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.
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