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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 26, 1984)
not always easy e)( In the past couple KWJUHE HWNKEyE fe^BMmROOND THE 1985 CAMPAIGN The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference In memoriam Bill Robinson, 1962-1984, Editor The Battalion Editorial Board Stephanie Ross, Editor Patrice Koranek, Managing Editor Shelley Hoekstra, City Editor Brigid Brockman, News Editor Donn Friedman, Editorial Page Editor Bonnie Langford, News Editor Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Melissa Adair, Michelle Powe Assistant News Editors Rhonda Snider,Kellie Dworaczyk, Lauri Reese Assistant Sports Editor Travis Tingle Senior Reporter Robin Black Staff Writers...Tammy Bell, Shawn Behlen, Cami Brown, Dena Brown, Dainah Bul lard, Leigh-Ellen Clark, Tony Cornett, Patricia Flint,Kari Fluegel, Bob McGlohon, Karla Martin, Sarah Oates Jan Perry, Lynn Rae Povec, James R. Walker Editorial Cartoonist Mike Lane Make-up Editor John Hallett Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarily rep resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length. 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 be signed and must include the address and telephone number of the writer. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday t for ‘ during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday 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. Editorial staff phone number: (409) 845-2630. Ad vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal ion, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 His job: Watching Reagan’s copters By ART BUCHWALD Syndicated Columnist I spoke to a man who has one of the most important positions in the admins- tration. His job is to stand on the lawn when President and Mrs. Reagan are leaving the White House by helicopter. “I actually work for Larry Speakes, the press secretary,“ the man told me, “but my duties keep me outside.” “What do you do?” “My job is to make sure the presi dent’s copter motors are going full blast, so the press can’t ask him any ques tions.” “That is a very responsible position,” I admitted. “How do you do it?” “I station myself right here next to the helipad. The press is over there be hind those ropes. When the helicopter lands on the lawn I get in radio contact with it. As the president walks out, I tell the pilot how much thrust to give the engines so the copter will drown out the yelling reporters. In that way the presi dent can just smile and shrug his shoul ders, as if to say it isn’t his fault if he can’t understand what they’re saying.” “I’ve seen your work on TV,” I said admiringly. “We’ve got it down to an art. The only orle we haven’t been able to silence is Sam Donaldson of ABC-TV. No matter how much noise we make, Donaldson manages to get his question heard above it.” “What’s his secret?” “He has developed a higher pitch to his voice than we can give the motors. It’s uncanny. We’ve tried every type of engine to drown him out, but nothing seems to work. Everyone knows no mat ter how loud the copter is roaring, the president is going to have to answer one question from Sam, even if it’s just a sim ple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’” “That doesn’t seem too high a price to pay to get off for a weekend at Camp David.” “It all depends what the question is. As you know, the president has a slight of weeks MSC Town Reader’s Forum Hall has received Reader’s Forum many inquires into R H - pomm why Chicago did not appear at Texas A&M, and why there was all country and western music and no rock, jazz or R&B this semester. Hopefully, the fol lowing typical MSC Town Hall concert booking process will clear up any confu sion surrounding the concert season. The process usually begins when pro moters from various agencies contact Town Hall about the possibility of a show on a certain date for a certain price. Town Hall is limited by their bud get at this point. A concert cannot ex ceed a particular price. If it does, ticket prices skyrocket. Lately, Town Hall has done the con tacting. Most groups who used to con tact us (ie. Hall & Oates, The Commo dores with Lionel Richie, Cheap Trick) have priced themselves right out of G. Rollie White. Now that Town Hall is making the contacts, we are looking for popular groups in an affordable price range on an acceptable date. This se mester the only groups that were avail able to us and that accepted our offer have been country and western. We also unsuccessfully pursued the Beach Boys, Cyndi Lauper, the GoGos and Chicago. In regard to Chicago, an offer was made for early September which the group did not accept. They then con tacted us for a possible November date. At this point, as with any other concert, it was brought before the entire Town Hall Committe. The group was very en thusiastic about Chicago. It was unani mous that the show would be successful. LETTERS: Linda needs the picture hearing problem, so there are times when he should say ‘No’ and he says ‘Yes,’ and other times he says ‘Yes’ when he should say ‘No.’ Whenever I see the president is going to reply to a Sam Donaldson question, my job is to make sure that the helicopter pilot gives the bird full throttle, so no one can under stand the answer.” “Wouldn’t it be easier for the presi dent to leave the White House without the press being thereon the lawn?” “It might be, but this is the only chance Reagan has to be seen by the public. If we didn’t allow the TV cam eras to cover his departure and arrival from the White House, everyone might think he’s in the Cabinet Room taking a nap.” “Do you do anything else besides rev up the president’s helicopter on the White House lawn?” “Of course . . . I’m also in charge of making sure that Air Force One never shuts off its engines when the president is descending from the plane. It would be disastrous for Reagan if the engines were quiet when he stepped on the tar mac and reporters started throwing questions at him.” “I imagine even Sam Donaldson can’t compete against the four jet engines of Air Force One.” “Donaldsoji must drive him crazy.” “You would think so. But the strange thing is that when the president comes out of the White House to board his he licopter, and Sam isn’t there, Reagan gets very upset and confused because he doesn’t know