—opinion
A look back at ‘Sherrillgate’
Forget everything you’ve heard about
what a disaster the Jackie Sherrill con
troversy was for Texas A&M. It was
probably the best thing that’s happened
to the University since we decided it
might be kind of fun to beautify the cam
pus by admitting women.
First things first. Sherrill is not paid
too much. One and a half million was
what the traffic would bear, and that was
what he got. That professors of chemis
try make less than that is perfectly irrele
vant. No chemistry professor of my
aquaintance can draw 50,000 people on
Saturday afternoon to watch him mix test
tubes.
And Jackie Sherrill may eventually
make Texas A&M a national football
power.
Why is everyone embarrassed to men
tion that? Yes, Tom Wilson was cruelly
used. The way the hiring and firing was
handled was straight out of the Marx
Brothers. But after all of that is behind
us, what if w'e really do win big? Sherrill
has the track record to make it possible.
What if?
Has the nationwide publicity over our
new coach hurt Fexas A&M? Not in the
long run. There is such a thing as bad PR
(it’s rare), but in this case there was some
definite compensations. For one thing,
the world at large learned that we exist.
I don’t mean to shatter your illusions,
little children, but Texas A&M Universi
ty is not a name to conjure with in Brook
lyn, Boston or Burbank. Not all that
many people know we’re down here. At
least they didn’t. Now, they may learn.
Think about it: All the hoopla now
virtually guarantees some media follo
wup examining just how well Sherrill
actually performs. There’s a good chance
that could be the occasion for some side-
bars on the University itself. Gradually, a
national sports identity could lead to a
national academic identity. Someday the
name of Fexas A&M could roll as trip
pingly off the tongue as Ohio State,
UCLA and Michigan State now do.
That in itself, of course, would not
guarantee academic excellence. I take it,
however, that in general we would rather
be renowned and far-famed than ig
nored.
Finally, about the way the Board of
Regents “handled” the imbroglio, two
observations:
First, the Sherrill affair, at minimum,
insures there won’t be any more major
administrative shakeups (at least regent-
initiated ones) for some time. The re
gents can’t afford it. They know that
neither their credibility nor the Universi
ty’s, nor alumni goodwill, will survive
another Sherrillgate (yes, I know, but
someone was bound to coin it sooner or
later). So we will have stability for a while,
which is precisely what we need at the
moment.
Second, there’s at least an outside
chance that even Bum Bright learned
something out of all this. Because of all
the stink they’ve caused, the regents may
decide to actually let their hired adminis
trators administer instead of doing it
themselves. Not a necessary outcome,
true, but a possible one.
Sherrillgate (now I can’t stop) was the
result of, in the words of a recent novel, a
confederacy of dunces. But in a perverse
sort of way, it was also a healthy experi
ence for Fexas A&M.
At least that’s what my mother used to
tell me about castor oil.
Letters: Support your baseball team
Editor:
Having followed all kinds of Fexas
A&M athletics around the country, I see
a great injustice being done to a fine
group of athletes. I am referring to the
lack of support of the Texas A&M base
ball team. National ranking has been a
rarity to Texas A&M athletics the last few
years, but this year’s baseball team can
boast that claim and for what reward?
To play in an empty stadium. I realize
that it is different going to a sporting
event where there are no yell leaders, but
the team needs your support. If you en
joy sunshine and good baseball, support
the 1982 Fexas Aggie Baseball Feam.
Brian Turner ’81
Mark Roberts ’82
Human nature is the cause
Editor:
While 1 don't wish to quarrel with Jell
Nuzzaco. who wrote about the causes of
war (Monday. MarcVi 22). I disagree with
his '
are basically good. As he points out. that
is inconsistent with the presence of war.
One can blame either societ\ or human
nature for such ills. Those who believe
society is at fault claim the cure is diffe
rent social structures and better educa
tion. 'I he existence of oppression, bigot
ry, torture and injustice through the ages
suggests that we have had p<x)r luck find
ing the right structures and training.
I he alternative is to conclude that hu
man nature is flawed. Personal experi
ence supports this: being selfish or rude
when we’d resolved to behave decently,
saying cruel or bitter words we regret,
breaking rules we believe in. If a few mo
ments of reflection does not make this
flaw in human nature obvious, get to
know some young children. None of
them, sweet as they may be, had to be
taught to hoard their toys or deny when
they’ve done wrong.
