)
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-opinion
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“What I like more than its convenience is a chance to hit
the jackpot once in awhile.
Letters: Nails shot
at dorm windows
Editor:
On Sunday night (Sept. 26), while my
roommate and I were getting ready to go
to bed, our window was broken by a nail
and glass flew into the room. Luckily, the
nail stayed on the window sill and the
glass didn’t hit either of us.
That same night, a room at the other
end of the hall had its window shattered
by a nail. Nails could be heard hitting the
bricks against the building for a good half
hour. I won’t mention the dorms in
volved because it wouldn’t serve any pur
pose other than to alienate the two from
each other.
The point here is not one of Good Ags
or Bad Ags, but one of plain ignorance. A
nail was shot (perhaps through an air
gun, perhaps with something else)
through a window and could have put
out the sight of myself or my roommate.
There are still bits of glass on the floor
that we’ve been stepping on. The person
(or persons) who were responsible for
this should not even be in college, much
less Texas A&M. Vandalism is one of the
most senseless crimes imaginable, and
should not be seen as “innocent fun” or
“good bull“.
If the people who were responsible for
this incident would be interested in talk
ing with me, I’d be more than happy to
listen. You know who you are and you
also know what dorm I’m in. So come on
over and see what your nails did to our
windows. I’d sincerely like to meet you,
especially since I have never before met a
human being with an I.Q. of a gerbil.
Clay Gomez, ’84
Crowded exams
Editor:
I have just returned from one of the
most deplorable acts of injustice I have
ever witnessed. I went to the “herding”
which the professors of mechanical en
gineering 212 called it a common night
exam. I’ll bet H. B. Zachry didn’t realize
the Zachry Engineering Complex would
be outdated by G. Rollie White Coliseum.
I cannot see how the Department of
Engineering could rationalize adminis
tering important examinations (which
have, in the past, flunked more students
than passed) to students compounding
the stress they were already feeling with
the “crowding effect.” Sociologists have
said this crowding is one of the chief con-
tributers to high anxiety in inner cities
and other densely populated areas.
Is it not enough that these students
have hardly slept or eaten in days? These
particular members of the Texas A&M
faculty need to realize that part of the
Aggie education is the belief that respect
is earned, not taken for granted.
Pat Pearson
Student Body President
Ad offends student
Editor:
Last Thursday, an advertisement
appeared in the Battalion that disgraces
Texas A&M. The ad was one for “Oui”
magazine which is, plainly put, a porno
magazine, and as I have been told by
males, of extreme lewdness and without a
place in a campus newspaper.
With as much perversion that is in the
nation today, to encourage more will
speed the time of the destruction of this
nation. As it is, we stand even now by
grace alone, but if we heed not the warn
ings, that grace will run dry and destruc
tion follows.
We, as a nation, are falling under de
cay economically and in every other way.
This advertisement reflects only a small
part of the decay of the nation, but it is a
reflection on the whole. We are called to
see the root of that decay and turn away
from it.
Joyce Attaway
Mosher Hall
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
Editor Diana Sultenfuss
Managing Editor Phyllis Henderson
Associate Editor Denise Richter
City Editor Bernie Fette
Assistant City Editor Gary Barker
Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb
Entertainment Editor Nancy Floeck
Assistant Entertainment Editor Colette
Hutchings
News Editors Rachel Bostwick, Cathy
Capps, Daniel Puckett, Jan Werner,
Todd Woodard
Staff Writers Jennifer Carr, Susan
Dittman, Beverly Hamilton,
John Lopez, Robert McGlohon
Hope E. Paasch, Carol Smith,
Dana Smelser, Joe Tindel, John
Wagner, Rebeca Zimmermann
Copy editors Elaine Engstrom,
Bill Robinson
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic
Photographers . . . David Fisher, Octavio Garcia,
Irene Mees, John Ryan,
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paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M-
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bers, or of the Board of Regents.
