Thursday • March 2, 1995
PINION
The Battalion • Page 9
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Louganis dives to depths of fame’s demands, pain I
F ame is worshiped in Ameri
can society. Every child can
name at least 10 television,
movie or sports stars.
Most adults have secret yearn
ings to be famous. At least every
one has the right to Andy Warhol’s
“15 minutes of fame.”
But when someone crosses that
line into fame, all too often more is lost rather than
gained. The feeling that you could walk down a
street in Anytown, U.S.A., and instantly be recogniz
able must be overwhelming.
This public spotlight is fine if the person is
strong and has a good support system of friends
and family. But when the person is hiding a se
cret, fame can become deadly.
Greg Louganis was just such a man.
He was the perfect American sports hero. He won
two gold medals at the 1984 Olympics, and it looked
like he was going to do it again in 1988. He was
young, good-looking and nice in interviews.
“Melissa” remembers watching him at the ’88
Olympics. The sportscasters had been hyping him
for weeks, and everyone in her family was gathered
around the television.
The dive she remembers most is the tragic one.
It has replayed over and over again in her young
mind. She sees Louganis climbing the seemingly
never-ending steps to the platform
dive. The graceful poise he showed.
And then, in a second, everything
was wrong.
Louganis’ head smashed horri
bly against the concrete diving
board. Instead of the expected
graceful flips and twists and near
silence of a perfect dive into the
pool, there was only an endless free fall and a
loud splash.
Blood seemed to be everywhere. Cameras were
rolling, and no one knew what had happened.
But, the worst thing imagined by world-wide au
diences was not as bad as the truth.
No one could have come close to guessing what
was going on in Louganis’ head. As his blood
poured into the pool and onto the tiles, a dedicat
ed doctor rushed out to stop the bleeding of our
young hero’s head — so quickly he even forgot to
wear gloves.
The world held its breath to see if our hand
some athlete would be okay and if the wound
would heal. Because of fast action and a strong
spirit, Louganis did perform in the Olympics,
and he won two more gold medals. It seemed a
victory for all.
Until last week.
Then, Louganis appeared in an interview with
Elizabeth
Preston
Columnist
Barbara Walters on the television news show
“2Q/20.” His fame has lasted because of his All-
American good looks, his seemingly charming per
sonality and our mental replay of that tragic dive.
Who could forget that?
Last week Louganis told the world that he had
known he was HIV positive that day.
In 1988, AIDS was even more of a puzzling dis
ease than it is now. Doctors thought they knew what
caused it, but it was still a new disease, and chlo
rine’s effect on it was unknown.
Scientists had figured out that it was transmitted
Fame paralyzed Greg Louganis,
but when he took others' lives into
his own hands, his wants and needs
were no longer as important.
through bodily fluids, especially blood.
Louganis knew both of these facts. During the in
terview with Walters, Louganis said, “I just wanted
to hold the blood in, or just not let anybody touch it.”
Nice sentiments, but they don’t mean anything
while you are watching other divers swim in an
infected pool and allowing a ungloved doctor to
sew up your skull with a needle and thread.
Fame paralyzed him.
Louganis was understandably scared about
being “out” in such a homophobic society. And he >
was devastated by the thought of having a dead- *
ly disease. Both of these feelings are very under
standable, and — as long as the problem re
mained his — they were fine to live by.
But, when Louganis took others’ lives into his
own hands, his wants and needs were no longer as
important.
It would have been scary and tough to tell the
truth at that moment. It would have changed the
way most people looked at him, and he would proba
bly have suffered through discrimination and mis
placed hatred.
But, when it all came down to it, fame won out.
Louganis did not want to lose his fans and his place
in our society.
So he kept his mouth shut while an innocent doc
tor risked his life, and while unknowing swimmers
took chances with theirs.
Louganis should be pitied now. AIDS is a terrible, ^
tragic disease that kills indiscriminately. There is no
cure, and the medicines used right now don’t do
much but prolong the pain. %
However, AIDS does not steal morals — people do
that themselves.
Elizabeth Preston is a junior English major '•
Government’s breathing down our necks
Powers are sometimes reserved to the states, and even the people
A real problem exists
on this campus.
Last week I found
myself forced to undergo a
horrific exercise which may
affect my future academic
opportunities.
I bombed a finance exam.
My poor grade had noth
ing to do with studying — I
didn’t study, so that was never an issue.
The plain truth is simple: the person next to me had bad
breath and I was unable to perform under these conditions.
Only one solution exists for this problem, and we know
what that is: the government.
I have given this some thought — instead of studying Fi
nance — and I know exactly what we have to do.
Thousands of productive hours are lost each week to the
effects of secondhand, unmitigated chronic bad breath. This
has caused the lives 6f millions of American college stu
dents to become a living hell.
We cannot allow this pain and suffering on campus.
If all college students were issued gum by the govern
ment, then the problem would basically resolve itself.
