Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday
October 17, 1978
Apply A&M talent to school problems
By JOSEPH E. BEAUDETTE
Texas A&M University is a cauldron of
energies and problems. We have
thousands of young people with the
exuberance of youth. We have tremend
ous mental faculties, arranged through
staff, faculty and students capable of deal
ing with multiple problems and develop
ing new horizons.
And we have problems. Overcrowding,
which has helped produce some of the
tensions which we see reflected in the
“Letters to the Editor” section of The Bat
talion every day.
Transportation, which seems to operate
(?) as a result of momentum rather than
conscious planning. Energy, which has
been conceded by the head of the physical
plant in a recent article in The Battalion,
to be an area, recently given some consid
eration (although I can’t agree with a sys
tems approach that considers operable
windows a “step backwards”).
We must apply the energies and re
sources we have to find suitable areas for
research and study, there is no place
where solutions could be better applied,
and how valuable is our expertise to others
if we can not solve our own problems. I
would like to expand a bit on a few of these
problems and offer some possible solu
tions.
The A&M campus is a vehicular night
mare. Pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles,
cars, trucks and buses curse and crash
each other, trying to maintain their sanity
and unity. Motorcyclists, wishing to be re
spected as motor vehicles, mingle with
bicycle traffic and cut to the front of traffic
when it suits them; bicyclists play slalom
with pedestrians on inner campus walk
ways; pedestrians yield only to the laws of
mass and energy.
Headers Forum
There has been no attempt to segregate
traffic on or off campus. Instead of provid
ing adequate bicycle lanes from all points
within a five-mile radius of campus, the
city of College Station chose to do away
with some of the few bike lanes that
existed. The rational: bicyclists should ride
on the SIDEWALKS!
A recent study done at the behest of the
City Council spoke nothing of the need of
segregating traffic or encouraging alterna
tive means of transportation.
Some possible solutions. All inner-
campus motor vehicular traffic should be
banned between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5
p.m. except for handicapped, service and
mass transportation vehicles. This would
limit daytime traffic and parking to
peripheral parking areas.
Adequate bicycle lanes on existing
roadways both on and off campus should
be provided. They should be well marked,
well paved, inviolate areas accompanied
by strict enforcement of the law as to their
use.
Bicycle traffic should be restricted to
campus roadways and thus segregated
from pedestrian traffic. This would in
crease the need for adequate parking
facilities around campus. The University
should encourage and increase the means
of mass transportation.
The number of single passenger vehi
cles driven to campus daily would make an
oil man smile. Perhaps existing parking
areas should be gradually eliminated to in
crease the use of mass transportation, and
open these areas to other uses.
The University is a tremendous energy
consumer and some steps are being taken
to control it. The article in The Battalion
by the physical plant manager pointed this
out. But there are things we all could do to
help. Some of the measures mentioned in
N^-egard to alleviating the transportation
problem would help.
One of the most obvious sources of
energy conservation that could be
employed would be the recycling of
aluminum cans. Although this would not
affect the consumption of energy at the
physical plant, it is a way of conserving the
energy and resources of our entire envi
ronment, and it would be rather simple.
Thousands of aluminum cans are dis
carded daily on this campus. If, by each
concession area, there was a receptacle for
aluminum cans, I feel sure the vast major
ity of Aggies would use them. This could
be a club project, and the profits from the
sale of the aluminum cans could be a
source of revenue (the A&M radio station
might look into this).
But even with no formal system of col
lection, I feel sure that the cans would be
removed. There are already people on
campus involved in collecting cans. Would
it be very difficult to make it easier for
them, recycling the aluminum and cutting
down on the amount of refuse that has to
be removed?
These are some of my ideas concerning
these problems. Whether good or bad, the
problems can’t be denied. The lack of
thoughtful alternatives is disturbing, the
resources to create those alternatives
exists herein the students, staff, faculty
and their departments. We should work
together and solve them.
