f
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University,
Friday
March 30, 1979
Reflections Scott Pendleton
Keep your statue
If you liked the proposal to put a hedge around the Memorial Student
Center grass, you’ll love this — the Class of ’80 wants to erect a statue of
the Twelfth Man!
That brainstorm makes even the hedge sound like a good idea.
Sure, the Twelfth Man is a prominent part of Aggie tradition. But if
anyone had told E. King Gill, as he left the stands to don maroon and
white midway through the football game against Center College back in
1922, that someday Texas A&M students would spend $20,000 to build a
statue of him, he would have laughed.
Who can blame him? It’s a silly idea.
Frankly, a statue sounds like the kind of class gift whose main purpose
is to bear a little plaque that says “Donated by the Class of ??” to show
everyone what good Ags the class members are.
While the class members of ’80 undoubtedly have their hearts in the
right place, they should also consult their heads in this decision. There
are many $20,000 gifts that would show their loyalty to Texas A&M.
Surely they can think of one that would be of greater benefit to the
University.
Why not instead give an endowed scholarship, like the Class of’79 gift?
Why not make a donation to the library to replace lost books? Why not
contribute to moving the railroad tracks? If the Class of ’80 helped get rid
of that menace, it’d deserve a brass plaque the size of a billboard.
Too many class gifts are the result of enthusiasm rather than intelli
gence. These eventually become the eyesores and stumbling blocks that
plague most college campuses.
Look what kind of idea inlaying the school seal into the Academic
Building floor turned out to be. Since it’s too flimsy to be walked on, the
seal has to be protected by a rope barrier. At least the tile says “Donated
by the Class of 1978” so we know who to blame for having to walk around
it.
Bible survey: Most bought,
least read book
By DAVID E. ANDERSON
• UP! Religion Writer
Americans are still continuing to buy
and read their Bibles.
That, at least, is the conclusion of a re
cent nationwide survey done for the Chris
tian Bible Society.
According to the survey, better than
nine out of 10 families responding to the
survey questions, said they had at least
one bible in their home and the national
average is nearly four per home.
While none of that is startling news —
the Bible has always been a bestseller —
some other parts of the survey may be.
It has often been said, for example, that
the Bible is the most purchased, least read
book in the world.
But according to the survey, an appar
ently increasing number of people are par
ticipating in some kind of group Bible
study — with 31 percent of the families
studied reporting saying at least one
member of the family was involved in such
studies.
The survey also said that 52.5 percent of
the women and 27.4 percent of the men
surveyed indicated that Bible reading is “a
part of their life pattern.”
At the same time, however, only 16.6
percent of the women and 8.3 percent of
the men said they read the Bible as often
as 21 or more times per month.
The survey comes at a time when de
bates about the nature of the Bible is being
hotly debated in a number of Protestant
denominations and some theological con
servatives are expressing the fear that tra
ditional beliefs about the inerrancy and in- surveyed saying they preferred the King
fallibility of the Bible are being under- James to all other versions,
mined.
in the world
Nationally, and including all denomina
tions as well as the unchurched, according
to the survey, 44.6 percent affirmed the
Bible to be the “inspired Word of God and
completely true.”
Another 27.6 percent said they believed
the Bible was “inspired” but also said thes
the Bible was “inspired” but also said they
believed it “may contain factual errors”
the Bible was “an ancient book of history
and moral precepts recorded by men.”
Not surprisingly, when biblical attitudes
were measured against denominational af
filiations, Pentacostals ranked highest on
the inerrancy statement while Jews ranked
lowest.
Some 85.5 percent of the Pentacostals
responding said they believed the Bible to
be “completely true,” followed by 72.2
percent of the Baptists, 69 percent of the
independent evangelicals, 61.1 percent of
the Reformed members and 51 percent of
the Lutherans. ^
On the other end of the scale, according
to the survey, 75.8 percent of Jewish re
spondents said the Bible was a book writ
ten by men, as did 37.4 percent of the
Episopalians, 30.4 percent of the Roman
Catholics, 25.5 percent of the Presbyte
rians and 23.5 percent of the Methodists.
Large groups of most of the mainline
denominations, however, took the more
middle ground, saying they believed they
believed both that the Bible was inspired
and that it contained factual errors.
According to the survey, the most popu
lar version of the Bible remains the King
Version, with 34.8 percent of those
Say, those look like Uncle Harry’s tracks
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON — It gives you an
eerie feeling to look at photographs of
3,600,000-year-old footprints and realize
they may have been made by your great-
great-great-gr.
Well, I not sure how many greats to
throw in here.
But if the interpretation of an
thropologist Mary Leakey is correct, the
prints were left by two human-like ances
tors of man.
And in the absence of any “Roots”-like
genealogical research, you and I are as
entitled to claim kinship as anybody.
