Viewpoint
The Battalion Friday
Texas A&M University February 16, 1979
Talk with Dr. Miller
Silver Taps for suicides?
Jan. 30
Dear Dr. Miller:
Today we learned a very disturbing fact about our school. We were told at a
floor meeting by our resident adviser about a film to be shown in our dorm. The
subject of the film is to be suicides.
We were told that there were four suicides that went unreported to the public
last year. It is commendable that the administration is having this film shown, but
this does not excuse the fact that the public was not informed.
Death is not a pretty thought, but it is not something that we can hide away in a
closet. Sooner or later we must accept our responsibilities and deal with this fact.
Is it not tradition for Silver Taps to be performed for all Aggies who have died?
Are we too busy trying to keep an angelic image of ourselves which we never had
to honor these Aggies? Let’s start running this instituion in the 1979 tradition and
not that of the 1876 Dark Ages.
—Donald McDonald, ’79
Brian Black, ’81
Feb. 15
Dear Mr. Black and Mr. McDonald:
I received and appreciated your letter concerning the so-called unreported
suicides and the Silver Taps ceremony. Let me respond separately to each
question that you raised.
In the case of any death, the appropriate law enforcement agency and the
coroner’s office are involved in the investigation. The results of these investiga
tions are public, and all of the news media have access to this information. The
University does not have control of the investigations nor the information result
ing from such investigations. There is no way that such information could go
unreported.
The second question related to Silver Taps. The Silver Taps ceremony is held as
soon as it is feasible during the fall and spring semesters for individuals who at the
time of death were presently enrolled as students at Texas A&M University. The
policy concerning Silver Taps does not make mention of nor relate in any way to
the cause of death. Any information that you received to the contrary is erron
eous.
Whatever you heard about unreported suicides is fiction and not fact.
— Jarvis E. Miller
President, Texas A&M
By Dick West
Mythical creatures ...
WASHINGTON — After more than a
year as a $17.50 hardcover bestseller, the
book “Gnomes” is now out in a $9.95 pa
perback edition that already has 500,000
copies in print.
In case you haven’t read it yet, here are
some excerpts from a publisher’s blurb
that will give you an inkling of what you
have been missing:
“...a mock sociological history of the
gnome ... a colorful, fully-illustrated ex
ploration of the life, habits, legends and
philosophy of these small folk ... charming
Humor
and fanciful ... a captivating exercise in
makebelieve proves once and for all that
gnomes exist.”
Further, the book reveals such things as
“the natural enemies of gnomes (trolls,
snotgurgles, etc.) and a male gnome’s
preference in a mate (plump).”
If your fantasy threshold is as low as
mine — that is, if even minimal exposure
to talk about “wee people” leaves you
somewhat queasy — the above passages
may give you the qualms.
But you’ve got to respect those sales fig
ures. If they don’t prove that gnomes
exist, they certainly prove there is a large
market for books about figments.
Fresh off the press is one called
“Faeries,” and just as sure as God made
little green leprechauns there will be a
spate of other spinoffs.
Maybe this means the time is ripe for a
book about the mythical creatures known
as lobbyists.
In the years I’ve been exercising my re
sponsibilities under the First Amendment
to keep an eye on Congress, I have heard
innumerable stories about lobbyists. And
while I never believed they really existed,
I must say they sound a good bit more
interesting than trolls and snotgurgles.
According to Capitol Hill folklore, lob
byists lurk in corridors, chambers and dim
recesses where legislation is being formu
lated. They are said to possess super
natural powers that can be used either to
grease the path of special interest bills or
to bottle up unwanted measures in com
mittee.
Legend has it that in even numbered
years they flitter about the country sprink
ling campaign contributions on candidates
who have earned their gratitude.
But woe be it unto lawgivers who do
something to win the enmity of lobbyists.
For then they purportedly turn oft the
golden spigot and bedevil the ingrates
with whispering campaigns.
Should you try to catch them in the act,
however, they are said to skip through tax
loopholes and vanish.
The whole concept of lobbyists is so far
fetched it can only be a myth.
Nevertheless, should someone prepare
a charming and fanciful volume on their
life, habits, legends and philosophy, in
cluding details about their natural enemies
and mating preferences, vast royalties
would surely roll in.
