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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1982)
opinion Wanted: One System chancellor The search has just begun, but the saga continues. The chancellor’s position in the Texas A&M University System should be a much sought-after job. However, given the track record of System officials, can didates may not beat a path to the chan cellor’s door. System Chancellor Frank W.R. Hubert Tuesday announced his retire ment date, Aug. 31. Regents Chairman H.R. “Bum” Bright already has appointed an ad hoc committee to search for a chancellor. Just less than one year ago, the search began for a University president to re place Jarvis Miller. The same foursome who recommended University President Frank E. Vandiver, appointed by the Board Aug. 26, will screen candidates and recommend a chancellor for the full Board’s approval. That is, if our next chancellor is not already waiting in the wings somewhere, waiting to make a grand entrance Aug. 31. Assuming Hubert’s successor has not been selected already, applications and nominations will begin arriving at the chancellor’s office next month. That’s assuming someone will want to come here and take on the responsibility of leading the Texas A&M University System. The saga of System officials’ ac tions over the last few years is not neces sarily inviting. Or so one would think. Two years ago the System im plemented a controversial reorganiza tion plan that stripped the University president of his authority over the exten sion services and experiment stations and transf erred that authority to the chancel lor. Thus, greater control of the System was channeled into the chancellor’s office. Former students and others close to Texas A&M have criticized that organi zational structure which ultimately re sulted in the dismissal of former Presi dent Jarvis Miller. Many persons would like to see the power and prestige go back to the president’s office. Suddenly in March, Bright set down the groundwork for a review of the orga nizational structure of the Texas A&M University System. He appointed a com mittee to determine how a study of the System’s structure would be conducted; he emphasized the committee would not study a reorganization but merely how an organizational study would be con ducted, should the regents feel there is a need for such a study. The public has yet to hear a tangible report from that committee. There were people who felt the need for a System review had arisen. Many thought the regents would have difficul ty attracting a top-notch candidate to re place Miller, given the organizational structure. Frank Vandiver took the job effective Sept. 1, and Bright emphasized that Van diver was hired to work in the present organizational structure. Given the current structure, a new chancellor shouldn’t be hard to find. But given the often volatile behavior of Sys tem officials, today’s organizational structure could be changed tomorrow. And what kind of an administrator wants to be assured of insecurity in his job? Hubert will leave with deserved praise. He’s a gracious, personable man who came out on top more often than not. His successor may not have the same kind of luck. Nothing less than Cotton will cut it Editor: I have never had the priviledge to play for Coach Wilson, nor the opportunity of meeting the men. I feel through watch ing his show on Sunday nights and watch ing his performance on the sidelines he’s a fine man and a good coach. He is poised when his team is down, keeps his cool in tense moments, and takes all the blame when his team loses. If a person is think ing that’s what every good coach does, that’s exactly my point. Tom Wilson and his staff took a team that finished close to the cellar last year, then took virtually the same team and made a contender and Idependence Bowl winner out of that team. He has motivated his team and led them to reach their goal. Four Southwest Conference teams were in bowl games and only two won. Hail to the Aggies and Tom Wilson for doing their share. I feel Tom Wilson and his staff have done a superior job in 2 1 /2 seasons. We lost some we should have won and won some we should have lost. We lost three games by three points or less. So if we want to get rid of Tom Wilson and his staff for losing the ones he should have won, I think we should all keep in mind that even “$2 million Bo” has lost some he should have won. But in all fairness, he has won many he should have lost. It is a shame that this University will not give Tom Wilson the opportunity to prove his program can win the Southwest Conference. The Independence Bowl evidently wasn’t enough — we’ve got to be in the Cotton Bowl. Ag’s, if we don’t give our full support to a coach or give a coach the opportunity to stay here and build a football program, it’s going to be a long time before we’re pickin’ cotton in Dallas. Roger Lane ’83 Apology demanded Editor: Dr. Vandiver: We applaud the choice of Jackie Sher rill as Texas A&M’s next football coach. However, the manner in which the situation was handled is deplorable. There appears to be a tremendous lack of humanity somewhere in your organiza tion. Tom Wilson did not deserve such unethical treatment. We challenge you and the Board of Regents to publicly apologize not only to Tom Wilson, but to all Aggies for this embarrassment and poor example of business judgement. Mike ’76 and Fleta ’76 Finoglio Coaches for sale or rent Editor: I foresee the following newsbrief in The Battalion and the Chronicle if this week’s coach doesn’t turn out a Cotton Bowl team: College Station (AP) — Athletic Dire ctor/Board of Regent’s Chairman Bum Bright today hired eight new head foot ball coaches, each at a salary of $800,0.00 annually with 25 year contracts. The un precedented move is in line with Bright’s “first in football-football first” policy. Bright noted it was unfortunate that all other intercollegiate sports programs had to be cancelled to pay the salaries. Under Bright’s plan, each coach will be given one week to organize a national championship team. Each coach will be fired sequentially, if unsucessful, and eight new head coaches will be hired. Rumor has it the next octet will be hired on 30 year $1 million a year contracts. Asked how long this could go on, Bright replied, “Well, until we get a good