The Battalion
OPINION
Friday, AugustJO, 1990
Well-rounded education in college
years key to success after graduation
Organizations teach students leadership, responsibility
Four years in college has definitely
given me something to be proud of. I
came with hopes, dreams and ideas for
the future — I am leaving with an
identity, a well-rounded education
and a set plan of what I want to
accomplish in life. I still have much
more to learn, but it’s a start.
There’s an old Latin phrase, carpe
diem, which means “seize the day” or
in layman’s terms, to take full
advantage of present opportunities. I
don’t know who came up with the
phrase, but I’m certain they had
college students in mind when they
thought of it. How a person can attend
college for four (or more) years and
never get involved in anything I will
never know.
My grandfather reminded me
constantly throughout college to take
advantage of every opportunity to
“I
I’m afraid most people here
don’t realize the importance of
being involved in extracurricular
activities. I suppose they just
assume a degree from Texas
A&M will get them where they
want to go ... College degrees
are becoming about as prevalent
as high school diplomas.”
learn something new, go on a trip or
simply get to meet new people. I wish
everyone here had been reminded to
do that.
College is the once-in-a-lifetime
chance to be right in the middle of
thousands of people close to the same
age with something in common —
we’re all here to get a better education
in order to improve our futures.
There are people of different
nationalities with different cultures
and different ideas. The chances to
broaden our horizons, learn about
others and experience life in general
are endless. But the only problem is, it
only lasts for a short time.
Monique
pi -' M.
Threadgill
' 2k 4'
Editor
j
It frightens me when I think of all
of the students here that are nothing
more than just ordinary students. I
consistently see the same people
involved in everything. There are
more than 600 organizations and all
sorts of opportunities available to
students at A&M — I am certain there
is something for everyone to be
involved in. Yet it seems most of the
members of one group are members
of another group and it turns out that
only a small fraction of the campus
population ends up participating in
things.
I’m afraid most people here don’t
realize the importance of being
involved in extracurricular activities. I
suppose they just assume a degree
from Texas A&M will get them where
they want to go.
Wrong. Everyone should wake up
to the fact that college degrees are
becoming about as prevalent as high
school diplomas. And without another
higher degree or an impressive list of
involvements, you’re nobody special
—just another person with a
bachelor’s degree desperately
searching for a job.
Interviewers and recruiters don’t
want ordinary people — they want
someone who will take initiative, can
handle responsibility and will get
involved in their business. What have
you got to prove to them that you’re
the one they need? Nothing? That’s
what I was afraid of. So why don’t you
get off your lazy tush and do
something to help your future and
improve your college life?
There are special organizations for
almost every different field or major
here, from meteorology to
horticulture to business and
journalism, not to mention all the
service and social groups that are open
to all students. There are groups that
help other people, there are groups
for things you’re interested in, there
are groups for different nationalities,
there are groups for almost anything
you can imagine.
Not only can you gain invaluable^
experience by joining an organization,
but you also can meet new people,
develop different perspectives on
things and make connections which
will help you out when it comes your
time to go hunting for a job.
Getting involved also gives you a
sense of accomplishment and pride in
yourself . And leadership positions in
any organization show that you can
handle responsibility and that you are
capable of making competent
decisions. Being involved in an
organization doesn’t mean that you
are required to devote all of your spare
time to it. You can devote as much
time and work as you want, depending
on what you want to get out of it and
how much time you have to offer.
Looking back, there are many
things I would have liked to have been
involved in but I didn’t take advantage
of the opportunity when I had the
chance. Now I’m either too busy or it’s
too late, but at least I’ve done what I
could over the past couple of years. I
shudder to think of all the people that
do nothing but go to school and,
therefore, have nothing to show for
themselves other than a degree.
If you don’t have a grandfather like
mine to keep you in line and remind
you of your opportunities, take it
upon yourself to open your eyes to
what goes on around here and get
involved in something you’re
interested in.
Carpe diem — your college years
will be over before you know it.
Monique Threadgill is a senior
journalism major.
