P
*
Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, October 21,1983
opinion
Halloween fruit
now regulated
By Dick West
United Press International
WASHINGTON — This year, for the
first time since Halloween was invented,
it will be possible to make a regulated
jack-o’-lantern.
According to the Federal Register,
official government grade standards for
fall and winter squash henceforth also
will apply to pumpkins.
The Agriculture Department says the
revision was “requested by members of
the produce industry to provide an offi
cial basis for evaluating the quality and
size of pumpkins.”
Granted, the industry may need an
evaluation system more precise than hav
ing someone exclaim, “Gee, that is some
kind of a humongous pumpkin!”
As an ace jack-o’-lantern carver,
however, I question whether lumping
pumpkins in with fall and winter squash
is exactly the right procedure.
It is all very well to point out that
squash and pumpkins “belong to the
same botanical family.” I can assure you
the trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood
would notice the difference, neverthe
less.
If I put a hollowed-out squash on my
front porch Halloween evening, it not
only wouldn’t scare the spooks and gob
lins away; I would be tampering with a'
tradition that could leave assorted spooks
and goblins emotionally scarred.
Size alone is not a factor. The Guin
ness Book of World Records reports a
squash weighing 513 pounds was grown
by Harold Fulp at Ninevah, Ind., in 1977.
The record-setting squash was not pic
tured, as were a 51-pound cantaloupe, a
Slouch
byjim Earle
“I know we promised beer for
blood, but at the same time?”
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...TWfc THOSE NINE DEMOCRATIC
U.§. SENATORS FOR ANC7J BEREZHKOV?
...NO WAV, ANDROPOV /
THE MEDIA WOULD NEVER 00 TOR rL
o
6-pound lemon and a 3-pound eggplant.
Nor was the text specific as to genus. I,
therefore, cannot say with certainty that
the squash was of the fall and winter
variety.
I do know from experience, however,
that a 513-pound squash would make a
sizeable jack-o’-lantern, certainly big
enough for most Halloween decorations.
Even a 19-pound zucchini, which is a
type of stjuash, would serve the purpose.
But that is not the point.
The harsh fact is that a carver as adroit
and creative as I probably could have
made a presentable jack-o’-lantern out of
the 73-pound turnip reported to have
been grown in 1768.
And the same can be said for the 5-
pound orange, the 3-pound pear and the
17-pound pineapple listed by Guiness as
the largest ever grown. But that doesn’t
necessarily mean they would be accept
able Halloween symbols.
The Agriculture Department says the
same standards can be used because “the
cultural and marketing practices” for
pumpkins and squash are alike.
Poppycock! And also pish and tosh!
Having never marketed squash and
pumpkins, I can’t dispute the similarity
of that practice. But if Halloween isn’t
cultural, I don’t know what is.
Would you want your kids out trick-
or-treating in a neighborhood where
they likely would encounter jack-o’-
lanterns fashioned from turnips, egg
plants, cantaloupes, pineapples, etc?
Of course you wouldn’t.
The point is that pumpkins deserve
their own grade standards. It may Be the
only way to avoid having squash pie for
Christmas dinner.
K */
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Fre
office
MoikI
El.
Pat W
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look.
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voting
five cl
eesso
‘t-
Letters
Assault on Corps attacks
A&M traditions, character
Dr. (
i the
ie, an
mira;
in Co
"A 1:
break
utine
ten t
jnity
Editor:
The arrogance and self-righteousness
of some people never fails to amaze me.
Johnny Jeng is one of those amazing
people.
Jeng’s assault on the Corps of Cadets is
an assault on the traditions and character
of this University. It is also an insult to
every “Good Ag.” I am not a member of
the Corps, but I’m proud of the Corps
and of this school. My father, uncles, and
cousins were not members of the Corps,
either, but they all graduated from inis
school, and they also supported the
Corps and what it stands for.
Jeng’s letter made me wonder why he
is even attending this University. If he is
so angry about the fact that one must be
in the Corps to be in the ROTC program
at Texas A&M, why doesn’t he just trans
fer to another university? He won’t
change the Corps; the Corps has been
here too long. Our Aggie traditions are
derived from the Corps, and it’s these
traditions that make Texas A&M a uni
que university. There are plenty of other
Texas colleges where Jeng can get a good
education, be involved in the ROTC
program, and be a member of one of
those fraternities he approves of so
much.
Jeng said that there are no more
heroes. That’s not true; there are just no
heroes who have his outlook and overall
bad attitude. Hundreds of Aggies have
been heroes. Every Aggie who has de
fended his or her country is a hero. And
for Jeng’s information, every one of
those Aggies honored in the MSC began
his military career by earning ribbons in
Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets.
This University is growing in leaps
and bounds. It is fast becoming a “World
Class” University. And when it reaches
that point, thei Corps will still be here. So
if you don’t like it, Jeng, just pick up your
army boots and move out. Highway 6 still
runs both ways.
Dainah Bullard, ’85
Aggies thereby creating a situation of dis
unity.
If Texas A&M is to obtain “world”
status it must retail) its sense of unity. It
also should be pointed out that other
world class universities such as Princeton
do not recognize fraternities or soror
ities.
Who cares, Mr. Jeng? The Corps of
Cadets cares. Its members care about the
University, its reputation and its future.
Lodrick Williams
Deposit refund ‘sloiL
ursd
i for
True Aggies defined
Editor:
In one year of schooling, 1 paiil||? r
University over $3,000 in fees,«^
they accepted with a mere flash of An
identification card. But this second'; tor j c
moved off campus, so they did n#H
that much out of me, this lime. Nevixhe
less, 1 still have many bills to pay: deiwy L
rent, gas, and electricity. I recenlifitat
membered the school owes me montjnde
last year’s room deOosit. & re d
I went to the housing office, 1
Editor:
Have you ever had someone ask you
what an “Aggie” was? If you ever have,
you know it’s not easy to answer quickly.
