Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, February 21, 1985
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A&M officials continuing to deny
free speech on University campus
“We hope the
resolution will
make the Board
( Texas A&M’s
Board of Regents)
look beyond their
own bigotries and
accept GSS.”
Tom Urban
made that
statement after
the A&M Student
Senate passed a resolution supporting
the GSS. Evidently, someone didn’t like
it. Urban was placed on conduct proba
tion by the University on Nov. 27.
Urban was informed in a letter from
Brent Paterson, Judicial Affairs Super
visor for Student Services, that he was
placed on conduct probation for accu
mulating “an excessive number of un
paid parking violations” and failure to
“register the vehicle with the U.P.D.”
Urban received 16 parking tickets
during the fall semester but paid them
on Nov. 7 and bought a parking sticker
on Nov. 14. But, during the 1984 spring
semester Urban received — and paid —
12 parking tickets and no disciplinary
action was taken against him.
Bob Wiatt, director of Security and
Traffic, said having more than nine
parking tickets is excessive.
But, does that constitute conduct pro-
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Brigid Brockman, Editor
Shelley Hoekstra, Managing Editor
Ed Cassavoy, City Editor
Kellie Dworaczyk, News Editor
Michelle Powe, Editorial Page Editor
Travis Tingle, Sports Editor
The Battalion Staff
Assistant City Editors
Kari Fluegel, Rhonda Snider
Assistant News Editors
Cami Brown, John Hallett, Kay Mallett
Assistant Sports Editor
Charean Williams
Entertainment Editors
Shawn Behlen, Leigh-Ellen Clark
Staf f Writers Cathie Anderson,
Brandon Berry, Dainah Bullard,
Ann Cervenka, Michael Crawford,
Kirsten Dietz, Patti Flint,
Patrice Koranek, Trent Leopold,
Sarah Oates, Jerry Oslin,
Tricia Parker, Lynn Rae Povec
Copy Editors Jan Perry, Kelley Smith
Malce-up Editors Karen Bloch,
Karla Martin
Columnists Kevin Inda, Loren Steffy
Editorial Cartoonist Mike Lane
Sports Cartoonist Dale Smith
Copy Writer Cathy Bennett
Photo Editor Katherine Hurt
Photographers Anthony Casper,
Wayne Grabein, Bill Hughes, Frank Irwin,
John Makely, Peter Rocha, Dean Saito
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper
operated as a community service to Texas A&M and
Bryan-College Station.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the
Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarily rep
resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty
or the Board of Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for
students in reporting, editing and photography classes
within the Department of Communications.
Letters Policy
Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in
length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters
for style and length but will make every effort to maintain
the author’s intent. Each letter must be signed and must
include the address and telephone number of the writer.
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday
during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday
and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75
per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full
year. Advertising rates furnished on request.
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.
POSTMAS'I ER: Send address changes to The Battal
ion, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
bation? Few A&M students have been
put on conduct probation for having too
many parking tickets. Being considered
a candidate for conduct probation de
pends on the way you interpret Univer
sity regulations.
According to the Texas A&M Univer
sity Regulations Handbook, conduct
probation is defined as follows:
• An official warning that the stu
dent’s conduct is in violation of Texas
A&M University Regulations “Basic Po
licy”, or the Penal Code of the State of
Texas but is not sufficiently serious to
warrant expulsion, dismissal or suspen
sion. A student of conduct probation is
deemed “not in good standing” with the
University, which includes certain re
strictions.
One restriction affects Urban more
than the others. That restriction is the
ineligibility to hold an office in any stu
dent organization recognized by the
University or to hold any elected or ap
pointed office of the University.
Urban was forced by the probation to
resign his position in Student Govern
ment on Jan. 23, but a federal re
straining order issued Feb. 6 enabled
him to retain his posistion.
You might ask what constitutes con
duct probation under that definition —
well, just about anything the University
wants.
LETTERS:
Bicycling should be
encouraged at A&M
EDITOR:
The so-called “parking problem”
(Battalion, Feb. 14) here at the Univer
sity is one primarily of semantics. It’s
not a “parking problem” but a “car
problem.” There are just too many of
the damn things on campus. Instead of
giving more tickets, and building more
parking lots, why are we not encourag
ing more alternative transportation?
Specifically, bicycles.
Sure, bicycles in themselves are a
problem and I will not defend my fellow
cyclists’ skills or judgement in traffic,
but bikes are quiet, pollution free, pro
vide exercise, and don’t require the 60-
plus square feet of parking space of a
automobile. So what has been done by
the University and city of College Sta
tion to encourage bicycle commuters?
