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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1989)
The Battalion "he OPINION Thursday, September 14,1989 rhi © Do*\ Jr. Global warming: a heated issue Should we all be checking out real es tate in Alaska, or are scientists who warn of catastrophic global warmyig just blowing hot air? Sometimes it’s hard to tell, admits one 0 f monitoring stations, 1: of those scientists. about 1 degree Fahrenheit David Foster Associated Press Despite the uncertainties, many scien tists — and more recently, government policymakers — have decided global warming is too much of a risk to ignore. At a recent conference on global warming, climatologist Stephen Schnei der displayed two New York Times arti cles from last January. “US Data Since 1895 Warming Trend,’ claimed. one Fail To Show headline pro- Cause and effect? Common sense might suggest that rising levels of car bon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming, and that is the basis of mathematical models being used to predict future warming. has increased May, the White House softened its go-slow attitude to embrace the idea of a formal international treaty-tiegotiating process on global warming. “Global Warmth In 88 Is Found To Set A Record,” said the other. Schneider turned to his audience and asked, “Anybody here confused?” If nothing is done to reduce society’s production of greenhouse gases, the Earth faces the equivalent of a doubling of carbon dioxide by the middle of the next century. And that, the various models predict, could produce a global temperature rise of two to 10 degrees. Citing “growing consensus” among scientists, the Environmental Protection Agency in March urged reduction of carbon dioxide through energy conser vation. , But such measures can cost big money, and maneuvering has already begun to protect special interests. While most scientists concur on the basic mechanism behind global warm ing, there is less agreement over how much or how quickly the Earth is heat ing up, and even less over what should be done about it. The serious disagreement starts here. The underlying principle is called the greenhouse effect, familiar to anyone who has left a car with the windows rolled up on a sunny day. The short- wavelength sunlight passes through the windows and is absorbed by the seats, which give off long-wavelength heat ra diation that’s trapped by the glass. Robert Jastrow, former director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, questions both the accuracy of the models and the assumption that the greenhouse gases have already caused warming. Last month, the oil industry released a study that concluded natural gas heat might contribute more to the green house effect than oil heat. The gas in dustry attacked the report as flawed and biased. Such spirited debate, while not always enlightening, at least keeps the issue of global warming alive. And that, Schnei der said, is key. The past century’s warming trend could be due to natural changes in cli mate or the sun’s brightness, he says. A crisis — last summer’s heat wave — drew attention to global warming. But Jastrow’s successor at Goddard, James Hansen, is a leading supporter of the climate models. Earth’s “windows” are gases like as carbon dioxide, methane and chloroflu- orocarbons, which let sunlight through but trap heat radiated from the ground, keeping it from escaping into space. “If anyone is dubious that a green house effect can be dangerous,” says as tronomer Carl Sagan, “just point them to our neighboring planets.” Though uncertainties remain, he says, they are unlikely to change his ba sic conclusion, “that a growing green house effect will increase the frequency and severity of the extremes of the hy drologic cycle: droughts, on the one hand, and extreme wetness and storms on the other.” “I hope that a cold, wet winter or nor mal summer or two won’t deter human ity” from learning more about global warming, he said. “The bottom line is, we insult the environment at a faster rate than we understand the conse quences.” David Foster is the AP Northwest re gional reporter. Mail Call Bonfire: a bunch of hot air ™ uld poss^.