Viewpoint
The Battalion Wednesday
Texas A&M University January 24, 1979
‘Smilin’ Jack’ will be sorely missed
We called him “Smilin’ Jack.”
That does not sound like the most respectful of nicknames for the
chancellor of a university system. But it is.
Dr. Jack Kenny Williams, it seems, has always been smiling. The re
laxed openness of that smile pervaded his way of running a university
system — and that system is the better for it.
We have to speak in the past tense, because “Smilin’ Jack” resigned
Tuesday as chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
He is keeping his reasons to himself, at least for now. Rest assured it
was a decision made neither easily nor in haste.
But it is much easier to remove the man than to remove the contribu
tions he has made in dollars and sense.
When Dr. Williams came to Texas A&M in 1970, he was following in
the footsteps of another great man, James Earl Rudder. The two men may
have never met. But Rudder would have few qualms about leaving “his”
university to his successor. Dr. Williams took Rudder’s dreams for this
university system — and made them reality.
If ever a man lived who could compete with Rudder as a tireless
worker, it has been Williams. It took two heart attacks in that short
summer of 1976 to slow “Smilin’ Jack’s” pace — from a hard run to a
steady trot.
There is little need to recount the leaps and bounds Rudder’s fledgling
university system has made during the eight years Dr. Williams has
served as its chief overseer. It is probably the fastest growing system in
the country in terms of people, money and national reputation.
Other men could have done it — but Jack Williams did do it, with that
easy smile that couldn’t help winning him new friends every day.
He startled many a Texas A&M student who looked up while walking
between classes to see THE CHANCELLOR strolling across campus and
chatting with students, like the teacher he has never stopped being.
The only specific plans Dr. Williams has announced include returning
to teaching. If so, some university, perhaps Texas A&M, will gain a great
teacher. But certainly Texas A&M will lose a great chancellor and a great
friend.
We will miss you, dear friend. L.R.L.
Carter discovering limits to his power
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — As he begins year
three of his presidency, both Jimmy
Carter and the countiy he is leading have
come to understand better the basic
challenge of his presidency. While the
verdict on his performance cannot be
written at mid-term, the criteria by which
he can be judged are becoming much
clearer.
This is not a time of — or for — heroic
leadership, and the President seems to
know that. While he has occasionally
allowed his speech writers to indulge in
rhetorical flourishes, his natural instinct is
to take a managerial — not a gladiatorial —
view of the job.
In his second anniversary interviews
with several journalists. Carter has been
emphasizing the intractable nature of
many of the problems facing America and
the limited scope of his presidential
powers.
For a man who, while campaigning,
spoke with scorn of the “timid” leadership
of his predecessor, he has been sounding a
bit tentative himself. His comments on the
inability of a president to reconcile a
to his people, or a customer to tfr 5 prices
he must pay, reflect a growing conscious
ness of the constraints on his power.
The Presidents who have been judged
heroic in the history books have been
those who faced major crises and found
ways of responding, who launched great
new programs or enterprises, or who gave
legitimacy to movements and forces that
reshaped the country.
Commentary
Carter’s challenge is of a different and
less dramatic character. It is, essentially,
to try to halt the deterioration that has
been taking place in the well-being of this
society to stabilize a badly listing ship.
None of the setbacks the nation suffered
in the past decade were crippling by itself.
But in combination, they sapped the
national self-esteem and self-confidence.
Vietnam undermined the American
public’s and the world’s confidence in otir
foreign r» ,rc y judgment and our capacity
to fulfill our military commitments.
The oil embargo and the hammer-blows
of inflation to the strength of the dollar
eroded the belief in the vitality and
self-sufficiency of our economic system.
A series of shocks — from the assassina
tion of one President to the forced
resignation of another — caused massive
damage to the credibility of our political
instituitons. Government came to be seen,
not as an agent for bettering people’s lives,
but as an expensive, intrusive bungler.
In campaigning, Carter did not
minimize the damage. He spoke sym
pathetically of the “hurt” the nation had
suffered.
But he suggested that the wounds could
be healed if only there were a President
who embodied the decent, hard-working
character of the American people, and he
modestly allowed that he might be the
man.
