Viewpoint
Bo
The Battalion
Wednesday
Texas A&M University
April 8, 1981
By DENISE
Battalioi
dsing the mil
Texas
to
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“I would have donated something for them to auction off this
year if it weren't for my bad experience last year when I
offered to auction myself off for a date. I know if they had
tried they could have gotten more than 20 cents. ”
Policies shaped by
a Moral Minority
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — A lot of public-
opinion surveys cross this desk, but the
most intriguing and important one I have
seen in a long time came from an unusual
source. It was done by Research and Fore
casts, Inc., a New York survey firm, for the
Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany in Hartford, and the results flabber
gasted the people who took the survey, offi
cials say.
As a company whose sales pitch must be
tuned to the attitudes of millions of Amer
icans, Connecticut Mutual had an under
standable interest in what it calls “Amer
ican values in the Eighties.”
What the survey found — and demons
trated more clearly than anything I have
seen — is that there is not a “Moral Major
ity” in America, but that our politics and
government, along with other institutions,
are being increasingly shaped by an in
tensely religious minority with a penchant
for activities that make them politically in
fluential.
On an eight-point scale of religious com
mitment (ranging from prayer to Bible-
reading to church attendance and religious
proselytizing), 26 percent of those surveyed
scored high — meaning they frequently did
at least five of these eight things.
As you might expect, older people.
Southerners, blacks, women, and the less-
educated and lower-income people are
more likely to be intensely religious than
their opposites.
As you also might expect, the intensely
religious also make up most of the morally
militant minority. Large majorities believe
that adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism,
teen-age sex, pornography, abortion and
marijuana are morally wrong. More than 40
percent condemn pre-marital sex or cohabi
tation by single people. But only 24 percent
of those surveyed found all 10 of those acti
vities morally objectionable.
But what the survey clearly shows is that
the quarter who are intensely religious and
strongly moralistic are also the ones who are
the doers, the talkers, the joiners and the
voters in their communities. Therefore,
they “extend their influence far beyond that
Warped
Parable defends tenure policy
ye little effect i
licy regarding t
on campus. But
ms been able to a
Traditionally,
hgs talked dry an
By JOHN A. McINTYRE
I read with interest the stories about
Professor Whitt in Wednesday’s Battalion
including criticisms of the tenure policies in
the College of Science. I believe that the
policies should be defended as well as criti
cized and would like to do so through the
following parable. I my experience, some
issues become more clear when discussed
in terms of football.
Reader's
Forum
versity of Pittsburgh, Professor Stabler
obviously not prepared his lectuj
Although he clearly was well-informed'
the subject, “How to Avoid the PassRus!
his presentation was disorganized ani
seemed to have doubts about the
of his theories.
Professor Campbell, on the other h
was most conscientious in preparinghisy
tures. However, he often had difficult)
The official po
Texas A&M :
■gents concerr
ipus is rough,
“Possession or
juors on an)
ie control of T
[Diversity Syste
ihibited. The c
OF TEACHING AND REASON
As at most universities in Texas, the
University of Dallas and the University of
Houston each had a department for the
teaching of football. However, the State
Legislature had instructed these two parti
cular universities to develop the game of
football as well as to teach the game. Thus,
it was necessary that the faculty in these two
football departments be able to play as well
as teach football.
To carry out these football programs the
Legislature provided additional funds to in
sure that two competitive football programs
be established in Texas. The administra
tions of both the universities were success
ful in recruiting faculties of outstanding
people. Among the better known faculty
members at the University of Dallas were
Professor Anthony Dorsett and Randolph
White. The University of Houston was no
less successful having appointed to their
faculty Professors Kenneth Stabler and Earl
Campbell. Of course, all of the faculty
appointments were not made to established
performers. At the University of Houston,
one of the younger men, of whom great
things were expected, was Professor Joseph
Doakes.
After a few years however, it became
apparent that Professor Doakes was unlike
ly to contribute significantly to the depart
ment team. On the other hand, he was
exceptionally successful with his teaching.
He was very popular with the students, not
only for his excellent lectures, but also for
his innovative teaching methods. He had
time to develop his creative teaching proce
dures because he no longer attended the
daily team practice sessions.
