Viewpoint fi«M-aliori The Battalion Texas A&M University Monday January 22, 1979 Carter placates no one with Abzug firing By DAVID S. BRODER WASHINGTON — The Carter admin istration will win no political awards for its skill in firing people. Especially not for fir ing women. Having muscled Midge Costanza out of the White House with a minimal show of chivalry, the friendly folks at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue belted Bella Abzug around the last week in so crude a fashion that they almost make that most obstreperous New Yorker an object of sympathy. In doing so, they raised a serious ques tion as to whether there might not b^ a double-standard for male and female foul-ups in this supposedly “equal rights ’ administration, and renewed the old ques tion as to whether or not they understand the nature of interest-group politics todav. TO TAKE THE LATTER POINT first, the thing that strikes you about both Ms. Costanza, who was removed from her po sition as assistant to the president for pub lic liaison last year, and Ms. Abzug, who was fired as co-chairman of his advisory committee for women last week, is that there was no obvious reason for either of them being there in the first place. They were hired in an effort to placate, through government patronage, a force within the Democratic party which Carter finds, franklv, threatening. THE ACTIVIST WOMEN in the party have laid on him, as they do on other politicians, a series of policy demands which he is unable to meet to their satis faction. In an effort to buy time and perhaps tolerance, he has instead offered the women several symbolic appoint ments. Costanza, a feisty former deputy mayor of Rochester, N.Y., who had the wit to join up early with the Peanut Brigade, was an nounced with fanfare before Inauguration Day as one of the president’s senior staff aides. It was a myth from the beginning. She was given a series of secondary public relations assignments and hand-holding missions with groups of White House visitors no one else really wanted to see. As a woman of spirit, she rebelled, and when her rebellion included public op position to the President’s stand against federal funding of abortions, she was squeezed out of her job. The White House was apparently sur prised that on that issue, at least. Costanza was a feminist first and a loyalist second. But it certainly should have known what it was getting when it accepted Abzug, for she has made no secret of her priorities. Her liberal Democratic and feminist phi losophy was expressed clearly before the press release attacking Carter’s domestic budget cuts, which prompted her re moval. THE LESSON of this experience is one the White House should not still be learn ing. In a system overly porous to interest- group influence, it is a mistake to placate interest groups with symbolic presidential appointments. But Carter has done that, not only with women’s groups, but with ethnic, religious and other groups as well, and each time he does so, he invites more trouble. The other point concerns the way the firings were handled. Costanza was re moved in a protracted, embarrassing fash ion, being gradually stripped of her duties, her office and her staff, to the accompani ment of a series of humiliating press leaks about her discomfiture at her reduced status, until she finally got fed up and left. A VISITOR who happened to be backstairs at the White House last Friday, a few hours before Abzug s removal, could not help but notice the lip-smacking glee with which presidential aides were savor ing her impending execution. They chuck led at the fact she was unaware of her fate No adjustment of your TV set is necessary By DICK WEST WASHINGTON — Once again television has been criticized for ex cessive jiggling. This time the com plaint comes from, of all people, the Civil Rights Commission. Part of a new survey commis sioned by the commission deplores, the trend toward programs that fea ture women with vibrant bosoms. The report implies that this is a form of sexism. Presumably, it discrimi nates against the static bust. Now you and I know that the net works would not deliberately risk of fending civil rights groups. So the explanation must be that all that jiggling is caused by technical diffi culties beyond their control. If some device were available that would suppress or reduce the vibrations, I’m sure television execu tives would jump at it. In which re gard, I’ve got good news. The other day, on another mis sion, I paid a visit to The Future Is Yesterday Foundation, a privately endowed “think tank” and research center. As we were passing throug the main laboratory, Sam Harken- back, the executive director, showed me some of the projects that were coming into fruition. One strange-looking contraption consisted of a complicated arrange ment of adjustible straps, elasticized panels and twin receptacles aug mented with some sort of ballasting material. “This is our patented television bosom stabilizer, ’ Harkenback said proudly. “Working under a grant from the industry, we have suc ceeded in creating a device that can eliminate up to 93.7 percent of the jiggling on tv.” “However does it work?” I asked wonderingly. “We don’t have a name for it yet, but it is based on the so-called ‘arch principle’ used in bridge construc tion. ” He picked up an encyclopedia and read the following treatise on bridges: “If the arch is too long the outward thrust will push the sides out and the top will cave in. If the arch is too light at the top, or too heavy at the sides, the sideward thrust of the arch will push the top up and the sides will cave in. “Those were