>
opinion
Battalion/Page 2
November 23, M
Spoof paper imitates
but doesn’t flatter
An underground spoof of The Batta
lion hit the streets Monday.
But the “real” Battalion staff didn’t do
it.
The newspaper’s authors were clever
— the paper arrived at the stands at the
usual Battalion distribution time and at
Editorial
the usual places. In fact, many readers
thought it was The Battalion.
The point behind the parody was ex
plained in an “editorial” on the second
page of the parody; the writer claimed
the “real” Battalion is boring and spine
less and never criticizes.
We must agree with the Buttalion au
thors on a few things. A myopic attitude
does exist. Some Aggies seem to think
that Aggiedom is perfect and that the
world revolves around College Station.
However, the attitude expressed in
the Buttalion seems to be that The Batta
lion is an inaccessible publication control
led by a few people.
But that isn’t the case. We’re open to
suggestions; give us a call. We’re always
looking for more good writers — and not
just journalism majors.
Let us know when you see story possi
bilities. If we don’t know it’s happening,
we can’t cover it. If you see problems,
absurdities or anything else that we have
overlooked, let us know. We love a well-
written, critical — even juicy — story as
much as readers do.
Most readers took the parody in fun.
But some parts of the Buttalion shouldn’t
have been taken in fun. Some of the
humor is juvenile at best, and much of it
is crude. We were disappointed.
We like humor as much as the next
newspaper, but we’d have preferred to
see a parody done on a more professional
level, with the true subtle and intellectual
style the Buttalion authors claim to have.
School for lobbyists
a future possibility
Letters: Campus art work critiqued
by Ira R. Allen
United Press International
I WASHINGTON — Nordy Hoffman, once
remembered as a Notre Dame All-America
jineman who played for the legendary Knute
Rockne, first came to Washington as a lobbyist
in 1947 and didn’t know a thing. Not even
how to find where committee hearings were
being held, or how a bill becomes law.
After 35 years in Washington, first as lob
byist for the United Steel Workers union,
then as director of the Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee, and later as sergeant-
at-arms of the Senate, Hof fman is now.dedi
cated to making what some consider a sleazy
racket into an honest profession.
He is starting a school for lobbyists.
What he is promoting is not just a high-
priced seminar, but a full-fledged master’s
degree in “congressional and governmental
relations” to be offered by Catholic University
in Washington.
If corporations and law firms Hoffman has
worked with so smoothly for a more than a
generation come up with the necessary
$425,000 soon, a 30-credit graduate degree
program will begin next spring combining
studies in government, “styles and techni
ques” of lobbying, “dynamics of negotiation
and coalition-building” and ethics.
The board of regents is a “Who’s Who” of
Washington insiders, from top lobbyist Tho
mas Hale Boggs Jr., to former Federal Elec
tions Commission Chairman Robert Tiernan,
to Sen. Nancy Kassebaum. A stable of “lectur
ers” includes 44 current or former members
of Congress and heavyweight roster of corpo
rate lobbyists, with a few union buttonholers
to boot.
Hoffman said he knew absolutely nothing
when he arrived. But back in a time when
Congress did not meet during the summers —
back before widespread air-conditioning of
muggy Washington — he sat down three
hours every morning with as knowledgeable a
mentor as there was.
He was A1 Sabath, a 45-year veteran of
Congress, a Chicago Democrat who headed
the House Rules Committee.
“A1 Sabath taught me most of the things I
know,” Hoffman said.
Now in his 70s and a consummate
Washington insider in his own right, Hoff
man is trying to professionalize lobbying, stig
matized by a public image of fast women,
threemartini lunches and bribery.
That image “is one of the things that got me
involved,” he said. “I have felt for years that
the only way our democratic form of govern
ment can survive is to have people who work
in that marketplace have a degree of under
standing of morals and ethics in government.
“Doctors, lawyers, teachers all go to college
to get a degree. The only requirement for a
lobbyist is to file (registration papers) in the
House and Senate.”
The Center for Congressional and Gov
ernmental Relations, as the lobbying school is
called, will emphasize techniques of what is
euphemistically known as “Washington rep
resentation.”
But Hoffman vows to include a strong dose
of ethics as well.
“I don’t necessarily think it’s unethical now,
but a lot of things have happened in the last
few years that if they (lobbyists) had a better
understanding, they wouldn’t have commit
ted some of the errors that have been commit
ted,” he said.
Although the shady side of lobbying — and
sometimes its most effective — involves fun-
neling campaign contributions to members of
Congress — Hoffman said there is “no way”
that kind of technique will be taught.
Honorable lobbying, said Hoffman, “is not
that difficult. It’s just hard work.”
Editor:
I would like to applaud Russell San
ders and his fine (?) achievement in art.
My reactions to his work were quite
severe. (The best laugh of my life.) 1 said
to myself, “He has got to be kidding.” I
am a Fine Arts major from t.u. with an
emphasis in Studio Art.
