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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 26, 1980)
Slouch by Jim Earle 3/£.£>/r° “I just don't think we’re ready for a motorized umbrella opener.” Opinion Campaigning is full-time job Must we be forced to choose only among (presidential) candidates who can devote as much as two years of their lives to running for president? What kind of recommendation is that for the job? In 1968, there were 17 presidential primaries. This year there are 34. There will be more four years hence. Besides spare time, the primary system puts a premium on image and glibness because candidates, after all, are appealing to voters who usually are not knowledgable about the issues. Having the right stuff early can give one momentum. ' To maintain momentum, however, means you have to keep winning, and that takes money and press. Party insid ers — the people we used to call bosses — no longer are much of a counterbalance, and they play an increasingly smaller role in the nomination process. All of these factors together lead to what threatens now: early lockup of the nominations. This hardly seems like democracy. Limiting choices is not what the party reformers had in mind when they sought to open the nomination process. Unfortunately, this appears to have happened despite their good intentions. Shreveport, La., Journal the small society by Brickman TAX&Z - WHIZES Y&DIZ N^xr aa&al if? FIZ^M If? Washington Star Syndicate, Inc The Battalion U S P s 045 360 LETTERS POLICY lu’tttrs fn the editor should not exceed 300 u ords and are subject to beinu cut to that length or less if htnuer Tht editorial staff reserves the ri^ht to edit such letters and thus not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be sinned, show the address of the icrifer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to l^etttT.s to the Editor. The Battalion. Room 216. Reed McDonald Buildinn. Ctdlcnc Station. Texas 77643. Represented nationally by National Educational Adve tising Services, Inc.. New York City. Chicago and \a Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday throng)) Fridas from ieptember throng)) May except during exam and holidav Jeriodx and the summer, when it is published on Tuesda> hrough Thursday. Mail subscriptions are SI6.75 per semester. S33.25 per sellool.year. $35.(X) per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battalion. Room 216. Reed McDonald Building. College Station. Texas 77843 United Press International is entitled exclusiveh to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein re Second-Class postage paid at College Station. T.\ ed. 7343. MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Roy Bragg Associate Editor Keith Taylor News Editor Rusty Cawley Asst. News Editor Karen Cornelison Copy Editor Dillard Stone Sports Editor Mike Burrichter Focus Editor Rhonda Watters City Editor Louie Arthur Campus Editor Diane Blake Staff Writers Nancy Andersen, Tricia Brunhart,Angelique Copeland, Laura Cortez, Meril Edwards, Carol Hancock, Kathleen McElroy, Debbie Nelson, Richard Oliver, Tim Sager, Steve Sisney, Becky Swanson, Andy Williams Chief Photographer Lynn Blanco Photographers Lee Roy Leschper, Steve Clark, Ed Cunnius, 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 hy students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined hy the editor. Viewpoint Ect The Battalion Texas A&M University Wednesday March 26, 1980 (Continu consequences , achieve goo Good Political alliances mean little in recent presidential primaries By STEVE GERSTEL United Press International WASHINGTON — Like ardent young suitors, Jimmy Carter and Edward Ken nedy courted the fair maid, Jane Byrne of Chicago. down a victory in Illinois — the first of the northern industrial states to hold a to The fickle Jane first gave her heart Jimmy — he thought he had her won — but, as is the wont of a woman, she changed her mind and pledged her troth to Edward. Alas, it was not a match made in heaven. Jane gave all the promise of being the finest catch of the season but her relationship with Edward never bore fruit. The mayor of Chicago just could not de liver. primary. As it turned out, the Byrne endorsement proved less than worthless, although Ken nedy gallantly thanked the lady mayor for her efforts after Carter trashed him in Illi- When Kennedy snatched Mayor Byrne from Carter’s clutches, it was considered a political coup of the first magnitude. With Kennedy already riding high in Illi nois at that time, the endorsement by Mrs. Byrne was seen as the edge that would nail There were extenuating circumstances, to be sure. Kennedy’s own popularity had virtually evaporated and Mrs. Byrne was plagued by misfortunes which descended on Chicago and sent her personal stock plummeting. But there was no denying that Mrs. Byrne — despite her valiant efforts —just could not help Kennedy. He picked up only 14 of the 49 delegates in Chicago. The painful lesson presumably learned by Kennedy is that — in this day and age — endorsements by noted political figures have little, if any value. And in some cases, they can hurt. Although the Kennedy-Byrne alliance is the most glaring example, the contests for the presidential nominations have already produced numerous cases to prove that the folly of endorsements. John Connally, the former candidate, gambled his $11 million campaign on the South Carolina primary. To win it, he en listed the aide of Sen. Strom Thurmond. Now Thurmond, the 77-year-old pat riarch of South Carolina politics, is — in no way — another Jane Byrne. Thurmond is a living legend in South Carolina, a politician with tremendous popularity and prestige. And Thurmond didn’t just endorse Con nally. He campaigned for the candidate day and night, in the rural areas and the cities, traveling by plane and bus. All of that time and energy went to waste. Thurmond was unable to transfer his popularity to Connally. by bad means Then Erie want to dwel wanted to gel talked about education ins A&M. “No other imposes burd people for tin upperincorm ing of higher said. He said th£ those who pa to school is v jerage income family that se He asked the on equity gr iPi m Big John finished a badly beaten in South Carolina and could not even Thurmond’s home precinct. Theneili Connally withdrew. Senate GOP leader Howard Baker; presidential dropout, was the victim same syndrome. Baker announced his candidacytai before Maine Republicans held their vention, the highlight of which* "straw" vote. I laving entrusted the Maine operafc Sen. William Cohen and his “matte Baker packed a large chartered jet' national reporters to duly record the triumph of his campaign. Baker was so confident of winniij spent the morning of the vote toil around in Vermont and returned give his speech and wait the count I ,. , ,, But Cohen could not deliver. cl often r chall f er Bush beat Baker and Baker’s am|J sl ^ m ican * never got off the ground. !