Viewpoint
The Battalion Monday
Texas A&M University January 23, 1978
Yell-leading by proxy doesn’t
count
It may be early in the semester, but for some students academic pressures
are putting a crimp on extracurricular activities.
Take the yell leaders. According to head yell leader Joe Reagan, three of
them studied for tests Thursday night, one was ill and another was doing data
processing homework. As a result, none of the men were on hand for the
Aggie Ladies home basketball game at 5 p.m.
Games usually last about an hour and a half, and Reagan says the yell
leaders usually make it to the women’s games. But Thursday night he had
substitutes fill in.
“We can’t do everything,” he said Sunday. “ I asked a friend to lead the
yells in case we weren’t there. We re here for one reason — an education.
We’ve got to ration out our time.”
Yell leaders have had no problem rationing time for paid, out-of-town
football and basketball games, or for men’s games played in G. Rollie White.
Reagan admitted that the women “are Aggies, too,” and he said he spoke
to Coach Wanda Bender after the game. He said he should have warned her
that the yell leaders wouldn’t attend.
The men flew to Arkansas Tuesday for the Razorback game, and had to
arrange study time accordingly. But they are the most visible of Texas
A&M’s student leaders, and it’s a bit much to assume that members of the
audience leading yells is an adequate substitute. The crowd’s interest obvi
ously warranted elected yell leaders. M.A.W.
Keep it simple and
it quiet
By WILLIAM RASPBERRY
WASHINGTON — In these days when
erstwhile liberals are styled neo
conservatives, when dyed-in-wool con
servatives insist on government interven
tion in the market and when certified lib
erals are begging the government to get off
their backs, we may need some new politi
cal definitions.
To that end, I propose a test. Read the
two sentences following and decide which
better discribes your own attitude:
Left to their own devices, people — in
cluding people of modest means —are
likely to come up with imaginative, work
able solutions to their problems.
Left to their own devices, people —
especially people of modest means — are
almost certain to get screwed.
If you agree with the first, you’re proba
bly a conservative; if the second strikes
you as more accurate, you’re probably a
liberal.
Knowing what you are, however,
doesn’t necessarily lead to automatic con
clusions as to what you’d do under specific
circumstances.
For instance, a group of women in Mil
ford, Ill., left to their own devices, turned
to informal day-care arrangements for
child care. They hired neighbor women as
babysitters and went to work for Howard
Industries, a local manufacturer of small
electrical motors.
The informal arrangements — almost
prototypically conservative — worked
very well until a couple of months ago,
when someone (doubtless motivated by
good liberal impulses) squealed. As a re
sult, the babysitters were told they’d have
to apply for state licenses or go out of busi-
Commentary
ness. (Anyone taking care of other people’s
children for 10 or more hours a week in
Illinois is subject to the state laws govern
ing day-care centers.)
Some of the babysitters balked at the
notion of state inspectors “barging into”
their homes without notice, and said to
hell with babysitting. As a result, several
of the women at Howard Industries (which
employs some 80 percent of Milford’s
working women) have had to give up their
jobs.
Another example: Black Philadelphians,
left to their own devices due to the lack of
long-term-care facilities for the black el
derly, developed a long-standing tradition
of establishing their own nursing homes,
generally under the auspices of their
churches.
One of these nursing homes — the non
profit Stephen Smith Geriatric Center —
dates back to 1864. As recently as a few
years ago, there were 25 such centers,
large and small, in Philadelphia’s black
neighborhoods.
Then in 1974, the federal government
adopted the Life Safety Code, a set of
safety standards most of the facilities were
unable to meet. As a result, all but a
couple of the nursing homes are out of
business.
One more: Families across the country,
and particularly in the South, left to their
own devices for the care of orphaned and
abandoned children, have traditionally
“taken in” such children.
But state and county welfare agencies,
insisting on certain minimum conditions
for foster-care eligibility — outside win
dows, a certain amount of space, enough
bedrooms to avoid mixing of sexes, and so
on — have rendered the informal ar
rangements illegal for many families.
