Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1983)
a; Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, March 31, 1983 opinion Slouch Bv Jim Earle “I’ve just made a breakthrough in my popcorn experi ment. The good part is, you get to share the credit since it’s your room I’m working in. ” Nuclear energy - the great debate by Rube Williams What use of it can justify its existence? It was introduced to this African jungle when a great lightening bolt pierced the sky and struck a large tree which burst immediately into flames. It was fire. It swiftly claimed the lives of animals that could not escape its path. Krom, a “cave man” of unusual atten tion span, taken to observing things and actually deriving some conclusion, screamed and shouted although he was in no danger of the flames. He was thril led, for even the greatest of predators, the feared she-lion, ran from the flames in panic. Krom came back the next day and the next to watch in awe as the flames painstakingly spread through the section of forest. Luckily, this part of the forest was somewhat misplaced from the great mass of the jungle, for surely greater destruc tion could have ensued and might have had not the rains finally begun. As the rains rushed from the sky Krom re mained crouched, pondering for the last time at the spectacle that lay before him — that which was once a dense green forest was now a towering shroud of blackness. It came to pass that Krom possessed fire at will. He discovered that the sparks from the collision of certain rocks would produce flames when introduced to some dry grass and leaves. And furth ermore, the fire once begun, could be sustained by adding more grass and leaves. Wood, he found, would burn longer. But banned from the village would be Krom if the tribemaster ever suspected him of starting fire again. For several singed and some badly burned faces and legs were testimony that fire was danger ous and of no use. Krom explained that fire was only hazardous if the villagers persisted in running through it and trying to eat it. Krom compared fire to the warmth of the sun. But the villagers protested vehemently, “No fire! No fire!” Centuries later, fire was but an essen tial tool of man. And it came to pass that Einstein, a twentieth century man gifted with extraordinary intellect, taken to de ciphering the physical laws of the Uni verse, developed the theorem E = mc2 (energy equals mass times the speed of light squared). The theorem led to, in times of war, an atomic bomb which claimed the lives of many and left the world in awe. Presently, engineers and scientists de rive energy from the atom at will. The energy from the collision of certain ato mic particles when introduced to water can be converted to steam to drive elec tric generators. - And furthermore, the process once begun can be sustained by subtracting or adding a neutron absorb ing material. Theoretically it would take at least a million pounds of chemical fuel (oil, coal, etc ...) to equal the energy de rived from one pound of nuclear fuel — energy needed to light the enormous cities of this era. But threatened and fined would be the nuclear engineers and utilities if the pub lic ever suspected them of building a nuc lear power plant. The engineers ex plained that nuclear fuel was a hazard only if people strolled through the con tainment building unprotected or if they somehow managed to eat uranium. En gineers showed how environmentally clean and how low of radiation emission nuclear plants are compared to chemical power plants, and they compared its energy generation process to that of the sun. But the people protested vehement ly, “No nukes! No nukes!” Rube Williams is a senior nuclear en gineering major at Texas A&M. USPS 045 360 Member at Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion 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, Brian Boyer, Jennifer Carr, Elaine Engstrom, Shelley Hoekstra, Johna Jo Maurer, Jan Werner, Rebeca Zimmermann Staff Writers Melissa Adair, Maureen Carmody, Frank Christlieb, Connie Edelmon, Patrice Koranek, John Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Ann Ramsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti Schwierzke, Kelley Smith, Angel Stokes, Tracey Taylor, Joe Tindel, Kathy Wiesepape Copy editor . . . Jan Swaner Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artists Pam Starasinic Sergio Galvez Thompson, Fernando Andrade Photographers David Fisher, Guy Hood, Eric Lee, Irene Mees, William Schulz Editorial Policy J he liiiiuilion is a non-profit, scll-siippoi tini> ncu s- pttpcr operutccl ;is ;t connnunin sen it c to I cx.ts A&-M University and lirynn-Colleffc Station. Opinions ex pressed in Hie Battalion are those ol the editor 01 the author, and do not neeessarih re pit -sent the o/>m/o/i.s of I'exas AK-M Universin administrators or laeull\ mem bers, or ot the Board ol Regents. 