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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1983)
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, December 12, 1983 Issues deserve more attention As the semester winds down to a close, students begin planning Christmas vaca tions. The hustle and bustle of classes, homework, tests, work and that all im portant social life will soon be over — at least for a little while. For this year’s vacation, consider doing something a little differently. Go ahead and relax, vegetate, eat, sleep, par ty or whatever your heart desires. But add something to your holiday schedule. Over Christmas, try to catch up on world affairs. Read newspapers, watch television news, read magazines. Talk to rebeca zimmermann new and interesting people who do things you’ve never done. Talk to other students whom you may never have truly talked to before. Read new books, see new plays. Take time out from your studies — which are so often geared more as a vocation than an education — and increase your aware ness of the world. Instead of talking with other people about the bowl games, talk about world wide issues. You may even be surprised. You may discover that others think as you do. Or you may here a point of view that surprises you. Some students do Find time to discuss topics other than campus mixers. One heartening example occurred at the fall leadership conference sponsored by an MSC committee for student leaders in August. One evening, while most of the participants were at a square dance, ab out eight students stayed at a table and discussed racism, nuclear war, politics of the world and at A&M, poverty and women’s rights. The group was com posed of people from all different back grounds and all participated animatedly in the conversation. It was fascinating. New perspectives were gained by all. Other opportunities for thought and discussion are provided by groups such as the MSC Endowed Lecture Series, MSC Great Issues and MSC Political Forum. We just don’t always take time out to attend such events. How many of you watched the Houston Cougars’ bas ketball game instead of seeing Ford, Schmidt and Heath discuss NATO? It’s a matter of priority. In college we seldom have time — or the knowledge — to hold a philosophical discussion with other students. It’s a shame. We’re losing sight of the real reason we’re here — an education. We get caught up in techniques for the pro fession we’re going into and lose the mind-expanding education college should provide. After all, college is supposed to be a bastion of free thinking, creativity and expression. It’s difficult to think about abstract things such as the universe while doing accounting problems, but we should set aside time for such thought and discussion. When our four years are up (it sounds like a death sentence, doesn’t it?), that “real” world is waiting. It w/7/affect you, believe it or not. You need to understand it. To understand it, you need knowledge and a willingness to learn, constantly soaking up new ideas, testing them in your mind, and rejecting or accepting the ideas for yourself. A lot is happening right now in the world and students and graduates of Texas A&M are affected by such events. Don’t despair. Some students do still care about more things than their CPR. Letters: Traditions are for good Ags Editor: As an official dead zip, now in gradu ate school, I am a self-made authority on what makes a good Ag. I might add that in addition to being a hard-core redneck, ever livin’, ever lovin’. Rock the Good Ag, beat the hell outta t.u. and two percen ters, Texas Aggie fan, I am a right-wing, conservative farm boy who drives a truck, drinks beer and listens to George Strait and Charley Pride. Dave Scott contends that traditions were to blame for the football team’s loss to t.u. Mr. Scott says that foolish play by the members of the Twelfth Man kickoff team lost the whole game. I ask you, Dave, when can you remember Kyle Field being so crazy, wild and noisy as it was on kickoffs this year? I’ll promise you it ain’t that loud in Austin or Moscow, places you seem to be fond of. You fail to compliment the hustle, enthusiasm, de sire and pride that our buddies on the kickoff team played with. Mr. Scott, you are no doubt one of those lazy bums who is too busy, too smart or too good to work on the bonfire. I’m sure you come out at dark-thirty and watch it burn each year, but do you have any idea what it means to work on the bonfire? If you got off your butt some time and wired logs all night, you might chance upon a very special thing called Aggie spirit. Apparently, you don’t know much about anything, just how to bitch and complain and make excuses. I don’t like people like you, Dave Scott. I’d love to warm your backside with an ax handle. If you don’t like A&M, or you aren’t happy with the traditions here, why don’t you leave? It’s true ... Highway 6 does run both ways, so get