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Viewpoint The Battalion Wednesday Texas A&M University December 13, 1978 The House fine tunes its rules By ROBERT SHEPARD United Press International WASHINGTON — The election of House leaders and debates over chairman ships for wayward members got most of the attention during the recent Democratic caucus, but time also was spent fine tuning the rules under which the House will oper ate when the new Congress convenes in January. Rule changes were a big topic for the majority Democrats just before the last Congress opened for business and even more so when the reform-minded class of 1974 came to town and demanded changes in tin* way things had been done for dec ades. This year, however, the push for rule changes has eased the part because much of the needed reform has been accomplished. A demonstration of the changing mood was seen in the Democrats refusal to deny chairmanships to members who have been reprimanded by the House or have been indicted — but not convicted — on crimi nal charges. In a few cases the representatives felt some of the previous reforms went too far and turned out to be unworkable. As one senior member commented, the reformers of two and four years ago felt “they were putting the old codgers in their place but the changes did not always turn out to be improvements. Another veteran. Rep. Phillip Burton, D-Calif., who aided the 1974 reform movement was not particularly distressed about the results of the latest caucus. "In the main, I was pleased with the totality of the results," Burton said. “I feared significant regression and that did not take place. The new group demon strated a significant level of political sophis tication. At least one member of the 1974 reform class was unhappy. “The mood of the membership is disappointing to me,” said Rep. Andrew Maguire D-N.J. “The sec recy — some of those we looked to for leadership in the past boxed us out on that.” The fact that all ethics reforms but one mild one failed “was a serious blow to the reform movement,” he said. Burton said some limits on committee responsibilities were good. The last few sessions of Congress saw the proliferation of subcommittees, a change that was urged in order to let more mem bers be chairmen and also to ensure a piece of the action for freshmen and junior mem bers. It turned out, however, that the mem bers were being assigned to too many sub committees — one to as many as 13 — and there was no way they could attend all the meetings. This year the Democratic caucus adopted a rule to limit service to just five subcommittees. One of the amendments which was turned down would have barred chairmen of full committtees from serving as chair man of subcommittees. That plan rankled even such liberals as Rep. Morris Udall D-Ariz. a committee chairman who recog nized that the major life-and-death deci sions on bills are usually made in subcom mittees. Another feature of this year’s fine tuning — at least in the Democrats’ view — was the move to take away some of the parlia mentary weapons available to the minority Republicans. Saying the Republicans had been “dilat ory and misused the privilege in order to delay proceedings when they did not like the way things were going the Democrats decided to limit the number of roll call votes on several minor matters such as ap proval of the previous day’s journal. Getting hip to the great unknown By DICK WEST WASHINGTON — A thought for today: If Albert Einstein were still alive he would be nearly 100 years old. The centennial of the great scientist’s birth won’t be legally observed until next March 14. Humor But the buildup already has started. Ad vance functions include a series of Smith sonian Institution lectures under the gen eral heading of "Einstein’s Century. Probably the weightiest topic up for dis cussion at the Smithsonian is the question “Is the Universe Comprehensible?” The gut reaction of most laymen would be “no. The average layman has enough trouble comprehending Fort Lauderdale. Every time man thinks he has the nature of the universe about figured out someone comes along and throws a monkey wrench into the machinery. First Copernicus came along and messed up man's comprehension of the universe as a closed system with himself a,t the center. Then right when man was getting ad- justed,to the idea of the universe as a con stant entity without beginning or end along came Einstein with the theory that the whole thing was flying apart. It was at this point that the average layman began to say “the heck with it” and turn his attention to other things such as recipes for candied fruits. 1 would like to see one of the Smithso nian lecturers tackle the subject "Beyond Einstein: What’s Next in the Universe Comprehensive Field?” I mean why wear out the old bean trying to comprehend an expanding universe if it, too, shall pass? My guess is that post-Einstein theoreti cians will embrace the premise that the universe is expanding inwardly as well as outwardly. Consider what has happened in man’s effort to identify the smallest compo nent of matter. Initially man believed the smallest thing existing in nature was the peanut. Then someone discovered molecules. Then atoms. Once the atom was split man found a whole passel of sub-nuclear particles: neut rinos, pions, nuons and the like. And somewhere down there lurks the elusive quark. At the moment the quark is still in the hypothetical stage. But eventually they will catch one and crack it open and find even smaller elements. What this suggests to a layman is that the universe “down there” is receding into nothingness as rapidly as the universe “out thfert*/* In other words, infinity works both wivy Lacking Einstein’s mathematical genius, 1 am unable to reduce this hypothesis to an algebraic formula. But if on the occasion of Einstein’s 100th birthday the Smithsonian presents a series of lectures postulating that outer space and inner space actually are the same thing, remember you saw it here first. Letters to the Editor Christian beliefs don’t exclude evolution Editor: I wish to respond to comments made by Dr. Bert Thompson in the article entitled “Creation versus evolution” (Battalion, Dec. 8). Why must the two be mutually exclusive? I was raised a Christian and con sider myself one by personal choice. I am also a geology graduate student who plans a career in paleontology (the study of fossils) and I see no conflict between creation and evolution. I feel that Thompson by his comment — “a scientist once said that evolution is atheism and I couldn’t agree more. It is impossible to find God in evolution — arbitrarily judges and condemns myself and others who believe in both and I resent it. I really don’t see what possible differ ence it could make to an infinite God whether he created the world in seven 24- hour days, seven years, or seven billion years by our time scale. Yes, evolutionists propose that organic life evolved from non living matter but that need not conflict with God’s creation of man and woman. Our ability to reason, dream, speculate, have faith and even to question, our “soul” if you wish, is what sets us apart from the rest of the biological kingdom. It is that which is “in the image of God,” it just hap pens to be housed in a physical body that is a product of organic evolution. —Janet Nufer, ’77, ’79 Where's patriotism? Editor: Since writing a rather derogatory letter to the editor in early November, I have caught a great deal of static from both stu dents and professors alike. In that letter I unsavorably lumped Arabs and Iranians to gether into one group as one people. I stand corrected. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize for my error. I should have known that Iranians don't suppport "such happy-go-lucky fraternities like the PLO.” NO. They like to burn down U.S. embas sies instead! How long are Americans expected to take insults like this? I happen to be 100 percent patriotic. I own a copy of Tex Rit ter’s record "The Americans.” I am a his tory student and I even saw some positive factors coming out of the Vietnam war! Surely there must be more of these Ameri cans around here. Too bad they apparently won’t be found in the State Department. If I sound like a hot-head. I’m sorry. Perhaps I should, as should those who think as I do, write to the government and ask them to protect our countrymen and our country’s overseas interests. With the obvious disinterest in their own heritage these days, American patriotism seems to be a lost art. But having seen a V.A. hospital, Ar lington Cemetery, Saratoga, Valley Forge and "Old Ironsides,” I can’t help feeling upset. So please, anyone who reads this letter, contact your representatives in gov ernment and we, as one voice, could tell them,” I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” _ Ron Bucchi 81 Tasteless quadding Editor: I would like to question a particular prac tice some male students use in quadding. This past Monday night, Dec. 11, I saw a group of male students holding their quad victim with legs stretched apart, rubbing his crotch against a tree in front of Moses Hall, and then again in the Keathley-Moses quad. Some of my male friends assure me that this is just a display, not an actual event. Whether it is merely a vulgar display of traditional “quadding fun,” or an action which incurs inhumane treatment, it still turns the convention of quadding into a warped sort of sadistic humor. It is surprising to find that so-called ma ture and well-educated males show such a lack of taste in what they consider fun and what they think others enjoy seeing. —Ellen Eidelbach, ’81 Spirit, an Aggie duty Editor: Regarding Jim Rogers’ article in “Reader’s Forum” on Dec. 11: Mr. Rogers stated that Mike Mosley “has a right to be here.” Of course he has the right to be here; no one is disputing that fact. But Mosley also has the respon sibilities of being an Aggie, and one of those responsibilities is that of keeping the Aggie spirit alive. I think Mike Mosley has an added re sponsibility in that he is "on show.” This may appear to be unfair, but I feel Mosley made a choice to be “on show” when he accepted a position on the football team. I will grant you, Mr. Rogers, that some of the responses to Mike Mosley’s actions were less than tactful. But while you see them as negative spirit, I perceive them as positive spirit. The Aggie spirit is founded in unity and I believe that the majority of the letters concerning Mosley are evidence of this unity. I am sorry that you “don’t have the heart to be an Aggie,” Mr. Rogers, because you are missing out on the experience of a lifetime. —Molly Mayo, ’82 More dorm ideas Editor: After reading Lynne Andrus’ letter in Tuesday’s Battalion, I must say that I have changed my mind. I had always been against programmed dorm fees, since I viewed them as an unjustified limitation of my personal freedom. But no more! Lyn ne’s letter explained all the great advan tages of the fee, so now I’m all in favor of it. It’s such a good idea, in fact, that I’d like to see the fee increased to about $10,000 a year. This is less than it would cost to join an exclusive country club or a religious cult, and allow the dorms to have more and better activities. An enterprising dorm council with this much money could do much better than parties with cheap beer at the Q-huts. Some possibilities include: — Reassembling the Beatles — Buying the dorm from the University —- Spring vacation in the Riviera for the entire dorm and its dates We don’t have to stop here, either! Since our dorms are governed democratically, we could vote to legalize heroin, usurp parking privileges in the staff lots, have good food in Sbisa, etc. Only a two-percenter T-sip would be against such wonderful progressive ideas. I hope that other on-campus students will work with me toward these goals. After all, college is a preparation for life. People are going to get ripped in life, so they might as well be prepared for it. —Thomas L. George, Jr., ’79 Top of the News CAMPUS KAMU auction volunteers sought Volunteers to work in promotion, production, solicitation and busi ness and financial positions are still needed for the first KAMU auction, planned for April 1-3, 1979. The purpose of the auction will be to sell items or services that have been donated