I have been an “Aggie” (one who is
enrolled in Texas A&M) only two years.
Walking around the campus, meeting
people, saying “HOWDY,” and observ
ing the dedication we Aggies show at
sports events and in the classroom,
helped me to see what an Aggie truly is.
I know I’ve got a few more years of
learning and experiencing The Aggie
Tradition! However, I do believe what I
have to say can help someone see what as
Aggie really is.
An Aggie is one who helps others in
times of trouble. He comforts others in
times of sorrow. A true Aggie shows de
dication by standing up for what he be
lieves in. He does not give up, no matter
what the odds are. He does not boast or
brag outwardly. A real Aggie never
forces his beliefs upon others. On the
other hand, he respects the expressed
opinions and beliefs of others. One who is
a true Aggie never stands in the way of
others’ achievements or dreams, like
peace for all men.
Strive to be a true Aggie. Do the best
forms, and the lady proceeded tolell.
that my check would be in the mailt |jj|j
days. Tell me, why does it take a m F
university 30 days to send a check:p
because they can’t afford it? 0ntil||f"
check bounce? Well, whatever there|||
is, they neglected to tell me.
Until that iiKineycomes, Iguessllfc
tell the landlord that this month'spN
will be in the mail in 31 days. iy
Elizabeth It
you can
Galvin Jones ’86
Corps unity defended Frankel protested
Editor:
The fact that I am a non-reg would
make it easy for me to take cheap shots at
the Corps of Cadets as Mr. Jeng does in
his letter. However, as an Aggie I feel that
I should be above such low blows.
Why the Corps of Cadets? Each school
that carries ROTC units chooses the
method in which the program is ex
ecuted. Schools such as Texas A&M, the
Citadel and Virginia choose a more
vigorous program. The results of these
programs are shown in the service re
cords of its graduates. These graduates
consistently have superior service re
cords. If indeed you are sincerely in
terested in a military career, it may be to
your advantage to consider the five prog
rams offered at Texas A&M.
From a non-military point of view,
there are also reasons for the existence of
the Corps. The Corps brass worn by
cadets carries the motto “per unitem vis“.
It is this sense of unity and pride that
carries over into other elements of life at
A&M. It makes all Aggies equal. In
theory there are no privileges at A&M. It
is upon this point that much of the critic
ism is leveled at the fraternity system. By
processes of selection the Greek system
sets itself apart from the rest of the
Editor:
This letter is addressed to Ted
Frankel:
It’s plain to see why Mr. Ted “Fact”
Frankel was not given royal treatment
while he blessed us with his presence.
Perhaps we Aggies felt unworthy of
speaking to a person with such a pleasant
personality. We usually say howdy to per
sons who make eye contact; perhaps Mr.
Ted “fact” Frankel was too busy raising
his nose in the air, fawning over himself
in the mirror or finding fault with our
great University to bother looking at us.
How many times did you walk across
campus? Once?
Mr. Frankel: You’re from out of state,
you were “kind” enough to admit that.
And you implied that it’s too early to pass
judgement on Coach Sherrill’s program.
You said, “Hasn’t this new coach...only
been at A&M for 18 months?” Well, what
makes you such an expert on Texas
A&M, having been here for just two
days? Some people demand much from
their fellow men, yet make no effort to
give anything in return. Highway friend
ship runs both ways. And that’s a “fact“.
Laren Leander ’86
(Editor’s Note: this letter was accompa
nied by 14 other signatures)
Abortion debated
^ . • )mm
Editor: [i ere
To conf ront the problem of w!i% fi e
or not the United Way should sfHnesi
Planned Parenthood (as Stephen touch
did in your October 12 issue) witlutosun
lions such as “Would Jesus do it? W 0
is the Christian way? Aren't ^
damentalists blockheads ” is real)! c [,
sing the point. Bn
The question to ask is “Is alwjich
murder?” If it is, then PlannedPafiue fi
hood is a murderous organization.^ sa
ting off support would be no more' rev '
sense” that gassing a mass murderer^ 0
happened to be a physician in his iff
time. , Wex '
Yes, Jesus certainly supports helm (
people. But Jesus also supportedEiny S |
worship. And yet when wickednessijia <
mixed with it, he drove people out'the i
whips. re ye
Danny En4
eeiK
ily 4
lade
Frats not ‘Greeks’""*'
PU
Qge
den
led t
Editor:
With Papand reou’s governnA
already tarnishing the image of Gr^'
the last thing Creeks need is tobeido
fied with fraternities. So 1 saftoL |
Foreman, Keith Beauchamp, aniith_ v
others concerned: Give Greeks a be wi
Who are these “Greeks” you keepws.
ring to? Are there really 2000 GredB
TAMU, or 2000 fraternity member
Two points should be madecleaiFu
Creeks come from Greece; 2) Bem^ a g U(
fraternity does not make one Greek h g
Being Greek is a right of birth, « l i>re
rite of initiation; so, I would appreewd B
if in the future only Greeks were reif Bo
to as Greeks, and fraternity menibM
fraternity members—the two are noic ^'
r an:
tired of arnt^
s
am
same.
In conclusion, I am
quarterbacks trying to coach the ™ lm
through the newspaper. Therefore.! ree-i
say nothing about Jackie Sherrill oi er tl
fighting Texas Aggie football tearotocec
Sincerely, l ' ne
Tom T#
Graduate Srf