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Editorials appearing in The battalion reflect the views
of the editorials board. I hey 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.
Editorials Board
Rob Clark
Editor in Chief
Sterling Hayrnan
Managing Editor
Kyle Littlefield
Opinion Editor
Elizabeth Preston
Assistant Opinion Editor
Deja Vu
wia The recent behavior of the College
Republicans is unacceptable.
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In what is becoming habit
ual behavior, the Texas A&M
College Republicans have
once again tarnished the rep
utation of their organization
and the entire University
through their arrogance and
irresponsible actions.
Last year, in an attempt to
protest affirmative action,
members posted tasteless and
offensive fliers around cam
pus that belittled minorities.
However, that incident
pales in comparison to the
current predicament the Col
lege Republicans are in.
Now it appears they have
challenged University regu
lations by sending out a
fund-raising letter to Texas
A&M alumni that contained
blatantly erroneous informa
tion. In doing so, they have
also pointlessly discredited
the administration and
Texas A&M University.
The content of the letter is
outrageous, as it contains
wrong information, improper
solicitation for funds and un
supported allegations.
In the letter, L,ydia Perci-
val, former College Republi
cans president, charges that
the proposed multiculturalism
requirement passed by the
“liberal” Faculty Senate “re
quires students to take politi
cally correct classes about the
abuses of the white male in
America ... forcing all stu
dents to take a women’s stud
ies class or a class on African-
American history.”
In reality, the proposal
has not yet been signed, and
there are nearly 200 classes
from which to choose, includ
ing sociohorticulture and the
geography of Britain.
In addition, Percival makes
allegations that “President
Bowen got his job by promis
ing to sign this multicultural
ism bill, and the left-wing pro
fessors who hired him are get
ting restless because he is
dragging his feet.”
The letter contains other
outlandish statements regard
ing free speech, homosexuali
ty in the curriculum and more
bizarre assertions about pro
posed curriculum changes.
Republicans have broken im
portant rules regarding stu
dent organizations.
More importantly, howev
er, they have disgraced this
University.
By grossly misrepresenting
the environment of Texas
A&M, the College Republi
cans are tarnishing the image
the University.
Attacking the policies of
Texas A&M and its adminis
tration is perfectly accept
able and sometimes should
be encouraged, but deliber
ately and deceitfully belit
tling the University as a
whole is deplorable and
should not be tolerated.
The College Republicans
should be ashamed of their
actions. While it is question
able whether they violated
any University regulations,
they did violate a more im
portant law — the Aggie
Code of Honor.
This code exists for the
benefit of the students; it is
what keeps the integrity and
standards of Aggies among
the highest in the nation.
The actions of the College
Republicans not only hurts
Texas A&M, but more impor
tantly, they discredit every
thing Aggies stand for
truth, honor and pride.
Through their fundraising
letter, the College Republi
cans have sent the message
to former students that none
of those qualities exist at
Texas A&M anymore.
Fortunately, Dr. Bowen re
sponded quickly and gracious
ly to irate recipients of the let
ter.
He and the Faculty Senate
have refuted with evidence all
of the allegations made in
Percival’s letter.
The College Republicans
have failed to substantiate
any of their allegations.
Although they have request
ed 30 more days to substanti
ate their claims, the facts pro
vided by the administration
leave little room for debate.
In its current state, the
College Republicans organiza
tion appears incapable of con
trolling itself.
Finally, the solicitation of
donations to “protect Texas
A&M” showed poor taste. In
addition, the guidelines listed
in the Policies and Procedures
Manual for Recognized Stu
dent Organizations prohibits
mass mail-outs designed
specifically to solicit funds.
By sending a mass mail-out
to raise money, and by grossly
misrepresenting the actions of
the University administra
tion, it appears the College
Mail
Justice obscured by petty lawsuits
Brian
Beckcom
Columnist,
E veryone knows the story
by now. A hard-working
American citizen needs a
cup of coffee and pulls into the
local McDonalds.
The friendly worker serves
up a cup of fresh coffee, and
the citizen pulls happily away
from the drive-thru. Suddenly,
the car hits a bump in the
road. The coffee spills. The citizen is scalded
by the evil McDonalds coffee.
In keeping with modem American tradi
tion, the citizen sues McDonalds for a jillion
dollars, wins and purchases Columbia.
As a destitute college student, the story
reminds me of an incident in my life.
