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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1981)
The Battalion Viewpoint October 7, c* I k I K r- Two views of G. Gordon Liddy’s politics G. Gordon Liddy brought his dog and pony show to Texas A&M Monday night, and the crowd bought it. Liddy, a convicted felon who spent more than four years in prison for masterminding the Watergate break- in, received a standing ovation at the end of his presen tation. Amazing. At the height of the Watergate scandal, the public was screaming for blood from Nixon’s watchdogs H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Liddy might have been able to raise bus fare by going on a speaking tour then. Last year he made more than $250,000. He’s got to pay all those fines and legal fees somehow. Liddy has become something of a folk hero, as autograph seekers who mobbed the reception room following his address will attest. During his speech, the audience kept breaking into applause. Angelique Copeland But the things he said were hard not to applaud. There was a “let’s hear it for Mom and apple pie” quality to most of his statements. For example, he called for the revival of military supremacy in the Un ited States. What better place than Texas A&M to voice that opinion? And how could you not applaud when he said the United States must fight to be seen once again as a powerful and respected world power? But folks, do we want to do it the way Nixon, through Liddy, did it? Liddy cautioned the audience about living in a world of illusions where everyone is honorable and there is no need for the covert services of the FBI and CIA. I agree they have a legitimate use. But Nixon didn’t order Liddy to break into the Soviet embassy. Nixon was wielding his power as president against a “fellow Amer ican,” for the sole purpose of insuring that he keep and increase that power. And Liddy went along with it. For too many members of the audience, Liddy and the whole Watergate fiasco seem long ago and far away. But G. Gordon Liddy was convicted for crimes against the people of the United States under our system of justice. Now we re paying and applauding him to tell us how he did it. I have to admit I went into the G. Gordon Liddy speech armed with a little bit of curiosity and a lot of bias. I expected to see a rat-eating, wire-tapping, fire breathing lunatic. Instead, I saw a rat-eating, wire tapping, fire-breathing, but definitely sane man. Liddy is a dynamic, charismatic speaker, as was obvious by the frequent applause and the standing ovation he received in Rudder Auditorium. I even caught myself smiling at some of his wit and anecdotes. Imagine that. Smiling at a convicted con spirator! Liddy, flames shooting from his nostrils, didn’t give anyone a chance to condemn him for his Watergate involvement. Not even the person holding up the de rogatory sign in the back of the auditorium. He owned up to his crime, gave the obligatory background on it, answered a few inevitable questions about it, and crack ed a few jokes about it. And while it was probably the topic of Watergate that attracted that crowd, I think they got more than they expected from that eloquent speech they applauded so enthusiastically. I hope I’m not just kidding myself when I say that the audience was applauding his words and not his deeds. His intelligent words certainly overshadowed those previous unscrupulous deeds. After all, before he was a criminal he was an assistant Jennifer Afflerbach t district attorney, an Armyofficer, an FBIbureaiii visor, and a special assistant to the Secretan Treasury. Not just your average second-story ing his views on why the country is in such a Liddy’s complaints about the United Statesdrf in the ranks of world powers and losing the resf other countries are not unfounded. His solutio not farfetched. He is a man of knowledge spea]| experience. And I hope his criminal record will not drown voice. It was certainly heard in Rudder Audit] Monday night. i RV defends integrity of group Editor: In last Thursday’s Reader’s Forum, the integrity of the Ross Volunteer Company was called into question by an anonymous writer. His letter charged the seniors of the Company with conspiring to prevent the selection of two Corps juniors as Ross Volunteers solely because of their outfit affiliation. and for unlearning every lesson he sought to teach us. My intent is not to defame any individual or group, but to reaffirm in the mind of every Aggie the high ideals and integrity which permeate the Ross Volun teer Company. least 72 applicants who, in our estimation, were more deserving and better qualified than they. As commander of the Ross Volunteer Company, I had two options. I could re spond with a letter of rebuttal, or I could not respond at all and allow the issue to fade with the passing of time. When I sought advice from University officials not directly involved with my Company, they endorsed the latter because they felt a rebuttal would only prolong the controversy. That same Friday morning, I received a phone call from a gentleman who did not identify him self. He told me that if I were to submit a rebuttal to the Battalion, he would follow with yet another editorial whose purpose, I believe, would be to further slander the Ross Volunteers. Given this set of circumst ances, it would have been easier and poss ibly more sensible to forgo any response. The allegation was concerned specifical ly with the RV election process. The article stated that the seniors, “simply refused to review any applicants from that outfit.” This cannot be true since any senior wishing to cast a vote either for or against a junior must first review his application and then signify that he has done so by initialing the back of the application. These applica tions remain on file with the Company as proof that this occurred and may be made available to anyone justly contending the election. The only applications which were not reviewed were those indicating an over all GPR below the minimum 2.30 required for intitial membership. All others were available for review and were, in fact, re viewed. I am sure that the two juniors refer red to did have sufficient qualifications for membership. However, no more than 72 juniors may be inducted each year and in the course of our elections, we identified at In conclusion, I must say that the ideals and founding principles of the Ross Volun teer Company