The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, March 03, 1994, Image 11

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    Opinion
Thursday, March 3,1994
The Battalion Editorial Board y
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 \
EDITORIAL
Shelter shock
i
to
Homeless need realistic help
The Dallas City Council
needs to wake up and get a
firm grip on reality.
During one session last
week, the council voted to in
stall portable toilets, running
water and garbage dumps for
the homeless people living be
neath Interstate 45.
Later in the same meeting,
it voted to destroy the shanty
town and evict the 200 home
less people who currently live
there.
All of the "luxuries" were
scheduled for installation
March 5, which gives the
council's victims about three
weeks to enjoy themselves be
fore they are evicted March
25.
Granted, solutions to a
problem that has existed since
time began are not likely to be
found in one session. Obvi
ously, this is a complicated is
sue, but Wednesday's puz
zling vote seems to point to a
lack of any unified effort on
the part of the Dallas City
Council — not the only gov
erning body facing such chal
lenges — to deal with the
problem realistically.
The council did decide to
continue plans for a homeless
pavilion in the downtown
Dallas area.
Unfortunately, the ordi
nance passed with so many
stipulations that no one be
lieves the pavilion will ever
become a reality.
In essence, the council ap
proved of a plan to build a
shelter which is virtually as
sured to fail, and in the ensu
ing arguments took away
what little the homeless peo
ple have left — a bridge.
Officials from the American
Civil Liberties Union warned
the council that the homeless
were allowed by law to- sleep
in public if the city fails to
provide alternative arrange
ments. However, council
member Glenn Box argued
that only one court in Florida
had upheld that law, and it is
not unconstitutional to stop
people from sleeping in pub
lic.
That filthy, dangerous
shantytown about to be de
stroyed is the only place those
people have to call "home."
Now, thanks to political bick
ering and a lost sense of reali
ty, they won't even have that.
The Battalion
Page 11
Life's meanings found in many ways
Religion, philosophy provide sense of human purpose
W arning: This
column con
tains fairly
deep, philosophical,
touchy-feely stuff.
Most of us lead a
very centered exis
tence; we must, be
cause we are students
with important goals.
The pressures and di
rection provided by
this very structured
environment lend to
us what most people
would certainly deem
to be "meaning."
Anyone on campus
might say, "To graduate and get a real job is
my meaning at A&M, and if I don't make an
83 on this next test I'll flunk my class and be
kicked out for good. I'll be ditch diggin' and
eatin' Tuna Helper for the rest of my life."
Even though this fear may be common
on campus, can just one question on some
exam actually have the power to thwart a
person's goals in life? It seems quite possi
ble. Through a domino effect, a grade may
create a serious obstacle to a degree, and
thereby a particular desired career. But can
a single bubble on a scantron control the
real meaning of a life? Surely not.
So just what is real meaning? What is it
that makes us get up in the morning and
live (besides Lucky Charms)?
When we ask ourselves why we are do
ing what we are doing, or why we have set
certain goals for ourselves, it is not difficult
to arrive at quick, easy answers. To get mar
ried. To get a good job. To make good mon
ey. To be financially independent. To live in
the manner we would prefer.
Most people spend their entire lives chas
ing - and many times achieving - these very
goals. This chasing seems to be quite the
norm actually. But what if, due to some cir
cumstance, these goals were bypassed?
While sinking in schoolwork, you are of
fered the secure job you always wanted — a
career requiring only the skills you already
possess and offering the money you desire.
Would earning a college degree have the
same appeal? Winning a $50 million lottery
would certainly make these popular, moti
vating goals obsolete. What will meaning be
then? Although such scenarios are hypo
thetical for most of us, they force us to delve
deep within ourselves beneath superfluous
purpose to find the meaning that can never
become obsolete. This is real meaning.
Meaning cannot be — as you may have
surmised — one particular thing or any
thing external. If is different for all of us and
is always changing.
