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.
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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
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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