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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1984)
Opinion Student Government GSS resolution sets excellent precedent Wednesday the Texas A&M Student Senate passed a resolu tion in favor of recognizing Gay Student Services as an official university organization. The resolution is long overdue. But the resulting resolution isn’t as important as the prece dent it should set for the Student Senate. In the same way that the Faculty Senate’s resolution against hazing showed that it could act as the conscience of the Faculty, this Student Senate resolution shows that the Student Senate can tackle controversial issues. It is something our University has been lacking for some time. It takes a heroic person to stand up and say: “I believe that when you vote, you vote to represent your constituents’ best in terests,” as Diane Baumbach said after she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the controversial resolution. It takes a heroic person to say: “By recognizing a minority group, they are not enforcing their rule on you,” as Senator Brian Hay said. It takes people with guts to take stands on issues where no matter which side you choose a large number of people will chide you for the stand you take. The people who will take a stand — stands we agree with and stands we disagree with — are the kind of people who should lead our governments and councils. That kind of people should control both the Student and Faculty Senates. The peo ple who are willing to take the challenge John Milton described in Areopagitica: “And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so TRUTH be in the field we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and FALSEHOOD grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?” An important vote When the Student Senate passed a resolution in support of recognition of the Gay Student Services Wednesday, it took only one vote to sway the decision. One vote. This should be an indication to student senators and the stu dent body of the importance of each vote. It should indicate to the students the power each of their senators possesses. Even though the Senate has only the power to recommend, its recommendations contain the force of 36,000 voices — a great potential. Chances are many people will be upset by the recent deci sion. But how many will be upset enough to tell their senator how they feel? It is not too late to find your senator and let him or her know your feelings on this and other issues. Monday, members of Student Government will hold the first meeting of the Issues and Grievances Committee at 7:30 p.m. in 230 MSG. It will be an open forum. That means they want to tell you how they stand on issues; but more importantly, they want to know what you think. It’s time all students took a responsible part in campus politics. Aid your student senators’ decision mak ing. Participation is essential to democracy. — The Battalion Editorial Board LETTERS: Luther crossing still a ‘death trap’ EDITOR: Several weeks have passed since the tragic car-train collisions. Two Texas A&M stu dents were killed, Katherine Hossley and Lynn McDonald, and another badly injured. What has been done since these tragic inci dents? NOTHING!! The Southern Pacific trains have not even attempted to slow down, and College Station City officials have not even bothered to close the road temporarily until the issue is solved. How many more lives have to end before people realize that the intersection at Luther and Wellborn is a “DEATH TRAP?” I lost my friend Kathy at that intersection. Do you know how it feels to listen to the train go by everyday and everynight from your dorm room? Waiting in fear for it to pass, hoping no one else will be injured or killed, but most of all praying to God that no more families and friends have to suffer such a sad and painful experience. Yes, Kathy is happy where she is; how ever, God is showing us a sign of danger and it must be dealt with! Is it too much to ask to require the trains to slow down and to place gates and lights for the safety of the people? We cannot ignore this problem and solve it in a few weeks, months or years; it needs to be resolved now! So I leave to the College Station City officials, Southern Pacific Rail road Company, and the people of Bryan- /College Station this thought: I hope none of you have to wake up in the middle of the night and discover one of your family mem bers or friends has died or was injured in an other car-train collision. So let’s work to save lives, not kill more!! Cindy A. Schlette Class oF88 Women in the Band: a matter of law EDITOR: In regard to Monday’s “sexist” letter, I think the only women who are “going too far” are Miss Haas, Miss Thomerson, and Miss Vinson. I too am female and I also agree that women shouldn’t be in the band for my own personal reasons. It is tradi tional, yes, for the band to be all male, BUT IS IT ALSO AGAINST THE LAW to deny women the privilege of participating if they want to. And what about tradition? It used to be traditional for the Mormon’s to practice po lygamy, but that’s against the law. It used to be traditional for everyone who came to this fine university to be male and in the Corps of Cadets. If that tradition hadn’t been con tested you three ladies could not have even written your letter in the first place. I also strongly object to your use of the word “manuevered” in describing