Page 2mie Battalion/Wednesday, August 12,1987
Opinion
American workers suffering
from disrespectful bosses
Many young
Americans are
criticized for
their lack of
competition
while in college
and later, in the
business world .
Elisa
Hutchins
Guest Columnist
Some say our products are not being
made with the same quality or
enthusiasm as in the good old days.
As a 22-year-old college student
who works, I can’t understand how
my generation could be guilty of
such a crime. What could be the
reasons for millions of young adults
to steal from their work place, to call
in sick, or to just not care about their
jobs and worry only about their next
paycheck.
We couldn’t have been born this
way. Something or someone must
have happened to us to cause such
problems at work.
I stumbled onto one possible
reason when the assistant manager
of the bookstore I work in and I
argued over a policy change.
Since he is an employee of Texas
A&M and might be recognizable, I
will refer to him as Egghead.
Egghead had an inspiration to
put down the entrance gate to the
textbook area of the bookstore at 5
p.m. everyday. The store closes at 6
p.m.
He opened a small glass door
located in the patio bookstore that
was now the only entrance to the
store.
“What is that #$%#$%$ doing?
Everyone will think we are closed
and they will have to come in
through the patio bookstore to get a
textbook,” I said.
My friend just looked at me after
this comment because I usually
don’t say things like that.
Anyone who has worked in a
bookstore knows it can be boring.
Not boring like listening to Lt. Col.
Oliver North say “I don’t recall
having shredded that.” But boring
in the sense that you want to be out
in the sun getting a tan and not
working in the basement of the
Memorial Student Center.
jerk” would pop into my mind. I had
to talk to Mr. Manager and get rid of
this problem.
When I went in to work, I decided
to do it. My palms sweated as I went
past the secretary and into Mr.
Manager’s office.
“Can I talk to you?” He motioned
me to sit, and I blurted out the
situation in full detail. Of course I
only remembered what Egghead
had said and left out anything that I
may have done. When I finished a
peaceful feeling came over me, and
I could breath again. But the feeling
was short-lived.
This was an exciting break from
the monotony of ringing up
customers’ books for the second
summer session, seeing their eyes
dilate to three times their normal
size when they saw the total and
reciting our return policy.
Egghead, having seen the horror
on my face from his bold move,
asked me if I had any problems with
what he did. I told him I did because
everyone was looking in the gate
and asking if we were closed.
He said that if I didn’t like it, too
bad. He was my superior and had
permission from the manager to
close it.
I promised myself I wouldn’t get
upset and remain tactful before
going in. But I could feel my eyes
begin to swell with tears as Mr.
Manager told me that he would back
Egghead all the way. When Mr.
Manager left for the day, he said,
Egghead was in charge.
“I know who my bosses are, but
he had no right to threaten me and
humiliate me in front of customers.’
My words and tears came rolling
out.
I told him that I would go see Mr.
Manager in the morning to find out
why anyone would want to have
seven employees being paid by the
hour, wandering around an empty
bookstore because no customers
“You do a good job here, and I
appreciate your work but he is your
boss and if he says something, I will
back him 100 percent,” he said.
I couldn’t believe it! I felt as if I
were a nail and Egghead and Mr.
Manager were hammering me into
the ground. I had been put in my
place with all the other peons.
To understand where the
problem comes in, you have to know
the layout of the building. The
A&M Bookstore just opened a patio
addition of reference books and
magazines which Egghead is
manager of.
There are two cash registers used
in the store. One in the new section
and the other is in the textbook area.
I am in charge of the latter and run
it religiously from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Along with this task, I am
responsible for answering phones
and doing credit card charges.
Egghead and Gladys (a 16 year
die-hard employee and my
immediate boss) have an ongoing
competition to see who can get the
most money in book sales.
Whenever she can, Gladys lures his
customers into the textbook area to
purchase their books. And Egghead
in return, will go get textbooks for
people and bring them to pay in the
patio store. It’s all good clean fun,
right? Huh!
I came in to work Thursday and
not more than 10 minutes after
Gladys left for the day, Egghead
began putting the gate down. Since I
am a lowly part-time student worker
on the lower rung of the ladder, I
was not told of this change in policy.
