The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, May 04, 1995, Image 9

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    Thursday • May 4, 1995
■■■■ ■
The Battalion
AdiosAdrM
Words of wisdom on
school, life and fun
Mark
Smith
Editor in Chief
,
S ince the age of eight I’ve wanted to
be an Aggie. My father was an old
Ag and something about Texas
A&M just seemed to call to me, a voice
in my head.
“Mark, Mark, come to A&M,” the
voice said. “We have cheap beer and
beautiful women.”
The great education just sealed the
deal.
In the Fall of 1990 I arrived. My time
in college has been memorable, and I
sometimes think back to those early
days when I was freshman.
“Hey, Erin what the heck is Silver
Taps, anyway?” I would ask. “Is it that
a new dance troupe?”
Erin, rolling eyes, “Stupid freshmen.”
I’ve spent five years here and in those
five years I’ve done a lot of things. Bon
fire, The Battalion, Intramurals.
I’ve grown as a person and learned
a lot about myself and the Simpsons
(not O.J.).
But, I’ve also spent five years not do
ing anything — or so it seems. I look
back and think, “I really wish I’d taken
the time to do that?”
There are a number of great organi
zations here that work to improve the
campus, life and the community. I look
at what these people do during func
tions like the Big Event and say to my
self, “Mark, you are a lazy S.O.B.”
I hate to think about how life
would be if I didn’t commit myself to
an organization like The Battalion. I
wouldn’t have any marketable job
skills and I would definitely not have
gotten the job I did.
A&M is big on the “other education”
— those outside activities that put into
practice the theories presented in the
classroom — and there are a number of
groups on campus that can give you a
good experience working with people.
But, college isn’t all about school and
organizations. It’s about growth and re
sponsibility and learning to deal with
people. What’s the best way to learn
about responsibility — being irresponsi
ble. The best way to know not to do
something is to do it. Then you have
first hand experience. Hangovers are a
prime example of this.
After graduation, you have to be able
to look back at your college days and
say, “What was I thinking? I’ll never do
something that stupid again.”
My advice to all of you who remain
here in Aggieland is to do as much as
you can while you can. I spent too many
days vegetating in front of the TV —
which is why I am so familiar with
weird cartoon characters. D’oh! There
was so much more that I could have
done but lacked the initiative to do it.
Remember — sleep is something that
should be reserved for the grave.
Here are some things that you
should, nay must, do before graduation.
Stay up all night talking with your
friends about life, the universe and
everything.
Go on a road trip to no place in par
ticular for no good reason what-so-ever.
Rent a movie the night before a test,
just to say that you did it.
Cow tipping. Enough said.
Explore the crevices of the O&M
building. There is a certain, unusual
acoustical effect.
Of course, there are several things
you should try to avoid.
Do not ever play truth or dare with
people you work with — and absolutely
do not take a dare.
Showing people your old prom pic-
ture — or your ID for that matter — is
usually a bad idea. It could give you no
end of grief.
Tell people at a party that you can
drink anyone under the table.
Several times in the past couple of
weeks, people have asked me if I’m go
ing to miss college. My answer was
quick and simple — yes and no.
College has been a special time in my
life, as it is for everyone who attends.
I’ve made friendships that I hope to
have forever. I’ve had mentors and ro
mantic interests (no, seriously). I’ve
lived, and I’ve grown up.
But there is a lot about college that I
won’t miss: homework, tests, biology,
research papers, tests. (You said tests
twice.) I hate tests.
The real world does have some ad
vantages. None of these dreaded things
will rear their ugly heads. The pay is
better, and the hours are better.
This is a normal transition, I guess.
Learn from my triumphs (Ha!) and mis
takes (That’s more like it).
I’m outta here Aggieland. As a noted
humanitarian once said:
“Excellent. Everything is falling
into place.”
— C. Montgomery Burns,
Springfield Nuclear
Power Plant Owner
Mark Smith is a senior
journalism major
President has credibility problem
O ur president has
a credibility
problem. For
some reason, a number
of people seem to think
that President Clinton
just doesn’t figure into
anything happening
these days.
Both houses of
Congress pretty much do what they
want and then tell the president
about it later. For example, remem
ber that sweeping baseball-reform
legislation the president tried to
send through a few months back?
Yeah, so do I.
But Bill Clinton is relevant, just
ask him.
Fortunately, someone did — at a
news conference that only one net
work even bothered to carry. So Clin
ton said, “The president is relevant.”
Oh ... I was just wondering.
This reminds me of a line from
Hamlet that I had to memorize in
high school. To paraphrase — “Me-
thinks he doth protest too much.”
Actually, for a while there, I was
almost impressed with Clinton.
After the Oklahoma City bombing,
for the briefest of moments. Bill Clin
ton acted, well ... presidential. For a
day or two, I was worried that I might
have to revise my opinion.
Clinton demonstrated genuine con
cern for the victims and an unhesitat
ing willingness to support the local au
thorities in whatever way necessary.
Leadership — what a concept.
Of course, the real Bill Clinton was
bound to show his face eventually. In
stead of simply focusing on catching
the bad guys, Clinton found it neces
sary to point fingers.
