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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1991)
v i Wednesday, June 5,1991 The Battalion A&M rises to become 'world class' university? Texas A&M University is well on its way to becoming a "world class" university. Anyone who has been here for any length of time should be able to tell you all about it. At least if we are not up to "world class" standards today, we know exactly what's being done to get there. Or do we? In the first place, what does that term really mean? How will we know when we have arrived if we do not first define where "there" is? Of course it seems that each individual has his own idea of exactly what "world dass" means. After reading the opinion page for a while, I get the feeling that anything people don't like about the university keeps us from our pursued status. Therefore, refusing to protect the rights of homosexuals keeps us from becoming a "world class" university. The fact that there are racists keeps us from that "world class" status. The meager holdings of the Evans Library hold us back from that desired position. I'm just waiting for some Aggie to write in about how he ran out of toilet paper in the sixth floor bathroom of the library. That surely should not happen at a "world class" university. Since a universal definition of the goal seems elusive, are there any good examples out there of just what A&M is trying to become? Does Harvard fit the bill of a "world class" university? If any school defines the term. Harvard does. Around the world, there are few universities with less prestige. In fact, even students who graduate from sorry departments can boast a Harvard education and be respected. Are there any other examples of this "world class" university to help us define what it is we want to be? How about Stanford, Princeton, Yale, or Cal- Berkeley? Each of these schools are certainly associated with presitige. And Berkeley can probably help us most in our quest since it too is a public institution. Strangely enough, most people would consider each of these schools to be more liberal than Texas A&M. Is that where we are headed? Or more significantly, is that where we want to be headed. If becoming a "world class" university means becoming a more liberal institution, then why not just say so? Why not just go to the taxpayers and parents of students and say, "A&M feels that in order to accomplish its mandate, it must become a more liberal institution." On the other hand, if this university's goal is to develop its academic programs REGARDLESS of ideology, then that needs to be stated. Tim Truesdale is a graduate student in urban planning. Mobley at one time believed in discrimination revision Perhaps President Mobley and the Committee for a Discrimination-Free Campus at one time sincerely believed that they could revise the University's policy on harassment and discrimination and at the same time make it clear to the Texas A&M community that we must move into a more tolerant age. It becomes more clear with each passing day, however, that the reversal of policy is being taken as a signal that we no longer have to challenge ourselves to , be more diverse or more tolerant as a community. It is time, then, to give up the fence-walking and come down on the side of a greener tomorrow. With disturbing regularity, I read in these pages that members of the Texas A&M community are weary of efforts to push into ever-new challenges of tolerance and sensitivity. despite what I read, however, I know there are reasons to hope fora more tolerant future at Texas A&M. I read that a sentence which mentions ten forms of offensive discrimination is a sentence which is already too long. A source asks "How long can it be? Do we include left-handed or obese people?" In other words, do we expand the list of ten offenses to a list of twelve or more? Why not? Isn't that the generous meaning of multiculturalism? If left-handed and obese students are being offended because of these 1 characteristics, shouldn't the university take care to stop those abuses by name? Greg Moses Reader’s Opinion I read that the Bible should be our only guide when we write our rules and regulations covering students who are Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, or Humanist, whether of the secular or religious sort. Is this the same United States which celebrates the freedom of religion? I read that it's now okay to judge homosexual relations between consenting adults on the same basis that we judge relations between adults and children, adults and corpses, adults and animals. "They are all unnatural and an abomination to God." Despite what I read, however, I know there are reasons to hope for a more tolerant future at Texas A&M. I have seen 80 students at once tell me that Biblical injunctions have no place in determining our criteria for academic performance or job qualifications at a state university. And I have received a beautiful essay from a student who writes, "The omy real tragedy is when people do not find any love at all." We have had enough of the experiment with fence sitting. We have seen its vicious consequences. Please President Mobley, lead us back to the green side of life again while it's still only a short distance behind us. Greg Moses is an assistant lecturer of philosophy The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Timm Doolen, Editor Todd Stone, Managing Editor Krista Umscheid, Opinion Page Editor Sean Frerking, City Editor Jennifer Jeffus, Callie Wilcher, News Editors Jayme Blaschke, Sports Editor Richard James, Art Director Rob Newberry, Lifestyles Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup porting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are 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. The Battalion is published daily, except Saturday, Sunday, holidays, exam periods, and when school is not in session during fall and spring semesters; publication is Tuesday through Friday during the summer session. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year: 845-2611. Advertising rates furnished on re quest: 845-2696. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed Mc Donald, Texas A&M University, College Sta tion, TX 77843-1111. Second class postage paid at College Sta tion, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843- 4111. 