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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1985)
Page 2^The Battalion/Friday, October, 11,1985 Opinion A matter of ethics John Williams, publisher of the Bryan-College Station Eagle was elected president of the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. For a newspaper publisher to actively in volve himself with the people or organizations his paper is cov ering represents a conflict of interest. fc Williams probably perceives his election as a means of serv ing* his community, which is an admirable motive. Too often newspapers are accused of removing themselves from commu nity activities and becoming merely social commentators. Many publishers argue they have a duty to get involved in their communities to protect their investments in their newspa pers. Russell G. D’Oench Jr., editor and co-owner of the Middle- town, Conn., Press says, “You don’t resign from the human race when you join a newspaper.” D’Oench sits on several community boards, including an insurance company and a hospital. But in most cases when editors and publishers wear more than one hat, their newspapers suffer a loss of objectivity. Hav ing the publisher of the local newspaper as president of the chamber of commerce could result in the establishment of “sacred cows” in the editorial policy. With the publisher hob- knobbing with local business leaders, reporters may Find certain topics are “off-limits.” The editor and publisher of the Flint (Mich.) Journal were members of several community-oriented organizations, includ ing the Flint Chamber of Commerce. One of the paper’s feature writers described the paper’s functions as resembling “a commu nity newsletter,” rather than a newspaper. According to Wednesday’s Eagle, Williams said his priorities will be: “economic development, expansion of tourist and con vention business, a dialogue between Texas A&M and the local businesses and a philosophy that the chamber must meet the needs of all businesses of whatever size.” Meeting the needs of all businesses creates a potential con flict for business reporters. It certainly wouldn’t help the needs of a business if that business were reported to be engaged in ille gal activities. But covering up the story would be unethical. Eagle editor Bob Rogers said he doesn’t see any conflicts arising, but how can he be sure? How can the public be sure it is getting a full and accurate account of the news? The Battalion Editorial Board March enlightens students The purpose of attending a college or university is to become educated. Your professors do their best to make sure you re ceive a proper ed- ucation in the classroom. It's up to you to do best to make sure you re- """" ceive a proper education in the world. During the ’60s, college campuses were the scenes for many protests, sit- ins, demonstrations, rallies and marches. During the '60sand early '70s, Karl Pallmeyer Female band members can be a vital asset— if we let them “Now forming at the north end of Kyle 0 Field, the nationally-RefoeCCO Adolf famous all -male v} Fightin’ Fexas Aggie ]■/;:. Band.” No, it was never announced that way, and it never will be. Nor will fans await ing another perfect performance by the Pulse of Aggieland, hear any references made to the women in the band — ex cept from everyone around them. Like missing the forest for the trees, many are missing an exciting perfor mance because they are too busy trying to pick out the female cadets. What a waste. Many people, especially the Texas Aggie Band Association, were terrified that women would ruin the organiza tion. Apparently, they were wrong. The band is unique. It earned this de scription by being all-male, military, continually marching on the field, doing computer-rejected drills and having a style all its own. Thanks to a January court ruling, the band lost one of its unique features. Some say putting women in the band is just one more step on the road to being like everyone else. These steadfast fighters say their rea sons for wanting the band to remain all male are valid. Many former band members say the band is only as awe some as it is because of its unity: the same unity destined for doom when women break the ranks. To the members of the band, unity means they eat, party, Sleep, study, date, sweat, play, work, drill, and generally grow up together for four years. The band operates as a unit, not four sepa rate outfits. They’re all in it together, 24 hours a day, and women just can’t be a part of it. There just isn’t the same cam araderie among males and females. True, women can’t live in the dorm with men. Yet. However, the first female Corps staff member lives in the same dorm as the rest of Corps staff, with a bathroom adapted to her needs. The band women are inspected and instructed by men, march with men, wear their hair above the collar, wear pants on the drill field, observe the same rules and regulations, take the same ver bal abuse as all freshmen and feel the same pride in what they do and the or ganization they belong to. The women in the band say they all are eager to earn their senior boots. They all are motivated to maintain the exacting standard set by their predeces sors. However, some say this standard is slacking because of the women, and the standards of any military organization become lax when exceptions are made for women. The truth here lies with the fact that exceptions must not be made for women. They must endure the same hardships to feel the same sense of ac complishment. The question of “can they physically endure the same things as men?” should be a moot point. Biologically, women are not always equal to men in physical strength. But it also has been reported that more men visit psychiatrists. So there is no cer tainty as to who is more stable emotion ally. However, musical ability, marching precision, discipline, respect and sharp ness in military demeanor are not for eign to women because of their gender. One of the women in the band is re ported to be asthmatic. When doing the voluntary pushups in the grass after a mistake on the drill field, she faces a problem others don’t have. But asthma is not limited to females. Any exception made for a male with the physically lim iting disease also should be made for her. No more, no less. It sounds simple. But in the face of a court order, the band’s upperclassmen have a dilemma. If they treat the women as they treat other freshmen, someone might yell ‘hazing’ when things get rough. On the other hand, if they go out of their way to be easy on the women, the purpose is lost. Until the women are ac cepted and the issue quiets down, it may not be possible for women