Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1979)
-r by Jim Earle “Z’m highly concerned about our situation in Iran, we have a crucial football game, over the weekend, inflation is spiral ing upward, and now he wants to give us an examination on top of all of this!” Opinion Some things are important. Others are merely necessary. The Board of Regents generally meets on the last Tuesday of odd-numbered months. For this 11th month, however, the meeting is changed to Friday. The reason is obvious. The regents don’t want to waste a trip, since they’ll be here anyway — with the rest of Texas’ important political figures. OF THE TEXAS ASM UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Friday, November 30, 1979 8:30 a.m. Meeting of the Executive Cormittee 9:30 a.m. 12:00 noon Meeting of the Committee for Service Units Lunch, Board of Regents Dining Room Guests will be student leaders from Tarleton State University 1:30 p.m. Meeting of the Board of Regents 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. f adjournment Dinner, Board of Regents Dining Room Saturday, December 1, 1979 10:00 a.m. Unveiling of Sculpture, Robert Justus Kleberg, Jr. and Plaque Presentation to Mrs. Electra Waggoner Biggs 11:30 a.m. ‘ Board of Regents' Buffet, Room 212, Memorial Student Center (Regents form receiving line for legislators, etc., in two shifts) 12:20 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Texas ASM the small society by Brickman I 'STOOD UFTO && OO0t\T£-D 4NP Took MY' '5E-AT — cociT Washington Star Syndicate, Inc The Battalion U S P S 045 360 LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 3(X) words and are subject t<t 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 list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Edititr, 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 Xfriods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday hrough Thursday. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per school year, $35.(X) per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battalion. Room 216, Reed McDonald Building. College Station, Texas 77S43. 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 Comelison 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 ar The Battalion Texas A&M University Thursday November 29, 1979 Dick West ‘Anti-Congress,’ like antimatter, possible, not necessarily desirabU United Press International WASHINGTON — The theory of “anti matter” — nature’s counterpart of the ordinary matter you and I know and love — has been kicking around for a long time Even us poor ignorant laymen have be come aware of the premise that for every particle floating around in the universe there is an antiparticle with equal and opposite characteristics. So familiar have we become with the idea of reverse forms of matter that nobody was terribly surprised this fall when scien tists claimed to have actually caught some of the stuff with a high altitude balloon. But don’t be misled. Our calm accept ance of the hypothetical existence of anti protons, anti-neutrons and the like does not necessarily prepare us to embrace the concept of an anti-session of Congress. Although we can see that congressional anti-sessions are theoretically possible, that doesn’t mean they would be desirable. The idea of congressional anti-sessions first came to my attention in a recent issue of Johns Hopkins magazine, published by the university of the same name. The periodical pictured one of the uni versity’s alumni, U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, as being concerned ab out the “never-ending proliferation” of legislation in this country. “Every time an issue comes up, you can not pass a law, ” he was quoted as saying. “I’d recommend alternate sessions of Congress — one to pass laws, the other to repeal them.' Civiletti is not the original deep thinker in this field, of course. Several years ago, I recall, some of the more fertile minds in Congress were toying with the concept of anti-bills. Their idea was that each time Congress enacted a new law it would be required to repeal some federal statue already on the books. The anti-session envisioned by Civiletti appears to be a logical extension of the anti-bill concept. But many questions re main unanswered. Let us return briefly to the antimatter analogy. Scientists tell us the reason we don’t have reverse forms of matter here on Earth is because the collision of a particle with its antiparticle would destroy both. Therefore, it seems (air to i woidd happen if anti-bills i bers equal to the number of each year. Would there he a benigne useless laws now cluttering i books, as Civiletti apparently] would the session and the anti-5 cel each other out, creating a void? I can only tell you it is difficulttj what would happen in Congressj happens in the rest of the univem universe, everything is either n antimatter. But much ofwhatl Congress doesn’t matter at all. JLV When t donkeys herself baby Sic were sh 'H mm Reader s Forum ‘Spirit can ne’er be toh because it is long gom Too ma and respo Texas A& Dr. Jol managers corporate “Some the chairs The res bilities of repsonsih The sab devoting; division, Reynol “There explained By HANK WAHRMUND Having witnessed all but three of Texas A&M’s last 85 football games, I feel I am a reliable source of information relating to those games. I have a major complaint, and it’s not about winning or losing. I am ashamed of the so-called “Twelfth Man” of A&M. Ashamed because less than 5,000 students showed up at TCU Nov. 24. Ashamed because the only yell the student body can really shout is “Beat the hell outa- —a very negative, poor-sport type of yell. Ashamed because so many Aggies, stu dents and alumni alike, streamed out of the stands at different games when A&M was behind in the fourth quarter. Ashamed be cause so many students and alumni bitched and cussed the coach and team after the Baylor loss, then chortled with glee the next week when we upset Penn State at their home field. Talk about two-faced. Bear Bryant used to say the worst places to play football were at Baton Rougue, South Bend and College Station because of the incredible noise encountered from the fans. He can cut A&M from that list fore ver. Each year the fans have gotten quieter and quieter, the yell leaders less effective and less willing to whip a crowd into a frenzy and the