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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1992)
Opinion 'can doaj, hem vouf* iS /’ Gibbs sj. jles' line i;. le y r e great iot greatj, n ake theplj ONE: Slfi - lose his h' a third di| ay, Buffalj 'ke his wf ght, Wast; oke his retj >7/ Jerry Ei e of his ret® touchdows >e Nineis tt -56-17 vidai mark could p rlesj. Tuesday, October 20,1992 ratioi Editorials St Insurance injustice orking outli eoJfi Benefits cut after illness diagnosed ie was era , O embers and) > tn'ingtod I program Si he arrived iid he conlk ian andthep legativepi ^as getting datUNUl t the topot: ot at the to; Maxsons i coach lark I the basketb there was 1 campus at# ? second peis :he subcomr. , Tarkaraanli ed Maxson a listratorsci n from ft* !f nd triedka rad buili3’ ! :tee is loot s surround: ation, buli e working ion. ast montliS! 5 st of final® ards, ii m the uni* oundation The Justice Department is sched uled to file a memorandum urging the Supreme Court not to review an extremely important case involving the reduction of the insurance bene fits of persons diagnosed with cost ly illnesses such as cancer and AIDS. The case involves a Houston man, John W. McCann, whose maxi mum health insurance benefits were cut from $1 million to $5,000 after he was diagnosed with AIDS. Under a 1974 law companies which serve as their own insurers are allowed to slash employee cov erage after the employee contracts a disease. Statistics indicate that more than half of all employees in the United States work for companies which seif-insure, or use their own assets to pay health insurance claims. Often employees are not even aware of this fact because their em ployers contract with insurance companies to handle the paper work. The major benefits of self insur ance for companies include the fact that there are very few regulations on such plans and that a company is exempt from state taxes on premi ums. The Justice Department position against reviewing the law has been opposed by the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the National Com mission on AIDS, among others. This case appears to be little more than a breach of contract, and would be considered as such under state insurance regulations. However, since a self-insured company does not fall under state regulations and, indeed, is practical ly unregulated, the company in question was acting within its legal rights according to the Justice De partment. If the Supreme Court refuses to review this case, they will be paving the way for further abuses like the revocation of McCann's insurance benefits. It is too late for John Mc Cann, who died in June of 1991. However, it is imperative that the Supreme Court review this law or that the Congress amend it to pre vent such flawed insurance agree ments from hurting the millions who are covered by them. Allowing self-insured companies to slash benefits after the fact of ill ness amounts to nothing more than condoning bad-faith contracts and must be stopped. ame : down,wrf : thathapp® omingto) 11 ® ®are." ang of pla)* is bouncy,® ally play If make tricky spf thebaUo®* . lines wi^ ay in awN t have a p ny other f' Blauser^ ut you'd I s ’ ; fans on^ J Series If ’stobekf the AI> ir-seasonf hitter, have Olf ere toge^ d. usly said'-: ; the DHt ntlforJ" 1 tell this y^ iksisalflf - comp^ a playet t running .. And$ ^mon,ai f iter who s defend® sand ^ff-tackl®. ,f Mimsf' aside, tha ■3 has allf prize f$ ( ' f to goo® . w pun^ MAIL CALI Will take education, action to end racism I am tired of the unnecessary hostili ty which lurks on the Texas A&M cam pus. I am tired of people disliking oth ers simply because of the color of their skin. I am tired of racist remarks and "racist themes." It is time for us to discontinue this hostility. Racism is unnecessary, invec tive, insensitive, and damaging. Fur thermore, it hurts all people and its ef fects can be permanent. Additionally, I have vowed to no longer remain silent about this negative situation. I will educate myself and my peers so that we can conquer racism and not allow it to continue to conquer us, because I strongly believe that "If you are not part or the solution, then you must be part of the problem." Further, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. strived to unify all races and died at tempting to demolish racism, but as we know, it continues to exist. Dr. King, your deed will not be held in vain. 1, and many others, will continue to spread your ideals and philosophies in a nonviolent manner until these mali cious walls ... walls of racism ... come tumbling down. Tamica Gaines, President, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Coordinating Committee Unfair to jump to conclusions of guilt In reference to the past week's letters in Mail Call, I feel that many people are jumping the gun in accusing Sigma Al- ha Epsilon of beingjracist. When I ear people who were not even present at the party jumping on the bandwagon of accusation, I