Battalion/Page 2
January 19, 1982
opinion
Could there really be
a Mr. Untd Press Inti?
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — I recently read a
lengthy article on efforts by scientists to
program computers to exercise “artificial
intelligence.”
Although great strides in the field
were reported, I got the impression that
so-called electronic brains still lack the
type of reasoning power that so-called
human brains are credited with posses
sing.
But that was before the postman deli
vered a piece of personalized junk mail
addressed to “Mrs Untd Press Inti.”
“Dear Mrs Inti,” it began,
“You and some of your neighbors in
Washington have been selected to receive
eight chances to win in our new, Biggest
Ever YOU-CAN-WIN SWEEP-
STAKES!”
After informing Mrs Inti that “you
may be the TOP WINNER right now,”
the computer went on to assure her that
“no one in the world has a better chancfe,
or more chances to win this ‘dream’ prize
than Mrs Untd Press Inti of National
Press Bldg.”
Isn’t that amazing? The punctuation
might not be anything to write home ab
out, but the technological expertise dis
played in this letter is truly impressive.
One of the surest signs of intelligence
on our planet is the ability to jump to
conclusions. I would never have believed
that computers were advanced enough to
form their own suppositions. Yet there is
no brushing aside the evidence provided
in this letter.
Somehow, from the data that were fed
into its system, the computer was able to
conclude that Untd Press Inti not only
was of the female gender but also was
married.
OK. So it was wrong oh both counts. I
happen to know for a fact that Untd Press
Inti is a unisex wire service that hangs out
in singles bars. Even so, that does not
diminish the significance of the break
through.
Many of the conclusions that human
brains leap to also are erroneous. The
important thing is that computers now
are capable of simulating one of the most
complex aspects of the human thought
process.
Now that “artificial intelligence” has
been achieved, the next question is: What
practical application does it have?
Well, sir, the conclusion I jump to is
that it won’t be long before computers
relieve us human beings of the burden of
forming everyday assumptions.
Oh, there undoubtedly will be a few
highly cerebral surmises we will have to
make ourselves. But the great bulk of the
common, garden variety of assuming will
be done by computers.
Suppose, you example, receive a com
puterized letter inviting you to enter a
you-can-win sweepstakes. You feed that
data into another computer and it re
lieves you of the burden of jumping to
the conclusion that the whole thing is a
gimmick to sell magazines.
oan payi
)avis said
TheT
1503 Athc
Slouch By Jim Earle
“I’ve been back a good while. The day after Christmas my
folks left my bags on the front porch.”
Washington Window:
The game of switch on capitol hill
iiimmer.
me house
:he girls.
The (
1501 Ath
three yea:
junior
and hou:
Omega p
house fee
house wa
Out c
the 27 Cl
ing in the
ximately
rent, utili
said. The
in house
the house
ases for
menus fc
“We g
decide v
house,”
eludes
offices i
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Ed Rollins, the new
White House political director, is telling
anyone who asks that the Republicans are
in contact with about six more Democra
tic House members who are interested in
switching to the C»OP.
Rollins isn’t saying who the six possible
defectors are, except that four of them
are Southerners. But inasmuch as the Re
publicans did bring two House Demo
crats — Bob Stump of Arizona and Gene
Atkinson of -Pennsylvania — across the
party line last year, Democratic leaders
probably aren’t discounting Rollins’
statements as mere poker table bluffing.
And that seems to be what many re
cent party switches are all about: person
al political survival. A lot of these people
are changing parties because theywould
have trouble winning re-election under
their present party labels.
Many who observe the political scene
think it will never make sense until the
parties realign themselves into liberal
and conservative groupings and these
changes are seen as one way to accom
plish that end.
The Democrats, in fact, are taking
part in the game of switch by entertaining
the possibility of converting a House Re
publican, Charles Dougherty of Pennsyl
vania. It is almost sure that the Demo
crats are trolling the troubled political
waters of the Northeast and Midwest for
other moderate or liberal Republicans
who are concerned about the effect of the
Reagan revolution on their own careers.
Back in the 1960s, Rep. Charles Welt-
ner of Georgia gave up a safe Democratic
seat rather than agree to support all state
party nominees, including the black
baiting Lester Maddox for governor, and
earlier. South Carolina Sen. Strom Thur
mond, who probably could have re
mained a Democrat without any personal
risk to his career, assumed the GOP label
as well as ideology. But there are precious
few examples of such profiles in courage
to be found on Capitol Hill these days.
Even so, there are some who think this
shuffling of party labels is a good thing.
One of the great mysteries of American
politics is how the two major parties can
claim to have coherent philosophies and
still embrace officeholders whose posi
tions are far to the left or right of their
platforms and traditions.
But there is one caveat that politician!
who are about to switch parties should
consider: Most political defectors doni
advance beyond their present position
after making the change. Two goodex :
amples: John Lindsay, who was a Repub
lican congressman who changed parties
when he became mayor of New York and
flopped resoundingly as a Democratic
presidential aspirant; John Connail)
Democratic governor of Texas and the
proud possessor of one delegate as
1980 candidate for the Republican pres
idential nomination.
