1 he Battalion The Battali OPINION Tuesday, April 17,1990 Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs 845-33 Tuesday, UT embarrassed by tactics of student protestors NO I am embarrassed for our rivals over in Austin. While I was at home this past weekend, I saw a news report of how University of Texas President William Cunningham was forced to abandon addressing a c row el of over l ,000 students who were protesting racial incidents that occurred on the campus last week. The racial incidents involved two campus fraternities, which were both suspended by Cunningham last week until formal investigations can be conducted. The news clip that I saw showed a flustered Cunningham trying to present a prepared statement about the administration’s views of the racial situation on campus. Student protestors were all over him, putting their hands in front of his written words, shoving him back and forth and all the while i banting, “No More Lies.” After repeatedly trying to speak to the student protestors, Cunningham left with his administrative buddies, retreating to the $ 0T » A Damon Arhos Assistant Opinion Page Editor UT Power without delivering his address. In an Associated Press news story, Cunningham is quoted as saying, “In an open society, we ought to be able to have a chance to express our views, but apparently that was not the case today. “Clearly there is a problem of race relations in society. The university obviously has problems as well.” Obviously tbe University of Texas does have race problems. Phis is evident from the incidents that have occurred m the past few weeks. These problems are much like the racial problems that are encountered here at A&M. There is a difference, however. Those students who protested and kept Cunningham f rom delivering his speech are an embarrassment to the University of Texas. Protesting can be an ef fective means of reaching a goal when it is carried out in a non-violent, respectful way. However, those students who pushed, shoved, chanted and kept Cunningham f rom delivering his speech only hindered their cause. Do you think that Cunningham has a much more positive view of their cause since he has been ostracized from their rally? If their object was to get attention from him, they surely did. Next time he’ll probably stay in his office and ignore their protest altoget her. Many of the students voiced concern that the UT administration was apathetic and lacked interest and action. But how : is Cunningham and the rest of the administration supposed to act if they do not yet know all of the facts? As I said before, both f raternities were Class registration ‘horrific’ for Aggie Well, well, well, Aggies, it’s that time again; No, I’m not talking about Aggie Muster; No, I’m not talking about finals. I’m talking about the wonderf ul, long, arduous, beautif ul, fearf ul and horrific process of registration. For the last three years I have had the misfortune of trying to get the desired classes for the following semester that would allow me to stay on course to graduate on time. But it seems like every year the classes that I want are . always taken. Do I get upset when I press all those buttons and Ricky the Rude Registration computer tells me that the class that I want is closed and no other sections are open? Yes. Is it upsetting when a freshman has registered for a class, (that was closed when I registered), and she tells me that he or she got in? Yes. Is it even more upsetting when I finally get in after 18 hours of button pressing and Ricky the Rude Registration computer tells me that I am blocked (and proceeds to hang up in my face) because some poor, deprived soul gave me a parking ticket because he had to fill his hourly quota of at least 1000 parking tickets? Yes. Roland S. Martin Reader’s Opinion I think it is high-time that w'e, as college-educated upperclassmen, rebel against this University and the little twerps who have yet to pay their dues. We need to do away with this ridiculous policy of A through L and so on, and base registration on classification (for you twerps that means seniors, juniors, and YOU people). I he twerps should only be able to register when EVERY upperclassman has registered for classes. I think this will put some faith back into the individuals who have attained the necessary hours to shout the words “senior” or “junior.” The University needs to make it a policy that only twerps have to stand in line and wait to register. Forget this privilege of using the phone. If a twerp is in front of a “Wise One” then the twerp has to graciously let the “Wise One” go ahead of him (or her Gloria Steinham). Third, we need to get rid of Ricky the Rude Registration computer and send him out to pasture. We need someone like a ... Ramona. (There needs to be some incentive to hear someone tell you that you cannot get in a class.) Last, the University needs to provide food, drink and TV for every “Wise One” who has to stand in those damn lines. Sometimes I think they make us stand in line so they can see who will faint due to fee exhaustion. By providing the bare essentials in life, we can eat, drink and watch “All My Children” while we wait for a group of twerps who, due to a lack of hours, have yet to figure out that the registration line is not the financial aid line. I think if the University would follow this particular registration policy, the students would be better off and I wouldn’t have to hear Ricky the Rude’s wife tell me that all lines are closed and I have to call back in another hour. Roland S. Martin is a junior journalism major. suspended pending an investigation. How can Cunningham take action when he does not yet know who is truly responsible? Doesn’t an idea that one is “innocent until proven guilty” exist in this country? Without knowing everything about both situations, it is impossible for Cunningham or the administration to take action. It would not be fair for Cunningham to immediately penalize the groups involved without first knowing what actually occurred. Student Association President