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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2002)
Opinion THE BATTALION 7 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 EDITORIAL Vote for Bonfire Students speak out The democratic process will be tested in Aggieland this week, land it is up to students to see it through. Participating in the Student Government Association's Bonfire survey is the only way to preserve a key element of Bonfire tradition: That students have a say in the planning and construction process. There comes a time when students need to stop complaining and start taking action about Bonfire 2002. This week the time has come, as the deadline for student input for Bonfire is Friday. Students have the opportunity to give as little or as much input as they would like - the most important thing is that everyone contribute. This week, students with a Neo email account can go to http://vote.tamu.edu and enter their opinions online. Locations jacross campus will also be set up for student voting. Questions Ivary from the Bonfire design to how much of a role they want to Iplay in preparing for next fall's Bonfire. I For students who feel that casting their vote is irrelevant, forums lare being held today in 292 MSC at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. This listhe type of responsibility that administrators and Bonfire activists [have been urging students to assume and this is the last chance. |The decision to have Bonfire this fall has been left in the hands of (students, but if students do not log on to a computer or go by a (voting site, then they do not deserve the role they have been given. | The opportunity to attend the last forums before the Jan. 18 (deadline should not be underrated. The best opinion is an edu cated opinion. ( Not only is this the last chance for student input, but officials (involved have said that if student participation is lacking, plans (may be hindered for Bonfire 2002. Students should not be hin dered by their own laziness. They should speak out and not allow (anyone to take anything away from the tradition of Aggie Bonfire, (it is time to put away the egos and bitterness about how Bonfire lonce was and take a stand for how Bonfire will be. THE BATTALION EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief MARIANO CastIU.O ; Managing Editor Opinion Editor News Editor News Editor Brian Ruff Cayi.a Carr Sommer Bunce Brandie Liffick Member Member Member Member Melissa Bedsole Jonathan Jones Jennifer Lozano Kelln Zimmer The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 200 words or lless and include the author's name, class and phone number. The opinion editor Ireserves the right to edit letters for length, style and accuracy. Letters may be submit- Ited in person at 014 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters also may be (mailed to: 014 Reed McDonald, MS 1111, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 177843-1 1 1 1. Fax: (979) 845-2647 Email: mailcall@thebatt.com :artoonoftheday i TUr: DV4c.*Rt6C>N\s-f-(f> MAIL CALL lake a statement, lelp keep the fire (Fellow Aggies, this week could our final chance to save ;gie Bonfire. The steering Jimmittee has worked hard to foduce a plan that will safely Wisfy the administration's jquirements. This week we have a chance to low our support for this amaz- (g tradition by answering the stu- ?nt feedback survey. (I know many are disappointed |ith the changes made in infire's design. But, the current jsigns, presented on the Bonfire (ebsite, are the safest and most (actical available to Texas A&M. (if you have never experienced infire then you have missed it on an extraordinary tradition (at has changed the lives of jgies for the past century, (ease show your support so you id future Aggies can continue share this tradition. iBonfire veterans need to let the iderclassmen know what Aggie infire is all about. There is defi- tely something lacking at Texas without this great tradition, (ease show your support by jiswering the student feedback survey. It only takes a minute and it could save 90 years of tradition. Matt Warner Class of 2002 Uncartoon has bigoted view In response to Jan. 14 uncartoon. 1 know The Batt is supposed to make us question the norm, and the desire is to raise eyebrows and to shock us. However, I think that the editors neglected their duties when they allowed yester day's cartoon. Yes, it’s shocking. Yes, it raises eyebrows. Yes, it's racist. Yes, it could bring the full force of the NAACP down on the University and The Battalion. And the image of the dumb Aggie is perpetuated. So much for distinction of being known as a world-class University, where all the great minds wish to be. More like a world-class bigot school where all the great red necks wish to be. For the first time ever. I'm ashamed of this school. Eric Irwin Class of 1989 JESSICA CRUTCHER <s % a. Just compensation Sept. 11 funds should be used elsewhere S everal months after the Sept. 1 1 terrorist attacks, discussion has turned to mone tary issues. The United States gov ernment has proposed approximately $1.5 million settlement to each of the families affected by the attack, on the stipulation that they agree not to sue the government. In light of the situation, this offer seems more than fair. However, a few of those affected seem less than grateful for attempts to ease the situation, complaining that the settlement is not comparable with their lost family VRfl^H|Pf!gjjHH(|^| members’ earning potential. Although this may be true, these com plaints seem negligible when viewed in the larger picture. The attacks brought an out pouring of funds from Americans of all walks of