The Battalion OPINION Monday, October 22,1990 More goofy PTTS antics EDITOR: Once again the parking administration is up to their usual illogical activities. This being my third year here I am getting used to the way they conduct business, but their latest caper really has baffled me. For this fall they did away with resident parking on the west side of Kyle Field and changed it to day parking. Because of this they changed many other spaces to resident parking including both sides of Old Main Street. This past week, PTTS decided to convert these spaces into 24-hour reserved and University business spaces. But instead of waiting until these cars moved or the owners notified, they painted around these cars, making these cars illegally .parked. On Thursday, Oct. 18, all these cars received warning tickets. The PTTS knows where to find us, so we will pay our fines, so why can’t they do the same thing for these few cars that they screwed over? The parking administration appar ently does not realize that on-campus students park their cars and leave them for days and weeks. I can’t say I would be too surprised if these cars actually received fines in the next few days knowing the way the PTTS works. The following cars are “parked illegally” on Old Main Street: Tan Toyota pickup 241 3UX Blue Chevy Malibu 048 VAR White Honda Accord 506 JDC Brown Jeep Cherokee 357 EAL Red Chevy pickup 963 7VY Gray Jeep Wrangler 49209 (Delaware plates) Brian Weatherall ’92 Grad students: Don’t hike tuition EDITOR: On Oct. 11, the Graduate Student Council approved a let ter to be sent to Dr. Mobley regarding the proposed tuition fee increase for graduate students. In this letter the council members state they are not opposed to this increase “in prin ciple” and imply that they favor a general increase in tuition fees for the entire graduate school at Texas A&M. This view does not represent the opinions of the biology graduate stu dents, and furthermore, we do not believe this is representa tive of most graduate students on this campus. First and foremost, the need for an increase has not been adequately justified for colleges other than the College of Business Administration. In a recent Battalion article (Octo ber 8), it was reported that the chairman of the Board of Re gents suggested investigating tuition increases in other A&M graduate programs. In the same article, Dr. Mobley was quoted as saying “we’ll probably recommend increases... at a later time.” It has not been made clear to us which deficien cies would be rectified by such an increase, nor has it beeti ex plained why re-allocation of existing funds fould not address any deficiencies. Secondly, the alleged advantages of “new” revenue actu ally penalize colleges, departments, and faculty. Some depart ments at Texas A&M already have trouble competing for quality graduate students, not because of any academic or in tellectual lack but because of low graduate student financial support. To offset an increase in tuition and remain compet itive, graduate stipends would need to be increased, yet it is naive to think that all monies generated from a tuition in crease would return to departmental level. At the very least, administrative costs would be subtracted. Researchers who must compete nationally and internationally for funding (via competitive grants) are especially penalized; valuable re search money must be removed from their grants to cover the costs of their graduate students’ higher tuition. If the administration and Board of Regents are serious about Texas A&M becoming a “world-class” research center (as often stated in commercials during our nationally tele vised football games), the University must support its grad uate students, both current and future. Graduate students provide two essential services to A&M: 1) teaching of classes and laboratories and 2) research. Raising tuition rates will only put TAMU in a less competitive position. Jill S. Kleister ’89 accompanied by 46 signatures In defense of SBSLC EDITOR: I am writing in response to Douglas B. Grigar’s article dated on Oct. 8. First I would like to ask you if you know what the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference stands for? Do you know how and why it started? Have you ever attended the conference? Obviously you only looked at our quote “One Aim! One People! One Destiny!” This, Mr. Grigar, is not RACIST! You are going to tell me or rather us, the executive chairs for SBSLC, we planned this idea for our theme to exclude those that are not Black? You, sir, must be a bigot because you look Mail Call at our T-shirt and come up with this theory of racism. This was just an observation, right? Why didn’t you bother to ask someone about SBSLC or the person you saw the T-shirt on? And how dare you compare our quote to the Germans who stood for racism, bigotry, and most of all DEATH?! Before you view your biased judgment(s), know your facts. SBSLC is not ONLY for Black students. Many students that are NOT Black do attend our conference and ARE greatly appreciated. SBSLC is a conference aimed to enhance the leadership abilities of black students and to heighten our cultural awareness. Now that you know some of the facts, why don’t you find out more on SBSLC? Better yet, I am personally inviting you, yes you, to attend the conference on January 24 through 27. Get more involved and join my committee of host/hostess. Give me a call at 845-4565, I will be glad to sign you up! M. Renette Bailey ’91 SBSLC Asst. Dir. of Host/Hostess Make your vote say something EDITOR: The true lesson of the breakdown of the Soviet Union is not that capitalism is superior to socialism. Instead, it is that a nation whose leaders are inept enough to place their interest in preserving their place in the power structure over fiscal re sponsibility is bound to disintegrate, no matter how large or powerful. This fall, as voters prepare to take to the polls, both Dem ocratic and Republican congressmen are preparing to shoot down the recently-negotiated budget bill, a shabby deal to be gin with. Americans are, and have every right to be, angry with these professional politicians. Instead of taking the lead ership and making the choices that must be made, our con gressmen would rather keep the support of their special in terest groups and plunge this nation into economic chaos with the Gramm-Rudman deadline. There is a choice. This fall at the polls voters can send a strong signal to their representatives. By voting for third- party candidates, we can force our congressmen to sit up and take notice. It is doubtful that any third-party candidate could overcome the existing structure of the political power’s stran glehold on politics, but a large third party vote will attract no tice and impel our leadership to lead. Brian McDaniel ’94 No new taxes — for the rich EDITOR: Now we finally see the deficit “reduction” package for 1991. Raise gasoline taxes by 12 cents a gallon, double the