Tuesday • March 7, 1995
The Battalion • Page 9
The Battalion
Established in 1893
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.
Mark Smith
Editor in chief
Jay Robbins
Senior Managing
editor
Heather Winch
Managing editor
for Business
Sterling Hayman
Opinion editor
Erin Hill
Asst, opinion editor
EDITORIAL
Home Improvement
Texas A&M should focus on enhancing its
current programs, not implementing others.
Before approving proposals to en
dorse the expansion of fine arts and
humanities curricula, the University
Faculty and Student Senates should
consider the current state of estab
lished A&M programs.
Though Texas A&M would benefit
from more diverse educational oppor
tunities, the idea of creating new
fields for formal study is not realistic
and should not receive top priority at
present time.
It is a great idea that the Univer
sity wants to incorporate a humani
ties and fine arts major into the in
stitution.
Many talented and creative stu
dents pass up the opportunity to
come to A&M because of its lack in
humanities.
But, at the current time, such a
program is simply not feasible.
One reason the idea is not plausi
ble is because of the potential cut
backs of the state budget. Predicted
cuts in the state budget can make
University attempts to extend re
sources impossible.
Also, Texas A&M does not have
the infrastructure necessary to ade
quately implement or expand the
program.
Texas A&M already offers a diverse
choice of educational opportunities from*
which students can choose from. How
ever, these areas of study need improve
ment, and it is here that funding should
be concentrated.
The development and expansion of
humanities and fine arts programs
would be welcomed in the future, but
at the present time, attention should
be focused elsewhere.
The Faculty and Student Senates
should not reject this idea, but for
now, put it away for safe-keeping.
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Integrity — a special kind of happiness
We need to evaluate ourselves in terms of own desires, ambitions
Kyle
Littlefield
Columnist
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Y ou have a plush office
job. You have worked
for the same company
for more than 20 years. You
have a spouse and three chil
dren, one of whom you are
putting through college.
You feel secure in life —
until you are told that your
company will not be needing
you anymore. They are “streamlining,” and unfortunately it
is at your expense.
But wait, they aren’t going to leave you out in the cold.
They are offering you some nice parting gifts, like a benefits
package that might get you a few free trips to the dentist.
Now relax, you are back in your desk reading the paper be
fore your class begins. Your future is still ahead of you. You
are still in your cozy, college world. But one day, perhaps
soon, you will be entering the job market — interviewing,
waiting for the callback.
Stop. So often in college, this seems like the only option.
What are we always told? It’s our marketability that lands
the job. Some of us even choose what classes we take and what
organizations we join by how they will look on a resume.
These days, more college graduates are getting jobs that
aren’t related to their majors. Many get jobs simply because
they have a degree. Employers look for signs of commitment
from their employees, and this is what a degree translates
into in the business world.
Some of us may be wasting our time and money. Let’s face
it, not everyone is cut out for college. While I don’t think it is
wise to downplay the importance of a college education, most
people see it only as a step before getting a job.
I know many brilliant people who make poor grades in col
lege, and many who have never enrolled in a single college class.
Why do we overlook the possibility of doing something on
our own? For some reason, college — a place for free-thought
and self-improvement — often stifles the view that individu
als can go out and do something for themselves.
Sometimes we take for granted all of the previous initia
tive put forth by founders of large conglomerate businesses.
Some businesses have existed for so long it seems like they
have always been here. But, we know this is not the case.
Take, for example. Time magazine — it had to begin . * ^
somewhere.
Time magazine started as an idea in the head of Henry
Luce in 1922. The idea, combined with some drive and a little
luck, has blossomed into a multi-million dollar conglomerate.
It sounds cliched but if he can do it, why can’t we?
D.I.Y. that means do it yourself, don’t sit around waiting
for someone’s help/ don’t sit hack and say good enough/ keep
on striving, reinventing hut keeping it off the cuff
—Michael Diamond
“Do it yourself.”
Be an entrepreneur, the CEO of your own company.
For the longest time, I couldn’t even spell the word “entre
preneur,” and I thought that students majored in business
because they really wanted to go to A&M and stillhave time
to party. I guess I was wrong.
It’s probably too late for a lot of us to change our majors
to business, but that shouldn’t stop us from doing some
thing on our own.
Take a chance. If you have an idea that you feel merits
some developing, don’t hesitate. The pain you experience by
ignoring the idea may surpass the pain if the idea doesn’t
work out. Leave no stone unturned. Explore every possibility;
don’t live life regretting an uncultivated idea.
Everyone has an equal chance to succeed financially in
this world, and it is at least worth it to recognize this, even if
we do nothing else with the revelation. But it isn’t just finan
cial happiness you may gain. You may get the satisfaction of
creating something for yourself.
I don’t want to sound like Tony Robbins, or any of those
other motivational speakers, but it is the truth.
Ever heard the saying, “Men and women were created
creative?”
Sometimes we need to evaluate ourselves in terms of our
own desires and ambitions, and not in terms of the agendas
of others. * >
While this may not always result in financial success, it
can result in a special kind of happiness that society some
times ignores — the happiness attained by adhering to our
personal integrity and the happiness that the results of our
creativity can provide. T’;
Kyle Littlefield is a senior journalism major./
States should raise speed limit from 55 to 70
T here I was,
cruising
down High
way 77 on my way
to Corpus Christi.
It was pretty late,
after dark — the
time when most of
the Texas Highway
Patrol have gone
home or at least have quit patrolling the stretch of
road between here and Corpus.
