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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1979)
Viewpoint flar-Malion < The Battalion Monday Texas A&M University January 29, 1979 Watergate scars John Mitchell walked out of a Federal prison in Alabama last weekend, the last of the “Watergate 25” to complete punishment. The former Attorney General’s release is the end of the judicial process that began soon after the burglary of the Democratic National Committee office in 1972. It would be comforting to believe that this marks the end of the Watergate scandal. Unfortunately, it does not. The subtle but poisonous side effects are still everywhere to be seen. The troublesome heritage includes: a weakened Presidency, a less ef fective national intelligence system and a Federal law enforcement sys tem crippled by a lack of public confidence and a host of new legal restraints. Because Richard Nixon and others used “national security” as an excuse for some of the Watergate misdeeds, real national security needs are now looked upon with suspicion. The same can be said of the historic concept of “executive privilege.” The whole idea of an independent executive branch has been given a bad name. The Watergate offenders have completed their punishment. The coun try is still serving its sentence. Tulsa World Connally’s record not without liabilities Connolly political Survival theory. QroaXciT, ■ LI, l , 7<! By CLAY F. RICHARDS UPI Political Writer WASHINGTON — Former Texas Gov. John B. Connally has launched a presiden tial campaign aimed at maximizing his considerable experience in government and minimizing his considerable liabilities. Connally became the first of the “heavy hitters” to formally enter the battle for the Republican presidential nomination last week, sounding the theme that he is the man most qualified to be the nation’s leader. And Connally says that even after two years on the job, Jimmy Carter is a leader ship lightweight who has no business being there. Connally does have impressive creden tials — 40 years in public life, starting as an aide to Rep. Lyndon B. Johnson and including three terms as governor, secre tary of the Navy, treasury secretary, ad viser to three presidents. But Connally carries a long string of liabilities beyond the problems caused by his indictment and acquittal on charges he took bribes from milk producers during the Watergate era. For instance: —He is a Democrat turned Republican, a conversion that, no matter how honest, brings automatic rejection from some vot ers. —As a conservative he has to share that portion of the GOP vote not only with Ronald Reagan but Rep. Phil Crane and several other potential candidates. Reagan already has much of that vote locked up. —Connally can’t be sure of even the Texas delegation. He will have to fight’for it with fellow Texan George Bush, the leading moderate in the race so far, as well as with Reagan who overwhelmed Gerald Ford in the state's 1976 primary. —Even without the milk indictment. Connally has always had the image of being a fast-talking Texas wheelerdealer. Others with long memories view him as a Vietnam War era politician. Connally ignored his liabilities and took the offensive in his announcement speech. He went down the laundry list of national problems and challenges and offered strong, conservative solutions and pro grams. Inflation is the nation’s biggest problem, he said, and rather than tinkering with the economy, drastic solutions are needed. We ought to cut the federal budget 5 per cent across the board — including de fense, he said. He complained that a president spends his first four years trying to win a second term. He called instead for a single six- year term that would let the president get things done without worrying about his political future. Letters to the Editor ‘Obscure’ dealings surround resignation Editor: This letter is to reflect my concern over the recent resignation of Chancellor Jack K. Williams, fondly remembered by some as “Smiling Jack,” and the subsequent ef fects it will have on this university in the next five to ten years. How aware is the student populous of the policy changes that this might well signify? Do they realize to what extent President Miller influences the twin cities as well as Texas A&M? And what to they know of the university’s political affiliations? How many recall the censorship Miller placed on the university TV and radio stations? How does one justify the negation of free press and the right, as well as the oppor tunity to view controversial issues, to think for one’s self? Was there in fact strife between the opinions of Chancellor Williams and Pres ident Miller during the confusion of Emory Bellard’s resignation, and did any one investigation these rumors? Dr. Williams (a historian I’ve been told) during his service as president gave sup port to liberal arts as well as to the sciences for he realized the value and necessity of a balanced and well-rounded education. Will