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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1983)
Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, May 3, 1983 opinion Don’t get mad; write a book by Dick West United Press International WASHINGTON —Jane Fonda appa rently has created a certain amount of friction in discharging her duties as a workout queen. First, there was a sex discrimination suit filed by three former female em ployees of her San Francisco health spa. Then a conservative political activist threatened to organize a boycott of her exercise enterprises on grounds that part of the profits were used to support “so cialist” causes. And now comes the implied assertion that female fitness nuts who follow Fon da’s exercise program don’t necessarily end up looking like Fonda. That, at least, is the message I get from Linda Sunshine, author of the new paperback book “Plain Jane Works Out.” “I bought workout books and re cords,” Sunshine writes. “I bought video tapes. I even bought a red-and-black- striped leotard. “I did exercises every day, sometimes twice a day. “After a few months, I looked in the mirror and what did I see? A movie star? No, just me.” Anyone who has ever undertaken a body-building program can readily empathize with the frustration Sunshine felt. As a lad, I was a disciple of the late, great body-builder, Charles Atlas. According to his advertising, Atlas was a “98-pound weakling” until a bully on the beach came along and kicked sand in his face as he was sunbathing with his girlfriend. That insult inspired him to devise the “Dynamic Tension” method of muscle development. If the pictures in the ad could be believed, a highly successful sys tem it was, too. The pictorial evidence indicated that Atlas had become a veritable tower of strength. Muscles bulged, coiled and rip pled all over his body. Believe me, no beach bully would ever kick sand on mus cles like that. I sent away for the Atlas regimen and diligently, faithfully practised “Dynamic Tension” for several weeks. But, alas, I remained far too weak and scrawny to intimidate a beach bully before the ador ing eyes of a beautiful sunbathing com panion. I realize now I should have been more like Miss Sunshine. “I got even,” she says. “I sat down and wrote my own exercise book.” The result, she claims, “is the perfect exercise plan for every woman who knows she’ll never have thin thighs.” Yes. That was how I should have reacted. I should have written a body building book for scrawny boys who know deep down that no matter how much they work out they’ll going to grow up to be scrawny men. I could have called my program “Dynamic Tranquility.” Instead of taking a bathing beauty to the beach, make a date with Plain Jane. When a bully comes along, offer him a tranquilizer. Then, instead of kicking sand in your face, the bully mellows out, borrows your guitar and plays a few folk songs. Some day, maybe you’ll both get in vited to Washington to perform on the Mall during the Fourth of July celebra tion. Sure beats push-ups. THESE HITLER DIMES SEEM TO BE AUTHENTIC, BUT WHy DIP HE DEDICATE THEMTO Letters: Campus litter complaints Editor: I have spent four wonderful years on this campus, but lately I have been amazed by its latest additions. They seem to come in great quantity and variety, such as McDonald’s cups, flyers, beer cans and, worst of all, Battalions. Litter on this campus has become a problem and an eyesore to this Universi ty. Obviously it is the person’s fault that threw it on the ground, but the other 98 percent of us could cooperate also. To the Battalion staff; Isn’t there a more efficient method of distributing the pap- The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Hope E. Paasch Managing Editor Elaine Engstrom City Editor Beverly Hamilton Assistant City Editor Kelley Smith Sports Editor John Wagner Assistant Sports Editor J°hn Lopez Entertainment Editor . . . . Rebeca Zimmermann Assistant Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra News Editors Brian Boyer, Kathy Breard, Tracey Taylor, Kelly Miller Photo Editor Eric Evan Lee Staff Writers Brigid Brockman, Ronnie Crocker, Scott Griffin, Christine Mallon, Robert McGlohon, Michelle Powe, Ann Ramsbottom, Stephanie Ross, Karen Schrimsher, Carol Smith, Angel Stokes, Joe Tindel, Kathy Wiesepape, Wanda Winkler Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Sergio Galvez Thompson, Photographers Michael Davis, Guy Hood, Irene Mees, Barry Papke, William Schulz Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news- ers to the dorms than putting them in the middle of the side walk on a windy day? I know we can’t blame you, we could pick them up, but some of us seem to be too busy lying out, playing frisbee, or tossing horse shoes. If someone littered in our yard at home, wouldn’t we stop and clean up the mess? So Aggies, let’s pull together, the the physical plant is fighting a losing bat tle. Next time you see trash on your cam pus, pick it up, most likely there is a trash can within 50 feet of you. I, like many Aggies, feel the spirit of Aggieland is 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 thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of i exas 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. here to stay, but can we tell by looking at the campus? Nancy Ford ’83 Chemistry review Editor: A committee is now reviewing the pre sent Chemistry 101 and 102 curriculum. Soon, they will offer their recommenda tions to the head of the chemistry depart ment on whether to keep the present sys tem or adopt a new one. In the present system students may attend any lecture section. They are en couraged to visit different sections to find the professor they like and under stand the best. Exams are standardized so that students are not penalized for not attending their assigned section. If this system is changed, each professor