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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1981)
-Viewpoint The Battalion November 20, \{ r Slouch By Jim Earle “Of course he’s not as fast as a computer, but his logic is better at developing schedules. If it’s all the same to you, let’s keep it under wraps for the time being!” Scientific creationism is definite misnomer The other day I had the dubious pleasure of reading a comic book entitled “Big Dad dy? You know the type I mean; the comics handed out by young men with ecstatic looks on their faces. Anyway, this comic book framatized a situation in which a wild eyed, mouth-foaming professor asks a class: “Who believes in evolution?” The class, a rabid collection of wild-eyed long-hairs, peace-niks, Afro-ed blacks and lesbians, is seen raising clenched fists in support. One person dares disagree with the professor, the hero: a young, clean-cut (if the strip was in color, he would have been blonde-haired and blue-eyed too, I bet) Christian lad. In the argument which ensues between pro fessor and student, the student brings up a series of devastating contradictions in the theory of evolution. The professor, frus trated, quits his job and stalks out of the room, while our erstwhile student proceeds to save the class. End of story. I’m not going to waste ink in rebutting the arguments printed in this piece of trash; other people have done so repeatedly, and apparently to no avail. I prefer to talk about how creationists misuse science to back up their beliefs, and what this reveals about their faith. The term “scientific creationism” implies that a standard scientific approach is used. The approach, which has been in practice for hundreds of years, is called the scientific method. It works as follows. One, observa tion: phenomenon is observed; in this case, the phenomenon is the Universe and life on earth. Two, hypothesis: a possible cause for this phenomenon is proposed; according to the “scientific” creationists, the cause is God. Three, testing of hypothesis: a con trolled examination and test of the cause and its relation to the phenomenon. Oh, oh — this is where the “scientific” creationists screw up. God (assuming there is one) is not exactly available for scientific testing; he/she has got better things to do than hang around a dusty laboratory all day re-creating the universe and molding clay. Reader's Forum Since the hypothesis cannot be tested, the fourth step, formulation of theory, cannot be taken. Therefore, creationism is not “sci entific” as we define it because it cannot complete the required steps of the scientific method. “Scientific” creationsim is a mis Jim Mazzullo Assistant Professor of Geology 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 Saathoff 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 Rose Delano Daniel Sanders, Colin Valentine, Greg Watermann EDITORIAL POLICY The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper 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, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of 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 and 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 ing, 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. Students should ‘clean up their act’ during midnight yell BvEJ Inadec seofW' 'exas M feeling Indents ent sine aired p ead of I Editor: This letter was inspired by Friday night’s yell practice. There were a few things I saw that really disappointed me, but I didn’t let them get me down. First of all, to clear up one point, it is tradition that no one should wear a hat in Kyle Field. This is out of respect for the 55 Aggies who died in World War I. To commemorate these brave men, there are 55 flags which fly over Kyle Field at every game. This is the reason no one should wear hats in the stands of Kyle Field. However, there are some poeple who do not believe this and refuse to take their hats off even after being asked to do so. To these people, does it accomplish any thing to wear your hat in Kyle Field? It would be a lot easier to just leave your hat at home or hook it around your belt loop. It’s not too much to ask out of respect for those men who gave their life in service to their country. I hope more Ags will honor this traditon in the future. Another thing that surprised me at yell practice was the announcement that the yell practice because I often do it but why do people have to leave! search Dink Biversi Reader’s Forum empties in the parking lot for someonti liter, it to pick up or run over in their car throw them away when they get hot to use the numerous trash cans around entrances to Kyle Field upon enterinj would be totally embarrassed if somo didn’t clean up the lots surroundingH ^ he Tex lent St: the Ur liter, it ime frei He s: Corps of Cadets held an early yell practice for the football team. I asked a couple of ct’s why the entire student body wasn’t invited, but received no answer. I would have loved to see the entire squad and show them my support, but I had heard nothing about it. I think the team would have been even more inspired with a larger turnout, not consist ing solely of the Corps of Cadets, but the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Twelfth Man. 1 am anxious to learn the reason non-regs we ren’t invited to participate in this yell prac tice. One last thing that annoyed me was the condition of the parking lots after midnight yell. I have nothing against drinking before Field before visitors came for the ji , eac i, ampule Saturday morning. I know Tm not perfect, but ifldosm uys ha thing that offends someone, I expect! Iata b to bring it to my