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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1992)
Page 9 [Friday, November 13,1992 Texas A&MOPINIONThe Battalion 'er 13,1992 It jots speech to tent, tist when right to else's n Heffer- punish n indi- e may oppro- 'e at- of the oinking ?mpts to , We ’ a bigot- st allow protect o cannot reserve eech vere speech devil's hould issue that ough ad- ; First often foman, ard, mo- usually Howev- n right to asing the HAIL CALL PITS ticket billing methods outrageous I am sure that some, if not all of you who work or attend classes on this cam- aus would be outraged if you found hat one of the departments had added :o your account any charges or fines be- onging to your roommate. In case you have not read the article 'PITS Charges Tickets to Roommate" in The Battalion on Nov. 10, it appears hat Parking, Traffic, and Transit Ser vices PTTS) has done just that! As if his travesty is not bad enough in itself, PTTS representatives claim that it is 'perfectly legal," and will not comment urther. What the hell is going on?! Since vhen is theft legal? If one person charges a purchase to he account of another person without jermission of the latter, the first is con- idered guilty of theft, regardless of vhether or not the two share an ad- Iress. Simply put, the reported acts of TTS constitute a form of theft. This recently uncovered situation is et another indication of an unrespon- ive organization that is out of control. I urge President Mobley and the De- artment of Student Affairs to investi- ate this problem and to evaluate PTTS 5 a whole. Furthermore, I hope that some cor- (dive action is taken to help PTTS re- lember its basic purpose of existence: to serve the people of this University ivho pay the bills and make paychecks reality for the PTTS employees! Imagine getting to school without buses In regards to the millions of people who have been victimized by scheming and cruel bus drivers, I would like them to consider the alternative — no buses! That's right, none! Life would be so much easier for the student leaders who make Bus Operations work. No more coordination problems of keeping over 60 buses operating on schedule at all times. The bus drivers wouldn't have to worry about getting into wrecks or hit ting pedestrians that walk out in front of a bus like it was a car. Nor would they have to worry about driving a 40- foot bus in a rainstorm and people get ting upset because that bus is off sched ule. I myself have been late to class, so I understand the inconvenience that it causes. Don't just get upset, find out why the bus is late. Maybe the bus broke down (which is inevitable with over 60 buses running) or maybe a train or an other traffic jam delayed the bus. These things, among others, occur daily and cannot be controlled. Other problems can only be controlled if Bus Opera tions knows the problem. If you have a problem, don't gripe, call! This two- way communication will be beneficial both to you and to Bus Operations be cause better service makes everyone happy. So, the next time a bus is run ning late and the driver says "Howdy," don't look at him or her with a where- the-hell-have-you-been look. Just reply with a friendly "Howdy" and under stand we are doing the best we can. Matt Miller Class of '94 Education is the cure for ethnocentrism . m AT Tfo requirement of classes on multi- Chrts McNees culturalism is an idea whose time has Class of 91 come Let's face it — education is the most efficient vehicle for social change, and as we have seen recently, the time has come for a change in attitude of whites about minorities. It is past due. For 200 years, we have forced mi norities to learn, almost exclusively, white history, social customs, and reli gion. I think it's about time to learn what the rest of the world has to offer. Black history does not begin and end with slavery and civil rights, and His panic and South American history ex tends far beyond Columbus' "discov ery." Think of the literature you have studied through high school and col lege. I am willing to bet that almost every author you encountered was American, European, and perhaps Russian. We have missed a whole world of valuable literature from thousands of other cultures because we are Eurocen tric and culturally ignorant. There are millions of contributions that we com pletely overlook due to a lack of inter est or understanding. Multiculturalism is not about trying to brainwash the majority — it is about developing an understanding of the contributions, views, and values of var ious people. We are cheating ourselves out of so much by refusing to educate ourselves, and by denying other cultures. Stacy Fletcher Class of '91 We need respect, not racial tolerance I would like to commend Dr. Mobley on his article concerning racial toler ance. However, it is my belief that racial tolerance is what is hindering race rela tions at Texas A&M. When I think of the word tolerate, I think of putting up with something that I do not like; for instance, I tolerate prej udiced people. Tolerance, in what I have seen over the course of my life, only increases ten sion, uneasiness and animosity. What we as a diverse campus really need is racial respect and understanding. Each culture whether Asian, African, African-American, Hispanic, or Anglo has something to offer from a rich his tory to the contributions made by each race today. As a multicultural campus, to gain full understanding and respect of one another, it is necessary to learn of one another's cultures. It is for these reasons that I urge everyone to take at least one multicul tural class. Each culture is rich in its own re spect, and I feel that we are only hin dering ourselves by not learning about one another's cultures. Michelle Lyons Class of '93 Choice better than