Slouch
by Jim Earle
“It s unique, but I think it needs more testing, before your umbrella
design is introduced to the market."
Opinion
Detente never lived
It is said that detente is dead. But how can something die
when it never lived?
From its first day detente was a sham, a hallucination of
American foreign policy makers. The Russians never sub
scribed to it, and used it totally for their advantage. . .
During the detente period the Russians while talking of
limiting weapons under SALT I and SALT II, launched the
' greatest military buildup in their history and lulled the U. S.
into decreasing military sponeding. As a result, the United
States lost its supremacy and now is in danger of becoming
militarily inferior to the Russians.
There should be no tears for detente. It was a giant dirty
trick played on the United States by the crafty, double-
dealing Russians. President Carter, who is left holding the
bag, should begin at once to rebuild U.S. military forces as
rapidly as possible.
St. Louis
Globe-Democrat
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by Brickman
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Washington Star Syndicate. Inc.
The Battalion
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Editorial policy is determined by the editor.
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday
January 22, 1980
Washington window
Republicans trying to broaden
party platform for ’80 election
lo
H
be
Apparently hoping to demonstrate the
party’s interest in what the voters think,
the Republican Party is investing a good
deal of time and money this election year in
the preparation of a national platform.
GOP officials have scheduled a total of 10
hearings around the country — more than
ever before — to seek opinions about what
the platform should say.
The opening session — a two-day hear
ing in Washington — produced a 3-inch
high stack of written testimony plus trans
cripts and video tapes of the oral presenta
tions. That is far more than can be used in
the final platform document, but the
sounding goes on nonetheless.
Leaving the capital behind, the tempor
ary platform committee now strikes out for
nine other cities where it will hold public
hearings to pick up regional and local con
cerns and listen to individual citizens.
In 1976, the platform committee held
just two regional hearings in addition to the
sessions in Washington.
This year’s effort will cost the party about
$175,000, but the GOP hierarchy appa
rently feels it will be worth it, even though
most politicl platforms are read through
only by the most devoted political activists
or observers.
The regional hearings will include morn
ing and afternoon sessions and then con
tinue in the evening, at which time indi
vidual citizens — those who were at work
during the day — will be encouraged to
show up and speak their piece.
“We re really trying for diversified
views,” a party spokesman explained.
“We would like to have input from peo
ple who do not consider themselves to be
Republicans, but who want to say what
directions the new Republican administra
tion should take, he said confidently.
At the Washington hearing, party lead
ers were fairly brimming with optimism
that the final platform will be a masterwork
and GOP will win the elections.
The platform will be “a very honest and
candid document that will appeal to the
majority of the people of this country, ” said
Sen. John Tower, R-Texas, chairman of the
temporary platform committee.
The actual platform will notbeuj
until July when the official platformo
mittee gathers just before the R
national convention in Detroit.
The 105 members of that committee
be furnished with transcripts of the
hearings and will be able to watch then
tapes of the witnesses who testified.
Party officials have another use in
for the video tapes — probably som
hours worth — they will accumulate
the next several months. The tapesni
culled down to about a 15 minutesejj
that will be shown to the assembledi
gates in the Detroit convention
And if the television networks relai
show to the voters at home, so mud
better, say the Republicans.
Psyi
that in
help !
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Letters
Crowd cooperation OK at “Alien
Editor:
Hey Ags!
Thanks again for your patience and
cooperation in crowd control during the
showings of “Alien” and “Halloween” in
Rudder Auditorium last weekend. It’s not
often we have back-to-back movies with
crowds numbering over a thousand people
waiting for the next show. The 9:45 show
ing of “Alien” had an audience of approxi
mately 1400 people and there were appro
ximately 2100 people waiting to get into the
midnight showing of “Halloween. ’ I’d like
to bring up several points to remember
when attending on-campus movies or other
events being held in the Rudder Theater
Complex. Please keep in mind that”:
♦Although we try to avoid running
back-to-back showings, it’s bound to hap
pen at times. Increased movie rental has
forced Aggie Cinema to go to an earlier
starting time (7:30) and we are faced with
two showings of the same movie in the
same evening. I suggest consider going to
the movies Saturday night since the crowds
are usually smaller and quieter. If you
should have to wait for an earlier movie to
finish, please be patient and cooperate if
you are asked to stand elsewhere so we may
maintain crowd control.
• The Rudder Theater Complex is a fine
facility and care should be taken to keep it
in good shape. Please don’t pull leaves off
the plants while standing in the lobby. Care
should be taken while watching movies,
also. Rowdy behavior results in broken
chairs. Eating, drinking and smoking aren’t
allowed in these facilities to help keep the
seats and carpeting stain-free. Excessive
drinking before shows usually results in
numerous stains as Ags empty their even
ing full of liquor onto the carpet. This dam
age can possibly result in additional charges
to MSC Aggie Cinema, which in turn will
result in higher ticket prices.
• Tickets for all our weekend movies are
available at the MSC Box Office, Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Buy
your tickets during the week and avoid
waiting in the ticket line before the feature.
• Finally, remember that these movies
are worked by students who aren’t paid but
enjoy serving fellow students and enjoy
seeing good movies. Courtesy on the part
of all involved results in an enjoyable even
ing for all.
Thanks again for your cooperation at the
movies this past weekend and we look for
ward to seeing all of you at future shows.
Andy Hartman
Vice Chairman, Midnight/Sunday
Evening Series, Aggie Cinema'
sadly, do many upperclassmen know!
one of our most respected friends died!
December.
Amer Sheikh was a graduating aerosn
engineer; he would have graduated Mil
Cum Laude. In addition, hewasacti']
involved in the Muslim Students Asso
tion and the Pakistan Club, a membf
numerous professional associationsj
greek societies; he was the finest Twe|
Man we have ever known.
Friend remembered
He would be twenty-two years oldto4jl :J l*?
It is sad that a young man of such g*
qualities should meet a tragic end asheWv
it is the last thing anyone would thinkcfPv
happen. But though he has left us.jlff
memory will remain fresh in ourheiflf
forever. Iff
Editor:
None of the incoming freshman, nor.
Maria-Elena Andinoi
Saleem KarimjetL
*
*
*
n f cneese irv
(ilf *A.