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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1993)
State & Local Page 2 The Battalion Monday, November 22,1 Tut Th. * the Ten Reverse discrimination claims lack support from faculty The 1 Appoin N By Kim Horton The Battalion Texas A&M University professors and faculty members say complaints of reverse discrimination lack consideration for the history and purpose of affirmative action, and do not reflect current statistical data. Mark Fossett, an associate sociology professor, said reverse discrimination is a politically loaded term with little scientific value. "The notion being conveyed is that 10 years ago a man would have received fa vor," Fossett said. "Therefore, it was bad luck to be a woman, but now it is bad luck to be a man." Fossett said people who are not selected over a minority to receive a promotion sometimes blame it on discrimination to feel better about the situation. Occasionally, minorities try to hide then- ethnic identities through name changes and acting more like white people, Fossett said. Data proves that minorities who do this receive benefits. "If reverse discrimination was wide spread, then white males would try to act like ethnic minorities to benefit," Fossett said. Controlled experiments show that one equally qualified minority looking for a job was turned down and later the same day a white male was hired. "Most discrimination is to the disadvan tage of minorities," Fossett said. "If you want to be in the advantageous group, then be a white male." Michelle Tomarelli, a psychology pro fessor, said affirmative action was created in hopes of erasing these inequalities. "You have to handicap horses who have an unfair advantage to make it a good race," Tomarelli said. However, people are leaning so far backwards to avoid discriminating that they discriminate against the majority, she said. "Encouraged to hire minorities through affirmative action, businesses sometimes hire a less qualified person," Tomarelli said. Tomarelli said data-backed information proves that an inferiority complex can de velop due to affirmative action. "It allows people to discount what you do," he said. "If you get a promotion, some say it was because you were a minor ity." Students do not recognize the capping of enrollment on the basis of nationality as a form of discrimination, Fossett said. "If reverse discrimination was widespread, then white males would try to act like ethnic minorities to benefit." - Mark Fossett, associate sociology professor "If we did not discriminate on the basis of national origin," Fossett said, "then 70 percent to 80 percent of U.S. applicants could be displaced by applicants from oth er countries." The government establishes quotas to increase the percentage of minorities in various positions in the workplace. Fossett said white males felt that this would work against them. "White males have had tremendous benefits in the past, and this hurts them by taking this away," Fossett said. "Employ ment data shows no evidence that white males are being injured by this." Some companies had very few women and minorities, Tomarelli said. For this reason, certain percentage requirements must be met for companies to receive fed eral grants and funds. "In order to hire and promote minori ties, they will have to bypass more quali fied people to meet federal guidelines," Tomarelli said. "It's a supply and demand issue." People tend to go out of their way to hire minorities, he said. "There are some departments at Texas A&M where minorities are getting raises over more qualified non-minority faculty to encourage them to stay," she said. Daniel Orozco, an assistant director of Placement Services, said white males feel they are at a disadvantage in the hiring process. "You hear people say that if you're a pale male, then you're not considered," Orozco said. Because of the greater number of white males at Texas A&M, it seems more diffi cult for them, he said. "If students can sell themselves, they'll find a job." Race, gender, or ethnicity can some times sway things if all other factors are equal, he said. "In a few instances, the white female's chances are better in competing against a white male," he said. Karen Severn, pre-law adviser in the Of fice of Professional School Advising, said qualified students seldom have problems in not being admitted