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Opinion
Thursday, October 14,1993
The Battalion
Page 13
The Battalion Editorial Board
CHRIS WHITLEY, editor in chief
JULI PHILLIPS, managing editor MARK EVANS, city editor
DAVE THOMAS, night news editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggielife editor
BELINDA BLANCARTE, night news editor MICHAEL PLUMER, sports editor
MACK HARRISON, opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, sports editor
KYLE BURNETT, photo editor
MAf&VU&S
in*
EDITORIAL
Fence-straddling
Clinton needs consistent policy
Remember when President
Clinton promised to get Amer
ican troops out of Somalia? Or
when he told Bosnian Presi
dent Alija Izetbegovic that he
could expect no military help
from the United States? Or
how about implying to the
Haitians that they would be
welcomed to the United States
once he was elected President?
Once again, Clinton's strad
dling the fence — this time on
foreign policy. It's hard to say
whether Americans or foreign
ers are more perplexed by his
erratic decision-making.
| The original stance on So-
pmalia was for American troops
to feed the starving people and
'then get back to the United
States. Only now the famine
has broken, Somali farmers are
raising crops and American
soldiers are still there. Now
they are fighting to depose
warlord Mohammed Farah Ai-
did and Clinton announced
that American troops will stay
in Somalia until at least March
31,1994 — and he's sending in
even more troops.
Then there's Bosnia, where
Congress is now debating
whether to send 25,000 troops
even after months of Clinton's
udes in the
lentin Ellis
'lass of‘ft
insistence to the American
people that the United States
would stay out of the fighting.
In addition, Haiti didn't re
act well to Clinton's announce
ment after his election that he
planned to continue Bush's
policy of not accepting Haitian
refugees into the United States.
Tuesday he sent 194 Ameri
can troops as part of a United
Nations plan to restore democ
racy by reinstating ousted
President Jean-Bertrand Aris
tide. Haitian authorities re
fused to let the ship dock, elic
iting cheers from hundreds of
Haitians on shore.
The Haitian mission seems
to be a point of confusion even
for the various parties in
volved. According to the latest
issue of Newsweek, the United
States Security Council consid
ers it a peacekeeping mission,
but a State Department
spokesman said it is in no way
a peacekeeping operation.
What is the American public
to think? Clinton is obviously
up to his old game of trying to
please everyone and conse
quentially pleasing no one. He
needs to take a stand on for
eign policy if he ever expects
to be taken seriously.
When the podium becomes the pulpit
Instructors inject their religious beliefs into class lectures
FRANK
STANFORD
Columnist
I 've tried. I've really
tried.
For two semesters
now, the topic of reli
gion has managed to
escape my writings
and allowed me to
sleep at night without
the fear of molotov
cocktails and burning
crosses.
I am aware of a
new fear, however,
that this university
might be just a little
bit prejudiced against
those students who do
not practice the Chris
tian faith.
As a liberal arts student, I can't recall
any strong or unsuitable references to
Christianity in any of my classes, but sever
al friends of mine — Christian and other
wise — have mentioned numerous ac
counts. For example, one friend told me
her professor implied the big-bang theory
and evolution are fallacious according to
Christian beliefs and Creationism. This is
both rude and extremely improper on the
part of the professor and detracts from the
integrity of the learning environment.
As we all know, the United States, Texas
and Texas A&M are overwhelmingly popu
lated with Christians. This in itself is quite
understandable, as this country was more or
less founded by them, as was this state. And
our university, being notably conservative
and of rural begets, is predominately of that
same faith. There is nothing right or wrong
about this phenomenon, because we live in a
free society and attend a public institution.
However, when on occasion I have let my
agnosticism — no particular religious belief
;*~ be known, many of those within earshot
either ply me with friendly invitations to
"talk" or inform me of their prayers for my
salvation. Although I try to appreciate these
gestures, I often wonder why other religions
never attempt to convert me with "talks" and
sympathetic behavior.
I have been told countless times that hell
awaits me, that most of the world — 93 per
cent according to one individual — is con
demned to eternal damnation, and that
Christians who act hypocritically or do hor
rible deeds are not "true" believers.
Once, a fellow Aggie informed me that
even those who smoke cigarettes are banned
from heaven. In addition to inferring that
students who light-up will spend eternity in
hell and the existence of a divine "no smok
ing" policy, I wondered aloud if the same
fate awaits those who dip snuff as well.
