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I t was another one of those balmy
nights in my hometown of Baton
Rouge, La. This was not just any
night, however. It was the Saturday
night that my cousin, some girlfriends
and I had planned to visit the hottest
place going - Club Strawberries. I am
not usually a “club” person, but I had
grown tired of two things: First, ex
plaining to people why I had not yet
been there - “Girl, are you sure you’re
black?” And second, my cousin Ursula’s
whining about being bored because she
did not have a man. So, there I was,
preparing myself for a night of movin’
and groovin’.
After 63 miles, two wrong turns,
and one dirt road later, I was good and
angry. I silently cursed my ex
boyfriend (Ursula’s, also), because if
they had acted like the respectable
men we thought they were, we would
not even have been in this predica
ment, now would we? The minute we
turned into the parking lot, though, all
curses were forgotten as I noticed
sleek, sexy brothers spilling out of the
club everywhere. I sighed contentedly.
Once in Strawberries, I drank the
whole scene in - everyone was jumping
rhythmically to the hypnotic, pulsat
ing beat of New Orleans rap. I found
myself tapping my clog-encased feet
and assuming that slightly bored,
clubby look.
“Hey, baby, lookin’ good! What about
those digits?” I gazed into a face, and
he showed off what seemed like 40 gold-
capped teeth in a broad grin. Then, I
shot a withering look at my cousin, who
was fighting laughter a tad unsuccess
fully. I had a feeling it was going to be
a long night.
Many dances and cups of chilled
water later, I was engaged in a pleas
ant conversation with another guy.
Upon learning I went to Texas A&M,
AJA D.
HENDERSON
Columnist
he responded, “Oh! It must be a lot of
fun to go to a predominantly black
university!” I heard muffled laughter
coming from Ursula again. I smoothly
informed the brother (by now I had
learned that his name was Bruce, and
he was a football player at USL) that
he must have Texas A&M confused
with Texas Southern. This happened
all the time, I assured him.
“Oh, yeah!” he cried, snapping his
fingers. “You go to that school with all
those white people!”
If it's not right, it's not for me, be
cause I want to deal with what is right
in a world where the line between
right and wrong keeps blurring.
Yes, that school.
“Over 40,000,” I responded, knowing
what was coming next.
“So, what do you do there? How do
you cope there?” he inquired. When I
told him that I write for our paper,
this little tidbit made his handsome
face light up. He wanted to know
what I would write about, whether I
would start riots, whether I would
start war. He wanted to know if my
column would be geared toward the
majority, or if it would be a little slice
of solace for people of color.
I am home now, recovering from the
throbbing music and upbeat swing of
Strawberries. There are some things
about the night that I would rather
forget, but one thing I can’t get off my
mind are all those probing questions
that Bruce was asking me about this
column.
I will tell you what I told him in re
sponse to his queries: that I am an
African-American female, and this is all
I want to be and know how to be. That
is the perspective from which my words
and messages will flow. I told him that
I am not here to stir up destructive
winds of hate and accusations, but
rather the winds of positive transforma
tion. That I feel the personal self-con
viction to write what is true. Because if
it’s not true, it’s not real. And if it’s not
real, it’s not right. And if it’s not right,
it’s not for me, because I want to deal
with what is right in a world where the
line between right and
wrong keeps blurring.
So, this is what I told
him, and it’s what I am
telling you. You might
come under lots of heat for
attending this university,
and you might be told that
you should not be up here
with all these white folks.
I beg you to get involved in a melange
of activities and clubs, including ones
that will expose you to people who
may not think, act, dress, or even
dance as you do.
By shunning prejudice and ignorance
while simultaneously embracing your
cultural identity, you will find that
Texas A&M can be a very educationally
stimulating place.
Groove on!
Aja D. Henderson is a sophomore
finance major
-me Frrorv
NEW
The Battalion
Editorial Board
Belinda Blancarte, Editor in chief
Mark Evans, Managing editor
Jay Robbins, Opinion editor
jenny Magee, Assistant opinion editor
Editorials appearing in The Battalion
reflect the views of the editorial hoard. 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.
Contact the opinion editor for information
on submitting guest columns.
Put a bite on crime
Americans should support Clinton proposal
Something has been done about
crime in the United States, and it’s
time for Congress to realize it. The
Federal Crime Bill proposed by
President Clinton may not be per
fect in all respects, but at least it is
an attempt. Perhaps it will not solve
all the crime problems, but in may
curb some of the violence.
It is evident that crime in
America’s streets and neigh
borhoods has reached a
dramatic peak within
the last few
years. More
and more,
Tha&dlines in
form of mur
ders, rapes
and robberies.
Isn’t it about
time something
be done about it be
fore more innocent people
get hurt?
The Federal Crime Bill drawn up
by President Clinton not only calls
for an assault weapons ban, but it
also calls for limiting early releases,
expanding the death penalty, build
ing more prisons, enhancing police
efforts, putting repeat offenders in
prison for life and curbing the vio
lence against women.
It definitely has it’s legitimate
points, and it’s time for the name
calling and delaying to stop. It’s
time to give this bill a chance.
Some political opponents argue
that aspects of the crime bill are
nothing but “pork” and are simply
adding to the money spent on social
programs. But this so-called “pork”
might be the answer to saving at
least a fraction of the nation’s
streets.
Programs such as midnight
basketball leagues may
help promote safer
neighborhoods.
Taking at-risk
youths off the
* stFbets and en-
couraging
them to partic
ipate in such
programs may
prevent them
from committing
crimes. It may cost money
to support these programs, but
they may also help to save lives.
The Federal Crime Bill may not
be the solution to all of the violence
in the nation’s streets, but the Presi
dent and his committees have taken
a stab at it, and something has bden
done.
