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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1977)
k he A&Jil 1,5 ofHOyjj 1 ts in (lie, 20-10 l fl Hog ' ns on A »rds. I n e d only M cornel t yearal irned The Battalion Vol. 71 No. 58 10 Pages Monday, November 21, 1977 College Station, Texas News Dept. 845-2611 Business Dept. 845-2611 adat. Begin reach agreement United Press International iUSALEM — Prime Minister ie in Begin said today he and Egyp- resident Anwar Sadat achieved a lentous agreement” that there ie turf.hid be no more war, no more 1 teanni Jshed and no more threats between nhancinytX a nd Israel. just soltij L said earlier the main issue in the are the all || e East conflict is security for Israel the Horifi le offered it to the Jewish state in the the 1973 October war would be the ic hgrouodii etvveen the Arabs and Israelis, dug in I# uring the visit of President Sadat to our country and to Jerusalem, a moment ous agreement was achieved already,” Begin told a joint news conference on Sadat s last day in Israel. “Namely, no more war, no more bloodshed, no more threats and collaboration in order to avoid any lengths which may lead to such tragic developments. ” Sadat, who arrived in Israel Saturday on a historic peace mission, toured the Wal led City of Jerusalem Sunday and later ad dressed the Israeli parliament. He met privately with Begin at least five times. Although he reiterated the hard-line Arab stand in his speech to the Knesset, he today offered to give Israel whatever guarantees it needs to ensure its security in exchange for permanent peace in the Middle East. “Let us concentrate on the main issue,” Sadat told the 77 members of Begin s rul ing coalition. “What is the main issue? It should be security for Israel, I quite agree.” Sadat’s remarks at first appeared to re verse the traditional Arab position that the paramount issue in the Middle East is the need for a Palestinian homeland. ■ s the Froa O* ir 0 * onlire But he later clarified his intent by re peating a key point in his historic speech to the Israeli Knesset Sunday, that solving the Palestinian problem is the central issue in the Arab-Israeli dispute. “We are ready and have no objection to whatever measures that can be agreed upon to provide you with full security,” Sadat said. “No objection at all. . . . “The other issue is the October 1973 war should be the last war. If we agree on those two principles — security and no war again — whatever happens can be solved through peaceful negotiations or peaceful means. In speaking to the Israeli political lead ers — first to Begin s coalition partners, then to a group from the opposition Labor party — Sadat called for “full security” for Israel. “We have no objection — U.N. forces, all this — but in all frankness let me tell you this. You should see the realities of this very difficult problem. And, in all honesty, also, I must tell you you have to take very decisive decisions built on those two main issues — security and no war again.” Aggielands are arriving Distribution of the 1977 Aggieland begins at 8 a.m. in Building C, be hind the Reed McDonald Building, on the Texas A&M University cam pus. Annuals will be issued until 5 p.m. A Texas A&M identification card is required, and students will be allowed to pick up only their own Aggieland. is the Fr evious play, win to p Cotton fiord to > the up >rned ie Dry IS quires arc! work at attadi t year by he von f*l u0n ^ re construction, wire the logs to- ™ eron the stack while underclassmen year. I a toughf len, who I altemaliii' ey knew I i lot and d ig to haw t teams in: rut play i did lastyi ee front tain start und r.j. uards - ; and Phi 11 1 sed with fer Ray ikla.,wh iess his \nd fresh from im one es as fastasi experieiw ; quiciow :an surpn lien, iroblems He plays ndiana o« ,t the best to play thi ole. But .atcanbal By DOUG GRAHAM Battalion Staff ing down logs out in the country hauling them back to the field behind can Dining Hall is only half the work Ived in building the Aggie Bonfire; it takes the stacking of the logs, icking logs is a massive undertaking, orsand “redpots,” the men who over^ :t and hoist the logs to higher levels, nsoflog carriers work until the ring of is completed. Everybody then steps while the redpots “top off” uneven with chainsaws. ork is continued day and night until before the 60-foot structure is ignited. II is not work for those who labor on ? 