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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1984)
In the summer of 1980, a group of f rustrated athletes from across the Un ited States gathered in Washington, D.C. After years of training for the Olympic Games, the hopeful conten ders were not allowed to compete — the United States was boycotting the Sum mer Games in Moscow in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Now, in 1984, it’s time for the inter national games again. Winter events be gin today in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and the Americans will host the Summer Games in Los Angeles. The Olympic Games bring back memories: Mark Spitz, with his seven gold medals in swimming; Bruce Jen- ner in the decathlon; Dorothy Hamill, starting a new trend in hairstyles; a tiny Olga Korbut, drawing ohs and ahs with her graceful moves; then another little gymnast, Nadia Gomaneci, drawing perfect scores and holding a doll on the sidelines; Eric Heiden, with wings on his skates. And who could forget the plucky U.S. hockey team that defeated the Russians in 1980 against all the odds? But the Olympics bring back other memories, too. Like the Israeli athletes, kidnapped and shot by terrorists at the 1972 Olym pics in Munich. Or the athletes from the African nations who arrived in Mon treal to find that their nations would not allow them to participate in the games because South Africa was allowed to compete. Or the disappointed faces of the American athletes in 1980, when the United States pulled out of the games to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It seems that the Olympic Games, originally intended to promote a sense of fellowship and friendly competition among nations, are no longer immune to the political snarls of the internation al scene. Athletes have been used as pawns in world-wide power struggles. It is our hope that, this year, peace will prevail at the Olympic Games, and athletes from all nations will be able to test their skills against each other in a spirit of fair competition. — The Battalion Editorial Board Do we need a sixties revival? Age not an issue in 1984 campaign Remember the Sixties? Sure, maybe vaguely, but most Texas A&M students were too young to know what was really going on then. Mention the sixties and the images that come to mind range from anti-war protests to Bob Dylan to society’s chang ing values. leges and universities provided made them a breeding ground for introspec tion. That, combined with the curiosity that comes naturally to a person striking out on his own for the first time, made a lot of How many people keep up with tional events? How many peoples tell you what happened yesterday in world, other than whatever happened' Texas 4b. 2 enni.R beeaiR ftions. campus? How many people turnona An Few things are as useless as a dead issue. You can throw it at an opponent or kick it around as much as you like, but it still just lies there like a stinking corpse. One issue that deserves to rest in peace this year is Ronald Reagan’s age. It was killed early in the campaigns for the 1980 election, but the dead body is still being dragged out and put on dis play, as if it could make a difference in the public’s opinion this time around. Yes, Reagan is the oldest man to have held the office of president. And yes, the health of a presidfential candidate is, and should be, an important factor in considering his suitability for office. But there is no basis for concern about Reagan’s health. All of his doc tors keep insisting, over and over again, that he is in excellent physical condi tion. His only health problems have been allergies and a slight loss of hearing. Weekly shots and a small hearing aid have countered both ailments. The most dramatic proof that the president is in good health was his quick recovery from the bullet wound he re ceived in 1981. The treatment was suc cessful and there were no medical com plications. So what’s the big deal? The presi dent’s medical record make his oppo nents’ claims of approaching senility sound absurd. It’s time to bury the age discussion and concentrate on the real issue: Reagan’s record in office. — The Battalion Editorial Board And the place where the effects of all of these influences could be found were on college campuses across the country. One of the most introspective periods this nation has gone through, the sixties were a time when people began to ques tion values and purposes. Americans were forced to struggle with moral issues that had not faced them at any other time in the country’s history. The country had just recovered from a major world war, was deeply embroiled in a cold war with the U.S.S.R. and was just becoming accustomed to the effects of national wealth. More people were re ceiving higher-quality educations, and Americans were becoming aware of the possibility of nuclear war and its horrible consequences. But why was social unrest so prevalent on college campuses? Simple. The expo sure to new ideas and concepts that col- robin black people — a lot of students — sit up and ask “why?” Gompared to most college campuses during that time, however, Texas A&M was a wasteland of apathy. In the sixties, students and faculty at Texas A&M iso lated themselves from the national chaos. Today, not much has changed. Aggies have forgotten how important it is to and l think and to question. I suppose this is true because life is so much simpler when you just sit back and let the events of the day wash over you, either not caring or not daring to “get involved.” news once a day or once a weekoren P in - ‘ pick up a newspaper? Not enough |T un! ’ The world today is not muchdiffa & ^ than it was 20 years ago. Nuclear*! j bn s . still a controversial issue. Civil ri^l although in a dif ferent form,arestii(« B VF fronting society. 'The governmentiiij cpiditi in society is still being debated,; Lebanon situation is frighteninglysim to that of Vietnam. The difference, however, is i one seems to care enough to wanij know why all of this is going on. I’m not advocating the rebirthofii) lent protests or deviation fromanvoi morals. I’m just baffled atwhyi cares enough to try and changes thing they don’t agree with. Doesn't! 1 one want to challenge their beliefs,eil to define a new concept of thosebeliefl to simply reaffirm them? Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, wheref you when we need you? (Robin Black is a staff writer fori Battalion and a sophomorejoun major.) c to Letters A second term Editor: I’m writing concerning the article on the renomination of President Reagan that was on the front page of The Batta lion on Jan. 26. “The world knows once more what America stands for: the freedom of man kind,” Reagan said in his third State of the Union speech. I would like to see Reagan be re elected for a second term. Reagan has a lot going for him. He has brought down inflation, rebuilt America’s Armed Forces and given approval to develop a space program. Within the next decade, NASA will build a space program which will hold men and women in a livable atmosphere. The cost was estimated at $8 billion in all, but the project will get $150 million more in the new budget. hope.” I believe this very much because I am an American and think he has done more for our nation than the past couple of presidents. Therefore, he should be in the White House for another term and make America stronger. Mr. Reagan said his four goals to be re-elected for the next term are “steady economic growth, development in space, strong moral fiber and a meaningful peace.” I feel he will fulfill these goals and many more as he has done in the past. Once President Reagan sets his goals, he tries to carry them out through the power we invest in him. Jim Branum Business Management Beat” that used to be printed? Steve Mueller Class of ’84 Editor’s note: “Police Beat” began run ning again Friday as a regular feature of The Battalion. Fix our roads And while it be far from us to dispute, or even question, the enlightening re velations scholar McDougal has pre sented, we do not feel that The Battalion editorial page is the proper discussion place for Bible semantics. Particularly on such an ambiguous topic. M.A. Roberts Crime awareness When the 72-year-old President addressed the nation, he said, “America is back — standing tall, looking to the eighties with courage, confidence and Editor: I commend The Battalion for printing the article by Sarah Oates on a recent rape and a harrassment. Such informa tion needs to be printed to keep the com munity aware of criminal activity and of the types of such activity that is occurring. By the way, what happened to the “Police Slouch by Jim Earle Tve often wondered what would happen at the gate if a book wasn't properly checked out." Editor: To Mayor Halter and City Planner Mayo: Haven’t we bitten off a little more than we can chew? It seems that the College Station City Council is always anxious to begin a new project without finishing the last one. What ever happened to Holleman Street? Are those roadblock lights and the orange and white woodwork to be College Staton’s modern art exhibit? And what of the newly destroyed Southwest Parkway? Do your construction crew’s contracts call for 70 degree temperatures and sunny skies to be able to work? By the time they finish one side of Southwest Parkway, the other side will need to be repaired! Why not employ three more construction workers instead of those police officers? Why not desig nate February as “Road Month”? Let’s digest what we’ve already bitten off. Karl Gromelski Parkway Circle B. Berry Evolution gives greater faith Editor: Three cheers to Richard Barnett, class of’85! I deeply appreciate his letter in the Jan. 30 issue of The Battalion which voiced his belief in both God and evolu tion. The dual belief is notasoutlai as it may seem to extremists who pi either theory. T here is simply too much eviG (yes, evidence) to support evolution* to entirely discount its validity.Thesl and base f ragments from Aust/alopil cus and Homo genera (among (A cannot be ignored; such fossilevidti must be taken into consideration'? one forms his beliefs. My belief in evolution does promise my Christianity; in faci,R win’s discoveries did not only tniii some of nature’s great secrets, but also served to increase my amaze* 1 and awe and faith in God who made* possible. Amy Vi Out of context Editor: In response to Randy McDougal’s let ter citing scriptures “condemning homosexuality,” we would like to cite a couple of our own. “They shall not make baldness upon this head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cut tings in their flesh.” (Lev. 21:5). “And whatsoever hath fins and scales ye may not eat, it is unclean to you.” (Deut. 14:10). We therefore declare the Corps of Cadets, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, the Coast Guard, and all National Guard and reserve units as “sinful” and “abominable.” The same holds true for patrons of Red Lobster, Long John Silver’s, and any other ini quitous seafood establishment. In a world in which some scriptures are taken so literally out of context, all scriptures should be taken the same way. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Rebeca Zimmermann Managing Editor John Wagner City Editor Patrice Koranek Assistant City Editors Kathleen Hart, Stephanie Ross News Editor Tracey Taylor Assistant News Editors Susan Talbot The Bultalion also serves as a laboratorynMf 1 * for students in reporting, editing and photograph scs within the Department of Communications Questions or comments conccrninganyediiotii 1 ter should be directed to the editor. Editorial Page Editor Kathy Wiese pa pe Sports Editor Donn Friedman Assistant Sports Editor Bill Robinson Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra Assistant Entertainment Editor Angel Stokes Photo Editor J°h n Makely Staff Writers Robin Black, Brigid Brockman, Bob Caster, Ronnie Crocker, Bonnie Langford, Christine Mallon, Kay Mallett, 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 Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed300 length, and arc subject to being cut if theyaffto 1 ? The editorial staff reserves the right to edit W' style and length, but will make every effort to the author's intent. Each letter must also besignd show the address and telephone number of ibtd Columns and guest editorials also arc welcome arc not subject to the same length constraintsasW 1 Address all inquiries and correspondence to W The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas AiM- versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (4® 2611. Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-Collcge 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 is published Monday through ft 1 during Texas A&M regular semesters, exceptfe’ day and examination periods. Mail subscript* 1 $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per schoelyearandll-’l full year. 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