Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 1979)
Slouch by Jim Earle Can we get rid of our Thanksgiving decorations now? Opinion Where is ‘Justice’ in suit action? So now the Justice Department is joining in filing a sex discrimination suit against Texas A&M. In most instances, there would be nothing exceedingly controversial in that. What’s controversial is the Justice Department arranging to have its defendant. Col. James Woodall, released from the suit so that the government can switch sides and join the plaintiff. On the surface, it appears unethical; reports are circulat ing that it may in fact be illegal. At any rate, it’s not fair — and if Justice gets by with it, maybe the department should change its name. More than any other defendant in the suit, Woodall is and has been connected with and responsible for both day-to- day and long-term -policies and practices within Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets. That is in no way passing judgment on Woodall — it’s merely a statement acknowledging the role of the Comman dant in Corps affairs. Moreso than President Miller and Dr. Koldus, who view the Corps from a distant perspective, and moreso than Robert Kamensky, who was instrumental in guiding Corps activities for only one year, Woodall is in direct, prolonged contact with the Corps and its activities. But the Justice Department decided it would rather join the plaintiffs than defend Woodall — so he’s been dropped as a defendant. Holding those in indirect control more responsible than those in direct control — especially so that a politically expedient move can be made — isn’t right. It’s not Justice. the small society by Brickman £LJTAT LfcAST \?0 HAVB IT TO \N£6&S- INFLATI^N YE=T- The Battalion U S P S 045 360 LETTERS POLICY Lettirs to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to 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 signed, show the address of the writer and lust a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Ix’tttrs to the Editin', The Battalion. Room 216. Reed McDonald Building. College Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday K*riods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday hrough Thursday. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester. $33.25 per school year, $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battalion. Room 216. Reed Mcl>mald Building. College Station, Texas 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second-Class postage* paid at College Station. TX 77843. MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Liz Newlin Managing Editor . . . Andy Williams Asst. Managing Editor Dillard Stone News Editors Karen Cornelison and Michelle Burrowes Sports Editor Sean Petty City Editor Roy Bragg Campus Editor Keith Taylor ' Focus Editor Beth Calhoun Staff Writers Meril Edwards, Nancy Andersen, Louie Arthur, Richard Oliver, Mark Patterson, Carolyn Blosser, Kurt Allen, Debbie Nelson, Rhonda Watters Photo Editor Lee Roy Leschper Jr. Photographers Lynn Blanco, Sam Stroder, Ken Herrera Cartoonist Doug Graham 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 Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self- supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Tuesday November 27, 1979 ca XTTT a CTTTJVr/^ r r|^|'I\jR e i ec ^ on °f macho approach ini /Xo JrlJ-lN \j X vXIN boosts Carter s re-election hopes Bv !VL By HELEN THOMAS United Press International WASHINGTON — President Carter is experiencing the most trying days of his presidency in dealing with the Iranian cri sis. He has found that even for a superpow er the options are limited. Carter has chosen the route of patient diplomacy to secure the freedom of hos tages taken hy Iranian militants who cap tured the American Embassy compound in Tehran on Nov. 4. And while his patience may last, there is question of whether pressure may increase for him to do more to show the flag. In retaliation, Carter has ordered depor tation of Iranian students who are in the country illegally, ended imports of Iranian crude oil, and frozen $8 billion worth of Iranian assets in this country. The moves have been generally ap plauded, and Carter has enjoyed the back ing of the American people as he seeks peaceful solutions while rejecting Ayatol lah Ruhollah Khomeini’s demand that Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi be returned to Iran. The trouble began after the United States decided to permit the deposed Ira nian monarch to undergo gall bladder surgery and treatment for cancer in a New York hospital. Carter and his advisers had known for months the intensity of the anti-shah feel ings in Iran and the president had refused all petitions for his entry into the United States as a permanent refuge. