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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1992)
I to first ■ash Opinion Tuesday, September 29,1992 The Battalion Page 9 ent will t Pebble in Col- mameni format I will in- d cart, fier and 5 bas- against If reser- Hurlev II Office ITS inally got missed a >t. own 31, 9 plays to Tim Bat- rd-and-13 nding tlii yards oi bering If eg curlec oking tt >ck from yes and e for his 1. Professors rarely seen Research emphasis hurts teaching The House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families re cently published a report entitled "College Education: Paying More and Getting Less." The report fo cused on rising tuition costs cou pled with a decreasing emphasis on teaching in public universities. Schools reward professors primarily for research activity and in some cases actually look down upon them for focusing on teaching, ac cording to congressional investiga tors. Graduate students bear the brunt of teaching the classes least attrac tive to professors — freshman En glish and chemistry labs, for exam ple. These students are poorly paid, usually overworked, and certainly can't bring the kind of experience to the job that a. professor would. However, students pay exactly the same tuition no matter what the qualifications of the instructor, or lack thereof as the case may be. Professors teach less and less as public universities try to keep their research output competitive with private research giants such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technolo gy. However, public universities still have the primary mission of ed ucating students. Certainly, good research facilities and brilliant re searchers can improve a student's learning experience, but students should demand that the quality of their education not be sacrificed in the bargain. Students should not be forced to pay for increases in tuition at public universities only to see less and less of their professors, no matter what the research reputation of a univer sity may be. . , v •- 0-— ~ joa...... .... _ Time to talk issues This sare ;bed iglier is con- kouts, lutting ie be- lers, impor- igP uZ ' istfor 1 by hto atching iejets ir iere to he fans found- Voters need real basis for decision Political mudslinging has turned the presidential campaign process into an irreverent display of finger pointing. Candidates should dis cuss what they can do for the coun try's future and not merely exploit the other candidate's past. Voters tune in to rallies and speeches looking for reasons to choose one candidate over another. Expecting them to address pertinent issues, voters learn that some candi dates dodge issues better than they do the draft. Yes, previous personal dealings can provide insight into the work ings of a potential president's mind. But once those facts have been dis closed, the candidates should progress to more pertinent issues. Previous actions do not dictate fu ture ones.While tabloids feast on skeletons of politicians' pasts, recent polls show that voters are not con cerned with bedfellows and cookie recipes. Instead, the electorate wants to know how candidates plan to boost the lagging economy, curb govern ment spending or lower unemploy ment. Both presidential candidates spend speech time alluding to for mer president Harry Truman, who came from behind to win the elec tion. Bush and Clinton would do well to heed the words of others who once held the same office. Before running for president became an ex cuse to denigrate fellow Americans, Lincoln said, "United we stand, di vided we fall." Today voters ask not what candi dates have done for themselves, but what they can do for their country. Quayle spoke about the issues at rally As I read over the front page of Wednesday's Battalion, 1 noticed a uote from the Aggie Democrats presi- ent, Pat Gendron, saying he was dis appointed in the Dan Quayle rally be cause the vice-president did not ad dress campaign issues. Now as I think back to Tuesday, I must have attended a different rally than Mr. Gendron. I quite clearly remember Mr. Quayle say ing that President Bush intended to lower taxes and "empower the people." That seems like an important issue to me. Quayle also stated Bush's plans to revamp health care and hinted at ideas to create new jobs. Those are both very important keys to this election. Quayle also mentioned that he felt Congres sional terms should be limited, just as Presidential terms are. Finally, Quayle stressed education and stated Bush's belief that parent's should have the right to choose where their children go to school. All of these issues combined lead me to ask one simple question: What does Mr. Gendron feel are the im portant issues to this election? I'm not asking Mr. Gendron to change his polit ical views. I just hope he is smart enough to listen to other peoples' point of view. Stephen C. Skinner Class of '94 Protest squelched by Quayle supporters After I attended the rally on Tuesday featuring Dan Quayle, I joined an im promptu protest group outside the coli seum. There I witnessed some of the most asinine and immature behavior from a political party that I've ever seen. For some reason, perhaps be cause they were afraid of the truth, the Republican faction decided that they had to block our signs instead of stand ing on the other side of the street where they could have shown support for their own group. In addition to at tempting to abridge our ability to ex press our views, they yelled to us that we weren't Aggies, and should be sent A global emphasis at Texas A&M Education should include a look at outside world GUEST COLUMNIST DR. WILLIAM MOBLEY I t is grand, for a change, to get some good fiscal news. At a time when announcements coming from state and federal budget offices are usually bleak, it is heartening to learn that Congress has more than doubled the funds available for inter national education programs. Starting with fiscal year 1993, the federal government has budgeted $113 million for activities affecting international education. They include upgrading undergraduate education programs, placing more emphasis on overseas experience-based learning, and improving the development and dissemination of international exper tise. This timely news is certainly welcome at Texas A&M University where we are increasingly emphasizing the val ue of a global perspective for our students and faculty. From a practical point of view, we need merely remind ourselves that foreign trade now generates four out of five new jobs in the United States. We are also mindful that in ternational activities account for approximately one third of U.S. corporate profits. Although some U.S. firms profit internationally, we do not have a favorable balance of trade. That is worrisome to a lot of people, and rightfully so. I submit that there is only one way to reduce this nation's unfavorable trade