Opinion
Mail Call
Is it racism or individual expression?
EDITOR:
This note is in response to Cherita Montgomery’s Dec. 6 letter concerning
racisim. Do you, Ms. Montgomery, expect to see every drawing of a black person to
be depicted in perfect detail while all ocher races are drawn abstractly or as
caricatures? I think not. *. .
Drawings are a form of communication. If the artist is trying to get a point
across, the thought is important, not the picture. Any artist (black, white, Chinese,
etc.) will draw something using their own style. Look at the comic section, or
political cartoons. They are forms of communication, just as Ms. Lytton’s picture
on poverty was. The drawing was of two children — one black, one white. I see no
racism in that. Your letter sounded like an excuse to yell “racism.” My only
suggestion to you, Ms. Montgomery, is to read the children's book. The Boy Who
Cried Wolf. I think you can make a connection as to its moral content.
Glen McLean Jr. ‘89
Christianity runs rampant at A&M
EDITOR:
I am a freshman attending the public Texas A&M University, or at least I
thought it was a public university some months ago. As it turns out, my image of
what a public institution is (and subsequently what the legal view of what a public
institution is) is all “wrong" here. Basically, Christianity is the official religion here,
and if you don’t like it, by God you’re a two-percenter.
My first gripe is with the saying of a Christian-bent prayer before the football
game last Thursday. Frankly, I was offended by the use of a prayer in a football
stadium which is owned and operated by a public institution. I feel that my rights
as a member of this institution, and more importantly, mankind, have been
abused. I call on the immediate stop of any such “ceremonies” in the future for the
sake of this “world class university’s" own good.
Secondly, I sadly must say that 1 wasn’t shocked a bit to see Christian writings
on the blackboards of my math class. They stated that “all have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God . . . the wage of sin is death,” but then the relief
that “For God so loved the world that he gave his only (begotten) Son and
whosoever believed in Him should not die but have eternal life.” I dtm’t know who
put this on the blackboard of a math class, but in my opinion, it certainly has no
logic to it.
As you may have surmised, I am not a Christian. But 1 respect the rights of
those who are (Christians) by not forcing my views on them in a public forum. I
would very much appreciate the same respect in return.
James Keck ‘92
Bait Scrooge ruins Christmas
EDITOR:
Dean Sueltenfuss — you are the most sacrilegious of them all! How dare you
place Christmas in line with hell! How dare you accuse us of losing the “traditional
customs and values” of Christmas. You are the one who needs to open his eyes to
the true meaning of Christmas!
Gathering for Christmas breakfast still exists, attending Christmas mass is still
practiced, and families and relatives still gather for the holidays, spending time
together for Christmas dinner and parties. The nativity is still adorned. Don’t try
to paint a picture of a typical family in 1988, because as an artist, you stink!
Maybe as a child your family goofed by not teaching you what Christmas is
truly about. If you think the “Rambo Death Blaster” is a traditional Christmas gift,
then obviously your Christmas tree at home is trimmed with hand grenades
instead of ornaments.
You see. Dean, many presents that are given today maintain that spirit of love
that Christmas is all about, like the dolls that little girls receive and the puppies that
little boys get. Are these the toys of destruction? 1 think not! This attitude that you
have taken. Dean, places you right next to Scrooge.
It’s people like you that give Christmas a bad name! It’s people like you that
give A&M a bad name!I fully support Guy Valentino’s Dec. 5 letter. You need to
“open your mind,” Dean.
If you think the true meaning of Christmas is gone then bring it backrtnf?)—^
focus. Don’t tell us that “happiness isn’t for sale.” In most families, like my own, it ‘
already exists.
Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ. Why don’t you tell us
about that? Or do you yourself not remember?
P.S. I feel that the writers and editorials should quit being so cynical towards
the student body. Start being more responsible with what you write and how you
write it.
Stephanie L. Champagne ‘90
Bait saves the day
EDITOR:
• • l
I am currently co-oping in Casper, Wyoming and I was just informed that I will
not be asked back for another co-op term. This was very distressing because in the
past six years that I’ve been in the work force, this was the First time I’d ever been
“Fired." I went back to my apartment feeling like the most unwanted human being
in the world. All sorts of emotions went through me from hurt to anger to despair.
