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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Thursday Texas A&M University October 19, 1978 Langford s not the only problem The Langford Architecture Center is disliked by both students and staff. However, simple disagreement on the esthetic aspects of the design is not the building’s problem. Langford’s design ignores some of the principles taught in Texas A&M s own Environmental Design program — the importance of designing for people, not just appearance. For example, both professors and students say that its natural lighting plan hampers their work to the point they must use artifical lighting and the Board of Regents has approved another $100,000 for sound-proofing because of poor acoustics. Langford’s construction is also questionable. Both the state building regulatory agency and members of Texas A&M’s architecture staff say that leaks found in the architecture building indicate faulty construction. The state board of control does not regulate construction on university campuses. So, who is supposed to supervise this expenditure of public funds? V. Neville Dobie, assistant director of the State Board of Control, says it’s up to the university’s facilities to supervise their own construction. But can schools be given the money for construction and then be expected to regulate building quality themselves? I think this is an unrealistic expecta tion . A separate agency not directly tied to construction and the funds would be a more appropriate supervisor. Serious consideration should be taken on this problem by the university and state officials. — K.T. Senate set to battle over SALT By NICHOLAS DANILOFF United Press International WASHINGTON — As Secretary of State Cyrus Vance flies to Moscow, battle lines tire forming in the Senate in anticipa tion of a bitter debate early next year over the projected treaty to limit U.S. and Soviet strategic arms. Vance is expected to make the final breakthrough in Moscow Oct. 22-23 for a longterm treaty to codify “strategic parity” between the two superpowers — and limit them to an equal mix of 2,250 strategic bombers and missiles. While not all details of the pact have become public, conservatives in both Se nate and House have served notice they consider the pact defective. The treaty’s main negotiator, Paul Warnke, chief of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, announced his resignation shortly before Vance em barked for Moscow. That development spurred Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, to say: "The treaty is his baby, and we are going to want to know ify '''‘ V ' ,-.N < s. Letters to the Editor what he thinks about it. Warnke must be held personably accountable for SALT II, as bad as it probably will be, and he owes the Senate and the American people an explanation.” Commentary On the other side, Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., is urging the Senate to approve SALT and go on to further U.S.-Soviet arms control negotiations. “If the United States and Soviet Union can keep their relationship on an even keel for another decade while we learn more about each other, it is just barely possible that we will be on the path of survival, not of suicide, and that our children and theirs will live out their natural lives. Behind these two pointmen, two seri ous, opposing blocs are forming. The critics and opponents of SALT are expected to be lead by Sen. Henry Jackson, D-Wash., who brought withering criticisms to the first strategic arms pact limiting U.S. and Soviet land-based and ■.. :*: > V Xv i l , <- sea-based missiles. The supporters of SALT are expected to be led by assistant democratic leader Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., with energetic support from Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; Dick Clark, D-Iowa; Gary Hart, D-Colo.; Claiborne Pell, D-R.I., and McGovern. The critics are expected to argue the treaty is defective because: —It will allow the Soviet Union a free hand in producing swing-wing Backfire bombers capable of hitting the United States with nuclear bombs if they refuel in flight and recover in Mexico or Cuba. — U.S. intelligence is incapable of checking up on all aspects of Soviet com pliance with the accord’s complicated pro visions. — SALT II will not limit all aspects of technological improvement, and both sides will continue a qualitative arms race. Supporters will counter: —For the first time in history, the two superpowers have agreed to a nuclear par ity. This symbolism of equality is impor tant to the Kremlin and will help stablize the often unsteady U.S.-Soviet relation ship. — SALT will restrain the numerical arms race. Without it, the Soviet Union could have as many as 4,372 strategic bombers and missiles by 1985, while the United States would have only 2,000. —If SALT is rejected, the United States would have to spend up to $20 billion to stay even with the Russians in 1985. The SALT debate will be something of a replay of the Panama Canal treaties of 1978. But there will be a major difference. The administration was willing to negotiate with key senators some com promise amendments to make Senate ratification more palatable. Administration officials are warning no such alterations will be possible with the SALT treaty. For one thing, amendments would force new complications on an already compli cated 60-page SALT treaty. More importantly, the Soviet Union would not accept a Senate-altered docu ment the way Panama was forced to do. Watch out for bikers, walkers It makes me very angry when I am walk ing across a crosswalk (or at an intersec tion) and come within two feet of being hit by a car. I appreciate it when people stop and in fact they are supposed to stop. Also, if I am on a bicycle and you hap pen to pull