r / £ r> ^ 0 n 0 The Battalion MI ON L ^ 1 ^ 1 Page 9 Wednesday • January 29, 1997 jled to end to eparation of church and beer ellaneous Texadelphia restaurant too close for comfort for Northgate churches Boginning /Inlsrmediale 0 Exponenced Inslructw K ITORCYCLE hawk 750, black w/16,000 Must seoll 694-0809, ask li runs and looks axcellanl. Ft Kyle al 774-8302. PETS 7 ft. long. Very docile »t ksking S400/neg Pleasea OMMATES in clean, quiel 3-bedroom ass from park $25 rt< y as the church’s front door because it is not the led a s a.p own room, >rimary” place of worship. The Baptist Student Randoi 776-8254 | enter, located next door to the restaurant, further ided immediately!! 3M» . 1/3/ulilities. Please cal K ve in A.S.A.P. ed lor Spring abdimnarAmplicates the situation because it is used for wor- itsok si75mo. + itfuMes ijp during the week. Judge Jones has made a sound legal decision by re- ided to share 2bdmV1baf hurile route. Call Don 69582 nale needed. Own room, 151 o. 11/2 bills. Good locawf campus, $250/mo. + W u® Traditions more important than individuals involved needed to share 2/1. C.S. lor 3bdrm/2bath house, bj i -0067. lor 5/bdrm house. S255no lo share 2bdrm/21/2M Excellent location! Cell""' to sublease half ol 11JW! /2 bills. Call for comi*!*** idrm. house. $255/nt-i<4 Cal ing on the letter of the law, stating the opponents to e restaurant’s opening failed to show any negative church parking, masterful driving skills and luck are necessary. If other businesses flock to Northgate with their newly attained beer and wine li censes, the only place to park will be at theWorthside post office. College Station may be seeking new business for the sake of growth, but continually invading Northgate will cause more con gestion and headaches. By ignoring pleas of the churches, Tex adelphia also strains the relationship be tween Northgate religious affiliations and ordi nary businesses. With churches scattered to the north and east, the bars and restaurants have staked out limit ed areas along University Drive. Texadelphia is the first restaurant to step outside these established boundaries. While it may be seeking an area accessible to students, its location has broken separation lines. Neither of the affected churches will stage protests and demonstrations or form a “Get Beer and wine Off Our Block” coalition. However, Texadelphia has placed potential profit ahead of the traditions and bound aries of Northgate. Its decision may have legal justification, but the location rests on shaky moral grounds. Final judgment on Texadelphia is yet to come — that is, whether their sandwiches are worth buying. The restaurant and its beer and wine will not deter spirits or attendance in Northgate churches. Sunday sermons will continue to draw a religious crowd, just as bars and restaurants draw their own patrons. However, the churches must be prepared to deal with a Northgate dedicated to opening its door to more bars and restaurants, a Northgate placing business ahead of religion. T exas A&M University is well-known for its rich history and strong tradi tions, attracting students from iround the world because of its unity. Over time, Aggies have gained new raditions and witnessed the death of old bnes. Even If we don’t like to admit it, our raditions are fragile. They are subject to changing attitudes and fluctuating cul tural climates. Traditions do vanish, but we are not al- I ways sad to see them go. In the early 70’s, the student body enjoyed a time-honored ig the lingua franca oi tradition called “Quadding.” Whenever a ERVICES i IIKf llfiyud Ifd/ICd Ul - - ——~ — speaker mu isach ortutor, n student earned a perfect score on a test, md a birthday or received a “Dear John” etterfrom his girlfriend, his friends would mattress casing or leaving the individual a few miles from his residence hall, wearing nothing except a large sheet. The loss of this tradition has not devastated campus. Most would argue its removal has improved the University’s environment. While some traditions, like saying “Howdy!” are on the verge of extinction, new ones are con tinually developing. Ring dunk ing and Whoopstock are recent Columnist David Johnston Junior math major ut Big 12 on Metropolis BBS. L MaiorMUD.Faraest Trivial ^. , - , . . , , imemet Access! Call (409|6®ubject him to what now is considered lazing. A typical Quadding might involve RAVEL er, Angel Flyer, New * , ' ,; newly refurnished. SW' : >-8916, ask lor John. Services include word proces? Iragging a student around campus in a diting, indexing and printing C 1 developments. Despite this natural cycle of “out with the old and in with the new,” A&M still has a rich legacy which will continue far beyond many college careers. A tradition lasts as long as students cherish it. About thirty years ago, the Stu dent Senate decided women were eligible to run in the Yell Leader elections. While a major decision, the institution of Yell Leaders remains unchanged because the student body wants to maintain the status quo. However, if students lose interest in a tradition, nothing can revive it. Student Senate, the Board of Regents or the U.S. Congress cannot force students to say “Howdy!” to each other. For this reason, current de bate over election run-offs may be a piv otal movement for future Yell Leaders. Some current Yell Leaders, including Chris Torn and Jimbo Cross, have hinted they may separate their elections from the rest of the student body’s if forced to hold run-offs. While this move may have no impact on the general state of affairs, it is possible students will view the ac tion as childish and ar rogant. When Cross said, “We can make this a political issue if we want to,” he presented himself as an opponent to the student body. If students lose respect for Yell Leaders, or begin to resent them, the effects could be devastating. Yell Leaders must re alize they serve the stu- “ We can make this a political issue if we want to.’ Jimbo Cross Yell Leader overwhelmingly in favor of a change, Yell Leaders can only hurt themselves by turning a deaf ear. Unfortunately, this view may pass to other Yell Leaders who are truly concerned for A&M and its students. Aggies love their Yell Leaders. These hard working students are representatives of our University who show an enormous amount of spirit. Run-off elections are a small .issue, qnd dents. They should respond to a changing student body, be flexible and accommo date the student body to a reasonable de gree. When the student body speaks students want to have Yell Leaders far into the future. However, if the Yell Lead ers are unwilling to grow with the Uni versity, they may be left behind. them New Mexico. To#*“ River, Taos & Angel Fire. ^ 16, ask for John. f ANTED to lose weight. Metabolism P 'Disc. & Checks. Fast tree ^ 307 B./C.Sta. or 1-1 ngs. - lose 8 to 100lbs. New me® tor recommended. Guai -800-435-7591. Ebonics teaches Mail Stars and Bars a legacy of racism and hatred syour sified Ad 15-2678 'isa, MasterCaiii: method for learning I am writing this letter to bring to ight some of the misconceptions bout Ebonics. Contrary to the lews I have heard going around, the oal of Ebonics is not to institute a eparate language for African- mericans, but to act as a method f teaching proper English to stu- ents who have trouble mastering le language in the current estab- shed curriculum. By acknowledg- g Ebonics as a native language for any students, teachers then trans- te from Ebonics to English instead f reprimanding students for speak- fing incorrectly. The program has positive documented results from fets performed in the late eighties and early nineties. Provided Ebonics could be taught correctly and effi- ■ently, it could be a powerful method for raising African-Ameri can test scores in English. However, the true debate should ( ot be over whether or not Ebonics n act as an effective substitute for ercrowded classrooms, lack of fficient funds, and unqualified Rights for some, wrong for others In response to “Speak Freely” by Mason Jackson on Jan. 27 id FAX orders American Expf- : teachers. Ebonics embodies not a *mspiracy to render African-Amer- :an students incompetent com- junicatively but a desperate at- |mpt by the Oakland school [strict to come up with a straight- ^rward shortcut for raising embar- ssingly low test scores. Although ited testing of Ebonics has so far own only successful results, this is ore likely a commendation upon ie involved instructors’ teaching s; as for the remaining teachers, g them an amateur back- ound knowledge of West African leech patterns may allow them to ,171. Monday-Fridaf communicate better with their landards, but it doesn’t guarantee J569 fOf ITIOfG 0 make them better teachers. Jattalioii j McDonald Bldg, Andrew Carter Class of‘99 Freedom apart from restraint is not possible. Unchecked “freedom” is known as anarchy. “Freedom” which is uncontr olled nullifies the true freedom of others. Unfortu nately, America has moved toward this chaos. Because of the “rights” upheld by the American govermnent for some, others have lost their rights. One right is the right to express “Judeo- Christian” views. These views are in tolerable, because they hold a defi nite good and evil. Those who wish to express these views are many times not permitted to do so, and therefore their rights are effectively nullified. For example, safe sex is now being taught in schools. Most par ents are not naive about the reali ty of sex, but some would like to offer abstinence as a viable option. Anoth er right lost is the right to teach cre ation as a possible theory. Teachers are required to teach evolution as the only “scientific” theory of the begin ning of life. However, many scientists are withdrawing support for evolu tion due to lack of supporting evi dence. The government, however, re fuses to recognize either of these rights, because they supposedly teach a religion. America has chosen to violate the freedoms of some groups by wholly supporting the views of another group. Because of lack of control, there is chaos. There are no set values, because people no longer think there is a good and an evil, making everything acceptable in their situ ation. This results first in the breakdown of the family, because there are no standards in responsi bilities or relationships. Affairs and abuse are commonplace. Second ly, crime flourishes, because there is no evil. Look at statistics. Both situations are true of America. Chaos abounds. There is hypocrisy in the politics of freedom, but it stems from giving one group too much at the expense of another. Freedom demands re sponsibility and restraint. Daniel Huang Class of’00 I f you have ever watched The Dukes of Hazard, you may have noticed an icon which seems strangely familiar, yet out of