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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1984)
ereetf t Opinion Page 2/The BattalionAVednesday, April 18, 1984 Texas A&M needs to set new priorities The reason the University of Texas outshines Texas A&M in many aca demic areas — despite our claims to the contrary — may be its priorities. A new $32 million fund, started by a “mystery donor” who chooses to re main anonymous, will be used to at tract top scientists and researchers to UT. Thirty-two chairs have been en dowed at $1 million each, to provide salary bonuses and finance research in eight areas: physics, mathematics, mo lecular biology, computer engineering, computer-assisted design and man ufacturing, microelectronics and materials engineering. UT President Peter T. Flawn said the donor believes the future of the na tion depends on strong programs in science and engineering. And University of Texas Regents Chairman Jon P. Newton said the fund represented the university’s commit ment to “brains over bricks.” They’ve outdone us this time. While UT is establishing priorities for stronger academic programs in crucial areas, Texas A&M is still concentrating on the bricks. It seems we have a Board of Regents — not to mention a certain former stu dent — with a concern for the appear ance of quality, rather than true aca demic excellence. When Texas A&M was trying to re cruit Nobel Prize-winning physicist Sheldon Glasgow from Harvard Uni versity, the emphasis was on how many Nobel Prize-winners we could chalk up on the stats, rather than on the knowl edge this man would bring with him. The whole episode degenerated into a “who’s got more” contest, with Texas A&M comparing itself to — as usual — the University of Texas. Take a look at the reasons for build ing the Albritton bell tower. Every top- notch school has one, Albritton says — as if a stack of brick and mortar will im prove the academic atmosphere of a university. It’s time to face the facts. Texas A&M does not have the reputation for excellence it craves. But that reputation won’t come overnight. It will only be built through years of commitment. Not commit ment to appearances and statistics, but to real excellence — the abilities to im part knowledge and to search for new knowledge. The people holding the purse strings need to learn to be patient. They’re going to have to be willing to pour money into areas where they may not see immediate results. Only then will we be headed in the right direction. Books, not bell towers. Brains, not bricks. — The Battalion Editorial Board Political Forum Day a chance to learn Students have a rare chance to hear many different political viewpoints to day at the Memorial Student Center. MSC Political Forum has invited more than 100 political groups, ranging from the Communist Party to the Moral Majority, to its annual Political Awareness Day. Controversies may be brewing throughout the day, if last year is any indication. At the 1983 event, a transsexual, formerly a member of the Corps of Ca dets and representing the Houston Gay Political Caucus, was the center of a controversy. A handful of students reacted immaturely to viewpoints that differed greatly from what they be lieved. The incident was an embarrass ment to Texas A&M because it demon strated the lack of tolerance that some students still have. But it was a boon for the Political Fo rum because the incident successfully challenged some attitudes. The 1984-85 Political Forum chair man, Kevin Brannin, wants students to understand the committee’s reasons for sponsoring controversial groups. He said the committee tries to chal lenge students to evaluate their beliefs by comparing them to other view points. Perhaps this year students will re member that the event offers a wide range of viewpoints but endorses none. The day is simply a learning experi ence for all. The Battalion Editorial Board Mining for the oysters in Chesapeake Bay “Are you an overt oysterman or a co vert oysterman?” “I’m a covert oysterman,” he said. “You don’t think I’d be throwing mines over the side if I was overt.” “Are those things explosive?” I wanted to know. “I hope so. How else are we going to shake up the oysters?” “But good heavens, man,” I cried, “some sailor could hit one with his boat and be sunk.” “Well, we have to practice somewhe re,” he said. “Would you want us to drag . for oysters with duds?” “No. But suppose you damage a for eign ship? There would be hell to pay.” “We’ve informed all shipping nations we’re mining for oysters in the Chesa peake and they sail at their own risk.” “But why the Chesapeake?” “We might want to go after bigger shellfish off the coast of Central Amer ica, and we have to make sure our mines work.” While we were talking, two Latin Americans came on deck with plastic packages, and one said, Senor, here are five more tortillas we assembled. They will explode as soon as they hear a sound!” “Do you know what I think?” I said. “I don’t believe you’re looking for oysters at all. I believe you’re testing mines for use in Nicaragua.” “You must be crazy. Why would an oysterman want to mine Nicaragua?” V “Why would he want to mine the Chesapeake?” “I told you, it’s the easiest way to dredge. Jose and Pedro have large fami lies to support.” “What you’re doing is illegal and I’m going to report you to the authorities.’ The authorities know what we’re doing.” “What authorities?” “Suppose I told you the president of the United States knows?” “Then I would say you were crazy, or he was crazy.” “You’d better get going or I’ll dump one of these mines on your boat.” “If you do I’ll go to court and sue you.” “We don’t recognize the courts, and don’t write your senators, because we don’t recognize then either. If you’re a loyal American who believes in your country you’ll forget you ever saw me dropping mines off the sides of the boat.” Pedro came back on deck. “Senor, Jose wants to know if we can come top side to see what happens when a boat hits one of our tortillas.” The skipper got red in the face. “I told everyone to stay below decks until we located an oyster bed.” Pedro grinned. “Excuse me, boss. I forgot where we were.” The captain said to me, “I’ve got to pull up anchor. Now get the hell out of here. If I don’t bring back any oysters tonight the company will kill me.” Parking solutions offered We have followed, with some amuse ment and much confusion, the dis cussion of lack of parking, increased parking fees, rude cyclists, inadequate bicycle parking, and related topics in The Battalion, and have witnessed va rious pedestrian-auto-bicycle accidents on and near campus in the past two years. We would like to offer some sugges tions to alleviate the parking and safety problem. To be successful, the ideas