Opinion
Band's grudge gone
15 years too long
In 1973, the Rice Marching Owl Band parodied the A&M mas
cot, Reveille III, in what may have been a tacky prank during a half
time performance, but was nevertheless harmless. Fifteen years
later, the A&M band still holds a grudge.
Come on guys, don’t you think it’s time we let bygones be by
gones? After all, the current A&M band members were between the
ages of three and seven at the time, so it’s doubtful that the incident
was of much concern to them then.
The A&M student body appreciates the refreshing change that
the MOB adds to a halftime show, as evidenced by its reaction follow
ing the MOB’s performance Saturday. The idea that the MOB
should have to tone down its act to prevent offending the Aggie
Band is silly. If any institution in this country is screaming to be paro
died, it’s certainly A&M.
And besides, wasn’t it a senior yell leader who insinuated that a
male Rice student would rather have sex with a sheep than with a
beautiful woman during his grode story at Friday’s yell practice? Im
plying that Rice students practice bestiality is hardly a compliment.
The Battalion Editorial Board
Mail Call
Victims should fight back
EDITOR:
In view of the recent abduction and attempted murder from one of the
parking lots on the A&M campus, I feel it is time to take a hard look at the
standard suggested behavior to follow ifvou are assaulted — submit and hope for
the best.
Although each person will have to make her own decision at the time. I believe
serious consideration should be given to resisting at the point of the abduction.
You may be injured or killed, but if he is successful in taking vou from the parking
lot to a remote area, injury will no longer be an option. You will be killed.
The only control we have is the place where the final confrontation will occur
and I choose the parking area where I will be quickly found and perhaps able to
survive my injuries.
KarenHall
Move bad for handicapped
EDITOR:
Tin writing to complain about MSG Town Hall's decision to move the Robert
Palmer concert to Rudder Auditorium. I can understand they would lose money if
the show was not moved, but I also understand that the monev 1 spent on f ront
row seats in the handicapped section is wasted.
It seems that the handicapped section is in the back of the auditorium. When
the concert was moved, so was I.
I was told by a worker in the MSG box of f ice that if I could walk to my seat I
could still use my tickets.
Well, the reason I bought tickets in the handicapped section is because I cannot
walk. The worker also told me if my date could carry me to my seat, I could still use
my ticket. Since I’m about a half-foot taller than my date, that won't work.
The point I’m trying to make is that for a fraction of the money the University
is spending on the street corner markers and new buildings it could make the
campus a little more accessible for those who can't walk.
Mike Morris ’91
Iron Maiden’s a musical genius II
EDITOR:
Last Friday’s Battalion contained a letter which should have offended any
person who had even a limited knowledge of music or a minimal amount of
reading comprehension. The letter, most likelv printed on a Big Ghief Tablet with
a Husky pencil, was authored by Ron Davis in response to Timm Doolen's article
on rock music.
Applying a little logic to Timm’s article lends credence to all he said. First of all,
he was concerned with the decline in popular music. I imm only used classic rock
groups’ talent to illustrate the decline. In his article, 1 was quoted as saying “From
Purple Haze to Purple Rain. That’s a letdown folks,” and it is.
Neither he nor I intended to say that all black music is horrid, but the popular
material is.
Gome on now, all one needs to be a rapper is a background f illed with
delinquency and a large vocabulary of offensive sexual terms. By the way, what
does James Brown have to do with popular music? Am wav. Prince may have some
musical talent, but lyrically, his music is comparable to the beautiful poetry found
on junior high restroom walls.
One of the last points in Timm’s article was the “musicianship” and “soul”
which some of the more energetic bands such as Iron Maiden exhibit. Steve
Harris, the Maiden bassist, is probably the second best in the business.
As far as the lyrics are concerned, Iron Maiden’s songs have at least semi-
philosophical meanings. Attempting to discount the talent of a group because the
music is loud or energetic is insane. Granted techno-pop songs have better
synthesized parts than Iron Maiden does because Maiden doesn’t synthesize.