to be treated the same. But it must happen eventually if the band is to be unified. A look at halftime will show that the band’s performances still are breathtak ing. Maybe the problem women are said to create lies within. Should the fabric that makes up such a tight organization be torn just to acco modate women? Or should the band use the strengths brought by women as a way to patch up some holes? To accomplish this, women who join must have a desire to contribute to the organization they join, or the band’s re sentment will be justified. The military, the Corps, the band and A&M itself are founded on principles of unity, cooper ation and contribution. No one, male or female, should join a group hoping to gain only personally. Legally, the band has no choice but to move on and maintain or recapture the spirit of a unified and perfection- driven marching military band, symbol ized by the unity cake cut at the end of each drilling season. The band will destroy itself if it re fuses to live with the court ruling. If those involved work with the change, they can handle it as well as they han dled a drop in membership, reorgani zation of outfits, hazing’ charges and others. The band has a chance to make the best of female membership. They face a possible increase in numbers which could bring them back to marching 300 at a game. This hasn’t been done since 1981. If the band can accept the women as contributors, not ‘rabble rousers,’ maybe the rest of the world can accept it, too. Then people will be able to enjoy a flawless performance and quit looking for the women. This doesn’t mean the band should lie down and play dead, nor does it mean stand and fight. It means take what is there to work with and make it the best. Rebecca Adair is a senior journalism major and a copy editor for The Battal ion. many college students were active in let ting the world know that they cared about what was happening at their school, their community, their country and their world. During the late ’70s and early ’80s, students seemed to be content in con centrating on their studies and social life instead of getting involved with protests and politics. Today many college stu dents are starting to become more active in letting the world know that we care about what happens at our school, our community, our country and our world. There are many political and social is sues that we as college students should be aware of. Many of the issues will af- (fct usjn the future. Many of these is sues affect us now. One of the most im portant issues of our time is apartheid. Apartheid is a political, social and economic system of segregation and dis crimination against non-white people of South Africa. Apartheid is enforced by a system of laws that prevent blacks and other non-whites, over 70 percent of the population, in South Africa from enjoy ing basic civil rights. Because of apartheid blacks cannot vote or run for office. Because of apart heid blacks are not considered legal citi zens of South Africa and are required to carry pass books when traveling from one place to another. Because of apart heid blacks cannot hold meeting or even pubically speak our against the govern ment. Because of apartheid blacks can not own land and are required to live in certain areas called “homelands.” These “homelands” are made up out of only , 13 percent of the land — the most bar ren and desolate land in the country. Because of apartheid blacks don’t get paid as much as whites while the blacks are vital to the industries of South Af rica. Because of apartheid almost 700 people have been killed in the past year alone. By now most people should know about apartheid. Apartheid and South Africa have been in the news for quite some time now. Unfortunately many still do not know about apartheid. We at Texas A&M have a special in terest in apartheid and South Africa. There are about 300 American corpora tions that deal with South Africa. Be cause of these dealings, the South Afri can government has the economic power to subjugate the majority of the population. The Texas A&M University System has about $222 millionimm] rious banks, corporations as government and agencysecunil that amount, approximate!) [ million are invested into mainly IBM and Eastmankoi have dealings with South Afel should find it most distaste:.| our school's money is being, perpetuate apartheid. Across the nation, many have asked their schoolstora economic ties with theoppitl South African government, A&M would divest its would be the first school in the Southwest ta, make this not: ; ; lure. That $2.95 miBidn only 1.3 percent of AlM’sliiB vestments. Losing $2.95mi|| wouldn't greatly inconvience:: A&M or South Africa, show that our hearts and mindsi the right place. Today is National Anti-apaiti Day. Today a group of concertifd dents, Students Against A will hold a march tomaketlitt rnunity aware of the evils of* heid. The march will be a pa demonstration to show thatAi!:)l dents find apartheid a disW | practice and would like tott brought to an end. The mardii tended to show our school, outs rnunity, our country andout'i that we, as students and as huP : ings, care about what happen South Africa. Concerned students shouldi the College Station Cityi p.m. T he group will march Avenue to University Drive, down University to the Not post office then march to Fountain. At Rudder Fountaitta will be held to make peopleawi the horror practice knowtiast) heid. Apartheid is evil. We shouldM best to put an end to it. Karl Pallmeyer is a senior joi lism major and a columnist k l \ Battalion. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Rhonda Snider, Editor Michelle Powe, Managing Editor Loren Steffy, Opinion Page Editor Karen Bloch, City Editor John Hallett, Kay Mallett, News Editors Travis Tingle, Sports Editor Editorial Policy i non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as ; toninuinin service to Texas SfcM ind Ertinft I The Bulinlion is. lege Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the Editorial Board or the author, and do not necessarilyrtpraari 1 ! 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 dasti*iik*! Department of Communications. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all nfctvs dispatches instiled loii.fchl of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regular semesters, except foi holidayawtnC r. $33.25 per school y ear and $35 i>er lull year. Adittlisitittf furnished on request. nation periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester. Out address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Fexas A&M University, College Station. 7'A'77813, Second class postage paid at College Station, I X 77843.