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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Tuesday Texas A&M University September 19, 1978 Beware the curse It was beginning to look like it’d never happen. But he finally did it. President Carter has done something for which he richly deserves praise. By strong-arming Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin into agreeing on a last-ditch attempt for Middle East peace, James Earl Carter may very well have earned the lofty name in history he has so struggled to find that of peacemaker. Already there are murmurings of a Nobel Peace Prize. It goes without saying that the chances of the Camp David agreement becoming a lasting Middle East peace are slim. Mr. Carter needs to re member his future as a peacemaker may be just as tenuous. Fate has not dealt kindly with his peace-making predecessors. Abraham Lincoln had just begun reuniting a war-splintered nation when John Wilkes Booth put a bullet through his brain. Teddy Roosevelt, after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for negotiating the end of the Russo- Japanese War, watched his Republican Party reject him in favor of the former vice-president he had hand-picked for the presidency. Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke soon after the Senate refused to let the United States join the League of Nations which had been his brainchild. Jimmy Carter deserves better for his efforts. L.R.L. of the peacemaker uyinri Political winds are changing in America By DAVID S. BRODER WASHINGTON--As the Carter ad ministration gropes its way toward a toughened anti-inflation policy, the politi cal pressures are growing for another ex periment with some form of controls. The pressure is not coming from the economists within the administration, of which there are an uncommonly large number. Rather, they are being generated by party leaders, who find their voice at the White House through Democratic Na tional Chairman John C. White. White is the canny Texas politician who was drafted out of the agriculture depart ment early this year to take command for Jimmy Carter of a badly-neglected Demo cratic party. A LONGTIME TEXAS agriculture commissioner with a down-home feel for the public temper. White has begun to penetrate the consciousness of Carter’s inner circle with his unstilted appraisals of the political realities. In recent weeks, he has been delivering two messages to anyone at the White House he can get to listen. One is that, beneath the surface calm and even boredom of the 1978 campaign season, there are signs of a restless impati ence and a desire for change among the voters. The second is that, at a deeper level than the polls suggest, there is skepticism in the public about the administration s rather tentative approach to the threat of inflation that dwarfs all other problems in importance. White has been sending memos to the president, calling his attention to the number of “upsets that have been occur ring in recent primaries. He has pointed out places where “outsiders, making their first tries for major office, have surprised the established favorites. SUCH UPSETS HAVE occurred, in re cent weeks, everywhere from Albama to Maryland to Wisconsin — and in no dis cernible ideological pattern. Rather, as White sees it, these races suggest a more than localized streak of dis satisfaction with the status quo, and a wil lingness to experiment with unconven tional approaches. The implication -- which does not have to be spelled out for anyone of Carter’s acuteness -- is that even a president could become the victim of such a mood. White s rather gentle hints that more boldness in the fight on inflation would be welcome are not likely to weigh heavily in the debate on the new administration’s economic policy, scheduled to take place this week. Carter s economic advisers seem to be pointing pretty clearly toward another rather conventional set of proposals. They have recommended the adoption of num erical guidelines, for "voluntary wage and price increase ceilings, to he enforced by some combination of moral suasion, jaw boning and indirect government sanctions applied through procurement, import and regulatory decisions. TO A FARM BOY like White, that ap proach sounds like a fancily-wrapped pac kage of the most common barnyard pro duct. It is not the sort of thing that will make restless voters believe that every thing possible is being done to break the back of inflation. White shares the traditional farmers aversion to tight money and the typical southerners feeling that high interest rates not only enrich the banders (who do not vote Democratic), but also feed infla tion by adding to everyone's cost of bor rowing money. The administration's ac ceptance of a Federal Reserve Board pol icy of higher interest rates goes against the grain for him. Again, his viewpoint will not prevail in the current round of Carter administration policy-making. But if the new anti-inflation program proves to be as ineffective in curbing price surge as the past year s "deceleration drive has been, you can look for John White’s arguments to be revived more forcefully. WHITE, AND THOSE "non-experts for whom he speaks, sense there is a cli mate of opinion in the country that would support bold action by the President to break the inflation cycle, even if that meant imposing controls for a time. The experience with controls in the Nixon administration left most economists vowing it sould never be tried again. But politicians like White point out that, while the controls were in effect, inflation was halted — and Nixon was reelected. In 1979, if not in 1978, that argument may carry weight in the Carter White I louse. (c)1978. The Washington Post Company Letters to the editor Italy’s not ready to start speaking English Editor: 1 have some comments on the article in Thursday’s Battalion about the English language in Italy: 1) It is very true that the English lan guage is growing more and more impor tant every day in Italy, (as almost everywhere else in the world), but I can honestly and definitely assure you that we are very far away from adopting it in place of our Italian. (How could we? Apart from all serious considerations; English does not even have a word for about 50 percent of our food!) And moreover, can you imagine the dis appointment of tourists listening to “Oh my sun!” instead then to “O Sole Mio!” And all those holiday romances which could no longer thrive on lots of "ti amo” and “per sempre"? No, no way: tourism, our principle income, would collapse in stantly. 