cess
mum
mmmm
Tuesday, September 15,1992
Opinion
The Battalion Page 7
v as a stra;
e d the emt
"g the big
■ The New
ew a 35-7
to get on!
n said,
lesson a
you areg
ide recei.
'oenixon^
will have
-eting thei
ond Mont
;ar.
■0 for thei
*'en't starte:
3.
ut this tea;
?ally feeli!
ether."
(\GG\i 'Uto>vf\ot4 / C0MIM6 SOON//
MlbMIoHT ftu maiCE*/
tvm
It. But I
many Mi
) 1-1 and id
on their
a, of thd Pa
: eated thefc
-ubbocldi
Editorials
Midnight madness
Kyle Field for football, not boxing
ayers have
themayi
differer.it
beating ffi
s more din
ayingasi
mow, wel
1
5-0
s fielded!
n Camini
missed gi
day and!
called off
: t out therf
pable off
lid feel I*
i bit."
ez alio"’
ast three
save,
mind mff
it realizes!
le doing |
eying)/’;’
ze been!'
to it, I dot
.n't want'
)le. I try®
•ence.
■d a start!
ng of ga®
re that yd
okie Kevi
our runs/
nnings. h
Iked one.
Midnight Yell Practice has long
been one of the most unique and
unifying traditions at Texas A&M.
However, the ugly and divisive
new practice of attempting to run
across Kyle Field, a practice that has
appeared only in the last few years,
is bound to lead to the despicable
and embarrassing violence many
saw last Friday night.
Take a few hundred junior cadets
who are supposed to defend the
field only symbolically, and a group
of civilian students trying, no one
knows why, to assert their right" to
walk all over a memorial to Aggie
veterans of World War I, and throw
in a few drunks on either side. This
is the recipe for the shameful farce
we called a yell practice. Aggies
uniting in support of their football
team, indeed.
It would be far better to simply
end midnight yell altogether than to
continue to assemble only to be dis
rupted by various factions acting
out their hostilities. The taunting of
cadets and beating of civilians and
drunken brawling that took place
are nothing but a mockery of the
idea of "true to each other, as Ag
gies can be."
One thing seems clear. Though
some cadets overreacted and used
force that could only be described as
excessive, the entire situation could
have been avoided if all Aggies had
understood and respected the sanc
tity of the field.
Let's end the childish games that
have been taking place at midnight
ell and all-university night,
here's only room for one game on
Kyle Field.
And in the words of the Head
Yell Leader of the Class of '77: If
you didn't leave Friday's yell as an
Aggie, don't go back.
Grade point discount
Rates good for students, business
For automobile insurance agen
cies to adopt the state's proposal of
cut rates for academic achievement
would offer some much needed
help to students.
The Texas Automobile Insurance
Service Offices proposed a 15% dis
count on some insurance policies to
students with a 3.0 GPA or better in
the semester before purchasing the
policy. The proposal offers the same
discounts to students in the top 20%
of their class and on the Dean's list.
Students generally pay more for
auto insurance than people of any
other age, though many are as re
sponsible and cautious as older
drivers. Since academic achieve
ment often marks a responsible per
son, binding rates to grades seems
reasonable.
Very few students stumble into a
B average, though most students
can achieve the required 3.0 with
some effort. Good grades indicate
diligence and responsibility more
than talent or ability.
Though the insurance industry
lacks hard evidence of any correla
tion, it follows that the same sense
of responsibility that accompanies
good grades is likely to apply to the
way a person drives. If fact, some
companies already offer similar dis
counts.
Many students could avail them
selves of the discount since it re
quires a 3.0 only in the semester be
fore the policy is bought. The dis
count could tnerefore attract a sig
nificant amount of business.
When insurance companies offer
academic discounts, everyone wins.
Little gun control goes a long way
Restrictions are prudent in today's violent society
by SHAWN RALSTON
T his weekend I was reading a Houston newspaper and
one theme struck me in particular. First I noticed that
an elderly couple had been killed during an attempt
ed robbery because the man "laughed at" one of the inept,
teenage robbers. Next I read about the recent shootings at
Palo Duro high school in Amarillo where six kids were in
jured. Finally, I noticed that a Georgetown rancher shot a
noted biologist doing research on his land because the
rancher assumed that the biologist was a "trespasser."
