Friday, October 26, 1990
The Battalion
OPINION
Opinion PagQ Editor
Ellen Hobbs
Straight-ticket voting
is the easy way out
As elections draw near, voters need to learn more about all
candidates, not just the major personalities covered extensively
by the media.
Straight-ticket voting is becoming more popular, but this
easy-way-out procedure does not do justice to our right to elect
our officials.
Copies of the Republican and Democratic platforms in the li
brary help voters understand generally where each party stands
on certain broad-based issues. However, the two main parties
meet in the middle on many issues. Also, candidates in each
party don’t always agree with all of their party’s stances.
It is especially crucial to learn about our local officials, and
not just vote for candidates because of their party affiliation.
The League of Women Voters and the local Democratic and
Republican neadquarters can provide information about local
candidates.
Also, local newspaper and television coverage offer easy-ac-
cess information about local candidates and their views.
Local officials have a direct impact on our lives. Responsibly
electing these officials should include a little fact finding.
Voting a straight ticket takes little effort, but don’t take the
easy way out.
The Battalion Editorial Board
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Claytie fan steps on
I recently had an encounter with a
supporter of Clayton Williams that so
disgusted me that I decided it should be
shared with my fellow students. It hap
pened this past Wednesday, and here is
how the events transpired:
12:07 p.m. I left my apartment plan
ning on going to the grocery store only
to find out that somebody had removed
my “Ann Richards for Governor”
sticker from the bumper of my car. Fu
rious, I marched back to my apartment
to get my spare sticker out of a drawer.
I usually always have a spare sticker
which advocat£5...Democrats for political
offices; knowing that this schools toler
ance for diversity is almost non-existent,
1 expect good-ole boys to attempt to
muffle my Democratic ideals.
12:11 p.m. After replacing the miss
ing sticker, I proceeded to the store.
Upon returning, I parked my car in the
same space that I had just vacated. Hav
ing a three-hour break between classes,
I proceed to reward myself with a nap.
4:13 p.m. I awake from my nap with
the intention of going to my 4:30 class.
On my way towards campus, I decided
to check the status of my Ann Richards
sticker. Surely no one would be reckless
enough to remove my second sticker in
broad daylight. Once again, the tenacity
of morons takes me by surprise. Where
my handsome Richards sticker ap
peared just hours ago was now nothing
but a black rectangle breaking the conti
nuity of my dusty bumper.
My head swims with anger. To think
that someone would have the audacity
to prevent me from expressing an idea
that is protected by the First Amend
ment and espoused by Americans na
tionwide makes me feel ill.
Suddenly, everyone looked suspi
cious. I was surrounded by Williams
supporters. I was also in a panic because
that happened to be my last sticker.
What was I to do? I could not let the ig
noramus who removed my sticker feel
the joy of victory by not immediately re
placing it. It had become a battle of
wills. One I was determined to win.
4:19 p.m. Luckily, my girlfriend,
Georgia, had an extra Richards for Gov
ernor sticker in her car. I frantically
called her and explained my situation.
She understood my plight, being re
cently victimized herself by the sticker
bandit. She rushed over to my apart
ment, sticker in hand.
4:27 p.m. I applied the third sticker
to my car, knowing no dimwit could be
so dense as to remove three stickers in
one day.
6:13 p.m. I jump in my car to pick up
Georgia and go out to dinner, not be
fore checking the status of my sticker —
it’s still there and more attractive than
ever.
8:10 p.m. Georgia and I return to my
apartment with two movie rentals, “Priz-
zi’s Honor” and “Roger and Me.” Intent
on not letting a typical Clayton Williams
fan ruin my day, I look forward to an
evening of entertainment complements
of Kathleen Turner and Jack Nicholson.
10:10 p.m. The end of Prizzi’s Honor
allows me the opportunity to check the
status of my Richards sticker. Grabbing
the cool black metal of my new four D
cell Maglite flashlight, I hurry out the
door. I approach my car with apprehen
sion, reassuring myself that the Williams
groupie could not have had the oppor
tunity to steal my sticker in the two
hours I have been home. I quickly turn
towards the back of my car, knowing it
will be there.
Once again, I am wrong. My black
uninterrupted bumper is staring right
back at me. I am suddenly overwhelmed
by the feeling of defeat; the Williams
supporter has gotten the best of me. I
dejectedly return to my apartment.
10:16 p.m. I explain the situation to
Georgia. She is at a loss for words.
There seems to be nothing else to do, I
am out of stickers and have no choice
but to wait until tomorrow when I plan
to grab a stack of stickers and replace
them every two hours until the election,
if necessary.