out in front of me (or if I’m on foot and the traffic is slow or if you stop and park) don’t be surprised if I chase you down and tell you what I think of you. People on foot or bicycle do not have horns! They cannot wain you at the time that you have nearly run over them, so watch the pedestrians and the bicycles! — Tami Tipton, ‘81 P.S. I don’t know why people who ^ nearly run over you either look at you like your stupid, or think its so damn funny! But if you hit someone on foot or on a bike you will probably not think it’s so funny then. Verse year-round Editor: This is written in reference to the letter by Robert Brooks in (Oct. 17) The Battal ion. First of all, the “first” verse of the Aggie War Hymn is not sung by tradition. When Pinky Wilson wrote the War Hymn, he wrote only the verse we sing today at foot ball games and other activities. It was only later that the administration approached him and asked him to write another verse — so that we would have a verse to sing when we weren’t playing t.u. If my sources are correct (the MSG Traditions Council of 1976), Pinky Wilson said that Aggies would sing only what they want to sing, but to please the administra tion, he wrote what was adopted as the “first” verse. When it was first printed and passed out to the Singing Cadets, they threw it away, and it has not been sung since. Pinky Wil son first said, many Ags back him up and it is a traditon: our burning desire to beat t.u. is year-round, and surpasses all other rivalries Texas A&M has. So why jump all over other Ags in an antagonistic letter? The 30,000 of us that go to this school can’t go around calling everyone else a 2-percenter. Otherwise, we re no better than t.u. or any other school. So let’s start remember ing that Ags are unique because they stick together — not always in 100 percent ag reement — but they realize that sticking up for each other is more important than minor differences of opinion. Slouch “THAT OUGHT TO HELP HIM MAKE UP FOR HIS RECENT LOSSES!” So let’s stick together, Ags! Otherwise, we re no better than any other school. — Steve Eubanks, ‘79 Political links Editor: Last Wednesday, (Oct. 11) I read in your newspaper an article concerning a new or ganization on campus called Amnesty In ternational. Such organization claims to be non-political but at the same time is in volved with political prisoners from all over the world. In addition to this, the organization states that they only work with prisoners who have no criminal or political record as part of their background. My question is: How can an organiza tion which is involved in working with political prisoners still claim to be a non political organization? Also, how can the organization be totally sure that these prisoners have no criminal record if in almost every country political crime can be done without even lifting a finger? — Marco A. Espir, ‘81 Sing first verse Editor: Hats off to Robert Brooks, J. Gregg Holcomb, and Betty Corley. I am refer ring to their article in Tuesday, (Oct. 17) Battalion regarding the singing of the first verse of the “Aggie War Hymm.” We don’t play t.u. every week. Besides, the first verse is part of the official “War Hymm.” For those who don’t know the words of the first verse, don’t be ashamed. I didn’t even know there was a first verse until I came to A&M. The words are as follows: All hail to dear old Texas A&M Rally around Maroon and White Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies. They are the boys who show the fight. That good old Aggie Spirit thrills us And makes us yell and yell and yell. So let s fight for dear old Texas A&M. We re gonna beat you all to Chig-ga-roo-gar-em! Chig-ga-roo-gar-em! Rough! Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A&M. There now. That wasn't so bad, was it? In fact, it was sorta nice. If everyone would sit down for five or ten minutes and memorize the first verse, then we would truly be following Aggie tradition. How about it, Ags? — Drew Anderson, ‘82 For the record Editor: I am writing in response to Robert Smith’s letter of October 16, concerning the Nautilus Weight Room in DeWare Fieldhouse. There is a misunderstanding about whose property is being used. The Nautilus machines located in De- Ware belong to the Texas A&M Athletic Department. It is through cooperation with the Intramural Office that these machines are available for TAMU student and staff use. There have been several similar misun derstandings and I guess now is a good time to clear them up. The Intramural Of fice maintains these machines, but there is a lot more maintenance needed with the 26 hours a week recreation schedule. The DeWare Weight Room schedule is as follows: Monday and Wednesday . . .8-11 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. .12-2 p.m., 7-10 p.m. Saturday 2-5 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m. Sorry for the confusion and “thanks” to the Athletic Department. — Jim Jeter Associate Director of Intramurals DeWare Fieldhouse New readers’ letter section The Battalion is offering a new reader’s letter section to give stu dents more access to the newspaper and to the University. “Talk with Dr. Miller” is a forum for readers to address questions to the administration about University policies and procedures. Questions should be addressed to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, and should specify that they are to be used for this column. Names and phone numbers will be required on all questions and Dr. Miller has the option to decline to answer a ques tion or request others on the staff or faculty to answer it. Questions and answers will be published on the editorial page. Top of the News CAMPUS Friday deadline for hook contest Friday is the deadline for Texas A&M University students to enter the sixth Student Book Collectors