Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, September 24, 1987
The Battalion
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Sondra Pickard, Editor
John Jarvis, Managing Editor
Sue Krenek, Opinion Page Editor
Rodney Rather, City Editor
Robbyn Lister, News Editor
Loyd Brumfield, Sports Editor
Tracy Staton, Photo Editor
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Bye bye Biden
A candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination ad
mits to wrongdoing but vows to continue his campaign. Days
later, as new allegations surface, he quits the race. Can you say
Gary Hart?
Maybe so, but the ex-candidate in question is Sen. Joseph Bi
den.
Like Hart, Biden admitted his wrongdoing — that he plagia
rized a law school paper and had used material in his speeches
without crediting the author.
But Biden continued to be dogged by new charges. His un
doing came with a videotape in which he answered a questioner
by saying he had attended law school on a full academic schol
arship, ended up in the top half of his class, won an interna
tional moot-court competition, graduated with three degrees
and was the outstanding student in the- political science depart
ment.
Five statements. Five lies.
Biden attended law school on a partial scholarship based on
financial need. He finished 76th of 85, did not win the award for
the outstanding political science student and graduated with one
degree, not three. There is no record, even m the senator’s re
sume, of him ever winning a moot-court competition.
Hart’s actions led to questions about his judgment. Biden’s
actions lead to no questions about his credibility — he has none.
Biden says he “will be there” for other presidential cam
paigns. But the man who makes Gary Hart look like a model of
virtue is one candidate we can do without.
Mail Call
Have no fear of Bark
EDITOR:
I am writing concerning the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme
Court of the United States. This issue has been much-debated, and I have
been watching it closely for many months.
As an Afro-American, I forsee no danger to my rights as a citizen given
by the constitution if Bork is placed on the Supreme Court. Besides, one
justice doesn’t make a Court ruling — eight other justices give verdicts also.
Bork’s opponents say his judgment will be that of the entire court, which is
ridiculous. I see the events up to and during the hearings as a power struggle:
justice in the courts as intended by the founding fathers of our democratic
republic versus groups who would raise their ideology and interests above the
law of this land, having no real regard for the citizens of this country.
Even though Bork has repeatedly indicated that his nomination would
. not mean the targeting of certain rulings by the Supreme Court, certain
interest groups continue to say that he will. For example, pro-abortion
supporters such as Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Rights Action
League have pledged to stop Bork’s nomination with a multi-million dollar
campaign because Bork will not misuse his authority as a justice by inventing
new “constitutional” rights not mentioned in the Constitution. These groups
realize if certain rulings are deemed unconstitutional, the elected
representatives will respond to growing public sentiment by curbing murder
on demand.
Citizens of this country, you’re the heart of the lawmaking process.
Consider Robert Bork’s qualifications and character. Then write your
senators and ask them to confirm the nomination of Robert Bork and have
the Senate vote quickly by voting in favor of cloture when the nomination
comes before the full Senate.
Ricardo C. Davis
Department of Chemistry
Constitutionally correct
EDITOR:
In response to Dr. Robinson’s letter of Sept. 21 regarding the lack of
programming by the MSC Student Programs office to commemorate the
bicentennial of the Constitution, we would like to point out the inaccuracy of
your statement.
On April 1 of this year, the MSC Wiley Lecture Series produced a
program that was recognized by the Commission on the Bicentennial of the
United States Constitution as an official event of the celebration. Entitled
“Constitution 8c Foreign Policy: A Question of Control,” the program
featured a frank discussion on the limits of presidential power between
Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and Senator Edmund Muskie and was
moderated by Mr. Howard K. Smith. Not only was the panel discussion
presented for the benefit of the students, faculty and staff of Texas A&M,
but it was also presented in an edited form to several hundred PBS stations
across the country and aired by many of them.
In addition to the panel discussion, the MSC Wiley Lecture Series also
presented two seminars on this topic. One featured Mr. Paul Warr of the
Texas A&M political science department giving an overview of the
Constitution, and the other featured Mr. Fredrick McClure, the former
liasion to Congress for the Reagan Administration, who gave a personal
perspective on the relationship between the executive and legislative
branches.
The Memorial Student Center Programs Office strives to provide timely
programming for the Texas A&M community. In the realm of foreign
policy, the MSC Wiley Lecture Series has been a leader in producing forums
featuring world leaders discussing important and controversial issues. It is
widely regarded as one of the premier university lecture series in the nation.
The MSC Wiley Lecture Series Committee
Opinion
Being ‘exposed’ by the media
How to make it an advantage
Jessica Hahn
will expose her
life’s story — in
more ways than
one — in an
upcoming issue of
Playboy magazine.
Jim Bakker’s
lawyers claim that
by exposing her
breasts, Hahn has
destroyed her
credibility as a
DA
Jensen
witness in the money-for-silence trials of
the Bakker ministry.
I think they’re right. It’s hard to
believe a woman’s cry of exploitation
when she’s willing to exploit herself.
I’m not too worried about Hahn — I
understand Playboy paid her well. But 1
would like to point out that Hahn’s
actions are just another example of an
ever-growing trend.
Public figures are blaming the media
for the unfavorable attention they
receive when they should be blaming
themselves and using the attention to
their benefit.
Politicians and public figures should
not blame the media for exposing their
faults. It is the media’s job, acting in the
public interest, to present a clear
picture, good and bad, of those
attempting to influence public opinion.
