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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1980)
Viewpoint The Battalion Thursday Texas A&M University July 31, 1980 100- Slouch by Jim Earle “I think we’ve caught them at a bad time. They’re deciding who gets th’ parking permits for next year. ” Baton twirling yields college scholarships by PATRICIA McCORMACK United Press International Is baton twirling: a.) a fast growing sport; b.) good exercise for the heart; c.) an unusual route to a college scholarship? If you answered “yes” on all three counts go to the head of the class. Baton twirling also is, by the way, far from a frill as an elective on the junior and senior high phys ed circuit. The kids who take it up for credit are among an estimated one million Americans who compete in baton twirling, contribute to their school band’s.flashy show, make many a drum and bugle corps mighty spectacular and have tons of fun. Great concentrations of twirling freaks are found in Ohio, Indiana, Texas, California and New York. The United States Twirling Association, led by Jack Crum inSyracuse Ind., makes those claims in a report focusing on the 22nd annual U.S. Grand National Baton Twirling Cham pionship in Seattle, Wash. The week-long event at Seattle Center Are na opens Monday and will attract 7,000 young athletes, as baton twirlers are called in their circles. About the question at the start of this story: — Baton twirling is indeed a fast-growing sport. These days one million compete in about 500 contests in the U.S. alone. Interna tionally, an estimated 5 million compete. An international competition in Norfolk, Va., last year drew athletes from Belgium, England, France, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands. Japan has more twirlers than the United States. Twirling is regular part of their school system. Countries participating in an interna tional competition in Seattle Aug. 10-11 in clude Germany, France, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, England, Scotland, Japan and the United States. — Twirling is exercise for the heart. Gabe Mirkin, sports medicine doctor and author of “The Sportsmedicine Book,” says baton twirl ing is an excellent way to train your heart. Here’s the idea: to pump blood to the arms, the heart must work twice as hard. This guarantees that baton twirling, when done properly, pushes your heart rate to the re quired level. Baton twirling also requires the movement of every muscle in your body to the cadence of music, stepping in coordination. Sandy Patlak, a soccer and basketball coach at the University of Chicago High School, says baton twirling requires complete concentra tion, coordination and flexibility. It also re quires a high level of stamina and demands top physical conditioning. Many twirlers also are accomplished dancers and gymnasts. — Baton twirling is an unusual route to a college scholarship. Unusual but not rare. About 200 colleges and universities give schol arships to top twirlers selected to lead their bands. Most frequently these scholarships are assigned by the school of music. Among the schools are the University of Kansas at Laur ence; Purdue University; University of Michi gan; Texas Christian University in Fort Worth; Penn State University at College Park, Pa; College of William and Mary, Williamsburg Va.; Memphis State University in Tennessee; the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. Batons are almost cheap. They cost about $9 at sports and music stores. Lessons range from $2 for group to up to $45 for private ones. How long should a baton be? The same length as the distance from the armpit to the middle finger. A baton is twirled with the wrist. Advanced twirlers are able to maneuver the baton through their legs, around their necks and through their arms. The really good ones practice from three to six hours a day. Most baton twirlers are female. The average age is 13. In recent years however more males are getting into the act. Three of the top six twirlers in the United States are male. Thirty years ago the majority of twirlers were male. Defending champs from last year include Marci Papadopoulos, 15, of Fremont, Calif.; John Chamberlain, 25, of Portland, Ore.; Glenn Bittenbender, 17, of New Carrollton, Md.; Vallrie Ludwiuck, 21, of Richland Wash.; and Barbie Hodgees, 17, of Richland, Wash. There are five events in the national com petition: 1. Solo twirling, One baton. 2. Two batons. Contestant twirls two at one time. 3. Three batons. Uses three meticulously juggled while executing other advanced moves. 