Opinion
Page 2/The Battaiion/Fi iday, August 31,1984
Words can ease
pain of death
Thursday afternoon The Battalion Editorial Board
started out to write a light editorial. The Creamery will
soon stop selling ice cream, and the ice cream loving mem
bers of the Board were mad. But once again the light news
lost all importance with a single phone call.
Saturday we heard of the death of a Texas A&M stu
dent in a motorcyle accident. Wednesday we buried one of
our own. Thursday the call came; another Aggie had
died.
Cadet Bruce Goodrich of Outfit F-l died Thursday af
ternoon. Goodrich was a sophomore who transferred
from a Community College in New York to the Texas
A&M Corps of Cadets. He had just a few short days at
Texas A&M. Saturday’s football game would have been
his first as a member of the Twelfth Man. His first Silver
Taps T uesday will be his own.
Death is something that newspaper staffs deal with ev
ery day. Wren the report conies in from Kansas, or Mex
ico or across the globe, it isn’t supposed to bother a jour
nalist, but when the dateline reads College Station it’s
irnpossibK* not to be affected.
Yes, we’re journalists, but more importantly we are
people.
Wiien Bryan Eagle reporter and former Battalion
staff member Dan Puckett was working on the obituary
for The Battalion’s editor Bill Robinson, he told one staff
member he felt like a media vulture.
Puckett was not a vulture. And neither is Battalion re
porter Dainah Bullard, who worked feverishly Thursday
evening trying to write an obituary for Goodrich.
The preacher at Robinson’s funeral said, “No words
can ease the pain nor the sorrow we all feel.”
The preacher was only partially right. Words cannot •
make the pain go away. But they give those who are left
behind a final piece, another memory to dearly hold on to.
As friends and family gathered around Robinson’s grave,
his mother clutched the copy of The Battalion with Bill’s
obituary.
Words do make a difference.
Words last beyond the drive to the cemetery. They last
past the hugs and tears. After normal routines resume,
words remain to be read over and over again.
So maybe these words and the words in the obituaries
that have been in The Battalion this past week, even if
they won’t ease the pain now, will someday yield a mem
ory. A memory of a smiling face — a son or grandson lost.
— The Battalion Editorial Board
College students face
vital national issues
reader’s forum
As Americans, we are privileged to
live in a democracy, one of the best
forms of government on earth. But we
take this for granted, assuming that the
freedom we have always known will re
main intact regardless of what we do, or
rather, don’t do.
We have become apathetic toward
our government. Voting, the part of the
system that makes this a participatory
democracy, has become a victim of apa
thy.
The social group that traditionally
has had the worst record for voting is
the American youth. The fact that
young people are poorly represented is
unfortunate, since the policies that af
fect the economy and international rela
tions ultimately have the greatest impact
on youth.
In an economic slump, college stu
dents have little hope of finding a good
jobs. Young people with little training
have even less hope.
If the United States is forced into
war, young people are called on first to
defend the country.
Either situation is less than desirable.
So what will we do to see that our inter
ests are protected? The record of the
past indicates that we will do httle. But
does our lack of initiative accurately in
dicate the concern we have for our
country?
For the past two decades we have
seen the traditional values that are the
foundation of our heritage be discarded
like on old garment that is out of st yle.
This has been fueled by a loss of na
tional pride due to the futility of Viet
nam, a depressed economy, and the dis
grace of Watergate and the Iranian
hostage crisis.
However, our generation has experi
enced a dramatic change in attitude. Re
cently, there has been a revival of inter
est in traditional values. Not everyone
would describe himself or herself as
“conservative,” but family and patriot
ism are two words that have been re-ad-
mitted into the American vocabulary.
In the past few years, the clouds that
hung heavy over the country have be
gun to dissipate.
In 1980 we had little to look forward
to. We had been humiliated at the hands
of the Iranian terrorists, the economy
was in worse shape than it had been
since the Great Depression, and we had
a president who blamed the failures of
his administration on the American
people.