But Georgia has a better idea. She
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Cindy McMillian,
Editor
Timm Doolen, Managing Editor
Ellen Hobbs, Opinion Page Editor
Holly Becka, City Editor
Kathy Cox,
Kristin North,
News Editors
Nadja Sabawala,
Sports Editor
Eric Roalson, Art Director
Lisa Ann Robertson,
Lifestyles Editor
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toes of Richards supporter
suggests removing the Richards sticker
from her car, putting it on mine, then
waiting for the Williams supporter to re
turn to the scene of the crime. I had to
admit, the idea had its merits. But
would anyone be so stupid as to remove
four stickers in one day? I was com
forted by the fact that I was dealing with
a Williams supporter, not known for
their intelligence.
10:54 p.m. Georgia and I have re
turned from her house where we re
placed the Richards for Governor
sticker, now the fourth sticker for the
day. I have parked my car in the spot it
has been in all day. I quickly run to my
apartment, grab my jacket and Maglite,
and hurry out the door.
11:03 p.m. I have decided to hide
across the street from my car in some
thick hedges. It affords me a clear view
of the back of my car and at the same
time conceals my location.
11:13 p.m. I continue my stakeout. I
am troubled by the thought of what I
will do if I actually catch the perpetra
tor. Do I attempt to apprehend him?
Should I belittle him in an attempt to
scare him away for good? Or should I
let him remove the sticker, follow him
home and decide what to do then? The
smooth contours of my Maglite com
forts me as I wait.
11:29 p.m. The coldness of the night
has begun to sink in. I begin to wonder
if this Williams supporter is really going
to come back to my car this late at night.
Every passing person becomes a suspect
... I am losing hope. Suddenly I hear the
squeaking brakes of a bike coming to a
stop. My heart pounds with apprehen
sion as my knees grow weak. There ap
pears a figure in front of me — so close
I could reach out and touch him. He is
looking around, as if he is checking for
witnesses. He crouches and scurries
across the street right towards my car.
This is it, I think. The Williams sup
porter who has been preventing me
from expressing my opinion has re
turned.
My knuckles curl around the aircraft
aluminum of my Maglite as I prepare to
spring from the bushes. The suspect is
now attempting to remove my sticker.
With my heart pounding I leap from
the bushes and shout, “Busted, pal!”
As he whirls around I shine the light
on his face. He is caught red-handed
and he backs away.
“Get that light out of my face,” he
warns in a threatening tone. The gravity
of the situation begins to sink in, what
am I to do now? My nemesis is no taller
than me but quite stocky. I shout back,
“What do you think you’re doing?
That’s private property.”
The only response his stunted Wil-
liams-type brain could deliver was “It
offends me,” as he points to the sticker.
he a
Amendment right.
I try to explain to him that
show his support for Williams by dim
ing him on the ballot November6,im
by trying to deny the existence of hisop
ponent.
As we parted I ask, “Would yougii
me your first name so I could calltt
something besides thief in my column:
How intelligence could offend some
one leaves me speechless for a moment,
yet I begin to realize this is merely a typ
ical Williams supporter.
“So because you Find it offensive you
can remove it?” I ask not expecting a re
sponse.
“It’s of fensive,” he says again.
I should have realized that any intelli
gent exchange with this individual was
futile, but I continue, “You are the epit
ome of a Williams supporter. Because
you find something offensive does not
give you the right to remove it. My car is
private property and removing that
sticker is theft.”
The exchange continues as he tries to
justify his infringement of my First
He replies in all seriousness,"
but you’re not really going to wn
about this are you?”
Well, write about it I have. Bute
Yet my point of this column was
to share my Wednesday night encoui
ter with a W’illiams supporter, bu
demonstrate the thinking proces:
what I see as a typical Williams
porter.
Just like Williams himself, his
porters cannot stand to let the
told. Instead of allowing me myri
express my support for a candid®
they try to ignore the fact there is
candidate out there and do everytliiii
they can to see that others remainasij
norant as themselves.
4:51 a.m. The Richards sticker glow jy
in the bath of sodium-arc lights
Patrick Nolan is a senior politicalsti
ence major.
AUSTIN (AP
g governor’s r
poll in les
mocrat Ann
iyproclaimed ;
“It’s not (that
;; this race is t
here’s no gap
Republican
lams, who
truth it id he was ‘ner
right 9
n
hen
Mail Call
Faculty speak out against bonfire
EDITOR:
Given the critical problems associated with impacts of human activity on
the biosphere, the Texas A&M University f aculty listed below believe that the
annual campus bonfire is a needless waste of natural resources, a symbolofa
lack of concern for the environment and a very conspicuous source of embar
rassment for this institution within the international community. This “tradi
tion” should not be supported by state funds and should not be conducted on
state property. It should not be associated with Texas A&M University.
Hugh Wilson, professor
accompanied by 87 signatures
EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of this petition will be sent to A&M President
William Mobley and Bill Stout, speaker of the A&M Faculty Senate. The sig
natures were of faculty members in nine departments and four colleges.
Adventures In Cartooning
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