I remember it like it was yesterday. A
group my close friends decided to celebrate a
recent success with a trip to a burger joint in
beautiful South Bryan.
As I stood in line pondering what I would
purchase, a certain menu item caught my
watchful eye.
“The Death Burger” it was called, and I
felt the tug of a challenge.
What could this burger do to my youthful
insides that campus dining hadn’t already
done? I quickly accepted the challenge, and
ordered the burger and a beer.
As I eyed the monster, I wondered what
fate awaited me. I looked carefully at the
burger’s bun.
No warning signs or disclaimers. No age
limits or pictures of a skull and crossbones.
I then examined the toppings. I found no
signs of the evil that lurked wdthin. I ob
served the patty itself. It seemed like a per
fectly normal piece of greasy American beef.
The meat, like the rest of the conception,
had no written disclaimers.
Little did I realize that on that faithful
autumn day, I was staring naively into the
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face of The Beast.
I took the first bite of hell.
As my friends watched, a
bright blue flame shot out of
my mouth.
Without thinking, I
reached for the nearest liquid
substance. I never took
CHEM 101, so I didn’t know
that Tecate beer and death
burgers cause a lethal chemical reaction.
The inferno in my mouth would’ve made
Dante cringe.
As I begged For a quick death, my
friends offered their assistance by laughing
uncontrollably at me.
At the time. I thought my only recourse
was Maalox :1 a gallon of ice water. As a
dutiful Ame m citizen, I realize now that I
should have sued the burger joint, the beer
company and the janitor who cleans the floor
every night
I realize it sounds like a silly proposition,
but with the current trend of legalistic larce
ny, suing a company for selling a spicy burg
er would be entirely acceptable.
The legal system in our country is in need
of massive repair. Civil litigation and frivo
lous lawsuits abound, while unchecked
judges tear the foundation of our Constitu
tion apart. Our republican system has be
come a government by judicial decree.
Lino Gralgia, a professor of constitutional
law at the University of Texas, writes that
“Justices have treated it (the 14th Amend
ment) as an empty vessel into which they
could pour any meaning” and goes on to ob
serve that “(the Justices have) converted a
system of government by the people primari
ly on a local basis into a system of govern
ment by judges from Washington, D.C.”
I have a strong tendency to disagree with
Mr. Graglia’s analysis.
Our system of laws is being corrupted by
a much more powerful force — the people.
Lawyers don’t instigate lawsuits unless
clients desire such lawsuits. While some
lawyers actively pursue cases, most act on
the wishes of their clients.
The problem lies not with the law, but
with the people who use the law. The prob
lem is solvable, but only through complete
overhaul of the present system.
Penalties for frivolous lawsuits are a good
start. Making the losing side pay the court
fees of the winning side is another good op
tion. Perhaps the best option, however, is
the most difficult to implement.
What price would you put on the life of
your parents? Quite simply, no amount of ■
money is adequate. However, the increas
ing awards given to plaintiffs in personal
injury and wrongful death suits contradict
this notion. We must establish some sort of
cap on punitive damages.
For example, suppose I actually decided
to sue the burger joint for “personal injury,
humiliation and gastric distress.”
The judge could penalize me for being a
stupid, spineless wimp and throw the case
out of court.
If the judge decides my case has merit,
and a jury decides I’m just some jerk wast
ing their time, they could make me pay for
the defendant’s court cost. And, if I decide
my Scalded tongue is worth S5 million, the
punitive cap could ensure that my tongue
doesn’t get valued at anything more than a
couple of dollars.
The pursuit of justice is ostensibly a noble
calling. Unfortunately, it has become an op
portunity for people to make money in dubi
ous cases.
Brian Beckcom is a senior
computer science major
Although it is important for
Texas A&M to have groups
representing the entire politi
cal spectrum, it is doubtful
that the organization can
function responsibly in its
present form.
The students of this Uni
versity should strongly re
consider the viability of the
College Republicans.
This pattern of extreme,
careless and insulting behavior
should no longer be tolerated.
Face value doesn’t depict total truth
People often look at one characteristic and derive an entire personality
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Recent attacks on
Greeks ridiculous
I am writing in regards to
the Sept. 12 The Battalion
about the flag being disrespect
ed by fraternities.
The Greeks were accused of
not loving Americans, Texans
or even Aggies.
To say that we are not patri
otic is ridiculous.
