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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Monday Texas A&M University April 10 1978 Name change The Carter administration should have chosen a different name for the new organization that combines the functions of the U.S. Information Agency and the State Department’s Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs. The new entity, a part of President Carter’s reorganization of the execu tive branch, is the International Communications Agency, created in De cember to streamline and enhance America’s efforts to explain itself to the rest of the world. It represents a welcome reform. Yet it is unfortunate that its initials — ICA — are strikingly like those of another federal organization that is hardly universally admired — the Central Intelligence Agency. The similarity be tween the initials ICA and CIA may seem like a small matter to Americans, but it could serve to undermine the functions of the new organization in its sensitive role of reporting and explaining U.S. policy to foreigners. The similarity is almost certain to be exploited by America’s foreign critics who see, or pretend to see, the hand of the CIA behind every move that America makes overseas. Los Angeles Times Uphill battle ahead for Carter By DAVID S. BRODER BLOOMINGTON, ILL. — In recent days, this reporter has had an opportunity to discuss the political scene with four very disparate observers. One of them was an organizer of the 1969 McCarthy campaign, now in government. Another was an ad viser to George McGovern in 1972 and Jimmy Carter in 1976. A third was a prin cipal strategist for Richard Nixon in 1968, and last time time, for Ronald Reagan. The last was a Republican who worked for Nixon in 1972 and helped plan Gerald Ford’s campaign in 1976. Spanning the political spectrum as they do, there were obviously many points of disagreements in their analyses. But on one point they were in agreement: The last two months of this year and the first months of 1979 are likely to be an extraor dinarily important period in the political life of President Carter. To a man, they agree that the odds now favor a continued erosion in Carter s polit ical position in the seven months between now and mid-term election day. They base that expectation on the fol lowing factors, not all of which were men tioned by each of the unpaid consultants on this column: Letters to the editor —- The probable deterioration in the international situation, with higher ten sions between the United States and the Soviet Union; a risk of breakdown in the tenuous Israeli-Egyptian negotiations; and the danger of conflict in Rhodesia or other parts of Africa. C ommentary — The likelihood of frequent rebuffs for Carter’s legislative program by a Congress whose Democratic members are increas ingly nervous about the impact of his policies on their election chances in November. — Most serious of all, the probability of adverse economic news, including sharply higher food prices, worsening interna tional trade problems, the threat to the dollar and the risk of troubles with the OPEC countries over higher oil prices. At this point, the four men are, with varying degrees of certainty, swinging to the view that Carter’s problems are likely to contribute to a worse beating for his party in November than has been ex pected. The two Democrats are less will ing than the Republicans to concede such a result, but they have come to the same conclusion on a related point. All four as sume that almost every defeated Demo cratic incumbent — be he farm-state gov ernor, Western senator or suburban con gressman — will be inclined to blame his loss not on his own shortcomings, but on the errors of the Carter administration. ■ They expect that the Democratic mini convention, scheduled for December in Memphis, will be one large gripe session, no matter how much the White House tries to prevent it. Among Republicans, the belief is that the strong perception of Carter’s 1980 vul nerability they expect at that point will ac celerate the pace of candidate announce ments among their already large field of hopefuls. But the pressures will be even greater on Carter to change people or policies to shore up his position after the mid-term election. He faces what all four men re gard as crucial choices, beginning with the necessity they all see to shift or drop some long-time associates who are not pulling their weight in their present White House or cabinet assignments. Assuming the next Congress will be more conservative, more Republican and more ornery than this one. Carter can move rightward himself, trying to get in front of the conservative trend in the coun try, even if it risks aggravating liberal ele ments in his own party. Or he can chal lenge Congress and that national mood, by calling for tax reforms, welfare reforms and national health insurance, in hope of mak ing it harder for Jerry Brown or some other candidate to challenge him for re nomination from the left. Some