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Opinion
Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, April 5, 1984
Silver Taps a lasting
Aggie tradition
As Texas A&M grows and changes,
many of the cherished traditions of its
military days are coming under fire.
Bonfire, hazing, the “no hats in Kyle
Field” rule, keeping off the MSG grass,
the long-standing rivalry with t.u. — all
have been criticized as being archaic or
unnecessary.
But some traditions are immune to
criticism. Silver Taps, the farewell cer
emony for students who have died, is
one of them.
these Aggies personally, the fact that
they joined the crowd that gathered si
lently in front of the Academic Build
ing shows that Silver Taps still has
meaning.
The Battalion Editorial Board
thanks all the students who took time
out last night to bid farewell to Harris
Jay Harlan, Michael Raymond Lu-
drick, Elizabeth Ann Reeves, Glenn
Gurtis House and Peggy Lois
Kapchinski Drozd.
Due to an oversight, the outside
lights on the central campus were not
turned off as usual. For once, students
were able to see, in the eerie half-light,
the faces — many of them tear-
streaked — of friends and fellow stu
dents, the solemnity of the Ross Volun
teers and the shadows of the buglers
on the rotunda of the Academic Build
ing.
Those who knew the ones who are
gone remembered them. Those who
didn’t still felt a sense of loss.
As Texas A&M has grown, the per
sonal impact of the ceremony has de
creased. A student body of 36,000 is a
far cry from the all-male, all-military,
close-knit group that originally gath
ered for Silver Taps.
But even though many of the stu
dents at the ceremony didn’t know
The grief, and the sympathy for oth
ers’ grief, expressed through Silver
Taps binds Aggies together like no
other tradition. This one should last as
long as the school does — or at least as
long as Aggies are willing to take a few
minutes on the First Tuesday of a
month to honor their fallen comrades.
— The Battalion Editorial Board
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Letters
Relocate monument
Editor:
This letter is in response to the recent
controversy surrounding the location of
the West Gate War Memorial.
Since the Board of Regents in its infi
nite wisdom took such great time and
care (maybe 30 minutes) in deciding on
the location of the new Albritton Tower
and looking at the subsequent problems
(i.e., the relocation of the War Memo
rial) of that location, I feel that it is up to
us — the students, faculty, and former
students — to decide on an appropriate
location for the War Memorial.
We feel that the most appropriate
spot is right where it was originally. But
since we did nothing to prevent this des
ecration, this site is no longer possible
(or is it?).
War Memorial should be placed
there on the same grass, next to it.
Paul A. Griffith, Jr., ’85
Squadron 4
Editor’s note: This letter was accompa
nied by 22 signatures.
<5TRL 5C0UT COOKIES!,WHM ARE VOU IRVING W W, Kill HI
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right Health Center praised
Editor:
Recently I was confined to the living
quarters of the A.P. Beutal Health Gen-
ter for five days.
Visitation rules archaic
I entered with skepticism about what
really went on at the “Quack Shack.”
Upon arrival, I received my own room
with a fairly decent TV, a relatively pri
vate bath and many wonderful nurses.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the
Texas A&M System Board of Regents,
students enrolling in the University will
once again be shelling out more money
in the way of fees. This is due, in no
small part, to the across-the-board in
creases passed by the regents March 27.
True, the increases may be justified,
but the whole episode makes a person
stop and wonder. While the regents say
the increases are the result of operating
The board also passed a 6 percentiti'
crease in residence hall rates from last
year. A big jump? Not hardly whenyoa
Editor:
I feel it is time something is done
about one of the most archaic rules at
Texas A&M, restricted visitation.
Every three hours the nurses would
come and talk with me and see how I
was doing. They kept me posted on my
condition at all times.
However, we feel that the next most
appropriate spot is on the east side of
the Memorial Student Genter, right
where the Planned For the Future
(whatever that means) statue stands.
Yes, in 1984 there is still a public uni
versity in the United States with restr-
cited visitation hours for members of
the opposite sex. Now, I can understand
why colleges like Baylor or Notre Dame
might feel this policy is necessary, but I
cannot understand why a public univer
sity aspiring to world class would.