1 he Battalion also seri es as a laboralon newspaper tor students in reporting, editing and photograpln ( las ses within the Department ol (ioinmuniaitions. Questions or eommenls eoneerning am editorial mallei should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the F.ditor should not exceed words in length, and ate subject to being cut if lhe\ are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters lot 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 tire also welcome, and are not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor,' file Battalion, 2lb Reed McDonald. Texas A&M Cni- versitv, 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 pet 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. I X 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. Roc Networking for business, fun has by Maxwell Glen and Cody Shearer Every now and then, we’ve contem plated throwing a party for 10 friends, stipulating that each guest bring another 10 people. Every time we’ve rejected the idea, fearful that any gathering of com plete strangers would prove disastrous. In New York City, however, someone has found a way to make it work. Every Wednesday night, about 1,500 complete strangers pay $8 -each to meet one another and exchange phone mumbers at Manhattan’s Studio 54. It’s called “Business Networking,” produced and directed by that notorious former Yip- pie, Jerry Rubin. such as one man selling legal insurance, made their pitches from the dimly-lit sidelines. After several hours, we learned that good networkers don’t bother with con versation. They just introduce them selves and hastily arrange a meeting for the following week. “Make two lunch dates at every salon,” Rubin’s networking guide counsels. ,I101V glott For the last two years, Rubin has been throwing his Wednesday evening get- togethers to provide, in his words, “a so cial environment in which to do busi- After a brief stint as a Wall Street ness. marketing director, Rubin now helps other young professionals promote themselves, make business contacts and find success. Networking “salons,” he ex plains, are a “business be-in.” Indeed, a certain career-consciousness pervaded the club when we visited last week for Business Networking’s second anniversary salon. Men and women, most under 40, sported business cards pinned to their suits (mostly gray flan nel). Some actively worked the crowd, passing out promotional material; others Not surprisingly, the merger of fun and profit is an awkward one. Some net- workers smile bravely but are too shy to speak; others strike up conversations as if they’d known you for years. Like the sponsors of more memorable French salons, Rubin mixes the common place with the offbeat to create a unique evening. Every week, hourly demonstra tions of “Yogarobics” vie with exhibits of computer-aided design. A tuxedoed Rubin marked the second anniversary with balloons, a six-foot birthday cake and a recitation of marriages spawned and business deals cut because of net working. To be sure, Rubin’s brainchild has some salient features. According to Val ery Lasher, a financial planner who was making her fourth appearance, the salon offers businesswomen a rare chance to meet people in other fields. (The need for an “old girls’ network” was echoed repeatedly by other women.) And for Arthur Hersch, a veteran of :!)t said i i l 25 salons, networking has uncoveret lucrative clients for his printing “I’ve got no time to canvass at woi here you can keep talking all ni| said. Despite success stories, manymein women likened the salon to a singles bar. “It’s hilarious,” said one stralian woman, who said she was ositioned twice within the first “This is pick-up city.” Added a caterer working for thel time, “I feel as if I’m at a dance, collected a couple of cards that lead somewhere, but I’m not sure (the salon’s) value.” Unfortunately, after two years has had trouble maintaining whathei the “quality” of his salons, while many fascinating people once, not all return. Meanwhile, to 6,()()() new invitations each weektoatt “the most interesting people,” as does, is a project doomed to returns. Yet if his guiding theory is correc that the 1980s is “the decade ofacliii ment” — Rubin may soon havesalot other cities. Chronic career oriei has led some younger Americans to anything in the interest of promotion. Besides, the ingenious cept of a “business salon” sanctions ing work with play. And, most people will try once. by