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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1980)
Page 10 THE BATTALION FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1980 world Moscow trying to fight illegal residents in city United Press International MOSCOW — One way to keep ’em down on the farm after they’ve seen Moscow is to make them get a permit to move. That’s how authorities control the growth of Moscow and other large Soviet cities, where better stocked stores and better jobs are a magnet for rural residents. Moscow, with a population approaching 9 million, already is burdened with inadequate housing, despite the growth of endless acres of high-rise apartments. Even com munal living has not been elimin ated. But conditions in the countryside and smaller towns are infinitely worse. The Soviet Union has never licked its transportation problems, and food supplies and consumer goods — often in short supply even in the capital — sometimes never trickle down to outlying villages. For many, Moscow also is the cul tural center of the Soviet Union with at least some semblance of nightlife. The more prestigious jobs can be found in the big cities as well as con nections for better housing, or an “in” to top educational institutes. For some, Moscow is a place to meet a prospective mate. But a Soviet citizen tired of life in Omsk can’t simply pick up and move to Moscow. He needs a housing per mit. For that he needs a job. And he can’t get a job without a housing permit. One Siberian resident who gradu ated from Moscow State University got used to the better lifestyle in the capital. With her fluent English, she found a job at a science institute de sperate for a translator. Everything went smoothly until she applied for registration to live in Moscow. She was turned down. “They knew that if I got the job, I’d have the right to ask for housing,’’ she said. Russians are famous for sidestep ping bureaucrats, so she rented a room illegally for as long as her sav ings would hold out. Such tactics are dangerous, though, because author ities keep a close check on illegal residents. People coming to Moscow to visit friends can legally stay only three days. After that, they must register with authorities. One of the few ways for Soviets to move legally is to accept a menial job — especially construction work — for five years. Or one can resort to marriage. The non-Muscovite gets the residence permit automatically and the spouse gets the right to a larger apartment. As much as $1,500 also may change hands to seal the deal. The couple may see each other after the marriage only to sign the divorce papers. For one Leningrad couple, the ex perience was excruciating. The bride didn’t want to tell her parents about the arrangement, so once a month she and her reluctant husband vi sited her parents in an uncomfort able version of the newlywed game. In another case, two students at Leningrad University fell in love, with each other and the city. Neither had permits to stay beyond gradua tion. So the woman married a friend to get registration. By agreement, she divorced him six months later and married her sweetheart. Western diplomats say Soviet au thorities, apparently to rid the capit al of undesirables in advance of July’s Olympic games, have begun crack ing down on illegal residents, con servatively estimated to number in the tens of thousands. The diplomats report stepped-up spot checks of documents at subway stops as well as door-to-door investigations at apart ments. Authorities usually just order illegal residents out of the city, but technically they could charge them with parasitism — failing to hold a job. That would apply to most illegal residents, since they can’t find work without a housing permit. Iran government will take hostage control United Press International WASHINGTON — Two mem bers of Iran’s Revolutionary Coincil said Thursday two council officials will go to the U. S. Embassy Saturday to take control of the 50 U.S. hos tages. The militants said they would give up the hostages but not the embassy. “We have many, many, more documents to examine to prove U.S. crimes against my country,” a Gold drops, dollar rises spokesman for the militants said in explaining why they refused to va cate the embassy they seized Nov. 4. Interior Minister Mahdavi Kani and presidential adviser Ezatollah Sahabi were quoted in the