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Battalion/Page 2 September 7,1982 opinion Survival of swiftest the safest way to go by Dave Spence Animals, it is said, are either built for fight or flight. Body structure, in other words, determines whether an animal holds its turf against, or flees from, a predator. Where a rhino charges, a gazel le hooks it. I am most definitely built for flight. Swift flight. Furious retreat, in fact. The bulk of the muscle on my six-foot frame surrounds my thighs and calves, not my shoulders, chest, or knuckles - which tells me something. “Dave,” I said to myself as I nurtured my first bloody nose in third grade, “you should’ve run.” Since then, I always have. That technique of survival, however effective, was never an easy one to prac tice in eighth grade. Butch Bloodlock’s white knuckles be fore me. A taunting mob of P.E. students to my right. Coach Greeley, an ardent boxing fan, to my left smiling permissive- ly at Butch. And a flat, open playground behind me. I carefully considered my options: Whether I fought or not, Coach Greeley would always think my curly hair made me a fairy. The crowd to my right would be disappointed with a KO in round one, anyway. Butch Bloodlock was sixty pounds heavier than me. I had just watched him guzzle five Cokes on a dare. And my tennis shoes were three shades whiter than his. He’d never catch me! Puffing hard across the playground, I could hear Butch’s phlegmatic footsteps a safe distance behind me; beyond that, my classmates’ references to me looking like a certain domesticated fowl; and beyond that, Coach Greeley grumbling in confirmation of his assumptions about my hair. Oh, well. Regardless of them, I re turned to class with my facial features still intact. Surprisingly though, even at an insti tution of higher learning, I am still placed in that same kind of bestial predi cament. In fact, with the unregulated amounts of beer now available to the Butch Bloodlocks at school, a fight-or- flight situation can be even more touchy than before. Yet, with the proper mouth-foot coor dination, toying with a drunken brute can be oh-so fun. Last spring, I consented to “joining the fun” on Thursday night at the Hall of Fame with a dear friend of mine, Cindy, and her boyfriend. As usual, inside the place an atavistic orgy was brewing and it didn’t take long for some over-brewed clod to make a “remark” to Cindy, be cause, I suspect, she was simply the best looking blonde in the place. “David?” she said. “Yes, my dear?” “See that guy over there?” “That one,” I pointed. “No, the taller one.” “And hairier?” “That’s the one,” she confirmed. “Why?” “Well, I don’t want to grumble,” she grumbled, ” but he asked me to dance, and I said I was with my boyfriend, and he says real nasty-like, ‘Well, honey. You ain’t nearly as pretty as you think you are.’ Wasn’t that rude?” “It certainly was,” I agreed. “You are as pretty as you think you are. Why didn’t you tell your boyfriend to beat ’im up?” I wondered. “Because he’d beat ’im up. The guy doesn’t deserve that; he’s just had too many beers,” she sympathized. “You’re right. What he needs is a sub tle jolt to his ego. Let me take care of it,” and I approached the culprit. Staring him straight in the navel I said, “Pardon me.” I believe he struggled to answer with the monosyllable, “What,” but his grunt was all the recognition I needed to con tinue. “Would you like to dance?” “Grunt?!” he repeated in disapproval. “No? Oh, well. I just wanted to say you’re not nearly as attractive as you be lieve you are.” Puffing hard across the dance floor, I could hear my predator’s footsteps a safe distance behind me; beyond that, the band playing “Why Did You Run Away When I Wanted You So Badly,” and beyond that, Cindy sighing at my dutiful heroism. 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 Entertainment Editor Nancy Floeck Assistant Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings News Editors Rachel Bostwick, Cathy Capps, Daniel Puckett, Jan Werner, Todd Woodard Staff Writers Jennifer Carr, Susan Dittman, Beverly Hamilton, John Lopez, Robert McGlohon Hope E. Paasch, Bill Robinson, Dana Smelser, Joe Tindel, John Wagner, Rebeca Zimmermann Cartoonists John Groce, Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic Photographers ... David Fisher, Octavio Garcia, Jane Hollingsworth, Janet Joyce, 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 necessarijy rcpresetit the opinions of Texas A&M UniVersity'diimirirS'tfkidfs'o/f&ciftty ’ffigm- ’ hers, 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 comments concerning any editorial matter 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 tp: 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. 