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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1982)
opinion Slouch By Jim Earle “Have you seen my electric fan?” Police out of step with today’s society Criminals aren’t the only people who ought to be afraid of the police. In today’s Battalion, we have two arti cles about statements by policemen; one is a spokesman for the Dallas police de partment and the other is the chief of the Los Angeles police. The Dallas officer said that, since homosexual behavior is against the law, gays do not deserve the same considera tion other minorities receive, and that gays who are robbed and beaten are “just asking for it.” The Los Angeles police chief said he thought blacks might be more en dangered by chokeholds than “normal people.” By that, he apparently means non-blacks. These men are sworn to enforce the law for the protection of all citizens, gay or straight, white or black or brown. And their attitudes are ominous, not only for gays and blacks, but for everyone. Yes, homosexual acts are illegal in Texas. But until a homosexual is con victed of that crime, he is innocent. That applies to everyone, gay as well as straight. And even if a homosexual is convicted, the conviction does not excuse crimes against him nor does it excuse police in difference to those crimes. If the police can turn away from vio lence against someone who is, or is thought to be, a criminal, where does the logic end? If I smoke marijuana, can the police allow my murder? If I write a hot check, can a policeman stand by as I’m mugged? If I run a red light, can the police look the other way as I am beaten? Turning a blind eye to crimes against gays is the worst sort of Klan mentality: it allows thugs to prey on some people simply because the police disapprove of them. The statement from Police Chief Daryl Gates is just as offensive. He defends the chokehold, a move police have found very useful in sub duing people they arrest. It’s so success ful, in fact, that a few people — all black — have died. Instead of deciding that the maneuver might be too dangerous, Gates thinks that, well, maybe blacks just aren’t built to handle the strain like us normal folks. If I were black, I’d think twice about living in a city whose police chief is more willing to think I’m inferior than to re consider a police tactic. Would Gates’ reasoning have been the same had the dead all been white? The police, by and large, are decent people straining to do a difficult job in spite of citizen indifference and inadequ ate means. On the whole, they perform admirably, and without the sacrifice they make, I doubt we’d survive a week. That does not mean they are perfect. Indeed, the job they do sometimes gives them an “us vs. them” mentality that can lead to astonishing excesses. The police, like the military, are under civilian control for a very good reason: police cannot be trusted to make law any more than soldiers can be trusted to know when and where to fight. Only peo ple who can stand back from the fray have the perspective to make that kind of judgment. Policemen, like soldiers, are often dan gerously out of step with the rest of socie ty and blinded by notions of law and mor ality better suited to a battlefield than to a free country. The two statements today prove that. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Diana Sultenfuss Managing Editor Phyllis Henderson Associate Editor Denise Richter City Editor BernieFette Assistant City Editor Gary Barker Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Focus Editor Nancy Floeck Assistant Focus Editor Colette Hutchings News Editors. . Tracey Buchanan, Cathy Capps, Daniel Puckett, Mary Jo Rummel, Staff Writers Cyndy Davis, Susan Dittman, Beverly Hamilton, John Lopez, Hope E. Paasch, Bill Robinson, Dana Smelser, Joe Tindel, John Wagner, Laura Williams, Rebeca Zimmermann Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeonJr. Photographers David Fisher, Jane Hollingsworth 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 thse of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M University administrators or faculty mem bers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography clas ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or commen ts concerning any editorial mat ter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M Uni versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (713) 845- 2611. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and exami nation periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semes ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Adver tising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. Battalion/Pagel May 12,1 Commencement — a real tripSp A problem became apparent at gra duation ceremonies last weekend. It’s one of those problems that may not have a solution, but it deserves consideration. Steep stairs in G. Rollie White Col iseum present quite an obstacle to visiting family and friends. Students know how ridiculously steep the stairs are in good old Jollie Rollie. They grumble and groan about having to exert effort to walk up the stairs to a high perch in the stands to see a basketball game. However, students are basically young, semi-agile people. The people who attend graduation ceremonies are not always so young and agile. Grandma, Grandpa, Great-aunt Mary and the whole gang want to come see their grandchild or relative graduate. A college graduation is a big thrill for many people, especially since lots of grandparents may never have attended college themselves. But, these wonderful, supportive and proud relatives who are getting on in years may have a problem in getting to see the loved one graduate. People who have difficulty moving around are just about devastated when they see the steepness of those coliseum stairs. At the Saturday morning commence ment, one older lady needed someone to support her on both sides while she attempted to lift her legs high enough to reach the next stair. rebeca zimmermann stop halfway up the stairs