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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Carter’s tally What a difference, as they say, a few weeks make. It was only a short time ago that people were saying — and only partly tongue in cheek — that for the sake of the Democratic Party the highest as Jimmy Carter could per form would be to resign the presidency and let Vice President Mondale steer the ship until Teddy Kennedy could put things aright in 1981. But that was before Camp David, the natural gas compromise, the civil service reform bill, the ERA extension, the public works veto, the wiretap bill: before Mr. Carter’s stock rose in the Gallup poll by 17 points, the sharpest upward gain ever, and before Newsweek’s cover pronounced him “Born Again!” All of which — both the before and the after — strikes us as pretty silly. Like all presidents, Mr. Carter will have his winning and losing streaks. There is not much harm, and there is a good deal of fun, in keeping a running total, so to speak of his score; but in the excitement, we would all do well to remember that the final sum will not be apparent for quite some time — and that almost certainly it will be different than what it now appears to be. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Monday October 16, 1978 Two-percenters: after Camp David By JIM ANDERSON United Press International WASHINGTON — Almost all of the negotiating in the Egyptian-Israeli settle ment was completed at Camp David, but it takes longer and is far more difficult to end a war than to start one. American officials expect there will be an agreement in about three weeks, but do not consider the treaty an accomplished fact. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin said 98 percent of the problems are solved, an assessment American officials accept. But nobody will sign anything until the other 2 percent is wrapped up, and the remaining problems have a poten tial for creating mischief. The largest issue hanging over the talks is linkage — specifically, how the Egyptian-Israeli agreement relates to the wider issue of the Middle East framework for peace, and the future of the West Bank and Gaza. The Israelis say the frameworks are separate and have no direct relationship. The Egyptians say there is a connection, if only as a sign of Israel’s intention to live up to both Camp David agreements. Analysis President Carter tried to play it right down the middle with a delicately worded answer to a news conference question: “Legally, they’re not inter-connected,” he said, “but there was no doubt in the minds of myself, President (Anwar) Sadat (of Egypt) and Prime Minister Begin that the issues are interrelated.” There are other differences, including one of emphasis. The Israelis are expected to focus on their primary interest: the na ture of the peace that will follow their withdrawal. The Egyptians are expected to concentrate on their chief desire: to see the Israelis pull out of the Sinai as quickly as "possible. The Camp David framework is vague, specifying “two to three years.” Still other matters to be resolved are de tails that were deliberately glossed over so the leaders could concentrate on the prin ciples involved. They include specific timetables and maps of the final and interim withdrawals; and exactly how much the final lines should be adjusted to take care of Israel’s “secure borders,” a phrase included in U.N. Security Council resolution 242. The remnant of the last Egyptian-Israeli agreement, the U.S.-Sinai monitoring mission, is also to be negotiated. The mis sion eventually will be surrounded by Egyptian territory and Egypt will presum ably object to having a foreign presence there. It is also assumed the Israelis would like to keep a U.S. military early-warning sys tem, just in case. The exact rules to establish free naviga tion by Israeli ships through the Suez Canal also must be negotiated. For exam ple, will Israel be able to ship war material through the canal? And, if so, what will be the reaction of the other Arab states? It is the American hope — and intention — to settle these issues quickly and create a bandwagon effect in the Middle East, a momentum that would lead to a wider set tlement including also the Jordanians and the Palestinians. Lunch with loopholes for dessert By DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — Freeloaders, rejoice! The three-martini lunch in all its chilled, dry piquancy has been preserved for at least another year. Efforts to repeal or reduce the tax de duction for business entertainment got nowhere in Congress, despite President Carter’s urging. The final two moves against it failed in the Senate last week. One would have cut the deduction to 50 percent, thus making it a one-and-a-half martirjiji lunch. The». <^ther w^wJd'.h^ve 1% mited vfhe deduction to $25, which might have figrced