have not degenerated. Rather, they have grown in stature with the Class of ’82 and will continue doing so in the Class of ’83. Lawrence Sullivan Ross en dures to this day in the lives of those who proudly bear allegiance to the Ross Volun teers. But you be the judge — actions speak louder than any words. Stand with us in silence tonight as we pay tribute to the lives of Robert Brennan and Kenneth White in ceremony of Silver Taps. See if you do not recognize the proud and dignified spirit of old Sul Ross himself standing in the midst of the ghostly men in white. Robert W. Marshall Ross Volunteer Captain Commanding Editor’s note: This letter was scheduled to run in Tuesday’s paper. Silver Taps was held Tuesday night. Slouch By Jim Earl 5 hide graph walks “It’s nothing serious. I'm just expressing my sympathy to several of my friends at Tech!'' But if we as Ross Volunteers are reluc tant to stand firm upon the life principles of our beloved Ross, we most certainly would be responsible for staining his good name It s your turn The Battalion USPS 045 360 MEMBER 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 J ennifer Afflerbach Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy Diana Sultenfuss Staff Writers Frank L. Christlieb Randy Clements, Gaye Denley, Terry Duran Nancy Floeck, Phyllis Henderson Colette Hutchings, Denise Richter, Rick Stolle Nancy Weatherley Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers Brian Tate Becky Swanson, Dave Einsel EDITORIAL POLICY The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&tM 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 newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter should be directed to the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are not subject to the same length constrain 1 as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence 10: isditor, The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M s fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and examination periods.-Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Build ing, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. Attitudes, not Greeks hurt Aggie spirit Editor: In response to Reader’s Forum and the editorial of October 1, 1981, I would first of all like to pose a question to Miss Pender grass and all others opposed to officially recognizing the Greeks. Would your Aggie Spirit deteriorate if the Greeks were offi cially recognized? Mine wouldn’t, why should it? And secondly, with or without University recognition, the Greeks are here to stay, so why not welcome them with open arms and work together towards a mutually beneficial coexistence? It is a bel ligerent attitude like yours that causes de terioration of the Aggie Spirit. would like to take my parents to yell prac tice before my graduation, but until now I have always been ashamed to do so. The purpose of yell practice is to strengthen the school’s spirit and morale. Texas A&M is known far and wide for the pride, honesty, integrity and intelligence of its students. Are vulgar grode stories a good example of this? nated according to class level. This meant that your freshman and sophomore years, you had to sit in the end sections of the stadium, but it also meant that you were assured of at least decent seats your junior and senior years. still aren’t getting good seats. Sowfij Center there a system change and, except to an list* control of the length of ticket lines, we still have set days for each class! a P« r tickets? Rick Wyly Mike Williams As for you, Mr. Name Withheld, why did you come to A&M? I came here looking for diversity, a diversity inherent with any school as large as ours. Believe it or not, this diversity can be used to everyone’s advan tage without bringing any detriment to any one. We have already found our own little niche in the Corps. So, who are we to attempt to deny anyone the right to find their own little niche, be it in a fraternity or a sorority? Football tickets unfair Editor: With the new random selection process, there are persons — of which I am one — who have, and will, attend Texas A&M for 4 years and never get better than 35-yard- line seats. My second year here, I once received 35-yard-line seats, but last year and so far this year, with junior and senior tickets, I haven’t done any better than the 16-yard-line. istener. Dobn non syi mexplai mil inal He solution mce it ; nethod “A lis audi process To the Athletic Department (Ticket Office): Please inform me and many severely irked upperclassmen of the reason for the change to a random selection of tickets for football games. My first year at Texas A&M, sections of Kyle Field’s seats were desig- I have been told by friends that they ‘think’ the reason for the system change was that too many upperclassman seats were being given to underclassmen by means of the 1-1 option. Well, the option of using “X” number of senior ticketbooks and “X” number of non senior ticketbooks to get “X + X” tickets on doctor day (Monday) still exists and seniors Also, please discuss the reasons accepting this option: Start on M 1 - mornings with 50-yard-line tickets an up the sections working outwards to each end-zone. Because of dates, m: the 1-1 option. True, this would keepH » men without senior dates from gettin! * yard-line seats, but it would assure better than 25-yard-line seats at least > years here. It is still a privilege to * senior, isn’t it? ■ JJ Please inform me, and the many! > graduate students and seniors who ** continously walked away from the tit C window angered, nauseous and I | of the reason for the Sfi ^ suicidal change. Richard Ml And unless your last name is Webster, who are you to say that the definition of a Good Ag is one who “opposes frats and sororities”? I feel that you, Mr. Name Withheld owe the Greeks an apology, for they are just as much a part of Aggieland as Warped By Scott McCullat * Otto F.W. Boneta ‘83 Cleaner ‘grode’ stories Editor: I would like to thank the yell leaders for telling clean “grode” stories at a recent yell practice. I have been at Texas A&M for several years and love everything ... except the vulgarity used in telling grode stories. I ALRIGHT, C'MO/Y STAFF, LET’S GET THIS OFFICE. FURNITURE MOVED... HEY BUSTER, HOW ABOUT HELPING OS MOVE THIS TYPEWR (TER ? ARE 80U KIDDING? THAT’S WOMAN'S WORK. 7- "I HE SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED OVER »Y A OF WOMEN? BEEN BUNCH