Viewpoint
The Battalion Tuesday
Texas A&M University January 30, 1979
Reflections
A&M ‘un’-covered
The state media did an appalling job of covering Dr. Jack K. Williams’s
resignation a week ago — those that reported it at all. No “professional’’
reporter has explored beyond what was first apparent.
The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Times-Herald, the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram, the Austin American-Statesman, and the San Antonio Ex
press made no mention at all of the resignation in the two days that
followed it.
The Houston Chronicle carried a brief story Wednesday that was no
thing but a rewrite of the release from Texas A&M’s public relations
office, the Office of Public Information.
The Houston Post carried a story Wednesday; it was the same release
with a few facts about the reduction of Williams’s powers over the past
two years.
Those facts were gathered in hard-hitting reporting style: A Post editor
called The Battalion and asked for help. He got a quick summary of what
an editor could remember after that confusing day.
But it was the only newspaper that even did that much.
The Bryan Eagle confined its comment to saying “when he was made
chancellor, the duties of running the university were taken away.” It
didn’t deal in specifics.
The problem is two-fold.
In the first place, the University, like any public institution, does not
care to be covered.
Last summer former Eagle editor Paul LaRocque resigned after a dis
pute over release of the Texas A&M budget proposal. He said later his
publisher — after a conversation with Texas A&M President Jarvis Miller
— ordered him not ta use the Texas Open Records Act to get the informa
tion.
In the second place, the major media have remained ignorant of Texas
A&M. For example, John Bloom, a Texas Monthly, reporter who was
researching the University System for an article about Prairie View A&M,
wa« surprised to learn that participation in ROTC is not mandatory here.
The type of article the big papers love to do on Texas A&M is in the
“my, how you’ve grown’ mode. Leon Hale’s column in Sunday’s Houston
Post noted alarming new factions here: women and civilians. The Dallas
News carried a similar full-page article last summer.
Taxpayers who support the University system’s annual budget of $136
million deserve to be better informed about their investment.
Letters to the Editor
More on women’s part
Editor:
While reading Mr. Clement’s letter of
Jan. 25. we had serious doubts that he was
as open-minded as he claims. His impartial
attitude makes us grateful that he is not a
prospective employer, as he sees women fit
only for such simple-minded tasks as cheer
leading.
We fail to see the validity of his assump
tion that Ms. Zentgraf gave up her feminin
ity when she entered the Corps. He obvi
ously considers being in the Corps and
being feminine as mutually exclusive.
Could it be that she entered the Corps not
to become “one of the boys, ” but rather to
gain the background necessary for a mili
tary career? We disagree with Mr. Cle
ment’s interpretation that she is hiding be
hind the skirts of femininity merely be
cause she wishes women to be repre
sented.
Evidently, he has had limited experi
ence with women if he believes the only
careers for which we are intellectually
suited are modeling, being a stewardess,
and cheerleading for the Dallas Cowboys.
His antiquated atittude toward women in-
m
dicates that his oh-so-awesome ego has
been threatened.
For Mr. Clement’s sake and for the sake
of all the women he encounters, we sin
cerely hope that his mind does indeed be
come open.
—Caroline Cate, 82
Jana Smith, ’82
Women represented
Editor:
This letter is in response to Ms.
Zentgrafs comments in Tuesday’s (Jan. 23)
Battalion.
Ms. Zentgraf:
After reading your letter to the editor, I
was amazed that a college student could
have such a simplistic sense of logic.
If I understood your letter correctly,
you feel that since there are no women in
the Aggie Band, the Ross Volunteers, and
Parson’s Mounted Cavalry, that anyone
who saw them in the parade in Austin,
would immediately assume that women
were not allowed to attend Texas A&M.
‘WE COULD SEND IT TO THE BOOK OF RECORDS ’
BUT WE MAY AS WELL WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR IT T T
RF A RFTTFR RECORD THEN!” '
The Democrats’
dormant volcano
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
United Press International
WASHINGTON —The U S. Geological
Survey recently warned of two dormant
volcanoes in Washington state which could
erupt at any time. Lots of Democrats think
they may have much the same situation in
Washington, D.C., with Ted Kennedy.
The Massachusetts Democratic senator
says he is not going to challenge Jimmmy
Carter in 1980. The Georgia Democratic
president has little choice other than to
take Kennedy at his word, but it is easy to
see why there is uneasiness in the White
House.
First, there are the public opinion polls
which show Kennedy ahead of Carter in the
esteem of Democrats. Even when Carter’s
job perfonuance rating shot up after the
Camp David summit, Kennedy was run
ning very well in polls that asked Demo
crats who they wanted on their ticket in
1980.
And the pollsters only verified what ob
servers of Democratic politics have felt in
their bones for some time: that Ted Ken
nedy could have the Democratic presiden
tial nomination almost for the asking.