some lunch bunch to switch to beer. So strong was senatorial support for the three-martini lunch, there was even talk of adding a tax credit for extra olives. Letters to the Editor Thus one of the main effects of this year’s tax legislation is to make the world safe for expense account dining. Much credit for keeping the loophole open is being given to business lobbyists who insisted that entertaining customers and clients is a vital part of commerce. Humor Credit also is being claimed by various restaurant associations whose members feared they would lose a lot of patrons if the three-martini lunch lost its deductibil ity. But I think at least equal credit should go to Freeloaders Anonymous, which rep resented consumer interests on this issue. Its stake in the tax bill was enormous. We sometimes forget that business en tertainment is a triangular affair. Those who serve tax deductible meals and those who pick up the checks are important. But without guests the entire process would collapse. Freeloaders Anonymous was formed some years ago after the IRS ruled that anyone who writes off a three-martini lunch as a business expense must devote part of the conversation to business. Here’s how the organization works: A stranger in town on an expense ac count unexpectedly finds himself without a lunch companion. He calls the local chapter of FA and they send oyer someone to talk business with him. Under the leadership of its Washington director, Nathan Cadgemaster, FA mounted a vigorous, if at times panicstric- ken, campaign against the proposed “re form.” Asked to comment on the new tax bill, Cadgemaster said that without the deduc tion “most business meals would revert to the infamous Dutch Treat system, which certainly is unAmerican if not outright communistic.” “The right to be taken to lunch is one of our most precious freedoms. Don’t let them take it away,” he urged. I asked Cadgemaster how that philosophy squared with the famous say ing, variously attributed to Will Rogers, W. C. Fields, Calvin Coolidge and the Marquis de Sade, that “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” “None of those guys ever had a Diners Club card,” he replied. Editor: I want to comment on the poor perform ance I saw Saturday night at the As trodome. I am not referring to the Fightin' Texas Aggie Football Team, but to a few Aggies at the game. There were quite a few who felt the team did not deserve their support. Neither would they yell, nor would they even stand for the game. The saying that everybody loves a winner but nobody loves a loser was sure shown Saturday night. But this is not what the Spirit of Aggie- land is all about. We are all Aggies and our football team deserves our support through thick and thin. They do not need the type of support they received at the Dome. But there were still enough of us Aggies who felt the team deserved all of our sup port, stayed the entire game, and even felt they deserved the yell practice after the game. Since the Aggies get such a few number of tickets for away football games, I feel that only Aggies who are willing to support the team, whether winning or los ing, should get the tickets. I hope that you Aggies who would not stand, yell or even stay for the entire game Poor performance for A&M fans Requiem for a cat are not camping out for the next away or any away football game. The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football Team is still number one in my heart. — Steve Foucart, ’79 Not mental midgets Editor: I’m writing in response to Scott Lane’s letter Defer Corps run” printed in the Batt on Oct. 9. To Mr. Lane: I m sorry that you have such a poor opinion of the Corps and its members. Apparently, you have had a scene with a cadet in the past and for that I apologize. However, for your generalizations, I be lieve you owe an apology. Calling all of us (C.T. s) 20-year-olds with a 10-year-old maturity level and in sinuating that the majority of us are mental midgets, shows not only your blind ignor ance, but also that you have locked your- self into your own little world and have not taken the time to meet those of us in khaki. If you did attempt to broaden your mind a little, you would find that the vast, vast majority of C.T. s are rather intelligent and are not young upcoming members of some neo-National Socialist movement. If you honestly believe that there are a significant number of students who have no respect for the Corps at Texas A&M, then obviously you have not attended a football game, to witness the crowd reac tion to each Corps march-in and the Aggie Band half-time performances, among other Corps led events. One cannot truly say he is an Aggie un less he has a broad enough mind to respect all aspects of TAMU life: C.T., non-reg, and faculty alike. The Corps is not for everybody and I respect your decision to be what you are. However, the Corps