Page 12
The Battalion
Friday, April 16,1993
This issue is old hat:
• I think that it is absolutely ridiculous
that certain minority students refuse to
remove their hats out of respect upon en
tering the MSC. The reasons listed in the
article include Texas A&M being an all-
white university at the time of World War
II and that all of the Aggies listed on the
wall are white. The people who died in
World War II gave their lives for former,
fellow and future Aggies and Americans.
If one happens to be black, Chinese, etc.,
they gave their lives for you, too.
Also, isn't the topic of the semester
multiculturalism? If these students want
this campus to be accepting of all races, it
seems that the best way to achieve this is
by focusing on race. They are hindering
multiculturalism, not enhancing it.
White people are told time and time
again to respect "black" traditions. How
can you ask us to respect your traditions
when you won't respect an Aggie tradi
tion that you perceive as being all-white?
I'd like everyone to imagine this situa
tion: What would happen if white people
refused to remove their hats in a building
erected as a memorial for black men who
died for this country
Andi Davis
Class of '94
• I am personally outraged at the fact
that some people, minority or not, refuse
to honor those Aggies who gave their
lives for this country. They were Aggies
and despite the social practices of their
time; they fought and died so that Ameri
cans like us can have the opportunity to
attend a university as great as A&M.
I am tired of multiculturalists trying to
divide us. We are all Aggies, and while
it's true that we can't expect everyone to
abide by every tradition we hold dear,
taking one's hat off in the MSC displays
more than recognition of tradition. It is
an act of respect.
I am not proud of the way past genera
tions of Americans treated minorities, but
if one wants to heal the wounds they
caused, then it is important to emphasize
what we have in common, not what sepa
rates us. What we have in common is the
fact that we are Aggies, and this fact
binds us together no matter what color
we are. For those who insist on dividing
us, there is that school in Austin.
Also, those who don't want to remove
their hats in the MSC because it would re
veal hair which is not in perfect order, re
ally need to reorganize their priority lists
and place vanity a little closer to the bot
tom. I can assure them that more people
will be disgusted as a result of their wear
ing hats than with disoriented hair.
Ags, next time you're in the MSC and
see a guy, or girl, who was wearing a hat
but has removed it proudly and now dis
plays their messed-up hair, give them a
warm "Howdy!" Oh yeah, for those of
you who think I am a unsympathetic
racist, here is little factoid for you. My
mother's maiden name is Banuelos, and I
am one half Mexican.
Chad Ellis
Class of '95
• I have come to believe that respect
should be given to every man or woman
and his beliefs, until that respect is be
trayed. Then that man or woman must
earn your respect.
The people of the Multicultural Ser
vices and all others who refuse to remove
their hats in a place memorializing stu
dents who fought and died for their
country have lost any amount of respect I
may have had.
The request to remove hats upon en
tering the MSC is not merely some nifty
college tradition. It is the accepted tradi
tion upon entering any building, but
more specifically, any memorial to the
dead. The whine that "none of my peo
ple are memorialized here" is a crock!
They were American, and so are you! If
you're not then at least keep in mind they
were human beings who made the ulti
mate sacrifice for what they believed in!
Even the few Americans touring Rus
sia during the worst stages of the Cold
War, removed their hats and walked in
the silence in review of Stalin's Tomb, if
not out of respect for the man, then re
spect for the feelings of his people. These
people are dead! They never harmed you
or insulted you in any way, shape or
form. Dead people can't do that!
Respect! I see this word printed all
over the place in reference to the activities
of the Multicultural Service. If you can
not give respect to others, don't expect it
in return. Those who complained about
messing up their hair when they take off
their hats disgust me 10 times worse. But
that is another letter for another time.
Daniel J. Harty
Class of'94
The April 14 article on minorities not
wanting to uncover in the MSC is a dis
grace to this University. Aggies are just
that. Aggies! There is no race or color des
ignation to an Aggie (well, maroon).
Every time I see someone in the MSC
wearing a hat, I politely ask them to re
move it and explain the tradition.
When certain individuals don't re
move their hats after being asked nicely,
it really hacks me off! They didn't earn
the right to wear a hat in there; it's noth
ing but a sheer lack of respect for those
who have unselfishly given their lives for
their country.
Not uncovering shows their own
racism and lack of upbringing. Joseph
Gourrier stated "Blacks can't run their
fingers through their hair to straighten it
out." So if you don't want to go around
with your hair messed up, you leave your
hat on." I must say that is the weakest
excuse I've ever heard for not respecting
an Aggie tradition!
I am a member of the Corps of Cadets,
and going to the MSC requires a lot more
than removing my hat. Cadets must wear
the khaki uniform which means that we
must have shined shoes, brass, etc.
With this in mind I think the least you
could do is remove your hat, don't you?
Sounds really ridiculous doesn't it? What
is so hard about removing a hat anyway?
It's one simple motion: you raise your
hand, grab your hat and take it off. If that
is too difficult, then don't go in the MSC!
If you're that incompetent there is noth
ing for you to do in the MSC anyway.
This is an old topic for which there
should be no debate: Uncover in the
MSC. In short be an Aggie not a two-per
center. Respect those who have made be
ing here possible for all of us!
Clint E. Tracy
Class of'95
Accompanied by 115 signatures
Well that's the last straw. I'm talking
about the absurdity of black students feel
ing they don't have to follow the sacred
tradition of removing their hats in the
MSC. This is to honor past Aggies who
have given their lives in defense of this
country. As present day Aggies, black,
white, green or purple, it is our duty to
show respect for these fallen heroes.
