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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1983)
Page 2/The Bat+aI ion/Thursday, December 8, 1983 lopinion Changes needed in crowded library Something has got to be done about the over-crowding at the library. I can take the hopeless lines at the xerox machines, the dispairing empti ness of the candy machines. I can even cope with the hour-or-so wait to check out a book. But, my God, the other even ing I was forced to sit and study at a table with a total stranger—someone whom I’d never even met before! He was pouring sympathetically over an Abnormal Psychology text. Let me tell you, I was scared to death. But I don’t need to go on painting those ugly scenes of the library at around 8 p.m. on week nights; you all have seen them. I’m just humbly trying to suggest a couple of solutions to this problem. How many students are there at this university now? 300,000? Next year it’ll be a half million. Something has got to be done. The problem is that there are just too many people these days studying at — or, should I say, just coming to — the library. Granted, the percentage of those who actually study has only gone up a frac tion. I think the biggest reason that lib rary patronage has skyrocketed in the last few years is that the precious word has gotten out that the library is The Place To Go to socialize. And that’s OK. After all, very broadly speaking, the library is a place for an ex change of information. The first, and more feasable, of my two suggestions (the second one is so im practical that I’m embarrassed to even print it) is that we be a lot more efficient in using the library—space-wise and time- wise. For instance, I know there are a lot of closets and large air shafts that more desks could be crammed into. Certainly half the stools in the bathrooms could be put to better use. And I don’t see why— this seems so obvious to me—that we don’t arrange the students like the books: stack ’em three or four high and shoulder-to- shoulder. My second suggestion—and, again, I blush to mention it—is that, well, only those who wish to study should go to the library. I know, I know. Unthinkable. Dave Spence Nuclear war caused when nobody blinks By Art Buchwald I have to apoligize for being so late with my piece about the TV film “The Day After,” but I’ve been thinking so much about it I haven’t had time to do anything else. ABC, which produced the picture, went out of its way not to take sides as to who was responsible for trashing Lawr ence, Kansas. They spent $7 million showing us what could happen after an area was mushroomed, but not one buck on what caused the holocaust in the first lace. I think they owed us just one scene etween a few survivors discussing the why of it all. The scene could have taken place be tween Jason Robards, who played the role of a doctor, and the last political sci ence professor alive at the University of Kansas. The men, covered from head to foot in atomic ash, are sitting on a pile of rubble that was once a nursery school. “What the hell do you think hap pened?” Jason Robards asks the political science professor. “Nobody blinked,” the professor re plies. “What does that mean?” “Well, it all goes back to the Cuban missile crisis. Remember when Dean Rusk said the Soviets would always blink before we did.” Robards says, “I guess we miscalcu lated.” The professor, looking over the de solation, says, “That would be a fair state ment. What the people in Washington refused to take into account was the Soviets considered the missile crisis the biggest defeat they suffered since World War II. They booted out Khrushchev and vowed they would never blink again.” “Do you want an orange?” “No, for some reason I feel nauseated. In order not to blink, the Soviets started an unprecedented nuclear arms buildup. Soon, the military on both sides insisted the other side had nuclear superiority, so the arms race was on. The thinking in Washington and Moscow was the more deterrents they had, the less chance there was of someone starting a war.” “Why didn’t it work?” Jason says. “It worked for a while. But then the arms talks came, and both sides engaged in playing the numbers game. We prom ised not to put any cruise and Pershing missiles in Europe if the Soviets reduced the SS-20’s. The Soviets said we had to include British and French missiles in the talks, and we refused. When neither side would blink, we started deploying our new missiles, and the Russians walked out of Geneva.” “Why the hurry?” “Because our credibility was at stake. Had we not gone ahead with the threat, the Soviets would have said Reagan blink ed. If they hadn’t walked out, we would have said Andropov blinked.” “And that’s when the missile race be gan in earnest?” “You could say that. They surrounded us with all their nuclear warheads and we surrounded them. We got ourselves in a spot where any spark could set off Armageddon.” “Didn’t both sides realize this?” “The leaders were assured by their ex perts that the other side didn’t have the guts to use their nukes because they knew they would also be wiped out in the pro cess. The only way to keep the peace was to build more horrifying weapons until the other side came to its senses.” “So why are we sitting