women’s Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, October 19, 1984 Everyone makes mistakes, some pay Every day: a potential mistake Johnny’s life fell apart when he was 16. He’d had his driver’s license for less than a month when it happened. He and a few of his friends went to a beer bust over at Jackson’s Pond. Johnny knew better than to drink and drive. And though he was under the legal limit when he finally headed home, and though this was the result of a conscious effort, he still knew better. They say he was speeding when it happened, and he probably was — but by no more than five or 10 miles per hour. He was in a good mood on that trip back. The girl he’d been chasing had finally decided to catch him; he was to be the starting quarterback in tomorrow’s game against the cross-town rivals; and it was beginning to look like he’d finally make the honor roll. He was in love with life. He had no warning. He was driving safely, he thought, even though he was speeding. He knew that almost everyone else sped at times — some most of the time — so he really didn’t consider that a factor in safe driving. But the car ahead of him, for no reason, broke. Its brakes locked. Johnny wasn’t able to stop in time. Johnny and his friends weren’t injured in the crash, but their friend, who was driving the other car, died when the gas tank exploded, And it was then that Johnny’s life fell apart. Thepol found out he was speeding, mostly because Johnny did deny it, and he was charged with negligent homicide®:; brought to trial. It was years before his life was whole again, and the®; still remain. It doesn’t matter what the outcome of that trial was,l< [ cause this isn’t a true story. Johnny doesn’t really exist;. made him up. But his story is universal. ■ We all make mistakes everyday, each and everyoneofti And though those mistakes don’t always end in tragedy,lii potential is there. I almost burned down a forest once. I’ve driven dniti more than once. Anyone of those four cadets involvedintti recent hazing death could easily be me but for the turningi/; fate. More than likely, it could easily be you as well. I’ve been lucky so far; I’ve been able to learn from is mistakes. They are undoubtedly learning from theirsaswef; But what a price. Bob McGlohon is a weekly columnist for The Battali* His column appears on Fridays. Robert McGlohon Finance committee represents students Reader’s Forum Reader’s Forum Reader’s Forum The Student Government fi nance committee, one of Student Government’s m o s t 'e f f ec t i ve groups, was cre ated several years — ago to “. . . (pro duce) legislation of Student Fees, Student Government Funds, and all monies of student inter est.” In the past, the Finance Committee has not lived up to the true potential conferred to it by this sweeping charge. In light of a number of important fi nancial issues facing the students of Texas A&M, it is clear that the Finance committee must fulfill and expand this potential throughout 1984-85. How ever, this cannot happen without the in volvement of a concerned and informed student body. One very visible financial issue this year has been the University’s new check-cashing policy. Over the summer, the University stopped cashing personal checks for more than $25 and also sus pended the cashing of all University payroll checks, citing a shortage of space in the Coke Building Fiscal Office. Stu dents who had previously not needed to have local bank accounts were forced to open one, as they found that local banks would generally not cash University payroll checks either (unless, of course, one has an account with the bank in question). Such students soon discover the nearly-piratical policies of the local banks and thus, find themselves in a Catch-22 situation. Currently, the Finance Committee is examining a number of solutions to this problem. Working with the Student Services Committee, it is hoped that a compromise agreement may be reached with the University that will at least par tially restore check-cashing services (particularly for payroll checks) if not on-campus, at least at nearby banks. If such a compromise does not restore the desired level of service, options are un der consideration under which Student Government, a local financial institution or even a hypothetical student-faculty credit union would be used to fully re store the services. It’s important to note that student in put alerted us to this issue, and student input will help to resolve it to the satis faction of the A&M Student Body. Yet another important financial issue deals with a major student organization — the Memorial Student Center and its programming. In the Spring of 1984, the Student body expressed its concern for the long-term financial well-being of the buildings in the University Center by voting by a 2-1 margin to double the University Center fee. While the main tenance and future expansion of the MSC building seems assured, the finan cial future of the programming offered by the MSC committees remains in jeop ardy. The origin of the underlying prob lem is quite complex, but essentially it stems from a leveling-off and decline of revenues from the MSC’s traditional in come sources over the past two-three years. At the same time, as the program ming needs of the A&M Student Body have changed and grown, the MSC has grown with it, resulting in a steady climb in expenditures. The difference be tween the rise in expenses and the de cline in income has been allocated