I have been taught and do believe, that
good art evokes responses, be those re
sponses good or bad. So, to a lot of peo
ples chagrin, Russell Sanders work is ex
cellent. He has gotten Texas A&M’s
attention. Who knows, maybe he’ll be in
the Louvre some day. Some art is passed
by, never to be remembered. Not his.
Simplicity cannot be surpassed. I would
like to give Russell Sanders a big hug.
Also, I would like to commend whoev
er it is that obtains the changing exhibits
in the MSC. I am a little perturbed
although, due to the fact that the last
exhibit of bronze sculptures and really
fine prints, was never open w hen I went
to take a closer look. These exhibits are
wonderful. I bet a lot of people weren’t
even award that one of Grandma Moses’
paintings was exhibited earlier this year.
(Along with a lot of other fine painters.)
In response to Russell Sanders filling
the vacuum here at Texas A&M, I think
he forgets the wonderful art in the Rud
der Tower, the art that is produced by
the elves in the craft shop and the chang
ing exhibit in the MSC.
I could go on. Art is everywhere, the
macrame sculptures all around campus,
the paintings in the hallways, etc. But as
current student art goes, Russell Sanders
seems to be it. There is a small art depart
ment here, (unfortunately for us art peo
ple) but where is it? 1’hose art students
should be exhibiting their endeavors.
The professors should make it manda
tory for these students to exhibit their
works. Maybe they do. But it would be as
Russell Sanders’, openly aired.
Robin Faison
1600 Welsh
Freedom of choice
Editor:
This is a letter to two Ags to whom I
would like to express my opinions.
To Bill Booth:
I am not criticizing you for not liking
Russell Sanders’ art. Your opinion is your
own, and you have a right to it. What you
have apparently forgotten is that my
opinion is my own, and I have a right to it.
It offends me that you wish to deprive me
of my right to see and either like or dis
like Mr. Sanders’ works.
The Academic Building front lawn is
not “your side lawn.” It is, as Mr. Sanders
said, “a public place that belongs to the
citizens of the State of Texas.” There are
people at this University who have the
authority to forbid or throw away, re
spectively, Mr. Sanders’ art.
I am not asking you to like the pieces. I
have not liked all of them, but I enjoy
seeing them and formulating my own
opinion on whether I like them or not.
I’m sure there are many other Ags who
feel the same way. Please allow us this
right.
To Russell Sanders:
Thank you for adding a spot of interest
(and sometimes beauty) to our days. Do
not be discouraged by Mr. Booth’s ac
tions, or those of his friends. In other
words, please continue your work.
Glenn Vanderburg ’85
Editors note: This letter was accompa
nied by 10 other signatures.
Apologies
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member ot
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
Editor Diana Sullen fuss
Managing Editor Phyllis Henderson
Associate Editor Denise Richter
City Editor Gary Barker-
Assistant City Editor Hope E. 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,
Jan Swaner, 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
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 also serves as a laboratory newspaper
f or 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.
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.
Editor:
Fellow Ags, after reading the front
page article on the AAG, (Aggies Against
Graffiti), which appeared in The Batta
lion, Nov. 18, we, residents of Hart Hall
were very upset.
The article would lead one to!
that all Hart Hall residents are member
of the AAG. T his is not the case. Actual;
the AAG consists of a very small minoriti
of Hart residents. The majority of us, ii
no way whatsoever, had anything to
with the destruction of Mr. Sanders an,
and would like to apologize for the lx
havior of our fellow residents.
We hope that this incident doesrt
reflect upon the reputation of Hart Hal
Hart residents, though Hellraisers, rt
spect the rights and property of i
viduals, and we are very disappoi
with the behavior of some of our fe
residents.
Of Mr. Bill Booth, the apparent
spokesman for the AAG, and who is)
resident of G-ramp of Hart, it can only!
said that he is a very closed-minded indi
vidual who wished to impose his idea 1
upon all others. He has no concept oftlt
right of free choice.
Again, we sincerely apologize for tk
actions of the AAG, and hope that out
fellow Aggies will not look down upon#
because of these past episodes.
Rickie J. Sala E-H
Editors Note: This letter w:is mmf-
nied by 1 7 other signatures.
Correction
A cutline in Thursday’s Battalior
correctly identified the sponsors of
Imperials, a gospel music group wl
performed in Rudder Auditor^
Wednesday night.
The Imperials were sponsored byik
Methodist Student Movement
Aldersgate Concerts.
T he Battalion regrets the error.
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“TCU is one of my favorite schools. Reckon we could
play them several times next year?”
Berry s World
©1982 by NEA. Inc
h-C_
'7 had to get out of the house. My daughters
are driving me nuts with ‘Valspeak’!”
Dave
coord i
• hold tl
W
all
I by Re
“There
There’
candle —
room at 1
ing until
residents
cites for 1
Thi
traveled ;
ping at \
way from
Theca
a torch ca
Walton H
the torch
Texas's 1
1:50 a.m.
their dor
torch to (
mile runt