The Batta)
The Battalion
OPINION
Monday, April 2,1990
Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs
Clevenger for
student body president
Student body runoff elections are Tuesday, and The Battal
ion reiterates its endorsement of Ty Clevenger for student body
president.
Clevenger, presently speaker of the Student Senate, has
shown that he has the anility to get things accomplished for stu
dents.
Because of Clevenger’s efforts, students now can receive re
funds on unused Aggie Bucks at the end of the semester. He also
convinced administration to provide 24-hour access to some Ma
cintosh computer labs, and he was the driving force behind the
collegiate license plate bill, which has generated more than
$200,000 in scholarships for A&M students.
Clevenger has been active in student government since he
was a freshman, and at every level he has shown his competency
and ability to make things happen.
Students can vote between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday. Poll
ing locations are the MSC Flagroom, Kleberg Building, Blocker
Building and the Academic Plaza. In case of rain, the Academic
Plaza location will be moved to the covered porch of the Sterling
C. Evans Library.
The Battalion Editorial Board
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Knock down barriers set in front of wheelchairs
By PAM M
Of The Bat
On Oct. 5, 1985, I was involved in a
very serious car accident. The head
injury I incurred left me in a coma that
lasted nearly a month. After I awoke, it
took another two weeks under surgical
intensive care to get me where I could
function somewhat on my own again.
After being laid up for a total of six
weeks, they told me it was time for some
physical therapy. I thought “Great! Get
me the hell out of this bed.” Then they
brought in a wheelchair.
“Hey, what’s with the chair? I feel
fine,” I said. I did feel fine, but I also
had not walked in six weeks and had a
significant deposit of calcium in my
hips. Over the next three weeks in a
rehabilitation hospital, a wheelchair was
my principle means of transportation.
Andrew
Lankford
Reader’s Opinion
At the end of my three week stay I was
well enough to leave the hospital and
begin outpatient therapy with which I
eventually became bipedal again.
That was nearly five years ago and I
am constantly reminded of how
fortunate I am to have made it out of
my accident with the ability to walk. My
experience in a wheelchair was nowhere
near the hassle that students here at
I exas A&M and all over the world must
endure.
As I walk across campus I see things I
can’t believe. For instance, passing by
the Northgate post office I noticed that
the access ramp for the handicapped
was roped off. I thought, “Oh, that’s
convenient.” Then cutting through
Hobby and Neeley Halls I noticed that a
truck (and I know who you are) was
parked right in front of a sidewalk
access ramp. T he real problem was that
the truck was legally parked. I decided
to go to Handicapped Student Services
and find out what is being done about
these matters.
On my way over, 1 asked some people
about problems that they have seen on
campus concerning the handicapped.
One person said he thought that people
were basically inconsiderate toward the
handicapped (as far as not getting out of
their way on sidewalks and such).
Another person noted more specifically
that the handicapped entrance doors in
the Harrington Building were very
heavy and closed far too rapidly.
When I arrived at Handicapped
Student Services I spoke with the
secretary, Lynne Barlow. She, along
with workers Emily Farmer and
Michelle Lambert, told me about the
parking problems involving the use of
parking spaces designated for the
handicapped by non-handicapped
people. The scenario they painted went
like this: A non-handicapped person
Think a
Mail Call
Quit squabbling, start relaxing
EDITOR:
In the past few weeks, the Mail Call section has been full of slanderous and
rude comments made by Aggies directed to other Aggies. Come on guys!
Whether we came for the traditions, a great education or just to have a good
time, the fact is we are all here and we’re all Aggies!
There has been so much squabble over bonfire, the parking situation,
Greeks, the Corps and Shelby Metcalf that some of us have forgotten how to
stop and enjoy life here in Aggieland.
This is supposed to be the prime of our lives, so let’s all take advantage of
it! In the infamous words of Bill and Ted, “Be excellent to each other!” Why
don’t we relax and go to the Chicken. The first pitcher is on me.
dome on the Academic building regularly until pilots flying into Easterwood
Airport started complaining about the glare from the reflected sunlight.
If what Lindy Sparks and her colleagues say is true, then no women
blacks, civilians or pilots are true Aggies. My point is this: Tradition plays an
important part in Aggie life, but it is not immune from changes. Since this is
our school, it’s up to us to make those changes when it is time.