Timm’s main point is that popular music lacks talent. This is exemplified by
Tiffany, Madonna and the people who concoct dance music. Even Roy, I’m sure,
could sing to a pre-programmed collection of computerized background jibberish.
Lack of talent breeds lack of quality. That is a fact.
Matt McBurnett ’91
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 u'ords in length. The editorial staff reseri’es the right to edit letters for style
and length, but ici/l make every eff ort to maintain the author's intent. Loch fetter must be signed and must include the
classification, address and telephone number of the writer.
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
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Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Lydia Berzsenyi, Editor
Becky Weisenfels, Managing Editor
Anthony Wilson, Opinion Page Editor
Richard Williams, City Editor
D AJensen,
Denise Thompson, News Editors
Hal Hammons, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Leslie Guy, Entertainment Editor
Editorial Policy
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resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, fac
ulty or the Board of Regents.
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Beauty’s skin-dee
appearance-craze
in oui
societ)
By
When was the last time vou were in
volved in a stimulating, thought-pro
voking conversation? One in which vou
discussed and questioned the meaning
of religion, love, politics, philosophv,
the nature of life? Those types of con
fabs can often be envigorating and
usually leave you wondering. "What's
the point — not only of the conversation
in particular, but LIFE in general?"
I had one of those conversations re
cently, and we talked about something
that has bothered me for a long time:
appearance vs. realitv. f lave you ever
noticed how possessed society is with ap
pearance? The first thing many of us
look for when we meet new people is:
Are they thin enough? How big are the
biceps? How attractive arethev? Dothev
dress "right?” Are their fingernails
clean? Do they have plaque? Preoccupa
tion with appearance has swallowed us.
complete with hook, line and sinker,
and society has really capitalized on it!
If you aren’t attractive, go to a plastic
surgeon: get a silicone beep-up, have a
nose-bob, have your whole body re-built
with plastic so you’ll look “right."
If you don't have the “right” kind of
clothes, take your plastic money and hu\
a new wardrobe of synthetic clothes.
Enshroud yourself in the “t ight" uni
form, be a fashion plate, a clothes horse,
weat what’s “in” and to hell with what
you like or feels comfortable. Remem
ber, your success in society is in direct
proportion to how flashy, trendy or sex\
you look and these important qualities
are a function of uniform.
and
am -
lub.
for-
i out
ti to
If you’re too fat, go through a surgi
cal procedure called liposuction, where
the doc uses a plastic tube and sucks all
those lard cells right out. Presto! Instant
thin. Those extra ten pounds vou just
couldn 7 live with or get rid of through a
little spot exercising are gone. You are
now the proud possessor of what society
calls a “perfect 10.”
But what about those sagging biceps
and breasts? Gvms, health clubs. Nauti
lus equipment, free weights. Pump iron
until vour muscles have a tensile
strength greater than the iron \ou're
pumping. And while You're at it, make
sure you wear vour best synthetic gym
clothes and have vour lipsuction done.
NEVER go to the g'tn looking bad or
out of shape. After all. sweat is sew
marriages aren’t made in heaven
more. Thev’re made in the health c
So put vour best tennis-shoecl foot
ward. Mr. or Ms. Right ma\ he there
And never, absolutely N h \ i R g«
of the house without being dresse
the nines, dressed fit to kill and dressed
to knock ’em dead. For the ladies, this
means “perfect" make-up. hair, clothes,
f ingernails and accessories. Tor the gen
tlemen, this means 1.0 I S of expensive
cologne, either ver\ tight ot ver\ hagg\
clothes, a trench haircut and an Ameri
can Express Gold card. Heaven forbid
anvone should see vou, the real you, be
hind all the glitter and glitz.