Even if it prevents one le;ss
woman from being beaten or helps
to build one more prison, it would be
making a difference.
P.L laws can allow punishment of c responsible 5 drunks
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MICHAEL
LANDAUER
Columnist
T he Public Intoxication Law gives
police an excuse to arrest someone
who is intoxicated and causing
trouble, but not actually breaking any
other law.
Without the law things could be ugly.
“Officer, can’t you arrest this guy?
He’s sleeping on the hood of my car, and
he has thrown up twice.”
‘Well, there’s no law denying him that
right. But may I suggest you buy some Posh Wash?”
Of course our police would never say this. Their
motto is the other extreme: “To protect, serve and
hassle college drinkers.” Where would we be
without the valiant officers arresting people from
the backseat of cars or even from their own dorm
rooms? These things have happened.
The worst part about the crusade against
drunks is when the police arrest people for
walking home. My friend was arrested this way.
He was avoiding driving drunk at the time.
He was angry and sober enough to ask
questions. He asked what he could have done to
avoid the punishment. After running through
several scenarios, the officer told my friend to get
‘ better friends. I guess the logic here is that if you
I have sober friends with you, they might be able
j to persuade a cop not to arrest you.
Sometimes our
officers lose sight of
the spirit of the law.
We know that it is
wrong to get drunk.
We also know it’s
wrong to speed.
We’re big kids now,
and we can be
taught lessons
without being arrested every time we screw up.
The police have a tough job to do, but they
can’t protect and serve using a vague law to
moralize. They should reserve the law for those
who really deserve it. Or just be consistent - give
out tickets to smokers with a nasty cough.
That could never happen because a smoker’s
hack doesn’t create a public disturbance. But
then again, neither does riding in the back of a
friend’s car or walking home.
When I was in high school, U2 was coming to
town for the first time in four years. They were
cool then, and I could not wait to see them.
In my excitement on the day of the concert, I
accidentally drank over half of a bottle of cheap
whiskey. I remember buying a t-shirt, and that’s
about it. Until my mom woke me up and made
me go to school.
I was told that I had fallen down five rows of
seats, thrown up, been carried out by police,
passed out on the sidewalk, been spared a public
intoxication citation and finally taken home. All
this happened before the opening band had
finished its set.
I deserved a PI, but my punishment was much
worse. That day at school was the longest day of
my life. People would come up to me and say,
“Remember when you saw me last night, and...” I
The worst part of the crusade
against drunks is police arresting
people for walking home. Can't
they protect and serve without such
would just smile and nod. Then say, “No.”
When I got home, my mother asked me if I
still had a hangover. She got her answer when I
fell onto the couch where I remained for the rest
of the day. I heard her walk away and say,
“Good. You deserve it.”
Whenever I have a hangover I still hear my
mother’s words. What she lacks in sympathy, my
mother makes up for in well-timed guilt-trips.
It’s a special talent.
Not every drunk should be left to answer to
nature’s law alone. But when people become
victims of the witch-hunt that targets drunkards
in this town, they might be so mad at the system
that they never blame themselves.
At Muster this year, think back at how the
tradition started. Aggies used to play the part of
Santa Anna’s army every year on San Jacinto
day to restage the battle. One year they took a
few kegs on the train to San Jacinto, and by the
time they got to the battlefield they weren’t in
the mood to lose the battle. Sam Houston lost
that particular battle, and we weren’t invited
back the next year. But we have kept ourselves
busy with Muster on April 21 every year since.
That is what we call Good Bull.
Today, Sam Houston would have won the battle
by default with a bunch of drunk Aggies sitting in
jail with Pi’s. That’s what we would call Bad Bull.
It’s a shame the Good Bull-Bad Bull doctrine
will never apply to our police. Oh, but if your a
Minor In Possession, just try to convince the cops
that it’s just ice and cups.
ON KB
School improvements
deserve recognition
As the State Board of Education Rep
resentative for District Nine, it has
been my privilege to visit all of the 33
counties which I represent and most of
the 175 school districts during the last
two years. I have observed first hand
the hard work and determination of the
teachers, staff members and adminis
trators in their efforts to improve the
performance of their schools and meet
the needs of the children. Many times,
I have seen teachers coming in early,
staying late and working through their
off-periods to help the students raise
their test scores. I have observed teach
ers and administrators collaborating to
redesign methods to enhance the effec
tiveness of their schools. In short, I
have seen committed people going the
extra mile to improve education.
Therefore, I was not surprised when
the new, higher accountability ratings
were recently released. No matter
which formula was used, I expected
them to reflect the efforts of those in
volved and to show significant improve
ment, which they did.
Despite the political posturing and
rhetoric which often tend to distort the
facts, ACT, SAT, and TAAS test scores
in this state have shown consistent im
provement over the past several years.
The drop-out rate has decreased by over
47 percent since 1987, and although’
achievement levels and expectations
have been raised five times over the last
seven years, our kids continue to mea
sure up. It is time for us to recognize
those responsible for this turnabout:
our teachers, administrators, staff
members, students and their parents.
I am not completely satisfied. We
still have a long way to go. But I, for
one, applaud the schools of District
Nine.
Patsy Johnson
State Board of Education
College Republicans
sell unpatriotic images
I believe. College Republicans, that
true Aggies and any other patriotic
Americans would never show the total
lack of respect for the President of the
United States and the United States of
America by attempting to sell such
items at any time. I believe that Chad
Walter, as president of the College Re
publicans, should apologize to Texas
Michael Landauer is a sophomore
journalism major
A&M University and all Aggies, espe
cially those who have sacrificed their
lives by serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces, for the unflattering and unpatri
otic image of Texas A&M University
that the items his organization is at
tempting to sell portray.
Matt M. Murphy
Class of ’96
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