Costa Rica $139* London $250* Paris $295* Frankfurt $315* Moscow $409* Tokyo $435* ♦Above fares are each way from Houston based on roundtrip purchase Restrictions apply. Taxes not included. One way fares sh'shtly higher. ectRAKPAsm Centalok tie epot/ Council Ikavd 2000 Guadalupe Austin, TX 78705 512-472-4931 28744” Single Vision Regular Bifocals Line Free Bifocals *114“* Includes Clear Lenses and Your Choice of Frames • Your Choice of Frames from over 400 styles and colors including designer frames, metals, rimless, spring-hinge, stainless steel, new carbon, nylon and more at these prices. • Includes plastic lenses, oversized or strong prescriptions up to ± 8.D sphere and 2 cyl. Regular bifocals including D28 & Round. • Also savings on ultra-violet protection, tints, and scratch resistant treatments. • Doctor’s prescription required or duplicate your prescription. • Ask about our guaranteed fit on Une Free lenses. r Hours: 1 M-W-F 9 6 T-Th 9-7 Sa 9-5 h COLLEGE STATION 900 Harvey Road (2 blks. W. of Post Oak Mail) 693-5358 Page 8 The Battalion Wednesday, April 21,1993 ORGANIZATIONS REGISTRATION IS NOW GOING ON FOR MSC OPEN HOUSE DON'T BE LEFT OUT ! • Pick up a form in your organization's box in the Student Finance Center or in the Student Programs Office in MSC. • Reserve a table from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. with Nancy Adams in the Student Programs Office, Room 216 MSC. Cost of tables: $20 for First table $10/ additional table THE FINAL DAY TO REGISTER IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1993 MSC Open House is sponsored by ^rr MSC Public Realtions Committee We've got it great in the USA, so quit whining! What's going on here? Have we all forgot ten the pride mat comes from being Ameri can? How could all of us become so desensi tized? The sacrifices of the past, the people who have died for this country - all of it seems to have been transformed into mere rhetoric. And frankly, it makes me sick! We are a generation that has developed without a full scale war. Desert Storm was fought bravely, and the sacrifices made there are no less commendable, but what I am refer ring to is full scale war. The type of war where thousands of young Americans die, or mil lions worldwide. The type of involvement that reaches into every aspect of life, where every person pulls together in order to just survive. Not to discount the Korean, World Wars, or Vietnam, but the last war fought on the Amer ican mainland was our own Civil War! Even the limited skirmishes today are brought to you by CNN and Pepsi Cola. But this is not about war, this is about learning from the past. This is about learning how America has developed into the greatest nation in the history of the world, how we are the envy of every nation. This is about being American. This is a country of opportunity. In 1966, my father came to the United States from Egypt to study at Ohio State University. This was in the midst of the war between Israel and Egypt. My father showed up a week late for his first semester and in his first week vandals stole all of his laundry from a laundromat. He faced a great deal of other racial problems at Ohio State. No family, no friends - did he give up? Hell no! He left with his masters degree and went to the University of Wisconsin where he received a Ph.D . He has since devel oped into one of the leading metallurgists in the nation. By the end of 1993, he will have three sons who have graduated from Texas A&M Uni versity. He also sends assistance to his family in Egypt, and helps the younger members of his family here in the United States, such as my cousin who graduated in August with a Ph.D in Ocean Engineering from the Universi ty of Florida. Successes like this are all around us! The truth is we have it too good. Imagine being shot for saying you love Allah, or Jesus. Imagine mandatory service time in the armed forces. Imagine having to leave your home and country to get a good education! People complain about the very establish ment that allows them the freedom to express sometimes sick ideas - such as the KKK. Sure there are obstacles. Sure opportunities are sometimes taken away by ignorant, bigoted or just plain sick people. I was a victim of a very violent crime that has definitely changed my life just five years ago. Pick up - move on. Its time we all with finding excuses and start finding the opportunities that are all around us. Talk to some veterans, especially those of the World Wars. They are all a price less resource of knowledge! Talk to leaders and educations, learn from the past-then take time to think and take a good look around. Things aren't so bad. Alfie A. Mahmoud Class of'93 Aggies offer bad bull banter at baseball games •I have been attending Aggie baseball games for three years now and nave always enjoyed the spirit and unity that the fans dis play. Olsen Field, in my opinion is the best to watch a ball game. The fans are usually very funny in mimick ing the opposing players and coaches. How ever, in the second game of the double header against the Bears, the Aggie faithful went a lit tle overboard with their comments toward Baylor pitcher Jason Rathbun. Fans were yelling such offensive remarks as statutory rape, child molester, and fourteen year old girls. I have no idea about the story behind these comments, but they were obvi ously very personal insults towards the Baylor starting pitcher. This goes way beyond the taunting, teasing, and heckling that have always characterized "good bull" at Aggie baseball games. The worst part of this story was finding out that we were sitting directly behind Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun who were in town with their friends to watch their son pitch. I was very embarrassed to be an Aggie at these moments and could just imagine what the Rathbuns thought of Aggies as they left the game. Aggies are supposed to be above the likes of t-sips and LSU fans. Dedicated Aggie fans give our baseball team a home field advantage unmatched anywhere in the nation, but we have gone too far this time. I will be at every remaining home Aggie baseball game heckling with the best of them. But I ask that we keep the personal insults out of Olsen Field. Gig'Em! Larry Racioppo