Viewpoint The Battalion Friday Texas A&M University October 27, 1978 Letters to the editor What’s the story. President Miller? Editor: President Miller: 1 How naive do you think we are? After watching Coach Emory Bellard break down into tears professing his love for this school, and that this is the only school he ever wanted to be associated with, I find it incredible that you believe people can swallow your press release contending that fhere was no pressure to force his resigna tion. To believe that Emory Bellard would forsake his team in the middle of a season on his own volition is the height of folly. . “I want people to understand why, I didn’t just get frustrated and quit” were Bellard’s words. Well, I want to under stand too, and I believe you know a lot more than you’re letting on. Who is ultimately responsible for the decision to railroad Bellard? Perhaps you could begin your explanation with the exact order of events that transpired in your office during Bellard’s fateful visit. — Andy Sawyer, 80 Editor’s note: this letter was accom panied by four other signatures. No one’s fault Editor: “Who is to blame for Emory Bellard’s resignation.” That question is monopoliz ing Texas A&M. Last week, few people had a favorable opinion of our coach, and now everyone is rushing to defend him. But no one is suggesting anything con structive for A&M; we are too busy push ing blame on everyone else. At first, the football team and coaches swore that the Former Students, the 12th Man, and The Battalion were responsible. Now, Bellard has turned an unwar ranted mob attack on President Miller and the Board of Regents. Bellard was not forced to resign, at least not at this time, but he himself made an emotional decision to quit “to preserve his dignity. ” How can we blame anyone else for Bellard’s deci sions? In two days, we are facing a team whose winning season is defined solely by their desire to beat A&M. As Aggies, we must stop useless bickering and pull together to back the team feeing Rice and the remain der of a difficult season. For only a united school can “preserve its dignity” and the proud reputation of being Texas A&M University. — Lynne Andrus, ’79 Paper victory Editor: I know that by the time the Batt has had a chance to print this letter the recent in justice to Coach Emory Bellard will prob ably have been calmly swept under the carpet. I felt compelled, though, to air my views. First may I say that I, as many others have, voiced negative reactions concern ing the outcome of the last two games. I did not believe nor do I believe now, those losses to be paramount reason for the dis missal of a head coach. Coach Bellard’s record sp>eaks for itself and to coin an old phrase, “Ya have ya good days and ya have ya bad!” Second, I address myself to the “distin guished” alumni (and I use the term loosely!), who so graciously thought to take things into their own hands. Gentlemen, if the Cotton Bowl trophy means so much to you as to have a coach removed because we won’t make it this year, I have a proposal. Contact me and I will personally undertake the task of mak ing you a paper-mache replica of that tropby, for — dear Aggie alumni — that is what the trophy will mean to me and maybe a few others, if and when we win it, without Coach Bellard. —Cathy Ruedinger, ’78 P.S. With the large amount of money you have spent on trying to get rid of Coach Bellard, you could have purchased several cheap imitations to display on your man tel. What we deserve? Editor: It is a sad commentary on all of us Ag gies that we can put so much pressure on the man who has done more for Texas A&M athletics than any other that he is forced to quit. Emory Bellard took us from the peren nial doormat of the SWC to respectibility — more. He took us from nothing and molded our football teams into national powers. Under Emory Bellard football was no longer an Aggie joke. Emory Bellard won more football games than anv coach at Texas A&M since before World War II. He gave us our consecutive winning seasons. He took us to three con secutive bowl games. In six and one-half seasons his teams won 48 and lost 27, a .640 percentage. Exclude his first two seasons, when he was playing with other peoples’ athletes, and his winning per centage is .754. Emory Bellard’s football teams filled Kyle Field to 110 percent of capacity and created the need to expand the stadium to 72,000 seats. Everywhere his teams went the season’s largest crowds followed. Play ing the Aggies was a big pay day for everyone else. But more than all of that, Emory Bellard is a class guy. A man who represented Texas A&M University at the highest level. A man all of us could be, and were, proud of. I still am, and always will be. So, we’ve run him