of these four inert think Carter will face an even more difficult choice. Will he turn political — by which they mean, get serious — and begin con sciously to calculate the overall gains and losses to his leadership position from his individual policy and personnel decisions? Or will he continue to jump from issue to issue and crisis to crisis as he has done? The four men are agreed on one final point. Carter will have to signal his deci sions clearly by the moves he makes be tween election day in November and budget day next January. After that, events are likely to control him more than he controls them. (c) 1978, The Washington Post TUT S ? " "• ’ " v'-v" Sensationalism in the letters section Editor: I know that The Battalion’s letters to the editor policy does not guarantee that any letter will be published. My complaint to you is that you are selecting only “sensa tional” letters and responses to letters. There are three types of letter that I consider sensational that are used by this paper: Anti- or pro-abortion, homosexual ity and Aggie spirit. The last type of letter, Aggie spirit, is always telling the “two-percenter” where to go. I think that the student body as a whole knows whether it follows traditions or not. I am not saying that all letters deal ing with Aggie spirit is old news, but many of the same things get repeated. Homosexuality js another big topic for discussion. After a letter dealing with homosexuality has been published, it seems that for the next week there are re sponses to the original letter. These re sponses usually say how horrible the “queers” are. My complaint here is that similar responses are printed for almost a week. Finally, the topic of anti- or pro-abortion seems to dominate page two. In this past week, I have seen several responses to the abortion ad, and I think that you had a Slouch balance of viewpoints on Tuesday. On Wednesday there appeared another letter dealing with the abortion ad. I think it is time The Battalion stop repeating these over-used topics. The newspaper can publish only the let ters that it receives, but it seems like the “sensational” letter is always published. George Rowe, ’79 Editor’s note: These “sensational” letters happen to make up about 95 percent of the letters to the editor, and that’s why they show up so much. Although we do not guarantee a letter will be published, al most every one submitted is printed. Our policy is to continue running letters deal ing with a popular subject for about a week, allowing in that time everyone to have their say, repetitious or not. Low turnout Editor: The students of A&M showed an apathetic and lackadaisical attitude to wards this year’s elections. It seems I overestimated the student body by saying that we would have between eight and nine thousand voters in my last letter to by Jim Earle the editor. Approximately 4,300 voters (15 percent) showed up at the polls. Not all can be blamed on the students though. Long waiting lines and the procedure to vote this year was horrendous. After vot ing for one half of the ballot, you had to get back in line for the second half of the bal lot. With this system it would take a week to get in all the students. After hearing of the yell leader results, 1 thought to myself that they did it again, they being the CT’s. When I wrote of “Bloc Voting ”, I had no real proof, but I still believe what I said and I know I’m not the only one. I have the right to believe what I want and the freedom of the press to write what I want. I say this because I was threatened by members of the Corps after what I said in the first letter. Do real Ags threaten others? Next year I hope we have a better voter turnout. We talk so much of tradition here but by voting we are electing the govern ment which represents this school. At least I hope the students get out and vote for the state elections! Joe H. Hickman, ’79 Dont generalize Editor: In response to Mr. Hickman’s letter of April 6, 1978; why are you so afraid of us “burr heads”? We re only outnumbered by 14-1. Just because we care enough to get out and vote each year is no reason to condemn us. We don’t know where you get the idea that the Corps bloc votes, be cause each person casts his ballot secretly. We agree that people who don’t vote shouldn’t complain about who gets elected, but you should not use that as a platform to cut other people down and make statements that you cannot prove. It’s articles like yours, Mr. Hickman, that widen the unnecessary gap that exists be tween the Corps and civilian populations on this campus. — Mark G. Laine, ’79 Lt. Michael J. Laine, ’76 USAF Ogden L. Bass, ’79 Randall T. Gresham, ’79 Harold M. Raines, ’79 Russell Phelps, ’79 Cheers, Arnett Editor: After recently interviewing Paul Arnett, I would personally like to thank him for his work this past year as sports editor for the Battalion. Since he is leaving the paper at the conclusion of the week to take a position with a newspaper in Galveston, I would like to take this chance to let