opinion
VlHo iN THe World DOe&M'T
aneRicaH aSRiCoDURe FeeD?
g)OtjTK aMSRiCaNS aFRiCaNS aMeRiCaN FaRMeRS
Medical students —
what bothers them?
by Maxwell Glen
and Cody Shearer
A 24-year-old friend returned to
medical school last month, unsure for the
first time about his ambition to become a
doctor.
After three years of all-day lectures
and sleepless nights “on call,” he had
reached the point in the pre-med track at
which one chooses between specialization
and general medicine. Neither path, he
figured, would lead to happiness.
As our friend saw it, in one direction
lay the life of the well-paid specialist who,
shrouded in malpractice protection,
seems destined to repeat a few medical
procedures on nearly-anonymous pa
tients; in the other lay the drudgery of
the general practicioner, comparatively
underpaid and dependent upon patients
who are often healthier than they admit.
So unappealing were the choices that our
friend was considering — of all things —
law school.
Some might say he was having a com
mon attack of anxiety. Others might call
him a victim of the “pre-med syndrome.”
But whatever the prognosis, his case is
only one reason why the Association of
American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has
embarked on a three-year examination
of medical education in the U.S. Last
week in San Francisco, physicians, stu
dents and med school professors began
to offer testimony at the first of a series of
hearings that organizers say could lead to
widespread changes in the way America
grooms its doctors.
The med school checkup is long over
due. While curricula haven’t changed
much in the last 50 years, health care
itself has witnessed a continuing revolu
tion in delivery, financing and tech
nology.
It all starts with two years of classroom
courses and cramming in anatomy and
biochemistry. Usually during the third
year, students gain practical experience
in clinics and hospitals, taking medical
histories, shadowing doctors, delivering
babies and performing a wide range of
hospital tasks. Already, they are addres
sed as “doctor.”
Today’s med students, says the
AAMC, are “overburdened’' with
memorization and, at the same time,
undertrained in how to stay abreast of
new developments.
More distressing, our future doctors
often shortchange their personal growth
in the pursuit of the M.D. Many gradu
ates emerge from med school only har
dened by the experience, unable to com
municate with patients, and contributing
to what the American Medical Associa
tion recently described as “a widespread
impression that students, preparing for
medicine are unpleasantly competitive
and possibly anti-intellectual.”
“The problems are intimately interre
lated,” said Robert L. Kellogg, dean of
the University of Virginia’s College of
Arts and Sciences and chairman of the
AAMC study group. “The explosion of
medical knowledge has led some of the
med schools to try to cram the state of the
art into these very young adults at the
expense of keeping in mind that healing
people is what it is all about.”
Some med schools have begun to en
courage undergraduates to enroll in
non-science courses; others will consider
factors other than tests and grades in
admissions. One change already floated
by the review panel would be to admit
students as early as the sophomore year
of college, allowing candidates more time
to pursue non-medical subjects.
Knowing something of college stu
dents, however, we suspect that adjust
ment would only lead pre-meds to bury
their heads deeper in the sand. Aspiring
doctors spend too many waking hours in
preparation; too few have taken a sabba
tical in — or even sampled — the outside
world. That’s why the University of
Pennsylvania has opened a special school
for training older med school candidates
— aged 24 to 34 — for admission.
“The philosophy here is that a 25-year-
old may, in the long run, make a better,
more compassionate doctor because he
or she is more mature,” Donna Sheckler,
assistant to the vice dean at Penn’s Col
lege of General Studies, told our reporter
Michael Duffy. “With some work experi
ence behind them, med students are bet
ter able to face clinical settings.”
But a shift to earlier admissions would
only encourage the missteps of students
such as our friend who, back in high
school, convinced himself that medicine
was all glamour. Reality only sets in with
endless exposure to routine ailments and
cranky patients. Then the med student
finds that it is too late — or too unprofes
sional — to submit to uncertainty.
The sooner future doctors realize that
medicine can be just plain work, the heal
thier we’ll all be.