4. Strut. Strutting emphasizes technique and style of a twirler. In strutting arm move ment is the same as in walking while the toe touches the floor first with little or no weight shifting to the heel, and knees are raised high to the chest toes pointed. 5. Dance twirl. Combination of dance steps, twirls, arm and body movements set to music. Twirling moves included in any of the routines are called rolls, finger twirls and leaps. A roll is executed when the baton makes one or more complete revolutions on a part or parts of the body without the use of hands. Finger twirls? Baton is twirled between the fingers. Leaps? The same as leaps in ballet or gymnastics. The Battalion member Texas Pre s Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Dillard Stone City Editor Becky Swanson Sports Editor Richard Oliver News Editor Lynn Blanco Staff Writers Uschi Michel-Howell, Debbie Nelson, Cathy Saathoff, Scot K. Meyer Photo Editor Janet Golub EDITORIAL POUCY The Battalion is a non-proBt, self-supporting newspaper op erated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily repre sent the opinions of Texas A&M University administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of Regents. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter should be directed to the editor. U S P S 045 360 LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed300 words in length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author's intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor. The Battalion. 216 Beed McDonald, Texas A&M University. College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published Tuesday through Thursday during Texas A&M’s summer school schedule. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. Which building named for who BEf The by CATHY SAATHOFF Battalion Staff I have always wanted to have a building named after myself. Ever since coming to Texas A&M Universi ty two years ago, I have wondered about the people who share their names with buildings around campus. What did they do to get such an honor? Did they die? Did they pay for the building? Did they have connections? Armed with these questions, I headed for the University Archives to find out what I had to do to get a building named after myself. “Here We’ll Build the College,” by Ernest Langford (as in Langford Architecture Cen ter), provided me with much of the informa tion I needed, and also dashed my hopes. A brief survey revealed that I possess none of the qualifications for sharing my name with a building. Two men have had two things named after them: George Rollie White (G. Rollie White Coliseum and Dorm 10) and Wofford Cain (Wofford Cain Pool and Cain Hall). Harrington (Dorm 11) and Harrington Education Center are not named for the same Harrington. White and Cain were members of the Board of Directors, the ancestors of today’s Board of Regents. This seems to be one of the prerequi sites for getting your name carved on a corner stone. Of 12 dorms erected in 1932, six were named after men who were on the BOD at the time. This looks suspicious to me. The remaining six were named after two former BOD members, a head of the English Department, a dean of the School of Engineer ing, a president of the College and one “friend of the College.” Sidetracks by CATHY SAATHOFF Other BOD members who were namesakes for buildings are Herman Heep, K. K. Legett (Legett Hall), P. L. Downs (Downs Natatorium), W. T. Doherty Building, F. M. Law (Law Hall), and L. J. Hart (Hart Hall). Law, along with Charles Puryear, who was the first dean of the College, are the namesakes of the men’s dorms situated in front of the YMCA Building. These dorms, built in 1928, replaced a group of wooden shacks nicknamed “Hollywood,” which housed cadets in the early part of the century. Hollywood had replaced “Tent Row,” 243 tents which cadets occupied before 1910. Another dorm, Walton Hall, is named for T. O. Walton, who was the ninth president of the College. Walton’s presidency lasted from 1925 to 1943, which again looks suspicious, since the dorm was built in 1931. From this, I decided that being dead is not one of the criteria for having my name on a cornerstone. As a matter of a fact, great deeds performed while living might do it. Two of Texas A&M’s seven World War II Medal of Honor winners lived to tell about their deeds. They are Dr. Eli Whiteley (Dorm 9) and William G. Harrell (Dorm 8). Four others, Lloyd H. Hughes (Hughes Hall), George D. Keathley (Keathley Hall), Tur ney W. Leonard (Dorm 7) and Thomas W. Fowler (Fowler Hall), received their medals posthumously. The seventh Medal of Honor» tified t Horace Carswell, had a Fort Worth ai that w base named for him, but was ignored state p University. the sit Famous athletes are another soul t Ho names. Charles A. DeWare (DeWan we * House) was a great athlete of the early® 11 , p Robert W. Henderson (Henderson Ha!