Opinion Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, October 22, 1984 Ind Shattering the student leader stereotype Perusing the editorial columns of the Battalion a few weeks back, I was inter ested to learn that I am occupationally su- Fnn im _ ,hi " means —*■ Ed Readers Forum Student Government at Texas A&M, I R^der S Forum learned, is composed almost exclusively of self-serving, incompetent ninnies whose apathy is equalled only by their conceit. Presently asso ciated with the former, and never having considered myself the latter, 1 plotted a scathing retort that was nipped in the bud by that unnecessary evil — MID TERMS. Today, with more time on my hands, and perhaps less vin dictive intent, Tm going to try to clear up some misconceptions and maybe — (gasp) —shatter a few stereotypes. Given that my target audience is students, I am making a few, perhaps presumptions premises: 1. Most Texas A&M students graduated from high school. That means they possess at least twelveth grade reading skills. If you don’t feel you have the reading comprehension of a high school senior, don’t bother to read any further. 2. The majority of students at A&M care about the Univer sity, and would like to stay at least vaguely informed about is sues affecting it and themselves. 3. The concept of personally exploring an issue, even at the cost of sacrificing a few comfortable stereotypes, is one not en tirely alien to TAMU students. It seems that no one, in any pursuit, appreciates the work put into a project like the worker himself. This rule of thumb applies to everything from term papers to the policies of presi dential incumbents. I have several friends, for instance, who consistantly bend my ear with the deficiencies (as they see them) of The Battal ion. One fellow in particular maintains that he sees more inno vative behavior exibited by his pet rock. Loyal journalist that I am, I valiantly defend my former em ployer, occassionally even escorting the hard-core doubters through Reed McDonald —enough to convert the stauchest non-believer. The Batt staff works hard. If you don’t believe it, go see. If you don’t like it, get involved and change it. Student government is another much criticized, little un derstood student entity. The students who control student government do so because they were willing to put in the time when the job needed to be done. Equally, anyone who doesn’t like the directions student government is heading can put in the time and change them. I don’t believe it’s possible to talk one-on-one with any student government leader now in office and come away doubting his or her sincerity in wanting to serve A&M. Quite honestly, the perks involved are not worth the work, if perks and recognition are your motivation. This past August I was forced, simply for lack of time, to choose between accepting a position as staff writer for the Bat- ’ talion or an executive position in Student Government. Be cause I DO have “political aspirations”, I chose to work with student government in a position, like Batt staff writers, that will help prepare me for a career in law — the difference be ing that student government workers are unpaid. As a law school aspirant I am a minority in the ranks of stu dent government leaders. A quick look at the present profes sions of the past three student body presidents bears this out — one is an insurance salesman in California, one works for IBM in San Antonio, and one, (what a sneaky way into poli tics), is pursuing a degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. If I am, in fact, a politician-in-training, what are Batt reporters but journalists-in-training, education majors teachers-in-training, and business majors businessmen-in-training? Student government leaders work hard. If you don’t believe it, go see. If you don’t like it, get involved and change it. — Kim Norris, director of administration for Student Government. LETTERS: A worped look at women in the Fig Min’ Texas Aggie Band hoi EDITOR'S NOTE: These cartoons were orginally run in Fall 1982 as part of The Battalion's daily cartoon "WARRED". Warped by Scott McCullar AH, 600t> 01/ HALF -TI/AE. IN THE FANTASTIC FIGHT IN' TEXAS AGGIE BAND, THE LARGEST BAND IN THE COUNTRY• UP and down the FIELD, FIRING Up THE SPIRIT of THE IJLTH MAN TO A FRENZY... ITS STILL THE LAST EXCLUSIVELY MALE bastioa/ ON campus, thank GOODNESS..., WHO THE HELL ARE you? W NAME 'S CHERYL, I'M A W A <36 I E . I'VE JUST ALWAYS WANTED TO PE IN THE SAND. V\f\^ WHAT DO you THINK YOU'RE DOI/VG? WHO.. ^ v~ Unite , Bioon smoky fire pity house early Sunc and injurin Lffered ft ; dovvs to osc The can eta Tau h extremely ( hediately I nder way. I “It was Lid Steve lich., who ji his face I Firelight Im. hy fn Jgma Chi jast head it Ihe studei lembers a I David 1 jeputy fin leaping 15 Eid-story v Ived, but blaze withii lorn three | Hamilto :gan in th ie two-am IF YOU DON'T CALM DOWN yoU’AE SoNNA THROW OFF THE BAND'i INCREDIBLE PRECISION. T BESIDES, WHAT ARE you GETTING fo worked UP about? YOU CAN'T BE IN THE BAND. You be A WOMAA/. YOU MESS UP the UNIFORMITY^ Tj?yc n yw * ll W ( 4'W) W l A ] A' 041 /A) tAMLCVi tAMCVi ’) fa March Unite A WOMAN IN THE BAND, GOOD 6RIEF! WHAT A PREDICAMENT. IF I TRY TO STOP HER NOW WE'LL RUIN THE WHOLE HALF TIME PERFORMANCE. lAMCH BUT IF SHE SNEAKS OUT OF HERE AFTERWARDS THE SAME WAY SHE GOT IN, NO ONE MIGHT EVER KNOW SHE WAS EVEN WITH US. (rim 6 SHE IS KINDA RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING TH0U6H, *OU CAN'T REALLY PICK OUT INDIVIDUALS ON THE FIELD IN THIS MARCHING MOB, SO IF I SAY AND DO NOTHING THEN MAYBE NO ONE WILL... a WHAT!!? tO ■ALLEN United Au strike Sun Inc., idling sylvania, M ■ The str: Sunday, wl ■ntract e> man said, ritv is the n §[ Contract Pa , 18 mil phia, brok deadline a turned to / i No talk UAW wal Mack Tru IS THAT A WOMAW DOWN THERE IN THE A