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member ot
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
Editor Diana Sultenfuss
Managing Editor Gary Barker
Associate Editor Denise Richter
City Editor Hope E. Paasch
Assistant City Editor Beverly Hamilton
Sports Editor John Wagner
Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings
Assistant Entertainment Editor. . . . Diane Yount
News Editors Daran Bishop, Jennifer
Carr, Elaine Engstrom,
Johna Jo Maurer, Jan Werner,
Rebeca Zimmermann
Staff Writers Maureen Carmddy, Frank
Christlieb, Patrice Koranek, John
Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Ann
Ramsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti
Schwierzke, Kelley Smith, Angel
Stokes, Tracey Taylor, Joe Tindel
Copyeditors Jan Swaner, Chris
Thayer
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic
Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari,
Ronald W. Emerson, Octavio
Garcia, Rob Johnston, Irene Mees
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news
paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M
University and Bryan-Coliege 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 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 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 and
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/Page!
February 4,
Letters: Minority enrollment
Editor:
This letter is in reference to the comic
strip Warped which appeared in Friday’s
Battalion. For those who have not seen or
do not remember, Friday’s strip referred
to minority enrollment here at Texas
A&M and asked the reader to determine
which of five illustrations represented
the minority student. It was appropriate
ly entitled “Can You Find the Texas
A&M Minority Student?” (Need I say
more?)
Well, Mr. McCullar, your comic strip
certainly found this minority student
with a few questions of his own! Have
times gotten ,so bad that respectable wri
ters and illustrators are forced to revert
to such tactless exhibitions of tasteless
humor? Is this what is called responsible
journalism? I think not.
It seemed as though this comic strijj
was a direct attempt to exemplify retroac
tive viewpoints of the recent issue of
minority enrollment and recruitment.
The idea of getting more minority stu
dents here is one that I strongly agree
with — and not simply because I conve
niently fit into that category. The im
pressions that I received from the strip
were negative and offensive. Many of the
people whom I discussed this matter with
felt that it was offensive and somewhat
tactless, and a large percentage of them
were not minorities.
Might I suggest that we show a little
journalistic discretion whenever an issue
is brought into the limelight as this one
has been. President Vandiver deserves a
pat on the back for his efforts and 1 sup
port them wholeheartedly. This letter is
not meant to create negative attitudes but
merely to state an opinion which comes in
the form of constructive criticism. I
strongly desire to realize the full intent of
Friday’s strip and I hope to receive a re
sponse to relieve this desire. I’m quite
sure that the strip was one of a positive
nature. However, if not, then Warped is a
perfect and rather appropriate title for
both the strip and the actions illustrated
in it on Friday. Gig ’em!
dards and rich tradition recruitsanl I
tains our student body. No Univerat I
nanced programs have alia
thousands of proud, successful A| | by Bi
All people have an equal righttoa|
the federally funded school ofi
choice. I, for one, believe in the con tudent
urn the.
to equality, not “over-equality.”
The heartfelt jjride that students! Lenter ii
at Texas A&M derive from thechal |pnenight
ing struggle to achieve our high:;
lay from
dards of education. This challenge^ I in
a rigorous test of our commitmentto ^ --
IT- 1»TL . 1 • er, said t
University. What a pleasure it is it a b (
among all these old-army rug“ J *
Mark Anthony Sterling ’86
vidualists. Call me inhumane, call nit e nt club
exas AA
The A
Editors Note: This letter was accompa
nied by 35 other signatures.
Students recruited
by standards, traditions
different, hut I’m nottryingto
jjarticular minority or ethnic group!
The University has been underiiin> uee st
scrutiny in recent years over theroi I ir
women in the Corps. A few misfonii I ei ( S ) a ‘^
incidents brought jjublic degradaiit(l ll/e< 1 11
Texas A&M on a national scale,
lions of discrimination currently
Editor:
Thursday’s Battalion revealed that
Dr. Vandiver unveiled an $8.5 million
plan to correct minority conditions. The
President’s Committee on Minority Con
ditions reported: “the political, social,
academic and spiritual atmosphere at
Texas A&M is not conducive to the re
cruitment or the retention of minorities.”
I contend that high academic stan-
our honest reputation. While Dr,I!
diver’s plan may help refute this
reputation, it will he detrimental
fundamental principles that make
A&M great.
A1
M
Bat
The M:
t booths, e
1 appreciate the quality of indivii
hci e, and the fat i the\ havethegut *
stamina to stay. 1 admire Aggiesbecl
they’re tough and self-sustaining.
