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Serving the Texas A&M University community
Vol. 74 No. 114
10 Pages
11
Tuesday, March 10, 1981 USPS 045 360
College Station, Texas Phone 845-2611
j
The Weather
Today
Tomorrow
High
69
High
... .65
Low
42
Low
.. ..40
Chance of rain .... 20%
Chance of rain . .
..25%
aids
I
iRY
Students of Dr. Jim Smith Jr.’s (center) Beekeeping
333 class check the status of a colony of honey bees.
The class teaches students how to run a beekeeping
operation. Each hive used by the class contains about
10,000 bees, which Smith says is small for a colony.
The three-hour course is offered in the spring and
fall.
jamar president says
eport a distortion’
By JANE G. BRUST
Battalion Staff
The president of Lamar University said Monday the idea
at he is under consideration for the presidency of Texas
Annual
f Sports
Softball
18 hours
on over
’ -'29. A
charged &M University, as reported by a Beaumont newspaper, is a
istortion.”
In a telephone interview, Dr. C. Robert Kemble explained
at although the Beaumont Enterprise recently published an
icle saying he is under consideration for the position, he
es not know that his is one of the 20 names recommended
the presidential search committee.
A search committee member last week said Kemble’s name
|as not among those nominated by the search committee, and
at the report from Beaumont was wrong.
Kemble did confirm, however, that he was nominated by
o individuals when the search process began following the
isrttissal of Dr. Jarvis Miller in July.
“I did not initiate the nomination myself,” he said.
“I was nominated by an educational colleague who is now
Montana and another person who is the president of a major •
ports ^ niversity in Texas, ” he said.
iopes v Kemble said he is quite familiar with Texas A&M and he
ontinu { j as pleased with the nomination. “I’m flattered to think I
currentf
would be considered for the position,” he said
Kemble has been president of Lamar for four years. His
bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate from the
U. S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of Penn
sylvania and George Washington University, respectively,
give him a background English and literature.
He is a retired U.S. army colonel and a retired brigadier
general of the New Mexico National Guard.
The presidential search committee, authorized by the
Board of Regents, screened over 400 nominees and recom
mended a list of 20. These names are being screened by a
personnel consulting firm.
A final list will be presented to a special committee includ
ing Board Chairman H. R. “Bum” Bright, Vice Chairman
John Blocker, Chancellor Frank W. R. Hubert and former
Chairman Clyde Wells. That committee will recommend a
final candidate to the Board.
The Battalion reported Monday that the senior vice chan
cellor for administration at the University of Pittsburgh was
being considered for the presidency. Dr. Jack E. Freeman
visited Texas A&M Saturday, speaking with University vice
presidents about the job.
Reagan’s budget
cuts $48.6 billion
United Press International
WASHINGTON — President
Reagan today unveiled the last segment
of his two-part budget plan to slash
$48.6 billion from government spend
ing in fiscal 1982.
The administration officially trans
mitted to Congress Reagan’s proposal to
whip the economy into shape with dras
tic changes in spending priorities and a
huge reduction in individual and busi
ness taxes.
The revised budget includes the
$34.8 billion in cuts identified by
Reagan last month and details of 200
other proposals to slash an additional
$13.8 billion.
The $695.3 billion budget for fiscal
1982 includes sweeping cuts in money
for jobs and welfare programs, energy,
education, agriculture, federal loans
and other past Democratic priorities,
but a hike in defense spending and a
new foreign crisis fund.
Reagan also requested $6.4 billion in
1981 cuts, $2 billion more than he had
sought before.
Reagan wants the cuts coupled with a
three-year, 10 percent annual reduction
in individual income taxes and a plan for
faster business depreciation write-offs.
Today’s budget message gives Congress
for the first time an official document to
work from in allocating federal funds for
1982.
Reagan asked Congress to add $9.4
billion to the already massive Pentagon
budget — $2 billion more than contem
plated last month. He asked for $30.5
billion in future spending authority.
The total authorized military budget
would be $226.3 billion — the largest
peacetime outlay ever — with $188.8
billion actually to be spent in 1982.
Keeping with his earlier promise to
preserve programs that make up the
“social safety net,” Reagan left basically
untouched Social Security programs for
the elderly and disabled, basic unem
ployment benefits. Head Start, basic
veterans aid and summer youth jobs.
