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The Battalion Tuesday
Texas A&M University , March 6, 1979
Clements ducking
politicians’ potshots
Poll rates leaders
low in race relations
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
United Press International
WASHINGTON — There is not much
mystery about the angry reaction of some
black leaders to a recent Louis Harris poll
on racial attitudes. Very simply, the poll
concluded they were botching their jobs,
and worse, that the people who were sup
posed to be following them were beginning
to realize it.
The very first paragraph of the survey’s
“overview said the task of rooting out
prejudice in the United States “is still
largely unfinished.” It added: “Blacks,
Hispanics, women. Catholics and Jews all
still report experiencing prejudice against
them in their daily lives.”
The poll went on to report, “At the same
time, the readiness of the American people
to make new strides forward in reducing
and eliminating prejudice emerges from
this study as far greater than is widely as
sumed by those vested with the respon
sibilities of running the American estab
lishment in the late 1970s.”
When the stories about the Harris sur
vey were written, most reporters focused
on the finding that Americans were more
willing to end discrimination than their
leaders believed them to be.
Harris’ finding that whites favor affirma
tive action programs in industry 67 to 17
percent provoked some sharp objections.
Among others. Urban League President
Vernon Jordan said “it is not true” and
Urban Coalition chief Carl Holman said the
findings “do not square with actual be
havior.”
Harris also conducted a subpoll among
community, corporate and black leaders,
and some of those findings may explain the
rather sharp reaction of the latter to what
otherwise might appear to them to be good
news.
Harris says the survey shows that Ameri
can leaders are lagging behind the people
in race relations, and this finding obviously
is a reflection on the quality of leadership
both blacks and whites are getting.
The survey says leaders, black and
white, “perceive the country is in a period
of severe regression on race relations and
therefore it is a time for tempered speed
and high caution.”
But Harris says while 61 percent of all
leaders (and 77 percent of the black lead
ers) interviewed “feel most Americans
think that blacks have moved too fast,” the
actual percentage of whites who hold such
a belief is only 37 percent.
“It is not an overstatement to conclude
that claims that most whites are bristling
with resentment about affirmative action
for blacks, about blacks moving to improve
their lot, prove to be a fairy tale, ” the report
said.
The people who believe in this myth, it
said, “are some in the media and the estab
lishment and most of all some who have
posed as social science analysts without any
real evidence to go on.”
If the point is not completely clear in
those figures, they cannot be missed in the
answers Harris got when he asked rank and
file blacks to rate their leaders. The Urban
League and NAACP both were down 14
points in effectiveness since 1970, black
ministers Were down 18 points and black
elected officials were down 30 points.
By ROLAND LINDSEY
UPI Capitol Reporter
AUSTIN — The heavily Democratic
Texas Legislature has taken its first public
shots at Gov. Bill Clements in retaliation
for his criticism of the lawmakers, but both
liberals and conservatives say the early dis
putes over relatively minor issues should
not be considered as opening to a major
confrontation between the governor and
the Legislature.
How well Clements, the state’s first Re
publican governor in more than 100 years,
would fare with the Legislature has been a
topic of almost constant speculation since
the Dallas millionaire upset Democrat
John Hill in the 1978 elections.
Thus far, there has not been a major
confrontation between him and the law
makers to serve as a measure of his per
formance. But both the House and Senate
took rather pointed jabs at the governor last
week.
The Senate Administration Committee,
over protests of the governor and the man
he appointed as secretary of state, ap
proved a resolution directing the Board of
Control to oust most of the secretary of
Capitol Briefs
state’s office from the Capitol to make room
for senators to have larger offices.
Secretary of State George Strake Jr. told
the senators such action would eliminate
the access to the governor’s office afforded
all previous secretaries of state.
Senators agreed only to leave Strake a
small personal office in the Capitol, even
though Clements has said he will veto the
resolution if it passes the full House and
Senate.
Later in the week, House members took
a more direct shot at the governor by forc
ing a delay in action on a resolution Cle
ments suggested to create a committee to
study renovation of the Governor’s Man
sion. While Clements recommended a $1
billion cut in the overall state budget pro
posals, he sought a $2 million appropriation
for renovation of his living quarters.
“If he’s going to recommend budget
cuts, he ought to start at the top, in his
office,” one House member said. “The lib
erals are all mad as hell about it.”
Rep. Stan Schleuter* D-Salado, said he
concurs with Clement's’ conservative fiscal
policies, but objects to the idea of spending
$2 million to renovate the mansion.
Schleuter said, however, the rough han
dling of the resolution concerning the man
sion study was an isolated instance and not
indicative of the prospects for Clements
other legislative proposals.
Rep. Ron Waters, D-Houston, a leader
among House liberals, agreed.
“I think when he gets to the big issues
it’ll be a little different story,” Waters said.