cultural requirement Part of being American is that all men are created equal. While some don't realize this, forcing them into a multicultural class will only cause more resentment in them. I have a counterproposal. A choice of multicultural classes for a new re quirement won't make the medicine taste any better, but offering it as an al ternative to existing core curriculum re quirements will. This would not add to existing course loads; it would offer an easy good grade, and when combined with the fact that it's not being forced on anyone, it would be more readily ac cepted. Even people (like me) who dislike multiculturalism might take the class for a GPA booster as an alternative to, for example, a history course for their cultural heritage requirement. Honey catches more flies than water. One more note to think about — t.u., the multicultural liberal capitol of Texas, doesn't have a multicultural re quirement. Robert Jackson Class of '96 Save the UT rivalry for football games I am writing to respond to Stefano Alberti's question in Monday's edi tion," What is so wrong with going to school in Austin?" There is nothing wrong with going to the University of Texas at Austin. In fact, many A&M graduate students, including myself, and many faculty members received degrees from UT Austin. Many of the anthropology faculty have UT degrees, and some of Evans Library administra tion are UT grads. The superconducting supercollider is the result of a close relationship be tween A&M and UT faculty. The space grant came about because of coopera tive efforts between A&M and UT fac ulty and administration. Other depart ments and programs currently in joint projects with officials include Psycholo- ? y. Geosciences, Civil Engineering, ransportation. Water Resources, Ar chaeology, Sociology, Classics, Educa tional Psychology, Linguistics, Kinesiol ogy, Study Abroad, Student Radio and Offshore Technology, just to name a few. Perhaps what you are bewildered about is how students on this campus can be so fervent about their ill-will to ward their sister university. I too am amazed at the extent and depth of this animosity. Upon first coming to this University, I thought the rancor and hostility was just in jest and part of the competitive spirit surrounding athlet ics. But I soon found this represented a broader, more pervasive attitude to ward UT in general, including the edu cational aspects of UT. How can this be, when at the academic level so much cooperation is taking place in very im portant areas which will benefit all Tex ans and Americans? I believe it is time to stop the belligerence toward UT on such a grand scale and leave the sopho- moric antics for athletic competition only. Aggies and Longhorns — no place but Texas! John M. Velasquez A&M graduate student UT Class of'79 UK n MSC Student Programs Committee ror inior For Information Call 847-8478 (INfMA 6W natures on hesis clerk the other ne just be - ? or Carron ml student to the ace allows jst be 300 name, phone s for 111 Friday, Nov, 13 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m., & Midnight Saturday, Nov. 14 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m., & Midnight I K> l sr 8 05 1 8. 5' 2 I 1 o o | 2 SiM<dly Albimmdl im S(S®tlniEi4 As si ]R©cijpiw>csil BxdhsuEig® art SttMfrmg One year Exchanges for (Junior Year Abroad) Any & All Majors are Eligible for this Program. 4 1 Attend this Informational Meeting and speak to past and present Reciprocal Exchange participants, and pick up an application for the program: Friday, November 13 2:00 - 3:15 in 251 West Bizzell Hall Or visit the Study Abroad Programs Office, 161 W. Bizzell Hall from 8:00 - 5:00 M-F. Requirements: 3.0 GPA and be a U.S. Citizen. The Cue Welcomes FAST EDDY World Trick Shot Champion Saturday, Nov. 14, 7:00 -9:00 2 Hour Pool Show * 12 Balls in one shot * Shoots ball from someone's mouth * Just showin off TV commercial * Minnesota Fats shot * Audience Participation * Learn the secrets of The Champion * How to make difficult game situation shots * Autograph session Holds New World Record TV Appearances European USO Tour Across from 7-11 on Northgate 846-3425 FIFTH ANNUAL SOUTHWESTERN BLACK STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AWARENESS DAYS Monday Nov. 16 - Wednesday Nov. 18 At the MSC Tables from 8 AM-5 PM COME REGISTER NOW! SBSLC ’93 CONFERENCE T-SHIRTS WILL BE SOLD ASTHMA STUDIES Individuals, age 12 and older, with mild to moderate asthma to participate in clinical research studies for up to 15 weeks with investigational medications in capsule and inhaler form. $300 minimum for study completion. % BioLogica Research Group, Inc. 776-0400 Do You Know If You Have Asthma?? Do You Experience Any of the Following Symptoms: Wheezing? Shortness of breath? Tightness in your chest when you exercise? If so, you may have asthma. BioLogica is offering FREE pulmonary function testing (PFT) to non-smokers age 12-60 who think they might have asthma or who are diagnosed with asthma. In addition, asthma research studies are currently being conducted for which you might qualify and receive compensation. Call BioLogica Research Group, Inc. for further information. BioLogica Research Group, Inc. % 776-0400 The Battalion Spring 1993 staff positions open: asst, city editor asst, lifestyles editor asst, sports editor asst, opinion page editor reporter feature writer sports writer reviewer columnist copy editor photographer graphic artist cartoonist clerk Application forms available at the front desk in room 013 Reed McDonald Building. All majors encour aged to apply. Deadline: 5 p.m. Thursday, November 19. Applicants must be Texas A&M students in good standing at the time of employment and remain in good standing while employed. For more information, contact Steve O'Brien, 1993 Spring Battalion Editor, 845-3315.