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-77843;
X —
NFL causes
Octal
marriage tragedy
Si
1)
by Art Buchwald
Of all the recent strikes that have
affected Americans, none has been as de
vastating as the NFL football players’ ac
tion against the owners.
While we have read about the finan
cial losses to the players and owners, the
toll in human tragedy amongst the fans is
far greater than anyone imagined.
Here is just one of the scenes that was
played out last Sunday in a suburban
Washington home.
Sam Spilsky found himself sitting in
front of his 25-inch TV set, a six pack by
his side, a bag of potato chips in front of
him.
His wife said: “What are you going to
do, Sam?”
“I’m going to watch the Redskins-
Cardinals’ game.”
“Sam, there IS no Redskins-Cardinals’
game. The players are on strike.”
“You’re just saying that because you
don’t want me to watch television.”
“It’s in all the papers, Sam.”
Sam looked up at his wife. “But it’s
Sunday. They always give us football on
Sunday.”
“They can’t this week. There is nobody
to play.”
“It’s in the Constitution. They have to
give us football on Sundays, and Monday
and Thursday nights.”
“Don’t get mad at me. I’m not on
strike.”
“But in your heart you were hoping
something like this would happen. You
always resented me watching football.”
“I never resented it. I knew what the
game meant to you. It was your life.”
“But what am I going to do?”
“Why don’t you rake the leaves or wash
the car or take a walk?”
“I can’t do that. It’s Sunday. You’re
supposed to get four football games on
Sunday,” Sam said, twisting the TV dials
madly.
“Maybe we could have some friends
over,” Sam’s wife said nervously.
“I don’t want to see anybody. I want to
see football. The Redskins are on a
streak. We’re 2-and-0 now. We could go
all the way to the Super Bowl.”
“Sam, would you like to see a movie?”
“I’m going to stay right here. Maybe
they’ll settle the strike before kickoff
time.”
“They won’t have time to put on their
uniforms.”
“So they can play in their street clothes.
We used to do it as kids.”
“Please, Sam, you’ve got to face reality.
There aren’t going to be any games this
week. Why don’t you go out;
touch football with the children:
“They don’t know the plays.]
you play football without a gam
“I wish I could do something] .
Tomorrow you’ll feel better.”
“How can I feel better to
There won’t be any MondayNigl:
ball. What am I going to do?”
Sam’s wife nuzzled up to
could make love.”
“Are you crazy? Nobody in it
makes love on Monday night."
“Sam, we’ve never talked thisb ^ r ^i 1(
fore on Sunday afternoon, but sis Bkeh
are, I think I should tell youthatili polich
more to married life than watch®! I ‘T
football games.” mean
“The hell you say.” I’jT
“I’m serious, Sam. Every fallI'ml; | GU
and I feel I’ve lost you. Thisisagoj thedi
of our marraige. If you can gettbi :ir.y '
this week without having watchedrf
ball game, it means that we I
thing going.”
“Like what?”
“It will indicate I mean more
than Howard Cosell.”
“Of course you mean moretorJ
Howard Cosell. But don’t askme' I
between you and Frank Gifford
<SW32 PtyZKl
Letters: Lackadaisical Twelfth Man
i
Editor:
As a former student, I am incensed at
the lackadaisical, nonchalant attitude of
the Twelfth Man and the yell leaders at
the past three home games. I’ve seen
more enthusiasm and spirit at a funeral
home.
Aggies, this year is the beginning of a
great era and tremendous opportunities
for our team and Texas A&M. We, in
turn, explore those opportunities by
showing poor attendance; the Twelfth
Man dragging into the game “just be
fore” the kick off and finally demonstrat
ing a mellow, “laid back” attitude during
the game.
This isn’t USC, t.u. or even, heaven
forbid. Cougar High. When those first
Aggies come onto the field, the Twelfth
Man should have the stands full (hanging
from the rafters if necessary) and greet
the team enthusiastically. When the en
tire team arrives, the yell leaders should
be out there and ready to lead yell prac
tice. Instead, yell practice is usually late
and last week was almost completely mis
sed because there wasn’t enough of the
12th man in the stands! Unbelieveable
and unforgiveable!
