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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1994)
Monday • August 29,1994 Monday • Au Friendship depends on truth Inequality pervades, sometimes destroys, relationships u Nati A; XjLi Trim the Fat Regents audit reveals unjustifiable expenses Fu shi Au I Contra lion, sj tor tnjl Admit autoti 21 Bd: able. Night I' sary, li. TAMUl 11th fljj INSPIF quired. Manag mainte Part-tin preferrt at 29th, Cotnpu; be fami Full timt Please Part-tim quette. Box 44E PART T acceptin; TO HAV donor is' sible(45; day. Do read, stu cash in F year. Nic 8855. Two mobile 846-4247. Newport Cot fum., walk tc Gorgeous. I ; formals P 764-5877. 1 Internal system audits made pub lic last week reveal some ridiculous expenditures by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Although the audit has drawn promises from the regents for more efficiency, the fact remains that many of these expenses were purely frivolous. Some spending even provided air transportation for the regents’ spouses and guests Perhaps one reason that these items are so out rageous is that this audit of the regents’ spend ing is the first of its kind in over a decade. In the last three years, while schools throughout the system suffered financial cutbacks, the regents spent nearly back,” the regents cannot justify hav ing spent thousands of dollars each year on table decorations that will soon wilt in a trash can or personal items they could buy for themselves, just like everybody else. Evans Library is dropping periodi cals subscriptions and free-falling down through the nationwide research library rank ings. Every year whole courses are not of fered because the University lacks $10,000 on flowers and plants for the Board meetings. The regents’ budget accommodat ed video cassette recorders for their quarters and personal toiletries like toothpaste and razors. Regardless of Board chairwoman Mary Nan West saying “I’m not proud of it, and we’re going to cut the funding for them. Countless students need all the financial aid they can possibly get. If members of the board ex pect their posi tions to carry the fancy trappings of a wealthy corporation, then they have not been well-chosen. The symbolic “sacrifices” they could have made several years and thousands of dol lars ago might at least have put the right priorities in place for cutting back budgets in poor economic times. The Board of Regents should be made up of people whose minds are on helping the System, not enjoying themselves. ’nequal relationships are often thought of only in terms of relationships between men and women, but they are much more common than that. Almost all of my relationships, from friends and acquaintances to family and romantic involvements, have at times suffered from feelings of obligation, guilt and inequality. When this phase lasts too long and the entire relationship becomes imbalanced, it is intensely painful. On the first day of conditioning swimming during the second semester of my freshman year, I was quickly intimidated. I was out of shape and ready to drop the class without even trying. A very kind young woman named “Laurel” in the lane next to me began talking. Laurel had been a lifeguard over the summer, but she was also nervous about the class. I told her I was going to drop it, and she asked for my phone number. She wanted to call that night and lay out a plan together on how to pass the class. She did, and we became instant friends. We began practicing swimming, going to movies together and eventually meeting each other’s friends. I even began dating one of Laurel’s high school acquaintances. After about six months of friendship, I began to realize that I felt too needed by her. I was trying to discover my own personality and meeting lots of new people. However, she was at a different point in her life. I began to try to pull away, but without telling her what I was doing. I didn’t know how to express to her that it seemed she liked me too much, so instead I became less and less friendly. I would try to avoid her, and if we were together I would either ignore her or start a fight. I knew that I was handling the situation terribly, but I was not mature enough to speak to her frankly. ELIZABETH PRESTON Columnist Finally, my other friends told me that I had to speak to Laurel because my cruelty was worse than anything she had done to me. I asked her over to my room under the impression that she had no idea what I was going to say. I honestly believed that she had not even noticed how rude I was, because she had never said anything about it. The hour that followed was possibly the worst hour of my life. She screamed at me about how insulting I was, and said that she hated me. I immediately I didn't know how to express that it seemed Laurel liked me too much. Instead I became less friendly. I was not mature enough to speak frankly. reacted just as childishly, and it quickly degenerated into a screaming match with both of us hurling insults at each other. I don’t know who won, but I haven’t spoken to her since that day. I regret the end of this relationship for two reasons: I lost a friend and I realized that the entire affair had been my fault. If I had spoken to her at the beginning, it would have been painful, but honest. As it ended