into professional schools, regardless of ethnicity or gender. "Before they even apply, some students said that they would not get in because they are white males," Severn said. "I've never heard such complaints after the ap plication process." These schools tend to admit minorih students proportional to the number inthe applicant pool, she said. "If U.T. law school admits 500 people, and 10 percent of the applicants are black, then close to 10 percent admitted will also be black," Severn said. Tomarelli said, "As we end discrimina tion in college admissions, education, experience, then we can end reverse dis crimination. You have to tough it out tolerate it for a while until no fair advan tages remain. "It's still easier for white males to jobs. If they don't get the job, then some feel the need to blame someone else, scapegoating." True equality is a philosophical ideal she said. "Until men can have babies and womer. are big enough to hit back, there willb discrimination," Tomarelli said. Tut*. TKrc Fri hey, eve Ihah iin dgain. £ you h-h« story c ■i Midland residents protest hiring of abortion doctor The Associated Press MIDLAND — Residents in this Republican-rooted city take pride in pointing out they have kept Midland free of topless bars and adult bookstores. Now, they have added abor tion to their black list. Through billboards, ads and rallies, thousands are trying to prevent Planned Parenthood of West Texas from hiring a doctor to perform abortions at its Mid land clinic. "It's a Baby, Y'all," proclaim signs plastered on storefront windows downtown. "It's Our.Body, Y'all," retort ed signs carried by abortion rights supporters assembled on the fringes of an August prayer gathering. Planned Parenthood officials say routine services have rarely been disrupted by the anti-abor tion campaign. However, a con tractor renovating the clinic has quit the job under pressure from his church, and it took 12 tele phone calls to find a plumber. Only one doctor performs abortions in the 30 West Texas counties the agency serves, and health problems frequently cause him to take weeks of leave from his practice in neighboring Odessa, agency officials said. E-Walk Continued from Page 1 publicize the fact that we want it clean," she said. The council, along with the ju nior and senior classes, have posted flyers encouraging students to re frain from throwing things. Similar efforts to bring back the solemnness of Elephant Walk last year paid off, Megliola said. "I think each year we will see improvement," she said. If students are successful in im proving Elephant Walk, there will no longer be the threat of having the tradition eliminated. King said. "Elephant Walk is a tradition we could save," he said. The senior class will meet at Kyle Field at 1 p.m. on Tuesday to begin the walk while the juniors will meet at the Bonfire site. luniors Continued from Page 1 Field, we will go to Kyle Field to avoid the seniors." The junior class will meet at Bonfire site at 1 p.m. and the ju nior yell leaders will lead the Class of '95 in a yell practice with senior pull-outs. After the junior yell practice, the Class of '95 will walk to Kyle Field where Frank W. Cox, Class of '65 and author of 1 Bleed Maroon, will speak to the juniors. After the speech, the juniors will form a giant 95 for a pic ture for the class scrapbook. Dr. Bill Kibler, interim assis tant vice president for student services, spoke to the junior class at a general class meeting on Nov. 10 about its responsi bilities to the University and to its class during Elephant Walk. "We need to preserve 'E walk' as a tradition just for se niors," Kibler said. "It was getting to the point of being a free-for-all, with more students in the health center instead of participating," he said. "We will begin working with the senior and junior classes every year to make you aware of what is responsible." Kibler asked the junior class to leave the seniors alone and to not "grode" them as they walked through campus. Several juniors at the meet ing opposed the idea of being asked to stop "groding" cold turkey. "1 am not too positive the changes will work," said John Tieken, a junior speech commu nications major from Hender son. "Too many people will be worried about their one chance to grode out the seniors and won't care how old Ags and parents feel." Jones said the junior class is not promoting the