on the rubble in Lawrence, Kansas, full of gamma rays?” “I guess we’ll never know,” the profes sor says sadly. “It might not even have been a human decision. With a response time of only six minutes to react, the whole thing would have been started by a faulty computer that wouldn’t stop blinking.” The Battalion USPS 045 360 Memtvr ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper f or students in reporting, editing and photography das- Editor Hope E. Paasch City Editor Kelley Smith Assistant City Editor Karen Schrimsher Entertainment Editor .... Rebeca Zimmermann Assistant Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra News Editors Brian Boyer, Kathy Breard, Kevin Inda, Tracey Taylor, Chris Thayer, Kathy Wiesepape Photo Editor Eric Evan Lee Staff Writers. Robin Black, Brigid Brockman, Bob Caster, Ronnie Crocker, Elaine Engstrom, Kari Fluegel, Tracie Holub, Bonnie Langford, John Lopez, - Kay Denise Mallett, Christine Mallon, Michelle Powe, Stephanie Ross, Angel Stokes, Steve Thomas, John Wagner, Karen Wallace, Wanda Winkler Copy Editors Kathleen Hart, Susan Talbot Cartoonists Paul Dirmeyer, Scott McCullar Photographers Michael Davis, John Makely, Dave Scott, Dean Saito, Cindi Tackitt The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas AScM 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. 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 L'ni- versitv. College Station TX 77843, or phone (409) 845- 2611. 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. United Press International is entitled exclusive!), 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. . & Lights out dangerous Editor: As I was walking to Silver Taps Tues day night I saw a member of the Gorps stopping cars on Houston Street next to Sbisa and instructing the drivers to turn off their headlights in respect for the Sil ver Taps Geremony. In the course of ab out one minute, I nearly witnessed the deaths of a pedestrian and a bicyclist be cause of these lightless cars. I feel that turning off lights around campus in respect for the Silver Taps Ceremony is wonderful, but let’s have some common sense? Headlights are put on cars for a very important reason; they are not dispensable (not even for Silver Taps!) I think Silver Taps is a great and hon orable tradition here at A&M, but I don’t think we should let a tradition blind us of all safety and common sense. Rob Farrell ’86 Save with exchange Editor: Students often complain about the loss of money they suffer by reselling their books back to the bookstores. This “rip- off” does not have to happen. Student Government offers the Book Exchange at the end of each semester which not only allow the students to make more from their books but they can also buy new ones for less. The system is quite simple and only costs a small handling fee of 10£ per book. During finals week just bring the books you wish to sell to the First floor of the Pavillion. Here, you will fill out a few forms which will be used to contact you in the spring. Simply set the price you wish to ask for each'book and then leave the rest to the Book Exchange. Over the holi days, the books will be stored safely until add/drop begins in the spring. As you find out what books you will need for the semester, come by the Book Exchange and buy them at much lower cost from the other students. You will then be con tacted within the next two weeks to come pick up your money. The benefits this service offers are many. Students can sell their books for what they think they are worth, which is probably more than what they would get from any bookstore. At the beginning of the new semester, books can be bought at lower prices than those set at bookstores. Finally, students are relieved of the bur den and worries of buying and selling because the Book Exchange is in the same place as add/drop. To really make the Book Exchange a success more students need to use it. Please take advantage of this service and encourage your friends, as it was de veloped for the benefit of the students. Michael Mulcahy CCF relay win ignored Editor: On October 22-23 five girls ran a 24- hour relay to help raise money for the Ghristian Ghildren’s Fund. To nelp save the lives of small starving children, these girls forced their bodies to withstand the pain of such a grueling run. And if that in itself isn’t incredible, what about the world’s record they broke. What we’re concerned about is why the accomplishment of these girls has been overlooked. The relay was just one attempt to help raise the A&M pledged to CCF to feed4 cate 125 children. A number of universities ai nation are looking to start their jects such as ours. Whether or succeed will have a big impact on enthusiasm and success of tneiroi jects. We are also concerned aboul thing. The athletic department much negotiation, agreed to at the success of the 24-hour relaj the A&M-tu game. However.ther up not doing so because the televised. What’s really stranj appointing to us is that the relay on Kyle Field, the girls represei student body, the glory is A&Ms athle tic department couldn't announce it to their own people an ABC’, commercial break. World Magazine” and “Sports trated” were excited about enough to print it and announceiti nation. We are sure that thealluij