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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1984)
Opinion Page 2rThe BattalionAThursday, October 25, 1984 THE TEXAf> A f M FOOTBALL TEAM &EGAA/ TKAUJlklO !M THE TAIN TOOL TOJOAV /AI VFFTAFATl ON fok satuftav's GAME AGAINST THF KITE OWLS IKJ KVLF FIELD. Aggie spirit: an intangible element Aggie spirit is one of those un- deflnable somethings. You can’t see it. touch it, taste it, or smell it, but even though it’s hard to ex plain it to “outsiders”, we all know' it’s here. Nevertheless, the classic inter view' question for organizations on campus, from Fish Camp to Cotton Bowl Representative to Lambda Sigma, is “What does Aggie Spirit mean to you?” That (/nestion always slumped me. h was hard for me describe something I’d taken lor granted ever since the day / was born in St. Joseph Hospital, driven home to married student housing, and dressed in my first “I’m a Little Texas Aggie” T- shirt. I’d stammer a few sentences about Silver Taps and Muster, and how Good Ags always stay for yell prac tice after the game and don’t wear hats in Kyle Field. But when it came to describing the common element Aggies share, I trailed off into an incomprehensible mumble. 1 could never find the words. Bi^t now 1 know what I would say. A few weeks ago, I drove 55 miles north to Leona to talk to William Nash, a farmer who’s been to nearly ev ery A&M home game for 50 years. He talked about memorable games and memorable coaches. We laughed about Aggie jokes, and some of the past “scandals” at the University. “There’s an old saying,” he told me, “that the only happy Aggie is an unhappy Aggie. Every year you have to have something to create a little excitement on campus.” He talked about his Corps days, and of course, how things were much harder hack then. He asked me il we still had Elephant Walk, and 1 assured him that we did. I hen we turned to the subject of hazing, and he said it was a problem w hen he w'as in school. “I’m against it,” he said. “I always have been. But there’s a reason for making it physically tough. “If you could endure some of the things you had to do during your freshman year, some of the whippings you took, then later on in life when you have nard- ships, then you can bear those, too.” He struggled for words; his eyes filled with tears. “It’s haul to explain to a person that’s not an A&M student,” he said. “There’s a loyalty that exists that no other school has. “I don’t know why I get so emotional. You’re an Ag gie. You understand, don’t you?” And I did. One class ring had a ’39 on it. The other, ’85. Beyond the changes during those 46 years, beyond the explosive growth of the l Jniversity and the numer ous controversies, beyond even the traditions, there was a bond between the 66-year-old farmer and the 2J-year-old student. Me love this school. No, it's not a utopia. A&M ad ministrators have been laced with problems since the school was founded, and sometimes they’ve made mis takes. A&M students have also made mistakes that re flect on the University. But Texas A&M University is still here, and faculty, students, and former students still take pride in then school and push for continued improvement. And that is Aggie Spirit. Kathy Wiesepape is a weekly columnist for The Bat talion. Her column appears on Thursdays. Kathy Wiesepape LETTERS: Senators respond with ‘glimmer of light’ EDITOR: This letter is in response to the letter by Edward Mallou, former Aston/Dunn Senator. Mallou, please excuse us for not “bo thering to ask” your opinion on the re cent GSS resolution. We are sorry that you are upset that you were not one of the almost 300 Aston/Dunn residents polled. You know who “your” living area Senator is and if you felt so strongly about this issue why did you wait until after the resolution’s passage to express your views. Your opinion af ter the fact is just that — opinion, and would have been much more valuable and useful before “your” Senate vote. You, “a former Senator” of all peo ple, should know that a resolution is simply a statement of opinion, not bind ing the University, and it is not an open door allowing “that such an organiza tion shall now exist.” Should it come as a glimmer of light on this “dark day at A&M,” you should be pleased to know that we as “your” senators voted “no” on the resolution. Clay Baker, ’87 Senator, Aston/Dunn Mingo Marguez, ’87 Senator, Sophomore Engineering Mallou ignorant of democratic process EDITOR: Will Rodgers said, “We are all igno rant about something.” Edward Mallou has demonstrated just where his igno rance resides. One does not elect offi cials to vote the popular sentiment of their constituents, but instead votes