Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1983)
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, September 19, 1983 Folk singer keeps up-to-date in the 1980’s by Maxwell Glen and Cody Shearer United Press International When folk singer Arlo Guthrie last vi sited the nation’s capital, he says, he skill fully slipped past security guards at the Pentagon and proceeded directly to the bowels of America’s military nerve center. There, just as he had suspected, he disco vered generals manufacturing video games. “They finally devised a way to train everyone in America to defend our shores from aliens, ’’ Guthrie mused to an audience at nearby Wolf Trap Farm Park. “And the best part is that it only costs a quarter. All this talk about expensive missiles and bom ber planes is just diversionary.” Of course, Guthris admits, nemighthave it all wrong. “Video games might be just for fun . . . but then all those dollars for de fense would have to be completely se rious,” he adds. With that theorem proved, Guthrie strums his way into the evening’s last song, the one the crowd has been waiting and screaming for, the 18-minute ballad of the anti-war movement, now updated for the more placid days of draft registraiton: “Alice’s Restaurant.” Arlo Guthrie, Child of the ’60s, shows no signs of molding with age. Despite his closet full of old songs and mop of curly, even graying, hair, the 37-year-old Mas sachusetts resident seems to resist every characterization as a throwback to the hip- pie-dippie days of 15 years ago. Guthrie’s style, however, hasn’t changed much since he debuted on the folk scene in 1967. His repertoire still includes rock n’ roll and bluegrass as well as the labor protest tunes that his father, Woody, made popular. Arlo’s compositions, like “Alice,” still mix song and chat in sly, ambling librettos that often chide such institutions as law and order, the military, and commercial de- velopements. By playing the clown, Guthrie can deftly slip in the more serious songs that hush audiences. He sings eloquently, for exam- Corporate affairs bad for business by Art Buchwald As if we didn’t have enough trouble in American business, Eliza Collins has just writte in the Harvard Business Review that more and more love affairs are taking place in the executive echelons of our na tion’s corporations. In the past these affairs have been be tween the male boss and his secretary, but as more females climb up the management ladder, they are now taking place between high-level executives of both sexes. According to Ms. Collins these affairs are playing havoc with other employees, be cause they don’t know if a management cou ple in love is making decisions for the good of the company or for each other. The organizational and emotional tur moil pervades everyone from underlings to superiors, and the normal double-crossing atmosphere in the corporation is replaced by distrust, jealousy and back-biting. Ms. Collins offers a tough solution to the problem. Companies must regard love affairs between their executives as conflicts of interest, and she proposes that the per son who is least essential to the firm be asked to leave. She writes that in the male corporate world this is likely to be the woman. But, she adds, if both parties are of equal value, it is the man who should be canned to avoid a sex discrimination suit against the company. Bosses, Ms. Collins says, must take a strong stand, because the company always comes first. Yet there is another solution that Ms. Collins doesn’t suggest, which could save both jobs. Let me give you a scenario. The chief executive of Kiss & Tel calls in two vice presidents. “Miss Smart, Mr. Duff, rumor has it that the two of you are very much in love. ” “Where did you get that idea, J. T. ?” Duff asks. “Well, for one thing. Miss Smart is run ning her hand through your hair while I’m talking to you.” The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member oi Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Hope E. Paasch Managing Editor Elaine Engstrom City Editor Beverly Hamilton Assistant City Editor Kelley Smith Sports Editor John Lopez Assistant Sports Editor JoeTindel Entertainment Editor .... Rebeca Zimmermann Assistant Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra News Editors Brian Boyer, Kathy Breard, Tracey Taylor, Kelly Miller Photo Editor Eric Evan Lee Staff Writers Brigid Brockman, Ronnie Crocker, Scott Griffin, Christine Mallon, Michelle Powe, Ann Ramsbottom, Stephanie Ross, Karen Schrimsher, Carol Smith, Angel Stokes, John Wagner, Kathy Wiesepape, Wanda Winkler Cartoonist Paul Dirmeyer, Scott McCullar Photographers Brenda Davidson, Michael Davis, Guy Hood, John Makely, Dean Saito 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 matter 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 telephone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials also are 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 (409) 845- 2611. Editorial Policy The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holi day and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. 