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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1981)
The Battalion Viewpoint September 28, Slouch By Jim Earle I had this tingling sensation in my back during the last class period. ” Budget cutting won’t solve some problems By ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — It has been said that the one thing liberals in Washington never got straight in their heads was that they could not solve every problem by throwing money at it. It now may be the turn of conservatives to learn a parallel lesson — that they can’t solve every problem by taking money away from it. Sixty years ago, most Americans be lieved that it was up to each person to pro vide for his own needs. If someone was helpless, neighbors or charities were ex pected to help. But government, especially national government, had no responsibility to alleviate individual poverty, ill health or bad luck. The Depression of the 1930s shocked laissez faire out of the American mind set. There was a demand for a system to provide what now is called “a social safety net.’ Social Security was an early response. The government taxed workers and em ployers and promised to provide subsist ence income to those who became disabled and too old to earn their own living. This was called “insurance,” which lifted the curse of “charity” from the system. But whatever Social Security was called, the government was committed from that time on to contribute to the economic sup port of a large class of its citizens. There was an understanding that the government would make good on its committment no matter how much money was in the special fund that was set up to finance it. In the nearly half century that followed. the small society by Brickman IV^. TiKt A H^PiTAL - WHAT IT CO~>~X X CotiLQ HAV^ To - © Syndicate, Inc. World rights reserved 9-2-\ Warped New hope for the president s When Frank E. Vandiver emerged from the Hurry of controversy surrounding the naming of the new University president, I admit I had doubts about any man who would accept a job that had proved so dis astrous for its most recent occupants. But after hearing him address several groups and then interviewing him myself, I am comforted by several recurring themes. One topic he has repeatedly addressed is the preservation of academic freedom. A lofty •goal, but Vandiver himself stated that one of the most precious aspects of that freedom is the right to be wrong. Even sometimes “at the top of (your) voice, ” he said. Freedom is something that can’t be taken for granted and still be expected to remain. It’s good to know that the head of this University knows that, and more im portant, believes that. Angelique Copeland But Vandiver should prove toy able link between the Board andsti and faculty. He has charisma, spittdj genuine interest in the problemsJ students and faculty. Perhaps eveij important, he is willing to a doesn’t have the answer to a ques stead of trying to cover himself«i|J tudes and generalities. That’saret| attitude to find in University adai tion. Vandiver also has said that as president he will be a symbol for the University, someone that the public can identify as rep resenting Texas A&M. Don’t mistake his claim to mean a figurehead. This is a strong man, with strong opinions. During his acceptance speech at Dallas in August, he said he would serve “at the discretion of the Board of Regents.” That does not mean at the whim of the Board. It is an attitude that may not ingratiate him with some of the more forceful regents. Texas A&M has had threepresi the past three years. Thetwohiglies!) in the University, the presidents chancellor, along with, the Board gents, have been in a three-wavt during most of that time. VandraiJ ping into the office when its i memories are of controversy a But I can’t help but believe th will be able to shake off the prol past and help the Universityadi se ttle 1 lack into a less embattled n»| the government expanded its committment to solve problems of individuals and special groups. The insurance concept was used less often, but the people for whom the programs were begun nonetheless often came to regard the benefits as a right and the government’s committment to provide them as absolute. Now the reaction has set in. The people now in charge are attempting to reduce or eliminate the the government’s involve ment in social problem solving. That effort, especially in the case of high- visibility programs that appear to provide benefits without ending dependency, prob ably has majority public support. Upon the showing (or claim) that a number of prog rams were too costly or being abused, the administration was able to begin cutting back with astonishing ease and success. As a result, some in the administration seem to think there are few if any govern ment benefits the public would insist on continuing. For example, the statement that Social Security is in deep financial trou ble apparently was expected to pave the way for public acceptance of cutbacks. It did not. Both the public opinion polls and the feedback members of Congress got from home indicated any such conclusion was in error. However they may feel about food stamps or legal services for the poor or aid to dependent children, Americans do not seem to be mad at Social Security. The system obviously has real problems, but those who have the responsibility for it clearly are on warning that they better use some instrument other than the budget cut ting knife to deal with them. WHO LACKS DIRECTION?? tnpet »four s It’s your turn s Jtake sState fSpe fexas A Dining hall rule costly for student w ayn c Kellie from Editor: I would like to voice my concern over something which is a very real problem to students who eat in the Commons. The Commons Dining Center has a rule that students must leave their belongings in the hall while they eat, but Food Services will take no responsibility for the thefts which result. According to the Campus police, there are several reports every day of books and backpacks being stolen from the Commons. When you consider that one backpack can contain items worth $200 or more, you can see the size of problem this really is. being able to see to do his schoolwork. When I talked to Mr. Joseph Biermann in the Commons, he acknowledged that there is a “small” problem with thievery, but students can’t be allowed to take their books into the dining hall for fear that they might try to steal food. Mr. Lloyd Smith, assistant director of Food Services, cited a case in which someone tried to walk away from Sbisa with fifteen pounds of fried chicken in their backpack. I realize that there are students who do these things, but how can you compare one isolated case like this to stolen books and calculators) jig. ing to thousands of dollars penvefi I think it’s time for somethingtok And, if a system for protecting our ings can’t he put into operation soon : i feel that it’s only fair for the student Ui :111In nrnlnft ihpir mvn va IIj *'■*■1 man first IJely e a allowed to protect their own valuil the meantime. Randy Gro 1 Editor’s note: This letter was accoir by 156 other signatures. My brother’s backpack was stolen this week. It contained his books and note books, my calculator, his contact lenses, and his glasses. Total value: $225. Since he is financially unable to replace his glasses or contacts, he now has the problem of not By Scott McCullar The Battalion USPS 045 360 MEMBER 1c Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Angelique Copeland Managing Editor Marcy Boyce City Editor JaneG. Brust Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell Photo Editor Greg Gammon Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff Asst. Focus Editor Debbie Nelson News Editors Jennifer Afflerbach Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy Diana Sultenfuss StaffWriters Frank L. Christlieb Randy Clements, Gaye Denley, Terry Duran Nancy Floeck, Phyllis Henderson Colette Hutchings, Denise Richter, Rick Stolle Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers Brian Tate Becky Swanson, Dave Einsel The Battalion also serves as a /a/ioratoirnfusp? students in reporting, editing and within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editoni' 1 should he directed to the editor. 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