Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Friday
December 5, 1980
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“Can you tell me the source of this policy that prohibits after-dark
studying as an energy-saving precaution. “
Applications pouring
in for governmentjobs
By DIANNE CURTIS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — The leaders of Presi
dent-elect Ronald Reagan’s talent search insist
that even John and Jane Doe have a chance to
join the Reagan administration.
Every one of the 500 resumes that pour daily
into the bustling transition headquarters office
at 17th and M Streets is read, said E. Pendleton
James, director of presidential personnel.
“Congress is one of them.” Other “priority’’
resumes, which receive “close attention,”
Dawson said, include those affiliated with the
campaign and those with “names we recog
nize.”
And some unknowns have even made it to
the exclusive computer list of potential appoin
tees to the top 300 sub-Cabinet jobs in U.S.
government, from assistant secretary for food
and consumer services to president of the Mul
ti-Family Association in the Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
The lucky contenders for the nation’s most
coveted government jobs consist of “more new
faces than old,” James said in an interview.
James said it will be “the exception” if a
person who sent an unsolicited resume is re
commended for one of the top 300 spots.
A better chance for those people will be in
th,e other lower level jobs that will be picked in
March or April, he said.
Most of the recommendations for high-level
government positions will be chosen from peo
ple specifically recruited during the James-
directed government talent search.
The office also has a team headed by Keith
Bulen that makes sure political favors of the past
and Reagan loyalty do not go unnoticed by the
decision-makers.
They include leaders in every field — trans
portation, medicine, health, science, engineer
ing, labor.
Both James and Tom Dawson, James’ execu
tive assistant, are obviously proud of the effi
cient, brisk handling of job applications.
They are screened by a committee of person
nel recruiting volunteers, who mark them “A”
or “B” — “A” if the individual is applying on his
own and “B” if the possible appointee is being
recommended by someone else.
Dawson said that of the 8,000 resumes re
ceived so far by the transition staff, few appli
cants asked for a specific job. That is in spite of a
sold-out government bestseller familiarly
known as “The Plum Book” and specifically
titled, “Policy and Supporting Positions,”
which lists agency, title and salary for about
4,000 top-level government jobs that come up
for grabs with each new administration.
“It’s surprising that so many don’t identify a
specific position,” Dawson said.
The names of the possible nominees are fed
into the computer for later scrutiny by teams of
transition officials. Those resumes rejected for
the top 300 spots are saved as potential appli
cants for lower echelon jobs.
“No one is out yet,” Dawson said.
James said officials in his office are eager for
Cabinet heads to be named so that their recom
mendations can be submitted. “We re ready as
of tomorrow, ” James said.
But he noted that while John and Jane Doe
have as good a chance as other applicants, cer
tain government-job hopefuls get priority treat
ment.
“There are lots of priorities, ” Dawson said.
But despite all the work of the talent hunters,
the final decisions are still up to the president
elect and his Cabinet.
“Once the Cabinet members have been
named, I’m sure they’re going to be deluged
with calls from people who remember meeting
them at cocktail parties,” Dawson said.
Is the first flight a big deal!
Ask this stepladder coward
jTve bee
health cent
and it will
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itoperatir
money <
oswick:
lent sen
tors wo
I have an announcement to make.
I survived the flight.
For those of you who don’t understand this
extraordinary announcement worthy of prime
time on “That’s Incredible,” let me explain. I
flew in an airplane for the first time this week.
Now that may not seem like such an earth-
shaking event for most of you, but for me, the
earth nearly cratered.
This is the kid who is scared of a stepladder. I
didn’t go to the dentist until I was 8 because the
chair was too high off the floor. If someone had
told me six months ago I would have flown in an
airplane, I would have checked to see if all his
bolts were tight. Me, fly?
But I did. It wasn’t easy. I was quite nervous.
I nearly cried.
I would have cried, except for all my friends
who called me a baby and a chicken liver and
said I’d never make it in an adult world.
Embarrassment has a way of controlling hys
teria.
Offhand
By Venita McCellon
When two (yes, two) of my good friends
asked for my new dress —just in case I didn’t
make it back, you understand — I knew there
was something to my fear. These two inspired
such confidence in me.
Another friend informed me that single
engine planes are the most dangerous because
if the engine goes out, that’s it. Thanks a lot. I
was planning to fly in a single-engine plane.
