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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1988)
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, January 25, 1988 31 The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Sue Krenek, Editor Daniel A. LaBry, Managing Editor Mark Nair, Opinion Page Editor Amy Couvillon, City Editor Robbyn L. Lister and Becky Weisenfels, News Editors Loyd Brumfield, Sports Editor Sam B. Myers, Photo Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspa per operated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the author, and do not necessarily rep resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, fac ulty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department of Journalism. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holi day and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $17.44'per semester, $34.62 per school year and $36.44 pet full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843- 1111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal ion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station TX 77843-4 111. Final compromise In an unusual but very welcome show of cooperation, f aculty and student representatives met Friday to discuss scheduling of senior f inals. Unfortunately, the students were the ones doing most of the compromising. Both sides agree that the current schedule is completely un workable, allowing professors to present material on Thursday and test students over it in Friday finals. But in the alternatives presented by Faculty Senate representatives, the students always lose — graduating after school closes, graduating without diplo mas, or “graduating” without knowing if they actually passed their classes. One proposal, which would schedule upper-divi sion finals before those for lower-division classes, would be nothing but a logistical nightmare. But the faculty has steadfastly ref used to consider two sets of f inals, maintaining they shouldn’t have to write two finals. This is patently ridiculous: Professors must give makeup tests to stu dents who have University excused absences and last semester had to give separate finals to students whose religious beliefs prevented them from taking finals on Saturday. The policy for senior f inals should be no different. Faculty members have argued they don’t have time to give finals during dead week, while other students are still in class. It’s a good argument, one that points out that A&M is long over due for a truly “dead” dead week. One compromise proposal, greeted with some enthusiasm, would cancel dead week classes to make way for senior finals. The lost class days would be moved to the beginning of the semester schedule. Because implementing that plan this semester is impossible, the representatives went back to their senates with the plan for weighting the finals schedule so upper-division finals would be held earlier. But though making dead week dead may not be possible this semester, the plan should be considered seriously. It may be the one solution everyone can live — and learn —with. — The Battalion Editorial Board Mail Call 12 meters isn’t 12 meters EDITOR: I was happy to see Dennis Connor and the crew of Stars and Stripes men tioned in last Tuesday’s list of the top ten sports headliners of 1987. How ever, there were a couple of goofs in the article. First, if folks think that 12 meter yachts are 12 meters long, they didn’t watch enough of the ESPN cov erage. In reality, the designation has to do with a curious formula which takes items such as draft, length, freeboard and sail area into account. If the result of the formula for a boat equals 12 meters, then it is a 12 meter yacht. Second, since Mr. Hammons wants to see that credit is given where it is due, it should be noted that Australia, not New Zealand, defeated the U.S. in 1983. In fact, last year was New Zealand’s first attempt at America’s Cup com petition. Best of luck to Dennis and the Sail America group in their efforts to defend in the next year or so! Richard Barnett ’85 No parking? EDITOR: Regarding the article by Kimberly House in last Wednesday’s Battalion that announced the building of the new dorms, we were both pleased and concerned. We believe that these dorms will provide much-needed housing on campus; however, in reading the article we were alerted to a certain dis turbing possibility for both present and future southside residents: NO PARKINC! fhe article stated that three dorms were to be “south of the Commons and east of Underwood hall.” Apparently, construction of these dorms will eliminate the Underwood parking lot. Additionally, much of the “Commons red lot” would seemly be consumed by the new dorms. Presently, southside parking is adequate; yet, with an additional 962 students and fewer spaces, the future looks grim. What are the plans for alleviating this pressing prob lem? Build a parking garage similar to the one near Blocker? Pave the “Figh- tin’ Texas Aggie Band” drill field? “Slice” three holes from the golf course? Deny