Contest. Entry in the Friends of the Texas A&M University Library contest consists of annotated bib liography of 25 titles from a collection, a statement describing the collection and an entry form. Brochures and information are available at the Sterling C. Evans Library. Winners of eight $100 prizes and three $25 honorable mentions will be presented at a Nov. 3 awards ceremony. It will feature publisher, author and book dealer John H. Jenkins as speaker. Employees contribute to funds Texas A&M University fund-raising eff orts on behalf of the College Station United Fund and the Bryan-Brazos County United Way have yielded contributions of $16,605.90 as of Friday, says campus chair man Chuck Cargill. Of the contributions received thus far from Texas A&M employees, $7,622.60 has been earmarked for the Bryan- Brazos County drive and $8,983.30 was designated for the College Station campaign. The deadline for contributions by University employees has been extended from Oct.31 to Nov. 30. Gifts can support either the Bryan-Brazos County or the College Station drive or both, Cargill said. Anyone who has not l>een contacted by a unitor departmental representative and wishes to contribute through the University program should contact Pamela Stutzman at 845-6121. Genetic Defect Clinic planned Texas A&M University and the National Foundation March of Dimes are co-sponsoring a Genetics Defect Clinic, today, in the Texas A&M Memorial Student Center. Aspects of diagnosis, treat ment and referral will be highlighted at the clinic, which will carry eight hours of Category 1 credit from the American Medical Associa tion for the Physicians Recognition Awards. The clinic is designed to provide a broad, clinical introduction to current progress and ap proaches to genetic defects. Speakers will be from Texas A&M, the College of Medicine, and Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple. They will discuss the interaction of the environment and hereditary factors on birth defects. LOCAL College Station teen reports rape A College Station teenager told police she was raped at her residence in the south part of town Tuesday night. Police said they could re lease very little information because the girl is a juvenile. She said the incident occurred between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. inside her house. Susan Ford engaged to agent Former President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford Wednesday from Ran cho Mirage, Calif, announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan, to Secret Service Agent Charles Frederick Vance. The Fords said the couple plans a June wedding in Rancho Mirage. Vance is the son of Mrs. John Early, of Reno, Nev. Susan, a freelance photojour- nalist, lives in nearby Palm Desert. WORLD Insecticide needs more support Japan-China treaty approved Japan’s upper house of Parliament Wednesday completed ratifica tion of the Japan-China non-aggression treaty with an overwhelming vote of approval, paving the way for a visit by Chinese Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-ping. All major political parties supported the accord. Teng and Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua will arrive in Tokyo Sunday for an eight-day visit to formalize Japan’s frill reconciliation with China following World War II and the Communist victory in 1949. The agreement also confirms an ecomomic partnership that gives Japan a huge role in China’s future industrialization. WEATHER Fair to partly cloudy with a temperature of 46 this morning and the mid to upper 70s the rest of the day. Winds will be variable at 7 mph. Outlook for Friday through Sunday will be fair to partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 74 for the Baylor game and winds light and variable. Di- ■ NEW e ws o-l ednesc St flow ilepiL>« e natic Drage s “They ’ leckin. g irker, < in’s S11 •ogram. termi j ie un d ackberr He sai< ie dome undin 1 “We’r< iwn the a pig (£ dly ins ime oil eaning 1 out and ‘Somel riday m here th< the ,000 t He sai ipeline v ame afte the 60. om 1 he 1 By I The Environmental Protection Agency is asking for more public input into Mississippi’s emergency request to use an insecticide to control the pesky fire ant. The EPA, in response to a federal court ruling, expanded the emergency request for the use of ferriamicide to include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Lousiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Fire ant mounds interfere with farming operations in an estimated 190 million acres in the South. Mississippi first sought authority to use ferriamicide last December after the EPA banned Mirex, which was found to contain the cancer- causing agent Kepone. Ferriamicide is a mixture of Mirex and other compounds, which cause it to degrade. EPA granted emergency use in March, but was ordered to seek public comments for at least 10 additional days. It still has not been used because of court delays. Wiite hrist Now , Unite, he Milky hich our Nmber- [iameter an J°n stars, 0 su Ml The Battalion LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being 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 frill 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 Kim Ty»' : j Managing Editor Liz Ne*f | | Assistant Managing Editor .AndyW Sports Editor David I City Editor Jamie Aitfa Campus Editor Steve I* 1 News Editors Debbie Pi Beth Calhoun Staff Writers Karen Rogers, Mai' Patterson, Scott Pendleton Sean Petty, Michelle Scuddff Marilyn Faulkenberry, Dian< Blake Lee Roy Leschper, ji Cartoonist Doug Graliaf Photographer Ed Cunni«i Focus section editor Gary Weld 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,xf supporting enterprise operated by studd as a university and community netcs/Kiiif Editorial policy is determined by the cdittt. "20