Viewpoint
The Battalion Thursday
Texas A&M University February 16, 1978
Caution: watch for falling satellites
“This is not a horror scenario,” National Security adviser Zbigniew
Brzezinski told reporters. “The chances of real hazard are small.”
Yet it would be difficult to dispute that residents of a sparsely populated
area of northwest Canada experienced a^close encounter of a disturbing kind
when a disabled Soviet satellite carrying a nuclear reactor plunged out of
space with a fiery glow into their region.
Certainly United States officials were not as sanguine as Brzezinski
sounded when they first learned that the Cosmos satellite was in difficulty
several weeks ago. The elaborate preparations that were made of a possible
disaster attest to that.
Those preparations were commendable, as is evidence of considerable
cooperations between United States and Soviet authorities in anticipation of
a possible emergency. But it seems to have been luck more than foresight
that prevented a tragedy.
The incident should serve as a chilling reminder of the hazards of playing
with nuclear fire — in space or here on earth in our own backyards. It should
spur a searching reexamination of all nuclear safeguards and of the calculated
risks that have been taken whenever and wherever radioactive materials
have been employed.
Brunswick Maine Times Record
iiwer
Canal zone converting to war zone
By JOHN VIRTUE
United Press International
PANAMA CITY, Panama — The U.S.
military in the Panama Canal Zone is pre
paring for the worst in case the U.S. Se
nate rejects the new canal treaties.
Commentary
The worst would range from anti-
American riots to outright sabotage of the
50-mile-long waterway.
Although the military has not said so
publicly, it’s known that most leaves have
been cancelled for an indefinite period
starting with the senate vote on the
treaties, expected within two months.
Preparations have been made to set up
M.A.S.H.-type field hospitals, if needed,
to handle casualties.
Some right-wing civilian residents in
the canal zone have reportedly stocked up
guns, ammunition and food for a possible
seige.
As for the Panamanians, most of them
don’t even want to think about what might
happen if the senate rejects the treaties,
under which the United States would turn
over operation and control of the canal to
Panama by the year 2010. A two-thirds
majority is needed for approval.
Panama’s chief of state, Gen. Omar Tor-
rijos, who must walk a tightrope between
leftist student agitators and the conserva
tive business community, has staked his
political life on the treaties.
He has said he has only two options if
rioting and violence break out should the
treaties be rejected: crush the demon
strators or support them.
“I will not crush them, he has said.
The negotiations which lead to the
treaties date back to 1964 when anti-
American riots killed 21 Panamanians and
three Americans. The talks continued after
Torrijos seized power four years later in a
National Guard coup.
“The Panamanian people have placed a
lot of hope for the future in the treaties
and, even if they aren’t the best treaties,
nobody knows what the results will be if
they are rejected by the senate, said one
prominent Panamanian.
“To put it crudely, it’s like the fellow
who goes out on Saturday night hoping to
pick up the prettiest girl in town. Comes
midnight and all he’s found is a homely
girl, but she’s better than nothing. The
treaties are like that.
“There are people going hungry in
Panama for the first time and unemploy
ment is running at 15 percent, he con
tinued. “We hope we can help solve these
problems once we have the canal.
If the senate approves the treaties, but
with so many amendments that Torrijos
feels obliged to call another referendum,
there could be problems. The treaties
were approved by a 2-to-l margin —
smaller than expected — in the Oct. 23
referendum.
Opposition to the treaties had been
picking up so much momentum that Fa
bian Echevres, head of the Independent
Lawyers Movement, said they would have
been defeated had the referendum been
held two months later.
Both U.S. and Panamanian opponents
of the treaties object to provisions under
which the United States could intervene
militarily after the year 2000 to protect the
canal. The Americans want this right spel
led out more clearly while the Panama
nians say it infringes on their sovereignty.
Letters to the editor
Here it is,
folks
Arnett's flack class
Editor:
Well, now I’ve had it! I kept silent all
last semester while, ever-ytM40i«u»as cutting
everyone else down ---’but hb more. This
time Paul Arnett has gone too far!