from Student Service Fees — resulting in large increases in the MSC’s Student Service Fee allocation (15.8 percent last year). It has become a priority in both the MSC Council and Student Govern ment to stabilize and eventually de crease the MSC’s share of Student Ser- vie Fee allocations. In an effort to solve this problem, the MSC and Student Government have formed a joint committee, the Long- Term Financial Planning Committee. The purpose of this group is to research entrance into the professional world. Haas, do you consider yourself “manuevering” like some opportunistic martyr trying to prove some kind of point in your chosen field of industrial engineering? Do you Thomerson? Or perhaps you do, Vinson? Women have made great strides in the past decide to get where they are, and you bitter traditionalists seem to object to it. Fine, be my guest. Forget about your de grees. Find a rich man, get married, have ba bies, and leave those of us who want to move into so called “traditional” male roles alone. And as for the band issue, let women have the opportunity to be in the band. Any fe male with enough guts to join and live through all the B.S. she will undoubtedly re ceive deserves to march on Kyle Field. Claire McCracken Environmental Design accompanied by 16 signatures Jesus will save even in nuclear war EDITOR: In response to the Editorial Board of the Battalion concerning their fear of nuclear war: It will not happen. That is, one in which all mankind are killed. As an Air Force veteran, I see the views that most people have about nuclear war are too simplistic (although I claim no expertise on the subject). However, most have a rea sonable idea about the outcome — great dev astation. As a Christian, let me give some comfort to those who have fears concerning this is sue. Given that Jesus Christ is God in human flesh (1 John 5:20) and that God never lies (Hebrews 6:18), let us consider what Jesus said. Jesus is sovereign over human affairs. “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth.” Matthew 28:18 Jesus will return . . . “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.” Matthew 25:31 ... To a populated planet. “And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goat; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:32,33 Therefore, let us lay aside these fears of nuclear war, and let us fear God. “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. Greg Gleason Bryan and recommend the implementation:! i solutions to the very fundamental^ | cial problems facing the MSC.Thelont term goal of this committee is toelio I nate the need for Student Senice fs | allocations to the MSC at some date: | the future. Thus, what isnowneffll 25% of the $4 million yearly Studa I Service Fee budget would be freed!? other uses (including a possibleredu lion in Student Service Fees). These and many others important? sues will conf ront your studentleade in the upcoming year. To maketii proper decisions and take appropiii actions on these issues, it is import that we hear from the students. Becoe involved with Student Government.ta MSC. RHA, OCA, and other student:: ganizatons w ho are working to rtf resent your interests. We can’t do without your input. (These issues and others will be x dressed at the next open meetingoft) Student Government Finance Coiuk tee, which w ill be T uesday, October! at 7 p.m. in Room 203 MSC. Allaree couraged to attend.) Michael Kelley Student Governm Vice-President for Finance The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference In 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 Langford, News Editor Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Melissa Adair, Michelle Po»( Assistant News Editors Rhonda Snider, Kellie DworaczyV, Reese Assistant Sports Editor Thel'a Entertainment Editor Bill Hujte Assistant Entertainment Editor Angel Siote Senior Reporter Staff Writers ...Tammy Bell, ShawnBeNtt Cami Brown, DenaBro* 1 Dainah Bullard, Leigh-Ellen Clark, Ton' Cornett, Patricia FI® 1 Kari Fluegel, Kathy Wiesqyp 1 Bob McGlohon, Karla Martin, SarahW 8 Jan Perry, Lynn Rae Povec, James & Wake 1 Editorial Cartoonist MikeW Make-up Editor JohnHalk 1 Copy Writer KarenBh- Copy Editors Kathy Breard, KayePatot' Cyndy Davis, PatriciaFfe 1 Photographers Frank Irwin, David Leyendeclf 1 Peter Rocha, MikeSantl* 1 .DcanSi Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-suppuiuug"^ ; operated as a community service to Texas Bryan-Collcge Station. ^ Opinions expressed in The Battalion are thost b' Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarily resent the opinions of Texas A&\f administratotsM' or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratorynewsp^ students in reporting, editing and photograph) within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 0 length. The editorial sufl reserves the rightwdiP] for style and length hut will make even effort (offli* 1 ; the author’s intent. Each letter must oe signed include the address and telephone numberoflhtn :! The Battalion is published Monday through ^ during Texas A&M regular semesters, except mbs’ and examination ixeriods. Mail subscriptions lyi 1 ', 1 ; per semester, $33.25 per school year and f year. Advertising rates furnished on request. , Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed NdVl Building, Texas A&M University, College Sum : 77843. Editorial staff phone number: (409) MJ-ffi 1 ^ vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, Vliix