Opinion
iber 1,1993
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dnesday, September 1,1993
The Battalion
Page 13
The Battalion Editorial Board i v % j
\
CHRIS WHITLEY, editor in chief ” r
Hill PHILLIPS, managing editor MARK EVANS, city editor
THOMAS, night news editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggielife editor
iflINDA BLANCARTE, night news editor MICHAEL PLUMER, sports editor
WCK HARRISON, opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, sports editor
KYLE BURNETT, photo editor
Opinion page: to agree or not to agree
Columnists work to stimulate debate, not anger readers
Wir ^
(#»!!/
EDITORIALS
Cable controversy
KBTX, TCA both acting foolish
llately, television viewers
p had ringside seats for the
jilecontroversy that's been
Sine over the airwaves and
fines.
rX-TV and TCA Cable of
again I '’Jn-College Station are trad-
^ ' ;accusations on television
radio over who's to blame if
cable company drops the lo-
television station from its ca-
lineup.
we're tired of it.
Bryan-
iday com-
e ministry
; in which
Outreach
Che identi-
' face pos-
50 million
compro-
k"
;e Station's
affiliate,
peppered its
logramming
| trailers be-
laning the
that TCA
111 drop the
;idcast sta-
from its
.op unless
itwo come to
weement.
llA has re-
pded with
die and television ads of its
• ttelling the public that the
idle problem is KBTX's fault.
KBTX and TCA are holding
■vision viewers hostage,
tinting fingers and shouting,
look what the other side is do-
/
tto you!''
The tele
The television station has
sped low in its conflict with
Jcable company. KBTX is
running messages across the
bottom of the screen, crying out
that it will be dropped from
TCA unless the cable company
repents.
But TCA is not entirely inno
cent, either. Although the cable
franchise has told the public
about the fee in radio and televi
sion commercials, TCA neglects
to mention that the fee comes to
30 cents per subscriber each
month — a penny a day.
If both sides
truly represent
community in
terests — as
they claim to do
- KBTX and
TCA should
stop squabbling
like schoolchild
ren and come to
an agreement of
some sort.
Instead of
criticizing each
other, both
sides should ap
ply the same scrutiny to their
own operations.
The cable company should
attempt to remedy its limited of
fering of cable channels and to
improve customer service. The
television station should re
member its responsibility and
work to keep its journalistic in
tegrity instead of lowering itself
to the level of cheap pandering.
H owdy Ags! For
those of you
who remember
reading my columns
from the spring se
mester ... I'm baaack.
For those of you
who are new to the
Opinion page, let me
welcome you and in
troduce myself. 1 am
the resident pinko-
commie-fag (although
"queer" is now the
preferred term) tree
hugging, whining,
bleeding heart liberal
who will be trying to
convert you every Wednesday with a witty
yet thought-provoking column.
Of course, most of you believe that this
description could be applied to the entire
Battalion staff. Contrary to this mistaken —
yet popular — belief, we here at The Battal
ion are some of the most diverse individuals
you may ever meet. The socio-political spec
trum in our office runs from far right-wing
conservatives to, well, the above description.
Over the semester you will most likely
read columns written by these individuals
that will amuse, annoy and often irritate your
finer sensibilities. But that is exactly what the
Opinion page is all about: controversy ....
No, no. It's about getting some exercise for
those dying brain cells.
The columnists for the Opinion page are
not being paid to convert, manipulate or
mentally screw with the average student's
preconceived notions of what life entails —
that's just an added bonus.
We were hired because we have opinions
and can write in complete sentences. . .most
of the time.
To the untrained eye, it may seem that as
columnists, all we ever do is moan and groan
about things we don't have enough courage
or power to change. It may also appear that
we occasionally just begin spouting off with
a one-track mind about something truly agi
tating to a few, but of no real concern to the
average college student. In reality, however,
we do have a purpose — a higher goal, if
you will.
The columnists for the Opin
ion page are not being paid to
convert, manipulate or men
tally screw with the average
student's preconceived no
tions of what life entails —
that's just an added bonus.
