-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
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Washington Star Syndicate, Inc
The Battalion
U S P S 045 360
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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.
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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
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