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The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Monday
March 9, 1981
Slouch By Jim Earle
T figure that if I missed Friday classes, why not miss Thurs
day classes too; and after missing that much, why don’t I leave
for spring break right now?”
Cohen makes no
his book
excuse m
By IRA R. ALLEN
United Press International
WASHINGTON — There have been
some good books written by senators —
William Fulbright, Hubert Humphrey,
Barry Goldwater, Eugene McCarthy, for
example. And students of politics are await
ing this summer’s analysis of liberalism by
freshman Paul Tsongas.
The biggest literary fault with the book is
Cohen’s love affair with similes. They cling
to his prose like dandruff on a blue suit. He
also tends to quote himself at length, pain
fully for the reader when the subject turns
to his poetry.
Then there is William Cohen.
The Maine Republican, who fancies him
self a poet and who published a book of
verse after he became nationally known for
service on the House impeachment com
mittee, has written a day-by-day account of
his life in 1979, the first year of his first
term.
The other problem is that Cohen and his
experiences are not really very interesting.
There is no inside information and no new
revelations about life in the Senate.
“I have no interest in gossip,” he says. “I
prefer philosophy, to take a philosophical
look from within the Senate, to allow my
eyes to serve as a lens for the reader.”
It was a dull year and he is a dull senator,
notable on the national scene lately only for
his good looks and for managing Sen. Ho
ward Baker’s disastrous loss in a Maine
GOP straw poll that kicked off the Tennes
seean’s short-lived presidential campaign.
In “Roll Call: One Year in the United
States Senate” (Simon and Schuster,
$14.95), Cohen deals at excruciating length
with how hard it is to manage his time and
how often he must travel.
The “gee-whiz” quality of Cohen’s pub
lished perceptions — his real ones probably
will be published upon his retirement — is
exemplified by repeated stories about how
elevator operators and subway car atten
dants don’t recognize him as a senator in his
first weeks on the job, no doubt due to his
youthful step and tan corduroy blazers.
One of Cohen’s friends is Sen. Donald
Riegle, the Michigan Democrat who used
to be a Republican. In 1966, Riegle wrote a
similar book, “O Congress,” a diary of his
first year in the House.
He is constantly wrestling with his con
science — sometimes winning — and re
counting self-serving dialogues with col
leagues. There is nobody in the Senate he
doesn’t like and certainly nobody he is will
ing to offend. Not even a critical interview
er, who was supposed to be flattered by the
senator telling a secretary not to let any
more calls come through while the inter
view was going on.
Not just another pretty self-effacer, he.
Perhaps the clearest clue to Cohen’s per
sonality — he documents his own ambition
in “a place filled with overachievers” — is
the fact he was a Latin major at Bowdoin
College.
Riegle dared tell what really happens
and acknowledged he wanted to be presi
dent some day. The book damaged Riegle
among his peers and gave him a reputation
as a “flake” — probably hurting his chances
for the presidency some day.
Cohen doesn’t make that mistake. He
says he has no desire to be president. And
he is deferential to everyone in the Senate.
The resulting book is as zesty as a vanilla
milkshake.
Cohen says writing is his hobby, and
since he is one of the Senate’s least wealthy
men, the book might serve at least as per
sonal and pecuniary therapy. Unlike most
books by politicians, this one does not seem
to be ghost-written. It should have been.
Warped
Letters no better than story
I was not laughing when I read Texas
Monthly magazine’s January cover article
about Aggies. Nor was I laughing at the
accompanying photos. And I am not
laughing at the letters responding to that
article.
Remember the 10 glossy black and
whites of cadets yelling, pushing and gener
ally being themselves? Author Al Reinert, a
former student himself, described the
Aggie lifestyle as experienced by the Corps
of Cadets.
The Battalion ran a story about the arti
cle and the campus reaction to it.
Some Aggies found humor in the Texas
Monthly feature. Some simply enjoyed the
publicity.
Other students worried that all of Texas
might think all Aggies go around squeezing
their privates as demonstrated by the yell
leaders in one of those glossy black and
whites. There was a definite fear that all of
Texas might think all Aggies go around
doing a lot of the questionable things that
Corps members do.
