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The Battalion
Viewpoint
Lo
November 19,1981
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Slouch By Jim Earle
“... so if we begin with an excavation, and build the bonfire in
it, it will be just as tall, but it will be safer because it will be
less likely to fall over ...
Minors present two views
on new drinking age law
It could save lives
I’m 18 and I like many others have been
denied the “privilege” of drinking. I’m not
going to complain about the drinking age
being raised to 19 because I know it’s for the
better.
It’s a fact that over 50 percent of all
driving accidents, many of them fatal, are
somewhat related to alcohol in one way or
another. In most cases teen-agers are the
likely cause or victims of these accidents.
It’s not uncommon to discover that some
one you know, even your best friend, has
just died because he or she had been drink
ing while driving. Or even worse your own
mother or father dying innocently in an
auto accident as a result of someone else
who was aimlessly driving while intoxi
cated. No one likes to hear these stories but
they are true. Over and over again the sur
viving victim or driver who was the cause of
an alcohol related accident offers the same
excuse saying, “I just wanted to have a good
time. ”
I can understand why people may gam
ble with money but not their life. Maybe
teen-agers are not yet mature enough to
realize the potential hazards of drinking or
better yet control themselves when they
do. Apparently, this is the case. Why not
raise the drinking age to 19? Or, better yet,
even 21. It could save a life.
Mike Minotti ‘81
All activities limited
When it came up in the news about the
Texas Legislature changing the drinking
age to 19, I thought it was a joke. When it
was finally passed and September first
came, this joke became a reality. Aiming
this law at the high school kids hurt all of the
college adults which were not yet 19, the
new legal age. Look Fish, we can vote, we
can go to war, and we can sign leases, buy
cars, and be strictly independent from our
folks, even in marriage; but we can’t go out
and have a drink.
How many of you under-aged adults now
sit at home on Friday and Saturday nigte
when just three months ago you werepai
tying with your friends? Or, how manyol
you are now disobeying the law? Hit
answers to both of these questions arerii
culous for a number of us Fish.
I ’ve been in places hack home in 1
which have a solution to this problem.Hitt
simply stamp everyone who enters wft
one identifying the minors and anotliti
slightly different stamp identifying tit
elderly. At least this kind of system allw
the 18-year-olds a place to dance, listenti
live music and enjoy the company ofthei
friends without staying at home.
Why can’t places in College Station!
Faces or the Hall of Fame do this
weekends? We ought to he given thesaitt
choice to go kicker dancing on weekends!
the upper classmen do. Face it, we coni
get the alcohol if we really wanted it»
way, so why don’t they just not sell ustit
drinks. I don’t go to those places for thesi
purpose of drinking and I don’t think alll
other 18-year-olds do either.
Susan Beckett
Coach Wilson: some support, others criticize(
Athletic program
needs new course
the athletic program. A good start would be
to show support for Coach Wilson.
Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied
by 3 other signatures.
Dr. Michael Cuscuvida ‘48
I am writing to voice concern about the
direction our athletic program is once again
taking. One only has to glance at the news
paper to know there is extreme pressure on
Coach Wilson to win this or that game or
, else. I ask, how can a man coach or a player
perform in such an atmosphere?
My biggest concern is that a few wealthy
ex-students rather than the faculty control
the athletic program at Texas A&M. I have
been following A&M athletics for 36 years
and it is the same old story with every
coach. The criticism starts and the pressure
to fire him begins as soon as he loses the first
game. The pressure always starts from the
same type of well-healed loud mouths. All
of our former coaches can’t be incompetent
as they seem to be successful when they go
elsewhere. One need not look beyond Em
ory Bellard for an example.
No athletic program can be successful
unless it has continuity. A&M will certainly
maintain its reputation as a coach’s
graveyard unless the faculty gets control of
Win-loss record
isn’t everything
Wilson should try
to score every time
your decision to go for it’ on fourth down a
couple of times, and am optimistic about
next year’s Cotton Bowl chances, if you’re
not even going to TRY to put points on the
board with EVERY opportunity, your dis
missal would not be disturbing.
Paul Morris ‘83
Since Saturday’s ‘outscore at the hands
of the Arakansas Razorbaeks, the mood
around campus seems to be “Get Rid of
Wilson. ” But we wish to make it known that
everyone does NOT feel this way.