I offer a free football game ticket to any
of the remaining home games to the per
son offering the best solution to these
problems. Limit, 1 ticket per home game.
Joseph E. Beaudette is a graduate stu
dent in building construction at Texas
A&M.
Presidential
memorabilia
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Presidential librar
ies seem to acquire some of the flavor and
character of the president they honor.
Franklin Roosevelt’s library, on his
stately family homestead at Hyde Park,
N.Y., reflects the patrician president and
the country house life that he grew up in.
Until shortly before his death, the
down-to-earth former haberdasher Harry
Truman reported to work every day at his
library in his hometown of Independence,
Mo., and loved taking visitors on tours.
Lyndon Johnson built his Texas-sized
library at Austin, Texas. Eight stories high,
it draws more tourists in the Southwest
than any site except the Alamo.
On the grounds of the Dwight D.
Eisenhower Library at his birthplace in
Abilene, Kan., is the Eisenhower home, a
simple, boxy structure, typical of the
Midwest, where Eisenhower and his five
brothers grew to manhood.
All told, the six presidential libraries
drew 1,623,245 visitors last year.
Johnson’s outdrew all others, with 656,654
visitors.
Here’s a rundown on the existing presi
dential libraries — and four in the plan
ning stages:
Rutherford B. Hayes — Opened in 1916
and operated by the Ohio Historical Soci
ety and the Hayes Foundation at Frem
ont, Ohio, Hayes’ birthplace, it is the only
one not run by the government. It is a
center for the study of the Reconstruction
period in U.S. history.
Herbert Hoover — After the Franklin
Roosevelt Library was opened, Hoover’s
papers were moved from Stanford Univer
sity to a library and museum erected at his
birthplace. West Branch, Iowa. On the
grounds, too, is the cottage where Hoover
was born and a replica of the blacksmith
shop his father operated.
Franklin D. Roosevelt — FDR, an
amateur historian, established the federal
presidential library system at his family
home after consulting with historians
Charles A. Beard and Samuel Eliot Mori-
son. Among his papers are his penciled
designs for the building. An annex honors
his wife’s humanitarian projects.
Harry Truman — In a replica of the
Oval Office, visitors hear a tape recording
made bv the former president describing
the aspects of his job. An imposing fire
place mantel, removed from the White
House during a renovation ordered by
Truman, carries these words written by
President John Adams: “I Pray Heaven to
Bestow the Best of Blessings on This
House and All that shall hereafter Inhabit
it. May none but Honest and Wise Men
ever rule under Th is Roof. ”
Dwight D. Eisenhower — In addition
to the library and family home are a chapel
where Ike is buried and a museum hous
ing 22,000 mementos of his military
career, including cases full of foreign deco
rations. A 1914 electric automobile,
owned by Eisenhower’s in-laws, is also on
display.
Lyndon B. Johnson — Built on the Uni
versity of Texas campus, it is the biggest
presidential library, holding 35 million
pages of documents and such memorabilia
as the dresses Lynda and Luci Johnson
wore at their weddings and another Oval
Office replica. The library is an hour’s
drive away from the LBJ Ranch, his boy
hood home and his birthplace and the LBJ
State Park, where bison still roam.
Gerald R. Ford — It will be built on the
University of Michigan campus at Ann Ar
bor, Ford’s alma mater, with a museum to
be built in his hometown of Grand Rapids.
John F. Kennedy — Ground was bro
ken in 1977 for a library overlooking Bos
ton Harbor on the campus of the Univer
sity of Massachusetts because of a dispute
over building it at Harvard, his alma ma
ter. Completion of the I. M. Pei designed
museum and library is expected by late
1979 or early 1980. In the meantime,
Kennedy papers are available to research
ers at a federal building in Waltham,
Mass.
