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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 9, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Tuesday Texas A&M University May 9, 1978 Senate keeping eye on ‘Big Brother’ Swiftly advancing technology has put at the dis posal of government incredibly effective tech niques for invading the privacy of American citi zens. When such power, unchecked, is available, it will be abused. Over the past 40 years, various government agencies have brought under surveillance vast numbers of citizens. Abuses of this power, revealed by congressional investigating committees, have been so extensive that it has become obvious that restraints must be imposed on the activities of intelligence agencies. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that judicial approval for search and surveillance is necessary in domestic-security cases, but it has not decided whether the requirement applies to investigations of foreign intelligence. In a significant action, the Senate has voted to extend the requirement to the foreign intelligence-gathering field. The legislation would require the federal government to get a court order before electronically bugging or wiretapping anybody. Proof would have to be offered of poten tial criminal conduct, although less evidence would be necessary in the case of foreign powers and foreign officials than would be required in the case of an American citizen. The bill would authorize the chief justice to name seven U.S. district judges to consider sur veillance warrants for foreign-intelligence pur poses, and the applications would have to be made by the attorney general with the approval of the President. The Senate bill, supported by President Carter, would not hamper intelligence operations; it would protect American citizens from the reckless invasion of their privacy under the elastic term “national security,” which, without judicial safeguards, is prone to abuse by overzealous offi cials. Los Angeles Times Yard sale re-runs By DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — You know it’s spring in the suburbs when you see the first “Yard Sale” sign. Now, in early May, such notices are spr outing up like crabgrass in my neighbor hood. Regardless of where the national economic indicators point, this summer promises to be a banner season for yard sales. Apparently, this cast off commerce is be coming the subdivision equivalent of the primitive villagers whose economy is based on taking in each other’s laundry. Just last summer I saw the same off-puce velveteen hassock at three successive yard sales. The Lighter Side Repeats like that reinforce the suspicion that about half the people you see at yard sales are there hoping to pick up a few bargains for their own yard sales. So let the buyer beware, if not careful, one is likely to purchase an item that has not spept the requisite 36 weeks in the owner’s attic and thus does'n6t qualify as a genuine castoff. That very thing happened to me last weekend when my neighbor, Elrood Bangleshake, had his first yard sale of 1978. I really didn’t have any pressing need for a life-size ceramic stork that is balanced on one foot and has an iron ring in the tail to which you can hitch a horse. But Bangleshake had asked me to come over and help him print the price tags and I knew his feelings would be hurt if I didn’t buy something. Although lacking utilitarian virtues, the stork was more esthetic than the other schlock he had decided he could bear to part with. I was not until I got it home and turned it upside down to study the possibility of using the extended leg as a hat rack that I noticed the label on the underside. It read: “Yard Sales, Inc. — Rampant, W.Va. — Fine Pseudo-castoffs Since 1973.” The next day I bearded Bangleshake by his compost pile. “Where did you get that stork?” I de manded. Bangleshake blanched. “Wh-wh-why do you ask?” he stammered. “Is something wrong with it?” I fixed him with a steely glare. “Will you sign a statement certifying that it is a bona fide castoff?” I challenged. Bangleshake reddened. Globules of perspiration popped out on his forehead. “Okay, you’ve got me,” he finally confes sed. “I ordered the stork out of a yard sale catalog. I was afraid my own castoffs we ren’t gimcracky enough, so I sent off for a few items to make the sale look more realis tic. ” Things have come to a pretty pass when it takes imitation castoffs to produce an aura of authenticity. The next thing we know there’s going to be a yard sale black market. Letters to the editor There are still old-fashioned Aggies Editor: I must say that I had begun to think the last vestiges of the University that I had know as a freshman had disappeared. It had begun to seem that the only real difference between A&M and the university at Austin was the name. I am here to say that I was very pleasantly proven wrong last Friday. I was transporting a load of furniture, from College Station to Houston when my load was blown from the back of my Ford ranchero. In my feverish attempt to reload my scat tered belongings, two young men from the Corps of Cadets stopped to aid me. If its old-fashioned to feel gratitude and pride in these two cadets, then please count me to be old-fashioned. The new face of A&M has a lot to gain from the old tradi tion of mutual aid and a spirit of comradery exemplified by these men. It made me a little prouder to wear my ring. — Charles Harper, ’77 GPR is obsolete Editor: Our fast approaching final exams again bring us to the realization that we “have to make