Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, September 13, 1988
Opinion
Public Enemy No. 1 has educators running scarei
Like many peo
ple, I usually don’t
get much exciting
mail. In fact, it’s
nothing for five or
six days to go by
without a single
piece of corre
spondence finding
its way into my
mailbox. Actually,
I receive mail on
such a rare basis
Suna
Purser
a rare
that I’ve decided not to set myself up for
disappointment anymore and so I check
my box just once a week.
I used to look at those “lost letters”
that somehow sneak out of the mail
boxes and put themselves in a pile on
the ground. I would browse through
them thinking my personal mail might
have hidden itself among all those Pub
lisher’s Clearing House envelopes and
political brochures. But no. No such
luck and now I don’t even look through
the “lost letters” anymore.
ing the AIDS virus, a health problem
that the President has called ‘Public
Enemy Number One.’ ”
As I stood there amazed, I thought,
“When in my lifetime has the govern
ment undertaken a massive mailing on a
health-related issue? In fact, has the
government EVER done such a thing?”
During a recent conference in Hous
ton, Dr. James Mason, director of the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control, made
a frightening statement: “. . . no one can
deny that AIDS and HIV virus risk im
peril world health in a dramatic and
fearful way.”
opene<
At that same conference, Dr. Hiroshi
Nakajima, director of the World Health
Organization (WHO), said more . than
108,000 cases of AIDS have been re
ported to WHO. BUT officials of that
organization think the actual number
may be more than twice that.
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03805801 And as I stopped going
through the “lost letters,” I eventually
stopped reading that junkmail (except
for the bills, of course). Now that stuff is
deposited directly in the laundromat
trash can.
“Still, in the big scheme of things, that
isn’t very many people,” you might say.
While that may be true, at least for now,
the statement isn’t quite so “accurate”
when the issue is brought closer to
home.
Recently, on one of my weekly excur
sions to the mailbox, I opened it up only
to find the standard fare: bills, a news
letter from Joe Barton, a Publisher’s
Clearing House Sweepstakes form, and
. . . “something else.”
This “something else” was an 8 Vs by
11-inch, eight-page, blue and white bro
chure addressed to “Postal Customer.”
On closer examination, I discovered it
was from C. Everett Koop, M.D., Sc.D.,
Surgeon General. It even had his pic
ture on the front.
The Lone Star state ranks fourth in
the nation in the number of reported
AIDS cases. As of August 12, approxi
mately 5,000 Texans were diagnosed as
having this deadly disease. In a prelimi
nary report released last month by the
Legislative Task Force on AIDS, as
many as 30,000 more Texans are ex
pected to be diagnosed with AIDS by
1991.
At the top of the brochure, in huge
blue letters was the title “Understanding
AIDS.” Below that, also in big letters
was “A Message From the Surgeon Gen
eral,” in which Dr. Koop told me, “This
brochure has been sent to you by the
Government of the United States. ... I
feel it is important that you have the
best information now available for fight
But there are things all of us can do to
change that grim prediction. In his bro
chure, Dr. Koop urged practicing safe
sex by using condoms and spermicides.
And in fact, every once in a while, you
see promos for condoms on late night
television. Drug stores have them prom
inently displayed in the aisles. Today
condoms are cool!
Even a couple of enterprising Aggies
got together a few semesters ago and
started a 24 hour, on- and off-campus
condom delivery service. I wonder . . .
are you savvy guys still out there? At one
time, rumor had it these founding fa
thers (no pun) were assisting other
Texas universities in starting similar
programs.
Regardless of whether or not this is
true, SOMETHING is going on out
there on Texas campuses. In opposition
to a board of regents’ ban on contracep
tive distribution by the campus health
center, students of Lambda Chi Alpha
fraternity at Southwest Texas State Uni
versity sponsored a beer bust, dance,
and safe sex health fair Saturday night.
Organizers gave away brochures on
AIDS and sexually-transmitted diseases,
free condoms, and local health experts
presented lectures on pregnancy pre
vention, AIDS, and sexually-trans-
mitted diseases. The rally was a huge
success and showed up the regents’ ban,
which also applied to Sam Houston
State University in Huntsville, Sul Ross
State University in Alpine, and Angelo
State University in San Angelo, since
these universities fall under the board’s
control.I wonder if the board at South
west Texas State received Dr. Koop’s
brochure?
Let’s face it. Sex is here to stay —
along with its pleasure and problems,
such as AIDS. Important precautions
such as having safe sex, educating the
public (students ARE part of the pub
lic), and using condoms — all measures
supported by such diverse people as the
Surgeon General and the Lambda Chi
Alpha members — are imperative if we
are to bring “Public Enemy Nis
One” under control.
I praise the students at Souths
their concern and responsibilir
condemn the university’s boardi
gents for its head-in-the-sandacts’
Dr. Koop says, “Get involved,
courage you to practice response-
havior based on understanding
strong personal values.”
Thanks, Dr. Koop, for a piecet
eminent "junk” mail that reallvoj
THIS postal customer’s evestotli:
rible reality of “Public Enemv N.
One.”
Anthony Wilson is a seniorp
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There she is, Miss America
— and gosh, what a bimbo!
I watched the
Miss America pag-
eant Saturday
night. And I was
not impressed. It
seems these pag
eants and general
elections are be-
Becky
Weisenfels
Guest Columnist
coming more and more alike each year
— I can imagine the day when no one
will be able to tell the difference.
The pageant received new coverage
this year, trying to focus on the intelli
gence of the participants and that the
pageant foundation is the single largest
source of scholarships for women.
