Tuesday
October 10, 1995
^The Battalion
Opinion
The Battalion
Editorials Board
Established in 1893
Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views
of the editorials 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.
Rob Clark
Editor in Chief
Sterling Hayman
Managing Editor
Kyle Littlefield
Opinion Editor
Elizabeth Preston
Assistant Opinion Editor
Eyeing the Price
The creation of a committee to
oversee fee changes is a smart move.
Last night, Texas A&M stu
dents could see how Student
Government is working to
serve them. In its first public
meeting, the Student Fee Over
sight Committee made a
pledge to the students to keep
them informed on recent and
future fee changes.
After a series of such
changes culminated in the
general use fee increase, Toby
Boenig, student body presi
dent, felt the need to create the
committee. In doing so, he
identified a need that was not
being met.
With all of the various fees
students have to pay each se
mester, most students do not
know exactly where the money
is going. When the fees are in
creased, they are not well-in
formed about why they are ex
pected to pay more.
In reality, most of the fees
are spent for valid reasons, but
students do not realize this and
cannot easily find out this in
formation. In addition, until
the creation of the Student Fee
Oversight Committee, no orga
nized group existed that was
devoted to representing the
students’ interests in matters
of fee changes.
Based on the first meet
ing, it appears the committee
is taking its job seriously.
The members have already
displayed insight into the is
sues they are facing and
common sense in organizing
the committee. For example,
dividing the committee into
smaller groups to study each
major fee individually is a
good idea.
Unfortunately, the commit
tee did little to inform the stu
dent body that the meeting
was taking place. Given the
committee’s focus on aware
ness, it should do more to in
form the public of its meetings
and activities.
Boenig and the Student
Senate deserve credit for
their quick and effective re
sponse to the fee increases.
Hopefully, the student body
will appreciate the effort,
and the new committee will
live up to its potential.
Mail
Tech fans did not
show Ags respect
This letter is in reference to
the game against Texas Tech.
We were outscored, but that is
not what angers me. For all the
Ags that were unable to attend,
let me fill you in.
After the game was over,
Tech students jumped out of the
stands onto the field and joined
the players in celebration.
Meanwhile, we were having
our yell practice in the stands.
This is where it gets bad.
The Tech mob soon saw that
we had not left the stadium and
rushed over to rub it in our faces.
They had every right to ex
press their support for their
team, but that is where it
should have ended. Three or
four security guards attempted
to hold the mob off our Yell
Leaders and Boot Line.
But during our Yells and
“Spirit,” Tech fans ran to the Yell
Leaders, pointed their “guns” in
their faces and ran around hit
ting Boot Line with their caps
while the Ags were humping it.
Other Tech fans were flip
ping us off and showing us
where they had written A&M
sucks on their backs. There are
other instances of poor sports
manship I could mention, but I
think you get the point.
On behalf of every Aggie, I
would like to say how proud I
am of our Yell Leaders and Boot
Line. They handled the situa
tion with class. It sure would
have been tempting to “Beat the
Hell” outta some Tech fans.
I realize that the actions of
some people cannot represent
the whole school, but that is
why Texas A&M is a notch
above other schools.
We don’t demean our field in
that manner. Also, our students
would never allow something
like that to happen. It makes me
proud to be an Aggie.
The team did get outscored
and we all have our opinions why
and ideas on what needs to be
done. But remember the days of
OT Army when Ags were glad to
get a first down. Whether we win
or lose, one thing still remains —
we’re still Aggies.
Beat the hell outta s.m.u.!
Lee Wall
Class of ’94
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Coming Out Week (Oct. 9-12)
At A&M: Count on your Allies
W anted: any
gay, lesbian
or bisexual
person who enjoys
being taunted,
ridiculed and out
right disrespected.
Texas A&M Uni
versity is the place
to be.
There are many perks such
a person will receive at Texas
A&M. For example, on our
lovely campus, homosexual
and bisexual Aggies can be ter
rified to hold hands with their
mates.
Our traditions are so exclusive
that when a touchdown is scored
at a football game, kissing a part
ner could result in having some
one spit or throw food.
But the fun doesn’t stop there.
Gay, lesbian and bisexual stu
dents will have the opportunity
to attend programs that feature
guest speakers who say not only
that their lifestyle is wrong, but
that homosexuals are living in
sin and going to hell.
These Aggies are held ac
countable for the origin and
spread of
AIDS, and are
called friendly
names like
“faggot” or
“dyke.”
Finally, we
will do our best
to make sure
everyone is ex
posed to homophobic jokes daily.
