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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1995)
Tuesday • March 28, 1995 PINION The Bat talion Signing on that dotted line Paying rent provides valuable economic lesson E ducation at Texas A&M begins before stepping into a classroom. And it isn’t just students who are being educated; any person who signs their name by the “X” at the bottom of a contract is immediately enrolled in a class. The class is economics and it meets before every semester, and then the first of every month after that. It isn’t wise to skip this class, because it could affect your credit and you might not have a place to sleep. Supply and demand. That’s your first lesson. This is a college town. If Texas A&M University was not here. College Station — which, would have another name — and Bryan would only be small towns. Trees would flourish where the parking lots of Post Oak Mall were poured. In short, there would not be that much of a demand for liv ing space in the area. You certainly wouldn’t see rent the likes of S600 and up for a two bedroom-two bath apartment. The equation is simple: if the demand of students is great the price of rent goes up. Sure, the rent may not seem that high compared to Houston or other metropolitan areas, but you pay to live in the big city. Although the residents of College Station may think them selves metropolitan, KBTX is a far cry from KTRK. I’m jealous of a friend at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Tx. She has lived in the nicest apartments and her rent has always been SlOO - $200 cheaper than mine. It frustrates me that for the same price that she pays in Georgetown for an apartment, you couldn’t rent an outhouse in Bryan/College Station. I realize that Southwestern is a very small university, and Georgetown isn’t much bigger. But it doesn’t seem right that some apartment complexes in this area are asking outrageous amounts of money for a few walls of rotting wood. Sometimes I think we are getting ripped-off by people who are trying to take advantage of our helpless situation as students. This may seem like a very critical view, but it is the result of a particular situation I experienced. Once when I had waited a little too long to begin my search for an apartment — a mistake that I haven’t been able to stop myself from making — I was talking to an apartment manager in College Station about why it was so hard to find a place to live and why rent was so high in the area. She told me that all apartments in the area tried to keep approxi mately the same amount for rent of one, two and three bed rooms respectively. She remarked, in a matter of fact way, that the last thing the apartments wanted to do was lower the rent. She said that expensive rent was needed so “other people” would be discouraged to move in. This sounds like collectively setting prices — remember your economics class, chapter four — which is a little bit more free market capitalism than the law seems to allow. I’m not sure why she felt I was privileged enough to hear this information, or why she was just so sure that I would agree. She continued telling me about the problems that “these people” cause compared to students. I left right then, feeling sick to my stomach. This didn’t seem like economics to me, but something a little bit more perverse. I’m sure that all apartments are not like this, and I’m not sure why this particular woman thought she could speak for all of the apartments, but her logic pissed me off. If her tactic is widespread, then our need for living space as students also serves to keep “other people” out of manager’s hair. She didn’t clarify the meaning of “other people,” but by the tone of her voice, she wasn’t just talking about about non students. It seems she was referring to indigent people. Why she associates the indigent with problems is beyond me. But this isn’t Philosophy of Ethics; you enrolled in econom ics. So as I was saying, large demand = higher prices. Expensive rent isn’t in my best interest so I search for al ternatives: On-campus housing: um... No, too many restric tions on personal freedom. An apartment in Navasota, or elsewhere: Nah, convenience would be sacrificed. Basically, the owners have us where they want us. When you are turned away from the manager’s office two to three weeks from now because there are no leases available, you find that students WILL pay large amounts of dollars for rent. If only economics could teach us how to deal with the frus trations we have, knowing we are the reason for the problem. Kyle Littlefield is a senior journalism major 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 Sterling Hayman Opinion editor Amanda Fowle City editor Nick Georgandis Sports editor jay Robbins Senior Managing editor Erin Hill Asst, opinion editor Stew Milne Photo editor jody Holley Night news editor Heather Winch Managing editor for Business Rob Clark Aggie life editor Dave Winder Sports editor Tiffany Moore Night news editor Editorial Presidential Pick The Battalion endorses Washington for student body president. David Washington stands out as the best choice in a field of qualified an capable candidates running for student body president. Washington’s personal convictions, comprehension of Texas A&M’s pre sent problems, and visions for the fu ture of the University allow him to offer unparalleled leadership and commitment to all students. During interviews with The Bat talion, four of the five candidates ranked improved cultural relations as the University’s greatest need. Washington’s experience and past ac complishments demonstrate his ability to best make th progress in improving com munication, understand ing and cooperation within the A&M com munity. Washington further showed The Battalion that he understands the position of Student Body President and has a thought through the of- fice’s role in relation to stu- dents, administrators, govern- ***»» ment officials and the general pub lic. With that idea in mind, Washing ton has developed very workable guidelines and plans of action to ad dress the issues and problems he would face as president. Numerous leadership positions around campus — including Student Senator, financial aid advisory com mittee member, president of Alpha Phi Alpha and Honors Student Coun cil — have given Washington the in sight needed to bridge the much- needed gaps between the different cultures of Texas A&M. With hands-on, factual knowledge of the way “the system” at A&M works, Washington has proposed not only short-term remedies to many problems around campus, but also stresses the need to be proactive, so as to avoid future problems. David Washington has an exten sive history of involvement with vari ous organizations on campus. His record of leadership shows both his commitment and objectivity. He has strong relationships with many of A&M’s top officials and con tinually communicates with them to better the environment of the cam pus. Washington also has consistently shown much initiative while at A&M. He role as a student leader has allowed him to venture outside his or ganizations’ interests and work to remedy numerous problems. His platform is in dicative of his bold vi sion for the future of our University. His agenda is a bal ance of attainable goals proactive policies. Washington’s most empha sized issue is that of communication. He will seek to make sure that all organizations and interests on the A&M campus work together in order to understand each other. He also realizes the need to bridge the communication