There are a number of ideologies which
provide technique for the task of finding the
meaning of human life. Existentialism and
religion are perhaps the farthest apart, but
both still can remain "true" in their mean
ing. Such ideologies are necessary. Man
needs a reason to live, and any reason will
do. With a reason made powerful enough to
die for, man can well withstand the suffer
ings of life. The famous philosopher
Friedrich Nietzsche stated, "He who has a
WHY to live for can bear almost any
HOW."
An existentialist viewpoint concerning
meaning holds that man invents his own
ideals, that the essence of a person is that
which he has designed himself. Through the
power of their own will, people are free to
be happy or sad and to choose whatever
they decide will be meaningful in their lives
through self-determinism.
Essentially, there is no other meaning in
life but the life itself. As described to me by
a distinguished professor, the journey of ex
periences from birth to death is all that is
life and is it's very meaning.
The process of life is the meaning of life
— it occurs every moment, and is the reason
to remain living. Although existentialism is
regarded as being a somewhat pessimistic
manner of thinking, we must remember that
included in the journey that is life is happi
ness, love, pleasure and the other emotions
and elements that make us people.
Religious ideologies provide meaning for
human lives as well, and are certainly more
popular than existentialism. AH of the reli
gions of the world (with possibly a few ex
ceptions) share what I think are commonali
ties. The most pervasive quality of religion
is the concept of a form of life after death
and the hope of having such a continued
life. It is my perception that this hope along
with the presence of the supreme being(s)
and the individual intricacies of this hope
gives those with religious convictions mean
ing to their lives.
Even though this column may be a far
too simplistic approach to this topic, it has
still managed to prompt the use of aspirin.
Frank Stanford is a graduate philosophy student
FRANK
STANFORD
Columnist
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
New windows smash Academic Building's historic integrity
I do not normally
get ruffled about
many things, but
as an Aggie (since
1985) and a student
of preservation, I
felt compelled to
write this after
reading a Jan. 24 ar
ticle regarding the
Academic Building
windows.
The issue over
the window re
placement has gone
rather unnoticed.
There have been
only two news arti
cles and one ecitorial on the subject. By the
time the first article was published during
the fall semester, it was probably too late to
do anything since the new windows were
presumably on order. While the Physical
Plant has put forth seemingly justifiable ar
guments for the choice, as an architecture
student, I find fault with their reasoning.
According to David Godbey, associate
director for engineering and design ser
vices, the windows were chosen not only
for their cost and apparent ease of mainte
nance, but also for their aesthetics. He
claims to have used "computer visualiza
tion techniques" to determine how they
would look. It does not take computer vi
sualization to tell that these windows look
crummy. Take a look at the Agriculture
Building in front of the Evans Library to
see how well the windows weather after a
short time. Did the Physical Plant really
use the "latest" computer visualization
techniques like those in the College of Ar
chitecture's Viz Lab, or did they use the
computers at a paint store which show col
or combinations for houses?
If the Academic Building is such a focal
building on campus as Godbey suggests
(which it really is), then shouldn't it stand
out and be maintained as one? The old
windows set the Academic building apart
from the others on campus: they gave it.
character and integrity. Just because old
windows have been replaced across cam
pus does not necessarily require the same
for the Academic Building. Ugly repeated
is still ugly!
If cleaning the windows is so important,
then why weren't the old windows kept
clean? The only reason they deteriorated
so quickly was because they were not
maintained. I doubt the new ones will be
kept any better. There are many manufac
turing companies who could have dupli-
Texas A&M has one of the
best historic preservation
programs in the country. It
is a shame that officials did
not consult with their resi
dent experts on renovation.
cated the existing windows with new, easy
to maintain, energy-efficient materials
(with little cost difference), which would
have at least looked better than those cho
sen.
Godbey later states that the Physical
Plant "... didn't want to turn back the clock
to 1912." Preservation is not about turning
back the clock, it is about maintaining what
exists. According to the Secretary of the In
terior's Standards for Rehabilitation for
outstanding buildings and sites listed on
the National Register of Historic Places:
• The historic character of a property
shall be retained and preserved. The re
moval of historic materials or alteration of
features and spaces that characterize a
property shall be avoided.
