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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1979)
The Battalion I^PanpJ'* 0 ’ 75 Tuesday, December 18, 1979 USPS 045 360 y College Station, Texas Phone 845-2611 ope raised or hostages United Press International TEHRAN, Iran — There is real hope for ie first time that some of the 50 American bstages will be released shortly and the hers after a New Year’s showcase interna- onal investigation, diplomatic sources jd Monday. But the captors at the embassy say the ials will be held and the hostages will not e relased before Christmas. Statements by Foreign Minister idegh Ghotbzadeh and the ruling Islamic evolutionary Council paved the way for a >aceful solution to the 44-day old crisis, though there were still major stumbling ocks, the sources said. Ghotbzadeh — in a virtual package offer r a peaceful solution — Sunday said he jped some of the hostages could be freed y Christmas and revolutionary spy trials ight be avoided by establishment of an iternational commission which would pndemn American imperialism rather an judge the captives themselves. The foreign minister said some details igarding the hostages’ Christmas had ready been approved by both the govern- lent and the captors, adding the hostages E ill spend Christmas with their Iranian ends.” Some captives, those already cleared of ^ possible spying activities, might even released, he said. I hope I’ll be able to release at least ne of them. I assure you I’ll try my best,” told ABC. Ihe implication was that even those hos- ges would then be released following eir testimony and not attend the more ninous spy trials demanded by the cap- rs. “That’s his own opinion,” retorted a mili- nt spokesman who has overruled past hotbzadeh public announcements. Ghotbzadeh added the question of extra- tion of the shah was also no longer an sue between Washington and Tehran uce the former ruler had now left the nited States. The ruling revolutionary council issued a statement claiming the shah’s departure as a “victory” for the Iranian revolution. Militants in control of the U.S. Embassy demanded “spy trials, ” following the shah’s departure Saturday from the United States for Panama, but Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the key to a solution, issued no definitive public statement, although said Ghotbzadeh he spoke with the ayatollah’s full authority. An international commission of “anti imperialists and antizionists” will be con vened Jan. 1 or Jan. 2, Ghotbzadeh said, and would meet for about two weeks. It might include one American panelist. In Washington, President Carter said Sunday on his return from Camp David, “it would be gratifying” to see Ghotbzadeh follow up on his promise. “We hope they (all the hostages) will be coming home.” Carter, at the direction of Congress, de signated Tuesday a day of national unity and urged Americans to fly flags as a show of support for the hostages. The mood in Tehran and statements from various groups fluctuated wildly and the last word from the captors was that spy trials were “inevitable. “The hostages will all be put on trial,” a militant spokesman at the embassy said. “None of them is going to be released be fore Christmas.” However, conditions appeared to be im proving in the occupied embassy, with the captors allowing the hostages to make more regular telephone calls home. Ghotbzadeh promised those held at Christmas would be allowed to attend religious services, re ceive gifts and cards and have Christmas trees. The government also announced the ex- plusion of two Time Magazine correspon dents for what it called distorted reporting, bringing to 23 the number of journalists ousted by the revolutionary regime. A gov ernment spokesmen said the two would not be replaced. i Libby Appling studies diligently in the cold for her upcoming finals. The still brave the cold. Low temperatures are expected to remain here recent chilly weather has driven most students inside to study, but some through Friday. Battalion photo by u* Porter Shah begins ‘vacation’ stop in Panama United Press International CONTADORA ISLAND, Panama — he ousted shah of Iran, looking thin but dert, said on his first full day at his new tropical exile home he hopes his move from lexas-will help to resolve the crisis of the American hostages in Tehran. A spokesman for the shah said Monday Jthe deposed monarch considered Panama’s IContadora Island “strictly a vacation” stop land will decide after the Christmas holi- Idays whether to move again. I Robert Armao, the shah’s aide, asked Iwhether the shah planned to stay in Pana- pa, said, “We really haven’t got that far pet. We just want to get through the Christ- pas and New Year’s holidays and then we |"'ill think about it. ” Armao said the shah