The Battalion
T01\
Page 11
Monday • February 24, 1997
fudging books by the cover
f ans Library is poorly funded, but hope looms on the horizon
library should be
the heart of any
institution of
[ier learning. But
ly, students have
p spouting a dis-
png phrase — “The
try sucks.”
ijAerhaps this is be-
■se students can no
nifter enjoy a three-
Kwse meal while
teBbbling out equa-
[; ons on the fourth
itjooi Maybe this phe-
nenon is related to the dis
ing “lost” or “missing, check
if” errors which appear under
perfect book on NOTIS.
eiHatever the case, students al-
ws seem to have problems
Sm the library, but many of
gjiein have not looked into the
[dalized processes which gov-
[the policies and actions of
Sterling C. Evans Library,
urthermore, talk of the library
g inadequate should sound
alarm among students and
Ity concerned about the quali-
education at Texas A&M.
First, one must consider how
aquality of a library measured.
Wording to a fax from Charlene
; bk, public relations officer for
ps Libraiy, Texas A&M has
|re problems than the football
ings. Among 109 Texas re-
ch libraries, A&M ranks 66th in
iber of volumes, with
17,072 total. In comparison, the
hives at the University of Texas
ank 5th with 7,329,663 volumes.
'Bs difference of 4,962,591 books
8quite a significant number.
^Moreover, A&M ranks 38th in
iber of volumes added, 50th in
iber of current journals and
in total expenditures for the
$4-1995 academic year. UT, on
he other hand, ranks 10th in all
hr('e respective fields of library
^ration. It would appear the li-
Ty operating procedures at
V&M need to be investigated.
iMThe methodology for selecting
tew volumes for the Evans Library
tense. Steven Atkins, coordi-
[or of collections, said the
|cess involves many highly
lified individuals.
Columnist
Stephen Llano
Senior
history major
“We have selectors,
who at least have a
master’s (degree) in a
specific subject area,”
he said. “All the selec
tors right now have
published at least one
book themselves. Oc
casionally we have
someone with a Ph.D.
as a selector.”
Atkins said the
book-approval
process is an-
other intri
cate endeavor.
“It’s a year-long
process,” he said.
“We deal with a vari
ety of vendors and
publishers [of] over
50 different sources.
Sometimes we use
our expertise to go
deeper into a spe
cific subject. Right
now, we’re working
on a military histo
ry collection.”
If the Evans Li
brary has a staff of
selectors with at
least two college de
grees and books un
der their belts, its
administration
cannot be blamed
for a lack of quality
materials on the
shelf. Obviously,
A&M’s adminis
tration is going to
have to make a
higher financial
commitment to
the library.
For stu
dents who
find them
selves de
pressed at the
library’s prob
lems, take into
account an
old Chinese
proverb:
“It’s al
ways
darkest
before the
dawn.”
In my own personal test of the
quality of Evans, I acquired a list of
the top-100 books created by a pri
vate reading club, using several
different university syllabi. Evans
had at least one copy listed of
every book on the list. In many
cases, there were more than one
copy available according to NO
TIS. Even though my own little
benchmark doesn’t seem signifi
cant, it does prove the point that
we have the basics necessary for
improvement.
In a more broad
area, Evans and
Cushing are rarely
seen as separate enti
ties. Recently, Cushing
was closed for renova
tions which should be
completed by June 1998.
Although Cushing
was scheduled to be de
molished, its historical
value was the ultimate rea-
son for its restoration, Clark said.
“We did a careful study and
decided that it (Cushing) was sig
nificant enough to save,” Clark
said. “When it’s completed, it is
going to be the home of special
collections, rare books and
archives — it’s what every impor
tant library has.”
The expansion of the library
also will improve quality. The
new section will feature expand
ed study areas for students, as
well as new computer facilities.
More storage space for volumes
will be available. There also will
be a parking garage for easier ac
cess to the facility, slated to be
complete by August 1998.
In 1995, students voted to ap
prove a Library Use Fee. While
the fee is just beginning to make
a difference in library funding, it
will soon mean better facilities
and more volumes.
With the way things are run
ning now, it seems future Aggies
will have one of the finest li
braries anywhere.
£
6
f :
. ..
The Battalion
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 Battalion
staff members, the Texas A&M student body, re
gents, administration, faculty or staff. Columns,
guest columns, cartoons and letters express the
opinions of the authors.
Contact the opinion editor for information on sub
mitting guest columns.
Editorials Board
Rachel Barry
Editor in Chief
Michael Landauer
Executive Editor
Tiffany Moore
Managing Editor
Alex Walters
Opinion Editor
Save Mt. Aggie
Student Government and Town Hall
should work together to provide funds
The only thing more roman
tic than a rebel without a cause
is a group of college students
with one — especially when
they organize under a catch
phrase like “Save Mount Aggie!”
But sometimes a good cause
must go through the proper
channels, and this is what MSC
Town Hall learned last week.