It is worth recalling that Hamilton Jor
dan’s original campaign plan for Carter as
sumed that Kennedy would be a 1976 can
didate. That is why Carter originally
worked so hard in New Hampshire — to
demonstrate he could draw a respectable
vote in New England even against a native
of the region.
The second reason for disquiet in the
White House is Kennedy’s current opposi
tion to Carter on health insurance and
budget cutting.
It is one thing for a senator to oppose his
president on issues like natural gas deregu
lation or water project construction. When
there are local political and economic
interests at stake, members of Congress are
almost expected to put their constituents
ahead of their national leadership.
But when a key member of the presi
dent’s party opposes the leader on issues
that affect everyone in the country, eye
brows go up. That kind ofopposition is seen
as an omen of a bigger political showdown
to come.
When Kennedy appeared at the Demo
cratic mid-term conference in Memphis to
argue against the Carter health insurance
plan, some people thought the battle would
be on for the 1980 nomination.
But, after pulling out all the oratorical
stops in his appearance, Kennedy returned
to Washington and let delegates who
wanted to vote for his position fend for
themselves. That did not look like the act of
a man who has decided to run for president.
There are other factors which seem to
Corps units
Fortunately, most people are not as
simple-minded as you appear to be.
The last time I saw the Vienna Boy’s
Choir, I did not see a single girl in the
group. I had a difficult time, however, try
ing to convince my friends that there are
no women in Vienna.
I saw no women competing in the Super
Bowl, on either team. Can I then assume
that the cities represented by the two
footall teams are totally void of females. I
am sure that the students from Dallas
would disagree.
I, myself, am not a member of the Band,
Cavalry, or Ross Volunteers, but I, being
male, cannot use my gender as an excuse
as you seem to. When you are not ac
cepted to an organization it does not
necessarily mean that your application was
not taken seriously.
As far as women being forced to “take
the rear seat” at Texas A&M, I will say
this: In a society such as ours, we cannot
all drive all the time. We must sometimes
take the seat in the rear to avoid being left
behind. Some are just louder and more
overbearing “back-seat drivers” than the
rest of us.
—Ray Argersinger, ’80
Goodbye to the shah
Editor:
We salute the Iranian people for having
succeeded in driving from power the Shah
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.
The friendship between the American
people and the Iranian people will grow
only if our government refrains from con
doning a military coup as a solution to popu
lar opposition to the Bakhtiar government.
In this regard, the American govern
ment should publicly state that such an
Alternative, requiring as it would the use of
American supplied arms and aircraft, is un
acceptable and not in the interest of either
our own or the Iranian poeple. It should
state further that such a government could
not and would not receive recognition by
this country.
We believe that the fall of the Shah is a
turning point in the long history of the Ira
nian struggle for self-determination, and
we believe further that its lesson for our
government is clear: don’t interfere in such
struggles, be they in Iran, Chile, the Phil-
lipines. South Africa, or elsewhere. Only
then will Americans be regarded as friends
by the people of these countries.
—Jack Levine
U.S. People’s Committee On Iran
P.O. Box 7782
Philadelphia, Pa.
point away from a Kennedy challenge. For
example, there is, hardly one year from the
first primary, absolutely no sign of a Ken
nedy campaign organization.
It is true that Kennedy does not have the
usual candidate problem of low name rec
ognition and does not have to do all the
barnstorming of a McGovern before 1972
or a Carter before 1976.
But it is hard to believe any Kennedy
would be even thinking of running for pres
ident without a lot of advance preparation
and organization. Indeed, that preparation
may be under way now, but so far it hasn’t
been detected by the early warning system
of other politicians or the media.
McGovern’s
old finesse
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON — Political utterances,
particularly in the early stages of a presi
dential campaign, are apt to be larded with
hidden meanings, veiled hints, ambiguities
and other subtleties
This means that reporters who cover
politics must do a great deal of reading
between the lines. For unless we spot the
latent nuggets, we may miss the real thrust
of a politician’s remarks.
It is for this reason that some of us have
spent a lot of time digging through the
statement issued by Sen. George
McGovern, D-S.D., last week after John
Connally of Texas announced he was run
ning for the Republican presidential nomi
nation.
Humor
“I wouldn’t trust Connally within a mile
of the White House,” McGovern said.
“John Connally combines the worst of both
Watergate and Vietnam. He’s the perfect
symbol of the double-talking, double
crossing politician. He doesn’t even know
what party he belongs to.
“In 1972, when he was running the
Democrats for Nixon operation, he did
more to cover up Nixon’.s faults and exagg
erate mine than any other man in America.
“The fact that Connally never went to jail
along with the rest of the Watergate gang is
positive proof that Ed Williams is the best
criminal lawyer in the country.”
After reading McGovern’s comment, I
broached a source I know who usually is
familiar with the senator’s thinking.
“Why is McGovern being so cagey about
this?” I asked. “Why didn’t he come right
out and say how he feels about Connally?”
