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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 1992)
Friday Opinion Page 6 The Battalion Friday, October2,1! Commons De+cnti«r» Center \uh 7 ust » "TTTT^/^n^l y 0 . or / nerS 1 — oP 6- ’ • . I OHS Dc+cn+i< ^ I o ^. w Vc 7 US ,/ ■Ao***' df'/ er - s f >0. ^ '•"r^ v-.sveri / 1 a tl- of „ «n»^ ecl • / v^ 0 '”'7 l •,^* r “ c )'°''' v 1. M» s0 ‘'* b |e f'’ 0 ' 1 ' a AUa'.‘5 ^' C ‘ P b H» ^ " f„r , * 5 - ^'“ e, 7 r s 0. ^ I /v.^° ^ n ^f -I 'X b) 0 c ° 0^up^ tS .J Editorials Midnight yell practice Tonight nation will be watching All eyes will be on Texas A&M University tonight. Stories in the Houston Post, Houston Chronicle, The Daily Texan and even this paper have put tonight's midnight yell practice into the media spotlight. The Houston papers, television stations and even the Associated Press will be on campus today and this evening holding their breath for a brawl session on Kyle Field. Let them hold their breath. When the media arrives let's give them an Aggie welcome. They will ask questions. Answer them hon estly. We have nothing to hide, nothing they don't already know. The night of Sept. 11 was an aberration of Aggie tradition, a one time occurrence provoked by a few troublemakers and poorly handled by an unprepared junior class of cadets. Tonight, as we again gather on Kyle Field to continue our precious tradition of midnight yell practice, let's remember what Aggie spirit means to each of us. Let's welcome the outside media to our fine campus and show 'em yell practice. Aggies, regardless of what hap pened at this year's first yell prac tice, regardless of where the blame properly lies (be it with cadets or civilians, drunk or sober), tonight — let's do it right. Commons coed? Idea is best in the long run Despite residents' protests, the proposed integration of two Com mons-style residence halls repre sents the best option for the most students. The On Campus Housing office has proposed converting two single sex, Commons-style halls to coed by floors, maintaining approximately the same number of male and fe male spaces available on campus. During the last two weeks, the plans met with resistance. Hall Councils from the three Commons halls voiced disapproval, and last week the Residence Hall Associa tion defeated a bill endorsing inte gration. The Hall Councils and the Resi dent Hall Association seem to be lieve that the wishes of current resi dents should weigh most heavily in the administration's decision. Polls taken last month in three of the halls indicate that residents of the halls disapprove of going coed by a margin of about two to one. By contrast, Krueger retained only 14 percent of its residents last year while Aston and Dunn retained about 20 percent each. The people who live in the Com mons now are not the same people that will live there next year. Inte gration would not affront residents as opponents argue. On the other hand, student re quests for coed housing consistently and greatly exceed spaces. Last spring, for example, there were six hall requests for each available space in coed halls. Requests for coed housing have steadily risen over the past several years. Students prefer coed housing, and the Commons are most in need of the boost in retention that accom pany becoming coed. Being some of the largest halls on campus, con verting the Commons creates more coed spaces than converting other halls. Resident opposition to the inte gration appears unified, and yet stu dent opinions seem inconsistent with historical trends. At the same time, widespread demand for coed housing outstrips availability and continues to rise. In the end, inte grating two Commons halls offers to satisfy many more students than it hurts. Hotel rate hikes Price gouging not 'good business' The Battalion recently reported in depth on the fact that local hotels raise their rates by an average of 40 percent for home football games. Though this practice is perfectly legal, it seems overly mercenary. Hotel managers justify this prac tice as good old fashioned supply and demand capitalism. However, it is not quite as simple as that. To a certain extent, these hotels owe their existence to the Universi ty. Most people would agree that without A&M, Bryan-College Sta tion is not exactly a tourist mecca. Price gouging by hotels may hurt the University by decreasing the number of people who attend foot ball games. Though hotels claim a 40 percent price increase is good business, it looks more like biting the hand that feeds you. Furthermore, many of these ho tels require a two-night stay on foot ball game weekends, making it even more expensive for fans to attend. Once kgain, perfectly legal, though not very nice. The local hotels must decide whether an inflated profit on game weekends is worth alienating the University and its former students. Even if exorbitant prices do not hurt university football revenues, they do hurt former students and fans. A&M's reputation has been built on the loyalty of its former students. Price gouging on football weekends takes advantage of this loyalty and most definitely hurts the University. Perhaps local hotels should real ize that, in the end, profit margin is not the only factor that determines what is "good business." Bonfire protesters way off base Environmental concerns better directed elsewhere Col hisl G o ahead, say it. The response is inevitable. Bonfire. There. Now; as those brooding anti-fire demonstrators take a look at that, you, the reader must think, “No! It's entirely too early to read all those letters ..." You're right. Completely. But the aforementioned will continue to react every year, as early as possible until they become like the Christmas advertisers urging you to buy, buy, buy, as you take in turkey, cranberry and the Cowboys. Sadly, it has now become academic. Ten years ago, we heard nothing of this sort. The flame seen 'round the country was automatic. In 1992, we are faced with a slow-growing pack of 'Earthworms' who are going to great lengths to say no to Bonfire with flyers made, most certainly, with recyclable paper. I have to say that none of these anti-arsonists can offer