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18 I994 Friday* November 18, 1994
The Battalion • Page 13
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The Battalion
Editorial Board
Belinda Blancarte, Editor in chief
Mark Evans, Managing editor
jenny Magee, Opinion editor
Sterling Hayman, Asst, opinion editor
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.
Contact the opinion editor for information
on submitting guest columns.
Celebration Time
A&M reflects on struggle of female cadets
Sixty women on this campus
should be holding their heads up
extra high today. These sixty fe
males are immersed in the middle
of this university’s oldest tradition,
the fightin’ Texas Aggie
Corps of Cadets. We
commend Texas A&M for
joining in the celebra
tion of these women and
all who helped to pave
the way for them.
So often, our celebra
tions are in honor of our
of our rich traditions.
This celebration is just as
sweet, but it is different,
for we are not celebrating
a tradition so much as we
are celebrating the shat
tering of one.
It was in 1974 that 51 brave
women joined W-l, the all-female
unit of the Corps and the first of its
kind. These women were so deter
mined to join the Corps that they
were willing to pay a substantial
price. Not only did all of them
have to drop their classifications
and start over as freshmen, but
they also faced harassment and
cold shoulders from their male
counterparts, from non-reg stu
dents and from professors, as well.
However, these women persevered.
and 25 of them finished that first
hard year in the Corps of Cadets.
Fortunately, progress has been
made since 1974. Present-day female
Cadets can sport the knee-high caval
ry boots, a Corps uni
form, and can even join
the Aggie Band.
Nonetheless, women still
have a long way to go.
After all, Texas A&M
thrives on tradition, and
any move from the status
quo is regarded with dis
trust and sometimes con
tempt.
Females in the Corps
represent a change in
the oldest, longest
standing and most
revered tradition on this
campus. Therefore, our women
still face harassment and incom
plete acceptance from both regs
and non-regs alike.
We salute all present and former
women of the Corps for their
courage and their refusal to let
anything or anyone stand in their
way. At the same time, we ask
that all Aggies join in this salute
sincerely. Maybe then, these and
future female Cadets will receive
the acceptance and the respect that
they deserve.
Caught in web of foreign policy
Game of politics dictates
Clinton's actions in Bosnia
FRANK
STANFORD
Columnist
T ry to imagine driving
nervously to class,
fearing enemy shelling
at any moment. To those of
you with rural roots, what
would it be like to find out
that today your home town
was easily overrun by sol
diers from Louisiana. The
women — young and old —
were raped and then every
one was slaughtered.
Your grandparents’ town was shelled and burned last
week, and no one survived. Your whole family is now dead
because a neighboring state hates Texans. To top it all off,
Louisiana—bom Texans are killing other Texans.
Arkansas, an old Texas enemy, is selling weapons to
Louisiana because they were both part of the Louisiana Pur
chase. The Federal Government is staying out of the war be
cause it has new, fragile ties with Arkansas, but it still won’t
let Texans have any more weapons. The Feds would stop
Louisiana, but don’t want to anger Flori
da and Georgia who have old political
ties to Louisiana.
The rest of America considers it a
“Southern problem” and prefers not to
step on any toes. What’s going to hap
pen to Texas and Texans? They want to
kill us all.
Whoa. Pure fantasy. This scenario is so very impossible to
imagine, it sounds ridiculous. But this is essentially what’s
happening in the former Yugoslavia right now.
Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, — Muslims and Christians — “are
fighting.” That’s about the extent of knowledge for most of
us, including me. But, after doing some research, the picture
becomes much clearer. Here’s what I think is going on.
Most of the world, including the United States, the United
Nations and NATO claims to be neutral in the Bosnian War.
These organizations and the media are calling this fighting
“a civil war” or a “family feud” that we should avoid.
But we can’t. There is a political web that surrounds the
globe. When a country chooses to be uninvolved — it immedi
ately becomes involved. We need to look at this “web” a little
more closely. But first, the facts.
Bosnia is a multiethnic country recognized by the United
Nations, but it has Serbian people living there as well — the
“Bosnian Serbs.” Serbia is recognized too, but is Orthodox
Christian. According to the United Nations, 80 percent of the
killing is being done by Serbians against Bosnian Muslims.
In spite of denials by Serbia, U.S. Secretary of Defense
William Perry reports that Serbia is supplying these Bosnian
Serbs with arms in defiance of the U.N. arms embargo. This
is not only a breach of the embargo, but is also Serbian ag
gression. The Serbs have now taken two-thirds of Bosnia and
one-third of Croatia by force.
