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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1996)
Friday • October25 Bi mstrong’s rgery a succej Motorists rive over idewalks JDIANAPOLIS :e Armstrong, who; A/eeks ago that he is bat ■:! ar cancer, has ful surgery to remove tttjl :erous lesions on histe] ng to his agent, ne lesions were discMe tests performed in, Texas, said Armstrong! Stapleton, this is a normal progress oular cancer,’ Stapletons! ig Thursday's surgery the testes to the abdre ungs, then to the bran, Is oular cancer, even thougij J in other places.' nysicians have given An percent to 85 percent ill recovery. Ieimuli mtinued from Page le’s played very n said. “He's madeprog^lerrant, out-of-control bicy- ts, have also become the do- in of large, four-wheeled motor Hleimuli attributes hise j vehicles made out of steel and ension to the starting® erhard substances that can ten a poor defenseless Ag in onds. And more than anything they make walking across n’t goingtobeasgoodas; npus a dangerous undertaking, liams or a toffikiaMi^ometimes the vehicles are those golf-cart things that 1 has a lot of speed, sor jphysical Plant guys ride ps us prepare for oorof| (Unc j i n to fj x pipes and chase wnthe fifth tee. Those aren’t one can usually leap into b bushes to avoid them. But ying against ■ line every day in pracK ‘No matter who we play its, because you aren'tyr nd many as good as oik .ike all young players,ih J-inch, 300-poundfc nally they’re bigger and more been learning and gainj erience as the seasoDf: Astrovans and huge C oca- >ses, making a few mi® i„ >ses, making a few ig the way. But he balls an i that the insertionofBc n Stewart this seasoninit: irterback role ikdowns as the offensive I ns the abilities andpref es of the first new caller in four years. Brann don's beenworl muli said. “When)]fj> ; ler center, he belf e. We’ve been used# him back there forani Jevertheless, Heirai* wledges the areasell> ie that need attention,i ue and completing! king assignments. [ need to work on •ks," Heimuli said.'Cm s a kid, one of my favorite bumper stickers was the i.one that said, “If you (it like the way I drive, get off (sidewalk.” It was really fun ny, I thought. And until I got to A&M I thought it was a joke. But campus sidewalks, usually re served for pedestrians hannon Hal brook unior English major ngerous, including Universi- la trucks filled to the brim h their wares. It’s a big problem; all these ge trucks and vehicles re- ictour movements on cam- $.It’s bad enough to walk )und a building and be lashed by a bicyclist. But lenyou turn to face a huge h us since springrefS ^ of growling metal it can downright scary, ffnd it’s hard to know what to These drivers are impossi- tomake eye contact with, dit's easy to be intimidated And the drivers of these big ably pass blockingW lchines always seem to pick aktimes to drive across cam- s, hitting the sidewalks just lenthey are crowded to ca- city. It looks like they could man always says held le it a little better, guy on the ground twos* Sidewalks are places for feet, s after the whistle bio® 'for giant wheels threatening s what I’m trying to do.' mow people down. If the dri- eimuli said blockingfoi r sof these trucks need to ear things onto campus, they can rkin parking areas like every- eelse. The paradoxical thing about situation is this: As Aggies, forbid fellow students and tsiders alike to walk on the sC grass. I assume this means can’t drive on it, either. es stable of talented :s is a challenging task. I'he smaller backs are and quick, and you Iff re a hole for thei nuli said. “Eric Berm Sirr Parker will us® it or find their own. fhe bigger backs vndre) Hardeman! So these truck drivers aren’t c Broyles don’t , they usually justim 1 ■ own. The offensivei ove to see a rui 1 len they’re alive. just blow somebody!! terman said it will I 1 sed conversion of Ross Street e time before Heim tes his full potential, le’s improving on a dal 1 Sherman said. “He’s i® o be.” owed to run over students ren the students are dead, tit’s perfectly OK to do it Anyway, it makes the pro file one out front of Reed :Donald — completely use- is. Supposedly, the street is ted to be turned into a side- ) be the finishedprodun fik because it’s caving in. But r or two. But he’saioff t’s made into a sidewalk, nosed kid, and a lot I entrucks will still be driving rs have a lot ofrespedj lit. And it’ll still cave in. And these trucks aren’t just a in practice, he'll eve# ijor inconvenience; they’re e player both he and 1®' ;o a threat to traditions at this diversity. Members of the Corps of tdets, the renowned keepers the spirit, are at risk just as uch as normal students. And lat if a truck accidentally cks over the Sully statue in an tempt to refill the snack ma- ines in the Academic Build- g?The poor bronze guy would crushed. So what can we students do out it? Not a whole lot. It’s 000 students against lots and s of horsepower. The best we can hope for is a kLK SALE LEARANC * OCTOBER 25-!' 