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Viewpoint
The Battalion Monday
Texas A&M University November 28, 1977
The riot that almost happened
Well, it almost happened. The riot that Texas A&M had never had, almost
happened. Not because the draft was reinstituted or in opposition to some
war or even over race problems, but because some people from Austin
walked on Kyle Field.
The real fireworks in Saturday’s A&M-Texas football game came before
the game. Something of a conflict of traditions. It seems that while the
University of Texas band (yes, that is the school’s correct name) plays “The
Eyes of Texas’’ before each game, a group of students unfurl a massive Texas
State flag on the football field. Now the Aggies also have something of a
tradition in not letting anyone other than yell leaders and football players
step on Kyle Field before a football game. Obviously there lies the potential
for a pretty strong confrontation, especially when emotions run as high as
they were Saturday.
Members of the UT band. Cowboys spirit group and the “flag-bearing”
student group all promised Head Yell Leader Joe Reagan before the game
they would remain off the field, Reagan said last night. But apparently the
“spirit” of the moment got to be too much for some of them; when the
Longhorn band started their school song, the flag-furlers got ready for their
dash across the field.
One thing stood in their way — a group of rather determined senior Corps
members. While the seniors were standing their ground, some of Longhorn
fans began coming onto the field, apparently to support “their side.” After
encouragement from Corps “officers of the day” assigned to keep people off
the field, and assistance from law officers in one or two instances, those folks
left the field and Yell leader Reagan told the senior Corps members to do the
same.
No longer blocked, the flag-furlers rushed onto the field but quickly found
themselves beset by Corps members coming onto the field from all sides to
request their prompt departure. And after a moment they did leave the
field, amid shouts of anger from Aggies and of support from Longhorn fans.
To add flavor to the general riot atmosphere a small army of photgraphers
decended like a swarm of bees, snapping photos of anything and everything
that might look violent. Somehow, after all that it was still possible to hold a
football game, without any blood having been spilled.
So whose fault was it? Perhaps nobody’s, perhaps everybody’s.
Certainly, the Longhorn fans were asked courteously enough before the
game to respect that Aggie tradition and stay off the field. That doesn’t seem
too much to ask of a visiting opponent.
Now that tradition has a practical side. If somebody doesn’t maintain
control over fans and spectators before a game, there could be all kinds of
delays in starting the game, not to mention the kind of fracas that resulted
Saturday. The only difference is that crowd control here is controlled by
students, not police officers. But in this particular case, wouldn’t it have
been less trouble and less dangerous to just let the Longhorn fans display
their flag and then get off the field, without the near riot instead?
But the main point is, nobody was hurt. Anytime hundreds of blood-
crazed Longhorns and Aggies can be in such close quarters and so ready to
tear each other apart, with each side sure they’re in the “right,” and nobody
gets killed, somebody did something right.
In this case it was the yell leaders and Corps members who did control
most of the crowd and the Corps, and the Texas Cowboys, who controlled
almost all of the Longhorn fans. The one fist-fight that broke out was quickly
stopped. Most anywhere else that confrontation would have had as many
casualties as a minor war.
So we commend the gentlemen on both sides who kept that “almost” riot
from happening. L.R.L.
Oldest Senate committee showing age
By NICHOLAS DANILOFF
l niled Press International
WASHINGTON—The prestigious Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee will be
161 years old Dec. 10. The oldest commit
tee of the Senate, it has begun showing
signs of feebleness.
Over the years, its prestige grew from
the fact that from its ranks came six presi
dents, nine vice presidents, T& secretaries
Washington window
of state and countless ambassadors. It has
approved and perfected much legislation,
including such far-reaching measures as
the Marshall Plan after World War II.
Part of its problem today appears to be
the loose hand with which Sen. John
Sparkman, a distinguished, 77-year-old
Alabaman, runs the panel. Known as a de
cent and courtly man, Sparkman seems to
radiate no very clear sense of direction.
Nor does he exhibit any compulsive drive
to rally votes and advance the adminis
tration’s foreign affairs legislation.
The State Department, which has
worked intimately with a number of
Sparkman’s predecessors, has not leaned
on the Alabaman since he succeeded J.
William Fulbright in 1975.
