i
Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, September 25, 1986
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
South west Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Cathie Anderson, Editor
Kirsten Dietz, Managing Editor
Loren Steffy, Opinion Page Editor
Frank Smith, City Editor
Sue Krenek, News Editor
Ken Sury, Sports Editor
Editorial Policy
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tion.
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A good start
1 he agreement reached by the 35-nation conference Monday in
Stockholm, Sweden, is not earth-uniting, but it is a crucial step to
ward f uture negotiations for world peace.
The East-West security agreement is the first of its kind for the
Reagan administration — a monumental accomplishment in itself.
The delegates — the United States, Canada, Soviet Union and all Eu
ropean countries except Albania — reduced the risk of a military
surprise attack or a war erupting in Europe because of a misunder
standing.
The plan does not deal with nuclear disarmament (perhaps one
of the reasons the United States and the Soviet Union reached an
agreement), but it does implement a compromise between the super
powers on arrangements for observation and on-site inspection of
military maneuvers.
The measures agreed upon allow NATO, Warsaw Pact and neu
tral nations to monitor each other’s troop movements, which ideally
promotes confidence between the Eastern and Western blocs.
Naturally, some quibbling already has been heard from Defense
Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who claims that the Soviets won’t com
ply. But nO promising proposal would be complete without a little
anti-Soviet skepticism.
The agreement will not bring about the ever-elusive goal of nu
clear arms reduction, but it has helped pave the all-too-rocky path to
that achievement in the future.
If it’s football season,
setting priorities is easy
Lewis
Grizzard
The University
of Georgia, my
alma mater, has
opened its 1986
football season,
and I was there
game.
Thank the Lord and pass the fried
chicken.
to witness the first
For years, I have asked myself why
college football is so important to me.
The game lies in shambles on many
fronts now because of cheating, aca
demic scandals and alleged exploitation
of athletes.
But I don’t waver in my passion.
Some people paint their faces team col
ors and go to football games. Others
show their passion by making bets from
the heart and not from the head.
I risked my life for football season
one year ago. I was in .the Soviet Union
the last two weeks of August. I spent a
lot of time looking for ice and toilet pa
per.
The last few days of the trip I became
ill.
“You should see a doctor,” a traveling
companion said to me.
I held on. Let’s say I’m really sick, and
I get stuck in a Russian hospital for God
knows how long. I couldn’t have han
dled that.
“For how long?” I asked.
“At least six weeks,” they answered.
“And if I go home?”
“You’re taking a risk. You could die
on the way.”
I made up my mind instantly. I would
take the risk. I would fly home as soon
as possible.
“Why are you so persistent in wanting
to leave?” a doctor asked me.
“Doctor,” I said, “I ain’t staying in a
foreign country during football season.”
I made it home alive. A new heart
valve was implanted. I saw the Georgia-
Alabama game on television. I was back
in the stands in six weeks.
Priorities. That’s another great thing
about this country. You can put yours in
any order you please.
Copyright 1986, Cowles Syndicate
Heartfelt thanks
EDITOR:
Opinion
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notion t
eous strang
ihes at nig!
■ they km
fhe semina
partment of
Hon how ;
H from da
mid do if she
panel w
from
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aff men
ling Ser
rlene Muef
or of ps;
is pointe
Swetii stran
he said
ally bet\
HQ&lMi whereas vie
■ almost a
|ape is ur
:e is rarely u
Js persuas
trtis! that
Barton’s bumper stickers
‘jingoism’ instead of issue^.
■n himsel
Muehlenhan
Jconducte
ents’ attitm
“He’s a poli
tician. Politicians
are just one step
below child moles
ters. ” — Woody
Allen, 1977
In “Annie
Hall,” the Woody
Allen character is
discussing Presi
dent Lyndon B.
Johnson and his
possible connec
tion with the assassination of his prede
cessor John F. Kennedy. Allen doesn’t
seem to have much respect for this poli
tician from Texas. There is another pol
itician from Texas that has been losing
some respect lately, too.
