Slouch by Jim Earle “Z only met him once about a year ago, and he remembered me and called me by my first name just like that! ' Opinion No extra point, either You can’t spike a term paper in the end zone. That problem with academics always shows up this time of year, and we have no solution. After sweating, working, worrying and finally finishing an end-of-year project, the sense of accomplishment is great. There’s an urge to throw notecards to the heavens. But they must be picked up, so the effort’s not worth it. Profs aren’t much help either. They don’t holler for joy when the papers come in; they simply smile to say, ‘See, you shouldn’t have waited till after Thanksgiving to start this.” All in all, we should find a way to spike term papers in the end zone, or on profs’ desks. Winter wonderland? So far it’s been an uneven winter — hot, then cold, with some beautiful weather in between. Several students — and we suspect many others — were caught Wednesday morning with their windows down. The cold air and rain made for a brisk wake-up, especially after the oppressively humid heat the night before. Now maybe winter will settle in for a while, and we won’t see cut-offs one day and overcoats the next. Variety may be the spice of life, but it’s sure a silly way to conduct a winter. the small society by Brickman Woo- fro'X! I THAT THlN^ A WHIL^- IW op Washington Star Syndicate, Inc. 12-/3 'tteict&AvO The Battalion usps LETTERS POLICY Li-ttiTs to the editor should not exceed 3(X) 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 list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor. The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77H43. 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 Periods 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 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. 045 360 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 4 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 Strode r, 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 Thursday December 13, 1979 WASHINGTON Carter campaign changing its HCoi now, ‘it’s no time for an outsuk By N By LAURENCE McQUILLAN United Press International WASHINGTON — Vice President Wal ter Mondale is carrying a revised message to the voters: There is nothing like experi ence when it comes to running the country. This is no time for an outsider. Like the chameleon that still looks at home after the green leal turns to brown, political viewpoints can be adjusted. The campaign strategy followed by the incumbents is a far cry from the claims they adhered to while first en route to the White House. With President Carter sidelined from the campaign trail by the Iranian crisis, Mondale has been attending the fund rais ers, making the speeches and telling why this team at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue should be kept intact for another four years. “You’ve got a good president,” Mondale told Democrats at a New York dinner that raised $1.2 million for the campaign cof fers. “Keep him there. Keep him there. Ex perience counts. It really does. Mondale said with his voice rising to match the flamed rhetoric of Hubert Humphrey, a previous vice president the current office holder tends to imitate. A few days later in Atlanta, Mondale hit the same theme. “This nation needs experience, the vice president declared. “There’s only one place that you learn it and that’s sitting in the hot seat of the presidency of the United States. ” “Keep experience working for you in the White House. Many of those at the affair in Georgia were veterans of the last campaign. They cheered the message, just as they cheered the message in 1976, even though the words were modified. Back in 1976, Carter talked about the strengths he would bring to the White House if elected. “I come from outside Washington ... I’ll come in as a fresh person not committed to the status quo, eager to change things for the better and not responsible for what is there,” the future president said. President Ford tried to pick up followers by arguing that the ship of state should be steered with experienced hands. and intimate knowledge of intei problems — is invaluable for thcsJ future problems,” Ford argued. In announcing his candidacy(onJ term. Carter basically admittedi first term included some highlev«J job training. “I have made someJ ,t. Gen. ( gen the Cc pine “Brai Woking and it Bryan 4 jutfit he con l^n several ■'By use c In a printed debate that appeared in Readers Digest, Ford argued that “the ex perience he had in his political career and “as president for more than two years’ shovdd have kept him in the White House. “This background — a familiarity with domestic economic and social problems and I have learned from them, he Aed, I me lodged. Irving its Press secretary Jody Powell elibMtching inc bit further. Mnpson, as “There is nothing that canprepirrR‘ ( ^ e J lt , St 1 for what he experiences in theOval® 00 0 111 Powell observed, and added thi:U im P son j “believes that while he has notsol\(®’ ira lon i 7)s, and believe problem 100 percent, he is heads! right direction.” Jimmy Carter and Gerald Fori agree on the importance the pulih:i attach to the incumbency. ‘Gradua ve expe \ve learn* Inlily, have Ifun' het/oi Ken. Or tut Ion l vice ] jices, st ferrii I University a Bre and me ■Simpson ■rps of Ca authority It ■ople and I "Gradual ■ve exper