M HI
opinion
February 1|l
But what about the students?
Why are the students always the last
considered?
One of the more enviable privileges of
those in powerful positions at any institu
tion is having direct lines of communica
tion to those at the Top. They are also in a
better position to be informed about the
general state of affairs.
But being a student at this University,
such access and knowledge is not
afforded me.
Still, upon learning that President
Frank Vandiver was going to deliver a
State of the University address Thursday
at a Brazos County A&M Club dinner, I
couldn’t help but ask, “What about me,
Frank? What about the students, what
about the faculty?” Don’t we have a right
to know exactly what the state of this Uni
versity is?
marcy
boyce
Students and faculty are the Univer
sity; without them it would never be.
Granted, the dinner was open to any
one —- anyone willing to pay nine bucks,
that is. But students and faculty members
should not have to pay $9 to find out
whafs going on at this University. After
all, Reagan doesn’t charge; why should
Vandiver?
The point is not to attack the A&M
Club or the alumni. They pledge their
moral and financial support to the Uni
versity, and the influential roles they play
can not be denied. It’s also understand
able that as president, Vandiver has
loyalties he must maintain. Therefore,
they should be informed.
But as one of about 35,000 students
who also has invested time and money in
this place, I don’t feel bad about deman
ding the same.
Furthermore, in light of the Universi
ty System officials’ recent sure-fire
methods for bringing “pre-eminent”
personnel here, it would be to their
By now, everyone knows the chronolo
gy of “who done what and to whom.” But,
how about some explanations.
H.R. “Bum” Bright, chairman of the
Board of Regents, attempted to offer
some explanations in a recent guest edi
torial in the Houston Chronicle.
At least Bright acknowledged that not
all business was usual at Texas A&M. But
the column fell far short of explaining
the general state of affairs.
So how about it, Frank? How about a
real State of the University address —
and this time, please remember the stu
dents and faculty.
°lf e
OXLMaUC WIHf 1HWJNE CEMWW
Letter: A few spoil the party for all
Editor:
Welcome to Russia
It is my pleasure to thank the girls’
dorms of Underwood, Mosher and
Krueger for throwing a party at Lake-
view for the male population. I was
pleased that these three dorms thought
enough of us to throw this party and I
hope you will do it again, but it probably
won’t happen because of some actions of
some people at the club that night.
The reason I am writing this letter is
twofold: One, to thank the girls for their
hard work and consideration. And two,
to explain to these girls that not all the
guys were out there to get drunk and
cause problems. As everyone knows by
now, the party was stopped a little after
midnight; it was supposed to continue
for another hour. The reason it was stop-
E ed was because people were spilling
eer on the dance floor, stealing pool
balls and throwing them around, and
starting fights. Right after a girl from one
of the dorms announced that the party
was over I heard three Corps members
say, “Let’s spill some beer on the dance
floor so the girls will have to clean it up!”
And they did! I also saw other Corps
members throwing pool balls, taking
down the Miller Beer banners, and start
ing fights.
I am not saving that it was only the
Coi VvCi‘- 0 i - :.y, but
from what I saw they were the only ones.
If you boys can’t handle the beer, then
don’t drink where you will spoil someone
else’s fun.
I again thank the girls of those three
dorms for a job well done. You will never
know how much that evening was appre
ciated and I am sorry that a few bad ap
ples had to Spoil it for everyone!
think your world could make me pretty
miserable too and perhaps has.
Editor:
Larry Farmer
Student, Texas A&M University
Doug Cochran ‘82
1 am referring to a letter written by
Assoc. Professor George Raczkowski in
The Battalion, February 16. First of all I
want to agree that Russian imperialism
can be alarming and they don’t always
appear to be totally virtuous, to put it
mildly. But my response is not to debate
this matter. I hope his letter gets a lot of
responses.
I generally don’t read many letters to
the editor. It’s good to have them, I
know, but somewhere through the years
they began to bore me. Occasionally I do
bother and end up reading letters of Dr.
Raczkoski’s type in the process. Some
times it strikes a nerve and I want to re
spond but think it not worth it after
awhile. But when I saw this one signed
with the label, “associate professor,” it got
my gall too much. I’m not even going to
take up for First Amendment rights. It
goes beyond that. For an adult, an
American, and with an education in an
American institution of higher learning
to boot to want to refuse a speaker, any
speaker, to give his side.. .! Where do
vou think we are? Russia?
ii il makes you feel better, I survived
most of his attempt to brainwash me. I
was even disappointed in his speech. But
I really enjoyed the chance to hear his
side and see him first hand. I also enjoyed
hearing Richard Allen’s speech,
although I also survived what seemed to
me an attempt by him to do some brain
washing — brainwashing I have to hear
almost everyday.
I really doubt I would be extraordi
narily happy in a world ruled by Russia. I
Leave me alone
Editor:
The day was beautiful, one of the few
such days we’ve had. Groups of Aggies
were lounging and relaxing by Rudder
Fountain, enjoying the weather and a few
minutes of conversation with friends.
