Page 2/The Battalion/Wednesday, May 1, 1985 OPINION Free speech part of students' rights The First Amendment right to freedom of speech comes in ~ ‘ ‘ “ ‘ of f ' ‘ ‘ myriad forms, and instances of suppression of this right are equally numerous. Last week, U.S. District Judge Norman Black ordered a Spring Branch Independent School District high school to allow the Christian Club to meet on campus. The Bat talion Editorial Board agrees that students, too, have the right to exercise their freedom of speech. The purpose of the club is “to allow a small group of stu dents who have a common interest in Christianity and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to meet once a week for one hour to discuss common experiences.” The school district denied the club a request for a room, and the group’s planner sued the district in November. Linder the Equal Access Act, which Congress passed last year, the outcome of the suit was obvious. The law prohibits schools from denying students the use of school property on the basis of religious, po litical or philosophical beliefs. By holding a religious meeting on campus after school hours, the students are exercising their right of free speech, but they are not mixing church and state. The beliefs expressed by the club are purely their own, not those of the school district. The district would be guilty of mixing church and state only if the club were allowed to meet during school hours. Students, too, are entitled to exercise their First Amendment rights, and what better place to learn about freedom of speech than in school? The Battalion Editorial Board LETTERS: The true meaning of being an Aggie Chemistry department EDITOR: needs some help EDITOR: Allow me a moment; a moment to say I’m sorry. No, I have not walked on the grass at the MSG (or on the drill field, though the temptation has arisen.) I have never supported t.u. or recognized it as the “University of Texas.” Aggies, I am guilty of calling myself an Aggie, yet not upholding all that the position en tails. I thought, prior to 3 p.m., April 21, that I was a “good Ag.” I say “Hi” if not “Howdy” (I was born in Connecticut, bear with me), as I walk to class, though not always and not to everyone. Strike one. I support Aggie sports. As with every Ag, football and cotton fill my dreams in the fall. I go to one or two basketball games. I wanted to go to more. Honest! I have even gone to an away baseball game. To the female athletes, I owe a tremendous apology. Somehow 1 have never attended one of your events. Strike two. Thank you for your sweat, pain, and endurance you suffer for A&M. Let’s face it — if over 520 of MY stu dents went to ONE tutor for help, I’d feel embarassed, too . . . especially in view of the 78% C’s, D’s, and F’s on the first three tests. Besides all of this, I go to the Hall of Fame occasionally on Thursday nights, and the “Chicken” whenever. I do not like beer (strike three) but thank Heav ens for long neck Coke bottles. Yes, with 58% D’s and F’s, it must be difficult to rationalize their teaching methods to “outsiders.” Add to this the fact that Rod O’Connor, the former Head of Freshman Chemistry, had only 14% of his students under 60% (com pared to 31.5% now) and over two and a half times the number of A’s and B’s, and even the most naive person might begin to question the current program. Even “t.u.” gives 52% A’s and B’s com pared to our 21.5%. It’s a small wonder that the professors are so defensive. My fellow Ags, I even cry at Silver Taps. I used to think that this made me a “good Ag,” but as Lt. General Ormond R. Simpson (’36), explained to me. I fall short of being the Aggie I should be. The thought of the great men who have roamed this fantastic campus before awes me. How can I honor the Congres sional Medal of Honor recipients who line the walls of the MSC? Or the likes of Rudder, Ross, Zachry, Harrington; the list continues, long and impressive. Well, I guess if all else fails they can “curve” the grades . . . but doesn’t it seem odd that last semester a student who earned a 78 in Chemistry 101 got the same “C” as a student who earned a 56? Oh well, I’m sure it is just “relative” . . . but isn’t it interesting that Dr. Rod O’Connor never used a “curve” (even “t.u.” doesn’t curve in most cases). It is too bad that grades don’t stand for achievement any more . . . they do, how ever, keep students “in their place.” My dear Aggies, former, present, and future, I am sorry for the spiteful words, a forgotten name, judgments, lack of consideration, and selfishness. I love each of you, those of you I know. The cowboys, the C.T.s, the B.Q.s, the non-regs, my classmates, my friends. You will always be in my heart. Those of you I do not know personally, I want to, and I love you for being Aggies. Why not get honest? Why not require 16 professors to teach four sessions per week of 50 or less students. This would allow time for personal contact, extra help, individualized tests, and even the correcting of homework! Then, if