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Trial date set
for gay students’
suit against A&M
By DENISE RICHTER
Battalion Staff
HOUSTON — The Gay Student Ser
vice Organization suit against Texas
A&M University finally will go to trial
Nov. 16, almost four years after it was
initially filed.
The GSSO’s request for official Uni
versity recognition was denied in May
1976 and a civil rights suit was filed
against Texas A&M in February 1977.
The trial is scheduled to begin at 1:30
p.m. in U.S. District Court in Houston.
Judge Ross N. Sterling will preside.
When the original suit was filed in
1977, the University argued that, as a
local governing body, it could not be
sued for money damages. Judge Sterl
ing, who was presiding, agreed and dis
missed the suit.
However, in February 1980, the 5th
Circuit Court of Appeals overruled the
decision and sent the case back to feder
al court for trial. Texas A&M appealed
that ruling to the Supreme Court. In
December 1980, the Supreme Court
refused to hear the University’s appeal.
The organization is seeking Universi
ty recognition as well as damages toi
compensate for Texas A&M's refusal,
court costs and legal fees. The amount of
damages sought has not been
announced.
Representing Texas A&M will bei
Lonnie Zwiener and Ann Kraatz, assis-1
tant attorneys general; James B. Bond,
vice chancellor for legal affairs; Gene
vieve Graffeo and Ted Hajovsky, staff)
attorneys.
Patrick Wiseman, of the Nelson and
Mallett law firm in Houston, will repre
sent the GSSO.
Defendants cited in the case are: Dr. [
John J. Koldus, vice president for stu-1
dent services; the late Jack K. Williams,
former president of Texas A&M; Clyde |
Freeman, executive vice president, and|
the Texas A&M System Board of Re-t
gents.
The plaintiffs, Michael Minton, (
Keith Stewart and Patricia Woodridge, J
were members of the GSSO and Texas t
A&M students when the original suit(
was filed.
Silver Taps tonight
The two Texas A&M students named above will be honored at
Silver Taps in front of the Academic Building tonight at 10:30.
John William Mueller, a sophomore general studies major from
Dallas, died Oct. 2. Javier Antonio Cesar, a graduate student in
industrial engineering from Granada, Nicaragua, died Oct. 23.
Shuttle bus service will be extended for off-campus students.
Swedes continue
sub investigation
Gun control debate: safety versus liberty
By DANIEL PUCKETT
Battalion Stall
The danger to public safety versus the
danger to freedom was the central argu
ment in Monday night’s debate on gun
control, sponsored by the MSC Great
Issues Committee.
Speaking in Rudder Theater to a
small audience, Philip D. Zelikow, a
Houston attorney, and John M. Snyder,
a Washington lobbyist, argued the
necessity of handgun control legisla
tion.
Zelikow, a member of Handgun Con
trol, Inc., presented a four-point hand
gun control program, which he said was
virtually identical to the Kennedy-
Rodinobill, sponsored by Sen. Edward
Kennedy, D-Mass., and Rep. Peter
Rodino, D-N.J. The plan included:
— banning Saturday Night Specials,
which are small, cheap handguns
- imposing a 21-day waiting period
between the application for, and the
completion of, the sale of a handgun
— legislating severe, mandatory pris
on sentences for the use of a gun in the
commission of a crime
— recording all transfers of hand
guns, including all sales and all thefts of
them.
This plan would help reduce the inci
dence and the severity of violent crime,
Zelikow said, by eliminating guns which
are only useful to criminals. In addition,
it would make it more difficult to obtain
them, stiffen the penalties for their use
and make it easier for police to trace
them, he said.
Snyder, chief lobbyist for the
Citizens Committee for the Right to
Keep and Bear Arms, dubbed the plan
unworkable, unnecessary and an in
fringement on the right to defend one’s
own life.
Furthermore, he contended the plan
would place a greater burden on
already-overloaded law enforcement
officials, would fail to reduce crime rates
and would be the first step in a gradual
move toward depriving Americans of all
their weapons.
If citizens have the right to life, he
said, they have the right to defend that
life, using force if necessary. And any
move toward restricting ownership of
handguns is the first move toward de
priving Americans of their best means of
protection.
He also pointed to the Second
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as
proof that Americans are guaranteed
the right to defend themselves with
firearms.
Zelikow disputed Snyder’s argu
ment, saying that handguns are not an
effective means of self-protection. He
said shotguns, which he does not prop
ose to control, are much better self-
defense weapons.
And the courts have always held that
the Second Amendment vests the right
to possess firearms in the state militias,
not in private citizens, he said.
Snyder disagreed with Zelikow on
the meaning of court decisions in that
area, and said even if gun control were
constitutional, it would be unworkable.
He cited the example of the District of
Columbia, which has one of the tough
est gun control laws in the nation and
the highest murder rate.