In his article (Feb. 15) “A&M Lacks
Class,” he said! that 300 band members
were too many and we needed a 30-
member band playing “modern-day
tunes”. That’s what he likes, and “those
‘Old Army’ numbers went out of style after
WWII.”
Well, let me tell you — they haven t. If
it wasn’t for the Fightin Texas Aggie Band
and Corps of Cadets this University would
be no different from t.u. I’m not in the
Corps, but I think the male yell leaders
and the “military look kept this school
unique.
His proposed “Collie Rollie Dollies
would just turn this into a big high school
— like the one in Austin — I know, I
danced in high school in a drill team. Why
should A&M be like all the other schools?
Why can’t we be different? The unique
ness of this school is what made it famous.
As for you Paul — “If you can’t be big —
don’t Belittle". What’s wrong Paul Arnett
— are you jealous just because you’re not a
member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band?
Could there be any relationship between
poor sportsmanship and poor sports writ-
ing. ?
— Marianne Lamkin, ‘81
Idea stinks
Editor:
This question is addressed to our glori
ous sports writer, Paul Arnett, who wrote
that piece of slop, “A&M lacks class, on
Feb. 15. Wliat the hell do you think you
3Fe"doing? ^ ~
Obviously you still have not accepted
the idea that what makes A&M the best
damn school around is because we are dif
ferent from everybody else. I do not
understand why you want to change a
good thing like this school has got.
I agree it would be nice to listen to the
Century Singers or the Singing Cadets,
but the dancing girl idea stinks like a
thousand skunks, and there is definitely
nothing wrong with the music our Fight
ing Texas Aggie Band plays.
So, Mr. Arnett, the only dead ideas I
have seen are the ones you always seem to
produce. So if you get bored with the good
old-fashioned half times, go drink a coke.
— John Poindexter, ‘81
Wrong drummer
Editor:
In response to Paul Arnett’s article
“A&M lacks class”, we cite this quote:
“Texas A&M needs to march to the tune of
that drummer.’
Mr Arnett obviously doesn’t appreciate
the simple things that make Texas A&M
unique. If we had wanted painted dancers,
choirs, stage bands and Top 40 tunes dur
ing halftime, we could have gone to almost
any other school in the United States. We
came to A&M because, besides being a
fine academic institution, it refuses to
“march to the tune of the other schools.
During football halftimes we don’t need
big druttis", flag teams, and twirlers — our
band is a show in itself.
During a recent home basketball game,
the Texas Aggie Band played “Star Wars”
and "Theme from Rocky”. There was a
considerable negative reaction from the
crowd. I hope the band realized that we
don’t want to hear Top 40. Let Tech,
Texas, and UH play that. We re not asking
for “Old Army” tunes all the time, just
leave the “modern tunes to the bands
that thrive on that kind of stuff.
Texas A&M is not perfect. Our school
needs to shed some of its ultraconservative
attitudes; but this can be done without
sacrificing our individuality. We love
A&M for what it is, and for what it isn’t. In
all honesty, we can’t understand why Mr.
Arnett is going to school here. Everybody
knows that UT is a respected journalism
school, and besides, UT has dancers, and
singers, a show band, a flag team...
— Rich Carson, ‘81
Kevin Brock, ‘80
Inspiration?
Editor:
I only have one question for Paul Ar
nett. Just how good were the drugs he
took prior to writing his article in The Batt
on Wednesday?
— Michael Murphy, ‘81
120 miles to Gatesville, the location of the
Drop Zone used by the Parachute club. I
save over $200 every year in gas by going
to Spring Creek Parachute Ranch. The
first jumb cost is $100 at Spring Creek,
less for groups, compared to $65 for
Gatesville ($50 for dues-paying members).
Jim Slater state correctly the B.S.R.
100.25 places restrictions on the presence
of obstacles on the Drop Zone, but this
regulation is almost invariably waived by
the Area Safety Officer because most Drop
Zones lack sufficient funds to buy or clear
enough land to provide the distances re
quired. Therefore, proper Ground-to-Air
communication is essential, and if instruc
tions, via bullhorns, ect . . ., are followed,
then student jumpers will usually be able
to avoid power lines and other obstacles.