The McGovern confidant sidled closer
and dropped his voice.
“At this stage of the campaign, it’s a good
idea to keep your options open,” he said.
“The situation is still pretty fluid and you
don’t want to be caught with your feet in
cement if the wind suddenly changes. ”
“That may be,” I said, “but I recall that
during the 1972 campaign McGovern ac
quired a reputation, deserved or not, of
being somewhat indecisive. Might not a
statement like this be interpreted as a fur
ther sign of wishy-washiness?”
“For your guidance and deep back
ground only, I can tell you that unless there
is a drastic turnaround McGovern is un
likely to throw his support to Connally,”
my informant confided.
I kept on digging. “What about his re
mark about Connally not knowing what
party he belongs to? Doesn’t that imply
that McGovern might endorse Connally if
Connally again changed parties?”
“I doubt even that would do it,” my
source replied.
“Well, then, what if Connally changed
lawyers?”
Again my source shook his head. “You
would be wise at this point to stick to the
line that McGovern is not sold on Con
nally. ”
Later on, perhaps, the senator himself
will clarify his position. If it should turn out
that he is anti-Connally, remember that
you saw it here first.
Writing, the editor
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Top of the News
CAMPUS
Activities calendar deadline man
All recognized student organizations should submit a scheduleofl
their March activities to the Student Activities Office no later than
noon Feb. 7, in room 221 of the Memorial Student Center. Cardsfor
filling out this information are located either in the Student Activities
Office of the Student Finance Center, room 217 of the MSC. The
monthly calendar for March will be composed from information sub
mitted by the above date.
STATE
Gas spill closes ship channel
A 1.5-mile stretch of the Houston Ship Channel was closed tem
porarily Monday because gasoline from an overturned tank truck
leaked onto the channel surface. A Coast Guard spokesman said the
fuel leaked onto the channel surface through sewers after the truck
overturned on Drop 610, near the freeway connector’s bridge over
the channel. Ship traffic continued to move on either side of the spill,
but officials said the spill area would remain closed until gasoline
vapors dissipated.
Court asked to suspend judge
The Texas Supreme Court has been asked to suspend District
Judge Stanley C. Kirk pending the outcome of removal proceedings
against Kirk. The case arose from an outburst in his courtroom last
summer when he criticized a jury that had just returned an innocent
verdict against a man accused of a sex offense.
NATION
Nixon at White House for dinner
Richard Nixon, at the request of visiting Chinese Vice Premier
Teng Hsiao-ping and other Chinese leaders, attended the White
House state dinner Monday night in Washington as part of his
three-day stay there. Nixon arrived Sunday night by commercial
flight and was taken by limousine to an unpublicized destination in
the Washington area where he will stay during Teng’s visit. He will
have a private visit with Teng Wednesday.
V
Tractorcade moves northward
A caravan of some 500 tractors and support vehicles left Charlotte,
N.C., near dawn Monday creeping northward along Interstate 85 en
route to a massive protest over crop prices in Washington. The leader
of the southern segment of the tractorcade, which will be joined by
other segments in Washington for the rally protesting the nations
farm policy, called President Carter “a Benedict Arnold to agricul
ture.” Georgia American Agriculture Movement leader Tommy Ker
sey said Sunday that Carter had lied to farmers who only want the
same treatment the president gives the rest of the world.
Girl shoots 11 in San Diego
A 16-year-old girl firing a semi-automatic rifle into an elementary
school yard in San Diego Monday killed two adults and wounded
eight students and a policeman, police said. The motive for the at
tacks was not immediately clear, police said. Police said the young
sniper, firing from a house across the street from Cleveland Elemen
tary School,had access to up to 600 rounds of ammunition. It appeared
all of the shots were fired in the span of a few minutes shortly before 9
a.m. Conditions of the wounded were described as from fair to seri
ous.
Several
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friday.
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Carter urged to free Hearst
President Carter had received a Justice Department recommenda
tion on the bid for freedom by jailed heiress Patricia Hearst and will
act on it promptly, a White House spokesman said Monday. Hearst,
currently at the Federal Correctional Institution in Pleasanton,
Calif., has served 22 months of her sentence. Under normal proce
dure, Hearst would not be eligible for parole until July 11. Her
attorney, George Martinez, petitioned for executive clemency last
September, arguing her conviction was a “miscarriage of justice”
because she was forced to join the Symbionese Liberation Army
under duress.
WORLD
34th Italian official killed
Leftist gunmen shot and killed a high-ranking Italian magistrate
Monday in the 34th political slaying in 13 months. Witnesses saida
car containing five people pulled alongside that of Milanese Deputy
Public Prosecutor Emilio Alessandrini on a main street Monday and
opened fire. The killing came as Premier Giulio Andreotti’s minority
Christian Democratic government neared collapse after the with
drawal of support by the powerful Communist Party Friday.
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The Battalion
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cor
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