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. 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. pie, about a Latin tolksinger’s assassination in Chile, and then lets his audience down easy with one about Jimmy Carter’s close encounter with a killer rabbit (“I Don’t Want a Bunny-Wunny In My Little Row Boat.") Yet so sensitive is Guthrie to today’s largely non-political mood that he treads accurate portrayal of America's,” noted Guthrie in an interview. “I certainly don’t want to see the government turn into some giant monopoly that makes people feel (the Rt good. But Z "They finally devised a way to train everyone in America to defend our shores from aliens, Guthrie mused to an audience at nearby Wolf Trap Farm Park. very softly when it comes to Ronald Reagan, about whom he suspects most peo ple nave not made up their minds. He sug gests only that Americans seem to get fooled every four years. “(Reagan’s) basic ohilosophy is a fairly Reaganites) are just not sen sitive to the destiny of some groups of Americans.” By the same token, Guthrie has less- than-glowing words for Reagan’s Democra tic challengers. “Somebody s got to light a spark, ancl I haven’t seen that from any candidate. ” (What he’s heard, incidentally, are requests from the campaign of Sen. Gary Hart to perform a benefit concert. Guthrie has refused.) Not surprisingly, Guthrie reserves some sarcasm for his now-grown-up peers, who he thinks must make awkward parents. In one song entitled, “Mom, Your Universal Love Is Such A Drag,” he takes pity on kids whose parents were hippies: Feeding me granola And all that flaky stuff. You told me meat was hostile But I just can Y get enough. Above all, Guthrie is careful in routine never to preach. He sayshe’dnei tell folks to vote — he’d only encom someone who might. Similarly, hev prefer playing smaller clubs to larw I’d rattier be in a bar in Texas, ”ne “playing to people who are drinking rowdy and (who) maj/ not be thinking (politics) everv day.’’ Such are the small strokes with wfe this artist works. If nothing else, they fleet his realistic expectaitons of the pact change he advocates. As for "Alice’s Restaurant,” the song out conscientious objectors, Guthrie« sings a version which incites listener! creats a very minor disturbance at local post office, in hone offrustratingpoj clerks saddled with draft registrals chores. Guthrie says that he hoped to song away for good after the VietnamWi and cursed the day when he had to lean ill over again. i\T at, Miss Smart says, “It’s true, J.T., Arthur and I are crazy about each other. But we don’t fool around on company time.” “That’s not the point,” J.T. says. “The entire conglomerate knows about it and it’s causing a real morale problem. Even our Singapore office thinks you two are plotting against them.” Duff says, “That’s ridiculous. Our divi sion has never been in better shape since we’ve fallen in love. We re the only execu tives in the company who game plan corpo rate strategy in bed.” “Nevertheless, Duff, I must take a strong stand on this issue. According to manage ment policy the least essential of the two of you must go.” “You can’t do that to Arthur,” Miss Smart yells. “What do you mean me?” Duff cries. “I’m more essential than you are. I was responsible for the takeover of the Brett Pine Tar Company.” “After I showed you how you could do it, by selling off our Mt. Saint Helen’s Real Estate subsidiary.” “Are you trying to tell me your job means more to you than our love?” Duff says. “I can always fall in love,” Miss Smart says. “But I worked too hard to get where I am in this company to throw it away now. ” “I should have known you were a ruthless broad when you closed down Scranton, Pennsylvania. You can move out of the apartment tonight.” “It will be my pleasure, and from now on you can write your own reports. Let’s see how long you last with the company on your own.” J.T. says, “From this conversation can I assume the love affair between the two of you is over, and you will both start behaving like grown-up dog-eat-dog executives?” “You bet your sweet life, J.T.,” Duff says. “Then the problem is solved and the two of you can stay. I’m proud of both of you. When push came to shove you chose the company over your hearts. That’s the kind of managers I want playing on my team.” regi Reagan plans Philippines visit despite security risk by Helen Thomas United Press International WASHINGTON — Backstairs at the White House: President Reagan still plans to visit the Philippines when he tours Asia in early November, despite the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Acquino. dynamite, lit the fuse, tossed it overboard, and with the explosion came the fish belly up. leaga of w Newspaper editorial writers and mem bers of Congress have urged him not to stop^ /ill ’ “And the sheriff said ‘Elmer, do you real ize you’ve just committed a felony?’ Elmer reached down into the tackle box, took out another stick of dynamite, lit it, handed it to the sheriff and said: Did you come here to fish or talk? ” guessing game ot whether he will run second term or not. He has held offspil the beans to interviewers and his topakfc So close to the chest is he playinj cards that it is sometimes wonden whether he has even let his wife in secret. in Manila, where he will be the guest of President Ferdinand Marcos. A govern ment investigation of the murder is under way. Nancy Reagan learns every day that a . ay first lady has a lot of influence to do good. But security questions have arisen in consideration of his forthcoming trip. The trip planners are trying to make sure that Reagan s stamina will not be overtaxed. He is to spend four days in Santa Barbara before departing for the Philippines Nov. 2, but en route he will have an overnight stay in Hawaii. Nevertheless, the trip is ex pected to be arduous and the White House advance team has tried to lighten the load, although there are many requests for his personal appearance in all the countries he will visit. Other planned stops include { apan, South Korea, Indonesia and Thai- and. ing likes it or not, he will soon have to decision. On the sidelines, observers lookforsj one way or another: In California, hetei reporters, saying: “I know you arew for the big announcement. ’ Bob Rum Mickey P e\ by Stephana Battalion Even though thi bonuses or “happy suit of a newaccoui the use of compute there shouldn't lx students completir Dr. Bruce McCor department head c ence, said. Happy hour w; students using could do work at a usual. This allowc part of the inone them to work on throughout the set “To my perspet system that anyoi n because the r; plan Ten do \ by Wanda Battalion ! The Texas Transj ute, a research ; Texas A&M Syste ileted its testing rash barrier desig reeway maintent douston. TTI worked cl< State Department ind Public Transpc luce a practical duled for use in Hayes E. Ross, res- iTTI, says. The barrier, a beam suspended trucks, was design* Dr. W. Lynn Beast search engineer o the tests at the 1 search Annex, the 50-mile per hour 1-size car and n President Reagan seems to enjoy the guessing game of whether he will run for a second term or not. He has held off spilling the beans to in terviewers and his top aides. So close to the chest is he playing his cards that it is sometimes wondered whether he has even let his wife in on his secret. The president, who was bom and grew up in the small towns of Tampico and Dixon in Illinois, felt right at home speaking to the National Association of Towns and Town ships, and he enjoyed telling the following story: “One aspect of town government is that people know each other. Some are even related,” he said. “There’s a story about town folk. Usually if you are going to tell a joke, you try to tie it into something that has to do with what you are talking about. The closest I can come is that this story is kind of typical of the humor and the flavor of small town America. “The fence (that he had been buildiijl his ranch) is now half way completed f Reporters laughed, but they still wail him to drop the other shoe. The Question comes during every int| view. Most recently at a gatheringwitlif Hispanic press, he was asked: “Mr. Pro dent, could you tell us when you* announce that you will seek or not seell presidency again?” “At the last possible moment that Id announce a decision, and for a veryoM reason,” he said. “No. 1, if the ails'! ‘no, ’ I am a lame duck and can’t get any! done. If the answer is ‘yes,’ they willcW that everything I am doing is political- and I can’t get anything done. Solaragolj to wait as long as I can.” She was pleased to learn that word has spread not only in this country but abroad that she is devoted to helping rid the coun try of teenage drug abuse. Sheila Tate, the first lady’s press secret ary, said Mrs. Reagan recently invited Mrs. Robert Mugabe, the first lady of Zim babwe, to tea in the White House and the African woman told her that she “knew of her work in drug abuse” among youth. “It’s about a fellow named Elmer. In his town, he fished and he made a living selling fish to the local restaurant. But he was able to provide so many fish every day that the game warden got a little suspicious and the sheriff, being ElmeFs cousin, went to him and said, ‘Why don’t you go fishing with him and find out how ne’s doing this.’ So they did. And they got out in the middle of a lake in a rowboat and the sheriff threw his line in and Elmer reached down in the tackle box and pulled out a stick of Mrs. Tate said Mrs. Mugabe told Mrs. Reagan she particularly wanted to thank her on behalf of her sister, whose son had a drug problem. It seems that Mrs. Mugabe’s sister read the article and was able to help her son, who has now recovered and is attending college. Mrs. Reagan "was really thrilled,” said Mrs. Tate. “And to hear that the word of her work has reached another continent.”