and apply the revenues from those sales to the operation of KAMU, Texas A&M University’s educa tional and public broadcasting station. KAMU must raise at least $29,500 by Aug. 31, 1979, in order for the FM portion of the station to remain on the air. To date, nearly $18,000 has been raised through individual donations, pledge weeks and a variety of benefit perform ances. Last week's (Dec. 3-9) Pledge Week yielded $1,421 for KAMU from 58 pledges and donations. Anyone interested in helping with the auction should contact Jean Herbert-Wiesenburg at the station, 845- 5611. Scholarship honors Teagues U.S. Rep. and Mrs. Olin E. Teague have been honored with the establishment of a President’s Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M University, the latest in a series of honors bestowed on Teague, class of ’32, by the University. Texas A&M President Jarvis E. Millersaidthe scholarship is the most prestigious offered by the University and will be presented to an outstanding entering freshman as the main source of financial support for his or her undergraduate education. Funds for establishment of the Olin and Freddie Teague President’s Endowed Scholarship came primarily from support intended for a Teague ap preciation dinner and science symposium Sept. 16, but both events were canceled. NATION Gulf collision injures one Coast Guard spokesman Bob Baeton said the 110-foot research vessel Lady Lee sustained a hole below the waterline Monday night in a collision with an unidentified 1.000-foot tanker about 85 miles south of Cameron, La. One of six crewmen, identified only as Bobby Den son, age and home town unknown, was injured and moved to a Cameron hospital. “We have no identity on the tanker,’ Baeton said. "It’s heading would put it in Corpus Christi or somewhere on the south Texas coast. Corpus is the only port that can handle a vessel that size.” Pops' Pop fair' after brain surgery It will be several days before doctors know how whether famed Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler will make a complete recovery from brain surgery to correct a difficulty in his mobility. The 83-year- old maestro was listed in “fair” condition Tuesday at Tufts New En gland Medical Center where he underwent a one-hour operation Monday night in his second admission to the hospital in two weeks. The first admission was for “exhaustion.” The mustachioed conductor has never considered retirement though periodic bouts with pneumonia and exhaustion have forced him to curtail his schedule in the last few years. Fiedler has canceled his traditional holiday appear ances and Assistant Pops Conductor Harry Ellis Dickson will replace him. Concorde jet lands in Denver The supersonic Concorde jetliner, despite some complaints by Denver city councilmen, landed at Stapleton International Airport Tuesday as part of a Braniff International Airlines promotion for Euro pean flights. Several councilmen said the demonstration flight violated a 1977 resolution opposing all supersonic flights to Stapleton, but Monday night the city council decided not to block the Concorde’s landing. Councilman Bill Roberts said the ad ministration of Mayor Bill McNichols approved the flight without consulting the council. A reso lution asking Braniff to cancel the demonstration flight was killed on a 6-5 vote. New Mexico intervenes in gas suit New Mexico Attorney General Toney Anaya Tuesday filed a motion to intervene in a suit by Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana against the recently passed federal Natural Gas Policy Act. In challenging the federal act Anaya argued that it deprived him of his responsibility “to protect and conserve the state’s natural resources” and interferes with the state’s right to regulate intrastate commerce. Anaya also alleged that the federal act will reduce the supply of gas in New Mexico and cause price increases to state consumers. The federal act seeks to control the price of intrastate as well as interstate gas. Anaya said the gas-producing states who have filed suit against the law contend only the states have the right to regulate intrastate prices. WORLD y ’he ii Main ians; kill I [leva vers it iork t ■oad t versit kese Is in -year heir lemht of tli is are prev heM i-andi I id of ideli itvS inn lllw, (esl, ipus pen cost rein i repr rves 1 plai le Si clios er. i> ials; iden fc lemu . Pr lem athoi istrai Iture dirt it St; IcCa iente ■ ding tv. I 10US High 'art i use Culp 6 c M- Arabs discuss oil price increase The eight-member Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries met Tuesday in the tiny Arab state of Abu Dhabi to discuss how much oil prices should be raised in preparation for the full-scale Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting that starts in Abu Dhabi Saturday, and that will formally decide the pricing issue. The Arab ministers also were expected to consider demands by Arab nations for a bigger share of the oil refining industry — now owned largely by non-Arab corporations. The Battalion LETTERS POLICY Letters to the alitor should not exceed 300 tvord.s and are subject to beinn cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the rifiht to edit such letters and dues not guarantee to imblish amj letter. Each letter must be sinned, 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 Buildinn, Collene Station, Texas 77H43. 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 full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77643. 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 KimTy ,0, Managing Editor LizN^ ! Assistant Managing Editor .Andy Willi* 111 Sports Editor David W*- City Editor Jamie Aitf*' Campus Editor Steve I s News Editors Debbie Pars 011 Beth Calhoun Staff Writers Karen Rogers, Patterson, Scott PendleW 1 Sean Petty, Michelle Scuddf' Diane Blake, Lee Roy Lesch^ Jr., Dillard Stone Cartoonist DougGrah* 1 Photographers . .■ Ed Cunniu 1 Lynn Blanco Focus section editor Gary Wei® 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 Renents. The Battalion is a non-profit’ A supporting enterprise operated by stii<h’ lll! as a university and community nrlCS/Ktr' Editorial policy is determined by the