Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Friday
May 8, 1981
H;
le;
By]
Slouch
By Jim Earle
the end of finals week. Now I need a cure for severe depression.
Fight night poorly organized
What was the end goal of the spectacle
known as Fight Night? It was to raise funds
to help the needy. Indeed, that is a worthy
cause. But was that goal maintained as the
primary reason for the staging of the fight. I
think not. From the beginning the worthin
ess of the goal was debased by the wanton
desires of the orgainzers of the event, and
the promotion of unneccesary violence by
the spectators.
The worst infractions of safety and fair
play were committed by the Organizers of
Fight Night. The organizers were Sigma
Phi Epsilon and actually there was no orga
nization. Actually, I do not mean to blame
all of Sigma Phi Epsilon but just the mem
bers responsible for the safety of the event.
One such member was Tim Smith. He was
referred to me by other Sig Eps as being the
top organizer and therefore the man most
responsible for the boxing matches.
The lack of organization was manifested
in several ways. One way was that a great
majority of the fights were not fought at
their scheduled time. The first night, Fri
day, the matches were an hour and a half
late. On Saturday morning they were an
hour late. This was very bad on the nerves
of the fighters. I know this because I fought
in the light heavyweight open division.
Reader's Forum
However, I won my first two fights. Also
many of the fights were uneven because
poor organization allowed fresh boxers to
fight people with 3 fights already under
their belt. I ask you what better way is there
to get hurt? But you say the fighters had a
choice. What choice is there next to a man’s
pride? Luckily this did not happen to me. I
was stabbed in the back by having to default
because I was told the wrong starting time
for my third fight.
Another aspect of lack of organization was
equally as dangerous. I know that at least
one fight was allowed to take place even
though no medical personnel were present
to aid the fighters in case of injury. This was
well known to the organizers. The fight took
place though and there was an injury. Luck
ily, it was a minor injury and the fighter did
not sue the organizers. It may come as a
surprise to Sigma Phi Epsilon, but in a civil
suit, I doubt the disclaimers they had fight
ers sign would hold up as a disclaimer of
negligence on the part of the fraternity.
I think that last but not least the selection
of the referees left a lot to be desired.
Through their selection it was shown that
He is
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what was wanted was not a simp; Jniversit
raise but a bloodbath that wouldsati lorps of <
desires of the spectators. Manyoftk e S t ^ at 4
were prolonged too long. I am refer ,ate in 11
one fight in particular. It was my fin ies I
Friday night. My opponent
courageous person like mostofthefi
were who stepped into the ringwil'
no boxing experience. I do not
deserved the outcome of the figl
had a little boxing experience mysi
is why I could tell that in the thirdn
fight should have been stopped,
luctant to hit my opponent becai
already closed his left eye and he
defend himself. This was evident
tinct times during the third rooi
referee (a former seven-time
heavyweight champ) kept moving
continue the fight. I did butatav
creased intensity. (I also wantedto
recently found out just howbadlymi
nent was hurt. He is going to ne«
structive plastic surgery on his left
in the name of helping the needy
that in the future the selection of
will be made with an eye toward
mate goal of the event. That is, i
compassionate enough to help the
Not to put more people in the placei
needy.
Thom
ifi
r.
It’s your turn
Sands’ death tragic, but don’t support his cause
Editor:
Reader not convinced
As an American living in London and
Manchester, I have seen the damage that
the IRA-Irish Republican Army-has done.
Although I agree that Bobby Sands death is
tragic, I find it very hard to sympathize with
his cause.
What is amazing to me is that the IRA
still is receiving support and arms from Ir
ish Americans here in the U.S. The IRA
glorifies itself to Irish Americans and pur
ports that they are Irish heros fighting the
suppression of Mother England. Believe
me, this is a lie.