TAX CUTTER
Designed by Senate-House
Conference Committee:
KeMP-ROTU
Tetters to the Editor
verses
****. #■* * a
*
Richard Nixon — Although plans were
announced before Nixon resigned for a
presidential library at the University of
Southern California campus, no funds
have been raised and nothing done for
years about planning the library. Congress
passed a law in 1974 seizing his papers and
ordering that they be kept in Washington.
It would have to be repealed or amended
for them to be transferred to California.
Editor:
We are acutely aware of all Aggie tradi
tions and are proud to uphold them. We
are also proud of our great university and
especially of our fighting Aggie team.
However, we are confused. Do we play
t.u. each and every week? This seems to
be indicated by our singing only the sec
ond verse (Did you know there was a
first?) of the Aggie War Hymn at every
game. Yes, we do desire to beat the hell
out of t.u., but the first verse of our war
hymn seems more appropriate for other
games.
Since the song is always played for two
verses, why concentrate on t.u. both
times? We vote for singing both Verses and
ending with “Saw Varsity’s Horns Off!”
I think most Aggies are intelligent
enought to remember both verses. Those
who are unable may suggest we take a trip
up Highway 6. But if you can’t even re
member 10 lines of music, you’ll probably
be making that trip before we do.
Go Aggies. Beat the hell outta the
Baylor Bears!
— Robert Brooks, ‘80
J. Gregg Holcomb, ‘81
Betty Corley, ‘82
lem is a serious one, but I do think it’s
about time we started showing a little re
spect for the health center and its staff.
— Mike Smith, ‘82
We're all Ags
Jimmy Carter -r— President Carter, who
pleased archivists by carefully preserving
his papers when he was governor of Geor
gia, already has announced he will give his
papers to the government for a library pre
sumably to be built in Georgia. Three staff
members of the National Archives work in
the White House advising aides what pap
ers to preserve for the historical record.
P.S. Both verses are printed in “The
Saturday Aggie Game.”
Clear the way
Slouch
by Jim Earle
Editor:
Could somebody do something about
some of the bicycles blocking entrance to
the MSC.
If you park your bike at the MSC, please
consider the other guy” and park it
somewhere besides in the walkways.
— Martin Brinck, ‘79
Give Beutel credit
“I DON’T CARE WHAT TH’ BICYCLE EXPERTS SAY, I’D RAISE MY
HANDLEBARS AND LOWER MY SEAT!”
Editor:
Since the beginning of this semester, I
have heard nothing but criticism about the
Beutel Health Center. Fellow students
have told tales of five-hour waits and long
lines to see & doctor. After hearing these
tales of horror, the mere thought of getting
sick terrified me.
Last week, I got sick for the first time
this semester. My roommate told me I
should to go to the health center and see a
doctor, but I sure didn’t want to wait in
line for any five hours. After taking my
temperature and finding I had a fever of
102 degrees, I had no other alternative but
to go to the health center.
To make a long story short, I waited
only one hour to see a doctor. Since that
time, I have been back to Beutel twice and
have had waits of 48 minutes and 33 min
utes, respectively. All of you people
spreading these tales oflong waits need to
find out the facts before spreading the
tales. I think we have an excellent facility
in the health center and we Ags should
respect it.
After one visit to Beutel you have gotten
your $15 worth and more. Anyone who has
visited the health center will know what
I’m talking about. I don’t think this prob-
Editor:
I have never written a “Letter to the
Editor” during my previous years as a stu
dent at Texas A&M but one letter (refer to
article by Mr. Scott Lane, Oct. 9) really
ticks me off. There are a few things in
cluded in that letter that I would like to
explore.
I was very disappointed at the actions of
some students (C.T.s as well as non-regs)
during our recent Corps run. But this is
behind us now and I hope, for the good of
all, incidents like those will never happen
again. In addition, I was very happy to see
a group of civilian students yelling good
things to members of the Corps like “good
bull,” “Gig ’em Ags,” etc. To me, this was
“good bull.”
