Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1985)
Page 2/The Battalion/Wednesday, April 3, 1985 OPINION Right to privacy not absolute in public The Corps of Cadets had its three-mile Bloody Cross run last Tuesday. There were cadets running around and around the Quad. There were cadets passed out on the ground from exhaustion. There were EMTs reviving the unconscious cadets. And there were members of the media taking in the whole University-ap proved affair. One of The Battalion’s photographers was there, snapping away. He spotted a few fatigued bodies sprawled on the ground and started to take pictures. But a cadet stepped in the way and asked him to stop. The photographer said he was sorry but that he still was going to take the pictures. This was a news story and the Quad is public prop erty. Not to be outdone, several cadets from Company M-l began tugging on the photographer’s camera, elbowing and body blocking him. Then he was “escorted” from the Quad by some helpful cadets. A typical reaction on this campus, indeed around the nation, these days. If you don’t like someone, get tough and rough him up a little. The point these cadets seem to have missed, a point many people miss, is that public places are open to everyone — includ ing photographers. The Quad is a public place, as are grocery stores, theaters, shopping malls... The courts have held it is not an invasion of privacy to take someone’s photograph in a public place. If you can see some thing in a public place, you can photograph it. Not only did these cadets try to prevent the public from see ing what it has a right to see, but they actually resorted to physi cal harrassment. Instead of letting the photographer do his job and letting the public judge what was going on for itself, the cadets decided to take matters into their own hands — and in doing so made themselves, and the whole Corps, look bad. The Battalion Editorial Board WHAT JF THEY GAVE AN ELECTION AND NOBODY CAME... mxm LETTERS: Royall endorsed for today’s election EDITOR: Student Government is now at a crossroads. Perhaps never before has the election of the Student Body Presi dent been so pivotal. Next year’s Stu dent Body President will have to deal with such issues as changes in academic advising policies, core curriculum pro posals, university wide course/instructor evaluations and budgetary problems. Therefore, it is imperative that next year’s Student Body President have the credibility and repoire with the faculty and administrators necessary to secure solutions to these problems that are ben eficial to the student body. The Student Body Presidential candi date who has the insight and knowledge to make Student Government work for students is Sean Royall. Through his in volvement in both the executive and leg islative branches of Student Govern ment, he has gained an understanding of what Student Government can do. As Vice President of Rules and Regulations and two years as a Student Senator he has acquired the necessary experience in the legislative branch. This year, having served as student representative to the Faculty Senate, Sean has worked exten sively with many of the issues that are of concern to the student body. Furthermore, Sean realizes which of these issues Student Government can be effective in pursuing. Sean understands what the position can accomplish and will deal with these issues. Any concrete gains for students will come through a sound working relationship with the faculty and administration. Once again, Sean’s strengths are tailored to the pre requisites of the position. Sean has exhibited the professional ism necessary to appropriately rep resent students needs. His ability to mo tivate others will ensure the productivity England’s past key to futm Coc LONDON — A, paradox of mod ern politics is that some of the most effective leaders lead while looking backward. Chur chill was a 19th- century romantic. De Gaulle, en trusted with authorship of the Fifth Republic, had his gaze fixed on the sweep of past grandeur. When Ronald Reagan said, “America is back,” he was saying that greatness is traditional. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, too, brings a retrospective cast of mind to an aggressive attempt to shape the future. Asked, in an interview at No. 10 Downing St., whether Britain can have a commercial future as bright as its com mercial past, Thatcher reacted in the vigorous manner characteristic of the very faithful when confronted by un comprehending agnosticism. Her an swer contained about two percent eco nomics, two percent sociology and 96 percent nationalism. This was the question: Is not your problem more complicated that the one Reagan saw for himself? Campaigning in the late 1970s, he said Americans are instinctive capitalists, bursting with en trepreneurial creativity, healthy people ready to re-make the world if only gov ernment would get out of their way. But the British are not that way. Her terse reply was: “They were.” Her expanded reply, delivered with quiet vehemence as she edged forward in her chair, was: “Most of the major industrial inven tions were ours. The steam engine, Bru nei’s bridges, the spinning jenny, Arkw right and so on, you name it.” With her Chalk up The Indians have finally de feated the cavalry. I’ve always rooted for the Indians be