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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Tuesday January 17, 1978 Foreign policy dictates privacy law Almost any law can be made to look ridiculous if it is interpreted in ridiculous ways. The state department seems to have done that with respect to the Privacy Act of 1974. When an American citizen died last summer in a fall from the 11th floor of Moscow’s Intourist Hotel, the U.S. Embassy withheld his identity and facts of his death from American reporters on the ground that disclosure would be an invasion of privacy under the 1974 act. The law prohibits the federal government from giving out certain informa tion it has collected about a citizen without the citizen’s consent. With various federal agencies collecting and computerizing information about citi zens, the law was designed to prevent the exchange and easy dissemination of such information. Rep. William S. Moorhead, who helped write the act, said its authors never intended it to bar the release of information about Americans arrested, convicted or otherwise having difficulties abroad. But the state department told its employees essentially to follow the policy of the host country. In Russia very little police information is given out — ergo, don’t give out information about a death the police investigated. Such a rule might make sense regarding host country citizens. With respect to American citizens, however, why graft foreign law onto an American statute? Perhaps the state department should shed some light on the privacy of its bureaucratic thinking. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Ml V&o^cf-WVZ SWAMP 6A5 PWEN5MEA/A." The press in cloak and dagger By ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — A network radio commentator recently observed that the United States was about the only country he knew of — including some democracies — that is concerned by the use of re porters as spies. That statement, part of an account of the recent hearings into employment of jour nalists by the CIA, betrayed a lack of sen sitivity to the constitutional relationship of press and government in this country that would flunk a freshman journalism stu dent. For openers, the comment almost surely was misleading in its assertion that the practice of hiring reporters as intelli gence agents is countenanced in other countries. It may well be true that many govern ments, including democracies, see noth ing wrong with the practice. But after the last turbulent decade it should be clear that it is risky to assume that the policies of government always reflect the attitudes of the governed. Washington Window So it is just possible that not everyone in Britain, France or West Germany ap proves of the clandestine marriage of jour nalism and espionage. It also is possible that the people in those countries-were not told about, let alone asked for their endorsement of, such practices. But that it is beside the point for the United States. Here, the issue of jour nalists secretly working for the govern ment involves constitutional questions that do not arise in other countries. The First Amendment gives the news media in the United States a unique status. The framers of the constitution gave only two institutions — the press and religion — immunity from government in terference. They did it in language so ab solute that some legal scholars believe the First Amendment coidd not be altered ex cept by a constitutional convention of the states. There are limits on freedom of the press — libel, for example — but there is very little that the civil authority can do to re strict reporting and comment on govern ment activity. Even during wartime cen sorship had been imposed by the press on itself, not by the government. This constitutional grant of immunity entitles the public to a privately owned Mondale’s Mexican reception may be chilly By CAROL COOK United Press International MEXICO CITY — When Vice- Presi dent Walter Mondale comes to Mexico on a good-will visit Saturday, he will find bilateral relations at their coolest since President Carter took office. The reason is twofold— illegal migrants and natural gas. The migrant problem is a historic one based on Mexico’s chronic jobless rate and the U.S. market for cheap labor. But Car ter’s plan for undocumented foreign work ers is not to Mexico’s liking. Mexico worries that the program, which would give non-deportable status to illegal migrants who arrived between 1970 and Jan. 1, 1977, will lead to tighter controls on Mexican workers in the future. The U.S. job market is an important safety valve for Mexico’s unemployed. The gas issue is a newer one, but politi cally more volatile because it concerns Mexico’s energy resources. Mexico has canceled plans for the U.S. link in ah 800-mile gas pipeline that would have been feeding a billion cubic feet of natural gas a day into the United States by the start of next year. The move came after the U.S. Energy Department turned down Mexico’s price on future sales of natural gas — $2.60 per thousand cubic feet — which had been ac cepted by six U.S. gas companies contract ing to buy the gas in 1979. Energy Secretary James Schlesinger reasoned that the companies were looking for a precedent to deregulate gas prices from their current domestic rate of $1.75. Canadian gas costs $2.16. In Mexico, energy has not been just a matter of pesos but a highly charged polit ical issue since the nation nationalized its oil resources in 1938. The U.S. decision is seen here as a form of economic pressure, evidenced by the fact that the Export-Import Development Bank in Washington blocked a loan to fi nance the pipeline until the price was : fixed. Mexico canceled a $33 million pipe con tract with U.S. Steel and will get the ma terials from Japan and Europe instead. The pipeline will be built, but will stop short of the border and branch off to sup ply industries in northern Mexico. The United States thinks Mexico will have to lower its price and sell to its north ern neighbor, Mexican officials say the United States will have to accept their price, or an even higher one, sooner or later. Meanwhile, Mexico feels like the victim of a domestic price squabble between, the Carter administration and the oil com panies. And it feels ill used by Eximbank. The withholding of financing to put pressure on prices was denounced by President Jose Lopez Portillo as “a serious step backward’’ in U.S.