There aren’t any obvious rights and
wrongs in these situations. The state
clearly has an interest in seeing to it that
babysitters not expose children to'unsafe
or unsanitary conditions. It clearly has an
interest in seeing to it that nursing homes
have proper fire exits, adequate fireproof
ing and adequate food and laundry ar
rangements. And it clearly has an interest
in preventing some greed-driven family
from stacking foster children six to a base
ment :oom in order to obtain the largest
possible foster-care grant.
In fact, hardly anyone involved in any of
the circumstance outlined here woidd
argue for lower standards. It only strikes
us as silly and counterproductive when, as
a result of these perfectly valid standards,
people wind up worse off than before.
But you can’t have one set of standards
to make it possible for the well-meaning to
provide a useful service and another to
keep the unscrupulous from taking advan-
tage.
You finally have to decide whether it is
better to prevent abuse, even if that
means hurting the innocent, or to trust to
innate human goodness, even if that
entails the risk of abuse.
And for all the rhetoric they woidd hurl
at each other, conservatives and liberals
would probably come down at pretty
much the same place.
(c) 1978, The Washington Post
Smile, you’re on candid Congress
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON - The House of Repre
sentatives is moving ever closer to the day
when its sessions will be televised. But
first it must resolve a dispute over who
should control the cameras.
The Tighter Side
Some want the House to have its own
crews cover the proceedings and offer the
networks a fee for public showing.
Others side with the networks, which
favor having their own personnel handle
the coverage.
In a recent article on this subject. Rep.
John Anderson, R-Ill., said there was con
cern that “control of the cameras would
lead to control of the legislative process,
even to the point of stopping debates for
commercial breaks like the TV timeouts in
football games.”
The problem with football is that there
aren’t enough natural breaks in the action.
In boxing, there’s a break after each
round. In baseball, there’s a break after
each half inning. And there isn’t much to
golf except breaks.
But football can keep the cameras oc
cupied past the time for beer commercials.
So the networks have a man on the
sidelines to signal the referee to stop play
for commercial breaks.
Congressional debates have even fewer
natural breaks than football. In congres
sional debates you rarely see injuries of
the type that occasion a time out in foot
ball. And you rarely find either side scor
ing any points, which is another break
time in football.
One solution might be for the networks
to station an agent in the House gallery.
When infatuation with the sound of his
own voice caused an orator to encroach on
the beer commercials, the TV man could
flash a signal to the presiding officer, who
would then order a quorum call.
The only thing on earth more tedious
than a beer commercial is a quorum call.
So that would be a perfect time for a com
mercial break.
Unfortunately, some quorum calls are
rather lengthy. The networks might have
trouble filling in the time after the com
mercials are finished. Two remedies come
to mind.
They could have standby cameras avail
able for cloakroom interviews during long
quorum calls. Or they could switch to a
line of chorus girls call the Quorumettes.
I doubt, however, that commercial
breaks would be television’s chief threat to
the legislative process. I think the House
has more to fear from instant replays.
There are times when several lawgivers
seek recognition almost simultaneously.
Theoretically, the first to rise gets the
floor.
With cameras covering the action, in
stant replays would show whether a con
gressman was properly recognized or
whether some other congressman actually
got to his feet first.
These replays could be as embarrassing
to House officials as they are to football
officials who are shown making bad calls.
Letters to the editor
Green doesn’t mix with white
Editor:
It seems that there are some Aggies who
take a little longer than others to resume
the processes of cogitation and celebration
after the lengthy holiday recess. This phe
nomenon is to be expected given the di
versity of mental capabilities in a group of
thirty thousand Aggies and was manifested
to myself and others on Thursday, Jan. 19.
On that particular day a group of those
Aggies mentioned above displayed a sup
pression of cranial activity. The group, as
sembled on the walkway between Rudder
Tower and the MSG, took it upon them
selves to launch projectiles in the form of
spherical agglomerations of snow and ice
(snowballs, in the vernacular) at individu
als in the pedestrian traffic on terra firma
below them. It so happens that one of
them met its mark on my head (Good shot,
fella!!). There were others who were also
at the end of certain trajectories.
Perhaps if the white stuff had precipi
tated two weeks hence they would have
redeveloped thought and reasoning pro
cesses enough to realize that such actions
are not becoming of good Ags. (Actually,
such activities are infractions of the Texas
A&M University Regulations. Refer to
Section II: Student Life Regulations; Dis
cipline Code; Paragraph 49, item 2a.)
