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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1994)
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Jst a ci si ness, - ; to Hor om the‘- : H’trc::; be a Fist ig a Pis- 'etroit dil to fig!® can:.- idesyoii( s speak ii Tuesday, February 8,1994 The Battalion Editorial Board JULI PHILLIPS, Editor in chief MICHAEL PLUMER, Managing editor KYLE BURNETT, Aggielife editor BELINDA BLANCARTE, Night news editor DENA DIZDAR, Aggielife editor HEATHER WINCH, Night News editor SEAN FRERKING, Sports editor TONI GARRARD CLAY, Opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, Photo editor JENNIFER SMITH, City editor \ You QJCe YcU WaNTT lb BUY Ttlaf BUoiKe, <SUel TVie ocMPaNY FOQceg uM^aFe WoQKiMc, CcNPiTiordc oM TLteiC eMPto>fee^ / WUY, Tl4eY caMY po -mar To /AY F&LOcW A/AepioaMg- The global economy - freeing our markets, freeing our consciences EDITORIAL J wete ^ irdayai io me to ither pt Wake-up to reality I; New policy a waste of time The red pots are coming to •M ■ a d° or near you, and they're ; em ff| not leaving until you get up. n,!B Although First Cut is still on the other side of summer break, the issue is very much alive over how on-campus, male Aggies should be awak ened and motivated to attend ■hen he i&M co<; i'hat It id a go: n San ]ti ;; cut. class act er House ering foi Aggies to n you an i?" Brand "You al- The tradition of banging on doors, blasting music and cre- cond te. ating early morning mayhem backatS | i n an effort to rouse the able- bodied shows no signs of oolfool* slowing down - creating Califon | rules to regulate it is a wasted liversity effort. seconda Some believe the tradition- f .^1 way is the best way. There's nothing like having an axe handle crash against the door before dawn, accompanied by a wake-up call any Marine sergeant would be proud of. It's tradition, the way things have always been done. Then there are those who believe wake-up is a silly tra dition, at best. We're college students after all. We should would 1§ be able to decide on our own when and why to get out of bFable' bed. 1 told he# •ess roi'i I her sir | ed to' day. uard birj hen 1 h, and (i ically "You; /ou exp; | 4 team- y Sundaf /ou; elievea are a" r - on II rts wrii; | j for ftf vv, room r ' istory id the" ox" ml 1 Many students work or have outside obligations that cause them to get to bed at odd hours. It's not fair to be awakened only hours after falling asleep for something that seems quite meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The rules regarding wake- up procedures should be fol lowed so that everyone can enjoy college. But ... they aren't. And they probably never will be. So, why are we even bothering to pass a new policy regulating wake-up calls? The old policy was con tinuously broken. Why would new regulations be regarded any differently? Cut has been done the same way for quite a long time, and rules don't seem to be affecting it. Tradition does not always make right, and some things are well worth fighting against. But, this isn't one of them. Fair or not, unless you're planning to hide behind your door with a bucket of water, the best option is either ear plugs or going to cut. That's life. Opinion The Battalion Page 11 The world according to Max Winnebago Noted pundit answers today's most pressing questions DAVE WINDER Columnist D ear Max Win nebago: Why is there a statue of a man walking with a dog between Scoates Hall and the architec ture building when dogs aren't even al lowed on campus? — Wondering in Gainer Dear Wondering: The unique sculpture is actually the Greek god Zeus walking his fa vorite canine. Prissy. It's just A&M's special little way of appeasing the gods. Another inter esting sculpture that can be found on campus is the Menos (translated: huge piece of twisting metal) found behind the Halbouty building. Dear Max Winnebago: I just wanted to know when you planned on graduating? I know being a 28-year-old man and a seventh year senior can be pretty tough sometimes, but don't you think you could actually get a degree eventually? — Anonymous Dear Mom and Dad: I know I'm taking longer than you expected, but can't you get off my case? I'm sorry I can't be like my successful big brother, Roger. I'm really sorry I can't be the greatest son in the world all the time. It's time for you both to start using words that help and stop using words that hurt. Dear Max Winnebago: I've been having a lot of trouble with women lately, so one my friends suggested I write you. Since you have been here at A&M since the Disco Age, we fig ured you must have some tips on how to pick up girls? — Desperate in Bryan Dear Desperate: Through my years at A&M, I have picked up quite a few women by using just eight pick-up lines. Memorize and prosper. 1. Baby, you got an hourglass figure with a paper bag face. 2. Since your friend turned me down, would you like to dance? 