BMmmm Wednesday, April 7,1993 The Battalion Page 9 Deficit America's biggest problem Picture the economy as being a plant, a green plant that develops leaves and grows in response to light. Then picture mammoth federal deficits as being a bright light. This is how our economy responds to the deficit. As the federal deficit endures in its presence, our economy develops around it as though it were a light shin ing on a plant. People's welfare and jobs become dependent on the deficit remain ing present. Without the federal deficit, people would suffer. This is the problem. Our federal deficit is so big that our economy has be come dependent on it. Yet, the deficit's continued presence endangers the future welfare of society. We are stuck, so to speak, between a rock and a hard place. Now, let's look at North America's young peoples' interest in the affair. Without big progress made on reducing the deficit, you stand to inherit "Dust on the Street" for a country in your lifetime. Your future welfare therefore depends on Americans reducing and eliminating the deficit today. But older Americans are different. Un like you, they can plan to be dead and one before the deficit problem comes ome to roost. They are interested in having the deficit remain while they are dependent on it. We have different interests than older people! This is what I am saying. Our in terests are not the same. This is true be cause the lifetime experiences we will have if the deficit problem is not solved are different! This is the simple logic I utilize in ana lyzing our situation. It should not be above the heads of self-respecting college students to understand me. You live in a country that has a problem threatening to you, and you do so in the company of people having different interests than you. Without organizing for a fight, you stand to be defined as losers, losers of all time. You will inherit a third world coun try to live in. This is what continuecT deficit spending on a mammoth scale threatens to do to you. Young people should, thOrefoYe/Uot be so pre-occupied with studies and social life. A problem demanding remedy is presenting itself. It is called "deficit spending" by the federal government. My desire is to win young people's at tention to these arguments. If you per sonally could help me in this regard by discussing this article with your col leagues, I would be appreciative. Joseph C. Kinney Houston, Texas Students shouldn't have to fund library In response to the Battalion's editorial on voting "yes" to the library referen dum, I must say that I disagree. I am not questioning that the upkeep of the library is an important issue, but rather where should the money come from? I agree that $15 is not a lot compared to the other fees, but who says the other fees are rea sonable? Instead of the students having to pay more, why not "trim the fat" of the other fees and re-allocate these funds to the library? Besides, I was always under the im pression that the upkeep of the Universi ty "Facilities" in the General Use Fee In cluded the library building. Darrin Deutsch Class of '93 Dispelling negative myths about Corps As a former member of the Corps of Cadets and the cadet court, I feel obliged to respond to a few misconceptions un covered in Kristi Hamilton's letter on March 29. I am shocked that an A&M student would level such powerful and unsubstantiated generalizations concern ing the Corps and its disciplinary system as a result of the actions of an individual. I hope her views represent only a small percentage of the students enrolled at Texas A&M. However, with the bad press the Corps has received throughout the past year I am not surprised that these misconceptions do exist. First and most important, the tens of thousands of former cadets, and the pre sent men and women of the Corps as a whole, have never and will never con done crimes, especially those as violent and serious as rape. One example of the Corps' efforts to create a safe campus is the guard room cadet escorts which have been provided for close to a decade - with little publicity. Second, the cadet court is not empow ered by the state, federal or military judi cial systems to sentence a corps member. The cadet court's task is simply to review accusations towards a cadet to determine if he/she acted in a manner unbecoming a cadet. After reaching a decision the court makes a disciplinary recommenda tion to the Commandant, who has the au thority to expel a cadet only from the Corps. University officials must decide to expel a student from Texas A&M, and any formal charges must be filed with the police if an accused person is to be tried in a court of law - a basic concept of the U.S. judicial system that's Hamilton doesn't seem to have a grasp of. Finally, if attention were focused on the many beneficial activities, such as the annual March to the