On April 24, Clinton blasted those
he called the “purveyors of hate,” who
fill the airwaves. He rambled on, “They
spread hate, they leave the impression
that, by their very words,
violence is acceptable.”
Yep, Bill is back and
is better than ever.
In one fell swoop,
our president has de
termined that each and
every one of us who has
ever listened to a con
servative talk radio
host is prone to blow-up random fed
eral buildings. In the immortal
words of Richard Dawson, “Good an
swer, good answer (clap here). Is it
up there?”
All week long I have searched for
some explanation for my inability to
get focused for Finals Week. At last,
now I understand that my deep-seed
ed longing for pyrotechnics interferes
with my thought processes. I am sure
that if only I could spend my time lis
tening to the “purveyors of love” in
Washington I would long to plant daf
fodils and eat Caesar Salad all the
days of my life.
Or, on the other hand, we could re
turn to reality.
I cannot claim to support every ut
terance of Rush Limbaugh, but he does
not have an audience of 20 million peo
ple because his listeners wish to submit
themselves to mind control. Rush Lim
baugh simply says what many people
already believe. If Bill Clinton spent a
little more time listening to the people
of this country and a little less time in
sulting their intelligence, maybe 20
million people would listen to him, too.
Well, maybe not.
Anyone who has ever heard Rush
Limbaugh on the radio — and most of
his critics probably haven’t — knows
there is absolutely no credence to the
idea that he, or most other conserva
tive commentators for that matter,
encourage, condone or even feel any
thing except sincere remorse and em
pathy for the victims of the Oklahoma
City bombing.
It should be obvious that a belief
in less government is not the same
as the desire to destroy govern
ment. Questioning the bounds of ex
ecutive agency power — be it in the
ATF, the FBI or the IRS — does not
mean that the employees of these
agencies should be targets of mad
men. In fact, the very foundation of
conservative ideals rests on a re
spect for the law and the Constitu
tion on which the law is based.
Murder must be punished.
Disagreeing with Bill Clinton’s
policies, however, is not murder, nor
is it against the law.
The last time I checked, the dis
agreement with flawed policies is
not only a good idea, but the re
sponsibility of an inforiped elec
torate. I seem to recall a certain
man who managed to get himself
elected to the Office of President
who spent quite a bit of time dis
agreeing with government policies
while in his youth.
President Clinton may well have
indicted himself with his ramblings.
After all, according to his own log
ic, if these conservatives are responsi
ble for the federal building bombings
in Oklahoma City, isn’t Clinton re
sponsible for the bombings and de
struction of both life and property
that occurred back in the ’60s due to
the pervading sense of rebellion fos
tered by liberal protests? Sounds pret
ty ridiculous, doesn’t it? No, just in-
credi-Bill.
Yep, the president is still rele
vant. Heck, if Bill Clinton weren’t
around, we would probably have to
spend our time debating real issues
and solving actual problems.
How boring.
David Taylor is a senior
management major
Mail
Oll
Hostility to minorities
doesn't fit with ideals
April 28 was a sad day at Olsen
Field, but not because the Ags lost.
What coach who fails to send someone
to warm up when the starting pitcher
gives up seven runs in the first two
innings deserves to win?
It was a sad day because every time
the only African-American player on
the UT team came to bat, the corporate
cheer coming from the student section
was “one-Fat Albert, two-Fat Albert ...”
eventually preceded or followed by
“hey, hey, hey ...”
I was at first puzzled by this; the
player was neither fat nor did his
name resemble “fat” or “Albert.”
I asked the baseball fan nearby if
the reference might be some historical
baseball character or event.
And then from behind me I hear,
“Get that nigger out of here ...”
How ironic that the Aggie parent I
was seated by had told me minutes
earlier that his daughter came to
A&M because everyone is so friendly.
All the “yes ma’ams” and “no
ma’ams” in the world cannot excuse
the racist chants heard on Olsen Field
last Friday.
Whether such behavior is motivated
by ignorance or hatred is irrelevant.
For whatever the motivation, the mes
sage is that Texas A&M is hostile —
certainly not friendly — to minorities.
It’s not exactly the kind of reputa
tion most respected universities have.
Jan E. Leighley
Political Science Professor
Republicans believe in
great American dream
My bleeding heart cries out to Ja
son Carr. This is not a perfect world.
Government can’t provide everything
for everybody and never ever run out
of money. Facing escalating deficits
and a seemingly insurmountable na
tional debt, government can’t afford to
pacify every whiny interest group
with tax money. Government isn’t a
huge bottomless trust fund, and the
Republicans understand that spend
ing cuts must be made.
Carr talks about a Democratic
president who cut the deficit. Maybe
there’s a Democratic president we
don’t know about — certainly not the
one who financed the debt with short
term loans while claiming that his
spending cuts brought about recovery.
Also, just like the orphanage idea
doesn’t represent all Republicans, I
will happily note that all Democrats
don’t resort to name-calling and make
ignorant one-sided judgments like
Carr. If he had taken the time to care
fully read Percival’s column, he
would’ve discovered that Republicans
stand for less government, personal
responsibility and responsible spend
ing. The voters last November under
stood that.