I was wide awake and relaxed, and I had the ra
dio blaring to the tunes of Sammy Hagar.
“I can’t drive ... 55,” was echoing through the
car. I was in a driving groove. Speeding along at 72
miles per hour on a long, car-less stretch of road, I
sure as heck couldn’t drive 55.
I wasn’t in a hurry to get home, so I wasn’t
speeding just to get away with it and spite the law.
I was exceeding the speed limit because I knew
that I was safe enough and that I was capable of
driving that fast.
Sure, I risked the chance of getting a ticket. But
like many others, I took that chance because I was
fully competent in my ability to drive a few miles
per hour over the speed limit.
I’m a firm supporter of raising the speed limit
on all state and interstate highways back to 70
miles per hour.
I know that the government says that driving
55 saves fuel and lives, but the government tells
us a lot of things that aren’t quite true.
Maybe this was the case back in 1974 when the
federal government forced states to lower their
speed limits from 70 to 55, or face cuts in federal
highway funds. However, cars and roads today are
much safer than they were 20 years ago.
I do realize that one of the main rea
sons the speed limits are so low is be
cause there are too many idiot drivers on
the road today.
I would be willing to bet that most mo
tor vehicle accidents are caused by people
who have absolutely no business driving
a shopping cart, much less a car.
However, this should not be an argu
ment against raising the speed limit back
to 70 miles per hour.
Let us instead strengthen the tests and raise
the requirements for getting a drivers license. We
could then reinstate the 70 mile per hour speed
limit — allowing those of us who are qualified
enough to drive 70. ^
For those of you who are thoroughly convinced
I’m nuts, just wait.
Legislation was recently introduced in Wash
ington by Rep. Larry Combest, of Midland, to re
peal the federally-mandated speed limit and to al
low states to decide how high to set their highway
speed limits.
Combest argues that cars and roadways are
much safer than before. He claims that they are
built to safely travel above 55 miles per hour.
In a related piece of legislation. State Represen
tative Tom Craddick has filed a bill to prevent in
surance companies from finding out about
speeding tickets of up to 70 miles per hour.
He contends that Texans should not
have to pay twice for a speeding ticket.
Craddick’s bill would still mean viola
tors would face a fine for exceeding the
speed limit, but insurance companies
would not be allowed to increase insur
ance rates because of that ticket.
It is this increase in insurance rates cou
pled with the speeding ticket that Craddick
argues is causing drivers to pay double.
Both Combest’s and Craddick’s bills would be
good steps toward raising the speed limit back to 70,
as well as allowing the states to get the federal gov
ernment off their backs.
You might argue that if we reinstate the 70
mile per hour speed limit, drivers would only be
tempted to drive faster — up to 85 or 90.
However, I don’t think this would be the case.
Most drivers realize that 70 to 75 miles per hour is
as safe and comfortable as they ought to drive.
But maybe in another 20 years or so, with ad- i
vancements in cars and roads, we will be able to
drive 90 miles per hour safely. As it stands, we -1
are behind the times with our 55-mile-per-hour ; - *
speed limit. ; /
As-1 was driving, I was struck with a great • I *
idea. Somehow, somebody should convince old ; -
Sure, I risked the chance of getting a >
ticket. I took that chance because I
was competent to drive a few miles ci
per hour over the speed limit.
Sammy Hagar to run for president.
He wouldn’t need a platform — he could win, ; I -
hands down, with the single issue of raising the -1 -
national speed limit. - -
I can see it now: campaign signs, posters, slo
gans ...
“Vote Hagar President: He can’t drive 55, and
neither should you!”
Zach Hall is a sophomore mechanical
engineering major
^SpeecT^
Limit
V . J
mail
CALL
Gramm supporters paid too
much money for too little
I understand that Phil Gramm raised $4 million
at his Dallas Health Insurance Lobby, er... excuse
me, fund raiser. With apologies to Winston
Churchill, all I can say is: Never in the course of hu
man history, have so few paid so much for so little.
Freddie A. Medina
Class of ’95
Those who claim to be open-
minded should think again
Many people have been recently accused of be
ing “close-minded.” This label must come from
people who are “open-minded.”
It seems these “open-minded” individuals want
to be heard at every event; and if they are not,
they claim abuse.
By my definition, a “close-minded” person is one
who will not listen to an opposing view.
However, it seems to me that an open-minded
individual who denounces everyone else is the
most close-minded of all.
For instance, when Sen. Phil Gramm was trying
to speak last month, there were people shouting at
him and displaying anti-Gramm signs.
These “open-minded” people didn’t want to lis
ten to him speak.
This also happened at the Walter Williams lec
ture. A gentleman stood up during the question
and answer period to make a statement.
Wbile this would have been normal in an open
forum, it was not acceptable in this case. The
people were there to listen to Williams — not an
open forum.
If these people want to spread their message —
which they are perfectly within their rights to do
— they should have their own lectures, write an
article or hold a press conference.
I imagine their audience would be upset if
someone tried to take over their lecture.
We “close-minded” people don’t mind listening
to the other side of the story, we just want to be
able to choose when.
Jeremy Thompson
Class of ’9 7
Hostility, insensitivity of A&M 7;
students explain Aggie jokes
The longer I am exposed to “Aggie” culture, or
the absence thereof — the constant hostility and
insensitivity to certain students, mean spirited
ness at games and overall pettiness — the more I
understand the continued existence of Aggie jokes.
Andrew Andrews 1 _
Graduate student ;
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