pinion
Regents continue
to ignore public
The Texas A&M Board of Regents finally released the names of
those interviewed for the position of president, about four months
after initial requests for those names. The law requires such open re
cords to be released within 10 days.
A&M officials have said the list released is not a list of finalists,
yet they admit that the regents would not have hired anyone who was
not interviewed for the position.
The actions taken by A&M officials — including blatant disre
gard for the Texas Open Records Act — are consistent with A&M’s
past.
A&M is known as an institution of higher learning whose officials
haven’t learned the law applies to them.
In refusing to release a list of finalists, A&M officials denied the
public the right to express opinions on any individuals being se
riously considered for the position.
It is important that faculty members, students and staff are al
lowed to criticize and compliment the candidates before a president
is named.
Open government is one of the basis of our society. We do not
believe the regents should try to circumvent this mandate.
Frankly, we are surprised A&M released the information without
a court order. A&M is known for waiting for a judicial mandate to
agree that national law applies to this University.
In recent years A&M has thrown money away in three notable
cases. The University has attempted to:
• Deny students the right to organize and be recognized (the
Gay Student Services case).
• Keep an institution of sexual discrimination alive (an all-male
band).
• Deny public access to open records (after the search for for
mer president Frank Vandiver).
The University should have been spending these funds on more
academic pursuits.
The $250,000 A&M has to pay lawyers for the GSS could have
been used to improve the library or hire more faculty members.
The regents seem to forget that they are spending public funds.
From time to time they seem to forget they are supposed to follow
the rules and regulations we, the taxpayers, have set forth.
Many of these rules are in place to protect us from abuse of
power. It is time they start remembering this, and it is time we re
mind them.
The Battalion Editorial Board
Mail Call
Get the grode out of midnight
EDITOR:
In light of the controversy surrounding the use of sexual references in Grode
Stories told at midnight yell practice, I believe it is necessary for everyone to
carefully examine what the issue is.
Many people have made comments about those supporting reforms to the
effect of “I wish they would just grow up.” This seems to be an absurd argument.
After all, exactly what role does maturity play with one’s ethical values in this case?
None.
Everyone has their own definition of what is right to them. It just so happens
that sexual explicitness is offensive to many of us. What harm would be done in
refraining from this type behavior? None, unless of course someone’s ethical
values were nourished on these things.
As is well known, many people besides Aggies attend yell practice. Some are
parents, while others are high school students trying to determine if they want to
attend A&M. In any case, such sexual references at a public event project an image
that A&M encourages promiscuity. While those who wish to do this have every
right, don’t those who have ethical values telling them such things are wrong have
the right to think for themselves, without having their intelligence insulted by
someone trying to persuade them otherwise?
Finally, I’ll examine the issue of tradition. Texas A&M is well known for
holding it’s traditions, aqd is so admired. Grade stories originated to poke fun at
opposing teams rather than to degrade ladies into some material object useful only
for sexual purposes. Also, the history of the Grade Stories dates back to a time
when A&M was an all-male school. This is not to say that such stories should be
acceptable in male-only surroundings, but rather that a lady in attendance would
not have to suffer the embarrassment and degrading that some unfortunately face
every time they go to Midnight Yell now.
What is lost by not using sexually explicit jokes as grode stories at yell practice?
Some people have lost a small bit of entertainment. What is gained by not using
sexually explicit jokes as grode stories? Many people, both male and female, can go
to midnight yell without being degraded or offended. The entire premise of
midnight yell has remained the same: to prepare the 12th man for its victory in the
stands.
Wayne Couch II ’91
Accompanied by two signatures
Correction
READERS:
A Nov. 10 letter from Cara Shannon Clark concerning The Battalion’s Voter’s
Guide was misedited and then corrected in an editor’s note. The editor regrets the
mistake.
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.
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 A Jensen,
Denise Thompson, News Editors
Hal Hammons, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Leslie Guy, Entertainment Editor
Editorial Policy
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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.
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classes within the Department of Journalism.
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The Battalion Thursday, Nov. 17, 1988
Extra! Extra! Read all about ir 1
Did you ever notice how news sort of
happens in spurts? There are times
when all sorts of interesting things seem
to be happening at once — trapped
whales being freed, space shuttles being
launched and presidential candidates
being stomped flat.