Eva Darski
Class of ’98
• I was very disappointed with the
letter written by Jason Carr in The
Battalion on May 2 in which he
trashed both the College Republicans
and their president, Lydia Percival.
Carr makes it seem as if Republi
cans advocate jailing large numbers
of citizens at random, but this is
simply not the case.
Believe it or not, however, most
Republicans believe in holding peo
ple accountable for their actions and
that if they break the law, they
should pay the price.
Quite a novel idea, huh? People in
this country are granted equal oppor
tunity, but once they break the law,
they should be punished as the law
stipulates.
Also, he mentions the Republicans’
“hypocritical” notions of wanting to
downsize government, while at the
same time wanting to increase the size
of the police force on the streets.
With many people having to think
twice about venturing out into the
streets, an increase in the police force
will both create jobs and be a positive
step toward making our streets safer.
The Republicans more than com
pensate for this proposal of increasing
the police force by supporting bills
that cutback on other failing pro
grams, such as welfare.
“But wait,” liberals will exclaim.
“That’s just another example of stereo-
typical, upper-class Republicans trying
to take money away from the poor.”
Well, allow me to retort. The poor
do not need to be handed money from
the government. They need to become
self-reliant and escape the liberal-in
duced mindset of willingly accepting
government handouts instead of
working and striving with some pride.
This, fellow Ags, is what I, as well
as other Republicans, stand for.
James Barricklow
Class of ’98
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 submitted in person at 013 Reed Mc
Donald. 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
Think Twice
Decision about sex
personal^ weighty
Elizabeth
Preston
Columnist
S ex is an endlessly discussed topic
in American society. If it isn’t be
ing explicitly shown on television,
talked about on radio shows or written
about in magazines such as Cosmopoli
tan and Gentleman’s Quarterly, then it
is being constantly brought up among
friends.
Newsweek even had a recent cover
story on the resurrection of virginity as
a popular choice among teens, but sta
tistics abound about the “frightening”
rise in sexuality among the younger
generation.
It is true that teen pregnancy,
promiscuity and abortion rates are rais
ing at shocking speeds, and also true
that something needs to be done to help
children and teens who turn to sex be
cause they are not getting love from
their parents and family.
However, the average Aggie does not
fit into these categories. A few had some
wild teenage years and some are still
using sex as a substitute for parental
affection, but the majority are just try
ing to successfully navigate the scary
years of raging hormones between 16
and marriage.
The messages about sex are both con
stant and confusing. Churches and reli
gious leaders preach to us that sex
without the sanctity of marriage is not
only wrong, but in defiance of God. This
is a pretty halting threat to many. Open
defiance of God is a scary proposition
for many who believe strongly.
This guilt often serves a useful pur
pose. Many teens who would have raced
into something they would have regret
ted later stopped because of the weight
of a lifetime of guilt they had been
taught.
Parents often seem to act as if they
have never even thought about sex,
much less had it. This is good some of
the time, because the mere thought of
parental sex is enough to turn the
strongest person’s stomach. It is also
negative because they teach their chil
dren that sex is not only unmention
able, but something to be ashamed of.
Parents — at least some of the ones
in my experience — tend to treat sex as
an enormous sin.
Instead of teaching their children
about how to make safe, healthy and
happy choices, they simply preach
“Don’t even think about it.”
This is fine until we all turn 16 and
the hormones hit.
Then our bodies begin arguing with
everything we have been taught up to
this point.
This is when we need the talks, the
openness and the experience of our
parents. This is when we need friends
who can share their feelings and their
frustrations.
This is when we need the strong
moral base that has hopefully been
pounded into our heads for years.
One of the most important decisions
of your life is when to have sex. It is be
tween you and your partner only, yet
the actions of those around you during
your entire, life are the foundations of
your decision making.
Ultimately, only one thing matters,
and that is how you feel in your heart.
The choice to have sex has every
thing to do with guilt, emotions, lust,
religion and morals, but the single most
important thing is to be at peace with
whatever road is chosen.
Sexual experience has such a stigma
in American society. If someone chooses
to have sex without marriage then they
are — depending on who is speaking —
cool, neat, promiscuous, loose, easy, a
slut or a free spirit.
Virgins are stereotyped to be better,
religious, frigid, boring or unwilling to
just “let go.”
In truth, none of these stereotypes
matter. Virgin or sexually active indi
vidual, all you have to worry about is
what you, your partner and your God
— if you believe — feel toward your
actions. No one else should have any
say in this personal decision, though
the advice of those close to you should
be considered.
The decision of when to have sex
should not be taken lightly.
It is a frighteningly large decision,
and the possible consequences are
enormous.
However, if sex is decided upon,
birth control, consequences and emo
tions should all be considered. If sex is
not something the person is ready for,
they should not be afraid to make this
very clear about this decision to their
partner.
If a person’s heart is truly at peace
with their decision about their own sex
uality, then the heartbreak associated
with sexuality will be greatly lessened.
Elizabeth Preston is a junior
English major