to catcliJ breath. These were two seeminglij thy women. Imagine, then, whaiij stairs do to someone with I It was painful just to watch her. At times, she almost needed assistance to pick up her foot high enough to reach the next stair. Of course, by this time there were no seats left on the first few rows. She had to go almost to the top of the stands to find a seat. And it wasn’t just older people who h 1 P , . Graduation, for most people, is a dress-up affair. It sometimes looks like a fashion show. And, many women were wearing high heels of the narrow spike variety. movement. Even young children had pi with the stairs, mainly because were bigger than they were., rying a small child up those stain hazardous for those who carry thei is to let children try it on their owl People sitting around me expi concern about the steepness of the One man sitting behind me woi aloud if there was any possible w administrators to set aside handicapped or semi-crippled visila sit. That might not be possible someone would have to decide wlLj-^gU s£ served the space more. P Mitch( Maybe space could be reseneiifc)o, irc i and students could pick up passes to ikpnergy & served area for relatives who hanlttgecl gra eeting n ongo eration ;gies an< iorge P. 1 le first < nt cerei I The Ui ime self- hin 15 ] litical cli contir lerican ady sup ‘Mideast fc paired movement. But, this create a problem as to who need space more. I saw two women who had trouble walking down the stairs because their spike heels left little space on which to balance during the precarious descent. Granted, maybe wearing spike heels is asking for trouble at any event. But, gra duation is a dignified, formal affair. Two women in their twenties had to Solutions to the problem maybei cult to reach, but something netis done. And, if administrators decidete„ sider finding a solution to the problJ accessibility in the coliseum, theii should consider it in the proposedsfij events center. This is one problem^ could be solved before it arises. !h and rr id of lil TheM the nation Hand gas iny is ah eveloper L Mitchel Bexas A Letters: Summer job warning Editor: Once again, it is summer — a time most of us use to get away from school to work or play. For those who work during the summer, the prospect of employ ment may appear slimmer this year than in previous years. Yes, there are some standard summer-type jobs available in students’ hometowns, and some people may even get to work temporarily for a company which will hire them after they finish school. There are some jobs, however, that can appear to be better than any other at first but can be terribly misleading. One of these involves working for an out-of-state company by selling door-to- door, also out-of-state. Quite a few peo ple I know have attempted this with dif ferent results — some made money hand-over-fist, some made money but didn’t like the way they did it, and some lost a lot of money. Obviously, a job like this involves a lot of risk which can not be covered over by a flashy, memorized re cruitment pitch. Maybe I shouldn’t even be writing this — maybe I should mind my own business and let people get talked into something like this, but it bothers me. From what I’ve been told by students who worked or tried to work this way, it takes a lot more than guts to follow the demanding work schedule which is expected. There are just some things which can not be taught in a one-week training course. Door-to- door salesmanship requires aggressive ness and the ability to think and speak uickly, traits which should already be eveloped within the person. Without a fast mind, the salesman is at a distinct disadvantage — he will not be able to convince a customer fast enough to buy something which he might not really need. Like I said earlier, this is a risky job.— some people will succeed and some will not. To take a risk without being able to afford the loss is utter folly, but there is probably nothing that can be said to those who are determined to try the job out and who stand to lose a lot if they are not successful. To those who are as yet unde cided, all I can say is to consider all op tions carefully because regardless of what someone may, salesmanship, like any other activity, is not for everyone. Roy Gunn ’82 RHA largest group Editor: In response to Bill Robinson’s article of May 7, which stated that sororities and fraternities form the largest group of organized students at Texas A&M Uni versity, the Residence Hall Association submits the following facts: — The Residence Hall Association is a highly structured organization coordi nating the programming of 27 hall coun cils. — RHA meets bi-monthly with repre sentatives from each of the 27 program med halls, forming a cohesive link be tween the programmed halls. — RHA, as a coordinating link be tween Texas A&M University residence halls, represents 8,000 on-campus stu dents; therefore — The Residence Hall Associatl forms the largest group of organizedT dents at Texas A&M University. Stacy Gff RHA presidf Bad behavior at revij Editor: This past Saturday I attended Fij Review as I have each year since conil to Texas A&M. Although I have yell become an Aggie parent, I was m many examples of what not to be wM do become one. The rudeness and oj right selfishness exhibited by nttl friends and family members last Saiij day is not a part of the Aggie spirit wbl so many of their sons and daughters'I emplify. Being a non-reg, I cannot honesdy that I know how much Final Revi' means to the members of the Col (especially the graduating seniors), do know that it is a very special occasi j which deserves much more respect W the spectators than was shown last Sam I day. It’s a shame that more of us co»l not have enjoyed Final Review a il more because of the inexcusable ^1 havior of many. To the Corps I would like to say 11 there are many of us in the non-rj population that do care and are gratef i to you for the fine image of Aggielacj that you project in your many endeavor 1 :1a Re Dc shop D Give ’em Hell class of ’83! Steve Trolinger', 213 Astoj