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
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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be withdrawn from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
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Address letters to:
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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