Contrary to popular opinion, winning
isn’t everything. Coach Wilson, through his
handlling of the problems and pressures of
being head football coach at A&M, has
earned our respect. A man who genuinely
cares about the players and not just his
win-loss record is more important to us than
one whose main concern is his image to the
rest of the world.
Now is the time to speak-up. Let’s not
wait until it’s too late!
Randy Lewis ‘84
Let me say that I am not supporting the
dismissal of Coach Tom Wilson, but I’m
finding it hard to give him a vote of confi
dence. During the game against the Hogs
last Saturday, we (12th Man included) had
the ball on our own 35 yard line with about
1:20 left in the second quarter. We also
possessed two timeouts, the passing arm of
Gary Kubiak (19 for 21 Saturday), and the
catching hands of Mike Whitwell, Johnny
Hector, and other talented Aggies. But in
stead of utilizing these talents and the two
timeouts to try to get at least as close as field
goal range, the coach sent in consecutive
running plays and was contented in letting
the clock run down, thus ensuring a 3-0
halftime deficit.
So Coach Wilson, although I supported
Wilson’s leaving
would be disastrous
I’d like to add some support to Ritchie
Priddy’s absolutely splendid column of
Nov. 17.
Tom Wilson is the head coach, and if he
didn’t know what he was doing, he probably
wouldn’t have the job. He knows a lot more
than I do, therefore, I won’t second-guess
him. And, next year is the year that we all
should be looking forward to, for a couple of
reasons.
Of the 11 scheduled games, seven are at
home: against Boston College, UT-
Arlington, Louisiana Tech, Texas Ted
Baylor, Rice and TCU. There’s 7 winsTk
4 road games should he split 2-2 at
worst. SMU has their backfield tandomij
Eric Dickerson and Craig James comii;
back as seniors, Arkansas shouldn't halt
beaten us this year, t.u. is losing Jam Jons
and Ken Sims, and Cougar High is alwm
garbage. Just by the schedule alone, A&!
should finish at worst 8-3.
The entire backfield is coming back
seniors, and Kubiak, Hector and compaii
have played their entire career with Wilso
at the helm. Replacing Wilson at thispoii
would be a big mistake. They’readjustedli
Wilson’s system, and next year the tear
who is only losing a few starters togradni
tion, could be explosive.
I’m not saying, let’s give up on’81a
wait for 82, I’m just sticking up for Wilsoi
He’s done a terrific job, and next year ci
really be something. He may be in
water now, but replacing him would bell lx
biggest mistake made by an already ques
tionable Board of Regents.
By the way, they still haven’t tolduswl
Marvin Tate left. I think we have a right ti
know.
I an
In!
Michael Martin !
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Angelique Copeland
Managing Editor Marcy Boyce
City Editor JaneC. Brust
Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell
Photo Editor Dave Einsel
Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Cathy Saathott
Asst. Focus Editor Dehhie Nelson
News Editors Phyllis Henderson
Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy
Diana Sultenf’uss
Stall'Writers Gary Barker
Frank L. Cliristlieh, Randy Clements
Gave Denley, Nancy Floeck, Tim Foarde
Colette Hutchings, Daniel Puckett
Denise Richter, Mary Jo Rummel, Rick Stolle
Nancy Weatherley, Barbie Woelf’el
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr.
Photographers Rose Delano
Daniel Sanders, Colin Valentine, Greg Watermann
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talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not
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ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of
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students in reporting, editing and photography classes
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Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The
Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University,
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It’s your turn
Library copy machines big problem
Editor:
ism, but I think that there is a need for
improvement here.
Like many students, I have been
through the hassle of trying to make photo
copies in Sterling C. Evans Library.
Machines are commonly out of paper,
labelled “Out of Order,” or simply won’t
take my change. It isn’t too hard to find a
working one and I understand how constant
use breaks them down.
Now the situation is unreasonable. Mon
day night I was using a reserved book and
wanted a chapter photocopied so I headed
for the second floor machines with a handful
of change since the one in the reserve room
was inoperable. All of the machines on the
second and even the third floor were
broken or out of paper. There was one
working machine on the fourth floor with a
long line so I went to the fifth and finally the
sixth floor where I found one more operat
ing machine with a slightly shorter line.