The landing area at Spring Creek consists
of level area bordered by a big cornfield
which provides soft, safe landings. Ques
tion: Why doesn t the Parachute Club
jump at the closest, safest, and in the long
run least expensive Drop Zone.
— Willy Caldwell, ’79
Pinky pleased
Editor:
I want to express my personal thanks to
those of you who sent me a birthday card
on my birthday Feb. 12. I would like to
thank each one individually, but since I
got well over two hundred cards I am
afraid it would be too much of a task.
Please accept my sincere thanks, and be
assured that I love every one of you.
— J.V. “Pinky” Wilson
EDITOR :
STUFF IT
arne-tt /
See it through
Editor:
In regards to your article on Friday,
Feb. 10, “Parachute Club jumps into ac
tion”, I would like to clarify a major point.
The action taken by Dr. Koldus, in effect,
RE-approved the club as a school-affiliated
organization.
The Texas A&M Sport Parachute Club
was founded in September of 1961 as an
on-campus organization. That club con
tinued in operation until the 1970-71
school year when, due to reasons sur
rounding an accident, it lost its University
affiliation.
During this 10-year period, the Texas
A&M Club was instrumental in helping to
start numerous other collegiate clubs. It
was also active in the National Collegent
Parachuting League and competed in the
collegent national championships each
year.
I guess my main point is that the Texas
A&M Parachute Club now on campus is
not something new, but rather an organi
zation carrying on a fine tradition estab
lished a number of years ago.
Capt. Fred May, ’68
Fall elsewhere
Editor:
In regard to the Texas A&M Sport
Parachute Club and to Jim Slater’s letter
(Feb. 13), I would like to point out that
there is another U.S.P.A. Drop Zone in
this area at Spring Creek, which is 30
miles west of Houston. This Drop Zone is
only 65 miles from Kyle Field compared to
Group committed
Editor:
Recently The Battalion published a letter
concerning Town Hall and the lack of their
ability to provide good concerts. Town
Hall replied saying something to the effect
that it is hard to get good groups to commit
themselves. In the first letter mentioned,
the person referred to Emerson, Lake and
Palmer as a good group. I would just like
to bring to the attention of the A&M stu
dents that Emerson, Lake and Palmer will
be appearing at Stephen F. Austin Feb.
18. Commitment seems to be everywhere
but Aggieland.
—Glenda Schultz, ’81
Nothing new
Editor:
Robert Harvey’s resignation Tuesday
served no discernable purpose except that
of his removing himself from the center of
the grade requirement controversy. I am
bitterly disappointed in him because he
chose to relinquish his office. He should
have remained president in order to clarify
the GPR requirement problem. Last year,
when Harvey accepted the position of stu
dent body president, he should have been
accepting the responsibilities of that posi
tion. Therefore, as president, he should
have felt that it was his duty to see to it
that this problem was solved. Instead, he
resigned.
Since the constitution has not been al
tered, the discrepancy in the GPR regu
lations still exist. Harvey’s feeble “stand”
achieved nothing, but to make him a front
page news figure.
—Becky Matthews, ’80
Top of the News
Campus
Silver Taps rescheduled
Silver Taps ceremonies for Conrad P. Schweichler, a 27-year-ol(]
graduate student at Texas A&M University, have been rescheduled
for Monday. University officials moved the traditional memorial to
Monday night instead of Tuesday because of conflicting University
activities. Schweichler, a native of Williamsville, N.Y., enrolledat
Texas A&M in January and was killed Monday when he was struck by
a car near Brenham.
Scholarship deadline nears
The deadline for the “Spring Awards Scholarships” applications is
March 1. The application forms may be obtained from the Student
Financial Aid Office, Room 310 in the YMCA Building. All applica
tions must be filed with the Student Financial Aid Office not 1
than 5 p.m. on March 1. No late applications will be accepted.
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Hughes residency established
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The first major court battle over the Howard Hughes estate ended
in Houston Wednesday when the six-member jury decided the mul
timillionaire was a Texas resident for tax purposes. However, the jury
did not admit the will to probate, which means another trial will be
necessary to determine who w ill inherit the fortune. The verdict*
a victory for Attorney General John Hill, whose efforts have been to
prove Hughes a Texas resident so the state could collect millions of
dollars in estate taxes. The Hughes fortune is said to be worth any
where from $167 million to 2 billion.
