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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1977)
Viewpoint The Battalion Wednesday Texas A&M University November 30, 1977 Who says Aggies Togetherness is returning to Aggieland. Leave it to the Texas A&M athletic department to bring Aggies closer together while giving them more of that most precious of commodities — Aggie football tickets. It seems the athletic department had planned for some time to replace the fiberglass stadium seats in Kyle Field with new aluminum ones after this football season. And some fertile mind in that department made a earth- shattering discovery. Aggies are getting thinner! The old-fashioned 18-inch-wide Aggie is disappearing and being replaced by a trimmer 16-inch model. So the old 18-inch football seats are going too, to be replaced by new 16-inch aluminum ones. What could be simpler? But here’s the punch line: By shaving two inches off each bleacher seat in Kyle Field the athletic department will have 5,276 more seats to sell at very reasonable prices. But in this age of scarce football tickets, there aren’t many Aggies who wouldn’t surrender two inches for a chance at better seats in Kyle Field or any seats in Kyle Field. “Squeeze, Army!” could take on a whole new meaning. L.R.L. Rusty Cawley Sorry ma’am, but for your size seat you’ll have to buy two tickets.” Sifting through election year junk mail A city editor doesn’t need a calendar to tell him election time is near. He just checks his mailbox. There, burying an occasional city coun cil agenda or a school district press release, lays the bulk of his mail: political junk mail. Though the primaries aren’t until May, political candidates started their various campaigns last summer. And with winter approaching, they aren’t about to let themselves to be left out in the cold. Most of the mail is coming from candi dates for the 6th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, presently held by Rep. Olin Teague. Illness and age have taken their toll on Teague. He probably will not seek the post for the first time in 30 years. There are several who want to replace him. The prime candidates are Don McNiel, an Alvarado rancher; Ron Godbey, a Dal las television weatherman; Chet Edwards, a former Teague aide; and Phil Gramm, a Texas A&M professor of economics. McNiel is the rookie, the only one of the four without political experience. He visited College Station in October, seek ing support from Texas A&M students. He campaigns as “a fresh new face for Congress,” his billboards broadcasting the slogan all over town. His tactic is to go straight to the public, cutting the press out as middle man. Godbey has been somewhat invisibile in our area, focusing his campiagn at the northern end of the district where he is known as a newscaster but he is no rookie. He opposed Teague in the 1976 Demo cratic primary, receiving 46 per cent of the vote. Chet Edwards is touring the state with what he calls a “go to work” campaign. He puts in 8-hour-days pumping gas, sacking groceries, busing tables and constructing homes. He wants to be identified with the common man. He, like McNiel and Gramm, also wants to be known as Teague’s choice for the job. Phil Gramm has chosen a different route, addressing every issue he can find. This month he officially protested health plan guidelines set by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Incidently, so did Teague. Four different approaches to the same race, but each concerned with the same end, getting at much publicity as possible. Common sense. The votes go to whoever can get his name on the biggest billboards, in the brightest lights and on the most car bum pers. Names stick in the minds. Issues don’t. Still, there’s a certain officiality that goes with getting your name in the paper or on the tube, an air no advertising cam paign can lend. That’s why I’m getting so much mail. City Editor Rusty Cawley writes a weekly commentary on local affairs, government and politics. Applying Newton to congressional politics By ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — Newton’s First Law of Motion, which tells us that a moving body keeps moving unless something gets in its way, has a political corollary. The parallel axiom in politics is that in cumbent elected officials tend to remain in office unless something happens to change Washington Window the conditions under which they were elected. There is nowhere that this is more evi dent than in the Congress. Senators and House members who choose to seek re- election usually make it, barring some economic, social or political upheaval. There were 18 new senators on hand for the opening of the 1977 session of Con gress, but nine of them were replacing senators who did