Carter prepares to start the race
should announce within the next couple of
months to get his campaign going full
blast.
Rosalynn Carter, perhaps even more
politically minded than her husband, has
stepped up her contacts and White House
receptions with special interest groups
that can have political clout.
Kraft’s White House office, set up many
months ago, has been Carter’s political
command center. At some point after he
announces that he is running again. Carter
Washington
Window
will have to establish his personal cam
paign headquarters and it appears that
Evan Dobelle, the Democratic Party trea
surer, will be tapped as campaign man
ager.
Top aide Hamilton Jordan, who man
aged Carter’s campaign in 1976, would
president should lay low until all of the
potential candidates come out in the open.
The most prominent of possible oppo
nents, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is
playing a coy game.
He says he is not going to run. But he is
acting like a candidate, vocally and
visibily, mostly on the attack against
White House positions. He is enjoying the
game, appearing to believe that he can
have the nomination if he wants it.
Kennedy supporters believe that the
Chappaquidick chapter in his life is over
and that it is no longer a factor — as it was
in 1976 — in his political future. Others
observers are not so sure.
Gov. Edmund Brown of California is
acting like a candidate and his supporters
strongly indicate that he is in the race. He
has a strong following in his state, but not
so loyal a constituency among the old line
Democratic politicians. White House
aides seem to take it for granted that he
will challenge Carter.
A new face on the horizon — Sen. Adlai
By HELEN THOMAS
UPI White House Reporter
WASHINGTON — President Carter’s
closest emissaries — his family and White
House aides — are fanning out to test the
waters for his reelection plans.
To forestall inevitable judgments that
whatev'er he does from here on in will be
from a political rather than a presidential
standpoint. Carter is delaying the an
nouncement that he will run again.
But Tim Kraft, his personal political
honcho in the White House, has been tak
ing the temperature in Iowa where got his
first big boost in the 1976 race. Kraft was
in Des Moines, where he apparently still
found a lot of loyal Carter supporters, but
who had many gripes to get off their
chests.
As for the family, the Carter children,
Chip, 28, and Amy, 11, went skiing in
New Hampshire last weekend. As the
most politically oriented of the first family
offspring. Chip, told reporters, “We re sit
ting at the go-line.”
He expressed the view that his father
Letters to the Editor
Fill it up
Editor:
It has just come to my attention that a
drastic change is about to affect an impor
tant piece of Aggie heritage. The only ma
roon and white service station in the
WORLD, the Texaco on University
Drive, will become green and red by
executive order of the new district man
ager for Texaco in Ft. Worth.
This new manager is NOT an Aggie, nor
is he an Aggie fan (though possibly a T-sip
or somesuch).
Apparently he is of the opinion that we
Aggies do not deserve to be unique, even
at something so minor as the color of a gas
station. However, as far as I’m concerned
Aggies ARE unique and I would like to see
the maroon and white stay as it is. Besides,
unnecessary spending for paint will only
be passed on to the consumer.
Come on Ags, show that you care. Write
to Texaco and let them know you love the
maroon and white. We dare to be unique:
Texaco, Inc.
P.O. Box 5555
Bellaire, Texas 77041
—Ricki L. Holliman
Secretary — Poultry Science Department
Show more respect
Editor:
We wish to complain about the conduct
of the residents of Crocker Hall last Tues
day night following Silver Taps. The guys
decided to hold a “silver crapper” in the
Keathley-Fowler-Hughes quad. This con
duct was unseemly, and disrespectful to
their fellow Ags, especially the girl the
Silver Taps was held for.
It is even more disrespectful because
the “silver crapper” is a parody of Silver
Taps.
Silver Taps is a solemn occasion ob
served by dimming the lights and keeping
noise to a minimum. This is done in rec
ognition of the death of a fellow Aggie and
should be maintained the entire evening.
We hope that in the future they will show
the same respect they would desire other
Aggies to display if the Silver Taps had to
be held for one of their friends.
