JWTalion
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday
December 12, 1978
Swr^alion
Aggies act uncouth
Editor’s note: This editorial was origi
nally run on Sept. 23, 1938.
"The Aggies are positively uncouth.”
This was a remark overheard in a show at
Bryan after a particularly repulsive exhibi
tion had been made by students of A. &
M. The statement, condemning as it was,
is all too often true.
Social customs, usually, are dictated by
the behavior of groups high in social stand
ing by the actions of individuals in these
groups, and by popular opinion. Even the
groups in the lower social strata attempt to
imitate the actions of their more highly
educated and supposedly socially superior
countrymen.
Popular opinion, then, is a powerful fac
tor in determining social correctness and
in forming judgments of groups. By this
line of reasoning it is logical to assume that
college students enjoy a position not at
tained by the average citizen. That is, they
have the privilege of helping to form social
customs while conforming to those pre
viously set and accepted.
Aggies, because of their gregarious na
ture, sometimes do not conform to ac
cepted standards and by failing to do so
cannot measure as high on the social scale
as university students should.
A notable example of nonconformity in
Aggies is the rowdiness many of them dis
play in neighboring theaters. Undoubt
edly most of this is caused by freshmen
and some by well-meaning, but un
thoughtful, upperclassmen. But such be
havior is inexcusable even in those groups.
Level-headed upperclassmen could put an
end to rowdiness and unnecessary noise in
theaters by a simple explanation of the im
portance of proper behavior. If such an
explanation were not sufficient, then
perhaps more forceful means could by
employed.
Attitudes formed by visitors observing a
few Aggie rowdies detracts from the glory
of going to A. & M. and is highly detri
mental to the school and its former stu
dents.
We do not advocate stilted mannerisms
— they might tend to destroy self
expressiveness — but surely no Aggie
likes to be spoken of as being uncouth,
ill-mannered.
The point, then, is: Behave as you have
been taught and as you know is right!
Congress will sorely
miss Bill Steiger
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — It is cliche in the
political reporting business that every one
of us carries around in his head a list of
stories he would have given his eye teeth
to have written. Some are scoops on which
you were beaten. Some are exposes for
which you wish you could claim credit.
But most uncomfortably remembered
stories are those where you might have
said — but did not — that somebody is
doing a helluva job in public office.
Bill Steiger had done that kind of job
ever since he came to the House of Repre
sentatives in 1966 as a 28-year-old
freshman Republican from Oshkosh, Wis.
He died this week, after a heart attack, at
the wasteful age of 40. The sense of per
sonal loss I share with his other friends and
admirers is compounded by the regret that
this column was not written earlier.
Not for Bill Steiger’s sake, but for the
greater credibility it might have had with
the young people for whom he had a very
special concern. They are awfully cynical
about politics and politicians these days.
They don’t ask about the Bill Steigers of
this world — and for a good reason. We
haven’t told them nearly as much about
them. And we should have.
Bill Steiger was a kid of 13 when he
learned he had diabetes. He survived as
long as he did by administering two shots
of insulin a day. Despite the handicap, he
was unstinting in the energy he poured
into politics and public office. By the time
he was an undergraduate at the University
of Wisconsin, his friend and classmate,
John Bibby, recalls, "Bill had done so
much in campus politics and state and na
tional Young Republican politics, that our
professors discussed things with him as
they would with a political pro. ”
He graduated in June of 1960 and the
following November was elected to the
State Assembly. There, he became a lead
ing proponent of a state open-housing law
that was finally passed in his third term. It
was a strange issue for a man from a dis
trict which then included only 189 non
whites, but Steiger was never a parochial
politician.
In 1966, he ran against an incumbent
Democratic congressman who had op
posed federal open-housing laws and tried
to make that an issue against Steiger. The
voters were wiser than the opponent
thought, and gave Steiger the first of his
seven House victories.
During his House service. Republicans
were always in a minority. In that situa
tion, it is easy and tempting to vote against
every program that is not desired by the
dominant interests in your district.
Steiger did not do that. He took the far
harder course of searching out ways to
shape basic legislation and push national
policy in directions he thought it should
go. In doing so he became, as his Wiscon
sin Democratic colleage, Rep. David R.
Obey (a legislator of comparable quality),
said, “the Republican who was the most
effective bridge between the parties in
Congress.”
Working with Sen. Harrison A. (Pete)
Williams, Jr. (D-N.J.), he devised the
Editor’s note: This letter origi
nally was printed in The Battalion
on Oct. 18, 1948.
Editor, The Battalion:
Ever so often, when we throw
caution to the wind and eat at the
mess hall, we meet, with much dis
gust, the same situation which as
present the last time we ate there.