not seek re-election. In the House, 64 freshmen were sworn in, but 51 of them came from districts where the incumbent was not running. Many reasons can be given for the high percentage of incumbent survival in poli tics. One of the major factors is voter rec ognition, which comes from media atten tion. Another is the very human tendency to support a proven winner rather than take a chance on an unknown challenger. It is this element that almost always guarantees incumbent elected officials ample contributions to finance re-election campaigns. Every recent study indicates that below the presidency, incumbents almost always have more money at their disposal than challengers, whatever their politics. Incumbents often can get re-elected without spending a lot of money, but chal lengers seldom can knock off incumbents without heavy spending. That may be why there is such strong politicians to swallow a strong does of what looks like sure poison to them. IWW0N[)ra6l£«*f!. Eoy. ITS LUCKY" OF US 15 PREGNANT thish shtuff coulp REALLY be harmful TO OUK. HEALPHTH opposition to public financing of House and Senate campaigns in a Congress that imposed the same arrangement on presi dential candidates in 1976. Public financing means challengers would have as much money for their cam paigns as incumbents, thereby eliminating one of the major advantages that accounts for the high percentage of re-elections. That is the kind of “lifeboat issue” — to borrow a phrase from Rep. Barbara Mikulski — that can override other con siderations that might seem on the surface to be important. Thus the fact that both President Carter and Speaker Thomas O’Neill favor public financing of congressional campaigns does not mean it has a good chance of passing in the House, even with its two-thirds Dem ocratic majority. In this case, party loyalty — fragile enough in Congress — falls be fore political self-preservation. Common Cause, which has had remark able success in pushing congressional re forms, still believes public financing can be passed. It intends to push the issue in the 1978 session of Congress, believing that public financing will pass if legislation can be brought to the floor and members forced to vote on it in the open. If that is correct, it will constitute a re markable feat: persuading a large group of Letters to the editor Is somebody using tradition as an excuse? Editor: We think the action of the Corps before the game was a show of poor sportsman ship! We think it would have been only minimal courtesy to allow the Texas fans to show their support for their team by show ing the state flag. The cry of “It’s tradition!” is the refuge of those who cannot provide an adequate reason to support their stance. In this in stance even that is not a valid reason! A few years ago the Texas fans showed the flag with no disturbance. It seems to us that this diplay of intoler ance and infelxibility is indeed a poor re flection of a great school like A&M — Robert M. Holdar, Tom Steckel View from Austin Editor: Re: a battle that has been fought and lost before. Texas A&M University has long at tempted to promote respect and enthusiasm for their many well-worn tra ditions, which is all well and good except when they blatantly refuse the respect and acknowledge the traditions of their fellow schools. A prime example of this was experi enced by all at last Saturday’s football game. The Corps refused to allow the Texas flag to be carried onto the field (one of OUR traditions). I realize that it is an Aggie tradition not to let anyone on the field before the players, but how do they ac count for the hoards of people meandering around the turf that afternoon, including Miss U.S. A.? I have attended several football games at Kyle Field, and this refusal to allow their opponents to perform their pre-game traditions has been a problem present at every game. The Corps, drawing their swords (albiet in their sheaths) and block ing the fans and flag, make for a great deal of anger and bad feeling even before the game begins! I am not interested in assigning blame for the events of last Saturday, but shouldn’t it be a major intent of all of our SWC schools to promote and respect the traditions of each other, as well as our own? If A&M wants their opponents to re spect their traditions, and be awed by their spirit, perhaps a reciprocal amount of respect is in order. Would it be too pre sumptuous of me, a mere Teasip, to suggest a re-evaluation of one or two Aggie traditions for the betterment of the Con ference and the promotion of more fellow ship among the Universities? — Mary Lins Austin, Texas A non-complaint Editor: In view of all the negative comments I have listened to since Saturday’s game, I feel that someone needs to voice something