Viewpoint
The Battalion Friday
Texas A&M University November 10, 1978
High-level thinking
Space stories seldom make front pages anymore, but history’s longest
manned space flight, completed last week when two Soviet cosmonauts came
home, was an extraordinary achievement that deserves special attention.
Vladimir Kovalenok and Alexander Ivanchenkov orbited Earth for more
than four months. As they worked — and even entertained visitors to their
space station (other cosmonauts) — they provided further evidence that
humans can live productively for long periods in man-made worlds circling
invisibly far above the natural world. Thus they helped advance the day
when explorers will venture out to other planets.
But the Soviet success should spur practical benefits before that — and
long before the day seen by a top Soviet astrophysicist when an “artificial
biosphere” able to support giant colonies of humans will be built in space. At
best, such a home away from home is for future generations, not ours.
New industries and new research projects in orbiting labs, however, are
probable in the nearer future. The cosmonauts’ mission included work aimed
at speeding in-space production of materials for computers and other
technologies that defy successful manufacture on Earth.
That’s important. High-level Soviet thinking accepts the idea that coun
tries not involved in space may soon be left behind in industrial competition
below. Projects such as their latest record-setter indicate that the Soviets
plan to be part of that coming industrial revolution.
Chicago Sun-Times
A New breed of .stock.
Bill must protect Alaska’s wilderness
By LYNN TIMKEN
By Dec. 18, 1978, Congress must de
cide the destiny of an empire of
government-owned fjords, mountains,
rivers, and flatlands. The land is Alaska.
Alaska, with a total of 375 million acres,
is equal to the aggregate of Texas, Califor
nia, the six New England states plus New
York and Pennsylvania. The state includes
seven major mountain ranges, 6,640 miles
of fiords and a vast tundra with a third of it
north of the Arctic Circle.
With its spectacular wildlife resources
Alaska is both a state and a national trea
sure. The land is home to a large number
of species unique to the state including
grizzlies, bald eagles, polar bears, wolves,
caribou, peregrine falcons, curly-horned
Dali sheep, and sea otters.
Alaska’s resources have deteriorated
since the 1960s due to the introduction of
the snowmobile. It has given hunters a
deadly advantage over the land’s natural
inhabitants. Last year, the state’s biggest
caribou herd-population (242,000 in 1971)
was suddenly discovered to have plum
meted to 50,000 animals. Overhunting
was at least one cause.
The most effective method of wildlife
destruction is the aircraft. By permitting
unrestricted use of aircraft, Alaska’s
wildlife could be wiped out within 10
years. There is no stalking, no matching of
wits, only a roaring airplane pursuing a
wild animal animal until he can no longer
run. ^
Until recently the sea otter had de-
Readers Forum
veloped a breeding ground stronghold on
Amchitka Island in the Aleutians’ National
Wildlife Refuge — it is now the sie of
atomic bomb tests. Last year the total
number of grizzly bears killed was esti
mated to be between 900 and 1,000; the
polar bear estimate was 1,300-1,400. No
one knows whether these species are hold
ing their own as very little research has
been done in that area.
Should 2/Jb
Anatomical spare parts
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON — The latest issue of
Smithsonian magazine, published by the
institution of the same name, has an article
on “bioengineering,” the science of mak
ing spare parts for the human body.
Since most of the advances have de
veloped piecemeal over the last 40 years,
it is only when we see them all laid out
together that we realize how far man has
come toward artifically and mechanically
reproducing himself.
The available inventory of artificial kid
neys, heart-lung machines, synthetic
valves and arteries and assorted other
ersatz organs and limbs is too long to list
here. Suffice to say that if part of your ana
tomy breaks down before the warranty
expires, you can now do something besides
wait around for your body to be recalled.
As for the future, Smithsonian mentions
such prospects as “booster lungs” and
computerized blood streams. But be as
sured those are by no means the outer
limits of bioengineering.
If it is possible to duplicate, or simulate,
existing parts of the body, what’s to pre
vent the creation of new parts that nature
failed to include in the original blueprints?
When, for example, you complain about
slow service in a restaurant, the waiter is
apt to point out rather testily that “I only
have two hands.”
