P«g* 2
The Battalion
Friday, January 20,1989
Opinion
Co-ed residence
halls good idea
Next fall, sophomores, juniors and seniors at Texas A&M University
will have the opportunity to live in co-ed residence halls. Studies
have shown that co-ed residence halls are safer and experience fewer
cases of vandalism than single-sex residence halls. In addition, co-ed
residence halls will foster increased social interaction between male
and female students at A&M.
Co-ed residence halls will put A&M more in line with other uni
versities, and they will make on-campus housing more efficient by
decreasing the number of rooms that go unused. We endorse the
construction of these co-ed halls, and we appreciate the efforts of
those who are working to make co-ed housing a reality at A&M.
The Battalion Editorial Board
Miami riots indicate
social unrest
During the past week, residents of the predominantly-black Miami
neighborhoods of Overtown and Liberty City have been burning
buildings, looting stores and shooting at police and at each other.
Although this reaction of violence to the shooting of a black mo
torcyclist by a policeman is deplorable, every person in this nation
should take a close look at what brought about this act of rebellion.
These people aren’t destroying their own community because of an
isolated police shooting. They are doing so because they believe their
social and economic conditions to be unbearable.
This is not Detroit or Watts in the 1960s; it is Miami in the 1980s.
These riots show that no matter how often or how loudly people say
racial discrimination went out with the Civil Rights Act, conditions
for inner-city blacks actually haven’t changed much in the past 20
years.
While we. sincerely hope a lasting and peaceful solution to these
riots will be found, we also hope all Americans will take a close look
at the reasons why a large group of people in a modern U.S. city felt
so alienated from our society that they resorted to waging war on
their own community.
The Battalion Editorial Board
Mail Call
Apathy is not racism
EDITOR:
I believe that J.Frank Hernandez, in his Nov. 18th column, overstated the level
of racism at Texas A&M University.
Mr. Hernandez asks, among other things, why a wider representation of races
wasn’t in attendance at a ceremony honoring Martin Luther King Jr. He also wants
to know why there aren’t more black and Hispanic staff members of The Battalion,
and why KANM doesn’t program black and Hispanic tunes.
The answer to these questions is not, as Mr. Hernandez says, racism on the part
of Texas A&M or the student body (which are, after all, one and the same). The
real reason is apathy on the part of everyone in general.
The simple fact is that your average person (A&M students included) is willing
to take action, great or small, only when the issue at hand directly concerns him or
her.
People at A&M are not just a bunch of racists as Mr. Hernandez says. Neither is
the student body — for the student body and A&M are the same thing, not two
separate entities as he implies. I’m not saying apathy is good, but I am saying that
apathv is not racism.
Steven R. Rikli *90
A&M not overflowing with racism
EDITOR:
I’m wondering if Mr. Hernandez was having trouble thinking of arguments to
support his column on Jan. 18. Apparently, he feels that Texas A&M University is
just overflowing with racism.
First of all, one of the main reasons that black or Hispanic bands don’t perform
at A&M is because the bands want to make money, not because A&M is full of
racism. I also don’t see how the number of black or Hispanic janitorial workers
determines how much racism is at our University. Do you think that the University
goes around town rounding up black and Hispanic p>eople, forcing them to
become janitors? Is the University racist just because it hires the people who apply
for the jobs?
Also, if we are racists and failures for not supporting Martin Luther King Jr.’s
birthday, then I guess we are communists and anarchists for not having parades
and rallies for Washington's and Lincoln’s birthdays. And if w>e are failures for not
supporting Cinco de Mayo (which is a national holiday in Mexico, not the United
States), then I guess we are failures for not supporting the holidays of other
countries. ,
Some of what Mr. Hernandez said toward the end of his article was good. But
using arguments that just sound good does not help his cause. A&M just isn’t
overflowing with the racism Mr. Hernandez depicted in
Felix Pierdolla *91
David Ortiz *91
depicted in his article.