out on it so I can run you over. Jim Harris ’83 Former student thanks profs Editor: I’m now officially a former student of Texas A&M University. Before I go, I’d like to say a few goodbye’s and thank you’s to the professors that have meant a lot to me as I suffered my way through college. Many of them probably wouldn’t recognize me if they fell over me, and some are no longer here, but I still wish to thank them for a job well done. Behind each name is a comment that describes my impression of them or of the class. Richard Becka (Phil.) — patient and good-natured. William B. Clark (Engl.) — I may dis agree with your beliefs, but I can respect your beliefs. Larry Reynolds (Engl.) — a man I re spect and admire. Roger Crockett (Cer.) — sympathetic, kind, and friendly. John Thomas (Soc.) — a good-ole-boy. Azizah-al-Hibri (Phil.) — encouraging and open-minded. Charles Harris (Phil.) — a good adviser and a patient person, especially with some people. Mike Baye (Econ.) — a really sincere and likable guy. Carl Enamoto (Econ.) — “We under stand, Carl!” — hang loose in New Mexico. Walter Lane (Econ.) — personable and likable. Roy Gilbert (Econ.) — you terrified the apathy out of me, so I was able to make it. Thanks! Henry Dethloff (Hist.) — a great prof, and an excellent lecturer. “Darryl” Mdenka (Poli Sci) — you’re a real maniac — stay that way! Thanks everyone! Hey, Frank! Give ’em all a raise as a favor to me. Dave Wange ’83 Service group helps children Editor: I would like to recognize Alpha Tau Omega for their enormous help in the Village of Hope project. They took f ledges, picked up trash and donated 1,000 to the Village of Hope, working through the Student Government. Their voluntary service helped to make the area we live in cleaner and will help support a village of children in Columbia. 1 hanks to Alpha Tau Omega’s hard work, five children will be able to eat and live in much better conditions. Carol Ellison freedom take a stand \ by Robert Slider Do we, as a free people, want the rest of the world confined in totalitarian slav ery? As an individual, I know that I do not. However, it seems that many of our citizens, possibly from their fear of nuc lear war, do not care enough about the freedom of other countries. Of course it is natural to have a great deal of love for one’s life, but people have intelligence along with this instinct. This intelligence has saved men from their natural fates before. Perhaps, if we looked back into the future that has been related throughout our past, we could see answers to at least a few questions. If one person can learn from his past mistakes, why cannot a world, race, or country do likewise? Now for all of you who think we should leave Lebanon to face its dangers alone and not risk another Vietnam, I must express my disagreement. There is a healthy reason which I will explain. Once not too long ago a terrible cancer swept Europe. To us this cancer was know as the Third Reich. It existed solely in Germany until its hunger consumed it entirely. Having sated its need it grew strong. Soon its very strength renewed its hunger and it swallowed Czechosolvakia, a minor, insignificant country. Prospects of war loomed on the horizon, but the memory of “The War to End all Wars” filled the free nations with fear. In their readers' forum efforts to appease the cancer, they con doned its feast. Appeasement never leads to peace, as dear, sweet, old Mr. Chamberlain learned somewhat disasterously. His “peace” of paper did nothing to stop the war from being inflicted upon his be loved England. Hunger it seems can be filled only temporarily. No one saw any importance in the small appetizer Ger many’s hunger consumed, strategic or b > Bal otherwise. No one wanted tongniifc, over such an insignificance. Surdji®', would settle down and tireofcongi* the European powers left himaloot or st ik nary, f , .^—jclcs w fortunately for them and theresti maffair; world, it did not work that way.ll em discip suit of their uncaring attitude: hour world war. ooiganize It seems that there are times it | Tve r< becomes necessary for people tostn T;' s '' vs for their beliefs, even if it has I < ln, some foreign country. This counm| based upon freedom. Ifthatist belief now, she cannot believe ini and thus, cannot continue. Ladyl sways tarnished green in thewindS^ster h< the time. Stand or fall, it is allii 6p st 'P b hands. I do not ask that you diefor! dom. It would be muchbetterifyoui f and saw it achieved. You mwtonljlB c j a }‘ , yf-j the courage to die for freedom^ as you can fight to your ability andolhere it wa the victory over this new cancerjtson to h munisni. “A good ■Ived in nstudents ed in vi man majoring in nuclear engineei* Hot a stu< (Editor’s note: Robert Slider is it Civilized Redskin fan rates ‘America’s team’ by Art Buchwald The phone rang the other day and a sportswriter from Dallas asked me a strange question. “Why do the people in Washington hate the Dallas