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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Yours, not ours The “Letters to the Editor” section of The Battalion is a very popular section of the newspaper, as evidenced by of the number of letters we receive and comments by readers. However, some students say the section seems to contain only bad news and that it may reflect unfavorably upon the University. As a general rule, readers tend to write about the issues they dislike and would like to do something about, or they voice an opinion they feel should be heard. The Battalion attempts to print a cross-section of the letters it receives, as long as they are not libelous and are in good taste. Readers of this section of the newspaper should remember that these letters are not the editorial voice of the newspaper, but an avenue for readers to express their views. — K.T. Letters to the Editor Monday October 9, 1978 Take advantage of A&M with an open mind Editor: Texas A&M is a school rich in traditions, from the Twelfth Man to the all-male band, from Silver Taps to the flags and trees surrounding the drill field. These traditions, in addition to the highly re spected academic standards, are what make TAMU what it is today. But scholastic achievements and strict, faithful adherence to tradition must take second place to an even more important reason; the reason for the very existance of a “University.” An education is not com plete without a well-rounded understand ing of other people and personalities. We must take advantage of the wide range of personalities, nationalities, backgrounds, and in particular the ideas and beliefs of the people we are associated with. By harassing or threatening a person because his ideas or beliefs do not coincide with your own, you are not improving the world by changing a traitorous mind, but rather you are only building a wall around yourself. You must consider and allow every idea different from your own. This is the only way to live. With a closed mind a person is dead. —Mike Bailey, ’81 Landscape it Editor: I am fed up with the constant bickering, ■ among different groups on this campus. A ' prime example of the nonsense that has been going on is the incident which re cently occurred on the grass in front of the MSG. I will not take the time to argue sides. I believe there is a sensible solution to the problem. COMPROMISE. I would like to suggest that the area in front of the MSC be landscaped. The Landscape department here has the know ledge and ability to properly landscape the area with shrubs and other beautiful plants in a way that people will not want to or be able to walk on the grass. Proper landscaping would provide an aesthetically pleasing area for both groups to enjoy. —Larry L. Sharp, 79 concerning the feasability of implementing a four-day school week at Texas A&M. I believe that if an industry can increase its efficiency by 66 percent, as was shown in a recent industry study, and decrease its ab senteeism at the same time then the same can be done in a college or other institu tion of higher learning. A four-day school week would be very beneficial to college students because of the extra leisure time involved. Due to the pressures involved in college life, extra lei sure time would increase student morale, and could quite possibly increase student efficiency. For these reasons, I believe that a study of the feasibility of a four-day school week would be very appropriate. —James A. Scogin, '79 Council ‘approves’? Editor: In response to Scoggins’ persistence in sitting on the MSC grass, I feel the whole question of the grass is whether or not it’s a tradition if the MSC Council says so. I didn t know the Council had to approve traditions before they became “official.” Did the Council decide whether we should talk at Silver Taps? Did the Council decide whether we’d say “howdy” to each other? The answers to these questions are obviously ”NO.” _ Aggies don’t walk on the grass because , it S' 'a tradition (ok decided to respect — who cares what the Counci 1 decided. Is it that much trouble to walk around? -Tracy Cox, ’81 P S. To Scoggins--Highway 6 dues run both ways! Mocking, not cute 4-day week? Editor: Ever since World War II, there has been increasing talk of a four-day, 40-hour work week. However, it was not until the early 1970s that this concept became widely used. The * 4-40” concept grew from a trickle into an international trend between 1969 and 1971. Businesses na tionwide have praised the concept stating that it has incresed productivity and effi ciency, and has reduced absenteeism. This concept, although lengthening the work day to 10 hours, also has the advantage of a three-day weekend. On the basis of a three-day weekend, increased efficiency, and reduced absen teeism, I propose that a study be made Slouch Editor: I just read a letter to the editor by Randy