Societv is mass producing plastic peo
ple who are more concerned with ap
pearances than the\ are reality. It isn’t
so much who vou are on the inside, but
how well you’re packaged on the out
side. After all, who’s going to risk meet
ing a “loser and wasting time getting to
know the “inner" person, just bee a use*
they don't like the wa\ the “outer" per
son is wrapped? No one wants to iisk
themselves or waste the - time, when the\
could be surveving the surroundings lot
someone who “measures up."
I for the
ntrol wi
high, hect
Tr in hu
night H,
B'hing ot
■gotuitioi
But how mqi'Mi.inl .ne appe®Bcnm^
m die- t.Hc ot icalilv? AinuajBhr Roi
am c x ofte n .ox« h laud uuhilliM'Bw-'ii i
f usion and superficialitv: On ! j usi as c ' 1;
sc ratc h beneath the ihin —andiii'l'i 011 1
t ■pteinbei
leant NVIUVI nl dT' aUi for toi nr,
realilN do vou find there? Andk#lp cl - cn .
ten do you lake time to snaiditRUatchei
ncei at all? Have vou been too since Sept
judge others? Trying ;ind an: v ,a,c d thbii
t hem aflet gi\ing them n trialti
"one e over and not liking it? I Sei
1 he appearan
and what we are <
spond. There are
>P»
es and real
ion’t nectssarih BH 011 ”" 1
lots of-fcs
looking |i
h<> are pretty (nentof'D'
given a
t rango
how w
vou to<
the stt|
i hanc e. just as they areliirfeurupc oi
who aren't soneataflei pherc his
iiuli I \"U evn kno\v tli! jP'Oc nati
>k the risk anc
lerTu ialitv
gtu
live
ap|
nine to set ^han,
Said
ippearancerlT ha,,
wlnt it hoils down ti P 1 '-' Irust
how and win do we; Bg 111 1 ^
i - ,n Bterhcw
11 a i u on vc dn.- I 11
at anc:
and none i
goinu into
fc pectiv
the
notte
help hut in concci md with luv fed u o U il
others look Ifs human nature piaticr hm
t.in gel hc Nond appearances.Iii | eM 1i '-° I
(l< i In mg i ( ahl \ . il we allow (Hindu
■dpoinl
I’ll also admit Tm a sophist,bra ■ecurin
belies e m unilliple petspeiim P 01 - 1 that I
think thcs'ie all valid, each in die 1.
Nik! just like the appgu.|
rm menus vary and span the raHp we
light,' thc-N re good peopleirBsagree
side - , regardless of what they loorBconven
the outside. I’m just glad I've leaJB save ;i
distinguish the difference betwesj
arance and realitv of pe
and what thev are,
a pi
wh
Jchett si
■onvenl
Stive fo
i bare:
Y;
itio
on
In
al arm:
tinn\ how one I
start vou thinking; * Lt ls ’
q>pi ec iatiug vour friu:| Dcspitc
•xac dv, thev are vour friends
Sima Purser
a
yes nej
got’ the
• r ,> mi
uate, a graduate student in Enn bs never
columnist lor The Battalion. [ '‘We has
These are a few of my unfavorite thin)
1 really love to complain. It's one ol
the things I do quite well, mainly be
cause I have so much practice.
But this semester I seem to have more
to complain about than ever before, and
I thought maybe I’d share with you my
Top 1() Most Hated Things. (OK, OK,
it’s not a totally original creation, but be
lieve it or not, top 10 lists did exist be
fore David Letterman.)
Number Ten: I hate being sick. I
never used to he sick — that is, not until
this semester. So far I've had mononu
cleosis, an eye infection, a cold and
probably contracted several other dis
eases I don’t even want to know about.
Number Nine: I hate the way people
drive around here. I lived in Dallas for
15 years and learned to drive there. I
was taught that green means go, red
means go if you can get away with it,
and yellow means let the pedestrian be
ware. Around here you’d think a green
light was a four-way stop. There’s noth
ing like the gleam of a brake light sitting
in f ront of you wit h a crisp green ov er
head to annoy me.