This separatist bull has gone on long
enough. Blacks are already given special
privileges in regards to acceptance and
scholarship opportunities at this school.
Special privileges based on race is ex
actly what Martin Luther King marched
against. Many equally disadvantaged
white kids who are sometimes better
qualified are passed over each semester
simply because of the color of their skin.
On another note, I believe it's a dis
grace how the hierarchy of this institution
kisses the feet of blatant racists like Ron
Wilson, Quannell X and even Spike Lee -
all in the fear of being branded racists
themselves. All racism should be dis
avowed, black or white. It's time to put
all this separatist crap behind us and get
on with the business of being Aggies.
The fact is if you choose to come to this
school, great. But please have the decen
cy to honor the traditions that have made
this school what it is. If you feel you
can't do this, you should have gone to
school up there in Austin with all the
bleeding heart liberals in Austin that
don't give a damn about tradition.
I'm sure I'll be branded a bigot or
worse, but those who would say this,
haven't even heard a word I've said. I'm
just very tired of being made to feel guilty
about events that either took place before
I was even born or take place today be
yond my control.
Let's face the facts, hatred and miscon
ceptions exist in both races. It's up to us,
the future leaders of this country to turn
things around. And showing heinous
disrespect for fallen Aggies is not the way
to do it. The truth is folks, the melting
pot hasn't melted. Maybe it's time we
turn up the heat.
• A new and deadly specter has reared
it's head at Texas A&M. I am speaking of
the "MSC" hat controversy," where cer
tain students have refused to remove
their hats upon entering the MSC.
Though this may seem a trivial gesture to
many, it becomes disconcerting when the
roots of the tradition are examined.
The opponents of the MSC tradition
offer spurious reasons for their protest,
but the most ridiculous to me is based on
perceived racism. The men we honor by
removing our hats fought gallantly to
preserve the Constitution, and the very
Constitution they fought to protect now
guarantees the right of equality to every
citizen of the United States.
While men were fighting to uphold the
integrity of our democracy on foreign
shores, men were fighting to ensure
equality on American soil. It is utterly il
logical to believe that requesting that pa
trons remove their hats when entering the
MSC is in any way motivated by racism
or sexism.
Those who bring forth such charges
are unintentionally tweaking the hearts of
Aggie traditionalists, and injecting a feel
ing of ill will which does nothing but
worsen race relations on campus.
Perhaps the most inflammatory justifi
cation for leaving one's hat on came from
Joseph Gourrier, who stated that "Blacks
can't run their fingers through their hair
to straighten it out after they've been
wearing hats." It is simply not reasonable
to infer that a white person's hair will be
groomed with the stroke of a hand, while
a black person's will remain mussed.
Even if this was the case, it is beyond my
comprehension to hear such an objection.
Enduring a few minutes of unkempt
hair is a small concession to the men who
paid for freedom with their lives.
I would just like to plead with those
who consider leaving their hats on to con
sider some of these points, and to either
remove their hats or not enter the MSC.
This Aggie tradition is one which is bind
ing not only to all Aggies, but to every
visitor who enters the MSC. It is a sacred
tradition, and one that should be respect
ed by all, regardless of race or sex.
• I cannot believe the things I am see
ing at Texas A&M. People are walking
on the grass and not saying "Howdy.'
Now they do not want to remove their
hats in the MSC. I agree that these are
traditions and not laws, but they are tra
ditions that should be embraced and re
spected by every Aggie. I have many
friends at different schools, and they tell
me they have never seen a closeness be
tween students like they do at Texas
A&M. Part of this closeness is derived
from the traditions on campus.
Gourrier's comment "why should thev I
take their hats off for people who would
have lynched them if they were here at
that time" is one of the most closed-mind
ed, asinine statements I have ever heard,
I am sure there were racists at A&M, but
I doubt every one of they had that kind of
low-class mentality. I agree that people
have a right to their own viewpoints, and
I would like to see a more diverse cam
pus, but I do not see where complying
with these time-honored traditionsis
detrimental to anyone. I ask everyone to
think about what it means to be an Aggie
and what it means to share that with oth
ers and decide for themselves if the tradi
tions are worth it. Times change, tradi
tions should not.
Shannon Marks
Class o/'9l
• In reference to the recent article and
following editorial about students wear
ing hats in the MSC, I feel that my, as
well as many other Aggie's opinions, can
not go unheard.
For gentlemen to remove their hats be
fore entering the Memorial Student Cen
ter is perhaps one of our finest traditions
By doing so, we show respect for those
brave men that fought and died for our
country, and we do it out of respect for
the freedoms that they preserved.
I was particularly surprised to read
that many minority students insist on
wearing hats in the MSC protest. These
students would not remove their hats be
cause it pays tribute to men that went to
Texas A&M when it was an all-white col
lege. I wonder if these people actually
give much thought as to what they are
protesting?
First of all, the men they protest were
not school policy-makers, they were stu
dents (and alumni) like us. They had no
more control over Texas state legislation
and school policy than we have today.
The only choice these men made was to
defend freedom and democracy. The
same freedoms minorities hold so dear
today.
I realize that one of the most important
freedoms is the right to protest ideas and
policies that we think are wrong. How
ever, I think that debates about racial
problems at Texas A&M are better left to
a political forum, not in a memorial for
these brave men.
Scott Listei
Class of'91
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