And just when gay, lesbian
or bisexual students think
they have had enough, they’ll
meet — their Allies.
Allies are people who respect
other’s sexual orientation and
don’t prejudge on that 1 is.
Allies are students who will
respect each individual’s right
to display affection to mates
when a gay or lesbian couple is
walking to class.
These Aggies believe that
their religious beliefs are
theirs — and not necessarily
everyone else’s.
Allies know that the AIDS
affects everyone and does not
cater to the misinformation
about the origins of the virus.
They want all students to
have a good time wherever
they choose to go out.
Aggies like this will consis
tently confront those who choose
to tell offensive jokes about other
peoples’ sexual preference.
These students focus on ac
cepting differences and opening
themselves to learn more. These
fellow Aggies remember the
spirit that our campus was
founded on and promote the
sense of community for which
A&M is known.
At A&M, there are programs
and departments like Multicultur
al Services, Gay, Lesbian and Bi
sexual Aggies and Allies which
work to make this place an envi
ronment where all people are al
lowed to be themselves.
Another source of support is
just a phone call away. Calling
the Gayline will allow a person
to talk to and identify with
someone who is understanding
of what is faced on campus and
in everyday life.
There is another way for gay,
lesbian or bisexual Aggies to re
ceive support as well.
Coming Out Week (Oct. 9-
12) offers the opportunity to cel
ebrate being themselves.
These Aggies can meet new
people with coming out stories
at the special rap session .
They can also learn to cope
with the lack of respect and
understanding displayed on
this campus.
We all should feel free to
celebrate Coming Out Week
privately or in silence: The
choice should be made on an
individual basis.
No one should spoil the one-
week opportunity to attend pro
grams that deal with issues fac
ing the gay community.
Make an effort to simply be
happy. Everyone should have
that right.
Educate, inform and answer
the questions that some may
need answered in order to better
understand.
Take pride in this week.
And remember,there are
people out there who do sup
port individuals’ choices.
Pamela Benson is a senior
journalism major
Coming out to a better way of life
Jeff
Anderson
Guest
Columnist
S everal months ago I
wrote a letter to a
friend who I will call
“Dave.” I had not seen this
person in a while and I
wanted to keep in touch
and catch him up on things
that had been happening.
My business was for sale,
and I was applying to gradu
ate school. Dave knew my plans and ambi
tions as well as anyone else in the world, and
seemed to have an interest in them.
However, he found out something about
me in that letter that he could not accept,
and he found it hard to associate with me
again despite the friendship we had.
What did I tell him in that letter? What
made this man so afraid that he would be
‘guilty by association’ just because he was
my friend?
I told him that I was gay.
In other words, I “came out” to Dave.
Coming out is a life-long process, so I
should not be impatient with Dave. It took
me 18 of my 32 years to come out to my
self. I hope it doesn’t take him that long to
accept me, because he is a good man, and I
do not want to lose him as a friend.
I am lucky in most respects because al
most everyone that I have told so far has
accepted me. All of my siblings, nieces and
nephews know about my orientation.
My parents will know any day now, if
they don’t know already. Even after all of
my family and friends learn of my prefer
ence, I will need to decide whether or not
to tell other people.
Some people will accept the news and
some, like Dave, will not.
It is because of the negative reactions
that lesbians, bisexuals and gays are com
pelled to regulate the sharing of their true
selves. Their family relation
ships, jobs and lives depend
on this lie ? because they must
hide from those whom they
believe would be biased
against them.
One way to avoid this
problem is to not
come out. But many
gays are tired of
hiding and need to be open.
Some people might suggest
that they stop being gay, yet
those that are gay can no more
change their sexual orientation
than they could change the col
or of their skin.
The irony is that most hetero
sexuals would never hide their
orientation, yet some would hide
their support for gay family and
friends. They too are in the clos
et and afraid.
Do you fear gays and les
bians? And if you do, do you
know why?
Stereotypes, religious dogmas
and ignorance give many peo
ple, including many homosex
uals, a negative image that
perpetuates an irrational
fear of homosexuals
called “homophobia.
Because of this
fear we hide, and
because we
ourselves
hide, we
are not
known by
society as ordi
nary people. The cy
cle goes on. In fact, we are
a diverse group of people of all races, sexes,
ages, political parties and religions.
This is why there is a coming out
week, because it gives us an opportunity
to come out of the closet and draw atten
tion to our similarities.
Our efforts
| and goals are
1 directed to
wards the com
mon good and
the fact that we
do not want spe
cial rights, only
equal ones.
