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
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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
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There'
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•uary 191
he case,
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^ Jus+ like mother used -ho make! She was a chemical engineer....^
Poetic license "Ode to Billygate’
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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...