A three-handed waiter definitely would
be a bioengineering triumph, comparable
in its way to the first cardiac pacemaker.
And the breakthrough may come sooner
than you think.
Already, according to the magazine,
bioengineers are working on an artificial
arm that uses electric motors controlled by
muscle signals to perform “natural move
ment.” Presumably, that would include
picking up tips.
Another familiar excuse is: “I don’t have
eyes in the back of my head.”
Well, sir, Smithsonian reports that “a
daring attempt to develop artificial sight
and hearing through the electric stimula
tion of nerve cells in the brain or ear is
under way.”
Once that process has been perfected, it
should take only minor modifications to
equip human beings with rearward vision.
And while they’re at it, why not also pro
vide a rear breathing organ, somewhat like
the nose, on the nape of the neck.
The rear nose could serve many useful
purposes, such as functioning as a snorkel
for skin diving or bobbing for apples.
I finished the article convinced that the
ultimate achievement of bioengineering
may be the first human photographic or
gan, located in the chest, where the cam
era now dangles, and capable of turning
out color prints of landmarks and interest
ing rock formations.
I mean, if you think the “Six Million
Dollar Man” is a marvel, wait ‘til you get a
load of the bionic tourist.
Perhaps the greatest threat to Alaskan
wildlife comes with the destruction of the
land. About half of the state is underlain
by permafrost which is ground that froze
centuries ago and has never thawed. As a
result, there are only 306 miles of paved
road in the entire state. The lack of roads
in Alaska is the state’s saving grace. Build
roads, and the animals will soon be hunted
out, and the natural beatury will be hid
den behind roadside developments.
In December, 1978, Congress must de
cide which government agency should
manage the vast lands of Alaska. Almost all
of the 350 million federally owned acres
are controlled by the Bureau of Land
Management and the Forest Service,
which means that over 90 percent of the
state is vulnerable to development. The
only slice that is protected is the 30 million
acres run by the “special use” agencies.
A conservationist lobby called the
Alaska Coalition has introduced a bill
(numbered HR-39) into the House
through Rep. Morris Udall. It is based on
the “ecosystem” approach which calls for
setting aside entire mountain ranges, river
watersheds and animal migration routes
for the preservation of wildlife. In north
west Alaska the Coalition wants to create a
solid mass of parks and refuges whose 26.5
million acres would include the entire
watershed of the 425 mile-long Noatak
River.
In southern Alaska the Wrangell Moun
tain Range (15.8 million acres) would be
protected, along with the Yukon Flats
(12.3 million acres). This would form a
single game preserve larger than the state
of New York. The area will be designated
as “wilderness” along with the existing
parks and refuges.
Prodevelopment interests — oil com
panies, hunting guides, and mining com
panies — are planning a $900,000 lobby
ing campaign against the bill. Attempts are
being made at massive reorganization for
the land that will involve drowning
thousands of square miles to obtain miner
als (of uncertain availability).
Along with the minerals and trees go, of
course, a highly complex and vital society
of plants and animals without which the
land could never have achieved the de
velopment that has made it so rich.
Throughout Alaska great fields of coal lie
within strip-mining depth of the surface.
Oil crews have descended on the coastal
wilderness, bringing roads, people and vil
lages. The Arctic National Wildlife Range
lies only a short distance from oil strike on
Prudhoe Bay. If Alaska is to keep its abun
dance and variety of wild creatures, plans
for conserving them must be included in
the state’s future.
Perhaps it is too much to expect Ameri
cans to appreciate the value of land that is
not “developed” by man. Unless the U-
nited States exercises a great deal of care in
plotting the future course of Alaska, the
state will resemble the lower 48.
Lynn Timken is a senior recreation and
parks major.
Fetters to the Editor
Seal poor ’78 gift
Editor:
Again I will extend on behalf of all ’78
seniors an apology to all the following Ags
for getting in their way. Last spring I
wrote a letter regarding the obstruction
my class had placed in the Academic
Building.
Please remember that it was our inten
tions to give you a splendid, beautiful seal
of Texas A&M to be viewed and admired
for all who come upon it in its place below
the bell and copper dome of the Academic
Building.