Hana^ni! by f nation, we are sure mat tneauuiij | i sent at the game would havebeenpl iResearc! to know that such wonderfulanili are playing nitarian efforts are being maden of predict! alma mater to save the livesofliiii poulddoif dren. Even though we are have not lost faith in our fellow CCF 1 Village of Hope will haveat up during dead week at the encourage everyone to go byandt bute what they can. We’d thank those who have supported! far, including the athletes, Wei make a difference in the livesofd dren. iveloped ichard T Selina Mendieta (Editor’s note: This letter mi nied by 30 signatures.) Thoma: ter for slra Red T< Jal helps ipw the S< ,to the de apons, : >e defer Space l in which r issile del Irth. Ser jvlould de unchinp \ wenty M)ry Robii ollect a Austin ! arded. e a trai |The pro ke good i the i< ghter F dergart “I went cher at Id shai lloween our sor “It ju (The Rol L is ment :en livin' ce he w The Rc WOUlMi YOU KNOW?!.. WE 60 TO ALL THE TROUBLE TO M A CABBWtf PATCH KIP-,,, AMPTHEN KaET PREW Election year appointments set stage for conservatism rdy and be used foi ■“These in their mi candy, esp she said. The Rc liege St iast 21 y works as ; chemistr Mary Rot hniciai partme for Texas From lobinette by Maxwell Glen and Cody Shearer Washington — Election-year appoint ments generally offer presidents the chance to repay political lOUs and collect new chits as well. For Ronald Reagan, however, they may also help to lay a con servative foundation for the future. That possibility was suggested by two appointments in particular: those of R. Bruce McColm to a seat on the Inter- American Human Rights Commmission and J. Harvie Wilkinson III to a seat on the fourth Circut Court of Appeals. Both encountered negligable opposition in re ceiving confirmation. Critics have questioned the qualifica tion of both McColm and Wilkinson for the posts they’ve snared. The human rights commission, which functions under the aegis of the Organization of American States, normally includes members who have a deep background in international law; likewise, trial experi ence is generally a prerequisite for feder al judgeships. The appointments of McColm, a staff writer for the conserva tive group, Freedom House, and Wilkin son, a law professor and former editorial ist with no trial background, go against tradition. Yet the administration’s intent behind these appointments may involve more than filling vacartcies. Anxious to leave a legacy that will outlast his administration, Reagan will be looking during the next year for vacancies in offices that are im mune to the usual quadrennial house cleaning. He can also be expected to put a premium on youth and ideological com mitment. At the OAS, McColm, only 33, will serve a four-year term, with an oppotun- ity for re-election. Wilkinson, only 39 himself, can serve for life. If they are an example of what Reagan has in mind of the next year, the president has already begun to sow ideological seeds for the rest of the decade, and perhaps the cen tury. Filling a vacuum? No single theme has emerged for the 1984 campaign, a fact that plays into the hands of both Ronald Reagan and conservative activities. Much has already been made of Republican Party plans to inundate the airwaves with footage from the presidents “heroic” efforts in such places as Grenada and South Korea. Meanwhile, independent groups are massing war cheats for pro- Reagan hopla. The National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC), by far the wealthiest “independent” group, ahs already produced a 30-minute movie hailing Reagan’s record. It also plans a 200-page book (tentatively titled “Reagan: A Presidents Succeeds”) and television commercials involving various celebrities. Ronald Reagan, the actor-turned- president, now stars in a weekly revies of his activities brosdeast on a slosed-circut shannel throughout the White House and to selected Executive Branch offices. Compilied by a navy film crew, the hour- long tapes will eventually rest in a Reagan presidential library. The White House has no exact figures for the production costs. Part of the nation’s student loan machinerey came to a standstill Nov. 1, as Congress refused to approve further re lief funding for graduate students who have unusually high debts. Under the affected two-year-old program, called “loan consolidation,” aome 32,000 stu dents have been able to repay their loans in 20 years instead of 10. Despite lobbying by the higher educa tion community, Congress may not change its mind. One Senate critic of the loan consolidation program, Republican Robert Stafford of Vermont, says it favors would-be doctors and lawyers over other students, and costs too much. The price of deficits: Treasury De partment figures for federal S[K during the 1983 fiscal year, wW last month, reveal the draint financing on taxpayers. As I cent departmental report, the# ending categories were S< 141 billion), interest on thedet( billion), Medicare ($35 billion),afi operations and maintenance (P lion). The report also noted thatsf* levels had increased by atleastlOf' in 20 of the top 35 programs. Agi* 1 price supports, up more thanHDf 1 over the last year, enjoyed thelai? crease. I ween ca ipermai “1 If you taste, great SAV TH1 our hubcaps have been «* t