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Editorials expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board and do not
necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board
of Regents.
Re-evaluate sports center fee
We believe that although the campus needs more recreational
sports space, the new $41 million recreational sports facility will
cost too much. The proposed fee of $50 per student per semester is
just too high.
Last week, the state Senate Finance Committee approved a bill
that would allow Texas A&M to charge the $50 fee when the facility
opens in Fall 1994 or Spring 1995.
At that time, A&M students who attended fall, spring and both
summer sessions would be charged $150 per year for a building
that they might never use.
No one has proven that the majority of students will use the
new facility that all students will pay for.
The costs of education are getting out of hand, and the recre
ational sports fee could be the last straw.
We believe the recreational sports department should recon
sider the $50 fee. The $35 fee the state Senate approved for the pro
ject in 1989 is much more reasonable.
The Battalion Editorial Board
Mail Call
The Battalion is interested in hearing from its readers and welcomes all letters to the editor.
Please include name, classification, address and phone number on all letters. The editor reserves
the right to edit letters for style and length. Because of limited space, shorter letters have a better
chance of appearing. There is, however, no guarantee letters will appear. Letters may be brought
to 216 Reed McDonald or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111.
Ask, ye shall receive
EDrrOR:
Having read the April 16 letter of "Kellie," I was
shocked when my mind was opened and I learned that the
Bible I have been living by (to the best of my ability) for the
last two years is nothing but a gross misrepresentation of
the original Greek and Hebrew.
So I did a little research of my own. I obtained an Inter
linear Greek-English New Testament.
This book (and many others like it are available) pro
vides the reader with the word by word translation of the
original texts that Kellie claims do not specifically condemn
homosexuality.
Here are the results of my study: Romans 1:26-27, the
original translation as given in Interlinear, and then as ren
dered by the translators of the New King James Version.
26. For this reason gave up them God to passions of dis
honour, both for females their changed the natural use into
that contrary to nature; 27. And in like manner also the
males having left the natural use of the female, were in
flamed in their lust towards one another, males with males
shame working out, and the recompense which was fit of
their error in themselves receiving.
27. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.
For even their women exchanged the natural use for what
is against nature. 27. Likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one an
other, men with men committing what is shameful, and re
ceiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was
due.
Kellie wanted an "intelligent basis on which to support
the argument that these (the Old and New Testaments) are
accurate translations of the original text."
Ask and ye shall receive.
Patrick Goguen '92
Read the Bible for yourself
EDITOR:
After attending Dr. Helminiak's seminar concerning
the Biblical perspective on homosexuality, I felt that many
listeners who were homosexuals might have been mislead.
Dr. Helminiak, in referring to scriptures such as Ro
mans 1:18-32, failed to point out the consequences of the
sins that were committed.
Romans 1:32 states "who knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them."
For those of us who are Christians, we must remember
that it is not our place to judge homosexuals (Matthew 7:1),
but rather to share the Bible with them and allow them the
opportunity to study and fully understand the Bible for
themselves.
The Bible speaks for itself, but to understand what it is
saying, you must read it for yourself and not rely on any
one's "perspective" (Ephesians 5:5,6).
Michelle Lyone '93
Stay on the sidewalks
EDITOR:
Sidewalks. Why do we have them? What are they for?
I always have thought of sidewalks as a convenient
place to walk, to keep the dirt off my shoes, to keep my
feet dry when it rains or, if for no other reason, simply out
of respect for the beauty of my campus. Dirt pathways
though grassy areas look so unkept.
But when I walk around the Texas A&M campus, I
wonder. I wonder why someone put the sidewalks here.
I wonder when I follow a young man across campus
who never deviates from his path, straight through a line
of bushes, straight through a flower bed, only touching the
sidewalk when it matches his path.
I wonder when I see two young women veer from their
path through a hedge row only to avoid hitting a bush.
I really wonder, though, when I see a man, all decked
out in a business suit and shiny shoes, walking along un
der an umbrella in a rain storm, who cuts the sidewalk cor
ner and sloshes through a mud puddle, emerging with
filthy shoes.
Granted, the majority uses the sidewalks. It's only the
few that keep our campus from looking neat and trim.
Come on Ags, stay on the sidewalks, off the grass and
out of the flower beds. Let the landscaping return to its in
tended state. Be proud of your campus!
William H. Charlton Jr.
graduate student
What if there's ample evidence?
EDITOR:
In response to Stephen Beck's article concerning co
erced confessions: Why should coerced confessions even
be allowed as evidence if there already was ample evidence
to convict? Why?
Gregory T. Damron '91
Change comes through
the heart, not from laws
n
iscrimination by
skin color is one of the most obscene
policies our nation has ever had in
place. Whether African Americans
were denied access to schools, front
seats in buses or water fountains,
discrimination was wrong. Every
American has a right to be treated as a
first-class citizen.
Over a period of years, and thanks to
several legal battles, racial
discrimination was rejected as
unconstitutional. Of course, the result
was a fully integrated society. I mean,
that was the proposed result, wasn't it?
Actually, some scholars suggest the
result was not more integration, but
less. When schools were required to
desegregate, whites moved into the
suburbs to avoid sending their children
to school with their black neighbors.
When busing was instituted to counter
the move, parents either moved again
or sent their children to private
schools.
B
ut institutions cannot
take away the hatred that causes the
problem. Maybe morality can be
legislated, and maybe it can't. For sure
though, love cannot be legislated
It appears to me that homosexuals on
campus feel the brunt of hatred and
discrimination. But really, which isthe
symptom and which is the disease?
If President Mobley could guarantee
you tomorrow that no one could legal)
discriminate against you, would that
make everyone treat you with respect!
I seriously doubt it.
66 / believe that homosexuality is sin. But let me recommend that
whoever among you is without sin should cast the first stone. 9*
When the nation's bus lines
experienced equality in seating, the
same phenomena was seen. Of course,
the airplane came along at the right
time to keep those with superiority
complexes from having to mingle with
the minorities on the buses and in the
depots. But, if it hadn't been for the
plane, it would have been the train or
some other escape.
What's the point? As awful as
segregation was, it wasn't the problem.
It was merely a symptom. The disease
was hatred.
Institutional actions have no way to
keep people from being treated as
second-class citizens. Sure, they can
prohibit discrimination, and they can
even set quotas in an attempt to draw
minorities into mainstream society.
They even can award huge money
settlements in attempts to make
reparations.
On the other hand, where are the
people who claim to serve the Godwin
is the author of love? Can we really
afford to bash away "til Kingdom
come?"
Of course I'll go on the record! 1
believe that homosexuality is sin. But
let me recommend that whoever
among you is without sin should cast
the first stone.
There is only one way to change
people. It can't be done by outlawing
discrimination. That's already been
tried; it failed miserably.
But people aren't changed by hurlifl)
stones, either. Just look at how much
success we've had using that tactic.
The only way people are changed is
through a transformation of the
heart.
Tim Truesdale is a graduate studentii
urban planning.
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The Battalion Editorial Board
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Kathy Cox,
Managing Editor — 845-2647
J ennifer J effus,
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Keith Sartin,
Richard Tijerina,
News Editors — 845-2665
Alan Lehmann,
Sports Editor — 845-2688
Fredrick D. Joe,
Art Director — 845-3312
Kristin North,
Life Style Editor — 845-3313
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service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College
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those of the editorial board or the author,
and do not necessarily represent the opin
ions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty
or the Board of Regents.
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