t
opinion
Editorials
Committee’s actions
step in right direction
*■ The recent report on minority condi
tions at Texas A&M was seen as an
embarrassment by many faculty and stu
dents — one that won’t go away over
flight.
One possible solution for the charges
<)f racism is to increase the number of
-scholarships and financial aid to minority
students.
Some students and faculty have
argued that this will result in reverse dis
crimination. The possibility does exist.
Admissions personnel will have to be
very careful when distributing financial
aid to ensure that qualified majority stu
dents are not disqualified.
University President Frank E. Vandiv
er evidently thinks it can be done. He
recently allocated money for 15 graduate
minority fellowships, each worth $7,800,
to be awarded for 1983-84.
Even with that allocation, Texas A&M
still spends a mere pittance to attract
minority students.
But money won’t make the problem
go away. Attitudes, from those of the
Board of Regents to students, also must
be changed.
The Black Awareness Committee is
taking a leadership position in trying to
air some of the problems related to
minority conditions. Through its prog
rams this month, the committee is pre
senting a variety of programs related to
minorities and racism — topics that are
especially relevant to Texas A&M.
The minority report was the first step
in presenting the problems faced by
minorities at Texas A&M. The Black
Awareness Committee is taking the next
step. Momentum is building — let’s make
sure it continues.
Players’ help required
for Super Bowl victory
by Art Buchwald
* It’s hard to imagine what happens to a
person who lives in a town that has won
the Super Bowl. For Washington, D.C., a
pity that never gets any respect, you have
-to be very careful so all the adulation
-doesn’t go to your head.
- I am happy to report as a Redskin fan
^Fve kept the greatest football victory in
-modern history in its proper perspective.
- It hasn’t been easy, because ever since
"the final whistle of Super Bowl XVII
?blew I’ve been taking calls from all over
the country from friends congratulating
hie on the championship.
I On Monday, when the first one came
in, I resorted to what I now realize was
false modesty, When the caller said,
“Congratulations, you were magnifi
cent,” I responded, “I had nothing to do
.with the win, though of course I am hap
py with the results.”
“What do you mean you had nothing
to do with it? You’ve been a Redskin fan
for years. Jack Kent Cooke, the owner,
and Joe Gibbs, the coach, said on nation
wide television they couldn’t have won
the championship without the fans.”
“We were always there when they
needed us,” I admitted. “Butjust because
you root for a team doesn’t mean you can
take any credit when it wins.”
“It’s typical of someone like you to play
down your role,” he said. “But I want you
to know I am proud I have a friend in
Washington who never lost faith that his
team would win all the Super Bowl mar
bles.”
The Calls kept coming in — from Okla
homa City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and
even Dallas, congratulating me on the
magnificent victory I had achieved.
By early afternoon I decided to drop
the pose that I had nothing to do with the
Redskin triumph.
When a call came in from an old col
lege schoolmate in San Francisco, I
changed my tune.
“I never thought when we roomed
together that someday you would be a
Super Bowl champion,” he said.
“I couldn’t do it alone,” I told him.
“There were 49 other guys on the field
that I have to share the triumph with.
The thing that did it for us is that we
played together as a team.”
“But you were a believer from the be
ginning. It was your inspiration that de
feated the Miami Dolphins.”
“I only did what any Redskin fan
would do under the circumstances. I yel
led my heart out.”
“I know you’re just saying that, but I’m
sure you had a lot more to do with it than
that.”
“Let’s just say it was a team effort and
let it go at that. I don’t want any of the
other Redskins to think I’m getting more
than my share of the credit.”
By late afternoon I decided I had been
protesting too much.
When Bob Markay, a Jet fan from
Long Island, called to say if anyone had
to win the Super Bowl he was glad it was
me, I told him, “After my game against
Dallas, I was sure I could beat the Dol
phins. Their defense was overrated and I
knew if I could open a hole for John
Riggins, he would do what he was paid to
do. In the fourth quarter when we were
down 17 to 13, I told Joe Theismann, my
quarterback, ‘The game isn’t over until
the fat lady sings.’ It gave him new life,
and the kid took it from there.”
Bob said, “Nobody deserves a Super
Bowl ring more than you.”
“The ring is important,” I told him.
“But what really counts is that I’m finally
going to get some respect.”
That night when I got home I asked
my wife if there were any calls.
“Why? Were you expecting any?”
“I thought President Reagan might
call to congratulate me on my victory.”
“Why would he call you?”
“Well, he telephoned the Redskin
coach, Joe Gibbs, after the game. The
least he could have done is call me.”
“It’s still early,” she said. “Maybe he’ll
ring you after he gets a reaction to his
budget.”
“It really doesn’t matter,” I said. “I
know I’m number one and he knows I’m
number one, and that’s the only thing
that really counts.”
Slouch
By Jim Earle
"It sort of smarted when I got under the press, but I
thought it was worth trying, ”
Battalion/Page 2
February 8,1983 _
THIS MAN IS AK/ntD WITH A
LOfKDZD WE-AfO/V. WE’D
CONSIDER HlfA DAN6E.R0 US.
THIS MAN 15 ALSO ARMED WITH
A WEAPON, BUT HE’S THE ONE
THATS LOADED. FOR SOME REASON
WE DON'T CONSIDER HIM
DANGEROUS.
The art of sleeping in classes
Sh
im
rol
All of us are aware of its existence. It
cuts through every major, from agro
nomy to zoology, and all the rest in be
tween. Surprisingly enough, the less said
about it, the better, seems to be the ax
iom. But let me drag it out from under
the carpet and spare a few thoughts on it,
if you will.
