i
The Battalion
OPINION
Wednesday, May 3,1989
Exxon should
for oil cleanup
be responsible
Six weeks have passed since the Exxon Valdez spilled 10 mil
lion gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, but the Ex
xon Corporation still has no effective plan for cleaning up its
mess.
On Monday, Exxon submitted to the Coast Guard and
Alaska state officials a revision of a plan they submitted April 15
for cleanup and disposal of the oil. The revision provides for
600 /ewer cleanup workers than the original plan, and it calls for
Exxon to clean approximately 300 miles of beaches, leaving 191
miles of oil-covered coastline to what Exxon terms “natural revi
talization.”
Under proposals from the oil giant, sludge recovered from
the cleanup would be burned or buried and environmental laws
might have to be bypassed. The plan makes no provisions for
continuing the cleanup beyond mid-September, when poor
weather and logistical problems may hamper any work.
Exxon officials said the revised plan is necessary because of
the high cost of labor paid to cleanup workers, but the estimated
$60 million in labor presents a negligible burden to the world’s
largest corporation.
Exxon should be held completely responsible for the total
cost of the cleanup effort, including reimbursement to the
hatcheries and fishermen whose seasons were ruined or adver
sely affected by the spill; revitalization of the wildlife that died as
a result of the spill; and reimbursement to the federal, state, lo
cal and foreign governments, companies and private individuals
who have participated in cleanup efforts.
If there is a silver lining to this disaster, it is an increased
awareness by citizens of their environment. Groups from Bryan-
College Station and Texas A&M, including the Texas Environ
mental Action Coalition and Aggies for Mother Earth, are orga
nizing awareness campaigns, while consumer activist Ralph
Nader is leading a national boycott against Exxon products.
The federal government has thus far shown no commitment
to taking Exxon to task for this disaster. That leaves consumers
to send out the message that we won’t let mega-corporations
trash our environment and then stick us with the bill.
The Battalion Editorial Board
Don’t cry over spilt oil
REPO
A 1
fessor
fou rtl
“That’s what I like,” said Slats Grob-
nik, with a snort and a snicker. “I like a
guy who doesn’t make any snap deci
sions.”
Who are you talking about?
“Who else? Our new leader, the com
mander in chief, the great horseshoe
player, President Bush.”
What has brought on your sudden
admiration?
“Well, he said the big oil leak in
Alaska is the oil company’s fault, but
he’s going to send in troops to help
clean it up anyway.”
I think that is a decision we can all
agree on.
“He took two weeks to think it over.
He didn’t make up his mind right away
like I did.”
You did?
“Yeah, as soon as it happened. I fig
ured if it is Exxon’s boat, and they run it
into some rocks, and it’s their oil that’s
spilling all over the ocean, it’s their
fault.”
I have to assume he was confidenttln
oil company was capable of dealing^
the problem.
That figures. You got an oil com
demy
April
been
ivork i
M vin
Th(
pany that lets some boozer run a shiy ences
I think most people thought that way.
“And then when they gave the cap
tain of the ship the old breath test, and
they find out he was loaded to the gills, I
says, that’s it, they’re in trouble. This
had to be the worst driving under the
influence case in history.
“OK, so like I said, right after it hap
pened, I figured it was the oil company’s
fault. Especially when I read they didn’t
have enough equipment to sop up all
the spilt oil, and they had cut back on
the payroll by getting rid of some of
their spilt-oil experts.”
A short-sighted move.
“So I’m waiting for Bush to do some
thing. I mean, this is one of the worst
things we’ve ever done to nature. And
we haven’t been exactly kind to the birds
and the bees, and the fish and the flow-
and you know real fast it don’t
enough equipment to clean up
but you’re confident they can handk
the job. If there’s ever a fire intis
White House, I hope he dials the fin
department, and not some pizza joint
But, as you pointed out, he has final
concluded Exxon must bear all financ!
responsibility, and he has sent in
entist;
cient
fare.
Sur
Syster
son, I
Arntz
All
bers o
I “I i
mers
tary personnel to help with the cleanup
But I wonder I
‘Yeah, mat s nice. ^'faemic
there are any personal-injury lawyer
who will represent millions of deadftgiocuss
sea otters and birds.” . ■nsect
But what would you have had til
President do?
“I don’t know. That’s why he’sPres|
dent and I’m not.’
Well, there’s no point in crying ovfll
spilt oil.
“Tell it to the fish.”
Copyright 1989, Tribune Media Services, to’ : I
Lady Aggies cannot be No. 1 without support
As another successful year in Aggie-
land comes to a close, our minds tend to
think in unique ways. Because it is the
end of the semester, it is not only appro
priate for us to be stressed out, but it is
also time to celebrate and be excited. It
is a time to reflect as well as a time to es
tablish new goals and look toward the
future with anticipation.