had “lost 20-odd Ipounds between Mexico and New York. “He is no longer taking long walks such as he used to take,” Armao said. “He is now just resting, reading and receiving some visitors.” Armao said the shah had no plans to take part in an public activities until after the New Year. There were reports the shah is interested in buying property in northern Panama, which has a cool climate in contrast to the hot, humid climate of Contadora Island. Panamanian armed forces Sunday drew a tight circle of security around Contadora Island, 35 miles west of Panama City, to protect the shah, who arrived Saturday from San Antonio. Dozens of armed guards with sub machine guns took up duty on the tiny resort island where there are 76 homes, and police closely scrutinized anyone wishing to fly to the island or to use the 150-room Casino Hotel, which will remain open. Panama became the sixth country of exile for the shah since his departure from Iran in January, following Egypt, Morocco, the Bahamas, Mexico and the United States. The shah, speaking at a 5-minute news conference Sunday, said, “We were so shocked by this question of hostages that I even volunteered to leave the New York hospital. “We wanted to eventually help solve this problem, and this time too, in leaving the United States for this beautiful country, we hope that this will help solve this problem,” the shah said. But militant Moslem students in control of the embassy in Tehran said the 50 Amer ican hostages would face spy trials sooner Aggie wins Rhodes scholarship; Oxford studies begin next fall By MARGARET JOHNSON Battalion Reporter It is not very often when a senior gives up marching across the stage at G. Rollie to receive that much-coveted sheepskin. One senior did, however, and his absence proved very rewarding. William Altman of New Ulm, a town ol less than 1,000, has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University in England. Altman missed December graduation exercises here to attend interviews for scholarship applicants. The interviews were held in New Orleans.^ Announcement of Altman s selection was made Sunday by William Barber, an econo mics professor at Wesleyan University, and American secretary of the Rhodes Scholar ship Trust Fund. Candidates for the prestigious award are nominated on a state-wide basis. Two stu dents are chosen to represent each state in a district contest. The United States is di vided into eight districts, and each district receives four scholarships. Thirty-two Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually in the United States. Altman competed against 49 Texas appli cants in Houston in the statewide contest. After being selected as one of the two stu dents to represent the state in the district contest, Altman then traveled to New Orleans to compete against 11 other college because Washington allowed the shah to leave. The shah looked very thin and pale, but said he was feeling “much better, thank you.” He smiled and moved about briskly as he and Empress Farah met about 20 reporters outside their new exile home where the weather was hot and humid. The imperial family and seven aides — including a doctor — have settled into two relatively simple houses on the west end of Contadora, a one-half square-mile sliver of thick jungle ringed by white tropical beaches. The homes, one with five bedrooms and one with four, are owned by Gabriel Lewis, a former Panamanian ambassador to Washington and the man who developed Cantadora into a vacation resort. Although the compound itself is not fenced, the Panamanian national guard has sent dozens of troops and scuba divers to protect the shah and regulate entry to the island. A small national guard speedboat was docked at the sandy cove behind the shah’s house and a U.S. armed forces helicopter and a Panamanian national guard airplane were on standby at the island’s tiny airport. Earlier in the day, the shah met with President Aristides Royo and Gen. Omar Torrijos, the national guard strongman and former president. Torrijos declined comment but Royo said Panama granted permanent political exile to the shah because he was “a person who has suffered from his health, a person who has suffered a series of problems. ” Royo also denied that Iran could retaliate against Panama or that President Carter put heavy pressure on his country to accept the shah. He dreams of solar airplanes seniors. fc from state in the Gulf Region,” Altman said. “We met first on Friday night at the Tulane University president’s house for dinner along with the eight (Rhodes Scholarship) Committee members. On Saturday, 30 mi nute interviews were held and then the two winners were announced on Sunday.” The Gulf Region consists of Texas, Okla homa, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The