'STONE CENTEII RTS $1 AND 'd R •FEE 9TH LOCATION! SWEATS -$10(t - $10 OFF tS - $5 OFF' :EK SWFATSHIl nds Across America ki nd of Jig, keeping big trucks off the lewalk or sacrificing our lives in ISCOUNTED Ilf 1 process. Ur maybe the only thing to do is y enough copies of the tiowned bumper sticker and ck them surreptitiously on every yj (iversity vehicle to effectively irn people. Of course, it would ly be on the backs of the vehicles and then it’d be too late. The Battalion ^ ! 31, Coaching beyond sports W hen the team is down, it is easy to jump off the bandwagon, but it takes a true diehard to sup port the cause no matter what the record is. Many so-called Aggie support ers have already taken the leap and now claim that the coaches are not doing their jobs up to par. But what are their jobs? If it is to win games, these coaches’ records prove they have done a stellar job. In his eighth season, R.C. Slocum, Head Coach of the Texas A&M Football Team, has compiled a 71-19-2 record and three Southwest Conference championships. And Tony Barone, head coach of the A&M Men's Basketball Team, has been to the NCAA tournament numerous times with Creighton and has led an overachieving Texas A&M team just off probation to a NIT berth. In 11 years, Mark Johnson, head coach of the Texas A&M Baseball Team, has 531 wins, two SWC crowns and a College World Series appearance. If their jobs are only to win games, these men can stand proud by their records. Although they are paid to win games, their jobs involve much more. The coaches are responsible for guiding and molding young athletes into strong men that will be future leaders. Looking at the track record of Slocum, Barone and Johnson, it is obvious the three have been successful in improving the lives of young adults. Take Slocum, for example. He meets the families of every player he recruits in order to better judge his character. It is important to Slocum to ensure every player understands the responsibilities of be coming a sports ambassador for Texas A&M. For many people around the country, their only glimpse of Texas A&M will be a football player on Saturday afternoon. Sure, there have been players that have not repre sented the University in a positive manner, but Slocum has consistently handled each situation in a professional manner. He did not hesitate to dismiss a returning starter and a key role player from the team last summer when they broke team rules. At Miami or Nebraska, criminals are often allowed to stay on the team and even start every game. Likewise, Barone has been misunderstood in his efforts rebuild the basketball program for the past five seasons. Because most Aggies are not the most passionate basketball fans, they do not understand the de meanor needed for the furious non-stop action. In stead, they see a coach out of control, yelling at his players. The fans have recognized that in side that Italian fireball is a man who wants nothing but the best for his players and Texas A&M. The few people who have begun to warm up to Barone have noticed his ef forts to help the University and its sur rounding community. He annually organizes a Thanksgiv ing dinner with the team that supports the less fortunate and regularly encour ages player involvement in other com munity projects. And if graduation rates were the test of a coach, Barone would be ranked number one. Since his arrival, only one player who played for four years didn’t graduate. Compare that to the student body graduation rate of 60 percent and it’s easy to see a coach’s impact on the future of Aggies. Being a former baseball player, my opinion of Johnson is definitely biased. But what better way to judge a coach, than by asking his former players about him. Johnson’s top priority is to develop young base ball players into responsible adults. From day one, he begins to discover what is best for the individual. He continually teaches his players to prioritize their lives, manage their time and enjoy life. While he desperately wants to win every game, he realizes the student athlete is here to gain an ed ucation, learn about life and then, once his other re sponsibilities are complete, to compete on the play ing field. Johnson is the perfect role