Of course I’m referring to the “condi
tion” widely prevalent in early morning
and late afternoon classes: sleeping in
class. The reactions of instructors- often
vary over a wide spectrum. A few may
find such behavior mildly distracting
(luckily their numbers are decreasing in
the manner of a radioactive sample)
while the seasoned ones realize it as a
perfectly harmless exercise. Many of the
fellow students, on the other hand, will
assume the position that is is the poor
fella’s business.
Some profs who are sympathetic with
the student may try to be helpful by
cracking a few jokes every now and then,
in a vain attempt to keep him on his toes.
Still others may expend sane advice, like
— concentrating on holding the breath
for a few seconds or thinking about last
night’s party. A host of other remedies
like dabbing the face with cold water, can
also be had. But you know as well as I do
that once you are in the sleepy mood, you
are past redemption, unless of course
something dramatic happens, like an ear
thquake.
If and when you find yourself in such
a precarious situation, try to keep your
cool and use your head. Firstly, realize
the futility of all the above suggestions (I
should know for I have tried ’em all.) and
then settle down in the most comfortable
position you can and give yourself a
break. Every once in a while you see con
scientious students, fiddling with their
eyelids trying to stay awake.
Needless to say, you don’t have to feel
guilty about missing out anything in class,
for more often than not, you are not (un
less it’s a major exam with no makeups).
If you know beforehand (intuitively, like
you’ve been up late last night) that you
are not going to make it through the lec
ture, you can be better prepared. Find
Now students from nil over the
n&tion have handed together to
form the ERDS (Equal Rights for
Dozing Scholars), headquartered
in Austin.
yourself a comfortable seat in one of the
back rows (preferably close to the wall, so
you can rest your head if you wish) and
enjoy your little siesta. For Pete’s sake,
don’t choose the front rows for there are
too many distractions going on up there
(like the prof’s booming voice).
Here’s a tip to those anticipating prob
lems waking up after the lecture. Either
set your watch alarm at the time the lec
ture ends or if you don’t mind making
things a bit more involved, ask a friend
(mind you a trusted one), to give you a
thorough shake when he is about to
leave. This will ensure that you don’t
sleep into the next lecture. Every now
and then, depending on personal fi
nances, treat that friend to a six-pack.
Over the years the style of dozing has
undergone dramatic changes. Nowa
days, rarely will you see executors of the
once popular vertical pendulum motion
or undiplomatic guys with their mouths
wide open. The snoring types are also a
threatened species. The current rave
among college students is the upright
holding of the head with the arms cros
sing each other.
Until recently, students who
sleeping in class, were an unorgan
group, with everyone on his own,
ing off the ridicules and derrogator!
marks directed against them by
approving fellow students and insn|
tors. But not anymore. Now stui
from all over the nation have
together to form the ERDS (Equal
mg Scholars), headquartere
This is undoubtedly a
for Dozin
Austin.
from when teachers regularly ui
chase out students suspected of si
during lectures
One of the first actions of the
was to institute a class action suit oil
half of 22 students, against a Uww
of Texas Sociology professor, win Lbe
lawyers claim, caused their clientsiK -feet
anguish and deep embarrassmeni nth s
awakening them from their pen red
slumber in his 314 Sociology class. lree -
lawyers are demanding a wnttenapd
from the prof. This should serve a[e ^
warning to all concerned thattheB
mean business!
Among the organization’s pla
activities include slide presentations
guest speakers, in their effort to dnn
support for the recognition of the t
bers’ rights. A chapter has not yet
formed at Texas A&M so you gup
just have to wait!
Indeed dramatic progress has 1
made by the ERDS in their fightfe
rights of the dozing scholars, consiJf 1
how pathetic the situation wasjusta
pie of years back. But still a lot!
remains to be done before they can
in the limelight of their success,
Won’t you lend your whole-hd
support to this worthy cause?
Biju Mathew is a junior electrid i"
gineering major from Galveston, j
PLATO can’t
replace prof
in computing
Editor:
I am writing in reference to your arti
cle “A&M installs computer instruction
programs” which appeared in the Feb. 7
issue. I am a student in Computing Scien
ce 203H and am currently using the
PLATO system. Your article stated that
“students ...learn from the computer
rather than from the instructor.” I be
lieve that this statement is inaccurate be
cause the PLATO system in no way ful
fills the place of my professor, Dr. Shep
pard. It is merely an aid and a supple
ment to the lecture. PLATO is very good,
but the University sould be wary of giving
the machine too much power over con
trol of my grades!
Robert Woeger
Law Hall
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member ot
Texas Press Association »
Southwest Journalism Conference
Editor Diana Sultenfuss
Managing Editor Gary Barker
Associate Editor Denise Richter
City Editor Hope E. Paasch
Assistant City Editor Beverly Hamilton
Sports Editor John Wagner
Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings
Assistant Entertainment Editor . . . . Diane Yount
News Editors Daran Bishop, Jennifer
Carr, Elaine Engstrom,
JohnaJo Maurer, Jan Werner,
Rebeca Zimmermann
Staff Writers Maureen Carmody, Frank
Christlieb, Patrice Koranek, John
Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Ann
Ramsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti
Schwierzke, Kelley Smith, Angel
Stokes, Tracey Taylor, Joe Tindel
Copyeditors Jan Swaner, Chris
Thayer
i Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artists Pam Starasinic
Sergio Galvez
Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari,
Ronald W. Emerson, Octavio
Garcia, Rob Johnston, Irene Mees
William Schulz
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