The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 30, 1981, Image 2

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The Battalion
Viewpoint
October 30,1981
Slouch By Jim Earle
Conservative, not intolerant
Texas A&M University is a very conser
vative place.
There’s something to be said for under
statement.
If people know nothing else about Texas
A&M, they know it is a very conservative
university. The teasips can vote Commun
ist and wear their hair down past their ank
les, but Aggies are conservative. After all,
their hair is short, isn’t it?
Conservatism is a word all of us hear
almost daily, but what is it? As Socrates
said, it is time to define our terms.
From reading the editorial page lately,
you would think conservatism means a will
ingness to kill, beat up or nuke anyone who
disagrees with you. “Kill the queers” or
“Thrash the two-percenters” or “Nuke the
frats” may be emotionally satisfying slo
gans, but I doubt that Thomas Jefferson,
William F. Buckley or Ronald Reagan
would agree with them. So what is conser
vatism?
A predisposition against government in
fluence over individual lives dominates the
platform of the Republican Party. Republi
can conservatism means fewer taxes, less
regulation and more freedom for each
American.
Daniel
Puckett
ft
By this definition, all citizens are free to
do whatever they wish, so long as they do
not infringe on the rights of others. If I want
to open a store, no bureaucrat should be
able to tell me no. If I want to drill for oil or
buy a gun, no Washington egghead should
be able to stop me.
But the train of logic does not stop there.
If I have the right to live my life as I please,
so do homosexuals. So long as they do not
try to force themselves upon the unwilling,
what right does the government have to
harass them?
If some disagree with Aggie traditions.
we : ought to consider their opinion wi|
calling for their execution. There arei
perfections even in the Aggie universe
Those who feel a need tojoinafrateu
ought to have that right. Just because^
and I may despise fraternities does
mean that we should try to prevent tli ?
formation.
Granted, there are gray areas
comes to University recognition of| f
groups. Should a publically fundedinsti
tion help support groups which in
the taxpayers? There are legitim
grounds for opposing the recognitionofi
Gay Student Services Organization or!
Greek groups.
Opposing recognition, though, doest
mean we should advocate, even inaspiiit
gleeful hyperbole, the death, maimii^i
exile of those with whom we
Thinking like that is not conservative;!
not even American.
Our Constitution guarantees the rigf
freedom of speech; the right to disagreea
more importantly, the right to voice!
disagreement.
More than anything else, freedom'^
foundation of conservatism, and Tr
A&M is a very conservative universih.
B;
It’s your turn
m
Comic strip has right idea, wrong approach
Because
thbootl
welcon
:k on t
Editor:
or his comic strip. Believe me it is no help at
all.
This is in reference to the Warped comic
strip published on Oct. 26 and 27.
Martha Langford ’84
Company W-l
The issue of women in the band, and the
position of women in the Corps is a very
delicate balance of nature and is very diffi
cult to explain. I realize that Scott McCullar
is trying to make a valid point, there are no
women in the Band, but by doing so in such
a way he is causing problems in the already
shaky relations between the Aggie Band
and companies W-l and Squadron 14.
Women in the Corps are winning accept
ance the slow, hard way: through proof of
worth and character. The main things that
stand in the way of our acceptance are
ignorance, fear and prejudice. In his col
umn Scott McCullar is helping to perpetu
ate these.
This week’s “Warped” comic strip has
indeed managed to warp relationships be
tween women in the Corps and the Band.
We feel that we are progressing well in
integrating the special groups of the Corps.
We don’t need the help of Scott McCullar
Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied
by 55 other signatures from the Aggie
Band and Company W-l and Squadron 14.
Fight with food
Editor:
OPEC nations want to charge us $38 for a
barrel of oil, good ... let them eat it! We
should exchange food for resources, trade,
and protection.
For some reason, however, Americans
have been conned by sincere and religious
people into the idea that we should give
freely to our “neighbors,” regardless of
their beliefs. Such people would have us
feed the world at our expense to ease our
consciences because we “have so much.”
Get rid of the signs
playing fields.
Editor:
Lynda Bt ;
Senator, Education at
I’ve got a suggestion for our incoming
Student Government officers: If you guys
are worth anything, why don’t you pass
some laws against littering a beautiful cam
pus with campaign signs — you really make
it look like crap.
Editor’s Note: This letter was accomj
nied by 22 other signatures.