It probably would enhance our sense of
family identification if we could see the
actual tracks the Leakey team of scientists
found in northern Tanzania. I have only
seen the photos, but as far as I can tell the
prints exactly match the contours of the
Mind fields
on road to
world peace
By JIM ANDERSON
United Press International
WASHINGTON -— The negotiations for
the Egyptian-Israeli pact were child’s play
compared to the upcoming talks on an
overall peace settlement.
Monday’s signing of an Egyptian-Israeli
peace treaty took place in an atmosphere of
prayerful hope — and some fears.
It is a big first step, but the road to peace
in the Middle East remains studded with
minefields and booby-traps.
The formidable problems remaining —
particularly the fixture of Jerusalem and the
nature of Palestinian “selfrule” in occupied
territories — are so serious that a move just
to mention them in the first pact dead
locked the Egyptian-Israeli treaty talks for
months.
Jerusalem was such a sensitive issue that
the negotiators deliberately set the whole
subject aside at Camp David for fear of
Analysis
West family foot.
I compared the pictures to some tracks
my teen-age son left on the living room
carpet the other evening when he re
turned from what must have been a
grape-stomping contest.
The prints in the polyester cut pile were
remarkably similar to those in the volcanic
ash in which the hominid footsteps were
Humor
preserved. Moreover, radioactive carbon
tests indicate the rug stains will last fully
3.6 million years.
Ms. Leakey obviously felt the ancestral
continuity quite strongly. At one point,
the tracks show one of the creatures, ap
parently a female, pausing and turning as
if “to glance at some possible threat or ir
regularity,” she reported.
“This motion, so intensely human, tran
scends time. Three million six hundred
thousand years ago, a remote ancestor —
just as you or I — experienced a moment
of doubt.”
Since Ms, Leakey was the one who -
found the prints, she is entitled to read
anything into them she pleases. It may
well have been a “threat or irregularity”
that gave, the hominid female pause.
If, however, the prehistoric pedestrians
were reasonably human-like, and if one
was a male and the other female, as it ap
pears, then it seems more logical to as
sume that the “moment of doubt” experi
enced by the female was prompted by
something the male said.
There probably is no human experience
more ancient than females having
momentary doubts over some male utter
ance. In this case, the doubt may have
been indecision over whether she should
turn around and go back home.
What might the male have said to cause
her uncertainty? From what I know of an
thropology, it may have been something in
this vein:
—“Don’t be ridiculous, Millicent. I can
recognize quicksand when I see it. ”
—“There is ho need to stop ;and ask di
rections. I know how to get where we’re
going.”
—“No, I most certainly did not forget to
roll the rock back up against the entrance
to the cave.”
—“I’m sure you’ll enjoy the game once
you catch on to what is going on.”
torpedoing the move toward peace.
The holy city — conquered by Jews,
Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs,
Turks and Jews once again — is sacred to
three religions.
But the United States, Israel and Egypt
— with the world’s Christians, Moslems
and Jews looking over their shoulders —
will have to take up the city’s future early in
the next series of negotiations.
Negotiators also must deal with the fu
ture of Palestinians living on the occupied
West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the role of
Israeli forces in maintaining security in the
two territories.
Israel, which captured the West Bank
from Jordan and the Gaza Strip from Egypt
in the so-called Six-Day War of 1967,
adamantly rejects full sovereignty for the
territories and so far refuses to even talk
with the Palestine Liberation Organiza
tion, which has the allegiance of the vast
majority of Palestinians in the territories.
So far the three nations have been so
busy working on the Egyptian-Israeli pact
they haven’t had much chance to look
closely at the new obstacles down the road.
“Really, I don’t think any of the govern
ments have talked among themselves in
great detail about how to manage the
negotiations that are coming,” a U.S. offi
cial warned over the weekend.
Letters to the Editor
‘Bear-baiting’ judges: Who judges you?
Editor:
I’ll try to keep this short. I’m sick to my
gut from what I just saw happen in the
Commons cafeteria and lounge this eve
ning. I want the rest of the campus to
know what passes for entertainment over
here.
It seems a group of bear-baiters got to
gether after supper, set themselves up at
the head of the cafeteria stairs, and passed
judgment (with point cards) on every
woman that passed by. Those failing to
meet the standards of this select commit
tee scored a 2 or a 3Vfe, or maybe even a 4.
I’m sure that made their day. The real
lucky girls had a chance to be “saluted” by i
two buffoons wearing paper sacks over
their heads. Great fun! A real crowd
pleaser.
I’m not complaining because of the lack
of Aggie spirit shown tonight. This goes far
beyond that. What happened tonight goes
on constantly, and its done in the name of
fun. I’ve seen it innumerable times, and |
apparently it’s either a pastime of shallow
- - TIP '
fools who have been blessed with good
looks and have been spared the reproach _
of other shallow fools, or by vengeful fools
who have themselves been the target of
bear-baiting.
To those who were on the receiving end
tonight, I’d like to say forgive and forget. !
To those dishing it out, it would be wise to
remember that someone is standing in
judgment of you. And He isn’t looking at
your outward appearance.
