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Friday, May 6, 1994
The Battalion
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Pl^Q CON Finals: time for cleaning and movies
Should RU-486 be made available A few helpful hints for surviving any test schedule
in the United States?
F:
HEATHER
WINCH
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Houston,
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inale Ath-
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Sonzalez,
nearly 30
Night News
editor
\i
ost people define RU-486 as
the French drug that induces
abortions. This is true, but
studies have shown that it can help save
Eves. The problem is that Americans
never will know how RU-486 can help
them in these medicinal capacities. Rad
ical pro-life activists have intimidated
Roussel-Uclaf, the French manufacturer
of the pill, and the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration into not marketing the
pill in the United States. Pro-hfers are
also lobbying members of Congress to
prohibit RU-486 from being brought
into the U.S. Though they never address
die fact that RU-486 has a wide range of
uses and could benefit many people.
They refuse to think of it as anything
other than a “human pesticide.”
First, it is important to distinguish
between RU-486, also known as the
French abortion pill, and the “morning-
after” pill. The “morning-after” pill is a
concentration of hormones that can be
taken within 7 2 hours of unprotected
sex and creates such a hostile environ
ment in the uterus that no life can form.
The “morning-after” pill is available in
the U.S.; RU-486 is not.
When used to induce abortions,
RU-486 is 99 percent effective holding
deaths related to its service to a mini
mum. Only one in 100,000 women
have died as a result of RU-486 abor
tions. Almost all forms of abortion are
surgical procedures, but this pill re
quires no operation at all, just a doc
tor’s supervision.
iro-choice forces welcomed
President Clinton into Washing
ton with open arms. At last the
war on abortion rights would be over,
they hoped, all because he pledged
support for RU-486 as an abortive
pharmaceutical.
Though supporters of this pill claim
it will end the conflict by making abor
tion a more private act, society isn’t nec
essarily in favor of expanding abortion
rights. Abortion is still a divisive issue, if
you haven’t noticed.
We don’t want a morn
ing after pill that is
quick, easy and gentle
on your stomach. This
would be abused by
those who didn’t prac
tice “safer,” protected
sex.
inals are upon us, my friends, and
Tm sure many of you are worried
that you don’t have the proper study
habits. That’s why I have dedicated this last
column to tips on how to, prepare for the
dreaded tests. I have personally tried out
most of these suggestions, so rest assured I
know what I’m talking about.
First, clean up your room. You haven’t
seen the floor since Parent’s Weekend when
your roommate faked you out by saying
his/her mom was coming to visit — when
she really wasn’t and your roommate just
wanted you to clean. A tidy study environ
ment makes for better learning.
Next, sharpen all of your pencils. Even
the ones you found behind your bed and in
the back of your desk drawer when you just
cleaned. You never know how many pencil
leads you might break while studying. It’s
kind of like when they made you bring
eight pencils to take the SAT.
Now, arrange all of your books and note
books in two nice piles on your clean desk,
and line up the pencils next to them. Pause
to admire the beauty of your room and the
learning environment you have created.
Now, call all of your friends and tell
them about it. Start with people you know
locally — even those you haven’t talked to all
semester — and slowly progress to friends at
other colleges and back home. Think about
calling your family, but know they’ll ask you
why you’re not studying and make you feel
guilty.
Write them letters instead. Pick up one
of your newly-sharpened pencils and find
some stationery. Realize pencils aren’t the
best writing utensils for letters, because
someone could erase the address at the post
LYNN
BOOMER
Columnist
Almost all forms of
abortion are surgical
procedures, but this pill
requires no operation at
all, just a doctor’s su
pervision, and RU-486
has more uses than just
abortion.
la
RU-486 has more uses than just
abortion. Studies have shown RU-486 is
successful in treatment of Cushing’s dis
ease, which is characterized by hor
mone overproduction by the adrenal
gland which can cause obesity, diabetes
and depression. The drug also keeps the
immune system at full capacity.
RU-486 has shown great potential
overseas for treating various cancers
and tumors that can’t be treated surgi
cally. Women with advanced forms of
breast cancer who haven’t responded
well to traditional forms of treatment
have had success using RU-486 in
their treatment regimen.
U.S. scientists want to use it in AIDS
research, but since the drug isn’t al
lowed into the country we may never
bow whether or not it is a potential
cure for AIDS-related illnesses.
RU-486 also helps women in the de
livery room. This pill enables a pregnant
woman to begin contractions and leads
to a shorter delivery, and in some cases
helps women whose babies are late.
RU-486 has been approved for sale
and distribution in France, Sweden,
Great Britain and China, and it should
be brought to the United States. Yes, it
may be used to give non-surgical abor
tions, but it is also a drug that can save
lives and treat severe medical problems.
RU-486 could be a new “wonder
drug,” but the only way we will ever
find out is if the American government
stops trying to regulate morality and
starts working for what will benefit die
greatest number of people.