Nor have other Senate committees de
ferred to the Foreign Relations commit
tee. An Armed Services subcommittee
under Sen. Henry Jackson, D-Wash,
moved in to rival the committee in review
ing a new U.S.-Soviet strategic arms
treaty.
Recently, Sparkman has oceassionally
yielded to Sen. Hubert Humphrey,
D-Minn., in the arduous task of managing
complicated bills on the Senate floor. But
Humphrey, now terminally ill with
cancer, is no longer able to provide the
leadership.
Sen. Frank Church, Dddaho, has tried
repeatedly to step into the breach and as
sume some leadership duties. But accord
ing to aides, he has irritated Sparkman,
who believes he is doing a good job as
chairman and resents being upstaged by a
junior colleague.
Church, according to another commit
tee staffer, is biding his time awaiting
Spar km an s departu re.
Meanwhile, Sen. Dick Clark, D-Iowa,
is moving quietly to generate new
dynamism. Clark has worked industriously
from the fringes of power, showing a knack
for making much out of small pickings.
When he first joined the committee,
Clark was offered the African subcommit
tee, a panel which had been quiescent for
years. Clark used it to probe the deepen
ing Soviet involvement in Angola in 1975.
Now Clark has immersed himself in
Soviet affairs. He gave a speech this fall
calling for federal help for Russian studies.
He would like to counter the impressive
influence Jackson has built up in the de
tails of strategic arms control.
But for the moment, Jackson has the
upper hand with Secretary of State Cyrus
Vance, who pays close attention to
Jackson s arms control subcommittee.
The Armed Services Committee has no
formal jurisdiction over the strategic arms
treaty, but Vance knows Jackson’s incisive
criticisms could doom any SALT 2 accord
if they are not taken into account.
A pivotal issue for the Foreign Relations
Committee will be the Panama Canal
treaties. Committee staffers do not feel the
th ree weeks of hearings held in September
and October educated the public, or that
the State Department provided sufficient
support.
Committee Chief of Stafl Norville Jones
is now planning for more hearings in
January, and possibly an informal commit
tee trip to Panama. Such a visit would
supplement the trip Senate Democratic
leader Robert Byrd led to Panama.
The panel, looked on by some senators
as being too liberal, does not now have the
automatic influence which might lead the
Senate to ratification of the treaties.
Diplomatic strategists believe that un
less it becomes clear that two-thirds of the
Senate will support the controversial
treaties, it would be better to let them ex
pire in committee than die a slow death on
the Senate calendar or go down in a nega
tive Senate vote.
Tetters to the editor
Different points
of view on
bonfire
Editor:
This letter is in response to City Editor
Rusty Cawley’s article College Station
Surrenders to Bonfire, and what we feel is
his unsympathetic attitude. Safety is a
must, but we also feel bonfire must remain
where it is. Why cannot Aggies work with
the City Council to insure the safety of the
city’s residents? Maybe students could pay
the cost of fire protection themselves. A
little imaginative thinking can solve the
problem, if it does exist.
All the complaints about the expense of
maintaining fire protection for the Aggie
Bonfire do not consider the income the
city receives due to the influx of thousands
of Aggie fans to see it. It is a small price to
pay for the economic benefits the city
reaps from the 30,000 Aggies that put Col
lege Station on the map.
Another point. No matter where you
put bonfire, fire protection must still be
provided. Grass burns too. So you gain no
thing economically as far as the city itself is
concerned.
The close proximity of bonfire inspires
all Aggies to work on it. No matter if they
are c.t.’s, non-regs, off-campus or on-
campus. Out of sight, out of mind. It
should remain by the campus, the heart of
Aggi eland.
Mr. Cawley does not seem to realize the
things that make Aggie Spirit. We want to
see recognition of the many factors that
nourish it and build Aggie Spirit in each
incoming class. We are concerned about
the danger of fire, but it is a problem that
can be solved. We are tired of negative
attitudes. Unfortunately, Mr. Cawley’s at
titude is perhaps more appropriate for the
pages of the Daily Texan.
The stack should stay.
—Gib Hafernick, ’76
Randy Hohlaus, ’76
Patrick D. Choyce, ’80
Editor’s note: Gentlemen, nowhere in
Mr. Cawley’s column will you find any
suggestion to move the bonfire. What you
will find is the truth about a very real
problem. The income College Station re
ceives from students doesn’t mean a thing
to the resident whose house burns to the
ground. We’d like to know as much as you
why the University and the city can’t work
together to find a solution.