For simplicity well call it “M M,”
which means “Music Monotony.”
MM, as any fool knows, is nothing
new to the mess halls. In fact there
is some dispute as to whether MM is
or is not the oldest tradition on the
campus. Actually, it seems like a
form of hazing which one must
endure while slobbering over his
tasty tidbits.
The other day we were seated in
Sbisa, munching on our rice packed
pepper and Johnson grass and suet.
when the enchanting voice of Vau
ghn “Matinee-tee-for-two I was
there where were you” Munroe
came dripping over our table. Not
only once a day for the last year have
we heard this record, but some
times the incredible frequency of
once a meal. Three other “Bossy”
Munroe records followed in succes-
It’s enough to turn a normal man’s
stomach to a pH of 8.2. It’s not be
cause of the fact that we detest
Munroe, but to have the same per
son vibrating his tonsils at you,
every meal, day after day, is enough
to give one stomach ulcers.
Why is it that the mess halls can’t
get some new records? This seems
to be the mootest of all moot ques
tions. —J.B. Doak, ’49
G. Hays
C. Copenhaver, ’51
compromise that permitted passage of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act
(OSHA) in 1970. Working with Sen. Spark
Matsunaga (D-Hawaii), he succeeded in
1971 in legislating the end of the draft and
the start of the volunteer Army. Working
with then-Sen. Walter F. Mondale (D-
Minn.), he was instrumental in gaining
passage of the program providing legal
services to the poor.
Steiger was a reformer who understood
the importance of knowing the rules. He
was an “institutional man,” devoted to
both the House and to the Republican
Party. His respect for those institutions
made him willing to work for long hours
against great odds to improve their
functioning.
In the early 1970s, he took on the thank
less assignment of chairing the party rules
committee mandated to open the doors of
the GOP to greater participation by
minorities, women and youths — an effort
which only now is beginning to .bear fruit.
In the mid-1970s-he foughtr-tmavailingly,
for an overhaul of the House’s antiquated
committee structure.
This year, after eight years of prodding
and pushing, he finally got the Congress to
provide a more honest account of its own
proceedings, by identifying in Congres
sional Record those prepared speeches
which were not actually delivered by the
members.
As his reputation inside Congress grew,
so did the opportunities to cash in by ac
cepting lucrative outside job offers.
Another friend, Rep. Barber M. Conable,
Jr. (R-N.Y.), recalls that Steiger turned
down one industrial foundation post that
would have doubled his congressional sal
ary and provided financial security for his
wife and young son.
Instead, he stayed at his work. In lead
ing the successful fight this year for reduc
tion in capital-gains taxes, over the opposi
tion of President Carter and the Demo
cratic congressional leadership, he won
acclaim from financial circles that had
managed to overlook his earlier construc
tive work in the social policy area.
“Stupendous Steiger,” the Wall Street
Journal called him, and he accepted the
joshing of his conservative colleagues
about his new fame with the same smiling
equanimity with which he had endured
their earlier jibes about being the author
of the business-hated OSHA legislation.
Methodically, as always, Steiger used his
new role as a sought-after speaker on the
national GOP fund-raising circuit as a way
to mobilize support for his next major goal:
the nomination and election of his friend
George Bush to the presidency.
Steiger was a man of exceptional talent,
integrity and drive; one who, in the words
of his grieving Democratic friend, David
Obey, “in the 20 years since we started
debating on the steps of the Wisconsin
Student Union, I never knew to take a„
cheap shot.”
But there are more than a few Bill Stei
gers in politics. It would honor his mem
ory if we occasionally wrote about them —
before they die.
(c) 1978, The Washington Post
Letters to the Editor
Icy dribblers in G. Rollie
Editor:
This weekend I happened to be in the
vicinity of G. Rollie and being an avid fol
lower of both basketball teams, I thought
that I would watch a few minutes of the
men’s yarsity practice, as well a escape the
cold weather for a while.
I’m sure that any Aggie who had been to
one of this year’s basketball games will
admit that we have two championship
calibre teams, as the men hold a 5-1 record
and the women boast a 9-2 record. I won
der, though, how they can be expected to
play their best when they have to practice
inside a cold gymnasium. It was hard to
tell if I had left the cold weather outside or
not. It was evident by the play of the team
that they also were not comfortable and
I’m sure it was not by Coach Metcalf’s
choosing that his players had to practice
under such conditions.
I realize that basketball has never been
as popular with the students of TAM U as
football, but it seems that at least the Ath
letic Dept, would show a bit more concern
for their athletes. It is neither in the best
interest of the player’s health or his ability
to play in a cold gym. Maybe when Coach
Metcalf goes recruiting in the future he
cannot boast of a new 16,000 arena, but he
can at least tell the recruit that G. Rollie is
heated.