Cooley team transplants heart
Surgeons led by Dr. Denton Cooley broke an eight-year
moratorium and performed a heart transplant Wednesday at St
Lukes Hospital in Houston. The recipient was a 21-year-old man
suffering from “stone heart caused by an abscessed tooth. Hecsin
critical condition, a hospital spokesman said. The patient also re
ceived a kidney transplant. When the new heart was transplanted it
started beating immediately but the patient developed kidney fail
ure. Doctors believe the new heart caused excessive trauma for die|
already weakened man.
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Natural gas leaks discovered
Recent inspections in Huntington, Texas, have revealed dangerous
gas leaks which one inspector said could he seen bubbling up alonj |
one street. Vernon Ray, chief fire safety inspector, said the towns
natural gas system was built in 1952 and has had very little mainte
nance since. He said half of the 22 known leaks have been repaired in
the past two days. Tuesday state officials ordered the evacuation of
the community’s school and closed the building. Ray said community
leaders did not begin to take any action to remedy the dangerous
situation until the Texas Railroad Commission threatened toobtiina
court injunction and close the gas lind’s. The State Board of Insurance
has ordered the State Fire Marshal’s Office to watch closely efforts to
repair the gas leaks.
Nation
Miners to meet in White House
In response to President Carter’s request, the soft coal industry has
agreed Wednesday to meet with union miners at the White House.
Tlie Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed to meet only
hours after telling Carter they had no intention of meeting with the
United Mine Workers and that the UMW was to blame for the situa
tion. Carter had called his proposal for the meeting a “final opportu
nity and indicated he would issue a back-to-work order if needed.
Across the nation, power companies are predicting layoffs costing
millions of dollars because of dwindling coal stockpiles to fuel their
plants. Automakers in Detroit have warned they may have to halt
production indefinitely if a settlement is not reached in the next two
weeks. Carter made clear Tuesday that a Taft-Hartley back-to-work
order was one of the available options he could use to get miners on
the job again.
World
World population growth slows
Global population estimates for the year 2000 have been revised
downward in light of a decreased world growth rate. Nick Eberstadt,
chairman of an American Association for the Advancement of Sci
ence, said the rate of population growth was 1.9 percent per year in
1970, but fell to 1.7 percent last year. As a result he estimated the
world’s population by 2000 will range from 5.5 to 5.8 billion in com
parison with an earlier estimate of 6.25 billion. The world’s current
population is 4.1 billion. Birth rates in less developed countries have
dropped from an average of about 42 per 1,000 in 1970 to approxi
mately 36 per 1,000 in 1977. Eberstadt credited the decrease to an
unexpected decline in the fertility in poor countries. According to
Eberstadt, this means poor nations should find it easier to alleviate
poverty within their own borders.
U
Di
Weather
Mostly cloudy and cool today, tonight and Friday with a
chance of light rain or drizzle tonight and during the day
tomorrow. High today low-50s, low tonight low-40’s. High
tomorrow mid-50s. Winds from the northeast at 10-15 mph.
20% chance of rain tonight and 30 percent tomorrow.
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 news)Hiper. 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
not guarantee to ptiblish any letter. Each letter must he
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Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
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United Press International is entitled cxclusiv^ 1 '
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journafism Congress
Editor Jamie
Managing Editor Man AlieeAVi* 1
Sports Editor Paul
News Editors Marie liomeyor. Ciwl
Assistant Managing Editor C.lenna^
City Editor luilC
Campus Editor kiniT«
Reporters Liz Newlin, David H"
Mark Patterson, Lee Box - Lesehper ji
Welch, Scott Perkins. And) WK
Paige Beasley , Bob Vi
Photographers Susan NVefili, Ken Ilf 1
Cartoonist Dong fa*
f
N
Student Publications Board: Boh C. Roflffs. ( ^
Joe Arredondo; Dr Cary Halter. Dr. John V lit
Robert Harvey: Dr. Charles McCandless: Dr. CliM
Phillips. Rebel Rice Director of Student I'iiI'Ih' 1
Donald C. Johnson.