will probably make and administer his own exams without regard to the other pro fessors. The committee compiling the report has neither consulted students presently enrolled in the program, nor allowed Dr. O’Conner, director of first year chemis try programs, to present his views except at a first meeting. I strongly encourage anyone with an opinion on this subject to contact Dr. John Fackler, dean of the College of Sci ence, because he can make the final deci sion. You may not be directly involved but — for the sake of the incoming freshmen who have to take chemistry next year — let Dean Fackler know how you feel. Becky Bailes ’86 Slouch By Jim Earli “Do you ever wonder if there’s a possibility that l/ieL S n registrar’s office might find a remote, minor omission on ■ iir your transcript just before they call out your name?” f Convention guide for convention citie by Arnold Sawislak United Press International WASHINGTON — Now that both major political parties have chosen their convention cities for 1984, it might be a service to the citizens of Dallas and San Francisco to give them some idea of what to expect next summer. t Ivn :apei on Ihb 11 ledn gtl ci iipir | A ik( eTtc aii one of the local types undervvritii show, but the best way to get in ma get a job selling hot dogs at thecoKj' tion hall. First, pray for a spirited nomination contest. This is unlikely for Dallas if President Reagan runs again and taps George Bush as his running mate again. San Francisco can hope that at least two of the horde of Democrats are still in the field at conven tion time, but if recent presidential years are any indication, that nomination could be wrapped up too. Third, don’t expect to run intoa celebrities on the street. By the tin convention starts, everybody impi will be surrounded by security foil ok they don’t let bigshots take casual ies down city streets these days. Mosllj 1Q| stay holed up in the conventionk i' u During the convention, to get all the famous, head for traffic jams by motorcades to and from the the hotels and the convention h: may see somebody important, might also turn out to be yournia And that can mean trouble for the host city. If the thundering media herd that attends political conventions doesn’t have a hot nomination contest to follow, it will start looking around town for news. Some may let the local host committee show off the sights of the town, but many will search out the grungiest slums, ghet tos and combat zones for the “real story” of the convention city. You may not rec ognize your town when you see it, and you probably aren’t going to like it when you do. (Atlantic Beach officials say cov erage of their town during the dull 1964 Democratic convention came close to kill ing the place once and for all.) Second, don’t make any big plans to attend convention sessions. Both parties have had so many dele gates, alternates, convention officials, former VIPs, families, dear friends and media camp followers at recent conven tions that there was very little room for them, let alone locals. You may be able to get in if your brother-in-law is a party wheelhorse or Finally, don’t expect the conveni r l) going to cure wha\ ails your town. If your town has a bad image,! run convention without a lotoftn on the streets can help, as it did Net 1 in 1976, but there still are pled Americans who think Manhattanisi fire zone. ec h c df itei Nor is the convention going toen recession for your town, i f that is its lem. You may have read that thecoi tion is going to bring $30 million ot in new business to the city, butfigil T that sort are more often bandied: before rather than after conveni And if the past is any guide, there! 1 plenty of business people in yout who will say when it is all over that didn’t make a dime. In 1968, many restaurants mally closed for the summer renii open for the Republican convenii Miami Beach. When both partie turned to the same town four years a lot of those eating places were tered. MSC posters criticized Editor: I am writing to formally complain ab out an approved practice at the Memorial Student Center complex. At most times, there are posters on display on the first floor of the MSC which make some short comment and solicit replies. In some cases, the comments are legitimate, but in others the comments are very suggestive. In all cases, a majority of the replies are obscene. These posters are approved by the Texas A&M University Complex Scheduling and Services Committee and are therefore a condoned activity of the University. As we all know, the MSC is one of the highest traffic areas on campus. Not only is it widely psed by students, but visitors attending conferences on campus usually go to the MSC to relax, to shop, or to eat. Visiting dignitaries, prospective adminis trators, professors, and staff are usually given a tour of the MSC. More impor tantly, parents of prospective students usually visit the MSC. In many instances, the MSC is the first stop on campus for visitors. What impression do these people obtain of Texas A&M University when they view these posters on a short visit of our campus? Is this just a continuation of the low standards we present to out and nation by use of crude corp dorm yells, midnight yell practice® nities, and the indecent gesturest> yell leaders at sporting events? For a university striving to bea 1 university which is generating ot tion’s leaders of tomorrow, can we 1 afford to publicly display this type® garity? Finally, the Memorial Si® Center is a memorial to those Aggift gave their lives for our country^ type of activity appropriate witht walls of a memorial for the dead: John W. Kubenl Cabin history want* Editor: Does anybody out there knowtk tory or fate of the log cabin at 405D 1 Dr. in College Station? It was reel torn down. Does anyone know ho® tree down the street by the creek lowed the brick wall? Tad Davi ——— ] < : • ■'''