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Opinion
Tuesday, November 3,1992 The Battalion Page 9
A wa w Concept
OF" PER PETOAU
Movement c.
Editorial
Going to extremes
Mandatory culture classes unwise
While some people at Texas A&M
misunderstand the perspectives of
ethnic minorities on campus,
adding a class about multicultural-
ism to the core curriculum would
overstep the boundaries of the Uni
versity's mission and fail to effec
tively change students' attitudes.
Texas A&M is a state-supported
institution of higher education. The
University offers a place for stu
dents to learn to think critically and
analytically.
A&M should be a free forum of
debate with a goal to graduate stu
dents who hold convictions about
truth and knowledge about fact.
No class, especially a one credit
hour class, can conifer fall the facts or
history of a culture.
Moreover, who would determine
the content of such a course?
Would it simply be a history of mi
nority cultures, and how many
races or nationalities would be in
cluded in the curriculum?
If, instead of just teaching history,
the course is created to dissolve
racial generalizations and to avoid
insult by offering the medicine of
multiculturalism, the class will not
treat multiculturalism itself nor any
particular ethnic group impartially.
The objective of the class would
likely be to proselytize cultural sen
sitivity rather than just cultural
awareness. The class would evolve
into a de facto mandate for cultural
sensitivity.
By requiring a multiculturalism
class, Texas A&M assumes the role
of cultural moderator, an arbitrator
of truth and propriety, a dictator of
fact and morality.
No educational institution should
itself champion some movement for
social change. Social change must
erupt from within a society, in our
case the community of students, in
order to be genuine, viable, and ef
fective. Forcing people to take a
multicultural class would only cre
ate hostility and resentment.
In the same way that "gun-sling
ing" evangelicals make enemies by
demanding conversion with threats
of hellfire, the University will spur
dissent by promulgating its own
form of intolerance — intolerance of
sometimes misguided individual
observation and conclusion.
The recent Sigma Alpha Epsilon
"Jungle Party" episode demonstrat
ed that some A&M students need to
be more culturally sensitive.
However, requiring a class for all
students punishes the entire Univer
sity for the isolated problems of a
few. Over-reaction by the adminis
tration would return the University
to the days of McCarthyism when
institutions demanded compliance
to lofty, but misplaced ideals.
The class might be seen as evi
dence to the public of an A&M com
mitment to the destruction of the
racial barriers that persist.
However, requiring the class sub
verts the function of a university
and the cause of multiculturalism —
a high price to pay for our freedom
to think, and study, what we please.
Dredging up mud from the past
Reminders of Corps problems indicate liberal bias
As a senior here at Texas A&M, I
have watched many changes take
place in the name of progress at this
University. However, one thing that
has not changed is the liberal view
points expressed in the reporting and
editorials of The Battalion. Although
I am not a journalism major, and far
from being an expert on the subject, I
have always believed that it was the
responsibility of a journalist to report
the facts in an unbiased and nonpar
tisan fashion.
From the Oct. 26 issue of The Bat
talion containing the follow-up arti
cle on sexual harassment charges in
the Corps I quote, "It was just another day for members of
the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets last fall as accu
sations of sexual harassment triggered national media
scrutiny and rumors of disbandment." I want to know just
what in the hell Julie Chelkowski and Todd Stone meant by
stating, "it was just another day." For your information, it
was far from being "just another day."
Why must The Battalion resort to reporting a year old
story just as an obvious attempt to turn the student body
against the Corps of Cadets? It would seem far more ap
propriate for The Battalion to report current issues such as
charges of racism in Greek organizations. As I have always
been told, "Don't beat a dead horse."
Well, since The Battalion finds it necessary to create con
troversy when there isn't any to report, let me set the
record straight on a few things. Last year I was the com
manding officer of Parsons Mounted Cavalry. Last year as
cavalry commander, I was involved in a very difficult and
political situation. I felt that it was in the best interest of the
cavalry and the Corps to take a vow of silence to prevent
anything I said from being misinterpreted by the media.
That is why I was quoted in virtually every paper from The
Battalion to the New York Times as saying, mo comment."
The first thing that I would like to make clear is that at
no time last fall was Parsons Mounted Cavalry ever dis
banded. When the allegations of sexual harassment were
first made public, I felt that it was in the best interest of the
cavalry to reduce to "minimal operations" in an attempt to
avoid unnecessary media attention while we were conduct
ing an investigation in cooperation with the University Po
lice. This meant that members still cared for our horses and
equipment daily as well as participating in required eques
trian classes.
The second point that I would like to make clear is that
one issue that all the media avoided last year. I know that
you never read in any article that Parsons Mounted Caval
ry had two high ranking senior officers that were female. I
am not so ignorant as to say these two cadets were greeted
with open arms when they first joined the cavalry. Howev
er, with composure and perseverance, these two young
ladies overcame adversity to gain the respect of every
member that they so well deserved. Lori Seelhoff and Lau
ra Kleen were pioneers in our organization and set a won
derful example for future females to follow.
So, after all that I have said, what is my point? My point
is that the liberals of The Battalion have no business creat
ing a controversy where there is not one. Let's not beat a
dead horse here.
Don't misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying
that sexual harassment is a dead issue. Conscious efforts
are being made as they should be to eliminate sexual ha
rassment and discrimination from this University. Howev
er, the charges made against the Corps a year ago is a dead
issue. There is no need to make further attempts to put the
Corps in a bad light.