MOB has no class
Common sense. That’s what we need in
our political arena, common sense. Various
groups have written to The Battalion con
cerning the military strength of the U.S.
and the use of nuclear weapons. Why not
use a weapon that leaves no radiation and
has the potential of overthrowing any gov
ernment? The weapon? Food.
Two thirds of the world’s food is grown in
the U.S. and one fifth in South America.
Why do we feed nations that oppose our
constitution and our way of life? If the
Hey! let’s wake up to reality. Why not let
our enemies starve? Are bullets and wars
more humane? Why do we send money and
relief to children who will grow up to kill
our own children in WWIII? Would it not
make more sense to starve our enemies
until they decide to play our game, and stop
bargaining away our freedoms in “peace
negotiations”?
It seems to me that we need a bit more
common sense. Why not take a route which
will prevent war and bring the riches of the
world to our country?
Greg Cizik ’82
have
‘If we c
in betwt
nizers
Issible ’
je trad
Mike T
Thatcl
ith the 1
lided no
crowd
the fief
people ]
madi
Editor:
Save Duncan field
leen org
ifficult, 1
Editor:
Michael Goad
Getting traditions back on course
It has recently come to my attention that
the student body has diverted from some
traditions basic to Aggie Spirit. My intent is
not to complain about the behavior of the
12th man, only to emphasize what I believe
is proper Aggie conduct at sporting events.
The ability to control a crowd of the size
that turns out to support the Aggie teams is
unique among colleges and universities.
As more and more people are drawn to
Texas A&M, partly because of the history of
our strong traditions, it is even more impor
tant that everyone follow the guidance of
those people elected to handle the crowds:
the yell leaders.
One problem that we’ve had was the
attempt by some crowd members to start
yell practice after the Baylor game while
the Baylor Band was still playing. Even
though we signaled the crowd to rest, some
people continued to lead their own yells.
There was a specific reason for waiting. We
were the guests of Baylor University, and it
is their right to play after the game and
common courtesy to wait until they finish to
hold yell practice. We would demand no
less at our own stadium.
Another problem is the “missuse” of the
“Beat the Hell ...” yell. It is the purpose of
the yell leaders to lead the crowd in support
of the Aggie football team. The “Beat the
Hell ... ” yell, which got started only ten
years ago, sometimes has the opposite
effect of what is intended. It may, in fact,
fire up the opposition, not our team. It is up
to the yell leaders to decide when the yell is
appropriate.
Mike
Thatcher
Tommy Orr, Class ’72 yell leader, initi
ated the yell for use at yell practice to fire
the crowd up. It was not intended for use
during the game. When he returned the
A&M several years later, Orr was dis
appointed to hear the yell being used at the
games.
While boot line. Spirit Line and the 12th
Man are well-known traditions, there are
some lesser known traditions that are be
coming harder to pass along as more people
get caught up in the spirit of Aggieland.
Many of these got started many years
ago, for practical reasons, and are still ap
plicable. Here are some examples of those
tradtions.
^Standing on the wood — Standing on
the seats (which used to be wooden) was a
senior privelege only, designed to protect
the wood from scuffing and splintering.
Even though the wood is now aluminum,
there is still a practical reason for keeping
up with the tradition. Excessive weight can
break the benches off. We have the best
facilities in the Southwest Conference, let’s
keep them that way.
J^Clapping during songs — While clap
ping was always frowned upon many years
ago, it’s now seen as a way of showing spirit.
But there should still be no clapping during
the “War Hymn,” “Spirit of Aggieland” and
the “Twelfth Man.” Hats should also be
removed during these songs.
^Starting yell practice early — Yell
practice doesn’t start until the yell leaders
arrive with the Band to Kyle Field.
J^Booing — Remember, Aggies never
boo. It’s up to the yell leaders to decide
when the “horse laugh” is appropriate. It’s
gotten to the point where hissing is used at
very inappropriate times, as in the case of
the introduction of important guests. It
makes no difference if they went to t.u. or
wherever, that’s no reason to hiss.
One of the best ways for everyone to
show their spirit is to participate in the
Spirit Line. The Spirit Line is formed from
Cain Hall to Kyle Field when the team
makes its way from Cain to the locker room.
Coach Wilson has said that he thinks the
bigger the line is, the better.
Texas A&M is known for the spirit and
enthusiasm of the crowds. The more people
that come to Texas A&M should mean that
much more spirit and enthusiasm, and with
the cooperation of the fans, the 12th man
will continue to be the driving force behind
the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football Team.
Beat the Hell Outta SMU!