In these past two years, he has learned
— or confirmed — what the example of
Jerry Ford ought to have suggested: That
decency and hard work are a good starting
point, but they are not going to do d>e job
by themselves.
Carter can claim some solid achieve
ments in his first two years, particularly
the improvement in the employment
picture and the resolution of long-standing
impasses over Panama and China. But he
has yet to slow or reverse the basic forces
of erosion that he has found at work.
The dollar has weakened, inflation and
the trade imbalance have increased, and
the dependence on foreign-source energy
has grown worse.
American power and influence have
been unable to prevent adverse develop
ments on Russia’s southern border or in
Africa. In those areas where we have taken
the diplomatic initiative, such as the
Middle East, Rhodesia and the U.S.-
Soviet arms-control talks, our efforts are
still frustrated.
Politically, the cynicism of the citizens
has not abated. Indeed, by one basic
measure of alienation, non-votfng, it has
continued to worsen.
The President is only half way through
this term, and the scarcity of dramatic
accomplishments may say more about the
nature of the times than it does aobut the
limitations of Carter’s leadership. It is well
that everyone now understands how finite
are the goals that are attainable. It would
be even better if some of those modest
goals could be met.
(c) 1979, The Washington Post Company
Letters to the Editor
Basketball team still needs fans
Editor:
It is not my intention to anger any of my
fellow Ags, but I was surprised that
approximately 1,200 tickets have not been
distributed (as of 3 p.m. Tuesday) for
Wednesday night’s game against TCU.
I realize many students are disgusted
because they were unable to draw tickets
for Arkansas and Texas Tech, but I believe
the real reason for the apathy is Monday’s
loss to t.u. Hopefully I am wrong. Possibly
many do not wish to see a non-contending
team like TCU.
After looking at the SWC standings in
Tuesday’s Battalion, it shouldn’t be too
difficult to realize that the basketball race
is far from finished. Five teams liave .500
or better records.
It is too soon to write off our Aggie
team. More than ever before our players
need fan support. A full house at G. Rollie
White Coliseum Wednesday night will
sure help our team rebound from
Monday’s defeat.
Beat the hell outta TCU.
—Stuart Schroeder, ’79
Hedge too costly
Editor:
In a community of more than 20,000
financially struggling college students,
there could be very little difficulty
disposing of $27,000. For that amount,
two students could attend UT for four
years, all expenses included, A&M could
pay someone’s salary for a year, or buy
several new vehicles — or put a one to two
foot hedge around the MSC grass to
discourage its use.
In a little publicized part of a bill before
the student senate, to be voted on Jan. 24,
two of the senators propose to make
memorialization of the MSC grass official.
And to remind students and visitors that
use of the grass is prohibited, a small
boxwood hedge will be installed around
the grassy areas of the MSC. This will cost
an estimated $27,000, which makes a
slightly controversial issue into a major
concern. This much money could certainly
be put to better use.
Some of us will laugh about it, then
forget it, because the money will come
from somewhere. And it probably will.
But this only perpetuates a trend at the
University and across the country. One of
spending large sums of money on frivol
ous, unnecessary and even opulent pro
grams.
A university’s main function is to
provide students with the knowledge they
will need to make a living and get along in
society. With this in mind, spending
$27,000 on a hedge to discourage use of
grass which is seldom disturbed anyway
becomes ludicrous and even infuriating.
Memorialized grass may be a nice gesture,
but this makes it a crude one.
—Melissa Pitts, ’79
Corps acts as reps
Editor:
In response to Miss Zentgrafs letter
(Jan. 23) concerning TAMU’s participation
in Gov. Clements’ recent inauguration, I
would like to assure her that she was
indeed represented. As a Corps member,
she can be proud that the organizations
invited by the governor are affiliated with
the Corps of Cadets. The Aggie Band, The
Ross Volunteers, and Parson’s Mounted
Calvary symoblized our university, as well
as the military tradition in which she
participates.
The strength of A&M lies in its unity
and in the tradition that each student
reflects some aspect of that unity; thus, any
single student or organization — regard
less of race, military affiliation, or sex —
represents our student body equally well.
