Opinion
The Battalion
Monday, Oct. 31, 1988
Mail Call
Racism alive and well at A&M
EDITOR:
There are some on this campus who are of the mentality that racismdoet
exist at Texas A&M. I sincerely hope this letter removes this misconception
I was recently interviewed by SMU’s school newspaper concerning racisr t |
Texas A&M. During the interview the reporter stated that she hadbeentold
through other interviews that there was little or no racism at A&M.
Racism is definitely present on this campus. While I was riding across®
last week, four young white males leaned out of their car and yelled “nigge
There are many other racial incidents on this campus, but they are not rep
Therefore, we are led to believe there are none.
The thought comes to mind, “And some wonder why we haveaBlack
Awareness Committee. There are also those who believe we should nothawti
Those four young boys are just one reason for the purpose of BAG, whichij||
educate the campus and community about the black culture throughvarioust]
of programming. BAC also serves as a support group for blacks on this
I will admit A&M is better than most about race relations. Nevertheless
is still a prejudice ef fect that has been crippling our society forasmanyyeard
earth is old and it is crippling A&M. As long as this effect controls the minds
some, A&M, in all its greatness, will never be the “world-class university
speak of.
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I wish that all people who have not, could come to the realization than
be proud of your race without being against another.
Charles E. Henderson Jr. ’90
Chairman, MSC Black Awareness Committee
want
Hiding from AIDS education
socially irresponsible, deadly
Safe Sex To Go, an AIDS awareness
organization, has recently taken an un
usual approach to promoting safe sex
practices. A few weeks ago, it sent 77ie
Battalion one of its “informational pack
ets” which contained wax lips, latex
gloves, a towelette (to make sure all
body surfaces are clean before sex is ini
tiated), a magnifying glass (so partners
can examine each other before inter
course) and a feather (to begin the arou
sal stage).
Anthony
Wilson 7
Opinion Page
Editor
for any viral disease, so its unlikely that
if one is found for AIDS it will be in our
lifetimes.
tions of the condom giveaway. But he
sincerely seems to be making an honest
effort to educate and help his readers.
But the focal point of the packet was a
lime-green condom — which is perfect
for men living in A&M’s Corps-style
dorms because they won’t clash with the
walls. Along with the packet, Safe Sex
To Go included humorous literature
which concluded with a serious editorial
about the importance of using a con
dom to prevent the spread of AIDS.
So the only weapon we have to com
bat this menace is education. Many edu
cational institutions have been slow to
react to the AIDS problems. For exam
ple, the Texas State University System
hoard of regents banned the sale or dis
tribution of birth control on four system
campuses last summer. The reasoning
behind not allowing adults to more eas
ily practice safe sex is non-existent.
Safe Sex To Go’s style was different
than any other AIDS awareness cam
paign, but like the rest is an admirable
effort. The AIDS epidemic is possibly
the biggest threat our world faces and
should be of the utmost concern for ev
eryone.
“We want to make the immensely im
portant statement to our young read
ership that safe sex can save lives,” Guc-
cione said in an Oct. 26 Associated Press
article. “We think that the presentation
of a real condom in this fashion will
leave an impression that no picture or
text can convey, so that when our young
male readers have sex, and they will
have sex, they will think more seriously
about wearing a condom.”
However, some people refuse to be
lieve this and blindly reject good efforts
to educate the masses about the misin
formation dispersed about AIDS and
condoms. Specifically, I’m referring to
last week’s decision by several Tarrant
County magazine distributors in Fort
Worth not to distribute the November
issue of Spin magazine because it con
tains a free condom and “explicit in
structions for its use.”
Guccione is right. Young people are
going to have sex. And young people
will have sex in non-monogamous
relationships. Many people refuse to
learn the facts about AIDS because they
believe intercourse outside of marriage
is morally unacceptable. Not learning
how to protect oneself from AIDS is not
only stupid and socially irresponsible, it
could be deadly.
And when the media tries to aid in
the education push, it is stifled by oth
ers. Heaven forbid that we should see a
commercial for condoms during an epi
sode of “Family Ties.” But hey, nothing
wrong with that educational and enter
taining MassengilTs feminine douche
advertisement. And for goodness sakes,
please don’t allow young people to see
what a real condom looks like. That
would send those children into a forni
cating frenzy usually reserved for a
Hugh Hefner party.
