Opinion
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Silver Taps honors
living, deceased
Silver Taps will be held tonight at 10:30.
Since April 21 — when Muster was held to
honor all Aggies that died during the previous year
— eight Texas A&M students nave died. In any
community that grows to more than a few thou
sand, deaths become a common ocurrence.
At Texas A&M University, with more than
36,000 students, death is common. A professor calls
the role and the call goes unanswered. A seat in an
overcrowded classroom remains unoccupied.
When a student dies, the loss affects only a mi
nority of the student body — the woman he used to
flirt with in Math 152, the man she used to watch as
he walked into Bolton Hall each morning, the
group he used to sit with when he ate dinner at
Sbisa.
They all know why an Aggie is missing and can’t
be found. They shed the tears and ask why some
one “so young and so good” has died.
The rest of the campus doesn’t shed a tear; they
don’t have to ask “Why?”
But on the first Tuesday night of each month
after an Aggie has died the activity on campus slows
for a few minutes. At 10 p.m. campus lights begin
to dim; Aggies slowly assemble near the statue of
Lawrence Sullivan Ross. At about 10:30 the Ross
Volunteers make their way through the hushed
crowd for the tribute to the dead.
The families will be in the crowd. From the hall
way of the YMCA Building the moms and dads,
brothers and sisters, grandfathers and grandmoth
ers, will be led to the spot of honor in front of the
Academic Building. It’s a special feeling for the
families and friends of the deceased, seeing so
many people honoring someone that was so special.
Tradition itself is not a good enough reason to
attend Silver Taps, but those that do go become a
part of the tradition. Attending makes a person
more a part of the history — more a part of the
campus — of Texas A&M University.
So tonight at 10, dim your lights and go to Silver
Taps. Go out of respect for the dead; go out of
compassion for those that live on.
The Battalion Editorial Board
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GOP convention: a media farce
By C H i
By ART BUCHWALD
Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate
Sherlock Holmes tapped down the to
bacco in his pipe and prepared to light it
with a match. He was studying press
clippings from Dallas.
Dr. Watson, who was playing “Trival
Pursuit” by himself, said, “Holmes,
something seems to be bothering you.”
Holmes replied, “You watched the
Republican National Convention, didn’t
you, Watson?”
“1 certainly did. Rip-snorting good
show it was too. There was not a dull
moment as far as I was concerned.”
“Quite, Watson. But wasn’t there
something missing?”
“Missing? I can’t think of what it
could be. If anything, it had too much of
everything.”
“Too much of everything, and yet an
important ingredient was lacking. Wait
a minute, Watson, I think I may have it.
Would you hand me that book on the
shelf, ‘History of the Past Republican
Conventions Since 1956.’”
Holmes excitedly went through the
pages. “That’s it. It was right in front of
our noses and we didn’t see it.”
“What did we miss, Holmes?”
“For the first time in modern history
the Republicans did not attack the me
dia. Everyone passed up a surefire op
portunity to get a standing ovation by
refusing to complain that the reporters
were not giving their side a fair shake.”
“By Jove, you’re right. Holmes," said
Dr. Watson. “It was a love feast. Usually
the Republicans shake their lists at the
convention network booths, and beat up
on the Washington Post and New York
Times. What do you suppose turned
them around?”
Holmes lit his pipe. “It’s elementary,
my dear Watson. Rather than attack the
media this time, the Republicans de
cided to manipulate them. Whatever
they wanted the GOP gave it to them.
They served up everybody for inter
views from Jerry Falwell tojoan Rivers.
“All animosity toward network
anchormen was absent. Vice President
Bush called Rather .‘Dan,’ Barry Gold-
water called Brokaw ‘Tom.’ and Phyllis
Schlafly called Lesley Stahl ‘Honey.*
“Every Republican star was on a first-
tuytie basis with the interviewer. By
playing the good guys, the Republicans
wound up co-opting anyone who wore a
press badge in Dallas.”
“Amazing, Holmes. How did they get
away with it?”
“There was no story in Dallas, my
dear Watson. The networks were des
perate to fill two hours of time every
night, and the Republicans were more
LETTERS
Corps needs
to reorganize
Cadets need
more supervision
EDITOR:
Startling headlines on the front page
of the Houston Chronicle Friday reads:
“A&M Cadet Dies Following Hazing.”
Many day-to-day activities of the
Corps, however futile and irrational
they may be, remain unnoticed by those
of us labeled civilians. It causes me to
wonder who has the better life. Events
like quadding a lower ranking cadet,
double time push-ups, and other stren
uous exercises in the middle of the night
may convey the image of a strong, uni
fied group.