When I reached my mailbox, there was the copy of The Battalion, faithful as ever
in bringing me Aggie news, even way up here in Wyoming. In the Nov. 23 issue on
the opinion page was Dean Sueltenfuss’ column, “It’s Thanksgiving, but are we
really thankful?”
1 had just gotten Fired. What was there to be thankful for? Dean had the
answers, and because of him and the person(s) responsible for giving me my free
Baft everyday, I too understand how thankful I should be.
Andrea Endriga ‘90
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 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 045 560)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
:ky Weisenfels. Editor
e Guy, Managing Editor
Bee
Leslie
Dean Sueltenfuss. Opinion Page Editor
Anthony Wilson, City Editor
Scot Walker, Wire Editor
Drew Leder, News Editor
Doug Walker. Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Mary-Lynne Rice,
Entertainment Editor
Editorial Policy
The Bdttjhnn is a non-profit, self-supporting newspa
per operated as a community service to Texas A&M and
Bryan-College Station.
Opinions expressed in The Batuhon are those of the
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.
The Batuhon also serves as a laboratory newspaper
for students in reporting, editing and photography
classes within the Department of Journalism
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday
during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday
and examination periods.
Mail subscriptions are $17.44 per semester. $S4.62
per school year and $36.44 per full year. Advertising
rates furnished on request.
Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald,
Texas A&M University, College Station. TX 77843-1111.
Second class postage paid at College Station. TX
77843.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal
ion. 216 Reed McDonald. Texas A&M University, Col
lege Station TX 77843-4111,
Liberated
I have this roommate — who shall re
main nameless except my roommates
are Debbie and Liz and it isn’t Debbie —
who has dared to do what few girls
(women?) have done before.
She asked a guy out.
Now you are probably sitting around
on a bench or in a broken lawn chair,
eating those little crackers shaped like
ducks and saying "Big deal! Women ask
men out on dates all the time.”
W'ell, yes, they do. In liberated places
like California, New York and certain
suburbs of Minneapolis. But we are in
the middle of a place where women
scream if a Corps guy doesn’t open the
door for her. This is the school where
chivalry lives (in a terminal coiqa,
maybe, but still alive).
Women do not ask guys out here. It is
simply against all applied rules of eti
quette according to A&M females.
Instead, women put on some make
up and hit the bars. They flex the eye
lashes and giggle (tee-hee-hee, ha ha.
followed by a demure toss of the head).
But not what’s-her-name. No, she
marched right out there and asked a
guy out — sans eyelash-flexing.
But I’m glad she did it because it gave
me a good idea of what guys go through
before they ask out that little muffin for
the First lime. As I learned, this asking
out stuff tends to be chocked full of
emotions and good stuff like that. It’s
even better to watch than Days of Our
Lives — and that’s pretty darn good.
So let’s see what my roommate did on
her adventure into dateland:
roomates are a pain
Becky
Weisenfels
Editor
• Two weeks ago — She started
bringing up this guy’s name at odd
times for no reason at all. His name
leaked into conversations that had noth
ing to do at all with HIM (that was an
noying — if I wanted to discuss HIM, I
would have brought HIM up myself.)
She began talking to HIM in the halls
and had the FBI do a background check
on him. She wasn’t too interested at this
time, but he sure is cute, by-golly.
• One week ago — He’s getting
cuter. She starts bringing up his name
more often to tell us how tall he is and
what size shoe he wears.
No, she decides he might not be the
liberated ’80s kind o’ guy that she could
safely ask out. She calls a friend of this
guy’s to inquire about what’s-his-face.
“Is he the kind of guy I could ask
out?” It’s affirmative, and Mission Im
possible is on its way.
I, being the dear friend I am, give her
some profound words to guide her
through these doubtful times. I say, “It
will be either one of the most blissful ex
periences of your life or you will suffer
humiliation like you’ve never felt befo
re.”
• Last night — she calls. It was a
quiet kind of thing, unassuming and
friendly. They chatted, she laughed. It
kind of looked like an AT&T commer
cial. Then it was THE TIME.
“So, uh, what are you doing Friday
night?” which means “GO OUT WITH
ME!”
“Nothing, really," which means “I’m
open to suggestions.”
Note: I couldn t care less about any of
this. I mean, who is this guy to me? I
come home for a little relaxation and
MTV and what's-her-name ruins it by
spouting off about HIM. I decide / have
got to do something.