The opinions expressed on this page are
designed to inspire and challenge the reader
to reach new heights of mental activity. If
you find yourself discussing some topic pre
sented on the Opinion page because you ei
ther concur or completely disagree, then our
jobs as columnists have been fulfilled.
Most college students enter college with be
lief systems and opinions based mainly upon
the influences of their parents and friends back
home. For the first time in their lives, they
may be coming in contact with differing views
and attitudes. College is a time for experiment
ing with new ideas and trying on new points
of view. College is a time for change.
The typical Texas A&M student may not
be inclined to agree with my opinions, but
with the Opinion page, we have an adequate
forum to foster discussions. Once the discus
sions start, real learning and understanding
can begin. With this new understanding
comes the realization that people are people,
not labels.
Labels, similar to the ones I jokingly used
before, are just oversimplifications that small-
minded individuals use to categorize situa
tions that they are unable to fully comprehend.
It is terribly sad when readers offhanded
ly lump certain columnists into inaccurate
and shallow categories. Eventually, those
same readers may begin to label other people
as well.
Individuals are whole people that can
never be simplified into single-dimensional
caricatures. Although opinions may superfi
cially seem one-sided, columnists never are.
So if you find yourself fuming over some
idiotic dribble that your favorite columnist-
to-hate had the audacity to put into print,
take a moment to first try on their point of
view. See how it feels to be in a different po
sition for a while.
Then if you still can't understand how
anyone in the world could ever believe such
a ridiculous stance, write a letter to the edi
tor, and let the world know how you feel.
Maybe someone out there agrees with you.
John Scroggs is a senior English and philosophy
major
TCA
KBTX
Editorials appearing 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, /acuity or
staff.
Columns, guest columns
and letters express the
opinions of the authors.
The Battalion encourages
letters to the editor and will
print as many as space
allows. Letters must be 300
words or less and include the
author's name, class, and
phone number, ' ••ilillll
We reserve the right to edit
letters and guest columns for
lehith, style, and accuracy.
Contact the opinion editor
for information on submitting
guest columns.
Address letters to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
01$ Reed McPonaW
Mail slop lilt
Texas A&M University
College Station, TK 77043
Wiy do people become brain damaged around celebrities?
lie
watching
"The
iorts Den" on the
line Sports
■'annel, it hit me
!t there are some
tigs in life I sim-
Iflon't under
bid. The 30-
mite program
iishigh priced
trtsparapherna-
Jover the air.
ft the help of a
slit card, anyone
icall in and pur-
«se boxes of
seball cards, autographed footballs and
Si Dallas Cowboys jerseys signed by
DyAikman.
Anyone with a spare $300, that is. Af-
: some quick calculations, much like
ftg to figure out how much Mr. Bill
tea year, I totaled the worth of the
' available jerseys to be $60,000. As
king that each jersey costs $10 to pro-
MELISSA
MEGLIOLA
Columnist
duce and that Aikman can sign his name
200 times in an hour, I concluded that ei
ther HSC has found a profitable venture
or that Aikman charges $58,000 an hour
to sign his name. What a business.
I just don't understand why anyone
would pay that for a jersey. Sure, it is sign
ed by the winning quarterback of the 1993
Super Bowl. But so are at least 199 others.
Owning a jersey doesn't mean that you
met the quarterback, shook his hand or
shared your awe of his skill on the field.
The jersey simply means that you had a
spare $300 and caught the television at
the right time. Yet, the on-screen tally of
items sold proved that people are willing
to pay a premium to feel just a little closer
to their sports heroes.
I myself am not an autograph person.
I may have a huge ego, but I have always
felt that I would belittle myself to ask for
another person's signature — let alone
pay for it.
All of this booming industry seemed
silly to me until this summer when I found
myself in the same hotel as David Robin
son, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan.
Waiting in the lobby for Barkley to head
for the elevator, I learned about the $500
fee to play golf with the Suns' star.
The man standing next to me ex
plained the genius of each golfer's "chari
table" contribution. Many of the partici
pants in these tournaments bring stacks
I woke from a nap and was
on my way to get some free
wine and cheese when I
just about walked into
Michael Jordan and three
security guards.
of pictures, several balls and everything
else they can think of to have signed on
the course.