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. Making peace over world’s fa E United Press International WASHINGTON — Already this year, President Reagan has undertaken to restore peace in the Falklands without unduly offending the British or Argentineans, and achieve peace in Lebanon without unduly offending the Arabs or Israelis. And if these situations weren’t sticky enough, he now finds himself drawn into a dispute between Chicago and Miami. Both cities have applied to the Commerce Department to have themselves designated as the site of a 1992 world’s fair celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World. It will be up to Reagan to choose between them later this year. Chicago claims to have time on its side while Miami’s chief ally is geography. There is no doubt that Chicago, scene of an 1893 Columbian Exposition, already has re ceived preliminary approval from the Paris- based Bureau of International Exhibitions for a “universal” category show 10 years hence. It also has a track record going for it. Chicago’s “Century of Progress” exposition in the 1933 enriched the world of culture with Sally Rand and the fan dance. Which certainly should count for something. Miami, on the other hand, being located only 400 miles east of the spot in the Bahamas where Columbus landed, has a clear shot at the proximity title. As a Miami publicist has pointed out, of Chris “never got as far as Chicago.” Moreover, the Windy City is unable to counter Miami’s geographic advantage with a claim that it is closer to the edge of the Earth. Modern scholars dismiss as myth the old canard that the crews of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, believing the Earth to be flat, feared the ships might encounter ajumping- off place. Historians now say the seamen who accom- anied Columbus were more concerned that e would be unable to find his way back to Spain. The latter apprehension apparently was eminently justified. The fact that Columbus landedtit^j Miami than he did to Chicago while^: reach India seems largely to navebectff ter of navigational caprice. Some years later, Jacques Cartier,a|| explorer trying to reach China, sailei^ St. l^iwrence River. Had Columbus drifted a little north, he might have done the sair^ continuing on that route until he la*; the Great Lakes, one of whose shoresiiE by Chicago. Ofjust such might-have-beensistltv, of history determined. In any event, I don’t envy ReaganiMl, choosing between the two cities. The! strewn with political landmines. Rr^ sions from the decision could spillo^S the 1984 campaign. I mean, if you thought the Argts^ were sore losers, wait until yougttai|r municipal officials whose bid foravoiri has been rejected. V T1 Care cy ca staff yet n medi paid. T Katie emei sity. Heal spun calls ambi niedi emei * MENACHEM ANPIHWE BEEN WTONIN6HEREIN MIAMI FOR YEARS, THEN ONE W WE fl6URE£> WHAT THE HECK, WHY NOT OUST 60 AHEAP AND ANNEX IT?.. servn thrm Letters: Respect Aggie traditions ■ abou Si Editor: This letter is not directed to the entire student body of Texas A&M, but just to those who do not have respect for the traditions of this great University. I just walked in from the football game and I must say that I am deeply disturbed by the actions of some of my fellow Ags. First of all, Kyle Field is a memorial. I must say I was shocked at the number of people who wore hats inside the stadium. I was even more shocked at the attitude they showed after they were politely asked to remove them. I never knew peo ple could be so rude, especially Aggies. Who cares if the sun was in your eyes? Just think what it would have been like if the Ags of World War II would have given childish excuses like that. So come on Ags, get on the ball and uncover while you’re in the stadium. The second thing that upset me was the number of people who left during the fourth quarter of the game. All Ags know that if we do get outscored that there will be a yell practice after the game. Even the football team stayed to help keep this tra dition going. It really upsets me to think that some people only care about win ning. How can we expect the football team to stay inspired if the Twelfth Man walks out on them during the game? To end, I would like to thank all the Ags who stayed until yell practice was over. To the ones who wore hats and left during the game, I would like to say that if you don’t like the way things are then leave. Scott Cummings ’85 Jason Clark ’82 Byron Nelson ’82 Rally behind Sherrill Editor: What are we coming to anyway? Be fore this University made its bid for su per size and status, we used to be more lenient of losses and more grateful for the effort. Has super size made us super snobs? Have we become like one local sportswriter who sings Coach Sherrill’s praise one day and crucifies him on the succeeding days? Why can’t our local media be as objective and forgiving as others have been? I personally think Jackie Sherrill’s the best thing to happen to this University in 40 years. His strength of character reminds me of t he last great coach we ran off — Emory Bel- lard. Are we to mock his talent with such shortsightedness? Let’s rally behind him in this hour and prove to him what Aggies are really all about. As one insightful Houston sportswri ter noted, Texas A&M’s future was not Saturday night. Let’s open our eyes to the same fact. Steve Smith ’82 Helpful student praised Editor: As I was walking toward the health center this morning, I noticed a young male handicapped student in a >| chair negotiating the sidewalkont to an 8 a.m. class. Since he unfortu* did not have an electrically po*’ chair, his progress, although stear quite slow. 0 A fellow student, on foot, o'j| him and politely took command wheelchair and both students werti swiftly on their way to class. That the helping student happ , ri - be female and black reflects the that have occurred at Texas Arf; past 20 years. What she did refleir fact that some things have notcr and the true spirit of Aggielandlr* Gig ’em! Gene F. Brossman, M* Berry s World Conservatives GAINST Trte New PEA ) 1982 by NEA. Inc