Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, December 13,1985
ai'lff-WMii
Opinion
Lip service, SG style
Throughout the semester, Student Government has claimed
to advocate open communication with the student body. But in
its Dec. 4 meeting, the Student Senate made a mockery of its
much-lauded policy.
I he Senate approved an increase of the student service fee
for the fiscal year 1986-87. The bill raises the fee from $54.50 to
$61, an increase of almost 12 percent.
The increase itself is not as disturbing as the manner in
which it was passed. The bill was placed on emergency — mean
ing it was voted on immediately rather than being sent to com
mittee for fine tuning.
The Senate passed it without giving the student body an ad
equate opportunity lor input. No senators debated the emer
gency status or the increase.
f he Senate should have better informed its constituents that
the student service fee would be raised.
1 he bill has a significant effect on every A&M student.
Though the increase is only $6.50, any bill concerning students’
pocket books should not be taken as lightly as this obviously was.
No justification was offered for the hurried treatment of the
bill. Urgency can’t be used as an excuse. Last year the stu
dent sei vice fee recommendations were passed in the spring.
If Student Government is going to reach out to the student
body, it must do more than merely pay lip service to its goal of
better communication.
mec
By JENS B
Senior St
The Battalion Editorial Board
The Texas A&
search Center, fo
by the Board of 1
27 meeting, is con
on perfecting bett
hydrogen, the cei
tist said Thursday
MfcRGUUES
if/ “We solve the t
will allow the pro
Kalized,” Dr. Be
said.
Scharifker said
oping two metho
drogen:
• One process
captured in a pi
split water mole
and hydrogen. T
no electricity anc
cent solar-power
sis system in the a
• The second f
city to split hydro
drogen and suit
sulfide is obtaine
and from the
crude oil and coa
ken down becau
United Feature Syndlcste
the atmosphere
rain. Currently
Why is the Corps different from other minorities?
A A
Anti -Corps senti-'
merit exists on this
campus. Many stu-
dents dunk of the
Corps of Cadets as a;
Glenn
Murtha
Columnist
group of egotistical, self-righteous, in
tolerant, neo-Nazi types who consider
themselves as the only “true” Ags. 1
used to accept most anti-Corps senti
ment without much question until 1
thought, what makes the Corps differ
ent from other minorities on campus?
How is the stereotype of the Corps dif
ferent from, for example, the gay, fra
ternity and sorority or black stereo
types? ' ;
To begin to answer this question, I
must first describe one of my most neg
ative encounters with the Corps. While
walking by Rudder Tower near the au
ditorium entrance, I spotted a horde of
cadets stampeding my way. Before 1
could humbly smile and scream “How
dy,” I was forcibly coerced off of the
sidewalk and into the grass. If this were
not enough, they preceded to lambast
me for walking on the grass.
This incident did little to improve my
impression of the Corps.
Is the grass around Rudder part of
the MSC Memorial? Please tell me if it is
so if I am ever in the same situation, I
will dutifully let myself trampled.
So what makes the Corps different
from other minority stereotypes? I can’t
say that the gays I know wear dresses
and high heels on weekends, speak
more softly than Teddy Roosevelt or
need slings to hold up their limp wrists.
1 can t say that the fraternity mem
hers I know wear deck shoes without
socks, mousse in their hair and a half of
a bottle of Polo cologne everyday.
Nor can I say that the sorority mem
bers I know have unnaturally blonde
hair, wear more layers of make-up than
a television has channels or have obnox
ious personalities.
I have, not found any of these stereo
types to be true.
So what about the egotistical, self-
righteous, intolerant, neo-Nazi Corps
stereotype?
On an individual basis, 1 have not met
many cadets who 1 did not like Main
seem to he subject t<> d ■ same subtle
misunderstanding and dislilu that <ahei
minorities encountei ai d c.ous< ‘pu ntly
try hard to be accepted.
Differences do exist. (.adets aie more
visible than gays oi thos< in iiatemitic^
or sororities. Unlike gays or blat ks. indi
vidual cadets can disassociate them
selves with the stereotype by simply
dropping out of the Corps, though 1 am
not suggesting that they should.
The CP r P s of Cadets is a patt «>l
T ex^ts, A&M, like it or not. . Puqudj'es
die hard I still have a tendriic v to think
that the cadets who I know are the ex
ception to the rule, the stereotype. But
until proven otherwise, 1 retusetoptej 1
udge anyone bec ause of a stereotype
We must
pi c judices aside vb C
v\c ncouiiua 1 omeone with ashittd■
head and unitoim and i t-alize that lb jl
stereotypical cadet is a person,anind »
Mclnal wlniM \ .ilut \ .md opinionsimfiP
be discovered before a judgmentis |
made.
So the next time you are alxiuttoiT
trampled l>\ a horde of stereotypicalo ■
dels, think again, you are about to Ik
♦r;mq*ltd b\ a horde oi-individuals.—
Glenn Murthu is a senior political s(C
ence major and a columnist for ft
Battalion.
Mail Call
Stealing Xmas spirit
1 What would be the political ramifications?
EDITOR:
1 am writing to yon in hopes that the people, who have
had the need to steal and destroy the Christmas decora
tions outside my doorway, will read this. I live in Krueger
and for the second time in less than a week, someone has
stolen decorations and ruined a display in the hallway out
side my door. T he people in my suite and the suite across
the hall have invested a considerable amount of time, ef
fort and money to get our wing ready for Christmas. I al
ways thought that people “catch” the Christmas spirit not
“steal” it!