place. No, not Daisy Duke’s shorts. The symbol in question is the Confederate flag, which proudly adorns the roof of the General Lee. However, the Confederate flag isn’t limited to the borders of Hazard County. An observant person can see it garnish ing truck bumpers, T-shirts and residence hall rooms around campus. Although Bo and Luke thought the Stars and Bars the perfect accent for their muscle car, the Columnist John Lemons Engineering Graduate student Dance Team supports 12th Man In response to “Aggie Dance Team Embarrasses Fan” The Dance Team is filled with 27 young ladies, each giving 2 or more hours a day, six days a week, to sup port the 12th Man, and a very impor tant part of it, Texas Aggie Basketball. The halftime show on January 15th consisted of an advanced jazz rou tine unlike anything a typical pom squad (such as that school in Austin has), much less a cheerleading squad, would perform. The Dance Team voluntarily gave up more than a week of their already short winter break to return to College Station and support the 12th Man and Texas Ag gie Basketball. What did you do? Bet ter yet, what have you done TODAY? Confederate flag is simply too dangerous a symbol to be appropriate in today’s society. South Carolina is having a difficult time learning this lesson. It is the only state in the union to fly the Confederate flag over its state capital. Last Thurs day, the South Carolina House of Representatives rejected Governor David Beasley’s proposal to re move the flag. The House then voted in favor of a referendum to let voters choose the flag’s future. Closer to home, the Dixie Cafe in Hearne, Texas, is known for its chicken-fried steak and Confeder ate decorum. Images of Robert E. Lee, Confederate soldiers and the “Old South” line the restaurant’s walls. The cafe even uses a fac simile of the Confederate flag for its logo. To distance the cafe from the Confederate flag, the logo displays seventeen stars instead of the Stars and Bars’ thirteen stars. James Wolfe, general manager of the Dixie Cafe said, “The Dixie Dinesh Perera sells flags, including the Confederate flag, at Robert’s Aggieland Mobile station. Fortunately, Perera’s busi ness isn’t based out of a Texaco Station; Texaco was accused of racism last fall. Perera said, “They’re (Confederate flags) the best-selling flag by far. We sell about ten to twelve a week.” “You have that connotation,” Perera said when asked about racist sentiments evoked by the flag. “It exists, but most people I sell to are young people who embrace the flag as a sign of rebellion.” Perera said he doesn’t sell the flag out of any personal prejudices,’’Whenever I dis play a Confederate flag, I display a Jamaican flag next to it for balance. I don’t support the racist viewpoints associated with the [Confederate] flag.” While students may seek to embrace the mes sage of rebellion by buying a Confederate flag, they unintentionally embrace a more ominous message. Hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan and the White Unity Party, use the flag to spread their racist agendas. Misuse of the flag by these groups has forever branded it an instrument of hate. If you’re interested in sending your own message of hate, you jpTo the majority of people who see it it’s a symbol of racism and hatred.” Blake Sawyer L-l Company Commander Katherine Shipman Class of’00 The Battalion encoutages letters to the edi tor. Letters must be 300 words or fewer and in clude 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 Mc Donald with a valid student ID. Letters 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 Cafe has been in Hearne for at least sixty years. The rebel flag has always been a part of the Dixie name as a logo.” Wolfe emphasized the cafe’s intent is to provide an atmosphere rich in Southern heritage. “Southern food, Southern courtesy, Southern hospitality. This is what we’re trying to promote,” said Wolfe. Many of the flag’s proponents cite a desire to capture the chivalry and hospitality of the South as a reason to embrace it. Unfortunately, for every person who looks at the Stars and Bars and sees the best of Southern culture, more see an endorsement of slavery and racism. The memories of slavery and racial injus tice which prevail throughout our history scar America’s collective memory. To selectively re member the nobility of the South is to forget the atrocities suffered by its enslaved population. On Texas A&M’s doorstep, on University Drive, can own your own symbol of oppression and bigotry for a mere 12 dollars. The racial discord the Confeder ate flag creates negates the value gained by displaying it. It ignites a powder keg of emotions which impede the healing of this nation’s race rela tions. Corps of Cadets Company L-l formerly used the flag in its company logo. However, L-l realized the use of the flag affected other groups. A year ago, the company decided to re move the flag from its logo. Company Commander Blake Sawyer said, “To the majority of people who see it, it’s a sym bol of racism and hatred and that’s not an im age Company L-l or the Corps of Cadets wants to portray.” Freedom of expression demands responsible use. The Confederate flag must go, not because it is evil, but because it hinders us from solving our racial problems. The flag divided the nation along state lines; it must not divide us racially. And I’m not just whistling Dixie. ■