attention and 111 their feelings and opinions. Thafsv doing now and Tm sure a large numlci students share my opinions, eventloi ^, they might be able to express it bel Finally, I would like to congratulate Fightin’Texas Aggie Football Team for our is londay (r small entsan tones: ptructi well done. YaTl played a great game. Jii wines: more than ever, we can’t give upfigl because the season isn’t over and, beliei etause house Bana liter c< dent: or not, we still have a chance for 'i John R. William FUTURE SITE OF THE NEW UNIVERSITY PRESS BUILDING nomer. I do hate stooping to the level of semanti- cists, however. There is something more important at issue in the dabate over crea tionism, and that is the appalling lack of faith among the creationists. A good crea tionist who believes in a world created in 6 days and the molding of man from dust does not need scientific proof; he accepts it as a matter of faith. The rise of “scientific” crea tionism in my mind indicates not a valiant attempt to substantiate creationist “theory” with scientific fact, but an attempt to shore up a crippled faith. And that saddens even a heretic like me. There really should be not controversy at all between Christians who believe in crea tionism and Christians (and Jews and Bud dhists and Hindus and atheists and Boko- nonists and etc.) who believe in the theory of evolution and the antiquity of the uni verse. Scientists are never going to address questions such as: was evolution an orches trated event? Or What made the universe decide to form? We prefer instead to talk about mechanisms and patterns and his tory. Primal causes are not our concern, because they are fundamentally unobserv able (and hence only inferred) and untest- able. We consider ideas about primal causes to be matters of personal opinion — faith, if you will. L ns mu To \C‘ I / V / v / l // / / / CSS / N i / // * XV / / tiil It s your turn The ants come marching into A& Editor: There is a problem at Texas A&M that has nothing to do with the human element. This problem concerns ants. Some people might feel that hoardes of ants couldn’t be a problem (since they aren’t Greek, homose xual or sword wielding) but these little bu- gers can invade and eventually comman deer a person’s dorm or apartment room. They get in your food. They are all over the wall and floor. They will even keep you company at night. My roommate and I tried to remedy the situation ourselves with a can of Raid, but we were overwhelmed again within a few days. No one is immune. We live on the third floor of a dorm, and like many other dorms, we are being marched upon as if we bathed ourselves in honey and then stood in an antbed. This University is known for its great Col lege of Agriculture and its Department of Entomology. It is ironic that Texas A&M, itself, is the victim of this little monster. The only thing that lacked from the play, however, was the audience. I don’t know the exact figure, but there couldn’t have been more than 50 people in attendance. It was very disappointing to me and to the actors I’m sure, to realize that out of30,000 students only 50 came to the play on open ing night. I encourage anyone interested to see “The Rimers of Eldritch” before it closes on Saturday. Neil Hall ‘85 I know it’s hard, but let’s put smilifl our faces and think of the far greater!] things about this University ratherI] picking apart the bad. Being a Co-op student and being! from the campus for a semester has i me realize I miss A&M more than Itkl I would. Ask any old Aggie and I’m surfl will agree “absence” does indeed “make] heart grow fonder. ” So let’s be pro positive about our University for well gone from it sooner than we realize, all, we are Aggies because we wanttoj Aggies. Gig ’em. Look for good, not bad David David DaveiJ Edwin fK! Todd Msj James McGol Ric ThoniPf Editor: Mike Whelan ‘85 Play lacks audience Editor: Tuesday November 17, the Texas A&M University Theatre Arts Department i opened a five-day run of a play called “The Rimers of Eldritch.” This very contempor ary play revolves around the personalities of a dried-up old mining town in the Mid west. The actors were very convincing in their portrayals of the different characters , of Eldritch. After reading The Battalion in recent weeks, it has come to my attention that some people are unhappy with life at Texas A&M. Surely our school cannot please every body, but it is doing its best with facilities such as the MSC and Student Programs Office. If you’re unhappy where you are, move to another dorm, move off campus, or join a different organization, but don’t just sit there and expect things to change for you. Among such diversity, a school this size is subject to a lot of tension. In spite of this, we should remember one important thing. We are all Aggies! We all chose this school for one reason or another and we all live here together. Even though I don’t agree with everything that happens at Texas A&M, I’m still proud to be an Aggie and I’ll do my best to honor as many of our tradi tions that I can. Editor’s note: All are A&M studentsi Dallas area. Five are Co-op students ! Letters policy Letters to the Editor should not excefl words in length, and are subject tok cut if they are longer. The editorial reserves the right to edit letters for] and length, but will make every eft maintain the author’s intent. Each I must also be signed, show the address] phone number of the writer. Articles for Reader’s Forum areals! come, and are not subject to thej length constraints as letters. Address] quiries and correspondence to: Edit Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, A&M University, College Station 77843.