As an abortion pill, RU-486 is used
eight to ten weeks after conception,
though researchers are testing to see if
that time can’t be extended. As a
“morning-after” pill (used within 72
hours of intercourse) RU-486 also may
have fewer side effects than the legal
“morning-after” pill that is not offered
at Beutel.
First of all, we don’t want a morn
ing after pill that is quick, easy and gen
tle on your stomach. This would be
abused by those who didn’t practice
“safer,” protected sex.
The slippery slope principle is at
work here. Abortion is no longer a last
resort, but has become just another
form of birth control. As horrifying
as it sounds, some people in other A
countries even use it as a method"UP gc
gender selection, to prevent the ;0k
‘waste” of a girl.
The percentage of women who need
abortions because their lives are in dan
ger is small, though they play a huge
role in die rhetoric of pro-choicers.
Meanwhile, the number of people des
perate to adopt is increasing. It is a sad
commentary on our times that women
march in the streets for the right to kill
their children.
Recognizing that abortion is not
something to be taken lightly, some
clinics - like the Routh Street Women’s
Clinic in Dallas — insist on several coun-
seling sessions before a decision is
made. Since some women are simply
frightened about an unplanned preg
nancy, talking with a counselor might
give them the courage to decide against
die procedure. Certainly counseling
would not make a difference in every
case, but it does hi some.
With the introduction of RU-486,
abortion would be made even easier, a
truly frightening thought. More and
more women would take advantage of
the non-invasive procedure. Just go to a
doctor, swallow a couple of pills, and
you’re home free.
The trend of ending unborn lives
when they aren’t “convenient” is both
alarming and obscene. We have degrad
ed the value of life by treating it as a dis
posable commodity.
But life is a precious commodity. Sex
needs to be taken seriously each and
every time. Those who choose to sleep
with someone are taking a chance — if
you can’t handle the consequences,
don’t take the risk.
Someday RU-486 may become a
legal option, but it never will be a
moral one.
office and send your precious letter to Ne
braska.
Search frantically for a pen. Call your
friends again to see if anybody has one you
could borrow. When they tell you to quit
bugging them and start studying, go to Al
bertson s to buy a new pen. Justify to
yourself that you’ll probably need it for
studying anyway.
Spend the next hour in the toy aisle play
ing with mini footballs and paint-with-wa-
ter books. Then, spontaneously decide you
need groceries to help you make it through
the next three days.
Come home two hours later with one
pen and $45 in groceries. Realize you have
no place to park on campus because PTTS
has stolen your red lot and turned it into a
staff lot after they started construction on
Monday.
Park there anyway and pray you don’t get
a little yellow love note on your car before
you move it. Now you’re back in your clean
room with plenty of food and and a pen
and 3 7 sharpened pencils and all of your
books neatly stacked on your desk.
The room is too quiet. You can’t concen
trate. Turn the stereo on and play Prince at
full volume as you leap around the room
screaming, “Tonight we’re gonna party like
its 1999!”
Pray that you graduate before then. No
tice that the door is open and that it’s your
RA, who has come in to tell you to shut up
because 24-hour quiet hours started
Wednesday night.
Turn off Prince and turn on the TV. Flip
through the one channel you have and
promise yourself to get cable next year.
Turn off the TV and stare at your ceiling.
Decide to order Burger Boy because you re
ally don’t feel like actually preparing any of
the groceries you just bought.
Sort through the change you found be
hind your bed. Realize it only adds up to
$1.25, which is not enough to have some
thing delivered to your room. Tap on your
desk.
Look at your books and wonder if you
should start studying now. Open one of
them so your roommate will think you’re
actually reading if he/she walks in.
Hum the theme songs to every TV show
you can think of. Tap your fingers in
rhythm. Consider starting a diary. Realize
you have nothing all that interesting to
write about and continue humming.
Decide to see a dollar movie. Call all of
your friends until you find one that wants
to go with you. Argue with your friend for
15 minutes about which movie you want to
see. Argue some more about who’s going to
drive. Tell yourself you needed a break from
working so hard and that you’ll study when
you get back.
Good luck on finals!
Lynn Booher is a sophomore English and psychology
major
Editorials appearing in The Battal
ion reflect the views of the editorial
board and are not necessarily the
opinions of other Battalion staff
members, the A&M student body,
regents, administration, faculty or
staff.
Columns, guest columns, car
toons and letters express the opin
ions of the authors.
The Battalion encourages letters
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We reserve the right to edit letters
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Contact the opinion editor for in
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Address letters to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald
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Fax: (409) 845-2647
to Texas A&M. As you pass his statue, you are
asked to respect and honor him for what
made him great: his love and support of Texas
A&M, for that is what truly makes him a Texas)
Aggie worthy of remembrance.