^fordanrymgthckK being involved with our school s EDITOR: If the wood used for the bonfire was indeed destined to be burned anyway, then using the wood for the bonfire may not entail any additional atmospheric pollution, but it is still contributing to air pollution and the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the troposphere. Moving the burning site of the logs from the woods in which they are taken to the Texas A&M campus does not change the fact that air pollution is certainly created. traditions and feeling the spirit of Aggieland makes me a mindless conformist. Got your ring yet? Please don’t wear it in your nose, even if it die make a statement. Paul C. Linden ’91 By A )f Tl Mr. Righter is wrong EDITOR: Areas around the world are being rapidly deforested, and there is no justification for this University to be taking part in global deforestation in the manner of the bonfire. This year in particular would be a good time for students to funnel their energy into stopping the tree killing in the proposed MSG expansion rather than taking part in an outdated and environmentally objectionable form of celebration. Alternative methods for a campus-wide celebration with more positive results must be brainstormed and then enjoyed by everyone. As juniors and Battalion readersai | A&M, we have read very few music critiques we have actually enjoyed. At i first, we thought John Righters’ editorial was to be one of them. Johns i comments on glam rockers and Rich; Marx we agreed with and felt were funny and well founded. Ti iwinn recei the l Cent Rc and Anm majo cants Rc may ally c sen b Le dinal view, finar “Ii L Then John opted to blow a perfect!) fine article out the door in just two simple paragraphs. The first of these paragraphs dealt with the ego of Bono Apparently John had just heard ofU2 and their album The Joshua Tree. In I 4- s' the past three years U2 has received ^v. much well-deserved publicity, notonli on television but in magazines such as Rolling Stone and Time. The University is striving for an international reputation, and this is a much more attractive and longlasting goal for the campus to focus on rather than simply winning a football game against an across-state rival. A reasonable replacement for the bonfire might be a campuswide party reflecting the diverse makeup of the student body. The opportunity to sample food, music, language, dress and culture of other people is far more interesting and enriching than watching a fire burn. Michael C. Worsham T.E.A.C. Vice President WA Ihica] lated John, being such an open-minded a univ critic, has apparently made his | n me judgment on Bono from such coveragt It is a shame he has jumped to such J conclusions without doing any researd Bono’s (and U2’s) musical genius has earned them millions of true fanswi albums such as Boy and October that show a personal and religious side of Bono and U2 that few know about or have ever heard. Texas srojec ion in Leo :xecut hang hairn heck P Too EDITOR: The second paragraph was on his request for Led Zeppelin to “stay dead We admit that two years ago we [only occasionally] listened to Zeppelin. But bad, two-percenters after hearing such great albums as Physical Graffiti and Houses of the f. we have come to consider Led Zeppei; one of the best rock gi oups of all timi not only to us, but millions of others as well. urin^ 111. It is a shame that Jim Hayes feels so strongly that the traditions at Texas A&M were “tailor-made” for the Corps of Cadets only. It is sad that he feels he must separate Aggies into two groups: cadets and civilians. It is difficult for those inclined not to participate in Aggie traditions to understand why those who do participate feel so strongly about it. Maybe you two-percenters would really like it if you tried it. Since Mr. Hayes is so fond of metaphors, here’s one: After experiencing the thrill of a roller coaster, many will often try to get others to experience the same thrill. For those of you who are too scared or too busy to get involved with Aggie traditions, you’re really missing out on what much of the college experience is all about. If John is to refer to Zeppelin as a “pathetic forefather,” it is only logicals assume that this would include The Doors and The Beatles also, since they were the forefathers of music. Howeve without these legendary groups, musk would not be where it is today. It is a shame that such a great educational institute as A&M is attended by such self-acknowledged music “critics” who refuse to open their minds and earsto groups such as U2, Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, The Alarm, REM, The Violent Femmes, the Doors, the Cure, Rushanf The Cult. We do not claim to be musid authorities, but we do feel John’s arlidi left something to be desired. Lance Nash ’91 David Schrutka ’91 Also, thanks to Coriene M. Case (who spoke in Wednesday’s Mail Call with the pride and spirit only a two-percenter Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit W for style and length, but will make every effort to 0 tain the author’s intent. Each letter must be signilt must include the classification, address and telef^ number of the writer. A thin atmosphere keeps Mars in a deep-freeze, while an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide keeps Venus roasting. Earth, with a moderate carbon diox ide concentration, has equable tempera tures, liquid water and abundant life. Verifying the major effects of green house warming could take 10 to 20 years of observation, Hansen says. By then, some scientists warn, it may be too late to stop greenhouse warming al ready in the works. If the ugly shoe fits, don’t wear il But since 1850, Earth’s atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased 25 per cent, mostly due to burning fossil fuels. A temperature change in the lower range of predictions might not cause catastrophic damage. Imagine this poster: There is a circle. Inside the circle are two feet, which obviously belong to a woman. The feet are wearing a pair of tennis shoes. There is the familiar slash through the circle. Underneath the circle are two words: Lewis Grizzard Columnist “A lot of women are mad. How dare you tell us what to wear! It’s seen as sex ist. During the same period, average temperature, compiled from hundreds But a 10-degree rise could expand ocean water and melt enough polar ice to raise sea level nearly three feet, flood ing coastal regions worldwide, some sci entists say. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Assoeiaiion Soul Invest Journalism (iouf erciu c The Battalion Editorial Board Scot Walker. Editor Wade See, Managing Editor Juliette Rizzo. Opinion Page Editor Fiona Sokes. City Editor Ellen Hobbs, Chuck Squatriglia, News Editors Tom Kehoe. Sports Editor JayJanner. Art Director Dean Sueltenfuss. Lifestyles Editor Editorial Policy The li.iitulion is a non-prolii. sclt-su|)|M>rting newspa- ih*i operated as a (ommtmity service to Texas AXM and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The li.million arc those of the editorial Ixtard or the author, and do not neccssartlv rep resent the opinions of Texas AK.-.M administrators, fac- ultv or the Hoard of Regents. 77te Hull at ion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in rcjioriing. editing and photography classes within the Department of journalism. 77ic R;mulion is published Monday through Friday during Texas AX.-M regular semestets. except for hoiidav and examination |>ci i<>ds. Mail subscriptions are SI7.lt jht semester. $:VI.(>2 |x't school ve.u amt Sltti.-I I |>ct lull year. Advertising rates furnished on ic<|ucst. Our address- The li.muhon. 230 Reed McDonald. Texas AXrM l mvet sit v. College Station. I X 77843-1 III. Second c lass |x>slage paid at College Station. I X 778 13. IX >S I MAS I KR: Send address changes to 77te H.mill ion. 2 Hi Reed McDonald. Texas AXM Cnivctsilv. Col lege Station TX 77843-4 111. “Dress professionally.” The message is clear. Don’t, ladies, wear leisure shoes at work. That was the poster that employees of one company saw one recent morning when they came to work. How it got there, according to Beth Zoffmann, public relations director for the company, was that managers no ticed a large number of female employ ees wearing their tennis workout shoes during the entire work day. “I wear tennis shoes to and from work and on the train,” explained Beth Zoffmann. “It makes sense the way women’s shoes are designed —for style, not for walking comfort. When I get to work, though, I put on the appropriate shoes immediately.” A number of the employees, how ever, became irate after seeing the poster. Here’s a sampling of what one, who didn’t want her name to be used (“It would cost me my job!”), had to say: “Not all the men here dress out of GQ, but if they got too bad, then they would be approached individually, and that’s what should have happened here. “A lot of us feel if there were a prob lem — and I don’t see that there is — it was mostly secretaries who stay at one work place all day long and don’t meet clients. But if there was a problem, then somebody should simply have talked to the individuals involved.” I’ve got to agree, and that is precisely how I handled the situation in my own office recently. Ever see those black hightop workout shoes women wear these days? They look like correction shoes for people who are missing some toes. Actu ally, what they look like are shoes an East German female weight lifter would wear — one named Greta with big, hairy thighs. My own secretary, the lovely and tal ented Miss Wanda Fribish (whose thighs I have never seen), came to work® pair of shoes like that the other day. I called her into my office, shuti door and said, “Good God, Where did you get those awful-looks shoes?” Realizing I wanted to handle f manner in a professional, non-stf manner, she replied, “You want )is nose on the back of your head, Fo« Eyes?” “But Wanda,” I said, “you looklM East German female weight lifter 1 those shoes.” At this point, Miss Fribish, a for® 1 Female Tractor-Puller of the Y® kicked me in the shins. “My shoes,” she said, “are my bit ness.” See how easy it was for me tod! with a female employee about her [o' wear, one-on-one? I suggest office menagers do d same with those female employees f appearing in the workplace withd proper footwear. To be on the safe side, however,tb ought to wear a pair of shin guards didn’t know those East German fei® weight-lifter shoes had steel toes. The doctor said I should be off* crutches in another couple of weeks Copyright 1989, Cowles Syndicate