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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1988)
.-INI-' I IW/tl Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, February 5,1988 Opinion Sematech is not the miracle it appears to be If you listened to some state offi cials, you’d think Sematech was a miracle cure for the state’s eco nomic ills. The semiconductor re search consorti um’s decision to locate . its national headquarters in Austin has been Sue Krenek hailed as the biggest event this side of the Second Coming. But under all the hoopla is some bad news for A&M — and some deals that don’t seem quite right. Sematech was put together by 13 American semiconductor firms eager to match Japan’s lead in semiconductor technology. Its heavy funding makes it a prime target for states trying to lure clean, high-tech industry. homes they buy in Austin. Their chil dren will automatically become Texas residents, which should hit the taxpay ers for about $312,000 in lost out-of- state tuition. Add in $100,000 to subsi dize country club memberships, $100,000 to help spouses find work and $40,000 for tickets to sporting events. 'The pot gets very sweet. And it doesn’t stop there. The bottom line for the state is jobs, about 800 of them. The prospect has Gov. Bill Clements overjoyed. But the ugly truth is that only about half of those jobs will be available for Texans, since about 400 employees will be trans ferred to fill the slots. Most of those will be on the production line. And when you realize that semiconductor produc tion involves caustic chemicals, the “clean industry’’ designation can start to wear a bit thin. tense budget scrutiny. With Sematech, though, the question wasn’t whether to spend on incentives but how much to spend. And it all sounds pretty reasonable. The jobs and money are desperately needed to prop up Austin’s sagging economy. High-tech research is good for state universities. But taxpayers may not want to subsidize this corporate wooing. And that’s what the state forgot to consider. were trying to do was unconstitional, state officials did what thev do best: made an end run around the law. And this is where A&M conies in, because state officials decided to take the money from the Permanent Universitv Fund. So it seems reasonable for Texas to go all out trying to snag this prize. The state's hefty incentive package includes about $10 million so Sematech exec utives can get discounted mortgages on State and city of ficials, however, were seduced by the jobs and the consorti um’s $250 million annual budget. They were seduced to the point that they failed to consider such issues as the qual ity of the jobs that would be made avail able. The Texas Observer pointed out that spending for social issues gets in- Somehow it seems ironic: The same businesspeople who complain about subsidizing government aid programs for the disadvantaged now want subsi dies for themselves. Call it welfare for the wealthy. Or, as the Observer did, so cialism for the rich — a system where venture capitalists can line up for their share of government funds. Rep. Ron Wilson of Houston was one of the few legislators who questioned the package. Texas’ constitution bars the use of public funds for private pur poses. Wilson used that technicality to kill a $50 million bond package in tended to fund the Sematech incentives. Faced with the fact that what they The PUT was set up as a reserve fund for A&M and I T. It ensures that both university systems will have adequate f unding during budget squeezes such as the one the state’s going through now. It is supposed to he permanent and un touchable. And part of U T’s share is now going to fund the Sematech incen tives. Clements and other officials assured the university it would be repaid in ap propriations during the state’s next budget session. The last budget session, for anyone who somehow missed it, was chaos. Universities scraped for funds and lobbied heavily to prevent budget cuts. Current projections are that the next budget will be even tighter, and state schools can look forward to the fact that $50 million of higher education’s shrinking pie already is promised to UT. The university decided to shell out more money for Sematech, renovating a building and turning over partof, percomputer to tlie consortium, ecu five Vice President GehardI told the Obser\er the spending if tilled because of the benefit Sen will bring to l I s engineeringproji Don’t get me wrong: Seni; probabh be a good thing fot Texas sidestepping the constitutionisni no matter how pretty the brassiij In the end, U T can’t lose. The bet of hav ing the consortium inAusiia great. The Legislature promisesu jiack most of what the univeri spending. It’s a great deal—ifi« U T. And the taxpayers got off easy: didn’t have to pay for the inca package. So who loses? A&M other state schools that willcompeitl higher education funds. And inti tine, education could suffer atJ Once you dip into the PTF.ji gets easier and easier. And divti funds from education to inceniitt be tempting when you have a empty research park to fill. Just like A&M does. Sue Krenek is a senior journalism jor and editor ofThe Battalion. Mail Call Wake up Ags! EDITOR: My letter is in response to Sharia Richards’ letter (1/26/88) concerning the “loss” of her friends backpack. Sharia, I am an Aggie from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I live the Aggie Code of Honor. I do not lie, cheat, or steal, and I do not tolerate those who do. I have lost “friends” due to my belief in this Code of Honor. I stand at football games, attend Silver Taps, go to Muster and behave like a true Aggie should. Yet, in my four years here, I have seen my fair share of two-percenters. I am referring to those students who do choose to lie, cheat and steal. I have no pity for them, and I am not (as you and your friend are) oblivious to their presence. I take precautions against them. I always lock my car, my apart ment, and I take my backpack with me everywhere! Wake up Ags! Bob Wiatt reports in The Battalion at least twice a year that most thefts on campus could have been prevented by locking dorm rooms, using bicycle chains and by not leaving backpacks unattended. So quit crying “where’s our Aggie Honor” and get smart — protect your self and your belongings. I admit that the Aggie Code of Honor is a bit