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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1993)
Opinion >er 7,1993 inale y, September 7,1993 The Battalion Page 13 The Battalion Editorial Board CHRIS WHITLEY, editor in chief ilPHIIAIPS, managing editor MARK EVANS, city editor MTHOMAS, night news editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggielife editor (IINDA BLANCARTE, night news editor MICHAEL PLUMER, sports editor HCKHARRISON, opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, sports editor KYLE BURNETT, photo editor hi CD EDITORIAL Peace signs itideast plan symbolizes hope lor the first time, oppos- Isides in the Middle East iepossibly found a vi- esolution to years of ter- ' violence. The pro- id Gaza-Jericho Plan of- 5 real hope that the tades-old conflict he rn Palestinians and Is- can be resolved. Only one obstacle still ids in the way of signing Israel requires that ’alestine Liberation Or- lization recognize its ttoexist before it makes I :essions. logically, hard-liners on jsides are jeopardizing chance for peace by re- gto support compro- on this issue. lOchief Yasser Arafat Tedl ^Israeli Prime Minister Rabin built the ne- iiations on unprecedent- 4mutual cooperation. \nimal Re-l ( j j an establishes a ' st . s feline for Palestinian au- mto tender , . , T . a list at the Pymside Israel, it tenderiz-taeli military units be withdrawn from rown jedit cards: They're everywhere you don't want them to be md water. ;Gaza Strip and the West less and it uch as col- I. I federal fa-1 [ favorable d a "white \o you recog- ■eler, a re- Inizemy meat spe- ✓ face? Then I I ably owe you ey. It seems tvery time I 'around, well, I is because liomeone be- lline. And I ; "just sell |ally owe that re not pe- i^n a large por- lofjny small tific foun- beck. indents have id 98 per-'^the poorest rat tough- peinthe fid. Think of it: steaks as (scare people sarch into aspend their time in the pursuit of ex- ffleewith such time-honored tradi- got great 'sas going to class, drinking beer, % countless books, drinking beer, dgto football games, drinking beer .... Jents are required to participate in irri tant activities which involve almost thing but earning money, ii, it only stands to reason that this tnentof the unemployed population ^ds a large institution that requires fe hours of valuable time — leaving Bank city of Jericho and the Israeli government would allow elections to select a Palestinian governing coun cil. The plan, however, does not attempt to provide an swers for all the issues sur rounding the Mideast crisis. For example, the fate of the occupied territories and their 120,000 Jewish settlers remains undetermined. After the announcement, Jewish demonstrators in Is rael denounced Rabin as a traitor for breaking Israel's official policy against deal ing with Arafat or the PLO. Likewise, Arafat was hit by opposition from Islamic ex tremists and the Iranian government. The Gaza-Jericho Plan opens the door to ending much of the conflict in the Middle East. The leaders of Israel and the PLO worked together to hammer out the agreement. The refusal to compromise will be a choice to refuse peace. Life, the University and Kyle Field College offers students more just than football games JENNY MAGEE Columnist I 'm from Houston. This being the site for my initiation into the dog-eat-dog world of football fan dom, it is easy to ap preciate why the sport sputtered oft some dead end road on the way to my heart. As I witnessed nu merous 'Luv Ya Blue' T-shirts go from prized apparel to dust rags and tattered garden work shirts, 1 felt more and more assured that I was destined to be long to a team with something more. I guess that is why I was so disgusted by All-U Night last week. The event was at tended primarily by the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshman class, still shining in the afterglow of fish camp. Yet, the whole af fair was little more than a pep rally for the football team. Now, I see nothing wrong with the fact that Aggies take pride in their football team and its success. I even find it rather inspiring that there exists such a unified effort to main tain the spirit and morale of the football team at such a large university. The University of Houston is jealous for sure. They have trou ble giving away tickets to their ball games. However, I felt uneasy standing in the bleachers of Kyle Field during All-U Night, because the event portrayed football as the most important thing A&M has to offer. I thought of all the freshmen surrounding me. Being a mere year from the tender and venerable freshman position, I found it sad to think that the most comforting piece of ad vice that was offered to these new Aggies af ter their first day of classes was: We're going to beat the hell outta LSU. Maybe I am taking the whole concept of All-U