model for all ages, on and off the playing field. Off the field, he is involved in the University and community by openly speaking to student organiza tions, such as the 12th Man Student Foundation and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, about the mer its of working hard and keeping the faith. On the field, he is aware that the athletic arena catches many people’s attention and that the man ner an athlete conducts himself under the spot-light can effect much more than just the outcome of a game. He teaches his players that children look up to athletes and it is important conduct themselves in a positive manner that will represent themselves and the University in a positive light. Coaches are responsible for winning, but that is only a small part of the jobs. Even though it is easy to judge a person by the win column, people must look a little deeper to see the true success a coach can bring to a university and a community. The football season may look bad at 3-4, but remember, there are still five games left David Minor Graduate student Kappa Alpha didn’t deserve free press Regarding JoAnne Whittemore’s Oct. 21 article, "Program offers ‘hangout’: Fraternity members work to keep children off streets”: I have never seen such gross distortions of the truth concerning the Kappa Alpha Order’s involve ment in a community action pro gram, Kemp Gym. The article shouldn’t have run until Kappa Al pha had demonstrated dedication to the program. Several children asked why fraternity members bothered to show up when all but five left after less than an hour. These guys scored a huge pub licity coup, and they knew it. One was quoted as saying, “It’s some thing that will give good publicity for IFC and give fraternities a bet ter name.” Whittemore didn’t speak to anyone else and didn’t even try to get the whole story. The real heroes are the volun teers who volunteer every Friday and Saturday night. The article did n’t mention the people who do sup port the program with consistent at tendance and personal sacrifice. I commend the members of Kappa Alpha that took the project seriously, and I hope they return. But sadly, the distortions were made on the front page; the truth will remain buried in Mail Call. Rebecca Wood Class of’96 Accompanied by 75 signatures Hazy line should be clearly defined Regarding Heather Pace’s Oct. 24 article "Decisions ramifications go beyond right & wrong”: Though I disagree with her con clusions, Pace does make two very good points about the abortion debate: (1) Society cannot have it both ways; if abortion is not con sidered manslaughter, then you cannot consider it manslaughter when the “fetus” is “terminated” against the mother’s will. (2) The rights of one individual cannot be arbitrarily granted or denied by another, (i.e., the “fe tus” does not become a human being worthy of government pro tection at someone’s whim, not even the mother’s). Obviously, society must make a choice. Unfortunately, those most affected by that choice won’t have much to say in it. Jason Knott Class of’00 The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words or fewer and include the author's name, class, and phone number. The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in person at 013 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Let ters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-1111 Campus Mail: 1111 Fax: (409) 845-2647 E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu For more details on letter policy, please call 845-3313 and direct your question to the opinion editor. Page 9 Friday • October 25, 1996 The Battalion Editorials Board Established in 1893 Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of the editorials board members. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other Bat talion 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. Michael Landauer Editor in Chief Amy Collier Executive Editor Gretchen Perrenot Executive Editor Heather Pace Opinion Editor A&M vs. tech A&M shouldn’t indulge tech’s UFO: unwarranted football opportunity We’ve heard of crop circles and alien abductions, but nothing proves the existence of paranor mal forces greater than the dis covery of texas technological col lege in the Big 12. Like all paranormal events, this one occurred in the middle of nowhere. Actually, if you go to nowhere, you still have a hefty drive left until you reach Lub bock. One of Lubbock’s favorite sons, songwriter Mac Davis, said it best with the lyric, “Happiness is Lubbock in my rear-view mirror.” Could tech be in the con ference be cause of a his tory of strong athletics? The