Because many of my friends are Chris
tians, 1 know that many believers in Jesus
don't subscribe to this brand of salesmanship
that utilizes coercion, shame, fright and fear
of social rejection. Although most Christians
refrain from such methods. Aggies of differ
ent religions will tell you these are not isolat
ed encounters, particularly on this campus.
Most non-Christian students at A&M un
fortunately expect such behavior from some
Christian peers. I understand it's part of the
responsibilities of the faith. Frankly, I feel
that if an individual insists on informing me
of who I should worship, she or he is merely
exercising a right to do so, regardless of how
annoying 1 might find the gesture. However,
we enter an entirely new realm of inappro
priate behavior when professors in classroom
atmospheres exhibit similar conduct.
Moreover, being a state institution, Texas
A&M must follow the directives of the Con
stitution regarding the separation of church
and state. "Preaching from the podium" is
clearly illegal and should be stopped.
In a similar vein. The Battalion printed an
advertisement for "Faculty Friends" on Sept.
23. The ad was a list of Christian faculty
members, listed by department, who were
offering some form of free counseling to stu
dents in need of help. This is not only an ad
mirable gesture, but has most likely been
helpful to a number of students.
Although I'm not certain of the legalities
involved with faculty being listed as Christian
— anyone can submit an ad — it is improper
for Interim President E, Dean Gage to be pub
licly listing his help to students as a Christian.
Were I a Rastafarian worshiping the former
prince of Ethiopia and concerned about possi
ble discrimination from a devoutly Christian
professor, I wouldn't feel supported by Dr.
Gage displaying himself in such a manner. I
am, however, aware of a memo released to
faculty on Oct. 5 regarding respect for stu-
dents 7 religious preferences. Much applause.
I, and the other non-Christians at Texas
A&M, obviously have the same affection
for this university that every student has or
we wouldn't be here. Before I'm told 2,000
times that Highway 6 runs both ways, I
would like to reiterate that, yes. Highway 6
does run both ways.
This makes it a much more effective
highway.
Frank Stanford is a graduate philosophy student
The real reason for male pattern baldness
\
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11;
7
I
' /
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, faculty or
staff.
Columns, guest columns,
cartoons 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.
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 - Mall Call :
013 Reed McDonald
Mail stop 1111
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 7*043
A&M allows historic house to rot rather than maintain it
O ne more
piece of
Texas
A&M's history is
gone. The old
Commandant's
house, which stood
on campus until
1952, has been torn
down.
The sad part
about the demoli
tion of this histori
cal building is that
it was offered to
the University at
virtually no cost,
and the adminis
tration declined the offer.
The house served as the residence of all
Corps commandants from 1909 to 1952, in
cluding Maj. Gen. George F. Moore, Class
of '08. Moore led the most famous of Aggie
Musters while under heavy enemy fire on
the Pacific island of Corregidor during
World War II. He later became Corps com
mandant after a successful military career.
It is ironic that A&M, which boasts of
its loyalty to tradition, would refuse a gift
of such historical significance. However,
this isn't the first time the school has
failed to preserve its history.
•When the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas decided to expand its fa
cilities after World War II, it sold the Com
mandant's quarters in 1952 to W.M. Dow
ell, a teacher at A&M. He moved the house
south of campus to what is now the comer
of East Bypass and Emerald Parkway.
The house was rented out for several
years after the Dowells passed away. But
in 1987, their daughter offered the build
ing to the University for only the cost of
moving it back on campus.
A survey by a graduate class in the
College of Architecture reported that the
house was in excellent condition. The
front and back porches were the only ar
eas in more than a minor state of disre
pair. At the time there was some interest
in the house as a possible museum and
historical marker. But, for various rea
sons, the project floundered and the
house remained vacant.
Reasons reportedly cited for the
school's rejection of the offer run along a
familiar vein. The University wanted the
owners to underwrite the cost of moving
the building back to campus and felt that
there was no reason to move a building
onto campus simply because it was his
torical. The administration also believed
that the University didn't have the re
sources to undergo such a project.
Another reason stands out from all the
rest because of its familiar ring. The
Physical Plant lobbied hard against this
project. It didn't want a wooden building
on campus.
What would have been the
problem with accepting the
old Commandant's house?
It's a classic case of Texas
A&M looking a gift horse
in the mouth.