balance that does not reduce our standard of living: America must become more productive, globally competent and interna tionally competitive. Education is the key. To succeed in this emerging global community, our stu dents must have a basis for an informed perspective about it. That means acquiring the necessary skills and knowl edge to develop a better understanding of themselves as well as their cultural and physical environment. A cornerstone of the international dimension for stu dents at Texas A&M is the Study Abroad Program Few ex periences can better provide that perspective. Study a 1 ^pad programs were once viewed as niceties available only the affluent. We are now striving to instill the perspec that students cannot afford to pass up such opportum We go to great lengths to make financial aid avail the form of scholarships and loans, just as we do for dents needing assistance to attend Texas A&M Univi Students who receive our top academic scholarship a matically qualify for $1,000 study abroad stipends, fc also have available need-based scholarships. Our newest study abroad program, sponsored by the Memorial Student Center's Jordan Institute for Internation al Awareness, goes a step beyond what is becoming the norm. It provides financial assistance for students to carry out independent research-oriented endeavors that relate to their international career interests. Our new study center near Florence, Italy, serves as home base for several of our study abroad programs that focus on Europe, for example, and we plan in tne not-too- distant future to be able to accommodate large numbers of Texas A&M students at our campus in Koriyama, Japan. A center in Mexico City, funded by former students and friends in Mexico, will become a reality in several months. This fall, we reached a significant milestone in our inter national program when we welcomed to Aggieland the first group of Japanese students who enrolled at our Ko riyama campus two years ago. They will be here for their fi nal two years of study, joining about 2,500 other interna tional students from 110 countries. Together, these students add a special dimension to our campus life, benefiting ev eryone in the university community who takes advantage of opportunities to interact with them. There can oe no question that integration of international students into all activities at Texas A&M builds cultural bridges — both when the students from abroad are on campus and when they return to their homelands to become tomorrow's lead ers. Our faculty also is helping build bridges by participat ing in faculty exchange programs and cooperative research programs. For example, within the past three years scores of Texas A&M faculty and research staff have contributed to more than 300 projects in 57 countries. In addition to helping solve real-world problems, they have contributed immeasurably in building good will for our university, state and nation. It is rewarding indeed to see and feel what is happening internationally. I see exciting and pr • 'milts here on I see prospects boH' * campus, and tin u in cial. "on- higher ^S-not include rates of La Quinta Inn, Holiday Inn, or Motel 6. Anas Ben-Musa /The Battalion Ji- I i TEASE! Junior cadets face restrictions on yell practice traditions By JULIE CHELKOWSKI and TODD STONE Reporters of THE BATTALION The Corps of Cadets will have new restrictions placed on them because of 'good bull' turned bad niors on the field to groups such as Residence Hall Association, In terfraternity Council, and other organizations that deal with large groups of people. He said the role of the Corps ;eds to be to t.u.! It's sad to see that they embrace a system more akin to fascism than to the two-party system. I hope that the majority of College Republicans don't condone their behavior, because I love being an Aggie. But even more, I love being in the United States, where Tm free (usually) to express myself. Andy Kazmaier Class of '95 Multicultural studies bring understanding I am writing in response to "Multi- culturalism no boon to race relations." I praise Brian Beckrom for taking the initiative to defend his political beliefs, but he has a deep misunderstanding of the purposes of multiculturalism. His statements that multiculturalists are "historical revisionists" and that we should be racially "colorblind" deeply offended me. The purpose of multiculturalism is to create a better understanding of differ ent cultures in America and their con tributions to American society. Through the efforts of multiculturalists we not only know who George Wash ington and Eli Whitney are, but a few of us also know about Richard Allen and Frederick Douglass. Historical igno rance serves as a breeding ground for racism and economic disparity. To be racially "colorblind" would be inferring that my color doesn't exist, that some thing is wrong with it, or that it doesn't matter. To be Asian-American, African-American, Native-American, or Hispanic does not mean that we are de emphasizing the importance of being American. It does mean that we are something else in addition to being an American. There is no need to overlook a person's race. Tm not saying that you should treat me differently because of it, but I am saying it should matter to you. When you see me, look at my race — maybe you'H see my culture and my heritage. Only then will you and I have a better understanding of each other. Tonia Harris Class of '96 Some golfers need to find another sport I'm sure everyone has probably no ticed the cars parked out on the side of George Bush Drive along the golf course. Well, one of those cars just hap pens to be mine. As I was walking the mile to get to my car last week, I saw a really disturbing sight. Three Aggie- shirted golfers were participating in a tasteless, cheap thrill that made me fu rious. It wasn t an accident, but a delib erate act to see who could club a golf ball into the parked cars with the most destructive results. I stood there and watched someone's red Honda Prelude get pegged on the windshield, and then I heard these Aggies laugh hysterically. I would like to know what kmd of peo ple think something like this is appro priate ... especially in Aggieland. So, golfers, if you don't find it a challenge to sock that tiny white pellet over those rolling green landscapes that are al ready provided, I suggest finding an other sport. Julie Averett Class of '96 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 tiie opinions of the authors only. The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and wifi print as many as space allows in the Mail Call section. Letters must be 300 words or less and indude the author's name. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters should be addressed to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald /Mail stop 1111 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843