Party switches before entering the
electoral arena, however, seem immune
from this jinx. One well-known Demo
crat who became a Republican and thet
plunged into elective politics made it
the way to the White House.
t Reader’s Forum: New AD costing more than money
years in t
are reqi
house.”
The I
sorority
Athens E
house ch
Sin
in}
Sprin
the Texr
Century
Women’
through
Do<
to 1
Uni
CHIC
'notp,
oe used
from era
a derma
you dor
tossed s;
The question of “what price glory” has
often been asked. After the events sur
rounding the Texas A&M Athletic De
partment the past few months the ques
tion “what price victory” may be more
appropriate.
It was reported that Bo Schembechler
turned down an estimated $2.25 million
10-year contract as athletic director and
head coach for Texas A&M.
The offer, made by none other than
the omniscient Bum Bright, certainly
caught the attention of Bo. However, I
think the real target of the offer was the
media.
Last semester as sports editor for The
Battalion I had the opportunity to see
how political the Athletic Department
had become. I witnessed the removal of
an athletic director (Marvin Tate), not
through the regular channels, but by the
strength of four men, three of whom are
members of the Board of Regents.
Of course Bright was the instigator of
what I call a plot to revamp the entire
Texas A&M Athletic Department.
Judging from what I learned last
semester of Bright I believe the man is
determined to make winners of the
Aggies in every sport, particularly foot
ball. That’s great, but he doesn’t know
how or what he is doing. His intentions
are good but the way he’s gone about
achieving this goal and the results so far
have been and will be disastrous for the
L A&M program.
As I said before, the media seems to be
the real target of Schembechler’s offer. I
believe the offer was legitimate. But I also
believe that Bright leaked the informa
tion concerning the offer to the media.
Once the media learned of the offer
there would be more pressure on Schem
bechler to decide whether to come here
or not. It probably worked better than
they had hoped because of the extra time
spent by Schembechler in making his de
cision.
The leak also let the word out, official
ly, that the A&M position was open. Of
course, the only qualifications were a big
name, a big contract and quick long-
lasting success. After Tate was ousted last
semester I learned that money would be
no object in finding his replacement.
I’m sure Bright thought the media
attention was great as long as too much
information was not released. After all,
they had one of the most prestigious
coaches seriously considering taking the
job and the attention surrounding his de
cision was enormous. But the fact re
mains that Schembechler didn’t take the
job. That was probably the best decision
he’s ever made.
Information that was not released, or
leaked, however, was the fact that whoev
er takes the job would, in all likelihood,
have to report directly to Bright and re
spect his wishes, whatever they may be.
One thing Bright has forgotten about
time and again is the fact that we already
have a coach. Another thing he seeming
ly forgot was the fact that when you
spread information of that nature some
one is bound to be caught in the middle,
namely Tom Wilson and Frank Van
diver.
Wilson wasn’t consulted or warned ab
out Bright’s move, which is par for the
course. He had no idea of Tate’s removal
either. The timing of such moves has
convinced me that Bright knows abso
lutely nothing about running an athletic
department.
As University president Vandiver is
supposed to be consulted about person
nel. He, along with the Athletic Council,
is supposed to be in charge of a search
committee to find Tate’s replacement.
To my knowledge a search committee
has not been formed. The Athletic Coun
cil knows nothing about Bright’s motives
or his next move.
Unless something positive happens,
which I seriously doubt, the mess Bright
has caused in the athletic department will
continue. The problems must be re
solved and quick or else the results could
make Texas A&M unacceptable to many
prestigous coaches who might have a
chance to “turn” the program around.
Either way, the athletic department
should not be a plaything for some ignor
ant person or group to run.
Ritchie Priddy ’81
Letter’s 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 constraints as letters. Address all
inquiries and correspondence to: Editor.
The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University, College Station,
TX 77843.
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
Editor Angelique Copeland
Managing Editor jane G. Ernst
City Editor.. Denise Richter
Assistant City Editor Diana Sultenfnss
Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb
Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff
Assistant Focus Editor Nancy Floeck
News Editors Phyllis Henderson,
Mary Jo Rummel, Nancy Weatherley
Staff Writers GayeDenley,
Tim Foarde, Sandra Cary,
Colette Hutchings, Johna Jo Maurer,
Daniel Puckett, Laura Williams
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr.
Photographers
Sumanesh Agrawal, David Fisher
Peter Rocha, Colin Valentine
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news
paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M
University and Bryan-Coiiege Station. Opinions ex
pressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or the
author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of
Texas A&M University administrators or faculty mem
bers, or of the Board of Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper
for students in reporting, editing and photography dai
ses 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 constraints as letters.
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor,
The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M Uni
versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (713) 845-
2611.
The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M's
fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and exami
nation periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semes
ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Adver
tising rates furnished on request.
Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald
Building, 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 repr oduction of all other matter herein
reserved.
Second class postage paid at College Station, TX
77843.