off. Who do we get next? Another Gene Stallings? Another Hank Foldberg? Another Jim Myers? I hope we don’t get what we deserve! — J. Barry Hart, ’56 Aggie Club Member Century Club Member Respects Bellard Editor: Whoever coined the old cliche “You can’t argue with success” must have never endured the agony of a football season. How can an individual be successful 48 times in 75 tries and still be labeled a failure? Such is the case of now ex-coach Emory Bellard. Certainly Emory made his share of mis takes, but don’t we all? Emory’s biggest mistake was his own fault. He built a pro gram so good that even the smallest mis take could send the heads or head in this case rolling. As an ex-sports writer with both The Battalion and The Eagle I have covered my share of Aggie games both in the con fines of Kyle Field and on the road, travel ing with the team. Many times have I cussed the play selection, but never the man. Head coaches at Aggieland come and go. I saw my first Texas A&M football game in 1955 when a man named Bryant headed the “maroon and white.” Meyers, Foldberg, Stallings, I have met them all, but I know Emory Bellard. He is a fine man and we as former and present stu dents have lost a great asset at Texas A&M. I have every hope and confidence in Tom Wilson and the rest of the Aggie staff. They will do a good job as will the young men who represent A&M on Saturdays. While I am not as close to this team as I have been to past teams having changed fields, still I know many players who not only respected the man but loved him as well. They all too well realize the loss. If this sounds like an endorsement editorial, it is just my rusty journalistic tal ents coming to a head. Objectively a change may well have been in order. That is not for me to judge. If this change brings success and winning back to Kyle Field Saturday I will be no less than thrilled. But just take moment to remember who laid the foundation for that success. Emory is gone, but the ground work he laid for the winning tradition in Aggieland should at least be praised. — Barry Donnelly, ’70 Old Ag control Editor: This letter is in reference to an article in the Oct. 26 Houston Post entitled, “Pitt Assistant Johnson Confirms Aggies Ap proached Him About Job.” I would like to know: What gives former students the right to attempt to fill a job which is neither available nor is theirs to fill? If I understand correctly, contributions by former students are made to aid the athletic department and to provide for ath letic scholarships. I don’t believe their money permits them to control the foot ball team. I also do not believe that former students should act as an employment service. In closing, I would like to express my sincere hope that an academic club made up of former students is never formed. If it is, they will probably throw students out for making B’s. — Mark Hudgens, ’82 P.S. To Emory Bellard: I know this is no consolation, but you will always have my respect, and if you ever coach again, you will always have my support. Ticket bill unfair Editor: I am concerned with the seemingly haphazard manner in which the student senate is proposing to deal with the Arkan sas football game ticket allocation. The bill, No. 78-029-(6), basically reads that on Nov. 7 a student and-or date can present their coupon book for a numbered token in which a matching token will be placed in a lottery. On Nov. 9 a drawing and issuance of tickets will take place where at both the lottery token holder and date must be present in order to collect tickets. I find several blatant erorrs in this sys tem that should warrant its defeat. (1) There is no NO PROVISION to allow a group of people to go to the game. The ONLY way you can go is with a date or alone. A carload of four girls-guys wanting to go to the game together would face tre mendous odds against all their names being drawn. (2) There is NO RELATIVE ADVAN TAGE given to SENIORS to enable them to watch, in Little Rock, the AGGIES play Arkansas for the seniors’ last time as stu dents. (3) There is NO PROVISION for stu dents who attend classes on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. This is the lottery draw ing time as outlined in the bill. (4) Issuing such a limited number of tickets a full week and two days in advance of the game allows students the opportu nity to resell their tickets for profit (scalp ing) with a minimum of effort and risk. stature and position in society that the general has attained, would be more in clined to intellectual debate rather than demogogic appeal to the emotions of his audience. Specifically, I have the following criti cisms to make: The comment that “the need for women in the Armed Forces is a reflection on the men of this