-Mexico relations. The price squabble was particularly galling to Mekico because the pipeline had put the .gpve.rnrrieht^in’',an annoying political bind. • Ultra-nationalists and leftists charged the pipeline would be a giveaway of Mexico’s hydrocarbon wealth, calling it “Mexico’s Panama Canal.” The government was placed on the de fensive, and now it seems the pipeline will not go to the United States after all. So the government is faced with dispos ing of the estimated surplus 2 billion cubic feet of gas a day it will have available by 1981. The state oil company, Pemex, says it can sell the gas domestically, and Lopez Portillo has suggested a pipeline be built to supply Central America. Politically, it will be very difficult for Mexico to back down on the price now. As Pemex director Jorge Diaz Serrano said recently, “We don’t want to sell cheaply; we can wait.” Exploring the case of the kissable cop By DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — At first I was only listening with half an ear so I didn’t catch all the details. But on the radio the other day they were talking about a case in which a male motorist had tried to kiss a policewoman who was giving him a traffic ticket. That sort of thing is, I would imagine, a major problem for lady cops. Some of them just look so darn cute in those uni forms that lawbreakers of the opposite sex can’t resist trying to give them a big smackeroo. This is an occupational hazard with which I can readily empathize, for I have the misfortune of being the cuddly type myself. I’ll be interviewing, say, a female bureaucrat about the ratio of domestic swizzle stick production to the importation of foreign ice cubes. All of a sudden she’ll pucker up her firm but pliant bee-stung lips and plant one on my cheek, brow, mouth or shell-like ear. The Tighter side An incident like that can completely de rail your train of thought. Early in my journalism career I used to get so flustered I’d forget to ask half of the questions I needed to have answered for the story. Then I’d go back to the office and some editor would chew me out for sloppy re porting. If I heard the radio version correctly, the question in the case of the kissable cop was whether occasional osculation was something policewomen must learn to live with. Based on my experiences. I d say the latter. It’s true there probably is some degree of sexism involved in the kissing of policewomen. But probably at least 90 percent of it is impulsive with no disre spect for a minion of the law intended. Granted also that there may be a differ ence between being kissed by someone you’re interviewing and someone you’re arresting. An interview is usually an arrangement between mutually consenting adults, whereas in the issuance of traffic tickets one of the parties is likely to be an unwill ing participant. Thus, a kiss from the party of the second part has an extra element of suprise. I do believe, however, that with a little practice policewomen can handle these in terruptions without letting it interfere with the performance of their duty. I’ve found the best reaction is in souciance. You can’t pretend it didn’t hap pen but you can treat it matter-of-factly. I simply say “Moving right along,” and proceed to the next question. That usually brings her to her senses. Policewomen could say “Moving right along,” and proceed to clap on the hand cuffs or whatever. Initially, they’ll feel a bit disconcerted. But after so long a time, it gets to be just part of the routine. Tetters to the editor Long lines at health center defended Editor: The Beutel Health Center was recently criticized in a letter for its waiting lines and business practices. It is truly unfortu nate that students must wait for care, but this delay is to be expected even if that student were to see his family doctor. As for the business practices, the doctors must see many patients each day, as the time he may take with each is severely limited. It is not the doctor’s choice to rush with a patient; he would like to spend much more time, but he cannot. He sim ply cannot. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. From what I understand the University is attempting to increase the Health Cen ter fee in order to pay for another doctor. But for now, please realize that the Center is giving excellent care; even though it may seem slow. — Stephen C. Fischer Thank non appreciation for the flowers sent to re member our son, Robert. Texas A&M was a most important part of Robert’s life. The spirit and unity of Aggie land is a truly im pressive student relationship. We are comforted by this expression from Robert’s school. —Robert W. Mitchell Editor’s note: Robert J. Mitchell, a senior microbiology major, was found un conscious in his dormitory room and died Dec. 10. Silver Taps begins at 10:30 p.m. today. Automated theft? Editor: Mrs. Mitchell and Editor: Something should be done about the snack machines on campus. I’m tired of putting my quarter in the coffee machine and having it drink it for me. Then I have to take the time between classes to go to some distant location to get my money hack —Frank Bruce, ‘79 BLUEBONNET BOWL, COTTON BOWL, SUGAR BOWL, ROSE BOWL, SUPER BOWL OR FOOTBALL OF ANY KIND?” press completely independent of govern ment. As surely as reporters and editors should not have to fear government, they also should not let themselves become part of government. It has become obvious — not only in the foreign intelligence area but in domestic police work as well — that some govern ment officials believe the imperatives of national security or of law and order over ride the need to keep the press indepen dent. Either with appeals to patriotism or promises of financial reward, they see no thing wtong with buying the services of reporters. But if the first Amendment has any meaning, there is something very wrong with the press climbing into bed