—Cathy O’ Connor, ’80
Susan Clerihew, ’80
Valerie Rivera, ’80
Editor’s note: A “silver crapper” is a
term for a pseudo-somber ceremony held
for thn«e who receive “Dear Tohn” tvne
with maroon
No Taps ettiquette
Editor:
I just got back from Silver Taps an I’m
mad enough to write my first letter to The
Battalion. I saw a CT sergebutt (junior)
wearing a uniform with an Ross Volunteer
cord who left his hat on through the whole
ceremony and a CT sergebutt in Squadron
12 who had the gall to wear a sweatshirt
and shower shoes! Not to mention all the
non-regs who wore sweat suits and jogging
clothes.
Ags, Silver Taps is a memorial service,
one of the best traditions this school has.
You won’t find anyone who’ll argue about
that. It doesn’t take 10 minutes to put on
and white
some nice clothes. Come on, Ags. Let’s
show a little more respect.
—Sam Melton, ’80
Work for students
Editor:
This is a response to the Feb. 12 Battal
ion article on coupon books. We were dis-
appointed to learn of the opposition to the
People Book’ by campus organizations.
Apparently, the People Book is the better
coupon book since more students have
been using People Book coupons. There
are more coupons in the People Book, and
it is possible to have more than one book,
if desired.
The discounts offered in the People
E. Stevenson, D-Ill. — in recent soul
searching interviews, expressed his dis
enchantment with Carter’s presidency,
and with his own political career. Now it
appears that he is not turned off about
politics, but is making the familiar sounds
of a presidential candidate, and may try to
succeed where his father, Adlai Steven
son, failed.
How strong a bid Stevenson can mount
remains to be seen. But he is a late starter
and does not have the national following
that gave his father the Democratic
presidential nomination twice in the
1950s.
With only two years in the presidency.
Carter is finding that the honeymoon is
over. As with all presidents, yesterday’s
achievements are dwarfed by the prob
lems of the day.
But for all that, Carter has a major polit
ical plus — his incumbency. Challengers
could be viewed as spoilers. At the same
time, he has ultimate faith in himself, as a
peanut farmer who overcame the “Jimmv,
who?” label.
Book are generally better than those in the
Student Government book. Local mer
chants also prefer the People Book since
they are willing to pay $150 per page for
the People Book opposed to $75 per page
for the Student Government book.
Since the Student Government coupon
book is not a profit making venture, it is
difficult to see just what the big threat is
from the People Book. What is so bad
about letting the two coupon books co
exist on-campus?
After all, isn’t the free enterprise system
based on competition? Let’s see the MSC
bureaucracy work for the student’s best
interest. Keep the People Book on cam
pus!
—Mike Dishberger, ’79
—Debbie McLean, ’79
Thotz
0vcWip, my Uoy. 1 "Ready to sl^n -fV,3 q\'
1 n 1 '"I rtf 1 # *'"1
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By Doug Graham
Top of the News
STATE
Drug bill may save Texans cash
A bill designed to save Texans millions of dollars in drug costs was
. j 1 l^criKlnflire in Austin
introduced to the Texas legislature in Austin I hursday by Sen. Chet
lllUOUluccm —o —oeil,
Brooks, D-Pasadena. The Texas Drug Product Selection Act would
DTOOKS, i^-x — o *
allow pharmacists to select therapeutically equivalent drugs in pla Ce
of more expensive brand-name drugs when filling prescriptions
Brooks said the bill, which does not require pharmacists to substitute
but give the consumer the right to insist that the prescription be filled
as written, will probahly pass because it is similar to one recently
proposed by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal
Trade Commission.
Two selected for retrial jury
Two jurors have been selected in the capital murder retrial of
Ignacio Cuevas, accused of murdering a Huntsville prison librarian
during an escape attempt that left three others dead. The first juror, a
28-year-old food broker, was chosen in Houston Tuesday and
another, a 47-year-old oil company employee from Pasadena,was
chosen Wednesday. Attorneys have predicted it would take a month
to select the jury. Cuevas was convicted of murder and sentenced to
death in a 1975 Houston trial. The conviction was overturned last
December by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on grounds of
improper jury selection.
Clements names more to boards
Gov. Bill Clements Thursday named Bob J. Perry of Nassau Bayto
the State Banking Board and William Terry Bray of Austin to the
Texas Board of Human Resources. The governor also made appoint
ments to 11 other state commissions. Perry, 46, replaces Sam E.
