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Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Wednesday
September 24, 1980
Slouch
By Jim Earle
‘it’s not an armadillo hat, It’s an armadillo.
Socialistic transformation
began with Social Security
Hw:
Mi'Jv 1
By MOSC MELCHIZEDEK
America’s transformation from laisse-faire
economy to a socialistic one began with the
passage of such programs as Social Security.
When Social Security became law, the United
States suffered from the worst depression in its
history. In an effort to combat deflation, Frank
lin Roosevelt initiated a policy of government
spending to create jobs.
Roosevelt believed that by implementing a
National Pension Program, consumer spending
would increase, and this would help curb defla
tion. This inflationary program, along with
many others accomplished just that, but we
have had to live with it ever since.
The Social Security Program for 39 years ex
isted as a proportional double tax. In 1976, an
individual annually paid 6.05 percent on the
first $14,400 he earned. The Feds then in
cluded the money paid into Social Security with
the individual’s pretax income. Thus, the feder
al government taxed this $17,700 twice.
In 1976, workers who retired got $459 or so a
month if they had received the maximum tax
able salary for their working lives, ($3,000 when
the system started in 1937). In comparison,
workers who earned the median level (around
$9,250) paid probably one-half the amount of
taxes. Therefore they received about half as
much in benefits.
However, under the new Social Security Tax
schedule, benefits will not differentiate be
tween the amount of taxes individuals pay into
they system. Under the new law, the Social
Securtiy tax rate will rise from 6.05 percent to
7.15 percent by 1968. The maximum salary
base will also rise, from $17,700 to $42,600 by
1987. A person earning $42,600 or more by
1987 will pay as much as $3,045. Considering
the double taxation involved, this will consume
something like $6,000, or 14 percent of his
pretax income. Workers with a history of max
imum earning should receive $779ai
benefits. Now for the punchline-#
with average earnings (projected to Ik
$17,200 in 1987) will receive almost asuj
benefits — around $610 a month. Thus t
ceive this added benefit of $169, a#
would have to pay $16,000 more in taxes?
period of ten years.
However, if you’re now thinking about
ing your congressman to complain about
soak-the-successful scheme, you shoal
that Congress isn t stupid. When ill
opportunity to enter social insurance,it
against the ludicrous idea. Why heck,the|
sion programs. Congress and govemmeut
ployees have offer lower insurance prera
and give more benefits. Something tol
about next time some Congressman starts
ing you that he really is interested i
welfare, and that if you vote for
look out for vour interests.
It’s your turn
A belated‘Thank you’to Jarvis Miller
b
Reaction, not thought,
typifies student opinion
Editor:
Panties in a truck window appparently bother
more people than the firing of the president.
Many things in life are more important than
whether the Aggie band arrives late for a yell
practice — but wouldn’t you know it by hanging
around the Battalion offices.
In the past nine months, the Texas A&M
University System has been reorganized and a
president has been fired. Implications are se
rious for the future of the academic quality of
Texas A&M.
Through it all, the Battalion has tried to pro
vide complete and accurate reportage and com
mentary on the most significant actions taken at
the University in the last decade. And many
outside sources have said we’ve done a good job
of it.
But there’s one unanswered question: “Who
cares?”
No one evidently.
When Dr. Jarvis Miller was ousted from the
presidency, the Battalion received several let
ters to the editor. Only two showed their au
thors had any idea that the main issue was
Miller’s fight against reorganization of the sys
tem and his subsequent loss of power.
Most students believed that Miller’s removal
was caused directly by his refusal to shake cadet
Melanie ZentgraTs hand at graduation in May.
Zentgraf has filed suit against Miller and the
University, alleging sexual discrimination in
the Corps of Cadets.
The Zentgraf idea is hogwash — Miller’s fir
ing just wasn’t that simple.
Friday the Battalion was able to present a
little more of the complex picture through two
exclusive interviews — one with Miller, the
other with Hubert. The articles attempted to
describe both men’s feelings about the series of
actions, which were as startling in their sudden
ness as they are important in their implications.
Included in the story based on the Miller
interview were some surprises:
1) The regents publicly ignored Millers’s res
ignation offer, which was made at least a month
before he was fired;
2) The regents are trying to run the day-to-
day operations of the university; and
3) The regents “lack vision” in their role of
guiding the university.
Who cares? No one, apparently.