However, Zelikow said studies in
South Carolina and Boston show gun
control laws reduce the number of vio
lent crimes and the number of deaths
resulting from assault.
He urged the audience to decide the
issue on its merits and then make its
opinions known to Congress, which
should act soon on the Kennedy-Rodino
bill.
Snyder said the gun control bill has
no chance of being enacted by Con
gress. In fact, he contended. Congress
may soon repeal many of the handgun
controls now in effect.
United Press International
KARLS KRONA, Sweden — Swedish
defense officials said today they were
not satisfied with the answers of a Soviet
captain whose submarine ran aground
10 miles from Sweden’s main Baltic nav
al base. The officials predicted ques
tioning might last a week.
Soviet Capt. Pyotr Gushin left the
stranded submarine Monday for ques
tioning by Swedish military authorities
on a torpedo boat after the Soviet Union
relented on the seventh day of the tense
diplomatic stand-off.
“The Swedish authorities are not
satisfied with the results of the initial
questioning,” Cmdr. Sven Carlson of
the Karlskrona naval base said. “It is
likely to be a drawn-out case and could
last another week.
Carlsson said it was impossible for the
submarine to leave Swedish waters un
til the investigation was complete.
Foreign Minister Ola Ullsten said I
Monday Moscow had met Sweden’s l
four conditions for the release of the |
craft and its 56-member crew — an ex- {
planation of the sub’s mission by its cap- t
tain, an apology for entering Swedish |
waters, salvage by Swedish vessels and
Soviet payment for the cost of the sal- j
vage.
“‘The answers will be discussed by a
group of experts and they will decide I
about future questioning, ” Cmdr. Borje .
Johansson said. Sweden has not speci
fied how much detail of the mission it is
demanding. >
Cadet, saber controversy sparks
multiple University consequences
A&M students to assist
in Space Shuttle launch
Sabers have been banned from foot
ball games and disciplinary procedures
initiated against cadet Greg Hood as a
result of an incident involving the cadet
at Saturday’s game.
Officers of the day may no longer
wear sabers at football games, Corps
Commandant James R. Woodall said
Monday.
SMU cheerleaders off the football field
Saturday apparently because Aggie tra
dition dictates that only officials, foot
ball players and bands are allowed on
the field during a game.
In a shoving match that followed.
Hood drew his saber and was pushed
down by SMU cheerleader Dave
Schmidt.
, thf
e I 11 '
by SANDRA K. GARY
Battalion Reporter
At least 10 Texas A&M students will
be directly involved with the Columbia
ice Shuttle as it takes off on its second
mission Wednesday morning.
As participants in the University’s
Cooperative Education Program, the
students work every other semester on
a year round basis for the National Aero
nautics and Space Administration or
Rockwell International.
Lynn Basinger, a senior mechanical
engineering major who has worked for
Rockwell three semesters, will be in the
mission evaluation room during the lat
ter part of the flight.
“The support room I’ll be in monitors
the environmental control and life sup
port systems for the crew,” she said.
The engineering team she works with
is concemed with keeping the crew
comfortable by maintaining appropriate
oxygen levels in the cabin and controll
ing the air pressure and temperature
within the craft.
Basinger said: ‘‘The mission evalua
tion room is equipped with computers
which receive data directly from the
shuttle. We know what the data should
look like as it appears on the computer
screens. And if we see any problems, we
will notify Mission Control or a team of
engineers who will attempt to correct
the problems.”
Thomas Gaily, another Texas A&M
Co-op student who works at NASA, said
he will be working with a team of en
gineers that monitors temperature
trends for the shuttle.
“We will be a backup for Mission
Control and will inform them of any
temperature problems that might occur
during the flight or as the shuttle takes
off and lands,” aerospace engineering
major Gaily, 19, said.
The space shuttle, Columbia, is the
first spaceship to be used for a second
flight. It is to be launched for a five-day
mission on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m.
from Cape Canaveral, Fla. with astro
nauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly
aboard.
Students
may pick up
Aggielands
The 1981 Aggielands have arrived.
The 1981 Aggielands can be picked
up between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
this week in the Commons. Students
must present their ID cards in order to
pick up their books.
Students who have not yet paid for
yearbooks will not be able to purchase
them until Monday. Beginning that
day, they can be purchased for $21 in
the Student Publications Office, 216
Reed McDonald.
Yearbook distribution began Oct.
26 when students picked up 2,000
books.
The Aggieland sells more year
books than any other school in the
United States.
Woodall said he is also considering
other regulations to prevent incidents
similar to Saturday’s from happening in
the future, although the specifics have
not yet been worked out.
Hood, a senior in Squadron 2, was
serving as an officer of the day at the
game against Southern Methodist Uni
versity when he tried to chase some of
the team’s cheerleaders from Kyle
Field, brandishing his saber.