Throughout these games, I saw yell
leaders standing around, hands on hips,
as if they had nothing to do. When time
outs were called, they would look at each
other as if they were waiting for divine
instructions. Come on guys - get with it!
As for the Twelfth Man, the lack of sup
port for the team is shocking.
When the offense is at the line of
scrimmage it’s time to be quiet not
screaming your guts out. Save that for
the defense. When that Aggie defense is
on the field the opposing offense should
not be able to hear themselves think. We,
as Aggies, are that Twelfth Man on the
field and we can help the team.
In 1977, the Ags were down 21-7 at
halftime to SMU. When the second half
began, the Twelfth Man rose to the occa
sion and the spirit from the stands
caused SMU to fumble twice, losing one.
It also caused them to make several key
mistakes affording the Aggies oppor
tunities on the field. A&M won 38-21.
That kind of spirit is what the T welfth
Man is all about.
It used to be that teams feared coming
to Kyle Field because of the noise raised
by the Ags. However, after the last three
games I’m sure our opponents are won
dering what all the fuss was about.
This week is the beginning of the
Southwest Conference season. We have a
great opportunity to win it all, but the
Aggies on the field need the Aggies in the
stands. We need to be there when the
first players come out of the tunnel onto
the field, and not stuffing our faces out
by the car! We need to yell ferociously for
four quarters, because the Twelfth Man
is just that, a twelfth man, not in the
stands, but on the field with those fightin’
Texas Aggies. We can make the differ
ence, but only if everyone, yell leaders,
students and former students join
together and show that Aggie Spirit!
Keith Hairell ’76
Spring
Extra seating complaint
Editor:
It has come to my attention that there
is yet another problem here at Aggie-
land. No, it doesn’t involve traditions,
fraternities, sororities or other petty
arguments that have cluttered the edito
rial page over the past few years. This
problem involves those of us who are for
tunate enough to have decent seats in
Kyle Field. We “fortunates” are really the
“unfortunates” because of the excessive
“Squeezing Army” conditions that we are
faced with. Someone is constantly trying
to force another 10 or 15 people in a
space big enough for three and insist that
there is always room for even more.
In ease some of you didn’t know this
fact, the seats in Kyle Field were made
narrower this year so that the entire stu
dent body could have enough nJ
(That’s one seat for every studerM
campus!) Most of us have hadbadM
now and again throughout the year ®
there are still a few of us around wl w
remember those wonderful temps®
stands in the south end before thee ®
sion. I lived through it, however®
didn’t ever try to take someone else®
just because it may have been better iff
face it, it’s impossible to fit all 36,Oil'®
dents on the second deck between®
40-yard lines. ®
So there’s really a simple solution®
— sit in your own seats. And to thorn
you who insist on cramming in,justuff
second and think about the oi®
around you. Ags are known for slid®
together — but let’s get REAL!
Beat the hell outta Texas Tech!
• I
Jody Dunivanin
Random ticket proble
Editor:
I am a graduating senior, am
three out of the four football gaff*
have drawn 5-yard-line tickets or
I can remember when I was a Mi
couldn’t wait to be a senior beca^
knew I would get good seats. Will 1
random ticket distribution I cannd
certain if I’ll ever get good seats. Wa]
random selection brought about tos
ten lines or to give lower Gassing
chance to have good seats?
I don’t think seniors would
standing in line to secure good seat
know I wouldn’t. I’m not trying w
unfair to lower classmen but they
would have good seats as they moved
the ladder (if we went back to the sea 1
ity system). I was always brought up’,
seniority rules. I ask you, what everifhiiiiiiiin
pened to the old saying, “Rank ]
privileges?”
Ul
Craig Davis*
I