have a difficult time be lieving that they (the accusers) know what went on at the party. By no means am I defending Sigma Alpha Epsilon, but as a non-Greek stu dent here at A&M, I feel that as Aggies none of us have the right to charge any one of being a blatant racist without substantial evidence. The social func tion at the house may have had racial undertones, but no one has the right to accuse anyone of the basis of hearsay. Let Joe Salem and the one or two others who were present and complained pre sent their case showing why Sigma Al pha Epsilon is a racist organization. If in fact the party was racially moti vated, then I think the fraternity should receive adequate punishment. On the other hand, I also feel that in the mean time the Aggies who were not present at the function should refrain from ac cusations of racism until the proper ac tion or decision is handed down. Andy Edwards Class of '95 Racial hostilities turn to fighting at party After reading Tiffany McEachern's letter in the Oct. 12 issue, I must say that I am disappointed, but not sur- rised by the blatant disrespect shown y Aggies, due to an experience I had the night of Oct. 3. I was at a party in Treehouse Village when, all of the sud den, I found myself in the middle of a racial battle zone. Apparently, two black guys and a white guy were asked to leave the party because they were causing trouble, and they agreed. Well, one guest could not be satisfied with that, so he took it upon himself to bash one of the black guys over the head with a bottle. When tne black person retaliated in defeVise, it started an all out racial war between various other members of the party The Battalion Page 9 Ideas, not actions define racism Unintentional acts minor next to malicious motives R acism comes in many colors. Once it was a simple issue, as plain as black and white. These days it's a gray matter, requir ing careful thought to avoid inadver tently exhibiting racism simply out of ignorance. Last week an A&M fraternity came under fire, accused of racist ac tivity at a jungle-themed party where potential members, called "pledges," painted their faces black and carried spears. One outside observer said the fraternity's active members chased the pledges around, re-enact ing an African slave-hunt. After the fraternity's activities were reported in The Battalion, the proverbial poop hit the fan, causing a big stink. The Interfraternity Council (IFC) was inundated with calls, and The Battalion with letters, denouncing, condemning, supporting and defending the fraternity's actions. The fraternity was fined $1,000, and it received sanc tions placing the fraternity on probation through 1994 and eliminating mixers for 1993. The sanctions must be ap proved by University administrators. Discussing the events of the week, an IFC representative said the fraternity members were not to blame. He said the fraternity merely exhibited an ignorance of racial sensitivi ties, common in today's melting pot society. He suggested that the University was to blame; maybe even parents were responsible for the actions of the fraternity members at the party. Education, he said, must be provided to prevent fu ture racial indiscretions. Maybe he's right. My parents never taught me about racial differences. They taught me to say "please" and "thank you" and to be polite to others. But they never told me that black people and white people were different. They taught me to consider other people's feelings be fore I said or did anything that might offend them. But they never told me there was a difference between Latins and Asians. In fact, my parents never referred to people as "Mexi cans" or "Anglos." It was on a trip to Georgia where I learned that some people were considered different be cause they were bom with different skin colors. I was 10 years old when a 14-year-old boy called me a Puerto Rican idiot. I was completely caught off guard. I stood there, quietly wondering what he meant. I had heard the word "idiot," but what did he mean by "Puerto Rican?" My mom and dad once told me that my grandma's mom moved to Texas from Mexico. Did that mean that I was Puerto Rican? My education in racial differences grew slowly from there. I've heard, surely, all the jokes about Mexicans. "What did the Mexican do with his first 50-cent piece?" "He married her." "What is the most confusing day in Mexico?" "Father's day." I've been called everything from "spic-and-span" to "white trash." And that was by my friends and family. I usually laugh at the jokes. Do you know why? Because they're usually funny — and often too ignorant to be taken seriously. Raised as I was, and talking with the friends I choose, race is usually not an issue. I've met a lot of people from various backgrounds who consider race a "non-is sue." I don't look for racism, I often overlook it; some might say too often. But I know it's still out there. Standing in line to use a phone on campus, I once heard two guys, standing two