These are the
same interests
that all people
have, to live an
open life with the
companionship of
the people we love.
Coming out
should become a
part of your philos
ophy of living. Act
and live in the
manner which you
feel society as a
whole should act — with
the dignity and poise that sug
gests you have assigned value to
yourself and to your fellow humans.
1 would like to say a few more things
to Dave just in case he is reading this col
umn: I did not chose to be gay, yet being a
gay man has given me insights and per
spectives for which I am grateful.
Indeed, I am proud.
Jeff Anderson is a graduate student of
student affairs administration
in higher education
Know the facts before deciding
Students should know facts before forming an opinion on the cultures courses
M any stu
dents have
heard the
recent talk of a
mandated cultures
course being insti
tuted at Texas
A&M University.
However, amidst
heavy debate from
both sides, many facts regarding the cul
tures requirement have been misconstrued.
The students of Texas A&M should know the
facts regarding this matter.
This issue is not new. It has been in exis
tence for about two years now, following a bill
put forth by the Faculty Senate which was ap
proved on Nov. 8, 1993.
In this proposal, the Core Curriculum
Oversight Subcommittee approved a mandat
ed six-hour cultures course requirement as an
addition to the core curriculum of all students.
Three hours would be satisfied in a U.S.
cultures requirement, which is described as a
course that would “take into account groups
such as African Americans, American Indians,
Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Euro
pean Americans, and American women. Con
nections between majority and minority per
spectives, or different minority perspectives,
must be developed.”
The remaining three hours would be ful
filled in an international requirement,
which is described as a course that “must
incorporate a comparative international
perspective on agriculture, business, cul
ture, education, engineering, geography,
history, science or society.”
The bill states that any course fulfilling one
of these two requirements must contain at
least 33 percent of the issues detailed in the
course descriptions.
It also says that no single course could be
used to satisfy both requirements, but that “a
course satisfying another core category, satis
fying a collegq/department requirement or
used as a free elective” can be used to fulfill ei
ther of the two three hour courses.
The Faculty Senate bill, after approval, was
sent to the Dr. E. Dean Gage, interim presi
dent, for executive approval. The bill was not
approved at that time and now sits on the
desk of current Texas A&M president, Dr. Ray
Bowen, who has yet to make a decision con
cerning the issue.
In the fall of 1993, the Student Senate also
passed a bill calling for the implementation of
a cultures course requirement. However, the
Student Senate’s bill differed from the Faculty
Senate’s bill in a number of ways.
First of all, the Student Senate’s bill
changed the six-hour requirement to three
hours. These three hours could be fulfilled
with a U.S. cultures course or an interna
tional course.
Secondly, the Student Senate’s bill included
a clause which would establish a committee
comprised of three members of the Faculty
Senate, three members of the Student Senate
and a chairperson from the Academic Opera
tions Committee.
This proposed committee would provide ju
risdiction over any “additions or deletions to
the number or type of classes offered under
this elective.”
Finally, the Student Senate’s bill called
for the requirement to be uniform for all
colleges and that the courses satisfying the
elective be chosen from a list compiled by
the Student Senate, which included close
to 100 courses.
This bill was also passed and resides on Dr.
Bowen’s desk for consideration. As of this mo
ment, this bill is the official opinion of the stu
dents at Texas A&M University.
However, the issue reappeared for consid
eration at the request of two student senators
on Sept. 20.
The request was granted and the issue was
sent to the Academic Affairs Committee for re
search and debate concerning the current Stu
dent Senate’s position.
At the Academic Affairs Committee meet
ing, the members decided that a bill should be
written to repeal the former Student Senate’s
bill passed two years ago.
This repeal was written and presented on
Oct. 4 to the Student Senate and then referred
back to committee.
The purpose of this request for repeal
(which has not been voted on yet) was to allow
the Student Senate to educate the students of
Texas A&M University and discover the gen
eral position held by these students.
The repeal should not be construed as an
action taken by the Senate to deplore or advo
cate the institution of cultures courses.
However, it is imperative that all students
understand this issue, and after reviewing all
of the facts, they can then inform their sena
tors of their opinion.
The Student Senate, in order to properly
represent the student body, must know the
opinions of their constituents.
A forum concerning the cultures course
requirement will be held Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. in
the MSC Flagroom in order to educate, facil
itate debate and discern the current opinion
of the student body regarding the cultures
course requirement.
It is important that all students attend and
speak their minds on this issue.
Bo Armstrong is a junior
computer science major
Chris Miller is a sophomore
English major
Bo Armstrong
&
Chris Miller
Guest
Columnists