But I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth,
chewed a piece of Trident like it was whale
blubber and up I went.
It was fun. I only lost controlforit
nutes on take-off, and then I wasfasoi |
was like watching Jane Fonda on I
lost reality and all my fear. Itwaswoni
even looked out the window and sawK
and the Brazos River and all the i
houses.
When the time came for the retumf
was such a nonchalant traveler, 1 didt
have to look out the window. I’d sea
before.
But the trip was dangerous fon
sustained an injury from the ordeal. No.
crash or jump from 4,500 feet. Ifello
of the plane as I was crawling out,
Yes, I fell, after safely survivingtliet
landing back at home at Eastenvood l
the heel of my shoe and have a nice i
elbow.
I had always heard that flying was sail
driving. I agree. Forme, it’s safer than®
rap
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Studen
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Help
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By S
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j'Too mar
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It’s your turn
Football pranks invite tragic results
Editor:
Congratulations to the Aggies for their vic
tory over the Longhorqs last Saturday. I have
seen many games between these two teams and
they are always clean and hard-fought.
Those in position of authority at A&M Uni
versity, however, must address themselves to a
potentially dangerous situation. I watched in
1977 as a group of Aggies stationed themselves
at the south end of Kyle Field to prevent Lon
ghorns from taking the Texas flag onto the field
for their half-time show. I have seen exuber
ant Aggies on several occasions attack Texas
students tending Ole Smokey, the Texas can
non, including that of last Saturday. I take it
that the several Aggie seniors who ran down the
track to the disturbance did so in order to halt
it. They were stopped by police.
But suppose that some Texas students had
not understood their motive and had emptied
from the stands. That would have brought on
more students from both schools with tragic
consequences. I recall hearing of a similar con
frontation involving Baylor and A&M students
many years ago with tragic results. Is it worth
any such risk for A&M students to attempt to
fire the Texas cannon?
First of all, I believe it is the responsibility of
the administration of Texas A&M University to
prevent such a demonstration. Then I believe
Aggie seniors must help prevent it. And I feel
sure the editor of The Battalion can have a large
measure of control, simple by pointing out the
foolishness of such demonstrations.
In many years of watching Longhorn football,
I have never seen students of any other school
attempt to fire Ole Smokey.
Bill Durnal
ISA promotes unity
Editor:
The international student body of Texas
A&M, through the International Student Asso
ciation, expressed its appreciation to the Texas
A&M student senate for its consideration of a
proposal presented at the senate meeting of 3
December 1980.
the University as a demonstration of on
mitment to unity among the Aggie W
Samuel Olivieri, Ftn
International Student Assdi
Texas A&M’s international student body,
with almost 2,000 members representing 86
countries, considers unity and understanding
the key to solving the problems faced by today’s
world.
Being a student at this great University pro
vides each of us an opportunity to sample other
cultures, with their different perspectives and
values. This can only enrich the scope of the
learning experience for all Aggies. We also
hope to open professional doors on an interna
tional level for a future based on the Aggie
brotherhood.
Even though a senate seat for an internation
al student representative was not approved, we
hope to involve international students in the
different committees and organizations within
Freshmen, fight fnmtb
Editor:
Are you a freshman frantic about fini
are you any student still searching i
study habits? If you are, then mark It
Dec. 8, on your calendar as the "Seif
Testing. ” Time: 7-9 p.m. Place: 301 Em
The Student Government Academic'
Committee and the Academic Counsete
ter are sponsoring this event to help si'
develop efficient study techniques, k
test anxiety, and improve attitudes town
ing test.
This seminar comes at a good time,!
advantage of it before finals week arriv®
A. C. C. staff is eager to share their insi|
you to help you breeze through your test 1
is just another of the many great
Academic Affairs Committee of your S' 1
Government is doing to keep A&M
Aggies at the top!
PatW#
The Battalion
I
I SPS 045 .160
Warped
By Scott McCullar
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism C.ongres
Questions or comments concerning any editorial 11
should he 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, 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,
Greg Gammon, Jeff Kerber
EDITORIAL POLICY
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erated as a community service to Texas A&M University and
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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, anW
subject to the same length constraints as letten rf 1 ']
inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The l
Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College SW’'
77843.
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