3. You're pretty ugly, but the bar's closing — so how about it? 4. Hey is that Danzig's "Mother"? Honey, they're playing our song. 5. Baby is your name Gillette, because you're the best a man can get? 6. Wow, your name is Cindy. My cousin's ex-wife's name is Cindy. 7. So, did you make that shirt with the Be- dazzler? 8. Nothing personal. I just want to sleep with you. Dear Max Winnebago: Why does A&M's archeology department have the largest co- prolite (petrified human feces) collection in the world? — Puzzled on Holleman Dear Puzzled: A&M began accumulating specimens for study in the early 1980s after University of Texas researchers began brag ging about their collection of used facial tis sues from a Hungarian Flu breakout during the Middle Ages. Both colleges are now in the running to acquire the Pierce Institute's collec tion of ancient belly button lint. Dear Max Loser: You stupid goober. When are you going to stop blaming me for all the troubles you have caused? The only reason you're still mad at me is because of what hap pened with Glora Jean Bradshaw. Grow up and graduate, you stupid dork! — Signed Roger Dear Spaz: I'll graduate when I'm darn good and ready. So don't go telling me that all my problems stem from when you stole Glora Jean Bradshaw from me. She broke my heart way before that even happened. You didn't steal her; I let you have her. Dear Max: I just read your response to "Crying in Caldwell" who thinks her 16-year- old daughter, "Stacy," is having sex with her boyfriend who is at least ten years older. I cannot believe you had the nerve to tell her, "This is what's happening these days — don't blame yourself." — Ann in Hughes Dear Ann: Did you happen to notice that "Stacy" and her boyfriend were taking the proper precautions? I hope my children will be as responsible as she is. Dear Wimpebago: I don't know where you get off telling people that you actually owned me. That's the same reason I left you for your brother, you insensitive jerk. I'm glad I dumped you back then. It makes it much easi er to laugh at you now. You're scum. — Glora Jean Dear Glora Jean: You're just mad because a 16-year-old girl from Caldwell has taken your place. Dear Max Winnebago: I'm a humor colum nist for my school newspaper, but not many people find me funny. So I made fun of my parents for some cheap laughs, and now they won't pay my tuition. What can I do? — Signed J.D.W. in Fowler Dear J.D.W. — Don't come crying to me. Who do I look like — "Dear Abby"? Dave Winder is a sophomore journalism major 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 - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald Mail stop 1111 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843 Fax: (409) 845-2647 'Pinion based in religious belief deserves equal consideration I n the recent past, courts have severely | restricted the jfrights of religions. |The "establish- |ment clause," Jwhich the found ling fathers de- |vised to prevent |the government rom favoring one iligion over an- )ther, has become i justification for [viewing all reli- jions with suspi- :ion. But the Free- iom of Restoration Act, prohibiting the [prosecution of churches as individuals, /as passed in 1993 thanks in great part to |the odd alliance of Senator Orrin Hatch, a Jtah Republican, and Senator Edward vennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat. This act is much needed, but it comes |too late for the American Indian tribes /ho were forced to abandon the use of 'ote in their religious rites (as if they could justgo out and find new cere monies). The court’s inappropriate ruling treated the American Indian tribes without tire special considerations grmranteed in the Constitution. The founding fathers never intended our government to be hos tile to religions, and the Freedom of Restoration Act restores liberties and means progress for all religions in Ameri ca. There's also been a resurgence of "fami ly values" in executive branch rhetoric. Hillary Rodham Clinton has spoken of a need for values, and President Clinton said no government agency can substitute for a family's care. Even outside the collec tive imagination of tl te older generation (which always thinks we're going to Hell in a handbasket), the general belief, as vio lence and crime increase rapidly, is that the fabric of our society is unraveling. Americans are worried, but there is still a reluctance to consider spiritual solutions. Those who offer them are forced to be apologists for their beliefs. More and more religions and religious people aren't taken seriously in the intellectual hubs of our country. In his book, "The Culture of Disbelief/' Stephen Carter, a law professor at Yale and confirmed liberal, concludes the same thing; intellectual elites in America view religion as something akin to a hobby and best left that way — something that ratio nal people dorit participate in. John Leo of U.S. New & World Report agreed: "When religions bring their moral concerns into the public arena, the elite ... Those who offer spiritual solutions are forced to be apologists for their be