opinion
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“This may just be a rumor, but I heard that several guys
from the next dorm hav been accused of being members
of a matriculation ring.”
Mall mania strikes
it’s time to shop
by David Spence
When I picked up a friend Saturday
afternoon to go shopping in shorts and a
T-shirt, she reprimanded me for dres
sing so sloppily for the occasion.
“But we’re only going shopping,” I
pleaded.
“I won’t go to the new mall with you
looking like that!”
After I picked her up a second time - in
jeans and an ironed shirt - we got under
way to the “new mall.”
Actually, the new mall isn’t that new.
It’s been there about a year n6w, but I’ve
been fortunate enough to stay clear of it
until last Saturday — when it was either
homework or mall-shopping. I curse my
self for not having opted for homework.
“There, park there!” Susie pointed.
“I can’t fit in there. That’s a motorcycle
slot.”
Having somehow fit my car into that
tiny space, I decided next to try my hand
at fitting a camel through the eye of a
needle. It certainly couldn’t be any more
difficult.
“Be careful not to bang your door into
that Trans Am next to us, Susie. The
owner might not appre-”
BANG!
“Be careful not to what, David?”
“Never mind.... What have you got to
buy here, anyway?” I wondered.
“Kleenex and a birthday card.”
“Doesn’t Skaggs have those? Skaggs is
next to campus!”
“Silly, you can’t go shopping at Skaggs
like you can at a mall,” she explained.
Which is entirely true. A mall-shopper
has a dramatically different shopping
philosophy than a Skaggs patron.
The Modern Mall offers a “shopping
extravaganza.” Merchants invite custom
ers to “experience storewide sales,” “en
joy aesthetic product displays,” and to
“roam freely through relaxing show
rooms.”
Susie was so anxious to experience, en
joy, and roam that I decided to just meet
her after the damage was done.
“Wait,” I gasped after a sprint through
what seemed like the tenth store. “I can’t
keep up this pace. Why don’t we just re
ndezvous at the big fountain in an hour?”
“I got my ears pierced with two more
holes,” she revealed excitedly as we
walked to the car.
“You better watch how often you come
here, Susie. Pretty soon you’ll look like a
gun-shot windvane.”
On my car I found a note: “In re
sponse to the door dent in my Trans., I
took the liberty of resculpting your
fender!”
“On the way home,” I grumbled, “I
need to stop and get some touch-up paint
... at Skaggs!”
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 Editor Frank L. Christlieb
Entertainment Editor Nancy Floeck
Assistant Entertainment Editor Colette
Hutchings
News Editors Rachel Bostwick, Cathy
Capps, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett,
Jan Werner, Todd Woodard
Staff Writers Jennifer Carr. Susan
Dittman, Beverly Hamilton,
David Johnson, John Lopez,
Robert McGlohon, Hope E. Paasch,
Carol Smith, Dana Smelser, Joe
Tindel, John Wagner, Rebeca
Zimmermann
Copy editors Elaine Engstrom,
Bill Robinson
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic
Photographers . . . David Fisher, Octavio Garcia,
Michael D. Johnson, Rob Johnston,
Peggy Klinksiek, Irene Mees, John
Rvan,
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77843.
Drinking age protest urged
Editor:
Attention 18, 19, and 20-year-olds! It’s
time you realize, you are about to be poli
tically shafted once again, and it’s your
own damn fault. It’s your fault because
nobody so much as raised a finger in pro
test when the minimum drinking age was
raised to 19 last year.
I contend that we are merely the
easiest target for vengeful victims of auto
accidents and lor politicians who wish to
score some points with these people. Be
sides, they know as well as we do that
18,19 and 20-year-olds are infamous
Consequently, the high-powered self-
interest groups, vote-seeking bureauc
rats and mad mothers in the state legisla
ture have accepted the fact that we, as a
group, are indeed mindless sheep.
Well, let’s be mature and reasonable
and look at this logically. What are some
of their reasons for proposing this law?
Last year, their main objective was to
keep alcohol out of the hands of 18-year-
old high-schoolers. To be sure, this was a
noble cause, and all people concerned
with the mental state of health of our
high school brethren should stand and
applaud. But now that they’ve accom
plished this worthy task, what new dilem
ma prompts them to jack the age limit up
another two years?
Reader’s
Forum
non-voters and, politically speaking, we
have the weakest voice of anyone in state
politics. This bill is just a political bone
tossed to the tearful, retribution-seeking
plaintiffs of auto accidents.
driving amongst 19 and 20-
continues regardless.
Finally, and most important,
that the victims of this new late,i
passed, simply will not standfoti
very long. Although young nis .
women of the present generation^
as prone to demonstrations and ay
as those of the 60s and 70s, they j
ness is still there if the cause is
Fortunately, there may stillhet;
act. The Texas Legislature is not£,
meet again until January, whentfe;
expected to pass with little opu*:
Until then, there are several coins
action open to us. Number one,if)
to vote and vote for those opposdi
mockery of justice.
Apparently, the answer to this ques
tion can be found in the sacred book of
Texas Traffic Accident Statistics, a
rather vague but very powerful tool that
can be manipulated by almost anyone to
say and prove almost anything. Appa
rently, our age group is “over
represented” in DWI reports and alco
hol-related accidents.
Furthermore, I contend that no mat
ter what the reasons behind this bill, this
time it’s not going to work! The people
being affected by this bill are, for the
most part, out of high school and either
attending college or working for a living.
