Page 2 Viewpoint The Battalion Monday Texas A&M University November 21, 1977 A man named Cain His middle name could have been Generous. R. Wofford Cain was one of those Aggies who went out into the cruel world, made good and wanted to share the fruits of his success with this University. He was very generous in sharing that fruit. Cain, who graduated from Texas A&M in 1913 with a bachelor of science degree, died last week in Dallas. He served the University well in those 64 years. He was a member of the University system board of regents from 1965-1971. He was chairman of the University Development Foundation in 1950, highlighting his more than 20 years as a trustee of the Foundation. But possibly his greatest generosity came out of his own pocket. He sponsored more than 100 University scholarships. The University swimming pool and athletic dormitory which he funded bear his name. He was a major contributor to the build ing fund for the University library. He paid for the furnishings and lighting in the All Faiths Chapel. The University recognized his contributions and his accomplishments in the petro leum industry by awarding him the “Distinguished Alumni Award” in 1964. But he never sought any publicity or thanks for those contributions. He seemed simply content knowing he was helping the school that had helped him. Ttiey don’t seem to make men like that anymore. L.R.L. Jimmy’s confused The controversial Allan Bakke “reverse discrimination” case, now before the U.S. Supreme Court, can be as confusing as it is important. That confu sion extends right into the White House, to the president himself. President Carter, in a recent letter to the American Jewish Committee, thanked that organization for its strong support of affirmative action pro grams. That’s where the first confusion comes—it’s not exactly clear how much affirmative action the Carter administration favors. The president s letter also says he agrees with the AJC’s view that “rigid racial quotas are exclusionary and therefore unconstitutional.” The AJC has filed a ffiend-of-the-court brief supporting Bakke, who says a California medical shcool admissions policy discriminates against whites by giving minorities unfair advantage. Wheeling W. Va. Intelligencer Richard Helms, the former chief of the CIA, seems to have found a way out of a predicament that was embarrassing to everyone concerned. By pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges of failing to tell the whole truth to a congressional committee—as deposed to the felony charge of perjury that might have been lodged against him—he avoided a trial. Thus, both he and the government were relieved of the responsibility for revealing classified information that could have damaged the national inter est. Most Americans probably agree with President Carter’s judgment that the charge finally brought by the Justice Department “upholds the law but also serves the interests of national security.” But there is a dissenting view that no one, not even the CIA director, should lie to a congressional committee. What effect will the Helms case have on future CIA and other secret- carriers? Probably they will do the same and take their chances, as most spies do anyway. Tt is unfortunate that a man like Mr. Helms, who had served honorably—despite some egregious lapses of his agency—should have let himself be ensnared in false testimony. But it is also bad that U.S. policy required him to do that. Providence Journal-Bulletin Employment bill does much for no one By WILLIAM RASPBERRY WASHINGTON—The President is pleased that he and the sponsors of the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Bill have worked out their differences. The sponsors of the legislation—Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.) and Rep. Augustus F. Hawkins (D-Calif.) say they are delighted over the prospect that their much debated proposal will soon be enacted. Well, I’ve just looked at the com promise bill, and I don’t understand what all the smiling is about. What they seem to have produced, after years of controversy and several recent days of intensive negotiations, is a really tough policy statement which, while it takes pains to define “full employment,” does precious little to achieve full em ployment. The “interim” full-employment target for five years following enactment would be 3 percent for adults, 4 percent overall. The President would have to file each year a “short-term” plan for moving toward the “interim” target. The plan would include, in any mix that suited the President’s fancy, various tools made available by Congress. An innocent reading the bill would sup pose: (a) that the Congress wanted full employment while the President did not, and (b) that the Congress knew how to achieve full employment. They both want a substantial reduction in joblessness, of course, although the President seems to be more concerned than Humphrey-Hawkins supporters about exacerbating inflation. The problem isn’t in where they’d like the economy to go. The problem is in how to get it there, and although Humphrey- Hawkins lists the now-familiar range of options—including