famed “Spirit” of Aggieland has died a slow, demeaning death. Aggies have always knocked other schools for being poor sports, two- percenters and fast with the disappearance act once their team got behind. What hypocrisy!!! The student body and alumni set records each week in clearing the stands while the team had to stay on the field to the bitter end. (And by the way, this former Corps member includes CTs in referring to the student body.) The week before games the students and alumni discuss the last outing with damna tions for everyone involved on the team, regardless of whether we won or lost. If we won, it was never by a big enough score. If we lost, it was because “we blew it,” never because the other teams were that much better or because they worked up a hatred for us that was ten times as strong as what we falsely believe we felt toward them. Aggies have absolutely no confidence in their athletic teams, preferring to talk ab out “the choke syndrome” or some other asinine, meaningless prattle. Don’t believe me? Then ask yourself when was the last time you so vociferously psyched yourself and your friends up the week before (not the day of, that’s too late) a football game or any other athletic event? I mean to the point of actually foaming at the mouth for a hard-fought, no-holds-barred- take-no-quarter contest? When was the last time any one of you actually cried — yell, cried, like the greatest warriors of Sparta did — when your Aggie teams went down in defeat? I’ll bet there aren t ten of you out of 100,000 graduates and students. The Aggie teams don’t lose that many games. Their backers do. They criticize, moan and complain all week, day after day, then expect the players, who have heard that crap all week, to go out on a set date and annihilate their opponents. What an Aggie joke!!! Tell them (the team) all week long that you know they’ll crush those bleeps, and they 11 believe it, too, despite the odds against them. Upsets and great Hank Wahrmund is a 1974 graduate from Texas A&M with a journalism de gree. He now works for an airline in Houston. winning steaks are built on psychologically gearing up to show everyone you really, truly deep down believe your team will kick hell out of anyone, anywhere. Sing the War Hymn all you want, build the Bonfire 200 feet high and 90 feet around, but face facts — t. u. hates us much more than we hate them. It’s true. They’re jealous of our traditions and loyalty as for mer students, so they hate and ridicule us repeatedly. Wait till Saturday. They’ll invade Kyle Field with their big flag (that stands for t. u. to them, not as a symbol of the state of Texas), fat steer and cannon, and run all three across the turf. No one wi finger to stop them, from the Uni president on down. Treat themnict them respect. Don’t upset the “6 rivals” from Austin. The Legislate get mad, since they’re mostly teasi; What will the fans from ABId week and Saturday, in particular’! hiss when t.u. comes out, then a cheer and applaud when the Aggie? up. They’ll sing. They’ll yell onceorl They’ll privately tell their friends > ven t got a prayer,” and everyone' team will hear all those wonderful,st| tive (?) statements and they’ll feeljuit — great for chopped beef served up: Horns. Can you blame them?Cany« ly blame them? The A&M alma mater says it bei lieve it or not: “There’s a spiritcannf told ... and that’s right — itcan’tl* because it’s long gone. The “Twelfth Man” should prove worthy of the title once again. (And elude the millionaire alumni and poorest student in reference to lit' year-old phrase.) Psyche upteamal 1 and scream for them till it hurts the* after the game. But who am I trying to kid?.'l “Twelfth Man” and “renowned spirt two more Aggies jokes. May theyW in peace. Letters Lack of available sports facilities a great concern of intramural staff Editor: It is understandable that the students at Texas A&M are fed up with the shortage of recreational-sports facilities on campus. The indoor and outdoor facilities are full to overflowing, as interest in sports continues to grow on the A&M campus. During the course of the year, no less than 75 separate University organizations, sports clubs, athletic teams and other Uni versity-related groups use the recreational- sports facilities. The facilities must serve multiple purposes to accommodate the varied needs of these groups. One of the best examples of this is the main floor of G. Rollie White, which has been used for archery tournaments, volleyball, gymnas tics, baseball practice, badminton, basket ball, team handball, wrestling and frisbee, not to mention graduation and concerts. The Texas A&M administration has been aware of the problem for several years. They have acted by providing the Penber- thy Intramural Center, across Wellborn and the uncompleted physical education and recreation building beneath the stu dent side of Kyle Field. The Intramural Office has the responsi bility of coordinating the reservation re quests and supervising the facilities on weekday evenings and weekends. Only University-recognized organizations sports facilities (gymnasiums, soccer fields, etc.). When these groups are served, there are few times left that are available for drop-in recreation. In an effort to help the Intramu ral basketball teams find time to practice, half courts for one hour may be reserved beginning in December. The lack of facilities presently available is one of the Intramural staff s greatest con cerns. The situation will ease as the new building is completed and more sports fields are created. Until then we encourage the frustrated sports enthusiasts to come and talk with us. Our purpose is to serve you the best way possible. We can do this only with the patience and cooperation of everyone at A&M. — Pat Fierro Assistant director of Intramurals Reward for watch Editor: I need some help from my fellow Ags. On Friday the 16th, I lost my watch’* where between the Corps dorms and!' Field, while I was walking behind 1 Band. It is a Citizens diver’s watch black band. It was given tomeasapi* 1 it has high sentimental value tome I would greatly appreciate thereti® my watch. I am offering a reward.ft contact: Gerald Smith, Dorm 8, Roonid 845-1476. — Gerald!^ SYLVESTER CmeeseworTh tries -SJ-UDYiNCr yilTH FflIEU&S AT LEAST TLL CrET MV 5TU1SYING- TiONE HERE -THE CORPS. FINSTER.. 1 r.P V| ■ f -v f g h