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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1982)
opinion — Battalion/Page 2 April 7,1982 Slouch By Jim Earle “It's from your mother. Apparently she’s serious about you getting your grades up. ” Blipping your way to physical fitness by DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — Some readers may think I am making this up, but I swear I’m giving you the facts, ma’am. Just as three books revealing solutions to the Rubik’s Cube became national best-sellers last year, so is the video game industry now fomenting a literary out break. One of the latest volumes, Bantam’s “How To Master Home Video Games,” is lulled as “the first complete guide” to im proving your scores. Now comes the hard-to-swallow part. *>' This book contains a comprehensive training program for video game play ers, include an entire chapter devoted to “Off-television Exercises.” “Physical adeptness is essential to im plementing your strategies,” writes the guru, Tom Hirschfeld, who then goes on to recommend exercises for “improving hand-eye control coordination, peripheral vision, finger strength and tempo control.” If this reads like the introduction to one of those sex manuals that were so popular a few years back, I can only say the coincidence is entirely coincidental. “You will accomplish wonders by training your hands to react as quickly as posible to visual stimuli,” the book prom ises. Video game aces, the book confides, must “be alert to the slighest flicker of movement in any part of the screen and be able to analyze all visual data without shifting focus.” To sharpen that aptitude, have your assistant stand to one side and flash ran dom combinations of fingers, which you try to pick up with your naked eyeballs while staring straight ahead. “Often, what you see ‘out of the corner of your eye’ can mean life or death on screen,” Hirschfeld assures those who might suspect they were engaging in idle pursuits. (Hirschfeld, let it be noted, recom mends using the buddy system in video game training. Trainees will need a side- kick, perhaps a faithful Indian compan ion, to help them get into tiptop shape.) As for the fingers, well it goes without saying that “digital skill” is vital. To avoid “pain and slowness in the joints” during sustained play, “fingers must be strong and limber,” Hirschfeld explains. Since “thumbs are especially suscepti ble to overuse during play,” he recom mends sending the left forefinger into the game as a substitute when thumb fati gue threatens. “Try also to use the small joints in each finger much less than the larger one,” he advises. The book also outlines some 10-finger “warm-up exercises” for “loosening and stretching the muscles that might other wise cramp.” OK. Where do we go from here? At the risk of spoiling the aura of verisimili tude I have so carefully cultivated, I must here inject a personal prediction. The next wave, I fear, will have video game diet books featuring recipes for los ing weight while zapping kinescope in vaders. Then will come books about games you can play on a microwave oven. Letters: First a hotel Editor: My congratulations to Bum Bright and the Board of Regents for another brilliant proposal for the improvement of our humble campus. I am forever awed by the benevolent concern for the students’ interests which is continually exhibited by our Regents. Of course, I’m referring to the proposed Hilton Hotel. What a wonderful idea! Not only should this plan be implemented immediately, it ■ should be followed by another quite worthy project. If you would, allow me to ruminate. I humbly suggest that, upon the completion of the Hilton, we should begin the construction of an amusement park on the southeast corner of campus. I realize this proposal calls for the dele tion of the golf course, but I’m sure we can all agree that the positive aspects far outweigh the loss of the golf course. First, the new amusement park will be sure to attract several fast food res taurants, a convenience of which the southside residents have previously been deprived. Futhermore, combined with the new hotel , a new amusement park such activities will provide for students of political science. Since I am a resident of the northside, need no job, and am neither a student of business nor of politics, you may rest assured that I make this modest proposal not for any personal gain of my own, but out of my genuine concern for the wel fare of our students. Susan K. Young ’85 116 Clements Hall What’s in a name? Editor: jobs will be a great benefit to those stu dents who have been unable to find work as a result of the tight economy of trans portation problems. We could also estab lish a scholarship fund with the profits from the park. And, of course, we cannot overlook the invaluable, hands-on work experience which these establishments would provide for our business students. Finally, we should not underestimate the priceless learning experiences which I have been at this university fot three years and feel it is now time to point out a spelling error made often at Texas A&M. I am referring to the spelling of K.K. Legett dormitory. Notice there is only one “g” and two “t’s“. I have seen it spel led Legget, Leggett, and Legette. It has been misspelled in The Battalion, on cie^uoii ballots, on flyers, and many other items. The name Legett was not picked out of the blue. It was chosen by the University to honor an important man. So come on Ags, let’s learn to spell his name correctly . The only other alter native I see is to change the plaque that adorns our dorm. Apartment break-in causes unconscious fears to surface When my friend and I found my apart ment door ajar Monday night, I thought of several possible explanations — my roommate hadn’t shut it, I hadn’t shut it, the maintenance man had been there. But I didn’t seriously consider the pos sibility that someone could have broken into my apartment — or worse, was still there. T hose things only happen to other people — never me. phyllis henderson A< to But I can’t accept being afraid nl at night. Everyone is quick to tellnift have happened — the worst know what could have happen The real crime in thisincidi I’m not alone in having thesefe almost every woman has e\| some