•••« Then Erie sacred cow: “Lower ii work at age 18 years old, middle class are self-supp lower incon more years a Friedman Letters Rush ad results in insulting phone calls Editor: I am a member of a sorority at A&M, and I happen to live at the telephone number that was listed in the ad that the Panhelle- nic placed in the Battalion promoting the Rush Forum on April 2. Since I pledged as a sophomore, I have listened to several anti-Greek discussions, been called a “SB” and a “Geek” and basically have taken a lot of flack for being a part of something I believe in. I have sat back all this time because I feel that a lot of it is due to misinformation, sterotyping, and people who are not willing to accept any kind of change. I have never minded friendly kid ding from people who have given the whole concept of Greeks a chance and simply chosen not to be a part. At least these peo ple could recognize that we were indi viduals just as it is individuals who make up the Corps of Cadets. But like a “Teasip” telling bad Aggie jokes, those people responsible for calling my apartment and telling me to “go to hell,” telling me that I am a “ whore,” and telling me that all Greeks are “full of -—,” are taking what I have always called a cheap shot. These guys with nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon than to insult a person and a group that they have never met, never given a chance, and worst of all probably never will, could be the same guys who, in the 1980s, still consider all blacks “niggers.” I won’t say what group these students said they represented be cause I am certain they are a small part of a group of great people. What I wanted to say to them and to anyone else who doesn’t have the guts to even mention their name when they verbally attack the Greeks is that you make me want to laugh. Call back and maybe one of us 500 “SBs” could meet you at the MSG SPO, the A&M tennis team courts, at a Student “Y” Fish Camp meet ing, an RA meeting, or Young Life. Perhaps at a class officer meeting, at a stu dent government meeting. Presidential campaign rally, the Dixie Chicken, Lake- view, or even the Military Ball. So if you want to call back, please do. Think about it because Aggies are all unified, and A&M is the biggest “fraternity” in the world. Sharon M. Kuhn Campus media biased Editor: The public media on campus never ceases to amaze me. As a leader of a student organization at Texas A&M, I have had the opportunity to deal with the campus news paper and television station. In both situa tions, I question the objectivity and fair ness of the reporters, not only to our orga nization, but also in stories relating to other student organizations. It seems to me that to be a journalist on campus, a reporter must be subjective and negative, seeking only information sup porting their views on the problems and activities within the organization. Journal ists seek out the graft in hopes of a headline story. There is usually little concern with the accomplishments and improvements that may have occurred during the semes ter, as is apparent in the coverage given to our organization. If an organization is doing well, chances are you will not read or hear about it, but if the organization is having problems, turn to page one or watch the six-thirty news — you will know about it. My statements stem from my dealings with The Battalion and KAMU. In the fall, I talked with Doug Graham ofThe Battalion, about our organization. I showed him our improvements, told him of our perform ances and explained the problems we are having during the semester. The result: a predominately negative article dealing with the problems we had, an occasional reference to our improvements and no mention of our performances. KAMU was the ultimate in journalistic deficiency. On Friday March 21, we per formed for their cameras and I was inter viewed by Norma Ocora. We talked about our activities, objectives, membership, and general information. When the story appeared on the news, it was dominated by references to a certain lawsuit our organiza tion is named. There was no mention of the many performances we have made, no mention of the improvements within the organization during the year. It was a muckraking job about a case that has had no relevancy to this year’s goals and accom plishments. It was a poor job ofreportii failing to get information and makean jective story. The point I am trying to make is everything you see printed ortelevisi on the level. As I have seen and e enced, reporters will take parts of si ments out of context to support the si they are looking for. The things youem| size as important are overlooked whil graft or problems prevail. Journalists to dwell on the idea that people only to know about other people’s after all, look at the front pageofane' er or watch the evening news. What right do reporters have in only part of the information and their story on it instead of researching facts and making an objective story? 1 not mean a whitewash job, nor do I m« sixty minutes type execution. Why journalists be comprehensive in search for information and then ohj and fair in the final product? Onceastj reaches the viewer or reader, it creates “ impression that is hard to change if! story is biased or one-sided. I feel that the campus media has be unfair in its coverage of our organizat® only hope that other student organizat* will not fall into the same traps Ihaveia dealings with The Battalion and KAMI PA* kA Andrew C. H ' Commanding OHjH Parson’s Mounted Ca« Thotz TyolT^ By Doug Graham WFNT TO IbE COME AM A& MAJDfc O? WHY? Fb° you kAvjfc A GrlVE ME OME GOOD REASON WHY I SHOULD let a city-Slicker., 'boPE-HEAD, vould-beJ Go's Flower CHILD like YOU into the college of agriculture BECAUSE AG ENROLL^EMTj IS SLIPPING DADLY., t*LEOMTOCOfeV N0TEZ* THE t»C KfituL E>(M0VWRS THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD EVOLA/ED AN EFFECTIVE SE.T OP TEETH FOAsGATiMO plants, they HAt> -thousands of teeth, UiHICH ORSW tePLACeMEN-TS A|THE CLb^ ONES VaJORE CDT OR BROKE - SAQRocoPH^S, CHEES£VuoRTH IS A TRACHODON. I Thi! Wei $U "Fr< Ste Thi