Then there are the times that hardly
anything seems to happen. Take this
week, for instance. Nothing really excit
ing seems to be taking place. Amtrak
has (joy of joys) started rail service to
College Station, the new final exam
schedule has been announced (better
watch that blood pressure), and George
Bush is on vacation (at last).
According to Professor U
final exams for the fall semesterof
have been cancelled, and all
will automatically receive gradesol
on their finals.
as
Dean
Sueltenfuss
Some administrators wereoppo*
the decision, however. Whenquesii; awenfo
as to whether not having finals won
Columnist
a good idea, professor Eugene Met rife'
In fact, I’m so bored I’ve even started
thinking up stories that I’d like to read
about. Here are a few:
Bush presumed lost in Bermuda Trian
gle; Quayle to assume presidency
Sherrill faces possible investigation by
the U.S. Congress and the National Col
legiate Athletic Association. However,
Sherrill said he is not overly concerned
about these investigations.
“Those guys are just a bunch of
wimps,” he said. “They don’t bother me.
I’ve dealt with them before — I’ll do it
baum responded succinctly.
“Get out of my office,” he said
get the hell out.”
Elvis Presley, alive, well, paysi the . s< ”;
again.
Geraldo
Vice President George Bush’s private
yacht was blown off course into the Ber
muda Triangle and all aboard are
feared dead, a White House spokesman
said Wednesday.
In an effort to console Bush’s family
members, President Ronald Reagan cut
short a five-week vacation at his Califor
nia ranch and flew back to Washington
D.C. late Wednesday evening.
“It’s, a real shame,” Reagan told
Bush’s relatives. “George never was too
bright, but he was a heck of a nice guy
— cut down in his prime. Why did God
have to take him? Why not Quayle?”
Sherrill admits involvement in Aggie-
Contra scandal
Rivera castrated by radical
feminists; ‘It’s no big deal’ Rivera says
Popular talk show host Geraldo Riv
era was attacked and castrated Monday
by members of The Association of Vio
lent and Ugly Women while taping a
show titled “Feminists: Are They For
Real?.”
Reports indicate that the show re
mained peaceful up until the point
where Rivera referred to his guests as “a
bunch of ugly b s.” At this point, vio
lence ensued and Rivera was attacked by
seven of the knife-wielding women. Af
ter they had finished with him, Rivera
regained his senses and calmly called for
a commercial break.
night visit to A&M in flyingsaucei
Hundreds of Texas A&M
witnessed a spectacular sight Tuc
night as Elvis Presley descended
Kyle Field in an oddly marked s
ship. The King performed his hit
“Jail ho use Rock,” from his positioi
the 50-yard line and then was
back into the spacecraft, witnessess
Wynona Fullbright, a long-time
fan, said that Presley appeared toll
remarkably good health.
“He looked very vital-
healthy,” Fullbright said. “He must
lost at least sixty pounds since Isav
last month in the sporting goodsde
ment at Wal-Mart.”
Texas A&M Head Coach Jackie Sher
rill recently confirmed reports that he
was the mastermind behind the Aggie-
Contra scandal in which $3 million was
given to the “Freedom Fighters” in ex
change for four Latin American football
players.
In a recent interview, Rivera told re
porters that he had expected the show
to produce some arguments, but that he
hadn’t forseen such an outburst of vio
lence.
Tuesday’s sighting laid to res
speculation concerning die aging
star. Previous reports indicated ths
vis was either working at a McD®
in Waco, living in seclusion on a
Pacific island, or earning $100 a
Sherrill said that he would assume
complete responsibility for the incident.
He also said that he was proud of what
he did because it was done for the good
of A&M.
“Yeah, we did it,” Sherrill said. “Eve
rybody else is doing it. Why shouldn’t
we be able to?”
“It will take more than seven women
to do me in,” Rivera said in a rather
high voice. “I’m a macho, kick-butt kind
of guy. They haven’t heard the last from
me.”