whether to shout some thing to the press or not.” I said, “I admire the president for be ing able to walk out on the White House lawn with the engines going full blast, and not only field a question from Sam Donaldson, but hold onto Nancy’s arm and board his copter, all at the same time.” The man smiled, “They don’t call Ronald Reagan the Great Communica tor for nothing.” Linda McMillan Class of’81 P.S. I said yes! Not all Ags are good Ags Kirk Rice Class of ’87 Sully Symposium will continue EDITOR: Project X. Spring 1984. Lambda Sigma plans a forum to improve com munication between students and their leaders with the ultimate goal of solving students. Before a final decision« reached, Chicago’s agent called and in formed Town Hall that Chicago dt cided not to swing their tour bad through Texas for just one show (Texas A&M). Normally at this time aftertlif Council approves the show, contracts are signed and public relations have be gun. The process described above is net essary to weed out potential bombs.Tbt process takes no more than a week, anil is a good way for Town Hall to checkin self. Each show Town Hall brings de pends on our performance at every pre vious concert. Alabama depended on Bob Hope and Willie Nelson depended on the success of both Alabama andBob Hope. In turn, our spring program' ming depends on the success of out bonfire show, Willie Nelson andFamil), B] The final step in the process is the ap proval of the MSC Council which con sists of student leaders from all parts of the campus, A&M faculty and former This is where the students of Teas A&M and the surrounding communin come in. If we are successful with Wit Nelson (the campus buys tickets), Tom Hall can begin contacting groups fortke spring. It is our goal to bring a varietyol spring concerts in the catagories of rod. jazz and R&B. We ask for your support both in buying tickets for Willie Nelson and in filling our monthly surveys. IVt cannot promise the Bruce Springsteens and the Michael Jacksons, butthereare several popular groups touring soon who we could have a good chanced bringing here. Town Hall is going to continue trying to bring quality entertainment to the campus. I appreciate any suggestions and would be more than happy to an swer questions. Thanks for yourcondn ued support. We will see you after the bonfire at the Willie Nelson and Famih concert. Before 1 niors gathe on Military sly about ephants al izes the f; graduate t will be of Twelfth M The Cla ephant wa noon at th< van Ross i Building. The cla ephants in pictures. Carla P I president, gin with a: Because seniors “w campus," t the red pot she said. Head y< the redpo or t cause oi a have put it “It’s rea ry,”Josep] Julie Plesalla is a senior and the pre f icient of MSC Town Hall. EDITOR: Dear Fellow Ags, I need your help. Remember the plane that flew over the Rice game with the banner “Linda, will you marry me?” Well, I’m Linda and I’m desperate to find a picture of the stunt. If you can help, please call me collect at 713-975-6662 after 6:00 p.m. Thank you. EDITOR: This past weekend, I attended the A&M-Arkansas game in Fayettville. The student Aggie Club sponsored the bus trip for a low price, and I felt it was the perfect opportunity to back the Aggies as well as have a great time. This trip with the many cases of beer was great; but for the first time in my life, I have been ashamed of some fellow Aggies, one of which is an officer in this club. Before we left A&M for the trip, we were told by this officer that we were representatives of Texas A&M Univer sity and to act accordingly. At the game, however, this officer and others were drinking beer and liquor that they had brought into the game, becoming quite obnoxious in their drunken state. They degraded the Aggie team very openly, and I was embarrassed for all of the Ag gies, as well as the Arkansas fans, that had to observe this display of stupidity. This is not how one acts as a representa tive of his university. I feel there is a time and place for everything, and an A&M football game is not the appropri ate place to get drunk. You go to a foot ball game to support your team, not to make a jack-ass of yourself. Hopefully, these people will act as real Aggies in the future! some problems faced by the University. Sully’s Symposium. Fall 1984. A foun dation for the future. Lambda Sigma would like to thanl the leaders, the Battalion, and the slo dents. Every leader we contacted agreed. They saw the need. The) wanted to hear what students were thinking. Without the leaders, Sul would have no claim to success. Also, the Battalion’s commitment to this free exchange of ideas gave Sully a loudei and more lasting voice so all Aggies could hear. Most importantly, students took time out on Wednesday mornings to consider an idea, to question a polio to listen, and to think. Sully’s Symposium is here to stay. The positive support and enthusiasm that Lambda Sigma has received has convinced us that the Symposium can go far beyond bridging the communica tion gap. A single student with an idea can stiumlate change, define issues, prompt solutions, and redirect goals The significance of Sully is that it hap pens every week. Through the contin uation of this open discussion on cam pus, we, as a university, can consistend) improve. Look for the Symposium eacli Wednesday at noon next spring. Ever) student has a voice at Sully. Robert Beard Lambda Sigma Colling needs to lighten up EDITOR: After reading Phil Colling’s letter on Thursday, I decided I couldn’t let it go. He theorized that most of the letters criticizing the Corps were written b) “misinformed, stupid and lying” people Some may be uninformed, but stupid, lying and trying to incite a fued as you put it, come on. Phil, are you so perfect that you can make such judgements? The letters were mostly written by fellow Aggies who are merely expressing their opin ion. That’s what this page of the Battal ion is for; look at the top in case you for got. As for the letter written by Susan Nickels and Chris Young on Monday, I did think it was funny. I seriously doubt they were out to undermine or damage the Corps, I’m sure you can handle it. They have a sense of humor that appar ently you lack. Loosen up! Lucas Nenoff Class of’85 Pi The De art IS ♦ A Hughe • A outsidi • A second Sterlin BUI VEHh • A an eqt 1975 ( 56. • A stolen Rabbit ]