the government as an “employer of last resort—neither knows how to make the economy do what they’d like to see it do. But they talk as though wanting it to happen is the same as making it happen. Hear Hawkins: “Focusing federal economic policy deci sions around the goal of reducing unem ployment to full-employment levels is a major accomplishment which will posi tively affect the lives of not only teenagers and minority unemployed but also... You get the drift. But “focusing federal economic policy decisions around the goal of reducing un employment does not “positively affect the lives of anybody. Reducing unern- , ployment can positively affect the lives of us all. It is the result, not the focus that will do it. Similarly, the goal of “attaining reason able price stability as soon as feasible is unarguable. Who wouldn’t want to do exactly that? But what is the purpose of putting it in a piece of legislation? When Hawkins and Humphrey first worked out their controversial legislation, one of its principal features was a public employment feature that would kick in whenever joblessness in a particular area reached a certain triggering point. Another was a congressional authority to sue the President for not doing what Con gress set forth as the proper way to put the economy right. The compromise bill now being hailed also provides for the government’s role as employer of last resort, but no longer au tomatically. After all else fails, the Presi dent may come to the Congress and ask for public works programs. The right to sue has long since been abandoned. What remains is hardly more than a joint policy statement. There is some value in some of the specific tools provided in the bill and also in the requirement for an annual economic report from the Presi dent. At least that will ensure a regular debate on the problems of joblessness and inflation. But the absence of debate never was the problem. It was—and is—the absence of jobs for millions of people who want to work. I don’t see that Humphrey-Hawkins will do much for them. (c) 1977, The Washington Post Com pany Letters to the editor Students shouldn’t hold incident against police Editor: When I got out of my classes Wednes day evening I picked up my daily edition of the Battalion and proceeded into my dorm to read it. The first thing I noticed was the article about the patrolman ac cused of vainly trying to ignite the Aggie bonfire. Being a freshman student at Texas A&M, I feel that it is an honor to have the privilege of writing to the Battalion ex pressing my opinion concerning this mat ter. Since I was a little kid in kindergarten I have always trusted police officers. I thought that they were your friends and weren’t supposed to hurt you in any way. Setting the Aggie bonfire ablaze days early would surely have hurt many Aggies’ pride in and respect for the College Station Police Department. Since I have been in College Station I haven’t had any criticisms of my own to hand out to the police department, until now. The only criticism I have is that the police department made a bad and costly choice in choosing Gooch to be an officer of the law and should take more caution next time. A lot of Aggies have probably lost re spect for the College Station Police De partment, but I can assure Police Chief Byrd, that a lot of us still respect the police department and back it up 100 percent. I speak for myself as well as for many other Aggies in saying that we don’t hold this incident over the heads of the entire police force and we will keep on believing the old saying, “One bad apple doesn’t spbil the whole bunch.” —Jay Finley, ‘81 Editor’s note: As you say, ex-patrolman Gooch is definitely not typical of College Station policemen. Students will do well to remember that. Freedom before law (The following letter refers to Karen Boswell’s letter in the Nov. 17 Battalion.) Editor: When laws are made, they are made to fetter society (not a generalization). When the law stating that motorcyclists were not required to wear crash helmets was passed, I could not believe it. How could such a responsible law like that even be considered. Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous, as can be riding a bicycle, walking across the street, driving a car, hunting, flying, water skiing, snow skiing, smoking, work ing in a steel mill, playing politics, writing letters to the Battalion, etc. Even with all the proper clothing, people can still be hurt or killed in an accident in any of these activities. Can you imagine irresponsibil ity in any of these areas. Heaven forbid! Responsibility should definitely be legis lated. People are people, and as such, we must protect them from themselves? Most will use common sense in matters of safety, but those that do not will not be “saved from themselves” by some law, and if they were, what right does anyone have to tell an individual which choices to make? The mentality that says people should not be free to decide which personal rights and freedoms they will take is the same as that which: required people to wear motorcycle helmets in the first place, told us that by 1982 we cannot buy a new