Opinion
one
Thursday, October 29,1992
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Editorials
Human guinea pigs
Tamoxifen side effects kept quiet
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welcomed ml Tamoxifen is a synthetic hormone
Mmassaaii lurrently being studied as a means
to prevent breast cancer in high-risk
women. Allegedly, the government
failed to inform participants in a re
lent drug trial of a study that seri
ously questions tamoxifen's safety,
pomen enrolled in a five year trial
were led to focus on the unproven,
potential benefits of the drug in
stead of its many side effects and
[potential risks. Critics claim that re
search centers modified the consent
-lorms women are reuired to sign in
Birder to de-emphasize and even ex-
vanttoim- |dude certain risks,
get back ini While side effects such as hot
iberthreeoiBashes and weight gain are typical
would me Bo most drug studies, research indi-
n in theHates that tamoxifen also increases
isic,it'stiim [the user's risk of cancer of the lining
11 of the uterus, as well as blood clot-
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That was Si
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Regrettably,
ted to ade
the researchers ne-
glectea to adequately inform the
tnousands of women who trustingly
allowed themselves to be used as
subjects. Such blatant neglect of pa
tients' rights is particularly tragic at
a time wnen the call for more breast
cancer research is at an all time
high.
With an estimated l-in-8 women
at risk of developing breast cancer,
the need for the development of
new and more effective treatment is
critical. However, science must re
member that the women who agree
to take part in any studies must be
informed of all the risks in order to
make informed decisions. The ap
parent abuse of power and neglect
on the part of researchers in this re
cent study only hurts the overall ef
fort to find the cure for breast can
cer.
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I Voter interest grows
Possibility of highest turnout ever
| As the Nov. 3 election rapidly ap
proaches, the possibility exists that
this year's presidential race will
rompt the highest voter turnout in
story.
With the current polls showing
o clear forerunner, the outcome of
;the election is very much in doubt.
I Millions of disaffected voters are
registered and ready to cast their
ballots, including many college stu-
^tburn? dents voting for the first time. The
gastric)^!participation of so many traditional-
salreseattt ly apathetic voter groups might
healing \:-[- swa y th e election in a direction that
e em P^ ca ^ poetical analysts sim-
es c0 ply cannot forecast.
INC. f' For example, this week Jesse Jack-
son made the rounds in Houston,
gathering six bus loads of homeless
people and ushering them to voting
booths, where according to Jackson,
they cast their votes for Gov. Bill
Clinton.
The candidates themselves have
used unorthodox campaigning
methods in an effort to reach new
voters; ranging from late night talk
shows to Music Television to the
"electronic town hall."
Historically, voter turnout has
hovered around 30-35 percent of the
electorate. The 1992 presidential
election promises to establish a new
standard. Make sure you're a part of
it.
The Battalion
Page 9
'Fish spurs' spark fond feelings
Senioritis subsides after brief encounter with cadet
B urnout had definitely set in. As
a fifth-year senior about to
graduate, school for me had be
come more of a chore than anything
else. Days seemed like they consist
ed of little more than going from the
office to home to my office to classes
(when I managed to make them) to
my office and home again.
Home football games meant
heavy traffic and standing in the
sweltering heat for hours. Yell prac
tice was just too late at night. Dud-
dley's was my new hangout. Let's
face it, in Aggieland terms, I was
dead.
And I felt it in a big way.
Until today.
Today was different from most days. After my room
mate and I signed up for the Association of Former Stu
dents induction banquet in the MSC, I took a walk through
Academic Plaza, my favorite part of campus. It looked the
same. Same trees. Same sidewalks. Same monuments. But
this time, I took a mental note of it, thinking that in just a
few months I might regret taking all of this for granted.
Several blackbirds that had been rustling in the grass
took to flight as I passed. The American flag rippled in the
breeze. Sully was deep in thought, possibly wondering if
his school would ever have more than a handful of cadets.
The Academic building stood silent, keeping watch.
This part of campus is always quiet. Serene.
Until he arrived.
Rattle. Click.
Rattle. Click.
Rattle. Click.
Silence. Serenity.
Rattle. Click.
Rattle. Click.
Rattle. Click.
Quiet once again.
The freshman cadet kneeled on the ground. His spurs
refused to remain intact for more than a couple steps. He
righted himself and began again, only to stop a few feet
down his path.
I felt a smile creeping across my face as I watched him
start and stop. When he was close enough to see me watch
ing he grinned sheepishly and explained he was already
late for class.
I walked beside him for a while, as he was going in my
direction. He greeted everyone he saw with a bellowing
"Howdy" and a smile.
Rattle. Click.
Rattle. Click.
Silence.
The homemade spurs once again mocked him as they
lay on the sidewalk. Handing them over 1 asked the cadet if
he thought he would ever make his class at this rate. He
laughed, and we both went our separate ways.
As I made my way I felt better than I had in a long time.
This semester Texas A&M has seen its share of troubles.
The charm and personality of A&M has been tarnished for
me in many ways, and many times I wish I could have re
mained untouched by it all — blissfully ignorant.