2) In Italian schools, the only language allowed is Italian, regardless of the region of residence, and teachers are usually very severe toward regional idiomatic forms (of course, it is more difficult to remove local accents). All public kindergartens and grammar schools offer an optional course in a foreign language—starting from the 6th grade the study of a modern foreign language (i.e. apart from Latin and ancient Greek) is compulsory until the 13th grade, when high school ends. I think therefore that it is wrong to say that only the kids of rich people get a chance to study English, unless that you automatically labeled as “rich” everybody who can send his kids to school. The real problem is that still too many families cannot afford this “luxury” and have to send (illegally) their children into the “black work” market—(I do not want at this point to go into political, social and econmical dissertations on how this is pos sible in a country where few other ex tremely rich people live in an appallingly lavish way while constantly draining the national monetary balance by smuggling abroad thousands of millions of dollars every year. This situation has been created by centuries of injustices, foreign domina tion and national corruption, and after the last war has grown to an unbearable point, fertilized by too many international conni vences). Correction Two events are scheduled for to day that were incorrectly reported in The Battalion. New faculty are in vited to see filmed highlights of the 1977 Aggie football season at 8:00 tonight in the lounge at Wofford Cain Hall. For more information, call the dean of faculty office. Also, a show of Ansel Adam’s photographs of the Southwest begins today in Rudder Exhibit ahall. The exhibit will run through Oct. 18. The Battalion regrets the errors. 3) All university students know at least two foreign languages (usually English, plus either French or German) and par ticularly if they attend a scientific faculty, are used to studying on foreign textbooks. A wide opportunity to travel abroad very cheaply also helps them to get no tions of several other languages (when you have to get you food, you do learn fast! I can remember being able to master even Swedish and Polish after two days of quasi-starvation!). I know that "yellow journalism” is very catching, but I have a very high respect for your newspaper, which is usually exempt from it (much more than T.V. or other major newspapers!) and so I thought worthwhile to straighten out some points. I apologize for the bad handwriting and for using up your very precious time. Best wishes for your work!! —Sowes Bergomesco Osborne, Visiting associate professor of physics, Professor of physics at Universite di Torino, Italy. Send 'em over Editor: I write to you with a question of Judge William Wayne Justice ruling that “Schools must provide illegal aliens with free ed ucation, court rules. Judge Justice was reported as saying that educating the children of illegal aliens could be a benefit to the state. I see the following benefits for Texas: 1) Encourage more Mexicans to enter Texas illegally, which would cause an in crease in the number of border patrolmen, thus lowering our state’s unemployment rate; and 2) Give our state a cheap labor force which could lower the operating budget of Texas. Shouldn’t we halt the inflow of aliens instead of help it along? An Ounce of pre^ vention is worth a pound of “cure.” —Timothy W. Kiker, ‘80 Asphalt battleground Editor: Last weekend I was coming back to the dorm and drove into the senior Corps parking lot looking for a space to park. I was not able to find one. This isn t unusual during the week because of the number of seniors in the Corps, but on the weekend I am usually able to find one. The parking lot was full this time be cause three non-reg freshmen, five females and about twenty non-reg up perclassmen chose to park in the lot. I was quite angry because I worked years for the privilege of parking in that lot. There is friction sometimes between the Corps and the non-regs and some of it is due to situations like this and things that the Corps does in response. I felt like let ting the air out of some people’s tires, but decided instead to write the Battalion. There are people in the Corps, though, who do not like to write letters to the editor, but who like to take action. When I have to park away from my lot because a freshman non-reg is parked there, I can sympathize with those Coprs members. So please, non-regs, stay out of the senior Corps parking lots. —Chris Roth, ‘79 People should listen Editor: This letter is in reference to the letter written by Miss Parker and Miss Childress (Battalion “Letters”, Sept. 15). In their letter, they chastised Miss Stephens for her feelings regarding credit for band at another university. To me Miss Stephens has a legitimate reason for being upset. I see no reason why transfer stu dents should not receive credit for band at another university. Miss Parker and Miss Childress seemed to take this as a threat to the Aggie Band which they regard so highly. Because of this they suggested she consider another university. I feel it is a shame that some people can not tolerate other people’s ideas or felings. It is both ignorant and immature. If people here would listen and try to understand new or different ideas, this university would be a much better place. —Pat Ryan, graduate student Now the other side Editor’s note: This letter is in response to a letter by Marge Bernhardt in Monday’s Battalion. Editor: I know that as a “big, supposedly mature senior you believe yourself to be correct in many things—and can refer sarcastically to other students as “kiddies"—then what are you still doing here, Miss Class of‘78? In response to your response to the let ter of Misses Childress