Since then, we have experienced re
newed international respect and an eco
nomic recovery unmatched since the re
covery after the Korean War. Best of all,
we have a president who has renewed
our faith in our country and in our
selves.
Many problems still exist in our coun
try today, and it may be argued that the
present administration is partially re
sponsible. Although the problems are
real and need solutions, they should not
overshadow the overall effect of re
newed patriotism felt by the American
people.
How can we expect a president to
make everyone happy in four short
years? That would be humanly impossi
ble — yes, we do have human presi
dents.
I don’t want to bore you with political
rhetoric. We all have more of that than
we care to. Instead, I want this article to
ser ve as a catalyst, causing each of you to
stop and seriously consider whether you
feel the country is being led in he right
direction.
This is not a partisan issue, but an is
sue of conscience. 1 urge each of you to
get involved and actively support the
candidate that you believe best rep
resents your interests and the interests
of the American people. As individuals
we won’t make much of an impact, but if
we combine our efforts and evergies, to
gether we can make a difference.
c wps®r
ME REPUBLICANS ARE
'ME PAR TY OF WEALTH.
1AX SHELTERS, AND
MILLIONAIRESS
r
COOL Y01
3ETS,
pooRBoi
mondale
Patriotism stirred by bird
When the
Olympic Flajne
was extinguished
August 12, ending
the 23rd Olym
piad, it marked
the end of the
greatest display of
American patriot
ism in 20 years.
For fellow Ag
gie Mark Rudolph
and myself, it
meant the end of a
9-month, 30,000 mile tour across the
United States. For (hose nine months we
gave up college life to be Sam, The
Olympic Eagle —official mascot for the
1984 Summer Olympics.
During our tour across America we
travelled in a 30-foot long diesel,
adorned with life-sized depictions of
Sam, through 43 states as part of a pro
motional program for the Southland
Corp. We left many friends and experi
ences behind as we travelled through
those states. Through our endeavors, a
small part of the Olympic spirit was
brought in person to children and
adults alike who otherwise would have
had to settle for ABC s coverage of the
Olympics on television.
Letters - —
Student vote decisive
in community issues
Editor:
As election day approaches, so do
many choices and issues that directly af
fect the students of Texas A&M Univer
sity.
Every student’s vote will be a factor
not only in the national election, but also
in our community and more impor
tantly right here at Texas A&M. Ob
viously, the presidential election bears
great importance to us all and could
serve as a sufficient reason for Aggies to
vote. T here are, however, many local is
sues and elections that demand student
attention as well.
Most notably is Proposition 2, which
will decide if our Permanent Univeristy
Fund (PUF) will remain solely in the
possession of the Texas A&M Univer
sity and the University of Texas Sys
tems. To lose the PUF could have dev
astating effects on the Texas A&M
System.
One can’t stress the importance of the
student vote strongly enough. To ig
nore the responsibility of such a simple
duty of citzenship as voting is not only
failing as an American, but also as an
Aggie.
Many students feel that their vote is
insignificant; however, when we re
member that two recent elections were
decided by less than a 300 vote margin
and four recent local elections were de
cided by margins of less than 50 votes,
we find that every vote does count and
that Aggies can make a difference.
T here are 41,000 registered voters in
Brazos County and 36,000 Aggies. We
have tremendous potential to influence
local policy for the benefit of students
and their needs. Obviously, students
must be registered before they can vote,
and we have little time to achieve the
goal of a sizeable student registration
T he first few' months of our trip w'ere
sometimes frustrating. Nobody knew
who the mascot for the Summer Olym
pics was, and many didn’t care.
We were always being called a “big
chicken or owl.” But the situation
changed as summer neared and the
Torch Run began.
The change came suddenly. Thou
sands of people from all walks of life
started to greet the Olympic Torch as it
made its cross-country journey to its fi
nal destination in Los Angeles.
We were lucky enough to cross paths
with the Olympic Torch relay three
times during our trip. One encounter
displayed the true meaning of pride in
America and Olympic spirit.
We were driving along a backroad in
Idaho during a thunderstorm when we
came upon the torch runner, still hold
ing the flame high through the driving
rain and lightning. We pulled ahead of
the caravan and stood in the rain to ap
plaud the runner as he ran by. The
Torch Relay and Sam the Eagle had a
common destination and goal —to pro
mote pride in our country and the
Olympics all the way to Los Angeles.
1 he boycott of the Summer Olympics
by the Soviets just added to the fervor of
the Games. Americans wanted to show
before the Nov. 6 election.
Student Government, in conjunction
with several other campus organiza
tions, will be working vigorously in the
next month to register as many students
as possible. We certainly hope that you
will opt to register in Brazos County as it
is your home for for nine months out of
the year.
T he convenience of voting on cam
pus (or near your off-campus residence)
is also an advantage of registering at
your school address.
These single acts of voting can com
bine to determine our destiny. We sin
cerely hope that all Aggies will exercise
their right to vote Nov. 6.
Brett Shine
Student Vice President for External
Affairs
Keep off MSC grass
Editor:
Recently, becuase of all the construc
tion going on around the Memorial Stu
dent Center, many students (I refuse to
call them Aggies) have taken it upon
themselves to blaze walkways and make
bicycle parking spaces on the surround
ing grass.
Students, your iniative is outstanding.
Not only are you upholding all those
traditions that Texas A&M stands for,
but you are also setting an excellent ex
ample for the new students as well.
I’m sure that our war veterans would
rest easier knowing they had prevented
students from suffering sore legs and
tired achintr »->o C }j es by allowing them to
save an exi. 20 steps and park on their
memorial.
I do think that we should spray some
white parking lines on the grass so that
bikes will be lined up in a neat and or
derly fashion. After all, it is a memorial
and Aggies have a reputation for excel
lence to uphold.
James R. Tibbetts
Class of ’87
the boycotting nations the pride th«
felt for their country and demonstrait
the true Olympic spirit.
it was a good feeling to see and be i
part ol this rejuvenation of pride in
America. Never before have I seen tit
American people pull together for out
common cause such as the Olympics.
During the Games the pride andpi'
t riot ism was at its peak. American ai
letes were taking a commanding leadm
medals won, but still, every time tilt
United States added another gold totlit
record the feeling was still there. Even
time the band started to playourra
tional anthem and our flag was raised,!
was proud to be an American.
The Olympic Flame atop Los Angeb
Memorial Coliseum is now exlio
guished. The athletes and spectatorsart
all gone. But still, I believe a small namt
burns in the hearts of all Americans.
We are proud of our country andw
love to show it whet) we get the chance
T he Summer Olympics provided tbil
chance. But should it take the Olympki
to get Americans to display how proul
they are of our country?
Kevin Inda is a senior jounialsim m
jor who spent the last nine months trad
ling the United States as Sam TheOlf
pic Eagle.
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member ol
' Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conterence
The Battalion Editorial Board
In memorium
Bill Robinson, 1962-1984,Editor
Stephanie Ross, Managing Editor
Shelley Hoekstra, City Editor
Brigid Brockman, News Editor
Kathy Wiesepape, Editorial Page Editor
Kelley Smith, News Editor
Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor
The Battalion Staff
Assistant City Editors
Melissa Adair, Michelle Powt
Assistant News Editors
Bonnie Langford, Kellie Dworaczyl
Assistant Sports Editor
Travis Tinglt
Entertainment Editor
Bill Hughes
Assistant Entertainment Editor
Angel Stokes
Senior Reporters
Patrice Koranek, Robin Black
Staff Writers Shawn Behlen,
Dena Brown, Dainah Bullard,
Leigh-Ellen Clark, Tony Cornett
Suzy Fisk, Patti Flint
Kari Fluegel, Donn Friedman.
Bob McGlohon, Karla Marlin
Sarah Oates
Jan Perry, Lynn Rae Povec, James R. Walket
Copy Writer KarenBloch,
Copy Editors Kathy Breard, Kaye Pahmeier
Photographers Peter Rocha,
John Ryan, DcanSaito
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