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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1980)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Tuesday November 25, 1980 Lo Slouch By Jim Earle “I made this bet on the game where I got thirteen points, at odds of fourteen to eight provided it didn’t rain. If it rained I got seven points and odds of twelve to nine, but I don’t remember which team I got!’’ Laxalfs star to rise in Reagan administration By STEVE GERSTEL United Press International WASHINGTON — Sen. Paul Laxalt, a ge nial westerner strongly committed to the con servative cause, is destined to become one of the most influential men in the Reagan adminis tration. And his power in the Senate, where he is just finishing his first six-year term, could come close to eclipsing that of the leadership. Those who question the assumption need only to look at newspaper photographs and tele vision clips since the election. The ramrod straight man with the close- cropped gray hair standing next to Reagan almost everywhere is Paul Laxalt. At his post-election news conference, Reagan turned to Laxalt to find assurance that Tennes see’s Howard Baker would, indeed, be elected majority leader of the Republican Senate. When Reagan arrived in Washington for his first visit since winning the presidency, it was Laxalt taking him in hand at Andrews AFB. And the front-page picture of the president elect before a lunch for GOP members of the Senate and House had Laxalt sitting next to Reagan. The ascendancy of Laxalt, the 58-year-old son of a shepherd from Nevada, should not come as a surprise. It is based on a very close personal and philosophical relationship with Reagan dating from when both were governors — Reagan in California and Laxalt in neighbor ing Nevada. But Laxalt knew better. Sitting next to Schweiker in the Senate, he discovered the Pennsylvanian to be a closet conservative. When Reagan decided to seek the White House again last year, he again asked Laxalt to be campaign chairman. This time it paid off. There was speculation Reagan and Laxalt had a falling out at the national convention when Reagan chose George Bush as his running mate. Laxalt, and other conservatives, were not happy with the choice. But if there was a break, it healed in the heat of the campaign. The Laxalt role in the Reagan administration could take many forms and it may turn out to be unique. It is not, for instance, the same as the role Charles Kirbo played for Jimmy Carter — the wise, elder eminence called to Washington in crisis situations. Laxalt will be an on-the-scene presence. Reagan will undoubtedly work out a good relationship with Baker — they both want it — but Laxalt is bound, on the basis of friendship and philosophy, to emerge as the president elect’s closest tie to Capitol Hill. And Laxalt’s private counsel almost certainly will be welcome in the White House — not on day-to-day matters but in a broader, more sweeping sense. At least as much and possibly more than other insiders, the Nevada senator is an unwav ering conservative. When Reagan decided in 1976 to challenge President Ford for the Republican nomination, he picked Laxalt, virtually unknown at the time, as his national campaign manager. There was speculation then that nobody wanted the job. As Reagan comes under pressure to modify his positions — as he certainly will — it will be interesting to witness Laxalt’s actions. It was Laxalt who suggested Sen. Richard Schweiker be named as Reagan’s running mate. The pre-convention designation of Schweiker infuriated conservatives who con sidered him an East Coast liberal-moderate. Will he remain the loyal and steadfast friend, privately urging Reagan to hold fast to conser vatives principles? Or will Laxalt — who has never sought the limelight — become the eloquent spokesman for the conservative crusade, holding Reagan to the line through public forums? Warped Big game hunting is A-OK until someone’s hurt for real By DILLARD STONE Battalion Editor You don’t usually see a picture on the edito rial page. But there’s something special about certain pictures, those which can be used to illustrate a point, to help make something clear. The picture at the right is one of those kind of pictures. On the front page today, you’ll see pictures showing the humorous, adventurous activities which accompany Elephant Walk, the Texas A&M tradition which marks the “death” of the senior class. , The seniors have a blast getting together and traipsing around the campus; the juniors get a kick out of mock-stalking the “elephants” as they wander on their aimless route. Juniors who get caught stalking their favorite elephant quickly become the hunted instead of the hunters. Seniors, often wielding ax handles and other assorted weaponry, chase the juniors down. Sometimes the chase is climaxed by a brief, friendly tussle on the ground; at other times, an ax handle makes its way to the post erior of the caught junior. At right is another view. Sure, it’s all fun and games — until someone gets hurt. Injury in the middle of a carnival atmosphere produces one of the most somber atmospheres imaginable, because no one is supposed to get hurt. It’s all in fun, after all. But there’s a point where dressing up and playing army for a day goes too far. That’s when someone gets hurt. The cadet pictured here, although hurt dur ing Elephant Walk, wasn’t injured with an ax handle. But he could have been. Really, when you consider the number of ax handles and sticks carried by members of both classes, the helmets that many wear, the occa sional rock tossed into a crowd, and the foot race sprinting through crowds which accom pany Elephant Walk, it’s almost a miracle that there aren’t any more casualties. 