Karned to have intej ■yond the ■Simpson |orps grad militar Jrms of ho Iccepting r ■ During h wlcts fro i Kid there v Band autlu ■ “The coi to private s I Today, S andant a "poi'P 5 - but During If ■’d pmpany ci d, but or by. He s; nd variou hd no rea [ Simpson |AkM bee; Dl epressioi A&M \ attend coll is father i 1200 to ge Dick West U.S. so far is not getting trampM in rush of countries wanting shah United Press International WASHINGTON — One way America can tell who its real friends are is by their willingness to offer Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi a permanent home. Thus far, we have managed to avoid get ting trampled in the rush. Those who have stepped forward at this time of need in clude Tonga, Iceland and Egypt. The prospect of moving to Iceland like wise has aroused little enthusiasm, possibly because the shah is not much into winter sports. But Tonga would appear to have a lot going for it. For one thing, it is a monarchy, which is the form of government the shah is accus tomed to. Unless you want to count Iran, which has repeatedly invited the shah to come to that country. Unfortunately, none of the volunteers to date has made the shah an offer he couldn’t refuse. Although he regards Egypt as a nice place to visit, it is understood that he wouldn’t want him to live there. For another, it is composed of 150 is lands, therefore offering plenty of oppor tunity for privacy. Thirdly, when Capt. James Coqk, the British explorer, stopped there in 1773, he named them the “Friendly Islands.” Which indicates the shah would be assured of a warm welcome. And, most persuasive of all, there is a precedent for someone in the shah’s situa tion going there. For it is recorded that Capt. William Bligh spent some time in Tongan waters after being cast adrift from the Bounty by mutineers. If, as indicated, the shah is not hot about homesteading in the South Seas, it must be the humidity. Whatever the case, he has asked the Un ited States to help him get relocated. So it behooves us all to keep our ears open on the chance we might hear of a good place for him to live. France, for example, would seem a likely candidate. Besides having the sort of ambiance the shah enjoys, it once gave re fuge to the Ayatollah Khomeini. Now it could strike a balance by taking in the shah. The French must have had other things on their mind and just didn’t think Otherwise, I’m sure they already* have come forth with an invitation.Pei someone from the State Deparli should suggest it to them. “Hey, guys,” our diplomat coil “guess who is looking for a place tow the shah of Iran. Maybe he could staya ayatollah’s old place, if that s still vaa My pai that I ] by had,’ When j reshman i Son pausei A “Gosh, yes, the French probablyd reply. “We would adore havinghimi us a little time to call in a decorator we ll get back to you.” We should assure our allies really don’t need to go to any trouble.! r P that the shah has retired and has ti® « tinker around, he might enjoy fa I place up himself. Letters Woman on track team says decision to dismiss runner was justifiable Editor: As members of the Texas A&M Women’s track team and friends of Angeli- que Copeland, the sprinter dismissed from the team last week, we find ourselves con cerned over the controversy of her dismis sal. Copeland’s article about favoritism in the weight room has been blown entirely out of proportion. True, Copeland did receive several com ments expressing disapproval; and true, Track Coach Bill Nix would have preferred the article not to have appeared in the pap er, but Nix did make it clear to Copeland that in his office, journalism and track would be kept separate. The incident following two days later was separate. Workout has nothing to do with writing for the The Battalion. A large error in your article must be corrected. Cope land was not disciplined for “not running fast enough.” Coach N ix has always made clear what is expected during workout. On the day in volved we were doing interval work and Angel repeatedly took an extended break between her runs. She was warned and her argument with Coach Nix caused her dis missal. Coach Nix felt two women on the team were not putting forth the effort he expected, and he sent them home. Cope land was one of those women. Had the other woman argued with him, she also would have been dismissed. Angel left in anger and returned shortly thereafter, still angry. Tempers on both sides flared and ultimately Nix told Copeland to leave and not come back. Nix is new to A&M and has had to build up his program both stamina-wise as well as disciplinary-wise. We personally feel he would have taken a step backward from his goal of building a class team to allow Cope land to question his authority as she did in front of the whole team. It’s unfortunate that either event had to happen, but there should be no question concerning the relationship between the two. There was none. — Paula Williams Lynn Goldsmith, ’81 Iris Tipton, ’80 Keress Hawkins, ’80 Julie Currey, ’81 Julie White, ’80 Kathy Currin, ’81 Beverly Porter, ’82 Susan Hil | Annie Muntt jl : Sande Lambert Lorie Scott. Linda Walt® Editor’s note: While it is still uncle® there is a connection between svritinj story and Copeland’s dismissal, the? lion’s position as stated Dec. 6 in its e4" l rial, is still this: Coach Nix’s action,td | miss an athlete after one argument, arbitrary.