While the other faculty members were
also quite effective as teachers and met
their classes faithfully, some of them did
have difficulties. There was the time the
dean received a letter from an irate mother
whose son had written home that, in the
Monday class after the game with the Uni
communicating with the students. Onestlfmditionah
dent complained bitterly that Profess v p r(: itv has
Campbell had told him that the mostefe , ^ ,
five procedure on an end sweep was ton orunk
over the tackier. However, at examinati: What thi
time, the student received a low gradek fay-to-day
cause of his inability to successfully exeol U ..
an end sweep. hquoi
Nevertheless, when the time for rew fcoug/if on
ing contracts arrived. Professor Doat p n ; nv pr]on t
found that he was not offered a new j
tract. He complained that he had deciraP s ® one so
to teach football rather than play footlffllaces.
and so should be judged on the basis o(t|
teaching. However, the coach respom
that the University of Houston had
directed to produce a good football te;
and that he needed to continue to rei
promising football players. The latest
port on the controversy is that Profe!
:d to issue Sysl
ms to effect th
is policy w;
1978.
Just three mo
Doakes’s contract was not renewed andtli lor Jack K. Wi
the University of Houston still has asm [uhtion that j
cessful football team. W, to( ky ;
Areas in whi
use of intoxi
It s your turn
Students need on-campus meals
John A. McIntyre is a professor o/p^'l^ted ‘"1!
ited to, classr
offices, dorr
inges, stadiuir
facilities, dii
d meeting f:
nters and cha
m or use of in
permitted in
which their numerical strength alone would
suggest. ”
Compared with those with the lowest de
gree of religious commitment and moral
concern, this minority is twice as likely to
believe that voting is the main thing that
decides the way things are run in this coun
try, seven times as likely to attend com
munity or neighborhood meetings and
twice as likely to feel they can influence the
way their community is run. They are 28
percent more likely to vote in local elec
tions.
As the report says, these findings “illu
minate the political successes of such
groups as the Moral Majority and suggest
that it may be the intensely religious who
may well be the most vocal in the Sixties
and Seventies.”
That possibility is increased by two other
findings documented in the study in far
greater detail than I can summarize. One is
that “moral issues” are becoming the most
controversial in American politics, as tradi
tional questions of the welfare-state, the
scale of government, defense and foreign
policy fade into gray consensus. The second
is that behind the “Moral Minority” is a
large mass of the “latently religious,” who
themselves judge leaders and issues in
creasingly in moral dimensions.
“Our findings,” the report says, “suggest
that the increasing impact of religion on our
social and political institutions may be only
the beginning of a trend that could change
the face of America.”
“It appears,” the report says, “that our
society is at a transition point and that the
public may be willing, under almost imper
ceptible influences, to throw its entire
weight behind a leader who strikes the cor
rect ‘moral’ or ‘reaffirming’ tone.
“This new trend is both heartening and
potentially frightening. Since the injection
of faith into politics via religion is capable of
creating a single powerful voting bloc, this
suggests the opportunity for a truly vision
ary leader, or a dangerous demagogue,
who, by striking the appropriate religious-
moral notes, could be swept into a position
of awesome power. ”
To which the only comment is, obvious
ly: Amen.
Editor:
I am concerned about the administra
tion’s decision to limit the meal plans
offered to off campus students next year. As
an off-campus student who stays busy with
many extracurricular activities, I, as well as
many other off-campus students, enjoy eat
ing a well-balanced meal at a convenient
time and place, and at a reasonable price,
not to mention the saving of time buying
groceries, preparing meals, and cleaning
them up.
However, because of a hasty decision by
the Board of Regents to add several new
dormitories, many off campus students
wishing to eat in campus dining facilities
not only take the risk of being turned away
from the meal plan at pre-registration, but
those who do recieve meal cards will be
forced into eating in the Duncan dining
facility — segregated from other on-campus
students. I feel that not only does the addi
tion of these new dorms fail to solve the
problem of the on-campus housing shor
tage, but it creates a new problem concern;
ing the shortage of food plans available to off
campus students.
Candidate gets raw deal
This year was the first year in the history
of the University that the dining hall man
agement was forced to limit the availability
of board plans to students, and yet not only
were the Regents insensitive for more di
ning facilities, but they added to the prob
lem by thoughtlessly deciding to approve
the construction of several small new dor
mitories.
If the Board of Regents wishes to partially
alleviate the problem of on-campus housing
shortages, the Board should not only have
approved a more large-scale dormitory
complex which would have made a signifi
cant difference in the housing shortage, but
they should also have been more responsi
ble for providing the additional relating di
ning facilities for these residents without
imposing upon other students already be-
nefitting from the meal plan.
The Board of Regents — or anyone else
for that matter — has no right to infringe
upon the services offered to others (includ
ing off-campus students) unless they can
prove that these services are not being
used to their fullest potential.