My congratulations and best wishes go out to this year's
members of Parson's Mounted Cavalry who have done an
outstanding job of carrying on the traditions of our organi
zation. Once again, the opinions that I have expressed are
my own and are expressed after being a cadet for four great
years. I am not endorsed by current cadets or their advi
sors, although many of them share my viewpoints.
Piper is a fifth-year senior and former Parsons
Mounted Cavalry commander
GUEST
COLUMN
TIM G.
PIPER
Beer drinkers have
clear election choice
I recently voted in the MSC. There
in the booth, on the last page of their lit
tle plastic book, was a category of inter
est to me and all other Ags that go to
the Dixie Chicken and Duddley's. The
category was justice of the peace for
Precinct 7, Place 1. Guess whose name
was there . . . George Boyett.
He is running for re-election against
Jean Williamson, #126 on the ballot. It
then occurred to me that not everyone
knows that Boyett's position is elected.
We have the ability to remove the man
who has pledged to fine all people re
ceiving minor in possession citations on
campus and on Northgate $125. For the
second offense, it's only $500.
Boyett, the man who also owns
roperty on Northgate and is good
uddies with Don Gantner of Chicken
fame, also owns the police that peruse
the Chicken and Duddley's giving out
MIP and public intoxication tickets and
harassment to all there.
Boyett doesn't like us students. He
thinks we are nothing but smartass col
lege students that don't know what
we're talking about. He thinks it ac
ceptable not to allow students to tell
their side of the story in court. If we
try, he raises our fines.
You decide, but I believe it could be
in all our interests to remove Boyett
form office. Go vote, but don't vote
straight party. Vote on the issues. It
will take you an extra 30 seconds. Vote
Jean Williamson, #126, for justice of the
peace. Precinct 7, Place 1.
James Elam
Class of'93
'Two-percenters' not
necessarily criminals
This letter is in response to Paul
Phillips' charge that people who flatten
car tires are "two-percenters." I consid
er myself a "two-percenter" because I
don't relate to most of the so-called Ag
gie traditions. I, however, wholly re
sent being associated with those who
flattened Phillips' friend's tires. Why?
I have seen some of the acts of intoler
ance disguised as defense of tradition
that some 110-percenters perpetrate —
such as flattening tires.
I long ago realized that being an Ag
gie and participating in any number of
Aggie traditions does not guarantee
that one is a good citizen. We might
consider everyone who goes to the Uni
versity of Texas to be a zero-percenter.
Yet I'll bet that most of the cars on that
campus still roll on four wheels! Like
wise, despite the efforts of a few two-
percenters and 110-percenters, most of
A&M's tires still hold their air; and
A&M still remains a great school to at
tend.
Bud Cox
Class of'90
Education won't be
enough to end racism
I am writing to address the recent
events at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
house, the prospects of a multicultural
class requirement, and racism in gener
al. In our society, everyone seems to be
extra-sensitive about their race, politi
cal views and religious beliefs.
My view is only one of millions and
may not be applicable to anyone else.
This is a letter primarily addressed to
minorities to let you know just what
this single while male thinks and why.
My prejudices have developed over
a long period of time. I have had many
bad experiences with black people as
well as white, but in my mind the ma
jority of black people I have met I have
had bad experiences with. To this day I
try very hard not to allow that preju
dice to interfere with the way I treat
any person.
I always try to give a person the
chance to prove himself or herself a
valuable, trustworthy individual.
These prejudices that I have devel
oped will not be destroyed by any
amount of education; they will only be
erased and forgotten by interaction
with black people who bear the quali
ties mentioned above. When this hap
pens, and the good experiences out
number the bad, they will have earned
my respect and admiration; those
things that tend to be the cries of most
of the rallies.
You do not have to accept what I be-,
lieve and indeed, I may be wrong, but it
is the way I think and it will not change
until the conditions I stated are satis
fied. So if the attitudes of the majority
are to be changed, all the organizations
that condemned the SAE house should
spend less time concentrating on the
behavior of others and concentrate on
the behavior of its own members.
John Groenewold
Class of "92
Personal welfare an
individual concern
What makes us think that our gov
ernment controls the economy? Wake
up, Ags! We are the economy. It is our
responsibility and not that of the gov
ernment to create jobs. It's really sad
because it seems like we believe that
Washington is supposed to be our sug
ar daddy. I've got a little secret for ya,
Ags. Every dollar the government has
is your dollar before they take it from
you. When our government spends bil
lions on social programs, that is billions
that could have been in your pockets.
Is it just me or does giving money to
the government seem like the worst
way to create jobs? And even if it does
work, is this the type of country that we
want for the future of our kids? One
where everyone expects handouts in
stead of hard work? Come on. Who
ever said making a living was easy, and
why did you believe them? Do you
think that our forefathers had it easier?
Do you think it should be easier now?
No! Hard work is still what will make
us successful, but you wouldn't know
that from the way most of us live our
lives.
Today there is a growing trend to
look to Washington for both success
and failure when we should be looking
at ourselves. Our government is taxing
the middle and upper classes and giv
ing it to the poor. Why? So that every
one will be economically equal. I may
be wrong but the last time I checked,
that was socialism. Is this what we
want for America? Is this what we
want for our kids? No? Then get up
off your butt and stop looking to the
government for direction.
Shaivn McGlothlin
Class of'94
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 Cali items express the
opinions of the authors only.
The BattaEon encourages letters to the editor and will print
as many as space allows in the Mall Call section. Letters
must be 300 words or (ess 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 BattaEon - Mall Call
013 Reed McDonald /Mail stop 1111
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843