However, in a sports article Tuesday labeled
“Analysis,” a Battalion reporter said the Aggie
Band was late for Friday’s midnight yell prac
tice, and that it finished a one song in a some
what disjointed manner.
Who cares? A lot of people apparently.
The writer and any other staffer close to a
telephone were berated by upset bandsmen,
their fiancees, and, it seemed, anyone who had
ever had a bone to pick with the Battalion.
The callers were considerate and reasonable.
But there are more important things to worry
about than:
— panties in a truck window,
— whether or not the band was late for yell
practice,
— the price of coffee refills in the MSC, or,
— whether all “bad Ags” should take the hint
“Highway 6 runs both ways.”
And one issue — the reorganization — de
mands careful consideration because it affects
us all.
Instead we get knee-jerk reactions, com
plaining about all sorts of “bad Ags” who upset
“good Ags.”
Students worry more aobut the state highway
system than they do about the state of this
system.
You’d never guess that Texas A&M’s average
SAT score is 137 points above the national aver
age, or that we enroll more national merit scho
lars than any public school in Texas.
Aggies, it seems, don’t think. They react.
And to the silliest things.
What’s more important, the band or the fu
ture?
The band, of course.
The other answer wuld require the respon
dent to think,. And that’s toomuch work.
I have read with much interest your articles
of July 15-16 and of Sept. 1, 1980, pertaining to
the Board of Regents’ reassignment of Dr. Jar
vis E. Miller.
Since I taught at A&M and at Washington
State University and since my husband taught
at the University of California-San Jose, I
should like to respond to some of the thoughts
in The Battalion and to share some observations
Dillard Stone
Page 2 is your page, too
Letters to the Editor should not exceed 3Q0
words in length, and are subject to being cut if
they are longer. The editorial staff x'eserves the
right to edit letters for style and length, but will
make every effort to maintain the author’s in
tent. Each letter must also be signed, show the
address and phone number of the writer.
Columns and guest editorials are also wel
come, and are not subject to the same length
constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and
correspondence to: Editor, The Battalion, 216
Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col
lege Station, TX 77843.
regarding Dr. Miller’s services as our President
at A&M..
Like the Association of Former Students, I
have, heard “many laudatory and complimen
tary statements of Dr. Miller’s abilities for the
superb manner in which he has discharged his
responsibilites and duties as President in the
growth of Texas A&M. ”
He was eminently qualified for the presiden
cy. Evidence attests to his outstanding per
formance. His expertise, based on his educa
tional background and experience, and his vi
sions of academic excellence helped to make
A&M a great university, further achieving
state, national, and international recognition.
President Miller’s inspired leadership lent
strong support from every outside group impor
tant to A&M: the agricultural leaders, the busi
ness and professional leadership of the state and
the political leadership at both the state and
national levels. Within the University com
munity he enjoyed unprecedented support
from students, faculty, administrators, and
alumni. Student leaders, unhappy with the
Board’s action, remember that “Dr. Miller
brought with him to the presidency an open-
door, student oriented attitude reflected in all
levels of his administration.”
I commend the statement made by the Board
of Directors of the Association of Former Stu
dents: “... that Dr. Miller’s removal in such an
abrupt way has caused an injustice to the Uni
versity and to the people of this state ... such a
step was ill-timed, ill-conceived, and effectu
ated without any planning or thought of the
consequences or the future.” This sordid event
tarnishes A&M’s image, making difficult the
recruitment of renouwned educators.
At this date no comprehensive, penetrating
analysis of current developments has been
given. It is shocking to know that President
Miller was given neither prior warning nor an
opportunity to defend his position. I agree with
you, Mr. Stone, that “Decisions of this nature
go against basic management theory and prac
tice, which say that employers should discuss
problems with and complaints against their em
ployees.” Do the regents want to exercise con
trol over all decisions at the University? We
must remember that “Power tends to corrupt,
and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Dr. Miller’s leaving the presidency brought
grief to the community, to the state, and to the
nation. In this area he and his family are deeply
loved and respected.
On numerous occasions he opened the pres
idential mansion for cultural and social activi
ties. Students appreciated knowing that they,
too, could receive an audience from him and
Mrs. Miller. Indeed they will not forget such
understanding and care. At the many functions
Mrs. Miller represented the University with
grace and dignity, frequently enlisting the assi-
tance of the four talented daughters.
Dr. Miller is held in high esteem. Since
“Gratitude is a memory of the heart,” he will be
remembered for his integrity, his expertise,
and his outstanding contributions. For all of his
good works, a genuine thank you.