After getting its “Save Mount
Aggie” concert approved by the
MSC Council, Town Hall had to
scrap the program because it
did not fit with its mission
statement. It is the kind of tech
nical glitch that keeps things
from getting done every day on
this campus, but students
should not be dismayed. There
is a way to have a program sim
ilar to what Town Hall has pro
posed — a concert to raise
awareness and appreciation for
Mount Aggie that also might
contribute funds to rebuilding
the structure in a different lo
cation. Apparently, the football
team needs more practice
space, and nothing on this
campus can compete with that.
Town Hall is not a political
organization. It is a group of
students that are good at what
they do. Town Hall has brought
a variety of programs to A&M
that have entertained students
for more than 15 years. And al
though its members deserve
credit for doing so, adopting a
cause is not something Town
Hall should do.
If Student Government
adopted the cause, planning a
concert with Town Hall would
be an excellent way to act on
the students’ wishes.
After all, students are gener
ally proud of Mount Aggie and
the uniqueness it offers to
campus. It also is useful to
many students who wish to
learn how to ski in the warm,
dry Texas climate. The two
classes taught on Mount Aggie
and the Ski Club only serve to
increase students’ opportuni
ties to learn something new in
college. For experienced skiers,
Mount Aggie offers the only
chance to practice.
Certain people in the admin
istration may find Mount Aggie
hard to look at, but that is no
reason to strip students of the
chance to hone their skills on
its slopes. Student Government
should stand up for Mount Ag
gie and work with Town Hall to
keep this issue from being set
tled without the student voice
being heard.
Mount Aggie has been
moved before (it used to be
across the street from Kyle
Field, next to the parking
garage), and it can be moved
again. There is no current plan
to rebuild Mount Aggie, but
perhaps if administrators were
made to see how much stu
dents appreciate the structure,
a plan would be put on the
table. A concert could even be
students’ way of helping to pay
for some of the costs involved.
(And by involving Town Hall
and having a concert, students
may never have a better time
adopting a cause.)
Balanced Budget Amendment will keep students in the black
| is supported by 80 percent of
he American people. It makes
life easier on poor college stu-
Jts. It could be coming to a state
Islature near you. It’s the Bai
led Budget Amendment, a nec-
rtool in building a bright
lerican future.
If you were to write billions in
(checks, you would spend the
| of your life making license
ps and showering with guys
ned Bubba. If the federal gov-
tent were to do the same
fending billions of dollars it
|snot have), there is no immediate conse-
fnce — and it has been doing so every
r since 1969.
For students who cannot comprehend
| problem, the last time the government
ent within its means, the New York Jets
i the Super Bowl.
Columnist
Donny Ferguson
Sophomore
political science major
While deficit spending cannot
be blamed for 25 years of
mediocre football, it does cause a
whole host of other problems,
such as high interest rates and
less money available to spend on
critical programs such as student
loans and health care. As citizens
of a free and equal society, we
should expect our government to
live under the same rules we do.
If the Balanced Budget Amend
ment passes Congress and is rati
fied by three-fourths of the states,
expectations will become realities.
Make no mistake about it, America needs
the Balanced Budget Amendment. Deficit
spending is eating away at the government’s
ability to fund necessary programs, thus
threatening America’s future.
According to Federal Reserve Chair Alan
Greenspan, the current practice of operating
on unbalanced budgets holds “serious, ad
verse consequences for financial markets
and economic growth.” In non-C-SPAN-
junkie terms, unless we adopt the Balanced
Budget Amendment, future generations will
pay dearly when the national debt stalls eco
nomic growth and causes financial disaster.
Still, the term “Balanced Budget Amend
ment” may be a bit misleading. The proposed
legislation does not actually mandate a bal
anced budget, it simply requires a three-fifths
majority of both the House and Senate to pass
a budget with a proposed deficit. This require
ment can be waived in times of war or eco
nomic crisis.
The anti-balanced budget crowd and its
cries of “Social Security checks will be im
pounded” are not credible. Deficit spend
ing, not a fiscal responsibility, is the single
greatest threat to the Social Security pro
gram. The Balanced Budget Amendment is
the most important thing we can do to pre
serve critical social programs.
Sadly, the opponents of the Balanced Bud
get Amendment care more about preserving
wasteful spending than they care about pro
tecting the poor, the elderly, and the students.
Interest on the national debt consumes 40
cents of every government dollar, and it’s con
stantly rising. Unless the budget is balanced,
deficit spending will eventually result in gov
ernment bankruptcy. Therefore, all student
loans and checks (Social Security checks in
cluded) will be canceled. Hopefully, arrogant
opponents of this common-sense legislation
will see the light to do their part in preserving
our future.
One of the most beneficial perks of a bal
anced budget for college students is the result
ing drop in interest rates. The ratification of
the Balanced Budget Amendment equals an
estimated 2 percent drop in interest rates,
shaving as much as $2,200 from the cost of
loan paybacks.
Those students who must take out thou
sands of dollars in loans just to attend college
could use an extra $2,200 dollars to help pay for
food, housing and clothing. The last people on
earth who deserve students’ cash are Washing
ton bureaucrats.