Just as I got in line the paper ran out so I ran
to the fourth floor just as the paper ran out
in that machine, too. I found the machine
on the first floor near the reference area
working, got in line, and made my copies.
At that time one lone copier was available in
a 375,000 square foot library which houses
over 1,200,000 volumes and serves 35,000
Aggies. We deserve better service than
that.
Tuesday night at 10:30 several photo
copiers were working but neither change
machine was.
A library worker told me to ask other
students for change. I tried that unsuccess
fully for almost 15 minutes. Another em
ployee suggested that I get change at the
MSC but I wouldn’t do that considering
how dangerous it is for a young woman out
at night. I won’t risk walking in the dark
alone just to get change for a dollar. There
fore, I didn’t get any photocopies Tuesday.
Chris Stanley (Viewpoint, Nov. 17), I am
sorry that this is yet another letter of critic-
Constance Fletcher ‘85
Aggie Wrestling
Editor:
think this added expense justifies the high
price. It is too bad that the organization that
runs the concession stands feels it can use
its monopoly status to overcharge students
who are on limited budgets. A maximum
price that is a little more reasonable should
be set on Cokes and other food items sold
during football games. I am just glad that I
do not get hungry during the games.
viously, the nation knows how serious we
are about our great school. I just wish we
wouldn’t trv to scare evervbodv oil.
Crystal Walker‘So
Please return jacket
I am writing in reference to the sports
page of The Battalion. I was wondering how
dedicated the sports writers are to inform
ing the Texas A&M student body of the
wide variety of sports that take place on this
campus. For example, the Wrestling Club
has been working hard since school began.
They have had two tournaments to date,
and I haven’t noticed any coverage of this
sport in the Batt. Their third tournament is
this Saturday, Nov. 21, here at Texas A&M.
If you Ags haven’t heard aliout the FIGHT-
IN’ TEXAS AGGIE WRESTLERS, I am
telling you of them now, so we can all go out
and show them our support. I think that all
you Aggies, who enjoy watching good con
tact sports will really like wrestling. They
have worked hard all year long and I feel
they deserve some kind of recognition.
David Spilo ‘85
Editor:
Use nicer tone of
voice
Editor:
Theron H. Newton
4302 College Main
This has been my first semester at A&M,
and I had a lot to learn about the Universi
ty’s traditions. One that is extremely sacred
is walking on the grass at the Memorial
Student Center. Many newcomers are una
ware of this tradition and probably because
of laziness walk on the grass. Several times I
have seen the visitors doing exactly this.
Hey Ags, I need a helping handandl
know that one of you can be of service, but
Thursday night, I was out at the IntramJ
Complex on field seven from 5 p.m. until!
p.m. officiating flag football games, helm!'
ski jacket down on the sideline never tosef
it again. The jacket is mostly black vvila
little gray on it also. If you are the person
who borrowed my jacket please call n
260-6675 and let me know that you
dropped it off at the MSC main desk
Brad Holder 'S
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Coke price too high
Editor:
During the Arkansas game I got thirsty
and decided to buy a Coke. To my surprise,
Cokes in the 16 oz. plastic cups now cost
$1.25. This price is extremely high when
one considers that four Cokes cost as much
as a student ticket. I realize the plastic cups
cost more than the paper ones hut, I do not
What really bothers me though is the
attitude the students have, especially the
CT’s. They do not hesitate to yell at these
people. After leaving the campus and going
home, the guests probably tell their family
how rude those Aggies are. These people
do not know what they are doing wrong,
and no one explains to them that the MSC is
a memorial. They just grab the guy by the
arm and say things like...
Editor:
“Hey Buddy, we don’t walk on the grass
around here!” or “Get off the grass!” Maybe
something else like, “This is a memorial,
sir. Would you mind not walking on the
grass?” would he more appropriate. Ob-
I would like for all the people whocaW
handle receiving a bad grade to especial'
pay attention to this letter.
I would appreciate it very much ify»“
would not push and shove your w?
through the hallways, not use obscene I®
guage or obnoxious gestures.
Some of you immoral people haveina
yourselves look pretty stupid, but then i s
viously you are if you cannot receive a
cent grade in the beginning.
Melanie Baggerlv *