The United Nations, which is supposed to step in when
this stuff happens, sent members to Bosnia — to observe.
Most of these on—site “peace keepers” are French and British.
Here’s where the political web gets hairy.
The French, British and Russians have historically sup
ported Serbia politically and don’t seem to mind a bunch of
slaughtered Bosnians and Croatians. This support goes back
to World War I when Germany was a common enemy. Serbia,
which shares a similar religion and culture with Russia, was
a big help during the war and Russia hasn’t forgotten. But
Germany hasn’t forgotten either, and would love to get its
economic paws on Croatian warm water ports. France and
Britain are quite aware of this possible “German economic
expansion,” and it makes them nervous. They still remember
the “old” Gennany.
The U.S. Government would just like to see the Bosnian
War stopped, but since the Cold War is over, we’re trying to
remain on good terms with Russia. In addition, France and
Britain have always been our buddies and we don’t want to
offend them either. And remember our pals in the Islamic
World, the ones
It's such a shame when so many lives can
hinge on a foreign president's party affilia
tion. It's just politics as usual.
with all the oil?
They would be
very unhappy if
we turned
against their
Muslim brothers
in Bosnia and
Croatia. So what do we do?
Last Saturday, the Clinton Administration decided to “not
enforce” the arms embargo any longer. This means the Bosni
ans can finally get more weapons to defend themselves.
France and Britain are upset with this decision. So, why a
Clinton change of heart?
It looks like partisan politics to me.
Bob Dole, the soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader, spon
sored the resolution last summer to lift the embargo. And
with all the dissension in the air these days, Clinton could
sure use some friends in the Republican Party.
Even though this change of direction is putting a strain on
NATO and U.N. relations with America, apparently getting
political support back home in voter—land takes precedence.
It’s such a shame when so many lives can hinge on a for
eign president’s party affiliation. It’s just politics as usual.
Oh, by the way, some justice accidentally got served in the
process.
Frank Stanford is a graduate philosophy major
Trip to Mexico causes
appreciation of culture
A&M students visit Monterey Tech University,
learn culture, traditions of new environment
MELISSA
MEGLIOLA
Columnist
VACAMC
n V. ; w " x
Officials discuss recent
campus controversies
The purpose of this letter is to make
clear our beliefs regarding the racial inci-
derits and the treatment of women which
have recently occurred on our campus.
We are referring specifically to the racial
slurs in music and the mistreatment of
women at the bonfire site, and the
posters displayed on campus by the Col
lege Republicans attacking affirmative
action programs and focusing upon per
ceived benefits to minority students.
Such incidents are destructive to our
university community. Complete har
mony in our community will never be
possible. What is possible is for all con
cerned to understand that those of us
in leadership positions are charged
with the responsibility of providing a
campus climate, that is conducive to
the personal and professional develop
ment of each individual. The mission
of Texas A&M University states that
the “university campus must encourage
a climate that values and nurtures col-
legiality, diversity, pluralism and the
uniqueness of each person.” Any form
of harassment and any form of illegal
discrimination against students, facul
ty, and/or staff is inconsistent with the
values and ideals of the university mis
sion and will not be tolerated.
We believe the racial and gender inci
dents that have occurred on this campus
have been a form of intolerable behavior.
Members of the student leadership in
volved in the recent incidents have re
sponded with appropriate public apolo
gies and the pledge to help advocate our
university commitment to diversity.
Texas A&M University is committed
to the exchange of ideas vital to a free sot
ciety. Universities should be places
where the freedom to share ideas is pro
moted and encouraged. We encourage
more thoughtful in-depth dialogue among
faculty, staff, and students regarding is
sues that lack understanding. The dia
logue is necessary to assure the mutual
respect that is due every person on this
campus. The open discussion of these is
sues can bring more of an understanding
to the challenges facing this institution
as it prepares for the 21st century.
Points of view which characterize
other groups as inferior because of their
race, ethnicity, or gender cannot be sup
pressed, however, these viewpoints can
be challenged. Open interaction on var
ious points of view can be debated and
discussed intelligently to bring about a
better understanding of how people
think. We must continue to create an
environment in which diversity will be
understood and accepted by the entire
university community.
The changing population of Texas
underscores the critical need for Texas
A&M University to seriously evaluate
the attitudes of the university commu
nity toward age, race, ethnicity and
gender diversity. To that end, we af
firm that Texas A&M University will
meet the challenges of change regard
ing our core values of commitment, ex
cellence in academic programs, inclu
siveness, and caring for students, staff
and faculty. We ask that all members
of the university community accept the
responsibility of creating a campus cli
mate that welcomes all who come to
work and study here.