for the candidate he feels is the most capa ble of making the best decisions, their own decisions. Indeed the issue of which candidate has the best credentials would be meaningless if they only voted along with opinion polls. Mr. Mallou makes several other re marks such as blaming the Student Sen ate for creating an even more contempt ible organization which shall “now exist.” He also states that he would pur chase an education (homosexual) for Tom Urban and goes on to call the GSS a “dating service.” These remarks I find pathetically humorous in their attempt to support an already unsupportable ar gument. Although I abhor remarks of this kind which display typical prejudiced at titude, I appreciate the comments as a chance to show just how immaterial ar guments such as these are. The issue is not the GSS — good or bad, right or wrong. It is whether or not the GSS has a right to be recognized by the university, and whether or not the university as a public institution has the right to deny any organization recogni tion which does not harm the public. Mallou’s letter caught my attention because it reminded me of the attitude of another entity on campus, the Re gents. Mallou and our Regents don’t know exactly why they hate, but they do. They don’t know precisely why they are fighting only that they will. AND THE REGENTS’ FIGHTS ARE UNJUSTLY COSTING TAXPAYERS MONEY. Jerry Stauffacher Wayne Snyder Cassavoy is the bad two percent EDITOR: CASSAVOY IS “THE TWO PER CENT” It is a sad state of affairs when some one like Ed Cassavoy can become sports editor at the Texas A&M Battalion. I have yet to read anything positive about our Ags (not just “Sherrill’s Ags,” as Cassavoy likes to call them) in any of his columns. Ed Cassavoy is a lot like Walter Mondale. He can point out problems with the best of ’em, but when it comes to constructive solutions, he has nothing to offer. Yes, I’m disappointed that our Aggies are 0-3. Everybody is. Far be it from me to say that the Aggies can do no wrong. They can do lots of things wrong. But despite being outscored by Baylor Sat urday, our Aggies played probably their best all-around game of the season. They deserved to win. Yet everything Cassavoy wrote on Monday was neg ative. I suppose he can deep snap better than Shawn Walker, kick better than Alan Smith, or throw better than Craig Stump in a downpour. It doesn’t take much of a spoi ts writer to point the guilty finger. I’m sure Cassavoy would love to go to t.u., where he could sit down during games and not feel guilty when he leaves immediately after a defeat. Don’t let the door hit you in the butt, Ed. I don’t care what the Aggies’ record is, I’m proud to support our football team. I wish someone on the Battalion sports stall felt the same way. Adam Hartman Class of ’87 Spend time learning not being prejudiced EDITOR: I don’t understand all of this fuss about women in the band and the GSS. So what if a woman is in the band as long as she can play. As for uniformity maybe she could wear trousers when she marches. Just because gays want to have a club of their own doesn’t mean the rest of us have to join it. I seriously doubt that letting women in the band and allowing the GSS to meet will change most of our lives all that much, A&M will still be a good uni versity. I think everyone would be a little better off if people leave those who are different alone and concentrate on learning and having a good time. Karen Stuntz Class of ’87 Aggie football team not doing so bad EDITOR: I am writing this letter because I’m really getting tired of hearing how “bad” our football team is doing. In my opinion, I really don’t think we’re doing that bad. Yes, we’re 3-3 and 0-3 in conference play, but turn one or two plays around in each of those losses and we could very well be b-0. And besides, we only lost to Houston 9-7. What was the score in the Cougars and SMU game, wasn’t it 29- 20? And according to anyone who saw the game, Houston totally dominated it. Does that say something to you? And what about the Baylor game? The only time they even scored was on our mis takes. (Their longest scoring drive was sixteen yards.) And besides that, just re member that we did lose a very valuable player in Kevin Murray, so it takes time for a team to become adjusted to a new quarterback. Now it’s obvious that we’re not going to the Cotton Bowl this year, but we can still play the tole of spoiler with our re maining schedule. Also, there’s still the game with t.u. (or doesn’t anyone care about Bonfire). So come on Ags! Where’s that Aggie pride and Twelfth Man Spirit that they teach you about at Fish Camp? Is it possible that Fish Camp was all a farce and that we’re just