The Texas A&M University System is
planning to build the University Press
Building on the east end of Duncan Field.
Duncan Field is one of the few remaining
grassy areas that make this University so
beautiful to faculty, staff, students, and visi
tors. Currently this field is being used for
three very important purposes: bonfire, in
tramurals, and football parking.
Although this building should not dis
continue any of these, it will certainly dis
rupt them. The probable overlap in con
struction periods for the press and the bon
fire would serve to cause confusion. Also,
the proximity of the building to bonfire
would cause an unnecessary fire hazard.
Although this could be overcome by proper
precautions, it seems an unnecessary risk.
Furthermore, the intramural and other re
creational use of this field is not conducive
to an office type building. Another problem
that would be intensified is the lack of stu
dent parking in this area. Not only would
there be staff parking required for those
who work in the press, but also the loading
dock area would cut into the student park
ing lot (lot 40). The construction of this
building would also set a precedent for
further construction on Duncan and other
playing fields.
Finally, because the operations of the
press do not necessitate that it be located on
the central campus, we would like to en
courage the Texas A&M University System
to consider an alternate location for the
Univerity Press Building (such as west cam
pus) and to not consider any further con
struction on Duncan or any of the other
•rs
idd
Footba
beautif
I am writing this letter on behalf of
halftime show put on by the Aggie Bam
the Rice game. First, I would like to m:
clear that I am not a member of the bai
am although, a member of the Corps.
The MOB (Marching Owl Band)shoi
very little class in the game Saturday,
sides obsene posters that they waved,
made the best college marching band
awful small. While on the sidelines,ti|
members of the MOB began blowingw
ties which in turn led some of the memlt turday’s
of the Aggie Band to march premature ethodist
The result was total chaos accompanied! me.
embarrassment and tears throughout! The si
Aggie Band. The classlessness demon ie nadde
trated by the MOB showed that theyItf :)Il stai id
very little respect for visiting bands andtfc ^ e an '
they wanted to see the Aggie Bandexecii
an imperfect drill. The only reason I cans
for such a tasteless act is jealously. A k
The Aggie Band drills every weel'df Xk
before a game for one to two hours adf "
They work hard to learn their movement „ M
to produce enjoyment for their fellowTeS KJk
Aggies. I am very proud to wear the s®
uniform as the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Ban! ,
Although the band has its conflictsB®
the rest of the Corps, when the Aggienli
is marching they are representing theti' > fl
tire University. All the band can do no*)
put the drill behind them and realize
we are all human and prone to making
takes. The band now needs to lookahead
the next drill for the SMU game andlu
that their band is not as inconsiderateas^
MOB was.
By the way, the last time an incident
this type happened was in 1967, thesaf
year the Ags went to the Cotton Bowl.
Mike Thatcher ’82
Head Yell Leader
Warped
By Scott McCullar
THIS »S A^M UPDATE. WELL,
THE SPECTATORS AT TODAY'S
FOOTBALL 6A/AE WERE AMAZED
TO SEE A WOAW CADET WAS
PART OF THE BAWD'S HALF ~
TlfAE PERFORMANCE...
SO/ME WERE LIVID, OTHER'S
WERE ECSTATIC. SOME
THOUGHT OF THE. CONCEPT
AS SACRILEGE, MAWY OTHERS
AS LONG OVERDUE.
BUT ONE WAY WE CAN SUM
UP PEOPLE'S FEELINGS
ABOUT WOMEN IN THE
BAND IS :
IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A
TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION, BUT
PEOPLE SURE KNOW IF THEIR
OPINIONS ARE RI6HT OR NOT.
STAY TUNED FOR
PRIVATE BENJAMIN."
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Angelique Copeland
Managing Editor Marcy Boyce
City Editor Jane G. Brust
Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell
Photo Editor DaveEinsel
Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Cathy SaathofI
Asst. Focus Editor Debbie Nelson
News Editors Phyllis Henderson
Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy
Diana Sultenfuss
Staff Writers 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 Woelfel
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr.
Photographers Brian Tate
Daniel Sanders, Colin Valentine
EDITORIAL POLICY
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operated as a community service to Texas A&M University
and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat
talion are those of the editor or the author, anddotd
necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M i/n/veit
ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Bi
Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper^
students in reporting, editing and photography clast-
within the Department of Communications.
Questions or comments concerning any editorial mailt
should he directed to the editor.
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Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, andatf
not subject to the same length constraints as letters
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, Tk
Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M Universih
College Station, TX 77843.
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'U
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