Bikes routes have been set up, which
is to be commended, but they are too re
stricted and not respected by motorists.
How many cyclists out there have found
themselves face to face with an impa
tient S.O.B. tearing down the bike lane
on Jersey during rush hour.
Some suggestions to improve condi
tions for cyclists:
1) a sidewalk should be constructed
extending from Zachry Engineering,
east around the polo grounds, continu
ing parallel to Texas on the east side of
the polo grounds and golf course, to the
running track. This sidewalk could be
used by joggers, pedestrians, as well as
cyclists.
2) a sidewalk could also be con
structed on the west side of Wellborn
Student Body President David Alders
said he hopes the University doesn’t
deny a student his civil rights but he also
said government interference in the
University’s internal affairs could set a
dangerous precedent
“It would set a dangerous precedent
if the government reversed the Univer
sity’s decision because a student dis
agreed with the decision. The Univer
sity needs to be able to maintain its
independence,” Alders said.
I guess it doesn’t matter to Alders if
the University is denying someone his
First Amendment rights. By no means
should we let the government mingle in
University affairs. Just because the Uni
versity Disciplinary Appeals Panel
upheld the University’s decision doesn’t
mean the University was right in putting
Urban on conduct probation.
This is an obvious attempt to shut
someone up. Officials won’t admit it —
but that’s what they wanted to do. It
seems as if the regents like to deny peo
ple their constitutional rights (remem
ber the GSS and women in the band?).
I hope the regents, the University, or
anybody directly involved in putting
Tom Urban on conduct probation will
look beyond their own bigotries and ac
cept free speech — this is getting old.
Kevin S. Inda is a senior journalism
major and a weekly columnist for The
Battalion.
road to allow bicycle travel in that direc
tion.
3) all future road repairs and con
struction should be initiated with the re
alization that College Station is a college
town and not Houston. Attempts should
be made to expand the shoulder areas
of roads whenever possible.
Finally,
4) if cyclists are required to think and
act as motorized vehicles on campus (we
often don’t), then motorists should be
penalized when they don’t treat cyclists
as such.
(Try acting like a car at a four way
stop while on a bike, some time.)
Robert Jones
College Station
Why was Chinese
ambassador at A&M?
EDITOR:
I question the propriety of bringing
to A&M that ambassador from Commu
nist China. The government there holds
the all time world record for mass mur
der. (See Guiness Book of World Re
cords, Bantam Books, 1983, page 430.)
The Red Chinese make Adolph Hitler
look like a small time punk.
Furthermore, they continue to prac
tice genocide against Tibet and have
turned their own country into a gigantic
slave labor camp from which people can
escape only at risk of their lives.
It is hard to understand why Texas
A&M or any other institutuion which
values human life or any sort of decency
would provide a forum for a represen
tative of that government to propagate
Kevin
Inda
Students can work to A
prevent budget cut tt
Editor’s Note:
This is the second
of a two-part se
ries on the effects
of the proposed
budget cuts on
Texas A&M.
Reader’s Forum
Reader’s Forum
Reader’s Forum
In light of the
severe effects
which would be
felt at Texas A&M
in the event of any
reduction in state allocations, concen
trated efforts are underway which are
intended to prevent these budget cuts.
These efforts have been given a high
priority by the System Chancellor’s of
fice, the Board of Regents and Presi
dent Vandiver. Student Government
has also become involved in these en
deavors, gathering information and
making the students’ voices heard in
Austin.
President Vandiver’s efforts aimed at
avoiding severe cuts in the University
budget have recently received a great
deal of attention in the media. Dr. Van
diver has begun a large-scale attempt to
inform the people of Texas (as well as
the students of A&M) of the impacts of
budget cuts such as were discussed in
yesterday’s article. Although he has
sometimes been criticized for these ef
forts, he has succeeded in making many
people aware of the gravity of the bud
getary problem facing higher educa
tion. Perhaps most importantly, the
press in the state has begun to address
these problems, in part due to Dr. Van
diver’s vehement opposition to cuts in
University funding.
The Board of Regents has also un
dertaken efforts to prevent these cut
backs. The Board’s Executive Secretary,
Bill Presnal (who also serves as the Sys
tem Vice-Chancellor for State Affairs),
has been actively involved with pleading
the University’s case in Austin. As the
former chairman of the powerful
House Appropriations Committee —
which will eventually decide upon the
levels of higher education funding, Mr.
Presnal is in a unique position to be our
advocate in the State Legislature.
