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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1987)
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, September 28, 1987 The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board 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 Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper oper ated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Sta tion. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the author, and do not necessarily represent the 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 classes within the Depart ment of Journalism. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $17.44 per semester, $34.62 per school year and $36.44 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on re quest. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-4111. Slap on the wrist Texas A&M, once again, is getting a much-needed message in the form of a court order. Once again, it probably won’t do much good. A state district judge informed A&M attorneys Friday that he plans to order the school to release details of its in-house in vestigation into possible football recruiting violations. The Uni versity in April released part of its report but omitted any men tion of alleged violations involving quarterback Kevin Murray — even though those allegations prompted the investigation itself . A&M claimed information pertaining to Murray was pro tected under a 1974 privacy law. Several newspapers thought otherwise and requested information under the Texas Open Re cords Act, which says that reports of complete investigations un dertaken by public institutions — such as A&M — shall be open to the public. At this late date, it may seem pointless to reveal any viola tions involving Murray or others no longer affiliated with the school. But A&M’s strategy involving open records always has been to force a lawsuit. If you know the information will be use less by the time you win the case, the theory goes, you’re not likely to sue the school. A university, however, should not thumb its nose at the law. The impact of Judge Peter Lowry’s ruling on A&M’s football program may be slight, but the slaps on the wrist must continue if A&M is ever to take the Open Records Act seriously. Coke for breakfast: A Grizzard tradition I’ve been drinking Coke for breakfast for years. I’ll admit I’m no health specimen, but I don’t think I’d be in good shape without my Coke in the morning. You know how most of us feel when we get up — groggy and sluggish, ill-tempered, slack-eyed and loop legged. I might start with a cup of coffee, but all that usually does for me is get one of my eyes open and start a fire in a region just behind my navel. But a Coke. It goes down so smoothly. It puts out the fire. It refreshes — and brings on the day. I think I can make one more. I began drinking Coke for breakfast some 20 years ago when I had a job that demanded I be at work at 5:30 in the morning. That was when you could still find Coke in those little 6-ounce bottles, as the Lord intended. I would start each day with a couple of those little Cokes, and if anybody had taken them away from me, I would have been a complete failure at my job and my career would have been ruined. One more thing: As a Southerner, I simply must stand fast against anybody who would want to take Coke, with its roots planted deeply in the South, away from me in the morning. Give them Coke and, perish the thought, grits could be next. Copyright 1987, Cowles Syndicate Call Neo-Nazi columnist needs criticism EDITOR: That I have seen no negative responses to any of Brian Frederick’s columns is sad but not surprising. Frederick’s last three columns for The Battalion have shown what an arrogant, self-centered neo-Nazi can dream up with his own righteous, us- them mentality. First he promoted Cold War thinking by belittling the Soviet Union’s attempts to make real changes in its society. Then he decided that we should disregard the civil rights of all Americans in order to falsely ease his own irrational fears about AIDS. Most recently, he has proposed to end every child’s equal chance to achieve his or her potential by doing away with public education. I suppose the lack of response to Brian Frederick means many people on campus are agreeing with his columns. Those types don’t really care about solving problems, just framing every situation as good or bad, black or white, us or them. But what about those of you out there who recognize Frederick’s pomposity for what it is? It’s time to hear from you. Terry Baumgartner ’88 Lewis Grizzard For years I have put up with modern-day nutritionists telling me what I can or cannot put into my stomach. At one time or other I’ve sworn off red meats, eggs, bacon, sugar and all sorts of other things I enjoy eating. ——mmmmmmmmmmam Anyway, I have put up with the nutritionists — as I would any other do- gooders — but now they have gotten personal. In case you missed it, the Coca-Cola Co. is out with a campaign suggesting you drink Coke at breakfast. They might as well have suggested that along with your Coke you start the day with two Twinkies, a Little Debbie Snack Cake and a Tootsie Roll. Various nutrition experts expressed shock and dismay at the thought that Americans might do something so ill-advised as chase down breakfast with a soft drink. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for children,” said one so-called food expert. “Coca-Cola should be more responsible and not suggest Americans start their day on a poor nutritional note.” Horsefeathers and grapenuts! Mail Opinion mm Critics say ‘thumbs down’ to ‘Student Government’ About Nil brand of m bines elemei sic and the Brazos Land restaurant, ; tiveaudienc< The Dalk several son£ “There is > Jacks,” bod a’s owi quin I The voc Wendy Bro plays the fli Reviev drummer an “My name is Gene. I’m a film critic. “And I’m Roger, another film critic. And you are At The Flicks.” “You said it, Roger. Tonight, At The Flicks, we are going to review a new Mark Nair horror film from Freddy Noart, that young talent who has brought us such cult classics as ‘I Don’t Like You’ and T Don’t Like You II.’ ” “The new film is titled ‘Student Government,’ and it is a major disappointment when compared to Noart’s previous works.” “You said it, Roger. ‘Student Government’ founders when put up against other horror films. The premise looks workable as far as pure horror goes, but I feel the film never reaches its full potential. The film starts out throwing us full force into the midst of a meeting of a student senate at some large university in the South. The shock value of this first scene is tremendous. To tell you the truth, I was scared out of my socks at the sight of all those student senators. They were everywhere.” “I am compelled to agree, but I feel that the opening of the movie with a meeting in progress was just too much. I almost lost my lunch. Let me stress that this is not a movie for young children. Student government, especially the realistic, no-holds-barred portrayal in this movie, is even tough for adults to take in one sitting.” “You said it, Roger. This definitely is one of the worst ‘gross out’ movies of the year. I’m surprised that some of the scenes didn’t give the movie an X rating.” “Well, you know, some of the more violent scenes had to be cut to avoid an X rating.” “Oh, I didn’t know that.” “I did.” “That’s swell, Roger.” “Anyway, the story concerns a small freshman named Chris, played by Dabney Coleman, who enters student government but quickly becomes disillusioned with the falsity and stupidity involved and is soon driven to the brink of suicide by poison, only to be saved by a school referendum that abolishes the student government before the Spam can take effect. They say at the beginning of the movie that this is based on a true story. I can believe it.” “You said it, Roger. The only problem I had with the movie was its lack of development of any other characters. It looked like the main thing the movie was out to do was scare audiences by showing graphic scenes of campaining, committee meetings, and one on one dialogues with high-up student govermnent officers.” “True. In fact, a shocking scene occurs when the president of the student body, Jarhead Dixon, played by G. Gordon Liddy, approaches the entire student senate and tells them that if anyone tries to actually do anything for the students, he would personally strangle them with his new tie. It’s this type of shock value that the movie is centered around.” “You said it, Roger. The only time I felt any emotion other than pure unadulterated terror was when Chris, played by Dabney Coleman, finally realizes that student government is worthless and that the president is nothing more than a terrorist Nazi. We see what that the abuse and hypocrisy of student government has done. It’s not a pretty sight.” “No, it’s not. You actually want to scream ‘Don’t do it! Don’t do it!’ at the naive freshmen in their first campaign for the student government. But that small amount of emotion offered by the audience cannot make the movie stand on its own. Overall, I feel there is just too much violence.” “You said it, Roger. But it’s pretty much impossible to give an accurate representation of a student government without showing the ugliness. Terror and student government go hand in hand.” “All the same, without, as wecallittn the movie business, the ‘fright factor,’ this movie would be nothing.” “Since when did we start calling it the ‘fright factor’?” “We’ve always called it that.” “I didn’t know that. I don’t remembei that " “Oh, you wouldn’t know. You’renota real film critic anyway.” “Well, at least I’m not fat.” “Oh, yeah?” “Yeah.” “Oh, yeah?” “Yeah.” “Anyway, Gene, do you remember the catchy quote that the promoters of the movie have been plastering all over every ad and on every commercial?" “Oh, the catchy one that says, i've seen the future of horror, and its name is student government’? That one?” “That’s it. Well, I’ve seen the future of terrible, and that’s what this movie ends up being. Terrible.” “You said it, Roger. I predict that this movie will be in the video stores within two weeks. It’ll probably the uncut version to make more sales.” “So it’s unanimous. Two thumbs down for ‘Student Government.’ “You said it, Fatty.” “Oh, yeah?” “Yeah.” “Oh, yeah?” “Yeah.” Jim Coc boards ar backup v< started aboi ter the brea band that t Cocke were The thre< was not dr cided to Times, whic Chris Broa< the number Mark Nair is a senior political science major and a columnist for The Battalion. BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed TM THROUGH. PUSTEP. HISTORY. OH, I'M A GONNA p/e. m, RUT BEFORE IPO, r 1W/5HI COULP HAVE H? JUST ONE MORE GENTLE, ^ ^ LOVELY PELUSION... JUST ONE MORE BLOOM COUNTY by BerRe Breathed I HAVE A NICE COLP 1 GLASS OF CHOCOLATE \ "BOSCO "... JUST HOLY YOU USEP TO UKE IT, PEAR. QV/CK' LEMME HAVE tl MA/ TELL HER THAT YOU LOVE HER I 1 LOVE YA, MA ' 1 LOVE YA/ TELL HER H/HY YOU HAVEN'T MARRIEP A NICE CATHOLIC SIRL ANP HAP TEN KIPS BY YOUR AGE. The bar do not corr performer rather fror of pop and Chris Br of the lyri music and develops th The bani T M v Root r Boo Demoi by the Vei Special by App ^ata Sys Desktt Conned The Micro 1 ) u st inside 6:00 PM. F Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial 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 be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer.