Page 5
Friday • March 7, 1997
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ooking for a grain of truth
nhibitions often lead to watered-down reality
Columnist
tie questions of who, what and
where are thrown around without
. discrimination, but finding a reason
yburies many people’s heads—even
Texas A&M — in die sand.
The key to social acceptability is appar-
itly to be devoid of any convictions, or at
isttokeep them out of conversation.
\&M, like any university, has two func-
ns: to provide a quality technical educa-
mina field, and to provide an environ-
ent encouraging the growth of the
| rson. Growth is a search students take
their journey for the truth, taking ad-
ntage of the diverse peoples and
lilosophies of the campus.
Although A&M is a marketplace for ideas, it is all tcx) quiet.
There are those students who harbor insatiable ap-
titestoknow and broadcast truth, but the majority
T^ayout of the marketplace, lest they be tempted to
tyinto the truth.
Once last semester, Sbisa was the site of a lively dis-
ission among my friends about religion. I came in at
le midpoint of the talk and sat a while in awe that
imething of substance was being talked about. Un-
rtunately, the discussion got no thither than listings
feeble views without any logical origins or conclu-
ons. My friends concluded with the agreement that
Done knew or could know.
These friends knew me well enough to know about
eSoapbox, but 1 was still flabbergasted when the
mingof my mouth was a universal signal for them
ileave.
At least in this matter of dispute, I had the truth.
Joshua Hill
Sophomore
English major
Sadly a major disturbance or grief is nec
essary to make many people ask the ques
tion, “Why?” A death, an accident or some
thing else abrasive usually has to start the
learning process.
It should be noted that an abrasive
residue is what starts the formation of
a pearl.
Last year, a how-tied legalist stood beside
the MSC denouncing different types of sin
and people who practiced sin. He was abra
sive, unpleasant and a little off-base, but he
drew a sizable crowd. Christian, Bahai, Hu
manist and Hedonistic believers all dis
cussed the basic question of life that after
noon with brutal honesty.
Such spontaneous conferences are the essence of
college life.
Students should know why they do what they
do. Most are living by creeds about which they
know nothing. Life philosophies keep people
from wandering rudderless.
Once established, philosophies must be continual
ly tested to make sure that it has a solid basis in truth.
This practice is not just for freaks and philosophy ma
jors, but is a necessary part of people’s lives.
Students should learn how to design sprockets,
breed horses, or write a structured essay, but without
the big picture, the what and how are meaningless.
The late Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer
believed in truth as an absolute concept died in the
American culture around 1935. Classical logic, based
on absolutes, states if “A” is true, then “non-A” is false.
This concept no longer is respected in today’s cul
ture, where two contradictory beliefs can be
viewed as true. Absolute truth, thus real dis
cussion, is counterculture.
The reversal of this trend is a problem for
the dynamic discussion of the generation of
the future, the college students.
Some students go with the flow their
whole lives, never asking themselves the
hard questions. If life is a river, as Garth
Brooks believes, then people should learn
how to paddle and know where they are
going before they hit the rapids.
I cannot say I know the truth about
life. But Jesus sums it up in John 14:6,
saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.” This truth is not to be
spoken in arrogance, but, in the
words of Grace Bible
Church’s Dwight Ed
wards, as one beggar
telling another where to
find bread.
Whatever students
believe, they should not
stop searching, exam
ining and testing their
beliefs. Contrary to
popular belief, the truth
can be found. It should
be pursued vigorously
on campus, and it will
always stand up under
interrogation.
"Becoming well-rounded doesn't require over-involvement
ihl. Metabolism
It
J #
i run a
u'll get
< and
f exasA&M freshmen are
indoctrinated with the
fish-camp rally cry, “Get
nvolved!” Investing time in
'arious organizations is a
mre fire way to make a posi-
ive contribution to Texas
l&M.andto help make life at
[college meaningful.
