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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1984)
T Opinion Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, October 15,1984 ETTERS: Board of Regents too narrow-minded against an increase in in-state student’s tuition. EDITOR: As an incoming freshman to A&M, I have read avidly all the news in The Bat talion and other papers about my new school. All I have read, however, has not been pretty. Two items are of particular concern to me. These are: recognition of the Gay Student Services by the school and allowing women into the Ag gie Band. Both of these situations are nearing resolution, so it may seem a bit late to write. However, I think the actions the Regents and the administration of A&M have taken are deplorable and require a reply. By fighting vigorously to prevent both of these things, the Regents have shown a narrow-mindedness surprising for a university striving for excellence as A&M is. Change is essential to becoming a “world” university. The old-line schools such as Harvard and Stanford seem to be slow to change, and A&M could use that to its advantage, and be come the world leader it should be. But not with a bunch of dinosaurs dictating, and I mean dictating, policy. Those who adapt best, live longest. It is the law of survival. A&M does not need a reputation for refusing to accept new ideas. We would have loved to have had Cassavoy with LSG when we organized the state-wide student support for Prop osition 2. It is time to change the policy, or the regents, whichever is necessary, to get A&M moving in the right direction. I came here hoping to find a univer sity with the resources of a big school, but the flexibility of a small one. At least that was the impression I got from all the pamphlets and telephone calls I re ceived in my senior year of high school. That’s not what I found. Some of the policies around here seem more suited to a small regional col lege called TAMC, not a potential world leader called TAMU. I am not against the whole university. I like it here, and I think I will stick it out until I get my degree. However, I cannot, and will not, rec ommend it to others until I see a sub stantial change in the attitudes and ac tions of our regents and administrators. Such bigotry and sexism went out with cross-burning, lynching, and the Ku Klux Klan. Rex Baldazo College Station Regents out of touch with 20th century EDITOR: We would have loved to have had Cassavoy attend meetings between the Coordinating Board staff and LSG con cerning minority recruitment funding from the State of Texas. We would have loved to have had Cassavoy attend the State Committees on Higher Education, Appropriations, or Liquor Regulations where LSG testi fied successfully on every issue rep resented. Kevin Thomas Junior LSG tackles important issues Moreover, we would love to have Cas savoy attend our press conference on October 16 with state and university of ficials concerning Proposition 2, or when we confront the issues of tuition, minority recruitment appropriations, or the drinking age in Austin this spring. The Legislative Study Croup was clearly the most effective student lobby two years ago and will further this dur ing the next legislative session. These are just a few of the issues we have worked on or hope to address be fore the end of the session. You see, Student Government does do some things for the student body that even the editors of The Battalion cannot accomplish. John Hatch, ’86 Director Michael G. O’Quinn, ’86 Administrative Director Ban everything; realism out of place EDITOR: I agree with Mr. Hanus and Mr. Crawford’s letter (printed in the Oct. 9 Battalion). Hazing and harassment do mean the same thing, even if their defi nitions don’t quite match. Hanus and Crawford, though, are too modest. I think we should realize the full potential of their logic by ban ning the Faculty Senate for causing trouble, professors for making us worry and Letters to the Editor for tormenting us with irrational and irrelevant argu ments. I too am outraged by Commander Rollin’s audacity in admitting that there will always be violations of Corps regula- tions. Hanus and Crawford, being trained in the exemplary ethics of their respective fields (Business and Journa lism), are rightly insulted. It’s that kind of realism that has no place in America, Commander Rollins. Some 100 years ago a school, which was more like a military academy, was formed in this part of Texas. This mili tary school has produced many out standing men of spirit and education. Of course I’m talking about Texas A&M, and many things have changed since the school began. We are now a full-fledged University with both male and female students. But the addition of women on campus be gan only some 20 years ago. So right now, we have an alumni and Board of Regents that consist of old c.t.’s who remember things as they used to be. The Corps may be a worthy expe rience to go through, but as far as Texas A&M is concerned, they are just an ROTC outfit. That’s why Hanus and Crawford do their best to ignore it. Bill Heye Mechanical Engineering Women in Band: attack on tradition EDITOR: All students should have a right to all activities, and this includes