of these fears at sometii life. And almost every woman mad because of it. We were cautious, though. We started to search the apartment, leaving the front door open to run or scream, whichever seemed warranted. We looked through most of the apartment, and no thing was wrong. In the doorway of my bedroom, we joked about the half-open closet doors. But when we saw the win dow screen propped against my bed, the fun and games ended. While we had stood in the doorway, the intruder had been in the closet. He heard our jokes, he knew when we real ized something was wrong. That was — and is — scary. We left, called the police and were told to meet them at the apartment. We did, but this time we took another friend — a man — with us. No one was in the apart ment and nothing was missing, but the window screen had been moved and was against the wall. But fear is just one of the emotions you feel when something like this hap- C ens. Along with fear comes shock, dis- elief and, most of all, anger. I’m mad. No one has to tell us to bee safety precautions have becomei] our lives. We attach our keys to : chemical repellant sprays, wet defense classes and we read am scribing the most effective watj off an attacker. by I Battal Awards v\ outstanding : tv from the < Hire at the St onvocation Alpha Z rofessional: the College c iented schola ho have exl eademic i adership qi Receiving /ere Roy Da griculture antes Matt unior plant tajor; Chari unior anim nd Liza C ophomore r I’ve accepted not being able to walk across campus alone late at night — even though it’s my favorite time. I’ve accepted having to peer over my shoul der every time I cross a dark parking lot. We don’t see attackers bcM shrub, but we’re aware ofounii ity. We’re cautious doing maul men take for granted liketakincj in an empty apartment anddri at night. And every time we walk into J apartment, we subconsciouslufJ may be the time it isn’t empty. Tes/t D [HT COLUMN WSR\TCH'<U 1932- PTWE cnwtW/ s***W^. by Cin< Battal i The Texas ll'eam is stat .again, in spi ilace award Saturday’s sta larking lot. This is th< ampionshij ears. The FDT eetby one p Jity of Texas am Saturd; ate champh United Pres; HOUSTON then an amusement park ent mvestigat ase Hilton 1 h 1 lives last i ith medical < gs that man’ ied of soot ini The Foun afety, based ii uestioned the edical Exam ion of the fire i icated 10 oft h f soot and carb alation. Th laimed the \ oisoning Iron ;as. The medic; aid two small amounts of c Jlpody. Michael Oi for the founda ture, drapes ai the Westchase room produce! Editor’s Note: This letter was accompa nied by 82 signatures of Legett resi dents. Drill team ignored place. Even after the outcome of the com petition, there was not a single acknow ledgement in The Battalion. I do think the FDT has a greater impact on the Uni versity than the amount of Bic pens ordered by a city clerk in Ozark, Mis souri. In any case, I would like to congra tulate the FDT on their supeibp ance! I look forward to their Pared exhibition, where maybe more 1 ' can see what an outstandinggrouj are. Hayes Bla 125 Ho’ Editor: Maggie Foster ’83 Legett Resident I am writing you in regard to a certain event that recently occurred here on the Texas A&M campus. The incident was not malicious, slanderous, or in any way degrading, but on the contrary, brought esteem and recognition to the University. The bad part is the publicity it received, or should I say, did not receive. The event that I am referring to is the drill meet held last Saturday at Zachry park ing lot, in which the 1985 Fish Drill Team competed. ROTC drill teams from va rious universities around the state in cluding the University of Texas, Univer sity of Texas at Arlington, and the Honor Guard from the United States Air Force Academy, came to participate in the three event competition. Every team did an outstanding job, but the meet was clearly dominated by two teams. The Texas A&M University Fish Drill Team and the UTA Jodies. The FDT worked hard all year and were justly rewared Saturday for their efforts. Though they lost the meet by one point to the UTA Jodies, they claimed the title of 1982 Texas State Champions. However, I was really disappointed at the crowd turn-out, and even more so in the lack of publicity. Very few people knew about the meet, and those who did had to struggle to find out the time and The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Texas A&M University administrators or U' bers, or of the Hoard of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratorf Plj for students in reporting, editing and phofflw) ses within the Department of CommuniaM Questions or comments concerning ‘ matter should he directed to the editor. Editor. AngeliqueCopeland City Editor Denise Richter Assistant City Editor Diana Sultenfuss Sports Editor Frank L.Christlieb Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff 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, Hope E. Paasch Daniel Puckett, Bill Robinson, Denise Sechelski, John Wagner, 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-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions ex pressed in The Battalion arc those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 31)0’’ ^ length, and are subject to being cm if they W The editorial staff reserves the right to cdil i fr style and length, but will make every effort to ^ H the author’s intent. Each letter must also be signf! 1 the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welco* are not subject to the same length constraint)» Address all inquiries and correspondence W‘ The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas Aw versity. College Station, TX 77843, or phoned 2611. The Battalion is published daily dtiringTesy fall and spring semesters, except for holida)'an<l t, ^ nation periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75pe ri ! ^ ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year 'll’ tising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McjJ Building, Texas A&M University, College StaW® ^ 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusii the use for reproduction of ail news dispatches to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter* 1 reserved. Second class postage paid at College St 77843. Telef