President Miller (with primarily an agricultural background) insure the con tinued growth of the liberal arts college, or will there be seen a decline in these pro grams? I am not setting myself up as an authority in university matters, just as a concerned student who has heard and seen many disturbing and obscure dealings. —Linda D. Albritton, ’78 Vote considered Editor: This letter is an explanation of my in terpretation of the student senate’s feel ings concerning the Memorial Student Center grass issue. The idea of a student referendum came up in many different circles. However, the idea was more or less tabled for this rea son: the student senate is a representative body who does not vote its own feelings but votes those of its constituency. With all the publicity and special effort the senators felt they could confidently vote the feelings of the students of Texas A&M. Admittedly, $25,000 is a large sum of money to spend to insure proper respect of a memorial 'for those who died for our freedom. “Greater love has no man than rb is that a man lav down his life for his This is not to say that we even come close to repaying all great men and women who served their country. But it does say that $25,000 is not too much to say thanks to those who can only be with us in spirit. Personally, I say thank you, Mr. Bogert (Battalion, Jan.24), for bringing the matter to our attention and I feel sure the next project of the student senate will concern all veterans. —Johnny Lane, ’79 Speaker of YOUR student senate Pass misleading Editor: The article “Ticket system meets mixed reactions” (Battalion, Jan. 24) aroused a reaction of my own. First of all, I was not aware at the time I purchased my pass, that I would have to compete so heavily to get a basketball ticket. The statement Kevin Patterson made, “The pass itself states that it does not guarantee a student ticket,” upset me be cause I signed for the pass long before I was able to receive it and read that state ment on the back. I signed up for the pass under the as sumption that I was guaranteed a seat. Second, I don’t see why people who have paid for a pass must pay an additional $1 for a ticket beginning 5 p.m. prior to the game. I feel as if I had been misled and would probably not have purchased the pass had I known the facts. —Cindy Strickland, ’80 System ‘botched* Editor: Well they’ve done it again — “they” being the big cheese who sit around think ing or trying to think of ways to improve the system but invariably blotching it up. I am referring to the new system of ticket distribution for basketball games and what we will have to contend with for the up and coming baseball season. They’ve turned something that could be so simple into another rat race for tickets. Why can’t students pay at the door on a first come first serve basis? Why can’t sea son ticket holders have their passes punched as they go in? If it’s a problem of over filling the coliseum, turnstiles could be placed at each entrance allowing only a specific number of patrons to enter at each entrance. Granted, on the back of the pass it says, “This pass does not guarantee purchaser a student ticket. ” Well we did not know this piece of choice information until after we had our passes and paid our money — a little late to get a refund once the season has started and we realized it meant another line to stand in. What is the purpose of buying a season pass if not for convenience and saving a little money? It’s no convenience to have to stand two hours in the cold and it’s no savings if we can’t get in to see the game. It seems like a reasonable solution to the problem could be found, but some people around here are trying to preserve yet another Aggie tradition — standing in line! —Toni A. Bork, ’80 Stacey Chapman, ’80 Still discriminating Editor: Since the gentleman in Wednesday’s (Jan. 24) paper seems to want to put Melanie Zentgraf in the trunk, I can’t help but think about the not too distant past when blacks were promptly shown the back of the bus. This was, and still is, called discrimina tion. Through the Civil Rights Acts and other means the discrimination against blacks is fading (hopefully). Maybe some of the haz ing the Waggies receive will die off, too. After all, the law holds that discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal, too, not just race. Putting a lady down for choosing a mili tary career also stinks. If she can cut the mustard, let her. In conclusion — re member — Waggies, CTs, BQs, non-regs and frat rats — we re all Aggies. —David Richard Block, ’79 GOODBYE DR. WILLIAMS THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DON Art Top of the News CAMPUS Week to recognize bus system The Texas A&M student services committee has declared! week Internal Shuttle Bus Week. The purpose of the project)! better acquaint students with the University’s three intra-cam; shuttle bus routes. Plans for the week include placement of paiulfl canvas signs on the outside of each bus, showing