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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1982)
opinion Story perpetuates ‘anti-Corps’ image There’s a front-page story about the Corps of Cadets in today’s paper. It’s not a favorable story. It does not attack the Corps, but it does report an incident in volving Corps members. Unfortunately, that article will fuel an already hot fire in the quad that asserts The Battalion is “anti-Corps.” This allegation is nothing new. Even when the University was all-military and everyone on the newspaper staff was a member of the Corps, The Battalion was accused of being anti-Corps. Just read the Letters to the Editor from 20 years ago. I he perennial problem stems from a disagreement over what is news and what is a “family problem.” On the story about hazing and countless others, Corps mem bers have maintained that problems within the Corps are “family matters” that are “best taken care of from within” and are “nobody else’s business.” It is an attitude that ends up causing more prob lems than it solves. When The Battalion began investigat ing the hazing incident, quesitons such as “Nobody else really cares about this, so why run a story?” and “The Corps has taken care of it, why make it worse by running a story?” were raised again and again by Corps members — when they would even talk about it. The Battalion does not run stories like this because it is “anti-Corps.” The stories run because they are news. Just like it’s news when a student is arrested for pos session of narcotics. Just like it’s news when a student is arrested and charged with tampering with governmental re cords. An idea i exas A&M Li iors has brougl TBram of sc between I< Ideas for th conceived 1 yed Z. El-Sayi ography t Abel, a f fessor who jfthe Newjers es Consortiun e progra ific know! Just like it’s news when eight juniors are dismissed from the Corps of Cadets for hazing and face possible disciplinary action by the University. The Corps’ attitude that it is best to take care of your own is a dangerous one. And refusing to comment won’t make the problem go away. Rumors are much easier to keep alive and flourishing when the people involved maintain an attitude of silence and secrecy than when the truth simply is told. Angelique Copeland Slouch By Jim Earle ■ “Graduating senior or not, don’t you think you may be pushing your luck?’’ esigned to as lof mainta the produi rn waterw eagreerm participate ii S4.3 ; million pn y announced nternational 1 :nce on Marir daqa, Eqy hough El am could s betwee the retu Desert lan ces, he t as not th< were begr e were oi ng togethc lof investij; tries, sail erve as cl Budget debate is political poke by David Broder WASHIN’CTON —The negotiations aimed at producing a budget for the fed eral government for fiscal 1983 have been a drama of many dimensions. I bis is high-stakes economic and political pok er, with the future of an ailing economy and the advantage in the 1982 and perhaps even the 1981 election at risk. But no one should lose sight of the fact that it is also a human struggle, with two oddly matched but appropriate antagon ists, Ronald Reagan and l ip O’Neill. Oddly matched, because, at first glance, the President of the United States and the Speaker of the 1 louse of Repre sentatives seem polar opposites. Af ter 45 years in public office, O’Neill is easily caricatured as a bumbling relic of the political past, a ward-heeler who threatens harm to the Queen's English every time he puts down his cigar and opens his mouth. Reagan, the movie actor and television host who took up a second career in poli tics as he was approaching retirement age, is just as easily caricatured as a light weight charmer with a gift of gab but no talent for sustained leadership. Each man has come to know the other’s caricature is a lie. O’Neill learned last year that Reagan is as tough as he is charming; and Reagan is learning this year that O’Neill can be as stubborn ab out his convictions as the President him self. What is not so obvious is this: Reagan and O’Neill — the two men whose agree ment is essential if there is to be a com promise on the budget — have more in common with each other than either of them does with most of the others in volved in the lengthy negotiations. They are of an age: Reagan just past his 71st birthday, O'Neill approaching his 7()th. Although they draw different lessons from it, both of them know, in a bone-deep personal way that younger politicians do not, what the struggle for survival meant in the hard times of their youth, 50 years ago. The young men who have been nego tiating on their behalf — House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Jones (1). Okla.), White House chief of staff James A. Baker III, budget director David A. Stockman — are products of the pros perous postwar world, with its overflow ing economic and educational benefits. But Reagan and O’Neill are not just stubborn Irishmen; they have convic tions, and those convictions were forged a long time ago. They understand — both of them — that this is a critical moment for them personally and for the parties and blan ches of government tkr O’Neill, a rollback in pni Securitv payments is tlieli I from the promise of diKH retirement u hie It thesamltli the- cot nerstoneof theXeult ing that promise haskepuki in almost unbroken control for 50 wars. For Reagan, an increasti| cout radicts the first losophv he has preached 1H ' ,n(K,al, 1 ( 1 lol<l ' theb ^*onlyrepre wav to c urb biggoyernnng menl figures, i< >i i riii <il t.ixcMM) "hidiilft(^fc eez | e y i N sustaining that principle,lit!from the Univt the' Republicans hold ix>wB|aduate lec term basis. night. I hese two men — somtljB Beezley is vet soclillerenl —- lived llirojfij 1 ^ Carolin; The by Chr Battalioi Mexica site Letters: Photography craze threatens to ruin Editor: of the Aggie Muster Aggie Muster made me very sad. Un fortunately, I was not allowed to be sad for the right reasons, such as the passing away of a friend. No, it seems that the only ones who were afforded this luxury were the avid photographers who so busily scrambled for the perfect shot, rudely stuck their cameras into the face of a solemn parent, and carelessly tried to trip the R.V. Commander with a bulky tripod. The death march, formerly a solemn ceremony, has been lowered to a photo graphic modeling session for the Ross Volunteers and unsuspecting spectators. The