the grade” in order to continue our education. I feel that when so much depends on grades, (especially for those of us trying to get in Vet school, Med school, etc.) our system of a “Grade Point Ratio” is so inadequate. Where is our incentive for studying for finals with any vigor, except what we ob tain from our own self pride? I person ally have two finals that I could make a 60 and a 62 respectively, and still come out with an “A” in the course. A score of around 30 would get me a “B” in those same courses. Sure the GPR system gives a “Buffer system” to those who “blow” the final, but if that is the case why not make finals optional? Presently, two students can receive the same GPR, even though their num erical averages are significantly different (up to about nine points). Is that fair, especially if they are competing to get into one of the above schools? The GPR system may even out for the whole, but I am not a “whole” and it doesn’t even out for me and you, the in dividual. Anyway, what is so wrong or difficult about a numerical system? For instance, take an average of 88 for a three hour course. According to the numerical system, 3 hours multiplied by 87 grade points equals 261. Two hundred sixty-one divided by three equals a num erical average of 87. Simple, especially since computers do it anyway. A numerical system would not just benefit “A” students, but all students in that it would give their “real” average, not some approximate, within 10 point average. A&M could at least adopt a plus-minus system, such as the one Baylor recently adopted. — David Cardwell Not ‘little children Editor: This letter is written in response to Dave Rich’s letter of May 3 regarding the inci dent with Squadron 2. At the outset, we would sincerely like to apologize for the confrontation with Mr. Rich, but feel cer tain facts have been deleted which warrant discussion. Mr. Rich’s semi-final softball game was held on Field 3, which is next to Jersey Street. The area in which our freshmen were hitting fungo shots was 375 to 400 feet away from home plate, immediately adja cent to the fenced-in construction area. The ball was easily hit over the right fielder’s head and rolled into this area. When this happened, the manager of our team clearly shouted for our players to get out of the way, which they promptly did. When Mr. Rich reached the ball, with no interference whatsoever, the base runner was rounding third base, easily reaching home plate. In addition, may we point out that had there been any question whatsoever to the validity of the play, the umpire would have held the runner at second or third base. We wonder why Mr. Rich had not mentioned our presence to the umpire earlier as we had been there approximately 30 minutes prior to the incident. We further understand that when there are playoff games in progress tempers flare and anxiety raised which normally would not. Hence, we shall assume this to be the case regarding this incident. The sad thing here is that an entire outfit has been degraded, and been called “little children,” “frustrated individuals,” etc., for an incident blown completely out of proportion by Mr. Rich. Yes, wearing the Corps of Cadets uni form does mean something to us because we realize we are constantly put on display for our actions; we hardly think that the incident occurred with a civilian dorm that a letter to the editor would follow calling the entire dorm “little children.” We do not condone the verbal arguing and shouting which Mr. Rich alleges took place and can only do our best to see that nothing of this nature ever occurs again. Please accept our apologies, for we sin cerely regret the incident ever occurring. — Dale E. Laine, Jr. ’78 Commanding Officer Squadron 2 Editor s note: This letter was accom panied by 36 other signatures. People matter most Editor: I have witnessed the recent conflict bet ween the Corps of Cadets and the residents of Utay hall as a neutral observer. The let ter to the editor in the May 5 Battalion from several high-ranking corps members refer red to an invasion of Communist troops in Western Europe. As I see it, the No. 1 priority of the military is not the defense of such an attack, but the prevention. The outbreak of war in Western Europe would mean failure for all concerned. Everybody loses. Uniforms, flags and patriotism are great if we don’t let them get out of hand and forget that it is the people themselves that are most important. How can you keep peace with the Russians a half a world away if you can’t even keep peace with fellow Aggies in Utay? If this is indicative of our future military leaders, you and me is in a mess o’ trouble. — David A. Kyle, ’79 There is a reward Editor: Friday, April 28, I misplaced a gold Cross pen and pencil with Gulf insignias on the pocket clips. These were given to me last year with a scholarship and mean a great deal to me. If anyone has found them or knows someone who has, please call me at 845-1875. There is a reward. — Bill Schas Top of the News Campus Student receives finance awards Mark A. Janak received the 1978 undergraduate award from the Houston Society of Financial Analysts April 26. Janak, who graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University Saturday with a BBA in Fi nance, received a $500 award. Janak was given the award for his paper, “A Security Analysis of the El Paso Company.” He plans to work towards an MBA in Finance at Texas A&M. Janak has also received this spring’s Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award, given every year by the Texas A&M Finance