football team has been to such illustrious bowls as the Peach, Tangerine and Raisin Bowls, but post-sea son play hardly seems to be in the team’s near future. The NCAA doesn’t like it when athletes are given credit for fictitious classes from Bob’s Junior College and Hardware. Perhaps Big 12 officials were impressed with tech’s academics. Just recently, tech hired Sally Struthers to do some advertising, and next year tech is making VCR and TV repair a doctoral program. Or maybe it was the rich tradi tions that endeared it to the Big 12. But tradition at tech has had a tough road lately. Their suicidal, drug-addicted horse threw its rid er off two years ago and ran into a wall, and throwing tortillas after touchdowns was banned by refer ees. Yes, throwing tortillas was a tradition. Tortillas. We could look to tech’s burning rivalries with A&M and t.u. as rea sons for why they had to be includ ed in the new conference, but there is nothing there. Like a pesky little brother, tech has been whin ing for years about not having a ri val. They see all the fun A&M and t.u. have, and tech desperate ly wants to play along. But now both schools are in the new Big 12, and it looks like we’ll have to in dulge tech a little longer. Although a more suitable home for the red raiders might be the wacky WAC or Conference U.S.A., legis lators just couldn’t have approved the new conference without the votes of West Texas lawmakers who would have insisted on tech’s inclusion. So tech fans, welcome to big- time football (at least until the NCAA decides what to do about that little scandal). But most of all, welcome to Kyle Field this weekend. If you do a little re search, you’ll find that your Heis- man candidate Byron Hanspard is in danger. Our defense has nev er treated Heisman candidates with much reverence, and it won’t start tomorrow. •soiSSy jooj PPTdl aptff je uoijijodmoD aqj pue joop aqi UMop §ui>ioou>[ oq n,9M ■JBop pue pnoj sn pieaq aAeq saiSSy ai LL ■op oj dn Supieaus ou aAeq sjapiey pay aqi ‘Aepox Ajojdia laqjoue jo qdum -ij} aqj ui pAai n< 9M P UB U a J a -id noA jaAaqaiqM ‘sappreq jo) sanap -mot TiaqT ui Ajo uiaqT toj RPM ( /sai§Sy jooj,, jo uopipuai Suojts e ui aTiun sjapieR pay a qi se auieqs ui speaq Jiaq; §ueq ueo saiSSy aqT ‘uooujaTje Aepimes •a>{i[-ai§§V papeo aq Ajuo uea diqsuemsjjods qans -ssoj Biq e J8TJB uieaj Sui -soddo aqT dn TBaq prop Ajuibt -jaa aM pue ‘speaq juo aAeqs T,uop 8M ‘auo jaqToue UMop Tnd ot PI a lJ neqTOOj ^paja -es„ juo dn du T ( uop aM ‘qaax Te ajaq sseiS aqT ssojae >ReM 9JW ssaaojd aqT ui saAjasjno jo spoj a>{eui tou op aM puy ui aj.aM aauajajuoa Ajoao pue nods Aue aTeuiuiop ayW ’SuiqTAue jo uajppqadaTs aqT jaSuoj ou aje sjapiey pay •AysiaAiun pjeM>peq pue (STuapnTS sti jo Tuaaiad S8 ueqT JaTTaq Sop :>pis e sjeaJT jeqT jauejd sup uo jooqas jaqTO ou spjaqj) ( uiddiqsioM-Sop ‘(sa -xas qjoq ot sjoop aqT Suiuado jo pauieajp uaAa saiBSy aiojaq yos qaax uo a -i a Av uauiOM) .upeq -uauioM ‘(lumnje aqT qSnoiqT uiejSoid qof jaumins TeajS) piAopaTappe ue se uodn pa>[oo{ si sAeMje T^qT looqas e si PMW isaiea oqM Tng •Aiasiui s,uos -eas sup jo too uiaqT n n d °t RJ£I„ B paau ot SuioS aj.AaqT ‘sauieS Suisoi daa>( AaqT ji •aTBTS sesuey jo opeio -[03 tsuibSb aTaduioa yupjnoa saiSSy aqx ‘(IAIW apnpui Tpsaop TeqT) uieaT qaTou-doT Aue ssedins ot qSnoua pooS speqT pjoaaj y •pjoaai pooS e pue (mou:>[ noA ‘punoq-ueiusiaH s ( aq) pjedsuejx uojAg toS aA ( ayV AepjnTes auioa jbijiui -ejun BuiqTatuos aq tou rim t^3J -ap jo qsma pma ‘pjeq aqT Tng ■Qeueismoq ujaTsaM -qTnos uopuaui bm paau) sauip juoj inq ‘aauo tou ‘uapej aAeq saiSSy ArqSiuip aqx Zl Sig aqr jo jeaA jeinSneui aqT ui tjbts pooS e TaS ot payej ‘(neap ye uexax aruT e spq Tseaj tb) aassauuax jo syiq aqr uiojj >peqiaTJenb Aoq uap(oS jpqr pue ‘uieaT siqx ‘pjoaaj ge, psqsi -uiaiq paiSSy aqT je >foo| Tsnf •punoje amp siqT si jaqTOiq Siq aqT oqM aas ot Asea s,Tl Tng -ppqadaTs aqT pajapisuoa uaaq aA ( aM sjeaA joy •oSa aiSSy aqT ot Mojq jaqTO -ue — pjnoqs 3M TeqM 3AlS ot SuipeAui aipM •Acmb sjapiey pay aniT ‘pjeq -aip aqT daa>f ot qSnoua jbj tou rrs s ( ti Tnq ‘aaueT -sip e si sayui paipunq Jnoy •saiSSy ssa( -adoq aip uiop Abmb Aiotoia jaipo -ue a>(eT ot qrnos Suiaouj aiayw "uiM snouo|;S sposeas tsbj Teadaj ot Aepimes uopeTS aSayoo ui >peq aie sjapiey pay aqx •STijauaq aqT padeai pue ‘pioaai aauajajuo3 TsaMqmos amd JiaqT uiojj uim e ajoTS ‘pM^V sexax jo saiSSy Oi dox aqi no dn >(anus 8A\ •jeaA tsb[ jaye ton ot piojje T,ueo noA pue pppyioa sesuey pue e>( -seiqaN ‘sn aiouSi t.ubd noA Tnq ‘Abmb sapui 00L aq Aeui ayv\ £sn jaqiuauiay suoyipeiT aiSSv jo aSpa|Mou>( tsba e sAe|ds|p T! se stboiS upaj. sexaj_