Moreover, fiscal responsibility should be the
guiding principle for which budgets are engi
neered. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case with
the prior congressional regime. The Balanced
Budget Amendment, if passed and ratified, will
make up for the 25 years of budgetary arro
gance America has suffered. Now another quar
ter-century of financial irresponsibility is threat
ening to destroy critical social programs and
take hard-earned cash from the pockets of over
burdened taxpayers. Social Security, Medicare
and student loans must be preserved, and the
only way to do so is to mandate fiscal responsi
bility. The Balanced Budget Amendment must
be passed and ratified, because too many peo
ple, college students included, depend upon it.
roadcast journalism students attempt to catch-up with UT
Columnist
1M
Jenne Hamlin
Senior
journalism major
tudent-produced television pro-
. grams at Texas A&M have always
’been rare and virtually unknown,
like the thriving programs at the Uni-
fsity of Texas.
■UT has a student-run station, KRV9,
Id a film program in the College of
Immunications. UT even broadcasts
pws on the Internet and has a student
lowing only comparable to A&M’s
einfeld” audience.
I Production classes are essential for
[(dents to compete in an increasingly
Idia-oriented society. As business
|ves onto the Internet and television
feomes more an instrument of commercialism and
tcation than entertainment, those with the skills to
ipete will reign supreme.
|It begins with adding courses and production op-
Irtunities to our curriculum. A&M students in Jour-
|ism 326, Television Production II, plan to bridge
: gap and, it’s about time.
[The course, instructed by KAMU-TV station man-
er John McCarroll, aims to provide students with
ktical production experience and a creative outlet.
|ln past semesters, students produced Campus
trnal, a program showcasing people who ap-
ired in The Battalion every week, but hardly any-
|e watched the show.
|A new image would define the show’s success. The
Television Production II students decided to
quit having the traditional A&M brochure
image shoved down their audience’s throats.
When they chose their show format, they de
cided to focus on things that usually slip
through the cracks. They appropriately tided
it Between the Lines.
Travis Stiba, class member and a senior
chemical engineering major, said the show
staff vows to remain true to its title, and leave
traditional Aggie topics to other programs.
“That aspect of A&M already gets expo
sure ad nauseum,” Stiba said.
The show’s premiere aired Feb. 20, on ca
ble channel 15 after a live taping, featuring
Day at the Beach director, Nick Veronis, and local
band, Loud Plaid Jacket.
Amanda Taylor, a senior journalism major, said
she was surprised that A&M didn’t have student pro
gramming shows similar to the ones she watched as a
student at UT.
“The shows at UT are very uncensored and a lot of
people watch them,” Taylor said. She said she hopes
Between the Lines will attract a similar audience.
The problem with student productions is often fi
nancial. School administrators overlook funding for
student shows, and merchants cannot advertise on a
PBS-supervised show. Unless a large production pro
gram is already established on campus, ventures like
these struggle.
Veronis said he was surprised that a university
with one of the largest student-run film programming
organizations in the country had so little to offer in
comparison to UT.
“You know, for the money it takes to maintain the
(rock climbing) wall in the Rec Center, you could have
a film program,” he said.
Journalism department head Dr. Charles Self
agrees. He said A&M should seize the opportunity to
serve citizens with stronger communication pro
grams — if funding is available.
“But the University and those who support it have
chosen to put their resources into other priorities,”
Self said.
Still, A&M students can benefit from this field.
Tirey White, a KAMU employee and a graduate ar
chitecture student, said production classes offer an
edge to students in the age of new media.
“Knowledge of media will define almost every ca
reer field in the next century,” he said.
McCarroll said although A&M doesn’t have an in
tensive production program, students are more likely
to get practical experience through local stations and
production classes than their Austin counterparts.
“One of the big problems UT faces is huge enroll
ment in the program and only limited hands-on op
portunities,” he said.
Some students seek out production opportunities
in the Bryan-College Station area.
Art Sobarzo, the production class’ teaching assis
tant and a senior speech communication major, said
he has gained a lot of experience working part-time at
KAMU-TV.
“I have friends call and say they got to run the audio
board for the first time, and I’ve been directing and pro
ducing shows for three years,” he said. “We definitely get
more experience than UT’s radio/tv/film students.”
Even with access to studio equipment and motiva
tion, students still have to make a name for the show.
They have a web page at KAMU’s web site and are plan
ning a mass e-mailing, but maybe kidnapping Reveille VI
would help show recognition.
McCarroll said the biggest challenge will be main
taining the momentum to drive the class. He said peo
ple will start watching as long as the students keep the
excitement building.
To keep things interesting, the class plans to keep the
show format in flux. They invite friends and those curious
about the show to be audience members at Thursday
evening tapings, and they may extend the show to a full
hour later in the season.
Between the Lines is a step in the right direction. It
offers students a change from regular programming,
and a chance for those interested in television to flaunt
their skills.
The show provides A&M with a non-traditional stu
dent point of view. Besides, focusing on the abnormal
might remind us there is life beyond our tradition-infested
existence. With audience support, the student body might
find the show to be a much-needed spanking.