Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1985)
Wednesday, January 30, 1985/The Battalion/Page 3 ^TAT'fy a |SIV"\ I Political debate features radical activists from ’60s amed ion of ^er of ry ai- inhai- ounii untof frous ■as no What ystem crimi- n citi- aging tz for y in- crira- ipre- ired. >the t es- jusi > in- But, ena tied im- The ■al- I serve f d for I : var- I (<xh, f te ac- I ’sac- I ) felt I ^ 0f I ndu- ' ome- |; i this I most I ifiee. I that [: peo- I pick | one. I' waist I ■tiro- I f his E By ANN CERVENKA Staff Writer Abbie Hoffman and Jer ry Rubin, two radical activists of the 1960s, will debate on the idealism of the 60s and the realism of the 80s on Thurs day at 1 pan. in Rudder Theater. 1 he debate, sponsored by the Me morial Student Center Political Fo rum, will undoubtedly touch on the Youth International Party, co founded by Hoffman and Rubin in 1968. The Yippies organized in pro test of the Vietnam War and Ameri can policy. Hoffman, once described by Time magazine as “the frizzy-haired, war- painted Yippie leader who preached revolution against the American es tablishment," personified the young rebel with his political pranks and colorful lifestyle. In 1973, Hoffman was charged with the possession of $36,000 worth of cocaine. Because he did not think he would receive a fair trial, he jumped bail and went underground for six and one-half years. During these years, he remained in the public eye, but without his identity becoming known. He as sumed the name Barry Freed and became an environmental activist in New York. In August of 1980, he made a dra matic re-entrance into society which coincided with the publication of his autobiography, “Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture.” During the emergence of the civil rights movement, Rubin left the University of Ualifornia-Bei keley to become a full-time activist. Between 1965 and 1967, he acti vely opposed the Vietnam War , be lieving it “was a moral issue and peo ple had to be willing to go to jail to stop it.” In 1966, he ran for Mayor of Ber keley on an anti-war campaign and came in second of four candidates with one-quarter of the votes. As a member of the Youth Inter national Party, he “sought to impose guerrilla theater on the political con sciousness of the country.” Af ter the Yippies demonstrated in Chicago in 1968 at the Democratic Convention, several were found guilty of inciting riots. Rubin served a total of nine months in jail in five different states for his anti-war activ ity. After the Vietnam War ended, re sulting in peace on college cam puses, Rubin withdrew from the public eye. In 1982, he joined the “establish ment” that he fought against so many years. He and his staff invite people from the entertainment and financial worlds to a weekly “net working salon,” where business mat ters are discussed. Foreign film series considered again By MARY MCWHORTER Reporter The foreign film series cancelled last November is being considered again by Schulman 6 Theatre owner Morris Schulman. The overabundance of theaters in the area and the shortage of movies that usually occur in the spring and fall might provide an opening in the aters for foreign films, Schulman says. The foreign film series stopped after showing only seven films. “I believe there is an audience for first run art films,” says Larry Hick man, a philosophy teacher at Texas A&M. “One of the ways you gauge the sophistication of a community is if they are content to show Clint Eastwood ... Arnold Schwarzeneg ger movies or more thoughtful and wellcrafted films.” Hickman also teaches a film course in the philosophy depart ment and organizes Alternative Cin ema, a non-profit program that shows foreign film classics at Texas A&M. The Alternative Cinema series is beginning its second semester and is a success. Hickman says he is able to meet all his costs in bringing the for eign films to A&M. On the other hand, Schulman says his foreign film series failed because of an uninformed public and high shipping costs. Attendance wasn’t large enough to cover all the costs, Schulman says. Even though he had larger than usual ads in the Bryan-Coflege Sta tion Eagle, the public didn’t find out about the films by the time they were shown. Aggie Cinema is presently show casing foreign films on Sunday nights. Also, Alternative Cinema shows its foreign film series every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Architec ture Auditorium. ‘Hokum’ Man says racing bill full of it Associated Press AUSTIN — Claims that legalized horse race betting could generate up to $200 million in state revenue are “a plate full of hokum,” the director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission said Tuesday. Phil Strickland, director of the group that long has opposed pari mutuel gambling, said some racing bill backers are projecting a revenue figure that is twice the average of wfiat the biggest racing states re ceive. One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Hugo Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, has said racing eventually could bring Texas up to $200 million. But Strickland said statistics from the horse racing industry show Cali fornia, the state with the largest pari mutuel income, received over $ 138 million in 1983. The average of the four racing states with the largest incomes —Cal ifornia, New York, Illinois and Ohio — was just $79.6 million in 1983, he said. And in states around Texas, revenue ranged from $2.1 million for New Mexico to $11.6 million for Arkansas, he said. “This most recent claim by the horse racing folks hurt them,” Strickland said. “They are assuming that legislators are incredibly gullible or incredibly stupid. “Pari-mutuel gambling might eventually raise $200 million, but I will be riding to work in a space buggy when it happens.” Berlanga and Rep. George Pierce, R-San Antonio, introduced the bill in the House Monday, and Speaker Gib Lewis said the legislation’s time mav have ai t ived. “Til be honest with you,” Lewis said. “At one time, I was opposed to pari-mutuel betting. It’s something that’s overdue, especially with the fi nancial problems we are facing in the state." Given the state government’s bud get problems — a potential shortfall of $1 billion over the 1986-87 bud get years — Lewis said gambling rev enue could help. “It’s a multi-billion-dollar indus try,” he said, with potential windfalls not only from a cut of the bets but also from “satellite businesses that it spurs.” Horse racing legislation was ap proved by the Senate in 1983, but failed in the House by two votes. Berlanga said he thinks the House will favor his bill this time because of the need for new state revenue sources and because in 1981 and 1983, the House broke a psychologi cal barrier by voting on horse racing. “Primarily, we feel like we’re op erating from a position of strength,” Berlanga said. I he new bill would allow pari-mu tuel racing only in counties where a special election approved it. Berlanga acknowledged his bill is at odds with Gov. Mark White, who has said he wants a statewide vote be fore pari-mutuel gambling is per mitted. Berlanga said he is going meet with White in hopes of getti his support. The Texas Horse Racing Associa tion has said pari-mutuel betting eventually could bring the state $75 million to $100 million annually in new revenues, while Critics contend it would attract organized crime. If passed, the bill will establish an eight-member Texas Horse Racing Commission to regulate the indus try. However, the comptroller’s of fice would monitor the financial af fairs of the tracks. to getting Parkway Medical Clinid 20% Discount to A &M Students & Faculty 8 a.rn, to 8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Parkway Shopping Center-next to Kroger's & TG&Y 693-0202 Atfaky / POfUi i FiffCi, Large Pizza .$3.99 99$ f*&i e/xJttia tfestt -soft drink refills 25£- Open 11 a.m,-past midnight 846-0079 846-3824 509 University Drive 'ght starting tomorrow::: STOREWIDE SAEE M oo jItoff ALL ALBUMS & CASSETTES [r JOHN FOGERTY 11 Cenferfield TINT PRICE REGARDLESS OF LABELS REGARDLESS OF price: - OPEN TIE MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY -$AE fAl/S/C rxmE&s 725-B UNIVERSITY DRIVE Behind Skaggs next to Tommy’s Bar 7 Grill The Battalion SPREADING THE NEWS Since 1878