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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1981)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Monday April 27, 1981 By Jim Earle “This is my secret shortcut for getting ready for finals! All I have to do is know all these old quiz files and I don't have to study for the exams at all!” Looking for sexual equality in church By DAVID E. ANDERSON United Press International After two years of grass roots study and discussion, U.S. participants in an interna tional study on the roles of women and men in the church find the issue of authority and malebiased language two big blocks to sex ual equality. Partnership or equality in the religious community is a high priority item for women not only in the United States but around the world, according to the Rev. Constance Parvey, director of the World Council of Churches’ study on “Commun ity of Men and Women in the Church.” But she told a recent meeting of a meet ing of American participants in the study that men do not take the issue seriously. “Women despair because the men with whom they live and work don’t take the issue seriously,” she said. “Our study ... disclosed men had not recognized the depth and seriousness of the topic of com munity.” The U.S. consultation brought together representatives of 75 of the 200 U.S. grass roots groups that have been involved in the self-study. Dr. Letty Russell of the Yale Divinity School reported that the issue of authority — espeically the collapse of male authority — was a key thread that tied all of the U.S. study groups together. “Some groups said they were afraid of what would happen in society if the man was no longer head of the family and the male pastor no longer head of the church,” she said. One group report put it this way: “The symbols for God and for authority in the church and in the family have gener ally been male, although this is changing slowly. The symbols for authority in the church are the pastor, the church council, the ‘hierarchy’ in general, and the symbols for authority in the family are the parents, particularly the family.” When the traditional ways of under standing authority begin to erode it creates fear, according to Russell. “The tendency when you are fearful is to pull back, even though pulling back seldom solves the problem.” Language, which has become one of the most emotional and divisive issues in U.S. religious life in the last decade, was also widely discussed. But Parvey told the group that while masculinebiased language about God was a major problem raised by groups in the Un ited States, it was rarely mentioned in re ports from other parts of the world. Yet, reports from other parts of the world indicated that Scripture was a problem. One consultation concluded that “our churches in every place in the world have used Scripture and the authority of Scrip ture as a way to keep women in second- class place.” On the language issue, the U.S. consul tation specifically commended the National Council of Churches for its effort to develop a lectionary — those portions of Scripture used by many churches in public worship — that uses, whenever possible, non-sexist means of referring to God and humans. The Council has come under sharp attack from New Right religious groups for undertaking the project. But minority views on the language issue were also expressed at the consultation. “God is eternally Father, and not mother or neither or both, ” said Elaine Alexis Gou- naris, assistant ecumenical officer of the Greek Orthodox Church. the small society by Brickman IT<5 A ^ 0/A£K inc World rights reserved. /-/5 Warped Gone with the wind chill fact By DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — As we switch over to daylight saving time this weekend, let us give some thought to the history behind it. Although a comparatively modern dis covery, daylight time, like the wind chill factor, has become deeply embedded in our national life. In the down-filled society of today, we can scarcely imagine walking out the front door when the temperature is, say, 22 de grees without being aware that the wind chill equivalent is 8 below zero. Yet the hardy pioneers who tackled America’s frontiers did so in complete ignorance of the wind chill factor. Which may explain why more of them didn’t turn back. So accustomed are we to the tempera ture being something other than what the thermometer says it is, we find it hard to believe the wind chill factor is only 42 years old. The temperature equivalent formula currently in use was developed in Antarc tica in 1939. Daylight time, on the other hand, was discovered in England. A plan for advanc ing clocks in summer was first proposed in 1907 by a certain William Willett. The reason Willett’s plan never caught on probably was because he advocated set ting the clocks ahead 80 minutes. Even people who, frankly, weren’t too bright could see that an hour and 20 minute jump would play hob with milking schedules, etc. Daylight saving time as we know it was not adopted until World War I. Among the first to try it out were Army buglers. Here was where the fun started. A situation developed in which Army buglers were blowing reveille on daylight saving time while roosters were still crow ing on standard time. From that day to this, relations between military camps and bar nyards have been tense. The invention of daylight saving time was, of course, preceded by, and predi cated upon, the discovery of standard time zones. Standard time zones were not fo delineated until 1884, but most were discovered long before that, Early Viking explorers told of sail Eastern Standard Time as long ago] 11th Century. When pressed as whereabouts, however, they either, vague or changed the subject, So claims remain in dispute. We can say with certainty that Col reached the Eastern time zone in 14S, trouble was, he didn’t know it. Coin thought he was in India, which is.. other side of the International Datel In any event, daylight time is m much a part of our lives as Newton’sl Law of Gravity. The wind chill facto needs a little work, however. In summer, the wind chill factorbet es fairly meaningless. What is needed ing daylight saving time is a shade factor. That