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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1990)
The Battalion OPINION t londa Monday, Novembers, 1990 Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs 845-331 Democrats: All we are saying is give us a chance I begin this column with a story that is quite indicative of the often irresponsible voting behavior on this campus: In 1978, a young, Democrat political novice campaigned for the U.S. House of Representatives against a Republican who had been released from a mental health institution just two weeks before the filing deadline. The Democrat, who was a much more qualified and able candidate, won the election convincingly, garnering 30 of the 31 precincts in Brazos County. As you may have suspected the only box which the Republican carried was the one located on the Texas A&M Steven K. Medvic Reader’s Opinion campus. Such an outcome is all the more outrageous when one considers that the Democrat in question was none other than Phil Gramm, the former professor of economics which many A&M students would come to know and love (but only after he switched parties.) As a matter of fact, the same phenomena occurred again in 1980 as Gramm won each precinct in Brazos County except the campus box. A&M students twice rejected the man who would become their most revered political icon and did so based solely on his party label. It should be obvious that blind straight-ticket voting is not always in the best interest as students and citizens of Texas. It is for this reason that I implore all of you to think before you vote and make educated choices in each of the races before us. In the gubernatorial race there are a number of relevant facts to keep in mind. Perhaps the most important of these is Mr. Williams complete ignorance of the workings of our state government. Upon entering the race he naively asked Bill Clements if being governor was a full-time job. In addition, the most recent peak at Clayton’s knowledge reveals he has absolutely no understanding of Proposition 1, for which he apparently voted though unaware of its content and potential consequences (Proposition 1, by the way, deals primarily with gubernatorial appointments.). Also consider that Clayton has time and again said, in fine Republican fashion, that he opposes state-funded research. I need not remind you that this institution relies heavily on state funding for research. And for those of you who abhor a state income tax, it was Mr. Williams who, on Sept. 13, 1989, suggested that Texas consider such a policy. On the other hand, Ann Richards’ records as a public servant is without equal. In her two terms as state treasurer she earned more money for the state than all previous treasurers combined; that’s two billion dollars of He was also the only candidate in either the Senate or the House races to refuse to address the Student Senate. I hope Mr. Smith isn’t taking us for granted. Jim Turner, the Democrat for State Senate, does support student representation on the Board of Regents. Jim James ’76, the Democrat for State Representative, also supports such a policy. His Republican opponent, however, won’t say where he stands on the issue, so we can only conclude that it isn’t high on his list of priorities. In addition, James is the only state legislative candidate who is pro-choice. (His opponent opposes choice even for rape and incest victims.) There are a nurn 1 e r ' of other Democrats who deserve serious consideration as well, including Aggies Garry Mauro ’70, John Sharp ’72, Bill Vance ’61 and former professor Sarah Ryan; Judge Tom McDonald and Mary Ann Ward are also much more qualified than their opponents. If, after examining the recordsof candidates in both parties, you still decide to vote straight-ticket Republican, then that is line. Myonltl request is that you consider all the candidates in each race, both for the good of the school and the good oft] state. Steven K. Medvic is a seniorpolitk science major and the president of Agp Democrats. ELIZ/ f The Bi Itmigl dues am [his week Annua [hrough ; Greek Jiity men events ar I “It is a mify the innity s< Money idvertise tey, Pet More i In today’: Toad. Greek irazos \ ;ames Ti A pier For Wed out at the Greek non-tax revenue. Furthermore, Texas Business magazine said, “With more public officials like Richards, Texans would have one of the best governments people could rightfully hope for.” Another race of tremendous local interest is the State Senate contest. Richard Smith has been an opponent of student issues for as long as he’s been in the Legislature. Though he claims to be a good Ag, he refuses to support a student on the Board of Regents. Apparently students are good enough to vote for him but not important enough to sit on the Board and speak out on issues which directly affect us. TEAC thanks volunteers Touch | ion by i lay and ’ ■ The r Trom 6 a, Twenl IMail Call! The 1 todern vants st ections rench 1 achelor BA st ection, I rees ai ections. EDITOR: With World Rainforest Week behind us now, I want to thank those responsible for making the Run For The Rainfo rest 5K run/1 mile walk, put on by the Texas Environmental Action Goalition, such a huge success. Those needing thanks and recognition are Rusty Higham, all the TEAC volunteers, Emergency Medical volun