Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1981)
■ f- v Viewpoint j The Battalion October 29,11 Slouch ^ ^By Jim Earle “When is somebody going to do something about these bicyc lers?” ‘Pumpkin’ ritual defies reason' After a “secret ritual, one man, guarded by torch-bearing comrades, runs through the night as the enemy, armed with sticks, closes in trying to bash in his head. Another man who has survived this jour ney describes it as something “like the mid dle of a riot with arms and legs and people everywhere — kind of frightening ... some thing to look back on — like a war story. ” At best, this sounds like the plot to a B-grade horror flick; at worst is sounds like a pseudo-sadistic fraternity stunt. In real ity, it is a fine example of “Good Bull,” a tradition that is planned, condoned and car ried on each year by the Corps of Cadets at Halloween. Angelique Copeland No one knows how the tradition j started. Who cares? I want to know why! allowed to continue. Give me one j reason it should continue. Don’t about “Good Bull,” the joys of traditi A&M "love it or leave it,” and thenbrinfj that asinine statement about Highways When this assault on reason takes place tonight, it will be the twentieth run of the “Great Pumpkin,” the October madness that affects Company C-2 and the Aggie Band. James Hughes said they had not decided what the freshmen will use to smash the pumpkin, but that dangerous weapons such as broomsticks will be avoided “as much as possible. ” What does “as much as possible” mean? At least axe handles have been ban ned. Small comfort. Just point out what possible fun'J purpose is served by a group of men™ to bash a pumpkin-headed cadet whl|| torch-carring chums try and protect him, for the honor of then smearing the puraplj all over the opposition’s dorm (\vt» sounds suspiciously like vai anyway). If it weren’t so disgusting, I’d laugh. The explanation of the tradition defies reason. But who said these things have to be reasonable? The object of the Great Pumpkin Run is for freshmen Band members to try and break a pumpkin head worn by a junior cadet as he runs across the quad. In a story about this “tradition,” Band Commander Hughes admits that there have been problems in the past with the “situation getting out of hand,” but that no one has ever been “seriously injured.” Yet. Can you imagine what would happejj any other group of students ran intoados and smeared pumpkin all over the pi# If this is their idea of the .spirit offers fun and rivalry, might I suggest theytij having a tug-of-war. Are we waiting for someone to have his head broken instead of the pumpkin, or to have an eye poked out in a melee of waving sticks, or to have someone set afire from the torches or just be trampled during the night dash across the quad before some sane per son puts a stop to this mess? If you feel that I’ve overblown or dr; tized the Halloween ritual that willt* place tonight, go and see it for \ ourselfM be careful, Company C-2 Commander)j| ry Smith has already said that whileotijf vers are welcome, “they should stayoutl the way for their own safety.” I rest my case. The Battalion USPS 045 360 MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Managing Editor . City Editor Asst. City Editor . Photo Editor Sports Editor .... Focus Editor Asst. Focus Editor News Editors Berni . . Angelique Copeland Marcy Boyce JaneG. Brust Kathy O’Connell Dave Einsel Ritchie Priddy Cathy Saathofl Debbie Nelson . . . Phyllis Henderson Fette, Belinda McCoy Diana Sultenfuss StaffWriters Gary Barker Frank L. Christlieb, Randy Clements Gaye Denley, Nancy Floeck, Tim Foarde, Colette Hutchings Daniel Puckett, Denise Richter, Mary jo Rummel, ■ Rick Stolle Nancy Weatherley,' Barbie VVoelfel Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers Brian Tate Daniel Sanders, Colin Valentine EDITORIAL POLICY The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper i operated as a community service to Texas Adr.M University \ and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not ^necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi- ", ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board ol £ Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter should be directed to the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s ,intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall 'and spring semesters, except for holiday arid examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Build ring, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. It’s your turn Debater s qualifications questioned Editor: While listening in frustration to the ERA debate Tuesday evening I found myself with one question: Why was Katherine Brady there? that