way, when we go out in 90-d« weather, we’ll know it’s really like 111 the shade. Talk ab< for two at This w; out for pri Associatioi For a ! Casino me lars at the so prizes ; The on! bids was I many of th right deah player coi get “Black out being At seve could che; shuffled ai Other Ca dealer, c fortune. Some p two hours pair of h started at When thousands second flo as people was wortl Many c money to ■It’s your turn Tuition column had inaccuracies Editor: I am writing in response to the “Flush center” column by Terry Duran which appeared in the April 15 edition of The Battalion. The article, which is about pend ing legislation proposing substantial in creases in tuition for students at state sup ported universities and colleges, contains several inaccuracies concerning my posi tion on this matter. First, and the most obvious of these, is the statement that I am one of three sena tors considered “more-or-less undecided members that could swing” the decision on the bill in the Education Committee. This is impossible since I am not even a member of the Education Committee. Furth ermore, I am not “straddling the fence be cause I don’t know what the people of Col lege Station want,” as the article states. I am quite sure I do know the feeling of a majority of the students at Texas A&M Uni versity, and I have made my position clear whenever approached on the subject of tui tion increases. That position is that I am opposed to any increase in tuition unless that increase is absolutely necessary to pro tect the Permanent University Fund, which is a critical element in the financing of the university. I am sure you are aware that the Permanent University Fund is largely responsible for Texas A&M’s record of excellence. Let me pose a question — if the alterna tive comes to losing the Permanent Univer sity Fund or passing a tuition increase, for which would the writer, and all Aggies opt? While I do not object to anyone, in the press or otherwise, urging my constituents to write me about their concerns on pend- ing legislation, I do resent my position being misstated and simple facts being re ported in error. I look forward to working with you in the future before such inaccuracies appear in print. Kent A. Caperton State Senator, District 5 Editor’s note: Terry Duran has already spoken with Sen. Caperton about the in accuracies in his column. Both he and The Battalion regret the errors. Aggie spirit Editor: ^ As foreign students we are glad to , part of Texas A&M University an d as ? we would like to state an opinion rega the letter that appeared on April 23, by Ali Esfahani and Behnam R 3 ! -_ A&M is a great institution that l ias ^”|j not only one of the best educations bii the opportunity of becoming members the Aggie family. Two days ago the Aggie Muster I ovonnH theWorPl By PHYL1 B KAMU-T ,porary Chri ‘as the first st will bring na station. The stai Holm and the prograi public tele want it. “It’s not r ger Lewis, ram, said. “Taping first step oi station will it to one he other publ across the r cess will cos $17,000. The stati in August a festival. Th station’s be is then that bership sul Lewis s the prograi of exposur quite impo This is tl has gone t cess of proi a one-houi It did, how tribute a programs “Plant Kin place moving Aggies all around the ^ a huge spirit of brotherhood. It b spirit that we see with disbeliefthepo 5 ' j of certain students in their abuse o privileges that as guests in this coun 0 all enjoy and as Aggies we call u P on jJ senses to abandon such an attitude " can only bring conflict among us. ,, Oscar Alvarez,; Roberto Alvarez By Scott McCullar AMERICA'S PROTEST A6AINST fAOKONlC STEREOTYPI N <5 ON TV INCREASES. HERE ARE SOfAE COMMENTS PROM PEOPLE \NE questioned: I MEAN, IT's NOT REAL' LIFE, OH, I FI 0 ORE IF I WATCH PEOPLE THAT STUPID FOR LONG, I'LL BECOME LIKE THEM. LIKE MR. WHIPPLE, OR LAVERNE 4" shirley or John davipson... 00 m i \ c m 1 tl 1 ♦.. k I THOUGHT MIND CONTROL, PROPAGANDA 4- SUBLIMINAL SUGGESTION WERE DIS GUST I N 6, BUT TV? IT MAKES ME FEEL SO USED? I THINK THE ONLY PEOPLE STUPID ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THE ADS ARE THE CHARACTERS IN THE SHOWS. The Battalion MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress ISPS 04.i :{f)() jievwp^Pf Managing Editor • ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Angelique Copeland £yS?' ngEdit0r Photo Editor r Marcy Boyce Sports Editor ! . RitchfeTrlddy IrFocrEditor ! i1 News Editors ^ Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory students in reporting, editing and photogrip within the Department of Communications. ^ YIf l r*^t✓x r* 1nT il I Tl fT L Questions or comments concerning any should be directed to the editor. StaffWriters .... K - M «yer T ’ ' Carolyn Barnes, T rx Ja ^, e G ' BrUst ’ Frank L - Christlieb Terry Duran, Benue Fette, Phyllis Henderson^ KTnth n’n et n Hutchings, Belinda McCoy Cartooll OCOnne "' D,inl!<i Rich, “. Photographers Chuck Chapmm, Brim rite editorial policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaoer operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan - College Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat tahon are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Univeni- ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed ^ f length, and are subject to being cut if they are , .pM(l editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters .1^ length, but will make every effort to maintain intent. Each letter must also be signed, show and phone number of the writer. jji Columns and guest editorials are also we co ^ ^ not subject to the same length constrain Address all inquiries and correspondence ta ^ Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published daily during and spring semesters, except for holiday an $33. periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per seme ^ per school year and $35 per full year. Adve furnished on request. n na iap- Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed Me ° ^ ing, Texas A&M University, College Statio "' sjve i y " United Press International is entitled exeuT^ use for reproduction of all news dispatc es Rights of reproduction of all other matter e Second class postage paid at College Stai