the types of problems we had to overcome with our anti jiggle device,” Harkenback said. Again reading from the encyclopedia: “The force that tends to crush the ends of a brace in toward the center is called compression. The force that tends to pull apart or stretch a brace is called tension.” I said, “I have observed a great deal of thrust, compression and ten sion on television shows. I’m sure the networks will be glad to get those jiggle critics off their necks.” Harkenback nodded happily. “Yes, and if our bosom stabilizer also advances the cause of civil rights, it will have served a double purpose.” Slouch by Jim Earle “I’M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS AFTE T> St—* - ONC T,T ? lt? AK COULD YOU DIRECT ME iO THE ACADEiVli^ r»oaj_.1>HNA.r yall fee], Bello and vied in imagining her reaction. To assure that the firing received maximum publicity, others in the White House were calling reporters to suggest that they come by the building for what they were assured would be a really rip- snorting story. In terms of sheer flackery, it was the hardest White House sell since the recognition of China. Now, anyone who had dealt with Abzug —- including her allies in the women s movement — knows that she employs her personality as an abrasive weapon to achieve her objectives, and they know how aggravating she can be. But those who invited the world to share their joy in evening the score with Abzug were the same people who begged for dignity and sympathy and understand ing for all concerned when Carter had to separate himself from Lance and Peter Bourne. Lance and Bourne were loyalists, of course, as well as being male. But their loyalty did not keep them from damaging the reputation of the Carter administraiton more deeply and indelibly than did any of Costanza’s and Abzug s acts of “disloy alty. The public humiliation of the two women, when contrasted with the kid- gloves treatment of the two men, is bound to leave a bad taste in many mouths. (c) 1979. The Washington Post Coni- pany MSC grass tradition should be preserved By J. WAYNE MORRISON Here it is, another letter to the editor concerning the Memorial Student Center grass. I am co-author of the student senate bill in which the University administration is asked to officially recognize the LONG STANDING STUDENT TRADITION — of considering the MSC grass to be a memorial to all Aggies who have given their lives in defense of our country. In the bill we ask the administration to do this by officially dedicating the grass as a memorial and by publishing this fact in all university publications dealing with student life. I sincerely believe that this tradition was begun and has basically endured among the student body ever since the MSC was dedi cated in 1954. I have personally talked with a number of former students ranging back to the class of 1954 and they have all stated either that they distinctly recall the recog nition of this tradition to be prevalent among the student body during their at tendance here or that they have always per sonally believed in the tradition. Yet, because of the rapid growth in enrollment, the grass not being officially dedicated, and the tradition not being in cluded in any university publications (be cause the administration does not recog nize it) there are some students who are Letters to the Editor unaware of its existence. The reason conflicts occur is because un informed people (mainly students) walk across the grass and are rudely informed by others of the tradition. In writing the se nate bill, J.C. Colton, student body vice- president for academic affairs, and I have attempted not only to gain University rec ognition for this deserving tradition but Header s Forum also to help end these unfortunate conflicts by asking the administration to erect on the lawn at least one appropriately worded sign explaining the tradition (similar in theory to the signs placed within the MSC entrances asking all men to remove their hats upon entering the building) and to plant a small hedge around the perimeter of the grounds to discouraged people from continuously walking across them. The intention of our bill is not to legislate this tradition but to give it the recogniton it so readily deserves. Yes, Kim, Texas A&M students do see some of their school’s time-honored cus toms crumbling and I for one am going to fight to hang on to this one. J. Wayne Morrison is a senior and vice- president for finance in student govern ment. the dead Respect for Editor: To whom it may concern in Hart Hall: For whatever reason you saw fit not to at tend Silver Taps this past rainy Thursday night, could you x^lease have enough cour tesy to hold down the laughter the next time we are unfortunate enough to have the ceremony? —P.K. Imbrie, ’79 Bill Fisher, ’79 Joe Udemi, ’79 Editor’s note: This letter was accom panied by 97 other signatures. Right, wrong ways Editor: I can no longer sit and suffer in silence. After coming to a screeching halt for the second time tonight, I must make a stand. Who do these pedestrians around this campus think they are — gods? Do they honestly believe they can stop moving cars with their minds? I firmly believe in the supreme right- of-way of the pedestrian, being one my self. But the blind carelessness, the almost nonchalant recklessness, the blatant disre gard, the wanton inconsiderateness ... Am I reaching some of you out there? ... is beyond lawful justification. The prevalent feeling among most pedestrians is that the responsibility for the safety of all pedestrians lies in the hands of the motorists. After careful consideration of all facets of the