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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1982)
opinion lion/Pageij November 12, Slouch By Jim Earle “I've been expecting you to get out the volleyball every day which makes me wonder if this is physics and not physical education!” Natural gas price up for winter by Art Buchwald The price of natural gas will go up between 20 to 40 percent this winter for the consumer. There is a very good reason for this. But for the life of me I couldn’t find out what it was. I first went to my local gas company, and talked to a very friendly man who anticipated the question. “It’s not our fault,” he said. “We just buy the gas from the wholesaler and have to pay whatever he wants to charge us. If he raises his price we have to pass it on to the customer. If you want to know why the price has gone up, talk to the people who sell us the gas.” He gave me a free book titled “Cooking With Gas” and showed me to the door. I went to see a vice president of a wholesale gas company in Houston. “How come the price of gas is going up by 20 to 40 percent this winter?” “I’m glad you asked that question. We buy our gas from producers^ and now with deregulation they can charge us any price they want to, so we have to pass their costs on to the local gas companies we supply. We don’t enjoy raising our prices because everyone thinks we’re making a lot of money, which we’re not.” “There seem to be an awful lot of Mer cedes Benzes out in the parking lot.” “They belong to the people in the gas pipeline end of the business. Perhaps you ought to talk to them.” “Where do I find them?” “I believe they’re somewhere on this floor. Wait a minute, I’ll call my brother Fred. I think he’s in charge of our pipe line division. Or perhaps my brother George is. In any case they both drive Mercedes.” George was out buying a new Lear jet for his son’s birthday, so I got to talk to Fred. “You can’t blame the pipeline people for this winter’s big increase,” Fred told me. “All we do is ship the stuff for a modest fee which we base on the cost of gas. If the tariff goes up then the ship ping costs have to go up, too. It takes a lot of energy to get gas from Texas to Virgi nia, and somebody has to foot the bill. If you want to know who is jacking up the price, go out and talk to the producers at the wells. They’re the guys who know on in the natunl what is going market.” I borrowed Fred’s Mercedei drove out to the Gasa del Bunki and Gas Corral. Bunkum invited me for a hoi ride. There were wells everywherei 50,()()() acre spread. “You seem to have a lot of gas,’ “Too damn much gas,” he makes the whole ranch stink.” “How come, if you have son price is going up this winter? think you’d have to sell it cheaper. “That’s true if you want to si But nobody’s going to sell old gas he can get a much better price ft gas. Someday Washington will phi all gas regulations and then I my old gas. But for the moment it’s to stay in the ground until 1 can fair profit on it.” “Then in your opinion itisnottl producers, but government regtil that are driving up the price thiswim “Damn right. We barely can fed families on what we’re getting stuff now.” Hr Republican senators weather midterms by Steve Gerstel United Press International WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans, despite a series of scares around the country, weathered the midterm elections well. But 1984 could well bring them graver problems. After all the votes were counted, Republi cans maintained control of the Senate by the same margin that now exists, 54-46. That is not an overwhelming majority but GOP lead er Howard Baker makes it more than work able. Yet, the Republicans can take little comfort in the results that showed most of the Demo cratic incumbents winning by big margins, most of the Republicans by narrow numbers. Although some of the Republican holdov ers seemed hellbent on performing the poli tical equivalent of hari-kari, only Sen. Harri son Schmitt of New Mexico went all the way — ending a totally unspectacular career in the Senate. < But too many other Republicans, using ev ery bit of the GOP’s huge war chest, had to spend a long and agonizing night before find ing out whether they were going to increase the already too high unemployment statistics. The failure of President Reagan’s econo mic policies hurt the Republicans members of the Senate and the one factor that may have saved the GOP from losing control was the Democrats had to defend 20 seats, the Repub licans only 13. That numerical luxury, which also played a major role in the Republicans’ big 1980 gains, will not exist for the Republicans two years from now. They will have to defend 19 seats and the Democrats 14. And incumbency, as the midterm elections proved, is maybe the biggest single asset a candidate has. Under what conditions those candidates will run is impossible to forecast. The eco nomy, if Reagan’s plans ever bear fruit, could be in good shape, making it much easier for GOP senators. And there will be a coattail effect, no matter who the Republican and Democratic pres idential candidates are. But even this far ahead, it is virtually cer tain that the premier Senate race is going to be in North Carolina, matching Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, the New Right zealot, against the moderate and highly popular Gov. James Hunt. Helms epitomizes the New Right and the race is certain to be a clear-cut referendum on his agenda, which has a strong following in North Carolina and other parts of the South. He is also the acknowledged master fund raiser and does not stint on spending it on his elections. But Helms’ attempt to buy the elections for four of his fellow-travelers in congressional races in the midterm elections turned out to be a disaster. They lost. Hunt, on the other hand, is a Southern progressive — not a Kennedy liberal but at odds with Helms on virtually every major issue. Two of the most interesting races — should they seek another term — would be those of Sens. Strom Thurmond, the South Carolina Republican, and Sen. Jennings Randolph, the West Virginia Democrat. They are both already in their 80s. Sen. John Stennis’ easy victory in Mississip pi at age 81 must have been heartening to Randolph and Thurmond. Like Stennis, they do not look or act as old as they are. Thurmond, a legend in South Carolinai can probably have another term for the asking. But there is a question whether Ran dolph could or would withstand a primary challenge from Gov. Jay Rockefeller. The Republican leadership has to run — Baker, assistant leader Ted Stevens, policy chairman John Tower of Texas. 