Margaret (Lemmon) Robertson
Traditions should flex
; Kent (
didate f<:
ective
Yell leader on soapbox
Editor:
Leaving yell practice, I had to wonder. In
over four years of such events I’d never once
heard a yell leader use the occasion as a soapbox
to voice his own opinion about something total
ly unrelated. Traditionally, yell practice is a
mammoth get-together to voice spirit and back
ing for our football team. Up until the unveiling
of the (the squeamish should close their eyes
here) Ag Flag.
First to get one point straight. I have abso
lutely no affiliation whatsoever with the Stu
dent Aggie Club, the subversive perpetrators of
the article in question. I’d merely like to com
ment on the extremely poor timing the yell
leaders exhibited to express their opinions.
Now, what was it he said? It’s DETRIMEN
TAL Ags, (that big word, detrimental). De
trimental because they’re reviving something,
which as he said, was used a LONG time ago.
Come on, who are you trying to kid, all Aggie
traditions are deep rooted in some age old piece
of granite. Nothing wrong with an old tradition
I thought. If it’s an old tradition, then it’s gener
ally sacred.
Or, perhaps the feeling was that some
money-mongering capitalist was ripping people
off, stealing away our precious bodily fluids. I
think not. $1.50 is not that much to pay for
something that can be used over indefinitely.
Paying $8.50 a shot for mums is much more of a
pocketbook drain. And concessionaires seem to
be able to sell totally untraditional pennants
without suffering a verbal browbeating.
Or was it just that you didn’t think of it first
yourself? Do elucidate.
Steve Wilczynski ’80
Editor:
Saturday evening eight “Good Ags d
trated their allegiance to our traditteL
standing throughout the football game, t
different about this? These eight persons® issua
standing near the front of Section 126,n 1 0 f suc hf a
predominately contained Penn State fajj i
parents of A&M students. When these
Ags” politely were asked to be seated scj
those behind them could see, they rets
These Ags also refused the requests of|
policmen, however, they apparently
unsure of their grounds and appealed tool
the yell leaders for guidance. Unfortumtl
after consulting with the other yell leadersj
young man signaled to thse eight fans toreml
standing.
The result was that some Aggie parents® ! j
number of Penn State supporters werelefi* l
the impression that TAMU students as Althoi
bunch of boors whose best assets are revt- ofesso
while humping it! Older A&M supported n thin;
fans of other schools (who are our“guestsV F are i
on this campus) should not be forced to join Perral
“Twelfth Man” tradition. If you can’t getai L r0V p
in the student sections, either move to L sti
you don ’t block the view of others while sta ^
ing, or sit down! Common courtesy also is 'ho are
Aggie tradition. In any case, traditions,: “The
individual rights, must remain flexibleeniiffeferrah
that their exercise by one person does: “anfor
violate the rights of another.
For those ready to rush to the support oil
asinine performance of these eight “GoodA!
I should note that five of these “loyalist"f
gustedly left the stadium during the foU
quarter, despite being reminded of the W
tion of staying for yell practice when wc
“outscored. The other three sons left 1)6
yell practice was over. Apparently,
tradition only applies when you are winti
Paul F,C«
Thank God for Beal
Editor:
Simplic
o be v\
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the 1*'
my soul to keep. If I should die before I waif matchii
pray the Lord my soul to take.
God bless all the people of the world ;
thank you so much for David Beal.
Laura Hertenberger
Warped
By Scott McCullar
The Battalion
U S P S 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Dillard Stone
Managing Editor Rhonda Watters
Asst. Managing Editor Scott Haring
City Editor Becky Swanson
Sports Editor Richard Oliver
Asst. Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Scot K. Meyer
News Editors Lynn Blanco,
Gwen Ham, Todd Woodard
Staff Writers Jennifer Afflerbach, Kurt Allen,
Nancy Andersen, Marcy Boyce, Mike Burrichter,
Pat Davidson, Jon Heidtke, Uschi Michel-Howell,
Debbie Nelson, Liz Newlin, Cathy Saathoff,
Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Photo Editor Pat O’Malley
Questions or comments concerning any editorial mil*
should he directed to the editor.
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reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, M
make every effort to maintain the author's intent. Eachk*
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Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, andaK :
subject to the same length constraints as letters. Addrts
inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The Battalion, \
Heed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station
77843.
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