whether it is blue, green, or red route. Members of the student senate win pfe maps of the route at all bus stops, buildings on campus, and oni bulletin boards around the Memorial Student Center. Board changes tenure rules m The Coordinating Board, Texas Colleges and Universities, revi» - a 12-year-old tenure policy Friday. The new policy, which will bei effect at Texas A&M University, allows the firing of tenured pr l.C sors for unprofessional conduct. It also allows university goveniiB ( j!fc)i boards to establish additional reasons to fire tenured professors, fessors can also be dismissed now if they become mentally or cally disabled and unable to perform their jobs. The board created a master’s program in public administration at Texas A&\[ STATE Court asked to suspend judpf The Texas Supreme Court has been asked to suspend Dist Judge Stanley C. Kirk pending the outcome of removal procee against the Wichita Falls judge for allegedly falsifying court recordsJ hide his criticism of a jury. It is the first time the Commission( Judicial Conduct has sought a suspension on a sitting jurist dum efforts to remove him from office for misconduct, Maurice S. Pipl executive director of the commission, confirmed Friday. Authoni for the judicial commission to publicly discipline judges was indudl in a constitutional amendment approved by voters in NovernkT 1977. Feared oil spill is false alarm Coast Guard personnel and Corpus Christi city workers mannJ their battle stations to fight a reported oil spill, but it turned outtotl only an attack by Mother Nature. Helicopters and ships were! standby alert Friday after a major oil spill was reported to be head™ toward Padre Island. But when the substance started towashupif shore, it was discovered to be only a large patch of algae knowaj diatom. Diatom is similar to a Red Tide but not as dangerous, i ing to Dr. Patrick Parker, a University of Texas marine scientist bastl at Port Aransas. Parker said the onslaught resulted from a natr| algae bloom. Emergency funds mulled putinj Isenic whei The Texas Legislature, off to a slow start because of a betL ( | schedule of inaugural activities and ceremonial events, accelerates® With of th pace this week, with public hearings scheduled on at least 50 bill Among the items which may reach a vote in both houses this weekiij $2.5 million emergency appropriation for administrative costs oftii Texas Deepwater Port Authority. The revenue is needed to keeptl agency in operation until next year when it sells its first bondissj toward construction of an offshore terminal in the Gulf of Mexi Senators already have approved several other emergency appropriff 0 y r " ( ] j tion bills totaling almost $6 million, but the House has yet to ber^j stmas committee hearings on any legislation. ^ nent NATION Carter selects GSA official owg, C erly lyspace f to ac hi iapp, oft pillar; jighoui President Carter has chosen organized crime fighter Kurt Muell lenberg to be inspector general at the scandahridden General Senj ices Administration, government sources said Saturday. The choi«| came as senior GSA officials and congressmen criticized Carter ((i| taking too long to pick an inspector general to head the governmenH| year-long investigation at the troubled purchasing agency, sources said the nomination of Muellenberg, head of the Justice I partment’s organized crime task force, will be sent to the Senatef confirmation after a White House announcement early next we ita Pr. Dick igh “w WORLD Chinese leader comes to U.S. Teng Hsiao-Ping, 75, the shrewd Chinese vice premier who s vived political disgrace during the Cultural Revolution, left Peftj Sunday for Washington and an historic East-meets-West voyage, visit is largely ceremonial and is the first by a high Chinese officiall | | the United States since the Communist armies drove Generalissiffl Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan in 1949. The takeoff of Tengs scheduled for 8 a.m. (7 p.m. EST Saturday), was reported byl New China News Agency. His Boeing 707, one of 10 the Chine! Communist government bought from the United States some I ago, was scheduled to refuel in Alaska and arrive at Andrews AFBi 1 Washington at 2 p.m. EST Sunday. The Battalion LETTERS POUCY 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. 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 77843. 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 Congrftf Editor 6) Managing Editor W Assistant Managing Editor .And)* Sports Editor Da'id City Editor ScottP f Campus Editor ....i.® News Editors Debbif Beth Calhoun Staff Writers Karen Rotf Patterson, Sean Petty Blake, Dillard Ston 1 Bragg, Lyle Lovett Cartoonist D Photo Editor Lee Photographer Ly® Focus section editor Off 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 Regents. The Battalion is a non-f supporting enterprise operated k as a university and community W Editorial policy is determined by w DEI SI Nov Rec Beau bring stereo and f cross. ffiidrE the * a*. Cul Co] Me t