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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1984)
Opinion Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, April 20, 1984 US \tude Students don't miss long lines, crowds A roui^id of applause goes to the ad ministration for successfully imple menting the new preregistration sys tem. This year, students have registered on specified days, alphabetically and according to their classifications. Predictably, freshmen and sopho mores aren’t happy about the seniority system. Some are afraid they won’t be able to get the classes and schedules they want since junior and senior pre registration goes through the Univer sity computers first. But it’s more crucial for upperclass men to take the classes they need to graduate. And the new procedure means shorter lines for everyone. It takes most students about five minutes to go through the whole proc ess. No lines. No crowds. No card pack ets to keep up with —just a single sheet of paper. The confusion that was predicted never materialized. Students who missed their designated days were al lowed to preregister late since there was no rush at the Pavilion. This year, we can concentrate on getting through the last round of tests and assignments without having to worry about spending a couple of hours standing in line. And this year, we don’t feel like cattle. — The Battalion Editorial Board Boycott of Gomes: Don't worry yet The Soviets are saying they might not attend the Olympic Games in Los Angeles this summer. In a classic Com munist mincing of words, the Russians insist they’re not planning to boycott the Games — they just won’t show up on their Aeroflot jets when the open ing ceremonies begin. Once again, the Olympic Games are being used for political gain. In 1980 the United States learned the hard way that nothing is gained by using athletes to protest a govern ment’s actions. The U.S. boycott of the 1980 Games — meant as a symbolic act to show the U.S.S.R. our opposition to Soviet mili tary manuevers in Afghanistan — made little impact on anyone except the American athletes. Perhaps the United States has learned something from President Jimmy Carter’s misuse of the Olympics in 1980. We hope so. The U.S.S.R., however, is as willing as the United States was in 1980 to mix politics with athletics; hence the Soviet warnings about this year’s Games. But there’s a good chance the Soviet athletes will be in Los Angeles. Bring ing attention to a cause or objection is the reason for any country’s threat to skip the Olympics. Once this publicity is attained — a process going on now — the Communists probably will de cide to grace the Olympic Games with their presence. After all, if they can’t get their way on the issue of athlete visas, they won’t want to pass up the opportunity to beat our athletes. The only losers in this political game would be the country whose athletes stay home. Like the United States in 1980. — The Battalion Editorial Board Slouch by Jim Earle ‘We could send it to the ‘Book of Re cords, ’ but we may as well wait ’til next year. It’ll be a better record then. ” 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, 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 Staff writers Ed Alanis, Robin Black, Dainah Bullard, Bob Caster, Bonnie Langford, Christine Mallon, Sarah Oates, Tricia Parker, Lauri Reese, Dave Scott, Travis Tingle, Karen Wallace Photographers Bill Hughes, Katherine Hurt, John Ryan, Dean Saito The Battalion also serves as a laboratory news paper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes witin the Department of Comm unications. Letter Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length but will make every effort to maintain the author's in tent. Each letter must be signed and must in clude the address and telephone number of the writer. Reader’s Forum columns and guest editorials also are welcome. Address all inquiries to the Ed itorial Page Editor. 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 of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Re gents. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regular se mesters, except for holiday and examination pe riods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semes ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed Mc Donald Building, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclu sively to the use for reproduction of all news dis patches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. By LOR CHRIS1 Report feats going eekend at eir hornet }arner III Associatio Si said Wei er is the a aye pa Report ine peddl iicyde 2,00 from C Ida. I Aggies ar I that and h licentive in product Riley, a se neering m i sophomo riding the a to suppc isease by i Americar Reagan's campaign: Who picks up the tab? By ART BUCHWALD Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate One of the greatest problems, when an incumbent president is running for office, is how to differentiate a political trip he takes from one when he is on the nation’s business. If Mr. Reagan goes out campaigning, the Republican Party is supposed to pay for it, but if he is trav eling as a president, the taxpayer does. Every time the president leaves the White House it runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars. So who makes the decision whether the president is out on the road making a political speech or delivering an inspi rational message as this country’s elected leader? The White House Staff does. “How do you decide when Mr. Rea gan is going out for political reasons, and when he goes out for Presidential ones?” I asked a friend at the White House. for all his failures in foreign policy, in cluding Lebanon. He has almost called them traitors. Would the upcoming elections have anything to do with the thrust of his remarks?” “Gertainly not. The president has a right to inform the people of this coun try who should be blamed for the col lapse of his bipartisan foreign policy.” “Gouldn’t he do that from the White House?” “It’s important that the people see their president, and the more he gets around the key electoral states, the sronger the message he is sending to the Soviets that we intend to have peace through strength. It is also his duty as Gommander-in-Ghief to warn the na