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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1981)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Wednesday February 18,1981 Slouch By Jim Earle SCONA: Sights n sounds “There's a lot to be said for being broke when the budget is being cut back. We have absolutely nothing to lose. ” Soviet congress to be rubber-stamp affair By JOHN MOODY United Press International MOSCOW — If the Soviet Union is going to oust its leadership, decide to in vade Poland or change the direction of its economy, it will do so at the Communist Party congress beginning Monday. But no one expects any of those things to happen. Instead, the 26th party congress, already called “historic” in the Soviet press, figures to be a rubber-stamp ratification of Presi dent Leonid Brezhnev’s uninspired ste wardship. Western diplomatic analysts who have been watching the preparations for the once-every-five-years event agree it will produce few, if any, surprises. “It’s going to be 5,000 people getting together to say glory to Lenin and Leonid, ” said one European diplomat who was here to witness the 25th congress in 1976. Communist Party congresses have not al ways been such cut-and-dried affairs. The first Russian communists to meet in conclave did so in secret in Minsk. It appa rently was not secret enough — the czar’s political police arrested five of the nine de legates afterward. The next four Communist Party congres ses met well away from Russia — in Brus sels, London and Stockholm — and drew little attention. Even after Lenin and the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia, his ideas were not unanimously accepted. At the 1921 con gress in Moscow, the goateed father of the Soviet Union actually was booed by a few delegates. This year’s congress is unlikely to pro duce such high drama. At best, Kremlin watchers think, it may provide some addi tions to the ruling Politburo. Speculation is that Ivan Arkhipov, the 73-year-old first deputy premier, will be made the 15th member of the country’s most exclusive club. According to the rigid rules that control the Soviet hierarchy, the No. 2 man in the government should also be a Politburo member, analysts say. Another possible addition is Vladimir Warped Did you see SCONA last week? Sure you did. The 26th Student Conference on Na tional Affairs was everywhere — in the pap ers, on TV, clogging the cafeteria lines and bookstores. Visually, SCONA was there, but it was pretty dull for observers. The real excite ment was in the sounds of SCONA, and not just the speeches. Come listen: — Potato chips crunch loudly through a' Singing Cadets concert. The 200 or so parti cipants don’t seem to notice anything but the enchanting, crisp voices. — After SVz days and long nights, several delegates snore during the final speech, an economic history lesson. — Accents, both foreign and domestic, mingle freely in conversations ranging from mismanagement of U.S. foreign aid to the best place to eat in Montreal. — “Roundtable B, the best you ’re gonna see, the best damn table in SCONA. ’’Dis cussion groups made up their own yells, like Corps outfits, and even “beat the hell outta” other roundtables. An education on the practical side from Aggies. Inside/outlook By Liz Newlin — One very frustrated delegate pounds his shoe on the table, ala Kruschev, to squeeze his thoughts into the discussion. We listened. — A student from Guatemala says Indi ans in his country were given tractors to help with their farming. The only problem is they farm on patches the size of racquet- ball courts, not football fields. — A midshipman from the U.S. Naval Academy praises the review of the Corps of Cadets as better than what they do in Anna polis. — A bureaucrat mumbles doubletalk, and a scholar waxes philosophical. They don’t debate. — A diplomat from the Egyptian embas- sasy in Washington tells delegates r leave discouraged. “We focused ontl things, ’’ the political consul says, “buti are positive aspects. ... Somehow, are moving. ” Reflecting on the30-yean flict in the Mid-East, he adds, “Nowv beginning to find a way to solve the3 lems. We should not forget there is hop ' 1 the world.” — Step-by-uncertain-step instruct guide Texans, Canadians, Mexicans Kuwaitians through square dances, at man polka and the Cotton-eyed Joe. — A Mexican student from ai wealthy family says she’s glad twoo Mexican students left early. Theygoti is gusted because they met oppositionto 1 fll* r idea that “Yankee imperialism” shoi blamed for Mexico’s poor economicstai | as well as most other world problc Others in the roundtable wished I stayed, so they could talk it over. — Laughing and more laughing. Finally, though, you listen but you a hear the most important sound thatS NA produces — the sound ofutifl standir ling. IUG | tscl n Dolgikh, 55, an expert on heavy industry who has received much favorable attention of late. His accomplishments in developing the crucial energy industry of Siberia make him a serious candidate to join the top-flight leadership, and his relative youth inevit ably causes speculation that he may even tually sit in Brezhnev’s chair. The same rumors apply to Grigory Roma nov, at 57 the youngest voting member of the Politburo. Romanov heads the Com munist Party apparatus in Leningrad, the nation’s second largest city, and analysts expect him to be named to the secretariat, where he would have a larger role in day-to- day decision-making. Brezhnev, at 74, is going nowhere. Although a party congress might be the logical and appropriate place to announce his retirement, there is no indication the man who has ruled the Soviet Union longer than anyone but Josef Stalin is thinking of calling it quits after 17 years. After Brezhnev’s opening speech, the congress technically will break into free wheeling debate on the nation’s policies and future course. In reality, the major decisions have been made by the small elite