Also representing the interests of
Texas AMm in Austin are Representa
tive Rich£d Smith and Senator Kent
Caperton, both of whom represent Bra
zos County in the Legislature. Both of
these men are committed to avoiding
the proposed budget cuts in higher edu
cation because they recognize the im
pact that these cuts would have on their
constituencies. Rep. Smith states that
since the start of the session the size of
the proposed cuts have been reduced
from 26 percent to between five and
its views. What was the point of bringing
such a person here? To hear what the
Red Chinese have to say?
Why bother with what they say; just
look at what they do!
A1 Dobey
Staff writer just too
perfect for words
EDITOR:
In response to Patti Flint’s ignorant
assumptions about “most of the stu
dents” she probably doesn’t even know:
Thank you Patti, for so miraculously
reading my mind and probably the
minds of “most of the students” at
Texas A&M.
Please Patti, tell us something we
don’t hear every day. Your remark
about students believing in God because
our parents told us to, wins the award
for “the most overused cop-out in the
world.”
How shallow of you to assume some
thing about people you don’t know.
As far as I know, the essence of life
should be something that fulfills each
person differently, so if you don’t mind,
I’ll read my own mind from now on —
Thanks!
As far as materialism goes, has it ever
occurred to you that instead of criticiz
ing people for earning money, you
could encourage them to spend money
planting trees so we can all watch the
movement of the sunlight through the
trees (if you can be sure we don’t notice
these things).
I am happy for you, though, that you
are so far-removed from “most of the
eight percent and that he willconij
to work to reduce the impact of«
Texas A&M. Senator Caperton fid: :
dorsed a plan proposed by Lit
Hobby which would result in ant
only six percent from the highertc.
tion budget. Both men state t
will work toward the complete retj
tion of f unding to higher education:
Texas A&M.
Another organization which is v
ing to represent the interests of I:
A&M is Student Government.Hire;
the efforts of the* Legislative $tjj
Group (LSG), Student Govemmei
working to lessen the economicir
that budget cuts and tuition ino«
would have on the students ofl:
A&M. Michael O’Quinn, Administrr
Director of LSG, says that another:
cern is the implementation of a
increase. Presently, money raised
university tuition is not provided:
rectly to universities as funding:
rather is classified as general ret
LSG is working to ensure that ar
ition increase would be usedtofurc
creases in higher education (or e
the restoration of any budget g
Thus, any adverse economic irapa:
students caused by a tuition inert!
would have the effect of improvinn
quality of education.
A final mention must be made
powerful, untapped resourceii
could be used to help prevent thee::
mentation of budget cuts to higher::
cation. This resource consists of die
dents and former students of Id!
A&M. A number of former studena
eluding Rep. Smith and Sen. Caper
are working to persuade their fe
legislators in Austin that the uniieit
budgets should not be cut. Each ami:
ery student and former studentcam
should be involved in this process as v
— for it is the very future of ourtin^
sity which is at stake. Take the
write, call, or send a mailgram lot;
legislators who represent yourloC
town, and express to them yourtt
on university funding. Write a
the editor of your hometown newspif®
expressing your concerns. Haven:
parents and their friends do thesair:
and the end result will beanincrei*
awareness of the effects of budget:
for both the people of Texas and
State Legislature. Many Univet?
agencies are working to present'
king-term future of Texas A&M
any assistance provided by student!
mer students and Aggie
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Mike Kelley is the Student Govenif
vice president for finance.
students” that I’m sure there i* 1
chance of even a trace of materiafc
your lifestyle. Thank you forbeini
bold as to admit your perfection
Sherry Tofte
Class of ’87
Too many football
fan whiners at A&M
EDITOR:
Dear Dick:
In response to your letter onFel
I would like to point out that youk
very little about coaching football'
pecially at A&M. Don’t try to place' 5
over-wrought frustrations onthesl
ders of Jackie Sherrill. Sure, he’s«
paid and his teams haven’t perfc
consistently well, but in nowaydoe'
prove your point that he’s a poor
Just because the Dallas Co"
didn’t go the the NFL playoffs this !|
do you believe that Tom Landn
lousy coach? “Bear” Bryanthadsf
not-so-good seasons here at A&M I 5
ever, it was the narrow-mindedoui
of Aggies like you that sent himeni"
to Alabama. Do you think he was*
coach? Right.
If Jackie and the Aggies fail to I*
their 6-5 record of last fall, I'm 5
there will be even more whiners 5
there are now. But, please, stoppo 1
and take a hard look at the parity'
teams in the SWG. Any team of
given day can beat any other team
Besides, I do believe there is #
ter Football.” I hope that A&M0
the remainder of the Class of $
same thing.
Rl
P/
SE
C(
Kevin Henderson
Class of’88