Page 4AThe Battalion/Wednesday, October 31, 1984
One beached
dolphin dies;
other is stable
United Press International
PORT ARANSAS — One of
two rare dolphins that beached
themselves last weekend died
Tuesday despite attempts to save
it with a mixture of Gatorade and
force-fed Fish.
The other dolphin remained in
stable condition at the University
of Texas Marine Science Insti
tute.
The six-foot long helmet dol-
hins, which have distinctive
lack markings on their heads,
were found on the beach Satur
day about 100 yards apart.
One was a male and the other a
female, and researchers named
them Ella and Stan.
Using a squirt bottle, research
ers gave the dolphins, floated in a
three-foot deep tank with life
jackets, Gatorade to combat de
hydration and force-fed them
menhaden, a type of Fish.
They were later given intrave
nous solutions.
Tony Amos, an oceanographer
at the UT facility, said it was un
clear what was wrong with the
dolphins, although the female
has intestinal parasites.
' He theorized, however, that
the animals were mates and that
when the female — ill with para
sites — headed into shallow wa
ter, the male followed.
The dolphines refused at
tempts to guide them back to the
sea, said Amos, adding, “They
seemed to have lost their echo lo
cation abilities.”
Survival rate for beached dol-
f ihins is only about 5 percent, of-
icials said.
An autopsy is being conducted
on the male to determine the
cause of death.
Greg Schwab, a graduate student in veteri- oceanographer, attempt to feed a dolphin
nary anatomy, and Dr. Anthony Amos, an found stranded on Port Aransas gulf beach.
A&M communication professors view CBS libel trial
Trial labeled ‘libel trial of the century’
United Way"
at midpoint
in funded
At the halfway point of the Bn
County United Way funddriten
tributions total $202,046, ot|;
percent of the goal.
Texas A&M is one of the
sinus making up the drive,andit||
A&M has contributedmoretlijn
other division.
A&M has raised $71,036-j
highest single donation of amj
sion. This boosts A&M up toj
percent of its $1 10,000goal.
The three sub-divisions o(|
A&M campaign are theUnivtij
the System and the students.
So far the University has cj
$45 ,05b, the System has rj|
$25,95b and the studentsarti
i iallv down for $24.
1 he student drive is basel
event-oriented fund raisingai
not limited to the eight weekstfj
t omitv-wide campaign.
Money raised by studentai
sored activities during thetfi
campaign will be turned nuj
end of the eight weeks, but4
turns f rom the A&M students^
in throughout the year.
The goal for this year’s
W av drive is $425,000.
Tanker trud;
catch fire,
two injured
By VIVIAN SMITH
Reporter
Two Texas A&M communications
professors predict different verdicts
in the CBS vs. Westmoreland case
which has been labeled the “libel
trial of the century.”
The case involves Gen. William
Westmoreland’s allegations that
CBS’s “60 Minutes” falsely accused
him of distorting estimates of enemy
troop strength in Vietnam and keep
ing the news from his bosses.
CBS broadcast this in 1982, know
ing it was false, Westmoreland said.
Westmoreland wants $120 million in
damages.
“I reel the burden of proof is on
Westmoreland,” Mel Chastain,
KAMU-TV director said. “My gut
feeling is that CBS will win the case,
although it may take some teeth out
of investigative reporting.
“Investigative reporters may turn
to less controversial Issues — making
safer statements and conclusions
about what they report.”
Bob Rogers, journalism professor
sees it differently.
“I am concerned,” he said, “be
cause from what has unfolded so far,
it looks as if CBS could be in trou
ble.”
If Westmoreland wins, journalists
stand to lose because increased re
strictions could have a “chilling ef
fect” due to the reporter’s fear of a
lawsuit, he said.
Journalists across the country are
watching the proceedings closely
and are speculating on who will win
and on possible implications. A&M is
no exception.
Chastain said television programs
that emphasize investigative report
ing should survive the verdict.
“I don’t think it will bring to an
end such programs as ‘60 Minutes,’
‘20/20’ or NBC’s ‘White Papers’,” he
said. “Journalists feel a responsibility
to serve as the ‘Fourth Estate’ or
watchdog for the people.”
Chastain gave two reasons why he
thinks CBS will win.