Number Eight: I hate pedestrians. 1
realize A&M is a pedestrian-oriented
campus, but the street is not a 12-foot
wide sidewalk. And just because there
are white stripes on the street, it doesn’t
mean you’re shielded from the speeding
car coming toward you. Even if 1 (oops,
I mean those other drivers) try to stop, it
won’t be pretty. The phrase “blind
faith” comes to mind.
Number Seven: 1 hate roommates.
You just can’t count on them except to
do one thing well — make a mess. Ev
erything else they screw up. They come
home at the wrong time, they disappear
when the rent is due, they get all the
dishes dirty, eat your food and put the
toilet paper on the wrong way. But since
I can’t af ford to live alone ....
Number Six: I hate television in this
town. Most people think of The Battal-
—ii..
Steve
Masters
Columnist
lor some) to park in the V
Mudlot than to | >afk in blue spaj
hind (lain 1 hill. We h ave trail
sold more stickers than thenl
spates, hut this year it seenismoril
ibvious than everbefore.il
a lit krt 1 >elore this veai'.afteil
' with a clean record, one of*
1 oil-campus. What does tfif
too dang hard to find al
fully
have
v ear:
lived
It’s
ion as a Gomnnmi.st publication, hut the
last (or first) Commie inilueme in this
town is cable television. We’re under
their collective Red thumb. And when
you're a lonely dateless-wonder of a
freshman stuck at home on Saturday
night with no one to give vou company
but Hee Haw reruns, razor blades start
calling vour wrists. Win hasn’t some
()ld Ag started an NBC or ABC. af f iliate
in this town?
Number Five: I hate construction. I
was riding on a shuttle bus earlier in the
semester when a voice came over the ra
dio asking if anyone knew about f lous-
ton Street being dosed for construction.
The driver obviously knew nothing
about it because she had a few choice ex
pletives for the individuals responsible
for changing her route. It's amazing to
me that sheer size of the student body
could create so many problems in just
reaching the campus.
Number Four: 1 hate going to classes.
Tm light years behind after mv disease
phase and I only feel worse when 1 actu
ally do go, because it reaffirms mv belief
that not only will I not graduate when I
thought, hut I mav not graduate at all.
Number Three: I hate parking. (I
had to put it somewhere.) You can al
ways tell the wisdom of an institution bv
their policies, right? Take, for instance.
A&M s parking policy. You know you're
dealing with mental giants when thev
sell 15,000 permits with 3.000 available
spaces. It’s actually cheaper (and closer
spac e. 1 just wish they could bold
for some of these people.
Number Two: 1 hate wineo
Who invented this stuff: Ate
hippie' surfers. Not that hippie!
are necessarilv bad, but thefoiini
liters of good old Audent &
would turn over in their graves j
heard the Chicken serves a be
created bv a bunch of longhair;|
( Tick c'n is supposed tobeadiei
lion ol baseball, hotdogs,appli
beer. Wine coolers are nothi
than training wheels for movil
stronger stuff. 1 would expectoj
set vative, traditional streak lo
i hesc* w retched substances.
And now. the moment yoiivtl
waiting for (or skipped lobecaij
were* gett ing tired of this).
The Number One thing I half
talking to answering machines.I*
nize the importance of them,tel
hav e* one my self . I here is nothiifl
1 rust rating t ban coming homwf
ing six messages with nothing tel
tone to listen to, except onethini
ing to a machine. Vou a
winglv he taking part in a clever?
someone to screen their message 1
of like a secretary you don’thave'j
or take- out to lunch on Secidfan]
The solution? Don’t talk loans'
mac bines unless vou’recallineniil
Steve Masters is a seniorjo0
major, senior staff writer and it
nist for The Battalion.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Bread
wocoMe sack, irs
7^3 d.m. LAWK I'LL
eeMTERVtewm
MIKHAIL GORBACHEV,
PARKY 60LPWATEK
AMP KICHARP NIXON.