“I think he’s going to do reasonably well
over here; he’s a personable guy, and he’s
an activist.
“That’s one problem Briscoe had, he
wasn’t personable. The one thing this
Legislature responds to is personality, and
Clements has it. I personally like the guy,
and I’ll probably vote with him on about 50
percent of his programs. ”
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straight from the top — Dr. Jarvis
Miller, president of Texas A&M.
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Fetters to the Editor
Texas teachers need wage hike
Editor:
We are writing to encourage Texas A&M
University students and faculty to support
the school finance bill (SB 525) introduced
to the Texas Legislature Feb. 8 by State
Sen. W.E. Snelson of Midland.
This bill would raise the minimum salary
for teachers with a bachelor’s degree from
the present $8,5450 to $10,000. If passed,
the bill would move Texas teachers’ salaries
closer to the national average of $15,040.
We feel that passage of this bill is neces
sary in order that Texas be competitive
with other states in attracting the most
qualified teachers to our schools. In the
face of continuing reports of a decline in the
quality of education in Texas schools, it is
imperative that we meet this goal.
An increase in teachers’ salaries would
also encourage teachers to remain in the
profession rather than being forced to take
up another occupation in order to support
their families. It is appalling to think that at
present other state employees with less
demanding duties and less training are paid
higher salaries.
A hearing on SB 525 will be held on the
Senate floor at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March
7. We strongly urge all concerned students
to attend this hearing. We will try to
provide transportation to and from Austin.
Interested students students may con
tact one of the people listed below for more
information.
If you are unable to attend the hearing
we urge you to write your state senator and
represenative in support of this vital bill.
—Mary Alice Williams, ’80, 696-7069
Lee Maverick, ’81, 845-1006
Janet Hessong, ’80, 693-4676
Ads sign wasteful
Editor:
Why must Texas A&M do everything
that t.u. does? Does TAMU have a “little
brother” complex and thus feel that it must
do every thing that “big brother” tu does?
I am referring to an article which ap
peared in a recent issue of The Battalion
(Feb. 27) entitled “MSC Council chief fa
vors electric signs.”
What justification does MSC Council
President Ray Daniels have for spending
$110,000 on an electronic sign system for
the MSC other than that “people don’t take
care of the signs, they are left up for weeks
after the events happen.
If Daniels was spending his own money
he would see a much more economical so
lution to the problem. The MSC Council
could give all student organizations notice
that any sign not removed within three
davs dnvs after the announced ev-'*nt would
be removed and disposed of by MoC per
sonnel. The cost would be must less than
the $110,000 for the purchase of the sign
system or the $1,800 rental fee that the
American Sign and Indicator Corp. would
charge for leasing the system.
The MSC is one of the most luxurious
student unions in existence, rivaling the
Taj Mahal in extravagence.
Mr. Daniels says that “he is not sure
where the money for the electronic signs
will come from, but that funding will be
decided if the new system is approved.”
The cost of the system will undoubtedly
show up on students’ fee slips.
To most of the students at TAMU this
will be of no great concern because their
parents will fork over the increased fees.
However, there is a small minority of stu
dents at TAMU that pay their own way
and who get stuck every year with rising
costs, making it just that much more diffi
cult to stay in school.
Why must TAMU have everything that
t.u. has? When will the pointless wasteful
spending for opulent gimmicks stop?!
—L.E. Mayer, ’80
R.D. Howard, ’81
Baseball backers
Editor:
With the spring semester winding down
it is only natural for students to become
restless for summer vacation.
Well Aggies, you re needed. It’s about
time everyone got out and supported our
baseball team. We have one of the best, if
not the best team in the nation. We are also
coming off back to back Southwest Confer
ence championship titles.
The Aggies are also returning two good
pitchers in right-hander Mark Ross and
All-America left-hander Mark Thurmond.
A new addition to the team, in an attempt
to replace All-America Robert Bonner, is a
Texas A&M recruit from Louisburg, Va.,
Brian (Twig) Little. Little was drafted by
the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
The Texas A&M baseball team also is
blessed with one of the finest facilities
available for college baseball in C.E. “Pat”
Olsen Field. This tremendous structure
has a seating capacity for approximately
5,000 people.
The Aggies are presently coming off a
Southwest Conference sweep over the
Houston Cougars, thus leaving the Aggies
6-1 for the season. The Aggies will be in a
long stand in Florida March 10-18, return
ing with a game on March 20 against
Arizona in Aggieland.
It’s about time our team got the recogni
tion and support it deserves. After all, what
other Aggie athletic team is trying for a
triple crown?
—Julie Harris, ’81
‘Good Ag ? rescue
Editor:
Sunday night I was returning to Bryan
when the alternator on my car went out
near Hempstead. My car could not be
driven, and I was very happy when Kirk
Newton and Patty McCarthy (sophomores
at Texas A&M) stopped to help.