team or until the money’s gone. We might have to eliminate an unnecessary academic program or two, like engineering and sci ence, but we’ll get our team!” It is specu lated that Bum’s next move will be to purchase the University of Alabama in order to obtain their players while staying within NCAA rules ... Goodbye, Coach Wilson. Congrats on a job well done. You’re in good company. Steve W. Borron ’79 the small society by Brickman □ D rR on ua 0 a MSSO King F—tur— Syndicf. Inc. Wortd rights re—rvd. ITHiMK T£|2./VdNAL- M^TAU^'A- Slouch Battalion/Page 2 January 27,1982 A ren By Jim Earle-— by Rebec Batta KThe Aca Center will s skills clinic T 510 Rudder Dr. Ronal director for - in the Act Center, saic signed to of Ser A resoldti< “despicable, dure endor: Regents” du new athletic agenda for Student Ser at 7:30 in 2 sroom Cent ; Speaker “He never seems to be able to write a paper for me, yet he writes letters to the editor every other day!” Cranston is surprise top as presidential hope! The depl weapons in cussed at by STEVE GERSTEL United Press International WASHINGTON — To the surprise of almost everyone, among the first to break from the gate in the presidential sweepstakes is Alan Cranston, the liberal Democrat from California. Cranston, the 67-year old cadaverous Senate minority whip, was never figured in the speculation about the candidate to lead the Democrats’ back to the White House. sored by tf dents Ass Europe Ch Increasingly, Cranston has tataH leadership in major Senate fights,jp Dr. Ho recently in his attempt to blockthedfe ssor ot P high-technology AWACS planesto 1 Diversity, Arabia - a tattle he lost ,iara.l , ' bmso t n ' Reagan and the White House, address' tl Yet for some reason, the feeling' ^' K * ear ^ by some Democrats is that r l :)0wels would make an able president butsw how he is not pictured as the candw The reasons are unclear. The lists are always predictably the same, beginning with the two generally considered the winter book front run ners, former Vice President Walter Mon dale and Sen. Edward Kennedy. True, Cranston is strongly tiedt(! liberal wing of the Democratic which no longer may be dominant for one reason or another, he share the image of a thrower” with some of his compatu) strident 1j| Then follows a lengthy pause, after par which the names of Sen. John Glenn of Ohio, Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado, and sometimes Gov. Hugh Carey of New York and former Florida Gov. Reubin Askew surface. But never Cranston. In the aftermath of the announcement that he was setting up an “exploratory” committee to determine the wisdom of seeking the nomination, it seems strange that no one ever thought of Cranston as a presidential candidate. Certainly Cranston, now in his third Senate term, seems to have many of the attributes that should make him desir able to the party and the voters. The Californian is a highly regarded legislator, popular enough with his col leagues so that he gets elected without opposition to the No. 2 leadership post by the Democrats. And at home, Cranston is a proven vote-getter in the state with the most elec toral votes, running some 200,000 votes ahead of Reagan in the 1980 elections. He also has a muchsought ability to con vince contributors they should part with their money. Cranston does have an image proC^ 01 ^’ or sorts. Athough he enjoys ®ff acu i t y health and is blessed with unending! be requii gy, he does not look it. Gaunt and addresses appears in great need of someCalifl Immigrat sunshine. Service. Howt Some Democrats in the Senatean| a ddress n puzzled that Cranston made no effe-^ eares 1. | displace Senate Minority LeaderRr a vj,“ e | Byrd — certainly not an overwhelm:! ■ mm - ra ‘ popular figure — a year ago. TheaiffiL^ probably is that Cranston, rated® gress,wh the best vote-counters, found the: nation of not ripe. By default due to Byrd’s uneai; with television and the press, Crat|' has become an unofficial spokeswf Senate Democrats. Certainly, he: media favorite on Capitol Hill. But with his announcement, Cra: 1 will be watched more closely in the: ing year and perhaps beyond. Some feel that the added exp given potential presidential Candida what Cranston really wants — a fc : : for positions and causes he belie" strongly. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Angelique Copeland Managing Editor J an e G. Brust City Editor Denise Richter Assistant City Editor Diana Sultenfuss Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff Assistant Focus Editor Nancy Floeck News Editors Gary Barker, Phyllis Henderson, Mary Jo Rummel, Nancy Weatherley Staff Writers .... John Bramblett, Gaye Denley, Tim Foarde, Sandra Gary, Colette Hutchings, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Bill Robinson, Denise S. Sechelski Laura Williams, John Wagner Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers Sumanesh Agrawal, David Fisher, Peter Rocha, Colin Valentine The Battalion also serves as a laboratory nw? For students in reporting, editing and photograph ses within the Department of Communications Questions or comments concerning any editor^ ter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 length, and are subject to being cut if they areW The editorial staff reserves the right to edit style and length, but will make every effort to the author’s intent. Each letter must also be sigr the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also wekoitit are not subject to the same length constraints asl< [ Address all inquiries and correspondence to: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A) versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (US 2611. Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College 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 is published daily during Texas ^ fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and^ nation periods. Mail subscriptions are $ 16.75 perst ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year.A' tising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McD 0 ’ Building, Texas A&M University, College Stalin 11 77843. I* 1 United Press International is entitled exdusi'* the use for reproduction of all news dispatchesert 1 ' to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter'" reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station 77843.