Night out of context Perhaps it is ideal istic to view the event as a huge welcome back ceremony, but that is what I was lead to be lieve the event was supposed to be. And as such, A&M has a hell of a lot more to welcome someone to than just a great football team. It becomes easy to fall into the trap of pri marily using the football team to perpetuate Aggie spirit, because it is a very glamorized and publicized aspect of this university. But that attitude is like expecting a sexy dress to get you a date. By doing so, you sell yourself short. Just like there is so much more to people than the clothes they have on; there is so much more to this university than the football team. Being an Aggie is about the Twelfth Man and yell practice and all those other wonderful time-honored traditions. But it is also about Student Government, Aggie Players, Aggie Wranglers and a thousand other organiza tions. But more than just a diverse collection of extracurricular activities, this university of fers its students opportunity. A&M offers the opportunity to open your mind and fill it with all sorts of new pieces of knowledge. It offers the opportunity to meet and cultivate relationships with thousands of people from different backgrounds. But most of all, A&M and the college ex- to ideas that make you unique. All these as pects of A&M are more beautiful and impor tant than even the Cotton Bowl. I remember walking into the living room as a child to watch my Dad's Oilers game rit ual. The Oilers being a team of uncanny pre dictability, without fail my father would end up squatted on all fours in front of the TV pounding his fists on the floor in anger and yelling at the blue-clad figures on the screen. My father, feeling a need to justify his ac tions to his young daughter, turned the whole experience into an educational lesson. He told me that any football team that is suc cessful is so because they play together as a team. No matter how incredible one individ ual player may be on his own, he is nothing without the rest of the team. That experience is what justifies football for me. The same thing is true about A&M. While the football team so often takes the limelight because of the easy access it provides into the hearts and pocketbooks of Aggies and non- Aggies alike, it does not make its role at A&M any more important than anyone else's. Ultimately, we are all here at this university to get an education and better ourselves. That function takes ultimate priority, whether the Aggies win or lose every game they play. We need to remember that in any situa tion which is supposed to prompt the Uni versity as a whole, it is both dangerous and stupid to expect football spirit to suffice. While football is an exciting and wonderful part of A&M, it is just that — a part. Jenny Magee is a sophomore English and journal ism major Books 3nd Thai comes to more money than you have. Fop ycun convenience, we will allow you to sign oven to us one of your kidneys. Stutf- 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, cartoons and letters express the opinions of the authors. The Battalion encourages fetters 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. We reserve the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, style, and accuracy. Contact the opinion editor for information on submitting guest columns. Address letters to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald Mail stop 1111 Texas A&M University Station, TX 77B43 Fax; <409) 34$-264vj ROBERT VASQUEZ Columnist scarce opportunity for earning money — and then charges large sums of money for the honor of attending. Credit card companies are no help. When it comes to lending to the poor, these blood suckers have no shame. Stu dents barely move into their unfurnished apartments, and already their mailboxes are being stuffed with pre-approved ap plications; their phones are ringing with enticing proposals. "Exotic vacations, endless shopping sprees, fine dining and fancy cars. Yes, all this can be yours," the bold headlines seem to shout. And then in a whisper slightly softer than a sigh, the fine print hisses, "Jussssst sssssign on the dotted line." Don't do it. Eve. The apple is rotten. I bit. That is to say. I've been bitten. I went down the forbidden path of plastic. I was led into temptation and then delivered into evil. I found myself on a one way flight to Debtville, U.S.A. where payments are the principal matter, and everyone has your best interest at heart. The flight was American — Express. I made travel plans and got my Visa. I was ready to find what I could Discover. All I found was the card that pays you back. It was pathetic. I was forced to eat at all the fine restaurants, buy all the best clothes. I tell you, I was a victim. I spent a fortune on the necessities of life. I was hungry, so I'd find twenty of