Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1978)
i Skiers try sand Schuss makes it on the beaches United Press International REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — The sea lion cocked his head to one side and stared. He dived beneath a wave and reappeared 25 yards from shore. The spectacle on the beach was as new to him as it was to the more than 150 onlookers. About 35 cross-country skiers grunted, groaned and shuffled their way along a 2-kilometer race course as 6-foot waves crashed at their feet. Known for its endless summer, palm trees and constant sunshine, snow skiing is common to Southern California. From November to April hundreds of thousands of snow buffs head into the nearby mountains, some within 50 miles of Los Angeles, to ski in eight to 10 feet of snow. But the race last weekend was held on the beach, with surfers, bathers and curious marine life within a beach ball’s throw. The first annual Cross Country Skiing Sand Race sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and various ski associa tions attracted the young and not-so-young. It brought a crowd to witness the event because, even in this land of turtle races, and this was truly unusual. David Moe, publisher of Powder Magazine, a Western ski journal, jumped into an early lead. The blond, 31-year-old journalist from Dana Point, Calif., finished the course more than 400 yards ahead of his nearest challenger. Moe’s time was slightly more than 11 minutes. To better com prehend how grueling the race was, try running on a deep-sand beach — then strap two 7-foot long narrow boards to your feet and try it again. THE BATTALION Page 9 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1978 Soviet Pentecostals seeking refuge, charge Americans with failure to help *0 Want a bright idea? JOIN THE Electrical Engineers Wives Club for more information contact: Mrs. Willis (sponsor) 846-2991 THE Maroon& White K IS COMING Outfitters! B United Press International WASHINGTON — A group of Russian Pentecostals who have been seeking sanctuary in the U.S. Em bassy in Moscow have charged in a secret letter to President Carter that embassy officials are trying to expel them,[UPI learned Wednesday. However, the State Department’s top human rights officer, Patricia Derian, said the embassy has in vited the group to go to the United States, but cannot give them Ameri can visas as long as the Soviet Union refuses to grant exit visas. The letter was sent through em bassy mails to two American stu dents in College Park, Md., who spoke with the Pentecostals during a visit to the embassy in August. UPI obtained a copy of the letter. The students took the letter to the White House and then met with Ms. Derian at the State Department Tuesday. Ms. Derian, assistant secretary of state for human rights, said the Pen- Soviets would do to the families. "Officials are demanding that we leave,” the letter said. “Today (the 27th of August 1978) and yesterday (the 26th) we were read a message from Ambassador Toon that we should leave the em bassy immediately, with God. “When we asked Mr. Combs (an embassy official) what would happen to us he replied. The embassy can not help you and this is not a hotel. We gave you all the necessary things you needed while you were here, but now you have to leave, with God. We don’t know what will happen to you.’” The letter concluded: “We are asking you, Mr. President, if it is possible to help us at all. We are ready to go to any country together with our families. May God help you make a wise decision.” The dissidents are Peter Vas hchenko, 51; his wife, Augustina; their three daughters, Lidia, 27, Liobov, 26, and Lilia, 21; Maria Chymkhalov, 56, a family friend; and Timofet, 17, her son. They are from the Siberian town of Cher- nogorsk. “We are ashing you, Mr. Pres ident, if it is possible to help us at all. We are ready to go to any country together with our families. May God help you make a wise decision.” The Vashchenko family has been trying to emigrate to the United States for 17 years, but the Soviet Union refuses to grant them an exit visa. They have sought sanctuary in the embassy since June 27 when they rushed two militiamen guard ing the front gate. The students, James Switzer and Ben Young, were in Moscow under a program sponsored by the U.S. Office of International Educational Exchange. They told UPI they BUSINESS COLLEGE Inquire About Our Term Starting September 26 Phone -822-6423 or 822-2368 struck up an acquaintance with the families. According to Switzer and Young, the Vashchenkos were victims of an upsurge of antireligious propaganda in the Chernogorsk area in the early 1960s which forced religious parents to withdraw their children from Soviet schools. 313B South College in the Skaggs Shopping Center/ College Station ^ In the letter, the Pentacostals charged American Ambassador to the Soviet Union Malcoom Toon and other embassy aides, are seeking to force them to leave the embassy. , tecostals are staying in the embas sy’s visitors’ apartment, and acknow ledged they were asked to leave. But she said embassy officials have not pressed for the group’s de- , parture nor threatened to expel them. In the letter, the Pentecostals charg ed that American Ambassador f to the Soviet Union Malcolm Toon and other embassy aides are seeking to force them to leave the embassy even though the officials acknow ledge they do not know what the THERE’S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE VISTA SIGN UP NOW FOR INTERVIEW CAREER PLANNING & PLACEMENT RUDDER TOWER - 10TH FLOOR PEACE CORPS & VISTA REPS ON CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 18 & 19 * * * 3709 E. 29TH PIPES (TOWN & W COUNTRY * SNUFF CENTER) * SPITTONS * PIPE RACKS * ROLLING PAPER •¥r CIGARS - IMPORTED *- AND DOMESTIC * LIGHTERS/FLUID ■¥? IMPORTED CIGARETTES -X- -X- CUSTOM BLENDED TOBACCO \ MANOR EAST MALL Laced and zippered leather in bramble or brown. Very Special At 43 ^TcLryos fa r Afoc/e ■ I I I I I I I I I I I l_. THE BATT DOES IT DAILY Monday through Friday Say hello to Olaf the sure-footed charmer who puts you a step ahead of everybody else - in style and Comfort alike. Olaf is q fashionable footnote for everything, new. A well-heeled companion for jaunts through country or town. Shala’s Shoes Your fashion shoe store 707 texas The Brazos Valley Ama teur Soccer League wish es to congratulate THE LOCKER ROOM, 1978 Summer Soccer League champions, and the Sum mer Soccer League Top Ten Scorers. Name Robert Steele Jose Molina Jose Caballero Bob Presley Farhang Feshari Steve Mayer Yehuda Dror Hector Lazaneo Joel Simon John Higgins Team Locker Room Real Estate Mart Real Estate Mart Duddley’s Draw Straight Sall’n Hughes Homes Jaycees Schlltz Hughes Homes Locker Room Goals Scored 13 12 12 12 11 9 9 9 7 7 Our thanks go to the League Team Sponsors: DANVER’S DONALD REISER G. F. S0USARES DISTRIBUTING THE REAL ESTATE MART DUDDLEY'S DRAW B-CS JAYCEES STRAIGHT SAIL’N THE LOCKER ROOM HUGHES HOMES Also we wish to thank for their contributions: City of College Station Parks and Recreation Department City of Bryan Parks and Recreation Department Texas A&M Soccer Club Brazos Valley Youth Soccer Association