the professors had spare time after work, they could do some research as a hobby. Perhaps we could do some research as a hobby. Perhaps we could then use the term “teacher” and mean it. And to General Simpson, I owe you a great deal, for my first muster; for the true meaning of what calling myself an Aggie means. Thank you, Ags, for listening. May God bless you and keep all of you safe until April 21,1986. Kirstin E. Haas Industrial Engineering P.S. I also feel it was highly deceptive to publish only the student survey re sults from two popular teachers. Seems pretty biased, why not explain why last semester the freshman program was rated below all the other chemistry courses (question #11) for the first time in the history of Texas A&M? Let’s be honest!!! Mike Goad Accompanied by 44 signatures * BnfieuNE. I Me w, SEP ALS ^ Distir Retail Cleamrtwhitehou KjOu anmKjivHhirAve. mSvingtott.DC. 20017 ae YOU ARE A WINNER f By CAR vY : TheCoitreifi Moooooo Humanitai-m Route Tte Jufgfe, Nicaragua 97007 RETURN ID SENDER-(J.SMtuoz Not onl handed on lour Dist Awards will The awa don of d achievemer Richard N. jQrvil W. C Eivind H. and Geralc ’5li. , Conolly ceive the a tnencement and Johan awards will I II Reagan’s controversial visit could cause German snit frays cere m< 1 Conolly, 1 ingon the e: the Texas } the Visual would be p an award. Crisman, utive an< cently endo stitute for Engineering he's honore ifUnong the c 0! A&M. Johansen lieutenant y tired in 198l By ART BUCHWALD Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate The phone has been ringing off the hook since President Reagan decided to go to the Bitburg cemetery. Some peo ple are not happy about it. who are in a snit because of something we’ve done. One more snit is not going to hurl us. Besides, if the President has to choose between a German tantrum and the feelings of American ex-GIs and victims of the Holocaust, then let him live with the snit.” Sylvia said, “I don’t know Kohl, he’s such a real neat guy whyd let Reagan off the hook by finding some place else to go besiaesacenn where Nazis are buried?” lansen was A&M grad fees wher V S. Army tie younge Sylvia Grossman called the other day. “I read in the paper the reason the Pres ident is going to the cemetery is because he doesn’t want to offend the West Ger- ‘That’s correct,” I told her. Like the King in “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” it’s hard for the Fresh man Chemistry Department to accept that it has been found naked. Three weeks ago a professor handed out a pa per defending the freshman program against “outside rumors.” Last week he handed out a seven page survey that was loaded with sarcasm to help fortify his own personal position. The questions were written with extreme choices, and poor English grammatical construction. “Tell me something. What would happen if he did offend the Germans?” “I’m not sure I understand what you’re driving at.” “Let’s say the President cancels his visit to the graveyard where the SS sol diers are buried, and the German’s be come offended. What can they do to us ? Do you think they’ll stop sending Mer- cedes-Benzes to the United States?” “It’s not just a German snit we have to worry about,” I told her. “We also have to concern ourselves with Chancellor Kohl’s political future. If the President doesn't go the the cemetery Kohl’s Christian Democrats will have a prob lem winning a May 12th election in North Rhine-Westphalia.” “Are you trying to tell me a local Ger man election is the reason Reagan insists on going to Bitburg against the advice of everyone from the American Legion to the survivors of the Nazis’ death camps?” “It’s not just the Westphalia election. The President owes Kohl a lot.” “As I understand it the SS sol buried at Bitburg were not realS but just kids drafted into the service “Who said that?” “Chancellor Kohl. You mustreifS her, he has a lot more to lose i Reagan if the President doesn’t visii burg.” Sylvia said, “I wouldn’t betoosui that.” “I don’t believe they would go that far, though an embargo of German au tomobiles is always a possibility. Our main fear is they could get into quite a snit about it.” Sylvia said, “They should have thought about that when they started World War II. Okay, let’s take the worst-case scenario. They get into a snit. We have countries all over the world “Why does he owe Kohl?” “Because the Chancellor took our Pershing missiles.” “How can the President owe Kohl for accepting our missiles? They are in Ger many to protect him as much as they are to protect us,” Sylvia said. “It’s not just the missiles,” I said pa tiently. “Kohl has also spoken out strongly for ‘Star Wars.’ The President thinks he’s a real neat guy.” I tried to be as diplomatic as p«i “I don’t think it’s your duty or mil tell the President of the United Si what cemeteries he should visii what ones he should skip. After has very qualified staff in the '* House who do nothing but tel what’s good for him and what isn’t Pregnant Your Contact Child Plai call I 1-817-5! EARL TIRE! TIRI I Two pe ‘ “Oh yeah? So where were they* Reagan needed them?” it No pass, no play 93 stresses studying Today, not only are parents, teachers and administrators Wayne complaining Grabein “Johnny can’t read,” " - i.i but complaints of “Johnny can’t play” are being heard as well. To many vocal people, the “no pass, no play” rule prohibiting students from participating in extracurricular activities for six weeks if they fail just one course during a six-week grading period is a cruel and unjustified punishment. These people have lost sight of the reason students are in school — to learn and become educated. That’s not to say sports, music and lit erary events don’t help round out a stu dent’s education, but first, students must be proficient in the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. Only by mastering these building blocks can one hope to excel in any extracurricular ac tivity. Looking back at my own high school education, I realize just how much time my classmates and I spent in extracurri cular activities, whether it was band, drama or sports. I can remember get ting out of class for an activity with little questioning or resistance from anyone. I guess I was fortunate. I wasn’t in volved in too many activities during my high school career. Those few activities I did participate in, though, took up much of my time, some of which could have used more effectively by studying. But that’s all changed for today’s high school students with the enactment of House Bill 72 which limits the amount of time a student spends on outside ac tivities and the “no pass, no play” rule which sets higher grade requirements for participation. Students at Bryan and A&M Consol idated high schools said the reforms have definitely made them study more for two reasons: First, the bill raised the passing grade from 60 to 70 on the 100 point grading scale. Second, and even more important to the students, is the tough restrictions of the “no pass, no play” rule. With comments such as “I have to make the grades to keep playing” and “You can’t miss anything,” it’s clear that extracurricular activities still are a major factor in high school students’ lives. However, with the “no pass, no play” rule, the emphasis on extracurricular activities has begun to align itself more realistically with the students’ purpose in school. Opponents of the rule overlook the main benefit of “no pass, no play.” Since its ratification, students have a better in centive to do well in their required couse work. The students themselves may not re alize the rule has any benefits because of the hostile manner in which people have reacted to the law. In the Brazos Valley, the “no pass, no play” rule has had some positive results. Teachers and administrators of the two high schools said they noticed their students were studying more and meet ing the higher requirements set by the Legislature. The only disapproval of “no pass, no play” has been the length of the suspen sion if a student fails a class. Many agree that three weeks suspension from extra curricular activates would be a more jus tified punishment. The rule does have faults, but, with time and revision, this law will be the most influential measure taken to re form public education in Texas. Wayne L. Grabein is a senior journa lism major and photo editor for The Battalion. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Membt'r of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Rhonda Snider, Editor Michelle Powe, Managing Editor Kay Mallet, News Editor Loren Stef fy, Editorial Page Editor Karen Bloch, City Editor Travis Tingle, Sports Editor CASA BL 411 Probl we liste Free i conce Brazos 1 Crisis P 4340 Carte Suite 107 'Bryan, TX i Bryan, 1X Butt; IhEATF The Battalion Staff : Assistant City Editors Kirsten Dietz, JerryOsI Assistant News Editors Cathie Anderson, Jan F f|1 V AnfcjuW Assistant Editorial Page Editor 7:30-9:; ALBERT BRO JULIE MAGEI LOST IN John Hall 1 Assistant Sports Editor Charean Will Entertainment Editors Cathy Riely, Waller Staf f Writers ....Tamara Bell, MegCadi) Ed Cassavoy, Ann Cen Michael Crawford, Cindy Tammy Kirk, Jens K' Trent Leopold, Mary McWoi June Pang,TritiaPad Lynn Rae Povec, Marybeth Rohsi Gigi Shai THE BREAKFA CLUB Copy Editors Rebecca Adair, Mike Da* Wendyjol" EdCas Make-up Editor Ed Columnists Marcy Basile, CantiBi Patti Morning Editor John Hi Photo Editor Wayne (iral* just ONE Ol Photographers Greg Bail Anthony Casper, Frank Hai Kyle Hawkins,^aime Michael Editorial Policy The Biiltiiliun is a non-pnttii, .«7/-su/>jxmTM|K ncHifi operated as a coinniunity sen ice to 'Texas AtM 1 B n .ill C 'olleffe Sta lit to. Opinions expressed in The Batitiliott are tlaisci T.ditorial Board or the ant hoi, and do not iim'sMriJf 1 resent the opinions ot 'Texas AJTM iitlniiiiistnitun," 1 or the Boat cl o/ Reffenis. Police aca NIGHTMARI ELM STREE1 MOVING VIC BEVERY HU TOS T.MAS TER: Send address changes tu ThclW i ion, 'Ictus AJL-M L nivcrsily, College Station, Ifl f 77H4S