the Aggie Band. Being in the Corps does not give you priority over other students. There fore, all students should be allowed to be in the band — c.t.’s, non-regs, male and female. But the old-timers who run the Uni versity and the Corps will cry out for their “traditions.” Maybe we should ask Bruce Goodrich what he thinks about tradition. EDITOR: As Directors in the Legislative Study Group (A&M’s student lobby), we would like to address Ed Cassovoy’s miscon ceptions about Student Government. Although Mr. Cassavoy might have visited the Student Government office once, he obviously missed several exam ples of Student Government tackling important issues. We would have loved to have es corted Cassavoy to Austin over the sum mer where LSG successfully fought Move TAMU to California I have two ambitions at the present. The first is to graduate from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Petro leum Engineering and then find a job. The second ambition is a little larger. I wish to propose that, at their next scheduled meeting, the Board of Regents consider moving the Univer sity. Reader’s Forum Reader’s Forum Reader’s Forum The Board of Regents wouldn’t have to worry aboutlk railroad tracks any longer, the CSS (their members could to San Francisco and blend in), or parking fees (alotofpe pie park illegally in California and besides, there is plent) parking at East Beach in Santa Barbara). The Texas lature wouldn’t have to worry about the P.U.F.; we could Jerry Brown to give speeches and Linda Ronstadt to give certs in our behalf. I’m sure that they could bring inasraud money as the P.U.F. does. If they don’t, well, we’ll just m taxes. No one in California will notice a little more tax, are pretty high anyway. Much noise has been made recently regarding having the railroad tracks moved further west of their present lo cation. We could solve the problem of movingthe tracks by just moving the University further west. The Legislature wouldn’t have to worry about the pok cal implications of raising the drinking age to 21, at least to those of us who were here in Aggieland. The drinkings essionn in California is already 21. There w’ould be 36,000 less poll tial drunks in College Station I’m not talking about moving 'Texas A&M University just west of Easterwood Airport, I’m talking of moving Texas A&M University to the beach in Santa Barbara, California. So College Station and Bryan would lose a bitofrevera — it’ll survive. We vould_alleviate some of the problems lacing both, the Texas A&M University Board of Regents and the Texas Leg islature. Will Hay Class of ’85 accompanied by 91 signatures. Bro toil loo u« ^gricultu nil be an i nation" Tuesday on, D.O The tli leeting” onnectio nd begir rom Pre owed b) ussion. The A! Oloftht ihere th< i a live q ! nth the' [culture torey wi on ofth< Panelis ure John assador Mickey L bmmittf inney, F ization; (oard fo Lgricultu Villiam 1 irtheW Observ conies se\ for ational be :r to uv. he confe Tater ilies, P< we i&M Pr< The co i in Co nd is e: undred Pr< By MA Texas tion fr irogram ith limi “The tepped loug Gr evelopr ... more letters change many of the “innovations” al ready made by my fellow women, which have caused tension, lack of respect, and sometimes bitterness between the sexes. I can hope and pray that women will leave the band to its sacred sanctitude. Women are going too far! I have sat quietly and watched while portions of the female population man- uevered themselves into traditional male roles. Women are now engineers, doctors, pilots, and even sportscasters. Wonderful, but joining the “Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band” is going too far, not to mention being ridiculous, selfish, and self-righteous. The Aggie Band is an entity. Band members have an unspoken brotherhood that is both admirable, and effective. The band is a group of men who live, eat, study, party, and practice together and should not be invaded by female band members. Kirstin Haas, Industrial Engineering Kelli Thomerson, Journalism Analisa Vinson, Journalism EDITOR'S NOTE: Any court order re garding the band would allow women the opportunity to join the Band, it would not require women to join. Yell leaders are male only by tradition; no rule exists at Texas A&M that denies women the opportunity to be elected as a yell leader. Constitution doesn’t advocate wealth for all Even one woman could disrupt the system. Not only does allowing women into the band cause boarding problems, but what about tradition? Would you want female yell leaders? OR would you want to change bonfire, midnight yell prac tice, or what about the kiss after the football team scores? These are all sa cred traditions, and it would be a sad day in Aggieland if any of them were to change. Tradition brings many students to A&M, along with alumni support so why jeopardize one of the best tradi tions of all. Keep the girls out of the band. EDITOR: I am tired of listening to the poli ticians and political advertisements talk about MONEY. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were written to insure that the cit izens of the United States act civilly to ward each other and the rest of the world. These documents do not advo cate monetary wealth for all. I hope the citizens of the United States realize this before they go to the polls to vote. Rowan Glidden College Station done something that low. Admiral Inman has accomplished much more than most people ever think about doing in their lifetimes. (Yes, even most Aggies). . Come on Aggies, hissing your profes sors for giving unannounced quizzes is one thing, but when guests of this uni versity come here, the situation is en tirely different — especially when they are ASKED to come here. I am glad the Admiral Inman was not on the stage at the time. Frankly, I would have walked out on the that small crowd of people if 1 had been in his shoes aqd heard something that facetious. I am reasonably sure that not only being Aggies, but as people at tending an institution of HIGHER learning, all of us should have a little more respect for visitors regardless of where they come from. The Battalion CISPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference tn memoriam Bill Robinson, 1962-1984, Editor The Battalion Editorial Board Stephanie Ross, Editor Patrice Koranek, Managing Editor .Shelley Hoekstra, City Editor Brigid Brockman, News Editor Donn Friedman, Editorial Page Editor Bonnie Langf ord, News Editor Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Melissa Adair, MichellePo»f| Assistant News Editors Rhonda Snider, Kellie Dworaczyk, I itel Assistant Sports Editor. Entertainment Editor. Travis Tir^ I BillHtijtel Jeff A. Finney Class of’88 Gramm not asking gay Republicans to vote for Doggett Hissing at speakers indefensible Many of the remarks made in this pa per can be termed sexist, and if they are, so be it. After all I (we) am a girl, a little old- fashioned, but still a girl. I’m not looking for equality with men, just happy coexistence. So while I can’t EDITOR: I attended a guest lecture sponsored by the MSC Great Issue Committee on Tuesday at the Rudder Theatre. The lecturer was Admiral Bobby Inman of MCC, an Austin based computer tech nology devolopment corporation. One of the things I heard that night sur prised me. As the representative, whose name I do not recall, gave a short synopsis of Inman’s background, he mentioned that Inman was member of UT’s class of 1950. At that moment, a low, but audi ble, hiss came from the crowd. Yes, I know of the hatred between TAMU and the other university; how ever, with a man of such distinguished traits and accomplishments, I can hardly see how those people could have EDITOR: Having read the October 9th article “Gramm Rebuts Doggett,” in which he does just that and adds a few attacks of his own, I find myself eagerly awaiting an article presenting Doggett’s side of the story. It seems that some people dislike Doggett because he supports gay rights. If they followed the candidates at all, they would realize that Gramm, too, de nounces discrimination against homo sexuals. At least, he was against it dur ing the debate. The difference, then, between the candidates with respect to homosexual issues is that some gays have pledged their support for Doggett. Surely no one would deny their right as American citizens to support the candi date of their choice. Furthermore, a candidate seriously seeking election would not be stupid enough to ask people not to vote for him. Is Gramm asking gay Republicans to vote for Doggett? Of course he is not. Find out what stands both candidates take before blindly casting aspersions on either. Assistant Entertainment Editor., Angel Stole! Senior Reporter I Robin Btol Staff Writers.. .Tammy Bell, Shawn Behlttl Cami Brown, Dena Bio»J Dainah Bullard, Leigh-Ellen Clark, T®! Cornett, Patricia M Kari Fluegel, Kathy Wiesepapl Bob McGlohon, Karla Martin, SarahOaisl Jan Perry, Lynn Rae Povec, James J Walls I Editorial Cartoonist MikehJ Make-up Editor .JohnHall'l Copy Writer Karen BhJ Copy Editors Kathy Breard, Kaye Pahme* 1 1 Cyndy Davis, PatriciaSl Photographers Frank Irwin, David Leyendeclfl Peter Rocha, MikeSan^l , DeanOT Editorial Policy I he Butuilion is a non-profit, self-supporting nfWM opera led as a community service to Texas Bryan-Collcgc Station. Opinions expressed in The Batlulion are ik Editorial hoard or the author, and do not nec«Ji^| resent the opinions of Texas AA-.\f administrators,^ or the Board of Regents. Iocs on A surfc Age Awa first awai Entr and Deai Late Rao Use Rac For Mail I The Battalion also serves as a laboratoryne^f students in reporting, editing and photograph) within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy Letters to' the Editor should not exceed l length. 7 he editorial staff reserves the right to edit' 10 for style and length but will make every effort 100^ the author’s intent. Each letter must be signed and 1 include the address and telephone numberojjfctfP'M Nam Add r The Battalion is published Monday through during T exas A& M regular semesters, except fori and examination periods. Mail subscriptions art\ per semester, $33.25 per school year and year. Advertising rates furnished on request. I City, Dana M. Garcia Class of ’86 Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed J Building, T exas A&M University, College Static 11 m 77843. Ed it (trial staff phone number: (409) R4!t-0' vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX™ Sigr Pare