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissin ger and David Rockefeller, the shah’s banker, had lobbied Washington official dom intensely since last January to allow the shah to live in exile in this country. Kissinger had publicly criticized the admi nistration on several occasions, charging that the shah had been relegated to the life of the “Flying Dutchman.” Humanitarian reasons prevailed. On advice of Rockefeller’s doctor and State Department physicians, the shah was flown to New York for treatment. From the White House standpoint, the United States could not have done less for a friend and ally of 30 years. In the view of the Iranians, the United States is harboring a criminal who ruled tyrannically and caused the deaths of many of their compat riots. But all is not lost. Worldwide diplomacy, enlisted in support of the United States, is continuing. Nations with friendly relations with Iran have intervened. Third World emissaries and the United Nations are assisting behind the scenes. The suggestion that some of the hostages may be put on trial in Iran as spies is viewed as an outrage and may further inflame the explosive situation. Some have spoken of the potential for! and “disastrous” consequences. Despite the release of some of! tages, the attitude at the Whi seems to be stiffening, ifanything, ter has demanded the American captives. Carter has established a repi man of peace who approach of many of his pr< has not needed to prove of the United States, but is cm nation’s power. For soi Isity stuc Ihome is ; h of Renter. The ments, w ersev ■ the milto He told the families of some til tages that he is not interested in| how tough he can be, ortoi leadership qualities in that wad background, he realizes his politic and hopes for re-election are r outcome of the Iranian crisis. kvith accommo dents enr ate or gr t&M. The oi nents, ra i$224 a all aetering findow i The 78 Sustaininj state or f< “We dc 'in,” said the hu: And for more on how a Kennedy admimstratipn mdd deal with inflate... here's rcy chief adviser cm economics^. are provu keep it (t (for Aggie: The un provide \ children, areas for School roin loca In ad> naintenai t aside f * N “My ap [the tenan said. “Wt pave any Securit \-v ifWii famalot V' MOTOR LODGE Silver Taps be once a montli Yes No ... By TRACY W. COX The Student Senate will hear the second reading of a bill dealing with one of Texas A&M’s most precious trations — Silver Taps. The bill proposes that Silver Taps be held, if necessary, on the first Tuesday of each month. The present system requires the ceremony to take place on each Tuesday (if necessary after the death of a student). Awareness of Silver Taps will be increased if the ceremony is held monthly. More students will know about the date of Silver Taps. Faculty will be encouraged to turn out the lights in their offices. Students would be more courteous during this one solemn ceremony. Simply, the whole University would be aware that this special day is set aside on behalf of students who have died during the previous month. Increased awareness will undoubtedly urge greater attendance at Silver Taps. Larger attendance does enhance the ceremony for it proves that more students care about its significance. Silver Taps will be made more emotional and inspiring — more meaningful. Thus, the student body will participate and cherish the ceremony with greater dedication. Many believe that a less spontaneous Silver Taps ceremony will depersonalize and degrade the ceremony. Silver Taps is already standardized to some degree. The event is held almost every September (after the summer break) and every January (after the Christmas break). The issue is not standardization but moderation. The Senate bill proposes a more meaningful memorial to students, not a depersonalized uninspiring occurrence. Tracy cox is a student senator representing juniors in the College of Business. By PERIE R. PITTIS Most everyone is agreed there is need for increased awareness of Silver Taps many miss Taps. But increased awareness is a function of publicity, notscheduli Silver Taps should call for a bordered notice on the front page ofTheBattaS Monday and Tuesday the week of Taps. It should be announced on KAMUu and television, as public service announcements. Silver Taps is a very personal ceremony. Coming to Taps is a personal decisio Those who come are there despite any inconveniences that arise because of! spontaneity of Taps. The meaning and essence of Taps is this: A person sacriflcei! time and activity to remember a fellow Aggie student, an irreplaceable