All Aggies don’t.
But now, thanks to Reinert, some people
think they do. Check the letters in the
March issue of Texas Monthly and see for
yourself.
There’s the Cedar Creek resident who
says he never knew why so many people
laughed about Aggies until he read the
January article.
Coffee breaks
By Jane G. Brust
He says, “Aggies seem to pride them
selves on exploiting all the base and crude
human traits that civilization has worked so
hard to overcome.”
That really makes me proud.
Then there’s the Lubbock resident who
suggests someone tell the yell leaders their
privates are six inches up from where
they’re squeezing in the photo.
“Aggies must really be stupid,” he says.
Of course. This University attracts some
of the brightest high school graduates —
including over 200 National Merit Scholars
last fall — and Aggies must really be stupid?
And there’s the Fort Worth resident who
says he understands Reinert’s portrayal of
Texas A&M as lived by the Corps. He says
he once heard that Corps freshmen are told
that even though they are “miserable
worms,” they are each worth ten civilian
students.
Swell.
If anyone out there is spreading that glad
tiding. I’d like to address you personally
with my deep-rooted sentiments regai
miserable worms.
And I’d like to address Mr. Reinert;
some of the same.
Thank goodness for the Houston
dent who wrote to tell Texas Montilf
Reinert’s coverage was a misrepres
tion — to say the least.
It’s true, Texas A&M is recoj
one of the most prestigious, mostpn
tive schools in the country. Approj
11,412 of the stidents currently em
women and 20,031 are men. Only 1,S
the current total enrollment of 31,
the Corps. That leaves 29,473 of us
not wear uniforms and answer to
classmen.
It’s too bad one of my all-time fai
publications lowered itself to misrepn
— and debase — my all-time favoritij
versity. And it’s too bad Mr. Reined
misled the public.
It’s a shame a lot of people hatj
narrow-minded perception of Texas
even before Reinert’s article appea
Here’s hoping somehow, some4j
record will be set straight once and)
Perhaps at one time all Aggies did beta)
Reinert described — at one time this*;
all-male military school.
But times change. Whatever Texas!
might have been in years past, itcertai;
not today — and that’s all the bette
Texas A&M.
Yell leader replies to complai
jfjimn
breu
gfstrx
Rolli
presi
By MARK OUTLAW
Throughout the year, a few articles have
popped up in The Battalion concerning the
actions of the yell leaders. I have dismissed
most of them as ignorant opinions by people
who don’t understand what is going on. But
I think it is time to express my thoughts on
some of these opinions because they do no
thing but pass blame from one group to
another.
Mr. Ray, obviously you have never had
the chance to be a yell leader, so you are not
aware of the spontaneous situations and
pressures that occur at Aggie games. Our
main prupose as yell leaders is to generate
spirit and enthusiasm from the Twelfth
Man, and to do it with the integrity and
character. What’s good for the goose is not
always good for the gander, and that is why
people have mixed reactions when we fol
low a course of action that we believe is best
for the fans and the game.
Sure, Aggies have a different way of
doing things to show support for their
teams, but I consider this an asset rather
than a liability. Our support is a step ahead
of all other schools because of the spirit that
is raised and the integrity and respect that is
shown. To show such immature acts as
booing and ice throwing is a deviation from
the Aggie norm, and is not a fault of the yell
leaders but the misunderstanding and
ignorance of an Aggie minority that do not
understand the basic philosophies of Aggie
spirit. The yell leaders have done nothing
different from years past in control of a
crowd, with the exceptions of possibly
being more verbal in our pleadings for si-
Reader*s Forum
lence in situations where silence is called
for, and doing more yells in trying to keep
control of a situation. We only realize that
the crowd is changing when they no longer
respect the silence called for by the yell
leaders and when the yell leaders are cus
sed out for trying to receive silence when
there should be some.