After the tournament, they sell the au
tographed paraphernalia and make a
profit on the tax-deductible event. The
process seemed odd but innocent.
I was disgusted, however, to learn that
some dealers pay young children to run
after athletes for autographs.
So, when I learned that all of the ath
letes were staying on my floor, I vowed
not to bother them. Everyone deserves a
vacation. One morning in line for break
fast in the concierge lounge, I did ask
Robinson to pass me a spoon for my cere
al. He picked one up off the table and
handed it to me just like anyone else.
I was not impressed or awestruck.
Very proud of myself, I never acknowl
edged that he was staying in the room
across the hall from me. I even managed
not to stare when Jordan was nearby
pouring himself a cup of coffee.
But somehow things were a little
weird all weekend. Whenever I heard
footsteps in the hall, I wondered whose
they were. My dad continually found
reasons to escape his business meetings
and just wander around the hotel. One
night I dreamt about the Bulls.
Then Sunday it happened. I woke
from a nap and was on my way to get
some free wine and cheese when I just
about walked into Jordan and three secu
rity guards.
I remember the moment exactly. I had
read that Jordan can never have a real
conversation with people he meets for the
first time. They are usually so nervous
that they speak very fast, stutter or mum
ble so they can barely be heard.
Careful not to do the same, I confidently
said/'This is great timing. Good morning."
Dumb. First, commenting on timing
makes sense when telling about the sur
prise meeting to someone else, but Jordan
had no reason to feel lucky about running
into me. Second, it hadn't been morning
for over six hours.
Jordan just looked at me with the most
perplexed expression I have ever seen.
And then it was over. I, Melissa Meglio-
la, held the full attention of the greatest
basketball player of all time and, like
everyone else, I was a complete idiot.
Maybe I should see about getting one
of those Aikman jerseys.
Melissa Megliola is a senior industrial engi
neering major
St
leader bit by dog
worried about rabies
Saturday night, while walking in
ont of the biochemistry building on
fet Campus, I had a dog come up and
'lap at me.
The owner was apologetic, and I was
in a hurry.
I didn't lecture the owner on the im
portance of keeping dogs on leashes,
which he had in his hand but not on his
two dogs. Later, I realized that the dog
had broken my skin.
Now, I have the huge task of finding
this dog, a German shepherd. After talk
ing with a doctor, I found out I was at
risk for rabies.
I was hardly aware humans could get
the disease.
The "bite" does not have to bleed,
only break the skin. Rabies is 100 per
cent fatal, incurable, and you die while
going insane.
In the next few days, I must assure
myself that the dog is vaccinated or re
ceived a Rabies vaccination. You might
think this is funny; I did until I found
out it would cost over $300.
If you think your dog "bit" me or you
know who the owner is, please contact
the police (case # 08935007). I only want
to find out if the dog is vaccinated now.
Please keep your dogs vaccinated and
on a leash. Any creature that has teeth
can and will bite, even if just accidentally
during play. Please help.
Amy O'Neal
Class of '96
Fall brings football.
Spirit of Aggieland
Well, football season is almost here.
The days are hot — so hot. Arriving on
campus are approximately 30 young
men — anxious to be part of what has
become synonymous with success —
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Football Team.
They come with excitement in their
eyes, knowing, not only will they be part
of a winning team, they are now part of
a winning family — Texas Aggies.
During orientation early one morn
ing, we taught and led these young men
in the "Beat the Hell Outa LSU" yell.
Seeing them trying so hard to get it right
and show their excitement in being a
new Aggie was truly inspiring.
Yes, the season is almost upon us.
Somewhere, far off, in a distant wind —
yet to make it here — is the smell of
burning wood — the burning desire.
Ags, it won't be long now. That first
cool breeze of Fall will blow upon us, and
we'll know, we'll be back in Aggieland,
and we'll know why it's so great — "The
Spirit Can Ne'er Be Told." Gig 'em.
Darrel Pickard
Class of '85
Athletic department graduate assistant