—Martin Kobs
Betting bug again
Editor:
Like cockroaches you thought you got
rid of that keep coming back, so again the
proposed bills to open Texas to gambling
are on the Capitol’s doorstep. Already
there are bills to legalize betting on horse
races, bingo games and lotteries. Some
people just won’t take “no” for an answer.
Only a few months ago, the majority of
the people of Texas voted against pari
mutuel gambling. The main idea of a de
mocracy is that the will of the majority
should be respected and honored. But
there are bad losers.
It is appalling that selfish private inter
ests lusting for lots of fast easy bucks from
hard working Texans will not take “no” for
an answer, but push and push. I hope that
our elected officials will have the wisdom
to vote against these bills and keep the
gamblers and Mafia out of Texas.
—Dick Thomas
Dallas
Readers’ Forum
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Top of the News
CAMPUS
Bookstore fund requests due
Recognized student organizations that wish to request funding
from the Memorial Student Center Bookstore profits must turn in
their request forms to the Student Finance Center by 4 p.m. today.
Blank forms may be picked up at the finance center. Call 845-1133 for
information.
STATE
Subpoenaed ‘bandido’ arrested
The FBI has arrested on a weapons charge a member of the Ban-
didos Motorcycle Club who testified in the federal grand jury investi
gation into the assassination attempt on Assistant U.S. Attorney
James Kerr. Agents arrested Timothy Kenneth Larson, 34, Wednes
day at his residence in San Antonio and charged him with illegal
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Although the FBI main
tained the firearms charge was unrelated to the Kerr case, the arrest
brought to 10 the number of Bandidos arrested in Texas on weapons
or drug charges since the investigation into the attack on Kerr began.
NATION
Carter to unveil new energy plan
President Carter told congressional leaders Thursday he will soon
unveil his new energy program and warned that some changes in oil
pricing are inevitable. Carter promised the lawmakers he will make
his oil conservation plan public “fairly early next week.” And he
reminded them that legislation passed after the Arab oil embargo
puts the responsibility for oil pricing “in my hands at the end of May.
I don’t object to that responsibility,” he said. “It’s not something I
welcome. But we are prepared to take that burden on.”
Radiation still leaking from plant
Power plant officials Thursday said radiation still was leaking from
Three Mile Island nuclear station and that additional radiation has
been detected as far as 20 miles away off the island near Harrisburg,
Pa. A U.S. congressional delegation headed for the site to learn more
about potential dangers to residents of the rural area. The Nuclear
Regulatory Commission said Thursday that higher levels of radiation
were detected as far 20 miles away.
8 states oppose ‘first use’ gas tax
Eight states filed suit Thursday in the Supreme Court challenging
Louisiana’s new “first use tax on natural gas” that they say will cost
natural gas users in eastern and midwestern states $200 million annu
ally. The suit, initiated by Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Massachu
setts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, argues that
if Louisiana imposes the tax, “other states could race to impose coun
tervailing measures on comparable products and our national
economy would regress into the precise interstate feudalism that our
Constitution and our federal system were designed to prevent.” The
Louisiana tax, scheduled to take effect Sunday, levies 7 cents per
thousand cubic feet for all natural gas entering Louisiana.
2-train crash claims 2 victims
Two Union Pacific freight trains collided in the northern foothills of
Wyoming’s Medicine Bow mountains Thursday, killing two crew
men. According to the county coroner, one of the freight trains ran
into the rear of the other, crushing one of the victims in the caboose.
The second fatality occurred in the locomotive of the second train.
Flynt to continue mag in Georgia
Hustler magazine owner Larry Flynt, convicted on obscenity
charges, says he has no intention of keeping his sexually explicit
publications out of Georgia. The jury of four women and two men
deliberated 9 hours and 40 minutes before finding Flynt guilty Wed
nesday on all 11 misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to a year in
prison on each count and fined $27,500. Trial Judge Nick Lambros
said he would suspend the prison sentence on the condition that
Flynt pay the fine and keep his magazines. Hustler and Chic, out of
Georgia. However, Flynt told reporters in a news conference after
the trial that Hustler and his other publications would continue to be
sold in Georgia despite Lambros’ order.
WORLD
Britain’s labor government loses
For want of a sick member’s vote. Prime Minister James Cal
laghan’s Labor government became the first in 55 years to lose a
parliamentary vote of confidence and plunged Britain into early elec
tions. Members of the House of Commons Wednesday voted 311 to
310 that they had “no confidence in Her Majesty’s government” on a
motion by Margaret Thatcher’s opposition Conservative Party, end
ing a 6V6-hour debate punctuated by catcalls and booing. Labor Party
whips, expecting a close vote, ordered all their lawmakers to be
present three hours early and made plans to bring Sir Alfred
Broughton, 72, to Parliament from his hosptial bed by ambulance.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy skies with mild temperatures. High today 78
and a low of upper 50’s. 60% chance of rain today and tonite.
Winds S-S.E. at 10-15 mph, change to South later this eve
ning.
Thf. Battalion-
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