However, some students,
specially those freshmen, are
irone to catching the “super-
nvolvement bug.” These stu-
lentsjoin as many organiza-
ions as possible, especially
hose with the most prestige and re-
ume-building power.
lis a unique place, characterized
ysincere, caring people. However, there
iaminority of students who answer the
uestion “Who are you?” with “A senator, a
Columnist
Courtney Phillips
Junior
psychology major
Fish Camp counselor, a Lamda
Alpha Kegga and co-chair of the
Society For Ornate Macrame.”
That isn’t the right answer.
The question was, “Who are
you?”, not, “What are you in?”
This mentality permeates the
thoughts of the majority, whose
involvements are sincere and
meaningful. While most stu
dents limit themselves to one or
two things to care about, there
exists a pressure to be involved
in high-profile organizations,
with the thought of, “I’m a loser
because I’m only in one organization,”
plaguing their minds.
There’s always going to be a Network
ing Nancy who is running from interview
to interview, who could escape from a fire
on the fourth floor of her dorm with a rope
of organization T-shirts. There is no reason
for the average student to feel defined and
stereotyped by the organizations they are
in, or to feel compelled to be in any organi
zation if is not their prerogative.
Most students recognize there are two
types of people in organizations.
Guy Peterson, a senior biomedical sci
ence major, said the “superinvolved” are
the exception, not the rule.
“Some (students) really do make com
mitments and there are those who get in
volved in a few things superficially,” he
said. “I’ve had more experience with the
truly involved.”
It is encouraging that most Aggies have
their hearts in the right places, but the dan
gerous “superinvolvement” mentality lurks
beneath the surface, threatening the integrity
of our involvement.
Freshmen are especially vulnerable to this
mentality. When they return from Fish Camp,
they go to MSC Open House and blindly join
clubs. They eventually end up quitting or giv
ing half-heart involvement to organizations
they never would have joined if they had
thought about it a little more.
Almost everyone had this experience as
a freshman, hearing friends say, “I really
need to join something,” or, “I’ve got to
find an organization.” What they need is
an identity, something they won’t find in
an organization.
Whoever said the search for self ends in
high school was dead wrong. It takes most
students at least a year in college to become
familiar with their skin and be a real person,
not just a list of organizations and accom
plishments. This is only a part of growing up,
and it continues in some respects for the rest
of students’ lives.
Texas A&M offers a world of opportunity.
Students can be co-chair of the most presti
gious organization on campus, volunteer in
the community at some place never heard of
unable to recognize them, make their own
club, devote their days to endless ultimate
frisbee or be a super friend to a group of peo
ple they really care for.
There’s no need to do it all. There is no
perfect involvement to attain. The person a
student becomes is going to. last forever, but
a list of accomplishments and organizations
is not going to amount to a hill of beans ten
years down the road. If the things students
do are a manifestation of who they are, rather
than a student being a manifestation of what
they’re in, then they are free from the pres
sure to be in the “right” organizations, free
from the “superinvolvement” mentality.
What they believe, who they love, and
what they feel and think in their heart of
hearts is all that matters.
ease/
ng for a
ban
1 imm(3«OTTO7«7
Palmist frills short
A/TAIL °f Church doctrine
-A- ▼ ■ ® Rponrrlincr Mnr 1 A voiplifp nrtirlp nn
'ZZ'toij®-
Scientific progress
hindered by religion
In response to Steve May’s Mar.
5 opinion column.
Unfounded “religious
ethics” have slowed technolog
ical and scientific progress for
many years and should no
longer be tolerated by the civi
lized world.
Cloning, if researched and de
veloped, could be one of
mankind’s greatest feats. It could
help to eliminate diseases from
AIDS to cancer and help solve
the world hunger situation.
In a few decades it could be
possible for a person to have
individual organs and limbs
vat-grown to replace lost or
damaged ones.
Whether clones have souls is
irrelevant and immaterial in
light of such achievements.
Personally, I am not willing
to stake my life and well-being
on a bunch of overzealous and
misguided individuals who
think they have determined the
meaning of life.
To that point, by limiting the
progress and scientific “evolu
tion” of mankind, these people
have raised the question: “Who
is playing God, the scientists or
the those who restrict them?”