“Are we closing early today?” I
asked my friend.
“This place close early, you’ve got
to be kidding,” she laughed.
were coming in.
He politely told me that if I went
over his head, it would be the
sorriest day I ever had.
I couldn’t believe he said this! He
threatened me, and the customers in
the store before this fiasco
happened, were eagerly looking on
as the fur began to fly.
“If I want to talk to Mr. Manager,
I will. I have the right to speak to
him and it doesn’t mean I’m going
over your head.” I tried to stay calm.
Egghead, having gained the
reputation as a student-worker
hater after he made a girl in
customer service cry, couldn’t
believe my response and left in
disgust.
The next day, I didn’t say
anything to Mr. Manager out of
mortal fear. I have been working at
the bookstore for seven months and
in that time the extent of our
dialogue has been a hurried “hi.”
But I’ve always respected the man
for hiring me and have not had any
problems before. I knew I could talk
to him and he would understand
that giving his permission to close
the gate was lacking in good
business sense and that Egghead
should not have threatened me. Was
I asking too much?
The problem kept rambling
around my brain. I would try to
read my journalism book and in
mid-sentence the phrase “what a
“Once they become managers,
they’re all like that,” Gladys advised
after I told her what happened. “I
used to get upset and go home in
tears and now I just go home mad.”
Where is the justice? I pleaded my
case and nothing happened. I felt
helpless. At this point, I no longer
respected Mr. Manager and as for
Egghead, I could only say
“#$%**
Though I am a student-worker, I
should have some say in matters and
all managers should respect and at
least be civil to their employees.
After all, it’s all of us little people
that make this earth spin.
iga
paper from the bathroom for some
revenge. I could either quit or go
back to work with Egghead.
I could relate to the factory
workers, illegal aliens and any
others who have to take this day
after day. No wonder people get so
fed up with their jobs.
Everyone wants to supervise, and
no one wants to admit to being
wrong.
But I don’t usually. The
muckracking, anti-establishment
journalist in me couldn’t sit still for
this. So I QUIT!
Elisa Hutchins is a senior
journalism major and a guest
columnist for The Battalion.
Mail Call
Education helps improve life
EDITOR:
Frank Fay raised several important questions in the July 30 issueof
The Battalion, and deserves honest answers. His concern that
“product competition” between nations resulting from students
returning to their respective countries with American technological
training is unfounded. Most foreign students at A&M are sponsored
by universities and communities to study in graduate programs soil,
when they return to their native countries, they will have a strong
technical background in their field. Their training allows them to
teach skills and technology that will be used to improve living
conditions in their country. With respect to competition, a more
important fact is that their training requires that they use the same
equipment used during their studies and research. Mr. Fay should! family an
When
convent.
would Iasi
I “My fri
me three
| Kunz n
iipitment
satisfied that the “product competition” he vaguely ref ers to in his
letter is really an opportunity to create a wider market for U.S.
and equipment. Thus, educating foreign students does not encourat
competition, but prevents it
These students can also improve the quality of life for thousands eclesiastic
in other countries. Therefore, the Texas Legislature has createda P 1 ^ 81 ^
tuition schedule that requires out-of-state and -country student top? ^ Bryan 1
their fees in full according to a theoretical average expense. Only p St. Jos<
Texas residents may receive subsidation from Texans’ tax dollars. | with a co
Implying that foreign students are taking advantage of our l^rhl-hu
educational system is insensitive and misleading. If these students ail jpg t hese
help give people outside the United States a better life, then let our k '
system continue educating them, even if immigration laws do not
allow those who would stay here a chance to live with Americanrigt
and privileges.
stocks
gy, hav
L.A. Reinhardt
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to titlu'A
for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must
must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer.
aking a!
a reputati
assionaO
“It me;
forces an
gether as
purpose
says. “It i
Ble to grc
soimeful
These
When it’s the
old summertime
hospital’s
:al staff,
nd all tl
lys.
