Vote in today’s election
We’ve all seen and read the high and mighty prose of countless editorials
before — the editorials which give innumerable idealistic reasons to vote.
This won’t be a rehash of those reasons — anybody who’s passed high
school government can sketch the theories behind citizen participation. It’s
time for words to stop, and action to start.
Vote today!
Viewpoint
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The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday
November 4, 1980
Slouch
By Jim Earle
'Won’t you please turn it off so I can get some sleep?’
No Silver Taps tonight
no one is going to miss it
While looking through my file of finished
stories Monday afternoon, I saw a feature on the
Silver Taps team that I was holding to run with
our next ceremony announcement.
It was then that I realized that this was going
to be the first Tuesday of the month and that I
hadn’t received an official Silver Taps notice
from the Student Affairs Office or the Office of
Public Information.
I almost hit the panic button knowing that it
had been a month since the last ceremony, and
in a University with over 33,000 students I just
knew someone had to have died. It seemed at
least probable.
I thought at first that the notice was a late
arrival in my mail slot, so I checked there.
Nothing.
The next place to look was the managing
editor’s desk. A quick shuffle through the pap
ers on her desk yielded nothing.
On to the editor’s desk. I thought it might
have been in the unsorted mail. Nope, nothing
here either.
Well, somebody goofed. I knew there had to
be an oversight.
Whistle-stop
By Becky Swanson
t SO!
When all else fails, go across the hall to the
Office of Public Information and ask Betty, who
delivers the University press releases every
day. I thought maybe she just forgot to put one
in our basket.
Betty didn’t know anything about Silver
Taps.
Last resort — ask Jeff — he ought to know
since he’s the associate director of the office and
handles those types of news items, or at least he
can find out for me.
I guess he hadn’t thought about it either,
because the mention of Silver Taps caused an
immediate, puzzled look to appear on his face.
It was almost like I’d hit him.
' deli
dsn.
I guess since Silver Taps was changed!
only on the first Tuesday of the monthfel
a student’s death, everyone just
given that we’d all be going to Silverli
that night.
We both had it in our minds
had died. Neither one of us could tliiil
name, but someone. We were almost
1 Jeff said he’d check, so I went
office to wind up some last minute
Minutes later, Jeff came in and saidtlis
no oversight — no students have died
last Silver Taps ceremony.
I was amazed. But mostly I was relien
happy. I’m one of those people who tab
Taps to heart. The buglers have never
for anyone I know, but I go. In the dark
prayer for our fellow Aggie’s family, asl
to comfort them and give them strengtl
with their loss.
The feature on the Silver Taps bugle
neat story, but I’m quite happy to leave!
desk. Tonight, I’ll give thanks
there, and the lights are still
campus.
T/,
isfe;
irgil Hai
lant, spr
tar inside
malic
The 1980Aggieland: H el pin
Reluctant voters make AStVImake sense to non-Ags
G
jA simple c;
or an elder!'
m-
wm Hall’s ]
iitorium.
their choices today
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — Tuesday night’s debate
demonstrated with stunning clarity why it is so
hard for so many people to decide wlrether
Ronald Reagan or Jimmy Carter should be
President for the nexf foifr ^ears^ I^o\n smoWi^S
their skills as campaigners and, equally, both
showed the deficiencies that might deter any
one from wishing either of them was President.
Carter, for his part, made a series of targeted
appeals to specific constituencies — answering
one question as a traditional Democrat, another
as a friend of Israel, a third as the champion of
blacks and Hispanics, a fourth as the son of the
South.
But at no time did he combine those specific
appeals into a broad agenda for America, and
that has been the failing of his administration.
H is former speechwriter, Jim Fallows,
observed that Carter has “many policies, but no
one policy. ” As Elizabeth Drew of The New
Yorker put it, “He is constantly blurring the
picture. ”
Reagan, on the other hand, paints in broad
strokes with his promises to “get government
off your back” and “make America respected
throughout the world.” The trouble is that his
picture is more a romanticized notion of the
1920’s than a reflection of realities in the 1980s.
So it needs constant readjustment, the kind of
policy realignment Reagan made almost weekly
during the campaign and would be forced to
make as frequently as President.
Carter’s presidency has confirmed the skep
ticism of his early critics. He has botched his
relationship with Congress as thoroughly as he
burned his bridges with the Georgia legisla
ture. He has confused the bureaucracy (and,
often, his own staff) by his introverted decision
making, just as he did in Georgia.
Off his record in California, Reagan is a bet
ter bet as a political executive. He is a superior
rhetorician and persuader of the public, and he
has shown more skill than Carter in searching
out able people and delegating authority to
them.
