Opinion
Page 10 The Battalion
88J888B6&:
Friday, October^,
J
I
Eoitoriai
Knee-jerk response
Auction restrictions hypersensitive
The Battalion applauds the swift
action taken against Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity for the racist over
tones of their recent "Jungle Party."
We are confident that Sigma Al
pha Epsilon will learn from the ex
perience and that other organiza
tions will profit by their example.
The sanctions put forth by the In
terfraternity Council and imple
mented by the University demon
strate that racism, even that result
ing from ignorance, will not be tol
erated at Texas A&M.
Though the swift and severe pun
ishment of the SAE incident once
again proves A&M's commitment
to ethnic diversity and multicultur-
alism, this instance of insensitivity
must not serve as a pathway to the
perils of politically correct tyranny.
The Department of Multicultural
Services determined that the idea of
a "date auction" fundraiser for the
United Way could possibly offend
members of the campus community.
Brandishing the sword of sensi
tivity, the Department of Student
Affairs and the Department of Mul
ticultural Services issued an ultima
tum to Eppright Hall, the sponsor of
the event: reformat the fundraiser
in a "PC" fashion, or postpone the
Date Auction.
One might make the questionable
argument that the auctioning off of
celebrity dates for charity is cultur
ally offensive because it reminds us
of earlier slave auctions.
However, the fact that Eppright
Hall spent a great deal of time and
effort on the event, and the fact that
the celebrity dates willingly volun
teered to participate in it both seem
to have been ignored when the De
partment of Multicultural Services
issued its eleventh-hour ultimatum.
Erica Davis, National Miss Black
and Gold for 1992, said that her un
derstanding of the event did not in
clude hints of cultural insensitivity.
This further weakens the case for
forcing changes in the auction.
We appeal to the University not
to submit to this sort of "destroy the
village in order to save it" mentality.
Such a "sensitivity Gestapo" ap
proach stifles the very atmosphere
of intellectual freedom that charac
terizes world class universities.
Privatization of campus food
services a losing deal all around
I have been
hearing a lot
about privatiza
tion in the local
newspapers and
from some of my
friends. We
know that the
University has
been taking bids
from the Marriott
group and ARA
and that ARA
has entered the
superior bid, of
fering $2 million
to be paid over a
five-year con
tract. They wish to take over opera
tions of Billy Mac's in the airport and
to renovate the Underground Market
to make it similar to a mall eating area,
with a Burger King Express, a Chic-
Fil-A, a Blimpie's, a Mexican restau
rant to be named in the future (proba
bly Taco Bell), Easy Go (basically a
self-serve refrigerator), I Can't Believe
It's Yogurt, and Gretel's Bake Shop.
People have spoken vaguely of the
consequences of privatization of food
services at A&M. Well, I did a little in
vestigation into the facts of the matter
and the results were a bit startling.
First, I would like to address the lit
tle matter of privatization being prob
lematic. A prime example can be
found here on campus. Barnes & No
ble took over the operation of the MSC
bookstore last year. This privately
owned company is profit-oriented.,
and thus searches out the best oppor
tunities to make money instead of the
best opportunities to save money for
the students. Also, any money that is
made in profit goes back to the mother
company in New York instead of stay
ing within the University to be used
for the students' good. Finally, any
suggestions or complaints must be
sent through a bureaucratic jungle of
red tape before being acted upon, if
acted upon at all. This was not the
case when the University was running
the show.
Secondly, I do not believe that any
of us on campus would like to be re
quired to purchase a meal plan. This,
however, was the result in several cas
es where a privately owned company
was allowed to come on campus to
run just a few private fast food outlets.
At Indiana University, the Marriott
group, ARA's opponent in the bid
war, gained total privatization. ARA
has total privatization on campus at
the University of Texas at Arlington
and at the University of Missouri at
Columbia. In each case, meal plans
are mandatory and food prices are
higher than before privatization. Also,
the fast food service outlets (the places
that supply their meat, etc.) use a low
er grade meat than does the service
outlet that A&M uses. If ARA or any
other company is allowed to come on
campus, the net result will be dissatis
faction with the food services offered.
Finally, it is my opinion that ARA
has plans to take over operations of
the Food Services Department here on
campus. Forgetting for the moment
that they have done so in several other
instances, their numbers simply do not
add up.
They say they will pay the Univer
sity a guaranteed $2 million over the
life of the five-year contract, which
should tell us something about the
profits they expect to make. This
means that they will pay roughly
$400,000 a year. A decent return on
investment would be 10 percent. As
suming this is the figure they are us
ing, this means they plan to gross $4
million per year.