It was already 9 p.m. and dark, but they
helped me for an hour as I was trying to find
a way to get my car running. I had to leave
my car there for the night but Kirk and
Patty were nice enought to give me a ride to
Bryan, and I want to say thanks to them.
It’s Aggies like them that make Texas
A&M the best university in the world.
—Mike Pustka, ’80
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Top of the News
CAMPUS
Silver Taps will be held Thursday
Silver Taps Memorial services will be held Thursday for James S.
McCaine, 22, a Texas A&M University senior killed Saturday morn
ing in a two-car accident. The senior industrial distribution major was
returning from Houston, his hometown. Services were to have been
this morning in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church under the direction of
George Lewis Funeral Home of Bellaire. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests contributions be made to the James S. McCaine Memorial
Fund through the Association of Former Students.
Marine Corps-NATO, discussed
The U.S. Marine Corps’ organization and role in support of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be presented Wednesday at
Texas A&M University. Col. Frederick Vanous will speak at the
meeting at 4 p.m. in Room 102 of Zachry Engineering Center.
STATE
Big welcome set for ‘Columbia’
The Kennedy Space Center in Houston is scheduling a rousing
welcome Saturday for “Columbia,” the first Space Shuttle destined to
be blasted into orbit. Officials at the center are preparing for a crowd
of about 6,000 — mostly space program employees and contracting
firms and their families — to watch the scheduled 2 p.m. arrival
Friday. Speakers scheduled at the ceremony include astronauts John
Young and Robert Crippen, who are scheduled to pilot the first shut
tle flight, and Administrator Dr. Robert A. Frosch of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Among the work remaining to
be done is installation of 7,000 fmgile silica tiles designed as a heat
shield to protect the occupants during re-entry into the Earth’s atmo
sphere and installation of the shuttle’s three main engines and two
engines for the orbital maneuvering system.
Vote on tax relief bill today
The Texas House Ways and Means Committee has virtually com
pleted six weeks of tedious work on a $421 million tax relief proposal,
and scheduled a final vote on the measure today in Austin. “It is my hill
intention to go straightforward with it this morning and get finished
with it,” said Rep. Bob Davis, R-Dallas, chairman of the committee.
“We’ve been on this thing for six weeks, and I think everybody is
reasonably satisfied with what we’ve done. The proposal, which
implements the voter-approved Tax Relief Amendment to the state
Constitution, provides a local school tax exemption of the first $10,000
value of their homesteads for persons over 65 and a $5,000 exemption
for other homeowners. The tax exemptions would reduce the amount
of income school districts collect from local sources. The bill provides
for the state to reimburse the districts on a dollar-for-dollar basis in
fiscal 1980 for the revenue they lost.
NATION
Oil rig fire kills at least 2 people
A deep-water oil rig 45 miles off' the Louisiana Coast burst into
flames Monday, killing at least two persons. Coast Guard officials said
another six workers are missing. The Coast Guard said the fire broke
out aboard the Penrod Rig 30 in South Marsh Island block 281. A
Coast Guard helicopter searched for the missing men while six boats
sprayed water on the structure to combat the flames. The fire broke
out at 6 a.m. Its cause was not immediately reported. The rig was
situated in about 180 feet of water.
Passman s future to be decided
Former Democratic congressman Otto Passman, holding a cane in
his right hand, sat quietly in a federal courtroom in Monroe, La.,
Monday while attorneys began choosing a jury to decide his fate on
charges of bribery and income tax evasion. The 78-year-old former
dean of the Louisiana congressional delegation is accused of accepting
$213,000 in bribes from South Korean businessman, Tongsun Park,
and for help in steering shipments of United States rice to South
Korea during the early 1970s. After the meeting. Judge Veron gave
instructions to 150 prospective jurors and warned them the trial could
last as long as two months and asked whether the sequestration would
cause hardships on anyone. In consideration of Passman’s health,
court will run in session only five hours daily, from 9:30 a.m. to noon
and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Police officers reject city offer
The New Orleans police union Monday rejected a city offer to free
from contempt charges hundreds of police officers who took part in a
15-day strike that led to cancellation of Mardi Gras. The offer would
have left 17 union leaders to face possible punishment. The rejection
by the union meant more than 1,000 officers could be brought before
Judge Richard Garvey, who issued a back-to-work order that was
ignored by the strikers. The walkout ended Sunday when the police
men returned to work without the contract they sought from the city.
City officials said the cancellation of Mardi Gras, a celebration older
than the city itself, was the key reason the strike failed.
WEATHER
Fair to partly cloudy skies with winds south-southwesterly at
8-14 mph. High today 71 and a low of 47.
The Battalion
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