pedestrian-motorist relationship, I cannot help but feel that the pedestrian must surely have as deep a personal inter est in any incident that may occur as the driver of a moving vehicle. I do not ask for impossible measures. To have to wait as groups of students pass by at an intersection is merely frustrating (and I have even been told it builds character). But to have to slam on the brakes to barely miss the mindless incon- siderates who step out in front of moving cars is unnerving. All I ask is that people crossing any of the streets on campus will show the pres ence of mind to simply look carefully be fore they step out. If pedestrians continue to wield their right-of-way as a shield to protect themselves from all harm, some one is going to get hurt. —Sue Emanuel, ’81 Wanted: more fans Editor: I am writing this letter on behalf of all those who not only enjoy watching a good game of basketball, but in particular enjoy watching Aggies play the game. There is on our campus a team know as the Aggie Ladies and their brand of basket ball is just as exciting to watch as their counterparts (i.e. the men’s team). It is however, discouraging for these 13 young women and their coach to play be fore less than 200 fans. It is not only dis couraging for the fans in attendance, but the too few media who cover the games as well. Coach Bender and her Aggie Ladies work long hours practicing each day for upcoming games, and equally deserve the support that other A&M teams have re ceived from Aggies. The A&M women have three home games leff this season., (Jan. 31,—UH; Feb. 12, —UT; Feb. 15,—UT at Ar lington), and nothing would please them more than to have 7,500 fans cheering them on to victory. —Jon Copeland, ’79 P.S. Gig’em Aggie Ladies. Top of the NEwfcic STATE >/ i Study: Helmets off, deaths up ustInT — ions Coinn Deaths and injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents have ir rings on its creased dramatically in Texas since repeal of the rider helmet law,! next two } statewide study by Texas A&M University safety engineers hascou- kIbut aln eluded. One of every four motorcycle accident fatalities can be pre ate are aim vented simply by requiring drivers and passengers to wear helmets, heir spend says the report, which was issued jointly Friday by Texas A&M andthhe Senate Texas Office of Traffic Safety in Austin. It also states an unhelmetedady has be rider is 2.5 times more likely to die and 2.67 times more likelytaising the H sustain a head injury that is incapacitating or fatal. oared bv tl las the 1 New abortion fund to award ft utjspeaker isBwill trin A fund established to help poor women obtain legal abortionsw| from that award its first grants today, more than two years after the fundilget heari namesake died from an illegal abortion in McAllen. The death ofRosif'ss-the-boai Jimenez, 27, in October 1977 gained national attention because itwas hi spendi believed to be the first reported after the federal government cuto! a freeze < Medicaid funds for abortions. Jimenez, who was living on welfare’ state emp working part time, attending college and raising a 5-year-old daughte: lay ton’s pr alone, went to a midwife for an illegal abortion when she couldnotr with Gov afford the fee charged at a legal clinic, said fund chairman Fra: proposed * Kissling. She died of an infection believed caused by the midwife sust nun iber of of unsterilized equipment. On Monday the Rosie Jimenez Fundwiji.billion tax award $1,000 to various Texas abortion clinics to provide free abortk u t Lt. Go for indigent women. Hiressed < get is air iii', i idingplan, Dallas police, firemen voted ramfh°^ Ardi - layton rei Dallas voters approved a 15 percent pay increase for police an(i|J ’ ^ firefighters Saturday by an almost 8,000-vote margin, election official:? 1 j USl , ^ said. More than three times the expected numlrer of voters tumedoux 1 s ‘ Kl ‘ for the referendum vote, with 33,893 voting for a city ordinance u PPiMffL .iV,,* , salaries 15 percent and 25,854 voting no. Voters also were askedtoF ; 1>U express their sentiments on a second proposition in a “straw vote” on a I City Council-sponsored 7.5 percent gross pay package for the city':L 3,500 public safety officers. The vote was 29,754 for and 19,468 again:: Q | ) U Election officials Saturday night said the city ordinance now woul(if|-*- become law. NATION I™ ATICAN i • • set his Marvin to testify in ‘soap opera^ r r ki*) j Pope Actor Lee Marvin, who said the whole case would be “like asoajK^ 1 "^^^ opera, takes the stand Tuesday to tell why he is saying “no” toh:?; former live-in girlfriend who wants $1 million for the six years the^ j lived together. Marvin, 54, has sat silently in court during a weekol? ^^ () testimony from Michele Triola Marvin, 46, who lived with Academy Award winner from 1964 to 1970. In four days of testimonyiiEj ^ |^. j ( the Superior Court non-jury trial, Miss Marvin, who took the actonK c j* ea f ea name just before they separated, has tearfully told of two abortions anc^ t j ic or a miscarriage, an alleged engagement with a mink coat in lieu ofarinjC^] p r()t , r and a hysterical breakup at a Malibu beach home. Marvin has limitec|y] lV so m his out of courtroom comments. He said the case had not affected hiijB' aS k- e i career but changed his lifestyle. “It forced me to wear suits,” he said hl] e nee 1 . More ice, snow for Midwest et| hate, ai ase the hu » a speed list regi Mountains of snow that clogged the Midwest since the Blizzardoi| 0 the pre 79 struck a week ago glistened under a fresh layer of ice Saturday an( le) the po forecasters predicted new snow for the nation’s blizzalrd-battere