The Physical Plant is replacing the
wooden windows on the Academic
Building with dark-tinted aluminum
ones. Many have noted that this fails to
preserve the original appearance of the
structure. The aluminum windows are
also just plain ugly. Still, the Physical
Plant feels that the old windows take too
much effort to maintain.
The Academic Building was designed
to allow exterior light to flood the interi
or, but the dark tinted windows will al
low little exterior light to enter the build
ing. It wouldn't be hard to order win
dows that are similar to the ones already
in place. But, hey, they can always put in
more fluorescent lights.
The Physical Plant didn't want to take
care of a wooden building, and it has
been replacing all the wooden windows
on campus. What will its employees do
once the entire campus is entirely mainte
nance-free? Maintenance is their job. It is
their duty to keep those structures which
are important to the University.
What would have been the problem
with accepting the old Commandant's
house? Even if the school didn't have the
funds to refurbish it immediately after
getting it on campus, it would have at
least been on school property. The struc
ture would have been safe from the kind
of vandalism that eventually ruined it.
The house was offered to the Universi
ty as a gift, yet A&M declined the offer
partially because the owners wouldn't
pay to move it. It's a classic case of Texas
A&M looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Buildings with historical interest to
this school are slowly going to the way-
side while buildings with acoustic ceiling
tiles, fluorescent lights, tile floors and low
maintenance are becoming the norm. Ap
parently, these old buildings just aren't
worth it.
The state of Texas is in love with the
history of Texas A&M. It is an integral
part of the appeal of this institution.
However, the respect the University af
fords the physical remains of this history
has been sorely lacking.
Texas A&M cannot do anything about
the many buildings destroyed by fire. It
may be beyond our means to preserve
buildings from the expansive clays de
stroying DeWare Fieldhouse and Downs
Natatorium. But it is within the powers of
this University to preserve buildings that
have escaped natural disasters.
All except the Commandant's house —
which now lies as a pile of scrap lumber.
Let's hear it for tradition.
Roy Clay is a senior history major
; a&M
dent Ceidtf
is Commit
;00
ENTTUC
;e of f 011,
MES
UNNY!"
II
'Order food or leave'
The sign out front reads "Big Screen
TV," but don't plan on watching a football
game there unless you are going to eat for
three hours. During the second half of the
Texas A&M- Texas Tech game, the owners
of the new Cow Hop restaurant were ask
ing folks (who had ordered lunch and eat
en during the first half) to either "...order
more food or leave." Those who were
drinking beer (read as, spending more
money) were allowed to stay.
Now, I can understand this behavior if
people were waidng for a table, but there
were at least four or five empty tables
available inside the restaurant and addi
tional ones outside. I know where I won't
be watching football from now on.
L. Clark McDonald
Class of ‘87, ‘89
Audience threatened
anti-North protester
I am writing to refute the distortions in
Mr. Holle's letter (Mail Call Oct. 6) con
cerning the protester at the Oliver North
speech. It is W. Holle's letter which dis
torted the truth and not E. Murphy's letter
(Mail Call, Sept. 30) as Mr. Holle claimed.
Contrary to his statement "... not once
did I hear one physical threat," there
were many physical threats made to the
protester. Some said they wished they
could "kick in his sign," "beat him up,"
and most disturbingly, "see him dead."
Rudder officials prevented this pro
tester from entering with his sign be
cause of a "no-sign" policy in the com
plex. Officials also confiscated several
other other anti-North signs.
However, before North spoke, a man in
a suit distributed about 30 pro-North signs
to people sitting in the front rows. People
holding these signs were included in the
KBTX and Eagle photographic coverage of
the speech. Young Republicans and Rud
der Complex officials did not enforce the
no-sign policy with people who had pro-
North signs in the auditorium.
After the speech the protester brought
his sign into the hallway outside the au
ditorium. The protester's sign had strong
language, but did not, as W. Holle
claimed, have "... profanities that had let
ters in common with North's name."
The sign had the words Oppressor,
Liar, Iran-Contra, Villainous, Evil and
Rancid. There was also one word at the
bottom that could be called profane, but it
was not that word that offended people.
The head of the University Center Com
plex then approached and told the pro
tester to either get rid of his sign or leave.
People who do not consider North a
hero were effectively silenced that night.
In Rudder Complex, many were denied
their rights to free speech and expression.
Marilyn Smith Yeager
Graduate student