country” is a blatant sexist re mark. This was made in the context of an answer to a question about women in the Forces. It was very clear from further comments (as well as jokes) that the gen eral is opposed to any advances in wo men’s rights. The general denied the existence of rac ism in the Armed Forces. It is well known that there is a fairly large amount of racisim in all branches of the Armed Forces. Talking of the recent conflict in Zaire, the general said “you all heard that a large number of Caucasians were killed.” He neglected to mention that there were thousands of people (of all races!) killed, not only Caucasians. I would also like to point out the follow ing factual error: The general said that “South West Af rica (Namibia) has been under the aegis of the United Nations.” This is totally incor rect. South Africa was given a mandate by the League of Nations to rule S.W. A. This was withdrawn by the United Nations. South Africa has; governed the territory for at least 30 yevirs. I hope that the people in charge of the U.S. Arpied Forces at the moment are of a higher caliber than General Westmore land. — Leonard R. Seelig, graduate student Editor’s note: We can’t vouch for the general’s competence in analyzing the international situation, but The Battalion did incorrectly report one of his state ments through an editing error. The gen eral said that Cuba’s army is proportional ly three times the size of the U.S. Army, not three times the size in raw numbers. The Battalion regrets the error. No harm intended Editor: Ever since I moved into Spence Hall two and a half years ago I have enjoyed watching the Corps’ evening formation. I kinda liked watching the formalities. Last night, I was watching from my window when an Air Force senior yelled at me, “Why are you watching. You think we’re a zoo?” He said a little more too. My answer, Mr. Hot Shot is “No, I don’t think you’re a zoo.” I meant no harm, no disrespect. But, mister, you blew the ideal of “knightly gentleman.” You weren’t exactly being a friendly Ag either. Since my watching bothers you so much. I’ll quit. If you wonder why some non-regs are not impressed with the Corps, just look in the mirror buddy. — Ellen King, ’79 Taps ‘marred’ Editor: Can X have y>ur S^par Sandwich: I feel that it would be harmful to pass this bill that discriminates against so many Aggies in such an open manner and provides scalpers with an ample amount of time to get a “good” price. I solicit all you Good Ags (groups with reserved rooms in Little Rock, seniors, people with classes at 5 p.m. on 11-9, and all potential scalper victims) who are or were planning to go to Arkansas to STRONGLY urge your senators to vote NO on the Arkansas Ticket Lottery Bill. — Mike T. Oswalt, ’81 General uninspiring Editor: I have the following comments to make on the speech given by General Westmoreland. I have rarely heard such a naive, un-' sophisticated and simplistic interpretation of the international situation. Part of this could be excused by the broadness of the topic (Trouble Spots Around the Globe) on which the general spoke. One should expect that a man with the While attending Silver Taps Tuesday, I was disturbed by the actions of a few couples present. It appeared to me more like the lights were out at Midnight Yell Practice than a solemn farewell to a fellow student. These individuals’ blatant outward show of affection for each other marred the at mosphere of dignity that this ceremony represents. I should only wish that these few isolated couples would sacrifice a few moments of their time together and reflect the true meaning and reason of Silver Taps. — Paul Schmidt. ’79 Correction The Battalion incorrectly re ported in a cutline Thursday that in formation about some off-campus apartment parties this weekend could be found at Hassle-Free headquarters in the MSC. Hassle- Free operates out the Puryear Hall lounge, across from the YMCA Building. The Battalion regrets the error. Top of the News CAMPUS Heaton Hall dedicated tomorrow The building that houses the Office of Admissions and Records will be officially named H. L. Heaton Hall on Saturday. The late Dean Heaton retired in 1969, ending 36 years at Texas A&M University. Heaton signed more than 50,000 diplomas during 13 years as registrar. In his last year at Texas A&M, Heaton became the first dean of admissions and records. The dedication ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a. m. in the Harrington Education Center, Room 108. Clyde H. Wells, chairman of the the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, heads the program, which will be followed by building tours and refreshments at Heaton Hall. STATE Texas faces tougher air controls A $2 million federal Environmental