Those receiving media attention
should realize that exposure does not
spell disaster. The court of public
opinion is not totally inflexible.
Perfection is not expected. Reasonable
judgement is required.
This is where all the exposed
politicians, religious leaders and their
sidekicks could use a lesson in how to
use media exposure to their advantage.
I have a few examples of good and bad
exposure.
First there is Gary Hart. He blames
the media for problems he created
himself. He wouldn’t stand up and take
responsibility for his actions. He hid
behind a “blame the media for ferreting
out evil information” veneer. He
insisted the media was out to get him.
His real mistake was not using the
unfavorable attention to show that he
was willing to back his actions, right or
wrong. Public opinion crucified him.
Jim and Tammy Bakker made the
same mistake. Instead of admitting they
took advantage of their television
ministry, they blamed the media for
ruining their lives. Instead of gladly
giving up their misappropriated
ministry wealth, they cried “unfair”
when it was taken away. Another
example of death by public opinion.
Donna Rice is guilty. She didn’t want
the media to make her a public figure. I
By Douj
Staff
think the media gave l,eramorf[b| , n a[] t , n() „ t(
.k !<•< j u.iir < >| )|)< hi unitv to express SCIVK( . s tat
t he st< )t \. 1 he court of pi.', ^jrpoi t will lx*
opinion was kind to lict ionsidtr:^ Montgomery Cot
circumstances. Conroe Feb. 28,
The last bad example isJessiaF/Acimmist. anon of
It’s true that she has finallydeddai
be honest with the public,butshei^
cLoosen the wrong vehicle todisd
that honesty. I expect that public
opinion will turn sour followingk
Plavlxiy fiasco. I hopeitdoesni
discourage honesty from otherpuii
figures.
And now 1 would like toendoti
good note. Although Idon’tneces
agree with Oliver North’s actions,!
would like to hold them upasexac:
of how to use unfavorable media
attention so it has a favorableeffec
public opinion.
North used media attentiontob
advantage. I fe rallied publicopk
his cause and won an outstanding
round of support by standingbvb
actions, right or wrong.
Public figures should stop
complaining about media expos.::,— . ®
start learning how to salvagetherjpk'” n Itmott
errors through honesty and ope::
with the media. The media cannoti
those who have nothing to hide.
D. A. Jensen is a seniorjounulk
major and a columnist forint Byjei
Battalion. ■ r
iThe relocation
term modernizatii
the FAA — will sa
Hide better servic
pege Station and z
Johnson, manage
) service station at I
■Some pilots ha
■ the relocation,
pili >t and flight ir
utive Aircraft Se
Easterwood, said
moves it will take
flight plan.
Bpohnson says,
the federal govei
as economically
Bs consolidation
, erators will be at
Texas — Fort W
and Montgomery
RJohnson said f
vides in-flight and
tation to all aircral
■“All these ser\
A&M
Nobody’s perfec
graduating classes,
sitw College of Me<
neatly perfect recc
the physician’
medical schoc
^IThere’s never b
100 percent pass r.
Ward, associate de
■ College of Med
■here have been
■ical schools in T
Send the kids to a low-cost college
Everyone
worries about how
much it costs to go
to college.
I read a figure
that said the cost
of one year of
schooling at
prestigious
institutions such as
Yale, Harvard and
other places where
the football teams
Lewis
Grizzard
never go to a bowl game was $ 17,000.
One female student interviewed on
the Yale campus said, “I think it’s worth
it.”
A Porsche is worth it at $50,000, too,
if Daddy’s check is coming in each
month.
It’s been 20 years since I was in
dlege, but I still feel I am qualified to
ffer a few suggestions to parents as to
dw to cut down on the price of
iucating their little spoiled darlings.
If you can’t finance $ 17,000 a year on
what you make in annual salary down at
the plant, but your kid wants to go to
Harvard because that’s the best place to
go if you want ot meet, and perhaps
later marry, a Kennedy, suggest
alternatives.
“How about good OT State U?” you
might ask.
Your kid’s eyes will roll back in his or
her head, the classic teenage expression
that means you have been completely
out of touch with what’s been
happening since the year Rome was
sacked.
Then say, “OK, I can’t afford
Harvard, and you don’t want to go to
State U, but I can get you on the third
shift at the plant.” That should work.
You wouldn’t want your kid to meet and
marry a Kennedy anyway. Those people
probably wear ties at dinner.
Speaking of work, here’s another way
to cut down on what it costs to put your
child through college.
Suggest he or she get a part-time job
to help pay for some of the expenses.
This suggestion likely will send your
child into a f ainting spell.
“But flow,” your daughterwM
once she has been revived, “canli
and still have time to be on the |
Homecoming Float Committeetfj
sorority house?”
Explain how you had to sell I
magazines door-to-door to put'L
through college and how, ifshed l |
get a job, there won’t be enough'I
for sorority dues.
Your daughter will hateyoti^J
only until her own children read 1 1
college age.
And as soon as your childle^]
college, move to a new address® !
an unlisted phone number soy 011 l
be getting any letters or phone^l
begging for money.
This may seem cruel, butitVfl
use them or wind up spending 3 j
on your kid’s education so been I
marry a Kennedy. Then whenth'l
come over for dinner you won’ll
to eat in your shorts.
It’s your decision.
Copyright 1987, Cowles Syndicate
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Brea 1
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