But it is doubtful that age 69 he has the
mental energy and drive to put his own stamp
on an unfamiliar government. He is as chary of
legislative bargaining as Carter, and he is prob
ably not Carter’s match in those unique tests of
presidential leadership —- the Camp David-
type negotiations where the outcome may de
pend on the skill and stamina, the knowledge
and perserverence of the man speaking for the
United States.
It is impossible to determine which of these
men would be the more capable president, be
cause the evidence is strong in Carter’s case and
StiggestiVte'Irfr'Rdoig'cifi’s’ that hkithel* fias^TRe
range of skills and instincts the job requires.
TM* btf’St Thsff”di«it be- said of them is that they
have both selected as running-mates and possi
ble successors men who are exceptionally ex
perienced and skilled in the arts of government.
The campaign has focused on economics and
national security. Carter’s greatest failure is the
fact that his own constituents have suffered a
decline in their real income during his tenure in
the office — 7.4 percent for the typical factory
worker with three dependents — and a real
increase in taxes to boot.
But the deep tax cuts which Reagan promises
as relief to Carter’s victims strike even conser
vative economists as a dubious cure for persis
tent inflation. His proposal to dismantle an
energy policy which is finally beginning to re
duce dependence on foreign oil is counterpro
ductive. Reagan’s claim that he would balance
the budget by “cutting fat,” deserves no more
credence than Carter’s 1976 promise to stream
line government by consolidating agencies.
Reagan’s election would likely mean a boost
in Pentagon budgets, a change some consider
necessary and others extravagant. Carter’s
claim that it would be dangerous to follow
Reagan’s suggestion of scrapping the stalled
SALT II treaty with Russia and starting talks
afresh would be more credible, if he were not
taking national security advice himself from
Zbigniew Brzezinski, a man who deliberately
set out to “shock” the Kremlin in 1977 by scrap
ping the almost completed Ford-Brezhnev ver
sion of SALT II and thereby lost at least three
years in the vital battle for arms control.
There is one area of policy, less discussed,
where the differences between Reagan and
Carter are genuine and significant— the area of
law and social order. A consistent thread of
Carter’s career is his tendency to see the law as
a tool for change and an instrument for seeking
justice. This belief, more than any other, has
brought him occasionally to the liberal pole of
politics and has made him the agent for elevat
ing to power in the Judiciary and regulatory
arms of government people with a strong per
sonal commitment to changing the status quo.
Those who recognize that the appointive
power is one that even a President of limited
abilities can use with enormous effect may find
in this divergence a basis for casting a reluctant
vote.
To my friends at North Texas State, Universi
ty of Houston, and Southern California who
always ask me why I spend $3,000 a year to
attend such a “backwards” school:
Read my $15 yearbook.
This is no downstream annual. It’s the Texas
A&M University Aggieland, proving that a pic
ture is indeed worth a thousand words — or at
sica^t ^ hundred explanations. Face ft, Ags: at
mo«t'•schools , football means pom-poms, and
RC£££1 ik a Wednesday afternoon exercise. Un- >■
til they come on campus, skeptics have every
right to call this University fruity and its stu
dents nuts.
What sane University allows its students to
stumble into the sacred stadium at midnight?
Actually, my friends won’t even come on
campus to experience midnight yell practice or
bonfire, so I’m correct in using the yearbook,
which is the next best thing to a visit.
The word’s been out around the state that
Texas A&M, in spite of its “Aggie-ness,” pro
duces a beautiful and well-conceived yearbook
worthy of any school at any price. The 1980
Aggieland, which covers the 1979-1980 school
year, again is one of these masterpieces.
The Aggieland is a success because it mirrors
Texas A&M. This year the inside cover is — in
cinematic terms — an opening shot, an over
view of the campus at night providing a lovely
Duck soup
By Kathleen McElroy
exaggeration of the urbanity of the school.
' “ ,Th e nex t pages are glimpses at those Texas
A&M quirks that, as we all know, make this
school unique. The pictures don’t explain
them, and the copy is unnecessary to Aggies
and worthless to outsiders.
But anyone with a semblance of curiosity has
to know why the picture on pages 6 and 7 shows
strange military men with no hair carting off a
strange man in white clothing.
At this point, we Aggies give a simple expla
nation of the Corps of Cadets, yell leaders and
quadding. Then our skeptic laughs and says
something highly intellectual like, “Those
Aggies, what will they think of next?”
The Aggieland proceeds to show exactly what
Aggies think and do next. There’s a calendar of
the 1979-1980 events for those who don’t re
member when Playboy came to Texas A&M or
when home loans hit 14 percent.
It’s followed with photo features of last year’s
speakers, plays, concerts and, ofeourseijor almos
There aren’t many color photos offered at tl
football season (let’s hope the staff is tl|| sdlrngh
next year), but there’re plenty of angles!|^^ s a o t |. n ^
game. Again the copy seems awasteto ^ p r jm ar j]
us who remember last year, but in tuDept zer Prizi
the shudder of Kyle Field after theviefe Phyllis Th
the Longhorns is lost, perhaps the worfflrtray two i
pled with the pictures will replace,!
kindle that feeling.