liefs. More and more reli gions and religious people aren't taken seriously. stamp>s its collective feet and howl about a crumbling wall between church and state." Leo says this elite culture "is so wedded to individualism that it cannot ac cept ... that religions are communities that operate in and out of the political arena on shared moral beliefs.' From the ideological left, Jeff Greenfield of the Universal Press Syndicate said about the religious right; "Tm tired of peo ple ... seeing the Ayatollah Khomeini be hind this movement. Religion and politics were bound together in the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War move ment; there's nothing wrong with people on the right doing the same thing ..." Carter said if one disagrees with Pat Buchanan or politicians like him, it should be his opinions that one disagrees with, not that he invokes the name of God when voicing them. And if one wants to criticize President Qinton, it shouldn't be because Hillary wore a crucifix at the Inauguration. (They came under fire by some who deemed her necklace inappropriate.) It should be okay for religious beliefs to influence one's opinions, whatever the re ligion — mainstream faiths aren't the only ones to be considered seriously. And it should be okay to wear whatever you like when your spouse is sworn in as the Presi dent of the United States. At the same time, people shouldn't act like idiots in the name of God, assume that religions are the only birthplace of values or insist that churchgoers are inherently better people. Opinions of a religious na ture are neither less nor more important than any others, and they simply should n't be disregarded without consideration. No one is arguing for a national reli gion. In the past such notions have led to the enforcement of certain beliefs at the ex pense of others. In our enlightened at tempts to prevent the establishment of an official religion, the proverbial pendulum has swung in favor of absolute secularism. By allowing it to stay there, we may be do ing a great disservice to ourselves. The separation doctrine has been misinterpret ed. Writer Steve Roberts said that we ought to "... redesign a 'wall of separation' that lets the most positive religious values into public life..." It is no longer wise to pretend that reli gions and the values that may accompany them have no place in public debate or public lives. Erin Hill is a senior English major just Hype men's hoops After having read The Battalion for the three short weeks of the semester, we would like to express our tremen dous disgust at the terrible coverage that our men's basketball team has been getting. On Feb. 3, the day after our team upheld their perfect record in the Southwest Conference by beating Bay lor on the road, they received a small corner on the back of the sports page. As if that weren't degrading enough, the article began with a headline im plying that the victory could be credit ed to the injury of a Baylor player, rather than the skills and tremendous effort of the Aggie team. We are football fans, too, and do care a great deal about the recruiting for next year, but it is basketball sea son, and our team deserves all the sup port, recognition and respect that our campus can give them. We know that the day before was football signing day, but we are tired of football al ways coming first in our media, when our basketball players work just as hard as the football players. We hope that the student body shows the team that we do care about them and their outstanding efforts by coming to all of the home games left this season. We hope to see you (and The Battalion sports staff) in G. Rollie White on Feb. 9, 16, 20 and March 1 and 5 as we beat the hell out of our op ponents! Kristi Mersbach Class of '94 Katie Harris Class of '94 Beutel stance on pill the right decision I am writing in response to Paul Herrera's letter that appeared in Mail Call on Feb. 4 concerning the distribu tion of the "morning after" pill at Beu tel Health Center. I am sure that the directors of the health center had more in mind than trying to "legislate morality" (a cliched term which may as well read "Don't make me feel responsible for my ac tions.") when they decided not to carry the pill. Let me explain. I pay a relatively small health center fee of $25 every se mester. From this money, other Aggies are able to get free examinations and low cost medicine. I certainly don't have anything against a small amount of money going to cure fellow Ags of a cold or the flu, but I would rather not have it going to "cure" pregnancy. Now, as long as the morning-after pill is legal, I can't do anything to stop someone from going out and buying it with their own money — but I hope you understand that I don't want one penny of my own money furthering the slaughter of unborn children. Tim Behne Class of'94 Editor's note: To clear up any confusion, the morning-after pill is not the same as the RU-486 pill, which is illegal in this country. i£lNF°