The budget includes a $700 million
reduction for the Veterans Administra
tion, but the administration said it
would not cut direct service medical
personnel or compensation for the ser
vice-disabled or pensions for other dis
abled veterans:
The president announced on Feb. 18
he would cut $41.4 billion from the
budget, but an administration budget
summary said additional cuts were
needed to meet Reagan’s spending goals
because outlays turned out higher than
President Carter had predicted.
The total budget calls for $695.3 bil
lion in 1982 spending, compared with
Carter’s $739 billion plan. It projects a
$45 billion deficit, compared with Car
ter’s $28 billion, which Republican said
was unrealistically low.
Reagan also proposed a $900 million
jump in budget authority for “security
assistance” programs to several foreign
countries such as El Salvador.
“In addition, the administration
plans to establish a new revolving fund
for procuring military equipment for
eventual transfer to other countries that
would shorten lead times for delivery of
critical weapons systems,” the budget
document said.
The administration proposed even
deeper cuts in a host of programs, in
cluding the Comprehensive Employ
ment and Training Act and food stamps.
By combining several programs —
including summer youth employment
and youth community conservation —
the administration proposed additional
cuts for CETA of $900 million.
The administration proposed new
food stamp reductions of $2.3 billion by
tightening eligibility requirements, and
a $900 million cut by converting food
stamps for Puerto Rico into a block
grant.
The new budget would cut $1.6 bil
lion from child nutrition, special milk
and the supplemental food program for
pregnant women and infants —
$100,000 more than Reagan proposed
last month.
Budget cuts may affect
studen t aid programs
By LAURA YOUNG
Battalion Reporter
President Reagan’s proposed budget
cuts of $300,000 in higher education
funding may have an effect on some
Texas A&M University students receiv
ing financial aid.
“There will be cuts,” Dr. Bill McFar
land, director of student financial aid,
said. “There will be less aid to students
and we will see more self-help like loans
and part-time work.”
Texas A&M transacts approximately
$25 to $35 million a year in student
financial aid to approximately one-third
of its students. Seventy percent of that is
in the form of Federally Insured Stu
dent Loans or the Guaranteed Student
Loan Program — both federal prog
rams.
“The cuts are in line with the Repub
lican philosophy towards higher educa
tion which is self help, ” McF arland said.
However, McFarland explained,
“The object is not to discontinue the
program but to make it less expensive to
run.”
One of the ways that the federal gov
ernment may limit the program, is to
designate an alternate method of fund
ing and repayment of the National
Direct Student Loan Program.
“As student loans are repaid, by the
current methods, that money is used by
the University to make additional
loans,” McFarland said.
He said that in making the program
more efficient, the goverment may re
quire the payments be returned to the
federal government.
“The general trend that they would
take would be in the form of gift aid to
students or to make it more difficult for
students to get loans,” McFarland said.
Such would be the case with the Pell
Basic Grant (also known as the Basic
Educational Opportunity Grant). The
proposal would put a yearly family in
come ceiling of $25,000 on applicants.
The elimination of Social Security be
nefits to college students is yet another
way the federal goverment may limit
spending for higher education.
This could be done, McFarland said,
in a “phasing out” method. Those now
receiving the benefits would continue to
do so but no new recipients would be
added.
Another budgeting proceedure may
be tuition tax credits for families with
children in college.
“There will be a lot of debate in Con
gress as to whether this will be best,”
McFarland said. “There’s a theory that
if you want to give aid to a student, the
worst way to do it is to give the aid to the
parents.”
Whatever the actual outcome of
Reagan’s budget proposals, McFarland
is hopeful of continued financial aid
from the federal government.
“I cannot see a total dismantling of the
program,” McFarland said.
“Parents may be called upon to pro
vide more assistance than they have in
the past few years.”
However, until Congress passes
Reagan’s budget proposals, many stu
dents will not know exactly what they
can expect in the form of financial aid.
“Until the situation is settled, the
best anyone can give you on this matter
As an educated guess,” McFarland said.
Silver Taps to be tonight
Silver Taps will be held in front of the Academic Build- It is requested that all lights on campus be turned off
ing tonight at 10:30 p.m. im memory of Jeff Orr Bogert. from 10:20 p.m. until 10:50 p.m.
Bogert died February 24, 1981.
discipline, security reasons parents willing to pay
Private school enrollment
rising nationally, locally
By LEIGH McLEROY
Battalion Reporter
Inflation may be slowing the automobile in-
lustry and the real estate market — but there’s
3ne commodity Americans in growing numbers
lon’t seem to mind paying for: a private school
■ducation.