I know they must have found it diffi
cult to deal with all the patients, but deal
with us they did. At all times they main
tained the highest degree of profession
alism and courtesy. The little added
things like a snack or something to
drink at any hour made me feel right at
home.
bob
caster
consider rooms in men’s dorms whidi
averaged $309 per semester four yean
ago now average $572. That’s an85per
cent increase.
But the one that takes the cake is
increase in parking permits. A stklet
for a female dorm student or a
dorm student with at least 60 hourscosi
$15 in 1980. Next fall the price
$78 for that same piece of red plastit
with the adhesive on the front —aridit
ulous 420 percent increase.
If the increases are needed thentlitl
are needed. But the problem lies in
Texas A&M has been behind theti
in fee assessment — students have bett
getting off relatively cheap. The re
gents, realizing this, decided itwasti
to play catch-up.
But they’re not going to get cau|
up in one semester.
Stu(
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We feel that this spot, on memorial
grounds, is a proper spot for the War
Memorial. It should not be left sitting in
some construction lot.
A fitting place for it must be found
>w — not in six months, but now.
The Planned for the Future statue
could be located in front of the YMGA
Building or the Regent’s Board Room
so that they can look at it and remember
why they were hired — to make this
University a great place for the stu
dents.
If you agree that restricted visitation
is outdated and would like to see it
changed, don’t just think about it. Do
something. Start a petition. Stop your
Resident Adviser, Head Resident, or
Area Goordinator and mention it to
them. Write a letter to the editor.
I would like to commend them on
their outstanding performance and I
sincerely hope they make all the patients
feel as happy and comfortable as they
made me feel during my stay.
Rick Lockett
Class of’86
Thanks for Big Event
If people feel that the Planned for the
Future statue should stand where it is,
we accept that. But at the very least, the
Nothing will change if no one does
anything to change it. The students
here hold a lot of unused power. Ags,
it’s your University. Make it what you
will.
Kevin Klein
Aston Hall
Editor’s note: This letter was accompa
nied by five other signatures.
Editor:
The Big Event was a great event. I wit
nessed only that part going on at St.
Thomas Episcopal Ghuch, but on the
basis of this observation alone it is easy
to conclude that it was a success. Gon-
gratulations and many thanks to all who
participated!
Nelson Duller
AND TWS ONE'S FOR KEEPING
THE MEDIA, AWM, AND THIS ONE'S
FOR KEEPING THE WORLD SAFE
FOR DIPLOMA, MUDS, AND THIS..
costs and inflation, why does the poke at
the pocketbook come all at once?
It seems that most eyebrows are being
raised at fee hikes in three main areas:
room, board and parking — the big
three.
It’s true that inflation and cost of liv
ing increases hit everyone in the pocket-
book, even large state universities. So it’s
only natural that student fees go up oc
casionally, or once a year as is the case at
Texas A&M. But take a look at the in
creases in room, board and parking
over the last four years — when the
1984 seniors were just arriving at Texas
A&M.
The regents passed a modest 5 per
cent average increase in board plan
rates. Not bad? Four years ago the cost
for seven-day board plan was $501.
Next fall it will be up to $658 — a 31
percent increase. The five-day plan will
increase 36 percent from four years
ago.
What they’re doing is a grave injustict
to the students enrolling next fall
Those students will be picking up tlit
tab for the ones who have already graJ 1
uated. Instead, the fee increasesshoulil
be carried out in small increment 1
spread over a period of several years.
But it seems that the regents and ad
ministration should have had the fore
sight to plan ahead for cost increase
and likewise, should have taken thetitnt
and effort to arrive at a better
to the problem.
That type of action may have resulted
in a fair and more equitable dealfortlif
students — most of whom have not had
income increases over the last font
years. And remember, most schol
arships don’t come with cost oflivingin-
creases.
Bob Caster is a senior journalism 0
for and senior sports writer for The Bit
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The Battalion
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