bike paths or on the bike ramps, they
were put there exclusively for bikes. Try
to watch out a little for us and we will be
much more apt to be watching out for you,
instead of being so preoccupied with
watching out for ourselves. Thanks.
— Doug Luecke, ’81
of the
Campus
Thursday first day to get tickets
Tickets to the Texas AikM-Texas football game will be distrtavM
to season coupon holders as follows-. Graduate students and seam
will draw on Thursday, juniors will draw Friday, sophomoresaSi
draw Monday, and freshmen will draw Tuesday. Ticket windowsw'A
be open from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day.
Bus to game may be cancelled
A charter bus to Fort Worth for the Texas A&M-TCU game maybe
cancelled Thursday, unless some empty seats are filled. The bus is
sponsored by the Brazos County A&M Club. Reservations.can be
made at the Association of Former Students Office. Questions can
answered by calling 845-7514, extension 38.
The bus is scheduled to leave the Rudder Center parking lot at 9:15
a.m. Saturday. It will leave Amon Carter Stadium after the 2 p in,
game has ended. A dutch-treat supper stop at the Waterworks in
Waco has been scheduled for the return trip. Refreshments will be
sold on the bus. The round trip will cost $13 per person. Club officials
suggest a sack lunch be brought for the noon meal.
State
Personnel holiday moved back
The Christmas-New Year’s holiday schedule for Texas A&M Uni
versity and Texas A&M University System personnel has been
moved back one day, Texas A&M Chancellor Jack K. Williams an
nounced. Employees will now finish work Dec. 21 and return Jan. 3.
State says motto patriotic
After obsi
as to fat ai
in lab, thi:
The State of Texas has asked a federal court to dismiss atheist
Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s suit to remove “In God We Trust ’ from the
U.S. currency on grounds the wording is a national motto and not a
religious symbol. Assistant Attorney General Barbara Allen Babcock
filed the motion to dismiss O’Hair’s suit, saying “In God We Trust”
was adopted as the national motto by an act of congress and is patrio
tic rather than religious. O’Hair contends the motto violates the prin
ciple of separation of state and church, and also infringes upon
guarantees of free speech and free exercise of religion.
Cullen Davis claims politics
Millionaire capital murder defendant T. Cullen Davis Tuesday said
he was prosecuted by politically ambitious district attorneys who
spent $500,000 trying to convict him of crimes he did not commit.
Davis, 44, jailed without bond for more than one year for the Fort
Worth shooting death of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, said one pros
ecutor hoped a conviction would propel him into a judgeship. Joe
Shannon, who will make the state’s closing argument, said he did not
“give a damn” about the defendant’s accusations. “Did you ever hear
of a defendant in a notorious criminal case w ho didn’t holler polities?
Shannon asked. Final arguments in the trial are scheduled to be
heard today.
Nation
Black students, teacher attacked
Charles Battles, a history teacher, his wife and 12 students from an
all-black Pennsylvania Seventh Day Adventist high school were tour
ing Boston’s historic sites Monday when they were attacked by a
small band of whites wielding wooden sticks and golf clubs. Butties
and four of his students were injured, none seriously. The city’s
Charlestown section has been a center of racial conflict since the
implementation three years ago of court-ordered busing to achieve
racial desegregation. Senior John Jones, 19, said students let the
women get on the bus first. “We all tried to get in the bus, hut we all
couldn’t make it, Jones said. “The guys didn’t get on. We were
attacked with sticks and golf clubs and other wooden cluhs. Three
men were arrested Monday and charged with five counts of assault
with a deadly weapon. Police Commissioner Joseph Jordan vowed
the city would “fully prosecute” the alleged attackers.
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World
Queen s first grandchild born
Soviet officials, who recently announced their 1977 grain harvest
will be smaller than expected, have bought another 601,600 metric
tons of American corn, the Agriculture Department said Tuesday. It
was the second Soviet purchase in two days, strengthening adminis
tration forecasts that Russians will buy 15 million tons of American
corn and wheat in the year that began Oct. 1. In the last fiscal year,
the Soviets bought six million tons of grain. The Soviet sales are
coming from an American harvest which includes a near-record
wheat crop and a record corn crop of almost 6.4 billion bushels.
Soviets buy more U.S. grain
Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter, gave birth Tues
day to a 7-pound, 9 ounce son — fifth in line to the British throne and
the first grandchild of a ruling sovereign to be born a commoner.
Buckingham Palace spokesman said Princess Anne was resting com
fortably after giving birth at 10:46 a.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital in
London. The 27-year-old princess’ husband, career army officer
Capt. Mark Phillips, was present at the delivery. The baby boy is the
queen’s first grandchild and will displace Princess Margaret, the
queen’s sister, as fifth in line to the throne. He follows Princes
Charles, Andrew, Edward and his mother in the line of succession.
Weather
Mostly cloudy and mild today and tomorrow with southerly
winds 8-12 mph. High today low 80s. Low tonight low 50s.
High tomorrow mid-70s. No rain.
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