Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Wednesday
April 22, 1981
By W
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i The Mite
need more representatives there onai a&M Univf
consistent basis. And they shouldn tha thehome pc
be from Student Government: ship is seldo
shouldn’t cadets, RHA and OCA meiMt sea nine
or even MSC Council officers take a because of d
terest in how the regents run the set® 6 ?’ s .^
Can we expect the regents, the 0 e
ture or the governor to take our requesp"^ e rur
a student member seriously when shitfey “j t cos
leaders don’t take a consistent, demirep it dock
trated interest in any of the regents’n®Treadwell
ings? fetely $6,0(
A persistent, demonstrated sense ( be at sea. Hi
dent apathy is one thing we don’t ation over a:
when looking to the prospects forast : m M°n.
say-so in University and System poliE^ isnot 11
setting. In fact, it may be the one thinE®^ 6 ^'
don’t need. |£m ’ vesse
The Board of Regents has been araMiversity v
of being out of touch and unfamiliar.® 6 univers:
students and their needs. But we f® 111 * 3 ' 116 r
place all the burden on the regents’sill 01 !,^ .
ders. We can’t expect them U seeljL re h as be
student input; the job of supplyingstud^veen un
views logically is that of Student Govmd. “it is r
ment, be it the student body presidMe univers
vice presidents for external or acadoBAn inter
affairs, or the senators.
A little public relations might not
helped Captain Ahab, but it’s notgoi
hurt our chances for student input at
Board of Regents level.
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“This tightness across your chest, the feeling of strangula
tion, the pressure on your back . . . does it occur when
you're not wearing your backpack?"
Student Ahabs chasing whale
One of the most useful metaphors in
literature is that of Captain Ahab, chasing
the Great White Whale in “Moby Dick.”
It can be applied to many modern hap
penings -— whenever someone undertakes
a mission that lives up to the description
“The Impossible Dream.”
Students at Texas public colleges and
universities have been playing the role of
Ahab for some time now in trying to get
gubernatorial, legislative, or anybody’s
approval for student members on boards of
regents.
Texas A&M University has been no ex
ception. Researching the possibility and
defining the chances of success have been
undertaken by several past Texas A&M
Student Governments.
Other groups, notably at the University
of Texas and University of Houston, have
also examined the issue.
Judging from the response, chances are
not now, and never have been good. More
research, reasoning, and probably, begging
and pleading to all ears in state government
is going to be needed before we see even a
flicker of hope.
But Texas A&M’s Student Government
hasn’t done much on the public relations
front to convince our regents that they are,
ever have been, or ever will be serious
about student regents.
Practicality arguments aside (regents
By STEVE GERSTEL
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Conservative
Democrats in Congress have finally opened
the closet doors and gone public.
These conservatives — almost all from
Southern and Southwestern states — have
always been highly influential and fre
quently their power has ’exceeded, by far,
their numbers.
The advent of the two-party system in
the South, the demands of social reform of
the past generation and the decimation of
their ranks by age tended to cut the legen
dary strength of the conservative Demo
crats.
At one time, their grip on committee
chairmanships — in the Senate and House
— was so overwhelming they could virtual
ly dictate the legislative calendar.
And when they teamed with the Republi
cans — which they frequently did — that
coalition ruled Capitol Hill.
Those heady days appeared to have en
ded as large Democratic majorities took
their place in Congress, leaving the Repub
lican-conservative coalition fighting rear
guard actions.
During the glory years, the conservative
Democrats paid lip service to the tenets of
the party and their associations — except in
the instance of civil rights battles — were
private.
It was certainly common knowledge that
most of the conservative Southerners and
Southwesterners had instinctive reflexes of
Republicans. Almost every roll call vote
showed their colors.
Now the conservative Democrats have
staged a resurgence — and this time around
they are seeking leverage as a cohesive,
organized force in Congress.
They no longer have all those committee
chairmanships and they do not have a voice
in the leadership. What they do have — and
what they are banking on — are some intri
guing numbers.
In the House, led by Reps. Charles
Stenholm of Texas, Phil Gramm of Texas
and G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery of Missis
sippi, the caucus of conservative Demo
crats totals 44.
Considering that the Republicans, when
they can hold their own troops, need just 26
votes for a majority, the role of the conser
vative Democrats becomes readily appa
rent.
They have already wrung some in-house
acknowledgements from Speaker Thomas
O’Neill, who recognizes the potential, and
they have been welcomed to the White
House.
The House has not reached a telling vote.
When it does — surely on the budget — the
conservative Democrats should find them
selves in an enviable position.
A similiar group in the Senate — which
describes itself as moderate to conservative
— made its public debut more recently.
The group numbers at least 12 and like their
counterparts are mostly from the South.
In a statement, the 12 endorsed Presi
dent Reagan’s economic program although
they expressed some reservations about his
tax package — a significant break with their
party in the Senate.
