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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1983)
Page 12/The Battalion/Wednesday, July 27, 1983 ‘Peace’ churches aid students United Press International If the federal government starts cutting off education funds to young men who refuse to register for the draft, three “peace churches” will be ready with special funds to keep con scientious objectors in college. Spokesmen for the Church of the Brethren, the Mennonite Church and the Quakers said Monday they have established funds to replace federal aid lost by students who refuse to regis ter for religious reasons. Those three denominations have been called “peace chur ches” because they have historic ally opposed war and the draft. Other denominations, in cluding Presbyterians and Un ited Methodists, have discussed similar steps; but Shawn Perry, assistant director of the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors in Washington said, “We haven’t heard of anything concrete out side the peace churches.” Congress last year passed a law denying federal education funds to young men who failed to register with the selective ser vice administration. A constitu tional challenge delayed en forcement of the law until Sept. 1, and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments this fall. The threatened cutoff of stu dent loans has raised the percen tage of 18-year-olds complying with the registration law from 85 percent last July to 92 percent now, selective service figures show. The first of seven men to be convicted in a nationwide crack down on draft resisters, Enten Eller, was the son of a Brethren minister who said God did not want him in the military. In March, after Eller was sentenced to two years of volunteer work with an antipoverty agency, the church set up a $10,000 annual fund to provide educational assistance to draft resisters. “We have made very clear our support of young men who choose not to register,” said Ruby Rhoades, world ministries executive for the Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill. “Some special funds have also been set up in a good many of the church’s (six) colleges.” Ivan Kauffmann, secretary of the Mennonite Church in Lom bard, Ill., said voluntary dona tions have already been used to help the families of nonregis trant students. On Aug. 1, church officials will vote on a proposal to provide financial support to draft resisters at the five Mennonite colleges and other schools across the country. “The church agrees to stand by those who are taking that position for conscientious reasons,” Kauffmann said. Quakers do not have a nation al fund to provide for non registrants, but several regional groups, called Yearly Meetings, are responding with money on a case-by-case basis. Rep. Gerald Solomon, R- N.Y., sponsored the bill to cut off funding to non-registrants — and recently introduced another bill that would termin ate federal grants or contracts to schools attempting to circum vent the law by providing special funds to draft resisters. by Judt Sheppard Missett . •raarasercise A wild and woolly workout using joytul jazz dance movements and swinging music for fitness, friend ship and fun! CLASSES WILL NOW BE HELD AT COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY CENTER 1300 JERSEY STREET CS 4 week sessions Mon & Wed 5:30 pm Tues & Thurs 9:30 am* Tues & Thurs 6:00 pm ‘Babysitting Available CONTINUOUS CLASSES REGISTER IN CLASS FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL CATHY LYLES 822-2349 Covert aid bill delayed, O’Neill predicts victory United Press International WASHINGTON — House Speaker Thomas O’Neill de layed action Tuesday on a bill to force President Reagan to halt covert aid to rebels fighting Nicaragua’s Sandinista govern ment but said the outlook for passage is good. The House had been sche duled to resume work on the bill Tuesday, but O’Neill said it would be put off until Wednes day with a final vote planned Thursday. O’Neill said Monday he feared opponents would use stalling tactics against the bill, which Reagan opposes. To counter that threat, the speaker indicated the House would not vote on a bill dealing with the International Monetary Fund, which the administration wants, until the covert aid bill is finished. The IMF bill would authorize an $8.4 billion increase in the U.S. pledge to the financial aid agency, and the administration has been pressing for a quick vote on it. O’Neill, D-Mass., said about 103 amendments to the covert aid bill have been filed, most by opponents of the measure. But he said the outlook is favorable. O’Neill said he “hopes we can send a strong message from the House to help determine pres idential policy.” The speaker said Monday the coalition of “ultra conservatives” who delayed ac tion