Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 1996)
- echnol lunicati ^he Cat now «■ ay beq; irstoh A&M,' >ng ma blish t raings, { lentsa in fini studet r to ert ! compt: Al ers. for vist must ck sir roll! , safe as judge at in elect 1 the sit certai structia spec she; i certaii nt," Tim be able:: ove aki usly for: onds. Hi ley leai: and coo;' senior ai ol in Eil' 1 he was oing well •cause hi a lot ol , about it gn it, ari with my )ur grot! itationst: ies ry 1997. akers it ng wen rom $7 r, which ily $60( • the av- .her fee; schools marking for vary trc rHATIh THURSDAY June 27, 1996 The Battalion GGIE Page 3 CREDIT BALL AND CHAIN C redit cards are your best friend or your worst whether you dinner, forget order concert enemy, charge cash or tickets over the phone. Credit cards offer easy access to many products, but are dangerous for those who neglect to pay them off. Credit cards are also easy for many Texas A&M students to obtain. Booths in the Memorial Student Cen ter offer free T-shirts when students fill out a card application. In addi tion phone solicitors and mailouts of fer pre-approved credit. Gracie Garza, vice president of Ag- gieland Credit Union, said taking these pre-approved offerings is easy, but stu dents should exercise caution. “Occasionally we find that some peo ple with these pre-approved cards have gotten into trouble,” Garza said. “People start using them as an extension of in come and find it difficult then to bring themselves out of debt.” Jennifer Hale, a senior English ma jor, said pre-approved cards for stu dents provide a good opportunity to es tablish credit. “It is a good way for people to built good credit,” Hale said. “Although some might abuse the card, it is up to the in dividual to establish their own credit.” easy to let your payments get away from you.” The uses of credit card use range from gasoline to clothing to vacations. Hale said she tries to only use her cred it card for gas and occasional groceries. Proctor uses his card for these ba sics and miscellaneous, on-the-side television. But I have not used them as much recently. “I try to pay [my bills] off every month with my paychecks I get from work.” Jasso said one of the positive aspects about credit cards is their convenience. “Easy money. Fast money,” she said. “If you are going on a trip, they Steve Proctor, a senior business man agement major, said first-time cards help students learn responsibility, but the possibility of incurring into debt might be easier than expected. “I would think that there would be a tendency to just pay the minimum pay ment and let the rest slip by until next month,” Proctor said. “It could be really purchases. His Mastercard doubles as a phone card. Monica Jasso, a senior business analysis and marketing major, said she does not use her cards as often as other people. “I use them for big- ticket items like my king-size bed,” Jasso said. “I also upgraded my computer and got a new are good to have for emergencies. They do not bounce like checks, and they give you good credit if you pay them off on time.” Credit bureaus keep track of these credit reports, which determine good or bad credit. A representative of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) in Bryan said credit repair clinics are available to help those with poor credit, but no one can change information in a credit report. CCCS said time is the only thing that heals bad credit. Card owners may obtain a copy of their credit report from these credit bureaus. Distribution of credit information may also be a concern since credit card corporations, like many other business es, are entering the information super highway. Many web sites selling prod ucts allow the user to e-mail his or her card number, and the product will be instantly mailed. Hale said she has never charged products to her card over the Internet and feels unsafe giving the number over the phone. “Web technology is always growing,” Hale said. “I think they will find a way to make it? (sending a card number) more secure, but then this same growth in technology may also make it easier for someone else to intercept it.” Jasso said she would not send a card number over the Internet. “It seems too easy to access when it goes over the Internet,” she said. “I al ways try to pay with check or money or- i der if I’m ordering something by mail, because giving out my credit card num- ; ber just scares me.” Garza said credit cards establish good credit rating, but students should not be blind. “It is really easy to take offers that i come in the mail or at booths on campus i because they are pre-approved, but we j recommend that people exercise cau- j tion,” Garza said. “We usually [suggest] a smaller credit line so students can get used to using the card.” By Jeffrey Cranor B-CS offers plenty of ways to fulfill cultural yearnings L