A Ba The road "NATO a: Alliance” foi imooth one organizer sa are fine Not unti ivith formei Ford, forn hancellor nd former ter Edward ndowed L man be able Dale R. the lecD lished becau ble and the lent way to i estimated c said. rogram is Tampke from ient in agr San A Originalb ave Henry Kissinger al effective j said. Instem Alexander 1 ,nl2 | Edmund M flicts, how anvil program to Tampke inning h pel, from would be th However plications, A moderate. Harry W ers’ agency speakers, b WANTTOCOMEM TONIGHTANDtB SOME OF MV JOHN LENNOK Tampke sai “The age Koppel was then he (th said that thi conflict,” T But thro Frank N. A for ABC, T: out that th would con would be if. “Viewpoint tures. “Nij come becai lems, he sai After he pel would said he deci Chancellor be modera dons were i cellor, Tan t they Letters: Give Texas A&M credit Editor: I recently had an experience that 1 feel I should share with your readers. When I went home over spring break, I bought a car from a gentleman who is an accoun tant with Ernst and Whinney in Dallas. When I told him that I was a student at Texas A&M, he said that he had been very impressed with the consistently high quality of the accounting graduates they recruited from Texas A&M. He told me how the Aggies at Ernst and Whinney displayed an attitude and a level of maturity that was a cut above their aver age recruits. At any rate, it is encouraging to know in these difficult economic times that a degree from Texas A&M can count for just a little more than a degree from somewhere else. It is probably safe to assume that grades of A and B are some what harder to come by here than at SMU. But before we bemoan any low grades we might receive, perhaps we should be cognizant of the probability that our high grades carry much more meaning in the professional world. For that, I think, our administrators deserve a sizeable measure of credit, as do we for successfully making our way through. Dwain Handley ’82 Greek loyalty Editor: I would like to congratulate Kirk Pat terson, Dorm 5, on his letter concerning the loyalty of Greeks at I’exas A&M, Mar 22. It was well said, well written; one of the few objective letters we’ve seen in quite some time. I feel a quote is appropriate: “... when school spirit and interest are subordinated to fraternal prejudice and selfishness, it becomes ... a detriment to the fraternity and to the school ... (and) we condemn, and pledge every effort to avoid it.” — Quote from my fraternity’s Declara tion of Principles. I think that the founders of all frater nities and sororities truly felt this way. T he Greek system cannot exist without a college home. I hold my TAMU and my fraternal experiences dear and deeply resent the accusation of destroying or dismantling anything for which Texas A&M stands. Becoming close to a group is essential to human development. Fortunately Texas A&M maintains an atmosphere which fosters this. But it is not enough. The openness exemplified at A&M often seems kindred to that which psycholog ists have found on busses and airplanes: we would more quickly open up to stran gers, those we’d never see again, than we would to these we’re acquainted with.’ Texas A&M is like a sea of friendly stran gers. This is why TAMU, like other uni versities, supports anything that bolsters camaraderie: intramurals, dorms, off- campus centers, honor societies, choirs, the Corps, etc. Fraternities and sororities are simply two others, and it is obvious by their size, some 2,000, that they are needed here, and therefore should not be scorned. If I have convinced ]ust one that we are beneficial to the student and therefore the University, I am happy. As for the rest, keep throwing stones, it just con vinces me more. Cartoon quips Editor: and respoi Tickets door and The cost A&M stud and $2 foi sms at Follow! ance, ther and discus This is in response to Tim Steph letter in the March 28 Battalion court ing Scott McCullar’s cartoon aboui two cadets who were removed from Corps for the use of marijuana. Mr. Stephens wrote that “the does not condone the use of drugs will not tolerate them,” but these cadets may have unknowingly St something big. Here at Texas A&M, it’s often that once is an accident and twice tradition. C’mon guys, can’t you take ajoif F HI nd 1 Brian Gorsk® (1 Davis-Gary Editor’s note: This letter was accoi nied by 23 signatures. Academic art Editor: Phillip Shiffrin Mclnnis Hall Referring to the picture on the! 1 page of the Buttalion, on March would love to see Michelangelo’s “ft in front of the Academic Building. glorious work of “ART” would sure those colored paper plates, tied bti» of bamboo, broken bicycles,... etc, nauseam. Don Barbie' Open