As the echoes of the cadet's spurs faded, so did some of
my disappointments. The frustration I have felt this
semester as one controversy has been replaced by another
eased some. The anger I have felt over these situations soft
ened a bit. I was reminded of why I came to A&M. I felt a
bit of that Aggie spirit return to my dead, fifth-year senior
attitude. Maybe I was simply able to put it all into perspec
tive.
So, with some 50 days left here, I felt I had been given
new life with which to finish the semester. The school I
have held so dear for so long is still alive, and it is still
Texas A&M.
Rattle. Click.
Gig 'em.
Tillman is a senior journalism major
ATLANTIS
TILLMAN
Editor in Chief
l < W2. VULL. RCcorO S/OTBR. TO Rigour//
CON6RATOLATl«AJS. AMfRlfA."
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Mandatory racism
class not the answer
I We are writing in response to Steve
Miller's letter to The Battalion on Oct.
21 concerning required multicultural-
ism classes. We disagree with his rec-
(immendation that these courses be re
quired for college aged students,
learning about other cultures is impor
tant to a well-rounded education, but
by the time that students reach Texas
A&M, many of their values and ideals
have already been cemented.
I We were brought up to see e every
one as equals and only dealt with
racism in situations entirely outside of
pur families, which seems to be the way
Steve Miller was raised as well. It is
difficult for some people to understand
^belief that contrasts their own. The
members of SAE may not have thought
that their actions could offend people
or have overtones of racism. That does
not imply stupidity, just a difference in
upbringing.
I "Jungle parties" and other situation^
that appear racist may be a reflection of
a larger problem, but a required course
in multiculturalism is not the answer .
Racism is a social issue just as criminal
activities and acceptance of differing
sexual orientations and religious doc
trines are. Is a one-semester class con
cerning these issues going to solve
these problems though? Probably not.
It may even push some students to re
sent other races or cultures because
they are being forced to take the class.
Teaching children from the beginning
that acceptance of, or at lest respect for,
different choices is one of the keys to
social peace.
Maria V. Bell
Anne Walthall
Class of'93
Some like Feducia's
bathroom humor
This is in response to Mark B.
Bendiksen's letter on Oct. 27 denounc
ing Stacy Feducia's scatological humor.
I think two things should be men
tioned. First of all, there are a lot of us
who sincerely enjoy bathroom humor.
Also, I think we need to consider when
was the last time Mr. Bendiksen passed
gas. I don't mean just a minuscule little
toot, but a 30-second, roommate-chas
ing monster fart. Come on, Mark, out
with it! Until then, censor your own
reading.
Dave Massey
Class of '92
A&M needs more
self-defense classes
The new 1993 Spring Class Sched
ules are now out, and if you flip to the
Kinesiology section, you can find an ar
ray of classes to fulfill your four Kinesi
ology 199 requirements. If you are in
terested, you can find 44 sections of
golf, 35 sections of weight training, 33
sections of tennis, 24 sections of bowl
ing, and over three more pages full of
classes.
Among these classes there are two
sections of self-defense. This number of
self-defense classes would be perfectly
fine if there was not a great demand,
but last semester this class filled up in
early registration before the regular
phone registration commenced.
Now, do not get me wrong — I have
nothing against the variety of skills
which could be learned, but shouldn't
something like self defense be accessi
ble to anyone who would want to take
the class?
I am not just writing this letter be
cause of a casual observation. I have
personally had my life threatened and
have been injured by attackers here in
College Station. Sometimes it is terrify
ing for me to be alone at night.
Among the things taught at this Uni
versity, shouldn't A&M be teaching in
dividuals to have more control over
their lives? Would this class really be
that expensive? The only things neces
sary for the class would be an empty
room and a knowledgeable instructor,
especially considering this class could
possibly save someone's life or at least
some great anguish.
Jennifer O'Gonnan
Class of'94:
Yugoslavian civil war
coverage accurate
I was delighted to see a series of bal
anced articles (Oct. 19-22) on the civil
war in the former Yugoslavia. Congrat
ulations on a job well done, and thank
you for providing a forum for express
ing different opinions on this very com
plex issue. Our students and the Amer
ican public in general need to have
complete, unbiased information on this
subject.
Dr. Dragomir B. Bukur
Dept, of Chemical Engineering
Two-percenters ruin
A&M for senior
I would like to thank those few two-
percenters who thought it would be
cool to flatten all of the tires on my
friend's cqj in a Northside parking lot
last Saturday night.
When I came to Texas A&M, I did
not know what to expect, but I quickly
found out that A&M is an awesome
university. When people ask me how I
like it here, I tell them I love it.
Lately, however, after reading sever
al other letters and seeing what hap
pened to my friend's car, I find it hard
to talk about this school in a positive
way. I think it's about time to pull our
heads out and start acting like the Ags
we are and stop acting like those who
go to that other school in Austin.
Let's have a little more consideration
for other people and their property. If
you don't think that you can handle
that, then get the hell out and don't let
the door hit you in the back because we
don't need that kind of attitude her.
Quit making liars out of those of us
who tell people what a great institution
this is.
This is my last year here, and I'd
hate to leave with a a bad attitude
about the students at A&M. The bot
tom line is, let's stop fighting each other
and start working with each other and
make this the world class university
that I know it can be.
Paul Phillips
Class of'91
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