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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1984)
Opinion Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, November 20, 1984 Absence from A&M resurrects love of maroon You never really appreciate A&M or what it is like to be an Aggie until you leave for a time. Two weekends ago, I went to Dallas to watch Chris the Aggies take on SMU. We were outscored, but Smith I thought the Aggies looked great (I still think we’ll beat t.u.). At halftime I went into the Stadium Club, a fancy club overlook ing the field at Texas Stadium, which as well as I could make out, is the “sitting grounds” for rich “daddy bucks” SMU students and/or “big wig” SMU alumni. I was able to go in (I wanted to watch the band) because a friend of mine gave me a few club passes. I must say I felt like a Washington Redskin fan at Tom Landry’s birthday party. If being underdressed in my maroon and white rugby shirt, Wranglers and Kaepas wasn’t enough to shock someone, I don’t know what is. Most of the ’stang fans had on slacks and sportcoats. We found a spot to sit down by some SMU sorority girls (no of fense intended). When A&M scored just before the half, my friend and I went crazy. I think this disturbed the SMU fans a great deal. The dirty looks continued until we left the dreadful place. After watching our band (as awesome as ever) we decided to head back to the Aggie section which was on the extreme other side of the field. When I stepped out of the club into the walkway of the stadium it hit me how proud and great it is to be an “Ag”. The roar of our fans blew by me like a cool breeze on a hot sum mer day. It was so satisfying and you don’t want it ever to leave. It sounded like 100,000 Aggies were screaming . . . and I was on the opposite side of the field. It made me realize how special it is to go to a school where stu dents truly care about the well-being of their fellow students. To a school that sticks together through thick and thin because of our common bond — love for our school. That we aren’t just part of tra ditions, but traditions and spirit are actually a part of us. I guess as Tony Cornett, sportswriter for the Battalion, would put it I am a “rah rah”. I bleed maroon and love everything A&M stands for. I know there are a lot of people at A&M just for an education, and that’s great. But isn’t there more to being an Aggie than just a degree? I mean aren’t there a lot of universities with good academic standards, even t.u. is super academically. So why A&M? If you admit it or not it’s the spirit and traditions which add that little extra pizzaz that makes A&M like no other school. It’s when the band strikes up the war hymn, or when the fourth quarter is starting and you’re still standing. It’s when the rifles break the silence at Silver Taps, or when the first torch hits bonfire. 1 guess it’s a lot of things that makes A&M so special. If you get a chance sit down and think what it is like to be an Ag gie and not just a student. Take advantage of the extra thing we have at A&M — our common bond. It took SWAMP and going away from this fantastic place for me to re-open my eyes to what a special place Aggieland is. “We are the Aggies the Aggies are we true to each other as Aggies can be.” Chris Smith is a senior journalism major. College Bowlers know some of every thing It was an unde- niably degrading experience: the Linda College Bowl tour- Rowland nament on cam pus last k Luckily, I was an observer not a par ticipant. Out of hundreds of questions, I could maybe answer four ... okay, three. Look, I have a good grade point. I read at least two newspapers a day. I keep a book in hand pretty much all the time. And, I occasionally I have humiliated my opponents in a few games of Trivial Pursuit. Very few. But after sitting through the Col lege Bowl, I felt empty. In the head. This Trivial-Pursuit-in-game- show-form that called the College Bowl had a wonderful moderator who could easily put any auctioneer out of a job. I don’t know about you, but I need time to think ... my mental wheels turn pretty slow. By the time the College Bowl pros have buzzed, answered and are on the next question — I have just heard the first question. I mean, some of these folks answer after hearing just four words of a question, and what’s more sickening — they get it right. “What is the only...?“ BUZZ!!!!!! “Mbbbbzzzzziba on the island of Zanzibar.“ Correct. And the vicious cycle continues. Of course, I have some specialties and I know a little about some things. But do these College Bowlers know everything about any thing — or is it anything about every thing? I’m so confused. I mean: Do you know what 15th century woman was found innocent 25 years after her execution? Do you know who was a graduate of West Point and was the first Amer ican to hold the title of general after George Washington? Do you know the first names of ev ery character on Star Trek? Do you know the intricacies of Af rican cooking herbs, European play- writes of the 12th century, prehisto ric graffiti, Venn diagrams, the United States judiciary, Heismann trophy winners with rickets, or where Herbert Hoover lived when he was 10 years old? The College Bowlers do, I assure you. Try this: Who were the odd twins Alice in Wonderland saw through the Looking Glass? Easy. Tweedledee and Tweedle dum. But... Who drew them? Aha, gotcha. Or what are the dimensions of all the Olympic gymnastic equipment? Or who was indicted in England, jailed in France and coined the term United States of America? And the real biggie: Which United States city is known as the toilet paper capital of the world? Well, I guess you get the picture. Why would anyone subject them selves to such mental torture? One team member of the winning team (who shall remain nameless) claimed he got involved to see how smart he was. Fair enough. But what did he find out? “I’m not so smart,” he said. Really now, give yourself some credit, guy. I mean, you’ve been in this tournament every Wednesday since Sept. 26 and what’s more, your team WON. My hat goes off to these College Bowl champions. My only question is: Where did I go wrong that I don’t know things like what antidisestablishmentaria- nism is and where, how and who it came from? Is this unique knowledge inher ited, magically bestowed or worked hard for? Or