Department. Nation Amtrack’s future questionable Transportation Secretary Brock Adams recommended Monday that almost one-fourth of the Amtrak passenger train network be discon tinued in 1979-80, an economy move he acknowledged is a “political hot potato.” In a study ordered by Congress, Adams recommended dropping seven long-distance trains and some shorter segments. Adams said if the 27,000-mile Amtrak system is allowed to continue as is, its federal operating subsidy will rise to $1 billion by 1984. Strong congressional opposition can be expected from Rep. Albert Gore Jr., D-Tenn., who immediately announced he would take steps to save Chicago-Florida service. Fate of Hughes' millions nears Attorneys for both supporters and opponents of the so-called Mormon will rested their cases Monday, clearing the way for final arguments next week in Las Vegas in the legal battle to decide the fete of Howard Hughes’ millions. The arguments were expected to be lengthy and courtroom observers speculated that the six-man, two- women jury could receive the case by the end of next week. Attorneys for both sides will meet Thursday to discuss legal instructions that will be given to the jury by District Court Judge Keith Hayes. World Begin opposes warplane sale Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin reiterated his opposition to President Carter’s proposed package sale of warplanes to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia Sunday, saying the aircraft should go to his nation alone. In an interview on NBC-TV’s “Meet The Press” Sunday, Begin reiterated his objection to Carter’s proposed $4.8 billion package sale of jets. Begin said the sale of jets to Saudi Arabia, which is toreceiveBO fighters, posed a “great danger to our national defense. ” Begin joined hundred of thousands of New Yorkers at a Fifth Avenue parade Sunday honoring the 30th anniversary of the Jewish state. Search goes on for Red Brigades Police sealed off all roads into and out of Genoa Monday in their search for the Red Brigades kidnappers of Aldo Moro, who told his wife in a farewell letter, “They are going to kill me shortly.” Rome police said 26 arrests made during the weekend brought them no closer to finding the former premier, kidnapped March 16 and sentenced to death “by a people’s court” in April. An Italian newspaper reported Monday the Red Brigades gang has compiled two lists of potential victims for their terrorist attacks, complete with photographs and addresses. The paper said a police raid April 18 on a Rome apartment used by the gang as a hideout had uncovered the two lists of prominent industrialists, journalists and politicians. SWAPO recalls delegation The South West African Peoples Organization Monday abruptly called off a meeting with Western members of the U.N. Security Council and ordered its delegation home in protest over South Africa’s invasion of Angola. The move was seen as a crippling blow to the hopes of the five — United States, Canada, Britian, France and West Ger many — for a plan that would set up elections and establish, under U.N. protection, an independent state of Namibia in South West Africa. SWAPO, a black guerrila organization, is regarded by most of the 49 members of the United Nations as the “legitimate representa tive” of the people of Namibia. SWAPO said Monday that, because of the “grave situation” created by the air and ground invasion of Angola by the “fascist troops’ of South Africa; its central committee “has decided to urgently recall SWAPO’s negotiating delegation.” OPEC oil price holds steady Two key officials of the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries say oil prices will not be raised for the rest of 1978 despite pressure from some OPEC members. Ali Jaida of Qatar, OPEC’s secretary general, and Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani said that there are no plans to replace the U.S. dollar as the world’s oil-pricing unit because of the dollar’s recent recovery on the world currency markets. At the close of a two-day informal conference of 13 OPEC oil ministers Sunday in Taif, Saudi Arabia, Jaida told reporters there would be “no price increase for the rest of the year” from the current $12.70 a barrel. Weather Clear to partly cloudy skies today and Wednesday with warm afternoons and mild nights. High today mid-80s, low tonight low 60s. High tomorrow mid-80s. Variable winds at 10-15 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. 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. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is publi hed 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 nished on request. Address: The Battalion, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas ' • I United Press International is entitled exclusively use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited■'K Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein resfi' j Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TC ^ J MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor KiniTlJ Managing Editor Karen Sports Editor ..•••• Bav^ News Editors Carolyn Blosser, Debbie City Editor Gary .Campus Editor UzN^B Assistant Campus Editor Andy Wif■ Editorial Director Lee Roy Leschp* B Photo Editor J. Wagner Staff Writers Mark Patterson, Paige Bei ;f K Andrea Vails, Michelle Scudder, Sean 1* 1 Photographers Susan Webb, Be- I *1 Cartoonist Doug G# I Student Publications Board: Bob G. Rogers, Joe Arredondo, Dr. Gary Halter, Dr. Charles McCa^- Dr. Clinton A. Phillips, Rebel Rice. Director of Publications: Donald C. Johnson.