is for me and my friends and I ask you to respect us for our decision. — Max W. Underwood, BQ, ‘80 Bruce F. Fain, BQ, ‘80 Mike Harp, BQ, ‘80 Editor’s note: this letter was accom panied by 72 other signatures. Whens my turn? Editor: I am interested in increasing my physical capacity and at the least, maintaining the shape I am in. I regularly and recently have been working out on the Nautilus machines in the Intramural building. I went there Wednesday and had al ready gone through a few machines when I was politely told to leave; the machines were reserved all day Monday and Wed nesday for the athletic department. I was pretty mad, but I left peaceably. The next day, Thursday, I returned at 11:00 only to be informed that the machines were reserved from 9-11:30 and 5-6:30 Tuesday and Thursday for women athletes. There were five girls in the room and none were exercising in any way. My question is: do my fees in any way pay for these machines? If I am allowed to use them, then when are my hours? Seventeen hours is a fair amount and I would bet that the hours I can work out are more restricted than anyone in the ath letic department. If the athletic depart ment needs so desperately to keep these machines to themselves then why don’t they get their own machines, just like they have their own athletic dorm, athletic |board plan, etc. I am probably speaking for others be sides myself. — Robert Smith P. O. Box 858, C.S. Editor: I regretfully must report on the death of a very distinctive resident of the north area dorms. A beautiful black and white cat named Paraquat, Phase Shift, and Edna lost one too many lives. Edna died like a “true Aggie” while crossing the street in front of the Chicken last Thursday. The death would be must more bearable if it had been an accident. A former resident of Legett Hall admit ted to the crime. Without misgivings he said that he switched lanes in a special ef fort to hit the cat. His lack of morality in this situation is unforgivable. If given the chance he will kill again. Unfortunately for other pets like Edna, there are many other people who also be lieve in murdering cats. This situation would not mean much except that many people knew and loved EDNA. In one specific case a portion of Moses Hall, called “Rowdy Hall, ” had an election to name the cat. Even though Edna did not stay inside the dorm, she was adopted as a mascot and pet. Edna was a very im portant part of our dorm spirit. It is too bad that the warped ideals of one maniac can affect so many people. In memory of Edna, I request that everyone set aside five minutes of thought ful silence at your own convenience for the beloved feline. — Michael A. Schroeder, ‘80 Keep it down Editor: To those to whom it may concern. Ques tion: What is the first place you think about when you want to go to a nice quiet place to study? The library - right? That s where I go to escape the noise of my dorm almost every night. Well, Thursday night, Oct. 12, really did it. I had to move three times before I settled on the third floor where I thought I could concentrate” on my studies rather than listen to everybody’s problems. That’s when it happened. A girl came running up to a guy, sitting at the next table, and they started yelling at each other, as though they were either deaf or just wanted everyone to hear their conversation. The three to the right of me began to shout about what they were studying. That s when I got up and walked out to go to my nice noisy dorm. This goes on every night. Why can’t | those people who are going to talk stay out : so others can study? It’s getting to be a I pain. — Daniel Shannahan, ’79 Top of the News CAMPUS Cyclotron receives $1 million The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University will receive $1 million from the Robert A. Welch Foundation over the next five years to improve its research facilities. The institute oversees the South west’s largest cyclotron, which is a sophisticated instrument for basic nuclear science research. The cyclotron has contributed to significant applied developments and is also used for neutron therapy in collab oration with M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Hous-1 ton. The Cyclotron, which includes $6 million worth of equipment, is 1 in such demand that it operates round-the-clock. Election for off-campus reps Off-Campus Student Association representative elections will be held on Oct. 26 along with freshman student elections. Filing will continue daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in rooms 216 A and B of the Memorial Student Center. There are openings for 22 representatives in the Off-Campus Student Association. The deadline for filing is Wednesday. All off-campus students are urged to vote in the elec tion. STATE Bank robbers still being sought Two bank robbers, one of them on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List,” eluded