David Balmos Class of'94 •I was very disappointed at the behavior of some of the fans at a recent Aggie baseball game. The Fightin' Texas Aggies were hosting Texas Southern University, a team comprised mostly of blacks. I was trying to enjoy the game, but I could not. During the game I heard an individual sing rather loudly, "on little, two little, three little niggers." And another yelled about checking the ball for grease. A comment was made that a TSU player wasn't a good enough baseball player, so he should go back to picking cotton. These are just three examples of the many things yelled that were clearly racially offen sive. For the first time, I was embarrassed to be sitting among other Aggies. Those of you who were participating in this know who you are. While I personally don't care how you feel about other people, I just wish you would keep your racist comments to yourself. Your actions create a bad image foi your organization and our university. Please take it upon yourself to uphold the image of Aggieland, don't degrade this uni versity with your insensitive actions. Brad VJa$n Class oj’% Beutel isn't bad, it's a learning experience The health center offers the best medical service and none of us realize it! My first experience was with the emer- f ency room. I suffered from shortness of reath. The calm personnel asked me a dozen question and made me sign a form. Howwasl to know what I was signing? I was gasping for breath and could hardly speak! Let us consider this strategy. If the docton had sprung into action the moment I entered,! could have thought that my condition was se rious. And therein lies the secret. By not treating to my ailment, the doctors had con vincingly proved that I should remain calm because my problem was trivial and did nol merit immediate attention. They even showed me how difficult it is to sign my name neatly while gasping for air! An oxygen machine was rolled in. I stuck my mouth into it . . . nothing happened. The nurse twiddled away at all the switches and yet it did not work! I pointed to a switch that read "Rate-Increase." The nurse turned it up, and lo and behold, the machine started pump ing air into my lungs. The nurse went away and minutes later another doctor walked in. "This World War II equipment," I wash formed, "wait till you see the fluid level go down and you will be through." 1 began to watch the fluid level eagerly and suddenly to my horror I felt fluid droplets on my arm: The fluid was actually leaking! Why can't we have better equipment? Why don't the staff know how to operate the ma chines? The secret is that this is not accidental if the nurse knew how to operate the machines would I have joined her in seeking a solution? Would I have learned how to operate theoxy gen machine? Would I have thought about my Fluid Mechanics classes and considered the design of a suitable method to stop the leak?I think not. Folks, I am convinced that the health center offers the best medical facilities in the world! The next time you visit the center do not com plain — try and think about the sheer brilliance of the system. After all, where in the world is the visit to the clinic the cure and a unique hands-on learning experience. Ajay Seetfiflm Graduate Student Edtoftah opp«arng In The Botlokwi reflect the views of Ihe edUond board They do nol neceiearly reflect the opimone of other Battolai staff member*, the Texas A&M student body, repents, odmnairaton faculty or staff. Comm*, guest columns, and Mall Cal Hem* express Ihe opinions ol the authors. Ihe Ballaton encourages letters to the edtor and wl prinl as many as space alow* r> the Mai Cal section. Letters mu*l be 300 word or less and indude Ihe author's name. das*, and phone number. Due to space restrictions. Quest cobmns wl nol be accepted unless the author contacts Ihe opinion page for prior approval before submitting cokmnns. We reserve Ihe right to edt letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters shouW be addressed to; The Batiaton - Mol Cal oi 3 Reed McDonald /Mol slop 1111 Texas A&M University Cologe SfoHon, TX 77843 The Class of1993 Presents SENIOR WEEKEND Entitled "Last Road Trip Through Texas" SENIOR BOSH April 22,1993 Live Band, Cash Bar, & Dancing The Texas Hall of Fame 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM Ticket Price: $3.00 plus tax SENIOR BANQUET April 24, 1993 The College Station Hilton Cash Bar 6:15 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Ticket Price: $15.00 plus tax SENIOR PICNIC April 23, 1993 Southwood Valley Complex 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM No ticket necessary RING DANCE April 24, 1993 MSC and Rudder Complex Entertainment: Ronnie Renfrew, Neal Kern, Special F/X, RDM Ticket Price: $25.00 plus tax Paid Political Advertis e rn e n PACKAGE TICKET PRICES: Get 2 Bash Tickets, 2 Banquet Tickets, and 2 Ring Dance Tickets for just $75.00 plus tax. Pictures may be preordered beginning April 12, 1993 in the MSC. Tickets go on sale April 12, 1993 in the Rudder Box Office. Senior Weekend T-Shirts Go on Sale April 12, 1993 in the MSC. For more information call (409) 845-1515. Because the community is everyone’s business ... Almost everyone agrees that economic development is crucial to the strength of our community. David Hickson knows the importance of attracting new business and promoting the expansion of existing ones. By reviewing the existing vision for growth, Hickson believes the city can develop a solid founda tion for the future and improve on the high quality of life associated with College Station. And so is the future. David HICKSON College Station Councilmember Place #5 • President and Co-Founder, CIC Agency, Inc. • Former Market ing Director, Union Carbide Corporation • Outstanding Young Man of the Year, 1987 • Member, B/CS Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 1991 • Vice-President of Membership, B/CS Chamber of Commerce, 1992 • Member, Diplomatic Corps, Texas A&M University-B/CS Council • Obtained B.S., M.S., Ph.D. from Texas A&M University • Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, 1992 • Lifelong resident, College Station Paid for by The Committee To Elect David Hickson, Andrea Derrig, Treasurer, 1209 Haddox Court, College Station. TX 77845