LrtUrs to the editor ikould not exceed 300 words m length. The editorial staff resents the nght to edit letters for style
and length, hat will make every effort to maintain the author s intent. Each letter must he signed and must include the
classification, address and telephone number of the writer. —v
The Battalion
(USPS 045 3«0)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Becky Weisenfels Editor
Leslie Guy. Managing Editor
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 Edi
tor
Editorial Policy
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per operated as a community service to Texas AArM and
Bryan-Cast lege Station
Opinions expressed in 7hr Battalion are those of the
editorial board or the author. and do not nccesaanh rep
resent the opinions of Texas A AM 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.
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday
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’MCV^TCN FWT
* •
m hi ft fin nil
The streets are
filled as people
line up early to
catch a glimpse
of the Inaugural
Parade...
...and how
long" have
you been
waiting'
here^
seven
years
Disabled people aren’t helpless
This past week, we celebrated Martin
Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and honored
his efforts toward a racially harmonious
nation. His fight helped raise social con
sciousness about racial prejudice, but
there are many types of prejudice that
need to be addressed.
Last semester, I attended a confer
ence addressing the problems encoun
tered by people who are disabled and
the news media's treatment of them No
one was allowed to address the confer
ence who was not disabled or did not
have a child who was disabled. I learned
a lot, especially about society’s prejudice
and lackadaisical attitude toward the
disabled community.
The First thing^l learned at the con
ference was that these people were not
to be referred to as crippled or hand
icapped — handicapped comes from
“cap in hand,” when disabled people
had to beg for money to live. The labels
are demeaning and insulting to many
disabled people. They are disabled, not
helpless.
The main thing to learn, although it
seems so simple, is that disabled people
are not to be pitied, hated or put on a
pedastal for their “courage.” They are
humaiv beings, with the same thoughts,
dreams, moods and goals as anyone
else. They want the same opportunities
as anyone else, but society keeps getting
in their way.
For example, most states have what is
called Local Option when it comes to
supplying public transportation and
building access for disabled people.
That means that it is up to each city or
town to decide whether or not they will
provide certain services. Since cities
have different budgets, that sounds rea
sonable. But what happens when towns
abuse the system?
Cincinnati cut a deal to purchase
buses with wheelchair lifts for less than
it would cost to purchase regular buses.
The city bought the specially-equipped
buses — and then bolted the lifts down
so they could not be used.
In another city, groups representing
disabled people went to court to ensure
the installation of elevators in the Metro
stations, making the subways accessible
to disabled people. The groups won,
and elevators were installed, but not
kept in good repair. So the groups went
to court again, and lost. The court only
said elevators had to be installed — no
one ever said they had to work.
Many people argue that making
buildings accessible for disabled people
is too expensive, but it is usually a mat
ter of priorities. George Covington, an
activist for the rights of disabled people,
talked at the conference about the presi
dent of a college who said the campus
could not be made accessible for dis
abled people without an increased bud
get and at least five years of construc
tion. Soon after, his wife had a stroke
and needed a wheelchair to get around.
Without an increased budget, the cam
pus was accessible for disabled people
within a year.
I am glad that T exas A&M Universi
ty's campus is accessible to disabled peo
ple. Accessibility, however, should not
be an added feature; it should be a stan
dard feature.
Examples such as these should en
rage the public, but many times they are
overlooked.
There are also problems with preju
dice against disabled people applying
for jobs. Granted, there are additionai
considerations present for an employe!
who hires a disabled person, but there
are many instances where minor prob
lems can be overcome and a valuable
employee can be gained.
At the conference, participants were
given an exercise: Pretend you are the
CEO of a major corporation, and you
are interviewing four men to run the
company.
The first man is in a wheelchair, par
alyzed from the waist down.
T he second man is recovering from a
major heart attack that almost cost him
his life.
The third man has a back problem
that puts him in pain most of the time
and he needs specially designed chairs.
The fourth man is older, has had can
cer and has a hearing problem. Who
would you hire?