First, he said, CBS conducted an
“The idea of a conspiracy
by CBS to get Westmore
land just doesn’t wash. ” —
Mel Chastain, KAMU-TV
director.
internal investigation after hearing
Westmoreland’s complaint and re
ported 11 spots in the program that
lacked journalistic ethic.
CBS’s willingness to conduct the
investigation and reveal the results
will have a “better effect on the 12
jurors than trying to stone-wall
them,” Chastain said.
“Any good news-gathering insti
tution tries to police itself and get to
the bottom of incidents like this,” he
said. “CBS is one of the best.”
Secondly, in order for Westmore
land to win, Chastain said, libel law
says he must prove “actual malice.”
He must convince jurors that CBS
broadcast the information knowing
it was false.
“The idea of a conspiracy by CBS
to get Westmorelancl just doesn’t
wash,” Chastain said.“CBS has access
to too many resources and uses too
many news-gatherers to succeed in a
conspiracy.”
Rogers said that during the last 10
years the Supreme Court has issued
decisions to restrict the news media’s
ability to comment on public Figures.
“Television is show business and
CBS may have felt they needed to
make a good story better by pump
ing more drama into it,” Rogers said.
Chastain said that many people
believe electronic journalism is show
business — it hits only the high spots
and really isn’t a substantive Field.
“We have quicker deadlines and
less air time that makes it seem our
news has less depth, but broadcast
journalists are just as dedicated to
the truth as print journalists,” Chas
tain said.
Rogers said he is in favor of inves
tigative journalism. But, he said,
journalists need to be fair in all as
pects of news-gathering, from inter
viewing to editing, he said.
“Investigative journalists need to
nail down all facts — presenting
facts whether they make the journal
ist’s case or not,” he said.
Libel law is in pretty good shape
now, Rogers said.
“I don’t want to see any more re
strictions,” he said, “there are
ample opportunities to punish those
who act irresponsibly, yet give media
its freedom to report the necessary
facts.
“Any time any one of us (journal
ists) makes a mistake we’re sticking a
knife in the body of journalism and
all of society suffers.”
Chastain said the case is trying
more that just one program on one
network.
“Journalism — primarily broad
cast journalism is on trial,” he said.
United Press Intrnudoiul
CHANNELV1EW - Two
were injured Tuesday
tanker trucks loaded with
els caught fire near the Ini
bridge crossing the SanJ;
east of Houston.
Lome Childress, 20,
Fischesser, 28, both of
were taken to Gulf Coast8
Baytown. Both had been
f umes at the MusgroveTi
Fleeting Service where a
at about 1 p.m.
Childress, an employee of
Mar Services, was in statk
guarded condition and was
transferred tojohn SealyHosp
Galveston. Fischesser,whowor
Beaumont Oil, was treated at
leased.
Ur
AL’S'I
mg cons
Several area lire departmaiiiftfi oust
tied the hi.i/e until 3 pni : . from tin
lire was put out. The caused for the f
fire was unknown Tuesds aHouse
ternoon. BMemb
AGGIE
cinema/^
SNOW WHITE AND
THE SEVEN DWARVES
TONIGHT
Rudder theatre
$1.50
Children 10 &, under FREE
Spend HALLOWEEN
with Aggie Cinema.
STEPHEN KING WEEKEND
CHILDREN
OF THE
CORN
co-sponsored with
MSC Cepheid Variable
7:30-9:45
Friday & Saturday
November 2 & 3
Rudder Theatre
$1.50
Midnight
>x<
Sunday November 4
7:30 p.m.
$3.00
f*
•••••••••••
COUPON
t,
I
▼
L
INTERNATIONAL
BOUSE r.mnm
RESTAURANT
All-You-Can-Eat
• ••••••ill
I
Fzz
Offer expires
November 30,1984
Shrimp
$4"
Good everyday after 4 p.m.
K
'i
is
/
At
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE of PANCAKES'* 5 RESTAURANT
103 N. College Skaggs Center 1
• •••••••••••••••••••••••••ii
GOING...
s
S3
(•
Wednesday
October 31
Is
the
last
&
a s
day
oS
ANY!
OKtoberfest
mean
any)
• p
12 Pizza
16 ’ Pizza
20’' Pizza
$6.66
Plus tax
$9.51
Plus tax
Oct 3lst
only
$14.27
Plus tax
Chanello’s Pizza Delivers
northgate 846“3768
south side 696-0234
8