It showed Aggies backing Aggies. I
would also like to state that members of
the Corps and civilian students have been
making diligent efforts to better the rela
tions between C.T.s and non-regs
throughout the year. Remember, we are
all AGGIES.
Also, a Corps run serves more purposes
than just to show off. First, a Corps run
gives the Corps as well as each individual
outfit a feeling of unity. Second, it gives
freshmen, who at this point in the year are
feeling the “crunch” of being a fish in the
Corps, a chance to be side-by-side with
upperclassmen and it lets them unwind
from the previous weeky activities. Third,
and to me the most important, a Corps run
is very motivating. It is really an excellent
way to start an exciting football weekend.
You really can not realize how stimulating
one can feel after running around our
beautiful campus as a unified organization.
May I also say that the majority of the
members of the Corps are not here to
“play army. ” If you will check the records
A&M has produced a vast number of
highly qualified officers and they still are.
Members of the Corps always rank among
the highest during camps held by the
Armed Forces each summer. Cadets from
all over the nation participate in these
camps. This proves the Corps is still serv
ing a purpose. That purpose is providing
strong leadership material for our national
defense.
The last thing I would like to point out
concerning Mr. Lane’s letter is that I
chose to be a member of the Corps. And I
am very proud of my choice. Civilian stu
dents choose to be civilians and I know
they are proud of their choice. But let’s
not let our pride of being CT. s or non-regs
get in the way of our pride in being AG
GIES. Instead of working against one
another, why not work together? Re
member in 20 years when we meet in the
business world our college days will be far
behind. But if we work as the AGGIES
before us have worked and keep the great
image that A&M Has toda we can still be
proud of being AGGIES!
— James K. (Red) Brown, ‘80
Top of the News
CAMPUS
Women report assaults at Ai?M
Two women recently reported they were assaulted by a man on a
bicycle on the Texas A&M University campus. One woman said her
breast was grabbed by a cyclist in front of Frances Hall at 10:20 p. m
last Thursday. The husband of the Texas A&M co-ed said his wife told
him what had happened and that they returned to campus to try to find
the cyclist. The man said he and his wife saw the man in front of the
Academic Building on a 10-speed bicycle and called to him. The
husband said when the cyclist saw his wife, the cyclist rode off. Th e
husband described the man as being between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6
jfeet, 1 inch, with reddish blond hair, slender, medium build and
weighing about 160. Tom Parsons, director of security and traffic
safety, said the couple should have reported directly to the University
: Police instead of scaring the cyclist away, then calling the police. Police
reports say another woman was grabbed by her left breast by a cyclist
,who rode by her at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 29.
SYl
Unioi|
“door
Tld
teach j
miles I
Thtf
be a <
Sun-f
The
tendej
businl
Clobel
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 thel
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 election.
Strd
to fix
figure
the hoi
“All
Stinmil
Strid
onto til
Rickl
weeks I
the dajl
Fail!
Student senate positions open
Sulm-sl
The student senate has the following positions open to candidates:
senior in the College of Agriculture, graduate in the College of En
gineering, graduate in the College of Liberal Arts, representative for
Walton-Mclnnis-Schumacher-Cain-Hotard, graduate off-campus
representative and senior in the College of Education. Applications
will be accepted through Friday, and may be picked up and turned in
in Room 216 of the Memorial Student Center.
reporte
The|
well-
dte
LOCAL
Performances to benefit KAMI]
Two performing arts groups in Bryan-College Station Jrave
clurine October to benefit
scheduled performances during October to benefit KAMU, Texas
A&M University’s educational and public broadcasting network.