does it just... come to you? Maybe omnipotence is a curse. And, ignorance is bliss. Someone important said that once. Right? Right. I feel much better now. And you can too. Here are some select answers to the questions above: Thomas Paine, Green Bay, Wis., ev erything about any thing, Ullyses S. Grant, Jim, Leonard and Christine, magically bestowed, Joan of Arc, three-dimensional, O.J. Simpson ... .Linda Rowland is a junior journa lism major and was on the College of Liberal Arts honor roll last semester. LETTERS: Other Chris Young supports Corps EDITOR. I’m writing in response to Susan Nickels and Chris Young’s letter on Monday, Nov. 12 which referred to the Corps as a “horrible cult.” My name is Chris Young. I want to make it clear to all of those who called that I am Christo pher Scott Young from Killeen, Texas and Hart Hall, and that the Chris whose name appeared on the letter is a girl who lives off campus. Relax folks, this Chris Young hasn’t gotten that ridicu lous yet. Susan and Chris come off it; the Corps may seem peculiar and “insi dious” but everything your friend is going through is of his own accord. Don’t go making issues out of “horrible” situations that are in fact strictly volun tary. I myself do not want to be put through what Corps members go through but I don’t have to appeal to the government or even the administra tion of this university to keep from it; but to those who, like your friend, choose to endure I say - “More power to you!” You may not agree with your friend and you may not even be able to remain friends, but don’t bring the rest of us down senselessly. I would like to make one other point before I put down my pen. It has oc- cured to me that generalizations .have become very popular with the majority of people who submit letters to The Battalion. We get a lot of “A&M is this” and “A&M is that”; too often many of us forget that we are expressing an opinion and take it upon ourselves to speak for everyone. When was the last time any of us sat in on a Board of Regents meeting as a member and was thereby qualified to make a statement as an official Uni versity voice? Let’s try to remember to express our opinions as our opinions and not all-inclusive fact because we don’t all share the same views. If one is going to state a fact, he’d better make damn sure he knows what he’s talking about. I mention this first because I’ve felt it needed to be said for a long time, and secondly because I wish to upbraid those members of the Corps who called me after the printing of Susan and Chris’ letter to offer threats. I will not generalize and think poorly of the Corps of Cadets just because some of its members showed poor judgment and tasks. I do, however, think those indi viduals are pretty small! Christopher Scott Young Religion should not be forced on people EDITOR: Last Friday I was sitting in the MSC between classes when a girl sat down be side me. She began talking to me, intro ducing herself, and then sprang an un expected question, “if you were to die tomorrow would you go to Heaven or what would you say to God so that he would let you in?” This girl talked to me non-stop for 10 minutes before I finally cut her off so that I wouldn’t be late to a class. She then insisted on giving me a booklet. Yes, I believe in God and yes I believe in going to church but I don’t believe in people invading your privacy to preach to you. No one should be pressured into dis cussing their personal beliefs with some stranger who is trying to “save them from their sins.” I could see having a booth set up where you could talk to someone if you’d like to but let that be your decision. I suspect that their mo tives are good but their methods make people resent that the conversation ever happened. People don’t make decisions about re ligious beliefs in the middle of the MSC during a 10 minute class break between classes. This girl was really lucky that she happened to talk to me, a polite lis tener, instead of some people I know who would gladly have given her an ear ful. Betsy Bain Class of’86 Bonfire burns reader EDITOR: To TAMU and the Aggie Corps: When you people stop cutting trees and burning them in your bonfire, I’ll stop stomping on your sacred grass. Kenneth Manthei Kenneth R. Wilks Student searches for lost high school ring EDITOR: On October 22, while at the Alabama concert, I lost my high school ring. Af ter searching for it for over two weeks. I’ve almost given up. I kept waiting for someone to turnii in to the MSC lost and found, but no one has. Why would anyone want my high school ring? It may be worth a little money, but to me it’s worth millions sen timentally. My ring is ten karat gold with a square topaz stone. Inside the stone is a long horn. On one side of the ring is a band insignia. On the inside of the ring is the inscription of my name. If anyone has found my ring, or knows of its whereabouts, please get in touch with me or turn it in to the MSC lost and found. I am offering a reward if need be. Lisa Blackburn 696-7114 The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwestjournalism 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 Powe Assistant News Editors Rhonda Snider, Kellie Dworaczyk, Lauri Reese Make-up Editor .John Hallett Copy Writers...Karen Bloch, Cathy Bennett Copy Editors Kathy Breard, Kaye Pahmeier Cyndy Davis, Patricia Flint Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas Ai-M and Bryan-College Station. 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Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Editorial staff phone number: (409) 845-2630. Ad vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal ion, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 or By A The p' able to lit science f many peo than you i By 19! nautics ar plans to space sta ings will b A spac pose mar designed shuttles v gether 01 The shut crews, wb eight met three moi “This l for NASy ing a littl sky,” Mai engineeri The es tion prt manned Hodge s; Space S Hodge, d terim Sp NASA H< tion will 1 ble. “The < people at their wisi frontiers late their ate new creativity tually fr< dwelling i cure re; Hodge sa One of to workin thing is w “Thing do on Ea in space ; easy to d< to do on 1 ities sud showers a difficult practiced Produt ing interl ier and < said. 4 M T Jan. $42: *Ro *5 I' *5 E Tw< *1 F lct » f Ej