another univer sity that supports our teams when they win? I certainly hope not! So stop com plaining and start supporting!! Sean O’Brien Class oP88 GSS thanks SWAMP for freedom to speak EDITOR: The members of Gay Student Serv ices would like to thank everyone who helped make Friday’s forum at Rudder Fountain such a success. Specifically, we would like to thank Dr. Larry Hickman, our faculty spon sor, and Lenny DePalma, president of Alternative for taking time out of their schedules to speak on our behalf. Also Ann Robbins, who, though straight, subjected herself to possible harassment by publicly taking a stand on our side. We also are grateful to all the stu dents who gathered to listen and partici pate. Even those who were opposed to our ideas were courteous and con ducted t hemselves as true Aggies. Finally, we are deeply indebted to SWAMP for sponsoring the forum. Surely not all SWAMP members ap prove of homosexuality or atheists or abortion, but their commitment to de fending the First Ammendment rights is admirable. T hat concern and dedica tion to these principles is what America is all about. Those who were unable to attend the forum on Friday (or have questions about our organization that we did not cover) can call the Gayline at 775-1797. We will be happy to try to answer your questions about GSS or other aspects of gay life in Bryan-College Station. Marco A. Roberts Gay Student Services P< Reagan of a hero stealer By ARNOLD SAWISLAK olmnnist tor United Press linmniomi I WASHINGTON — Walter M has been complaining lately aboutPnjl dent Reagan’s habit of raising of popular Democrats in hisi f or re-election as a Republican. Reagan repeatedly has quotedDej] cratic stalwarts from Alfred E. Sniiilt John F. Kennedy since taking office, put on White House shows honoit] not only Franklin but Eleanor RoJ veil, and the week before last wenuy tie-stopping in Ohio in the samer« road car Harry Truman used mi 1948 comeback campaign. Too muc h, says Mondale. Ifyoubj to wave heroes around, find so publicans and stop “grave-ro ours. . Reagan says it makes Mondale mad!! hear a Republican quoting Demooi because the party’s current leadenka turned their hack on their ownhentj citing, for example, Kennedy’sf sitions against the Soviet Union. AikII] says he has every right’to quoteDcm erats, because he used tobeonem people like Mondale took oven party. It is true that you don’t hearMonij talking much about the most rati Democratic presidents, Lyndon jd son and Jimim Carter, and itcaatl something of a jolt to note wasn’t so much as a single pictureofd dit tonal Democratic heroesThomaiJ; ft* t son, A nd rew Jackson, Fraud Roosevelt or Kennedy on display alii party’s national convention last sul mer. But Mondale probably is wasting time and his voice trying to get Red to keep his hands off Democraticd dents. One reason may be that ilk been the Democrats, at least in thisie| tury, with whom Reagan feelsu kinship of show business. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of 1 exas Press Ass<x:ulion Southwest Journalism Conference In mrmoriam Kill Robinson, 1962-1984,Editor The Battalion Editorial Board Stephanie Ross, Editor Patrice Koranek, Managing Editor Shelles Hoekstra, City Editor Br igid Brockman, News Editor Doini Friedman, Editorial PageEditot Bonnie Langford, News Editor Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant News Editors. Rhonda Snider,Kellie Dworaczyk, La® Res Assistant Sports Editor. Travis Tinik Entertainment Editor... Bill Hi*! Assistant Entertainment Editor Angel Stols Senior Reporter Robin Blai Staff Writers...Tammy Bell, Shawn Beto Cami Brown, Dena Brow Dainah Bullard, Leigh-Ellen Clark,I® Cornett, Patricia fli Kari Eluegel, Kathy Wiescpajt Boh McCilohon, Karla Martin,Sarah0® Jan Perry, Lynn Rac Povec, James t Walk Editorial Cartoonist MtkeLa* Make-up Editor JohnHaiiO Copy Writers...Karen Bloch, CathyBeacc Copy Editors Kathy Brcard, KaycPalinW! Cyndy Davis, Patriciate Photographers Frank Irwin, DavidLeyetiddJ Peter Rocha, MikeSaiatfi .Deanv Editorial Policy I he Bmtulion is ,i non-prohl, se/f-siiftporiinpt*^ operated .is j community service to Texas MV * lit van-Ct>llcgc Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion arc tlmd* Editorial Hoard or the author, and do not ncc&Sttkm resent the opinions of Texas A&M administnSuS^ or the Hoard of Regents. I he Hat tain m also serves as a laboratory net students in reporting, editing and photo^np^^ within the Department of Cotvnnmiations. “Car Aggi« son, p studen ley So Cruelt] comrac mals.” The time W rial Stu “We conies dition i organ n Carl Corps ! use Re I cot. “Rev I campu first R 1 | said. 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