cause I felt the cavalry wasn’t quite fair when it came to drafting treaties. But this time it looks like the Indians are going to get to keep their land. On Monday the Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling preventing Texas A&M from denying the Gay Stu dent Services official University recog nition. The ruling stated that “officials of the state-supported university vio lated gay students’ rights by not giving the group official recognition.” University officials have contended that recognition of the GSS would lead to “increased overt homosexual activity and resulting physical, psychological and disease ramifications ... in the stu dent body.” In an earlier decision, the appeals court said that was only specu lation by University officials and that a public health argument was “not enough to overcome the right to free expression.” The battle began in 1976 when the GSSO asked for official University rec ognition. At that time homosexual con duct was illegal in Texas. But, in 1983 a federal judge ruled that law banning homosexual behavior in Texas was un- Kevin Inda and effectiveness of Student Govern ment. In such an important year, the high moral character exemplified by Sean will guarantee that Student Gov ernment truly represents students’ views. It is for these reasons that we heartily endorse Sean Royall for Student Body President in the April 3rd runoff elec tion. Wayne Roberts Vice President of Student Services 84- 85 Eric Thode Speaker Pro Tempore 84-85 Courage of gay students saluted EDITOR: Well, it’s finally over. Justice has pre vailed. The U.S. Supreme Court let stand the unanimous decision of a fed- first word, “most,” she was gilding the lilly a bit. But gilding lillies in ways that stir confidence is an act of leadership. She continued: Britain has been more creative more recently than all the talk about “the British disease” would sug gest. Britain created radar, the jet en gine, vertical take-off aircraft, penicil lins. But what happened to that vigor? She says there has been failure, especially in universities, to adapt to Britain’s role af ter empire. The universities were bril liant at producing colonial administra tors, but have never adapted to the need to train people for trade and industry. This reflects a “basic snobbery,” the prejudice “that trade and industry aren’t quite the thing as professions.” About that snobbery, she says icily, “We are getting rid of it.” One way she tries to do that is by evoking memories of Britain’s proud achievements and by laying waste, rhetorically, to what she sees as institutionalized snobbery. Recently Oxford University, proving that academic folly knows no national ity, voted against giving Thatcher what it has given other recent prime ministers — an honorary degree. In a speech last weekend she noted that many of Brit ain’s best entrepreneurs came from modest backgrounds, “didn’t speak with Oxford accents” and “hadn’t got what people call the right connections.” What critics “can’t stomach is that wealth cre ators have a tendency to acquire wealth in the process of creating it for others.” Various bishops of the established church have been mixing, as modern bishops everywhere are wont to do, the ology and macroeconomics. And they have been criticizing her. So she said, “Some reverend and right reverend prelates have been heard in the land. I make no complaint about that. After all, it wouldn’t be spring, would it, wii the voice of the occasional cuckooi' next morning the headline was: Dons, clerics are ‘cuckoo’ says Thatcher A few years ago some protesters gathered at a hall when Thatditi rived to deliver a speech. A televisie porter asked her reaction to thepn At first she seemed puzzled. Then said “Oh, you mean this. Whyshoi care? These people don’t belong] supporters. And I thank God don’t.” Her political success derives» small measure from a second pa« Democracy is government by coi But one way to get consent front) jority is to be seen to care litdefor sensus. It has made her a succej soon, an unprecedented success. A constant complaint about da racy is that electoral cycles overmt cycles of problems. By the timeai eminent formulates and beginsii meriting policies, the pendi movement of opinion rearranges governmental f urniture, and the cies do not have time to be testei 1979 Thatcher said she would neeo full terms — 10 years — to change ain’s course, which meant combi! m y moral snobbery and making other attitm ! R() > J 'l . 7 ,., ” L stance on changes. She may get more years. In May 1987, she will break Asf (1908-16) record for the longest cot ?nibarass< utive residence in No. 10. In 19i' E tate , of 1 1988, she probably will become Bnt Franklin Roosevelt, the only le the* rehu since the early emergence of demo; Governm — since, say, the 1832 Reform win three consecutive elections. George Will is a Washington Post. columnist for one for the Indians By Mike ( say Stude dinerenc running i But th: since hot' election f< Royall Symposiu Sigma, Ti Each ( minutes ! and two statement In beh asked foi Lambda J tions by o Both c: they had Services i the wome lution. R and Cool GSS but a Royall • nition of ( believe th of the GS! “If they have vote ely affecl nity, but C “If (ad mok sai hadn’t be< “Studei Die Batt; Battalion :rnment,’ why, thou relationsh don’t thir