• This week — She approaches the
subject of maybe, possibly, perhaps,
maybe asking him out. OK. I wish she
would. Then I could get some sleep and
start to enjoy life again. So I encourage
her.
“Yeah, call him,” I say. “Ask him out.
He’ll go and 1 think it would be a good
experience for you (and a break for
me).”
“Well, what about . . ” and
the rest is history (and private).
So she got a date, he got to brag to
the guys about what a hot, hot dude he
is and I got some peace and quiet. Ex
cept. now what’s-her-name is sooooo
cheesy I can’t get her to be depressed no
matter how hard I try.
I guess I just have to live with it —I’ve
joined a support group for people
whose roommates ask out guys. With a
little help, 1 should be over this troubled
time and on my feet again in no time.
Becky Weisenfels is a senior journa
lism major and editor of The Battalion.
I need an answering machine
If you look at my phone number this
year and compare it with the phone
number of the Gay Student Services last
year, you’ll Find that the two are not
only similar, but exactly alike.
This unique situation makes for some
unusual phone calls. On the average,
my roommate and I receive Five GSS
phone calls a week. We really didn’t
start suspecting anything until the sec
ond or third week of school, after we’d
received numerous calls for the service.
At First, I was embarrassed at the situ
ation, mostly because I had never had to
deal with anything like this before. With
time, however, I’ve learned to deal with
the situation and have come to some
conclusions.
I must admit I get some pretty
strange calls at times. I have gotten so
used to the calls that sometimes my
roommate and I will play along and just
see what the caller will say.
One afternoon a woman called and
asked if the GSS could arrange ? trans
vestite erotic dancer to entertain at her
“friend’s” husband’s birthday party. She
said she wanted nothing extravagant or
too personal, just someone she could be
referred to that wouldn’t mind dancing
in drag.
When I told her I couldn’t help her,
she paused for a moment and then told
me that she hoped she hadn’t offended
me.
Of course, she hadn’t. T he whole call
actually made my day because it made
me laugh so hard that it put me in a
good mood. My being in a good mood
was imperative since I was contemplat
ing skipping my 5 p.m. speech class.
Richard
Tijerina
Gum! columnist
Another call I received one day was
from a man who was requesting referral
to an attorney concerning a custody suit.
The journalist in me itched to ask him
more questions in hopes of landing a
really big story or something. (I’ll do just
about anything for a couple of brownie
points.) However, I told him I couldn't
help him and hung up.
More often than not, however, we’ll
get calls from lonely guys just wanting to
know of a good bar in town where they
could go and “meet" other guys.
Some are A&M students, some are
Bryan-College Station residents and
some are from out of town, just here for
the weekend.
Sometimes we’ll get calls from guys
wanting to know of local dance clubs
that have any type of gay underground.
We usually tell them we don’t know of
any, although sometimes my roommate
will say something about special Thurs
day nights at the Edge or Parthenon or
something. My roommate and 1 have
both considered changing our phone
number, but I’ve always felt that the rest
of my sophomore year just wouldn’t be
the same.
The other day I had to phone the
president of the Gay Student Services
for a news story I was working on. Dur
ing the interview,* I mentioned my
phone number was the same as the GSS
last year. He said I must be in a pretty
strange predicament.
I agreed.
I also asked him about a few things
that were troubling me. It seemed like
most of the calls I had been getting were
from guys wanting to know of places to
meet other guys. The president told me
he does indeed tell callers of some bars
they could go to.
He said there are even places you
could go to for quick safe sex, although
he will usually not divulge these loca
tions over the phone. He said most of
the people in the gay bars can tell you
where these locations are.
He assured me he is not in the busi
ness of lending transvestites to entertain
at birthday parties. 1 must admit this
made me feel better. I was hoping the
GSS was not merely a “dating service”
or something. I was right. The GSS tries
to make life easier for homosexuals liv
ing in the Bryan-College Station area.
They do this through group rap ses
sions, counseling and assorted speakers.
At the end of the conversation, he
told me that I could refer all our callers
to his personal number, but I didn’t
want to feel like some sort of secretary
or something. Instead, I’ll just let every
one know now that the number has def
initely changed.
Anyone wishing to reach the GSS can
do so through the Student Activities Of-
Fice, not my apartment.
Richard Tijerina is a sophomore
journalism major, staff writer and
guest columnist for The Battalion.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berfce Breathed
i
r
2