As for Lindy Sparks, I think we have seen that some upperclassmen are
doing a thorough job training their freshmen.
Jeff Goodmark ’92
Roll with traditions
Rich Yax ‘91
Traditions, students have changed
EDITOR:
On Feb. 28, a letter was published in Mail Call that really bothered me. It
was written by Lindy Sparks, and basically what she had to say was that all peo
ple against the traditions at A&M are not true Aggies and they should leave.
Last semester, I wrote a letter criticizing the yell leader, who, at bonfire
declared that anyone against bonfire was not a true Aggie and should leave.
The reason I wrote that letter was to express my dislike for mindless generali
zations, and I wish to do it again.
A&M is definitly a school based on tradition, but allow me to point out that
there have been many changes in Aggie traditions over the years. Several
years ago, only white males attended A&M. Women went to Texas Women’s
College and blacks went to Prairie View A&M.
Until 1965, everyone was required to be in the Corps of Cadets since A&M
was solely a military school. If you look around campus now, you can see all
those traditions have changed with the times.
Here’s a more trivial example: The Corps freshmen used to polish the
EDITOR:
In regard to your article by Ken Fontenot in the March 29 issue of The
Battalion, I would personally like to tell him that his feelings are not shared bv
the majority of A&M students. Information from the 1990 A&M poll states
that 84.7 percent of students think that Aggie traditions are great. Also when
Ken and others like him enrolled at A&M, they knew of the traditions and .611
wanted to come here.
In regard to other institutions changing, let them change We are not
close-minded, we just want to keep things the same so others can participate in
the future. We can’t “get rid” of anyone anymore than we can get rid of the
A&M traditions. After all, “Once an Aggie, always an Aggie'” So the be^t
thing to do is to roll with the flow instead of fighting the issue After all vm,
can’t move upstream with a downstream current. ’ y
Jonanna Winkler ‘93 and Lisa Lubbach ‘93
Have an opinion? Express it!
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words m 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. There is no nunmltl Tl
letters submitted will be printed. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification oddr ^ i
tfmr ,ber “ f " ,e wr “"' Mb ‘ 2,6
parks in a designated space and thinl
to himself, “I’ll only be a minute.
Besides, they can park somewhere els
T he problem is that they can’t pari
somewhere else. There are reasons*!
these spaces are where they are. The
spaces are usually located neara
building, sidewalk or access ramp.
I was then introduced tojimene
Conn, who has been a student workei
for three years and presently
coordinates the day to day operations
the handicapped shuttle bus service !
first asked her about the parking
problems.
Conn said, “When problemsare
brought to the attention of
Handicapped Student Services, we
intercede on behalf of the handicappe
person.” She said this was done for tht
legal parking space in front of Hobby
and Neeley Halls, but the problemhas
yet to be solved. She also told how
students who use their temporary
handicap parking pass the full six
months even though they are welllonj!
before the pass expires.
1 have harped on l i ie parking issue
because it is visible. However, it only
represents a small percentage of the
difficulties experienced by wheelchair
users. Conn cited other problems sue!
as the lack of wheelchair-usable desks
classrooms, broken elevators, heavy
doors, the inconvience ofliftsas
opposed to elevators and getting acro«
the tracks to classes in buildings like
Kleberg.
Having spoken with Handicapped
Student Services, I have become
incredibly aware of the problems face
by handicapped students. 1 have
decided to spend today in a wheelchait
and find out first hand what it is like
1 encourage everyone to take notice
of some of the things that maybe
barriers to handicapped people. 1
you discover something, try toremo'f
or tell Handicapped Student Services
and have them address the problem.
Imagine yourself in a wheelchair and
then thank whoever or whatever that
you don’t need one.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Look for And)
column on his day in a wheelchairi"
next week’s Battalion.
Andrew Lankford is a senior indusW
distribution major.
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Scot Walker, Editor
Monique Threadgill,
Managing Editor
Ellen Hobbs, Opinion Page Editor
Melissa Naumann, City Editor
Cindy McMillian,
Lisa Robertson,
News Editors
Richard Tijerina,
Sports Editor
Fredrick D. Joe, Art Director
Mary-Lynne Rice,
Lifestyles Editor
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Adventures In Cartooning
by Don Atkinson <lt