^ a rea died of multiple sclerosis at the age■ He collected 11 varsity letters in five majoi 38-p Ul as a student. brougl Kyle Field is named for E. J. Kyle,* Wf the School of Agriculture from 191l4pr°. u f was also chairman of the Athletic CW Being the dean or president of somMuf» increases your chances of getting your|lf The on a building. taken Then there are the buildings whose if y ^ ou were never put up for grabs. Hie fee * n a structures have exciting names like F» Building, Hydromechanics Lab, BrH ■ Sciences Building East, English AnaeS Physics Building. Descriptive, but bon* r -• But 1 don’t suppose anyone would hew | "j ested in changing the names of anydl buildings. And since this campus is reaching its capacity building-wise, ifg think there will be any new buildings lt||^ my name. * N And even if there were room lorn building, I don’t plan on being on the Be# Ur Regents or becoming governor orpresttljtjQHf the University. Rais And on a journalist’s salary, I won ’(burned th to pay for the construction of a buildingff"^ R little one. I guess I’ll have to abankw^"^ dream of having a building named aftei’ your Besides, no one can pronounce my m d eni( anyway. The 4l Appeals, pe case burt wil YlacDoM he sente pent aga There' he murd llace at 1 •uary 191 he case, Oi bii ^ Jus+ like mother used -ho make! She was a chemical engineer....^ Poetic license "Ode to Billygate’ Ui WASH [ration’s lould evi feast $53 initial E inates, 1 Texas, ch Eckhar louse in nerce sul y’s claim fen mere iroven as by W. Scott Sherman See Jimmy. Jimmy is president. Jimmy has been president for four years. Four LONG years. See Billy. Billy is Jimmy’s brother. Billy is Jimmy’s younger brother. Another good argument for planned parenthood. See Billy talk to Libya. Talk, Billy, Talk. See Billy say he’s Libya’s friend. Poor Libya. Billy says he is going to “help” Libya. Billy is going to introduce them. Billy is doing this for friendship. Alone. And about half a million dollars. See Billy bring the Libyans to the U.S. See Billy show them DisneyWorld. See Billy and the Libyans stay in Atlanta. Where is General Sherman when you need him. See Billy defend the Libyans. See Billy say terrorism is O.K. See Billy say anti-Semitism is O.K. See Billy say free money is O.K. See Billy stand by the Libyans. See Billy speak up for the Libyans. One simple question for the Libyans. Will Billy keep talking while you drink a glass of water? See Jimmy tell Billy he’s misbehaving. Talk, Jimmy, Talk. See Jimmy give up talking to Billy. See Jimmy give Billy a knife.. . and a book on self-lobotomy. See the Justice Department. The Justice Department is asking questions. Like why is Billy an agent of a foreign country. And can anyone be that dumb — honestly. See Jimmy warn Billy. Jimmy tells Billy the Justice Department is mad. Dumb move, Jimmy. Typical, but dumb. See the Justice Department investigate Billy. See the Justice Department investigate Jimmy. See the Justice Department investigate its boss. See the Justice Department investigate the Justice Department. See the Democrats look for a new I See Teddy say he is their man. He has experience with nepotism | scandal. During itimates don See the Democrats say no to Teddy Some say Teddy is too liberal. Some say Teddy is too controversial jHmulate Some say Teddy has already read the 4985 sanl on self-lobotomy. |r day Jimmy’s campaign needs a big boost. Something so Americans can rally the flag. Estim Like some despot taking Americans hoi 5 f the m; But that’s been done before. r^ ei Jimmy is looking for a crazed leader® 1 ’ ’ oil-rich territory". r™ a ' And about fifty Americans not doing* . : Uung of note. L, Excuse us, Mr. President. ( Have you considered Gov. Clements m 0 f the Texas Senate? paimed See Ronnie watch and laugh. Ronnie hopes Jimmy and Billy get ci Then he won’t have to depend on Geoi rhetoric. Because two in the can is better than we’ve heard from Bush. See the Democrats panic. Editors note: W. Scott Sherman is a ( business student. Warped by Scott McCuIli WELL MERRITT, IT'5 BEEtf GREAT TALKI/YG WITH /Oi; AGAIA/, fILLI/VG YOU IN ON MSELF... EVERYTHING THAT'S NEW IN M LI FE, ALL THE THINGS I'VE BEE A/ WANTING TO DISCUSS WITH YOU... WE LL, WE * V £ BOTH GOT CLASSES TO GET TO SO X'LL LET YOU GO NOV/... I I THANKS, I APPRECIATE IT, mi AR/VS STARTtfS| TO GET NUMB...