him know that there is still someone on this campus that thinks he has done notably well this year despite all the abuse he has received from his peers. In Paul’s article on Feb. 15, 1978 (A&M lacks class), I was glad to find that there was still someone around that was not afraid to publicly say what was on their mind. Al though not agreeing with everything he said, I feel he at least had the guts to ex press his thoughts; something I don’t think most people would have done. If more people would emulate Mr. Arnett’s princi- , pies, some of the needed improvements in the world could be dealt with. So instead of harping on him and being glad to see him go, I hope the student body takes the time to thank Paul Arnett for a job well done. Chuck Burr, ’79 Need a break Editor: My car got towed away today, due to an excessive amount (8) of illegal parking tickets. Although I am an employee of TAMU, I think that many students can identify with my complaint. There appears to be a gun-ho attitude among the campus police to ticket cars parked in the wrong lot, while various moving violators get away with near-murder on the streets. It seems to me that the campus police have their priorities a little mixed up. . . well, maybe more than a little. I try to get here early so there will be a parking place in my designated area, but 99 times out of 100, all spaces are taken. As I tried to explain to Mr. Maddox, I have to park somewhere so I can go to work. I sincerely believe the campus police could benefit TAMU more by picking on the moving violators (speeders and other sorts of reckless drivers), and by smoothing out traffic jams nearly always encountered during rush hours. So, please, KK’s, lay off. We re all on the same side, re member? _ Debi Bal , Technical assistant. Pharmacology Clarification Editor: We wish to put to rest any fears that may have arisen concerning seating for the handicapped at home football games by Mr. Cowan’s letter on April 4. As stated in Senate Bill SB78.053(11), seats for those individuals who have a valid handicap will remain in the upper deck, in the first five rows of Section 227 and 228. The term “handicapped” includes those individuals w'ho have a valid medical reason for not standing through a football game (disabled veterans, pregnant spouses, etc., plus a date ticket for each of these individuals). It no longer, however, includes those individuals who simply do not care to stand. Seating for those students who can, but do not care to stand has been moved to Section 116 adjacent to the former stu dents. We have in no way attempted to inconvenience those Ags who are not ca pable of standing to show their support of the 12th Man and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football Team. The purpose of the bill is to correct past abuses of the Consideration Section by students unfairly seeking an advantage for the best seats at a home football game. — Linda Sandstedt, ’79 — Joe Young, ’75 “IT’S BEEN A HARD DECISION FOR ME TO MAKE; BUT AFTER FAILING TO GET ELECTED, I’VE DECIDED TO WITHDRAW MY NAME AS A CANDIDATE!’’ Top of the News State Range fire contained Aided by unexpected thundershowers, some 100 firefighters late Sunday contained a range fire that burned at least 6,000 acres of rugged west Texas terrain in the past 10 days. A spokesman for the Texas Forest Service, Dave Hankins, said the blaze in the Davis Mountains was contained at 6 p.m., although firefighters and two helicopters used in battling the blaze would remain on standby status through the night. Officials had predicted the fire would be contained earlier, but winds with gusts up to 30 mph delayed efforts to contain the blaze. “We had some help from some unexpected thunder showers that helped drench the flames,” Hankins said Saturday. Hankins said two U.S. Forest Service crews from the Lincoln Na tional Forest in New Mexico managed to clear a two-mile-long around the blaze and the fire line near Mt. Livermore aided in con taining the flames. Two helicopters with water dropping capability also were used to douse flames, and one Air National guard helicopter was being used for reconnaisance. fThe Tex epartme hanges ir mce, ma tudent j /h[ch will ie year ire |Dr. G. lath depa eachers a 30 missionaries appointed Seven t aembers rath com lercent ( aught by Be next c purses \ nembers Some 30 new missionaires will be appointed by the Southern Bap tist Convention Tuesday night in Fort Worth to join a 2,700-member team serving in 90 countries and territories. The missionaries will be appointed by the Foreign Mission Board following an address by Dr Baker James Cauthen, executive director of the group’s Foreign Mis sion Board. A three-day business meeting of the board began todayat the Tarrant County Convention Center. The session is the second time the annual meeting has been held in Texas. The last Southern Baptist Foreign Missions convention held in Texas was in 1969 at Dallas. he gn fol in No charges filed in accident iSsi Authorities said Sunday no immediate