0 i''gto| fire. The volunteers are t eated to ■fensebw itry music, the Patton theme and the ivillzonep i e \y ar Hymn all night long on the speaker system. While listening to |raucous buzz of chain saws, they can jeto a fire, or pick up free coffee when get cold on a chilly night shift. They also purchase food from a concession d with profits going to support Bon- uring the final week before Bonfire, Corps assigns batteries of outfits to the graveyard shifts to ensure its pletion. The cadets work together the civilian “non-reg students nst the clock. he peculiar thing about Bonfire is that nuch effort is put into something that he nothing but ashes in less than an or so after it is lit. But as one ier explained, “that may be true, but spiritual thing that was built will re- n for a lifetime.” Women’s conference supports gay rights Battalion photo by Ken Herrera Bonfire workers fork logs onto the stack in preparation for bonfire ceremonies Friday night. United Press International HOUSTON — Lesbians, often the un welcome stepsisters of the feminist move ment, won a big victory with the National Women’s Conference’s endorsement of gay rights — a step opponents view as a setback for other women’s rights. The historic conference voted for lesbian rights, abortion and sex education Sunday night during an emotional debate. These issues divided the 2,000 delegates more deeply than any others, including the Equal Rights Amendment. Twenty-five feminist ideas were adopted in two days, with only one left before ad journment today. The document will go to Congress and President Carter. A White House aide admitted it probably would not sway Carter on abortion. Lesbians rejoiced in their victory by fill ing the rafters with balloons carrying the slogan: “We are everywhere.” Conserva tives bowed their heads in disgust, and abortion opponents staged an angry dem onstration. Betty Friedan, whose writing started the modern women’s movement, swayed the delegates with a surprising change of heart on lesbian rights — embracing it as a women’s rights issue for the first time. “As a woman who has perhaps loved men too well, I have had trouble on this issue, ” she said. “I am known to be violently op posed to the lesbian issue in the women’s movement. “This issues has divided us too long. I believe that we should help the lesbians be protected in their civil rights.” Another delegate, Doris Holmes of ^Georgia, repeated the reason why many f eminists have refused to support lesbians. She portrayed the issue as a political “alba tross” that hampers women in the fight for ERA. Conservatives also viewed the lesbian rights vote as a setback for the women’s movement. Katheryn Nelson of Florida said it would destroy the family and violate the “laws of God.” Oklahoma delegate Winnie Mathews said it was unnecessary because lesbians would never be punished by “a stoning or burning at the stake” if they kept their preferences secret — like “adulterers and adultresses.” Anti-abortion delegates likewise made emotional speeches. Aim O’Donnell of Missouri described abortion support as the flaw in the feminist philosophy, because they are oppressing unborn children as they are oppressed. Asked if the conference vote would force ppose all hut noncontroversial issues Conservatives present report United Press International ■OUSTON — Conservative critics of 26-plank feminist manifesto approved Jre National Women’s Conference in to present their own proposals to igress. form 3 being considered women’s dormitory :30-7:3> The 13-page minority report offered by state Sen. Joan M. Gubbins, R-Indianopolis, lambasted the Equal Rights Amendment and opposed all but the most noncontroversial recom mendations adopted at the historic three- day conference. “We feel it is time for women to stop seeking federal solutions to personal prob lems,” the minority report said. Mrs. Gubbins acknowledged in advance the report would be ruled out of order at By BEVERLY MANJEOT and M DAVID BOGGAN ® ses Hall residents are smiling again er learning Dorm 3 will be proposed for ’ovation as a women residence hall in- ™ of Moses. e suggestion to convert Dorm 3, a Iho^T 55 dorm, into a women’s dorm by 1978 was discussed during a meeting last week by Dr. John Koldus, vice of student services at Texas 1 University. Also discussed was the lv orsion of Utay (Dorm 12), a male civi- u° rm ’ to a ma l e Corps dorm. This offset the loss of Dorm 3. e original purpose of the meeting was f> e t student input from members of the -S’dent Hall Association’s Executive Nniittee; presidents of Moses Hall and i- Hall; the student body president lv | oe Corps commandant about Koldus P°sal to convert Moses into a women’s irm. v av ifi Davenport, Legett president, IOtI| Ste< ^ ^ orm 3-Utay idea. Infb lvui ih ray luea. Ita CrS a * mee fi n g said that because a ) >5 considered a less spirited dorm, its “■dents j _._i .