flash bulbs during the volley made Muster look like tourist day at the Holly wood Wax Museum. The photographer who was using the tripod in the center was the rudest of all. He obviously has never been on stage ‘before or he would have realized that all of.G. Rollie White was watching his every .fnove. He upstaged all the Ross Volun teers! His worn out blue jeans and T-shirt made me feel like I was back stage at a rock concert, not at a solemn ceremony. Come on guy, you might as well have worn a Speedo and a Minolta to your grandmother’s funeral! Being an avid photography fan, I can understand the desire to capture the emotion involved in Aggie Muster. But if i&y let this keep up, there won’t be any ^motion left at all. I suggest that the Muster Committee strongly prohibit flash pictures (with 400 speed film, who needs them), allow only authorized photographers on the floor, make them dress properly for the occa sion (since they will be seen), and give them at) area well away from the action so they will not get hurt (either by Reveille, the R.V.’s or me!) ' We do need photographs of an impor tant event, but we shouldn’t let rudeness ahd thoughtlessness ruin the importance Nancy Cramer ‘84 ID of ‘Good Ag’ needed Editor: On April 6, at 10:25 p.m., my blue Toyota was hit by a black Oldsmobile in the parking lot behind the Commons. A note was left on my car by a good “Good Ag” with a description and license plate number of the car that hit mine. Unfor tunately, the note was not signed with a name or phone number and the person who owns the black Oldsmobile claims that his car was not involved. The dam age is more than .$200 and the car is a 1981 — still being paid off. In order for the insurance company of the other car to even consider paying for the damage, the “Good Ag” who left the note must identify himself/herself. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the Ag who left t he note on my car — it would have been so easy to just pretend that it never happened. Unfortunately, it did. If the “Good Ag” cares to identify him self/herself, or if anyone else may have seen this accident happen, your help would be greatly appreciated. Glenda Erp ’82 260-1469 taliou thinks that the appearance of a Klansman on campus is a newsworthy event, then the article should say why he was invited, what were the goals of the Texas A&M Sociology club that invited him and does the Sociology club endorse the activities of the Klan. I think it is important for the Battalion to make clear whether it endorses the activities of the Klu Klux Klan. Perhaps the Battalion thinks that the Klansman’s statements show him up and that editorial comments are not neces sary. I think that it is just as likely that people will be attracted by the Klans hatred of Blacks, Jews, Mexicans and Catholics as will be repelled by it and 1 do not understand in what way it benefits The Battalion to help stir up this hatred. Finally, the symbol of the hooded Klansman is odious. It does not deserve center front page on the newspaper of any university. Michael Marcus Professor of Mathematics just down University. Let Hilton build their hotel here — but don’t do it on University property. My second objection is more esthetic and probably won’t speak to those in au thority. Nevertheless in my opinion, the last open field at the corner of Texas and University is one of the nicest things ab out campus. Of course it would generate more revenue to have a high-rise on the spot, and sure that area isn’t “efficiently utilized” — but if we build on every square foot of our land accessible to stu dents, the campus will be efficient hut not enjoyable. Sometimes a little inefficient beauty is invaluable also. It speaks more listoriial cxiHTiiiuc ol ; CUI T ent *y on )rrss,,»n. 1 M(l ( a,nct()di a i^B^ SSOr H f s t , <one lusions. Reagan « S p 0nsore( i fi y t \ mem as the source, n6tll)™S or y an( i the nation's economic ills,awCMpter of Ph just as convinced that. tvlieiiimjThe title o government must bercadvwj'Mexico 1940 lend a hand. Cornpatch Pai 1 o ask these two men,anf can Revoluti< their lives, to rethink tilehcfl^ arance ‘ n . w.u.l, .m,l tin- principwM'^P'V asking ;i lol. An.hi l« doing n. War!!. With war pi heavy demand try, the Uni Jap manpow Mexico h In 1942, the National I quirt 1\ than <>nr poeketboob'to regulate the that modern man's basi( proiers that migra it's just too loud around JieJ An increa: \ourself think? caused Mexico Wade corn and bt of revolution; with President Not wasting words Edi,or: 8 pe In response to Vic Sylvia^ cord review of Van Haletys^‘ WRONG! Does beauty have a price? Editor: Klan story offensive Editor: The large picture of the Klansman on the front of Wednesday’s (4-14-82) Bat talion was offensive and frightening. Since I assume that the Battalion does not support the Klu Klux Klan, I would like to point out that this is irresponsible jour nalism. It is not good journalism to re port factually and in a “value free” for mat, the rantings of madmen. If the Bat- Filling every available space with a modular dorm I suppose is a necessary evil, and 1 have held my tongue. But I must speak out now concerning the proposed building of a Hilton on Texas A&M property at the corner of Texas and University. I am adamantly opposed to the idea for two basic reasons. I ) The University should not have a large privately owned hotel on its property because it is com pletely counter to the tenents of private enterprise. There would be an implied endorsement of the Hilton by the Uni versity, and this would be unfair competi tion against the new 17-story Ramada Inn under construction across the street and the Sheraton that is planned to go up Tony 1 -for ( The Battalion USES 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference by Loi Battalia All College lyees may re >St-of-living text year. Editor Angelique Copeland City Editor Denise Richter Assistant City Editor Diana Sultenfuss Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Focus Editor Cathy SaathofT 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 are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M University adminimtorscrlM hers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laborM for students in reporting, editing and pi ses within the Department of Conmm Questions or comments conceminf^ matter should be directed to the editor. 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