presented here would require the coop eration of University and city planners, students, faculty and staff. All these par ties have something to gain from the so lution of the problem. We offer some alternatives which would enhance the safety of all. Rather than encourage more cars by building more parking lots, the University and the city of College Station should reduce the cars going to and through campus. We suggest: • Encouraging an increase in pedes trian and bicycle traffic. This can be im plemented in several ways. Build real sidewalks so pedestrians and those using wheelchairs do not have to contend with autos and bicycles. Na gle Street, College Main north of Uni versity Avenue and Jersey Street near Wellborn are three examples of heavily used paths without adequate sidewalks. Improvement of crosswalks and cross ing lights for pedestrians will increase safety and make walking to campus eas ier. Designate specific bicycle lanes on- and off-campus. Make some areas ot campus off-limits to bicycles. This will improve the flow of bicycle traffic and separate it from pedestrian traf fic. Increase and redesign the bicycle parking. A recent study on bicycle park ing by a class in urban design showed how this can be done. Place the racks where the bicyclists use them, not in odd corners, and greatly increase the num ber of racks. • Encouraging bus usage. 1 he pre sent bus system does an adequate job, but there is room for improvement. readers forum The cost of bus passes could be re duced. Presently, a shuttle bus pass is more expensive than a parking tag. Rate increases for next year will raise both rates, but there is still no cost incentive to use the bus. Reduced costs would in crease the number of bus riders. Enlarge the bus system and extend the hours of service. More routes and added route flexibility could be ob tained by the use of the smaller buses such as those used for the intracampus shuttle. Making the bus system available to more people will reduce the number of people who need to drive to campus. The present system operates until 10 p.m., yet the main library closes at 1 a.m. Many students do not leave campus until then. Build bus shelters off campus. This would make buses more convenient and comfortable to use during inclement weather. • Reducing automobile traffi(| campus. |? 0 ' Accept the recommendations hlWa recent consulting study whichsugpBtc closing some streets to traffic (ailj [ during class hours) and making! sreets one way. Those streets til duced traffic could be usedbystil vehicles and bicycles, reducingtfej destrian-bicycle problem. Do not allow cross-campus irate■ I making the campus open only toil t ies that have business on campus,nlj ice vehicles and those with parkings!^ ers, noise and traffic would decreast| We feel that the entire comma! would benefit from a coherenn grated and cost-eHecuve prop] which considers the traffic problti concerns pedestrians, bicyclists, iwl cyclists, and drivers. The University must play a role in the solution to the problem!! cussed here. It must not forcepeop!ilA& park off-campus and f rustrate local! Bei dents and merchants. L University planners must also be* sitive to pedestrian, bicycle, and chair users when planning facilities >e :ar iv'.: Building more parking lots wl crease traffic and noise and reduct safety and beauty of the main car area. Many of the ideas listed here are pie, would cost much less thanbuili parking lots and structures, and wu also enhance the safety and convenifl of the people on and near the camp® JimEu Ken Hi Graduate stud Pol Letters: Change honor qualifications Editor: I hope I am not too late for another letter concerning the Dean’s Honor List. Since I am an out of state co-op student, I get my Battalion’s about two weeks late. David Bueche believes students tak ing less than 15 credit hours do not de serve dean’s recognition. I think he should consider my case. I took 14 credit hours my first semester at Texas A&M. Eleven of these hours were honors courses including calculus and chemistry. I made a 4.0 by spending “a good deal of time studying” and “ac cepting such a challenge” as taking hon ors courses. Would you categorize me with “those who kick back and relax during their school years,” David? Let’s look at this another way: 14 hours times 4 grade points is 56 total grade points. If I had taken one more hour, maybe P.E., and received an F, my G.P.A. would still be 56 grade points di vided by 15 hours which is 3.73. That is certainly high enough for the Dean’s List, right? So if I wanted to play the game right, I could have signed up for an extra P.E. class and not even showed up for it. Would this make me more deserving of recognition? Now I agree with David that an 18- hour course load does not compare with a 15-hour load. I propose that honors be awarded according to how many total grade points a student makes in one se mester without dividing by the hours. For example, if 52 grade points were requird for honors, a student taking 15 hours and achieving a G.P.A. of wuld also qualify, as would another 1 dent taking 18 hours for aG.P.Aof This sounds like a more equitable tern to me. Does anyone haveabe idea? J , c. m. m Class of' The Battalion CISPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Managing Editor City Editor Assistant City Editors Rebeca Zimmermann John Wagnet Patrice Koranek Kathleen Hart, Stephanie Ross News Editor Tracey Taylor Assistant News Editors Susan T albot, Brigid Brockman, Michelle Powe, Kelley Smith Editorial Page Editor Kathy Wiesepape Sports Editor Donn Friedman Assistant Sports Editor Bill Robinson Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra Assistant Entertainment Editor Angel Stokes Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-support ing newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions ot Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Re gents. The Editorial Board consists ot the editor, managing editor, city editor, news editor, rial page editor and sports editor. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed- words in length. The editorial stall resent! right to edit letters for style and length but make every effort to maintain the author! tent. Each letter must be signed and nttiT elude the address and telephone numberol writer. ‘ Jj Reader ’s Forum columns and guest edilt> n also are welcome. Address all inquiries to the itorial Rage Editor. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed jf 1 Donald Building, Texas A&M University, lege Station, TX 7784d. United Press International is entitled sively to the use tor reproduction ol alined patches credited to it. Rights ol reproducW 1 '''' all other matter herein reserved. 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