Opinion Page Editor Damon Arhos 845-3314
Situation in Middle
East af f ects all of us
Events are boiling in the Middle
East and the whole world is keeping a
close eye. Iraq’s President Saddam
Hussein wants to control oil prices
thereby helping Iraq repay its debts
from the 7-year-old war with Iran.
President Bush has warranted his
toughest decision as president, and
this time he’s being hailed by all
people of different political stances.
Whenever a post-Vietnam War
president has had to make the decision
to send American troops to protect
foreign soil, we are reminded of that
unforgivable era. Having been born
during the Vietnam War and having
not actually experiencing it, I have no
idea what it means to live in a nation at
war. I know it’s not a game, but it’s also
not a reality to me, either.
Most of the world has joined the
United States in this all-out effort to
stop this unprompted aggression by
the Iraqi’s. President Bush has sent
American troops to Saudi Arabia, and
he’s even told the Iraqi’s that “a line
has been drawn in the sand.” To add
to the U.S. presence in the Middle
East, Great Britain and France have
sent extra military power to help stop
Hussein (along with the economic
sanctions that other nations have
imposed).
It is also great to see that the Soviet
Union and the United States are
working together. This just goes to
show what post-Gold War diplomacy is
all about. In this combined effort, no
one has a chance — not even Saddam.
If the United States has to use its
military power to settle this conflict, I
hope President Bush issues a quick
clean-up attack. Iraq is very powerful
and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
American lives will be ruined in a war,
but if nothing is done to stop Hussein,
the whole world will lose. That is why
other countries are finally supporting
the United States.
Only when it affects them directly
do they stretch a helping hand. Where
were they when President Reagan was
trying to halt terrorism? I’m glad the
rest of the world is finally getting
involved. I just wish it hadn’t come
down to this.
I hope people all over the country
understand the importance of our
military strength. When President
Reagan began the military expansion
of the 80s, he did it for a reason. Our
military strength had been weakened
by the negligence of the Carter
administration.
The money spent on defense was
necessary. Since the military buildup,
America has seen a camaraderie with
the Soviet Union that hasn’t been alive
for over 40 years. Our military has
been used to stop terrorism and even
used for the drug war. Now we are
faced with a new challenge. President
Bush and the leaders of the world are
coming together to secure world
peace.
What is happening in the Middle
East is very important for each and
every one of us. We will be af fected
directly at the pump when we go to get
gas. We will also be affected when the
high oil prices drive the nation into a
recession.
We have to remember that what
happened 20 years ago is now over.
We have moved into a new era of
peace. The protests of yesteryear are
now a long, forgotten memory. We
can look back at the men and women
who risked their lives for our country
and be proud.
As students we must keep
informed. Unlike the past era we must
also support our government. It’s
important for us to remember that our
military is there to protect us. Let’s
look ahead to peace, even if the “Road
to Mecca” is a littl^rtumpy.
Rudy Cordova Jr. is a senior theatre
arts major.
Mail Call
Cartoon misunderstood by some readers
EDITOR:
This letter is in response to Nancy Ko-chieh Tsai, who wrote
a Reader’s Opinion that critiqued Eric Lewis’ cartoon “In Full Ef
fect.”
First, let me mention that her column, for the most part, was
good. However, 1 would like to mention one small fallacy. She
obviously does not understand “Shewanna B. White.”
I know from personal experience where the thought for the
strip originated. When I was a freshman living in the Lommons,
(along with Lewis), there was this certain African-American fe
male who used to put on a bathing suit and suntan lotion in an
effort to get darker.
Why?
I suppose she wanted to be “accepted” by her white friends.
At any rate, the blacks on campus thought she was a joke and I’m
sure tne whites felt the same way.
To conclude, I do not think Lewis was criticizing intelligent
blacks who are culturally diverse, but rather those who are not
proud of their culture.
Raymond Jackson’90
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Monique Threadgill,
Editor
Melissa Naumann,
Managing Editor
Damon Arhos,
Opinion Page Editor
Holly Becka, City Editor
Meg Reagan,
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News Editors
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Todd Stone, Lifestyles Editor
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CLINICS
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