doing it’s j constitutional. Since then, the well- armed cavalry has been trying to wage war with the under-armed Indians. But now it’s obvious the cavalry has run out of bullets and their horses have all died. It’s not like they have an insuf ficient number of troops or anything; they have a well-stocked garrison. They just don’t have any more weapons left to use against the Indians. But, don’t count the cavalry out just yet. The commanding officer of the cav alry, Ted Hajovsky, said the cavalry will continue to chase the Indians. He also said he hasn’t yet received a formal re port of the battle, but when he does he will talk with other cavalry officers to discuss alternative actions. Meantime, all is not well on the prai rie. On Monday some of the Indians at tempted to smoke the peace pipe with local farmers. The Indians said they didn’t want all the land but just rather what they were entitled to. Some farm ers could live with the Indians but most reacted as if they would rather fight them. One prairie mother said she felt the Indians were a bad influence on her children and that if the Indians were permitted to stay, kids wouldn’t grow up to be normal. A couple of local preach ers also got in the act. They accused the Indians of being sinners and heathens in the eyes of God and challenged them to reform and become normal like the farmers. The Indians also had their say. They eral appeals court requiring Texas A&M to recognize Gay Student Services. The intention of the United States Constitution’s Bjll of Rights is to protect minority freedoms from intrusion by the majority. The free expression of mi norities can contribute greatly to the vi tality of our society, but only if society permits it. Our society will eventually stagnate and die if minorities and the ideas they represent are continuously suppressed by the majority. So even if you don’t agree with the Court’s decision, everyone is better off, for a sacred voice is now allowed to speak. It does not matter whether you agree with the voice, only that the voice can be heard and that you can listen and make a fair evaluation of what it has to say. So here’s to you Marco, and the rest of Gay Student Services for your great courage in the struggle to protect your voice and the voices of all Americans. Glenn Murtha, ’86 said that it was their choice to bean dian. They also said under theh have the right to meet on the same as the farmers. In response to rie mother and the preachers, the ans said they could all live peaceabl' gether. I somehow doubt that the farma this prairie will ever accept the But, it does look like the Indianswi able to put up their teepees anyul they please. Kevin S. Inda is a senior joum major and a weekly columnist for Battalion. Royall rnment municatu “I thin' failed in < dents km ment is cl that Stud improve. Battalion, relations! The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Brigid Brockman, Editor Shelley Hoekstra, Managing Editor Kellie Dworaczyk, News Editor Michelle Powe, Editorial Page Editor Rhonda Snider, City Editor Travis Tingle, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Dainah Bullard, KariFlucgtl Assistant News Editors *.. Cami Brown, John Hallett, Kay Malls Assistant Sports Editor - Charean Wills® Entertainment Editors Shawn Behlen, Leigh-EllenClai! Staff Writers Rebecca Ad® Cathie; Anderson, MarcyBai Tamara Bell, Brandon Ben 1 Jeff Brady, Ann Cervenb Michael Crawford, Mary ft Kirsten Dietz, CindyGt Pete Herndon, Trent Leojrf Sarah Oates, Jerry 0s!« June Pang, TridaParte Cathy Riely, Marybeth Rohsnc Walter SJ Copy Editors . Jan Perry, KelleySrf Make-up Editors Karen" 1 Karla Mart* Columnists Ed Cassavoy, Kevin Ini)< Loren Stefi Editorial Cartoonist Mikeft* Sports Cartoonist DaleSiP Copy Writer Cathy Benn® Photo Editor KatherineH® 1 Photographers Anthony Gasp® Wayne Grabein, Bill Hughes, FrankIrft John Makely, Peter Rocha, DeanSa® Editorial Policy 7 he Battalion is a non-profit, sclF-sup}X)rtmg neW/j# operated as a community service to Texas A&M ^ Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of & Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarily resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, M or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper^ students in reporting, editing and photography cb& within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 v length. The editorial staff reserves the right toed for style and length but will make every effort to the author’s intent. Each letter must be signed and include the address and telephone number of the writer The Battalion is published Monday through Frihl during Texas A&M regular semesters, except nr holifr and examination periods. Mail subscriptions arc fl6 l! per semester, $‘13.25 per school year and $35 per ti year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDoirf Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, ^ 77843. Editorial staff phone number: (409)845-2630^ vertising: (409) 845-2011. Second class postage paid at College Station, 7X77WJ EOS'EM ASTER: Send address changes to The Bad ion, T exas A&M University, College Station, Texas 0 Jud foilii toe no-pass son Coi the stud the live: failed at the past Judge temper Monday hearing make th The that the making show ar hies but courses They dents h will fore ture cot showing course’s