car without airbags, and tried to require that passengers in a car wear seatbelts. To these people I say, “respect the right of others to have personal freedoms just as you would have them respect yours. At that time when you do not feel responsible enough to make decisions for yourself, please don’t expect everyone else to be come slaves of society , also. —Joe Beall, ‘79 Astroturf no danger Editor: In response to Mr. Joe Heger’s remarks regarding the tradition of midnight yell practice (“May be hazardous,” Battalion Nov. 17), and guarding of Kyle Field, we agree with the tradition of protecting the field wholeheartedly. However, the rea son that he gave of the astroturf being highly flammable completely insults the intelligence of all Aggies. We would like to call to Mr. Heger’s attention the fact that Kyle Field is not used only during midnight yell practice. The facility is constantly being used for P.E. classes, jogging, athletic events, etc. and it is a benefit not only to A&M, but the residents of Bryan-College Station as well. The staduim is accessible at all times (except during football practice) with little or no regulations regarding its use. If the field is so much of a danger and so flammable as according to Mr. Heger, why isn’t the field protected at all times? Kyle Field is a source of pride to all Aggies, and from this pride comes a deep respect and desire not to hurt it. In short, Mr. Heger, we thank you for explaining the traditions, and hope that people will respect them. But don’t insult your fellow Aggies’ intelligence by offering such a poor reason for these traditions. —George Gallagher, ’79 —Mike Tissue, ’80 P.S. Since the field is so flammable, Coach Bellard, please don’t smoke your pipe on the field during practice for the safety of the team. Ramps not for bikes Editor: In response to Doug Luecke’s two cents worth in November 16 Batt, and I quote “...don’t walk in the bike paths or on the bike ramps, they were put there exclu sively for bikes.” Now I don’t ride a bike around campus. Personally I never really needed one. I’m sure its hard on the bike and rider to have to jump a curb, and its aggravating to have pedestrians blocking bike paths. Now as to the exclusive rights to the ramps. I’ve got word from extremely reliable sources that the ramps main purpose is to serve the handicapped. That is to be more precise, the wheelchair students. By the way, have you ever tried to jump a curb in a wheelchair? If you have any further questions on the ramps, I’d suggest you contact the university safety office. Timothy P. Beavers, ’79 of the News Campus piv P Class schedules ready About li rotc to atti [ool of the during )1 is hel Jan. 54 Class schedules for the spring semester are due for delivery todayat the Registrar’s office, first floor of the Coke Building. KAMU-TV recognized KAMU-TV, Texas A&M University-owned and managed eduta able by t fessor oi ies h W” ■ 0 get the irown wa; ingent pi was a 7. e tional television station, was singled out for recognition this year by tie jch fatigu American Council for Better Broadcasts (ACBB) for the station’s cial support of “Outstanding programs.” The ACBB this year recog nized 10 corporations and three foundations in addition to KAMU-Tt, Channel 15, which was the only television station cited. The Texas A&M facility was chosen for its support of the special “Cousteau: in Space.” KAMU-TV was joined by Friends of Cousteau Society Ford Foundation, Public Broadcasting Service and Corp. for Public Broadcasting in that particular special. State Women s conference strikes emotion The National Women’s Conference endorsed abortion, sex educa tion and lesbian rights Sunday amid emotional appeals pro and con, sign waving and a burst of balloons emblazoned with the gays' “We are everywhere. " The feminists proposals “reproductive free dom” and “sexual preference” divided the 2,000 delegates in Austin, more severely than any of the other previous proposals adopted by tie historic conferences — including the Equal Rights Amendment. De bate was also characterized by complaints of pushing and shovingatthe microphones where women gathered by the scores seeking to speak pace all pound nei mets. [hey got n notice 1 Jersey St. [the Wes Supervisee JCapt. L< an earl rch, the ’ m *l r Reed McDonald Building, College Station. Texas oW: United Press International is entitled exclusively 1°it* use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX o&w MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor . . Jamie Aitle: Managing Editor Mary Alice Woodh®* Editorial Director Lee Box Leschpwjr Sports Editor Paul Antf News Editors Marie Homey er, Carol ^ City Editor Rusty Cavdt’ Campus Editor KimTw* Copy Editor •. Beth C^Ik* 5 ; Reporters Gleniii Liz Newlin, Dav id Boggun. Mark Pltten* Photographer ken Henrfl Cartoonist Doug Gnftf 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- Student Publications Board: Bob G. Rogers, Chtiinw Joe Arredondo: Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. John R- Mw# Robert Harvey: Dr. Charles McCandless: Dr. Clinton t Phillips: Rebel Rice. Director of Student PubliciMoo Donald C. Johnson.