-opinion
Slouch By Jim Earle
“So I said, ‘We may have differences about
AScM, but you should have a chance to express
your ideas/ and he told me how he felt..."
“... and I listened to everything he had to say
without interrupting a single time, and when he
was through, POW! right in the mouth!"
^TTA Fow worth
N.E.R.
“Here’s a notice about the pickup schedule — our service is
unchanged: there will be no pickup on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. However, we are being given
priority for delivery of garbage on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
Letter: Women’s
role in the Corps
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 Bernie Fette
Assistant City Editor Gary Barker
Sports F.ditor 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, Carol Smith,
Dana Smelser, Joe Tindel, John
Wagner, Rebeca Zimmermann
Copyeditors Elaine Engstrom,
Bill Robinson
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic
Photographers . . . David Fisher, Octavio Garcia,
Irene Mees, John Ryan,
Corrections
An article in Thursday’s Battalion in
correctly reported that a graduate
course in English aids students in getting
their thesis papers published.
The course — Technical Writing for
Publication — aids students in getting
articles published which are based on
thesis papers.
Another article published in Thurs
day’s Battalion incorrectly reported an
amount for the annual University Press
budget. The $600,000 amount is the
annual sales income — not the budget —
for the University Press.
The Battalion regrets the errors.
Editor:
This letter is in response to one writ
ten by Debbie Robertson in regard to the
role of women in the Corps.
Ms. Robertson, while I respect your
views concerning women in the Corps, it
saddens me to see that you don’t under
stand why women are in the Corps. Let
me try to help you understand. I am a
fifth-year senior here at A&M. I finished
my term in the Corps of Cadets last May
at Final Review where I stood with the
rest of the class of ’82 and bid a tearful
farewell to the Corps of 1983.
I am very proud of the years I spent as
a woman in Company W-l and so are
many other women who have gone be
fore me and will come after. The number
of women in the Corps grows each year as
the Corps becomes more and more
“equality” responsible and more career-
minded women become aware of the vast
opportunities available to them by pur
suing a military career.
I can’t believe you are one of those
unfortunate people who believe a
“women’s place is in the home” or else
you yourself would not be here at Texas
A&M in your senior year of achieving a
degree from a University which is going
to entitle you to something better than a
frying pan. The women of Texas A&M
have available to them probably the finest
officer training program anywhere. If
you have any desire to know the truth of
the matter take a walk over to the Military
Science Building and ask anyone in the
Army, Air Force, or Naval/Marine De
partments about the many fine women
officers A&M has produced who are tak
ing their responsible place in the military
in the fine tradition of their Aggie officer
brothers.
If that is not too much of a revelation
for you it would be a simple matter to
arrange for you a visit to the women’s
outfits. In fact, I would be more than
happy to pay for your dining in Duncan
with Company W-l, Ms. Robertson, so
that you could learn something about the
group of women you found it so conve
nient to malign. You would meet a group
of women who are disciplined and
cooperative, academically minded, will
ing to share possessions, hard-times and
hardwork, but most of all determined
and yet patient to make their time in the
Corps meaningful to themselves, their
school, their military service, and the rest
of the Corps by putting in that little extra
sacrifice of convenience.
While the Corps is certainly not for
everyone, most of the Corps women are
quite proud and would happily tell you so
if only you had bothered to ask them. In
1969, this University made a giant leap
forward in admitting women who are to
day an intricate part of this University. It
was a liberal, equalitarian view which
allowed you and I, Ms. Robertson, to
attend this fine institution. I only hope
you may, through learning the facts,
come to share in this same belief of equal
ity of opportunity.
Dawn M. Daniels, ’82
October 4
Traditions
Unite toward a goal
ai
The
Editor:
It started out so innocently. Somebody
asked “why do I have to remove my hat
during football games?” Then someone
asked why he had to stand up. Then
everyone became official University his
torian. Then the question-askers were
declared two percenters. Then the “good
Ags” were called closed-minded. Then it
was argued whether A&M was nirvana or
a “monotheistic prison of pseudo
idolatry.” Then we discussed the pros
and cons of traditions. Then we com
pared our library to other schools’ librar
ies. Then it was pointed out that Highway
6 runs both North and South.
Let’s stop the name-calling and sort
this out. Texas A&M has a long military
history that has been instrumental in
shaping this University. It would be pre
posterous to attempt to ignore or erase
this fact.
zation or this institution could have,
ressed so far without the “Spirito[|
land?”
I wonder how many ofthecrit!|
Aggie traditions have given anytk
to the alternatives. What would this!
pus be like without “Howdy,”\
dently could use some revitalig
A&M’s football traditions sure l
half-empty stadiums and lethargitj
that one finds at many other i
Having recently transferred from*
those schools, I find it excitingt
back and forth with 50,000 othe
and I don’t feel my sense of ids';
threatened. Have all of those ire;
critics simply forgotten the meai
fun?