By the way, Mr. Cawley’s ‘limited
point of view’ may be broader than
yours. He’s watched the bonfire just
about every one of the 20 years he’s lived
in this community.
Drivers need love
Editor:
Last week when I was on the shuttle
bus, this guy got on the bus and started
yelling at the driver. He accused him of
purposely being late and not doing his job.
Though the driver said he was right on
schedule, the student kept right on mak
ing accusations against him. Apparently,
the student was in a bad mood because he
was late for a class.
Some students just don’t realize that the
drivers are doing the best they can. Many
times the drivers are plagued by driver-
relief problems or “When can I eat
lunch?” problems. Another frequent prob
lem is the mechanical breakdowns of the
buses.
So you see, it’s not always the driver’s
fault if the bus is not there when you want
it. You impatient students are going to
have to learn that if you want to get to class
on time, you will have to be out at the bus
stop 30 minutes early. Sure you will be
mad is the bus is late, but you don’t have
to take it out on the driver.
—Lilli Gustainis, ‘81
Hello operator?
Editor:
I am presently sitting by the phone in
my dorm room, wondering how it would
feel to be able to place simple phone calls
with consistent success. All too often,
when I reach for the receiver, there is no
dial tone. Even when a dial tone is at
tained, the battle isn’t over. I then must
cross my fingers when trying to get an out
side line and when placing long distance
calls.
Supposedly, the fault lies in the com
pany’s lack of phone lines available for use.
What’s wrong with installing some sup
plemental lines? Just because the phone
company maintains a monopoly doesn’t
mean we have to take the poor service.
: How about it, General Telephone?
—Alan Ratterree
Credit long overdue
Editors:
I would like to take this opportunity to
recognize the Battalion staff for the excel
lent work put into the daily publication of
the Battalion. It is always out early in the
mid-afternoon in accessable convenient
locations for most students.
The paper itself is super. It has a section
for everything, which keeps students in
formed on all the latest happenings on and
off campus.
I especially enjoy the sports section be
cause of the fine coverage of Southwest
Conference followings. The sports writers
contribute commendable efforts to the
Battalion. They keep the students up to
date with the latest information from the
Aggie locker room, reports from Coach
Bellard, and excellent coverage of the
games.
I believe the Battalion is also a part of
A&M tradition. The student body should
-recognize it’s staff' for the hard work put
into each issue. Keep up the good work
staff, and let’s give credit where credit has
been long overdue.
—Sherri Marino
Ag spirit still alive
Editor:
We are writing this letter to express our
deep appreciation to all the good Ags that
helped us on our trip to TCU. Our car
broke down in Hearne Friday night, and
four cars of Ags guided us in a caravan to
Dallas, making sure we would get there
safely. Over the weekend, we had to jump
our car every time we wanted to start it,
and many other Ags aided us in our efforts.
We would especially like to thank the
freshman and juniors of F-l, the juniors of
Sq. 6, and the sophomores of D-l. If these
Ags would not have helped us, we would
not have been able to attend the TCU
game. It’s nice to know the tradition and
spirit of the Good Ag is still alive at
TAMU. Thanks ya’ll.
—Debi Sobotik, ‘79, Kathy Whitty,
‘79, Sonia Jerez, ‘80
Top of the News
Campus
Calendar deadline set
Deadline for entries on the 1978 Spring All-University Calendaris
5 p.m. November 30. Any recognized student organization with spe
cial events planned may submit dates. The January-Februarv
monthly activities calendar will includes dates from January 22 to
February 28. The deadline for entries on the monthly calendar is
December 9. Request forms are available in the Student Activities
Office, Room 221 of the MSG. For more information, call 845-1134.
Student 1
applications
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Minorities march
About 200 blacks and Mexican-Americans silently marched
through downtown Dallas Saturday to honor minority victims of al
leged police brutality throughout the state. Organizers of the demon
stration said the march was the beginning of organized resistance to
civil rights violations in Texas. Many of the marchers were young,
wore black armbands and carried signs bearing the names of five
victims: Santos Rodriguez of Dallas, Juan Veloz Zuniga of Hudspeth
County, Richard Morales of Castroville, Joe Campos Torres of Hous
ton, and Michael Morehead of Dallas.