AIDS is here to stay indefinitely and
condoms are definitely here to say. It’s
time to stop shying away from both, ac
cept both and learn about them in a re
sponsible manner.
Aside from the fact that this may be
an example of censorship, those mar
keters are being socially irresponsible by
not distributing the magazine. Spin
publisher Bob Guccione Jr., who’s tac
tics and motives are usually suspicious,
appears to be on the up-and-up this
time. Sure, he realizes his newstand
sales and advertising will skyrocket be
cause of the publicity and public rela-
The general manager of one of the
distributors had this explanation for the
refusal to distribute the issue: “We
checked with the supermarket and con
venience store chains and other outlets
and they were appalled. They said abso
lutely not. . . .”
Anthony Wilson is a senior journa
lism major and opinion page editor for
The Battalion.
God not to be joked about
EDITOR:
I recently found a very disturbing item in the 1988 Aggieland. A previous
comment by comedian David Naster is repeated on page 70 and states:“Pas
Robertson is running for president because God told him to ... therearept:*
all over the world in mental institutions because they did things God told ib:!
This statement is a sweeping generalization which has no foundationimt
The truth is that in most cases, mental institutions, as well as other hospitals, J
full of people who are paying the price of disobedience to God’s lovingdirea
These include those suffering the consequences of such things suchassexiil
transmitted diseases, abortion, drug addiction, rape and divorce.
Granted, Mr. Naster’s comment intended to draw laughter. Thereistitu
be said for a good dose of humor, but not at the expense of honor and revert
toward God. I hope that Mr. Naster’s opinion is not a majority one.
8
A pro-
( liven t he <>pp< >i t imit\, I w < u i U I i .11! k-1 1 i.i\ <• 11-< 11 i hr m<>n< \ th.i! I s isteps oi t
pim has< m\ \'j,irl.im 1 t< > riism ( that mu h a disgt at ehd and ridiculous ' S,R ' ' l
not he printed. It is a matter of integrity.
Ghana Baum ’88
Quayle a scary possibility
EDITOR:
tors d<
but the ;
attention
88 peopli
I The ;n
part of a
included
f
Americans have good reason to be worried about Dan Quayle becomin? I
president. Dan Quayle is the man who has never met a mu lear missilehedidil
like. On the Senate Armed Services Committee, Quayle fought hardagaii&f
reforms in the military procurement system that might have prevented the
Pentagon scandal we are currently suf fering.
The scariest thing about Quayle is his paranoid fear of the Soviet Union J
asked what he thought of Gorbachev’s reform policy known as perestroika,(I
referred to it as revised Stalinism. In comparing the reforms we set taking [if
the Soviet Union today with the oppresive and brutal policies of Joseph Siaiiil
Quayle is demonstrating a degree of naivete and ignorance that is diconcewi
when you consider that he claims to be an expert on foreign policy.
Remember also that Dan Quayle was bitterly opposed to Ronald Reagan)|
greatest achievement, the INF Treaty. Quayle is also opposed totheSTARlI
Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction) that is being negotiated now.
Since George Bush is now beginning to share many of Quayle’sviewstlitl
choice in November is becoming more clear. When it comes to dealingwiM
Soviet Union, Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen would practice a polio of I
cautious optimism that would continue the* progress towards peace that wail
by Ronald Reagan. George Bush and Dan Quayle’s policy of paranoidpesscl
would erase all of Reagan’s achievements and lead us back to the cold warpii
or worse.
The choice is yours.
Katherine Hinson ’90
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to tik ! M
and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author's intent. Each letter must besignedan
classification, address and telephone number of the writer.
That statement is exactly what’s
wrong with many people’s attitude
about AIDS and condoms. It’s time we
stopped being appalled at condom use
and began being appalled at the deaths
and ignorance surrounding AIDS.
We should face facts. AIDS is a viral
disease. A cure has never been found
The Battalion
(USPS 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 AJensen,
Denise Thompson, News Editors
Hal Hammons, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Leslie Guy, Entertainment Editor
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