A&M administrators finally make final
decision; no finals
After many hours of debating and
namecalling, administrators at Texas
A&M University decided they wouldn’t
be able to reach a decision regarding the
scheduling of final exams until January
of 1989.
by impersonating himself at a ni|
in Las Vegas.
•ATTENTION READERS
remember that all of these stories
completely fictional. Aftera
wouldn’t want anyone to get the
that —
Holy cow!
John? John Lennon? What are
doing in the newsroom?
Um, you readers will have toes
me, but my nose for news is telling
that I’ve just found another stop.
Dean Sueltenfuss is a junior join
I ism major and columnist for Thd
talion.
J. Dan may not be our man
So George Bush is the new president.
Amid cheers (and some boos), George
will become the 41st president of the
United States.
And then there’s Dan Quayle, who
will take office as vice president.
I really feel sorry for Dan.
See, Dan got stuck in one heck of a
position. He has a lot to learn about pol
itics and the administration, and he’s
going to be doing it in one of the most
visible offices in the nation.
10 times more embarrassing when
make a mistake.
Becky
Weisenfels
Managing Editor
This occurred to me on election night
while I was glancing through Newsweek
(the cover story was on Geraldo getting
a bloody nose and I had to buy it.)
man since his debate with Bentsen. A
few gratuitous stories in the evening pa
per about how he kissed babies, maybe,
but no real stories with substance.
In the section titled “Overheard,
there was a quote from Mr. Quayle.
“I understand that immediately after
a rape that is reported, that a woman
normally, in fact, can go to the hospital
and have a D and C. At that time, that is
before the forming of a life. That is not
anything to do with abortion.”
Below the quote, it said, “Dan Quayle,
making his misunderstanding of the
pro-life position perfectly clear.”
Now, Dan did look like a know-noth
ing. Where he came up with that little
gem is anyone’s idea. Granted, your av
erage American knows little about D
and C.
The Republicans are not dummies —
they wanted the focus on Bush instead
of Quayle, who might stick his foot in
his mouth at any moment.
But now Quayle will be vice presi
dent, and there is no way to take all fo
cus off him. He is an official representa
tive of the United States, and every time
he goofs, we’ll hear about it.
And he will goof. The man is not a
seasoned politician. He has a lot to
learn, as evidenced by some of his re
marks.
But if Quayle is going to be a pro-life
politician, it’s his job and duty to know
these things. When he doesn’t, he looks
like a boob and people begin to doubt
his competence.
After reading this, I began to discuss
Dan with my friends. We noted how we
had heard virtually nothing about the
I feel sorry for him because he has to
do all of his learning with a nation
watching. And the public can be un
kind. The people are already watching
him because of the uproar over his Na
tional Guard stint. The media love to
tattle on politicians who make big boo-
boos — or, in Bush’s phrasology, get
into “deep doo-doo.”
Anyone who works on the Batt can
tell you from experience that public crit
icism is not an easy thing to handle.
When you deal with a job that puts your
work out for the people to evaluate, it’s
I have a feeling that being vice
dent is sometimes going to be a
bling experience for Dan.
I don’t blame Dan totally forthep
tion he got himself into, though.
Bush asked him to run in the nuii
two spot, Dan must have been®
whelmed. Here he was, this young
ator, and he had the opportunity to
on the same ticket as the current
president. It must have seemed I
once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Anyone would have a hard timeti
ing that down, even if the person
suspicions he was not quite readyft
So Dan accepted. I can’t blame
that — it was only human.
I have to lay partial responsibiiif
Bush and his people. They should
looked at Dan as a person instead ol
bargaining chip.
I have heard numerous reasons
Dan was chosen. “Bush wanted sJ
one who wouldn’t overshadow k
“Quayle was chosen to bring in the
pie and baby boomer votes;” “He’si
the Midwest, and Bush needs thefl
boost in that area of the country.”
I don’t know why Bush chose Qoi
But he should have looked into the
and what abilities he had instead
looking at his resume and figuring!
many votes he could bring.
I hope Quayle gets through the
four years with as few scrapes as
ble. And when he does goof, I hopt
people remember that they are the®
who put him where he now is.
Becky Weisenfels is a seniorjoi
lism major, managing editor and i
umnist for The Battalion.
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