Let us assume they operate year-
round, without mentioning the in
evitable drop-off in business during
the summer and the lack of business
during the winter vacation and spring
break. This means that they plan to
gross roughly $11,000 per day. In
come such as that could only be gener
ated by about 2,000 customers per
day, about 75 percent of Sbisa's cur
rent business. Realizing that they will
be operating in the Underground Mar
ket and Food Court, which currently
has a seating capacity of 156, it doesn't
appear that ARA can possibly make a
profit.
So what does it mean if a large prof-
it-oriexited company decides to take a
loss on an investment? It means they
plan to get cut taking a slice of the pie,
with the assurance they can get the
whole thing if they wait. Just as in
other situations, ARA will try to take
over the food services here on campus
if they get a foothold, with the likeli
hood or the aforementioned conse
quences.
One final thought: I have not heard
whether this issue will go to a vote be
fore the students or simply be decided
upon by the administration. If it is to
be voted upon, the voters should be
made aware of the ramifications of
privatization. If the issue is not to be
voted upon, it would, represent a seri
ous slap in the face to the student
body of this University.
Pi/e is a sophomore computer
science major
GUEST
COLUMN
LYNN P.
PYE
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 Mai! 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 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 /Mail stop 1111
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843
AJ. Ct l A±±»l yLPU A1IA11 l »LACi_ vTCCl ...
Enthusiasm, perseverance offer keys to success S ho
A It IT* - i * 1*1 1 J 1 i *■> . -1 A j'w i-a 1 4i i c* i o r* rv» Ik*. /A ^
A lbert Einstein flunked algebra.
Vince Lombardi was still a
line coach at the age of 44.
Thomas Edison tried more than 2,000
filaments for the electric light bulb
before he found one that worked.
Walt Disney went broke seven times
and had a nervous breakdown. Bill
Clinton lost his first re-election bid
before serving another four consecu
tive terms as governor of Arkansas.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high
school basketball team.
In the words of that great Ameri
can philosopher Zig Ziglar, "The
only difference between a big shot
and a little shot is that a big snot is
just a little shot that kept snooting."
These successful people understood that persistence is
our most powerful tool for achievement. Unfortunately,
we can't fight every battle. But we can learn to persist in
those battles we do choose to fight.
When I was in junior high scnool, my father told me in
the proper fatherly tone, "Son, choose your fights careful
ly." Dad understood that you can't fignt on every front
and expect to make progress on any
DWAYNE
PURVIS
Columnist
Her 1
oad as
lown fc
lust do
junch o
Anot
jertson'
The goals we adopt, those gauntlets we pick up, should
pass three tests. Goals must be specific, meaningful, and
possible. Seneca wrote, "Our plans miscarry because we
have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he
is making for, no wind is the right wind."
If a task is not meaningful, don't bother with it. We hu
mans have limited strength and time; we can't afford to
waste it.
Greek mythology tells us about a man cursed to spend
his entire life trying to push a boulder up a hill and out of a
valley. Every time he pushed the huge stone near the top
of the hill, the gods knocked it away from him, and the
boulder rolled back into the valley. The mythical Tantalus
spent his life on a meaningless and impossible task.
Goals must be possible, even if the possibility is very
narrow. More importantly, you must oelieve your task is
possible.
Our beliefs and feelings are really the most important
factors in determining whether or not we will endure. Two
specific attitudes, two sides of the same coin, enable us to
persist.
To keep fighting, we must believe that we can accom
plish our goaL We must have a good perspective on fail
ure. Warren Bennis, a nationally recognized expert on
leadership, observes that the vocabularies of the most suc
cessful people in America simply do not include the word
"failure." Successful people talk about problems or set
backs or hitches but never failures.
The second necessary intangible is enthusiasm-
belief that we will accomplish our goal. David
completed a comprehensive, long-term study of Harvaic
University graduates and discovered that motivation
played a very significant role in determining how succes
ful a person oecomes.
The word "enthusiasm" evolved from theGreekwoic
"entheos." Translated literally, it means "God within Ii jound c
maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, wemustf® ries.
an intimate relationship with a Higher Power. Weeacli "
need a secret place where we find peace, hope, andjoy. 1
each need a quiet place to nurture the spirit, toimbueus
with the energy to continue the fight.
For some people, the secret place is an intimate relate'
ship with a spouse. For others, the holy place is in a sail
boat or on a horse, on a mountain or beside a river. Him
that the most fulfilling and uplifting experiencescomefe
an intimate relationship with our personal and loving&a n0 ^ i 1 ^
ator. Isaiah, the ancient Hebrew prophet, agreed. He
wrote, "But those who hope in the Lord will renewte
strength. They will soar on wings as eagles; they willp
and not grow weary, they will walk and not be taint."
Though you may be plugged in to a good powersomte
the time may come for strategic retreat. Kedirectini
energy can be the best option.