They all have friends or associates who
are at least 21 and who will gladly buy
them a six-pack or two. Another reason
this law wouldn’t work is because these 19
to 20-year-olds are not about to stop
socializing or “partying” on the weekend,
no matter what the law says. If they can’t
get into a night club or dance hall, they’re
going to do it at home or in the streets.
Also, anyone with friends in other states
with similar laws, know that the laws
don’t work there either. Drinking and
Second, write your congitJ
senators and the governor. Juji
strongly worded sentences on ap|
notebook paper is enough if thaiiiS
have time for.
Third, put up fliers or postetii
stand up and make a speech the nsl
you see a group of f riends r i
themselves at your favorite spotkl
pie know what they’ll be missing
and most importantly, startsoik
tions. If just one person from ear.
of each dorm on this campus
petition, this University alonecoi
vide tens of thousands of signal!
Act now Ags, or you mayregi
Ted Goei
“How do you know there’s a fountain?
I thought you had never been here be
fore.”
“There’s always a big gaudy fountain
in these malls. I’ll see you in an hour,”
and I waved as she darted toward the
Fashion Bizarre.
Ah, at a relaxed pace, I can almost
enjoy these malls. I meandered through
a record store - which didn’t take long.
Their selection consisted of 100 copies of
each of the top 40 albums priced at $3
over list.
“Have any Chuck Berry?” I asked the
attendant.
“Buck, who?”
Next I went to the plastic sports shop.
The guy there, dressed like an out-of-
work football ref, wanted to put me in a
$90 pair of sneakers, a little silky running
suit that I wouldn’t let my girlfriend wear
in public, and a watch that kept lap times,
had five alarms, and balanced my check
book. I needed a jock strap, but they were
out.
I became hungry, so I set off in search
of a light snack. But what to eat? So many
options! One whole corner of the mall is
devoted to sating restless shoppers’ appe
tites. At one shop I could enjoy up to 501
varieties of chicken legs. Next door they
were baking two-foot cookies. A big
crowd was gathered around the Egg-
plant-In-a-Cup booth. I succumbed to a
fudge-covered hotdog.
My hour was up, and I made my way
down the concourse, past the mobile belt-
buckle vendor, through the kindergar
ten att contest display, and barely re
sisted buying a molten glass sculpture of
a giraffe. I finally reached the big foun
tain. Beneath a motley pile of brightly
printed sacks lay Susie.
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Letters: Ready to become an Agg
Editor:
This letter is directed to all Aggies of
College Station.
Being a senior at a small high school
(250) in Wisconsin to many the idea of
traveling 1,300 miles for a college educa
tion seems odd. When I began my search
for universities last year though, Texas as
the state was an easy decision. T his is due
to the many Texans I’ve met through my
travels and the National High School
Rodeo Association. The next step was a
bit more difficult.
In 1 !/2 weeks, three Texas schools
were thoroughly considered and Texas
A&M came out on the top of my list with
ease, for many reasons. Academics of
course, but the idea of fantastic school
spirit was also a factor along with the
friendliness of everyone I encountered
in my two-day stay at the University.
Keeping in touch with my future
home through The Battalion perhaps
has given me the most insight to be
gained. Thank you for helping to make
“the big decision” of my future. I am
anxiously anticipating the fall of 1983,
ready to contribute. That is if you’ll help
this Wisconsinite become a true Aggie.
Palestinians for the manner in which they
conducted their protest.
For too long, Americans have had
negative feelings toward the Palestinians
and their cause. Demonstrations such as
the ones held recently alert the public
that there is something dreadfully wrong
that deserves their attention. The Uni
versity community is the ideal place to
bring world issues out into the limelight.
It is a haven for the exchange of ideas,
knowledge, and culture. We must take
full advantage of these opportunities be
cause it won’t be too long before we will
be the ones making the decisions that
affect the course of history.
I would like to make one last comment
to the Organization of Arab Students:
Please inform the student population of
your events, discussions, debates, etc., in
advance. I for one care very much about
Palestinian autonomy and you might be
surprised at the number of other Amer
icans who also care. Like Nabil Al-
Khowaiter said: it is our responsibility to
be informed, except that now I’ll put the
ball in your court, it is your responsibility
to help us gain this information. You
have my full support.
Mr. Shomaker mentioned heisife'
duate student with an undergraditfi - ?
gree. He has been attending the UiB
sity for six years and has watched
“Aggie” football than Mr. Sherrill. [||
Those are impressive credential^
Sherrill has only one nationalchaiM
ship, and as a head coach SherriH’scuffi
record is a gaudy 53-17-1 insixvea#'
.757 winning percentage. His last®
years, while compiling a 33-3 rewp
Sherrill directed three consecutive||‘
victories, the last victory in the H v
Bowl over Georgia, a recent natijp 5
champion. This leads me to thecotiB
sion that Jackie might know a tittle
about football than yourself.
Michael J.
Editor’s note: This letter was act
nied by 10 other signatures.
Not for sale
Editor:
iirai
Jean Mansavage
Georgina S. Perez ’83
Support of protest Jackie knows football
Editor:
Editor:
I commend The Battalion staff in hav
ing the initiative to provide the public
with the varying views concerning the
Palestinian issue. I also commend the
This letter is directed more towards
Mark W. Shomaker, ’81, than to the stu
dent body, although I feel it may reflect
some of their feelings also.
This is in reply to the photo you
page 6 of the October 4 Battalion
cerning the “exasperated owner' 0
Mercury Comet. I resent this duel 5
fact that I love my car and itisweN
twice that price. I’ve been swam[
couple of requests for the purely
that car when it is not for sale, and^
intend to sell it. T his was just a
prank perpetrated by someone ^
nownst to me. Please set the
straight.
M. Wayne Surging