tainted, but I am not and never will be ashamed to call myself an Aggie! Tracie Green ’88 Some solutions are just too simple EDITOR: The proposed solution to the conflict between trains and Aggie commut ers — lowering the rail bed — reminds me of the proposal submitted by a city commissioner in a Florida community bisected by an intracoastal waterway. A drawbridge was located over the city’s main street. Opening the draw bridge constantly interrupted traffic. The record indicates the commissioner seriously suggested dredging underneath the bridge so that the water traffic could pass beneath without the bridge having to he opened. It’s the old “don’t raise the bridge, lower the water” mentality. The problem is not the train traffic. It’s the lack of imagination in devel oping alternatives, particularly those that could be offered by local traffic en gineers. A simple solution wquld be to re-program the Welborn Road traffic lights so that they won’t automatically turn flashing red as trains are passing. If the Welborn lights remained green, the north and southbound traffic flow could continue and would clear. Vehicles on the cross streets, which connot cross Wellborn with trains on the track, should be given the green light as soon as the trains pass. And one additional footbridge over the track would handle the foot traffic, which by and large disdains use of the bridge currently in place. But simple solutions don't appear to be the hallmark in resolving traffic problems in and around the university. Witness the absence of campus or city police to handle the increased traffic on Ireland Street due to the closing of Ross Street. Attempting to cross onto University Drive through both compet ing pedestrian traffic and a short green light is impossible. An officer direct ing traffic at peak hours to allow a more equitable flow for a longer green and a separate pedestrian walk signal are apparently solutions that are too simple. Perhaps University Avenue should be lowered? Dr. J.N. De Bonis assistant professor. Department of Journalism Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, hut will make even' effort to maintain the author's intent. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer. AUS inprov peart si mer T< Jhe Uni It ha Ihe Ru pump; (topes t |tnd Dr mac heart n By t nary p pro\ patient Burger' Store tl Jsuppor Forn ane of new he profess creativi Three Blind Meese Humanism is an enduring philosopii ALW One of the most enduring philoso phies in history is humanism. But at the same time, it’s also one of the most misunder stood, especially Robert Dowdy Guest Columnist with the rise of religious fundamenta lism in this decade. In recent years there have been claims, backed up by the courts, that se cular humanism is a religion. It has its own propositions and goals, but it doesn't contain the dogmas and doc trines of an organized religion. In addi tion, humanism makes no threats, promises or guarantees about the fu ture. It has its basis in humanity, and so is more realistic than any religion could be. There are several kinds of humanism including secular, religious, moral, and ethical. But they all agree on basic posi tions and goals. Humanism is the glori fication of human achievements and the conviction that the human race needs an alternative for the future, a future that stresses the infinite value of human cre ativity and cooperation between differ ent cultures and nations. According to the Humanist Man ifesto, Humanists generally agree on the following propositions and goals. 1. Religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals, but it does a , disservice to humanity when it places revelation, ritual and God above human needs. Humanism is not atheism but non-theism. It rejects those features of ( religious morality that deny humans a full appreciation of their potential. 2. IIumans are responsible for what they are or will become. Promises of im mortal salvation and threats of eternal damnation distract humans from self- actualization and correcting social injus tice. There is no credible evidence that life survives the death of the body. In addition, utopia-seeking religions and ideologies are only obstacles to human progress. 3. Human life has meaning because we develop our own futures. 4. Faith and passion are not substi tutes for reason and intelligence. Hu manists do not, however, advocate the use of science without emotion. 5. The preciousness and dignity of the individual is a central humanist va lue. 6. A civilized society should be a toler ant one. Therefore, there should never be laws outlawing abortion, birth con trol, divorce or any lifestyle an individ ual chooses. 7. Humanists support the full range of civil liberties which not only includes freedom in speech, the press, religion but also an individual’s right to die, eu thanasia, and the right to suicide. 8. Bureaucracy should be People are more important thanla«| 9. The separation of church andit and of ideology and state are im atives. 10. A humane society shouldjudi economic system hy how well M proves the quality of life and sponsive it is to human needs. 11. 1) iscrimination should bei nated at all levels. Everyone has] right to an education. 12. Humanity must transcend] limits of national sovereignty andcrl a transnational federal government! tionalistic pride is what stands in I of world peace. 13. Cooperative planning on a jj scale must be engaged to save tional resources. 14. It is the moral obligation( oped nations to assist underdevelof ones in order to eliminate povertd control population. 15. Finally, humanists call for ternational cooperation in culture] ence, the arts and technology aw ideological borders. Humanism confronts the fact dial! world is get ting smaller every dap that we must learn to live together] we will perish together. Robert Dowdy is a senior English jor. 1 owl 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 connminit\ service to Texas AXM and Brvan-( lot lege Station. Opinions expressed in 1 he Battalion are lliosc of the editorial board or the author, and do not neccssarilv tep- resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, fac ulty or the Board of Regents. I'he Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photographs classes within the Department of Journalism. 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