Aside f
kunz’s jo
Tam dev
nd, as a
Franciscai
I pulled into
one of those
mini-service
stations that
double as
convenience
stores on the
south side of
Atlanta for
gasoline and
something cold
to drink.
Another 1
> about six
towel down in anger and cursed: meetings,
car, the heat and the hell-hotasi . But
i-ii i r i i > ! pl ace to S'
on which he stood. I hadnt i t was
mentioned the humidity. Itjusi James Pa
hung there. I swear you couldse:
coming a
almost touch it. 1 When s
Lewis
Grizzard
The heat. What the heat has been
like practically all over the country.
“I was in Chicago,” a man said to
me, “and it was 96.”
That’s Chicago. Unbearably cold
in the winter. But when the Hawk
goes back to Canada for the short
summer season, you miss the big
chill. I’m glad I don’t live in Chicago
anymore.
I spotted them outside the service
station. The hood was up on their
car, an older model something or
other. I quit keeping up with models
and makes of cars in the late ’50s or
whenever it was Fireball Roberts got
killed.
The wife sat on the curb
drenched in perspiration. Her little
boy sat next to her, occasionally
pulling on a large bottle of Coke. He
was shirtless and shoeless.
I am naturally nosy. I asked":
woman what had happended. ters as tea
,„ Ar , . _ And by
We re moving to 1 ennessee sa y S s h e
she said. “Lonnie’s gotajobwel with God.
This old car started runningk helped esi
“The air conditioner don’twf Kunz a
neither,” said the little boy. soim^ ki!
I would have offered them Ch ^ c ^ t
help, but my knowledge about t0 gj ve
matters automotive endswitM
way to turn the key in order tot ° n ce
7 , . 7 around, t
cranking. der of nu
I drove on north toward thef CdU r s , L ’. lt 18
i his ati
and began thinking about whar fascinated
had just seen. I magine driving ch “>gs.
state to state in this heat withe:* c j s
conditioning, I thought to myst Wood cai
. . . . r . . , I Francis ar
Imagine the wire complaHimj Althoui
and the kid crying and thesweait ciscan Coi
pouring off you in torrents. pf y
I thought back to the VWIi: « It She h;
when I was first married. Web over h^dn
air conditioning either and once Althou]
had a flat tire on the outskirtso!
Macon, the hottest place onearff
My wife had to change the tire
fanned with a folded road map
The husband had half his body
under the hood of the car. He had
taken off his shirt, too. There were
Alabama license plates on the car.
I watched the man work in the
awful heat. Obviously, his car had
overheated. He was pulling hoses
out and putting hoses back in. He
had a towel around his neck. He
used it to wipe off the sweat that was
pouring from his face.
Fie suddenly pulled his hand back
from under the hood. Something
had burned his hand. He flung the
As I drove on, I turned myalS
conditioning to full blast. The jg _
comfort of that brought me the
discomfort of at least a tingeofl
I’m tooling down the road asct®
can be, and poor Lonnie and hill (AP) —
family are baking next to their! ^
in the Georgia sun. back if v
I at least said a prayer for the' Voters'
God help them to make it to the! day w he
job in Tennessee, and if thatol sl
crate breaks down again at least Tarrant a
be near a shade tree. be ca sting
Copyright 1987, Cowles Syndicate
Jbeanwhil
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
'
rtingnt**' .
AM and: I
I
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Sondra Pickard, Editor
Jerry Oslin, Opinion Page Editor
Rodney Rather, City Editor
John Jarvis, Robbyn L. Lister, News Editors
Homer Jacobs, Sports Editor
Tracy Staton, Photo Editor
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting
operated as a community service to Texas A&M and
College Station. ■
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of* 1 '
rial board or the author, and do not necessarily reptt' 1 '
opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or tit:'
of Regents.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newip.pt 1
dents in reporting, editing and photography classes*':''
Department of Journalism.
The Battalion is published Monday through Frith!'
Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday and'
nation periods.
Mail subscriptions are $17.44 per semester,))^
school year and $36.44 per full year. Advertising fl’-’
nished on request.
Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald
A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4111. _ ,
Second class postage paid at College Station, TX"'^
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tht^
216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Collti !
TX 77843-4111.
•