The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, February 18, 1982, Image 2
opinion Battalion/Page 2 February 18, l Sick Yankee is ‘naturalized Texan’ Being a “Yankee” at Texas A&M Uni versity has taken some measure of cour age and determination on my part. Not only do I have to defend my birth place, but I’ve had to formulate some replies to questions native Texans feel it’s their right to ask and have answered. Standing up for my “Yankee” heritage is something I don’t mind doing. But, being asked “what brought you to Texas A&M?” makes me think there may be some Texans who aren’t seeing the forest for the trees. It should be obvious what brought me here. But for the Texans who aren’t aware of what they have here at this Uni versity and in the state itself, I’ll provide a little run-down of the things I’ve found. When I came to Texas this past Au gust, I was coming to a new “country” where a different language was spoken and a different cultural atmosphere per vaded. I couldn’t get enough of the Texan dialect. I found out what a “longneck” was — no, we don’t have those in Ohio — and I learned what a “gooseneck” was. We may have goosenecks up North but since I wasn’t brought up in Ohio farm country I was unaware of their existence. I do get derided for my “Yankee” ac cent and at first I was overly sensitive when people said: “Where are you from, you can’t be a Texan!” But of course we all know Texans have no accent at all, right? I’d love to take one of my native Texan friends to Ohio just once and watch the crowd gather around and say: “Oh, please, say something else, you talk so neat!” But that’s different. A Yankee ac cent is not looked upon with much appre ciation in Texas. Admittedly, there has been an influx of “da— Yankees” lately, but it’s because of what great things Texas has to offer — besides economic prosperity. The culture is all new to me, too. When I arrived I was a hard-core anti-Country & Western person. But guess who can’t wait to go to the Hall of Fame now? When Christmas came around I prayed to St. Nicholas to please have someone give me a belt with my very own name on the back. And do you know what, he blessed me with one of those most novel symbols of Texan culture! But, Texan charm and hospitality has to be the most pervading and valuable aspect of this new culture I’ve had the good fortune to experience. There may be something about the warm, comfortable (most of the time) cli mate that makes Texans friendly and caring. In frozen Ohio, if a stranger ack nowledges me on the street, I wonder if he’s crazy or if he’s about to say “stick ’em up“. Here, everyone offers at least a smile or a nod, if not an Aggie “howdy“. It really makes a difference and one I never seem to overlook. Don’t they say: “A smile’s no good to you until you give it away?” So those are the answers I’ve arrived at for questions about what brought me here. But, since most people don’t have the time or the inclination to listen to me ramble on about how wonderful Texas is, I’ve shortened my reply. I just say: “Well, I’m here because I finally got smart.” And even though I’ve only lived here six months, please see if y’all can bring yourselves to call me a “naturalized Tex an” instead of a “Yankee.” Slouch By Jim Earle by C> i Ball I If you havi Beutel Healtl ! And will pay r Students being paid t study involvii th.it doctors live against al za virus. Influenza in two types, in each typi :e di: itrains are < When two d flu virus are ism, they car ttw strains. K Last year's |that ribaviri curing and b lost Type luse most c pear are Ty Bcusing on John M. Qu licrobiolog) I the Texa Medicine, y Ribavirin required hu being licenst Z-I6& “I hate water fountains. Mechanical man stealing home basi by Dick West United Press International WASHINGTON — The United States, according to Industry Week magazine, lags far behind Japan in the use of robots. But I didn’t realize how far until I came across some promotional material put out by the Mizuno Corp. of Osaka, a sporting goods company. Having made deep inroads in the U.S. car market, thanks in large measure to their advanced development of indust rial robots, the Japanese now have de signs on our very own national pastime — the game of baseball. Get a load of this space-age equipment Mizuno is introducing in this country this week: Electronic catchers’ mitts — Even in the major leagues, catchers still flash signs to the pitchers the old-fashion way — by hand. Compare that quaint system with the Japanese pushbuttom mitt. By pressing certain buttons on an elec tronic relay device, the catcher indicates whether he wants a fast ball, a curve, a slider, a change-up or whatever. That signal then is transmitted to the mound, where it appears on a lighted display panel on the pitcher’s glove. Morever, each glove has its own radio frequency said to prevent other teams b >\ Bali; I The Col Council vot« shop session the Magna &! ,000 to In needed to 1 to campus. I? Commit! Stark said 1 from stealing the signs. What about jamming? Coiifehe council’ enemy dugout disruptcatcher-tojpily $2,00( transmission the way Sovietradioifcoested was cians occasionally interfere withVil Tta co America broadcasts? y 1 l m ^ I don’t know, but I certainly’ 'V* put it past some baseball managiU t h e r i t y Billy Martin, for example., vided betw< Hit and run— : And whatofthufstateand is manager conveys by hand to lii to promote third base coaches, who then rebjandcultura to the runners and batters? and local le For that, Japanese roboteersbB ^ ^idn veloped a device that transmits If or ‘.T hlle l messages from the dugout tokeifF"^ ^ Igainst fun had contac Moreover, these signals are chlfheeting a into audio messages that can beswuncilnot bled if necessary to prevent theBpid. team from intercepting them. I Jhe cou ;..cided to s< One future innovation could• )m mittee placement of the third base coackP m P rov eni' robot that automatically holds upB ner unless the right-of-way to the dear. If robotization takes some old out of baseball by electronical ing bonehead plays, so be it. Aft there is always chess. microwave receivers built into ers’ headdress. Letter: Please don’ Editor: For the past two days Rudder Foun tain, one of the best places on this campus to spend a lunch hour, has been blessed with Christians and a PA system. I don’t want to hear this, or for that matter any point of view from a loud speaker during my lunch hour. It offends me. Also, the messages this week may offend Jews, Moslems and those other beliefs, includ ing atheists. I suggest that Christians who can’t find a church consult the yellow pages for one of the 77 churches or prayer rooms in Bryan and College Sta tion and that they leave the microphone in its case. Bland Crowder 204 Highland Asking for an accident Editor: I am addressing this letter to the gen tleman on the bicvcle who ran into the bar’ - " 8:45 Monday morning. 