Congressman Joe Barton never has
kept his education a secret. Barton has
said on many occasions that he loves
Texas A&M and is proud to have grad
uated from this fine school. Barton’s
campaign even issued maroon and
white bumper stickers that read: “Ag
gies for Barton” and have a “Gig ’em
Aggies” thumb in the “o” of Barton’s
name.
Barton First used the bumper stickers
during his 1984 campaign and is using
them again this year. There are more
than 3,000 bumper stickers, 100 T-
shirts and countless buttons that feature
the A&M logo. But Barton never got
A&M’s permission to use the logo,
which is a registered trademark.
Maybe Barton can be forgiven for us-
Mail
ing the A&M logo — Aggies are not
known for being too bright — but how
can you explain one of his other
bumper stickers?
Barton never attended T exas Chris
tian University, but his other bumpei
stickers are purple and white and read:
“TCU Congressman Barton Backer”
with a TCU horned frog in the “o" of
his name. Barton never got permission
to use TCU’s logo (also a registered
trademark), either.
TCU officials have asked Barton’s
campaign to remove more than 500 of
the stickers that bear the school's logo.
A&M officials have yet to make a de< i-
sion on the matter.
The worst thing about Barton’s stick
ers is that they make it look like A&M
and TCU are endorsing Barton’s cam
paign. Universities are supposed to be a
place for learning through unbiased dis
cussion and debate. By endorsing any
political candidate, a university is bastar
dized into becoming a powerful politcal
tool.
Barton probably didn’t intend to use
A&M and TCU to further his political
career. His biggest concern is getting
votes, and if he can appeal to A&M and
TCU students he might get theirs. Bar
ton and his campaign workers should
have checked into the legalities before
they used the school’s logos.
It wouldn’t be proper for the schools
to allow their logos to be used in connec
tion with any political matters, but if one
Call
candidate is allowed tousethek;
opposing candidates also shouldlq
lowed
J*
to use them for the
Fhe problem
By Ro<
Su
|he Studem
ith the bumpew a resol
Cl’S is just < >nc s \ inpiom III .nii'! In to hold fin
afflicts almost everyone inpofcH
ticiuns, from candidates for higkHF
class offices to Ronald Reagm J Dorr
jingoism instead of issues astir
plank in their platform. It'seasie;
In Wednes<
polltK i. 111 tii |)i(i|C(l .in //tUi'r
loxxl i .it Iw i th.in .u tualh /w/r'HEr-rlf
, .. ported. The
It s eastet h H r>.u i< hi to \r> 775.1797
me because I’m an Aggie’ ' 'hr thee rror.
for me because my positionontteiH
Tt
In 1984, Barton
spent most®
campaign denying accusations of
gerating his politica
backgroun
stead of discussing issues. Hist
in office have consisted of rept
ery utterance that came froniRfi
mouth instead of taking uphisow
of an issue. Barton’s eagernesstt
with Reagan instead of his con®
is why he is known as “Pinocchioj
some areas. Being a Republican!
thing, but being a Reaganisticlapt
another.
The problem with Barton anti
others in politics is not totally tit
of the political!. If constituent!*
demand more from their electol
cials, politicians would be forced®
up issues and be more responsive
Karl Pallmeyer is a seniorjouti
major and a columnist forlhtk
ion.
...Ka :
I
$E
24, Food Services held a joint Menu Board meeting.
At the meeting I brought up the students’ (mostly
Sbisa diners) concerns regarding the Corps eating at
Sbisa next semester.
one of his town meetings in Conroe. A man stood 1
and began to claim that Mexicans are heretoout-
vote and out-populate Texans and that Texas
fall into the hands of Mexico.
I get out of the Soviet Union and all
the way back to London before I realize
if I don’t see a doctor soon, London
might be my last stop ever.
I had fever. I had chills. I had other
problems I don’t care to discuss. .
The British doctor said, “You have
the worst case of the rigors I have ever
seen.”
“Rigors.” it turns out, is British for
the “shivering fits.”
So they put me in a London hospital,
and the man comes to my room every
hour on the hour to take my blood. I be
gin to hate this man.
After two days in the hospital, I am
no better, and doctors still haven’t come
to a conclusion as to what is wrong with
me.
I should have wondered, “am I going
to die?” Instead, I wondered, “what if
they keep me here and I miss Georgia’s
opening game with Alabama, which was
only four days away?”
