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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1985)
Page 2AThe BattalioiVThursday, September 12,1985 OPlPlION Editorials from around the state TSTA opposition biggest obstacle In one of the less surprising developments of late on the ed ucation front, the Texas State Teachers Association went to court in an effort to head off mandatory competency tests for public school teachers who already hold Texas teaching certifi cates. The TSTA’s opposition to the testing represents one more obstacle in the way of a much-needed upgrading of public edu cation in Texas. The feeling among some teachers seems to be that the very notion of competency testing is an affront, an insult. Competency testing, far from being a slap in the face, is sim ply a means of determining who is, and who is not, equipped to perform well in the classroom, where so many small but crucial engagements in the battle for literacy and civility are fought. Like it or not, society’s commitment to that battle must take pre cedence over concern about hurt feelings in the educational community. Corpus Christi Caller Make ’em pay! The Internal Revenue Service has announced plans to with hold tax refunds from 1 million students who defaulted on gov ernment college loans. Good! Students (or anyone else) who take out loans and refuse to pay them back are cheats, pure and simple. They agreed to pay the money back when they got the loan, and now they are screaming when the government tries to get the money back. We believe every means available should be used to make these deadbeats pay up. The Galveston Daily News Mail Call 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. Put a gate in the wall EDITOR: Regarding Sally Taylor’s article on Kenny Bob Parson’s building the Great Wall of Texas: Mr. Parson, please, please, be so kind as to leave a gate in the Wall so those of us who have no love for Texas and your attitude can get the hell out of here when we finish our education. Too bad A&M was located in Texas. California is not located north of Texas. Anne Stancavage accompanied by 8 signatures Moore’s dorm run not meant to offend EDITOR: In response to Mr. Rob Parrel, Crocker Hall President, and his letter in the Tuesday, September 10 issue of The Battalion: we resent Crocker Hall’s at tempt to climb socially by dragging the Moore Hall name through the mud. Moore has just as much right to have a “publicity” run through the girls’ dorms as Crocker does. However, I question Mr. Parrel’s defi nition of “publicity.” What is he publi cizing by allowing the boys of Crocker Hall to run through girls’ dorms in bi kini underwear anyway? Surely not Girl Scout Cookies! Truthfully, Moore Elall was fairly wild; however, I have talked with seve ral females from Leggett, Haas, Clem ents, Keathley, and the Commons where those ladies have fully approved of our actions. I do realize that it was in poor taste in some girls’ opinions, but what in life pleases all of the people all of the time? Surely not Crocker Hall! Furthermore, our “obscene” chants are no worse than the implications of the Crocker Cocks mascot compared to that of Moore Hall Truckers. While on the topic of chants, we realize your letter to the editor was only a result of your turning green with envy as you heard the Keathley-Fowler-Hughes girls’ quad rise up in a chant of “We want Moore! We want Moore .. .” Finally, we do not approve of Crocker Hall putting on the act of playing “gent lemen on campus” and apologizing to the girls’ dorms for us when we are ca pable of doing so ourselves. Moore Hall wishes to extend a formal apology to those ladies who were offended by our actions and to those ladies who enjoyed them, we’re glad you appreciated oup Reagan fumbling to regain upper hand from Congress Howe\ seme: ist year, innouno lan fiv< Ipening i r Chris ( jioner, s; |p the e; lan sena | The b: lates' fili iromotit [ion comi The el lent, vic< [urer, s< [reshmar ■rom 9 a Ijlaces, oi ihe soutl Specific h lection c President Reagan looked 10 feet tall when he began his second term nine months ago, yet now Donald M. Rothberg Guest Columnist he is scrambling to regain the initiative from a newly aggressive Congress. It’s quite a reversal from his first term, when Reagan steamrolled con gressional opponents in repeated con frontations over taxes and the budget. And he’s hearing tough talk from within his own party about the prospects for tax reform and the need to change his position on farm legislation. The dramatic shift in mood may be only temporary or it could be that Rea gan is proving as vulnerable as most of his predecessors to the second-term blues. that he planned to move against selected trading partners in an effort to force them to give greater access to American products, did little to head off congres sional action. In oth residen nembers As he began his second term, the president and his allies were confident he’d set the agenda for the next four years and solidify his “Second American Revolution.” It hasn’t worked out that way. Sud denly, Congress is setting the agenda and Reagan is forced to react to initia tives from Capitol Hill. First on trade and then on South Af rica, the president was forced in recent days to backpedal in an effort to head off embarrassing votes. At this point, it is clear that Reagan announced sanctions against South Af rica on Monday only because he knew that Congress would move ahead with out him and with stronger action if he didn’t head them off. He had said re peatedly that he opposed sanctions, that he felt the best way to get the South Af rican government to moderate apart heid was through quiet pressure. Democrats still are fighting to force a vote on sanctions, but Reagan’s action has enabled Republicans to counter that the move is motivated more by politics than apartheid. On trade, Reagan’s announcement “I am very pessimistic that we're going to work anything out with