Dr. Haskel
Julian Pechacet | the spe
Jjister, hel
\ to honor
ijei stude
1 ring the
Monroi
'Ran of fai
:e presu
airs unti
pointed ]
sity of 1
| o has ser
the Grac
istant \
idemic a
Monroe
1959 an
n for tei
liversity :
A
lui,
WELL,WATT KEPT HIS PROMISEHE SAIC> THIS (AND WAS OM
L0N6 AS THE RIVER FLOWS AND THE GRASS GROWS AND THE
MOUNTAINS SHARE THEIR BEAUTY.
Letters: Traditions need attention
Editor:
It has come to my attention that three
of our most important traditions are
being tread upon with a noticible lack of
concern.
First and foremost I wish to call excep
tion to the scheduling of intramural bas
ketball games at times conflicting with
the ceremony of Silver Taps. One frater
nity has already assured us that they will
not again schedule activities coinciding
with Silver Taps. If this off-campus orga
nization can make this effort, shouldn’t
our own on-campus intramural office
have enough consideration for our fallen
comrades to do the same?
Secondly, three times in the past few
days have I seen people walking on the
grass surrounding the Memorial Student
Center. If signs were not posted in va
rious places around the MSC or if side
walks were not conviently located in the
area, this might be understandable. But
this is not the case. There is no exceptable
reason whatsoever for walking on the
grass of the MSC.
Thirdly, does anyone know of any par
ticular reason that the Howdys are be
coming so scarce on this campus? It is so
easy to say Howdy to the Ags you meet on
the sidewalk; why doesn’t anyone say it
anymore? Friendliness is especially im
portant at this time of year when so many
high school seniors, prospective Ags, are
touring the campus. Shouldn’t we be put
ting our best Howdy forward?
sound system and screen quality in the
Theater are far inferior to those in the
Auditorium.
Attempting to see and hear “Gone
with the Wind” Friday night in the thea
ter was a disappointing experience. An
injustice has been done to this and many
other great movies by dooming them to
be shown in Rudder Theater.
Can’t the folks in charge of Aggie
Cinema sense audience dissatisfaction
with the audiovisual deficits in Rudder
Theater? Why not show all future movies
in the Auditorium? Hopefully, we aren’t
witnessing the birth of a new tradition.
trw
day earnestly requested that anyone
cares about making Martin Lutherk
Jr.’s Birthday a national holiday
write to President Reagan at thefi
ing address. Murphy is going to hai
letters to Washington, D.C. in a
such and sincerely requests that
conscience to make this national In
a reality, do so.
I thought a few good Ags might" 1
Please think about it. The address
President Reagan
c/o Eddie Murphy, S.N.L.
P.O. Box 912
New York, New York 10101
Michael W. Riggs
Bryan
Marilu Jurenkij
China speech
Sit down
Editor:
Monday at 7 p.m. in 105 Harrington
Annex, Dr. Bin-Zang Whang will speak.
Dr. Wang, a graduate of McGill Universi
ty, is the leader of “China Spring”, a front
fighting for human rights and democra
cy in Communist China. This front is
similar to Solidarity in Poland, and Dr.
Wang has been called the “Lech Walesa
of China.” I feel that the students of
Texas A&M, through Dr. Wang, have a
good opportunity to learn what it’s really
like in the People’s Republic of China.
They should support him with their
attendance.
Editor:
We have four words for TomDot
SIT DOWN BUS DRIVER!
Tony Herin^J
Elaine Cassenf
Pedestrian conflicts
Kelli J. Clement ’85
Theater woes
Rick Olson
Graduate Student
Editor:
What reasoning was used in the decision
to start showing the majority of Aggie
Cinema features in Rudder Theater in
stead of Rudder Auditorium? Both the
National holiday
Editor:
Eddie Murphy, hit comedian and
actor on Saturday Night Live, last Satur-
Editor:
I would like to respond to
Campbell’s letter concerning the
gance of pedestrians on campus. 1
trians must have complete right of 1
under any and all circumstances, W
gent individuals must agree to
cause in a confrontation betw
pedestrian and a vehicle there will
be one real loser, the pedestrian.
This does not, however, remove
the pedestrian the moral and socii
sponsibilities of acting in a st
considerate manner, but these resj
bilities apply to the non-pedesi
well.
Mark Cunninghaitf