Of course, that doesn’t mean they
didn’t have a swimsuit competition. A
person’s I.Q. is always so much more ev
ident when they wear fewer clothes.
It’s the same in elections — we try to
focus on the intelligence and ideals of
the candidates, but, gee, by the way, no
tice how Dan Quayle looks like Robert
Redford? I have read more about that
resemblence than I have about what
Quayle stands for in the election.
I have read about how Dukakis has a
big nose and how Barbara Bush ought
to dye her hair.
When’s the swimsuit competition,
guys?
I read a pre-pageant write-up in
McCall’s magazine. It focused on for
mer pageant participants who were now
successful businesswomen.
One former Miss America contestant
was talking about those grueling inter
views: “The first thing they asked me in
nationals was what I’d say if someone
wanted my views on abortion, premari
tal sex and military spending. You had
to be up on current events just to realize
what they were talking about.”
Yeah, if I didn’t read the newspaper
every day, I would have NOOOO IDEA
what premarital sex was; nor would I
have an opinion on it.
Of course, the questions are exactly
the same in elections — Mr. Bush, what
do you think of premarital sex, abortion
and military spending? Of course, the
answers are always the same round
about answers we can read on the back
of any Cheerios box.
That former Miss America contestant
obviously wasn’t up on her cereal box
covers if she had to think before an
swering those questions.
Then I saw the pageant. Every girl
began by giving her name, state and
where she was attending school. I was
impressed when I realized every partici
pant was pursuing a college education.
So they ought to be intelligent women
capable of giving thoughtful answers to
the questions in interviews, I thought.
But few were the contestants who
even answered their questions.
One of the girls. Miss California, was
asked why, in her opinion, such a small
percentage of young voters exercised
their right to vote.
She said she didn’t have the answer,
but she did take the opportunity to re
mind every American to get out there
and vote, vote, vote. Good answer. Too
bad it doesn’t go with the question.
But then, does this sound like some
thing you would hear in any election?
Tune in to the next debate and watch as
the candidates step ever so carefully to
avoid stepping on anyone’s toes. No, to
day’s younger voters aren’t apathetic;
heaven forbid we should face the truth
— that the fate of the nation is in the
hand of a small percentage of people
who care enough to vote.
The thing is, neither the Miss Amer
ica contestants nor the candidates for
public office want to admit that they
have an opinion. They want to rely on
dodging the question and giving vague
answers in the hopes that everyone will
be noticing how charming they are and
ignore the fact that they aren’t an
swering the questions.
But I almost fell off of my couch
when the announcer said that Miss
America is “the most sought-after dele
gate from the United States.”
I can picture Gorbachev now.
Vice President George Bush: “I am
leaving for the airport in half an hour to
come to the USSR. Can you meet me at
the airport, Mr. Gorbachev?”
Gorbachev: “Oh, George, are you
sure that Miss America can’t come? I
would really prefer to discuss these mat
ters with her.”
How can other countries take us se
riously when they seek Miss America be
fore George Bush or Henry Kissinger?
But she probably has the same charm
and lack of substance that most of our
politicians. The only difference is that
she only gets to keep the job for a year.
Becky Weisenfels is a senior journa
lism major, managing editor and guest
columnist for The Battalion.
Mail Call
Aggie Code revised
EDITOR:
Finally, the NCAA sanctions have been announced. It will be manyweef j
before the dust settles and no doubt, these pages will be filled with editorials.^
pro and con. No matter what Coach Sherrill did or does, he will have his deled
and detractors.
His protestations that the punishment does not fit the crime, does not lead
one with a sense of optimism about the integrity of Southwest Conference^
However, the real tragedy, bowl games notwithstanding, is that the Aggie i
honor code has apparently been revised. It now reads; “Aggies do not steal or
tolerate those who do”. Winning isn’t everything.
W. Marc Connolly
Graduate student
Dormitory lock-ups justified
EDITOR:
In response to the comments made by The Battalion’s editorial staffonSefl
regarding the new 7 p.m. lock-up policy in the residence halls, we would liketol
offer the following observations:
1. If we, as residents, were acting as adults, accepting all the reponsibilitiesl
go with that title, we would be locking our room doors at all times, and there''j;j
be no thefts or assaults in the halls. As it is, at any given time in any residencefl
here at A&M, any individual can enter someone’s room without hindrance. |
Careless adults simply don’t bother to lock their doors (or even close them)wliil
leaving, even for a few minutes.
2. The escort policy is not only reasonable, but perfectly logical. Adultsic ;
live in apartment complexes have their guests call before coming over.
Perhaps the adults of the editorial staff should spend a little more timetnil
to understand the rationale of this policy before screaming, “ Jail! Police state’ 1
Rather than condemn the administration, and stir up dissension among the j
residents, you should applaud the fact that they are putting the safety and
protection of on-campus Aggies first.
Kristi Kibbi, graduate student
accompanied by seven signatures
EDITOR S NOTE: Telephones which can be used free of charge havebeenom
being placed outside residence halls so that guests may call the person t/iev'rfl
ing and be admitted and escorted in the dormitory.
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit lettmjM
and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must be signed and mustiwlM
classification, address and telephone number of the writer.
The Battalion
(TJSPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Lydia Berzsenyi, Editor
Becky Weisenfels, Managing Editor
Anthony Wilson, Opinion Page Editor
Richard Williams, City Editor
D A Jensen,
Denise Thompson, News Editors
Hal Hammons, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Leslie Guy, Entertainment Editor
Editorial Policy
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per operated as a community service to Texas A&M and
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Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the
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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.
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BLOOM COUNTY
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