tax on cigarettes and alcohol, raise the tax on airline tickets, and cut the amount of service provided by Medicare. Looks like the working class is going to get to pay the bulk of this bill. But, lest we forget the luxury taxes on expensive cars and jewelry — the amount of revenue will be far surpassed by the amount of tax paid by the working class. Through all of this George Bush and his cronies are still talking about cutting the capital gains tax. What George Bush really meant in 1988 was no new taxes ... for the rich — and he has delivered on that promise. Paul Kennedy graduate student Tang’s column slightly off base EDITOR: In reference to Irwin Tang’s October 4th column on the United States Fueling Insurgences: As a former member of Amnesty International I have re searched the Khmer Rouge heavily and written several arti cles on the subject. I agree with Mr. Tang on several points, but there are a few points that I beg to differ. Mr. Tang, you are correct in your statement that the Khmer Rouge have large stockpiles of weapons, but most of the weapons are Chinese, not American. The United States does supply two of the non-communist anti-government factions in Cambodia. These two groups work in a coalition organization that the Khmer Rouge make up 40 percent of, a plurality over the two remaining factions. The Bush administration is urging Con gress to continue providing aid to the non-communist fac tions, not the Khmer Rouge. The reason it seems that we have “not pressured the rebel coalition to fight its battles at the negotiating tables,” Mr. Tang, is that a win-win deal with the Khmer Rouge is highly improbable. Whatever happens to displease the Khmer Rouge will incite them to create another ‘Killing Fields.’ With them away from the negotiating table a settlement can be made with the more credible factions. As for your Soviet praising Mr. Tang, the governing reason in the Soviet’s sud den move towards ending wars and ceasing support for its sa tellite countries is MONEY! The Soviet economy is in sham- Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs 845-33 hies and cannot afford to give money, or military support in the scale it once did. Think about it, any country who has re lief workers from Rangoon working there has to be hard up. Our country should be involved in the Cambodian Peace process. In 1970, we financed a coup against Prince Siha nouk, to whom we now give money, and put in, as some Cam bodian . saw it, a puppet dictatorship. This action enticed the Khmer Rouge to group and take over the country. The scar iest aspect of it all is that the Khmer Rouge hold seats as rep resentatives of Cambodia in the United Nations. Imagine the horror, again. John Walvoord ’94 Courts are violating our liberty EDITOR: The freedoms of American people were dealt a signifi cant and disturbing blow last week when the record store owner who sold copies of 2 Live Crew was found guilty of obscenity. Our country has always protested against the op pressive Soviets and other nations that have not allowed its people to cherish “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Now we are allowing paranoid hypocrites to deem forms of art and rights objectionable and prohibit them, all in the name of God and America. Art and music deemed obscene and pornographic are precariously positioned under their ax. Even though most people would not miss Penthouse and 2 Live Crew, what power or right do these radicals possess to decide the nation’s right to view it and listen to it? This book-burning mentality has always been present; however, the members of this du bious crowd are becoming much more powerful and are com pletely out of control. For example, men like Sen. Jesse Helms have come together to prosecute the director of an art gallery in Cincinnati who showed the now famous works of art by Robert Maplethorpe. Face it America, fanatics like Helms are stealing your freedoms. Many of you have fathers and grandfathers who fought to attain and protect these free doms. Ignoring this problem will mean that their valiant ef fort was in vain and could result in more restrictions of our rights. This burning insanity is spreading, and ignorance is fu eling the fire. One day the flag may even be singed. It will lose its blue and the white will become a gold while the red will be come more crimson. Or maybe it will burn altogether. Gregory Douglas Harper ’93 Bonfire column full of errors EDITOR: It’s a shame so many trees were sacrificed to print Larry Cox’s column on bonfire. Let us count the ways in which he errors or ignores obvious facts: ‘L* 1. The first bonfires consisted of trash or wood purloined from unspecified places — ask those old Ags. It was never very large in those years. 2. While those trees might be cut for strip-mining anyway, this ignores the fact that the wood could be sold to those with fireplaces and the money used to help those in need (not too many of those in need have fireplaces or wood-hurning stoves to heat their homes). 3. It is highly unlikely that the hundreds (thousands?) of acres cut for strip-mining over the years would be replanted to trees, and if replanted would the “forest” resemble that cut j ... not likely. 4. While I agree that each student has the right to use his i or her free time as they desire and that each must bear the re sponsibility of their academic progress, Cox overlooks the very strong peer pressure that exists on this campus (and at any institution of learning). 5. Bonfire occurs on campus; therefore, it comes under the campus regulations. That means no alcohol at a campus function. Furthermore, the consumption of alcohol at bonfire greatly exceeds all bounds of moderation and leads to ex tremely obnoxious behavior. If Cox hasn’t observed that at bonfire, he has tried very hard not to see it. 6. Bonfire presents a hazard to home-owners near that field and larger bonfires means greater hazards, no ifs, ands, or buts. 7. Finally, it seems to me that the Aggie spirit could be di rected into more productive avenues without degrading that spirit. But then, that might take some creative thinking! Keith A. Arnold Professor and former member, Faculty Senate Have an opinion? Express it! Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in 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 guarantee that letters submitted will be printed. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer. All letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald, or sent to Campus j Mail Stop; 1111. Gr bu ins BylSS Of The Bef( telephi were h A&Mj Pete heliogi sends 1 reflect] antiqui believe instrui museu He s was ma It is he says used in obsolet the ad\ War phased practic “It is and lor isineff days.” With during much I com mi he says It wa British Afghar States t to track Apa< capturt used th his whe The Two m aim ligl Wan the use: oflimit howeve for moi Wan was luc' heliogr it. 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