—Don Jeffers, ’80
residents then vote again for pro
grammed or non-programmed status
which is decided by a 66 percent major-
ity.
Each student is expected to live up
to his responsibilities as they are de
cided democratically or to move to a
non-programmed hall or off-campus.
With the long waiting lines for pro
grammed halls, you should have no
trouble finding someone to trade with
you. —Lynne Andrus, 79
President
Residence Hall Association
Bad howl hid
More than a dorm
Editor:
I don’t know how many tickets A&M
will receive for the Hall of Fame Bowl
Game, but I think you guys should send
them all back! After your lackluster per
formance against U.T., you don’t deserve
a bowl game. It’s quite obvious that even a
new coach, a new offensive formation, and
even new uniforms could not stop the
Longhorns.
It is also obvious that this so called bowl
game, that you will attempt to play in, is
not a major bowl such as the Cotton Bowl
where the University of Houston is going.
So why don’t you just stay home and not
be embarrassed one more time. Give it up
A&M! Send those tickets back now!
—Jay Holiowell
The University of Houston
Mess hall music monotony
Editor:
In response to Friday’s letter to the
editor, I feel more information is
needed concerning programmed resi
dence halls.
On-campus students at Texas A&M
University live in recognized student
organizations defined as residence
halls. These halls differ from the dor
mitories of other universities by being
more than a place to sleep; they serve
as a center for students’ educational,
social, and recreational growth. A uni
versity is responsible for turning out
more than encyclopedias to deal with
real-life situations, and the residence
hall is one aspect of college life that at
tempts to offer the opportunity for re
sponsibility, self-government, and
cooperation among residents in a dem
ocratic society.
Hall council members, as elected
representatives of their peers, plan
more than parties and programs. They
are responsible for informing residents
of university policies and functions, in
itiating quiz files and hall im
provements, and representing on-
campus students’ needs to the univer
sity. They also try to foster a friendly
living environment among residents.
In order to provide these benefits, a
66 percent majority of residents may
vote to program their hall and establish
an activity fee. The reason for requiring
the fee is economically simple: A col
lective number of people pooling their
$5 or $7.50 per semester will, in the
long run, provide more activities indi
vidually. And just as each organization
must require their members to pay the
same dues to belong, the halls cannot
justify allowing a few to be exempted.
The benefits, for the most part, cannot
be limited to only the people who be-
long.
Those students who feel that their
hall is not meeting their needs should
speak up as the women did in Friday’s
Battalion. However, the best opportu
nity for changing your hall is to get in
volved in its decisions or at least to
voice your ideas in your council.
If you still cannot trust your repre
sentatives and do not choose to run for
office yourself, you may petition for
another vote which is generally held
only when someone complains. The
’Twas the night
before finals
Twas the night before finals and
all thru the dorm, everyone was
studying, even Laurie. All the cal
culators were hung by their adap
tors with care, in hopes that a
charge soon would be there.
The students were seated, all
snug at their desks, studying heart
ily for their big major tests.
You with your Physics, I with my
Quantitative Analysis, we settled
our brains for a long hard night.
When out in the hall there arose
such a clatter, I sprang from my
desk to see what was the matter. I
told the noise-makers out in the
hall, “Shhhh!!! Some people are try
ing to study, you-all!”
Back to my desk and my books I
then went, full of determination and
good intent. But what to my wan
dering eyes should appear, but my
pillow, blanket, and bed, so invit
ing, so near.
And the little bag monster, so
sneaky and quick, I knew in a mo
ment, from studying I’d be sick.
And more rapid than eagles, his
temptations did come, as he
shouted “Forget integrals, formulas,
and do something fun!
And on to my bed my body soon
flew, with my books, calculator, and
adaptor too! (For osmosis’ sake.)
The alarm went off and I arose
with a bound, and though wide
awake, I was still sleeping sound. I
spoke not a word, but went straight
to my work, to finish my term paper
to turn into the jerk.
I glanced at my watch and feeling
very dumb, I ran out the door say
ing “1.5, here I come!”
And though you may think this is
only a rhyme, it will all come true if
I don’t quit wasting time.