with offices in the Kremlin. Even the speeches Politburo members make to the congress are cen sored for content to insure an uninter rupted flow of unanimity. Prime Minister Nikolai Tikhonov will re port on the domestic economy and lead the chorus of approval for the 11th five-year plan announced in November. The one area where some variations could show through is the prickly situation in Poland and how best to contain it. Political analysts believe that if the Soviets decide they must intervene militar ily, it would be better to do so after the congress, to show the world Russia is acting with the concurrence of Communist parties throughout the world, almost all of whom will have delegates in Moscow. “You would not compare the Communist Party congress to a Democratic conven tion,” mused one veteran diplomat, “unless you are a Republican.” THE CHECK FROM AMERICA FOR THE TOBWAS JU5T MARKED 'INSUFFICIENT FUNK It’s your turn Greeks a threat to fraternal spirit Editor: Texas A&M has long held the reputation of being a truly unique institution, and rightfully so. While virtually every other major college and university have blended together with the sameness that comes only from imitation and a lack of purpose, A&M has remained as special and as unique as it was intended to be. As Aggies, we pride ourselves on being different, and not only different, but right as well. And now, be cause of the efforts of a few, we are about to join the ranks of all the other schools that we so desperately try not to emulate. rivalry, the competition, and the “We’re better than they are” attitudes that almost certainly follow. Instead of being Aggies first, we will be Greeks first. Aggies second. This is already happening in many inst ances, with fraternity and sorority functions occuring during university events. says, we.’ “We are the Aggies, the Aggies a ni0n There is no need to say more.' John B. Ws Apologies due The push by the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic to obtain University recog nition is definitely a step in that direction. Obviously fraternities and sororities fill a need on our campus; if they did not, they would have no membership. However, to recognize these groups as viable campus organizations not only gives them the right to use campus facilities, but also gives them the support they need in order to recruit and grow. And as these groups take hold as campus organizations, we will have the Hopefully the Student Organizations Board and Dr. Koldus will realize that Texas A&M is different, and let us stay that way. The long-standing. Ivy League image of well-to-do Greeks excluding those who don’t belong is not needed here. Our stu dent body is one giant fraternity, and as A&M grows it will be harder and harder to keep that brotherly spirit. Let’s not make it even harder by recognizing the Interfrater nity Council and Panhellenic. As the song Editor: I desperately ask this appeal be submit’ ted to the student body. After tonigfc game, and after several blunt words wetf exchanged between myself and a girl jni stands — I very emotionally and unjus struck this same girl. I want sincerely extend my apology to her for my actions^ to beg her forgiveness. Richard M By Scott McCullar OH NO. I 'tA AWAK£ THE- ALARM’S GONE OFF A&AJN. THIS time it doesn’t matter though, you stupid clock. |'N\ ALREADY FULLY AWAKE, ALERT AND READY TO GET UP FOR /AY 8 O’CLOCK CLASS, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOCK ME AWAKE TODAY. The Battalion MEMBER ISPS (Mi .160 Texas Press Association The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper fo r Southwest Journalism conaress students in reporting, editing and photography classes Editor . Dillard Stone within the Department of Communications. Managing Editor Angel Copeland Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter Asst. Managing Editor Todd Woodard should be directed to the editor. City Editor Debbie Nelson Asst. City Editor Marcy Boyce LETTERS POLICY News Editors Venita McCellon, , . ., , j „ Scot K Meyer Letters to the Editor should not exceed 350 words Sports Editor Richard Oliver ]e ^ and are subject to being cut if they are longer. Tje Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff tonal staff r .f er Y es the f dit lett t ers f « r sty e J . . t7 o ti i • length, but will make every ettort to maintain the author' d -Susan Hopkins mte K nt Each , etter must a ,' 0 be si d show the addrcSi Staff Writers . Carolyn Barnes, and phone number of the writer Jane G. Brust, Terry Duran, Benue Fette, Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are Cindy Gee, Jon Heidtke, Glenn Krampota, not su bject to the same length constraints as letters Kathleen McElroy,Belinda McCoy, Marjorie Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, Tbt McLaughlin, Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University. Kathy O’Connell, Ritchie Priddy, Rick Stolle College Station, TX 77843. Cartoonist Scott McCullar > . Photo Editor Greg Gammon T* 16 Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M swl Photographers Chuck Chapman and s P rin 8 semesters, except for holiday and examination Brian Tate periods. Mail subscriptions are $ 16.75 per semester, $33 w iri'arrrnjTAT nmr w-v P er sch ° o1 y ear and $ 35 P er 61,1 y ear - Advertising rates EDITOBIAL POLICY furnished on request. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper Gur address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Build- operated as a community service to Texas A&M University ing Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77813. and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not United Press International is entitled exclusively to the necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi- use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited toil ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved Regents. 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