on a nuclear freeze resolu tion for several weeks may try to stall action to force withdrawal of the covert aid ban. Reagan argues the publicly acknowledged covert aid to the rebels is needed to stop Nicar agua from sending arms to lef tist rebels in El Salvador. Strike possible for union machinists at Continental United Press International HOUSTON — An estimated 1,000 union members who work as machinists may begin infor mational pickets at Continental Airlines’ Houston terminal dur ing the next three weeks. The International Associa tion of Machinists and Aeros pace Workers’ contract with Continental expires Aug. 12, and unless an agreement can be reached on several key issues, workers said they may strike. wages, benefits and job security. An estimated 2,000 workers — including mechanics, ground service, kitchen and stockroom personnel and cabin cleaners — are covered by the current pact. Wilbur Spurlock, business manager for the local union, said the union members met Monday to discuss the status of the stalled negotiations. Union officials said they key issues were The negotiations have been complicated since Continental was purchased by Texas Air Corp., which operated Texas International Airlines. Currently, Continental machinists earn about $13.45 an hour, compared to an industry wide average of $ 17.40 an hour, Spurlock said. Since 1946 OAKWOOD MOBILE HOMES Corp. AGGIES, want to own your own home? Let Ag-Coop student assist you with your home needs. Lot locator service, straight answers and low prices only at... OAKWOOD MOBILE Homes 775-6308 2349 Hwy. 21 E. Bryan photo by Tn« Nice dog Duke receives a friendly pat from Aubrf’l Jones, 4, in the Memorial Student Cente!| Duke’s owner is Matt Menger, a management major from Houston Polish prisoners granted amnesty United Press International WARSAW, Poland — More than 100 political prisoners and common offenders relished freedom Tuesday under an amnesty program introduced with the Communist govern ment’s end to martial law. With authorities taking their time reporting on the freeing of men and women across Poland Monday, it appeared likely the total was higher than the more than 100 whose release was con firmed. reduced sentencebutitil were freed. A spokesman at ad center in the southernjj cial city of Opole, situatl the St. Anne Mountair The visited by Pope John ticketing month, said at least iMjsigns. P ers were freed. Nonevfi tyednesd tilled. All the men releasedi| either were awaiting 1 waiting to be charj spokesman said. There word on how many were al offenders. Justice Ministry spokesmen said 57 political offenders re ceived full or partial pardons at nine jails around the country Monday but were unable to con firm whether they were freed immediately. by K; They said 57 people charged with common crimes also pro fited from the amnesty decree. One man was kept in prison on a he Co nted fu h marks Nation of Tes All roads lead to SHOE OUT 30% - 50% OFF Spring & Summer Shoes, Handbags & Legwear THE SHOE STORE Shoe Out, where you’ll find your favorite shoes at traffic-stopping prices . . Featuring the best in name brand shoes. Thc Shoe Storc College Station’s Finest Shoe Store. Parkway Square Texas Ave. South at Southwest Parkway College Station, Texas American Express, Master Charge Visa, Gift Certificates and Layaway Presents Tues: FARM RAISED FRIED CATFISH ALL YOU CAN EAT 95 Wed. & Thurs.: CHICKEN FRIED STEAK 95 11-2 M-F 5-10 11-10 SS Townshire Center 2025 Texas Ave. 775-7642 LUNCHEON SPECIALS DAILY Government official f ^ political prisoners werei ; | CjCP jails at the time martial •: lifted last week. Thej least 60 would be ruledU for the amnesty prograj Justice Minister S' Zawadzki said last week to 1,000 common could be pardoned "fork; tarian reasons” under 1 cree signed by the PofcT NCATE Gen. Wojciech JaruzelTexas A&N Five of the nine pardons were reported' were in Silesia, the i £l heartland of coal mines* 1 mills where the Solida 11 trade union enjoyed su 1, port before it was oud ^port, iss 'nnouncer At most prisons, tlu College program announced a- n a |i categ< Communist regime cfj“ months of martial law" ; implemented slowly. basis of itutiona Ity inte Med acco ttds set b i The cou State At Strzelin prison,^ : law, officials said four!®* a ssifi< offenders and one maa'li^al• • with a criminal offense'WP™ 01 leased Monday and ai"’^P orts - men were cleared forte 1 ' 1 the next few days.” In the Warsaw area ? | prisoners are held wiecka prison, in thee* the capital, and Bia^ miles to the northeast Spokesmen at Rako" ;; ;; fused to talk to reporte" 1 day. Other prison off' 1 *- vited journalists out t( iki ost i y ka, where they witnesse'Lj^ a lease of four men jailed i0 | jq t fic offenses and a fifth 7 prisoned three years a up a Polish flag whileM ? j n j t drunk.