Since all 30,000 of us could not be
present in Austin on Jan. 16, Gov.
Clements honored our university by
inviting three of our larger campus groups.
As a result, our individual interests may
not have been represented, but the
collective pride of the school was, indeed,
well illustrated.
In closing, I hope Miss Zentgraf
understands that just as the Aggie Band
led the inaugural parade, so were all
Aggies — men, women, former students,
and faculty — truly in the spotlight.
—Margot Noynaert, ’80
Step to the rear
Editor:
This short note is directed to “Miss
Overlooked.” To start with, the Ross
Volunteers, Aggie Band and Parson’s
Cavalry are not intended to include
women (I know that really burns you up).
Second and most important, no! women
at Texas do not and I hope, never will,
take a back seat to anyone. However,
“waggies” and “queers” will, no doubt,
never be in the back seat but in the trunk
at Texas A&M.
—Christoper D. Stewart, ’79
Correction
The Reader’s Forum section of
Monday’s Battalion incorrectly reported
that the Memorial Student Center was
dedicated in April, 1954. The student
center was dedicated in 1951, not 1954.
Readers’ Forum
Guest viewpoints, in addi
tion to Letters to the Editor,
are welcome. All pieces sub
mitted to Readers’ forum
should be:
• Typed triple space
• Limited to 100 lines
• Limited to 60 characters per
line
Memorializing grass
no tribute to veterans
By JEFF O. BOGERT
This is in response to the myriad
of letters regarding the official
recognition of the MSC grass as a
“memorial.” I wish to respond to
two points in the letter by J.W.
Morrison: 1) the grass is “a memo
rial to all Aggies who have given
their lives in defense of our coun
try,” 2) the best means of protecting
this “memorial” is the erection of “at
least one appropriately worded sign
explaining the tradition” and “a
small hedge around the perimeter of
the grounds.”
It is not my intent to single out a
“pro grass” letter. I merely find it is
typical of certain attitudes displayed
by both sides of the great grass
debate.
Readers Forum
This attitude causes me to ques
tion, just where the hell do any of
you get the mandate to speak of the
dead? And only the dead of WWI
and WWII? There were two others I
know of and the last wasn’t that long
ago! But we aren’t supposed to talk
about it.
Well dammit I am! I served six
years in the Navy ( 1971-1978 ) and
had the unique privilege of “defend
ing my country” from the vantage
point of Yankee Station. I know
some guys that came back almost
whole in mind and body and a few
that didn’t. I think memorializing
some grass is a very cheap-shot
cop-out. Apparently it is easier to
recognize the sacrifices of the dead
than the living.
If you want a memorial make it a
good, living, useful, caring one. It
will be hard but the dead are very
easy to please — visit a national
cemetery and try to get some
feedback. Then visit a V.A. hospital
and talk to somebody in his mid-20s
who will live his life there. Tell him
how you’ve made him a memorial
out of some grass (but not really,
he’s almost alive).
If you’re very lucky, he will laugh
at you, but if you’re not he’ll
probably cry. I would.
Take all of this money vou could
spend on a hedge and a sign and do
any or all of the following:
—Establish an emergency no
interest loan fund for veterans.
—Establish a couple $100 or $200
helping hand scholarships for veter
ans.
—Give it all to the nearest V.A.
hospital for a recreation fund.
—Start buying motorized wheel
chairs (they ain’t cheap or easy to
find.)
Do it again next year and the
next.
And about those insulting signs in
the MSC ...
With any luck I’ve just gravely
offended about 85 percent of the
student body — if only I get 10
percent of them to think about this
issue I’ll have accomplished my
intent.
P.S. If you wish to discuss this
further, I live at No. 64 in the Doux
Chene Apartments and will be in
after 6:30 p.m. (no phone).
Jeff O. Bogert is a sophomore at
Texas AixM.
Top of the
LOCAL
Brazos VD Clinic hours changei
The Brazos County Health Department is changing hours of|
free venereal disease clinic. The clinic will now be held on Mondj
from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and will continue to be held from 8 to9a,®!
on Thursday and Friday mornings. The clinic is for the testingai<
treatment of VD. Service is free and confidential.