First, Congress needs to pass a resolution creating an
agency to serve the needs of the poor-in-breath college stu
dents — this should be under the Department of Housing
and Urban Development, since they are so good at creating
bureaucrats.
Next up. Congress should pass legislation setting some
kind of breath standards. After all, what’s the point of
making an agency if it can’t make any rules?
Of course, now that we have an agency with rules, we need
to make some unfunded mandates for the states to follow.
Let’s require that each state-supported institution of
higher learning have at least one — no, that’s too easy ... at
least two outlets for gum distribution on each campus.
OK, now that we have regulations and unfunded man
dates, I guess it’s time to decide what kind of gum we want
to distribute.
Studies show that people chew Extra brand gum longer
than other types, and since we need to look like we are sav
ing money — by not spending as much — our new agency
with rules, regulations and mandates can distribute Plen-
T-Paks of green or white Extra sugarless gum — after all,
we live in democracy and should give our comrades, er, I
mean citizens choices.
What if — despite the existence of our new agency with
standards, regulations, mandates and free gum — some
miscreants don’t actually chew the gum?
Easy: random breath testing. For repeat offenders: three
sticks and you’re out.
It’s just possible that some reactionary members of Con
gress may disagree with this outstanding new plan. That’s
where labels come in.
We just have to accuse these freaks of playing the “Poli
tics of Halitosis” with the innocent, unaware college stu
dents of America.
A few other minor roadblocks still stand in the way.
Nothing major, though, just the 10th Amendment. You
know — that archaic, meaningless and altogether annoying
little phrase that declares, “The powers not delegated to
the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it
to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to
the people.”
No Problem,Tom Foley, former speaker of the House, to
the rescue!
Last year Foley filed suit against the ignorant voters of
his home state of Washington. Foley argued that these pe
ons had no right to impose term limits on anyone as es
timable as himself.
Foley’s attorneys claim that no modern interpretations
of “the 10th amendment lend even remote support, to the
proposition that a state or its people can control any aspect
of the federal government.”
It’s a good thing we have Foley around or else we might have
to worry about someone as inconsequential as James Madison.
Madison declared, in “Federalist Paper 46,” that, in any
attempt of the federal government to expand at the expense
of the states, “truth no less than decency requires, that the
event in every case, should be supposed to depend on the sen
timents and sanction of their common constituents.”
Unfortunately,Foley’s constituents, in their blissful igno
rance, saw fit to vote this dedicated public servant out of office.
With minor constitutional issues out of the way, now we
have to pay for this program.
Again, no problem. All we need to do is place a “value-
added surcharge” on all onions or garlic cloves sold within
the United States.
While it may be true that, after all is said and done, the
gum may cost the government $10 a pack, isn’t this a small
price to pay for better oral hygiene?
Of course, I suppose I could just save everyone the headache
and study for my next exam, but what fun would that be?
David Taylor is a senior management major
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Asst, opinion editor
Leave a light On
On-Campus housing should be available
year round for TAMU students
The Student Senate should pass the
proposal submitted by the on-campus
housing department that calls for some
residence halls to remain open all year.
Such a change would alleviate prob
lems for students who have no other
choice but to stay on campus during hol
idays and the summer.
International students make up one
group that would greatly benefit from
such legislation. During the holidays,
and. between summer and regular se
mesters, students who cannot afford
the trip home are forced to find other
accommodations. This temporary
housing often proves hard to find and
inconvenient.
If some dorms were open for all year,
such inconvenience could be avoided.
Out-of-state students also deserve
consideration. Their expenses from out-
of-state tuition and fees are high
enough without the added cost of unnec
essary travel expenses. If on-campus
residents cannot afford to go home, they
should have a place to live without mov
ing to off-campus apartments or friends
living room couches.
Furthermore, those students who are
forced to work in between semesters
would also be affected by this bill. While
most students do go home, some must
stay in town in order to keep their jobs.
Opponents may argue that students
who need to stay in College Station
should move off-campus. But, apart
ments in this area are far more expen
sive than dorm rooms, and come with
other costly financial responsibilities.
Not all dorms should remain open for
the entire year. Such a general move
would prove costly and wasteful in the
long run. Keeping one or two dorms
open — such as the balcony dorms,
which are small and require low main
tenance — would bring enough benefits
to justify the extra effort and expense.
Texas A&M has always strived to
furnish its students with the best
possible services. Keeping some of
the residence halls open year-round
would help the University continue
in achieving this goal.
The Student Senate should seriously
consider this proposal. On-campus
housing has often received a bad rap be
cause of room shortages and hassles of
living in them — like moving during hol
idays — but perhaps passing this bill
would help restore its appeal.
Corps members will be
punished if found guilty
In response to Terry Cockerham’s Feb. 27 let
ter: the idea that the Corps as a whole will not
be punished is quite correct. That is because the
Corps as a whole did nothing wrong. However,
individuals responsible, if they are found guilty,
will be punished. Despite popular opinion, cadets
are punished for violating rules. Cadets have ac
tually been dismissed from the university for
hazing charges.