But for some reason, in the process of
constructing the project, our class officers
saw fit to give the job to people obviously
not as interested in putting quality work
manship to make a beautiful, lasting pro
duct as they were in cutting costs and mak
ing the buck, and now there is a shoddy
space of poorly placed tile that doesn’t
even need someone to walk on it to break
apart, where once there was solid footing
for everyone.
How these people were chosen I will
never know, as one writer replied to my
letter, a Mr. McMurtry, I foiled to foith-
fully attend every meeting held by my
class officers, I merely assumed they could
do their job right without my constant
supervision.
Mr. McMurtry had said something was
in the process to alleviate the problem,
and since it seemed that he knew what he
was saying and sure of it, I retracted my
pen to watch the progress.
Well, the rest of the spring, two sum
mer sesssions and half of the fall has passed
a not a single thing has been done to it.
The tile never was pulled up and re
placed either with a new more durable
seal, or filled in as to not be an obstruc
tion.
STILL there is a crumbling piece of
shody workmanship and a make-shift rope
barrier to divert everyone around the mis
take — to indicate to all following classes
where the interests of the class of ’78
wasn’t at.
Which couldn’t be further from truth,
because ’78 was the best class that ever
was and will be. Yet, though I can’t speak
for everyone in my class, I would like to
think that eventually someone will just re
move the tile and fill it in with something so
future Ags won’t think of my class as “The
Class That Got in the Way.”
— David W. Loper, ’78
Fire up the spirit
Editor:
Off campus men, we need your help!
One of the greatest traditions of A&M has
already started and not enough of y’all are
out there working. The tradition I’m talk
ing about is BONFIRE. Fire up your
burning desire to beat the hell out of t.u.
and get involved with BONFIRE.
I can guarantee that the Spirit of Aggie-
land and BONFIRE will take on a whole
new meaning if you get involved. Just be
cause we live off campus doesn’t mean we
don’t have to work on it.
Call me or another off-campus “yellow
pot” to find out how you can get involved.
Phone numbers are on the red bonfire
posters.
— Steve Foucart, ’79
693-9502
Worry rationally
Editor:
I am sure that all students at Texas
A&M University are concerned about
their grades. And from talking to people, I
have found that many worry about their
performance in school. I have also found
from experience that worrying gets me no
thing but stress.
Of course I believe that some worry is
healthy for the student. It brings to reality
the importance of school.
Recently I sat down and tried to figure
out just how much school worries me. This
is what I came up with:
I’m carrying 16 hours and of those 16,
only 4 do not have me worried. And of the
12 that worry me, only 3 do not worry me
as much. Of the 9 hours that worry me
more than the 3 that do not worry me as
much or the 4 that do not worry me at all,
only 6 have real cause for worry.
Of the 9 hours of which only 6 have real
cause for worry the remaining 3 do not
worry me as much and 3 worry me even
less.
I would say then, that I have just
enough worry to keep me somewhere be
tween health and stress. If this letter does
not get printed, I will try not to worry
about it.
— Jeff Krenek, ’81
Genuine ‘Good Ags’
Editor:
There’s more to being friendly than say
ing “howdy!” on campus. Being a “good
Ag” has little to do with memorialized
grass and athletic events — and a lot to do
with helping two coeds with a flat tire and
flatter spare at 10 p.m., especially when
you’ve got a major exam the next morning!
Kathy and Robby, we’re proud that
you’re a part of Texas A&M. We plan to
follow your example of kindness and
genuine concern for other people. Thank
you, and God bless you!
— Michell Marti, ’79
Sally Donaldson, ’82
Top
of the News
CAMPUS
Reagan, Simon to speak at A&rM
Former California governor Ronald Reagan and former U.S. Secre
tary Treasurer William E. Simon are scheduled to speak at Texas
A&M University next week in unrelated appearences. Simon’s talk,
“Consideration of the American Economic Picture,” sponsored by
the Great Issues committee, will be given Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in
the Rudder Theater. Reagan is sponsored by Political Forum and will
speak Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Rudder Auditorium. Admission to
Simon’s speech is free; tickets for Reagan’s will cost $1.50 for students
and $2.50 for non-students.