tion of the disastrous conseqences of a nuclear freeze now being put forth by the presidential condidates in the oppo sition party.” “Some might interpret those as politi cal speeches in an election year,” I said. “We’re very careful not to confuse the two,” he said with a straight face.” “What are the criteria?” I wanted to know. “How can they be considered political when the nation’s freedom is at stake, and all he is saying is that the Democrats would deliver us into the hands of the Communists?” “Well, if the president flies out to at tend a luncheon of businessmen to ex plain how well his economic plans are working, after inheriting the worst fi nancial mess in 40 years from the Dem ocrats, then that would be a presidential trip and considered nonpolitical.” “It appears to me then, that so far most of the president’s sojourns haven’t cost the party too much money.” “Would a speech to the fundamental ist preachers about prayers in school be considered political or presidential?” “President Reagan would never use his high office to campaign for re- election at the expense of the tax payers.” “Presidential, of course.” “Recently, one of the president’s main themes in his speeches around the country is that Congress is responsible “When will the president dig into the Republican war chest for his re- election?” “If he stays presidential, then not un til he goes to Dallas in August for the Republican convention.” idea for tf Ja fun, seni t then plai mething producti Letters: Attitud cause proble: leelse. said that a history oi Editor: This letter is in response toAit O’Hanlon’s published inthety Battalion. It is somehow surprisingtli age when Texas A&M Univi striving to be recognized as a 1 University,” people with ideas O’Hanlon’s still exist in a socitP claims to be educated. I would tend to believe thatai man being who qualifies for ment at Texas A&M should institution regardless of race,« whatever other classificationsw derived to identify humans, versity has to do the quota route, thing is terribly wrong soiro Maybe the University sees some in integrating these peopleinto dent body. So, what is so repulsive ab« idea of having a certain numl “minorities” enrolling at Texas I an sure the University is notg( jeopardize its status by lettingcl qualified students just in there adl BySUZY Repor 1 p.m T Blood E ,797 unit; rid of 1 juice, 9,' ookies, I(5< n crackers crackers, tday of the | donor had iving blood lited Press Ii |STIN — man arre; ation was Thursday lice said, y Michael feed dead quota. It is time to realize that plays a large part in how success l Le sa1 ^ hie an institution such as Texas AK ai 0 ,j u ' ' . . „ >1 p.m. The jects its image. l ative ” w he A university is not only a| Id and was p where we study physics, chemisre pelf, engineering; it is also a place wlitt ™ ew as check learn how to deal with theprobte l e was okay, society. It is here that we canbet | lsian ' ^ ie accept the fact that there are mans created in this world have deprived by our nonchalant tudes for more than 200 yean need the given a chance to partio| It’s that simple. Gabrieli I M.P.A,slt| Coverups solve summer problem One size swimsuit does not fit all By DICK WEST Columnist for United Press International Springtime is barely upon us and al ready we are being warned of the dan gers of overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Although the perils of solar abuse are well documented, one subject that has not been approached en masse is swim suit abuse. So far, I have received only one press release dealing with that issue, and it by no means touched all the bases. Swimsuit abuse has been one of those taboo topics seldom discussed in polite company. “Out of sight, out of mind” is the prevailing attitude. And some of the bikinis worn on the beach and at pool- side literally are out of sight. Only infrequently has there been any sort of national dialogue about the terri ble strain that many swimsuits are put under each summer. Phrasing this as delicately as possible, it must be noted that human bodies dur ing the winter layovers tend to become rather, ah, lumpy. Ideally, consumers would buy several swimsuits of different sizes at the outset of a new season in the other types of camouflage, could be worn during the early stages of the tan ning process before the body has had time to overcome the ravages of winter. Smaller swimsuits then could be donned after a certain degree of nar rowness and natural tapering had set in. But, alas, prices being what they are these days, few sunbathers can afford a complete range of swimwear — one that covers all the contingencies, so to speak. Ergo, the one-size-fits-all model is necessarily in vogue. In addition to being subjected to a great deal of early season stretching, many swimsuits also are required to withstand a considerable amount of staining. Who among us has not seen beach- wear smeared with melted chocolate bars, spilled peach juice or permanent cola discolorations? E ts it p one step | e cting your Jsing m\ six gn Gerties loc within ] Moreover, the snag index oh ri P Us ’ s h°l suits worn for beachchair ing may balance the equation M 111 ring and “pilling” swimsuits. mit [rants, clul rather high. But that might best Cities, and ary to the erosive effects caused If and mud. Not to mention the te^ ites. of some swimsuits to sag and bag wet. The solution to all these f suggested by the Visa fabric t may be the polyester cover-up. Slipped on over a swimsuit, thesi ments keep sunbathers “cool,# able and dry, and stains wash o# 5 ly,” the firm says. Worse yet is the fitness kick. Swim suits are not just for swimming any more. They also are exposed to volley ball, tennis and other strenuous activities, including jogging. Additionally, they can keep ttif of the sun from fricasseeing v# parts of the epidermis. The larger models, preferably having plenty of pleats, ruffles, flounces and Cement is another major enemy. The very calcined mixture that makes daw dling around swimming pools so invit- The biggest advantage of like beachwear in preventing sw abuse may have been overlooked ever. They are loose-fitting enoi | l obscure all but the most blatant' 1 ' time contours. on the ^-leasing « at $260 f 1)111 units ai bedroom.^ Sund 8ll Harv 693-' Saus; 1001 Hat 693-'