up, nothing was resolved except for the fact that we could no longer be friends. We have probably all been trapped at the line between being polite and being truthful. My mother, the psychologist, tends to see things in black and white: if you don’t like the person and you feel uncomfortable, then you need to tell them and move on. This advice is good, but it falls into the “easier said than done” category. Most people who find themselves in situations like this end up carrying the weight and annoyance of the relationship with them because they do not want to hurt the other person’s feelings. Balance is the one of the most delicate aspect of friendships. If people are not on similar levels, the friendship is always leaning towards one person. It takes a very mature person to carry a friendship without getting bitter. Even with very good friends balance is constantly changing and the friendship being tested. Growing, learning, laughing, and counting on each other is all part of the definition of friendship. The problem begins when one person wants more out of the relationship than the other. These relationships crop up everywhere, from an annoying guy next to you on the airplane who won’t s I was le theater t -Beetlejui three guys in a and shouted, “1 ‘Natural Born! Maybe small never saw anyt to them as acto Harrelson and < playing two vie: inhuman being killers are mos1 Time Magazine local newspape They don’t h black print on £ crimes usually don’t often hap I felt plague watching the n Woody and Jul: I had met se shut up to a really close friend that you have lost all common ground with. If it were something that happened once every lifetime or less, then there would be no problem. Unfortunately it is very necessary to find a mature and appropriate way of dealing with these uncomfortable inequalities, simply because they occur so often, and are so painful. I first met tl Houston. Wher in the 1950s, it blueprint for a Texas Mont] 25th anniversa had changed si In the film, ] relationship by had abused hei tire iron and se One day in i address systerr ■■■I Elizabeth Preston is a junior English major All-University Night Fightin' Texas Aggies should avoid violence The intended warm welcomes and good beginnings of All-University night were marred in past years when dorm rivalries turned violent. Those attending this year’s event should remember ty comes together! of classes to and kick the year off | For the incoming freshmen, day marks the beginning of their past, we are prepared for the poten tial for problems this year. And by allowing student leaders to be in charge of sending the word for the crowd to act in a responsible man- |1®*\ that m<tsaage has a better problems arose ten normal antics and cheers got of hand. Part of being or becom- „ _ a college student involves the lege careers at A&M, and older Ag- transformation from wild, irrespon- gies should caro about what sort af/^^fble high 1 ' ^ ■> image of A&M freshman kte-' 'Hire, resj Le c:< sity that dorms obscenity, these i uated tlmmyghout the|j pressiqags For this reason it is important the spirit portrayed at All- Night be positive and inoffensive's In response to past violence, lewd behavior, the administration:’ created a student leader forum to promote responsible behavior among students at events like All-Universi ty Night. The formation of this group is a set in the right direction. By admitting the problems of the ecognizmg' the Ji£ferenge' between school spirit and-harmful behavior. : In light of all the criticism that A&M has buffered in the.eyes of the /;OUtside world with athletic and sci- |scandals and illegal proce- |f the administration, A&M l|o be careful of the image it Principl r Julia Stavi couples who salient argun ed and that i mently reject | pies in respor 1) Human rejected. Thi euthanasia ai fer to principl 2) Rememl Human being; live to lead up even made a a children the cl assume they a 3) There world. Not i cause famine; lia, China ur reform these consume less Vddress over] iples in mini i dibacy if yoi 4) Once w w irk toward ty by settin courageously people are nc same. These prir person. Thej 'jh- And what better way to begin to repair the scars of a year of front page stories and national news seg ments then to induct the fledgling class of 1998 into A&M at a peaceful and fun All-University Night. NCAA Compliance Every A&M fan must observe regulations Contributors, students, alumni and other fans of Texas A&M Uni versity athletics, especially the foot ball program, owe it to both the players and school to ensure that their actions do not violate NCAA regulations. A pamphlet compiling a con densed version of those rules has been mailed out to thousands of A&M supporters, and should make that task easier. The “Guide to NCAA Rules concentrates restric- on tions that affect con tact be- tween Texas A&M ath letic repre sentatives which could be any one affiliated with the University - and student athletes or prospective ath letes. Many of the University’s past and current problems with rules viola tions stem directly from that area. The Aggie football team is currently on a one-year suspension from bowl games and television appearances and five-year probation term. These penalties were issued by the NCAA after investigations revealed last spring that