• Are there other countries with poor human rights
policies which should be singled out for economic sanc
tions? If so, which countries? What types of sanctions?
The Faculty Senate, I believe, wisely recognized that it
could not possibly do justice to considering these questions
adequately, even if that were its role. We just do not have
the thousands of hours to do the job. We would, however,
endorse a thorough study of human rights violations
throughout the world by groups with the resources to do
so effectively.
Amy Moore
453 Krueger
Where to draw the line
I hope these comments have helped demonstrate that
what is “obvious” is not quite so obvious when more
thought is given to the matter.
Jaan Laane »
Speaker, Faculty Senate
EDITOR.
The Battalion in its Dec. 11 editorial admonished the
Faculty Senate on its vote not to examine the question of
whether it should recommend that the University divest it
self of investments in South Africa. The editorial assumes
what seems to he obvious. Namely, “each responsible orga
nization should do its duty and help get rid of apartheid by
supporting divestiture,” It accused the Faculty Senate, an
elected body representing all of the Texas A&M Univer
sity f aculty, of apathy for not doing the “obvious.”
For the record, it is important to note the following:
• At the October 1985 Faculty Senate meeting the
Committee of the Whole, which comprises all Senators,
unanimously approved a motion condemning apartheid.
• The Faculty Senate has on several occasions during
its 32 month existence reiterated its opposition to racial
discrimination and its support of affirmative action in Uni
versity matters.
• The Faculty Senate Constitution dictates that the
Senate's role is to advise the University President on 12
specific topics and on other matters of vital concern to the
University.
T he question debated at the Senate meeting this past
Monday (following several extensive discussions at individ
ual college caucuses) was not whether we like apartheid
(clearly we do not), but whether the scope of topics appro
priate for Senate action includes the question of divesti
ture.
Copy machine explained
EDITOR:
In reference to our previous letter concerning the non
functioning copy machine in the A-l lounge, Ron Sasse,
Associate Director of Student Affairs arranged a meeting
with us on Dec. 10.
He informed us that the copy machine in the A-l
lounge is the only one on campus owned and operated by
Student Affairs. All other copy machines, including the
one in the Commons are owned and operated by the Uni
versity. The old copy machine that was in this location sim
ply wore out after five years of use.
Student Affairs was trying to accomodate the North
Area residents by leasing what appeared to be a more up
dated higher quality machine, to replace the old one. Un
fortunately, the particular machine chosen quite frankly
turned out to be a lemon.
Student Affairs since that time has broken the contract
and is presently researching a suitable replacement for
next semester. To those concerned about the television in
the same lounge, the problem can be addressed to your
resident advisor, the North Area Office or the Department
of Student Affairs in that order. Special thanks to Ron
Sasse for his concern and active effort in solving the prob
lem.
Where do wtj draw the line? Should we as a body ex
press our views on trade sanctions, abortion and the fed
eral deficit? It must be realized that a responsible body can
not look superficially at a question, but must study it in de
tail if it is to make a meaningful recommendation. If dives
titure were to be considered, the following questions would
have to be researched and answered:
Katrina Miesch ’86
Becki Achee ’88
Karen Majors ’88
• W r hat would be the economic ramifications to the
populace, both black and white, of South Africa?
Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The edito
rial 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 he
signed and must include the address and telephone number of the
writer.
Student pleads guilty
to accepting free ‘gifts
It had to hap
pen sooner or
later. The Dallas
Times Herald, af
ter their expose on
the Texas A&M
football team, has
decided to attack
the Texas A&M
journalism depart
ment.
By
Karl
Pallmeyer
now every- ■ i
one should know that the Times Herald
has printed a story which said certain
former T exas A&M football players had
been getting money and gifts from cer
tain former students. But only a few of
us know that the Times Herald has also
discovered that certain Texas A&M
journalism students have been getting
money from certain former students.
Because I am one of those students, I
have decided to confess my sins in hope
that I will be forgiven by my peers and
that I will scoop the Times Herald.
It all started during the spring of
1982. 1 was about to graduate from high
school and had choosen to go to Texas
A&M. I wanted to live on campus, but
the University required a $100 deposit
to reserve a dorm room.
out about this he gave me a checkf«
the amount. Thanks to that certttink
met student I was assured of a space
campus.
When it came time to pay (eesioru 1
first semester, that rcruiin formerf
dent was readv with his checkbookari
took care of my fees. He* also took tart
of expenses of Freshman Oriental
and Fish Camp.
During the summer before I stand
college I wrecked my car in a fit of poll
high school immaturity. I needed a &
for college, so a certain former studei
purchased one for me to use duringB]
college career.
For the past four years, that ceriaif
former student has paid formytuitioT
fees, rent, hooks, food, bills and varioul
other entertainment expenses. W
certain I'oi met student has stood bywil
his trusty checkbook to take careofuij
financ ial needs.
1 feel that it's time to reveal thenawi :
of that certain former student beM
the Times I lei aid gets a hold of the id
formation. That certain formerstudiC
is William C. Pallmeyer, my father.
When a certain former student f ound
Karl Pallmeyer is a senior journalise
major and a columnist for The Bad
ion.
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Michelle Powe, Editor
Kay Mallett, Managing Editor
Loren Steffy, Opinion Page Editor
Jerry Oslin, ('ity Editor
.Cathie Anderson, News Editor
Travis Tingle, Sports Editor
The Beit ml ion is ;i.
Station.
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