underclassmen the priviledge of parking on campus? As concerned southside residents, we would like to know how we will be affected in the semesters to come by these plans. Any information pertaining to these plans and the potential parking problem would be greatly appre ciated. Carl Collins ’88 Jim Hayes ’88 Jeff Reedy ’89 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. rc*r It is an extremely silly thing for candidates wives to debat Fhe year of the presidential de bate has finally gotten out of hand. This does not mean that I hate presidential de bates. On the con trary, 1 like watch ing all five million candidates debate on i m p ortaut Mark Nair and make loads of money. My igno rance usually makes things happen that way. 1 can see it now. It is a presidential election year in the future. Eight women are running for president. No men are candidates. William F. Buckley, the an tediluvian conservative, moderates the “Husbands Only” debate, fhe producei estimates the show’s audience to be around 58 billion viewers. Nobody knows w ho the actual candidates are. Husband No. 7: My china pi would liven up the White House Husband No. 8: I hear the': prett) big wide-screen TV there Bill Buckley snores. His cohcn ert Strauss, shakes his head. Robert: Issues, gentlemen,! What do you think about the' East, Central Asia, the war in Can. A long pause. Husbands No. No. 8 look at eat h oilier, fhevsw things like the character issue and and the character issue. It’s edifying. But now, in addition to the candi dates, other debaters have entered the limelight. First we had the candidates; how we have their wives. That’s right. It seems as though the candidates’ wives will debate on “Firing Line” Feb. 27. The candidates’ wives? Things have certainly gotten out of hand. Someone out there has gone debate crazy, loopy at the prospect of bringing the nation together to watch the prospective first ladies slug it out. Bill Buckley: Let’s talk about political things that you are involved in day and nfgtir. Husbands (together): OK! Bill: No. 1, what do you think about the election process? Husband No. 1: I think it stinks, but you should all vote for my wife anyway. Husband No. 2: You should vole for my wife, not his wife. My wife would be a better president than his wife. Husband No. 1: You stink. Husband No. 2: Oh, yeah? Oh, boy. (They engage in a delicately choreo graphed fistfight. fhe audience cheers.) I’m not saying that the president’s wife is unimportant. Heck, look at Nancy Reagan, master of the clandes tine whisper. Without her, would we have such a strong, knowledgeable leader as we do now? It’s doubtful. Bill: No. 3, what are your objectives as First Man? Husband No. 7: Issues? Husband No. 8: Issues? A longer pause. Husband No. 7: My china P would liven up the White House. Husband No. 8: I hear thev pretty big wide screen I V there Bill Buckley snores. Husband' wins the fistfight. I he audiencei loudly. I wo weeks later Husbard 2’s w if e wins the election. Of course, the current deb®! tween the candidates’ wives is slit live. Or, at least, the wives ha'd given tentative acceptances. Bail Bush has dec lined the offer, heij taut saying that she isn’t “runniii first lady.” ( co da ol W ac M ra Husband No. 3 (standing and hitch ing his pants): Well, I’ll tell you. I’m going to show her who wears the pants in this White House, that’s what I’ll tell you.” But having the candidates’ wives de bate? Just what w 11 they debate about? According to the producer of “Firing Line,” it will be about “political things they’re involved in day and night.” Husband No. 4: My wife wears pants sometimes. You should vote for her, America. Husband No. 6: Vote for my wife. I really don’t know what that means. And since I don’t know what it means, this debate with the candidates’ wives will probably catch on. It’ll proba bly be a big hit, rival the “Cosby Show” Husband No. 5: Vote for my wife, not his wife. It is an extremely silly thing! 1 candidates’ spouses to debate. As! Bush said, they aren’t running fa lady. We should be hopeful thattfa tative meeting of the candidates 1 will stay tentative. I hen maybe)* will give the other debate thatnigb one between Democratic Candida* Atlanta, more attention. I hen again, it would be nice * I ipper Core deck whoever shows Gary 11 art's wife. Husbands No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 scuffle. Bill Buckley falls asleep. 1 hat is, if things get out of hand Mark Nair is a senior political major and opinion page editor hi Battalion. BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Bread 7VP/1Y, THe (J.5.5.R '5 SPACe A6BNCY ANNOUNCCP ITS GOAL. FOP MOO : .,1V L-ftNP A MFW/VPP pesespCH ease on to THe pocsp ice cap OF PI APS / OH OH. / COINCIPeNTAUY, NAVA ANNOUNCeP ITS GOALS lOPAV, TOO... .. ro push our mom RCA SATELLITE OF PROAPCASTtm "(SHTAR" ZAHOUti A PAY TO PUERTO \ PICO. Mm. BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Bread yoeAL wars MOCK MY POLITICAL INSIGHTS AN IP IT MAKES ME TRREGARPLESS " MAP AS A ISN'T A , INORP. HATTER / MT0„ &oop0; 000$!'- 'HEN