Let me tell you a story to illustrate. Roccogrew
son of a poor immigrant, Italian family. He droppedouH
high school to take a job, but his passion was baseball. Hi
dreamed of playing professionally.
One day, he got his chance. A scout invited himtoln
out for a professional team. Rocco was a good batter. Ht
had a quick and hard swing, but his fielding left sometfe
to be desired. The coach had to cut Rocco. Whenthecoji
complemented Rocco's swing and explained his defidav
cies, Rocco took to heart the coach's praise.
He walked away from baseball and into another spat
The promoters changed his name. Rocky Marcianofoojti
42 professional bouts, including five title matches,and»
er lost a fight.
Calvin Coolidge also understood this powerofpero
tence when he wrote: "Nothing in the world can take tin
place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more® f Sher
mon than unsuccessful men of talent. Genius will not;®
rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not;
the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and de
termination alone are omnipotent."
Choose your fights carefully. But when your caused
ust, persist. When the importance is great, persist
just, persist. When the importance is great, persist. - cul clu '
Though forces seem mounted against you, persist. And ft R° n
don't forget those inspiring words of Winston Chun
"Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up.’
As a
72, I ai
md att
vorkinp
One
he cut
ind he
He tc
loxious
jonfire ’
rashed.
Last)
erved t
he cutti
and nee
ittered
onfire p
These
ir anti-1
omplaii
Come
ome re:
irty. T1
he comi
dese
I was
ent atta
sonally
people \
do not
' ‘Sheriff R
Punas is a junior petMeum engineeringm$ I iCounty.
Sttl>rm44e<A -{or your' l l
<c>
Oar »cfcn<n>vig. *
FIGH TIN' TEXAS
or
Politically-correct, multi-cultural,
environment-friendly, socially-conscious,
alternative-lifestyle, neo-liberal, solar-
powered, ethnically-diverse, recyclable,
user-friendly, non-ethnocentric, non-
phallocentric, human/animal symbolic
scholastic representatives for athletic
and non-athletic competitions?
Oo c
•6
a
t>y Tk>u^ L+ Pol
<05
Intolerance at A&M
a minor problem
Recently, I have seen two letters in
tling with the "southie" rednecks. Club
bouncers would frequently instigate ri
ots. New York and Los Angeles were
insanely violent. f
I am not complaining, mind you; it
added a certain sense of urgency and
excitement to the whole situation. In
stead of sucking up, try doing some
thing to freak people out when they
give you a hassle. Nacho cheese
f loured on your Doc Marten boots? Try
oudly questioning their sexual virility.
Creamed corn has many wonderful at
tention-getting qualities too.
Enjoy it now, because you may have
to "sell out" when it comes time to get a
job, like I did.
V.'
The Battalion complaining of intoler
ance to those espousing "alternative"
(punk, new wave) dressing habits. To
all of those people with enough cajones
to look different on this campus I
would like to pass on some hard-
earned advice: You've got it easy, so
relax and enjoy it.
I was a skinhead (non-Nazi) from
1981-1985 in Providence, R.I. Back
then, all New England punks knew
each other and banded together to keep
from getting our butts kicked. Fortu
nately, I escaped the beatings, but most
of the guys, and some of the girls I
knew there took it hard and often.
Same goes for the Boston punks bat-
dy
idi
Graduate student
Clinton up close --
not a pretty sight
Growing up in Arkansas has given
me the distinct horror — I mean honor
— of knowing Bill Clinton. I have lis
tened to the governor flat out lie to the
people of Arkansas, humiliate a high
school student at Arkansas' Boys State,
and watched him raise taxes 128 times.
Economic performance in Arkansas
was given a "D" and Arkansas
opment capacity received an 'F. i
for youth trying to find worki'
state, good luck. In 1990, the youl
employment rate was 23.1 percent,*
ona highest in the nation.
During Clinton's tenure as govei®
the people of Arkansas havei
Clinton's flatulations of being thet 1
cation governor/president. HoT!
one boast of educational success wj
one's record proves otherwise? %
magazine ranked Arkansas 45th i
pupil spending in 1983, 46thirl )1 |
and 50th in 1989. Clinton has raff
taxes to increase teachers' salaries.'
teachers' salaries ranked 50th ini
and remained 50th in 1989. Wouj
you think it more than just a coit*
dence that he raised the salaries W
his premiere bid for the preside»1
Moreover, the increase was inteidf
for two years, but once Arka^
passed Mississippi, Clinton
49th place was good enough. "Udj
funding" halted this year's raise.
As tar as environmental initial^
let the facts remind you t Arkaij
ranks dead last in environmental
tives. If passing through the state*
member to only look at the bea#|
just don't inhale.
Jolm¥
Class c