In a letter Monday, University offi
cials notified Hood of the charges
against him and requested that he
appear at a hearing at which disciplinary
actions will be decided. Ron Sasse,
assistant director of student affairs,
however, refused to release the
charges, saying he feels they are con
fidential information.
According to University regulations,
Hood must make an appointment for
the formal hearing with the student
affairs office within three class days.
But, the hearing probably won’t be until
next week, Sasse said, since Bill Kibler,
the University administrative hearing
officer, will be out of town until then.
Monday, Hood said, “To the stu
dents, I want to apologize for any bad
images that I may have portrayed, any
embarrassment to the student body and
the University or any further repercus
sions that may occur. I’d like to thank
those former students, students and pa
rents for supporting me — not necessar
ily for my actions — but for supporting
me as an Aggie.
Exactly who is allowed on the field
has been the subject of some debate
with reports being contradictory.
However, Sasse said that while the tra
dition of Kyle Field is not stated in the
University handbook, it was discussed
with the SMU dean of students before
the game.
Before any event involving visiting
students, the Office of Student Affairs
meets with the officials of the visiting
university to make them aware of the
unwritten customs of the Texas A&M,
he said.
“In this case, the Kyle Field tradition
was not communicated down the line to
the cheerleaders,” Sasse said.
Possible disciplinary measures which
could be taken against Hood range from
a verbal reprimand to probation or ex
pulsion from the University, although
decisions of the administrative hearing
committee may be appealed.
If Hood is placed on disciplinary
probation, he will be ineligible to retain
his positions as chairman of the Judicial
Board of Student Government and a
member of the Cadet Court and the
Traffic Appeals Court. Contrary to what
has previously been stated, he is not a
Ross Volunteer.
Formal letters of apology have been
sent to SMU President Don Shields by
Texas A&M President Frank E. Vandiv
er, Vice President for Student Services
John J. Koldus and Corps Commander
Kelly Castleberry.
Vandiver said, “We deplore the re
grettable behavior exhibited at the foot
ball game Saturday, and it certainly is.
not indicative of the normally exem
plary conduct of our fine student body. ”
Texas A&M Student Body President
Ken Johnson also called SMU Student
Body President Craig Massey to apolo
gize for the incident.
• r
SMU cheerleaders undecided
on filing charges against cadet
By DENISE RICHTER
Battalion Staff
The Southern Methodist University cheerleaders have not
decided whether to file charges against Greg Hood, the senior
cadet who threatened them with his saber during the Texas
A&M-SMU football game Saturday.
The cheerleaders were supposed to meet Monday night to
decide what action, if any, to take against Hood. However,
because of a pep rally held to announce homecoming queen
nominees, the cheerleaders did not hold the meeting, SMU
Student Body President Craig Massey said Monday night.
Head Cheerleader David Schmidt was unavailable for
comment-
“I felt it was my responsibility not
only as an O.D. (officer of the day) or
Corps member but as an Aggie to up
hold the traditions of the University.
Although I may have overreacted in the
situation, I feel that I did what any
Aggie would have done — not necessar
ily the saber incident.”
Hood attempted to chase several
“I met with the cheerleaders earlier tonight and they were
fairly perturbed,” Massey said. “They were trying to figure
out what made Greg do what he did. But, I think the key to
this whole thing is to understand and accept the fact that it was
the action of one person, not the entire University.”
Massey, a third-year law student, said: “Concerning a law
suit, I ... can’t see any legal grounds. It possibly could be
assault and battery but the damages were so minimal that it
would be a waste of time.
“I think the letters of apology, the disciplinary system at
A&M and the positive communication before the game will
take care of everything.”
Since The Daily Campus, the SMU student newspaper,
doesn’t publish on Mondays, some SMU students aren’t fully
informed about the incident, Howard Schloss, sports editor,
said Monday afternoon.
“It hasn’t really hit a lot of people because they weren’t at
the game, but it will after The Daily Campus comes out
tomorrow,” Schloss said.
Editor E.J. Orr said the newspaper has not received any
letters concerning the incident, but he is expecting some
reaction after the story is published today.
The editorial by Pete Slover, an SMU journalism student,
which was run in Monday’s Battalion, will be published in the
SMU newspaper today, Orr said.
Also, Massey said he has written an editorial expressing
appreciation to Texas A&M for the hospitality that was shown
to Martha Stocks, the SMU student government representa
tive who visited Texas A&M Saturday.
Before each home game, representatives of the opposing
school’s student government are invited to Texas A&M to
discuss their roles as student leaders.
Massey said: “The meeting (between Stokes and Texas
A&M representatives) was very productive — it’s unfortunate
that it was marred by that incident. The A&M student body
officers had made a great effort to communicate and show
good spirit.
“I hate to have things like this blown out of proportion. The
whole incident was caused by one person who went berserk.
It’s really too bad that it happened because A&M has a great
reputation and a lot of great traditions. But, something like
this does have a lot of repercussions that you just can’t help. ”