organization’s services and do not like being accused as so. I would really just like to know where did the Gay Student Service Organization get its statistic of one lesbian and gay for every 10 Ags? relentless search for new definitions of the word Brotherhood. Chris Caperton 1008 Habbington Maybe all because they don’t knowi truth. Why would they change their J tudes after my telling them I’m gay?lw.J “wear big pink buttons with I’M Gill NOTHING will change on me at all. I Josep be se costu gradi and : As a proponent of ERA, I listened with growing dismay to Ms. Brady as she attack ed Ms. Schlafly on her motives, bringing up such issues as child abuse,’ rape, incest, and abortion where they had NO PLACE. She failed to refute any of Ms. Schlafly’s state ments or to counter her rebuttals. In read ing the provided background material on Ms. Brady, I saw no mention of research on the ERA or of any expertise in the field. Ifl did not have prior knowledge on the issue I sincerely doubt I could have come out of Rudder Theater with any conviction other than that espoused by Phyllis Schlafly. I believe what gays and lesbians do is their business as long as they stay to them selves. But isn’t this figure one in ten a little high??? Roommates are ‘safe’ EdlJ P.O. Box 6)1 Kathy Hartzheim ’85 Brotherly love How was Katherine Brady chosen to speak on this subject? Were her qualifica tions examined before she was asked to de bate Tuesday? Was she a replacement for someone else or perhaps a poor second choice? I was hoping to hear both sides of a very important, emotional issue but instead I saw a heavily weighted speech on what problems the ERA might bring to our socie ty. I hope that the MSC Political Forum will reply to this letter and re-examine its policies regarding speaker qualifications. Holly Haines ‘82 Statistics high Editor: After reading the Gays plea for support in The Batallion (Thursday, October22), I felt totally ill. In fact, I was insulted by the Gay Organization’s collective statement, “You need us, we need you. ” I do not need Editor: I applaud Kenny Ray’s letter in Tues day’s Battalion in which he spoke out against Gays. It must take a great amount of courage to bare your insecurities and per sonal vendettas to an entire campus. Since violence is such an American way to solve personal problems, I hope Kenny gets to “beat the hell outa” any and all of the Gays he wants. Because he definitely has a prob lem; and this appears to be the only way in which he and his “Old Army” buds can deal with folks who take stands that are incon gruous to their “conservative rightwing” beliefs. I’m not homosexual, so I know I’m safe for awhile. I just hope that after Kenny, et al are through “destroying” or “beating the hell outa” GSSO and Gays, that they don’t decide to start hating (if they haven’t already), heterosexual males who like punk rock, basketball and existentialist philoso phy ... and who can’t relate to “Old Army Tradition.” In the meantime, I wish Ken and his friends the best of luck in their Editor: Some Aggies were alarmed with the sta tistics presented by GSSO. I’ve read letters in this section of people that said they would be more careful about whom they share their room with, other didn’t believe the percentage of gay students on this cam pus was as stated. In fact, GSSO probably didn’t include professors, TA’s secretaries, and so forth. They’re here, too. However, I’d rather say something ab out whom you share your room with instead of adding more numbers (in favor of gays, of course!). I, myself, have had problems find ing a roommate. Most people seem to be afraid of sharing a room with a gay. Let me tell you something. I won’t sleep with a guy unless we both want it. This is not a unila teral decision. Also I won’t shout out loud whom I slept with. Right now I’ve been looking for a room mate. Eventhough I’m a discreet graduate student, when someone calls me and asks about the place, I describe everything. I also say that I’m gay or bisexual to be pre cise. The reason for doing so is because I don’t want any horrified face when I bring someone home. All I want is respect and no gossips. Let’s respect each other’s prefer ences and lives. This is pure discrimination. I’m sure. My friends — including girls — love me. We party together and we really get along well. No sense of humor Editor: Fj (h Some As one of five other people who signt Doug Spence’s letter of Oct. 21 must reply to Mr. MacCarthy’s reply inti Battalion of Oct. 28\ Mr. Spence is not wii ing this because he is cringing undert na J T^, t desk in mortification at MacCarthys so joodgrai thing comments. I would like Jim to poi bank out where, in our letter, we claimed “l the