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Sci-fi collection is
a source of pride
By CHARLIE MUSTACHIA
Campus Reporter
Aggies and science fiction — no
place but the Texas A&M University
library.
The library’s science fiction collec
tion, the most extensive in the
Southwest, began in 1970. In nine
years it has grown to over 13,000
volumes and 7,000 periodicals, not
including manuscripts, art port
folios, records, tapes, broadcasts and
fan magazines.
The selections include the major
ity of the writings of Robert Hein-
lein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur Clarke,
Jack Williamson, Harlan Ellison,
Andre Norton, Chad Oliver, Roger
Zelazny and others.
The collection originated almost
by accident. A small science fiction
collection was offered to the library
at a low price. Librarians Vicki
Anders and Hal W. Hall took an in
terest in the subject and initiated the
collection’s purchase.
Because many of the books in the
collection are antiques, they are kept
in a humidity-controlled room and
are used mainly for research.
The collection contains some
magazines that, because of their rar
ity, are worth hundreds of dollars,
including the first issue of “Amazing
Stories,” the first science fiction
magazine.
Don Dyal, special collections lib
rarian, said although the rare books
are important, a bulk of the collec
tion is just $1.95 paperbacks.
“The sum total of the collection is
worth more than the individual
parts,” he said.
Dyal said there is a great deal to be
learned from science fiction because
authors sometimes use present-day
problems in relation to the future.
This collection is important to the
university, Dyal said.
“There are people who know
A&M for no other reason than the
fact that it’s got a science fiction col
lection. ”
When science fiction authors
toured the collection during last
year’s AggieCon X, a campus science
fiction convention, Dyal said, “they
had never seen so much science fic
tion in one place. They saw things
they had only heard of. ”
For research purposes, the collec
tion contains manuscripts, galleys
and notes from Asimov, Avram
Davidson and Michael Moorcock.
The collection also has a collected
paper series which contains inter
views, typescripts of conferences
and photocopied articles from the
many sources interpreting science
fiction.
The periodical section of the col
lection contains about 5,500 “fan
zines,” by science fiction fans.
Also included are extensive hold
ings in historical, critical and bibliog
raphical works.
The books may be used in the spe
cial collections reading room, week
days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Student work force
increases at A&M
By PETE HALE
Campus Reporter
An increase in part-time jobs at
Texas A&M University means more
students are working, and they’re
making more money than ever be
fore.
There is an increase in the number
of student workers, said C. E. Fink
of the Student Financial Aid Office,
“especially those working part-time
on campus. ”
Fink is in charge of employment
and counseling for the department.
On-campus and off-campus student
worker positions are posted in his
office, but, he said “We’re not an
employment agency.”
Fink said from September 1979 to
January of this year there has been
an increase of about 300 student
workers.
While lags in bookkeeping make
an accurate number difficult to com
pute, Fink said there are over 4,000
students on the Texas A&M Univer
sity payroll.
Counting expected turnovers and
replacements, 1,670 new employees
have been added to the payroll since
September. Fink compares this with
a total of about 3,300 new workers for
all of 1979.
Recent changes in the University
pay scale have made campus jobs
more competitive with off-campus
jobs. In September, wages for stu
dent workers increased from $2.50
to $2.90 an hour, the same as the
federal minimum wage rate. On Jan.
1, 1980, another increase boosted
the student rates to $3.10 an hour.
“This is about what most off-
campus jobs pay,” Fink said.
The number of students working
on campus and working off campus
are about the same. One reason
many students like to work on cam
pus is the convenience of being able
to work and attend class easily.
“With an on-campus job students
can arrange work hours around their
class schedules, allowing more time
for studying and general student
life,” Fink said.
Most off-campus jobs have stan
dard hours and students are often
unable to work when an employer
would like them to.
For some students the benefits of
working off-campus might outweigh
the convenience of being close to
class. Some off-campus workers are
allowed meals, vacation and holiday
pay, and in some businesses, a scho
larship program has been instituted
to draw more student help.
Students employed by the Uni
versity are not eligible for benefits
such as holiday or sick pay, nor do
they receive vacation pay.
Fink feels the need for more
money, rather than the experience
gained, is the major reason for the
increase in student workers.
Relative to actual education costs,
“living expenses have all risen a
great deal,” Fink said. “Students just
need more money to get by on.”
The constant expansion of the
University, as well as the overall
growth of the Bryan-College Station
area, is resulting off campus.
Dr. William E. McFarland, dire
ctor of the Student Financial Aid
Office, agreed with Fink regarding
the availability of jobs.
“A growing shortage of full-time
help has created many openings, and
we feel any student who wants a job
can find one,” McFarland said.
McFarland said students general
ly work from 10 to 20 hours a week,
but advised they should never work
more than their academic require
ments allow.
Students looking for a job may
check current listings of job open
ings at the Student Financial Aid
Office on the third floor of the YMCA
Building. They may also check with
their various academic departments,
the Sterling C. Evans Library, di
ning halls, or other offices on
campus.
DIETING?
7 ,ven though we do not prescribe diets, we make\
\it possible for many to enjoy a nutritious meal\
\while they follow their doctor* s orders. You will\
\be delighted with the wide selection of low\
Ycalorie, sugar free and fat free foods in the\
\Souper Salad Area, Sbisa Dining Center Base-\
\ment.
OPEN
Monday through Friday 10:45 AM-1:45 PM
QUALITY FIRST
BLACK OAK
ARKANSAS
is coming to T.J.’s
Monday, Jan. 28
Tuesday, Jan. 29
ESTABLISHED UN HTM
tickets: $ 5 at the door
$ 4 with A&M ID card
Black Oak Arkansas will only be at T.J. ’s two even
ings. Don’t miss their great music!
THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1980
Women engineers* sociei
to sponsor conference he
The Society of Women Engineers
at Texas A&M University is sponsor
ing a conference today and Saturday
for girls in Texas high schools who
are interested in engineering.
Registration for the conference is
from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. today on the
second floor of Rudder Tower. It is to
be followed by a welcome program
in 601 Rudder which will include a
slide presentation featuring women
in engineering.
A banquet is to be held at 7 p. m. in
226 MSC. Lee Hornberger,
nical engineering professoi
University of Santa Clara, wi
During the banquet, scho
will be awarded.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, tour
different engineering depa
will be given and exhibits i
companies will be shown in
by of the Zachry Engineerii
ter. The conference ends S
with a barbecue.
John R. Joyce, a graduate student from Tulsa, Okla., takes a,
few minutes off to take advantage of the Texas A&M Universi
ty library’s Science fiction Collection. Photo by Janet E. Golub
USED
GOLD
WANTED!
Cash Paid.
diamond brokers international, inc. w
693-1647
MSC TOWN HALL
PRESENTS
IRA LEVIN'S
DEATHTRAP
Scenery by
WILLIAM PITMAN
Costumes by Lighting by
RUTH MORLEY MARC B. WEISS
Original New York Production Directed by
ROBERT MOORE
Restaged by
PHILIP CUSACK
“SEEING 'DEATHTRAP' IS LIKE A RIDE ON A GOOD
ROLLER-COASTER WHEN THE SCREAMS AND LAUGHS
MINGLE TO FORM AN ENJOYABLE HYSTERIA!"
— Jack Kroll, Newsweek
Sat. Feb. 2 8
Rudder Auditorium
Tickets Info. MSC Box Office
Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3
G.P. 4.50 5.50 6.50
Std. 2.75 4.00 5.25