charges were planned in an VFAA te accident which killed five persons and badly injured three others in Vorth ar Lubbock. The accident occurred Saturday evening in the collision of fender in a delivery truck and a car at a Lubbock County intersection. A irjGovei spokesman for the Department of Public Safety identified the dead as I Crecensio Flores, 74; Conspecion Flores, 42; Pete Cortez, 65; Ruben n< Garcia, 12; and Michael Ray Salazar, 7. All were from Brownfield. He 1 said three injured youths were also in the car, which was carrying fffre sa nine passengers. One of the passengers w as unharmed. The injured were taken to Methodist Hospital at Lubbock. Two teen-agers were f 6 un d e reported in serious condition Sunday. (gl.jj ^ eople laniada Nation Hill’s i ion. He he polit feachers i »ut in fas Pershing's home named a landmark 979 and The boyhood home of the former Chief of Staff and the only six-star general to serve in that rank, General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, was named a national historic landmark Sunday. His only living grandson, John W. Pershing, unveiled a memorial plaque from the federal government. The two-story home where Pershing grew up was restored by the,, state-aryl [Opened to the public as a museum in 1960 arid-will be part ofihe memorial cortiplex. Military dignitaries lit the dedication Saluted Pershing’s 'celebrated inilitary career that spanned 66 years, including tours of duty with the cavalry on the Western frontier, with the invasion of Cuba during the Spanish- American War, and being stationed in El Paso, Texas in 1915, during border incidents with Mexico. Pershing also served overseas during World Wars I and II. •resent, 11,750 1 •ge. Hil Mention Hill c; acl: of 1 vere tire 1 iir we insl South Korea agrees to testimony South Korea has tentatively agreed to let the House ethics commit tee obtain testimony from former Ambassador Kim Dong Jo regard ing charges of Korean influence-buying on Capitol Hill, the New York Times reported Sunday. South Korea’s embassy in Washington flatly denied the story, saying such an agreement runs counter to “international law as outlined by the Vienna convention which the United States adheres to and which the U.S. Senate signed on Sept. 24, 1965. Embassy spokesman Kim Su Doc confirmed that “negotiations are under way,” but he said that no agreement has been reached so far. Kim’s testimony is considered by some to be more important than that of millionaire rice trader Tongsun Park, who testified last week that the nearly $1 million he gave congressmen was handed over for legitimate business or political purposes and not as bribes. The Times’ account expalined that many details of the agree ment for Kim’s testimony must yet be worked out, including the site of the questioning and the ground rules. Hill S; Controls cracy, ployees devoted of funds Hill s open to Coe ‘of Hart refuses to plead on charge Gene Leroy Hart, accused in the summer slaying of three Girl Scouts, spent most of his time Sunday reading magazines and paper back books provided by Mayes County sheriffs deputies. No visitors, other than attorneys, were being allowed in the Mayes County jail where Hart, arrested Thursday, is being held awaiting arraignment on charges of killing the three young girls. Hart, 34, pleaded innocent Friday to several burglary and escape charges but refused to plead on the three first-degree murder charges until he was represented by an attorney. Hart’s family mid friends insist he is innocent, but others in his hometown feel he may be guilty and attempts to raise money fora defense fund have met with little success. Weather I I Overcast skies, mild temperatures with 100% chance of pre cipitation this morning. High today low 80s, low tonight mid 60’s. High tomorrow upper 70s. Winds from the south at 10-16 mph. Partly cloudy in the early afternoon with 30% chance of rain. All precipitation ending by tonight. The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise oper ated hy students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 7$ United Press International is entitled excliuivaj use for reproduction of all news dispatches credit Rights of reproduction of all other matter hereinrrjj Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 11 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. 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Address: The Battalion, Room 216, Reed MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Jamir Managing Editor Mary AliceWw Sports Editor Pa^ News Editors Marie Homeyer, Card'* Assistant Managing Editor Glenna^ City Editor Karen 1 Campus Editor Kim Reporters Liz New! in, David Mark Patterson, Lee Roy Leschperjf Welch, Jim Crawley, Andy Paige Beasley, Bold Photographers Susan Webb, David Cartoonist . v Doug^ Student Publications Board: Bob C. Rogers, CM Joe Arredondo, Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. Charles Dr. Clinton A. Phillips, Re I re I Rice. Director ejd’gj Publications: Donedd C. Johnson.