The presence of these moderate-to-
conservatives and others made it impossi
ble for the Democrats to reach a consensus
position on the budget in closed-door nego
tiations before voting on amendments.
As a result, only one amendment restor
ing money for social-welfare programs,
sponsored by Republican Jesse Helms of
North Carolina, passed.
Some, though not all, of the other
amendments of this genre might have car
ried except for Democratic defections. The
Republicans showed an amazing degree of
unity on these amendments but there often
were just enough strays to have put the
Democrats over the top.
The most prominent of the gang of 12
were Sens. Russell Long, D-La., former
chairman of the Finance Committee,
Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., former head of
the Budget Committee and Lloyd Bentsen,
D-La., former chairman of the Joint Econo
mic Committee. That is still a formidable
lineup.
Twelve may be rock-bottom strength.
Sens. John Stennis, D-Miss., Harry Byrd,
I-Va., and William Proxmire, D-Wis., also
voted the moderate-coservative line on
amendments to the budget.
The approach adopted by conservative
Democrats — notably on economic matters
— in the early days of the Reagan adminis
tration should be welcome news at the
White House.
It has to be tempered, however, by the
realization that the Republicans have un
organized cadres of liberal-moderates pro
ne to abandon the party and, even more
serious, idealogue far-right conservatives
who are starting to balk.
Warped
Sidebars
By Dillard Stone
serve six-year terms), we’d have to con
vince everybody concerned that we de
served a student representative to the
board.
One good way to do that would be to have
student leaders present for some (prefer
ably all) of the regents’ meetings held at
Texas A&M. The meetings are open to the
public, and they’re held in the Board Annex
across from Cain Hall.
To the credit of this past year’s Student
Government, there have been student rep
resentatives at many of the regents meet
ings. That’s a dramatic change from years
past, when the only students who attended
the meetings were from The Battalion.
But it’s still not good enough. There
should be student leaders — or any in
terested students for that matter — at every
open session of a regents meeting. If we
expect representation, we’ve got to let the
Board members know we re interested. We
Conservative Dems
are on the rise again
It s your turn
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Ethnic put-down not appreciated
Editor:
I was appalled at the photograph of Paul
Rodriguez in last Friday’s Battalion, depict-
ing a Jewish bankrobber. In referring to this
Mexican comedian, surely The Battalion
could have used some less offensive photo
graph and caption. The Battalion exhibited
poor judgment in using the photo/cutline
they used. The comedian should be conde
mned for encouraging and promoting
ethnic slurs that only support erroneous
stereotypes. That a Mexican comedian per
formed such a spurious stunt is doubly rep
rehensible. As a member of a subjugated
ethnic minority himself, he should go to
great lengths not to engage in ethnic
humor; it appears that he is trying to ame
liorate his own feelings of ethnic inferiority
by maligning another group of people. His
activities are inexcusable. The MSC Com
mittee for the Awareness of Mexican
By Scott McCullar
American Culture should also be chastised
for allowing such a malicious performance.
In summary, the comedian, the MSC
Committee, and the Battalion all did a
disservice to Jewish people in particular,
and the A&M environment in general, and
should be denounced for such indefensible
behavior. » »
Sam A Lollar
Some Sig Eps OK
Editor:
Rebels would like to take this opportun
ity to acknowledge that some members of
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity are undeserv-
SAY , I TU ST FINISHEP
READING AN ARTICLE Oti
HOMOSEXU ALITY AND, ...
WELL. . .
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED
WHETHER WE SHOULD ALL
JUST "LIVE AND LET
LIVE," /AAYBE.... IF
NO, I CAN SEE YOU'RE
NOT ONE /AUCH FOR
ing of any chastisement by this estabfc
ment. In recent weeks several memte
this fraternity have shown themselvesto
exactly the type of customer Rebels «£
and enjoys. We are aware that these®
bers were able to stress to the remain^
the members the importance of correct 1
tion in public. We hope that ourpre'
letter caused no undue problems fon
innocent members of the fraternity.
We would at this time like to web;
the fraternity to enjoy Rebels hospb
once again. Steveli
Micheal Flc
Rebels Restaurant
The Battalion
member
ISPS 045 :?60
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
StaffWriters Carolyn Barnes,
Jane G. Brust, Frank L. Christlieb,
Terry Duran, Bemie Fette, Cindy Gee,
Phyllis Henderson, Colette Hutchings,
Belinda McCoy, Kathy O’Connell, Denise Richter,
Rick Stolle
Cartoonist .., Scott McCullar
Photographers Chuck Chapman, Brian Tate
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper
operated as a community service to Texas A&M University
and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat
talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not
necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi
ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of
Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspft
students in reporting, editing and photography
within the Department of Communications.
Questions or comments concerning any editorial 1 '
should be directed to the editor.
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editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for st)^ 1
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Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, ^
not Subject to the same length constraints as ^
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: EdiW
Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M Univ'
College Station, TX 77843.
The Battalion is published daily during Texas
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Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald
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