Protection Agency grant to the Texas Air Control Board includes some restrictions linked to a re quired new statewide implementation plan. A special provision of the new grant is development of a new state implementation plan by Jan. 1, including a transportation control program to reduce automobile emissions where needed. An inspection maintenance program is re quired by law for cities like Houston that will not meet federal ozone limits by 1982. Ozone is a key element in smog. Regional EPA air chief Ray Lozano said a new federal lead standard may be a problem in some areas, again including Houston where there is a secondary lead smel ter. Cullen Davis petitions for bail Defense lawyers have asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin to free millionaire T. Cullen Davis on bond pending his Hous ton trial on solicitation of capital murder charges. The court has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 7 on defense lawyer Richard Haynes’ appeal of State District Judge Wallace Moore’s refusal to allow bail for Davis. The Fort Worth industrialist remained in the Harris County Jail on charges he tried to hire the murder of Judge Joe Eidson, who at the time presided over Davis’ stormy and still incomplete divorce from his wife, Priscilla. The solicitation of capital murder trial is scheduled to start Monday. NATION Eastern liable for ’75 crash Eastern Airlines was negligent and liable for the 1975 crash of a Boeing 727 that killed 113 people at Kennedy Airport, a U.S. District Court jury ruled Wednesday. The plaintiffs contended during the five-week trial in Brooklyn, N.Y., tnat the Eastern pilot had been aware of weather problems and should not have attempted to land. Eastern blamed Federal Aviation Administration controllers and the weather for the crash. Ten of the 36 lawsuits resulting from the crash have not been settled out of court. Money damages in the remaining lawsuits will be determined by settlement or by future trials. Remington recalls firearms Remington Arms Co. is recalling 200,000 rifles and pistols made between 1963 and February 1975 after settlement of a $6.8 million lawsuit filed by an Austin man who claimed he was shot and partially paralyzed by a defective rifle. The recall of Remington’s XP-lOOpistols and their Model 600, Model 660 and Mohawk 600 rifles went into effect Wednesday, although the Bridgeport, Conn., company is not required to recall the guns under the court settlement. Remington is replacing the trigger mechanisms, and the recalled guns can be serv iced at local dealers. Carter stumping in 10 states President Carter headed for Tennessee and Florida Thursday in his seventh campaign foray this year for Democratic candidates. In Ten nessee, Carter will stump for Jake Butcher and Jane Eskind, who are running for governor and senator respectively. In Florida the presi dent will support gubernatorial candidate Robert Graham. He is scheduled to stump in three New England states this weekend and next week will make a cross-country finale to New York, Michigan, Illinois, Oregon and California. WORLD Nobel Peace Prize may be Sadat’s The 1978 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced today at 5 p.m. (noon EDT) in Oslo, Norway, two weeks later than normal, the Nobel committee said Thursday. The Nobel committee deliberates in sec recy, but the committee has given two possible indications why the announcement has been delayed — they could not agree on a winner, or that they wanted to see how the Egyptian-Israeli peace talks went before making any decision. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt has been the most mentioned likely winner for his precedent-shattering trip to Jerusalem last year which launched a peace drive culminating in the present talks on a peace treaty. Typhoon Rita threatens Manila Typhoon Rita, 125 miles east of Manila and moving west at 19 miles an hour with 137 miles-per-hour winds, is the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines in eight years. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Intermittent heavy rains and wind gusts pelted the Philip pine capital of 7.5 million persons. The storm disrupted communica tions and forced the suspension of all domestic air services. Stormy weather was expected to last four to five hours in the city. WEATHER Fair to partly cloudy, mild afternoons, cool nights with Eas terly winds at 10 mph. High in the mid 70’s and a low for Saturday morning in the upper 40’s. The temperature for Saturday’s game will be in the mid 70’s. 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 editori(d 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. cl By Virt w-1 were i *■”! the N* «= thev dates Wit 11 tion, 11 Candida is like tl