partofla A&M. The significance of Taps is not measured hy the numbers of people who attemi comes from the immeasurable feelings of those students in attendance. Hi hundred Aggies genuinely concerned with the loss of a fellow student are much id significant than 30,000 students in attendance because it is the evening’s schedd activity. Scheduling conflicts can never he resolved. There are too many campusm activities which for one reason or another will fall on the first Tuesday of the mo< or on any other predesignated day. To predesignate Silver Taps is to institutionalize and depersonalize a'£ personal tradition. Silver Taps was never meant to he convenient. It is mean! remember those Aggie students who are forever gone from Texas A&M. Perie Pittis is an off-campus senator representing Ward 4. *and so its Letters Midnight Yell in Fort Worth tavern causes embarrassment for some Ags Editor: We were very embarrassed and angry about the so-called Midnight Yell Practice held at the Key Beer Warehouse in Fort Worth Friday before the TCU game. First of all the location was changed un expectedly, so when we arrived at Whiskey River (the scheduled location) we found an abandoned establishment, bearing no indi cation of the whereabouts of Yell Practice. After about 30 minutes of phoning all over the city we got directions to an out of the way beer joint. When we arrived we found a smoky, filthy redneck hangout charging $2 to get in. (The first time I ever heard of paying to get into a yell practice.) At midnight we started wondering if we were in the right place because nothing was happening. By 12:30 the Yell leaders jumped on stage and accompanied by the “Texas Ex press” version of War Hymn (out of tune) led us in some yells and told two grody stories (which we couldn’t hear), and that was it. We were embarrassed for our shcool, as we had told our friends how great Yell Prac tice and A&M traditions were. Let’s get it together next year. — Steve Langsdorf, '83 Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied by two other signatures. the use of the main floor of G. Rollie White by “a handful of students ... to play catch with their Frishees, ” and I would like to get a few facts straight. First, there were more than a handful of people there that night, there were 20. We are all members of the Disc Association of A&M, a recognized and established club on campus. Being recognized by the Uni versity gives us the privilege of using cam pus facilities. We have the main floor of G. Rollie White reserved for only three of the many hours per week which it is open for free play. Second, although there is a certain scien ce to Frisbee, we are not a “bunch of frus trated aero-dynamics majors” as you sug gest. The fields in which our members are studying include geology, engineering, physics, biology, and chemistry. Although most of the members are undergraduates, our roster boasts graduate students and staff members. Last, we were not at G. Rollie White merely to play catch, we were there to practice a team sport called Ultimate. Ulti mate is a sport which is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States. Rutgers and Princeton (the first two colleges to play football) have extensive Ultimate prog rams. Some colleges feature Frisbee in their physical education programs. Ultimate resembles soccer in the way it is played. The disc is advanced down the field to a teammate in the end zone for a score. Not only does this take skill, but it takes a great amount of endurance and sta mina since one does much running on the 120 x 40 yard field. Texas A&M is represented by t« mate teams, and we needed thewl* floor in order to practice for a toil rtf which we attended in Austin on fie and IS. There were five other teantf around Texas at this tournament. W to practice outdoors, but the early and impending cold forced us ii If you or anybody else would likt what we are doing and what Ultiraat is, you are invited to attend ourprf on Sundays at 3 p.m. on themaindrili — Franld V Secretary-Trei y Disc Association of Editor’s note: This letter was accorap 1 by five other signatures. THOTZ Frisbee club facts Editor: Dear Mr. Wheeler I read your letter to the editor in the Nov. 20 issue of the Battalion concerning By Doug Grab ( NO interruptions! HEY. KEEP IT / IX)VJN. CHEESU WE IS TRYIM' (TO FIND A FOURTH FOR OUF GAME, 3. No BEDJCr A . VJBT sum &00F»NCr OFF.. Chic Mi By MSC thing ne - a tout >f 1920s You di :o notie rom nor longs, d; ama all njoyabl Hit this The si the dichi rvas writtc ‘Chieay Che< for h A Bryan tomers to before n Effective must be a 5 inches 1 A 7 cen on first ounce or class mail measure high, 11 thick.