and Parker, I merely would like to say that you flew off the handle, to put it mildly, in calling these two young ladies “snobs.” It hurts me that you can be so un friendly towards someone whom you have never even met. They were merely de fending a belief which they stated quite expressly in their letter, that the Aggie Band is “beyond compare”, and therefore the young woman in question should not gripe about credits from another school— “equal credit for equal performance and work. Sure, credits are hard to transfer, but let them give the band a pat on the back if they like for being so unique. But really, this belief of Misses Chil dress and Parker has nothing to do with their overall Aggie spirit, personality or friendliness. Unless you know them per sonally, and can vouch for your rash and rude name-calling, you owe them an apol ogy and are wrong to judge who is a snob and who is not on this campus. —Rhoni Mays, ‘80 Slouch By Jim Earle aiLF Jerr 99 “THERE’S NO MENTION AT ALL OF OUR GAME WITH OPEN DATE!” Top of the News Local Fine-free month on late books Overdue books may be returned to the Bryan Public Library until Oct. 13 with no penalty. Linda Pringle, director of the library, said the library will conduct the “line free month in an effort to get back books which have been overdue or missing for a long time. We are losing about 2,7(H) books a year,” Pringle said. The books maybe returned to the library or to various stores around town. If unable to deliver the books, a person may call the library and they will be picked up. In any ease there will be no questions asked. Campus Buses to go to football games Charter bus trips to three Texas A&M University away football games have been scheduled by the Brazos County A&M Club. All reservations must be paid in advance. Game tickets, meals and re freshments are the responsibility of each individual. The first trip is the Oct. 14 A&M-Houston game in the Astrodome. The cost is $7.50 per person and the buses will leave from the parking lot south of Rudder Tower at 3:30 p.m. Arrangements for the other trips are: Nov. 4, A&M-SMU, Cotton Bowl, departure at 8 a.m., $12 per person; Dec. 2, A&M-Texas, Memorial Stadium, departure at 10 a.m., $7.50 per person. Reservations and checks, payable to the Brazos County A&M Club, can be mailed to P.O. Box 4, College Station. New scholarships to be awarded More Texas A&M University cadets will go on two-year Army ROTC scholarships in 1979-80, thanks to the number of non scholarship cadets on commission contract during 1978-79. The new awards will become available through the Military College Dedicated Scholarships Program which authorizes two new two-year scholar ships for each increment of 17 junior non-scholarship cadets enrolled. Current scholarships are awarded on the basis of a nationwide merit competition. The scholarship provides tuition, required fees, hooks and $1(X) per month. State Five people killed in plane crash Five persons were killed Sunday when a private plane crashed about 10 miles north of Kerrville. A spokeswoman for the Gillespie County justice of the peace identified four ol the dead as Stanley). Kramer, 27, of San Antonio; his wife Deanna M. Kramer, 23; their 1-month-old daughter, Tabitha Jo, and Kramer s sister-in-law, Man K. Kramer, 28, of Kerrville. The name of the fifth victim has not been released. No cause for the crash has been determined.' Anti-pollution rule to be costly A proposed federal anti-pollution rule could add $75 million to the cost of a new coal-fired electric generating unit, a spokesman for Houston Lighting & Power Co. says. The Environmental Protection Agency last week proposed requiring complete removal of stifr dioxide from smoke emitted by new electric plants. HL&Pspokiv man Jim Parsons said the regulation could cost the power industry $10 billion and would be the single most expensive requirement L’PA has imposed on the nation’s utilities. Nation Four Cubans reach U.S. safely Four Cubans who stole a boat to row from their Communist home land to the United States last week began immigration procedures Monday at Miami’s Cuban Refugee Center. The four were identified as Nestor Gonzales, 30; Orlando Garcia, 26; Jisus Moreno, 25; and Eugenio Armas, 23. They were found by the crew of the tug Korin- thios early Saturday adrift in the Gulf Stream six miles east of Miami. The four said they stole a 12-foot government skiff last Tuesday night at Megano Beach near Havana and decided to row to the United States. They became lost when their compass malfunctioned. Their fresh water supply was exhausted after two days. World Rhodesia accepts U.S. invitation Prime Minister Ian Smith of Rhodesia and his three executive council colleagues announced Monday they have accepted in princi ple an invitation from a bipartisan bloc of 27 American senators to visit the United States. American policies have recently come under bitter criticism in Rhodesia. A spokesman for the four said the White House refuses to recognize a message that has been sent “accepting in principle” the invitation. Weather Partly cloudy and warm through Wednesday, with chance of showers and thundershowers Wednesday evening. High in the low 90s and low in the mid-70s. South wind at 10/15 mph. Probability of rain 20% for today. The Battalion LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to beinf' 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 published on Tuesday through Thursday. 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, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College.Station, Texas 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor KimTys* Managing Editor Liz Nerf 1 Assistant Managing Editor. .Karen Rogf® Sports Editor David Bogp City Editor Jamie Aitk Campus Editor Andy Willia* News Editors Carolyn Blow Debbie Parsons Editorial Director Lee Hi* Leschper Jr. Cartoonist Doug Gratia® Staff Writers . . . .Mark Patterson, Andrei Vails, Scott Pendleton, Seat Petty, Michelle Scudder, Marilyn Faulkenberry 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, Stlf supporting enterprise operated Inj students as a university and community neiospupir. Editorial policy is determined by the editor.