I would like to extend an invitation to
those Aggies (they know who they are) to
commence thinking and continue to do so
for their remaining days. Beff voti in
volve yourself in pranks,
the receiving end.
Just for the record, let me state that I,
also, enjoy pranks, even if on the receiving
end; but, fellas, there are different types of
fiin-and-games. For instance, I love a good
combat with snowballs with my friends
and acquaintances, where the chances of
hurt feelings are almost nil. I have been
quadded by my buddies and we all had a
gi. 1 firm
the world).
However, I have an c*' ’ 4r
being attacked b>
\
think anyone would object to being ac
costed by someone he didn’t know from
Rasputin, if he were to think about the
situation honestly.
I realize there was no seriously malicious
intent in the day’s going-on. My only goal
is to persuade my peers to act responsibly
and as if they shared their presence in so
ciety with other members of the same on
an equal basis.
Finally, I hope it snows next week and
we all can have a good snowball fight.
—Nicholas J. Green
Graduate Student
Chemical Engineering
... or grey
Editor:
Again I have become the victim of the
irresponsibility and thoughtlessness of my
fellows. This time the situation involved is
a particularly emotional and touchy one,
even on the national level.
It is my understanding, and should be
clearly that of other breathing humans,
that smoking is prohibited by law in cer
tain areas. The case in point concerns the
ride I took in the east elevator in Zachry
Engineering Center the other day.
There is a decal stating “smoking pro
hibited by law” on every entrance to that
particular elevator, except for the base
ment stop. It is my understanding, also,
that the law applies to each individual.
However, it appears that the law is ne
glected by individuals from all portions of
the social spectrum.
There were four of us on the elevator at
the time. Two present (that’s 50 percent,
carried burning cigarettes. One was white,
one was black; one was dressed almost as
shabilly (sic) as myself, the other was quite
well dressed and groomed: one appeared
"' 1 r years younger f han T Otp'
age is years), the other was more than a
few years older than I.
I, i. v ^e If, can stand a few whiffs of the
smoke. In fact, I have spent no small
amount of time in various drinking and
gaming establishments which were
enveloped in smoke. However, it was of
my own volition that I subjected myself to
those conditions at those times. I did not
wish to be in such an enclosed space as a
public elevator with smoke.
There are those, I am sure, who would
say “If you don’t like smoke, don’t ride
elevators.” By the same type of logic why
don’t those who do not wish to abstain
• • c
from smoking on elevators excuse them
selves from riding them.
I invite those who smoke to have com
mon courtesy for their fellows as concerns
the above matter and refrain from smoking
in closed quarters, especially those in
which smoking is prohibitied by law. By
all means, too, if you don’t like the particu
lar law, change it in the same manner as it
was created in the first place. If you per
sist, you may even get legislation passed to
preclude nonsmokers from riding
elevators, etc. —Nicholas J. Green
Slouch
by .Jim Earle
/ yy jui ts- 76
NOW HERE WE HAVE A SITUATION THAT CLEARLY
DEMONSTRATES WHY WATER FIGHTING IS NOT A
WINTER SPORT!”
Top of the News
l
Campus
Art prints available
Art prints will be available for circulation from the Sterling C.
Evans Library beginning Friday, Jan. 27. They will be on display on
the first floor of Evans Library throughout the day and will be
checked out from the circulation desk between 3 and 4 p.m. Only one
print per ID card will be checked out to students for the duration of
the semester.
Application forms available
Application forms for Spring Awards Program may be obtained
from the Student Financial Aid Office, Room 310, YMCA Building.
All applications must be filed with the Student Financial Aid Office
no later than 5 p.m. March 1. Late applications will not be accepted.
State
New trial sought for Knorpp
Potter County district attorneys say they will seek another trial for
county attorney Kerry Knorpp, cleared Saturday of 24 civil court
counts of misapplication of funds and misconduct. Assistant District
Attorney John Reese said the state would move for a new trial to have
Knorpp removed from office. Judge H.L. Tipps said Knorpp’s
salaried temporary suspension would “remain status quo.” George
Gilkerson, part of Knorpp’s defense team, said he planned to file
petition early next week to have Knorpp reinstated. The jury deliber
ated more than five hours Saturday before finding Knorpp innocent of
using county funds for personal gain. He still must face criminal
charges of felony theft, peijury and bribery beginning Feb. 20.