Brazos benefitting The March of Dimes, Silver Taps, march- ins, and even the B.Q.'s performances, in stead of the unfounded perceptions of the misinformed, perhaps then the Corps would receive the respect it deserves as the Keepers of the Aggie Spirit. James A. Thomas Graduate Student Fish Day mars image of Corps of Cadets It is my opinion that the Corps of Cadets have lost all dignity on days like fish day. Their behavior is not one that upholds the honor and tradition of the Corps of Cadets. I have worked at Duncan Dining hall for the past few years and have seen these so-called cadets act worse than animals on fish day. This willful destruction of property and the trashing of the dining hall goes far beyond the call of duty. The time a money that is spent each year to clean up the place cost more than a few minutes pleasure that the corps has at this time. Do we or would we allow such be havior to take place in our classrooms? I would say not. It would be in the interest of the University hierarchy to come to fish day at Duncan and experience for themselves the honor and tradition of the corps. Name withheld for job security Health hazards of drugs exaggerated The recent editorial concerning the po tential legalization of marijuana was well thought out and extremely reasonable. It contained, however, two glaring factual errors. The first was the assertion that LSD has the "potential to kill immediately." This is entirely untrue. Acid is, physio logically speaking, the safest recreational drug in the world. This is because the user does an incredibly minute amount of the drug, less than the surface area of the tip of a safety pin. LSD does no more harm to the human body than chocolate does and is as physically addictive as chewing gum. There is, of course, the possibility of obtaining a "bad batch" and dying as a result of using it. This would not be a possibility, however, were the drug legalized and regulated. The myths concerning the short-term psychological effects of LSD are ridiculous and wide spread. Few if any have ever harmed themselves or anyone else as a direct re sult of using it. The long-term effects are not entirely clear, but scientists generally suspect that there are none, other than the occasional "flashback." The second error in the editorial was the statement that marijuana "can cause heart disease and lung cancer." There is no concrete evidence that suggests this is so. No link between pot and the afore mentioned diseases has been found. This does not mean that no such link exists. But if it does, it is not glaringly obvious, as is the case with tobacco, and therefore marijuana is not as great a risk. I am not advocating the use of either of these drugs. When abused, like all drugs, they have the potential to wreck lives. But in a free society people should have the right to make their own decisions about their own lives, based upon accu rate impartially presented information. John Thompson Class of '94 Students angry over attack on gay poem • First of all, let me congratulate the mighty fascists of the P.C. thought police, who try so hard to be the liberal version of '1984' and would be surely admired by Hitler for their ability to censor people's thoughts and speech. Let me also state that I am neither a student at Texas A&M, nor a member of its College Republican club. I was simply a guest who chose to entertain a few peo ple who think the same way that I do. I am referring to the poem that I circulated at last week's College Republicans meet ing. Why didn't the reporter report on something involving the candidates who were present - something that more di rectly concerns Texas A&M? For instance, Jimmy Stathatos seemed to have been making some very cutting comments at the podium that sounded like a ruthless attack upon Jason Ar- baugh. He lost my respect immediately. Then, Jason Arbaugh stormed out of the room, with an angry look on his face, and mouthed what appeared to be a few vul garities, while raising his right hand just as he cleared the doorway, and I believe that'he "shot the finger" at his opponent. Instead of reporting something like this. The Battalion reported on an obscurely presented last-page poem that was in tended to be read by people who, I had reason to believe, agree with me about an issue. I dare say that with regards to re porting on "events" of the meeting (like politicians lambasting and shooting fin gers, and such), Kevin Lindstrom seems to have failed at this. Also, why didn't The Battalion print the title of the poem, 'President Clinton's Queen Berets'? Also, even if Kim Rettig, the reported President of the Gay and Lesbian Student Services, is or is not a les bian, that she, along with demonstrative ly immature people such as Arbaugh and Stathatos, is being held up as a judge of my character is ludicrous. More Ags are probably against PC