some student athletes received payment from a former student for work never com pleted. The effort to spread in- formation about the NCAA rules will make com pliance even easier and non- compliance more in excusable. With all the obstacles modern universities face, from fund ing shortfalls to student reten tion, A&M needs to be able to trust and rely on its most loyal supporters not to create more problems. Commitment to NCAA compliance from all Aggies will help realize that goal and prevent future problems. How to graduate from Aggie U. A short guide through the hoops you jump through for your diploma W! "ith much shouting and throwing about of small furniture, I have managed to convince both my parents and the Department of Modern Languages that I am actually SUSAN OWEN Guest Columnist going to graduate in December. It’s like those slasher movies, when just as the music calms down and you’re pretty sure Jason’s dead, he pops up waving a degree audit and rasping, “Your Poli. Sci. credit didn’t transfer... ” Just to reassure myself that I can walk across the stage without anyone appearing and wrestling my diploma away from me, I did some calling around to find out what I have to do and when. In hopes that my fellow December degree candidates can use the info, here are my findings: Pay diploma fee: $20. Option #66 when you register by phone, or theyll bill you when you apply for graduation. Check with your department: Make sure they agree that you’ve filled all the requirements. Last day to drop a class with no record is Friday, Sept. 2, you can add until Sept. 6. Apply for graduation: Aug. 18 to Sept. 9, in Heaton Hall 105 (845-1145). DONT FORGET THIS or you won’t get graduation tickets, you won’t get on all the free stuff mailing fists, and — way bummer - you won’t actually graduate. Technically, you have until Dec. 15, but after Sept. 23 or you won’t be able to get your diploma at commencement. Order graduation announcements: Aug. 15 - 30, Student Finance Center (845-1114). Start figurii „ what to do with the 94 leftover namecards you’ll have — Balfour only ships boxes of 100. Christmas present tags? Change-of-address cards, packing-box labels ... Buy your cap and gown: at any bookstore. You can share a gown with a friend graduating in another ceremony, but they won’t schedule the ceremonies until mid-September. Just don’t wait until the day before. It’d suck if they were sold out of your size and you had to, like, wear a Hefty bag. Snag a free steak dinner: The Association of Former Students (845-7514) has for many years fed graduating seniors dinner to “induct” them as former students. Pick up tickets (bring student ID.) in the MSC main hallway on Nov. 1, 2 and 3. There are two dinners: Tuesday, Nov. 8, and Wednesday, Nov. 9. Both are at 6:20 p.m. in the College Station Hilton. Usual attire is jacket and slacks for men, skirt or dress for women. Pick up your announcements: Student Finance Center, a month or so before graduation. If you pick them up in person you’ll avoid the $6 mailing fee and probably get them faster. Pick up your tickets: Rudder Box Office (845-1234), a couple of weeks before the ceremony. You should get a letter about it. Check for the death dot: Dec. 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pavilion. Check the fist to see if there’s a red dot by your name. If there is, you can go through the ceremony, but you get an empty tube. This is only done for academic reasons- an F or “Incomplete” in a class. If you straighten that out by Jan. 20 theyll mail you your diploma. Unpaid fees won’t interfere with your diploma, but the University won’t send your official transcript anywhere until you pony up. Sadly, in these days of color laser copiers the actual diploma means squat. Commencement: Dec. 16 and 17. Whoop! Bring ething to read. It may not be respectful, but we’re talking about a longer wait than trying to cash a check at the MSC on Friday afternoon. At least E. King ill didn’t stand up during graduation, >o. If you want to leave after you walk cross, large burly people at the door will ike your diploma back. No joke! You m go pick it up at Heaton 105 the Wednesday after graduation, but if you ant to leave with it, post a relative on le railing and hand it to them after you v'alk across the stage. Then you can read out to your regularly scheduled istivities. lool! Now all I have to do is pass those sses. My folks are just trying to talk m e out. ui ceieurating until at least halfway through the semester. No problem. I love A&M, but I’ve had four great years and I’m ready to go. I’m starting to feel like one of those people who won’t leave after the keg floats. It’s about time for my last A&M ritual: peeling all that maroon stuff off my bumper and slapping on the Association of Former Students sticker. Longho Each year esting that hat this is ji fear that t enerally rid act that the p into the 1 During th exas’ only s f cattle tha 'rail Drives Ifhoms wrote n internatic Today oui he lowest ir n disease ar raise of any living symbe every loyal r getting rare The confu from is betv poor old stei toes not a b: ■rue Longho ■Hither way, Bteer is a fo ■rale Aggies Was forced ti pr eunuchs Sympathy fr I Anyhoo, 1 Ifriember to ; ■rom one SC lllevo can’t a Susan Owen is a senior journalism and Spanish majo r