Sharing and honesty don’t come
naturally. I here is something wrong
w ith the human race, and in spite of our
desire for peace and love, our flawedness
limits our ability to be loving, compas
sionate and understanding
Kathy Kuhl
705 Dominik
Misplaced patriotism
Editor:
Recenth Mr. C. G. Darnell Jr. wrote a
letter to 1 he Battalion condemning the
MSC. Political Forum for “... A grave
wrong..." which they committed in
ip. .iv,..ng a speaker from the Ameri
can Communist Party in the Memorial
Student Center. Mr. Darnell further
stated that "It is an absolute disgrace,
(to the). . . thousands who lost their lives
fighting opression caused bv similar po
litical beliefs." Actually, the only dis
grace found is the Socratic ironv of a
shortsided opinion. I commend Mr.
Darnells' concern for the memory of the
numerous heros from Texas A&M who
died fighting opression. but the need for
political education is a must if people are
to remain free. We, if we are to consider
ourselves an intelligent people, must
neither condemn nor applaud the eco
nomic ideology of any political philoso
phy until we have been afforded the
opportunity to objectively examine each
aspect of it.
The men immortalized in the MSC
died for the ideology of Democracy, as
such, Political Forum should be praised
for their wisdom in preserving and
promoting that same concept of Demo
cracy, through their open-minded
appreciation of various political view
points.
Richard McLeon ’85
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Battalion. 216 Reed McDonald, Texas
A&M University, College Station, TX
77843.
Slouch
By Jim Earle
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*1 didn ’t understand that part in class so I didn *t study it. 5
Everyone knows,
it’s all in the game
by Dick West
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Video games you
can play on your television set at home
are on a roll right now. A local four-store
retail chain recently sold 3,000 “Pac-
Man” cartridges in a single 24-hour
period. I doubt, however, that the full
potential has been realized.
One possible “Pac-Man” sequel might
be to link the science-fiction concept so
appealing to young players with some
real life problems. The following games
illustrate the format I have in mind:
“Tax-Man” — As play begins, hordes
of alien tax evaders swoop across the
screen. The idea behind “Tax-Man” is
for the player to zap the evaders before
they bombard the country with writeoffs.
To score a hit, a player must press the
“audit” button at the right moment. That
maneuver causes an evader to vanish in a
puff of simulated smoke.
Be warned, however, that sending up a
volley of “audits” won’t necessarily win
the game. The evaders may take refuge
in “shelters” or escape through
“loopholes.”
When an audit hits a shelter or
loophole, it ricochets harmlessly into the
top, right-hand corner of the screen,
leaving the evader clear to drop another
writeoff.
"Gerry-Man” — Another spinoff of
“Pac-Man,” the idea is to protect incum
bent office holders from alien candidates
bent on taking over their seats.
As play begins, the screen is filled with
A1
ortl
PP e
elefc
legislative districts that conform toethra
and party patterns. Hordes of alien
tical f orces appear on a mission todesirt
existing lines and twist the districts ir
crazy shapes that expose incumbents
hostile balloting.
Players try to counter these moves!
firing off simulated lawsuits that zapil ty ai
newly drawn lines and restore thedi
tricts to their own legislator. Points a
scored each time a player succeeds
establishing a “safe” district in ard
where incumbents are threatened.
“Quota-Man” — The object of ij> Gi
game is to protect the domestic autoi* ^
dustry from foreign invaders.
To zap an alien manufacturer, a pla«
pushes the “quota” button, wind TT
spreads an impenetrable shield
contested markets and prevents imp^
from reaching consumers.
Other defensive moves mav incM fine
maneuvering the “trade restriction'
er so that imports are blocked off at ^ * nte
border
“Budget-Man” — The player’s goal
to protect budget-busters who swarm
from South Succotash and bombard w
deficit with social programs.
Points are scored by zapping st**
programs with New Federalism veto?
“Sno-Man” — Sw arms of aliens are
ing the screen with radioactive snow
and other acid rain projectiles.
The goal of the ASD (Anti-Snow
Defense) operator is to zap polluted
siles with regulations from the Envi
mental Protection Agency.
lie si
latui
Wan
[03 1
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
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