idea of grod ing out the senior class. "This is a class council activi ty that we promote," he said "If someone gets hurt, this is our activity that someone go! hurt at." Mi pa hi£ W< Fri till wi hi £ to THE BRAZOS VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Franz Anton Krager, Music Director & Conductor opens the 1993-94 season with the PRESIDENT’S CONCERT featuring Javier Chaparro, Violinist Vilin Concerto in D Major, Opus 77 - Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Opus 88 - Antonin Dvorak MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22 8:00 P.M. RUDDER AUDITORIUM I—I R. IT LIVE SEASONS TICKETS SINGLE TICKETS Adults Students $52. 26. $16. 8. Tickets may be purchased at the MSC Box Office or order by phone - 845-1235 B razos Vausy Symphony O rchestra eTiicLn § l ucl ij OIMfuj ciA Summer 1994 Bonn, Germany * Earn Six Credits * Study - Travel Requirements: Completion of German 101 and 102 with a Grade of B or better. Students must also enroll in Study Abroad Prep Course MODE 230 (1 credit). Spring Semester 1994. Contact: Dr. Richard Critchfield Academic 201A 845-2167 CarePlusN^trt Presents Roc, The Good Doc PHARMACY 693-2957 MEDICAL CENTER 696-0683 "CLASSIC CASE OF ORIENTATION DIS ORIENTATION 1 CarePlus Medical Center can take the confusion out of orientation for new Aggies. Our services include routine checkups and physicals, minor emergency care, immunizations, female exams, sports injuries, and colds and flu treatment. We even have an on-site pharmacy for one- stop medical care. Come to CarePlus Medical Center for all your medical needs. We’ll orient you to quality care, plus value and convenience. A&M Students receive a 10 % discount. CarePlus^ffr 2411-B Texas Ave. S. & Southwest Parkway Open all week in College Station DANCE ARTS SOCIETY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESENTS FALL SHOW ’93 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1, 1993 7:30 RM. RUDDER THEATRE ADMISSION $3.00 TICKETS ON SALE AT MSC BOX OFFICE CONTACT LENSES ONLY QUALITY NAME BRANDS (Bausch & Lomb, Ciba, Sola/Barnes-Hind) Disposable Contact Lenses Available $ 79 00 ic For Standard Clear or Tinted FLEXIBLE WEAR Soft Contact Lenses (Can be worn as daily or extended wear) + FREE SPARE PAIR SAME DAY DELIVERY ON MOST LENSES. ASK ABOUT OUR “BUY MORE PAY LESS” PRICING Call 846-0377 for Appointment *Eye exam and follow up visits not included Charles C. Schroeppel, O.D., P.C. Doctor of Optometry 505 University Dr. East, Suite 101 College Station, Texas 77840 4 Blocks East of Texas Ave. & University Dr. Intersection The Battalion CHRIS WHITLEY, Editor in chief JULI PHILLIPS, Managing editor MARK EVANS, City editor DAVE THOMAS, Night News editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggielifeeditor ; BELINDA BLANCARTE, Night News editor MICHAEL PLUMER, Sports editor *| MACK HARRISON, Opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, Sports editor KYLE BURNETT, Photo editor Staff Members City desk — jason Cox, James Bernsen, Michele Brinkmann, Lisa Elliott, Cheryl Heller, Kim Horton, Jan; w Higginbotham, Jennifer Kiley, Mary Kujawa, Kevin Lindstrom, Jackie Mason, Kim McGuire, Carrie Miura, Stepha 1 ® Pattillo, Geneen Pipher, Jennifer Smith, Mark Smith and Andrea Taormina News desk — Rob Clark, Jennifer Petteway, Trish Reichle, Khristy Rouw and Heather Winch Photographers - Mary Macmanus, Marty Allen, Amy Browning, Lauren Donahue, Varnell Hopkins III, Tommy Huynh, Kevin Ivy, Tim Moog, Gus Morgan and Holly Organ Aggielife - Dena Dizdar, Jacqueline Ayotte, Margaret Claughton, Lesa Ann King and Joe Leih Sports writers — lulie Chelkowski, Matt Rush and David Winder Opinion desk - Toni Garrard Clay. Lynn Booher, Tracey Jones, Jenny Magee, Melissa Megliola, Jay Rohbins, John Scroggs, Frank Stanford, Jason Sweeny, Robert Vasquez and Eliot Williams Cartoonists - Jason Brown, Boomer Cardinale, Clifton Hashimoto, George Nasr, Gerardo Quezada and Edward Zepeda Graphic Artist - Angel Kan Clerks- Grant Austgen, Eleanor Colvin, Wren Eversberg, Carey Fallin and Tomiko Miller , ' , The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semester and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods!, 1 Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division® Student Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices are in 013. 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