Dr. Ray Bowen, President
Dr. J. Charles Lee, Interim Executive
Vice President and Provost
Dr. Jerry Gaston, Interim Vice President
for Finance and Administration
Dr. J. Malon Southerland, Vice
President for Student Affairs
Dr. Robert L. Walker, Vice President for
Development
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C ultural sensitivity
remains a hot is
sue on university
campuses across the
country. It is second
only to abortion (and
maybe Bonfire) in its
ability to generate let-
ters to Mail Call on our campus. Argu
ments abound over whether students
should be forced to take classes on mul-
ticulturalism. Even more arguments de
bate what exactly constitutes the fulfill
ment of such a requirement.
This fall, however, 20 Aggies made a
significant effort to learn about another
culture. Resident advisors, directors,
hall representatives and International
Studies students piled into vans and
drove over 10 hours to Monterey, Mexi
co to become residents at Monterey
Tech for five days.
The program began three and a half
years ago when Michael Osterbuhr,
Director of Residence Life at A&M,
met the director at Monterey Tech.
Together, they decided it would be
beneficial for students from the two
schools to meet and learn about each
others’ culture and campus life. Each
year since, A&M students have trav
eled to Mexico, and Monterey Tech
students have visited A&M.
“The program just keeps growing
and growing,” said Osterbuhr.
This years group was the largest
ever, as it was the first year the Inter
national Studies department and the
Committee for Mexican-American Cul
ture to participate. Spanish language
skills varied greatly among them. One
participant, Lisa Day, a sophomore psy
chology major, estimates that about
half the group spoke Spanish, one quar
ter knew enough to get by and one
quarter was totally lost.
They did not stay together on cam
pus, but split up and roomed with
Mexican students. The arrangement
was particularly helpful for under
standing the struggles of foreign stu
dents trying to adjust to life on the
A&M campus.
“I really feel for them now,” said Ava
Curlee, a class of ’97 industrial distribu
tion major who speaks no Spanish. “The
trip really opened my eyes.”
On the fourth day of the trip, stu
dents from both schools ate, played vol
leyball and went swimming at the
Ranch Monterey. As they grew tired,
some students took naps on picnic ta
bles in the shade.
Ava read for a while and then fell
asleep. When she woke up, she was
alone.
“No one else was taking a nap. No one
was playing volleyball and no one was
swimming,” Curlee re
members. “ I didn’t
know what to do.”
Eventually she
found someone to help
her but she was un
able to explain her sit
uation. The two
struggled with the language barrier
until finally, they found the former
vice president of Students Affairs at
Monterey Tech who was able to drive
her back to campus.
Day also experienced an unexpected
situation. As a blonde who is almost 6
feet tall, she attracted special attention
when she went out dancing. Everyone
wanted to meet and touch her. At one
time, she remembers being totally sur
rounded by Mexican admirers.
“At first it was great,” Lisa admits,
“but when it didn’t die down, I felt to
tally, totally insecure. I just wanted to
hide under a table. I’ll never stare at
someone who is different now.”
In addition to the ranch party and
club outings, the hosts at Monterey
Tech planned other special events for
the Aggies. They visited the Interna
tional Studies department on campus,
toured a brewery and of course,
shopped at the Mercados. Students
were also able to attend Expotech, a
fair held on campus to celebrate the
customs and traditions of the different
Mexican states.
Not only did the A&M students get
to learn about another culture, but they
exchanged ideas about residence life.
Owen Ross, RHA president, was
amazed at the recycling program at
Monterey Tech. The lack of adequate
recycling recepticles on campus is an is
sue that the A&M residence halls are
trying to address this year, so Ross was
particularly interested.
“You learn much more while you are
there than you realize,” he said. “It’s re
ally an exciting program.”
While Ross brought back pictures of
the bins for glass, paper, plastic and
aluminum, he was able to leave the
Mexican students a bit of Aggieland. Af
ter the Friday night dance, at midnight,
he led a yell practice and taught his
hosts how to Gig ‘Em and hump it.
According to Osterbuhr, with contin
ued support from both schools, the ex
change should continue to grow in the
future. Students want to participate
more than once. Monterey Tech is the
home of the Borregos or Rams.“There
are some students that have become so „
involved with the program, that we’ve
started calling them BorregAggies.
That’s cultural appreciation.”