Suddenly, the beauty of the day was torn
by the over-amplified voice of another of
the religious fanatics we’ve all had to en
dure recently, who quickly related the
springtime weather to “our” need to set
our hearts “right” with God. Is there no
escaping these obnoxious zealots? I have
been approached and cornered by these
people on the streets, by Rudder Foun
tain, in Sbisa, and even in my own dorm
room! Does freedom of speech mean that
I must listen to any jerk who wants to
scream at me through 65 watts of ampli
fier? I don’t think so. My belief is that my
rights end at the other person’s face, and
when others come to understand this
we’ll all be better off.
Until then, let this twice-accused,
bound-for-hell sinner go on record now:
I don’t care to hear any more religious
fanatacism and propaganda, and if I ever
desire to be “saved” by such obviously
qualified people, I will let them know.
advantage to have an informed student
body and faculty. For it is essential that
everyone know what is going on and why,
if they are to be at all equipped to combat
the barrage of negative nationwide pub
licity.
As it turned out, Vandiver did not
even discuss this issue in his State of the
University message. It’s hard to accept
that the events for which Texas A&M has
gained nationwide notoriety has nothing
to do with its general state of affairs. So
then, I still ask, “What really is the state of
this University?”
Slouch,,
By Jim Eai
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Pearls of wisdom
from 19
Isession (
Kent Cc
alcohol
Joining our ranks today is a specialist on
cliches peculiar to Texas A&M Universi
ty. Dr. Noah Umore received his B.S. in
Skewed English at William and Mary, his
M.S. at Robert and Elizabeth, and his
doctorate at, as Umore says, the “best
university between Waco and Navasota. ”
He recently has upgraded his cliche
collection to include the latest pearls of
wisdom rolling from Aggie administra
tors.
Me: Well, Mr. Umore, how does it feel
to be back in Aggieland?
Him: Well, back in my day, we didn’t
have all these pretty girls on campus, but
otherwise it feels great.
Me: What makes it feel so great?
Him: What makes it feel great is seeing
this fine institution striving for pre
eminence, or at least being first-rate, in
many departments. Yessir, being first-
rate, or pre-eminent, is synonymous with
attending school here.
Me: I ’m glad to hear you’re fine and
happy with being back. Today you said
we could talk cliches, cliches that we here
can call our own.
Him: Texas A&M has changed in the
past decade. We went from an agricultu
ral and mechanical college to an out
standing University, with courses rang
ing from agriculture to zoology.
Me: What makes this an outstanding
University?
Him: Our striving for pre-eminence.
Pre-eminence is our goal, our calling, our
destiny.
Me: What does pre-eminence mean
for the future?
Him: It can either be the greatest thing
since sliced bread or it can be the death of
us all. If we can harness its full potential,
then we can become an Oxford on the
Brazos. If we can’t handle preeminence,
we’ll shame all the good of boys who
came before us and worked to make this
University what it is today.
Me: What is it?
Him: It’s the beginning of the begin
ning, a future that will outlast the past.
Me: What will be emphasized in the
future?
Him: Texas A&M is moving forward
as fast academically as it is athletically. As
I have said, our goal is to be pre-eminent
in all our endeavors. And we’re willing to
burn the bucks to get faculty members
who will appreciate the fantastic oppor
tunities we have here.
Me: What kind of opportunities do we
have?
Him: Fantastic opportunn
grow, to learn, to invest.
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Me: I nvest in the future?
Him: Not only in the future!
money market funds that
couldn’t have reached on
salaries.
Me: Speaking of salaries, let'sl 4-
out the newest, or at least themwB ( |
inent member of Texas MUfKi
Coach Jackie Sherrill.
Him: Coach Sherrill is a fw b
vidual, and a great addition totkj|. .
Family. You noticed that his hat
fast try?
Me: A es. Kethod
Him: Regarding Sherrill’s spng prt
should be noted that we had (paid I t)
opened in a hurry in terms o( pie in 5
takes to attract the cream of die® “Wh
athletic management. Good «P ose d t
don’t come cheap, nor docheapJ
come cheap.
Me: Nor do they leave cheap j
Him: Y ea, verily.
Me: Has the furor raised (
rill’s appointment had any advet|
on A&M’s image?
Him: No, I would say our ii
not been tarnished one iotai
have been the butt of jokes forldj
But now the joking’s over.
Me: But is the party over?
Him: No, but many of usaref
hill.
Me: Are we as a group overt
Him: No, I think we are of
hump.
Me: Yes, but we still enjoy I
Him: Yes, that’s one of then
that makes this school whatitis' 1
traditions, this school would beri
Me: Well, I think that last wofl
up our conversation. Willyoukf
home now?
Him: Yes, even though A&Mi#
hat is v
pious,” 1
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cany lim
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and nu
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my heart is.
Me: Which way wall you go’
Him: I haven’t decided yet.
runs both ways.
Gabriel D. Moore ‘82
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77843.
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