All four have been hired (in a sense)
by the American people to be the presi-1
dent of the United States. The first man
is Franklin Roosevelt; the second is Lyn
don B. Johnson; the third. John F. Ken
nedy; and the last is Ronald Reagan.
A majority of people will be disabled
at some point in their life, whether it is a
broken leg or a hearing aid. The defi
nition of disabled encompasses a larger
portion of society than many people re
alize — even including people who wear
eyeglasses.
1 came away from the conference
with a greater understanding of the is
sues involving the disabled community.
With attention focused on racial preju
dice. many people overlook the preju
dice problems faced by other groups.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Becky Weisenfels is m senior joumm-
lism major and editor ofThe Battalion.
Bush prepares to take over
George Bush and certain members of
his staff were discussing America’s
schedule of military opponents for the
upcoming Bush administration.
Scheduling opponents is just as im
portant for countries as it is in football.
Hitler, for instance, made the mistake
of scheduling too many difficult oppo
nents. As long as his Germans were up
against Poland and Czechoslovakia no
sweat.
But then Hitler decided to upgrade
and schedule the Soviet Union and the
United States. He lost both of those, so
goodbye to the trip to the Lowenbrau-
John Deere World Domination Bowl.
Anyway, back to Bush. “Anybody got
any idea who we should open with?’’ the
president-elect asked.
“I’d say let’s kick it off with Libya,” of
fered Jack Kemp, the former profes
sional quarterback. “Libya’s been the
Gipper’s favorite opponent, and we can
just about count on a win there. We
shoot down a.couple more of their jets
and maybe drop a few bombs close to
Gadhafi’s house.”
“Why don’t we also blow up the con
troversial chemical plant Gadhafi is us
ing to produce poisonous gases?” asked
Elizabeth Dole.
“Stay out of this. Elizabeth," said
Bush. "This is man-talk."
“It’s agreed, then,” said Bush. “We
open with Libya. Who’s next?”
Lewis
Grizzard
Columnist
“Are there any more American medi
cal students in Grenada we need to res
cue from the Cubans?” asked James
Baker.
“If not,” said Kemp, “we can plant a
few. Grenada would be a pushover, too,
and we’d be up by 2-0 and on our way.”
“How ’bout a third opponent?” asked
Bush.
“We need at least a fairly tough oppo
nent in order to gain in the polls," sug
gested John Sununu.
“Iran?” asked Bush.
“Perfect," said Sununu. “WeTl bomb
a few offshore oil rigs and then blow a
few armed Iranian patrol boats out of
the water.”
“Then,” said Kemp, “we’ll schedule
Angola. Then we’ll send in some more
military advisers to help the Contras
kick butt in Nicaragua. And I think we
could get away with sending troops into
Haiti to restore order.”
“What if Haiti doesn’t need its order
restored?” asked Secretary Dole.
“For the last time, Elizabeth,” inter
rupted Bush, “stay out of things you
don’t know anything about.”
“We need four more opponents,”
Bush went on. “Any ideas, Danny?”
“What were we talking about again?”
asked the vice president-elect.
“Elizabeth,” said Bush, “would you
and Danny please go get some sand
wiches and coffee? We’ve got a lot of
work to do here."
Those remaining in the conference
put their heads together and came up
with four more opponents for the
United States military schedule.
Syria was picked for some offshore
naval bombardment, and then it was
agreed to send troops to El Salvador to
stop the further spread of communist
influence in Central America.
It was also agreed to invade Iceland,
just for the heck of it, and then end the
season with a strong opponent where a
win would add credibility to a perfect
record.
Kemp suggested fighting Norway
over fishing rights, Sununu came up
with Mexico to stop dope and illegal im
migrants. and Baker got a wild idea and
threw in Portugal, but nobody could
think of anything to be mad at the Por
tuguese about.
So Bush finally settled the argument
and decided to invade Canada in 1992
during the Democratic convention be
cause all that land should have been
ours in the first place.
“The Gipper,” beamed Kemp,
“would be proud.”
Copyright 1988, Cowlea Syndicate