Carter of Temple and will serve two years. He is president of Peny
Homes of Houston. Bray, 39, succeeds Jamie H. Clements of Temple
and will serve six years. All Clements’ appointments must be ap
proved by the Senate.
NATION
Arkansas road shootings persist
Motorists are avoiding interstate highways in central Arkansas™
the wake of a rash of highway shootings Gov. Bill Clinton has termed
the “worst tragedy” in recent history. One person was killed in North
Little Rock and three others injured in the past two weeks in the
shootings. Clinton pledged to have state law enforcement officers
work to find a suspect in the snipings.
Flood to be prosecuted again
Califano refuses to ban Darvon
WORLD
Some Arabs boost oil prices
Elizabeth arrives in Bahrain
Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip arrived in
oil-rich island of Bahrain, Thursday after an overnight voyage on the
WEATHER
Cloudy, windy, and cold with a low this morning of 28. High
today 45 and a low Saturriaw Wind warnings
J > cu OCJICI WIUI d IUW UIIS mun
today 45 and a low Saturday morning of 35. Wind wannot
are in effect with winds gusting at 25 mph. 60% chance o
rain today and 70% Saturday.
The Battalion:
LETTERS POLICY
suhillTl "I ,he e,lit0r shoU,d " Ul exceerl 300 wor(ls “ n ‘ l ore
SU ’ eCt ° b * n & '<> 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
^ a,Ul “ tele * h “ n *
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor The
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Justice Department officials have decided to again prosecute 75-
year-old Rep. Daniel Flood, D-Pa, on bribery charges that left ajun
deadlocked and forced a mistrial in the first attempt at conviction,
sources in Washington said Thursday. The decision to seek a second
trial was based mainly on reports that the deadlocked jury favored
convicting Flood by 11-1 on five bribery and three perjury counts.
Sources insisted that FBI investigation of possible jury tampering in
the first trial was not a major factor in the decision to again prosecute
the 16th-term House member.
HEW Secretary Joseph Califano Thursday turned down a request
that he ban the drug most commonly sold as Darvon, but issued a
warning that it should be “prescribed and taken only with extreme
care. He said the department would keep the drug, propoxyphene,
under strict scrutiny, however, with a decision to he made by Junel
on whether to ban or restrict prescription refills. Ralph Naders
Health Research Group had asked Califano to either ban Darvon as
an imminent hazard, or have it put under refill controls. Naders
group said the drug, the third most often prescribed drug in the
country, is causing accidental deaths.
Abu Dhabi raised the price of its light crude oils by 6 to 7 percent
Thursday as a reaction to the skyrocketing spot market price of crude |
oil caused by the upheavals in Iran, formerly the worlds sec
largest oil-exporting nation. Both Qater and Iraq also were reported
to have decided on price hikes. The United Arab Emirates news
agency said the new prices were effective at once. It said the increase
is to compensate partially for the huge differential between the Or
ganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries price and the free mar
ket, where prices are now between $6 and $7 higher.
— ‘-*- i x * cxx xx j A x x t_x A O UcA y cl A Id dll A/ V d xx x^xx v y J •"O , J ;
Persian Gulf aboard the royal yacht Brittania. The queen was gree® !
by the Emir of Bahrain and other officials. Thousands of Bahraini
citizens lined the docks. The queen thanked her hosts for t fa
ditional Arab hospitality” before leaving Kuwait on Wednesday
Editor
Kim 1
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Managing Editor . . - • • ■ • • •' .4
Assistant Managing Editor • ,i|
Ste'ff
Debbie 1
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from
periods and*1™ Ug ' Ma y ex «U>t during exam and holiday
throi ^ursda y Umn,er ' When “ * Pub ' ished T -sday
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Sports Editor r :: ’ tPeI
City Editor ~ J
Campus Editor
News Editors
Beth Calhoun
Staff Writers VeW<
Patterson, Sean P
Blake, Dillard M0
Bragg, Lyle L> ve ^ ilS Ci
Cartoonist ''
Photo Editor Lee
Photographer
Focus section editor
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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
..Lya"
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Regents. The Battalion * a
Lwgvriis. i rie uuumw ~ , i
supporting enterprise operate
as a university and cotntnunt y
as a university and com "‘ u 'JL (
Editorial policy is determine