university community as a wholeisoi in which individuality is buried in a moil tain of snobbery and that attempting show any will be mercilessly put down the style of any critics of the Soviet Union (whew — what a sentence!). He certainii has a flair for the dramatic. In point off) our letter was intended as humor. That HUMOR, Mr. MacCarthy. Spell jtoiitl was not intended as an indictment of Aggit land in general, but as a satire of then treme opinions recently rampaging acW the editorial page of The Battalion. Achl ly, Mr. MacCarthy’s letter, not ourofl did serve to illustrate a basic fact: CJ Ags,” at least those like him, have sense of humor. bn Rick Ols« 323 Zacho Devotion to traditions not unique the small society WHAT V& ^11 'CWT X HAV^H'T ANYTHIN Y^T- X - ©1981 King Features Syndicate, Inc. World rights reserved Editor: It has become increasingly popular, to say the least, to be critical of Texas A&M and the things that Texas A&M stands for. The recent letters that have appeared in The Battalion are a good example. It seems that everyone has a gripes, and that Texas A&M and Aggie traditions are being held responsible for things that can and do hap pen on campuses all across our country. You say that several members of the Corps were hazing younger Aggies working on Bonfire, and that Aggie traditions are to blame? I say you take a trip to any universi ty with a strong Greek system, and go to any fraternity house on any weekend. I suspect Reader’s Forum Warped By Scott McCullar SPECIAL note: this week's strips were all written before, last WEEKEND. THE TIDING IS ACC I DENTAL. THEY DO l^ff REFER TO A/VY SfECIFIC I Sc I PENT. 15 THAT A V/OrtAN DOWN THERE IN THE A M 5AMD? GET EVER/ CAMERA WE'VE GOT ON HER FAST f GO-O-OO-O ags!!! r’ ^ec /)f? 9 9 ONE DAtAN FINE BAND? G0 0-0 0H-0L-y.... Y, / / DURING HALF-TIME AT TODAY'S A$M FOOTBALL GAME A FEMALE CADET WAS DISCOVERED MARCHING AND PERFORMING WITH THE BAND... m THERE ARE NO MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT, BUT ALL OF KYLE FIELD'S ASTRO-TURF WILL NOW HAVE TO BE REPLACED DOE TO THE RIOT. that you will see hazings far worse than quads and so-called “good bull.” Ask any mom or dad who has had their son killed by some stupid fraternity prank. You say that students at Texas A&M have no individuality, and that you cannot ex press your opinion without fear of ridicule. You want to say that you do not agree with Texas A&M’s traditions concerning foot ball, and that you are not into bonfire, yell leaders and the like? I say you go to the University of Arkansas and write into their paper saying that those little hog hats are stupid, and see how well you can express your individuality there. You say that girls at Texas A&M “sali vate” over members of the Corps, and I say go to Baylor and watch the sorority chicks go crazy over the guys in their Izod swea ters and khaki pants. You say to me that your grades have suf fered while working on Bonfire, and I say go to any college in the U. S. and see thousands of students giving of their time to hundreds of school-related activities. And lastly, you tell me that you do not want to be an Aggie, because you do not want to participate in the things that Aggies do. You tell me that you want to stay lie# and receive an education, however, don’t want the rest of us to leave yoiu or call you two-percenter because you don 1 participate. And yet you will stand up J ridicule those of us who do with letterst’ the editor, all the time laughing at # things that we love and cherish so mud You tell me all this, and I ll tell you to get® far away from me as possible. I hope that the meaning of my comes across. I am trying to show thattd problems and complaints that have beet aired here for the last two weeks are unique to Texas A&M, nor are theyTetf* A&M’s fault. Do not expect to be able criticize Texas A&M openly without othed taking offense. You are poking fun at insfr tutions and traditions that many of us ha'# grown up with and love very dearly. 1 not believe in the saying, “Highway 6run! both ways, ” but I do think that criticizing Texas A&M is not the way to solve yoi# problems. I wish that I could understand how someone could be exposed to tbt magic that is Texas A&M, and still not fed anything for the school, hut I can’t. I guess that I will just have to pride myself on thf fact that I do feel something, and leaveita 1 that. You may not understand, but I’ll keep on saying “Howdy,” sawing Varsity’s horns off, going to Silver Taps, and loving theol Maroon and White. I wish that you woul too. John Wagner‘Df Moore Entri Thomas I test are Texas At Thee in Englis ing the Mayo, w! Texas At in 1944, dor of t! He died Dead' iaSp.m. re ainounci Essay 1 I \ h