By now you know where this is going. And you proba
bly expect a pat argument for one side or the other. But
wait a minute, I think I've got something a bit different to
say. I think gun use has reached a point in our society
where things are violently out of control. Now, no matter
what your position on gun control or what you think the
solution should be, you probably agree that we have got an
incredibly violent society. If you don't, take a look at com
parative crime stats. Personally, I believe gun ownership is
not guaranteed by the Constitution; I don't believe that was
the intention of its framers. I believe strict gun laws are in
order and I believe they work because the evidence from
other countries which have implemented such laws indi
cates that they work. However, I realize that my opinion
does not seem to be the majority opinion, if, indeed, there is
a majority opinion on the issue.
But where does that leave us? Do we continue to do
nothing and sink further and further into some kind of
"wild west" scenario where you'd be a fool not to carry a
gun? Most people aren't relishing a return to the old West
and most people don't want their rights restricted, even
their right to carry a deadly weapon. However, we've got a
problem and few people think nothing needs to be done.
Perhaps it's time for both sides to talk about compromise in
the face of our rather desperate situation. However, com
promise implies a discussion and neither side in the gun
control issue is discussing anything, much less talking to
the other.
Let me illustrate. Not too long ago the National Rifle As
sociation threatened Sears with a boycott, lawsuit, etc. over
their contribution of a portion of the profits from the sale of
"Pound Puppies" to an animal welfare organization — not
an animal rights organization. These are two very different
things. Most sane people didn't even see how this affected
the NRA, much less bothered them. How could Sears'
donation to something as innocuous as the Humane Society
and its ilk hurt the NRA? Well, according to NRA logic,
such organizations could be construed as anti-hunting or
ganizations and therefore dangerous to all gun-toting indi
vidualists across the land. Now to most people, this does
not seem like a particularly intelligent or well thought out
argument.
Now, I'll use myself as an example of the opposite posi
tion. I feel the NRA position is irresponsible, reprehensible
and just absolutely unacceptable as a way to run a country.
I also feel the use of deadly force to defend private proper
ty is an immoral act. If I got together with the NRA we
would certainly argue, we wouldn't communicate and
we'd never come close to a compromise.
So here's a plea for the people in the middle of this issue
to do something about this problem. The NRA represents a
minority opinion and I represent a minority opinion. You
should take the issue out of our hands and come to a sane
compromise to the problem of gun ownership in this coun
try. Something like the Brady Bill would help. I think it's a
wimpy idea. The NRA thinks it takes a huge chunk out of
their personal freedoms. We are both wrong. Something
must be done. Lawmakers must not be paralyzed because
they only hear the extreme voices.
Whenever I think of a compromise I inevitably think of
my father, a hunter, target shooting enthusiast and owner
of too many guns to count. He is not an NRA member;
they are too extreme for him. He's probably an NRA sym
pathizer however, because he just likes guns. A seven day
waiting period would not hurt him at all, nor would it of
fend him. With a little talking he would probably give up
his right to a semi-automatic rifle and perhaps the uglier
handguns, as long as everyone else did too. After all, he is
a reasonable person. The NRA is not reasonable. Perhaps I
am not either, at least not to the majority of Texans. But,
unless you want to be shot at by every punk you might
choose to laugh at or by every gun-nut rancher whose field
you stumble on to, then you in the middle of this issue bet
ter take charge. A push to reintroduce the Brady Bill
wouldn't be a bad place to start.
Ralston is a graduate student
MAJOR LEAGUE
TEAM.OWNERS
<e>\^rz P&3QPP
New jep«eY
Our new commissioner
has lots of baseball
experience, and will
wisnes...
C mon up, son!...
Aggie unity is
but an old myth
I want to congratulate the Corps for
kicking ass on Friday night. One must
understand that there is no longer any
unity at A&M. The only place where
the student body is unified is at football
games. Once they leave the field, the
cliques (civilized gangs) get back to
their own group, their own selfish little
world. Here are some examples. Stu
dents cheer for the team but insult foot
ball players behind their backs. Girls
call other girls in the Corps lesbians.
Guys and other girls call some sorority
girls sluts. An Asian girl said "Hi" to a
&at member in class who didn't even
reply, let alone acknowledge her exis
tence. The Corps hates non-regs, frater
nities hate the non-frat guys, dorm boys
and girls hate off campus Aggies, and
athletes hate academicians and vice ver
sa of course. Yes, it's business as usual
at A&M in the fall of 1992.