scores of armed searchers Saturday in a huge East Texas pine thicket near Chireno. An FBI agent said searchers had not found any trace of the men or a campsite area. Chireno State Bank presi dent, Elbert Sowell, said the two ski-masked men entered the bank early Thursday toting a shotgun and a chrome-plated .45-caliber pis tol and demanding money. But while the robbers were busy grabbing loose cash, a woman customer slipped out of the bank and called the sherifi. The two men fled with an undetermined amount of money. Possible refunds on electric bills The Public Utility Commission, in a rare show of unanimity, has embarked on a new course that could mean refunds on electricity bills for millions of Texans and should set landmarks for determining just what costs utilities can pass through to consumers. The commis sion in Austin demanded an investigation of financial transactions among Texas Utility Co. subsidiaries and announced plans for hear ings on the propriety of raising customers’ rates to pay for dealings among the affiliates. Pollution symposium at U of H A symposium at the University of Houston Wednesday will ex change information on new federal air pollution regulations on land use and economic growth. City, state and federal pollution officials will take part in the third annual symposium of the Gulf Coast Chap ter of the Air Pollution Control Association. The subject of the meet ing is regulations to prevent significant deterioration of air quality in areas that now meet federal pollution standards. NATION Russians convicted of espionage Two Russians employed by the United Nations face a possible life sentence on their conviction for buying American defense secrets from a naval officer posing as a traitor. Valdik Enger, 39, and Rudolf Chemyayev, 43, were found guilty of espionage Friday by a federal ,£? ur t j u f v ’j 1 Newark, N.I.. that deliberated for nearly nine hours. I he detendants were charged with paying Lt. Cmdr. Arthur Lindberg, who posed as a spy, more than $20,000 for defense secrets dropped at spots along New Jersey’s toll roads. WORLD China to buy three 747 jumbo jets China has agreed to buy three American Boeing 747 jumbo jets in what may be a first step toward opening air service between Peking and the L nited States, a Tokyo business newspaper said Sunday. The newspaper Nihon Keizai said its information came from sources in the Japanese aviation industry, who are concerned about the possible emergence o China as a major factor in trans-Pacific aviation. The paper sard China will buy three of Boeing’s 747SP models, which are capable of non-stop flights between Peking and New York. WEATHER Pair sk i es wini mild temperatures and cool nights. The high will be m the low 80 s and the low in the low 60’s with winds moving S.E. 5-10 mph. Outlook for the week will be fair sMes mud temp., and cool nights becoming cooler on Thursday and Friday. AWedn be a littl Anne 0’ tom. The lid By Added to reets sople taki Hie Texa mners Cl hich bega: hopes of le country igging Day Speed w m, said \ okesman. nrun.” Why wou ight? “Why nol [restry maj Kathy Ta ing. It's go Inn.” Marcia FI because ire.” "Night-ti ” said E science i Dennis ree-mile )uld do.” When ould be ft igging Da; part of it ind of in: lat’s the gi Other p emselves 'ey could The R 0 inned ab< >ote runni esday at f ne and fi\ Member lie White )ec. 2. A few F hintsville >ct.7. Do the hal _ ! group, Hie 15-20 ilaced f )uarter-m wry won luarter-m A marai Harathor The Battalion ! LETTERS POUCY I the edit0r should not exceed 300 words and are f u , bjec ! , fo ® Ing cut to that tength or less if longer. 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Address; The Battalion, Room 216 Reed MeDonaldBuiiding, College Station, Texas 77843' United Press International is entitled exclusively to the p r f eprodu , ct,on of m;ws dispatches credited to it Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843 Managing Editor L* 2 Assistant Managing Editor . .Karen Sports Editor City Editor J ain ' e .,i Campus Editor Andy WiUm News Editors Debbie Pa rs Beth Calhoun Editorial Director . .Lee Roy Lesehp 6 ^ Staff Writers Mark Patterson, ^ Pendleton, Sean U - Scudder, Manli' pPconte Michelle Faulkenberry, Diane Blake Cartoonist Doug I Photographer Ed Cun^ ^ e! Focus section editor Gary e ihZ n exp r essed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the tvriter of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of \ Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit j supporting enterprise operated by d' 11 i as a university and community neU)S ^L I Editorial policy is determined by tbe e 1 Hi n Uni hunts le 47th a ' as dump le sadd] “day ar A Prise ; ra >g, 5s r eenvil] uring t] lance. Craig, ■ 'rison r amed d >ntil his toed at Rodeo nance c ■Id fays. Leslie er m fre )ac co sa JS bull h c Har, More today’s