ooking for a little excite ment? No, I’m not going to ask you to snap into a Slim Jim or anything like that. What I want you to do is close your eyes and imagine all the fun things, all the entertaining things you have done with your self and friends in the past month or so. Ready? Okay, you may begin to think creatively now. If you can’t think of any thing on the spur of the mo ment, maybe it’s because there is nothing to think about. Seriously, the theater and the art programs are dead in College Station. In an area popu lated mostly by University students, the only outlet for artistic entertainment exists in the club scene. But even those dimly lit, bass- pumping, beer- sticky 1 floor joints. You know, the ones you pay a $5 cover charge to get into only to have your friends decide they want to go somewhere else 15 minutes later do not seem to satisfy the thirst for classical knowledge. There are many open doors providing diverse backdrops and settings to local arenas for viewing and listening pleasure. Of course, what better place to start than right here at Texas A&M. You don’t have to venture from campus to know organizations such as MSC OPAS, the MSC Film Society and the J. Wayne Stark University Galleries hold a variety of eye-catching events year- round. For instance, at the Stark Galleries, one may partake in a tour of John Howard’s African-Amer ican art collection, Louise Dahl-Wolfe’s Harper’s Bazaar portraits or some of the gallery’s perma nent collections. Art gallery tours are generally quiet, relaxing and- best of all- free. If you prefer to sit back and enjoy a presen tation, then maybe the Film Society will suit your taste. Not only does the Film Society present free sneak previews for upcoming movies (especial ly the ones we all care to see once the words Oscar-caliber are mentioned), but they handle events such as the Texas Independent Film maker’s Convention. Here you can get a glimpse at what people are creating from the home state of Texas, and listen to guest speakers such as John Landis of “Animal House” fame and see Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” mini-movie. If you wish to see the silver screen produc tion adapted to the stage, MSC OPAS will pro vide the dramatics. One of life’s small treasures, a good laugh, can usually be found circulating among audiences at various Freudian Slip programs. Who knows, maybe you will get picked from your seat to participate in a skit. Then again, you can always return to commu nity culture if you don’t want to remain in your seats — that is, standing in a local venue jam ming with some of the area bands. Yes, music is an art form, and because differ ent bands have different styles, there is a bounty of art out there to be heard. So, when that trigger-foot starts tapping on the floor and a good tune is embedded in your mind, go out and catch a set with Lewis (one of the prime band choices). Don’t worry, if you happen to have a beer or two while the music goes on, it does not make you any less cultured than the next person. Soon, you’ll be on your way to a life filled with opportunities of entertainment you never thought of, even though they were always there. This is not to downplay a night out, club-hop ping with good friends. The point is this— Just when you thought you had to stick with an old routine, new hori zons branch forward waiting to be explored. I guess the old saying, really can be trusted. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Oh, by the way, you can open your eyes now. JAMES FRANCIS Columnist i I i C COMPUTERS • Hard Drives/ Removable Storage • Video Cards • Sound Cards • CDRoms/ Multimedia Kits • Modems/ Network Cards • Complete Systems • Lap Tops • CPU's • Motherboards • RAM upgrades "Will Beat Any Competitors Price. $10 off first order with this Ad Training Classes ^ Offered 696-2828 On Site Installations The Best Pizza In Town, Mo nest! Summer Time Special Mr. Gatti’s FastFeast Buffet Specially Priced Just For You! All You Care To Eat! • Pizza (lots of different kinds!) • SpaGatti (with Mr. Gatti’s rich 'n meaty sauce!) • Fresh ‘n Healthy Salad! • Desserts (including Mr. Gatti’s Dutch Apple Treat and Very Cherry Dessert Pizzas!) Weekday $*549 Dinner & $*599 Lunch O Plus Tax Weekend Buffet %5 served M - F 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Plus Tax served M - F 5 - 9:00 p.m. Sat. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Information Super Highway 6 South. http://www.tom-light.com •Tom Light BRYAN/COLLEGE station 2525 Hwy. 6 South Between Briarcrest & Boonville, 776-7000 Offer good at 107 South College • 268-8888 Don’t Worry when an accident or sudden illness occurs CarePlus is open when you need them 7 days a week with affordable medical care. CarePlus Family Medical Center 2411 Texas Ave. and Southwest Parkway 696-0683 10% A&M student discount