• .• mu 11 * 5 wou ld find relocation easier than “p ^ oses Hall residents. Rankly, I never thought of the idea, h d , D r. Charles W. ~ , n t affairs, a do « Co Powell, director of affairs. “But I like it because Utay r° rm w ^ ere civilians are isolated in a„ l ? r P s area and there are frictions in- e d in that situation.” | e eca use Utay was not involved until the jr|?. Was presented during the meeting, i en ts °f Utay were not represented. f y voiced their opinions, however, ^■■contacted after the meeting, onf C •> ave § reat spirit, especially during lre > said Andy Sloan, a sophomore finance major. “We have to be unified be cause we’re the only non-reg dorm over here.” Utay president David Carson admitted that there was friction between Utay and the Corps, but said it was minimal. “A few of our residents give our dorm a bad name,” Carson said. “Ninety percent of our residents respect the Corps’ tradi tion and would just as soon participate with them instead of against them.” The University needs more women’s housing to comply with a rule established by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) states all universities must offer male and female housing in proportion to the number of students ap plying for admission. The rule also states that male and female housing must be comparable in quality and cost. “Texas A&M isn’t under any pressure by the HEW,” said Powell. “Were just trying to foresee problems before they happen.” Presently, 25.3 percent of on-campus housing at Texas A&M is allocated to wo men. However, women comprise 33.1 percent of the total enrollment, putting the University approximately eight per cent behind the HEW requirement. Before the “Dorm 3-Utay” idea was suggested, University administrators had looked at a variety of other options in order to comply with the HEW regula tion. “The one dorm that appeared to me to work out best in regard to conersion was Moses Hall,” said Koldus, “because it is near the Keathley, Fowler, Hughes area. It is always easier to supervise female dorms when they are all together.” He also mentioned that in terms of cost, Moses would have provided a different op tion for women. “The guys at Moses were upset when word got out that two engineers were in the bathrooms making drawings of what would have to be done to renovate the hall,” said John White, head residentof Moses. “It has taken a lot ofhard work to build the dorms’ spirit and the dorm’s name and the guys like to know they’re leaving a feeling of unity and togetherness for those who come after them.” he added. Another option studied was to make either Mclnnis Hall or Schumacher Hall a women’s dorm. Since these dorms are air-conditioned and have suite baths there would have been no renovation costs in volved. This option was disregarded, how ever, because male demand for this type of dorm is high. Also, the administration wanted to provide a wider variety of price ranges for women’s housing. The cost of a room in Mclnnis or Schumacher is equal to the cost of a room in the Keathley-Fowler-Hughes women’s dorm complex. Still another rejected option was Hart Hall, a centrally-located, non air- conditioned dorm which would have provided the variety in costs desired by the administrators. “I pass by there every day and I know with females living where the windows must always be open we would have peep ing Toms and that type of activity,” said Koldus. As a result, Mclnnis, Schumacher and Hart wouldn’t solve our problems, he added. The “Dorm 3-Utay” option is still in the proposal stage and no final decision has been made. Koldus will present the pro posal to President Jarvis Miller who will either accept or reject it. Carter to reconsider his stand against abor tion, White House aide Midge Costanza replied: “There are no signs he will, he is so adamant on the issue. But I hope he will.” The conference also witnessed a moving moment when the delegates — black, white, Indian, Eskimo and Asian—joined hands as they condemned “double- discrimination” against minority women. The delegates by standing votes also have condemned Carter’s welfare reform plan, while supporting federal health in surance and ERA. They sought more gov