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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1981)
HI,.; j [till r " The Battalion November 5,11 i i ; f Slouch By Jim Earle 'It s just like he writes home — he spends every night with his face in a book!” Proof A&M is alive, thinking i Controversy: You bet. For the last two weeks, tempers have flared all across campus about everything from the sanctity of traditions to the recog nition of Greeks. The result has been a flood of more than 150 letters to the editor. In an effort to clear some of the backlog of letters and to lay to rest some of these issues, today’s Viewpoint section has been expanded to two pages. Angelique Copeland on this campus but in every aspect of lives. No person or group is perfect. WithilB its admirable qualities, Texas A&M is To Dr. perfect. And it is those few individualsr dare to question, to scoff and to laughinj face of the self-proclaimed status lam to get ii will raise the consciousness ofotherstoi thatwa ogonize and then deal with our] Never in my career at Texas A&M has their been such a rush to appear on the editorial page. In the past, 150 letters might be the total for an entire year. I’ll take the current trend any day. Not because I want to see controversy just for the sake of controversy, but because it speaks of people responding to issues that affect their daily lives. It also points up that they recognize they have a place to turn where their voices can be heard. And they’re using it. Texas A&M is often criticized for being too conservative, but all sides of some very sen sitive issues have been represented here on the editorial page. I am grateful for not only being aMf express m>’ opinions, hut for beingatl extend that privilege to you through ita bin Viewpoint page in The Battalion t-j nciden lis to Althc le Da loved raditio Most of the letters have been critical of some group: the Greeks, the gays, the Corps, The Battalion. There have been some letters that criticized the criticism. Together, we can address, debate u pfor\\ argue what course and direction this! FYb* versity should take. Freedom to efj | at and even promote unpopular beliefsfsi® 6 There have been letters from not only students, but faculty and staff as well. The diversity of opinions has been amazing. Someone asked me if I wouldn’t like to see more positive editorials. I think it is more through this process of debate, ques tioning, challenging and even criticizing that we learn and eventually make the for ward progression that is essential not only sets this country apart from all Many of the basic freedoms em our constitution were once very i ideas. f le to t A few thought-provoking question criticisms never hurt anyone. Ifyousuptff 3 ,,, ‘ all friction, a machine will run fine. Supt " all friction here, and the University wilt down. Greeks: acceptance comes slowly Greeks: rapidly growing reality Editor: This letter is directed to the moral-less minority who find it their profound duty to vent their aggravations toward a rapidly growing social force on this campus: Greeks. Greeks have a foothold at Texas A&M, Ags; witless slogans, mindless vio lence and ominous leaflets are not going to eradicate them. When I pledged a fraternity four years ago, we were too small to justify any harass ment. Now that Greeks number nearly 2000, and are becoming increasingly visi ble, some of the paranoid scum on this cam pus are beginning to blatantly expose their insecurities by speaking out against them. By the way, Thomas King, a person cannot be a frat. A frat is a group of fraternity members. Thanks for trying to explain just who the enemy actually is. I readily admit that the Corps is still the life, blood and spirit of Texas A&M. But it’s not the same school our fathers went to. There are 33,000 other students on this campus, not all ofwhom find the corps their cup of tea, or can live on campus. Are they all your brothers and sisters? Sure, there are campus organizations, and I’ve participated in or observed many. But more and more people are beginning to realize they need more than to participate in some service group. To document: the Corps enrollment increased by nearly 20 percent, while more than 500 girls went through sorority rush and well over 1000 guys participated in fraternity rush this fall. Most Corps members that I know tend to accept Greeks, albeit reluctantly, being members of the largest fraternity on cam pus. Indeed, several members of the Corps are now active members of fraternities. Instead, the antagonistic force in this melodrama is a group of neo-Nazi Hitler youth headquartered in that basilion of higher thinking on the northside of campus, Davis-Gary Hall. Last year, when a group of frat-rats took brillo pads and scrubbed their letters on the Academic building dome, the DG SS got together and mar ched on a frat house. Upon entrance of the frat house grounds, som,eone announced that they were Delta GaVnYn'as from Texas and they were there to party. Well, one thing lead to another and a near riot broke out, and the police had to break it up. Nev er mind that the Aggie Band had painted on the dome the same night. As one pillar of intellect rationalized; “they’ve been around for 100 years, they’re allowed to do things like that.” Destroy campus property? So much for Aggie brotherhood. By the way. Delta Gamma is a sorority, you big brutes. Frank Vandiver was a fraternity adviser at Tulane University. John Koldus was a member of one at Arkansas. What are