life. Families that will never see $100,000. let alone $1 million, donated their money in an attempt to ease the suf fering of the affected families. The money was not meant to be spent helping the extremely rich maintain a selfish, wasteful lifestyle. As Callie Ann Martin said in The Dallas Morning News, “I sent in my money so families would have food — not to keep up some millionaire’s Mercedes.” The irony in the situation is that the less affluent families, those who could really use the help, are not the ones who are complaining. u. The people who are dissatisfied are those who are J used to a lavish lifestyle. Predictably, they argue the gov ernment should pay in proportion to the income of the deceased loved one. The United States is the richest country in the world, and it is highly unlikely that, with the amount of aid being offered, the families affected by the attack are going to starve. Even the poor families in America are only poor by comparison, as chances are they have got ten to use heated, running water and electricity at some fCK, HL-d L 1' Ail I point in time — a chance many people in underdeveloped countries will never have. The ungrateful reactions of some families illustrates that much of Americans’ money would have been more useful if donated elsewhere. Give $20 to the average American, and it will buy him or her dinner. Give it to a Third World family, and it will be more money than they will see in a year. It may very well save someone’s life. If someone wants to donate money to a charity, there are plenty of legitimate groups that provide much-needed aid to people who will not complain that they were not given enough money to pay the mortgage on their mansion. Net Aid is an organization that provides sup plies and education to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The United Nations Children’s Fund combats childhood ill nesses, provides care and fights for the rights of children around the world. However, there are countless American charities that deserve just as much help. Most cities have privately run homeless shelters and battered women’s shelters that are constantly in need of aid. Nationwide organizations such as The Salvation Army also provide help to those in need, although some donors legitimately worry about their money getting lost in the bureaucracy of the company. It is regrettable that some of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have turned out to be so mercenary in the face of generosity. After all, $1.5 million may not put a person on a level with Bill Gates, but it is a generous way to help someone start his or her life over. <L li V%yv - DIANE SUAREZ • THE BATTALION Jessica Crutcher is a senior journalism major. Discrimination at work Courts should not limit scope of Disability Act O n Jan. 9, the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, decided that work-related dis abilities, such as carpal tunnel syn drome, is not a major life activity and therefore does not allow a person to sue under the ADA. The case arises from a worker, Ella Williams, at a Toyota manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky., who devel oped the repetitive motion injury while working. Toyota first accommodated her by changing her job assignment, but when new tasks were added to her assignment, her disability became a problem again. She was fired, and in turn, she sued under the ADA. While carpal tunnel syndrome may not be a disability that affects impor tant daily activities, by narrowing the scope of the law, the Supreme Court has caused a catch-22. These workers have a limiting disability in the work place that could lead to discrimination, but they are left outside the umbrella of the ADA with no protection from this potential discrimination. BRIEANNE PORTER While many agree that caipal tunnel syndrome does not follow the normal defini tion of a disability, it is a work-related injury, and peo ple should be protected from losing their job's. A New York Times editorial argued that suffering from this type of disability should not make these people unemploy able. The fewer people unemployed, the Those who suffer from these ailments are willing to work, but they require a job that will not aggravate their injury. better it is for the economy today. Those who suffer from these aliments are willing to work, but they require a job that will not aggravate their injury. This decision will make it harder for these people to fight for a job they are qualified for and able to do. The companies need to take the ini tiative and work to find a reasonable sit uation, for both the company and the person. If it means changing their job assignment or additional training for a new job, both parties should work to find a solution. In a Boston Globe article, the presi dent of the American Association of People With Disabilities, Andrew Imparato, said, “the ruling was one more in a recent series by the court cre ating more hoops for people to jump through to prove they are disabled.” This decision by the Supreme Court will cause more people who are physi cally or mentally disabled to be discrim inated against and will make it much more difficult to prove they are disabled. By limiting the scope of the ADA, the Supreme Court decision has caused many disabled workers to be unprotect ed in the workplace. While the disability does not affect major daily tasks according to the Supreme Court decision, many people view their jobs as a major part of their lives. Congress should take the initia tive to create a law that protects these workers and fills in the open spaces that were created by the ADA and the Supreme Court. Brieanne Porter is a senior political science major.