Both StageCenter, Bryan-College Station’s community theater
group, and the Bryan-College Station Chamber Orchestra will hold
performances to benefit the station, which is currently involved in a
fund raising drive that must yield $29,500 by Aug. 31, 1979, in order
to keep the FM radio portion of the station on the air. StageCenter
will present a special performance of “6 Rms Riv Vu” on Wednesday
at the theater, located at South College Avenue and Villa Maria Road
in Bryan. The show will begin at 8 p.m. with tickets in the form of a
$3 tax deductible donation to KAMU-FM. The Bryan-College Station
Chamber Orchestra’s first performance of the year, scheduled for
next Monday at 8 p.m. in Rudder Theater, will cost $1 for students
and $2.50 for adults with all proceeds going to KAMU-FM.
Ui
ST0C
ssor
'ittsburg
ersity,
ess ad ir
bus
ionday
conomic
“I am
landed
otne in
nat he
ward.
“One
)r light
Simon
! hono
STATE
Evacuation after tank derailment
"A tank car containing hexane, a highly flammable chemical, de
railed Monday in Beaumont. Citizens within a 1,500 feet radius of the
train were evacuated due to a leak of the chemical. No injuries were
reported. Hexane is a colorless volatile substance chemically similar
to paraffin. Authorities evacuated a five-block area near downtown
and began rerouting traffic. The Department of Public Safety also
supplied officers to help at the scene and traffic barriers were erected
as Beaumont firemen hosed down the railroad car.
Tower cancels TV appearance
pes aw
Iso was
n the h
The S\
nces cite
ng rese:
iaking pi
anization
“Moder
dministn
ased oi
tademy <
Simon :
mpt to
leory wl
essmen)
id that t
implicat
‘The w
Sen. John Tower, R-Texas, has cancelled four joint television ap
pearances with Democratic challenger Rep. Bob Krueger because of
what an aide said are mudslinging and gutter-type campaign tactics
by Krueger. Ken Towery, campaign manager for Tower, objected
specifically to distribution by the Krueger campaign of a column by
Tom Anderson published in the Karnes City Citation in which An
derson referred to a senator who he said “ranks high in the U.S.
, Senate and low in the ranks of nice women who avoid getting on
Senate elevators along with him.” It also suggested the senator told
escorts in a town where he made a speech to “Get me a fifth of
whiskey and a woman. The Tower campaign included a copy of the
column along with a news release announcing the senator’s cancella
tion of the television appearances. “Note that Senator Tower s name
is not mentioned in the column, yet the Krueger campaign has cho
sen to make this into a personal attack on the senator,” Towery said.
WORLD
CAR members clash with KKK
A scheduled anti-busing rally sponsored by the Ku Klux Klan in
Boston turned into an ugly confrontation Sunday as rocks and bricks
thrown by anti-klan demonstrators injured at least two people. The
clash began as the two KKK officers, Imperial Wizard Bill Wilkinson
of Louisiana and Grand Dragon Douglas Coen of Mississippi, started
to put on their hoods and some of the 60 demonstrators from the
Coalition Against Racism started to throw rocks and bricks. Eight
men and one woman — members of the CAR — were arrested by
police following the 20 minute skirmish near City Hall Plaza. All
awaited arraignment Monday on various assault charges including
assault and battery, assault and battery by means of a dangerous
weapon, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon on a
police onicer and disorderly conduct.
The Battalion
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are MEMBER
subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The Texas Press Associahon
editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does Southwest Journalism Congress
not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be Editor Kil l,i
signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone \ A ■ ' ' trj' .' Liz M
number for verification. ' Managing Editor i VVll
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor The Assistant Managing Editor .And> '
R " J * MW< ' ^ S P°«» Editor B . 8 D»«^|
The Battalion is published Monday through Frid-Vv Beth Calhoun |.|
“ t Sr ,or .SSg)
-Harass; 2far,3=£2.*s?c H’Sm
Blake"" FaU ' ke " be "
United Press International is entitled exclusively to the Cartonnict Doug Gr ^ |
u e for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it PW V Ed CU<|
those of the editor tr^/the Th Re Z ents - The Battalion is a nt
article and are not necessarilu those of thl su PP°rtin S enterprise operate*
University a Am in^ alion „ the B J d of “l'—T