Opinion
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, October 8, 1984
People aren't born
intolerant; they learn it
Children
have a fas
cinating way
of looking at
the world — a
way many
adults should
learn to im
itate.
In church a
her mother was talking about the
black boy. She didn’t.
So the girl went off to class with
her mother’s “words of wisdom.”
few Sundays Melissa Adair
ago, the pas
tor told a story about how chil
dren see others and how they like
people without regard to race,
creed or color. Children seem to
look at people for what they are
inside. Unlike many adults, chil
dren don’t seem to be so intol
erant.
The story is set during the 60s
when desegregation was a hot is
sue. Many public schools were be
ing forced to admit black children
and the public outcry was intense.
A young mother was extremely
distraught because she had heard
that a black boy would be in her
daughter’s kindergarten class.
She almost kept her daughter
home for the first day, but then
realized that she couldn’t keep the
little girl out of school for long
and inevitably the girl would have
to go to class.
So the girl went to her first day
of kindergarten — unsure of her
self and probably afraid of it all.
Her mother gave her a little
speech about how there would be
some children in her class that
would be “different” than her and
that she shouldn’t feel obligated
to play with them. The girl
nodded as if she understood that
The mother picked up her
daughter that day after school
and asked the little girl, “So, how
was your first day of school?” “It
was OK,” the girl said.
Then the mother asked her
daughter the question that had
been on her mind all day — the
question that had haunted her.
“Was the black boy in your class?”
she asked her daughter.
“Yes he was,” the girl said.
“And mommy, he was all alone.
He didn’t have anyone to talk to,
and I could tell he was so afraid.
And then he came over to my ta
ble and sat down next to me. And
you know what? We were both so
afraid that we just held hands all
day long.”
What an indictment on all of us
who have winced at sitting next to
someone who is different than we
are. Why can’t we learn from chil
dren that we need to look at peo
ple without biased stereotypes
and prejudices?
Sure, you can’t be friends with
everyone and there will be people
who you can’t even get along with.
But it is a crime when we don’t
even give people a chance simply
because we have a predisposed at
titude about them.
We need to learn from the little
girl who held the black boy’s
hand.
Melissa Adair is an assistant city
editor for The Battalion.
Misconceptions hurt Student Senali
Over my three years at A&M I have
been often surprised at the range of
misconceptions held by members of the
student body about the Student Senate.
From students I have met, I have
learned that, among other things, the
Senate is a social “club,” it brings con
certs to campus, and it is headed by the
class officers. To those of us involved
with the Senate, it is obvious that we
need to communicate more effctively in
order to let you. the students, know
ner: A bill is introduced into the Senate forafirsira
and it is assigned to a legislative committee for research..!
ter research is completed - anywhere from two weekstomJ
Reader’s Forum
Reader’s Forum
Reader’s Forum
what the Senate is and how you can use it to your advantage.
The Student Senate is the sole organization responsible
for presenting the student’s views on university policies and
issues to the administration. Senators are elected oy you each
spring to represent a given constituency: either a living area
or an academic college. All major senate research and project
work is done in our five legislative committees (Academic Af
fairs, External Affairs, Finance, Rules and Regulations, and
Student Services) that are headed by legislative vice-presi
dents also elected by the students.
An issue is addressed by the Senate in the following man-
ipleted - anyi
months later — the bill is either killed in the comitiiiift!
brought before the Senate for a vote. Student opinioncl
bill is not always clear. Important legislation is often [
rejected by a narrow margin. It is therefore essential
ators listen to their constistuents and monitor their teat
to the current events taking place on campus.
I have purposely limited this editorial to the striae
of what the Senate is and how it functions. Thereiscij
more crucial information that you as a constituent of thcSt
dent Senate need to be aware of: What are we doing tot
tate contact with the students? What issues are curreniM
ing researched? How do we function w-ith regards I
Faculty Senate? The list goes on. I will be addressing/!
questions as well as others at Wednesday’s Sully Symp
(11:50 a.m., Lawrence Sullivan Ross’ statue). LambdaSij
ia providing an excellent service through these symposim
and I hope I have whet your appetitie to find out moreak
your Student Senate.
Diane Bau
Speaker of the Students
LETTERS:
put. I
Robe
admit f
Don’t blame god
for homosexual love
President Vandiver
says register, vote
EDITOR:
In response to Glenn Murtha’s “God
made us what we are” (referring to ho
mosexuality): We came into this world
as sinners. That is not to say that God
makes us sinners and that sinning is ac
ceptable to God. Rather, it was man’s
decision to sin that broke our fellowship
with God. But God gave us a way to
change that condition through his plan
of salvation. We may behave one way,
but don’t blame God for it, rather thank
God that He provided a way to change
that.
EDITOR:
Voting in an election in the United
States is both a right and a privilege. It is
your right under our Constitution; but
as many in other parts of the world can
tell you, voting in a meaningf ul election
is a privilege that few enjoy.