Spiars (Tues., Oct. 3) that really made me sick. A few “non-regs” at Texas A&M thought they would be real cute by mocking an outfit in the Corps that was on a run. I will not repeat what they did. I would definitely say that this was conduct unbe coming an Aggie. I believe in tradition and therefore the Corps is very dear to me and I firmly believe that the Corps of Cadets is definitely the BACKBONE and the PRIDE of Aggieland. If these students want to commit these types of pranks, then they should go to t.u. where they belong. —Nancy Robin, ’78 Military preview Editor: After reading “Corps cadets get no re spect at Sbisa” (Tuesday, Oct. 3), I too must express my dissatisfaction with the mocking of the military element of our student body. Those students who were by Jim Earle responsible only succeeded in revealing their immaturity, for there are better ways of expressing opinions, i.e. student elec tions. However, the incident was not a com plete waste of time. The disrespect shown to the non-civilians was a preview of the type of reception they will receive in many American and foreign communities where, far from the shelter of tradition, they will discover a society that is truly aware of what the military represents. —Dan Samples, ‘79 Crass superiority Editor: Many, many times I have read the editorial section of The Battalion and have gotten a good laugh. Many times I have been tempted to write a letter myself, but never found the time to do so. This time 1 am afraid that I must take the time to write and express my views.I am talking about the incident that occured Tuesday morning in front of the MSC. A male (and I use the term loosely be cause he looked like a female — long hair, earring, and all) decided to sit on the grass outside the MSC. Several people asked this person to get off the grass. He refused to get off because he claimed that the grass belonged to all the students of A&M. It was explained to him that the grass was (in the minds of many A&M students) a memorial to those Aggies that had died in ware to defend our country. He still r6- ' fused to move claiming that it was his right. This person did not want equal rights with other students to sit on the grass, he wanted superiority to the rest of the stu dent body so that he alone could have the right to sit on the grass. Both Mr. Graham’s and Mr. Tynes’ arti cles made this person out to be like a hero fighting for his rights. These two (so-called journalists) also made two females out to be the heavies. Granted, these two females were emotional about the situa tion and were merely expressing their opinions to this person about sitting on the grass. It is my personal opinion that the grass around the MSC is included in the memo rial to those Aggies that died in wars de fending the U.S. Because of this opinion I personally did not feel that this person should have stayed on the grass after the situation was explained to him. If it were not for the fighting men that gave their lives in war to keep this country free, people like that male would not be able to pull stunts like sitting on the grass. In referring to Mr. Graham and Mr. Tynes as so-called journalists, I heard one of those females ask the photographer in volved if he were from The Battalion. He repeatedly told her that he was not from The Battalion. He should not have lied to this girl unless of course he is ashamed of his job. To me, lying like that, just to get a story, is poor journalism. -Jan Lipscomb, ’78 Editor s note: J. Wagner Tynes is not a member of The Battalion staff, nor did the editorial he wrote carry a line saying he is Battalion Staff. He has, however, been a member of the staff before, and he * s a photographer for the “Aggie land. He wrote the editorial as a con tributor to The Battalion, just as any reader can submit a commentary for our Reader s Forum section of the news paper. Any student may also submit pic tures to The Battalion for publication. “JUST FOR SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, MIND YOU; IF WE PAVED THE AREA WHERE THE GRASS IS AT TH’ CENTER WOULD IT STILL BE DISRESPECTFULL TO WALK ON THE PAVING WHERE TH’ GRASS ONCE WAS? Get issue decided Editor: I was amazed and astounded at the arti cle in Wednesday’s Battalion concerning the student who wouldn’t move from the MSC grass. I was amazed initally that this had not happened before now, since it has been close to a year since the MSC Coun cil restated the “official’ position dealing with the grounds. Who among us could forget a yell leader leaping upon his soap box during a past yell practice to voice his opinion on this touchy subject. The report at which I was astounded was that of the grossly narrow-minded in sults so easily tossed by the simpleton group. Not only were the old standard, ‘traditional” cracks about a certain slab of concrete and our sister school belched forth without thought but