While public school enrollment continues to
decline at an annual rate of about 2 percent
aation-wide, private schools are enjoying a re
markable boom. More than 5 million students
flow attend private schools in the United States
nd applications are rising steadily.
This represents quite a turnaround from the
period between 1965 and 1975, when a large
Humber of private schools folded under financial
pressure.
The national trend toward non-public educa
tion is evident locally as well. Enrollment at
Allen Academy, the state’s oldest boys prepara
tory school, was up 20 percent last year among
boarding students, and 12 percent among day
students. The year before, both categories saw a
percent increase.
Allen Academy currently enrolls 285 students
grades kindergarten-12. St. Michael’s
Academy, an Episcopal day school in Bryan, also
reported enrollment increases over last year. St.
Joseph’s Parochial School, whose enrollment has
remained stable over the past year, is planning
for future growth anticipated from the area’s new
industry.
What is the attraction? Why are parents will
ing to take on added tuition costs while paying
regular school taxes? Allen Academy headmaster
Bill Creedin says there is no simple answer.
“The southwest in general is experiencing
great population growth, and this growth is re
flected in the classroom,” Creedin said. “But a
variety of things — greater perceived quality of
education, smaller classes, a security in knowing
your child’s well-being is taken care of — all of
these are factors.”
Others are quicker to connect shortcomings in
public education to the private school boom.
Evans Clinchy and Efisabeth Cody of Educa
tional Planning Associates, a Boston-based re
search affiliate, say increasing instances of vio
lence and disruption in public schools have pa
rents concerned. ’
College Station Independent School District
Superintendent Bruce Anderson agrees, but
says local instances in no way compare to the
problems being experienced by larger cities.
The discipline parents feel is lacking in public
schools may be easier to administer in a private
school. “I paddled the biggest kid in school the
other day,” says St. Joseph’s principal Mary Sue
Ribardo. “When my husband asked if he gave
me any trouble I said no. He knew I was right.”
Right or wrong, public schools can become the
targets of legal action over discipline measures,
and often do.
In a recent survey conducted by the Institute
for Development of Educational Activities, Inc.,
parents also cited use of drugs, integration, poor
curriculum and teachers and large classes as
problems the public schools must deal with.
Anderson says the problems facing public
schools can be overcome, and CSISD is con
stantly working to do so. Campus communica
tions councils and district communication coun
cils have been established to encourage student
and parent input into the system, and efforts are
being made to tailor educational programs to
specific student needs. “What I would prefer
(instead of private schools) is offering a range of
opportunities in our public schools,” Anderson
said. “Let’s face it — all students are different.
There is no ‘typical’ third grader — they all have
different styles. We’d like to match teaching
styles to learning styles.”
Anderson said that with some changes a public
school education could be even more beneficial
to students than a private one. "We live in a
pluralistic society. Why not learn to deal with
that in our schools?”
Parents may soon have an added incentive
toward non-public education. One issue cur
rently being debated involves tuition tax credits
for parents whose children are enrolled in pri
vate schools. The idea is not a new one — New
York senator Daniel Moynihan has long advo
cated the plan. President Reagan recently said
he also favors such a plan.
The St. Joseph’s principal agrees. “I’d love it.
It’s hard on parents to pay school taxes and tui
tion. I believe the competition that would result
would help both sectors.”
Anderson does not favor tuition credits, but
feels the view that tax credits would mark the
end of public education may be somewhat dra
matic. “We would see a shift of some degree,” he
adds.
If the private school enrollment is changing—
so is the private school student. Once
stereotyped as a member of the rich elite,
grooming for an Ivy League spot, today’s student
is just as likely to be from the lower middle or
middle class — and the first in his family to
attend a private school.
Allen headmaster Bill Creedin reports a shift
in the type of person seeking a private education.
“With more working mothers, middle income
famihes are willing to make the sacrifice.”
The “sacrifice” is not cheap. Tuition at a
boarding school typically ranges from $4,000 to
$6,000 per year. Day school students can expect
to pay between $1,000 and $4,000 per year. The
growing number of parents from all income
levels enrolling their children in these schools
indicates their faith that it is money well spent.
The tax-paying public, no longer willing to
accept the status-quo, is seeking something
more individuafized. And even in an economic
ally tight time — they’re willing to pay for it.