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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
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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