L The Battalion -V IE WPOINT September 21,1981 Slouch By Jim Earle A"* 0 This is the last time I hi breaking it clow n and bringing it upstairs. From now on ii anyone wants to steal it, they can have it. " Student senator should expect scrutiny, criticism by press Editor: There ’s new hope for House Democrats By CLAY F. RICHARDS United Press International WASHINGTON — If there is a smile on the face of Democrats these days it is be cause their chances of keeping control of the House in the 1982 elections are impro ving every day. It is not President Reagan’s current budget and high interest rate problems that are giving Democrats hope. Like most poli tical observers they know the jury is still out on the president’s economic program and it is far too early to tell what impact it will have on the 1982 elections. But vital signs within the current and future House composition are looking much more hopeful for the Democrats than they did a few months ago. Last month, it appeared that Republi cans would gain at least half the 27 seats they needed to take control of the House through the 1981-82 reapportionment pro cess. Some 17 seats moved in ^‘apportion ment from Northern and Midwestern in dustrial states to the Sun Belt. This pointed to substantial Republican gains in the Sun Belt states. And in early reapportionment plans in states like In diana, Republicans drew lines that gave them clear advantages. Almost singlehandedly. Rep. Phil Bur ton evened the score for the Democrats last week in California. Burton is the master line-drawer in California and by the time he got done. Democrats stood to gain five seats. Up until Burton did his deed, the GOP was counting on at least one and possibly two more seats in California. There was also a fear that some of the Southern conservative Democrats — the so called Boll Weevils who supported Reagan on his tax and budget cuts — would switch parties. In fact, COP Chairman Richard Richards and House Republican leader Bob M ichel had reported some Democrats had made contact with Republican state chair men back home to open negotiations. But in a closed Democratic caucus last week, party leaders decided against taking any disciplinary action against the conser vative Democrats because they voted with Reagan. The decision seemed to be a signal to the conservatives they are still welcome in the Democratic Party. No Democrat is happier these days than Rep. Tony Coelno, the Californian who once thought his first chance as chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Commit tee was going to be a disaster. This column is in reference to the letter submitted by a senator in the Student Sen ate (September 15, The Battalion). The senator did not think, in his opinion, that the press should ridicule members of the senate for their legislation. As a reader, I took the senator’s words as being implied to all types of legislation. The senator asked boldly, “Is this the way Aggies want their elected representatives treated? Instantly my mind put this princi ple on a larger scale. I was reminded of various tools that President Nixon’s hatch- etmen, notably Charles Colson, used to thwart any attack on the Nixon Administra tion. Wouldn’t the hatehetmen have loved to put out such a letter that our senator submitted crying out with combinations of patriotic feelings and step-by-step details justifying the Senates’ truly ridiculous bills. More on that later. The Senate needs to understand quite clearly that the press is not going to support all legislation, and glorify to the heavens senatorial actions. The Battalion is the pidse of Texas A&M, serving Aggies with top quality journalism. Unless the Senate passes a bill to control the press, then rep resentatives may expect close scrutiny as journalism serves as role of watchdog on elected officials. Nixon’s administration found this the case, and so quickly should the Student Senate. The senator’s defense of the legislation. Reader's Forum (The Pedestrian Protection Bill, the Motor cycle and Moped Parking Spaces Bill, the Bicycle Registration Bill), made no mention whatsoever whether the so-called created problems were of major concern to the Texas A&M population. Apparently no sur veys were taken to enlist student opinion, and no mention was made publicly on the bills to inform students until The Battalion article appeared. My first question was just whose opinion was it that motorbikes were unsafe and un sightly on our campus? How is a parked motorbike creating dangerously hazardous conditions? Regarding overcrowdedness of bicycles, does the senator suggest that stu dents are riding more than one to campus? If so, how? Maybe one per class. Is that it senator? Wake up and notice the student population and the size of Texas A&M. In my opinion, as well as several of my peers, bicycles pose no drastic problem. Rather they are the least of our concern. Needless to say, the proposed legislation wovdd simply complicate matters for both students and University Police, wlion have additional tasks possibly resulfej additonal officers for enforcement 11 about the cost? Who foots the incre; costs? The students, of course, tlm more fees and more fines. My opinion of the Student Senates the organization does not represent dents adequately hy trying to pass without student input on the legisation its effects on student life. Apparent!) goal of the Student Senate is to heabl say, we did this, this, and that to help dents where in reality what is actualh pening is they are passing more for regulation at student expense. Take a senator, at the philosophy of our end President who suggests a limited rolt government. Take this on atourlevt college government. Become elfed through critical assessment of real pi lems facing Texas A&M utilizing stndij faculty, and administrative opinionfotj basis of legislation. This way andoilr way, I believe the Senate assuresitsel proper respect from all Aggies and press. A s. sho' T( Martin W. ErJ 2411 Bosque] Editor’s note: The Student Senate ( conduct surveys and meet with coni tuents in an effort to determine stud Sengr pc Pit CDUMB/^ VFJWCH