Persian- language newspaper Kayhan as saying the Revolutionary Council “is prepared to take over the hostages” in 48 hours. A militant spokesman identified only as Shahpour said that if the Re volutionary Council asked for cus tody of the hostages, “we would agree to that.” Asked whether the militants would insist, as they have in the past, on a direct order from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Shahpour said, “Because the Revolutionary Council is the council (in charge of) Iran, we (will) obey this order if they want us to hand over the hostages to the Re volutionary Council. “We never said that we would hand over the embassy,” Shahpour said. “We said that if the Revolution ary Council requests it, we hand over the hostages to them, not the embassy. In Washington, White House press secretary Jody Powell said Thursday transfer of the hostages to government control this weekend “would be a step in the right direc tion.” He also said President Carter and Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr have been keeping up a “government-to-government” stream of messages. United Press International LONDON — The price of gold plunged below the $500mark Thurs day, and the U.S. dollar made slim gains on world money. Gold opened in London at $487.50 an ounce, down $14 from Wednes day’s close of $501. lo TawvcIv, Its opening price of $486.50 compared with $500.50 Wednesday, a drop of $16. But the dollar moved slightly up ward on all markets. It opened in London at $2.1495 to the pound, half a cent up on Wednesday’s closing rate of $2.1550. In Zurich, it opened at 1.85675 Swiss francs compared with 1.84825 francs. Milan proved the exception, where the dollar slipped a tiny frac tion, from 907.95 lire Wednesday to 907.75 lire at the opning Thursday. Hop on down to ANIMAL WORLD and check out the chicks... .. bunnies & ducks! Visa & Mastercharge accepted Hours: M-F 10-7 Sat. 10-6, Sun. 1-5 Culpepper Plaza Manor East Mall what’s up at Texas A&M FRIDAY TAMU BADMINTON CLUB: Will begin a tournament at 5 p.m. on the main floor of G. Rollie White Coliseum. There will be competi tion in the A & B novice divisions and prizes will be awarded to all finalists and consolation winners. The entry fee is $2 for the first event and $1 each for the second and third events. Entries may be picked up in the Intramural office or on the main floor of the Coliseum. OFF-CAMPUS AGGIES: Parents Day Barbecue tickets are on sale in the MSC Box Office through April 18. Tickets are $3.50. ROWLETT LECTURE: The subject “Our State: The Present and the Prospect” will be discussed at 9:30 and 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. in Rudder Theater. “THE IN-LAWS”: Peter Falk and Alan Arkin star in this certified crazy person’s comedy. A series of plot twisters combine with slapstick hilarity as Arkin, the father of the bride, meets Falk, the father of the groom. Chase scenes and general havoc ensue from then on. The feature will be shown at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. in Rudder Theater. “EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK”: A comdic tour de force in which Woody Allen dwells explicitly and probingly on the myster ies and anxieties of sex. The feature will be shown at midnight in Rudder Theater. , GROMETS: Will meet to play historical and fantasy wargames at 7 p.m. in 140-140A MSC. BAPTIST STUDENT UNION: Will sponsor a hamburger dinner followed by entertainment and a night of games beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Baptist Student Center. Tickets for the dinner are $1.50 when bought in advance at the Student Center or $1.75 at the door. AGGIE BASEBALL; Aggies will play Houston at 7:30 p.m. inO; | Field. SATURDAY AGGIE BASEBALL: The Aggies will play Houston at 1 p.m. in Field. CORPUS CHRISTI HOMETOWN CLUB: Will meet at 1 p.nij Padre Island beach, off access road 3. Everyone is welcom MSC OUTDOOR RECREATION COMMITTEE: Will watchlJ Donald, world-famous rock climber, from 10 a.m. to 4 p,null Enchanted Rock near Fredricksburg. “THE IN-LAWS”: The feature will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Theater. “EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOl SEX BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK”: The feature will besho»| midnight in Rudder Theater. SUNDAY “ALLELUIA”: The Adult Choir of the First Baptist Church in- ^ Station will present