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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1990)
The Battalion Wednes OPINION Wednesday, September 5,1990 Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs 845-33 -Mail Call- Hey, A&M, leave a light on for us EDITOR: From the bottom of my Spirited Aggie heart, I want every person on this campus to know that they are a stud. Not just a typical stud, but a big, bad Ag gie Stud. You are a part of a longstanding line of tradition, spirit, loyalty, honor, truth, and pride. But lately, I haven’t felt too proud walking around our campus at night. ‘Scared’ is definitely a much better word. Sure, I hear that we are boosting campus security, and maybe I am being harsh because I saw three new lights (maybe I missed one or two with all the construction, so sorry!), but, for the most part I can’t tell a difference. If the recent University of Florida killings haven’t woken us up. I don’t know what will (maybe a Silver 1 aps for your In t friend, or would you yourself like the honor?), Personally 1 wouldn t mind a bit if we could do away with Silver 1 aps It’s a great tradition, but 1 < t i fainlv wouldn’t be mad if we didn’t have to have any more of them. Now, I’m not saying any Aggie would hurt another Aggie, but let s face it, v\ i have an open campus and we need to watch out for one another. So Aggies, just be aware. 1 here is no need for a horror story on our cam pus. It's too perfect a place. That’s why we say Texan by birth, Aggie by the grace of God.’ Let’s use that grace and make this campus a safer place to be. The $5 I’ve enclosed is for a few new lightbulbs. K-Mart could be having a blue-light special on them any day now so don’t get trampled in the rush. But I’m not worried about me, Dad is air-mailing the pit bulldog tomorrow. Maybe we can take turns walking him (all 40,000 of us)!!! Melody Dunne ’93 Have an opinion? Express it! Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, hut will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. There is no guarantee that letters submitted will be printed. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer. All letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald, or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111. &\CtqO HOU4TDN FC^T HEYjSOUYENIR JACKETS HERE! GET TOUR. SOUVENIR ^JACKETS!.,. Do) Pers Bill Brack Assistant ricultural “Absok lot of thin porting n< the world ply goes. I cerned abi leader frc another c< and that We need thing from Fraternities should lose University recognition Six years ago, former University President Frank Vandiver made a decision which has adversely affected our campus. Current President William Mobley has an opportunity to reverse that decision and return something to the school which has been lost in the process — its pride and unity. Vandiver’s decision to extend University recognition to social clubs, in particular fraternities, has created a chasm in an otherwise equal student body. By giving these organizations access to campus recruitment and University facilities, the University is in fact aiding and abetting groups which are exclusionary and elitist in nature. The divisiveness of f raternities can be attested to by anyone who has been questioned on their “Greek aff iliation” and then snubbed when found lacking. The University tends to overlook these side effects because they like to pretend that official recognition gives them some control over hazing and fraternity admissions criteria. This mindset is certainly wishful thinking. Fraternities use brotherhood and philanthropy as an excuse for existence. If they were truly interested in brotherhood, I’m confident that the Aggie brotherhood, which the body of the university and the alumni share and symbolize with Aggie rings, is stronger than any bond sealed by a pledge pin and an initiation scar. And it’s free. The brotherhood which they buy — for which the university acts as a broker, is pitifully weak in comparison. 1 he philanthropic cause which each fraternity takes up is commendable and worthy of mention. When, however, fliers and notices put on bulletin boards by philanthropic groups and many of the other 700-plus student organizations are papered over by fraternity posters spouting intellectually stunted drivel inviting students to “Become What Few Can Be” or “Try To Be The Most Wanted Man On Campus”, the best interests of these groups are not served. In addition to monopolizing bulletin board space, meeting rooms which are already in short supply due to construction in the Rudder Complex and around campus are used for fraternity recruitment. Because the University has no business sanctioning social clubs, especially at the expense of educational and professional clubs, official recognition of f raternities should be revoked. Any man on campus should have the right to join a fraternity — freedom to spend money freely is one of our most cherished rights. Local sororities have certainly not been hampered by a lack of official recognition. I’m confident that fraternities* would survive without university sanction (as they did prior to 1984) and I’m positive the University will benefit from a lack of f raternity “rushing” on campus. An exception should be made for the predominately African-American fraternities and sororities of the PanHellenic Council. These groups provide an invaluable source of cameraderie for the African-American students on campus and provide an opportunity for these students to socialize together which is not afforded to them anywhere else in B-CS. It is often argued that the Corps of Cadets is really a big fraternity. The Corps is a fraternal organization, but it is certainly not a social club. The main purpose of the Corps is to train reserve officers, and admission is open to all. The traditions and activities of the Corps are derived f rom and dedicated to experiences unique to this University. Fraternities have their own nationwide activities which are homogeneous from chapter to chapter, lending credence to the old joke that the only difference between an A&M fi at house and a UT fl at house is a hundred miles and a coat of paint. It is, admittedly, patently unfair to lump all fraternity members together in an unflattering stereotype. They’re not all arrogant, egocentric jerks. Some are nice