I couldn’t have handled that, either.
Not after two weeks in Russia. Not after
witnessing the other side face to face for
the first time and becoming more fierce
ly American than ever.
The doctors in London concluded I
had bacterial endocarditis. An artificial
heart valve that had been implanted in
me three years earlier had become in
fected.
“You should stay here and take anti
biotics,” the London doctors told me.
Please allow me to use your forum to express my
heartfelt thanks to the many Aggies who visited,
telephoned and remembered me in their thoughts
and prayers during my recent hospitalization.
The calls, cards, flowers, visits and other
expressions of concern from my many friends on
campus were appreciated very much during my
illness. It is wonderful to know that so many people
are thinking about you and wishing only good things
for you.
Deserving of special thanks are the members of
the Corps of Cadets — and especially the members
of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band — who went out of
their way during the busy first weeks of the new
semester to remember “the Fish Lady.”
I am happy to report that I am feeling much
better now and that the “Fish Table” will be back in
operation as soon as I get “wired” again.
Ftp looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
Gig ’em!
Ruth Hunt (the Fish Lady)
Dining rumor resolved
EDITOR:
This letter is intended for all those who dine at
either Sbisa Dining Hall or the Commons. As a
result of receiving numerous requests for
clarification of the so-called rumors that the Corps
of Cadets will be eating at Sbisa next semester, I am
writing to answer those individuals.
I am a Sbisa Menu Board member, and on Sept.
I requested clarification of the rumor and was
told by both Food Services and Business Services
representatives that the University was strongly
considering moving the Corps dining to Sbisa (and
possibly the Commons) for a year beginning in the
spring. I also was told that the plans are not final and
that there are still a few unresolved issues. I
presented the following concerns of Sbisa diners:
• The Corps will make food lines longer and
Sbisa noisier.
• There will be friction and potential conflicts in
Sbisa between Corps and non-Corps diners.
I hope this letter clarifies the current position on
the Corps dining situation to Sbisa diners. Concerns
on this matter should be directed to Food Services
dining facility staff (supervisors or managers), menu
board members, Business Services or write a letter to
The Battalion.
Robert Woeger
Barton not a racist
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to a letter that appeared
on the Opinion Page of this newspaper Sept. 19.
The letter accused Congressman Joe Barton of not
representing all of the people in his district,
especially those of Hispanic descent.
Barton won’t let racism interfere in his
representation of the people of the 6th District. This
can be proven by an incident that happened during
, ; WE WILL
Barton quiet ed the man bv saying that hewillc'BfjYLOWEI
allow his town meetings to become a forum for nf PRICE IN Tl
slurs. He went on to point out to the audience lb 1 J PERO
we are blessed with many fine Mexican-America#
who contribute to Texas’ strength. This incident
occurred on Sept. 5 prior to the incident mention** |
in last Friday’s editorial letter.
BRAND new
25,000 MILE
$1
1 also know from personal experience that Bat 1 ’
is not against people of Hispanic descent. In the
summer of 1985 I was elected by Barton to sene 1 '
an LBJ Congressional Intern in his Washington
office. He often took time off his busy schedule to
take me to committee meetings, show me how
Congress works and also to show me around the
Capitol.
^95x14 $24. 4<
£05x14 $26. 45
jr*18xl4f..„.S27. 4t
METRIC F
0,000 MILE'
I think these incidents demonstrate Barton’st 11 *
feelings, and he will always stand up to represent
orii/z-U tl 1 c r'rAr-i c 1 1 X1 w=n-» t-o t-wi t»i '111 n I Ir'l rn rif ft B *
any of his constituents, no matter their raceorcoj
Alvaro J. Pereira
EL WHITE!
35,000 MILE
$2:
Lost jacket
EDITOR:
The last game was pretty good, wasn’t it?
But I left my jacket in the stands. If anyonefoi”
a Helley-Hansen rain jacket on the secondded
please call me at 260-4464. Thanks.
Daniel V. Bauer
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in
editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and W
but will make every effort to maintain the author's intent
letter must be signed and must include the classification,^
and telephone number of the writer.