teers, all the sponsors, and of course all of the runners. I would also like to thank all the people who took the time to take part in other TEAC World Rainforest Week activities. It’s nice to know people do care about the environment which we are trying to save. Don Hermon ’90 Stealing clothes is bad bull EDITOR: Howdy Ags, Wait! That should be Howdy, Thief. This story is ded icated to the pond scum who stole my clothes and other stu dents’ clothes. What’s next, candy from a baby? Maybe I’m a little naive, but I thought we were better than stealing clothes to try and impress our friends with our so- called “new” jeans. These people ought to be strung up by their underarm hairs. It’s really sad that another student thinks he is poorer than another so he has to rip-off clothes. Oh well, all’s not a loss. Oh, did I forget to mention the accident I had when I was out drinking and couldn’t get to the bathroom quick enough? That explains the dark spot, you thief, on the back of my, your, new jeans. I wouldn’t even let you clean under the rim of my commode. Douglas K. Butterworth, ’90 ‘Representative Ags’ speak out EDITOR: I and several others feel obliged to respond to the bla tantly illogical remarks made by Mark Dean VanCdeave on Oct. 29 under “Page 2 doesn’t represent A&M.” To you freshmen out there who have begun to attend this fine insti tution, be assured that Mr. VanCleave isn’t the “representa tive Aggie” either. Is it necessarily the fault of those “mindless, moraless mo rons” for gracing the opinion page so often? No rule stated that conservatives are barred from expressing their views as well. Perhaps the “limp-wristed writers” are the few that still value the privilege and right to express their “liberalistic gar bage” on this page. But on this point, I commend you, since you have taken the initiative to express your views. Mark, we could cremate you on every point you listed on Monday, but for space’s sake, we’ll pick out the most out standing. You say that the “representative Aggie” on page 2 sup ports abortion. This is obviously false. As if this were already not a worn out topic, the Mail Call has always printed many articles condemning abortion and advocating pro-life. Quite a few were fundamentalist in their arguments, but the point is that their views were expressed. I invite you to flip back to previous Mail Call’s and see the multitudes of opinions ex pressed against abortion. “Loves apartheid” — this has got to be a joke! Have there really been articles “gracing” the opinion page with letters supporting apartheid? It’s a fact to say that liberals are strongly anti-apartheid. Do you know what it means to be lib eral? Be assured that no left-wing liberal on this campus has written an article loving apartheid. Many articles have been written supporting homosexual ity, but Mark, have you taken the liberty to read the many let ters that strongly disagree with homosexuality? I wouldn’t be surprised if those many letters outnumbered the articles that supported homosexuality. I myself am strongly against ho mosexuality and at the same time, feel that Mail Call has done an adequate job representing my conservative views. “Hates Black Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Asian- Americans” — now this joke has gone too far. Again, Mark, where can you find such letters on page 2? A good many of the letters to the editor have been just the opposite. The thing I can’t understand is, if Tang is Asian-American, he must hate himself! Texas A&M is a conservative university,* Hut does that fact stop Tang and his crew from expressing their minority views? Mark, if you want to keep your Am^fican citizenship, you’re going to have to learn to tolerate all the “liberalistic garbage” that is printed in the Battalion. As long as the First Amendment is in effect, such “garba ge” will never stop. Join Y. Luh ’93 accompanied by 11 signatures Learn from liberal viewpoints EDITOR: Mr. VanCleave’s letter of the 29th struck me as being rather off the mark. While he is correct in noting that the editorial page of the Battalion is quite left-leaning for a conservative university, that does not necessarily detract from its value. People of all political stripes should welcome dissenting opinions, as it allows them to think about their beliefs while defending them. If there were no dissenting opinions around here we would grow complacent in our beliefs and be unable to defend them. When we disagree with the editorials or some letter- writer, we should not run them out of town but write back to correct what we perceive as their mistakes or flaws in their ar gument. We must always listen, even if we do not agree, if only to be better able to counter-argue. Jimmy A. Miller ’89 graduate student Have an opinion? Express it! Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the tight 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 Mail Stop 1111. 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 Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup porting newspaper operated as a commu nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan- Collejje 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. Newsroom: 845-3313. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full year: 845-2611. 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