ernment help for rural, older and disabled women, and homemakers. Conservatives, who failed to defeat a single feminist proposal, summed up their reaction in a minority report saying: “We feel it is time for women to stop seeking federal solutions to personal problems.” the conference but said the “Pro-Family, Pro-Life” delegates wanted to offer the document to voice the dissent they con tend conference organizers squelched. The coalition of anti-ERA and anti abortion groups claimed 250 of the 2,000 delegates at the conventon. “We represent the majority of the American people,” Mrs. Gubbins said. “Even if we did not have a right to speak to our concerns on these issues. That has been denied and denied and denied.” In addition to ERA, abortions and gay liberation, and dissident delegates said they oppose education quotas, reverse discriminiation favoring women over men, mandatory sex education courses in schools, government day care programs for children, social security coverage for homemakers, disarmament and the Panama Canal Treaty. “We deplore the ‘backlash’ of the wom en’s liberation movement which has re sulted in the sometimes shameful treat ment by the courts of women whose mar riages have ended in divorce,” they said. “We urge the courts to recognize that a man’s ability to produce is related to his wife’s efforts in the home and to return to recognition of the wife’s right to remain in the career of homemaker for her children even if her marriage is dissolved. The conservative women called for ap proval of an anti-abortion constitutional amendment. They said wives should not be able to obtain an abortion without their husbands’ consent, nor minors without their parents’ approval. “We reject the concept of spouses as victims of rape, unless actually living apart but not yet legally divorced,” the report declared. They did recommend proposals similar to conference calls for law changes to make it easier to convict rapists. “We believe that the majority of women who work outside their homes consider their families as their primary careers and are working because inflation has forced them into the labor market in order to keep pace with the wage-price spiral,” they said. , The conservative women said they sup port equal pay for equal work and equal advancement opportunities for qualified women. They denounced the idea of a guaran teed income for all Americans as an uncon scionable burden on working class tax payers. Bus driver adds ‘craziness’ to ride By CONNIE BURKE One might find him at the campus bus stop yelling, “Willowick! Doux Chene! Ride my bus! Come with me!” Who is he? Texas A&M students refer to him as the “neat’ bus driver. Bill Beck er, 20, a shuttle bus driver for the Doux Chene bus route, shortens the students’ bus ride by what some call his “general craziness.” Becker is a great favorite among the students. Recently, some of his riders wrote a letter to the Battalion saying, “We now wait in breathless anticipation as the bus rounds the corner in hopes that we will spy his baby blues beneath the devil-may- care tilt of his green beanie.” Dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt, Becker grins. “When I saw the shuttle bus help-wanted ad, I said If I ever drove these shuttle buses I’d do stupid things. I’d be different than the average bus driver.’” And he is. ; On Halloween, for example, Beck er surprised his riders by wearing a mask and passing out bubblegum. He also had decorated the bus with crepe paper and balloons. “I always did think he was crazy,” said another bus driver. “One day he put up a sign that said. Notice: Women only. Help support your local shuttle bus system. Kiss the bus driver.’ He got three kisses that day. ” One rider explained why she likes Becker. “He’s independent. He doesn’t worry about what anybody thinks about him.” Another rider agreed, adding, “He’s as good as a comedian. ” Becker, a sophomore business management major, said he likes his job and tries to be “friends with everybody.” But he doesn’t intend to be a bus driver forever. He hopes to be practicing law or working for a corporation in 20 years, he said. What would happen if there were more bus drivers like Becker? One rider answered, “There would be more people going to class with a smile on their face.” ¥ * Battalion photo hv I.ai i-> ( handler Shuttle bus driver Bill Becker, a sophomore at Texas A&M, entertains his riders with bubblegum, Halloween masks, crazy signs in his bus window and balloons in the bus itself.