I am closing in on my fifth year at
Texas A&M. The most important feel
ing I have to express is that I am very
proud to be an Aggie, and I am glad
that Bill and I made that decision five
years ago when we moved from Kansas
and became Texans. It has been a strug
gle at times and we have not made it to
the top yet, but the fight to get there has
been a good challenge that has been
widely supported by some great people.
The Lady Aggies have arrived, and
although we have been called the best
kept secret on campus, we are here to
stay. We have established ourselves not
only with exciting home contests, but
also with Southwest Conference Cham
pionships, National Championships and
numerous individual accomplishments.
The phrase “you’ve come a long way,
baby” definitely applies to us.
I remember my first year here. I had
to accompany one of our basketball
players to the health center after prac
tice, and while sitting in the lobby, an
other student asked the player where
she had gotten the T-shirt she was wear
ing. When the athlete said that it was
Lynn
Hickey
Assistant Director
for Women Athletic
her team practice shirt, the student
looked puzzled and said she was not
aware that Texas A&M had a women’s
basketball team. The doctor had to im
mediately check my blood pressure!
Progress — we have made it, and we
are starting to see the light at the end of
the tunnel. Our potential is becoming
reality. We have a well-organized
booster club and student groups are re
sponding to our needs. We have been
able to make strides forward primarily
because of a lot of hard work and a lot
of caring people. A supportive adminis
tration, a staff that can coach and re
cruit, competitive student athletes and
caring fans are all factors that have
helped us increase our success.
This is a tough time for collegiate ath
letics. The horror stories of abuse have
filled the media pages, and we certainly
have not been spared media coverage
on our campus. These occurences have
forced us to recheck our priorities. We
now are putting in place a very strong
safety system so this department does
not abuse its student-athletes or violate
the NCAA rules. With the strong lead
ership of President William H. Mobley,
a collegiate athletic career will be a posi
tive experience for student-athletes at
A&M.
Our women’s athletic department is
here to give young women an opportu
nity to further develop their talents as
athletes and students. We’re here to
represent the University as best we can
in a very visible arena. We are trying to
be No. 1 in all facets and do it in a man
ner so that the people involved are
uplifted, not abused.
Let’s never forget the Aggie Spirit. In
my time here I’ve seen it grow in new di
rection, but we still have some weak
areas. With the size of our student en
rollment, we should never have empty
stands at any contests. I don’t believe a
“two-percenter” is just someone who
doesn’t support football — the true Ag
gie Spirit should be present at all events
and there definitely are enough of us to
fill the stands.
Who can deny the excitement of
watching our women’s and men’s bas
ketball teams battle the University of
Texas this year? Who cannot help but
get caught up in the excitement of base
ball this spring? Don’t let that spirit die.
Home court advantage is not the court
surface itself, but rather the fans sitting
around it.
My thanks to those who supported us
in the struggle to build a program and
an identity. I challenge those of you who
return to help us make our future even
bigger and brighter. Our job is to try to
represent you in the best way possible,
both on and off the field. Your job as a
student body is to reciprocate by sup
porting us in the stands.
A&M is a special place and it always
will be if we all work together. Some day
we will beat UT in women’s basketball
and we’ll pack G. Rollie White. I just
hope you will be part of that effort.
Our teams are here, not for Coat'
Slocum, Coach Metcalf or myself, ^
for you, the students of Texas 0
Win or lose, we’re in this together. Iftl
Aggies stick together and we keepo 111
priorities in perspective, we will alwa'
come out winners no matter what the!
nal score.
Persons interested in submittii 1 !
guest columns to The Battalion shod
contact the Opinion Page Editor
3314.
Mail Call
Dying over dead week
EDITOR:
It seems funny that our supposed dead week is not really a dead week at
all. In fact, students are probably more alive that week than many others
because of lab exams, term papers and presentations!
Students are supposed to use dead week as a week to catch up for finals.
However, it seldom works that way. Often other assignments are given.
I propose that some rules be changed so that students are given at least a
tiny rest before finals. Otherwise “dead week” may truly become a “dead
week” by killing off people from exhaustion.
Laurie Nagel ’90
Accompanied by 14 signatures
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit lettrf
for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must be signed ad
must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer.
The Battalion
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Member of
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The Battalion Editorial Board
Scot Walker, Editor
Wade See, Managing Editor
Juliette Rizzo, Opinion Page Editor
Fiona Soltes, City Editor
Ellen Hobbs, Chuck Squatriglia,
News Editors
Tom Kehoe, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Dean Sueltenfuss, Life Editor
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