the ad ministration,” said Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo., chairman of the Senate subcom mittee on international trade. lectatioti “1 thin irtly di ions of o “I thin •esponsil jiust mei He cl neet thi iome of When he was running for presideni in 1980, Reagan often was asked if he thought he could deal with Democrats, who then controlled both the House and Senate. He said he would handle them the same way he did when he was governor of California, that he would appeal the public and when legislators “felt the heat, they saw the light.” Now it’s Reagan who is feeling the heat and may be seeing the light. Donald M. Rothberg is the chief politi' cal writer of The Associated Press. Mail Call efforts. Thank you. Chris Murzin Public Relations, Moore Hall can flag would have among the students of A&M. Wreck info needed EDITOR: On Friday, Sept. 6, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., someone ran into my car, which was parked on the 700 block of University Oaks. It might not be so bad if the person had not driven off without stopping. There is over $1,000 worth of dam age to my car. I cannot afford to have it fixed, nor will my insurance cover it. I’m pretty much screwed, unless I can get some help. That’s why I’m calling on you, Ags. If anyone has any information concerning this accident I would greatly appreciate it if you would contact me. Thank you. Tal Harris 696-9445 ‘Commie busters’ spreads hatred I should hope that the student body of my University would realize the dan ger of having such attitudes, even if they are not seriously thought out. When I phoned ATO, the representative said that it was just a party theme but that he found nothing wrong with it. He ad vised me to watch “Red Dawn” and hung up on me. I phoned back and was informed that he was “born in the (expletive deleted) U.S.A.” and that he did “not give a damn about the Soviet Union.” He did confirm that he was a Christian but ap parently found his attitudes perfectly harmonious. Such attitudes are what give many people the incorrect impres sion that A&M is a place for bigots and intolerant fanatics. We as a student body face the problems this stigma causes. Let’s work to overcome the problem by ridding ourselves of such attitudes in stead of accepting it as part of the cost of attending this fine school. Brendan Wyly Junior M.E. EDITOR: In Monday’s Battalion there is an ad vertisement for an Alpha Tau Omega party which will have a “catch a com mie” and Soviet “busters” theme. First, I want to say that I realize that the ad had to be run since it was protected against the state’s (Battalion’s) editors by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitu- A lot to think about EDITOR: tion. In reference to the article “Why Lot 71 is Empty,” I think David Baca just likes to hear his mouth flap. I was embarrassed for Mr. Baca. The reasons why I was embarrassed for Da vid are as follows: Second, I would like to ask if ATO gave any thought to what image their theme and their ad brings to mind. I would hope that they were only think ing of a meaningless theme for the party. However, in a world threatened by hatred and lack of understanding be tween the super powers, ATO has man aged to add one tiny stick of hatred to the dangerously raging fire. The Soviet flag-busting symbol was particularly dis turbing. The U.S.S.R. is a sovereign nation and communism is a political and eco nomic philosophy accepted by millions. To realize the offensiveness of this ad one need only think of the effect such a “busters” symbol placed over the Ameri- First, David should know if our school buses were air. conditioned, he would be complaining about his tuition being raised. Secondly, regarding the long trip described to be 20 minutes from Kleberg to Blocker or Zachry, let’s presume the trip is 20 minutes. David, if you dislike riding the hot bus for the trip across campus, why don’t you hike it to the other end of campus in the hot sun, or hike across campus when the cold and rain get here. Mr. Baca, I don’t think you have any reason to complain. I feel the bus service more than accomo dates your needs. And if you think it doesn’t, stop and think for a minute. Michael Weaver ’86 The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalisnt Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Rhonda Snider, Editor Michelle Powe, Managing Editor John Hallett, Kay Mallett, News Editors l.oren Stef'f y, Opinion Page Editor Karen Bloch, City Editor Travis Tingle, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Kirsten Dietz, Jerry Oslin Assistant News Editors Cathie Anderson, Jan Perry Assistant Sports Editor Charean Williams Entertainment Editors Cathy Riely, Walter Smith Staff Writers Tamara Bell, Meg Cadigan, Ed Cassavoy, Ann Cervenka, Cindy Gay, Doug Hall, Paul Herndon, Tammy Kirk, Jens Koepke, Trent Leopold, Mary McWhorter, June Pang, Tricia Parker, Lynn Rae Povec, Marybeth Rohsner, Gigi Shamsy, Kenneth Sury Copy Editors Rebecca Adair, Mike Davis, Sarah Oates Make-up Editor Ed Cassavoy Columnists Marcy Basile, Camille Brown, John Hallett, Karl Pallmeyer Photo Editor Wayne Grabein Photographers Greg Bailey, Anthony Casper, Frank Hada, Kyle Hawkins, Jaime Lopez Michael Sancnez Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, sclf-supfx)rting 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, facultf or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newsi students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department of Communications. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday dur ing Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per se mes ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Ad- s furnished vert ism g rates t i request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TS 77843. Editorial staff phone number: (409) 845-3316. Ad vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas ion, 77843 If nect reshmar from enate c otes will r L