and against homo sexuals and maybe that is why The Bat talion accidentally forgot to print that I used to be a College Republican club chairman ( you know, a position of au thority). They did make sure to present me as only a former member from anoth er university and gave a copy of the letter and the poem (stapled together) to coun cilman Jim Gardner, who only seemed of fended about my cutting remarks about democrats in the letter. Yet, he denied even being aware of the poem?? Mark G. Clements Owner MGC Information Services • I see the next victim of the political correctness and gay movement is now the College Republicans. Now all the uproar is over a gay-insulting poem that was cir culated at their last meeting. Since when is it a crime to make fun of! a group or have an opinion on a certain matter ? The poem sounds pretty funny to me and because I think it's funny does not show my "immaturity," as Kim Rettig- has said. Also a poem like the one circu lated does not help facilitate "ignorance" and "fear," as Rettig also expressed. My opinion of gays is not from ignorance; it is from what I know is right and moral! The gay lifestyle is sick and disgusting and I don't tolerate that kind of behavior! I encourage Mark Clements not to cave in to the GLSS and compromise his feel ings on this issue by giving a public apol ogy - it will probably be demanded. Now I'm sure letters will be written in telling me that I am "close-minded" and "insensitive." Well, I say let them come, because this is how I feel and I am not "close-minded" and "insensitive" be cause I don't tolerate the gay lifestyle. It is wrong and immoral and that is that.- There are no in-betweens! Brandon West Class of'96, Editoriols oppeoring in The Battalion reflect the views of the editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other Battalion staff members, the Texas A&M student body , regents, administration, faculty or staff. Columns, guest columns, and Moil Call items express the opinions of the authors. The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and will print as monv as space allows in the Moil Cdl section. Letters must be 300 words or less and include the author's name, doss, and phone number. Due to space restrictions, guest columns will not be accepted unless the author contacts the opinion page for prior approval before submflting columns. We reserve the right to edit letters for length’, and accuracy. Letters should be addressed to. The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald /Mail stop 1111 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 7/B43 HEALTHY MALES WANTED AS SEMEN DONORS Help infertile couples; confidentially ensured. Ethnic diversity desirable, ages 18 to 35, excellent compensation. Fairfax Cryobank 1121 Briarcrest Dr., Suite 101 Bryan 776-4453 a division of the Genetics & IVF Institute DON’T CRACK UNDER PRESSURE TAG-Heuer SWISS MADE SINCE i860. LULi mark/ Jeweler/ 3841 Bellaire Blvd. • Houston, Texas 77025 • 713/668-5000 NOTICE PHYS 202 has been added to the list of courses to be taught in Summer 1993. It will be a ten-week course with lecture and lab times. Lecture: MWF 8-9:25 a.m. (ENPH 202) Sect. 301 lab: MW 12-2:50 p.m. (HELD 217) Sect. 302 lab: MW 2-4:50 p.m. (HELD 217) These sections are established on the SIMS system and are available for student registration. r WOMEN'S CENTER W Always Accepting New Patients W Today, women are doing more than ever before. They're also demanding more. More from themselves, more from their careers, and more from their healthcare provider. For the past ten years, the Brazos Valley Women's Center has provided area women with the highest level of feminine medical care available. From state-of- the-art surgical procedures to advanced treatment and therapy options, when it >. comes to advanced feminine healthcare, the Brazos Valley Women's Center is in a league of their own. Just like the patients they treat. 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APRIL 13, 20, 27, & MAY 4 (call for time) INTERMEDIATE: BEYOND THE BASICS-LEARN INDIVIDUAL TURNS, PROMENADE, LARIAT, THE EL PASO, JITTERBUG & MORE DATES/TIMES: APRIL 14, 21, 28 & MAY 5 7-10 PHYS 208 TEST REVIEW (CHURCH) PHYS 202 CH 32 - 33 (KIRK) PHYS 202 CH 33 - 35 (KIRK) PHYS 202 CH 35 - 36 (KIRK) 10-1 MEEN 212 HOMEWORK #11 rli r^j ON NORTHGATE, BEHIND 7/11-2 PESOS PHYS 201, 202, 208, 219, 222 ACCT 229, 230, 327, 328 ElEN 306 £AtL 946-2972, -.£4^2346 {TICKET^FHCE) MEEN 212, 213, 327, 328 MATH 150, 141, 142 The voice of Poseidon boomed. Cross the Sea and I f ll make your pockets Today, HE Grants are here to meetyoz/r Study Abroad needs! $500 and $2000 grants are available from the Institute of International Education (HE) for study abroad. For more information and an application, come to Study Abroad Programs; 16! PiTzell F-fall West; 845-0544 Application deadline is April 12