some “new” ones reeking and challenging the man’s political affilitiation were spewed. In his comment, Doug Graham did the group great justice in hinting they used their gray matter at all. The argument presented on behalf of “No No grass” was sound and left little room for anything but rationality. Mr. Graham did, however, make a point to mention the group consisted of “mainly civilian” students before he so journalisti cally cut them down. This is the first I have heard, seen or read about the civilians here. The gather ing was predominantly civilian probably because the campus, as a whole, is popu lated roughly 90 percent by the “non-regs so foundly written of as late. People not familiar with this school are led by photographs, articles, and campus publicity to believe that this place is mostly in uniform today. Not so, but that is beside the point. Traditions, being the point, like any other custom cannot be forced, legislated, passed, voted or otherwise ruled upon. They are carried over from yesteryear and based upon what was done long ago. The Memorial Student Center, slanderously labeled “The C” by so many good thinking “good Ags,’’ has not been around for that long. Go ahead, call for a referendum so stu dents can decide (for at least four years) whether it be good or bad to tread upon the grass. As of now, there are no signs stating that whosoever shall be caught upon the MSC grounds will “have his arm broken — but for tradition’s sake it will be done in a friendly Aggie manner. Unin formed visitors as well as students are har- rassed and threatened without so much as a kindly worded explanation as to why the grass merely covers sacred ground. Could we please get this over with once and for all and let sitting students and vis itors sit, or let them know that the grass is indeed a memorial to touched only by the gardener and birds. — Joel Krouse, ’81 Defer Corps run Editor: I am writing in response to a letter in the Batt of Oct. 3. The mooning and extremely foul lan guage by non-regs at corpsmen during a Corps run was regrettable. However, there are immature kids all over campus (corpsmen too!!) If given a chance (a Corps run) they will “show off.” It should be noted Mr. Spiars that there was an apparent reason behind those run ning along and mocking the C.T.s (even though it was beyond you). They are tel ling you what they think of the majority of C.T.s on campus who’s major interest in life is “playing army” (in fact a very viable definition for a C.T. is a 20-year-old who has never advanced past the 10-year-old maturity level.) I do agree that the events of past weeks (the Rudder incident during “Kentucky Fried Movie, at Sbisa, etc.) are deplora ble, but this is not the same thing (at least not yet). Those who mocked the C.T.s have the greatest respect for Texas A&M, none for the Corps! Incidently, this feeling is not a new one, nor is the incident described. If you had any common sense whatsoever you would defer from Corps runs through the north dorm area. Or is the truth that you want to start a mess comparable to those in past weeks? —Scott Lane, 81 Remove your hat Editor: The 55 flags that fly over Kyle Field at each football game are in commemoration of the 55 Aggies that were killed in World War I. This should be incentive enough for all AGGIES to remove their hats when enter- ing Kyle Field at anytime. It is also the final resting place for Re veille I, Reveille II, and Reveille HI. One would not wear their hat in the Memorial Student Center nor walk on it’s grass, for the same reason one should not wear his hat in Kyle Field. — Ed Saad, ’81 Clarification Letters to the Editor must be signed, show the address of the wri ter and list a telephone number for verification. Top of the News campus Filing begins for freshmen electiot Filing for freshmen elections will be Oct. 12-18, in Room 216 A&1J of the Memorial Student Center. Time for filing will be 11 a .m. toj Cadets receive scholarships p.m. A Corps of Cadets scholarship program has been initiated at Texas A&M University with presentation of the first three awards. Presj. dent Jarvis Miller met the first three freshmen recipients last Tue S . day and presented award checks. The awards will be for $1,000 each for two years. The Chester Reed, Louis Gross and M.J. Neeley-$ u | Ross Scholarships went to Jackie S. Moreland of Hughes Springs; Byron W. Lightsey of Belton; and Orville S. Maze of San Antonio. Maze, of Company E-2, and Lightsey, of Comnany C-2, are Naval ROTC cadets majoring in nuclear and mechanical engineering. More- land, a civil engineering major, is an Air Force ROTC cadet member of Squadron 8. LOCAL Evangelistic services to he held The Oak Grove United Methodist Church will be holding L evangelistic services each night this week starting at 7:30 p.m. The evangelist will be Bishop Alejandro Ruiz. The pastor, the Rev. (Sbisa Samuel Blanco, and the members of the church extend a cordial Rfootba invitation to the public. 