Brent Overturf
Class of '92
Silver Taps is a
beautiful thing
Lately, it seems that all anyone does
is complain. Granted, most complaints
are legitimate. But I have decided to
change this trend, at least for today. In
stead, I would like to say "thanks."
This thanks is not to one particular
person, but rather one entity. I want to
thank the group of students, faculty,
friends ana family that took time to re
member fellow Aggies at Silver Taps. It
is a night I will never forget.
I am not familiar with anyone hon
ored Tuesday night. In fact, I am a
transfer student. But Tuesday night I
realized that being an Aggie is more
than an identification card, more than a
sticker on my car, more than a diploma.
Being an Aggie is abstract — a natural,
unexplainable, uncontrollable feeling
anchored in the heart of every TAMU
student. Although I did not know any
one specifically being honored, I felt
like tney were a part of my family.
They will certainly be missed.
The ceremony had another special
meaning for me. A close friend of mine
died Memorial Day weekend. He had
been considering transferring to A&M.
Although he wasn't an actual student,
he had the heart of an Aggie. In a way,
this ceremony was for him. I finally got
to say everything I wanted to tell him
without having to say a word. After
three months, I finally got to say good
bye.
I will never forget the bells chiming
"Amazing Grace," nor will I forget
standing with thousands of friends,
bathed in bright moonlight. The wind
swooping through the trees while the
Ross Volunteers' rhythmic cadence
echoed through the plaza sent shivers
through me.
I will never forget September 8, 1992
because at 10:30 p.m., I witnessed
something truly magical and beautiful.
It is for that 1 want to say thanks.
Denise Dickmann
Class of '95
Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of
the opinion page staff and editor in chief only. They do not
represent, in any Way. the opinions of reporters, staff, or
editors of other sections of the newspaper.
Columns, guest columns, and Mail Call items express the
opinions of the authors only.
Tfie Battalion encourages letters to the editor and wit) print
as many as space aBows in the Mail Call section. Letters
must be 300 words or less and include the author's name.
We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, and
accuracy.
Letters should be addressed to:
The BattaNon - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald /MaB stop till
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843
From the Corps Commander
Once again the Corps of Cadets finds itself the center of the University's atten
tion. This past Friday at yell p 1 actice I saw an incredibly irreverent display by a
group of students who claim the Aggie name. Often the most simple solution es
capes us. Stay off Kyle Field. It is unfortunate that this group of dolts would
choose to desecrate the Kyle Field memorial for no other reason than to taunt
Corps members. I'm sure many of these individuals would not run across the
field if they had been aware of the tradition. However, there is no reason for the
Corps to stand idly by and take another kick in the teeth. We are the founders of
the tradition and tne Keepers of the spirit, and we will defend these ideals.
What happened should make every Ag's blood boil. The juniors in the Corps
did the best job they could under the circumstances. They had no idea that the
field would oe flooded with so many individuals. Sure, tell them not to chase the
people, tell them to escort them off the field. Now try it with a drunk individual
who hits you, and you will be in the same situation as many of the juniors were
that night. Those juniors felt a need to defend the spirit of ffyle Field and those
Aggies who gave their lives in defense of our country. Kyle Field is a memorial,
regardless of Mr. Homer's perception of its worth, to the 55 Aggies who gave
their lives in World War I, and most recently to the parents and family of James
Glenn, our own place kicker who died on Kyle Field last fall.
I am not condoning the violence that took place, and in the future this type of
incident will be handled differently. Those juniors who overstepped their
bounds Friday night should never have been put in the position of having to
tackle A&M students in the first place. In the past, students who ran across the
field were fans of the opposing team and could expect to be incapacitated for
some time; however, in this day and age, as we move toward the 21st century,
we have lost sight of what makes this university great: Aggie traditions. All this
because we forgot what it means to be an Aggie. All this because we forgot to be
"true to each other as Aggies can be." All this because we forgot "to fight togeth
er for the Aggie dream.'
In closing, I would like to thank the fraternities that aided Corps members in
removing students from Kyle Field. The maroon line runs especially deep on
this side of the campus, so if you can't or won't respect the traditions, then please
stay home so those of us who do can enjoy the spirit which makes Texas A&M a
world class university.
Matthew John Michaels '93
Cadet Colonel of the Corps