Toni Luckett seems to be leading this movement against the administration, advocating working against them instead of working with them. This idea is spreading like wildfire on the UT campus. The same Associated Press article quoted University of Texas student Chantrell Andrews, a sophomore from Dallas, as saying, “We have tried to be non-violent about this, but this could turn from Martin Luther King to Malcolm X in a matter of seconds.” But I've got news forLudet Andrews and for anyone else who advocates this sort of policy: Give iti| because it will get you nowhere. T hese students need to take a lessot from protestors and activists here at A&M. 1 can never remember a timetlu Dr. Mobley was prevented front givinj speech, booed off of the potiuni. shove out of the way or driven from a rally. the president of T exas A&M, werespn his title and character enough thatwt will hear him out. Our student leaders tend to work with the administration instead of against it, a policy which involves compromise and rationale,®! militancy and unrest. Those immature Student protestors who were involved in this embarrassment need to reevaluatethei views about dealing with President Cunningham and the Universityof Texas administration. Otherwise “ Texas Fight” could take on a whole new meaning. Damon Arhos is a senior journalism major. Mail Call Perversity will crumble society EDITOR: Jeff Farmer at least concluded his pro-homosexual column correctly. Our society will disintegrate before our eyes if we allow the legitimization ol per versity to flourish. Mr. Farmer, do you wonder why the anti-sodoim laws were written and are on the books in over 25 states (and, in some countries, is a major offense): T here was a time when perversity was recognized for what it was, and laws were passed to try and keep it in check. It is only because of the homosexual lobby and fearful legislators that it is even an issue. Please read “T he Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ and learn some thing. Those that fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it: and in this case, the very foundation of morality and ti adit ional values is at stake. Gary M. Gaither Instructional Materials Service Department Safety should be University’s main concern EDITOR: I am responding to the Universitv's lack of concern for the safety of stu dents, faculty and visitors in the areas surrounding the renovation of building C of the Langford Architecture Center. As observation would indicate, the University is once again trying to retro fit the existing, rather than provide new facilities for the construction science department. T his may be the most cost effective solution: however, this should not be incurred at the expense of public safety. T he project involves the addition of a fourth floor to building C, directly adjacent to both the Langford Architecture Building and building B, the woodshop facility. Heavy steel columns and beams are being lifted in place (with consider ably outdated building methods when compared to typical industry stan dards) at more than thirty feet above heavy pedestrian traff ic, with little onto safety precautions being implemented. The project is contracted by a local construction company (Diamond Construction Inc., of Bryan, T exas). Some of us might still remember the tragedy that occurred in the con struction of the “new” Chemistry Building, where a construction workerwas killed due ter unsafe working conditions. For those of you who have never seen a construction fatality, be glad because it is not pleasant. But for those who are waiting eagerly for erne ter take place, just spend serme time around the Architecture Center. It would seem that a construction project directed toward the renovation erf the Architecture and Construction Science facilities would exemplify con struction methods and practices that were nierdel in nature — especially in the sense erf public and jerbsite safety. But then again, I guess that is what can be expected from a construction project which involves the famous Architecture Building, which has recently been aesthetically renovated by patching large areas where cerncrete has fallen from the exterior of the fascade. Just another safety hazard stemming from porn construction methods ami practices. Robert Long ‘88 Have an opinion? Express it! Letter!, tu the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial stafj reserves the right to editltllK for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author's intent. There is no guarantee tkl letters submitted will be printed. Each letter must be signed and must include the classif ication, addmstml telephone number of the writer. All letters may be brought to 2/6 Reed McDonald, or sent to CampusMd Stop 1111. By STACY E. i Of The Battalio The Texas Organization after a semest focus on prog rassment and Stacy Carte: nior psycholo people misum organization i change any m have. “I think son nists and mar of us hate m< Associated Pi A former c Virginia was a of his newest vision and tur day. Frank Van zar,41, a nurs< on their way b Galveston Sui home watchinj “U rle was she met hir Lena Garck station in Was in her home v alias “Hamilto “1 told the < that name, E showed his shocked, horri Hobbs, sou] eating a salac Houston polic arrested him i THE IF The Battalion (LISPS 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, Lifesty les Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup porting newspaper operated as a commu nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan- College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the au thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regu lar semesters, except for holiday and ex amination periods. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on re quest. » Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station, TX 77843-1111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER. Send address changes to The Battalion, 210 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-41 11. Adventures In Cartooning Wso