Cowboys?” “Where on earth did you get that idea?” I asked. “There isn’t a team in the National Football League whom we hold in higher esteem and affection.” “That isn’t what we read in the news papers down here,” he said. “Don’t believe everything you read in your own papers,” I told him. “How can we hate ‘America’s Team’? They repre sent all that is good about this country. They are a credit to their state. I have never heard a harsh word spoken against Dallas by a Redskin fan.” “Does that mean you’ve never been to a' Dallas-Redskin game in Washington?” he asked. “Of course I have. But we cheer equal ly for both teams. Redskin fans are only interested in seeing a good football game. When it comes to playing the Cowboys, the score is immaterial to us.” “Are you putting me on?” “Why would someone from Washing ton lie to a Dallas sportswriter?” I said. “You have to understand the nature of Redskin supporters. We’re different from Cowboy fans. Although we like to win, we don’t consider it a matter of life and death. Our hearts go out to the other team if they f umble the ball or their quar terback is sacked. This is especially true when we play Dallas. We have nothing but pity for them and we don’t want them to get out of football just because of us.” “Are you trying to tell me the Dallas- Redskin meeting isn’t the most important game of the year?” “Don’t make me laugh,” I told him. “As far as we people in Washington are con cerned, it doesn’t compare to facing a real team like Tampa Bay or the Houston Oil ers. The truth is we try to keep our first stringers on the bench so we won’t run up the score.” “Am I really talking to Washington, D.C.?” “You certainly are and I’m privileged to have this opportunity to dispel once and for all the rumors that there is any ill feeling between the Redskins and the Cowboys. After all, we both live in the same world and we don’t have time for animosity when it comes to a silly gridiron contest. There is no room in a Redskin’s heart for hate. We love Dallas, we love the Cowboys and we worship the Astroturf you walk on.” “Suppose I told you that the Cowboys are determined to beat your brains out.” “If you feel that strongly about it, we’ll just turn the other cheek.” “I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” “I know it’s difficult for people in Texas to understand Redskin fans. But most of us were brought up in the Quak er tradition. You can’t provoke us by stir ring up a rivalry which will only lead to bad feelings between two nice Wj teams.” v*|||i “I can’t print this garbage in* 1 ! newspaper.” “I don’t see why not. It' better understanding between kind.” “I’m talking about a football W could decide the Super Bowl, l f “And I’m talking about the ^ hood of man,” I told him savages in Washington who lust tory from a third world footballr “Do you realize I have nocoM Sunday if I print what you just |1 he yelled. flji I said, “You don’t, but Id° The Battalion USPS 045 360 Memtvr ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Rebeca Zimmermann Managing Editor .I°bn Wagner City Editor Patrice Koranek Assistant City Editors Kathleen Hart, Stephanie Ross News Editor . Tracey Taylor Assistant News Editors Susan Talbot, Wanda Winkler Editorial Page Editor Kathy Wiesepape Sports Editor Donn Friedman Assistant Sports Editor Bill Robinson Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra Assistant Entertainment Editor Angel Stokes Photo Editor John Makely Staff Writers Robin Black, Brigid Brockman, Bob Caster, Ronnie Crocker, Bonnie Langford, Christine Mallon, Kay Mallet, Sarah Oates, Michelle Powe, Lauri Reese, Dave Scott, Kelley Smith, Karen Wallace Photographers Michael Davis, Bill Hughes, Katherine Hurt, Eric Lee, Dean Saito Cartoonists Paul Dirmeyer, Scott McCullar Editorial Policy 77jc Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news- Ipaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-Collegc 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 laborulfif for students in reporting, editing and P" 0 ^ scs within the Department of Cotntnnli 0 ^ Questions or comments concerning^ ter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy length, and are subject to being cutif AO edit I0 effort^ The editorial staff reserves the righl style and length, but will make every the author's intent. Each letter must a show the address and telephone nuni ^ Columns and guest editorials also ' are not subject to the same length c° ns r „ Address all inquiries and coiresp'’"". The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald' ||f! versity, College Station, TX 77843,orp 2611. The Battalion is published Mo"d a ! during Texas A&M regular semeste day and examination periods. „ par #e Sir I $16.75 per semester, $33.25 p crSC ^ , on req»d full year. Advertising rates f urn ' s !jf ( - Reel 1 ' Our address: The Battalion* " . . Building, Texas A&M University 778 4 3. 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