STATE
Gov. Clements leaves for Mexico
Gov. t| This new
newly op<
Despite protests from Mexican-American legislators,
Clements Tuesday departed on a 24-hour trip to Mexico City
confer with Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo on illegal alien and a soul
energy, drug trafficking, and the proposed “tortilla curtain.” Rt; hear met
Arnold Gonzales, D-Corpus Christi, criticized Clements for i buildings
inviting a more representative group of Mexican-American leaders
a pre-trip conference Clements held on Monday and for advocating
possible return to the bracero program with Mexico. The brace
program—employed between 1951 and 1963 when Congress kills
it—allowed Mexican nationals to enter the United States andperfoir’
farm work. The bill required the braceros to be paid 90 percentoftli
average farm wage in the state in which they were employed orSil
percent of the national average, whichever was lower. ^ ^ |
Bullock calls report a ‘crock
to
Hi . c
Comptroller Bob Bullock labeled a Travis County grand jury repo!| |College
which alleged he had tried to hinder an investigation of tkRr Annex,
comptroller’s office “a crock of stuff.” Bullock says the report Annexes
designed to disgrace him. He is asking his attorneys to determis Texas A&N
what legal response he can make. The grand jury in its final repor pl ( ted, as 1
said Bullock had thwarted its investigation of his agency by failingtWThe fifth
supply requested documents, screening employees who were calle tion, City 1
to testify, and using his agency’s knowledge of investigatinBrhe new
procedures to hamper the grand jury’s investigation. many office
glassed-in a
hear comic
NATION
Police arrest 12 in car theft ringtmofa
° Blost of I
Albuquerque, N.M., police say they may have broken up a majcfe soc * a ted v
car theft ring operating in New Mexico and Texas with the arreststPy e to ike
eight persons and the confiscation of 13 cars. The arrests, police saiiBContract
culminated a four-month investigation involving several bw) estima
enforcement agencies. Police recovered 12 of the vehicles clihe fire:
Albuquerque and one in El Paso. They believe the auto the police dep;
occured mostly in Texas and New Mexico. Blding’s i
k The poli<
■Hege Sta
INS lowers march-leader s bond ^
■The polk
While Immigration and Naturalization undercover agents chedi
the status of several Iranian protestors’ visas in the San Antonio areil
one such protestor awaited word for the seventh day Tuesday oil
whether he will be able to leave jail on reduced bond. Hosseiil
Jahanfar, 29, was arrested by INS officers last week at the endofi|
two-hour march and rally he led. At a Friday hearing Immigration?
Judge Arvid Boyes lowered Jahanfar’s bond from $40,000 to $5,0
but defense attorney Robert Shrivers said Monday “that’s still $3,0
more than they ever put before on an out-of-status student. Jahanfar!*
visa expired Dec. 14 and he did not re-enroll as a college studentfo:|
the spring semester.
WORLD
Tractor cade visits Mississippi
The American Agricultural Movement’s nationwide tractorcade;
began its slow trek through the rolling hills of east Mississippi i
Tuesday enroute to Washington where a rally is planned to protest i
national farm policies. Mississippi farmers with close to 100 tractors!
and support vehicles joined the heavy equipment parade which
originated in Fort Worth earlier this month. The Texas leg of the |
movement consisting of more than 325 tractors and support
equipment crossed the Mississippi River at Vicksburg early Monday.
Shah may cancel visit to U.S.
The shah of Iran began his second week in exile Tuesday in
Marrakesh, Morocco, surrounded by elaborate security precautions.
He originally was scheduled to remain only two days before
proceeding to the United States where his son is receiving flight
training and his sister. Princess Shams, and 92-year-old mother
already have arrived. But there was speculation the shah would
prolong his stay in Morocco and he might delay or even cancel his trip
to the United States. The shah, anxious to keep open the possibility of
an eventual return to the throne in Tehran, is said to be hoping to
spend most or all of his time in friendly Moslem countries where he
will be treated as a chief of state.
WEATHER
THESE
STUDE
BOOK:
Clear and cold through Thursday. High Wednesday near Si _
low early Thursday upper 20’s.
The Battalion
’S FOR
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UCON
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NEMA I
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EEAGL
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