Brian Murray
Class of ’99
Regarding Mar. 3 Aggielife article on
Palm Reading
I just wanted to point out that the
“Catholic” palm reader’s statements do
not reflect the doctrine of the Church.
The Catholic Church is opposed to
divination of any nature, including
palm reading. There is much conlu-
sion created these days when one says
he or she is of a certain denomination
and yet do not subscribe to some of the
basic tenets of the faith.
Annie Baffin
Class of ’00
The Battalion encourages letters to the ed
itor. 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 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
I and ll|,
very day habits become every-minute compulsive disorders
rnent and
le college
•nt Publica-
ipplication:
nterviewed
25, 1997.
ions Board
ng diversity ord
he college years:
a time for experi
mentation and
Jking life to the ex
feme. In the back of
heir minds, students
hink they can just toss
‘fvay dark secrets and
Motional scars like a
ack of garbage when
Itaduation arrives.
Unfortunately, a uni-
ersity campus is too
iften breeding
found for long-lasting
'bsessive-compulsive disorders.
Psychologists define an obses-
ive-compulsive disorder as “the
•ersistence of uncontrollable in
fusions of unwanted thoughts
'nd urges to engage in senseless
ituals (compulsions).”
Columnist
Travis Chow
Computer Science
graduate student
Before jumping to
conclusions, it should
be noted there is a sig
nificant distinction
between benign rou
tines and compulsive
behavior, the key dif
ference being a seri
ous loss of control.
Karen Severn, an ad
viser in the Academic
Building, said stu
dents at A&M exhibit
abnormal behavior all
the time.
“Everyday, I see people rub
bing Sul Ross’s feet for luck,” she
said. “It’s funny and harmless,
but when some students cancel
an hour-long event to cram for a
test three weeks away, there may
be a problem.”
Karen’s description identifies
an OCD called Work Addiction
Syndrome. Commonly known as
workaholics, individuals who suf
fer from this often achieve great
success at the expense of strained
relationships and a continual de
cline of emotional health. A report
by the National Counseling Inter
vention Services compares WAS
to alcoholism.
The report said, “The work
addict may at times use work
much like the alcoholic uses al
cohol. This process acts as a ve
hicle to self-medicate, manage,
control and/or avoid feelings.”
Compulsive behavior begins
as a hideaway from stress or as a
search for identity during young
adulthood. It often stems from
seemingly innocuous activities,
such as shopping, eating, pro
crastination and exercise. Ac
cording to a counselor at the Na
tional Institute of Health,
research is now documenting
people who use exercise as a
control mechanism.
Joe Ag, who chooses to re
main anonymous, works out
four hours a day to “stay in
shape.” He said he exercises
more than he needs to, and
sometimes his exhaustion and
injuries get in the way. But his
immaculate body has always
been his identity.
“I never want to be fat,” Joe said,
as he pinches his skin, measuring
his body fat at 2.5 percent.
Most students think they
can erase mannerisms with a
flip of a switch. The truth is to
day’s actions will define tomor
row’s habits.
For students who are still
wondering why they should
worry about obsessive-compul
sive disorders, here are some
disturbing facts. Full-blown
OCD affects about five million
Americans. The National Insti
tute of Health estimates the so
cial and economic costs of OCD
to be about $8 billion annually.
As for alcoholism, the most no
torious compulsion, a study in
1995 reports approximately 22
million people in this country
have been directly affected by
alcoholism. Around 200,000 of
these people die of an alcohol-
related incident.
Furthermore, compulsive
sexual behavior often leads to
sexually transmitted diseases.
The U.S. Department of Health
reported over one million cases
of syphilis, gonorrhea and
chlamydia in 1994.
College is a time for fun and
freedom, but the consequences
of senseless actions are not as
transient as students would like
to think. Compulsive behavior
can develop from both notori
ous addictions, such as smok
ing and drinking, and construc
tive habits like work and
exercise. Whether getting drunk
or sleeping around, the tempo
rary pleasure is not worth the
DWI or STD.
For the most part, the anxiety a
student hides from is temporary,
but the compulsive act that comes
from it eventually will leave a scar.