In 1976 and 1979, I was in three bomb
scares in London, caused by the IRA. One
of the bombs was supposed to go off in the
London Underground, another at the Lon
don Hilton (at the height of the tourist sea
son) and the last at the Immigration build
ing outside of London. The IRA wasn’t
trying to blow up just the English, but any
man, women or child that happened to be
there. INCLUDING AMERICANS.
I think that if Irish Americans wish to
help Ireland, they should support the nego
tiations now proceeding between the En
glish government and leading Irish political
and community people.
The IRA, now being trained by the PLO,
deserves to be treated like the terrorist
group it is, advocating hope and destruction
and not the peace Ireland needs now so
desperately.
I say to other Irish Americans: don’t lis
ten to IRA supporters unless you wish to
help speed up the total destruction of the
Emerald Isle. Instead support peace nego
tiations and let people like Bobby Sands not
appear as the heros they wish to be, but the
violent petty men that they are.
Barbi Tomlin — An Irish American
Editor:
This is in response to Mr. Rajabian and
other Iranies who think they can disrupt
M.S.C. Forum because they lived under
the Shah. In the first place, very few Amer
icans at A&M oc.anywhejre else in tbe U.S-
believe that the Iranian natural resources
were “plundered by U.S. government.’’
You have failed to convince us of this. We’re
tired of hearing about how you were ex
ploited and colonized by the CIA and the
U.S. in general, blah, blah, blah. Furth
ermore, we’re tired of pouring billions of
dollars in foreign aid, loans, and other funds
into third world courtries, then having
these same countries turn around and na
tionalize U.S. properties, declare Com
munist governments, deliberately vote
against us in the U.N., and, in your case
Mr. Rajabian, send their students over here
to our first class universities to demonstrate
and complain. It seems to me that there is a
big mix-up here about who are the exploi
ters and who are the exploited.
Mark Coughran
A&M may lose teacher
Editor:
Texas A&M is on the verge of losing an
extraordinary teacher. Dr. J. E. Leonard, a
lecturer in Organic Chemistry, is one of the
finest teachers, and without a doubt the
most devoted teacher, we have ever had
the pleasure of knowing. His concern for his
students and his willingness to help them is
evident from the first day in his class. His
friendliness combined with an exceptional
teaching ability makes Dr. Leonard an asset
to his profession and to this University as
well. Dr. Leonard is not without research
to his name, either. In fact, he has just
returned this semester from a year’s leave
of absence for research purposes.
Despite these qualifications, Dr.
Leonard was denied tenufe because appa
rently some of the administrators of this
University think A&M should be the “MIT
of the South.” What these administrators
do not seem to realize is that most of the
students here prefer to attend a university
which has outstanding teachers rather than
outstanding researchers. Many of us feel
that the rapid growth of A&M has been due
largely to the warmth and concern that ex
ists between students and faculty. Unfor
tunately, if the current trend continues this
University may lose this unique quality and
become atother “prestigious” research
facility.
In closing, we would like to thank Dr.
Leonard for his devotion to teaching and for
making this semester one that few of us will
forget. We also regret that many students
have never had the opportunity to take a
course under Dr. Leonard. It is also our
sincere hope that whoever made the deci
sion to deny tenure to Dr. Leonard will
reconsider so that future students of A&M
might also have the opportunity to find out
just how wonderful a teacher Dr. Leonard
really is.
Any help in this matter would be appreci
ated.
Craig Couch
Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied
by 72 signatures.
learn from, and about, another person is to
view the individual from a point deeper
than the surface. What an individual really
is, is what he is inside. If, for example, a girl
does not wear make-up, society does not
view her as what she is inside. It instead is
critical of her because the general attitude
is that she could “enhance her beauty” if
she wore make-up. So much emphasis is
placed on the outside, that people are blind
to what the person is on the inside. If some
one is different, they sould not be labelled a
“freak.” We should learn from them. Indi
vidualism is, or at least should be, an impor
tant part of each person. The ability and
even the encouragement to be an indi
vidual is a gift to be treasured. And
perhaps, if we refuse to be an individual, or
to recognize the virtues of another’s indi
viduality, we are not as rich as he. Next
time you look at someone, look at him for
what he is inside. Do not look down upon
him because he is not afraid to be himself.