other than complaints. Maybe the Bonfire did topple within fif teen minutes of being lit, but unless a per son put in as much time and effort into building it as the Red-pots did, don’t com plain. I feel that they did the best they could, and people should give them the credit they deserve. Granted, we were out- scored in the game, but I think the football team deserves a round of applause for their spirit, determination, and second effort throughout the entire game. I am also proud of the Twelfth Man, and was moved when I saw almost the entire student section still filled after the game for the yell-practice. Ags, you still have that certian spirit found nowhere but at Texas A&M University, and all I can say is just, BEAT THE HELL OUT OF COUGAR HIGH! — Bob Hilmo, ’78 Thanks to Bellard Coach Emory Bellard: This is an open letter to congratulate you. Your staff, and team on one fine, ex citing football season. It’s also an apology for all the two percenters and critics out there. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be these ‘ Saturday afternoon “coaches, ” but I doubt they have the cour age to do so. They pay their $8 for a ticket and then think they have the right to be an assistant coach. I was raised to respect a person in a par ticular position because he has achieved such position by knowing more about the job than I do. I, for one among the “true Ags,” have enjoyed watching the Aggies this season. You already have established a winning season and have two more games to play to improve on it. I personally sat through a bunch of 2-9 and 3-7 seasons to complain about losing only three games. I also realize that those three games were to> teams ranked 3rd, 8th, and 1st when we played them. They achieved those rank ings by being good football teams. And those three teams are playing in the big three bowl games. That is some pretty tough opposition to out score. The team has nothing to be ashamed of or feel bad about in my opinion. They have represented A&M to the best of their abil ity and I’m still proud to be an Aggie. You have produced one of the most exciting teams at A&M in some time. Some people complain of our offense and yet the team only needs a mere 31 yards rushing to be come the best rushing team in history! Mr. Dickey will probably pick that up in one carry on his way to a 1000 yard season. This will be the first time in SWC history for a team to have to 1000 yard rushers. Not even t.u. can boast of such an accom plishment! And not since 1940-42 has A&M appeared in three consecutive bowl games. Just more evidence of what a great job Coach Bellard has done for A&M. Congratulations once again and beat the hell out of Cougar High and U.S. C. — Larry T. Lawson, ’73 Animals abused Editor: “After they’ve boosted all the rest. They will come and join the best.” The best— A group of Ags repeatedly tormenting a helpless bird on Kyle Field. A yell “leader” needlessly throwing an already frightened armadillo to the ground. Saturday’s horse laugh most certainly goes to these Ags who found it necessary to abuse helpless animals in order to dis play their “spirit.” — Pam and Gary Karnavas Treatment sickening Editor: At the football game on Saturday last, the chicken in the orange vest, which for some reason could not fly, was a pathetic sight when tossed in the air (by some members of the Corp of Texas A&M) only to thud repeatedly to the ground. To many compassionate persons this was a sickening and an inhumane treat ment of any living thing. The Aggie school spirit in many ways is admirable but not this so-called humor ex hibited at the A&M-Texas game, Satur day, November 27, 1977 at Kyle Field. — Lee Beck Top of the Neviisfai State Istate Robinson sues publisher United Pre USTON - larg< ization Tut will work u amendm itural land active val ;e t value. Oilman Ash Robinson has sued the paperback and magazine nnh fishers of “Blood and Money” for $20 million in federal court f allegedly libeling him. The action filed Monday in Houston was most identical to the one Robinson, 79, filed against the author Sent 15. The book told the purported story of the deaths of Joan Robins^ Hill and her husband Dr. John R. Hill, who was shot at his hom 11 while awaiting trial for his first wife’s alleged murder. jrrol Chalo | grain and 1 ,5 Farm Bu on in respo ral’s ruling ram w’as ur form. lent Children must go The mistress of Texas millionaire T. Cullen Davis must give up her two children — at least temporarily — “while she pursues her own happiness and her affair,” said a divorce court judge. Judge Joe Edi- son issued a temporary restraining order Monday prohibiting Karen Joyce Master from taking her two sons “around or near Cullen Davis.” The action came from a request by Master’s estranged hus band