David Swanson
Class of’87
Many Americans will tell you that a
single vote is not significant, but nothing
could be farther from the truth. Many
elections have turned on just one ballot;
and collectively, the sum of each indi
vidual vote determines the course of our
country and history.
cannot exercise this right and privilege.
It takes but a moment to register, and
registration forms are now available in
the Personnel Department of the
YMCA Building. They will also be avail
able at the Visitor Information Center
in Rudder Tower, the Memorial Stu
dent Center hotel desk, and the Admis
sions and Records Office. I urge you to
take the time to register to vote and
when Election Day comes, to cast your
ballot.
all about. The ruling in the Zentgraf
case merely stated that the university
was to encourage women to join these
organizations, but if none want to . . .
We’ll tell you what, our four names will
start the list of those who respectfully
decline this generous offer.
Dalane Perkins, ’85
Deborah Hood, ’85
Diana Erickson, ’85
Deanna Finger, ’85
you’re lucky. I left my HP41cvini
1 10A of the Doherty Building Wedi*
day, September 5, 1984.
Sincerely,
Frank E. Vandiver
These women don’t
want to join the band
Not all Ags display
integrity, respect
My name and phone number were
the calculator where it could
seen, but I doubt, if after this [
time I’ll ever see the calculatora|
You, Mr. Ogden, as Generali
apparently could afford a newcaloi
tor. I, on the other hand, beingas|
dent, will have to sacrifice a months
on an apartment to buy a new one.
tie was
iness h
put to t
sexuals
Stood al
Robe
hbout h
“In r
ugly n:
don’t tl
he says
that I 1
that(fe
. wa
my frie
EDITOR:
Of course, if you do not register, you
EDITOR:
We really don’t know what the fuss is
In response to Mr. Ogdens letter on
T uesday, October 2, about leaving cal
culators in the computer center —
No, Mr. Ogden, I am not cridcij
you for your good fortune. Whatlil
saying is do not be deceived thatallf
gies have “the integrity and respect!
others property.”
Wayne P. Bankert
College Station
OVEQON1AH-
©Red erreveuue. v&m
ROBERT REDFORD WILL
PROVIDE A VOICE-OVER
WHENEVER MONDALE TALKS..
THE NAME "JIMMY CARTER
m NOT BE USED...
REAGAN MAY APPEAR ONLY
IN SILHOUETTE WITH HIS
VOICE ELECTRONICALLY
ALTERED...
Memwhife,bdck at
the MoixMe-Reqoaii
debate fewnat
I THE
AM
THE PRESIDENT MUST HAVE
AN AMERICAN FLAG BEHIND
HIM AS WELL AS DRAPED
AROUND HIS SHOULDERS...
MONDALE MAY NOT USE
WORDS THAT ARE CONFUSING.
THE DEBATE SHOULD BE FILMED
IN CINEMASCOPE AND SHOWN
IN MOVIE THEATERS INSTEAD
OF T.V.
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest journalism Conference
/n memoriam
Bill Robinson, 1962-1984, Editor
The Battalion Editorial Board
Stephanie Ross, Editor
Patrice Koranek, Managing Editor
Shelley 1 loekstra, City Editor
Brigid Brockman, News Editor
Donn Friedman, Editorial Page Editor
Bonnie Langford, News Editor
Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor
The Battalion Staff
Assistant City Editors I
Melissa Adair, Michelle Po*'
Assistant News Editors j
Kellie Dworaczyk, Rhonda Snider, Lauri Rtf*
Assistant Sports Editor --I
Travis Ting*
Entertainment Editor -1
Bill Hugh#
Assistant Entertainment Editor j
Angel Stokt*
Editorial Cartoonist Mike Lai*
Make-up Editor .JohnHalid 1
Copy Writer KarenBloA
Copy Editors Kathy Breard, KayePahmeid
Cyndy Davis, Patricia Ft 111
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup/Mirting nenptft
operated as a community service to Texas ARM >i*
Bryan-Colleffc Station.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those olit*
Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarilytf
resent the opinions ol Texas A&M administrators, txw j
nr the Board of Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a la/xiratory newspaperfu
students in reporting, editing and photograph) cte*’ I
within the Department of Communications.
Letters Policy
Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 imrth * j
length. I he editorial staff reserves the right to edit lettte
for style and length hut will make every effort to mmaf
the author's intent. Each letter must be signed mlnd 1
include the address and telephone number of the ttriltr- j
The Battalion is published Monday through fnih 1
during Texas A&M regular semesters, except forholihj j
and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are iM' 1
per semester. per school year and 135 :x : r j
year. Advertising rates furnished on rct/uesl.
Our address: The Battalion, 21f Reed McDotuH jj
Building, Texas A&M University. College Station, fi
77H43. Editorial staff phone mini her: (4(19) 815.263(1..hi j
vertising: (409) 845-2011.
Second class postage paid at College Station, 7X778)1