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. Christianity not only philosophy EDITOR: This letter is a response to the statements made by J. Ar thurs on behalf of the 'silent majority' in a recent issue of the Batt. First I'd like to remind readers of a few quotes from the let ter. "Unfortunately, 2 percent of the loud students (800 at most)... support homosexuals." "(They) have tried to force their beliefs on others." "Hompsexuality, necrophilia, pedophilia, and beastiality are.. .an abomination to God." "It is legal to discriminate against someone.. .because of his or her sexual preference." "I am not judging (homosexuals). I just don't want their lifestyle thrust on me." "Homosexuals...will never find peace and happiness until they...repent and accept Jesus Christ for redemption of their sins." Surely I am not the only reader that has noted the inconsis tencies and bigotry in this letter. First I'll address the legality of discrimination against homosexuals. It was at one time, not so long ago, legal to buy and sell human beings in slavery, it was legal to discriminate on the basis of sex, race or religion. At the time, these laws were also supported by the 'majority.' The current legality of an action by no means makes it 'right'. Second, J. Arthurs and others of his 'silent majority' must realize that Christianity is not the only philosophy either on campus, or in the world at large. He complains that others are trying to enforce their beliefs on him while doing the exact same thing to the "two percent." I'm quite sure that gay stu dents are not actively recruiting other students to join their ranks. The same cannot be said of some Christians. Last, by mentioning homosexuals with pedophiles and ne crophiles, the writer attempts to place all these individuals in the same group. This is like arbitrarily grouping all Christians with the founders of the Spanish Inquisition. While some of the members of one group may also be in the other, they are not equivalent. I, for one, would love to see more of that 'Christian toler ance' talked so much about, but seldom displayed. Homosex uals are people. Allow them their lives as you would like to be allowed yours. Brett G. Lemoine '92 Cuts are future budget reduction EDITOR: My letter to you concerns the current federal budget defi cit. By now I am sure you are aware that despite Congress' promises to use new tax revenue to reduce the federal deficit, they have done the exact opposite. Rather than reduce the deficit, they have increased spending $111 billion (not includ ing the costs of the Gulf War) and pushed the FY 1991 deficit to an all-time record of $320 billion. You may wonder whatever happened to the promise Con gressional leaders made of a $500 billion spending reduction in the years ahead. Well, here's how it works. When Congress talks about spending cuts, they are not talking about cutting actual spending, but reducing projected increases. If Congress just reduces the amount of increased spending, they call that a spending cut, even though actual spending is still increasing. For example, suppose Congress today is spending $1.00 on a program they have budgeted to spend $2.00 on next year. However, if they spend $1.75 next year they will call that a spending cut of 25 cents, even though they increased spending by 75 cents. When Congress promised to save $500 billion in the years ahead, this was not an actual cut of $500 billion, but simply a reduction in their budget for the future. Even with their sup posed $500 billion cut, actual spending will still skyrocket. Because of non-stop deficit spending. Congress is bank rupting America. The interest payment on the ballooning na tional debt are already more than all the individual income taxes paid by everyone who lives west of the Mississippi River. We are rapidly approaching the day when we won't be able to make the interest payment on our debt. For more information on how Congress is squandering our future and what we can do about it, contact Citizens Against Government Waste, 1301 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036. John Blanton '91 Plari solves parking, cash problem EDITOR: For months I have been hearing about high tuition prices and budget shortfalls and I have devised a plan to increase the flow of cash to the University. It only involves handicapped parking, which the University has too little of, and parking of ficers, which the University has too many of. All it involves is the parking officers spending less time in the staff lots and more time around the handicapped parking around The Com mons. Someone parks illegally in each of the 8 handicapped spots on the average of twice an hour. If the officers worked an eight-hour day, and tagged each of the violators with a $50 ticket, the University could make in excess of $1.9 million dur ing one school year. The University could make over $10 mil lion if the operation was expanded to the entire campus and over $40 million if the violators were given the maximum $200 fine. In order for my plan to work though, the officers must not only leave staff lots, but they should ticket all the viola tors, including those that leave their hazard lights on. Adolf Hitler could have parked legally if he had left his hazards on. If my plan is implemented, the University could have enough money to not only cover its budget deficit, but to also lower tuition prices. Mike Morris '91 Disabled are discriminated against EDITOR: After reading a recent issue of the Battalion, I was appalled to see that discrimination is still rampant on our campus. This time the person being discriminated against is a graduate stu dent with a learning disability, Dave Dearmont. I can sympa- Olthize with Dave because I too have been discriminated against for having a learning disability. Ever since I have been in college, professors have not let me finish tests, and at times I have even had problems deciphering symbols (usually in math classes and on the verbal part of the GRE). I am not sure if I have dyslexia, but whatever it is, it definitely affects both my long and short-term memory. So I would like to use this space to alert all my past profes sors that if the judge who is deciding Dave's case rules in his favor, I will be contacting them to retake some of the tests that I have failed in the past. And this time I want more time, a couple days should do fine. Ronald Selvage '88 Contempt for freedom undermine EDITOR: Let me begin this letter by stating two facts: 1) 1 am not a homosexual 2) I am a Catholic Now to the point. I don't know what "silent majority" you think you are speaking for, J. Arthurs, but it sure isn't anyone I know. Why do you care if people are gay? It is their business, not yours. And since when has religion played any role in public policy. This is the United States, remember? Does the phrase "free dom of religion" ring a bell? Your views undermine the basic concept of freedom so completely that I have nothing but contempt for you. Todd Williams '91