guys and good Ags. Their behavior -as a group, however, of ten leaves something to be desired. I was saddened last spring whenl a letter from the Lafayette Daily Advertiser which publicly chastisedal group of A&M fraternity membersfol parading around in public wearing | shirts reading “Go Sigma Nu — Or&j F— ()ff”. A nice group motto, lobe sure, but not one that reflects well on our university or them as a university recognized group. I personally am more than willing! overlook the group actions and judge fraternity members on an individual basis — off campus, in a social setting without the university’s blessing. Asit should be. Larry Cox is a graduate student h range science. No reason to pity poor sorority rushees Fall at A&M — football games, long lines, wandering freshmen and yet another Greek-bashing column. So in my years here at A&M, I’ve come to expect (and ignore) these articles. But, Mrs. John Paul Johnson, your comments (Sept. 3) cannot go unanswered. No, I’m not “messed up in the head” as your article suggested, I just live in the rea/world. Mrs. Johnson, your tirade against sororities raised several points: first, you feel that the information requested of girls is humiliating — questions about family background, activities and grades. Yes, parents’ occupations are part of family information, but no one remembers or cares — it’s just a standard question. Arid grades are grades. If you can find a place where grades aren’t important, I’m sure we’d all like to transfer. Any club, college or company selecting new members/students/employees looks at grades. So you see, sororities aren’t the only ones requesting this “humiliating” information. Welcome to the rea/world, Mrs. Johnson. I wish my parents had the viewpoint that grades aren’t important. Activities are also another point of information that’s required again and again, on applications for employment and graduate school and many LJniversity activities. Call it crazy, but people like to know what you’ve been up to! Your daughter found giving this information humiliating? What is she ashamed of? Her family, grades, activities? I wonder how this girl got into college. Mrs. Johnson, did you find “non-humiliating” applications for your daughter? The next question I have is if your daughter was so “humiliated” by the rush process — then WHY, OH WHY, DID SHE KEEP GOING BACK} Seriously, would anyone keep subjecting themselves to the type of treatment that you describe? I don’t think so. At the end of your article, Mrs. Johnson, you state that your daughter likes the girls at both houses that she received bids! She likes the girls that humiliated her? Were you hiding in the bushes with binoculars during rush? How do you know all these “facts” about the “right” hair, clothes arid weight? Once again, welcome to reality. Every sorority has members who don't have the “right” hair, clothes and some are even overweight (shocking, isn’t it?). Looking your best is important throughout life—job interviews and the first day of work/school are just a couple of examples where appearance is a factor. I’m not saying it’s fair, but that’s life in the real world, Mrs. ] ohnson. If you really want to get in a suit, maybe your daughter should try out for the Diamond Darlings, Aggie Hostesses or (God forbid) a fraternity little sister. They require the same humiliating information. Sororities aren’t for everyone, but let’s all stop acting like they invented this system — they can’t possibly take the blame for an entire society. NO FAT CHICKS. Mrs. Johnson, you seem to think that only frat boys at A&M endorse this statement. REALITY: Men don’t like fat women anywhere! Mrs. Johnson, you c an blame society for placing a premium on thinness. If your daughter is fat, and maybe she’s not, you have a better chance of changing her rather than society. Break out the carrots and tie her to the car for a little exercise. 1 appreciate the fact parents don’t want to see their children disappoint or hurt. Mrs. Johnson, you need to realize that taking risks and endurin' dissapointment is what growing up is about. Your daughter will have a hart time if every time things don’t go hei way you tell her to blame someone or something else. You want to protect your daughter a world where grades, activities and appearance are often important. The only way to do this, Mrs. Johnson, ist( | lock your daughter in a closet. Andif you don’t believe that, then you live it fantasy land. AntyJ. Bening is a senior journalm major. Mark Hatta Senior — A. Hot Spring “Yes I dc ests in the need to pro Editor’s i porter ar Correction A man was incorrectly identified Orrin Hatch in an Associated Pres! photo on Page 2 of Wednesday’s Bat talion. T he man in the photo is Ton Foley. A Reader’s Opinion was incut rectly edited and should have stated the Civil Rights Act of 1990 drafted to overturn a decision byju* tice William J. Brennan. 1 he Battalion regrets the errors. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Cindy McMillian, Editor Timm Doolen, Managing Editor Ellen Hobbs, Opinion Page Editor Holly Becka, City Editor Kathy Cox, Kristin North, News Editors Nadja Sabawala, Sports Editor Eric Roalson, Art Director Lisa Ann Robertson, Lifestyles Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup porting newspaper operated as a commu nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan- College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the au thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regu lar semesters, except for holiday and ex amination periods. Newsroom: 845-3313. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full year: 845-2611. Advertising rates fur nished on request: 845-2696. Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station, TX 77843-1 111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POST MASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-4111. Adventures In Cartooning by Don Atkinson Jt G'KNOW, LASTNIONTH nH W6NT DOWN WLDCR, TO OL' LAH£ SHfmSG A\T HLTCHCD NC f\ S/6 A4656 O' FISH. 0\N, HCLL. THAT AIN'T NOTHIN'/ OAST WCOi X WONT HONDCR TO LAh£ SANAA WANK AN CAcmr /w: a bio oc M6SS 0' FISH TOO! OH <r&IH? W6LL, AH KFTCHCD NIC A BI666R M65S O’ FISH JUST OCSTVAV DOWN 'RCONP GOMBCKWADf , APT V00 60RE WON P£l~ATCD TTTH6S5 ' P£QPl£? 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