1 A cadet injured during Monday’s Elephant Walk receives medical attention A&M Emergency Care Team member. from all The Au A&M-l the Aus by Mer 50 cent General Good Bull is said to be the highest general on campus. Elephant Walk is “Good Bull,” and as a tradition is certain to survive for many years. But there’s also a time where tradition must yield to prudence and common sense. Does the macho feeling of carrying an ax handle outweigh the potential for injury? In today’s safety-conscious world, t tie doubt that one serious injury coi decades of tradition to he erased. The injury of one shouldn’t soundtk knell for a tradition. It should, howevei as a warning for future participants; I You’d better police yourselves, or s« I might do the policing for you. Apropos irship Syst t the MS( day night. With ba tlie propose priority sys hips to Ci Directorat engthy di: nemhers. The prop 'Quid not c arship rm from the gi The recipie sommittee Br and assi loingCoun It’s your turn Church of Christ criticizes gay commei Editor: Regarding the “Church of Christ” article by David E. Anderson (UPI) which appeared in your paper on Nov. 17, I must make sure that no association is made with the Churches of Christ in Bryan-College Station. Said article announced that the Church of Christ (United) was preparing for ordination of homosexuals. First of all, the church that Jesus built would never conceive of even the thought of such a ridiculous announcement! Jesus died on the cross to save people from the sin of, and the condemnation toward, homosexuality! Homosexuality is the most vile of all sin, the lowest rung of human degradation! God des troyed Sodom and Gommarah for the homosex ual corruption! He made this particular sin pun ishable by death under the Law of Moses! He sent the Son of Man to die a most horrible death to save such sinners found in the abomination of homosexuality! It is the very “thinking that has ended in futility” (Romans 1:21) that the apostle Paul spoke of when pointing to the homosexual- ly-declined state of the race, when men put forth such nonsense as in the above mentioned article. That any “church” should be consider ing such illogical policy is but the reflection of how far away from God that even the churches have fallen! Let it be known that the Cavitt Church of Christ, the A&M Church of Christ, the Central Church of Christ nor the Twin City Church of Christ are in no way associated with the United Churches of Christ. Concerning the particular sin of ity, the churches of Christ seek to save] sinners and show them the way unto forgiven lives through repentenceandhij by the Holy Spirit and in the power Christ! The clear distinction beWt Church of Christ and the United Christ lies in apparent attitude that the l church wants to make homosexuals preachers, while the Lord’s Church s# save their soul from hell! John W. L« By Scott McCullar WE'VE 5CR0UN&EP TO p|/VD THE Woop, WE‘V£ SWEATED BULLETS to &ET IT HERE.. T] WE’VE WORKED HooRS TO MAKE TALL L0N6 IT B\ G, THROUGH dOvRS of OOR WE 'RE TIRED AA/D school work HAS SvfFEREP, but we got it done BECAUSE of our DEVOTION, A/VP HOPE FullY WE’LL BEAT TEXAS SATURDAY- y~, But what are TO DO ABOUT W£ GOING HIM??; The Battalion U S P S 045 .)60 MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congres Questions or comments concerning any editor* should be directed to the editor. P 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, Todd Woodard Staff Writers Jennifer Afflerbach, Kurt Allen, Nancy Andersen, Marcy Boyce, Jane G. Brust Mike Burrichter, Pat Davidson, Cindy Gee 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 POUCY The Battalion is a non-profit, 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. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed300,wordsi’ 1 and are subject to being cut if they are longer. TheediliM reserves the right to edit letters for style and make every effort to maintain the author's intent, fid must also be signed, show the address and phone nuNt* 11 writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, W* 1 subject to the same length constraints as letters. M inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The Satf” Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, CollejeSti^ 77843. The Battalion is published daily during Texas spring semesters, except for holiday and examination f* Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.Bpf r year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnish quest. 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