Mr. Priddy, you ask what is wrong with a
little booing and ice throwing? Sure it’s
spirit — but it is negative spirit, spirit that
does nothing but increase the frustrations of
the crowd, the game, and the players (I
point out Vernon Smith’s disdain for a cup
that was thrown out onto the court during
the game). We’re supposed to have class,
Mr. Priddy. This means showing respect for
the opposing team and referees as well as
our own team. We take care of a bad call
when there is one, but a running battle with
the refs does nothing but irritate them and
give them a negative attitude towards the
game. True, Mr. Priddy, times are chang
ing, but why should the Twelfth Man
change to where they fall into line with
every other school — schools that have no
control over their actions — and thus do not
know what it means to reflect favorably
upon their school?
ention
ei
I completely miss your point ak O r
use of yells during time outs. Whatij|^
supposed to do — stand there? Wetocif
Priddy, realize when a crowd is up.aijjp’hre
do the best we can to perpetuate thatm the
nalin, whether it be by the use of yells Wociat
keeping everybody yelling as loud a 6
ble without doing a yell. icomii
The main point of my letter is tliis:'| ose “
the yell leaders have done nothingdiP* ^,
than in the past (except do more yt| ex
cause people are too lazy to wildcato:te nce
understand the purpose of it) the (limed t
crowd (not the Twelfth Man) has cklent. B
Change can be both good and bad, ISIHA v
this case, I feel it is bad becauseiPhrsi
deviated away from the way Aggie spiiP 16 ^
been for so many years. I don’t blamtl^^
body but the fact that the opportmj^
gaining a basic knowledge of the AggflL j a
ditions is not made available anymore
least the message does not get aci
people. People have to work at becomi
Aggie, it isn’t something that just hapj
Mr. Ray, I have absolutely no resprl
a person that shows his ignorance omi
ject because he fails to look at bothsidf
situation. Your letter is nothing buta
of lies and misconceptions, and an)'
can see that the true meaning of yoiiri
is nothing but an endorsement for
you support in the upcoming yell ‘ i
elections. Whenever you write aletteiP -phc
now on, I suggest you consider the it H ea ith
about which you are writing on. Depar
jaturdr
It’s your turn
Mark Outlaw is a senior and to ®
leader I. ^^ as:
ofG. R (
classes
Let’s turn G. Rollie White into a 'pit
Editor:
In response to Richard Oliver’s column in
the Batt concerning the poor conduct of the
Aggie fans during the game Monday night, I
think it’s only fair to let the real fans voice
their opinions. Do the fans wish to win the
sportsmanship award year after year, or do
we want the conference championship —
and beyond? Take Arkansas. Year after year
opposing teams dread playing in Barnhill
Arena. The fans are loud, boisterous, and
very, very intimidating, both to the oppos
ing teams and the referees. Rarely do you
see a controversial call going against Arkan
sas. Barnhill Arena is one of the top ten
“pits” in the country. And their 78-6 home
record over the last six years proves it. But
take Aggieland. We have the best behaved
fans in the conference and seemingly some
of the nation’s best basketball goes to waste.
I propose we turn G. Rollie into an in' *
dating “pit” much like Arkansas’ Ba
Arena. With an intimidating arena tk
would be unbeatable. C’mon Ags,
ROWDY!
Dean Wolf!
M(
W
By Scott McCullar
The Battalion
MEMBER
ISPS
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Dillard Stone
Managing Editor Angelique Copeland
Asst. Managing Editor Todd Woodard
City Editor Debbie Nelson
Asst. City Editor Marcy Boyce
News Editors Venita McCellon,
Scot K. Meyer
Sports Editor Richard Oliver
Focus Editor Cathy SaathofF
Asst. Focus Editor Susan Hopkins
Staff Writers Carolyn Barnes,
Jane G. Brust, Terry Duran, Bemie Fette,
Cindy Gee, Kathleen McElroy, Belinda McCoy,
Marjorie McLaughlin, Kathy O’Connell,
Ritchie Priddy, Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Photo Editor Greg Gammon
Photographers Chuck Chapman
Brian Tate
(145 .160
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students in reporting, editing and photography tq
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