feet behind me, begin telling a Mexican joke. I couldn't understand it because they were drunk, and though their slurring was clearly audible, their words were unclear. I turned to see who they were — maybe I knew them. They started laughing and ran off. I didn't laugh. It wasn't funny. All I saw was their white T-shirts with Greek letters on the back. Given the problems caused by the jungle-themed party, fraternities are wondering what's allowed anymore. Should they cancel Fiesta parties? Is an ethnic theme neces sarily an insult to that ethnic people? I say no. What people wear and mimic doesn't concern me; the ideas and sentiments promoted and encouraged by a large group of peers does. Those two drunken sprinters learned sometime, somewhere to tell racial jokes behind the backs of strangers. As the fraternity representative said, education is important. When my mother was a child, racism meant watching her father being turned away from a restaurant as the fami ly waited, wishing to eat there. These days racism means listening to jokes and wonder ing more about motives than actions. The gradual decline of racism displays a growing sense of awareness, but racism still stinks. Exactly what is it that the various ethnic groups want? Pretty much what the fraternities have expressed by quick ly correcting a thoughtless incident. Consideration, under standing and respect — that's what everyone wants. Why? Because they're only human, just like you and I. Vasquez is a senior journalism major ROBERT VASQUEZ Columnist I ^bt a canay apple at the Bush home... A Su^ar Daddy from ifoe Clinton place... And root canal surgery at the Perot mansion. who were not even involved in the ini tial skirmish. I could not believe my eyes. There were about four or five dif ferent fights breaking out all down the street! All these stupid drunk guys were walking around without their shirts on cursing and threatening every one and everything. After being quite involved in Fish Camp, where we tell the freshman what a diverse and great place this is to be, it ticks me off when a few bad apples give the freshmen the wrong impression of what Texas A&M is. In my opinion, 94 percent of this institution is fine; the other 6 percent need to head the other direction on Highway 6! And one more thing ... I hope you not so pectoral studs caught a cold from walking around without shirts. On the bright side, at least you weren't at yell practice running across the field! Tiffany Barnes Class of '94 Christians cannot accept other religions If one is to follow Christ's teachings, then one must accept the statement that Jesus himself made claiming clearly to be the only way to God. "I am the way. the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) For me to claim Cnristianity and yet to also believe that other religions are equal would force me to hold a double standard. On the one hand I be lieve that Christ is the only way, as he said, and on the other hand I should re main open to believing that there are other ways, as you say that I should? This is a contradiction. I am not one to try to force others to believe as I do, but do not call me "blind" or "intolerant" just because I will not hold to a double standard. Neil Burleson Class of'92 Gay advertisement self-contradictory Yes, there are different things for dif ferent people, but who are you to tell the rest of us what is right or wrong? Gays are constantly preaching to soci ety how they are discriminated against and how no one understands them. When you start telling people what they should believe is rignt or wrong, we believe that you are slightly over stepping your bounds. While we real ize mat you are entitled to your right of free speech, we do not believe that you should be telling us how we should be lieve. Society is made up of many dif ferent people; that is what makes our society unique. It is not our goal to put down your lifestyle, or to offend you in any way, but we think that you are cre ating a double standard. You are con stantly stating how society should ac cept your beliefs and your actions. Now, through the picture published in Wednesday^ Battalion it would seem to us that you are trying to force your beliefs upon us. This would seem to go against everything that you stand for. Kirk Loren Weindorff Class of '94 Jeff Zander Class of '95 Accompanied by 17 signatures Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of the opinion page staff and editor m 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 Mari Call items express the opinions of the authors only. The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and win print as many as space aflows in the Mail Call section. Letters must be 300 words or less and include author's name. Social Security number, class, and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters should be addressed to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald /MaB stop 1111 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77343