Viewpoint
The Battalion # Texas A&M University • Tuesday • June 26, 1979
Summer fun cut short
Traditions are hard to buck at A&M, but the senior final
exemption policy should be reviewed and revised.
Seniors graduating during the regular school year tra
ditionally do not have to take any finals their last semester.
Those graduating in August are also exempt from only one
semester: if he fulfills his requirements the first session, he
doesn’t take those finals; if he has to attend both sessions, he is
exempt only from the second session finals.
Professors hasten to remind the seniors that they are
graduating in August, not July, and that the exemption applies
only in the semester in which you graduate.
However, the exemption policy should take into account
that summer students who attend both sessions are cramming
10-12 hours — almost a semester’s work — into three months.
Most seniors feel that if they put in their four years and ac
cumulate 130 hours of classwork, they should have the
privilege of being exempt from more than two finals.
Summer graduation is not a choice for some seniors. For
some it was a result of changing majors or transferring to A&M
from another school. Many of them probably have lost more
than a few precious hours. Should they also be penalized by
the final exemption policy?
—KAREN ROGERS
Fewer finals no help
Yes, Karen, traditions are hard to buck at A&M, but senior
exemptions are not a tradition, they are a privilege.
Now you want to abuse that privilege by letting only the
summer session seniors be exempt from tests during both ses
sions. This is not fair to any of the students at A&M, particu
larly the seniors graduating during the regular semesters.
Why should they not be exempt from tests during the fall and
spring semesters if the summer session seniors are exempt
from both sessions? It would only be fair.
Seniors have earned and deserve exemptions from tests dur
ing one semester, but exemptions from both is taking things a
bit far.
More exemptions would cost the university money through
absences. They would also cheat themselves of part of their
education if they were allowed exemptions during both semes
ters. Seniors have a tendency not to show up after the last
required test, so they would be missing education in two
semesters instead of one.
Another thing, Karen, you should consider yourself lucky to
be going to a university that has senior exemptions at all.
Many universities are cutting this privilege out completely,
and if students here start griping for more exemptions, the
administration may feel moved to cut them out completely.
—KEITH TAYLOR
Congressional double
standard questioned
Letters to the Editor
2 independence days OK
By CHERYL ARVIDSON
United Press International
WASHINGTON — A woman is fired
by her boss. He states in writing that
the only reason for the dismissal is that
a man would be able to do her job bet
ter.
This on the face appears to be out-
and-out sex discrimination, entitling
the woman to an immediate recourse
under provisions in the Civil Rights Act
that prohibit discrimination in em
ployment. She could seek to get her job
back, secure back pay and perhaps
even win damages.
Just such a case occurred in Con
gress, but Shirley Davis, the woman
who was fired by former Rep. Otto
Passman, D-La., has spent years in the
courts trying to get her employment
discrimination case settled.
The reason she’s had to go through
all this is that Congress exempts itself
from the Civil Rights Act, as it does
from other federal laws that set
standards on civil and human rights is
sues.
Davis is another a victim of a system
that works hardships on people with
some of the most pivitol jobs on Capitol
Hill but the least amount of power —
congressional staff members.
After her firing, Davis sued Passman
in the federal courts in Louisiana,
charging sex discimination, but her
case was thrown out. Then came a
string of appeals.
In early June, the Supreme Court
overturned the Louisiana decision, say
ing congressional employees do have a
right to sue if they are victims of dis
crimination. The Supreme Court said
the courts are the proper place to bring
a complaint since congressional em
ployees have no other recourse.
Now, the Davis case goes back to
Louisiana courts, and she will try again
to get the same sex-discrimination pro
tection that is afforded to private-sector
employees.
About the time of the Supreme
Court ruling, the Senate quietly passed
an amendment that calls on the Civil
Rights Commission to study any legal
questions involved in eliminating the
congressional exemption to civil rights
statutes.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who
sponsored the amendment, said the
Davis case points out the “double
standard” of subjecting congressional
employees to the “hiring and firing
whims of congressmen while the rest of
the country must abide by Civil Rights
laws.”
“This is the first step in what will be a
major reform of Congress’ relationship
to more than 6,000 employees who re
main unprotected from discrimination
by the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” said
Leahy.
But others are not so optimistic.
Congress has a long history of isolating
itself from the laws in place for others,
and there are no guarantees that pro
cedure is likely to be changed without a
bitter battle.
Among the other major exemptions
Congress has chosen to bestow on itself
are freedom from the Equal Pay Act
that requires women to receive the
same wages as men for comparable
work and the Fair Labor Standards Act
that provides for a minimum wage,
overtime and child labor protection.
Congress is not covered by the Na-
wages as men for comparable work and
the Fair Labor Standards Act that
provides for a minimum wage, over
time and child labor protection.
Congress is not covered by the Na
tional Labor Relations Act that requires
employees to recognize and bargain
collectively with unions that have won
the right to represent employees or the
Occupational Safety and Health Act
that requires employers to meet safety
and health standards in their work
places.
There is a congressional exemption
in place for the Freedom of Information
Act that gives members of the public
the right to examine most records of
federal agencies and the Privacy Act
that requires government agencies to
assure the confidentiality of files they
maintain on individuals.
You will hear a lot from lawmakers
about how sacred they hold the public
trust of their constituents. Yet they will
routinely exempt themselves from liv
ing under the laws they make for
everyone else, as if they deserved a
special status.
But surely if its good enough for us,
it must be good enough for them.
Editor:
Two very diverse views of where blacks
stand on the issue of the celebration of the
19th of June have been given to the public
over the past week. I feel that the public
has been exposed to two extremes: one
very passive and one very activist.
When such extremes are portrayed,
often people wonder if every one fits those
two specific categories. The answer is no.