Chris Duncan
Editor:
In the past week and a half I have witnessed a
hard working Aggie pursuing his own personal
Aggie dream. The man, a chemical engineering
student. Singing Cadet, co-op student, and
cadet in the Corps of Cadets, was determined to
become an Aggie Yell Leader. His dream was to
show the University and the country his Aggie
Spirit, and help lead the Twelfth Man to national
recognition for their support to this great Uni
versity. He recognized Aggies for what they
were and what they stood for, he felt he was
capable of taking these people, and their love for
Aggieland, and binding them even closer in
camraderie. With the good of the University in
mind, with the thought he had something to
offer that no one else could, he began his push.
Just as all the other candidates have spent the
last several weeks totally devoted to their cam
paigns, so has Rick Vogel. His grades have taken
a back seat (by the way he has above a 3.0 in
chemical engineering), his girlfriend has had to
take second place to his campaign, and worst of
all, the Singing Cadets have been partially put
aside so that he could give his all for Aggieland. I
think that this is admirable. I don’t know how the
yell Leader vote will come out, but that is not the
issue here. I do know how the Singing Cadets
vote came out, and that is the issue here. Be
cause Rick spent last weekend here at Aggieland
campaigning instead of in Dallas singing with the
cadets, he has been dismissed from the organiza
tion. I know how much Rick loved the Singing
Cadets and I know how much it hurt him to miss
the concert. I also know how much it hurt him to
be dismissed. His efforts to help the University
have gained him dismissal from the group he was
devoted to for three years. He is rewarded for
three years of service by being dismissed over
one weekend tour. I say, if the Singing Cadets
are so void of understanding and do not want this
servant, we do! I am proud to be a Fighting
Texas Aggie and able to call another Fighting
Texas Aggie, Rick Vogel, my friend.
Richard Josefy ’82
Editor’s note: This letter accompanied by 39
other signatures.
Johnson endorsed
Editor:
I would first like to express my personal
gratitude to all the individuals who sacri
ficed their time to help us with our cam
paign.
^ using and on
While the election results did not tun
out quite as I had hoped, I realize theneei
to continue to pursue our ultimate
improve Texas A&M University.
My years in the Student Government
A&M have allowed me to develop
understanding of how our students feel
how the Student Government should operj
ate. I am also keenly aware of the responi
bilities of the student body president,
well as the qualities necessarily to exceli
udg
or c
By BELD
Battal
the position. Now it is time to choosek district Judg
tween the two candidates left in the race ! yesday momii
have had an opportunity to work with botl firing a rec
candidates on a personal level and reali/f tar day for Pla
that each one is a capable individual. < " c
However, I do feel that one of thecanl- ® ^
dates, Ken Johnson, is more experienced J perming j
and has a greater understanding of wfa ^ y ni - vers j
Texas A&M needs in the coming year. Kes ig e d incumbi
has a year’s experience working withintk :council seal
executive committee and has had ttf fed in the mi
opportunity to develop contacts througW ffiar gin of 19
the university system. These two points® ) ones receiv
invaluable to the student body preside! 1 ’ v
and to my mind make him the better choitf nto f ^ V J
for student body president. Gardner saii
David B. Collins 8 Sunt after s <
rril | /* «| « l rs urged him
t hanks tor the ride itfi satisf
Editor: ppportedme,’
I am a former student and a scienti mgit, somei
fiction fan. While attending Aggie Con 3 not ^
this year, I was walking across campus eat!' Q ar j ner " a j S(
Sunday morning to the place where I "ijf^ comput(
staying. It was nearly deserted except lot mtes could t
few other people walking out to their carigme 28 more
and I had gotten about halfway to Jersfpce fs race
Street from the MSC when a young man ip But v
ount for
her said,
'e missed vc
is because
ballot.
lones, howe
a yellow truck called out to me and askedi
wanted a ride. He looked like a fairly deed
guy, so I said yes and got in, and he cheei]
fully took me the two whole blocks to
friend’s house. I really appreciated thiskj
cause I was exhausted and footsore (liter used in t
makes me feel good to know that A&!d ate within 0.
still attracting people who care enough qM not questi
out others to do small kindnesses for then Therecoun
Good luck in your studies, unki#Nning in C
freshman. P- Th e re;
Lila D. Young’^ whichwa S'
By Scott McCullar
The Battalion
MEMBER
ISPS 045 560
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
Photo Editor Greg Gammon
Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff
Asst. Focus Editor Susan Hopkins
News Editors Venita McCellon,
Scot K. Meyer
Staff Writers Carolyn Barnes,
Jane G. Brust, Terry Duran, Bemie Fette,
Cindy Gee, Phyllis Henderson,
Kathleen McElroy, Belinda McCoy,
Kathy O’Connell, Richard Oliver,
Denise Richter, Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Photographers Chuck Chapman
Brian Tate
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A