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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1987)
Tuesday, October 27,1987/The Battalion/Page 3 State and Local ockclimbing offers highs , tJC a«,te|v^rapplers face challenges to physical, mental limits r liberties, his opponent i our nation, eniorhistont Tolumnistforj) By Thomas Eikel Reporter iUC ILUHOtS Rockclimbers aren’t nuts, nec- ssarily. They’re simply hooked >n a sport that offers participants a chance to test personal limits, vercome fears and catch an idrenaline high. “You don’t have to be that ;ood,” says Stewart Maxwell, a se nior computer science major from Lancaster. “Climbing is lased more on your own limits.” And because it is such an indi- idual sport, beginners are able to ichieve the same satisfaction as ore experienced climbers, Max- ivell says. But rockclimbers — like people who participate in other risk- loriented activities — often are in correctly classified as people who lire crazy or have a death wish, he says. K "Once you get into climbing you realize you can always mini- ize the risk so it’s safe,” Maxwell ays, who has been climbing al most four years. “Of course, you each a point where, in order to o further, you have to increase e risk. But, whenever you in- rease it, you also increase the re- ard.” People have different reasons : for climbing, Maxwell says. Many [climbers do it primarily for the ffontrolled risk involved and the Hadrenaline rush” it gives them. What keeps me climbing is the ioncentradon required and the mental focus I get out of it,” Max well says. “When you have such a arrow focus on something, no alter what it is, you get that feel- g — it’s a sort of high.” Camille Bunting, who has a [doctorate in exercise physiology i.and outdoor education, says these 'types of physical responses result [from hormones the body pro duces when it is involved in ad venturous activities. The extent to which an individ- al experiences this “high” also is related to his or her personality type, Bunting says. Bunting, who teaches a rock- climbing course offered in the Texas A&M outdoor education department, has her own reasons for climbing. “It’s like a puzzle to me, a phys ical puzzle,” she says. “You have to figure out the hand and foot placements that will be the most effective or the most challenging. “Then, in order to accomplish it, you have to focus on just that thing. If you think about other things while you’re climbing, you’re not going to be focused on the activity and you’re not going to be able to accomplish it.” Maxwell says this sense of accom plishment is another reason many people climb. “When at first you think you can’t do something, but then you succeed at doing it, you get a feel ing of accomplishment that’s hard to come by,” he says. “I sup pose this relates a lot to life in that you don’t know your limits until you go past them.” Scott King, a senior economics major from Longview, enjoys overcoming the physical and mental challenges associated with rockclimbing. “If you’re climbing at the edge of your limits, it takes 100 percent mental and physical effort,” King says. The rewards from meeting the demands of the sport and over coming the challenges involved are unique to the individual and very personal, King says. Rock climbing fosters competion within oneself, not with others, he says, and those who compete suc cessfully are rewarded with physi cal and mental self-improvement. Anxiety and fear are a part of any climb and all rockclimbers must deal with them. King says. Overcoming this fear is a step-by- step process in which one must start small and strive toward big ger and more difficult challenges. Photo by Jean Mansavage Outdoor education students, from foreground, Randal Zoeller, Mary Schwind and Mike Mackey climb during a weekend trip to En chanted Rock near Fredericksburg. Fear, King explains, can be positive mental energy if it can be turned around. Maxwell agrees, saying that to a certain degree, fear is positve. “Fear is not a bad thing when you’re climbing because it keeps you safe,” Maxwell says. “If you’re not scared, you get care less, and that can lead to serious consequences. We have a saying, ‘If you’re not scared, you’re not having fun.’ There’s some truth to it, but in climbing you’re in complete control of the situa tion.” Bunting says the climbing envi ronment for beginners is highly controlled, and the class offered by A&M stresses safety. “Our classes are geared toward education, not recreation,” she says, “to learn and understand how things are done.” Service fraternity gets probation from MSC By Doug Driskell Staff Writer The MSC Council approved pro bation terms for the service frater nity Alpha Phi Omega as a result of complaints from other student orga nizations last semester, a council member at the MSC Council meet ing Monday night said. “A committee or group in the Stu dent Programs Office has never been put on probation before,” Frank Muller, vice president for op erations, said. “We wanted council to approve this action because I felt that we (budget operations commit-, tee) just could not take this on our own initiative.” Noise made by APO members was the chief complaint given, Muller said. Ken Pecus, vice president for ad ministration for APO, said this pro bation was a result of a lack of com munication. Last semester APO was notified, early in the week, of the complaints against them, he said. The problem came when probation for this semes ter was given before the officers could notify the members during their weekly meetings on Sunday. The terms of the probation limit the number of people in the frater nity’s cubicle, require respect for the MSC and other committees’ prop erty and noise is to be kept to a mini mum, Muller said. “This is generated from last se mester and has no reflection on the organization this semester,” he said. New leadership in the fraternity and a willingness to work resulted in a complete change in the organiza tion, he said. Pecus said APO has more than 300 members with the pledges in cluded. “When you have that many people coming in to check out what is going on, noise is going to be ma de,” he said. “Because we are so large, we tend to get the blame,” he said. New policy was made at the begin ning of this semester, he said. Mem bers and pledges now are required to have discussions outside the office to cut down on noise. In other action taken: • MSC Promotion Day on Nov. 11 will help students understand the purpose of organizations in the MSC, Liz Hudson, vice president for public relations, said. “A lot of stu dents don’t even know that the Stu dent Programs Office and the MSC Director’s Office are up here,” she said. • An A&M tradition will be bro ken Friday when the center pole is raised at 6:03 p.m. instead of 4:03 p.m., Paul Williams, deputy Corps commander, said. Inspection shows hospital handled asbestos properly DALLAS (AP) — Officials who in spected Parkland Memorial Hospital said Monday the facility complies with federal asbestos removal regu lations, despite claims by former and current employees that they were exposed to the hazard. Hospital documents dated Feb. 23, 1986, to Sept. 23, 1987, allege employees and patients were repeat edly exposed to asbestos. The docu ments say the substance was improp erly handled and was disposed of in hospital dumpsters. In addition, they say, asbestos fragments were visible in areas accessible to hospital employees and patients. Patients ex- osed to asbestos include newborn abies, the complaints said. Don Higgins, Texas Department of Health regional industrial hygen- ist, said Parkland requested the in spection. “The reason I went to visit Park land is because the administration wanted a review,” Higgins said. “I reviewed the present (asbestos re moval) contract and the contractor and the consultant are more than complying with the (federal) requir- ments on the removal of asbestos in buildings.” s absurd letter du just not wont e time? Iflwatl are you going:: tieir business, dc: very traditionai ight Night eadi all game (record life, so yon have s about the ume to a n of Greeks s. And Mike, ing about (if lifficultto unable to lies. So far the n g to is 1240 itation. aliens thinktht! nd I have , likes the local to have the apes get old,s» Houston, bit of advice: rent the way to | id some new rod | ireakingtoa )f Bryan-Collef I i. The editmlstcff II make every ud must mluilttlu Don't miss a lick. The Tony Award winning hit musical “CATS” is coming this year. The only way you can be sure of getting a seat is to buy season tickets to the MSC OPAS Theatre Series. “CATS" has consistently sold out during its 6 years in London, 5 years on Broadway and wherever the American touring companies stop. With only three performances here, tickets are going fast. “CATS" isn't the only hit in this year's Theatre Series. Season ticket holders will be assured of seats to "Singin' in the Rain ", “Beehive ", Marcel Marceau and "Frankenstein". Season tickets to the MSC OPAS Theatre Series are available through Movember 17. Order today and you won't miss a lick. MSC Box Office • 845-1234 VISA and MasterCard accepted! =i-r Memorial Student Center • Texas A8rM University • Box J-.l • College Station TX 77844-9081 The Great Rolex Watch And Jewelry Give Away Come in weekly to register for fine quality jewelry to be given away weekly and a Man's Rolex Watch to be given away Nov. 27. Listen to KORA-FM for more details. While you're there be sure to look at Texas Coin Exchange's full stock of loose diamonds and gold jewelry. 404 University Dr. East • College Station • 846-8905 Please only one entry blank per person per visit. 404 University E. College Station