EDITOR:
To beautiful Texas A&M,
To its glorious war memorials ded
icated to those
who so valiantly gave their lives.
To its time honored traditions.
To that special bond that holds Ag
gies together.
I have a few questions for you.
First, I want to know what has hap
pened to the respect Aggies are sup
posed to have for their fellow man? Is
that one tradition we decided to drop?
Or is it that we just temporarily forgot
it?
Second, is the Corps actually trying to
help their cadets, or is it just a front so
that people can take their hostilities out
on someone?
Finally, we have memorials for those
brave men who died for our country,
but what is going to allow us to remem
ber this? Are we going to chalk it up to
experience, and just forget this death
like we would a passing thought?
Well, this is one death that better not
be forgotten.
It wasn't just a few cadet's fault, nor
was it the Corp's fault. This death was
everyone's fault for not having the cour
age, the sense, or taking the time to
speak out earlier.
The purpose of this letter is not to
suggest the abolishment of the Corps
but rather to request closer, more rea
sonable supervision of the Corps by
people willing to take responsibility of
the Corp‘s actions.
Jay R. Porter ‘86 accompanied by 21
signatures.
But people of the Corps... Take two
steps back! Examine the benefits from
you ancient traditions. Get with the
times.
Corps commandant Col. Donald Bur
ton needs to answer a few questions:
Col. Burton of the Corps:
Are hazing activities supported by
you:
Col. Burton:
You banned activities such as the one
that led to the death of Bruce Goodrich.
Do you plead guilty to the charge of en
forcing the rules in a loose, undefined
manner?
Col Burton:
What will be your action should the
corp ignore your authority and another
causally results? Will you disband the
Corps altogether?
Roger Pearce
junior History major
than happy to oblige them wiihw
verse right-wingers as Bunker Hun
Jack Kemp. In the past the far tip
fused to talk to the press. This tin*
not only sought them out, buio
them to their S1000-a plate partici
“Why the change of attitude,
mes?”
“It was quite simple, Watson,
the media and the GOP Conven®
no choice but to suck their thunE
pack of journalists who passed up^
were going after Geraldine Ferrar
John Zaccaro. I he Republicans
want to antagonize the press wh
were so intent on nailing a Den
vice-presidential coonskin to the
Alpha P
arising t<
*lp the ha
About 6<
embers w
jllege St;
Housto
onifcy for
exa> A&N
The gto
ct. 12. F;
r about
lieved.
They ho
’ 8 p.m. c
’ernight
ile tup w
S* i t h.i i \ w h \ ( h< Republii .
up an opportunity to make thf^
the sc;q>cgoat.s of their convent
What clue tipped you off to llieirsc
"I became suspicious whenalltht
dia dogs were barking every timt
saw Ferraro and Zaccaro on tk
screen. But not one of then bark
Dallas.”
BC
Jl
“Why didn’t they bark in Dallas"
“Between the heat, the tequilla
the speeches, they all went to sleep
gave the Republicans an opportunf
commit the perfect crime.”
$
The Battalion
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Texas Pre*» Asmk iaiion
Soutliwrsi |<mi ii.iIimii ( ontcionce
The
Large
The Battalion Editorial Board
in menutriam
Bill Robinson, 1962-1984, Editor
Stephanie Ross. Acting Editor
Patrice Koranek, Managing Editor
Shelley Hoekstra, City Editor
Krigid Brockman. News Editor
Dunn Friedman, F.ditorial Page Editor
Kelley Smith, News Editor
Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor
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Assistant City Editors -
Melissa Adair, MichellePo'
Assistant News Editors
Bonnie I.angford. Kellie Dworaczyk, Lai
Rtf
Assistant Sports Editor
Travis Tinp
Entertainment Editor
Bill Hugh*
Assistant Entertainment Editor
Angel Stoki
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Robin Bias
Staff Writers '1 ammy Bell, Shawn Behlfl
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Leigh-Ellen Clark, Tony Cornet
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Kari Fluegel, Kathy Wiesepap
Bob McGlohon, Karla Marti
Sarah Oaif
|an Perry, Lynn Rae Povec, James R. Walk
Make-up Editor John Hallrt
Copy Writer Karen Bloc!
Copy Editors Kathy Breard, Kaye Pahmeif
Photographers Peter Rock
John Ryan, Dean Sail
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