this musical at 7 p. m. in the church audiloilf 111 ^, 1 at 200 College Main in College Station. PAKISTAN CLUB: Will sponsor a children’s Qur’an study classm s 0 f the a.m. in 402 Rudder. Busands of MUSLIM STUDENTS’ASSOCIATION: W'ill sponsor a Qur’ani« tax.” class at 10 a.m. in 410 Rudder. tax ~ '■' than $ "tears. (See 1 For bids: license plates United Press International HONG KONG — Waves of “oohs” and “aahs” from bidders rip pled through the city hall action. The merchandise was so valuable it was kept under cover. Each piece’s number, written on a blackboard, had the audience squirming. A $2 black and white Hong Kong license plate was at stake. Chinese who believe “lucky” numbers add years to their lives and produce fat bank accounts eagerly dole out tens of thousands of dollars for the right license digits. Compared with the over-the- counter $2 charge, it’s a hefty price. To facilitate demand, the govern ment conducts auctions of prized license plates. Anyone can reserve a number and bid on it at one of the auctions, which are held every five to six weeks. “The sense of luck brought by the license plate only is imagined by bid ders,” insists John K.C. Chan, trans port department official in charge of the auctions. His department is care ful not to advertise them as lucky license numbers, but auctioneers show no such constraint. Proceeds from the auctions go to charity, and $11 million has rolled in since the special sales began in 1973. “I’ve been assured that this is a very lucky number. It means an easy life for someone,” said an au ctioneer, pointing at CC 323 written on a blackboard. The Chinese audience chuckled and the number was quickly dis posed of for $3,367. The record price for a lucky license number is $70,000, reported ly paid by Hong Kong movie mongul Sir Run Run Shaw for a lone 6. The digit connotes longevity, but Chan said the purchase also had personal sentiment. To avoid profiteering, obvious lucky number plates are placed on a non-transferrable list and may not be resold to other car owners. If a pur chaser moves or gives up his vehicle, the license plates must be returned to the government. Numbers not on the nontransferr- able list may be sold to car owners who seek digits with personal mean ing, such as birthdates. “A person holding an ordinary license number could hold out and receive thousands of dollars from a willing buyer, earning enough in terest on his $2 plate purchase to shame a gold dealer,” Chan said. HOLLANDS-INDONESISCH Snacks - condiments - gifts cookware/books - everything Now in College Station from a fellow Aggie. Call Jeannette 693- 7620 eves. CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO arter’s d iry spending iscal 1981 t< of the ive Years,” ient Resear The Fines New Dance in Texas presents “Dottsy Saturda) April S Every Saturday 8 p.m. Adults $3.00 Children $1.50 Mixinj with ficl Lynn As ter crowi as the fir series ca Ashby columns, and askc pens no\ A grad Ashby ss Aggielan universil hearted crowd. for the I candidate of your choice drive wit Merely" iioaioooiraooi)3ooo30]iioiiiioi)aiiiaiHio(ioaiio'’^.=^uii]85?'’; r (K.v^ —— Try our Great-Tastin' CHICKEN FRIED STEAK $• 1" special served with baked potato or french fries. Reg. $2.69. HAPPY HOUR AT THE STUDIO 4 for 1 Starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday 1401 FM 2818 Come out to the Doux Chene Complex! Good Mon.-Thurs. from 4:30 P.M.-10 P.M. Offer expires Thurs., April 17 wmm COUPON MSC TOWN HALL presents LIMIT m not gust Ifsfifielavl WHERE YOU ALWAYS BUY THE BEST FOR LESS FRIDAY APRIL 18, 7 P.M. G. ROLLIE WHITE COLISEUM IMSCI it TICKETS 3.25, 4.25, 4.75 TICKETS AND INFO: MSC BOX OFFICE 845-2916 Itown halll DISCOUNT CENTEB PEPSI 32 oz. 6 pack plus deposit 1.39 OLD MILWAUKEE RANCHI President G ■most sure Bndidate a A public service of this magazine, November the U.S. Department of Transport P i n an inte and the Advertising Council. he and his i soon. Arrai summit me Ronald heavy favor! 1420 TEXAS AVfc* "ennsylvan COLLEGE STA. When he GOP race l SALE ENDS SAWS; COORS There h foe f We ek, seate LONE STAR March lid! n °mination LONGNECKfe wan I thou* Otters as tl a case p* yi/ an >are ma k /■ Lnerable,” F • "t M 11 ,ea gan can i Ford said ^d Reagan Sprtain thin the,” plus deposit fim.^ ar ran Meeting, h< hs that ii ( .»"n" r ^|| lee G Then rmf gs betwee “The so„ Census t f/'rd, who November “ok of unii