Arts
award <
Brad si
to helf
cover <
and in
head
Progrt
found
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searclii
arts is r
in oth<
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pus ar
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Aggie traditions (and that’s traditions,
not laws) have been embraced voluntarily
and enthusiastically by generations of
students. The sense of community cre
ated by these traditions is best reflected
by the Association of Former Students.
Can anyone honestly say that that organi-
A&M’s traditions enhance thisIrj
sity’s academic excellence, noti
from it. A winning football teamp
in a stadium full of enthusiastic^
much more likely to bring theexpi
that this school needs thannoneaiij
all of the “two percenters” and >
Ags” would stop fighting with eacli|
and put their energies into our cm
goal of pre-eminence, that goal r
closer than it seems.
Ken Mitteldc: r
I A pro
speakim
( ter acqu
Academics and traditioi
fcracticn
Ivith En
(is in it s f
Editor:
I promised myself I wasn’t going to
write yet another letter to The Battalion
concerning all the hullabaloo over tradi
tions vs. academia. However, after read
ing the various comments that address
this issue, I just lost my self-control.
our rich history through traditional]
To say A&M will never change isal<
ful narrow-minded statement atl
cause we have seen so many eld
through its history, but hopefullynj
hold on to some sense of how and
got this far as we progress intothefii
What is all this garbage implying we
must have either academia or tradition?
Yes, I came to Texas A&M for a top qual
ity education, and yes, I feel I’m as good
an Ag as I can be. Our traditions may not
land us all $40,000-a-year jobs, but I be
lieve that because I feel such a loyalty to
my fellow Ags and what they have consis
tently represented I will be a better per
son for it.
A&M is my home, the place I love best
for many reasons, and I really can’t
understand the notion that we can’t be a
first class academic institution and retain
The
dents ai
lasses, s
olveci.
Dr. S
professc
nd coc
am, sai
peaking
&M ar
lasses b
ies will
hey hav
o the L
Alth
If you are not fond of a particular
tion, either go someplace where yot
not be imposed upon, or grin and
Sure, it takes a little stamina to
for three hours at a football game,.—
you don’t have it, you just sit rightdi & 151 ^ 1
but don’t you dare holler at me forsi
ing in front of you. Now, if youwli
cuse me, I have to read a few motet
ters so I can take time out for midi
yell practice.
M(
Kelli J. CleiB
Mosher |
re;
by
Carry spirit always
» An eic
®id slide
Ifexas /
music of t
Singing C
N>le for Vi
Editor:
Things are really getting out of hand.
It amazes me to read The Battalion every
day and see so many petty statements
about fellow Aggies. After all, we are all
Aggies, and we should have some respect
for the ideas and beliefs of others. Even if
we do not agree with other people’s ideas,
we should recognize that every indi
vidual is guaranteed the right to express
his opinions. Is that not what this section
of the paper is for? Clearly, it is.
t “|> by mic
juris i
many rich traditions. Ihese trac Fel 0 f w h
have enhanced A&M, and they area'like throi
of what puts A&M “a cut above”r pictures,’
other schools. But some chaffb, dean
needed. Change is a necessary psB° r ds.
that we must accept. We may lose!' He sai
traditions, but we may also gain
the process. So change is not all
I have a few opinions of my own I wish
to express. First, I agree that Texas A&M
is a great school, but it is by no means
perfect. There are other schools that
have, in the past, and currently surpass
A&M in several areas. Hopefully,
though, we can make a change in these
areas, which brings me to my second
point.
Finally, I want to encourage,
lenge, all Aggies to show that true,
Spirit. Be Good Ags, and quit tryii
cut others down simply because
have a different opinion. Let’s
song says, be “True to each othe'
Aggies can be.”
ive an i
Program;
3nd the a
The
°n, call
eep,” is
eaive si
; e nts tht
Really, h
Tt a cm
A&M am
' e seriou
Incidentally, since we are suppose!
be so unique, let’s come up with a:;
ginal idea to debate about.
Keith Cartwright
Freedom to choose
Editor:
The following lines are not original,
but I feel that they may be appropriate.
not infringe on the rights or freedom
others. Walking the fence and tryh
see both sides (perhaps from fear (I
taliation? No, certainly not in Amen*
I am ...
To the pro-spirit faction: You have no
reason to condemn or criticize those
wishing not to participate in traditions
unless they harm or inconvenience you
by not taking part.
Greg Hilsk
4302 College #
To the pro-academics faction: Do not
condemn or criticize traditions or those
who willingly take part in them unless by
doing so they cause harm or inconveni
ence to you.
End it all
Editor:
It is certainly not my intention to cate
gorize everyone as either spirit-crazed
partiers or anti-social bookworms, but
proponents of the two positions seem to
be locking horns as of late. Obviously, I
think that people should be free to do as
they choose, provided their actions do
A word concerning all this contra
sy over traditions here at Texas.!'
University:
REST!
Saskia Ekelmaos
Carol HaH
Marcy Basilf
Barbara Schrott