with gov ernment. Very simply, it cheats the people, to whom in this country both owe their existence. Top of the Campus Application deadline set Feb. 10 has been set as the degree application deadline for Texas A&M students expecting to graduate this spring. Registrar Robert A. Lacey said graduate and undergraduate students must apply in order to be granted degrees May 5-6. He emphasized that degree applica tion is the student’s responsibility. Both graduate and undergraduate students initiate application by paying an $8 graduation fee at the Fiscal Office in the Richard Coke Building. The fee receipt must be presented upon application. Undergraduates make degree applica tion at Heaton Hall, formerly registration headquarters on Ross St, Graduate students present the fee receipt at the Graduate College in the Olin Teague Bldg, to apply. It is important that graduating stu dents meet the application deadline because of the anticipated larger number graduating this semester, a records official said. The univer sity awarded degrees to 2,556 last May. Three honored hy Silver Taps Silver Taps will be held today for three Texas A&M students, including Philip McGuire, 24, who was killed in a car wreck Satur day. McGuire, a first-year veterinary medicine student at Texas A&M, lived in Bryan with his wife and three-month-old daughter, who was also killed in the two-car accident south of town. His wife received minor injuries and has been released from St. Joseph’s Hos pital. Services for McGuire and his daughter will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at A&M United Methodist Church. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at Forest Park’s Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. Local arrangements are under the direction of Callaway-Jones Funeral Home. Silver Taps will also honor Robert Alan Stroud, a sophomore mar keting major from Conroe, who died Jan. 2 in a one-car accident west of Conroe, and Robert J. Mitchell, a senior microbiology major from Houston, who died after being found unconscious in his dormitory room Dec. 10. Silver Taps begins at 10:30 p.m. State Five agencies abolished ts The staff of the Sunset Advisory commission recommended Monday that five state agencies, one of which had never functioned and another that was dormant for 14 years, be abolished. The duties assigned to the five agencies could easily be transferred to other state agencies without any loss of service to Texas residents, the staff said. Sen. Bill Meier, D-Euless, said the commission will conduct public hearing on the staff recommendations before taking final action to abolish the agencies under terms of the “Sunset law” passed by the 1977 Legislature. The law provides for a periodic review of state agencies and establishes procedures for abolishing agencies no longer considered essential. ROJ •eotti )th p Nation Hunt ‘wife’ agrees to settle e w; weri Xtgi The inori tonth nal c: A woman who claimed she spent nine years as the bigamous wife of the late oil billionaire H.L. Hunt agreed Monday to an out-of-court settlement of her suit seeking a portion of his estate. In Shreveport, La., neither side disclosed the amount accepted by Frania Tye Lee, 73, of Atlanta, who said she was married to Hunt from 1925-34, when she learned he had another wife and family. The Shreveport Times reported Saturday that Lee was offered $5 million to drop her claim. Her son, Hugh Lee Hunt, refused to confirm or deny the report, but said $5 million would be “ridiculously low. The settlement was reached after one week of a federal court trial on Lee’s demand fora share of the Hunt fortune. The trial was to resume Monday, but Judge Tom Stagg delayed the proceedings while the settlement was negotiated. Anti-cancer policy initiated The Labor Department, initiating a controversial anti-cancer pol icy, today issued an emergency order requiring a drastic cut in worker exposure to a compound commonly used in producing synthe tic fibers. The order sharply reduces permissible worker exposure to acrylonitrile, which was blamed for an excess risk of lung and colon cancer among workers in an E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. plant in Camden, S.C. The order was governed by OSHA’s new policy to reduce worker exposure to cancer-causing chemicals to the lowest feasible level. In this case, it was two parts per million averaged over eight hours, down from 20 parts per million. World Soyuz cosmonauts return The Soyuz 27 cosmonauts, who five days ago performed the first double docking in space, today prepared to leave their fellow Soviet spacemen in orbit and return to Earth. The two-man Soyuz 27 crew was scheduled to descend from the orbiting Salyut 6 space laboratory in the capsule that carried the two Soyuz 26 cosonauts into space 37 days ago. Soyuz 26 cosmonauts Yuri Romanenko and Georgi Grechko, who blasted into space Dec. 11 and linked up with the space station the next day, will remain on board for what was ex pected to be a lengthy stay. Weather Mostly cloudy and cold today. High today mid-40’s, low to night low-30’s. High tomorrow upper-40’s. Winds out of the north at 15-25 mph. 50 percent chance of rain tonight and tomorrow. Cloudy and cold Thurs.-Sat. with a chance of rain Fri. & Sat. 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. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are bject 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. 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MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Jamie^ Managing Editor Mary Alice Woodk 1 Sports Editor F News Editors Marie Homeyer, Carol ^ Assistant Managing Editor Clenna WH City Editor Rusty Ci*l Campus Editor KimT} Reporters Liz Newlin, fr Boggan, Mark Patt< Lee Roy Leschper Jr., Gary Welch, Karen ft* Photographers Susan Webb, David Cartoonist DougCr*! 1 Student Publications Board: Bob G. Rogers, Choir* foe Arredondo: Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. John W. Ho* Robert Harvey; Dr. Charles McCandless; Dr. Clinic*^ Phillips; Rebel Rice. Director of Student Publicot* Donald C, Johnson. jre The impa leir a ibine The atic unis )posi lent. And on ti ler t 1