you going to do now, DG, march on the presi dent’s house? NUKE FRANK VAN DIVER?! Sorry to fester your paranoia, but you are all surrounded by Greeks, some even live in Davis-Gary Hall, and if you can’t learn to live with it, than heed thy ancient Ag who once drivelled, “Highway Six runs both ways!” It is reassuring to note that such literary genius still exists at Texas A&M in the form of one Thomas King. Greek system weakens spirit vet Isn’t it enough to be PART of the finest group of men and women in the world, the Fightin’ Texas AGGIES. before needed to be “supplement L. Being in a sorority (or any organization! Bl or: that matter) enables one to interactwitil . In n Ric Federwisch ’77 Greg Karlik ’79 same people daily, provides an opportiii to establish lasting friendships, encourjj nceri | the development of leadership qiuliW me ’ 1 Editor: As a couple of former students, we have always been proud of the fact that all Aggies are tied together with a bond of friendship and camaraderie. When we were attending Texas A&M there was no need for social fraternities and sororities. Don ’t compare A&M greeks to tu teaches social graciousness, andservesi reference group for people at a large' !ade. F ies th; ‘Aggi Editor: During a recent visit to the campus we were appalled to overhear a conversation in which three coeds were discussing “black balling” a fellow AGGIE from their greek social society. Is this the true AGGIE spirit? Mike Burrichter ’81 Living near another Southwest Confer ence university, which we will not name, we have observed a fraternity and sorority system that is backed by both faculty and students. This system has split the school into small social groups, each primarily con cerned with how much money and social status their parents have. It is a shame that the students unable to meet the warped social standards of these peer groups must be looked down upon as inferiors. Also, while they are always ready to brag about the greek social group they have pledged, they seem to take little pride in their own university, much unlike the PROUD tradi tion of TAM U. Seriously Ag’s, do we need to stoop this low? Have we lost the ability to meet peo ple, make friends, and cultivate life-long friendships without the use of petty greek social organizations. This letter concerns the issue of Greeks at Texas A&M. For the four years I’ve been a student here, I’ve also been in a sorority. I’ve read many letters in The Battalion com paring the sororities and fraternities at Texas A&M to those at other schools (name ly, t.u.), questioning the need for their ex istence, criticizing Greeks for their selec tion procedures, and referring to Greeks as “snobs” and “two-percenters." In all fair ness, the other side should be known. Greeks at Texas A&M are relatively new. Since we are new, people feel compelled to judge us by the Greek systems that exist at other schools. I don’t think our Greek sys tem even resembles that of t.u. or other schools. Sure, we have meetings, mixers, and houses, but A&M Greeks don’t fit the typical stereotype. Our chapter has girls from many different backgrounds, home towns, and lifestyles. The majority of our fathers don’t make “six digit incomes and drive four cars.” Our common ground is that we are all Aggies — and all proud of it. Being in a sorority isn’t a substitute for that; it is a supplement to it. You may argue that Ags have been around for more than 100 years and never eep-ro am to Qnal a< lootim leld, ] versity. The result of these merits offei from group affiliation is that the in(l" : '® n en ^ has the chance to experience more lege than just books. A sorority or fraten is just one of the many ways we ) “supplement” being a student since school has grown so large and geograptii °^ res ly spread out. eco Greeks are also actively involved B-CS community. We collectively n thousands of dollars yearly for variousp lanthropies. I can’t deny that rush is a“selectionpr \ edure.” Yet, so are Town Hall. Rosslolt teers, and many other student orga tions. People choose lab partners„ we all choose our friends too? Many on , > r II friends are not Greeks and I dontfeeli we have a “God to peon” relations! Friendships exist when people havesffli interests and enjoy each others comp* not because they are or are not memben an organization. Greeks are here to stay, recognized not. In five short years, we’ve becomes of the largest groups on campus. Obvios the need for such organizations; evident by our growth rate. We tinue to support the philosophy “Agsli and Greeks second.” Whether or pie are open-minded enough to gives# thing new to A&M a chance to prod ^ merits is a question that only timewP ^ st q. surve ind Mr lite gn eande Last upport Ions an Drue Townsend Homosexuality: an explosive topic What are you afraid of? Editor: Some say anger is born of ignorance and fear. Kenny Ray (and your 99 friends) what are you afraid of? I am amazed at the violent and inhumane attitude found in Kenny Ray’s “Reply to GSSO.” He sounds as if gay people are low-life creatures who don’t deserve to live on the same planet as the “normal” people. You, Kenny, gave no supporting evidence to your statment: “GSSO is a lying hypocri tical organization.” Where does the “hypocritical” part come in? Just because you say that there is no 10 percent gay population at A&M — are we supposed to take that as fact? If anyone would know what percentage of the university is gay — it worffd rf'rt'vi’-'i'r Lf 5 'mv peer 1 ‘ 1 “ selves, rile itiason you