Sherry P. McDaniel
Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied
by 29 signatures.
it on to him in Washington. (1 wouldl*
grateful if you would print this I
cause I believe some action mustkl
to stop this rather large expendite
Beth Alt:]
Convienent mailboil
tivitie!
ars ag
Nix presidential boat
Editor:
the small society
by Brickman
Look beyond surface
Editor:
There is a tendency on the part of
societies in general to not accept those
ideals which are outside of the norm. This
seems to be a universal attitude, however;
this universalness does not justify the be
lief. Everyone of us needs to examine those
individuals who do not conform to the social
norm. Because someone does not mold into
those ideals, does not mean he is wrong.
The motives for this behavior need to be
analyzed. The only way to understand, and
Recently, I read an article in the paper
about the government’s plan to spend tax
money on yet another dumb idea. The re
ported plan is to buy a presidential yacht
with which the president will entertain con
gressmen and other prestigous people. As
the editorial in the paper stated, “Don’t!
The taxpayers already furnish the president
with several places on dry land for this pur
pose.” I appeal to all students at Texas
A&M to let it be known (i.e. to the govern
ment) that we do not apppreciate our
money and that of our parents to be spent
on a “fun boat for the boss. ” Sources inform
me that the place to write for complaints on
governmental issues is to our Congress
man, Phil Gramm, 216 W. 26th Street,
Bryan, Texas, 77840 and they will telegraph
Editor: Freshm
Having recently become awareofilJining I
lem that will affect 300 girls, I wouMfioesn’t 1
offer a suggestion.
As a resident of the new Modularlj
on the south side of campus, I have
that I am now without a mailbox, aail
been informed that I may have to
the complete opposite corner of caa|
get a postbox. Can this really be
Will I also be facing the probability!!
ing no mailbox as some of those reside R
Hobby and Neely did at the begin * y
the year? rhe G J
I am sure a much better solutions Uni
found, if people would listen to some ice in o
ideas and act upon them now. Oneso! the st
that has lit upon the minds of almostUxas Ass
new Modular A resident and a
coordinators is the Commons.
“Yea! There is plenty of room in
mons, and the summer would be 2
time to build them as half of the res
are gone. Why don’t they put the mail
there!”
Ah, the eternal question, “Why?
since the Modular A dorm is
dered a member of the Commons
munity, how about building us some!
boxes so we can easily and eff
ceive our university, private
oriented mail. Many of the newresi
are seniors who will be needing ace h ;
eryday to a mailbox that will hopefulimpetit
tain job opportunities. As a membetwlheTe
new dorm, I hope someone will senfcred act
consider my suggestion. All of us Freign 1:
really like to have a convenient mailff 10 Th
Eileen Bannon ’82 T 0 ,' 11 *
Marissa Walls '84
Stacey Ruff-82 fc'
Working
Editor’s Note: This letter was siMnes an
105 additional signatures. loiiation
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With ;
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“This
Warped
WORE PHOTOS FRO/A THE
AL&im OF MERRITT
JE-NNINGS : IAV FRIEND
STEVE IN HIS OFFICIAL
NEWSPAPER DELIVERY -
BOV OUTFIT.
STEVE WITH HIS GOOD
FRIEND, THE PALM
TREE, AFTER GRADUATION.
STEVE SUDDENLY ANP
HAPPILY REALIZES HE
HAS GRADUATED, A A/D
FIN ALLY THROUGH WITH
SCHOOL.
A SHOT OF STEVE CTUST
AFTER HE REALIZES HE
IS NO LONGER A SENIOR”
ANYTHING, AND MUST NOW
WORK FOR A LIVING.
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