• Each property shall be recognized as a
physical record of its time, place and use.
Changes that create a false sense of histori
cal development, such as adding conjectur
al features or architectural elements from
other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
• Distinctive features, finishes, and con
struction techniques or examples of crafts
manship that characterize a property shall
be preserved.
• Deteriorated historic features shall be
repaired rather them replaced.
While I acknowledge that these are only
guidelines and not laws, and are usually
directed towards structures on or eligible
for the National Register, responsible deci
sions regarding historic buildings should
be made in the spirit of these recommenda
tions. As stewards of the built environ
ment, the University should take better
care of its physical resources.
Texas A&M has one of the best historic
preservation programs in the country. It is
a shame that officials did not see fit to con
sult with their resident experts in the Col
lege of Architecture on the philosophy be
hind the renovation. It is also a shame that
as a public institution of higher learning,
the University does not set a better exam
ple, and practice what they preaches.
Finally, if the eyes are really the win
dows to the soul, what then are the win
dows to a building? Perhaps we should
add the Academic Building to the next Sil
ver Taps list!
Scott Clanton is a graduate architecture
student
SCOTT
CLANfON
Guest Columnist
A&M sells tradition
for Big Eight bucks
I am thoroughly sick of the thought of
our beloved school sneaking out of the
Southwest Conference for the Big Eight. It
is a move that could possibly be the death
penalty for the four left behind.
It is sad to think that these schools
would turn tail and run for TV money and
leave four others to fend for themselves.
The SWC is a conference of schools, not
individuals. A&M should have waited un
til the others had a plan of action before
slipping out the door. To think of our uni
versity, a place well known for honesty,
loyalty, and friendship leaving these other
schools out to dry turns my stomach. And
we Aggies are big on tradition. Tradition
is great, right! How's 80 years of tradition?
Gone. Who cares, right? We need compe
tition, right? Well, we have only been on
top of the conference for a few years now.
What would have happened to us if the
conference had dissolved back when we
were getting creamed every year? Besides,
we replace SMU and Houston with Iowa
State and Kansas. Whoa! Big step up.
So, when we get on top, we wave to
the have-nots and head for the bank, care
less that the others will now be left in a
void with no one of status to play. I will
love Texas A&M until death, will bleed
maroon until the day they suck it from
me, and will follow the team to Nebraska
and Colorado even if I have to hitchhike,
but what we have done to these other
schools is beyond distasteful.
J.D. Slaughter
Class of'96
Results of Hutchison
case misrepresented
While walking across campus today, I
spotted a pink broadside posted by the
College Republicans that read, "Kay Bai
ley Hutchison Found Innocent." Either the
College Republicans, in their ignorance,
have failed to distinguish between "being
found innocent" and having a case dis
missed on a legal technicality, or they are
purposefully continuing their campaign of
disinformation.
Jerome Lynn Hall
Graduate Student
Magee myopic about
optometry profession
I couldn't help but to point out the ig
norance and stupidity that I found in Jen
ny Magee's column on Feb. 23. She
whined about a routine visit to the op
tometrist's office as though she had been
attacked by hit men.
Although I must commend her on her
far-fetched imagination and extensive ex
aggeration, she has absolutely no knowl
edge whatsoever of any ophthalmology-
related fields. First, she incorrectly com
pares a dilating pupil to an enclosing
room (one gets larger while the other gets
smaller). Then she continues her tirade of
peevish complaints by describing various
optical instruments according to the de
gree of discomfort they caused her.
These instruments detect serious tu
mors, diseases and visual acuity problems
that may exist. Also, her "retarding near
sightedness" indicates a halt to further de
pletion of her visual sight. Finally, she
states that optometrists are not "real" doc
tors. Four years of extensive medical train
ing, in addition to four years of under
graduate studies, merit some credibility.
As a future optometrist, I simply want
Magee to open her eyes with respect and
appreciation toward the profession.
Vu K. Nguyen
Class of'95
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