FBI investigation promised
A U.S. attorney has promised an FBI investigation into the death
of East Texas civil rights leader Frank J. Robinson, according to the
Anderson County Voters Defense Fund in Palestine. Robinson was
found shot to death in the garage of his home Oct. 14, 1976, a shotgun
lying across his legs. The death was originally ruled a murder by local
police but after a long, expensive and controversial inquest, a jury
ruled Robinson had committed suicide. At a joint press conference
Saturday with the committee, Robinson’s wife said she had receiveda
telephone threat from a man who claimed to have killed her husband,
a retired school superintendant active in civil rights work.
Nation
Louisiana pulls in $1.5 hillion
Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism re
leased a report during the weekend saying 3.6 million people have
visited Louisiana so far this year and pumped $1.5 billion into the
economy. According to the study, most of the out-of-state visitors
were from Texas and most travelled by car. In a survey taken in July,
tourists said they enjoyed visiting the French Quarter, plantation
homes and Louisiana restaurants. Among the dislikes were mosqui
toes, humidity, seedy shops on Bourbon Street and the high cost of
motels.
10-mile parade moves along
A 10-mile long parade of 1,950 tractors, combines, pickup tnicks
and semi-tractor trailers Sunday moved along U.S. 183 in support of
the American Agriculture movement’s proposed nationwide strike.
The march ended at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan., where
4,500 persons attended a meeting. Organizers had hoped for as many
as 7,000 farmers and their families to attend the rally.
Many wounded in shotgun fire
A police investigator was killed and 24 persons injured Saturday
night in Omaha, Neb. by a “casual,” well-dressed gunman who
sprayed shotgun fire into a supper club crowd waiting for a puppet
show, officials said. A suspect was arrested later. Capt. Charles
Gruber said the suspect had made a statement. It was believed the
anrest was made after authorities staked out an area in north Omaha,
about five hours after the shooting at Club 89 in west Omaha. “We
thought it was part of the stage act, ” said Kenneth Joos of Omaha,
whose wife and two daughter-in-laws were wounded in the incident.
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ILA workers may be back
Two International Longshoremen’s Association locals have reached
tentative contract agreements and the president of one said members
may be able to take a back-to-work vote by Tuesday. Wilfred Daliet
said Saturday night in New Orleans contracts for checkers, clerks and
freight handlers still were unresolved, but another negotiating ses
sion was scheduled Sunday and he said he was optimistic and “very
controversial” local issues still to be worked out could be resolved.
World
Paperwork may stop release
American prisoners Sunday charged bureaucratic bungling could
leave 72 prisoners eligible for the U.S.-Mexico prisoner exchange
program trapped by red tape in Mexican jails. The prisoners said that
of 290 American prisoners declared eligible for the exchange by the
U.S. State Department, 72 may not be home by Christmas because of
missing documents. A U.S. Embassy spokesman said the prisoners’
figures do not coincide with those of the embassy. Donny Gregg, 32,
of Santa Cruz, Calif., serving a six-year drug sentence, said Mexican
officials told him he would not be on the list because his papers are
not in order.
Weather
Cloudy and mild today and tomorrow with easterly winds
5-10 mph shifting to northerly 15-25 mph tonight. 30 percent
chance of rain today increasing to 60 percent tonight. High
today mid-70s. Low tonight low 50s. High tomorrow mid-
60s.
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 newsjmper. Editorial policy is determined by the
editor.
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subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The
editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does
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number for verification.
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College
Station, Texas 77843.
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Second-Class postage paid at College Station, IX
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Jamie
Managing Editor Mary Alice W(
Editorial Director Lee Roy Leschp^
Sports Editor Paul A j
News Editors Marie Homeyer, CarolM '
City Editor Rust) Cl*
Campus Editor Kimf?
• Copy Editor BethO
Reporters Glenna Wl
Liz Newlin, David Boggan, Mark P*^
Photographer KenH^
Cartoonist DougCf
Student Publications Board: Bob G. Rogers, Choi*
Joe Arredondo: Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. John W. //**
Robert Harvey: Dr. Charles McCandlcss: Dr. Cliil 0
Phillips; Rebel Rice. Director of Student Puhlirf?,
Donald C. Johnson.