Knorpp has contended the charges are the result of a personal feud
with District Attorney Tom Curtis.
"Cheap food policy problem’
The president of the national Farmers Union says the Carter Ad
ministration’s cheap food policy is the main problem facing American
farmers and ranchers. “The problem is an administration firmly
welded to a cheap food policy and the mistaken belief that the only
way our farm products can be competitive in world markets is by
what amounts to a giveaway,” Tony Dechant of Denver said Satur
day. Dechant told reporters at the 74th annual Texas Farmers Union
convention that Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland has the au
thority under existing law to lift price supports of around 50 percent
to 90 percent of parity. Congress has before it several realistic bills
that could solve the farm crisis, the former Kansas wheat farmer said.
The organization of family farmers called for amendments to the farm
act to set loan rates on farm goods at not less than 90 percent of parity
and target prices at 100 percent.
"Family farm image wrong
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Reagan Brown says the image of
the small family farm sought by many farmers is incompatible with
operating a big business. “We want to enjoy the concept of agricul
ture of agriculture that once was — mama cooking the apple pies and
everyone loving the family farmer,’ he said Saturday in Austin. “We
will maintain the family farm in Texas hut it’s going to be a different
type of concept.” Speaking on the weekly radio interview show,
“State Capitol Dateline,” Brown said the nationwide farmers strike
has served its purpose by calling public attention to the plight of
farmers and ranchers, but now it is time to write legislation to cure
their ills. “One of the problems is that it’s an unorganized group,”
Brown said of tile strikers. “Some of their demands can’t be accom
plished. I think the thing to do now is sit down within the system and
get legislation that will be more helpful to us.”
Texas-made wines, soon on shelves
Delegates to the Texas Grape Growers Association say Texas-made
wines soon will appear on liquor store shelves around the state. “At
least by 1980, you should look for Texas wine in Texas liquor stores,”
said Thomas Qualia, whose grandfather founded the Val Verde Win
ery at Del Rio in the early 1880s. Currently, Texas wines are sold at
wineries, but Clinton McPherson said Llano Estacado Winery on the
High Plains hoped to place its four varieties in the hands of wholesal
ers within two years. This does not mean that every liquor store in
Texas will carry Texas wines, the grape growers say. Their vision
includes liquor stores stocking regional wines, those bottled from
grapes grown in a 150-mile radius'. “I don’t know if we ll ever look at a
marketing scheme outside of Texas, ” said George R. McEachem, an
extension horculturist at Texas A&M and secretary of the association.
The initial barrier for the Texas wine-makers is increasing their
production sufficiently to meet wholesalers’ orders.
Bone marrow transplant postponei
A rare bone marrow transplant for an 18-month-old Dallas boy has
been postponed at Childrens Hospital Medical Center because his
brother can not be a donor. Tony Olivo and his mother, Deborah, left
Boston for their Texas home Sunday, where he will continue to
undergo treatment at Parkland Memorial Hospital for Wiscott-
Aldrich Syndrome. Tony had lived most of his life in a germ-free
room at the Dallas Hospital. His plight gained national attention last
November when he made the jet trip to Boston inside a plastic bub
ble to protect him from infection. Wiscott-Aldrich is a hereditary
blood disorder characterized by an inability to fight off infection.
Tony and his 3-year-old brother, Carl were at first believed ideal for
transplant procedure, but Carl has been found not to be a perfect
prospective donor. Now Tony must wait and see if his condition
improves before another possible transplant.
Weather
Considerable cloudiness with a chance of some rain today.
High today upper 40’s, low tonight upper 30’s. High on
Tuesday upper 50’s. 20 percent chance of rain today 50
percent tonight, and 30 percent tomorrow. Fair Wednesday
with a chance of rain Thursday and Friday.
The Battalion
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Editor Jamie Aid* 1
1 Managing Editor Mary Alice Woodh^
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^Assistant Managing Editor Glenna Whilfc:
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Student Publications Board: Bob G. Rogers, Chainnim
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Donald C. Johnson.