The Aggieland also has its usual allol
the Corps pictures, which is fine for
reg, who doesn’t know a brigade fro
pany and thinks a battalion is a new
There’re hundreds of pages of studentoi
tions from the well-known MSC Commi
the glorious, proud clubs that acknow;
in towns and counties we Houstonian iNot that
even know exist. Ifou’d nol
The Aggieland isn’t perfect, and soetjLrtin’s c
borders on sexist. But after three yei* imen,;s
I’ve become more tolerant of sexism,
which irks my liberal friends at Cal-Bi
“How can you tolerate such a consfj
college?” they ask.
I can’t take it all the time, but I’llre|
time, “but look at the guys in the Herpi
al Club or the members of the Vidorff
Club. Ain’t it great?”
It sure is.
ement 1
my as ar
at the 1
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ntity at tl
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Dorsey be
It’s your turn
Response from Jeff Brown’s campaign
Editor’s note: Charles Bredwell, campaign
manager for Jeff Brown, who is the Republican
candidate for Brazos County attorney, re
sponded Monday to charges made against
Brown in Friday’s Battalion.
A letter in Friday’s Battalion rebuked Brown
for using a Houston law firm’s name in connec
tion with the Brown campaign. An attorney in
that firm said that Brown had implied that
Brown had worked for the firm as an attorney,
when in fact he had merely done case prepara
tion work.
“In no way did we mean to imply that Jeff was
a lawyer with the firms,” Bredwell said.
A Brown “push card” says, “Jeff Brown is
currently practicing law in College Station, and
has previously worked for two outstanding
Houston law firms ... as a law clerk.”
A pamphlet used in the Brown campaign
says, “He has done case preparation and re
search for two outstanding law firms.”
Congra tula tions, Em ory
Editor:
Ags, I think we should once again congratu
late our former student friends who helped run
Emory Bellard out'of Aggieland. I realize re
venge is an ugly thing but it did my heart good
to hear about Coach Bollard’s outstanding vic
tory over the No. 1 team in the nation. I believe
justice has now been served. It is just sad that
the small minority who control the political
MESS at this University decided to oust the
winningest coach in TAMU history. I realize
Represenl
dephone (
iscuss probl
irvice in T
Drmitories.
The GTE
guest spe
there will be those who say “Butheresi^lAssociat
To you all, I say “Don’t be so naive, ^ Harringt
I do not mean for this letter to shed!- 0 011
Coach Tom Wilson’s unfortunate seasoil?
way. In fact, I hope we Ags don’t make' 1 '*® u en
mistake twice.
I realize this letter may be a bit sevec
hope no one, (including the all-powerlij
hold my family or friends responsible
content. These are my feelings alone,
Once again, congratulations Coach
(You too, alums.)
and ev;
in celebre
Warped
By Scott McCuttar
THIS IS POLITICAL TRUTH
AGAltf,* TOPAY IS ELECTION
PAY, AND YOU NEED To BE
KE WINDED THAT IT DoESNT
end HERE.
THIS RACE IS GOING To BE
CLOSE, HOPEFULLY N OT A
TIE, ANP WHICHEVER WAN
BEC0WES PRES I PENT, HALF
Op YOU ARE GOING TO BE
PISA P POINTED.
BUT,
FOR THOSE C
WHO ARE GOING 1
PISA PP0INTED, I
ONLY SAY...
: YOU I THAT'S WHAT YOU GET
* 0B I FOR TAKl/Ve THIS Tfil/VG.
can
ser iously.
Britt jt
^
The Battalion
U S P S 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Questions or comments concerning any editoriil'j
should be directed to the editor.
Editor Dillard Stone
Managing Editor Rhonda Watters
Asst. Managing Editor Scott Haring
City Editor Becky Swanson
Asst. City Editor Angelique Copeland
Sports Editor Richard Oliver
Asst. Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Scot K. Meyer
Asst. Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff
News Editors Lynn Blanco,
Gwen Ham, Todd Woodard
Staff Writers Jennifer Afflerbach, Kurt Allen,
Nancy Andersen, Marcy Boyce, Jane G. Brust
Mike Burrichter, Pat Davidson, Jon Heidtke,
Uschi Michel-Howell, Debbie Nelson,
Liz Newlin, Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Photo Editor Pat O’Malley
Photographers George Dolan,
Jeff Kerber
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper op
erated as a community service to Texas A&M University and
Bryan-Cohege 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,
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Columns and guest editorials are also welcome,
subject to the same length constraints as letters, ft
inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The
Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University,
77843.
Resign I
the near
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