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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1982)
opinion Battalion/Page 2 October 20,1982 Slouch By Jim Earle THANKS. BAYLOR, 'HE NEEOEP THAT/ Lugar vs. Packwood for GOP Senate post by Steve Gerstel United Press International WASHINGTON — Politicians, always seeking to climb another rung on the power ladder, are constantly on the lookout for the next opportunity. So it was not surprising Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, though he faces some thing of a battle for re-election, is making political plans past the Nov. 2 elections. Lugar has let his Republican col leagues in the Senate know he wants to be considered for the chairmanship of the GOP senatorial campaign committee — one of the party’s leadership posts. The erudite former Rhodes scholar told colleagues he wants to make his case — should he win re-election — and asked them not to get locked in on any other candidate. Lugar mad-e a smart move. The in cumbent chairman, Robert Packwood of Oregon, wants a third term and already has contacted every GOP senator. The Lugar-Packwood contest, a classic confrontation, pits the party-line conser vative from Indiana against the maverick 'liberal from Oregon in the first of the known races for a congressional leader ship post. In the byzantine maze of Capitol Hill politics, getting into the contest early is crucial. Any candidate who waits risks being frozen out as other commitments are made and cannot be broken. That’s why Lugar’s letter to col leagues, although perhaps premature in the real world, was essential in terms of inhouse politics. A good example of a one who moved fast is Senate Republican leader Howard Baker on election night 1980. 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 Gary Barker Assistant City Editor HopePaasch Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Entertainment Editor Nancy Floeck Assistant Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings News Editors Rachel Bostwick, Cathy Capps, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Jan Werner, Todd Woodard Staff Writers Jennifer Carr, Susan Dittman, Beverly Hamilton, David Johnson, John Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Carol Smith, Dana Smelser, Joe Tindel, John Wagner, Rebeca Zimmermann Copyeditors Elaine Engstrom, Bill Robinson Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist. Pam Starasinic Photographers . . . David Fisher, Octavio Garcia, Michael D. Johnson, Rob Johnston, Irene Mees, John Ryan, Robert Snider 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- Baker, who had been leader w hen Re publicans were in the minority in the 96th Gongress, headed off any threat to his post from the jiarty’s conservative wing with one well-placed call. T he recipient was Sen. Paul Laxalt of Nevada, president-elect Ronald Reagan’s close friend and confidant. Laxalt gave Baker his backing, im mediately ending any challenge from the right. Due to personal friendships and the need for party harmony — to say nothing of the risks in a losing effort — attempts to unseat party leaders are rare. One of the best remembered is when then-Rep. Gerald Ford of Michigan ousted Rep. Gharles Halleck for the post of Republican leader in a bloody 1965 revolt that was decided by a vote of 73-67. The 98th Congress, which begins in January, is not expected to bring whole sale changes in the congressional leader ship — if any. In the House, Speaker Thomas O’Neill and Democratic leader Jim Wright of Texas are secure. So is Republican leader Bob Michel of Illinois, if he is reelected. If not, Rep. Trent Lott of Mississippi will try to move up but is certain to face competition. In the event whip Thomas Foley is defeated, the Democrats would be in for a fierce free-for-all — with Arkansas’ Bill Alexander probably a leading candidate. Baker has so impressed the Republi cans and the White House as majority leader, that he should feel very comfort able at this point. Sen. John Tower of Texas is a sure thing as chairman of the Republican policy committee. 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 clas 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 and 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 persemes- 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 reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. Environmental battle goes on by Maxwell Glen and Cody Shearer The first half of the environmental movement’s scrimmage with the Reagan administration has come to a close, and it looks like a draw. Though coach Ron’s star player at the Environmental Protec tion Agency (EPA), Anne Gorsuch, suc cessfully slashed her agency’s budget for the second year running, environmental ists scored more money from Congress for their cherished institution than she’d desired. Before environment fans celebrate prematurely, however, they should know that Gorsuch is on her way to victory: the dismantling, if not destruction, of the EPA. Environmentalists alone may not be sufficient to foil the Reagan-Gorsuch game plan. This week, environmentalists will re view highlights from the first half when the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) releases a study, “Hitting Home: The Effects of the Reagan Environmen tal Policies on Communities Across America.” Among the study’s more strik ing examples of the administration’s commitment to environmental {protec tion: “The case of the poisoned jperch.” Great Lakes fish have begun to show con centrations of toxajphene, a carcinogenic pesticide, of up to 10 parts jper million — twice the accejpted limit set by the Food and Drug Administration for edible fish. “Despite EPA staff recommendations,” the NRDC report says, '‘Reagan- appointed EPA officials have done no thing to ban or strictly control this dan gerous pesticide.” What’s worse, they were reluctant to provide the public with health and safety information on the bug killer; “The case of the North Dartmouth delay.” North Dartmouth, Mass., was given top priority by the EPA in October 1981 as the site of one of America's 1 14 “worst” hazardous-waste dumps; at the time, Massachusetts requested $2.3 mil lion in federal “Superfund” money to clean up the mess. But preliminary work didn’t begin until three weeks ago. In fact, the EPA under Reagan has obli gated only one-fifth of the $1.6 billion Superfund, even though as many as 2,000 waste dumps threaten the health of American communities; “The case of the Brownsville burn.” Last month the EPA forbade a company from the continued burning of 3.6 mil lion gallons of cancer-causing jpolychlor- inated biphenyls (PCB’s) and other toxic wastes in the Gulf of Mexico about 175 miles east of Brownsville, Texas. But it acted only after burning had begun, and under public protest. To the dismay of environmentalists and coastal residents, the EPA had sanctioned the offshore burns without a preliminary assessment of environmental impact. Despite EPA reassurances that the process would eli minate most of the deadly material, it allowed the company involved a relative ly high limit for poisonous residues. These cases, of course, are only one - group’s illustrations. Similar stories come from citizens such as Jackie Russell, who has been begging EPA to test for ground- water contamination near a recently- dosed Kingston, N.H., hazardouj dump, or from Georgia Hal Pasadena, Texas, mother whoj the EPA permits new chemicalrefi where the air is already poison other facilities. Every story serves to highligmi nic misfortune: The nation stillli work to do in cleaning up the( merit, yet lacks the leadershiptoij Worse yet, the U.S. has Reagan, Gorsuch and James Wad serve the gains of older enviroi battles: Efforts to weaken dean-i water laws and to jiarcel undeijl land to t lie highcsl bidder luvefi for now. In time, however. Mrs,j such’s less-publicized efforts cool the final score. While she shrewd occasional a jj pea ranees "to fight'l agency, Gorsuch has continuedt and ujihold a |:>ro-mdustry biasilj EPA was intended to counter. Hi o m aT As the NRDC has found, thal'si less sampling of air and waterfi I looser rules on permits and star: F’ Edna and slashed research progne p sl “ ent 31 changes which will eventually unda fgncultura the laws themselves. No one net | warn the environmentalists. “Win I public knows the issues, we’ve wot I ly,” says Rale Pomerance of Fnei r the Earth. “But on the institutional jjjC, 1.1 C it’s very tough. They (theadministt [ get away with almost everything yJ therein may lie the environment fLO vA only hope in the second half.A I draws more support when evtr|L knows it’s the underdog, j s droj WHAT 15 THE WORST PROBLEM The Stude vice presic UIMWYCARTER LEFT US WITH? Approve sena Siscuss four tonight in 2(H room Buildii The four University Jniversity of ersons who registration a eer their lur dents can vis The noon hou Student Be etm.c*ymot*iCYAm&—~ UNEMPLOYMENT INFLATION I- a recorn m lent Governi rook exchang dents can sell lents. Senate Byl; a recomme tnd revise tl jylaws. Legislative Political Acti mendation f< kudy Group )n the Pern Fund, facuit uition increa the Board of Letters: Parking tickets are a pain Editor: When I left work on the afternoon of October 13, I found a parking ticket on my windshield. The ticket indicates that I have an orange sticker (which I do be cause my husband is employed by grounds maintenance) and I was parked in Lot 6. Less than two inches below the orange sticker on my rear windshield (drivers side), is my valid Lot 6 sticker (#08525). (I was just looking at my ticket and realized that is dated 10/12/82, but it was issued 10/13/82. Maybe the piolice de partment should give their of ficers some eyesight tests.) system, can we? The students have no choice, but I think I do. However, if I receive any more tickets while I am legally parked in an area that I pay to park in, you will not only hear from me, but I will discuss with my attor ney the possibility of filing a harrassment suit. This is absolutely ridiculous. Do you give your officers any kind of an intelli gence or eyesight test before they are hired? If not, maybe you should. Your cooperation in this matter (whether I get it or not) is most ajjpreci- ated. really appreciate it if you could help I will just make a small ad and till you have to change it around oranyi go ahead and do what you need to Death Row prisoner, caucasion® age 36, desires correspondence i either male or female college studf Wants to form some kind of friendly 1 relationship and more or less just change past experiences and ideas, answer all letters and exchange picto If interested, write to Jim Jeffers,! B-38604, Florence, Arizona, Linda Tracy Senior Secretary First Year Programs jimjetf This is the third ticket I have received in less than a year that I did not deserve. Why me? I pay a total of $65. per year between the two stickers for two vehicles for the privilege of parking in Lot 6, which is usually so full of unauthorized vehicles that I have to park on the street. It would really be nice if I could park in my authorized lot without the hassle of being ticketed when I am legally parked. Prisoner request Corrections Editor: I spent quite some time last Friday in your office with a young lady who works for me because her car had been towed. I did not agree with your decision about her car (the towing was totally unearned by her), but of course we cannot buck the I am a {prisoner on death row at the Arizona State Prison and I was wonder ing if you would do me a favor. I have been here for quite a while and I don’t have any family or friends on the outside to write to so what I was wondering is if you could put an ad in your campus newspaper for me for correspondence. If not in your paper then maybe you have some kind of bulletin that you could put it in. I know that you are not a pen-pal club or anything like that but I would In a story on Northgate Tuesday Battalion incorrectly called A1 Mayo College Station city manager. A1 Maf city jManner. North Bardell iscityi 11 ager. In a story on the National Orga' 11 tion for Women, The Battalion in 0 rectly quoted Jo Katherine Foy, p 1 * dent of the local NOW chapter, as sap NOW considers lesbian values priority issue.” Foy said the issue! one of their priorities. She said g women into public office is their® priority. The Battalion regrets the errors