anything to me about the changing of the guard. You people are asking, very seriously, something akin to banning women from the university. Silly, at best, but I've got your attention. If these people by chance (yeah, right) get their way, look for them to attack other sacraments that define A&M. For example, “uncover" is a term that would have to be altered ... for no other reason than the fact that it suggests the defacing of a book, one of Earth's gifts. About the only thing the rebels would keep intact is the annual beating of Texas. For the most part, these guys must be vegetarian. Having farmers defeating cows; well, you have to pick the lesser of two evils. I can imagine that you were the persons who stood teary-eyed as the construction workers took those first steps onto the MSC grass in pursuit of the target trees. “No, no, no! Not those trees!" As opposed to ripping out trees in Dallas to work on the MSC Addition? Rest assured. With the addition completed, none of youcansay exactly what grass, or which trees are missing. But you can probably take in a fine piece of artistry. &t a grip, “Earth Firsters;" long after you're gone, the university will be forced to expand...to allow more of you in. Good irony, here. But — back to Bonfire. Can you honestly take your eyes off that baby upon ignition? It's phenomenal. I could go into what A&M is doing to plant trees and the rest, but why ruin the argument? You extinguishers ait looking to rid us of our wastefulness. Great. Why not start with something you can handle? Find a way to avoid the aftermath of elephant walk. Am I going overboard by saying that quite possibly, more of your trees, in the form of trash paper and wood, find themselves littering the campus after a walk, than the)’ do on a stack? Okay, maybe. But that's no more irrational than the anti-bonfire crowd's unfounded opposition to this most spectacularof traditions, a tradition which has problems only in the protesters' minds. Klement is a senior journalism major GUEST COLUMNIST JOHN KLEMENT Yell leader appeals to Aggies: stay off field The course of events that unfolded before, during, and after our last midnight yell practive have prompted me to address the student body through this letter. The actions by a few of our students during that yell practice were, obviously, inexcusable. However, that shouldn't reflect negatively on the tradition of midnight yell practice. Since its beginning, yell practice has served one main purpose: to muster the spirit of the 12th Man for the next day's game. And, since its beginning, yell practice has done exactly that. There will be many eyes looking upon us at this midnight yell practice. Tonight at Kyle Field, we'll have an opportunity to show the world what Texas A&M is all about. It's up to every Aggie who cares to make sure the tradition is preserved in a positive light. Ags, I'm asking you to show the same respect to Kyle Field and to other Aggies that you would to the grass around the MSC. Stay off the field and stay in the stands. Its the only way to keep this great tradition alive. Tim Isgitt Class of '93 Head Yell Leader Perot contributing to America his own way I am writing in regard to the candidacy of Ross Perot. Whether he is running or whether you want to vote for him, always remember that he has done something already that no president, in my lifetime, ever accomplished. He has shown America that our voice is the law of the land. We take history classes that talk of the struggle for freedom that Americans pulled together for and accomplished. Ross Perot is single- handedly provoking us to fight for a better America. Every move he has made, whether planned or not, has increased our degree of belief in a "we- can" America. Tm not suggesting that as president he would change America. It is up to us, as citizens, to work with a leader who will fight with us for a common goal — to make America strong again. Ross Perot is an excellent leader and he has great plans, which he listed in his book, “United We Stand." If you aren't considering Perot, think about where we're headed and what changes have to be made. Whatever you do, let your voice be heard — get out and vote! Chad A. Carpenter Class of'92 Criticism of football team was on target This is in response to the two graduate students, Mark Mason and James Legg, whose letter appeared in the Thursday, Sept. 30 Battalion. What were your undergraduate degrees in? Aggie Conforming? Independent Thought Incapability? Or the old favorite, the Think The Way WeDoOt Leave degree? Who cares if you didn't like what Portie said? It was the truth. If the truth hurts, tough; go hide somewhere with your delusions if that makes you feel better. Sure, you say, “But we're 4-0" - so what? We've had to come from behind to win too many times; a fifth place team shouldn't have to come fro® behind to win, and a true fifth place team's quarterback, “our great Olympic contender" (excuse me while I puke), shouldn't exhibit passing abilities on par with my high school team's quarterback. That team is routinely® lastplace. This criticism is not useless; it is an account of how the team's shortcomings (read Jeff Granger) are affecting play. If a team deludes itself with an attitude of "we're so ereat because all the Aggies incapaoleof having their own opinions get together and tell them so, how are thef supposed to know they need to improve, or in what ways improvement is needed? Hey fellas, lighten up and back off. John Delgado Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views o! 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. The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and will print as many as space allows 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 Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald /Mad stop 1111 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843 I se in her ready vision In F of WOl of Arc warric FrencF and tF mean in ban to piec No. bv the sne pr banne couldi someo No. N courag front, £ Air Did St into c womai knowr man. So, the co Form a No. her sell ting w ers. S them < didn't If w St. Joa examp womei Did St to you by Ain If he your ct (