There are those of us out in the boonies
who believe in celebrating both the 19th of
June and the 4th of July.
First, I am a black, but second, I am an
American, and I am extremely proud to be
both. So nothing in my particular heritage
prohibits me from observing both holi
days. In my youth, my parents and grand
parents celebrated the 19th of June with
lots of festivities, which made the day be
come very meaningful to me.
I do feel that when a celebration is
scheduled it should be a celebration. As
one poet said it so well, there is a time and
a season for everything.
I feel that another point should be
made. The city of Bryan, is not killing our
children. Let anyone show me statistics
that the city of Bryan has killed someone
and I will be in the forefront, exhausting
all remedies that the System allows for.
Neither am I a prostitue to the officials
of the city, county, state or nation. That is
the reason I exercise my right to vote. The
System allows for ways for us to replace
those who do not give anyone equal justice
and I have always exercised this preroga
tive. Just because I vote, in every election,
I have the right to be heard when some
thing happens with which I am in dis
agreement. My vote for any one person
does not sanction any adverse statements
can do just as much harm as no statement
at all.
Lastly, my being both black an an
American gives me the best of both
worlds. I am not satisfied with lots of
things that occur, but I also realize that at
least I am guaranteed the right to protest
here in America which is one thing that I
could not do in any other country.
—Erma Faye Jefferson
‘Duke, ’ Ags friends
Editor:
With the passing of John Wayne, I would
like to share a perhaps unknown point of
interest with my fellow Aggies. While he
didn’t touch this campus physically, he
probably came closer to it than others
imagine.
In 1962, my brother, Rick Graham,
class of ’63, went to see the movie “The
Alamo.” He was extremely interested in
the painting of the mission, over which the
titles were run. Sending a registered letter
to John Wayne, he inquired of the possible
sale of the painting to his squadron, for the
University. The reply came from the Duke
himself, stating that while the painting was
not for sale, it was a part of his private
collection, and he would be honored to
dedicate it to A&M.
After much correspondence, John
Wayne was presented with an inscribed
saber and the University was presented
with the original Russell Roberts painting
of the Alamo from John Wayne.
This painting hangs in the special collec
tions room of the library, for those who are
interested. It truly is our own personal
touch with, and remembrance of, John
Wayne.
—Penny Graham, ’79
Top of the News
STATE
Jachimczyk testifies in Henley trial
Houston chief medical examiner Joseph Jachimczyk was expected
Monday to explain the process he used to identify the sixth youths
Elmer Wayne Henley is accused of killing in his trial in Corpus
Christi. Before the trial recessed for the weekend Friday, the medical
examiner testified the victims were sexually abused before they died
painful strangulation deaths. After the youths were killed,
Jachimczyk said, their nude bodies were wrapped in plastic bags
containing lye to aid decomposition and dumped in shallow mass
graves. Henley, 23, is being retried on charges he killed six of the 27
teen-agers who died prior to the 1973 death of Dean Corll, 33. Hen
ley was originally convicted in 1974, but the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals ruled the original trial judge had erred in not allowing a
change of venue hearing.
Two bodies found in collapsed rig
Two more bodies were found in a collapsed offshore oil drilling
platform during preparations last weekend to refloat the structure, a
Coast Guard spokesman said Monday. The discoveries brought to
five the number of bodies recovered since the May 10 collapse of
Ranger I in the Gulf of Mexico 12 miles south of Galveston. Three
other persons remained missing, 26 escaped injury.
Man stabbed to death at concert
An 18-year-old New York man died of stab wounds suffered at a
rock music concert during the weekend, police said Monday. Michael
Kawalek, a machinist who planned to return to his home in Buffalo,
N.Y., this week, died in the audience at Sam Houston Coliseum
Saturday. A friend told police Kawalek made several trips to a re
stroom where drugs were being sold and finally returned, moaned
and slumped in his chair. The friend said he thought Kawalek was
high on drugs until the end of the concert when he discovered blood
on the front of Kawalek’s shirt, police said.
NATION
Court reverses conviction
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Monday people cannot be
subjected to criminal punishment for refusing to identify themselves
to police unless there is “reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. The
Court reversed the conviction of Zackery C. Brown, a young black
man arrested in 1977 under a Texas statute that makes it unlawful for
an individual to refuse to disclose “his name and residence address to
a peace officer who has lawfully stopped him and requested the in
formation. ”
Coalition asks that sale be blocked
Consumer groups Monday asked a federal judge in Washington to
block the government sale Friday of some 170 offshore oil and gas
leases, arguing that natural resources are virtually being given to
major oil companies.
The coalition says that in the past four years alone, the United
States has let $4 billion slip away because of the low royalties. He said
the California sale itself could represent a loss of $300 million to $400
million.
First Lady recovers from virus
First lady Rosalynn Carter recovered from an intestinal virus in
time to attend a state dinner given by Emperor Hirohito Monday
after having missed some of the excitement of her husband’s first full
day in Japan. Eleven-year-old Amy came down with the “tummy
bug” during the 15-hour flight from Washington, but Mrs. Carterwas
not stricken until she stood in a reception line before a luncheon
given by Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira. She looked faint as she
turned to Mrs. Ohira for assistance and was whisked through a back
door to the residence of U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield, where she
rested in bed.
WORLD
Mexicans arrest 100 smugglers
Mexican federal agents and army troops during the weekend ar
rested more than 100 people in Tijuana, Mexico suspected of smuggl
ing illegal aliens into the United States. The action followed strong
criticism by Roberto de la Madrid, governor of Northern Baja
California, of Mexico’s failure to control the illegal flow of its own
citizens across the border, blaming it for friction with the United
States.
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