m opinion A&M has ‘off-the-record’ epidemic Take heart, Aggies. The entire Bright-Vandiver-Schembechler-Wilson- Sherrill affair has been explained. Un fortunately, once again, the explanation was made off the record. We can again tell you who instigated the cloak-and-dagger hiring of Jackie Sherrill. Unfortunately, we just aren’t sup posed to tell you who told us. We can tell you that it’s been con firmed again that the Board of Regents initiated the coup (i.e., the hiring of the new athletic director and the firing of Head Coach Tom Wilson). Unfortunately, we still aren’t sup posed to tell you who confirmed it, when it. was confirmed or why. We told you on Jail. 19 that Texas A&M President Frank E. Vandiver had offered his resignation the night before. Unfortunately, we couldn’t tell you how we knew this. We can now tell you that Vandiver de cided Friday to clear the air with mem bers of the Academic Council, who were upset with the University’s new million- dollar coach, and called a meeting of the Council. Unfortunately, the invitations to the meeting were stamped “confidential.” Neither the press nor the public were denise ■ * richter / & supposed to know what went on. But we can still tell you that Vandiver confirmed his first resignation attempt and offered his resignation again at this meeting. Unfortunately, the meeting had been closed for discussion of “people and money;” therefore, these statement were made off the record. We can tell you that during this closed meeting, Vandiver received a vote of confidence after his second resignation attempt in two weeks. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you who initiated the vote of confidence. We can’t identify him. No one can identify him. Once again, the press and the public are mired in a swamp of confidential sources, secrecy and off-the-record ex planations. This epidemic of off-the-recorditis isn’t anything new. In September, we told you that Athletic Director Marvin Tate had been forced to resign. Unfortunately, we weren’t supposed to tell you why he was forced to resign or who had done the forcing — the explana tion was made off the record. After five months of skullduggery and subterfuge, it’s time for someone to de velop a backbone. Someone, anyone, must stand up and say, on the record, exactly what has been going on at the University. Just for starters, they could explain why Texas A&M has suffered nation wide embarrassment in its search for a new athletic director, and what role Van diver and the Board of Regents played in this search — on the record. While they’re at it, they also could ex plain why there seems to be a revolving door on the offices of some University officials — but say it on the record. As we all know, Texas A&M is a school of traditions — traditions that die hard. But, for the sake of the University’s credi bility, this “off-the-record-no-comment- confidential-source” tradition has got to go. "A -OOOOH. ICKYfff DO WE HME TO GET OUR HANDS ALT DIRTY? Letter: Chancellor-Chairman Bum Editor: I am a part-time free-lance reporter and would like to give you the latest scoop: Texas A&M University Systems Board of Regents Chairman H.R. “Bum” Bright of Dallas has been selected as the new Texas A&M University System Chancel lor. When asked to comment on his selec tion as Chancellor, Bright said he was glad to be the first person named “Chair man-Chancellor.” Bright says he can now unify the System with greater ease. As chairman of the selection commitee Bum Bright said, “We are pleased with the selection we made for Chancellor and feel I am the best person for the job.” Texas A&M University President Frank Vandiver today submitted his resigna tion. Vandiver said, “I cannot effectively operate as president without a back bone.” Chairman-Chancellor Bum Bright accepted Vandiver’s resignation with deep regret. Bright said, “I am sorry to see Frank leave, but if he has a medical problem 1 guess he can’t help it; and I’ll just have to name a selelion committee to pick a new president. Named to the com mittee to pick a new president were Bum Bright, Board Chairman; and Bum Bright, Chancellor. Chairman- Chancellor Bright today decreed that all football coaches at A&M must give blood and have their first born named “Bum Jr.” When asked to comment Texas A&M football coach Bum Phillips, whose $2 million a year contract makes him the richest coach in the nation, said he thought it was a great idea and would do anything in his power to cooperate with Bum Bright. Chairman-Chancellor Bright said to call him “CC” Bum Bright instead of Chairman-Chancellor. It is ex pected that the selection committee will name CC Bum Bright as the new Univer sity President. This completes my report on the Aggie Administration and I will send you further reports if anything else develops. Cookies not the real problem Editor: I am finding it hard to accept the atti tudes expressed by Mark Lynch in the Jan. 28 issue of The Battalion. I am refer ring to a letter in which he so brutally tore apart Angelique Copeland’s editorial ab out Girl Scout cookie con artists. Chris Glaeser ’80 the small society by Briclcman Just exactly what is it that Mark would like to find on the editorial page of The Battalion each day? Many times this space is given to articles which concern themselves with the small trials and tribu lations of everyday life. Consider the arti cle written by Dave Spence appearing on the editorial page Jan. 21, in which he described his dislike of standing in long lines. W’hy does Mark not find articles such as that an atrocious “use of limited space for a personal problem?” While I agree that Copeland’s editorial was not one of the most earth-shaking features, I found it very interesting and informative. If there are fraudulent salespeople practicing on this campus, then someone should certainly bring it to our attention. I cannot believe that Mark was actually so upset over this simple article, nor can I understand the big ordeal he made of it. Why did he have to be so hard on her? I believe that there is something bothering him that extends far beyond an article about cookies. I, for one, would love to know just what is really is. Jan Swaner ’83 “Sure, you can make good grades if you study, but where’s challenge? Think of the stimulation of having your back againstth wall, the semester is running out, your grades are behind, all of voiir tests are scheduled for the same day and the odds are against you then comes the thrill of seeing what you ’re made of!” A. C. Hoi puts dowi All those times when ■New you can’t win for “May I help you?” “Yes, ma’am. I’d like to sell these books,” I answered. “OK, let’s see what you have here," and she took the box from my arms and be gan to rummage through its bound con tents. “Complete Plays of Shakespeare, Basic Trig and Business Law. Oh I’m sor ry. This anthology of Kierkegaard has been revised. We can’t buy it.” “How can you revise Kierkegaard?” I asked. “They rearranged the individual works.” “In other words, all they did was scramble the pages to sell a new edition.” “Oh, no. They also redid the cover.” “There’s more in there,” 1 retorted, pointing at the other volumes. “Yes, this ... and this ... can’t take this ... let’s see, that’s five ... and three, is eight... and two ... and this ... I can give you ... five dollars even.” “For sixteen books?” Do you ever feel that you are taken advantage of as a student? ■i by < Batta ’he grave .-i . sidewalks ar UdV turn a simple ,. rpr strenuous w opt stade course Prarie film. Prarie fill of the epoxy lure used fo campus, r The roc: “Just sign there ... yes ... that’s fine.” “What is this I’m signing?” I asked. The girl with the polyurethane face and the silicon hair sitting behind a wood-veneered monolith answered me completely, “It’s nothing.” .“I see. Well, who exactly is my land lord?” “Well,” and she sat concentrating for a moment, “I suppose it’s Omny-Foe-Tent, the ownership firm of this complex.” “I thought they owned Winchester across the street.” “They own everything within a mile radius if this complex,” she replied. “Oh. Well, when can I move in? I’d like to be in town by the 28th so I can find a job before classes start.” Again, she answered me completely, “That’ll be find. But we need a check by the first of the preceding month to estab lish credit for August’s rent, which is pro rated for the 28th back to the 14th, so your rent check will need to be for $260, in additon to your deposit of $200, plus to get utilities initiated, so that’ll be ... $485.” “But I’ll only be in the apartment for two days ... Sometimes this town seemstob« sla " e d on Ci lated to squeeze every clollar fnr M ' aler ieai '' vulnerable wallet. ... K “ m P' ,