1 had stoppea at the corner of Jersey and Bizzel in the right turn lane when I heard a dull thud and then a bang. This bicyclist had apparent- lv rear-ended me when I stopped for the light and he did not. He them pulled up to the passenger side of my car, yanked the door open, yelled something un printable and rode away. Sir, I ask you: 1) If you are riding with the traffic why do you not follow traffic rules and stop at red lights instead of trying to inch by those who abide by the rules? 2) If you must make your own traffic rules why do you not buy a head light for your bicycle? I was taught to use my headlights when visibility is nil (as it was this morning) or it is dark; and finally 3) What gives you the right to frighten my passengers by storming my car? You did not take the time to speak to me ra tionally but scared the daylights out of my riders! I doubt that any of the points I have made will sink in or make any sense to you because of the apparent frenzy I wit nessed. However, I suggest that you stick to walking before you get yourself killed. Mary Katherine Smith 401 Anderson #15L Facilities bar entertainment Editor: In response to Mike Foderetti’s letter oi I'cb.'uary 17th concerning the lack of entertainment at A&M, please let me state a few facts. First of all, I agree that Texas A&M does not have the facilities to adequately attract top-name entertain ment. Moreover, it is time for this Uni versity to provide its students and sur rounding community a building that would be satisfactory for a campus this large. But, unfortunately A&M is going to have to wait awhile before they will have the same quality entertainment as t bless me or my lunch ard t.u. ( Texas University). I have been in formed that a new building is being plan ned, but will not be finished until around 1990! As Town Hall Chairman this 1981- 82 season, G. Rollie White Coliseum has been our greatest obstacle. Town Hall had the opportunity to bring Dan Fogel- berg, The Cars, Bruce Springstein, and Kenny Rogers to name a few, but as usual all were cancelled due to inadequate faci lities (i.e. G. Rollie White). I just wish that A&M could see the importance of a new facility and move as quickly as possible to see this become a reality. And so maybe w'hen I am an “old Ag” I can come back and enjoy a new events center. Lauren Pennington ‘82 Chairman, MSC Town Hall Thanks for helping hand Editor: Thursday morning (12:30 a.m.) we had a flat tire on Southwest Parkway. We would like to thank the people who stop ped to offer us assistance. In the twenty minutes it took to get back under way, three separate, concerned Ags stopped to offer us tools, a ride, or assistance. It’s this kind if attitude that makes us proud to be AGGIES, especially comforting in these times of outside assaults on Aggie ethics. Once again, we thank you for stopping to offer assistance, showing that the AGGIE WAY still stands in good stead. John B. Latimer ’82 Kevin Hertel ’83 Delayed mailing Editor: I would like to extend my apologies to the 332 students receiving the letter announcing the Feb. 11 Mexican Amer ican Engineering Society meeting after it was held. Due to the society’s late mailing and this community’s mail servicej hility to deliver intown mail will days, few, if any, were received The meeting will be reschedul Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in 104AZad follow-up letter has been mailed advance to prevent the recurrence problem. Benito Flores Secretary, MJ The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor. Angelique Copeland Managing Editor JaneG. Brust City Editor Denise Richter Assistant City Editor Diana Sultenf’uss Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Focus Editor Cathy Saathof f Assistant Focus Editor Nancy Floeck News Editors Gary Barker, Phyllis Henderson, Mary Jo Rummel, Nancy Weatherley Staff Writers Jennifer Carr, Cyndy Davis, Gaye Denley, Sandra Gary, Colette Hutchings, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Bill Robinson, Denise Sechelski, Laura Williams, Rebeca Zimmermann Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers Sumanesh Agrawal, David Fisher, Eileen Manton, Eric Mitchell, Peter Rocha, John Ryan, Colin Valentine Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-proTtt, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-Coilege Station. Opinions ex pressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M University administrators or ham hers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a /aboratoiy/ifllj^ for students in reporting, editing and photogtfU ses within the Department of CoinwuwatiiM Questions or comments concerning am i matter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy The Battalion is published daily during Texas^ fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and 0 nation periods. Mail subscriptions arc $16.75 pel* ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year' tising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed Building, Texas A&M University, College Siali®| 77843. United Press International is entitled exdns* 1 the use for reproduction of all news dispatches^ to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter" reserved. Second class postage paid at College Stan 01 ’ 1 77843. IT’S N O h Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 length, and are subject to being cut if theyard® The editorial staff reserves the right to edit style and length, but will make every effort to the author’s intent. Each letter must also be sign»|] the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are alsowelco# are not subject to the same length constraints as 1 * Address all inquiries and correspondence ton The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas Air versity. College Station, TX 77843, or phone (7f 2611. ©I ©I