who had custody of the children while Davis, 44, and Mrs Master, 29, were on a weekend skiing in Aspen, Colo. exas Attorne led the opir i to Houstoi Iexplained tl Mention delt ipka sa [or Gov. D lation. [have no r he : pody. ill Briscoe's tax campaign misleading Former Texas Republican chairman Ray Hutchison, calling Gov. Dolph Briscoe’s no-new-tax campaign theme incredibly misleading, announced Tuesday he will seek the GOP nomination for governor. Hutchison read his prepared announcement at news conferences in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, emphasizing his conten tion that state government had grown too big and was getting out of control. He is the second Republican in the race. Former deputy secretary of defense William Clements of Dallas is the other. Nation FBI nominee says no United 1 luSTIN —C i Tuesday jerid John : es” before < jutionality o liltural lane Irket value. j ruled tl 17 Legislat Inal, and Jemented m 1 Texas vote |nal amend: t of t mula other attorne a news cor litical oppo ■embarrass ■eon the v; ■The truth Alabama federal judge Frank Johnson said Tuesday he will ask Pres ident Carter to withdraw his nomination as FBI director because of health reasons, Attorney General Griffin Bell announced. Bell held a news conference after talking long distance with Johnson, who underwent successful surgery Aug. 26 for a ballooned abdominal ar tery. Bell said he would not make any decision for at least two weeks on what to do about another successor to FBI Director Clarence Kelly, who retires Jan. 1. Ur Hubert zr- Lost college students found Fourteen Montreal college students, two days over-due on a hike in the mountains of northern Vermont, Tuesday were located safe and sound. “All appears well,’ Don Hall, director of student activities at Dawson College said in Montreal. They were spotted on the east side of Jay Peak, near a cabin. Hall said a helicopter pilot indicated the students were attempting to walk out of the bushland along the 3,800-foot mountain. A ground search team later met the students, aged 16-20, and led by experienced hiker, Jamey Burwash, 19. The students had left Montreal at 8:30 a. m. Friday and were scheduled to emerge from a section of Long Trail at 4 p.m. Sunday. Won Hughes ‘Mormon will' on trial There is plenty of evidence, including analysis of the ink, proving that the “Mormon will” is the authentic last testament of Howard Hughes, the jury was told Monday on the opening day of testimony in the trial to determine the fate of Hughes’ fortune. The documents bizarre form and strange history may be part of the proof, attorney Harold Rhoden argues, saying his case would fink Hughes’ eccentric conduct and the strange “will”. Hughes was suffering from mental instability caused by uremic poisoning that brings on symptoms seen both in Hughes’ life and the “will” he said. Rhoden, charged with proving the document is authentic, occupied the first day of tes timony with his opening statement and was expected to continue with the jury out of court, on the admissibility of expected testimony. Dockworkers to accept contract Striking dockworkers have voted overwhelmingly to accept new three-year contracts with East and Gulf coast shippers, International Longshoremen’s Association President Thomas W. Gleason an nounced Tuesday. The settlement, which contains job security provisions and wage increases, ended a two-month-old strike agains containerized and automated shipping cargoes. Weather Decreasing cloudiness Wednesday becoming cloudy to partly cloudy th is even ing. Fair ton ight and tomorrow. Warmer afternoons and cool nights. High both days near 60. Low tonight mid 30s. Southwesterly winds 10 mph. 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. RoOffl nished on request. Address: The Balt i —L Reed McDonald Building, College United Press International is entit e use for reproduction of all news dispatc t 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. 6 g Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. use lor reproaucuuii ui an herein resc Rights of reproduction of all other n,a, * < ' r . TW* Second-Class postage paid at College * member Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Cong ' e “ anl!e Ai'i» Editor Alice Wod*^ Managing Editor "aO ^sdiper!' Editorial Director Ue Boy . Sports Editor Carol News Editors Marie Homey (j& City Editor . Kim^ Campus Editor g e th Copy Editor C | enna Reporters u ar l gen Liz Newlin, David Bogga", 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- Photographer Cartoonist . . . Dong Ci*' Student Publications Board: Bob n' Hi' 1 ’ 1 Joe Arredondo: Dr. Gary Halter, p,. clinic’^ Robert Harvey; Dr. Charles McCn” *7' Phillips; Rebel Rice. Director of Mil" Donald C. Johnson. Who s draft b S'