are so unaware of their numbers is because you close your eyes and mind to the possibility that gay people are human beings who live, breathe, eat, sleep, and go to football games like everyone else. I’m willing to bet that you know at least one gay person. You will probably never discover it because who in their right mind would confide in someone so insensitive to their feelings as you seem to be? Being gay doesn’t make a person sub-human. Just be cause a guy is gay, it doesn’t mean he will make passes at you or threaten your tough macho image, Kenny; it doesn’t mean he will be attracted to every male that walks by either. It doesn’t mean they are a bunch of child molesters, ass-grabbers, one-night- standers or sex crazed perverts. They are capable of monogamous love and caring just like anyone else. Just because someone doesn’t feel or act the way you do, it doesn’t give you the right to condemn them. I have quite a few friends that I never knew were gay until recently— they are still the same beautiful people I cared about before. Whom they are attracted to or fall in love with is not for me to judge. You are not some special vigilante who has the right to tell people how to live or to beat up whoever doesn’t meet with your approval. I’m sure you are not perfect. What happened to such things as: sensi tivity, open-mindedness, caring, Christian ity, and understanding? Do those things onlv applv to where “you” see fit? You have the right to feel the way you want about what is right and wrong for “you” — but you shouldn’t be given the right to condemn and abuse other people because they are different. If every man on earth were as insensi tive, narrow-minded and judgmental as you appear to be in your letter — I’d probably be gay too. Mary Rose Gibson Violence is not ever a solution for acceptance, others just to he left alone. I ask all Aggies: Do you think violence and prejudice can solve anything? If you can answer yes, talk to Adolf Hit ler. I hear he needs some new recruits ... Cartoon Craphi< Editor: This letter is in regard to Kenny Ray’s “Reply to GSSO” in the Oct. 27 Battalion. Mr. Ray, I am not, nor do I associate myself with anyone gay. I do, however, see a slight problem with your letter. Whether or not 10 percent of the A&M campus is gay is irrelevant. The fact is, gay people are here, and to quote you, if “we could beat the hell outta the GSSO and all its kooky-queers,” we probably could not get rid of the gay population. You suggest that we have them wear big pink buttons, proclaiming “I am Gay.” Are you aware that this was tried once before? A few years back, a political organization re quired all people with opinions opposite its own to wear stars which marked what the individual’s “offense” against society was. Yellow indicated Judaism, and pink indi cated homosexuality, etc. The political par ty was the National Sozialistisch Partei Deutschland. Its leader was Adolf Hitler. We call it the Nazi Party. It did not work then, nor will violence or buttons work Ashley Ellis ’85 GSSO shouldn’t Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied by 12 other signatures. I suggest that the rest of the Aggie popu lation accept these people as people with a different lifestyle. They do not wish to im pose their lifestyle on us, nor should we on them. Some may be asking for help, others use tax money Editor: As a concerned citizen and an avowed Aggie, I am writing in response in the re cent rash of letters concerning the Gay Stu dent Service Organization (GSSO). First of all, I consider myself to be a normal heter osexual and I find the current “trend” to wards homosexuality appalling. It is ex tremely hard for me to believe that one out of 10 people are TRUE homosexuals. However, I don’t feel that “beating the hell out of any queer” will solve the problem or ease the tension it creates. To the GSSO I would like to point out the inconsistancy in your quest for recogni tion and acceptance. You complain of hos tility towards yourselves arising solely on the basis of your sexual preferences — yet you form clubs and seek University recog nition on this basis alone. I agree, what you do in the privacy of your own homes is your business — however what you do in public becomes mine and that of any other respon sible citizen. University recognition of the would be utterly ridiculous. If this grouf recognized solely on the basis of their sd Ph 0 t’ 0t !) ual preferences, where will this reco[ end? Will we soon be recognizing theft Sex Students Service Organization orj* Sado- Masochism Awareness Club? riously, I don’t feel that the tax dolla myself or my friends and family should' used to promote the sexual aberration^ the GSSO or any other group. The Hi operated and Bn a tsdion an neeessari fy admin Regents. The B Boh Morro" 1 ,(u f enfs Better fruitful than just a fmi Editor: I don’t feel that I should glorify thest ject of faggotry with a long discussion of Bai own personal views. There will beplfl 1 more people writing letters, explaining^ their point of view is right for such-® such a reason. From the point of vie" periods. being “straight,” however, I find it couraging that everyone in my categor being fruitful and multiplying, while rest are just being fruits. Look at the brii side, Ags ... homosexuality can’t be he ditary. Riley B. Rain! Editor. Photo E Sports E Focus E Asst. Fo News Ei Staff W r Gave D Daniel 1 Whin th Quest diou/d bi Letter: editorial length, b intent. 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