STATE
More time in Torres case
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has taken
under consideration a Justice Department appeal for more stringent
sentences against three Texas policemen convicted of violating the
civil rights of Joe Campos Torres, a Mexican-American beaten and
drowned in police custody. The appeal demands more than the 10-
year probations given Terry Denson, Stephen Orlando and Joseph
Janish for felony civil rights violations. The three received a year in
prison for a misdemeanor violation. A federal court jury convicted
Denson, Orlando and Janish of beating Torres after a barroom drunk
arrest May 5, 1977, and then pushing him off a ledge into Buffalo
Bayou downtown where he drowned. His body was found three days
later.
NATION
Ships collide in Mississippi River
A Liberian bulk carrier and another ship collided head-on in the
Mississippi River Thursday, spilling about 2,000 gallons of fuel oil
into the water near New Orleans. “There is no fire and no injuries
reported, but we are classifying it as a potential major oil spill,” said
Coast Guard spokesman Bob Baeton. Water intakes, fisheries and
wildlife people, and pollution experts have been notified, said
Baeton. He said the leak came from the fuel tanks of*a Liberian vessel
carrying a load of crude oil. A Panamanian bulk carrier loaded with
scrap ran aground but no damage was reported. The collision oc
curred two miles downstream from the Belle Chase ferry landing,
which is used by suburban New Orleans commuters crossing the
river.
Stassen will run for president
Harold Stassen, apparently spurred by Republican victories in
Minnesota, Thursday announced at a news conference he will run for
president again in 1980. The 70-year-old former governor has been
involved in presidential politics for more than 30 years, but was
defeated in the recent senatorial primary by Rudy Boschwitz who
went on to win Tuesday. Stassen said he will run on a platform to
“clean out the corruption in Washington” and “overcome inflation
with full employment.” Stassen said the GOP must begin to look
towards 1980 and the serious problems at home and abroad which
have been mismanaged by the Carter administration. Stassen was a
leading contender in 1948 for the GOP nomination for president and
later made several bids to become the party’s candidate.
Carter signs his energy policy
President Carter signed the five parts of his national energy plan
into law Thursday, giving homeowners tax breaks for insulation costs
and beginning the deregulation of natural gas prices. Carter said the
plan will help reduce costly reliance on foreign oil suppliers by saving
2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 1985, less than he had hoped when
he submitted the plan to Congress almost 19 months ago, but still a
substantial improvement. “We have acquitted ourselves well as a
nation. While the world watched, we have shown the will and cour
age to face up to this complex problem, ” he said.
WORLD
Meir still in hospital; improving
The condition of former Prime Minister Golda Meir improved
slightly Thursday despite leg and back pains stemming from a viral
infection, a spokesman at Hadassah Hospital said Thursday in
Jerusalem. The spokesman, Azaria Rappaport, said the 80-year-old
Meir was following political developments in Israel and the United
States, but refused to issue a statement from her hospital room. But,
he said he discussed with Meir a spate of rumors that she is suffering
from an incurable disease. “Let them come and ask me about that,”
Rappaport quoted the former prime minister as saying. The spokes
man said although Meir was being treated in the hematology ward of
the hospital it did not indicate she suffered a blood disease.
U.S. and China swap experts
Agriculture Secretary Bob Bergland said Thursday the United
States and China will exchange agricultural specialists early next
year. Bergland told a news conference Wednesday he was
“encouraged by the prospects and potential for further growth” of the
expanding Sino-American trade in farm goods. The countries will
exchange seed technologists, animal health and insect control ex
perts. The U.S. also promised to promote contacts between U.S. and
China firms able to provide equipment and technology the Chinese
need to meet growing consumer demand and to increase their ex
ports, he said. Bergland said privately Tuesday night that China must
buy feed and feed supplements if it is to expand livestock production.
Bergland said he told China the U.S. would not enter into other
bilateral grain agreements.
WEATHER
Partly cloudy and warmer through Saturday. High Friday
near 80, low early Saturday mid-50’s.
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LETTERS POLICY
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
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Editor KimT)*
Managing Editor UzNe*
Assistant Managing Editor .Andy Willi*
Sports Editor DavidB#
City Editor Jamie Aifr
Campus Editor Steve
News Editors Debbie Pais 011
Beth Calhoun
Staff Writers Karen Rogers,
Patterson, Scott PendleW
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ST
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