my closest friends and treat them to lunch at some fancy restaurant. I needed to eat, right? Having too many credit cards is a common cause of credit problems. As a rule, you should never use more than say, twenty at one time. I'd pick up a shirt here, a car there. I needed clothes, transportation .... It was a wonderful time. And it was only the be ginning. Credit cards and I had started a whole new life together. Then, all too suddenly, the honey moon was over. Did you know those cards have a credit limit? Who could tell? The phone calls from those nice credit companies were no longer invitations to apply, but inquiries for payment. And no longer did they call me only at home. They called me at work. They called me at school. They'd call me on the car phone. One time, just to see what I looked like, they called me on the video phone. I'm not rich, I charged it. Kind of ironic, wouldn't you say? I couldn't escape them. As one friend said, their commercials were right. They were everywhere I wanted to be. I'd be passing a pay phone on the street. The phone would ring, and there they were. "Hello?" "Hello, may I speak with Robert Vasquez?" "Uh..." "Robert, is that you?" "Uh..." "Come back to us, Robert. We're your friends. We just want to help you. Tell us where you are so we can come help you before the fiscal year is out." Some people say, "Those credit com panies can try, but they'll never get mon ey from me. I don't have any money." I don't know how they can be so com fortable. Anyone who says, "You can't squeeze blood from a turnip," hasn't seen the Visa Vice Grip, which was scientifical ly designed to squeeze blood from a deadbeat. Excessive use of credit cards can only be classified as ignorant behavior. Hav ing too many credit cards is a common cause of credit problems. As a rule, you should never use more than say, twenty at one time. In all fairness, credit cards can be help ful if used sparingly and prudently and above all, rarely — like student loans and prescription drugs. I used mine with all the control of a tropical windstorm. And now I owe my soul and my first born twins to the bank. So, if you are offered credit cards — and you probably will be — think careful ly about your decision. Accepting them and using them responsibly can build your credit rating and prepare you for the real world. Abusing them can cause trouble. And lead to a lot of annoying phone calls. By the way, if anyone calls for me, looking for a little plastic card, take a message. Tell them I left home without it. Robert Vasquez is a senior journalism major ch Musical oasis waters tazos Valley radio In response to Edward Ham's desper- j te plea for a cool drink of good music to talch his thirst, try KANM 99.9 FM ca ble, your student radio station. You can get us by splicing your cable line — one end to your TV and the other to your stereo antenna. Over the summer we have undergone many changes. We play everything from dance, techno, retro, 80s, classic rock, disco, jazz, new age, classical, con temporary Australian, industrial, thrash, acid rock, alternative country, Christian, hip hop, rap, blues, r&b, reggae, Cajun, bluegrass, zydeco, Irish, folk, vintage country, and, yes, even college radio like KNNC- and KDGE-brand alternative. How do we give you all this? Each se mester, students apply to be disc jockeys and state what type of music or news show they would like to do. Then we dis tribute a program guide that reads like a TV guide. You can tune in to your favorite programs like you do a television show. Any student can help shape the local radio scene. Our first meeting is Thurs day, September 9, 6:00pm in Rudder 601. John Walvoord, production director on behalf of the KANM staff How hard is it for females to uncover? I would like to comment on the tradi tion of "uncovering" during yells at foot ball games. I was upset to see two fe males in front of me at the LSU game of Saturday who never uncovered during yells, the War Hymn, or Spirit of Ag- gieland. I realize that the latest trend for women is wearing baseball caps, and a lot of women think that they don't have to uncover like the men. I disagree. If a female is going to wear a hat, then she needs to be able to re move it like the men have for so many years. I feel that the women who choose not to uncover are being disrespectful to A&M and their fellow Aggies, past and present. Unfortunately, this problem occurred last spring with the issue of females un covering in the MSC, and I hope that in the future women who wear hats will re alize that uncovering is not exclusive to men. Besides, I thought that women want ed to have the same rights as men. If so, then women should expect to abide by the same rules as men. And, really, how big of a deal is it if someone sees your hair messed up for a few seconds? Crissy Strickland Class of 94