'This flo; Wednesd sophomo AU, ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHER -GrEOfcGE. CXWELL Letters: Forums do not force views Editor: 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 HopeE. Paasch Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Entertainment Editor Nancy Floeck Assistant Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings News Editors 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, Chris Thayer Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari, Ronald W. Emerson, Octavio Garcia, Irene Mees, John Ryan, Robert Snider paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and B rya n - 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 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 mat ter 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 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. Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news- 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. In relation to the recent media cover age of the events of this week concerning the Christian Update Forum, I am com pelled to attempt to clear up any mis understanding and at the very least state the purpose of the Forum. Through the Christian Update Forum, lecturers, who are reputable scholars with recognized academic credentials in their fields, sought to offer material worthy of academic considera tion and presented a viewpoint relevant to the class in which he or she was speak ing. This viewpoint was one that was bib lically oriented, but did not stray from the stated topic and attempt to prosely tize students. It is a privilege to be invited into a classroom and one that to the best of my knowledge was not abused. The response to these lectures by the students and faculty who had the oppor tunity to hear them was overwhelmingly positive. The response on the other cam puses thus far has been 62 percent posi tive, 34 percent neutral, and 4 percent negative. Texas A&M students’ response has been evert more positive. By these figures alone, the Forum appears to be a contribution to the academic process of the many who had an opportunity to hear the lectures. In reference to the issue of separation of church and state, I present to you the key issues as defined by the U.S. Court system: 1. Maintaining religious neutrality — This first issue involves the protection of a truly neutral base. One extreme would produce a state religion; the other ex treme produces educational institutions that have to explain everything from atheistic or naturalistic premises. The key issue then is: Does the supernatural presupposition have a place in public educational institutions? The Supreme Court has affirmed “yes.” (Zorach v. Clauson, 343, U.S. Supreme Court; En gel v. Vitale, 468, U.S. Supreme Court) 2. Sponsorship v. Accommodation — The second premise is the sponsorship issue. A public institution can “accommo date” ideas which it cannot sponsor, in the interests of higher education (Marx ism in Economics, assassinations in Poli tical Science, polygamy in sociology, etc.). Certainly anything that has played as vit al a part in the history of Western Civili zation as Christianity should be given consideration. The Comment cards, handed out after each lecture, serve a many-fold purpose. First it is a yardstick by which we can monitor the effectiveness of the lecturer. They also are a means by which the stu dent can request an outline of the fea tured topic and/or request to be involved in a discussion group. This discussion group is not a means of proselytizing the students or persuading them in any way but is an opportunity to discuss further the issues brought forth in the lectures. With all due respect to the beliefs of others, being from an evangelical found ation, these beliefs are introduced furth er in hope of showing their relevancy to each individual’s life. These comment cards and subsequent discussion groups were entirely optional and certainly no name was put down on any mailing lists. I hope I have cleared up any mis understanding and even more, I sincere ly hope, we as Christians will come forth and stress the need for fair consideration of Biblical principles alongside those being taught. Lance Bryant ’83 Forum Coordinator Christian Update Forum Freedoms being stifled Editor: As a student here at Texas A&M, I have become increasingly aware of some injustices that seem to have attained pub lic attention here on our campus. Of course, I’m referring to the overwtic ing response achieved by The Chrisi Update Forum this week. My concern is that a credible, sdid tic approach to various subjectsinlif valid Christian perspectives is stifled. More importantly, it is stifled in the name of freedom ai liberties. Throughout the year, st are faced with perspectives totallycoii dictory to their own. In other words as students are compelled daily toff classes in which professors pul ft theories concerning whatever theiroj ion might be. However, as soonasif views are labeled as “Christian” oi l lical” suddenly they cross from theft of unbiased classic theory to coerf propaganda. Personally, I am extref tired as a Christian to sit in class and viewpoints which are totally contr^ tory to my beliefs presented. Deaf Sonnenfeld, will the A.C.L.U. repro' me? I feel MY rights to free speech to been violated. Reports of coercion to be a false alarm. In contactingthef dents in charge of tabulating results the Forum, I discovered some interesn facts. No class turned in 100 perceto the response cards passed out, evide® some students didn’t feel helpk* forced to comply. Of those cards tuff in, favorable responses rankle well ah’ 70 percent. Certainly our classrooms not composed of 70 percent Christi) therefore, students of other beliefsf 11 be responding favorably. Only those 51 dents who requested outlines of the' ture will have anything mailed to th f Again, unwilling students will not “force fed” biblical teachings! The students on this campus are and capable to listen to what they" and evaluate it according to their o’ beliefs. However, evidently certain^ pie in positions of control feel thatd 1 must “worry” about these freedoms 1 us. As for me, my freedom has beer fringed upon this week. Bob Band?'