gap between the students and the Administration of Texas A&M. Washington noted that, “Rhetoric and results don’t go together. Leader ship and results do.” David Washington is the candi date who can best bring that leader ship and those positive results to Texas A&M University. Quest for break from daily responsibilities leads to I had just finished two back to back tests. I went back to my dorm, relieved that I had finally finished. The week and a half of stress about these two tests — half of which was during spring break — was finally over. However, no sooner had I sat down at my desk, than I remembered that I had a computer project and speech analysis due in two days. My feeling of relief had been short lived; I now had to force myself to work on these two projects even though I had no desire to ever see an other text book again. Well, I coerced myself to work, spend ing all of both nights working on these assignments. Thursday slowly came around and I finally turned in my work. As stressed and as tired as I could possibly be, I returned to my room and slept the rest of the afternoon. My nap was rudely interrupted by the realization that I still had more work to do. I had a physics lab due the next morning, and I would be gone all Satur day on a field trip. This meant that I would have one day to write a paper, visit rela tives, wash clothes and attend my numerous weekend meetings. To top things off, I had a week full of academic and Corps activities staring me in the face. That one chance I was looking for to slow down and unwind had eluded me for yet another week. I know this situation is not all too dif ferent than situations many of you go through on a daily basis. The scenario is basically the same: having more things to do than you have time while always searching for that one moment when everything is com pleted — that moment when there are no assignments, no responsibilities, no deadlines and no one wanting or expect ing something of you. It’s a moment that I cannot say I have ever experienced, a goal that al ways seems to linger just in reach of at tainment. No matter how hard I work or how much I get done, I can never actually achieve it. While discussing my plight with a friend — who related to my situation — she told me that what I was experienc ing was a part of life that we all go through. She said that we are all faced with never-ending tasks and responsibilities, from paying bills, to studying for tests, to taking care of kids. She pointed out that as we get older we will be faced with even greater re sponsibilities, jobs, projects and that we may never experience the satisfaction of complete achievement of all we do. What she said made a lot of sense. I began to realize that the desire to reach that point of achievement was part of what keeps me motivated. Motivated through the endless string of duties, assignments, projects and re sponsibilities, even though I realize that I may never reach that point. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a no good, lazy slacker who doesn’t have or want any cares at all. In fact, just as most people, I’m quite the opposite. I do care very much. There is a challenge and satisfaction in taking on and completing jobs, as signments and responsibilities. It is a fulfilling aspect of life. I always long for a brief moment of time when I've accomplished all that lies be fore me, a time when I can sit and revel in being doing with everything I have to do. frustrations It is what makes life so interesting. However, I always long for just a brief moment of time, a week or week end, when I have totally accomplished everything that lies before me. A time where I can sit and revel in actually being done with everything I have to do. As I thought more about it, I came to the decision that instead of thinking so much about something almost im possible to achieve, I should instead focus more on accomplishing the tasks and responsibilities at hand. Maybe one day we’ll not have any jobs, assignments or responsibilities to worry about, but that may not be until we’re dead. Until then we should undertake and achieve what we have to do, one assignment at a time, even if we feel there is no end in sight. We will at least be satisfied in ac complishing what we can. Zach Hall is a junior mechanical engineering major ■MBfli Mail Oll Beutel victim of too much bureaucracy Although increasing the cap on the fee for the Beutel Health Center sounds like a good idea, we would like to point out a few inconsistencies in the proposal. First of all, look at the “consolidation” of the $15 student service fee and the $25 health center fee into a $40 fee. Unfortunately, the administration thinks that the students are too stupid to figure that out, even though the health center gets the same amount of money under the proposal, the infamous student service fee does not disappear. Um ... sounds like an administrator is trying to swindle funds again. Our second point is that the admin istration is saying that the 10 percent increase is the maximum per year, and won’t probably not be increased by that much. But when is the last time a governing agency has had the power to raise money and not used it to its fullest extent? Maybe this suggestion might upset Hillary a little, but has the Administra tion thought about privatizing the health center? We hope the student body will look into this with the help of their friendly administrative official before voting on this issue next week. Shanna Nugent Class of ’96 Alan Watson Class of ’9 7 Aggie Spirit found in diversity of university This is in response to Kristafer Y. Jarboe’s March 27 “Aggie Spirit” letter. Since when is our Aggie spirit de fined by what political figures you agree with? I thought that our Aggie Spirit came from the fact that we all attended Texas A&M University. This spirit doesn’t come from the majority of the students being Republi can, or all of us having the same politi cal beliefs. It comes from believing in the Uni versity, and all of the diversity which is encompassed in it. Therefore, I don’t think that the “Aggie Spirit” could ever be corrupted by “ever-increasing political education and awareness.” If we “headily accept people into the A&M family,” then why is “Aggie spir it” brought into a political debate? We are all individual people and have our own opinions. The thing that makes us a unique university is that even with all of our diversity we are all Aggies. Christine Seward Class of ’9 7 Affirmative action can unfairly discriminate Amy Uptmor totally contradicts her self. First, she says, “as a woman, I see affirmative action as a safeguard that potential employers see a qualified indi vidual and not just a woman.” But then she states “women need affirmative action to continue ad vancement.” If you are qualified, why must you rely on your sex to get promotions? Af firmative action gives jobs based on race and sex, and NOT merit. Such a policy can discriminate against the best candidate to fill the position. Angie Perryman Class of ’95 The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and will print as many as space allows. Letters must be 300 words or less and include the author's name, class and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, clarity and accuracy. Letters may be sub mitted in person at 013 Reed McDonald. A valid student I.D. is required. Letters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mail Call Fax: (409) 845-2647 013 Reed McDonald E-mail: Texas A&M University Batt@tamvm1.tamu.edu College Station, TX 77843-1 111