Original lyrics by Clement Clark
Moore
Finals week revision 1978:
Marie Courand, ’81
Janice Ellett, ’81
Venita McCellon, ’82
Top of the
STATE
Estranged LBJ brother dies
Sam Houston Johnson, younger brother of the late Presid
don B. Johnson, died Monday in Austin of lung cancer u ent ^ n '
The little known Johnson brother lived at the White Ho e '\ as ^
most of Johnson’s presidency. He liked to describe himself* 6 dUring
“closet adviser” to the chief executive, but insiders said the^^vf^
kept his younger brother around to keep an eye on him San^H
ton’s fondness for drink caused frequent clashes with h U
brother. Crippled after he broke his leg and developed osf P !! | der
in 1957, Sam Houston retired on a federal disability pension
inactive for most of the later 25 years of his life. Johnson and d! T*
president became estranged after Sam Houston published a Mi
worded book, “My Brother Lyndon,” in 1969. He declared bt
ruptcy in 1973. Twice married and divorced, he had two child ^
NATION
Jonestown victims reach Frisco
Price hike not motive,, Shell says
The Shell Oil Co. denied Monday it is holding back gasoline
supplies to increase prices and told Congress the rationing plan im
posed two weeks ago on its dealers should provide adequate supplies
this month. Shell Vice President J.H. DeNike, backed by testimony
from Deputy Energy Secretary John O’Leary', blamed the shortage
on a combination of good autumn driving weather, “outdated” federal
price regulations and an unexpected demand for higher octane un
leaded gasoline. O'Leary also blamed the Environmental Protection
Agency clean air rules for keeping supplies of unleaded gasoline
down. DeNike said there should be enough gasoline in December to
“keep customer inconvenience to a miniumum.” He foresaw no
linueups at gas stations in the immediate future, but said there may
be other individual company shortages like Shell’s and that drivers
need to conserve gasoline.
WORLD
Violent protests abound in Iran
An estimated two million demonstrators Monday marched through
Tehran, the capital of Iran, to the beat of tom-toms, shaking their fists
and screaming “Death to the shah" and “Yankee go home, and
millions more poured onto the streets of a dozen towns across the
nation pulling down statues of the shah and setting fires. Five demon
strators were killed when hundreds of protestors stormed the SAVAK
secret police headquarters in Isfahan; fire was set to the downtown
Hyatt Hotel Sunday night in Mashad; a policeman shot and killed his
commanding officer in the southern town of Dezful Monday after he
had been ordered to fire on unruly demonstrators. Marchen in
Tehran punctuated their chants with clashes of cymbals and the beat
of 1,000 tom-toms. The cymbals and drums are traditionally part of
the Ashura religious celebration and are used to beat time for faithful
Moslems whipping themselves with chains. This year religious lead
ers ordered the self-flagellation ceremonies to give way to political
protest.
John Paul wants Holy Land visit
Pope John Paul II, ready to travel to Mexico next month to open
the Third Latin American Bishops Conference at Puebla, also hopes
to retrace Paul VTs steps to the Holy Land in 1979. The Polish pope
said Sunday his greatest wish was to visit the Holy Land and climb
the Heights of Mount Sinai.” The only pontiff who has traveled to the
Holy Land was Paul VI in 1964. Although John Paul said he could not
pursue his wish for the moment, Vatican observers speculated his
emotional 20-minute speech during the traditional noon papal bless
ing was meant to set in motion a papal visit to the Holy Land some
time in 1979. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat invited John Paul to
visit Mount Sinai once it was back in Egypt’s hand, but the pope
never specifically commented on Sadat’s October message.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny with a high of 50 and a low tonight of 30.
Winds will be variable at 5-10 mph with no chance of
precipitation. Outlook for the rest of the week will be
cooler on Wednesday with a cold front moving in from
the north, fair and cold, warmer on Friday.
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.
member
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
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With no family or clergy members present, the first three bodies f
victims of the Jonestown ritual murder-suicide arrived home Su H°
at San Francisco International Airport. Two of the bodies wereiden
tified as the remains of Ronald James and James Oliver Shak-
Michele. The third body, which arrived later, was not identified
Airline officials said relatives of the two men would play the freight
expenses of about $270 for each coffin. An airline spokesman saidit
was not known when more bodies would arrive. The bodies were I
among the first group of nine released Saturday from Dover Air Force
Base. The body of cult leader Jim Jones has not yet been released A
federal grand jury probe into the Jonestown deaths focusing on the
assassination of Rep. LeoJ. Ryan, D-Calif., resumes in San Franrism
Wednesday.
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Editor
Managing Editor • •
Assistant Managing Editor
Sports Editor
City Editor
Campus Editor
News Editors Debb,e
Beth Calhoun ^
Staff Writers K «ren 8 J, etol
Patterson, Scott Fen ,
Sean Petty, Mich ® Jes#
Diane Blake,
Jr., Dillard Stone^
Cartoonist Cun® 1
Photographers
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Focus section editor '
t-profi 1
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are Regents. The Battalion is a >>< ^
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