4 ■ Crock STATE Davis trial back in Fort Worth? i » Lawyers for T. Cullen Davis this week will try to convince a state district judge the Fort Worth millionaire should be tried on murder solicitation charges by a jury of his peers in his home town. Unlike many criminal cases, prosecutors in Fort Worth — not the defense- wanted Davis’ upcoming trial moved out of the city in an effort to see that justice had the best chance of being served.’ The change of venue to Houston was considered to be a minor victory for the state, which wanted the highly publicized case out ofTarrant County. Prosecutors felt that Davis, who was acquitted of killing his 12-year-old step daughter Andrea Wilborn during a sensational trial last year in Amarillo, would draw sympathetic jurors in either Fort Worth or Amarillo. ft nli o. no [The |e ol NATION Private firm to operate oil reserves The federal government has awarded a $44 million contract to a private company for operation of the nation's petroleum reserve stor- , age sites following a devastating fire at one of them, three Louisiana congressmen announced Saturday. The announcement followed a public hearing by Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, D-Li., into the cause and aftermath of a Sept. 21 explosion at the underground Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage facility in Hackberry, La. One man died and another was injured in the blast. It began a spectacular fire that nunccl for almost six days and destroyed more than $1 million worth of crude oil. House approves civil service bill President Carter s campaign promise to shake up the federal bureaucracy and make it more responsive to the public needs only his signature to become law. The House Friday gave final congressional approval to the civil service reform bill. In addition to making Car ter s No. 1 campaign promise a reality', the vote was symbolic ol the president s new-found clout on Capitol Hill. The 365-8 vote was the first major action the House took since the bitter vote overriding the president s veto on public works the day before. Two days earlier, the Senate had approved the civil service measure. Carter is expected to sign the bill at White House ceremonies next week.The legislation overhauls the 95-year-old civil service system, making it easier for managers to hire, fire and transfer employees. WORLD CAR to consider routes to Mexico new ^fr 1 rout^lief 05 B ° ar ^ W1 ^ open a bearing Tuesday to consider Among the roum ^ Ve ? n various U.S. cities and Mexican points. buquerque and El Paso^h 1 ^^ WWUld he several ,inkin « Al ' and Continental K i W i 12 c ‘ ,t] es in western Mexico. Frontier assume the routes Frontier Irf 1 ’] 11001 t0 the i CAB for P ermission <] t0 to Mazatlan anrl r 1 rl i • * ,as heen granted temporarv rights to Ik o Mazatlan and Guadalajara, Mexico on a route originating in Den- m m St ° PS *\ n Albu 9 u erque and El Paso. Frontier will inaugurate the flights on Nov. 3. WEATHER Wl,h southerly winds 6-12 mph. High today be m the u PPer 70s and the low in the low 60s. The Battalion ie crc Jows eas B the Ch _ Rollie ie sh< of ho by on top kss for s lisic like |His ban Ie epito Ire was ley even ling pari | the sm the md exai [And th the s his re to cu pe, and Pst hav< th “Kj kies.” T patilih linded 1 pe aim proach gospel \ LETTERS POUCY Utters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are edoV °, b ff g CUt t V ha ' length Ur ,ess ‘f longer. The editor,al 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 far verification. ^nunc Address correspondence to Utters to the Editor Th„ irr^r^ 3 Reed McDonaid Buadin ^ c ° u ^ Represented nationally by National Educational Adver- Ange g le! erV,CeS ’ ” ^ Y ° rk Ci,y> Chica K <> a " d Los The Battalion is published Mo^da^th^gh Friday from nerioT d m OUg ’ May eXCeP ‘ durin * and HolVda" ^Thu t X Ummer ’ U ^ PUbliShed ° n Tuesday Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester inn on school year; $35.00 per full yea" AdTerUsing^te^ T Reed M° n n req un £ ddreSS: The Ba « ali »". Room 216 R 7l d ^d7 0na d U " dinR ' Colle 8 e station, Texas 77843 United Press International is entitled exclusively to the TJT r f eprodu , Ction of a11 oews dispatches credited to it Rrghts of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843 d MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Managing Editor b |Z ‘ Assistant Managing Editor • Sports Editor pi,v:d ' City Editor J a , m ^ Campus Editor An - r News Editors Debbie Beth Calhoun Editorial Director . .Lee Roy Staff Writers Mark Patterson Pendleton, Sean Michelle Scudder, Faulkenberry, Diane Cartoonist Doug ri Photographer Focus section editor <\ Opxmons 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 ni ^supporting enterprise operate as a university and communi .Editorial policy is determined