electrical engineering senior was a President’s Endowed Scholar, held Na tional Merit and Valedictory Scholarships, and was a Distinguished Student every semester. Altman finished at Texas A&M in 3V2 years. “Although I’m an electrical enginering major, I plan to study engineering, econo mics and management, ’ Altman said. “Therefore, many of the questions during my interviews were technical. They asked my opinion of social issues involving Presi dent Carter’s energy programs and nuclear power situations.” One thing Altman noted about the con test was the lack of a strong sense of com petition. “There was not a competitive atmos phere,” Altman noted. “Everybody ob viously wanted to win, but they were all extremely bright and friendly and easy to talk to. Altman will sail with the other American candidates and also the Canadian candi dates for Oxford in late September 1980. United Press International PHILADELPHIA — The inventor of the Gossamer Albatross, the first human- powered airplane to cross the English Channel, has a new dream — a solar- powered plane. “If one wanted to, one could put solar cells on the Gossamer Albatross and have a solar-powered manned aircraft,” Paul Mac- Cready said in a recent interview. “But we want a more practical thing that will fly in turbulence. It’s all designed in my head.” MacCready described his invention of the fragile-looking Gossamer Albatross, po wered by its pilot’s legs pumping on bicycle pedals, as “basically fun.” “It is a Christmas present to the world, " said MacCready, who built the super strength plastic aircraft as a hobby. “It shows the great mass of garage builders out there how far you can go with imagination, inventiveness, efficiency and conserva tion. MacCready, 54, says he is “bubbling over with ideas for other unconventional aircraft, including a solar-powered plane. Once built, a solar craft would be some thing of a white elephant in the United States. “It’s not a practical transport,” Mac Cready said. However, with its “simple technology and minimal flight skills, the craft could find a home in developing countries. “It could be used in a place where the roads weren’t good and the slow speed didn’t matter,” MacCready said. “If the engine stopped, the pilot wouldn’t get hurt even if he glided down into a tree.” MacCready says his construction of a so lar-powered manned aircraft will have to wait a while. First he says he will build a duplicate Gossamer Albatross in January for study by the National Aeronautics and Space Admi nistration, wdiich is planning an unmanned airborne platform powered by solar cells. The NASA platform, which MacCready calls “the poor man’s satellite,” would float by day at 110,000 feet, above the weather. At night, he said, it would glide slowly downward, to about 45,000 feet, before the rising sun again charges its electric motor with enough power to climb. “It could stay up forever,” he said. Students should inform light company of move By RICHARD OLIVER Battalion Staff Students changing addresses in the spring semester had better notify the electric company, or it might mean a few cold nights in the dark. “There are more and more apart ment units being added,” said Diane Jones, customer relations manager for the College Station utilities division. “Some apartments are going to single metering for each unit. We haven’t had individual accounts in some places until now, only a few block charges.” Block charges are charges billed to an apartment as a whole, instead of the individual units. In a single metering system, tenants are responsible for their own electrical service. Jones said if an apartment tenant terminates services with the electric company, then the meter will either be turned off, or the name transferred to the apartment owners or managers. In each case, she said, the new tenant must either come in person to the utilities office in the city hall, or send a letter listing the exact address of the apartment, a driver’s license or Texas A&M University student ID number, and the exact date the stu dent wants the electricity turned on. Also, a deposit of $60 must be sent by check or money order, and $70 if electricity and water are needed. The check must be made payable to the City of College Station. All the information can be mailed to the City of College Station, Drawer 9960, College Station, Tex. 77840. Jones stressed although the demand for electricity turn-on will not be as great as the fall, any requests should be sent in early. “At the beginning of the semester, we get swamped, she said. “They should send their application as soon as possible. If they come by in person, at least three or four days early. If it’s by mail, it should be sent off even sooner. It all depends on how many orders we have.” William Altman