To punish the entire Corps would be similar to
punishing the entire Interfraternity Council be
cause a few pledges in one fraternity broke into
the wrong apartment.
When Matt Segrest said, “hazing is not condoned
in the Corps,” he was speaking truth. To condone
means to forgive or overlook. I’m sure those cadets
who have been suspended from the University do
not agree that the Corps condones hazing.
Daniel Goodner
Class of ’9 7
Moral distinction between
homosexual orientation, acts
Many people feel that homosexuals and bisexu
al persons are sick. Others feel that they are ordi
nary people who live a different lifestyle than the
majority. This is an extremely emotional topic.
As Catholic students and members of the Respect
Life Commission at St. Mary’s Church, we feel it’s
important to address the issue of homosexuality.
There is an important moral distinction be
tween homosexual orientation and homosexual
acts. While we do not condone homosexual activity,
neither do we condone prejudice, contempt or hos
tility toward homosexual persons.
We believe that the homosexual act is disor
dered, however, not the homosexual person.
Homosexuals don’t choose their condition; for
most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted
with respect, compassion and sensitivity. All unjust
discrimination in their regard should be avoided.
We call everyone to understanding and love
for homosexual persons and encourage homosex
ual persons to remain chaste just as we encour
age heterosexuals to remain chaste.
Chastity means abstaining from sex if you are
single and having sex only with your spouse
when you are married.
Tom Ashour
Graduate Student
Accompanied by 10 signatures
Being 'an Aggie' requires
more than tuition payment
In response to Kyle Littlefield’s Feb. 28 column,
“A&M tradition shouldn’t divide,” I have this to say:
“Soldier, Statesman and Knightly Gentleman.”
This was stated by Lawrence Sullivan Ross
whose statue stands in front of the Academic
building as a symbol of Texas A&M. To my knowl
edge he was referring to Aggies.
I don’t think “paid tuition” makes one an Ag
gie. Paying tuition entitles you to be a student,
not an Aggie.
It bothers me that people still come to A&M to
sit in class and pass tests. A&M supplies the re
sources for a full, well-rounded education, not just
textbooks and lectures. Having pride in your
school is what A&M is about.
I have considered myself an Aggie ever since I
can remember. Finally coming to the University, I
am saddened to see so many people who gripe and
whine about the traditions.
Littlefield even said that he has heard, “If
they don’t like it, they can go to t.u.” That’s not a
bad solution. If he went there, he wouldn’t have
to put up with the evil Corps or any of those oth
er traditions. I’ll bet they’d never call him a two-
percenter.
I have been called a two-percenter a few times at
A&M but have never been “ostracized” because of it.
Maybe if his friends are that mean, he needs
new friends.
“Soldier, Statesman and Knightly Gentleman,”
that’s what an Aggie is.
Michael Davis
Class of ’98
Dance team doesn't always
go the second mile for A&M
All season the Dance Team has been ragged on,
with good reason. In a Feb. 28 letter about the team,
the dancers said how much they just want to pro
mote men’s basketball and be there for the guys.
Last night at the SMU game — a two-point game
at that — the entire team left during the second
half with about three minutes to go.
And they get a University excuse for the SWC
tournament. If they’re representing anybody, it
sure isn’t A&M or men’s basketball team.
MariClare Feeney
Class of ’90
College Republicans shame
selves, A&M at Gramm rally
I am outraged by the behavior of the closed-
minded College Republicans who could not tolerate a
dissenting view at the recent Phil Gramm rally.
I was one of the students holding a pro-choice
sign. As a result of this, I was pushed, shoved and
treated with complete disrespect as a few Republi
cans tried to hide my sign with their flags or signs.
If they were trying to portray Aggies as intoler
ant and rude in front of the national press, they
succeeded. Their actions only drew attention to
our own pro-choice signs.
Although nobody had the courtesy to ask, the
fact is that I support some of Gramm’s ideas. But,
I do not support his view on abortion.
Did my actions warrant such abuse? I don’t
think so. I was not vocal with my views nor did I
interrupt the rally in any way. I peacefully held
a sign at a public forum. If Gramm wants to rep
resent the people as president, he must recognize ;
that other views exist.
The College Republicans’ conduct was an embar
rassment to the unwritten Aggie code that demands
respect for all individuals.
Karen Manthe
Class of’95
Campus attitudes may not
represent real world diversity
This is to commend Zane Anderson’s commen
tary on the state of liberalism at A&M. I mean,
once we get out of college, everyone will be just
as conservative as Anderson perceives this cam
pus to be, right?
I think we should strike up a battle cry against I
people like Oliver Stone. Let’s bring in wonderful*!
speakers like Oliver North, who will teach us the- ;
wonderful art of lying and cheating!
Open your mind just a bit. Just because your*-
perception of a college campus may be one of con-*-
servative people walking around thinking similar;!
things, this is not the case.
Tracey Raburn
Class of ’97'
\
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