1 am an active member of the
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Two of the members in my
chapter spent four years in the
Corps of Cadets.
Moreover, one of my other
brothers left school to fulfill his
duty in the Marine Corps to
give aid in Somalia.
Finally, two more active
members are serving their
country by joining the military.
We are Aggies too.
I thought Aggies looked out
for other Aggies and that there
is a special bond here at A&M .
There is no reason to say
that another Aggie, or his or
her group, “tarnishes the Uni
versity’s reputation and
shames the name ‘Texas Ag
gie.’”
David Sanders
Class of ’96
D uring high school,
I participated in
the Minnesota All-
State Orchestra for sev
eral summers.
This gave me plenty
of opportunities to
watch the musically
gifted and talented
from a seat near the
back of the rehearsal hall.
My best friend and I were
happy to giggle while others
competed for top honors. From
our places we had a good view
and plenty of time to observe.
One thing I kept noticing was
that the concert master or mis
tress, or the musical section
leaders, got special treatment,
and not just from the conductor.
From the rest of the orchestra,
most of the time.
At social functions or meal
times, dances or discussions, the
best musicians were treated by
everyone else as the Most Valu
able Human Beings.
My best friend and I, who inci
dentally did not fall into the cate
gory of brilliant violinists, were
forced to hobnob with each other.
No one else would have us.
Since we were merely compe
tent musicians, not stars, people
seemed to treat us as though we
were the clean-up crew. Perhaps
I exaggerate — I’m sure we had
one or two friends, but they were
probably the musicians who sat
behind us.
I have
seen this
multiple
times: in
any organi
zation or ac
tivity, peo
ple tend to
have their
worth judged by their proficiency
in that particular activity.
In other words, we stereotype
and project during the process
known as impression formation.
In other words, we tend to
think that people are good peo
ple just because they are good
at something.
Let’s say you write for a maga
zine. If you are bad at writing and
editing, people at the magazine
may assume that you are bad at
other things, like school or bowl
ing. Or telling jokes.
Or, pretend that you join an
intramural team but you are a
poor athlete. Don’t be surprised
if you leave by yourself while the
rest of the team goes to DQ to
celebrate after the game. People
probably don’t want to hear your
jokes after you missed all of your
free throws.
Imagine that you are a fifth-
year senior taking introductory
biology lab. You are struggling
to pass, let alone to understand
the experiments you are expect
ed to perform.
It’s doubtful that people from
the lab are going to be calling
you up on the weekend. In their
eyes, your lack of smarts in the
lab could translate into a lack
of worth. And your jokes just
won’t cut it.
These scenarios may or may
not have been lifted straight
from my life, but that’s not im
portant. (At least one of them is
n’t exactly true.)
The point is that my observa
tions of this phenomena span
nearly a decade. I think I know
what I’m talking about here.
And just in case, the 1994 Acad
emic Review backs me up.
See, Impression Formation::
“There is a tendency for peo
ple to infer a whole personality
from the perceived presence of
only one trait. For example,
knowing someone is intelligent
leads most people to expect that
the person is clever, active and
reliable,” it reports.
Sometimes we assume people
who are attractive are intelli
gent. Or, we think that being
able to throw a football means
that you know something about,
well, about anything.
You may or may not know
something, but your passing arm
has nothing to do with it.
Like that actor who played a
wise attorney on L.A.Law. Now
he advertises for some medicine.
Because he looks smart and
played a kindly patriarchal type,
we believe that he knows some
thing about pharmacology.
Doesn’t make a lot of sense
when you break it down, but that
doesn’t stop us from believing.
(Personally I buy it because
that actor looks just like my dad.)
We tend to think people
are good people just be
cause they are talented.
Here in Aggieland, we are not
immune from this impression
formation syndrome. In fact, we
might be more guilty than other
people. Around these parts, peo
ple think that if you aren’t a
good Ag, you probably aren’t a
good person.
If you don’t know how to
whoop and gig’em and rebuild
Bonfire with one hand behind
your back, ‘good’ Ags might
make all these other assump
tions about you, and you are
helpless to refute them.
Now, me, I’m a good Ag — I *
have nothing to worry about, but
those people who aren’t don’t de
serve contempt. I just need a lit
tle help with biology.
We all have our weaknesses
and strengths; let’s just make
sure we don’t judge people before
we know a little about both.
Erin Hill is a graduate
pursuing a teaching certificate
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