Beth Brown
Class of ’97
Heather Winch is a junior journalism major
Erin Hill is a senior English major
u We just wanted to say ‘goodbye 5
and good luck in the future.
Thanks for all the years of fun and
hell.”
“Hey, we look like the
Brady Bunch! Say,
‘goodbye, 5 Marsha!”
u
(Censored)
5?
If you’ll (sniff) miss us like we’ll (choke) miss you (sob) ... Buy our
book!(We have loans to pay.) “Voices From z4c^M”Coming May 10.
Students offer mixed
response on Sul Ross
• As An African-American female student, I
read with shock some of the comments ren
dered in the article concerning Sul Ross. I am
appalled that black students could even be ex
pected to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to
Sully’s prejudice and bigotry and praise the
man. Furthermore, in response to the argu
ment that Lawrence Sullivan Ross should be
lauded solely for his military achievements,
regardless of what he was fighting for — in
that case, why don’t we all praise Flitler, also?
He certainly was brilliant militarily.
It deeply disturbs me that black students
on this campus are seen as “bad Ags” if we
refuse to salute a man who fought so hard to
keep intact what we and our ancestors have
fought so hard to eliminate.
Aja Henderson
Class of ‘97
• This letter is in response to the May 4 ar
ticle and editorial in which some Aggie stu
dents and professors criticized the tribute paid
to Lawrence Sullivan Ross because of his role
as a general for the confederacy. To Shawn
Williams, Chris Jackson and to the editorial
board, I would like to propose an alternative
course of action that Sully could have taken.
He could have deserted his fellow Texans and
joined the Union forces. (Just as a note, not
everyone fought on one side or the other de
pending on his belief for or against slavery,
but rather he fought to defend his family,
home, friends and state.) As was noted by
Marc Bertamini, executive officer of the Ross
Volunteers, Sully was a brilliant general, and
he would have fought well for the Union.
However, on his return to Texas after the
Civil War, he would have been caUed a traitor,
and he would not have been elected Governor
of Texas. But most importantly, Lawrence Sul
livan Ross would not have been president of
Texas A&M and then you and I (and the
40,000 plus students) would not be here to
voice our opinions, let alone go to school and
study here.
As we all should know by now, we are not
perfect. Sully lived in a time when his actions
and beliefs were accepted and common
among most citizens. We should honor Ross
for his actions in making Texas A&M what it
is today.
David Smith
Class of ’97
• I feel that the Sul Ross statue should be
torn down. To me he is no better than Adolf
Hitler. Why not build a statue of Hitler? He
did a lot for Germany. He was a great military
man. He was a leader, a great orator, and to
some, maybe even a gentleman. Time for a
new tradition. The Truth! If Sul Ross is what a
good Ag strives to be, I do not feel as safe as I
used to on this campus.
And yes, I am an African-American.
Duane J. Harris
Class of ‘96
• This is in response to The Battalion’s May
4 article, “Local groups question Ross glorifi
cation.”
Sully is not a “monument to (slavery).”
This university honors Sul Ross for his out
standing leadership, both military and guber
natorial, and for his indispensable contribu
tions to Texas A&M. I realize that every' hero
has his faults. However, great men and
women of history are remembered and hon
ored not because they were saints, but be
cause they took a particular action that had a
positive impact on the future. If we decided to
denounce every renowned person who con
doned slavery during the Civil War, our coun
try would have few heroes. A suggestion to
the people who propose we just “take the
damn thing down,” and to Shawn Williams of
the NAACP: focus your energy on providing
education and promoting awareness today
and in the future. What happened in the past
cannot be changed, and dwelling on it only
breeds bitterness, which won’t end racism to
day. As for Sully, take him for what he means
Accompanied by 41 signatures
Do not recreate history
to further own agenda
In his guest column, James Harrington
manages to attribute political disfranchise
ment, economic exploitation, the American
party (the Know-nothings), the rise of the
KKK, and all other social ills of the 19th cen
tury to the fall of the Alamo. His absurdly
simplistic view of history is further weakened
by Harrington’s inability to get his few facts
straight. If he had made more than a cursory
examination of his subject matter, Harrington
might have realized that it was WB. Travis
who drew the famous line and not Jim Bowie
Harrington’s article is part of a dangerous
new trend of “pseudo-history” which en
deavors to rewrite history in order to please
certain groups or viewpoints. It annoys me
that these people, while ignorant of the facts
find it necessary to spit on the graves of brave
men only to further their own political agen
da. I hope next time that Harrington writes an
article he will stick to the facts and not conta
minate it with his view of the way history
ought to be.
Micheal W McStravick
Class of ‘94
First female governor
not Ann Richards
I just wanted to inform The Battalion
that there could be some trouble trying to
find the first woman governor at the Capi
tol! Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson'was the first
woman governor, elected in 192 5. Ann
Richards is the second.
Scott Wieding
Class of ‘96